The St. Francisville Democrat 10-22-2025

Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS

Felicianas ready for Halloween

n Trick-or-Treat in Downtown St. Francisville is from 5:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m Oct 30.

n The Trick-or-Treat hours for the town of Clinton will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Oct 30.

n Trick-or-Treat in Jackson will be at the same time as the Jackson Spooktacular: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25. The Spooktacular will be on College Street and features a trunk-or-treat

n A Trunk or Treat for students will be held Oct. 30 at Lawyers Row in Clinton Decorating starts at 8 a.m. Schools, beginning with Silliman Institute, start arriving at 9:159:45 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 Mayor Pro Tem Janice Betrece and the East Feliciana Minister’s Conference will host a Trunk-or-Treat at 5 p.m Oct. 23 at Courthouse Square in Clinton. In addition to goodies for the children, senior adults are invited to learn about a Medicare Advantage plan and receive a bag of produce.

Yellow Leaf Arts Festival set

Visit Parker Park Oct. 26-27 for the annual Yellow Leaf Arts Festival.

Featured artist Connor Burns will display his pottery The festival from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. each day, includes music and juried artists. West Feliciana homecoming parade Oct. 31

The West Feliciana Homecoming Parade is Oct. 31. The theme is Trick-or-Treat Down on Saints Street. Entrants should sign up by Oct 26. Sock it to the library

All branches of the Audubon Regional Library will be participating the in “Sock It To Me” sock drive. The library will be accepting new socks through the first week of December Socks will be donated to local organizations to give to those in need this holiday season

DEMOCRAT

Rosedown welcomes garden enthusiasts

BY JAMES TAYLOR FOREMAN

for yet another warm fall morning in St. Francisville.

One couple, Bob and Betty Butler, drove from southern Arkansas for the 20th year in a row

The yard was filled with plants for sale, tables full of pastries and books, and, for the first time, plein-air painters.

“Our local partner, The Art House, invited six of their artists who like to do their plein-air painting. They took the arrangements that we made at workshops the day before and they’re painting them out here for us today,” symposium chair Lauren Pourciau said. Pourciau’s mother Jan Pourciau, is co-chair and one of the founders of the event. Behind a John-James-Audubon-style illustrated book of local plants stood local bookstore owner Missy Couhig “This year, the committee really leaned into

See GARDEN, page 2G

BY RICHARD MEEK

AROUND

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awareness, provide the community with

funds for

Services of Baton Rouge include:

n Oct. 23: Come by The Witches Ride of St. Francisville and grab some cold water

n Oct. 24: Kendra Scott Jewelry raffle winner announced. For information on any Paint the Town Pink events, email pttp@wfph.org or call (225) 635-3811, ext. 2304. Cancer screenings offered in Clinton Breast and colorectal cancer screening will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p m. Oct.

28 at the Police Jury Office, 12064 Marston St. in Clinton. Appointments are encouraged, walk-ins are welcome. Call (225) 425-8034 to schedule. Woman’s Hospital and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at partners of the event.

Honoré to speak at Veterans Day program

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,

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integrating the local arts scene and community businesses into the event,” she said. She originally stepped in when the symposium’s volunteers were overwhelmed running the book sales. Now, she’s been doing it for seven years and does about a dozen symposiums across the South.

“It works really well because I’m a Master Gardener myself, and I do love to garden.”

Pastries and coffees in hand, amplified voices meant it was time to go find a good-enough spot to sit and listen to the first lecture of the morning.

Barbara Sullivan, author of

which was the military relief effort after the 2005 hurricane.

n Clinton is Home Foundation hosts Meet the Veterans from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov 8 at the Green Door at H Mercantile, 12408 St. Helena St., Clinton.

n Plans for a memorial park for Clinton are developing and interest and support have been shown, according to spokesperson Marsha Kemp. She said Clinton Mayor Mark Kemp and Jim Parker discussed various things with her at a recent meeting.

Plans are to form a committee of veterans, their family members, and people from the community to further pursue the project.

If interested, call or text (225) 439-9705.

Arts for All Activities in October

Arts for All will host the Yellow Leaf Arts Festival Oct. 25-26. The event is from

DEMOCRAT

two gardening books from North Carolina, was getting big laughs from jokes only a Master Gardener would understand. She then gave some sober facts about the future of the Southern climate and how we can prepare our gardens for it, and maybe even make a small difference with insectfriendly and native plants.

Other speakers included Ryan Cole, designer and former LSU student, and Margaret Zainy Roux, interior stylist for southern home design magazines.

In the background, busy St. Francisville Boy Scouts hauled plants to people’s cars, highlighting that the Garden Symposium is, in essence, a way for people in this community to be of service to each other

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Parker Park, St. Francisville both days. Live music and juried artists are on the schedule. The group also has the art exhibit For the Love of Painting through Oct. 31 in the main meeting room of the West Feliciana Library, 5114 Burnett Road, St. Francisville Music event coming

Our Lady of Mount Carmel will present Music on the Mount festival and race on Nov 1. The festival is $15 a person in advance, $20 at the gate. Ages 7 and under are free. The races are 10K ($35), 5K ($25) and 1 mile ($15). Cost is $10 for youth in all races. Visit www.felicianacatholic.org for details.

Email Leila Pitchford at lpitchford@ theadvocate.com.

FOOTBALL

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Slaughter loses in rout Slaughter, a team whose defense did not surrender a point in the first half of the season, fell to Episcopal 30-6 on Friday

Slaughter, 5-2, has now lost two consecutive games as the Knights prepare to face Baker Slaughter quarterback Carson Baster was 4-of-15 for 45 yards with one interception for Slaughter Brannigan Givens had 19 rushes for 143 yards and Slaughter’s lone touchdown.

Silliman drops division game

Silliman fell 14-6 to Oak Forest Academy in a conference game in Amite.

The Wildcats are 4-3, 2-1 in MAIS 4A District 4, host Jackson Prep on Friday

Email Richard Meek at livingston@theadvocate.com

Humane Society event — fun for funds supports work

Community news report

The Humane Society of the Felicianas gave animal lovers and others a number of ways to help raise muchneeded money to provide for a low cost spay, neuter and wellness clinic. It was a fun event held to address some of the serious animal welfare problems in the area, organizers said.

The Oct. 4 fundraiser was on site at 5080 La. 68 on the outskirts of Jackson in East Feliciana Parish. About 150 people turned out for the event, according to Mary Jenkins Reese, executive director of the society The visiting attendees were spread throughout the day, she said. Visits by Rep. Roy Daryl Adams and East Feliciana Parish Police Juror Richard Oliveaux as well as Jim Parker and Rafe Stewart of the East Feliciana Economic Development District were appreciated, Reese said.

A garage sale of donated items and vendors were set up on the grassy lawn along with another tent with musical entertainment. Also included were jambalaya plates for sale and a spot to greet Santa who put in an early afternoon visit.

Next to one of the buildings was the dog washing station. Owners could get a bargain bath for their pet for $10.

A planned wellness clinic, which will include spaying and neutering of pets, will be the first of the proposed services, Reese explained. The feral cat problem and the stray dogs dumped across the parish are just two of the challenges that need to be addressed, she added Offering economical services to pet owners, especially those on a fixed income, and even free dog or cat food is badly needed, Reese added The Humane Society of

PROVIDED PHOTO

Humane Society of East Feliciana Executive Director Mary Reese and volunteer Tren Billings wash a dog during a recent fundraiser

the Felicianas was established in 2020. Reese credits the Feliciana Economic Development District with help getting the shelter started. They provided “contacts and additional resources,” she said.

The property is leased and “the buildings and other structures were paid for by grants” and donations, she continued.

“We are currently working on a low cost spay, neuter and wellness clinic,” she said. This project is what the fundraiser was for to raise funds for meds and additional items for the clinic.”

Other services scheduled for the future are a crematorium, a pet feeding program for residents in need, small animal boarding facility, land large animal board facility and a grooming facility, she added.

“We have spoken to the police jury several times

about financial help,” Reese said. “The support is there for the shelter, they agree that it is needed for the area they just do not have the funding in the budget,” she stated.

Reese said she realizes that “East Feliciana is a poor community and resources are scarce,” but said “for the Humane Society of the Felicianas to be successful, we need the community to step up if the community wants the help, they have to help us.” She continued “people saying that they are happy we are here and they really need us and have for a long time, then wait for someone else to foot the bill to make it happen that doesn’t feed the bulldog.”

Anyone interested in information or to donate to the society can call (225) 921-3417 or email humanesocietyofthefelicianas@ gmail.com.

EAST AND WEST FELICIANA COUNCIL ON AGING

The schedules for West and East Feliciana Council on Aging facilities are as follows:

WEST FELICIANA

n 12292 Jackson Road, St. Francisville (225)

635-6719

n Start time for all activities is 10 a.m

FIRST AND THIRD MONDAY: Line dance

FOURTH MONDAY: Religious service

TUESDAYS: Nutrition education

WEDNESDAYS: Exercise/yoga

THURSDAYS: Bible study

FRIDAYS: Bingo/movie/excursion

n All people 60 and older in West Feliciana Parish are invited to join.

n For transportation to the center or questions, call (225) 635-6719

EAST FELICIANA

n 11102 Bank St., Clinton

n 3699 La. 10, Jackson

Wednesday, Oct. 22

SEWING AND QUILTING CLASS: 10 a.m

DEVOTIONAL: 11:15 a.m.

LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.

ART CLASS: noon Thursday, Oct. 23

BINGO: 10:30 a.m. LUNCH: 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24

EXERCISE CLASS: 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.

Monday, Oct. 27

EXERCISE CLASS: 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 28

CHOIR CLASS: 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

BINGO: 10:30 a.m. LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.

Transportation Transportation is provided to East Feliciana Parish residents of any age for appointments in East Feliciana, West Feliciana and East Baton Rouge parishes Monday through Friday. Call (225) 683-9862 to schedule a transportation appointment.

BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer

Officials with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recently visited a lake in the Jackson area of East Feliciana Parish as part of the first efforts to make a place where locals can once again catch fish.

Approximately 1,500 young channel catfish were put in the water A newer and small green sign names the feature Taylor-Trahan Lake, but it is known to most locals as Taylor’s Lake as the larger, older sign says. It is on the north side of La. 10 just outside the town of Jackson.

Ranging in size from 3 to 5 inches, the catfish were provided by the Booker Fowler Hatchery which is the freshwater fish production hub for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. State Rep. Roy Darryl Adams said he had asked for the fish about a year ago, after a number of local fishermen told him that there didn’t seem to be many fish left in the old state-owned lake.

About the fish, Adams said, of course it “will take time for them to grow” but the goal is the public again should be able to catch catfish from the lake. The infusion of the fish by Tory Robicheaux and others with the department took only a few minutes.

Once the truck was placed in position and the transfer pipe connected, the water containing the fish was released. Brim and bass were mentioned as the next possible fish infusions.

added to lake

After the first shock to an area nearby, the gar fish shown here was dipped out of the weeds with only a few tiny companions at Taylor-Trahan Lake.

Another visit was made soon after The following week brought several staff, a boat and special equipment. The new crew were there to administer shocks to multiple areas all around the body of water The electrical currents were to stun, but not kill the fish, each time in a small area around the boat.

The shocks were to cause the fish to temporarily float to the top of the water The types of fish and number of fish were to be noted to determine the estimated fish population and overall condition of the lake.

It was reported that there were not many fish that floated to the surface The makeup of the water it was explained, which might include a lack of salt, one thing that could hamper the

effectiveness of the current and count. Other observations/concerns were voiced about the large amount of weeds along the shore and even some in other shallow areas. They need to be removed for the health of the lake, it was reported With several things to be checked/investigated at this point, for the planned improvement of the lake to take place, efforts will be ongoing, it was reported.

Cultural District boundary changes in St. Francisville

Community news report

The boundaries of the St Francisville Cultural District have changed, Lt. Gov Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, Division of the Arts announced.

The Louisiana Cultural Districts Program recognizes 127 communities across 77 municipalities and 43 parishes. Certified Cultural

Districts’ incentives include eligibility for the State Commercial Historic Tax Credit, technical assistance from the Division of the Arts and official recognition for their cultural importance.

Created during the 2007 Regular Legislative Session, the Cultural Districts Program is designed to spark community revitalization through cultural activity.

“Louisiana’s Cultural

Districts celebrate our history, fuel our economy, and bring communities together through art, music, and culture. By supporting districts like St. Francisville, we not only preserve our heritage but also create opportunities for businesses, artists, and residents to thrive These districts remind us that culture isn’t just part of Louisiana’s story — it is Louisiana’s story,” Nungesser said.

Boundary changes may be requested after two years of certification. These changes are considered when they strengthen the district’s goals and plans, provide broad community benefit, and have the support of artists, local government, residents, and cultural stakeholders.

Cultural Districts showcase the unique heritage, history and creative spirit

of local communities. While many are in downtown areas, they also exist in suburban, rural, and neighborhood settings.

The most recent available data from 2024 highlights the statewide economic and cultural impact of Louisiana’s Cultural Districts: n More than 7 million people attended 4,968 events n 452 new businesses opened

The Louisiana Cultural Districts Program is a place-based initiative that provides targeted incentives to designated communities. The program fosters new business opportunities, expands markets for cultural products, encourages artistic production, supports historic building renovations, increases cultural activity, and strengthens community identity

Happy land of Felicianas featured in art piece on current LSU exhibit

Community news report

The LSU Museum of Art is holding an exhibit called “A Bayou State of Mind,” which includes one called “Happy Land/Feliciana” by Janice Sachse.

The piece was created in 1971 and is silkscreen on paper It is part of the collection of the LSU Museum of Art.

The LSU School of Art named Sachse the first Louisiana Treasure in 2016. To learn more about her, visit https://design.lsu.edu/janice-r-sachse-honored-firstlouisiana-treasure/. “A Bayou State of Mind” features 40 paintings from famous artist George Rodrigue but includes many other artists and media highlighting Louisiana’s “culture, traditions, history, land, and essence,” according to the museum’s website. For information, visit lsumoa.org/a-bayou-state-ofmind. The exhibit is open through Jan. 4.

BY JAMES TAYLOR FOREMAN