SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
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T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Tunica Hills hosts yard sale The Tunica Hills yard sale on Saturday and Sunday stretches more than 20 miles on La. 66 from St. Francisville to Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The event, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., includes antiques, collectibles, vintage decor, arts and crafts, food trucks and homemade items.
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W e d n e s d ay, O c t o b e r 1, 2025
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Ret. Lt. Gen. Russell Honoré will be the guest speaker Nov. 8 at the Veterans Day Program beginning at 10 a.m. at the Feliciana Veterans Park on La. 10 in Jackson. Honoré, a native of Lakeland, served as the 33rd commanding general of the U.S. First Army at Fort Gillem, Georgia, from 2004 until his retirement in 2008. He gained national attention for his role as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, which was the military relief effort after the 2005 hurricane. The news that Honoré had confirmed the invitation to speak was announced at the recent meeting of the Jackson Tourism Enhancement Committee, which falls under the Historic District Commission for the town. Spokesperson Jim Parker said more details will be forthcoming. A few trunk or treat events are being planned throughout the month around the area. n Oct. 16: A Trunk Decoration contest will be held at 6 p.m. at the West Feliciana Sports Park, featuring awards in the scariest, Beetlejuice, Hocus Pocus and disco categories. The concession stand will be open. One dollar per car will be charged upon entry. To reserve a spot, contact (225) 7848447. n Oct. 30: Grab your costumes and bring treats to Lawyers Row in Clinton. Reserve a spot at efchamberofcommerce@ gmail.com. Decorating starts at 8 a.m. Schools, beginning with Silliman Institute, start arriving at 9:15 a.m. — 9:45 a.m. Jackson Quad Area, 10 a.m. Clinton Quad Area, 10:30 a.m. Clinton Elementary, 10:45 a.m. Jackson Elementary and 11 a.m. Slaughter Elementary. n Oct. 25: The Jackson Spooktacular is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on College Street. People interested in setting up a trunk to hand out treats can call (225) 324-5083.
Paint the Town Pink Paint the Town Pink is West Feliciana Hospital’s annual campaign to increase breast cancer awareness, provide the community with prevention information and help raise funds for Cancer Services of Baton Rouge. Cancer Services helps provide nourishment and aid to cancer patients in need throughout a 10-parish area, including East Feliciana, West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee. All Paint the Town Pink funds raised by the hospital throughout October are donated to the organization. Businesses and individuals can decorate their homes or offices in pink, along with entering the competition for Most Creative and Best Pink Decorations. West Feliciana Hospital will be hosting a variety of other activities: Oct. 3: Pink Bake Sale at Audubon Market, 11 a.m. until sold out Oct. 9: Paint Party, 6 p.m. at West Feliciana Hospital. Includes paint instructor and door prizes. Register early at the hospital Facebook page. Event sells out. Oct. 15: Paint the Town Pink con-
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Voters to direct use of 3-mill property tax BY JAMES MINTON
Honoré at Veterans Day program
Trunk or treat in Felicianas
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STAFF PHOTOS BY LEILA PITCHFORD
West Feliciana Parish schools Superintendent Hollis Milton greets visitors gathering for the ribbon-cutting at the refurbished Julius Freyhan School in St. Francisville.
After 50 years, Freyhan building restored to serve as St. Francisville hub BY LEILA PITCHFORD Staff writer
Julius Freyhan Foundation members, West Feliciana Parish School Board members and residents gathered Sept. 19 to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Julius Freyhan School, a landmark that has been restored to serve as a hub for education, culture and community. Originally built in 1907, the Julius Freyhan School closed in the 1950s. Through the Freyhan Foundation, the School Board and community partners, the building has been renovated to preserve its historic charm while providing modern amenities for future generations. “This moment is truly historic for our town, our parish, and our school system,” said West Feliciana Parish schools Superintendent Hollis Milton. “The Julius Freyhan School now stands as a bridge between our past and our
ä See FREYHAN, page 2G
A refurbished classroom is filled with afternoon sun. Nancy Vinci, second from right, makes remarks Sept. 19 about the years of work to refurbish the Freyhan School building. With her, from left, are Janice Wynn, Ruthie Davis, Leigh Anne Jones and Milton Coats.
East Feliciana Parish voters who go to the polls Oct. 11 or vote early will see an unusual tax proposition on their ballots as the Police Jury attempts to correct a long-ago misallocation of a revenue stream. Early voting will continue from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday at the Registrar of Voters Office in Clinton. Regardless of the heading, “InLieu Millage,” the proposition is not a new tax and voters will not see a property tax increase if it passes, jury President Louis Kent said. The jury is simply attempting to change the manner in which surplus revenue from a 3-mill Health Unit property tax is used to fund parish road work and general Police Jury operations, he said. “It’s actually a rededication,” Kent said, pointing out that other parishes have rededicated tax revenues without raising them. Jury Vice President Chrissie O’Quin said, to the best of her understanding, the last sentence of the proposal says “to replace a tax,” which is where it indicates rededication of the last tax renewal. Currently, after the budget needs of the health unit are met with the tax revenues, 90% of any surplus money can be allocated to the Road and Bridge Fund and 10% to the General Fund. The tax was last approved on Nov. 18, 2023, for 10 years. At one time, however, the surplus was split 50-50 between the two funds, but at some point, the 90-10 split was instituted for reasons Kent and other jurors have said they cannot explain. “It should have been 90-10 the other way,” Kent said, with the bulk of the surpluses going to the General Fund. If voters approve the change, the proposition will still authorize the jury to fund the health unit, but use any annual surplus revenues “for any lawful purpose, including, but not limited to construction, improving and maintaining public roads, highways and bridges, including equipment therefore. … ” Kent said the Health Unit is wellfunded at the moment, but the jury’s General Fund suffers from a lack of money. O’Quin said the jury’s General Fund supports many outside agencies that the jury is not required by law to support, as well as others it must support such as the parish
ä See TAX, page 2G
East Feliciana rallies for nondistrict 22-20 win BY RICHARD MEEK Contributing writer
Ryan Moore intercepted a pass with less than one minute remaining to secure a 22-20 come-from-behind victory for the Knights, 4-1, 1-0 District 8-2A. East Feliciana led 14-0 after the first quarter and held the lead going into the fourth quarter but Episcopal rallied and took a 20-14 lead at the two-minute mark on a rushing touchdown and successful two-point conversion. But the Tigers quickly marched down the field and, with less than one minute remaining, Kayden Wilson scored on a rushing
Tiger receiver Ryan Moore take an inside handoff and cuts back again the Episcopal defense as he weaves his way to the end zone to help the Tigers ä See FELICIANA, page 2G hold of the Knights and move to 3-1 on the season.
PHOTOS BY DAVID THOMAS JR.
East Feliciana quarterback Markus Cannon Jr. calls his own number and breaks a big run through the Knights defensive as the Tigers defeated the Knights 22-20.