The St. Tammany Farmer 10-29-2025

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Fandal takes oath as Slidell’s 23rd mayor

Daniel Seuzeneau sworn in as interim police chief

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

Flanked by his family, Randy Fandal was sworn in as mayor of Slidell before a packed house on Oct. 21, becoming the city’s 23rd mayor and the third former city police chief to make the jump to the executive office. Fandal, 65, won a special race on Oct. 11 to fill the remaining eight months of the term of former Mayor Greg Cromer, who resigned the office last January to take a job in Gov Jeff Landry’s administration. Fandal promised to lead the city of some 28,000 people with integrity and energy “I stand before you with humility gratitude

WITH MARK FARNER

Talking air-conditioning, fried chicken and music

Rock icon who co-founded Grand Funk Railroad plays Covington on Oct. 31

BY ANDREW CANULETTE Staff writer

Mark Farner knew early in life he wanted to be in the spotlight.

He thought sports might be his ticket to fame, but some bad fortune on the football field led the pre-teen to pick up a guitar, and what a twist of fate that was Farner shined on guitar from the start. Within weeks of his first lessons on the instrument, he was showing his teacher a thing or two about guitar Soon after that, Farner was the nucleus of the band that soon would

BY KIM CHATELAIN

Contributing writer

Bald cypress and Southern magnolias are being added to the trees that are to be protected in Mandeville under an ordinance designed to preserve the community’s leafy canopy

The tree regulation ordinance, which has been in the works since this spring, was approved by the City Council on Oct. 23 after a tense, two-hour discussion among the council and audience members. While the council ultimately voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance, two members expressed reservations and suggested that the matter should

led by council

THERKILDSEN

Judge Vincent Lobello swears in interim Slidell Police

Chief Daniel Seuzeneau as his wife, Rachel Seuzeneau, looks on.

OATH

Continued from page 1A

and a deep commitment to serve each and every one of you,” Fandal told the crowd at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium, choking up several times during his speech Fandal, the city’s police chief since 2016, follows former chiefs Freddy Drennan and Ben Morris in winning the mayor’s office after a stint as chief. Fandal beat Bill Borchert, who was an at-large Slidell City Council member and became Slidell’s mayor when Cromer left the office.

Sharing the stage with Fandal was Daniel Seuzeneau, who was sworn as interim police chief on Oct. 21. Seuzeneau, who was the police department’s chief administrative officer and became assistant chief, will serve until the winner of next spring’s regular police chief election takes office.

Much as he did during the campaign Fandal promised that economic development and the revitalization of the city’s parks and recreational fields would be among his top priorities.

“Our kids deserve a safe, accessible and well-maintained space,” he said.

Transparency will be key, he said, noting that every decision he makes as mayor will be in service of the city’s residents.

“Slidell has so much potential,” Fandal added. Seuzeneau, the department’s longtime public information officer who started its popular Facebook page (it has 180,000 followers), said Fandal has been a mentor and that he doesn’t take the trust Fandal has shown in him lightly He said he would do what Fandal had taught him and “keep the ship steady.”

The special mayoral election comes only six months before the city’s regular slate of elections next April. That means that voters could see another mayor’s race, in addition to City Council and police chief races

But noting the 72% of the vote that Fandal took Oct 11, it’s difficult to imagine a serious challenger emerging next April

MANDEVILLE

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member Scott Discon, argued that Mandeville’s distinctive tree canopy should be protected by discouraging the clear-cutting of lots adding that the existing regulations were put in place 40 years ago and are now outdated. Clear-cutting refers to the practice of completely clearing a lot of trees by bulldozing them all.

“Every day that we wait (to take action), more trees are lost,” said Discon, former chairman and 10-year member of the city’s parks and parkways commission. Under the ordinance, bald cypress and Southern magnolia trees will gain protective status along with live oaks, which are already protected under existing regulations. Essentially that means the city would have to grant a variance before those trees could be removed.

Those wanting to knock down the protected trees because they are diseased could also do so if approved by two licensed arborists

The ordinance also establishes fines for those who violate regulations and makes other adjustments to what is now on the books regarding the protection of trees A parade of audience members appeared before the council to weigh in on the issue. Most spoke in favor of the ordinance.

Ladson Poole, an arborist and member of the city’s Parks and Parkways Commission, suggested Mandeville should take steps to prevent the clear-cutting of trees.

“The No. 1 threat to trees in the urban environment is construction,” he said. “One of the best things about Mandeville is the trees we have here.”

Former city council member Ernest Burguieres argued that the tree canopy provides practical as well as aesthetic benefits to the community

“During (Hurricane) Katrina, I lost 44 trees,” he said. “The thing I noticed most my electric bill doubled. Those trees protected me from the heat.”

After the public input, Discon noted that 18 speakers appeared at the podium and only one spoke against the ordinance.

Over the past several months, concerns have been expressed over whether the stricter tree regulations would reduce the amount of buildable area on small pieces of property City officials estimated that there are about 200 empty, buildable lots in Mandeville.

Council members Jason Zuckerman and Jill Lane were in favor of a motion to postpone a vote on the ordinance, but they were outvoted by their three colleagues.

Zuckerman, a Tulane University-educated architect, said he recognizes trees are “a defining characteristic of our city,” but suggested other approaches should be evaluated before voting to put the ordinance in place.

Lane questioned whether the ordinance represented an “overreach” by the local government and suggested more time should be allowed for both the council and constituents to digest recent alterations to the regulations.

Parish efficiency committee continues scrutiny of mosquito abatement district

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

Back in 2021, St. Tammany’s mosquito-killing agency pursued an ambitious plan.

St. Tammany Mosquito Abatement District bought a $4 million helicopter to help target spray and kill mosquito larvae, hired a new molecular biologist and invested $8 million in facility upgrades, including a modern lab that could test mosquitoes for West Nile and other viruses with a four-hour turnaround.

“We modernized mosquito abatement for the growing population in St. Tammany,” Executive Director Kevin Caillouet recalled in an interview

The investments were funded with money from the district’s dedicated property tax, which at that time generated about $8 million a year

But those purchases and others like it are now under scrutiny from a group of business leaders organized by northshore District Attorney Collin Sims, whose office is currently facing budget cuts.

The group, called the Tax Reduction and Stabilization Workgroup, joined Sims’ office in presenting Sims’ report at a Government Efficiency Committee meeting on Oct. 23. They argued the helicopter, lab and other expenditures may not have been in the best interest of taxpayers.

Currently, the Mosquito Abatement District’s expenditures are approved by its five-member Board of Commissioners. Four are appointed by the St Tammany Parish Council and one by the parish president.

“They spent those dollars as they saw fit, as a board, certainly not in consultation with parish government, because that was not necessary,” one of the business leaders, Kyle France, said Thursday (France, a Madisonville resident, is also a member of the advisory board of The Times-Picayune, which owns The

Farmer.)

Mosquito Abatement is one of dozens of quasi-government agencies, including fire districts and recreation districts, in St. Tammany Parish that are funded with dedicated property taxes and whose budgets are not controlled by the St. Tammany Parish Council. The group of business leaders is honing in on these agencies as the Parish Council grapples with revenue shortages to cover mandated criminal justice expenses.

“This is not a people problem. This is a structural problem,” said Todd Richard, another business person in the Tax Reduction and Stabilization Workgroup.

DA Sims’s involvement

The presentation of the report comes as parish officials are trying to find long-term funding for Sims’ office, the northshore judges and the parish jail, which all face around 30% reductions in the funding they receive from parish government in the 2026 budget and could see even greater cuts in the 2027 budget.

As part of that effort, at the beginning of this year, Sims joined parish government in forming a DOGE-like precursor to the Government Efficiency Committee.

Sims and the DOGE-like group selected Mosquito Abatement for its first review But amid backlash from the parish’s powerful fire districts, which are also independent taxing agencies, Sims removed himself from the group, which later morphed into the Government Efficiency Committee.

Sims’ office’s 29-page report details Mosquito Abatement’s finances, with particular attention paid to the district’s capital assets, like its two twin-engine planes, hangar vehicle fleet and helicopter The helicopter was used on 20 treatment missions, the report says, and the district’s helicopter pilot has a $180,396 compensation package. The report also says the new mosqui-

to-testing lab costs taxpayers more than if the district sent the samples to a lab at LSU, $12 per test in-house vs. $5.50 per test at LSU.

The report estimates that $1.4 million could be saved annually in salaries and benefits if the district streamlines lab functions, reassesses the helicopter program and consolidates with state and parish government.

By cutting costs and consolidating, France and others contend the district could reduce its tax, and parish residents might then be more amenable to funding criminal justice operations.

Caillouet, who was not at the meeting on Oct. 23, said in an interview that there were a “lot of misrepresentations of numbers, misunderstandings of numbers that we look forward to unpacking in the future.”

He said that while the in-house lab costs more per test, its quick turnaround time reflects the best practices in the field. “Every night that you miss being able to treat those mosquitoes is an opportunity for those mosquitoes to bite people and make them ill with West Nile virus,” Caillouet said.

Caillouet said helicopters are the standard for modern mosquito control. He said the Government Efficiency Committee should hire an expert familiar with the field to evaluate the services St. Tammany’s Mosquito Abatement offers It was not clear at the end of the meeting what the Parish Council plans to do next. Council member Joe Impastato encouraged the committee to look through the report, which details everything from employees’ salaries and benefits to the district’s travel expenses.

The report also suggests the parish consider consolidating Mosquito Abatement with Parish Government, essentially turning it into a parish department. That could require a vote by the taxpayers or legislative change at the state level.

St. Tammany Parish has $180M proposed budget

Infrastructure upgrades are focus, criminal justice system would see substantially less funding

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

St. Tammany’s proposed 2026 budget is a study in contrasts.

On one hand, the budget promises millions in increased investments in bridges, roads, and drainage infrastructure to the tune of $53 million, as well as a 2% cost-of-living increase for parish workers.

On the other hand, the 2026 budget also proposes cuts of approximately 30% — millions of dollars in reductions in funding for the criminal justice system, following years of worry that the money was running out For instance, compared to last year, the 2026 budget proposes a $1.9 million reduction for the criminal division of northshore District Attorney Collin Sims’ office and a $2.6 million reduction in funding for the St. Tammany Parish Jail

It’s not that officials in conservative St. Tammany have decided to defund the police. Rather, it’s that St. Tammany Parish government can turn to dedicated funding sources for its infrastructure, but not for the District Attorney’s Office, courts and jail.

To fund infrastructure, the parish can rely on a 2% sales tax, which is expected to generate approximately $90 million in 2026. About $50 million of the sales tax’s revenue will go toward the parish’s $53 million infrastructure investments, according to St. Tammany Parish Council Administrator Mary Burckell

In what he touts as one of the “biggest proposed allocations in (St Tammany Parish) history,” Parish President Mike Cooper said the infrastructure money will cover a multitude of infrastructure and facility improvement projects, as well as the purchase of new

vehicles and equipment

Meanwhile, to fund the judges, district attorney and jail, the parish has to rely on its approximately $16 million general fund, which is generated through a mix of property taxes, occupational licenses and other funding sources. The parish is also supplementing its general fund with additional one-time funds, including $3.5 million from Deep Water Horizon settlement money and American Rescue Plan Act interest, Burckell said.

The problem is that the general fund, which is about 9% of the parish’s $180 million in revenue in 2026, is tapped for a multitude of other expenses as well. The remaining 91% of the parish’s revenues are “dedicated” and can only be spent for specific purposes, Burckell said.

The situation for criminal justice funding reflects the fact that since 2016, St. Tammany residents have voted against tax propositions to fund the criminal justice system six different times, including in March of this year, when voters shot down a proposal to divert a portion of the 2% sales tax to the DA’s office, judges and jail.

The Parish Council earlier this month began conducting meetings to discuss the 2026 budget, which it must adopt by the end of the year

Still, even with the planned reductions in 2026, residents are not expected to see significant cuts to services at the District Attorney’s Office or the parish’s courthouse. Sims and 22nd JDC Judge Vincent “Vinny” Lobello have said they will be able to draw on cash reserves and continue to delay some new hires. But they have warned of what will happen when the cash reserves run out in the future.

It is less clear what this year’s cuts in particular will mean for the parish’s jail.

Parish government and the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office are locked in a fiery legal dispute over funding for the jail, which a state judge recently found was in poor condition, after decades of deterioration while under the sheriff’s office’s control.

The sheriff ’s office threatened this month to pull its deputies from some parish government buildings, accusing the parish of not providing the money it had budgeted in 2025 to maintain the jail. The 2026 budget calls for only one new parish employee — a jail contracts manager Some officials in the parish, meanwhile, are already worried about future budgets.

Council member Cheryl Tanner who chairs the council’s Finance Committee, said in an interview that she is concerned about funding for the judges, district attorney’s office and jail in 2027. “Next year you could be looking at 50% reduction,” she said. “They can’t operate with that.”

Various groups, such as the Parish Council’s Efficiency Committee and a group of business leaders organized by Sims, have started investigating the finances of various parish government agencies, with an eye toward long-term funding solutions.

Sims honed in on St. Tammany Mosquito Abatement Control, an independent government agency that is funded by a dedicated tax and has a budget that is overseen by a board of volunteer commissioners. The agency, which Sims’ office legally represents, filed a bar complaint against Sims, alleging a conflict of interest over his inquiry into their finances. Meanwhile, the 2026 budget process is ongoing.

Cross Gates, Franco’s join in ‘strategic partnership’

Franco’s, with locations in Mandeville and New Orleans, will now be managed by Cross Gates, based in Slidell

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

Two of the northshore’s biggest health clubs have entered into a partnership that will consolidate the management of the popular workout facilities.

Franco’s Health Club and Spa, which has locations in Mandeville and New Orleans, will now be managed by the owners of Cross Gates Family Fitness, which has three clubs in the Slidell area.

“Cross Gates will lead both operations,” said Nate Welch, who owns Cross Gates with his uncle, Larry Welch.

Franco’s clubs and Cross Gates clubs will retain their own names, Welch said. Combined, the clubs have around 30,000 members and more than 400 employees, he said.

In an interview, Welch declined to describe the specifics of the business transaction, only saying that it was a “strategic partnership” that keeps both clubs in the hands of local owners. He also said the company plans a multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion of both Franco’s locations.

A news release announcing the move said longtime Franco’s owners Ron and Sandy Franco “will continue to be active and help carry forward Franco’s brand and long-standing commitment to our members, employees and community.”

Welch said his family has had a long friendship with

FILE PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

People exercise at Cross Gates Family Fitness in Slidell in this file photo from May 2020

Ron and Sandy Franco. It was important, he added, that the Franco’s name be retained to honor the company’s 37 years in business.

“Franco’s is an institution, and we recognize the gravity of that legacy,” he said in the news release.

For decades, Franco’s, which has an 80,000-squarefoot facility on 10 acres off La. 22, has been one of the biggest players in the health club business in western St Tammany Parish Franco’s is also well known for its Iceman Dip & Dash, a New Year’s Day event in which runners gather at the club, run along La. 22, swim across the chilly Tchefuncte River, and then run back to the club

Cross Gates, which first opened in Slidell in 1981, has three locations in the Slidell area and has been a dominant player on the eastern side of St. Tam-

many

The announcement that Franco’s will be managed by the Cross Gates team comes just weeks after the sale of another large north-

Trump taps Crain for spot on federal bench

Also, early voting begins to fund area recreation, fire protection

Staff reports

Will Crain, an associate justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court, was nominated Oct. 20 by President Donald Trump to be a federal judge in New Orleans.

If confirmed by the Senate, Crain would fill one of three vacancies on the federal bench in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Crain has been a judge at various levels since 2009, including the last six years on Louisiana’s highest court. Crain was also a trial court judge and appeals court judge in St. Tammany Parish before winning an election in 2019 to join the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Trump wrote that Crain “has proven he has the Wisdom and Courage required to put our Constitution, FIRST. Now, more than ever, we need Judges who will hold violent criminals accountable enforce the Rule of Law, and protect our Inalienable rights.”

Crain is a Republican who has been known for his conservative rulings on the Supreme Court, particularly favoring the state in criminal matters. During campaigns to be a judge, he loved to tell stories about his former boss, state Sen. Sixty Rayburn, a colorful populist Democrat who represented Washington Parish for 48 years.

shore health club, Pelican Athletic Club in Mandeville, to a national chain, Kansas-based Genesis Health Clubs. The northshore health club business has become more competitive in recent years, with the rise of national chains like Crunch in Mandeville and Planet Fitness in Slidell and Covington. Asked about the competition and if Cross Gates had been looking for an opportunity to expand its reach into western St. Tammany Welch said, “We’ve always had a connection with the other clubs. I’m cheering everyone on. I really believe in our industry.”

Improvements coming to Franco’s will range from cosmetic changes in the buildings to work on pickleball courts and the fitness floor, Welch said. Other improvements will be announced at a later date.

There won’t be any immediate changes in memberships, Welch added.

“I love this mission of being locally owned and operated,” he said.

vacancy in the Western District of Louisiana, which includes Lafayette, Alexandria, Shreveport, Lake Charles and Monroe. He would be based in Shreveport. During much of 2025, Van Hook served as acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District. Before that, he spent 25 years working as a prosecuting attorney in that office “He’s a terrific trial lawyer, and I’m delighted,” said U.S. District Court Judge Donald Walter, who is on senior status and has been on the bench since 1985. The nominations mean that Sen. John Kennedy and Sen. Bill Cassidy have blessed the picks.

Tyler Bridges

Early voting begins Nov. 1 on three local propositions

Early voting for the Nov 15 Municipal Parochial General Election will begin Nov 1 and continue through Nov 8. Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily thru the early voting period, except on Sunday, Nov 2,

Crain played a key role in drafting a new map for the seven-member Supreme Court that state lawmakers approved in 2024. Legislators had last redistricted the Supreme Court in 1996.

Crain grew up in Bogalusa and graduated from LSU and LSU Law School. His father, Hillary, also served as a judge in St. Tammany Parish for years and chaired the Louisiana Gaming Control Board under Gov. Mike Foster Trump also nominated Alexander Van Hook to be a district court judge to fill the

FARNER

Continued from page 1A

become Grand Funk Railroad, the world-famous rock outfit that has sold countless millions of records since bursting onto the music scene in the late 1960s They played the Atlanta International Pop Festival in both 1969 and 1970, which cemented the trio as one of the most energetic live acts of the era. The band needed only three days to sell out Shea Stadium in the summer of 1971, faster than the Beatles’ did a few years earlier A steady stream of gold and platinum records followed. Farner was the star he dreamed of being by the time he turned 21. The meteoric rise to fame took a toll on Grand Funk and on Farner as it does to many others who climb so high so fast. There were fights, legal battles, and addiction. But there was redemption, too, when Farner tuned in to Christianity and heard the calls of clarity once again.

Now 77 years young Farner will make his first-ever appearance in Covington The Mark Farner Acoustic Trio will be the headline act for the 2025 Ozone Songwriter Festival on Oct. 31 at Fuhrmann Auditorium. Farner and Company will cover a wide range of music in their show, but classic rock fans can rest assured, all those Farner hits will be among the offerings. St. Tammany Farmer editor Andrew Canulette interviewed Farner via telephone before the music legend left his home state of Michigan for the piney woods of St. Tammany Following are excerpts from their lengthy conversation that touched on just about everything under the sun, including plenty talk about music. The Farmer: In your long and storied career you’ve seen much of the world. When’s the last time you were in south Louisiana?

Mark Farner: Sometime in the ’90s. But I have a lot of memories about New Orleans before that, playing there through the years One that really stand out is when played back in the day at a place called The Warehouse. Dude, they had air conditioning units outside, diesel-driven units which these huge hoses maybe 6 foot in diameter, blowing in cold air The air was positioned to blow over the audience but one of the hoses was over the band, above the stage. But we were playing and the drummer was in the middle of a solo and I tell you it was hotter than a sheriff’s pistol in that whole place Well, this hose broke loose and started flipping around all over the place. The condensation inside the hose gave him a bath and froze him He went into a spasm when the cold water hit him. He locked up. We had to take him up to the dressing room, put him in towels, massage him and get him back to life. He was locked up. But to his credit, he came back down and finished the set! Well, I can promise you the auditorium on the 31st is air-conditioned You’ll be comfortable.

Yeah, man! That’s good to know!

The Ozone Songwriter Festival is an opportunity for young singersongwriters to get their work in front of an audience It’s a chance for talented young artists possibly to turn their passion into a career How did your own journey into a lifetime of music begin? You’ve been a force for 60-something years now, so it must have been a lasting force that led you here. I played the tuba. I started in the fifth grade, marching for the junior varsity football band. I kept noticing that the girls in the stands, the fans, they weren’t watching the marching band they were looking at the tight ends and the linebackers. So, I went out for football because I wanted to be noticed. I wanted to hear my name called on the loudspeaker. Before long, I’m playing and you’d hear “That was Farner, Number 66, on the tackle” and I would be prancing on that field. We played the varsity team and they really put one on us. I fractured some bones in my leg, so football was over My mother, for my 15th birthday, rented an acoustic guitar for me and got me six lessons I got three of the lessons in and the teacher called my mom and said “Mark’s picking this up really fast.” I was playing some leads, he was playing some leads.

In my early years, my whole family was musical And every Sunday without fail, we’d gather together and eat and music always part of that. My family had moved to Michigan from Leachville, Arkansas, to Flint, Michigan, to get higher-paying auto factory jobs Every Sunday was hoedown. It was either at our house, an 11-room farmhouse on the outskirts of Flint; or at my Aunt Dorothy’s house. There was Southern fried chicken with some hockey-puck dumplings, sloppy joes. My grandpa was playing the fiddle, Uncle Woody playing the guitar, my dad playing guitar and saxophone The women were singing I loved it. Some of my first memories are looking up at these grown-ups playing music. I was happy and part of my upbringing. It was only natural for me to excel at music.

By the time I was 15, I knew this was what I wanted to do. My family gave me their blessing to go play that guitar I got out of school and right into rock ‘n’ roll school Before you know it, Grand Funk starts and we’ve got a million-selling record when I’m 20. It happened in a hurry

It’s like this was your destiny, that it was meant to be for you.There are so many stories from your generation and my generation like that, how people organically wind up in music. It doesn’t always happen like that now does it? What’s your take on the music industry currently, where some are selected to be stars at 8 years old? Heck, we even have AI making music, not just as a machine but as a personality

The electronic part of the music industry in 1969 was all organic You played to the drummer, not a click track. There was nothing electronic leading the way Real music and real bands, you play to a drummer, things speed up. It’s part of making music

So as far I can see today, it’s like a digital downfall. If you can’t sing, there’s a machine that makes you sound like you can. It’s not what it was. So I come from that place, where music is real.

That’s the Mark Farner Acoustic Trio in a nutshell, right? It’s taking your music, breaking it down to the bones the guitars the lyrics.This is like being part of the family jam 60 years ago, isn’t it? Yeah, brother Exactly like that. Paul Randolph is an incredible bassist. Arnie Vilches is with us. He was my guitar tech way back in the 80s. We’re cousin Christians. We want to give God, who is love, the increase that love made in us. It doesn’t matter if we’re electric or if we’re acoustic. It’s a mindset. And people enjoy it. This is how a lot of my songs started, just me and an acoustic. “I’m Your Captain” was written on an acoustic guitar in my kitchen, right here in Michigan.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that’s one of my favorite songs I know a lot of people are looking forward to hearing Mark Farner classics like that one on Oct. 31 in Covington.

I’m proud of the music I’ve made through the years People are gonna leave this show happy We’re still playing this music all over. We’re going to South America for 21 days next year We enjoy going around the world, learning new cultures, meeting good people, and spreading the love.

Email Andrew Canulette at acanulette@ sttammanyfarmer.net

FROM SHADOWS TO SPOTLIGHT

The St. Tammany Parish social calendar is filled with important events throughout the year We’ve asked organizers to help us highlight people who work behind the scenes to quietly make our most beloved events successful. We’re calling the feature From Shadows to Spotlight” and letting it be a reminder that not only is one of our area’s biggest events coming up, but also to remind readers the tremendous effect one caring person can have on our community. Be well!

Andrew Canulette, editor, St. Tammany Farmer

New volunteer voice moving Ozone Festival forward

BY JESSICA SAGGIO Contributing writer

Volunteer Lynne Black just couldn’t help herself

She was volunteering at the Ozone Songwriter Festival last year, working the Tshirt booth and helping with a number of other odd jobs, when she started to notice things.

A whiz at marketing, Black spent 30 years in the industry before retiring. But when she started to help with the festival, her eye for communications started to peep out again.

What if they tried this, or what if they tried that, she thought.

“I started asking questions and one thing led to another, and I just fell into it helping with whatever they needed,” she said.

Fast forward, and Black isn’t working the T-shirt booth this year. She’s fallen into a new volunteer role as marketing communications coordinator for Ozone. Whether it’s creating calendars, coordinating radio spots or social media managers, adding new functions to the website or coming up with community partnership strategies, Black has hit the ground running. Filling in the “this” and “that” she has become a sort of consultant for the growing festival,

helping create new opportunities and grow old ones.

“All this stuff comes second nature to me,” said Black. “ It’s like coloring out of the lines, which I absolutely love.”

Additionally, she helps “connect the dots” between board members and their strategies and creating processes that automate the organization’s many different focuses. She said Ozone does so much beyond the festival, from mentorship and lessons to linking up music artists with local venues. Part of what she has contributed, she said, was simply pointing out just how much the organization does so it can better streamline its message and

Local carvers turn wood into lifelike Louisiana

creatures

strengthen its programming. Black spent all of her career in the for-profit health care industry, she said, working for HCA Healthcare. There, she mastered budgeting, care contracting and marketing. Retired since 2022, she said she went back to her musical roots and jumped into the opportunity to work with a cause she feels is significant. Black is also a classically trained pianist and comes from a family of musicians.

“It’s all perfect for me because my dad was a music professor,” she said “It’s a perfect fit for me as a volunteer.”

And that fit is indeed making an impact on the festi-

OZONE SONGWRITER

FESTIVAL

WHAT: Ozone Music Foundation songrwriter festival, featuring 10 stages with more than 120 performers; also includes music workshops and youth performances WHERE: Downtown Covington, multiple locations WHEN: Oct. 31- Nov. 2; Oct 31, Mark Farner Acoustic Trio performs a ticketed concert at 7 p.m.; Nov. 1: multiple venues, events and stages, 9 a.m. – midnight; Nov. 2, multiple venues, events and stages, 11 a.m. — midnight HOW MUCH: Free admission to festival; Friday concert tickets $50-$70. MORE INFO: For full schedule of performances and events at ozonemusic.org.

val and organization, said Christine Barnhill, founding member and treasurer of the Ozone Music Foundation. “Lynne Black’s professional insights on our marketing and community outreach were instrumental — pun intended — in the growth of the Ozone Music Foundation this past year,” said Barnhill. “Her contributions are deeply appreciated.”

This owl carving was a blue-ribbon winner at the 46th annual Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers and Collectors Guild Festival held Oct. 24-26 at the Castine Center near Mandeville. The event showcases competitions in wildfowl carving, fine art, antique decoys, and photography, with approximately $45,000 in prizes awarded over the three-day festival. Visitors could watch carving and painting demonstrations, whittling contests, and a live wildfowl presentation, and also browse vendor exhibits, attend awards ceremonies, and bid in an auction for coveted wildfowl decoys. Annual festival celebrates wildfowl and outdoors culture

Athena leadership award nominees honored

Staff report

Five community leaders have been nominated for this year’s East St. Tammany Athena Leadership Award, and the year’s new Athena Young Professional Leadership winner, Lauren Kaufmann Navarre, has already been named.

Nominees for the remaining award are Carra “Beth” Melton, Katheryn Townsend, Kristen StanleyWallace, Megan Haggerty and Wendy Keller

All six will be celebrated, and the Athena Leadership Award winner announced, at a Nov 5 luncheon at Pinewood Country Club in Slidell.

Nominees are all women living or working in St. Tammany Parish who personify the eight Athena leadership

tenets of authentic self, relationships, giving back, collaboration, courageous acts, learning, fierce advocacy, celebration and joy

Nominees for the Athena Young Professional Leadership Award, sponsored by business partners Mike Rich and Steve Kernahan must also be 40 or younger Arena Collective is sponsoring the 2025 Athena Leadership Award, and its nominees include:

n Megan Haggerty is director of advancement and alumni affairs at Pope John Paul II High School and a member of the Slidell City Council, and she uses both platforms to champion initiatives enhancing children’s safety and the overall quality of life for her constituents. She was previously development director for the Northshore

Humane Society, where she created a program that transforms shelter animals into certified service dogs for veterans and other deserving individuals, giving both the animals and handlers a second chance for life.

n Wendy Keller, the Community Outreach Specialist for the Department of Justice in Louisiana, has led initiatives strengthening trust between law enforcement and the public, with a special interest in programs that encourage girls and young women to pursue higher education, professional development and careers in law enforcement. She also founded Our Friends Closet to provide free hygiene and personal care items to homeless and low-income students in six parishes.

n Carra “Beth” Melton is an

educator, mentor and community leader with more than 20 years of experience inspiring students and empowering colleagues. She teaches third grade at Bayou Woods Elementary School, where she is known for blending academic rigor with creativity and character development Melton was chosen as a Fellow in the Louisiana Fellowship Math Initiative, through which she collaborates with educators locally and statewide to create and strengthen instructional practices. She also volunteers with special needs children and adults.

n Kristin Stanley-Wallace, lead attorney for Seal & Ross, is president of the 22nd Judicial District Court Bar Association. She brought in a State Bar Association program that provides free es-

tate planning to employees of the Slidell Police Department and St Tammany Fire District No. 1 and started the “Bring Your Kids to Court Day” for local lawyers and their children. She also chairs the Slidell Memorial Hospital Board of Commissioners and has been honored as an Athenian Young Professional Leader

n Katheryn Townsend, retired from the Naval Oceanographic Office at Stennis Space Center, holds degrees in chemistry and education and has a special interest in hydrographic science and systems. At NAVO, she was a key participant in international space explorations, serving as both an international liaison to local dignitaries and a hand of support to the poor in these countries. She also spearheaded an initiative that encouraged poor Black youth to pursue careers in ocean science and

FROM THE FILES OF THE FARMER

25 years ago

Southeastern Louisiana University officials last week formally opened the school’s St.Tammany Center at the state office building on Koop Drive south of Abita Springs.

Located on the third floor of the building, the center is home to 1,150 students enrolled in 58 courses taught in the morning and evening

“This center represents another milestone in our outreach efforts to make affordable higher education more easily available for residents of Southeast Louisiana University,” President Sally Clauson said.

On hand for the ribbon-cutting were Parish President Kevin Davis, State Reps. Diane Winston, of Covington; Tank Powell, of Bogalusa; and St. Tammany Parish School Superintendent Lenny Monteleone.

“The education of our citizens is key to the success of St. Tammany, and education today means lifelong learning,” Davis said Winston said she was gratified that Southeastern had located the center in St. Tammany Parish.

To the students who gathered for the event, Winston had this advice: “When you get your degree, stay in Louisiana, please.”

The center began operations last spring and features 10 classrooms, two science laboratories and two multipurpose conference seminar rooms. Every classroom has internet access and one is totally equipped for compressed video instruction, allowing two-way communication between students and an offcampus instructor A fully equipped computer lab for student use has more than 30 computers, all wired for Internet access and linked to the Southeastern Library in Hammond 50 years ago

Groundbreaking for the new $600,000 Southeast Louisiana Livestock Show Barn was held Thursday at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds in Covington.

The facility to be built by LSU, will serve

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

Contestants show their heifers during the showmanship competition as a crowd gathers under a tent Feb 1, 2011, during the Southeast Louisiana District Livestock Show at the Parish Fairgrounds in Covington.

the 21-parish district.

The barn will be managed jointly by the LSU Extension Service and the St Tammany Parish Police Jury The focal point for future 4H club and Future Farmers of America livestock activities, the arena will have two show rings, one of which will be large enough to stage rodeos. It will seat about 1,000 spectators in the two rings. The new St. Tammany show barn will replace the old Arabi Stockyards, in St. Bernard Parish, and LSU, in Baton Rouge, as site of the Southeast District Spring Livestock Show to be held next February

Last year’s District show involved 149 head of beef cattle, 296 head of steers, 277 dairy animals, 288 market hogs, 28 swine breeding animals, 270 market lambs and 43 sheep breeding animals.

With the proposed renovation of some of the existing St. Tammany Fairgrounds facilities, future Southeast District shows will be able to accommodate over 1,500 animals.

75 years ago

St.Tammany Parish livestock owners should be on the lookout for screw worms in their animals accord-

ing to W.P. Knight, county agent.

During the past few days, a number of infestations have been reported from within the parish. There has been a severe outbreak of the pest in west Louisiana and along the Mississippi River since July The fly which is a tropical insect, migrates in from Mexico up through Texas northward and eastward They’re only now becoming severe here.

Wounds on animals that are infested with these worms are easily identified. The wounds are swollen, usually well-defined round, and there is a constant discharge of bloody watery serum. The county agent said precautions to be observed are:

n Avoid causing any wounds that cause bleeding.

n Observe animals daily Wire cuts, harness wounds and even briar scratches and

insect flies may furnish an opening for the worms.

n Treat all animals having worms immediately with Smearex or Smear No. 62. Repeat the treatment on all bleeding wounds until bleeding is over

Animals having screw worm infestation should be treated immediately and the treatment repeated until the wound heals. Dead carcasses should be burned or buried because the flies breed in them, said the agent. 100 years ago

WANTED –A man to take charge of a place. Address Box 161, Abita Springs.

125 years ago

Wreaths and bouquets for All Saints Day For sale by Mrs. Hardy H Smith Send in orders ahead of time.

Native American culture to be celebrated in Lacombe

Staff report

The Bayou Lacombe Museum

will host its seventh annual Native American Heritage Celebration with cultural demonstrations, crafts, food and live performances on the weekend of Nov 1-2 in La-

combe. This free, family-friendly weekend will honor Native American history and traditions. Events are scheduled at the museum and the Bayou Buchokwa Garden in the adjacent Lacombe Park, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at 61100 N. 12th St

and 61115 S. Mary St.

The event will focus on cultural education and the community’s connection to the land by its original stewards, the Native American people.

Activities will include tours of the Three Sisters Garden and the Medi-

cine Wheel Garden; live cooking demonstrations featuring traditional dishes; herbal medicine talks and plant walks led by local Native herbalists; tastings of indigenous foods and sharing of seasonal recipes; and a variety of family activities and cultural displays. The celebra-

tion highlights Native knowledge, food systems and healing traditions through hands-on experiences and interactive presentations. Donations are welcome. For more information and event updates, visit www.bayoulacombemuseum.com.

Covington beautification increases downtown parking

BY KIM CHATELAIN

Contributing writer

A one-block section of the Tammany Trace in downtown Covington has undergone a $200,000 face-lift that was designed in part to alleviate a parking problem in the area

Mayor Mark Johnson said public response to the newly completed, state-funded project has been glowing.

“I’m not sure there’s been any project we’ve done since I’ve been mayor that has generated so much positive feedback,” said Johnson, who was first elected in 2019 and is now serving his second term Johnson and others publicly unveiled the refurbished walkway on Oct 23 by secondlining their way along the path toward the city’s Rockin’ the Rails concert at the Cov-

ington Trailhead. The beautification project’s goal was twofold: to improve the appearance of the onceunsightly stretch of the Tammany Trace, and to better utilize the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse garage to provide parking for those attending large, weekend events in the downtown area.

Johnson said he believes the project accomplished both goals. Already, people are using the garage and traversing the improved walkway between North Theard and East Lockwood streets behind the old train depot. That short stretch represents the northernmost end of the Tammany Trace, an asphalt trail that stretches about 31 miles from downtown Covington to Slidell.

For years, Johnson and other city officials have lamented the scarcity of parking in the

downtown area, particularly during major weekend special events. Three years ago, the city devised a plan to encourage visitors to park in the three-story garage and walk toward the Covington Trailhead via the oneblock, northern tip of the Trace. However, that section of the walkway was drab, bumpy, uninviting and rarely used.

The city was awarded a $200,000 state capital outlay grant to improve the walkway. The St. Tammany Parish government, which owns the Trace, approved of the project, and Smoketree Landscape was hired as the contractor

The project involved major landscaping and drainage work, the installation of benches and lighting and a resurfacing of the path. The Keeling Company donated lighting for the project, Johnson said.

The improvements will allow visitors, including those who are wheelchair bound, to park in the garage and reach the downtown area by taking a shortcut along the smooth, new path.

The multilevel parking garage opened in 2012 directly across North Jefferson Avenue from the courthouse. With 535 spaces, it was built at $8.6 million primarily to provide parking for the 22nd Judicial District Court serving both St Tammany and Washington parishes. There is no charge to park in the garage. Because the courthouse is closed on weekends, the garage can be used by those attending events in the downtown area.

City officials credited state Sen. Patrick McMath and state Rep. Mark Wright with helping secure the grant to finance the work.

A beaver dam is being removed to eliminate drainage issues that it is causing

Community Thanksgiving Feast planned in Slidell

Staff report

BY KIM CHATELAIN Contributing writer

Poor drainage along Hebert Road in the southeast corner of Abita Springs has been a problem of late, and town officials now believe they know who is responsible. The culprits? Beavers, the largest rodents in North America.

Alderman E.J. Boudreaux said the drainage problems appear to stem from dams that have been built across culverts and ditches by the semiaquatic rodents.

During the Oct. 21 town council meeting, Boudreaux floated the idea of employing an animal trapper to rid the area of beavers

Boudreaux said he con-

tacted Fred Penton of Animal Round Up a trapper recommended by the state

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, for help with the issue.

Penton offered to survey the situation and present to the town a proposal to catch the dam-building beavers and relocate them.

“Once we get these animals removed, we would then be able to dig the ditches out, break the dams down and give the area some better drainage,” Boudreaux said.

Penton would charge the town $180 for the survey There would be additional charges based on how many visits to the area are needed to trap and remove the beavers, but Boudreaux said the total costs would likely be “in the hundreds” not thousands of dollars.

“I think it would be crazy not to do it,” he said. Other council members

signaled their agreement with Boudreaux’s plan.

Alderman Pat Patterson said if the dams are located on private property, the town may have to get clearance from the property owners before removing the dams.

Both Patterson and Boudreaux said they believe the clearing of land in the area may have prompted the beavers to build their dams along Hebert Road.

Beavers instinctively build dams to create deepwater ponds that provide protection from predators, allow for underwater entrances to their lodges, and offer access to a stable food supply year-round. For a second time, Patterson chaired the meeting as mayor pro tem in place of Mayor Dan Curtis, who is recovering from back surgery

Slidell’s annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner will once again be hosted by Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Nov 27, but this traditional outreach relies on a village of churches, nonprofits and volunteers to make it happen. The meals can either be delivered or picked up, and for those interested in sharing this meal of thanksgiving, there will also be communal dining available at Aldersgate.

This is the 27th annual Thanksgiving event, and more than 37,200 meals have been served during its history Thanks to generous donations and a slew of volunteers, this year’s meals will include smoked turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls and pie.

The deadline to place an order for meal delivery or to volunteer is at noon Nov 24, or until 1,400 meals are reserved, so residents interested in receiving or volunteering are encouraged to go ahead and sign up.

“This dinner means a lot to many people. For those who request a meal, it’s a way to celebrate with a traditional foods when cooking a big feast is not possible,” said

event co-chair Suzie Hunt.

“For our volunteers, preparing and delivering these meals lets them share in the spirit of the day

“There is such a need in Slidell and the surrounding area, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to have a traditional meal on Thanksgiving.”

Donations from area churches, businesses and individuals provide the turkeys, green beans and all the fixings for a traditional meal.

About 200 volunteers are needed to get these traditional meals from the kitchen stove to area dinner tables. Jobs include cooking, meal box assembly, delivery and cleanup.

“Volunteers from the com-

munity, not only make this whole thing happen, but they make this such a special event. Our delivery drivers spread holiday cheer along with the delicious food,” Hunt said.

Adults and teens 16 years old or older can sign up using the link on the Aldersgate website at www.aldersgate-slidell.org.

Anyone wanting a meal delivered to them on Thanksgiving Day are asked to call the Turkey Hotline at (985) 690-3460; use the email account at slidellthanksgiving@gmail.com to request a meal; and always provide a name, address, contact number and the number of meals needed. All orders must be confirmed to guarantee delivery

Louisiana artist Pamela Sills exhibits near Covington

BY SHEILA GRISSETT Staff writer

A new exhibition of work by contemporary Louisiana artist Pamela Sills opens Nov 8 with a reception at the Atrium Gallery near Covington for her “Joie de Vivre” show depicting Louisiana landscapes and botanicals in impressionistic-flavored oils on canvas.

The artist’s reception from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is free, and the public is invited.

Sills’ work is rich with the feel of abstract impressionism, each painting capturing the colors, structures and patterns of her subject landscapes or botanical images, and each work symbolizing the struggles, pains or pleasures of life as seen through her artist’s lens

In addition to her own experiences and artistic experimentation, Sills’ work also owes much to the works of master painters Paul Cezanne and Henri Matisse, as well as more contemporary artists, including Howard Hodgkin and David Hockney says the Degas Gallery in New

Orleans that represents her

“Sills’ paintings are about tension and about how one experiences nature through color, form, and space. Plants and gardens serve as visual metaphors expressing conflicting feelings about freedom and restraint in the human condition,” the gallery opined.

Sills’ work begins with images based on her own photographs and drawings and then is fully developed in stages — starting with charcoal strokes; then layering wet into wet over gestures first added in ink or loose oil crayon; and finally adding color from light to dark. She works on two or more paintings at a time, giving her oils time to set, and paints with long brushes, which give her the best sweep and allows her to paint farther from her canvases. Although she primarily paints and exhibits the lusher environs of the southern U.S., observers will also sometimes find depictions of the cacti found in Western landscapes that Sills also enjoys painting. This native New Orleani-

Dew Drop Jazz Hall embraces the NOLA Sweetie Pies

BY SHEILA GRISSETT Staff writer

Although the NOLA Sweetie Pies are a fairly new performance name on the New Orleans music scene, where seasoned musicians routinely team up and reconfigure under new monikers, this high-spirited group of musician-entertainers will headline the Dew Drop Jazz Hall in Old Mandeville on Nov 8

The Pies feature charismatic, vintage-flavored vocalist Becky Lynn Blanca, who can rock the house growling and crooning Brenda Lee’s classic “Sweet Nothings,” and gypsy jazz guitarist Russell Welch, known for his mastery of the Django Reinhardt style as well as for mixing his Mississippi blues roots with the rhythms of New Orleans jazz.

DEW DROP JAZZ HALL SHOW

WHO: The NOLA Sweetie Pies

WHEN: Nov 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m; doors open 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: 430 Lamarque St., Mandeville

HOW MUCH: Cost is $10/ adult (cash preferred) to enter the grounds; kids and students free. No advance tickets sold. WHAT ELSE: Beer wine, sodas and water (cash only) at the bar Hot plate dinners of fried chicken, fried fish and all the fixins’ sold next door by the The First Free Mission Baptist Church (cash preferred).

SEATING: Inside is first come/ first serve for about 100, but most people sit outside, so bring a lawn chair No smoking, ice chests, outside food/drinks or pets are allowed.

PARKING: In the lot across the street or on neighborhood streets — but don’t block driveways.

The band name is fairly new, but the musicians are not, and this current group is just too good not to perform in the jazz hall that has embraced great roots musicians since the days of Kid Ory, Bunk Johnson and Louis Armstrong, say the music aficionados who run the northshore hall built the year jazz was born in New Orleans. The Pies have appeared at Snug Harbor Jazz

Bistro and currently entertain at the Spotted Cat’s “Never Tame” Tuesdays, both quintessential Frenchmen Street jazz clubs in the Faubourg Marigny.

“This vivacious cast of top-notch musicians delivers a joyful mix of hot jazz, soul and playful stage magic,” say Friends of the Dew Drop, the nonprofit that books the music and hosts the venue’s annual concerts. “Every show is fresh, fun and impossible not to dance to. Come for the music, stay for the sweet harmonies and irresistible fun.”

As always, the doors open at 5:30 p.m., music starts at 6:30 p.m and the last set ends at 9 p.m. Adults are $10 at the door; children and students get in free, a gesture Dew Drop decision-makers hope will encourage young people to get involved and stay involved with the world-class music of south Louisiana. Paid guests can opt to take a pew inside the 130-yearold shotgun jazz hall built in 1895 or bring lawn chairs from home to relax, lean back and enjoy the music outside under the ancient live oaks.

an and longtime resident of Baton Rouge was educated at Newcomb College, Tulane University, Yale University’s prestigious Norfolk School of Music and Art and earned her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts at UNO. She has taught drawing, painting and art history at UNO, Delgado Community College and several New Orleans preparatory schools.

Sills began exhibiting professionally in St. Louis in the 1970s. Since then, her work has been shown in numerous group, competitive, invitational and one-person exhibitions and is included in numerous private, public and corporate collections, including The Arts Council of New Orleans, The Atlantic Richfield Center for the Visual Arts, Children’s Hospital in New Orleans and City Club Inc. in Miami. Her exhibition will hang through Jan. 3 in the spacious Atrium Gallery located in the Christwood residential community complex at 100 Christwood Blvd., where it is open to the public for viewing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

PROVIDED PHOTOS

K-pop is taking over Halloween, and this mama likes it

You know, Halloween used to be the season of orange and black. But nowadays it appears it’s “Gotta be, gotta be golden.” If you got that terrible joke, you’re already ahead here. Congratulations.

Halloween is fast approaching, and I know for a fact this year is going to look a little different. Perhaps a little more Korean than usual. This is your warning, because it’s happening. I promise you that, and Google Frightgeist data is already showing sales figures to indicate as much K-pop or Korean Pop has taken over and Halloween is going to be the first huge public display of it. Following the popularity of the hit Netflix movie “KPop Demon Hunters,” little Rumis, Miras, Zoeys and Jinos are sure to be running all over town.

And while I can’t tell you just how many thousands of times I’ve had to hear the song “Soda Pop,” I can tell you this: The K-pop takeover isn’t a bad thing. K-pop certainly isn’t a new thing and I can remember hearing my co-workers about a decade ago lamenting about how their kids were into the music. K-pop is a genre of music led by boy and girl bands that combine catchy melodies with lots of sharp choreography It sort of brings you back to the days of ‘N Sync, Backstreet Boys and Destiny’s Child, but with a different language intertwined Like all music, some of it’s really, really good and some of it not so much.

But K-pop is hitting its stride here in the Western World thanks to Netflix. “KPop Demon Hunters” was a smashing success when it was released over the summer and the music from it has dominated the music charts for months. Songs like “Golden,” “Soda Pop,” “Your Idol,” “Free” and “Takedown” have stayed in the top spots, and they are arguably some of the best original songs released in a long time. They’re catchy, upbeat and well-written. The best part? It’s all age appropriate. No need to try and find a Kids Bop version or turn the volume down for curse words. These are all genuinely good songs, with pretty good messaging and suitable language. And with that popularity, other positive K-pop groups like Stray Kids and BTS are also trending again.

Sure, it can feel a little odd to watch kids mumble Korean words they don’t know while singing along but if you dive into the lyr-

Nightmares are fun sippin’ and strollin’ in Covington

Downtown

Covington’s Nightmare on Columbia Street

ics of these songs and this culture, our kids are getting something hard to find in our own country: positivity K-pop lyrics often revolve around overcoming obstacles, believing in yourself, disregarding naysayers, and in the case of “KPop Demon Hunters,” facing your inner demons. What a contrast compared with the other trending music artists like Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter who can’t seem to write a song without potty words or sexual innuendo. I’d much prefer my kids be listening to K-pop.

I’ll admit I was apprehensive when my kids first started getting into this. I even banned the “KPop Demon Hunters” movie from my house, assuming it was inappropriate and against my Christian values. Then, after hearing the songs and picking up the storyline through the lyrics, I actually watched it. And wow — what a great original story with a deep and powerful message. In fact, it even aligned with my Christian values.

Then, Stray Kids entered the picture with my oldest daughter, who is now 10. I sit and watch music videos with her often, reading all the translations of their songs and again wow These songs are not only encouraging, but they’re motivating.

For example here’s an excerpt from one of their songs titled “Bleep,” which again at first, I wasn’t so sure about.

“Doesn’t matter what they say, I’m driven Filter out their ways and listen. Music to my ears, your silence. I can’t hear you.”

I find myself referencing this song when we talk about bullies and overcoming self-doubt. Who knew? While I would love to see more American music artists go down this path, overwhelmingly they are not. I’m so fatigued vetting songs all about sex, drinking, money and heartbreak. We get it. You all are miserable and rich. Bravo. Give me K-pop So yeah, K-pop is taking over this Halloween, but for the first time in a long time, our kids are swooning over something truly positive. And as a parent? What a relief. We can be “Free-hee-heehee-hee” from worrying for once. And I’ll take that whenever I can get it. Be sure to give those little purple-haired Rumi girls and Derpy Cats extra candy, but don’t say I didn’t warn you if you see about a hundred of them this Halloween.

Sip and Stroll on Oct. 18 was nothing but an evening of treats for the guests. Live music by the Geaux Geauxs and the 801 Royals entertained along the route, and vendors served up bites and beverages. For those determined to make the night a special event for themselves and others, they were costumed to the nines.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS

ON STAGE

VOILA: The Northstar Theatre holds Comedy & Magic Night on Nov. 1 at 347 Girod St featuring funny men Mike Strecker and headliner Mike Dardant, also known as “Not That Magic Mike.” Actor Wes Cannon will host. Doors open and happy hour at 6:30 p.m.; showtime at 8 p.m. See northstartheatre.org for ticket information.

BOO: Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes will perform at the North Star Theatre on Oct. 31, treating their Halloween night audience to what Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke described after a Jazz Fest show: “(It) was a revelation … jam band bonhomie and Louisiana stroll spiced with klezmer-style violin and funeral-parade horns … what you get if Phish had been born at Tipitina’s and studied under George Clinton and Frank Zappa late every night on the levee.” See them at 347 Girod St. All tickets reserved, so pick a seat at northstartheatre.org; buy a GA or VIP seat, which comes with drinks and a meet-and-greet with the artists. Tickets $38.92 to $77.84, inclusive, at northstartheatre.org.

Music starts at 7 p.m

A TREAT: Rockin’ the Rails will host The Yat Pak on Oct. 30 at the Covington Trailhead, and guests are reminded to bring chairs and blankets for seating during the free show from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Yat Pak is a swing era band with a Vegas flair, playing a mix of instrumentals of that era; favorites of the day, from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin; music from more contemporary artists, such as Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Bublé; some New Orleans-flavored rhythm & blues; and a bit of jazz Get food and drinks from local vendors.

YIKES: Be part of the Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast at 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville on Oct. 30-31, but only for those 17 years or older. Shout the callbacks, dance the Time Warp, and have a blast but keep it safe; theater staff will guide the participation moments. Also, a Rocky Horror costume contest each night for participants to strut their stuff on the runway before the curtain goes up. No outside props; prop bags will be sold in lobby. Oct. 30 show at 8 p.m., Halloween night show at 10 p.m. Check online for details.

BLUEGRASS: A free Block Party Bluegrass Jam from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 31 (the last one until early spring) in Covington Farmer’s Market Gazebo, 100 N. Columbia St. Takes place during Columbia Street Block Party in the downtown area. See nstms.org for details.

PERFORM: Open Mic Night from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 30 (every final Thursday) in The Reminding Coffee & Creative House, 141 Terra Bella Blvd., near Covington. Musicians of all ages and abilities may perform before a supportive audience. Each performer/ensemble is invited to share a set of three songs or about 15 minutes. Arrive early to sign up for a spot.

JAZZ: A free traditional Jam Jazz with clarinetist and teacher Ben Redwine from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Nov 1 (every first Saturday) at St. John’s Coffee, 535 E. Boston St. Two hours open to all listeners and players, usually a mix of students, amateurs and professional players. Confirm session at nstms.org; sheet music available at redwinejazz.com/education.

VETERANS: The Northshore Community Orchestra will perform a free Veterans Day Concert in Heritage Park on Nov. 9 in honor of the holiday. The concert is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m at 1701 Bayou Lane

ART

LACOMBE: The Lacombe Art Guild exhibits “Brushstrokes & Beyond” on Nov. 1-2 at the Abita Springs Town Hall, 22161 Level St. The show opens with a reception from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The guild fosters creativity in the visual arts on the northshore by providing members and local artists an opportunity to showcase their artwork to the community. More at www lacombeartguild.com/2025-fall-artshow

COMMUNITY GUMBO

HAZARDOUS: The year’s second parishwide collection of hazardous household waste is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 1 in the North Shore Square parking lot at 150 North Shore Blvd. in Slidell. Volunteers and staff will unload vehicles, but residents must register in advance at stpgov.org/keep_st_ tammany_beautiful.php and choose a time to bring their donations. Also at website, consult detailed list of acceptable items; unacceptable materials must remain in the vehicles that brought them.

FESTING: The 13th annual Lenda Dean Memorial Art Festival at St. Michael’s will be held Nov. 7 in the church’s Parish Life Center, 4499 Sharp Road in Mandeville. There will be food; live music (including Allison Kenning’s talented piano students during opening reception); a bake sale; a raffle; and more. The work of dozens of local artists will offer holiday shopping. Proceeds benefit St. Michael’s Episcopal preschoolers. For complete schedule, see www.stmichaelsla.org/artshow. html or, for questions, call Laura Tobin, (985) 626-5781 or (985) 502-6092 or email her at office@stmichaelsla. org.

CELEBRATION: The Northshore Court Foundation will host a gathering Nov. 7 in the Family Preservation Court to celebrate families that have have opened their homes and hearts to foster or adopt children who need homes. Starts at 9 a.m. with food, inspirational speakers and fun for kids of all ages. Families and their children are invited, as well as others in the community interested in fostering or adopting. For more information, email Darlene Carter at dcarter@STPgov.org.

MAMMOS: The Northshore Democratic Women’s Club invites all club and community members to a Be Well Screening and a presentation on Breast Cancer Awareness at 3 p.m. St. Tammany Health’s Be Well Bus will provide on-site mammogram screenings from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

for women over 40 on Nov. 9 at the Abita Springs Town Hall. Appointment recommended. Call (985) 773-1500.

ROADEO: The American Public Works Association Northshore Branch is holding a heavy equipment “roadeo” Nov. 21 at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds in Covington from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Large machinery drivers will compete by maneuvering a backhoe, mini-excavator, skidsteer (bobcat) and ZTR mower through various obstacle courses. Prizes in all categories and for overall first and second place. For more information, email Mason Macaluso at MasonM@fenstermaker.com.

CLAYS: A Clays for Kids event to benefit the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany takes place Nov. 14 at Covey Rise in Husser. The course is set up to be fun for all skill levels, but some stations will challenge even the expert marksmen who participate. Go to cmstkids.org/events/ clay-for-kids-tournament-fundraiser for more information.

PARKINSON’S: The Northshore Parkinson’s Support Group will next meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 57210 Allen Road. Social time for the first half hour; meeting begins at at 6:30 p.m. Licensed social worker Rachel Palmer will discuss and answer questions concerning “Healthcare 101: Maneuvering through an increasingly difficult healthcare system.” As always, the meetings are free and open to people living with Parkinson’s, their care partners, medical professionals and anyone else interested in learning more about living well with the disease.

SPEAKING: The Slidell Toastmasters Club will have an open house at 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 6. Anyone interested in learning more about Toastmasters and seeing an actual meeting are welcomed to attend the open house at 2055 Second St., Slidell. Direct any questions to Colleen Dale at (985) 285-3322.

NEIGHBORS: The next meeting of the Hermadel/Carolyn Park/Bayou Cache Residents’ Association will be on Nov. 13 at the American Legion Post, 1680 St. Ann Place. There will be a “Thanksgiving-theme” pot luck dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a short business meeting. The mayor, a Slidell Police Department representative and District D Council member Nick DiSanti usually attend and bring updates about our neighborhoods. Time allowing, the group will play a few rounds of Bingo. Bring a dish if you can, and a neighbor, but no alcohol. Get to know your neighbors. Questions? Call club President Jill Dalier at (504) 307-7715.

Whispers fill Covington’s old Seiler Hotel building

Those who dared to enter gathered Oct 19 in the historic old Seiler Hotel on North Columbia Street to learn the secrets of the Seiler family and the chilling history of the hotel, a Halloween season event often booked months in advance. It was the night for “Whisperings,” an evening of stories that bring history, mystery and the supernatural to life, courtesy of the Covington Heritage Foundation. For those (un)lucky enough, they may even have met the ghostly resident who some say still lingers within the Seiler Bar & Restaurant, known today as the Columbia Street Tap Room and adjoining Seiler Bar in the historic Seiler Hotel building at the corner of North Columbia and East Lockwood streets. Fortunately, or not, ghosts pay no heed to changes in name or ownership ...

Local ‘heroes’ cooking again for Hope House

BY KADEE KRIEGER Contributing writer

State Sen. Beth Mizell is gearing up for her second year as a competitor in the Heroes Who Cook event, one of St. Tammany’s most vibrant and lively parties. But she said underneath the friendly team competition, delicious food and gala atmosphere is a serious purpose — is meeting the growing needs of child abuse victims in St. Tammany and Washington parishes.

“We may be having fun, eating sushi and competing with what seems like silliness But this is heavy stuff. The seriousness is that Hope House is providing for these kids who don’t have a lot of options,” she said.

Mizell worked for 16 years as a court appointed special advocate, volunteers appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect, and said she’s seen firsthand the safety net that Hope House provides for abused children. She said that as a fledgling competitor during the 2024 fundraiser she saw such an encouraging outpouring of community support for the event, and this year’s event needs that kind of support more than ever The Children’s Advocacy Center-Hope House is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the cycle of child abuse in St. Tammany and neighboring parishes. It is the only local agency that provides forensic interviews for children when allegations of abuse arise, and services are always provided without charge to victims and their families, said Executive Director Thomas Mitchell.

“We provide therapy for as long as it takes for kids to heal. No family ever incurs any cost for these vital services that provide safety, justice and healing for victims,” he said.

The organization is funded primarily through private donations and grants, and Heroes Who Cook is its largest annual fundraiser

“The needs of traumatized children are never ending, and Hope House is there for both the immediate impact but also the long-term effects. They provide a precious place for a child to walk into,” Mizell said.

The 2025 gala happens Nov 2 on the rooftop of the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center Parking Garage in downtown Covington, where 16 teams will face each other in a competitive cookoff and fundraising fight.

The event pairs local “celebrities” — civic leaders, business owners and elected officials with chefs of top restaurants. The celebrities raise funds for their teams in the weeks leading up to the event, and each team presents a dish for judging during the festivities.

Supporters unable to attend can contribute to the cause by donating to a favorite team or through an online bid on luxury items and experiences via the silent auction. Teams receive awards for Judge’s Choice dish and the People’s Choice dish will be decided by the most money raised and based on tip coupons purchased at the event and Most Money Raised. The In Jesus’ Name Foundation will match donors’ contributions to team fundraising campaigns up to $100,000. Mizell and her teammate, paired with the Bon Saki Sushi & Bar, came in second place in the 2024 Judges’ Choice awards.

The team is looking for even better results this year “We would like to improve, but mostly because that means more for Hope House,” she said.

Mitchell said the Heroes Who Cook event is critical for the services to continue and meet the growing need; the number of child abuse victims served has doubled since 2018. In 2024, Hope House saw its highest number of services since its inception 31 years ago, he said, when the organization served 618 children, conducted 525 forensic interviews and facilitated 3,105 counseling sessions.

“Although these are some of the greatest numbers we have ever seen, the financial support and advocacy we receive from our community and Heroes Who Cook participants truly make it

The Heroes Who Cook competition benefiting Hope House has been around long enough to become a community institution, and neither the mission nor the quality of food has waivered.

all possible We are so grateful for all of our supporters who are making a huge impact in the lives of local children who desperately need our help,” said Heroes Who Cook 2025 Chairwoman and Hope House Board Member Rebecca Birkett.

Mizell said the event has contributed to Hope House’s ability to reach children in a wider area, including in Washington Parish by opening a satellite house in Bogalusa in late 2023, allowing access to families who might not have had transportation to the Hope House headquarters in Covington.

Longtime Hope House volunteer and board member Holly Boullion said those who attend the gala bid on silent auction items and make donations to their favorite teams.

“Our goal is to put all the money raised toward serving the children in our community We’ve come so far, I remember when we could barely keep the lights on. But as more and more kids need us, we need to grow to serve those victims,” she said. “The heroes of the event are all of the people in the community who support Hope House and help the children.”

Heroes Who Cook teams for the 2025 event are: Adam Acquistapace with Acquistapace’s Supermarket; Gabe Arnoult and Kevin Alario with Desi Vega’s Steakhouse; Dr Matthew Bernard with Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux; Anthony Rutledge and Connor Brown with Farm to Fire; Michael Cochran with Pardo; state Sen. Beth Mizell and Joan Coffman with Bon Sake; Scott Discon with Rusty Pelican; Michele Echols with Valencia; Bradley Cook and Rory Gallardo with The Reminding Coffee & Creative House; Nick and Patrice LaRocca with Roux 25; Lt. Gov Billy Nungesser with Tchefuncte’s; Dr Jason O’Rear with The Hampshire; District Attorney Collin Sims with Tavi; Sheriff Randy Smith with DiCristina’s; Jared Miguez and John Stephens with Meribo; and Jennifer Nolen and Brian Upshaw with Haven Coffee and Cocktails

The event will include food, cocktails, beer, wine and live music by Groovy 7. To access each team’s fundraising page, visit support.cachopehouse.org/HWC2025. Online contributions to favorite teams will be open through 11 p.m. on Nov 1. Those contributions will add to the tally toward the Most Money Raised for Hope House Award. Heroes Who Cook attendees can also tip their favorite teams at the event, which will help determine the People’s Choice Award. Event tickets are $105/person or $1,050/reserved table for eight (limited availability), and can be purchased online at support.cachopehouse.org/HWC2025. For information, visit www.cachopehouse.org.

Giving the linemen their due

Football, by nature, is a sport that puts a spotlight on the person with the ball. If you’re on offense, you have to have the ball in your hands to score, while the defense is desperately trying to take it from you. Defensive coordinators always talk about wanting their players to rally to the ball.

It’s all about the pigskin, and where it is going, but today, I want to talk about the unsung heroes who pave the way for those who carry the ball the offensive line.

Week 8 was all about dominating the line of scrimmage.

Lakeshore is a perfect example of an offensive line working together to get the job done.

Cohen Trosclair, Bryce Stigler, Luke Logue, Josh Dalton Benjamin Sandman and Santiago Mendieta were all as integral to the Titans’ latest win as the folks who carried the rock.

The Titans have been mauling people up front this season, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch, according to coach Brent Indest.

“The offensive line has been playing pretty darn good,” Indest said. “Overall, we’re playing pretty well, and that all starts up front on both sides of the ball.” Across the parish at Pope John Paul II, running back Dominik Smith ran for four TDs, but the senior was quick to credit the people who paved the way for him.

“All the credit goes to my teammates on the offensive line,” said Smith, who also celebrated his birthday “Those guys (Michael Thiel Jax Dean Ali Khalil, Colin Kornrumpf and Wesley Geiman) don’t get enough credit It’s not in the stats, but they make it happen Some of those guys go both ways on the offense and defense lines, so I’ve gotta tip my cap to them.”

Colleges are also taking notice of the importance of linemen, as St. Paul’s sophomore Andrew Shofstahl recently picked up an offer from Southern Miss. The 6-foot-3, 325-pound interior lineman also has offers from Tulane and Georgia State, along with interest from several Power 4 teams.

Shofstahl was a big reason the Wolves were able to dominate the line of scrimmage against Northshore to earn their sixth win of the season It all starts up front is a common refrain from coaches, but it’s true. And Week 8 was a perfect example of why

TAKING CHARGE

Howard accounts for 4 TDs as Salmen earns bragging rights over rival Slidell

BY JASON RUSSELL

Contributing writer

In the battle for bragging rights in Slidell, it was the Salmen Spartans that refused to lose.

Salmen got 223 yards passing and four combined touchdowns from junior quarterback

Da’John Howard as the Spartans took down crosstown rival Slidell 35-21 on Oct. 24 at L.V McGinty Sr. Stadium. Howard finished with three scores through the air and one on the ground as the Spartans improved to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in District 7-5A.

The Spartans also got 131 yards and two TDs receiving from Terrance Mitchell.

Salmen coach Eric Chuter said effort was what led to his team’s success.

“The effort was great on both sides,” he said.

“I thought we had chances in the first half to separate, but a win is a win. We will take it and go back tomorrow and get to work for next week.”

Howard said he and his teammates knew this would be a tough, physical game.

“Getting off the bus, we were hyped up and ready to play,” he said. “Going through our stuff in the field house, we knew we had to be ready for this game because we knew it was going to be a battle.”

Playing without suspended starting quarterback Ricky Williams III, Slidell started the

game fast on offense. After holding Salmen to a three-and-out, the Tigers drove 64 yards in eight plays, capped by a 25-yard TD pass from Stanley Lange to Jeremiah Birdlow

Salmen scored on its next three possessions, with Howard throwing TD passes to Rey’Sean Coleman and Mitchell, and also running for another to take a 21-7 lead at the beginning of the second quarter

Slidell ran the next six minutes off the clock and pulled to within 21-14 on a Ja’Kwan Jones 3-yard TD run with 5:52 left in the first half.

Salmen tried to extend the lead but missed a field goal with less than a minute remaining until halftime, leaving it a one-score game.

The Tigers opened the second half with a 13play, 5-minute drive, capped by a 4-yard Jones TD run to tie the score at 21-21.

Salmen retook the lead quickly, going 61 yards in three plays as Howard hit Mitchell again, this time from 25 yards out to put the Spartans up 28-21. Both teams’ defenses clamped down for the majority of the rest of the game, but Salmen took control midway through the fourth quarter

After taking over on its own 25-yard line with 6:08 to play, the Spartans ran more than four minutes off the clock, ending their drive with a 3-yard TD run by Chanzy to set the final score.

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

Freshman QB and a stout defense lead Mandeville to key district victory

BY TREASURE WASHINGTON Contributing writer

Despite some bumps and bruises, Mandeville still controls its own destiny heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.

Behind freshman Krew Collura’s three touchdowns and the defense constantly pressuring Ponchatoula’s offense, the Skippers picked up a 27-0 District 6-5A victory on Oct. 24 at Sidney Theriot Stadium.

It was redemption for Mandeville just one week after losing its late fourth-quarter lead at Hammond

After improving to 2-1 in district play, the Skippers can earn at least a share of the title with a win next week at St. Paul’s.

“That was one of our goals to start the season,” Mandeville coach Craig Jones said. “Despite the ups and downs, we’ve put ourselves in the situation to have a chance for a district championship. That’s all you can ask for.”

Collura is still making a name for himself in Mandeville’s offense with 10 passing touchdowns coming into the Ponchatoula contest.

The first of his scores against the Green Wave went to sophomore Landon Lipps for five yards at the start of the second quarter while the second was a 24-yard juggling catch by junior Jake Jacketti in the middle of the third quarter Collura then ran up the middle for a 21-yard touchdown at the start of the fourth.

“I think every game is his best game,” senior Chance Grant said of Collura. “I feel like every game, he’s getting better and better and he’s developing. But this game showed that he’s a varsity-level quarterback. He’s a true freshman that’s ready to play varsity.”

The Skippers also went into their bag of trucks following Lipps’ touchdown when senior Jax O’Quin lined up in the Wildcat formation and threw a 1-yard TD pass to sophomore Captain Best.

But Ponchatoula (1-7, 0-2) threatened early against Mandeville with the help of its sophomore signal caller Jackson Aucoin. The sophomore broke off a long run in the first quarter, setting up his team with a goal-to-go situation.

The Skippers’ defense refused to bite, completely flipping the momentum by forcing a fumble near the goal line. Players like Grant and senior Marques Zenon continued slamming the door on Ponchatoula’s offense, making plays in the backfield to preserve its first shutout of the year

“Our defense has played well all year,” Collura said. “That’s the reason we’ve been in a lot of games. You can’t do any better than a shutout.” Jacketti agreed: “Every time they put a zero on the board, we’re going to win. That’s just how football works. If they keep doing that, we’re going to win a bunch more games. I

ä See SALMEN, page 12B ä See MANDEVILLE, page 3B

“I really was not expecting the sweep. I was expecting to get runner-up in boys and girls, and when I seeded everything out, I saw that we had a chance for a clean sweep.”

ANASTASIA MEGILLIGAN, Northshore swim coach

Northshore swim coach Anastasia Megilligan couldn’t hide the smile on her face. Sure, she was soaking wet after her team pushed her in the pool at Genesis Health ClubsPAC, but a deal was a deal. Megilligan told her swimmers that if they earned a team sweep at the Northlake District High School Championships, the fourth-year coach would take a plunge to celebrate. “I really was not expecting the sweep,” said Megilligan, who is nicknamed Coach Chia by the team. “I was expecting to get runner-up in boys and girls, and when I seeded everything out, I saw that we had a chance for a clean sweep. It was a total team effort. That is insane. That has never happened, so Northshore just made history today I’m literally speechless.” The Northshore girls edged out Mandeville by a comfortable 408-348 margin to win their first district title in over 20 years. The boys made school history as they beat out St. Paul’s 399-334 to not

to take

district

the

boys’ district swimming

Northshore ran away with the combined

titles for the fourth

holding a 807-516 advantage over Mandeville. Northshore junior Addison Provenzano led the girls’ team with wins in the 200-yard IM (2 minutes, 15.03 seconds) and 100 backstroke (1:00.33) Other individual event winners included junior Ariana Barrueto in the 100 butterfly (1:02.69) and senior Ryleigh McCreary in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.24). On the boys’ side, sophomore Asher Socarras won the 200 IM (2:04.52), while junior Gustavo Castilho won the 50 freestyle (21.73). Northshore senior

NORTHLAKE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP AT GENESIS HEALTH CLUBS-PAC

ON OCT. 23

COMBINED TEAM SCORES: 1, Northshore, 807. 2, Mandeville, 516. 3, Pope John Paul II, 339. 4, Fontainebleau, 308. 5, Lakeshore, 282.5. 6, Northlake Christian, 217. 7, Slidell, 211. 8, Covington, 205. 9, Hannan, 202. 10, St. Thomas Aquinas, 17.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES: 1, Northshore (NHS), 408. 2, Mandeville (MHS), 348. 3, St. Scholastica (SSA), 325. 4, Fontainebleau (FHS), 157. 5, Lakeshore (LHS), 154.5. 6, Pope John Paul II (PJP), 150. 7, Northlake Christian (NCS), 115. 8, Hannan (HAN), 113. 9, Slidell (SHS) 106. 10, Covington (CHS), 97. 11, First Baptist (FBCS), 9.5 12, St. Thomas Aquinas (STA), 3. 200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY: 1, MHS, 1:54.70 2, NHS, 1:54.95. 3, FHS, 2:03.59

200 FREESTYLE: 1, Sydney Eagan, MHS, 1:58.18. 2 Emma Mae Smith, SSA, 1:59.56. 3 Aaliyah Atamanyuk, NHS 2:09.25.

200 IM: 1, Addison Provenzano, NHS, 2:15.03 2, Emma Cate Dobie, MHS, 2:15.50. 3, Allison Manion, NHS, 2:24.61.

50 FREESTYLE: 1, Braylee Ladner, PJP 25.15. 2, Ariana Barrueto, NHS 25.88. 3, Amelia Smith, SSA, 25.90

100 BUTTERFLY: 1, Ariana Barrueto, NHS, 1:02.69. 2, Amelia Smith, SSA, 1:03.59. 3, Lilly Daigle, MHS, 1:03.64.

100 FREESTYLE: 1 Braylee Ladner, PJP 55.01. 2, Emma Mae Smith, SSA, 55.70. 3 Caroline Blessey, SSA, 59.92.

500 FREESTYLE: 1, Avery Hayden, PJP, 5:36.54. 2, Kinlee Lard, FHS, 5:42.04. 3, Lilly Daigle, MHS, 5:42.82.

200 FREESTYLE RELAY: 1, SSA, 1:46.23. 2, MHS, 1:46.79. 3 NHS 1:51.51.

50 BACKSTROKE: 1, Lucy Tharp, MHS, 35.92. 2, Hazel Lucius, MHS, 39.33. 3, Brennyn Badeaux, MHS, 40.26.

100 BACKSTROKE: 1, Addison Provenzano, NHS, 1:00.33. 2, Abby Palermo, FHS, 1:05.02 3, McKenzie Douglas, MHS 1:05.34.

50 BREASTSTROKE: 1, Lilly Talbot, SSA, 44.24. 2, Victoria Lopez, MHS, 45.05. 3, Marley Gilbert, MHS, 47.44.

100 BREASTSTROKE: 1 Ryleigh McCreary, NHS, 1:09.24. 2 Emma Cate Dobie, MHS 1:09.42. 3, Allison Manion, NHS, 1:11.22.

400 FREESTYLE RELAY: 1, MHS, 3:49.88. 2, NHS, 3:50.50. 3, SSA, 3:53.55. BOYS

TEAM SCORES: 1, Northshore (NHS), 399. 2, St. Paul’s (SPS), 334. 3, Pope John Paul II (PJP), 189. 4, Mandeville (MHS), 168. 5, Fontainebleau (FHS), 151. 6, Lakeshore (LHS), 128. 7, Covington (CHS), 108. 8 Slidell (SHS), 105. 9, Northlake Christian (NCS), 102. 10, Hannan (HAN), 89. 11, Ponchatoula (PHS), 60. 12, St. Thomas Aquinas (STA), 14. 13, Pearl River (PRHS), 6.

200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY: 1, NHS, 1:40.82. 2, FHS, 1:47.38. 3, SPS, 1:50.73

200 FREESTYLE: 1, Jake Bergeron, SPS 1:42.28. 2, Eric Ring, PJP 1:45.59. 3, Adam O’Connor, NCS 1:54.75.

200 IM: 1, Asher Socarras, NHS, 2:04.52. 2, Elijah Gretarsson, NHS, 2:05.11. 3, Christopher Lobue, SPS, 2:05.42.

50 FREESTYLE: 1, Gustavo Castilho, NHS 21.73. 2, Gordon Baio, PHS 22.27. 3, Dominic Barcelona, SPS, 22.90.

100 BUTTERFLY: 1, Alex Chehebar, FHS, 52.95. 2, Daniel Eversgerd, SPS, 55.08 3, Asher Socarras, NHS, 55.11

100 FREESTYLE: 1, Jake Bergeron, SPS 47.23. 2, Gustavo Castilho, NHS, 47.47. 3 Gordon Baio, PHS, 49.58

500 FREESTYLE: 1, Eric Ring, PJP, 4:49.46. 2, Aleks Atamanyuk, NHS, 5:12.86. 3, Brady Hotard, LHS,lt; 5:14.92.

200 FREESTYLE RELAY: 1, SPS, 1:30.32. 2, NHS 1:34.30. 3, FHS 1:35.55.

50 BACKSTROKE: 1, Wyatt Hooker, MHS, 37.88 2, Cameron Hymel, MHS, 39.36. 3, Luke Wonderlich, 44.55.

100 BACKSTROKE: 1, Cole Boisseau, FHS, 56.36. 2, Daniel Eversgerd, SPS, 57.24 3, Elijah Gretarsson, NHS 58.17.

50 BREASTSTROKE: 1, Marcus Indest, MHS, 40.24. 2, Walter Gilbert, MHS, 40.78. 3, Jared Dunkin, CHS, 43.18.

100 BREASTSTROKE: 1, Sam Naffa, NHS 1:01.94. 2, Christopher Lobue, SPS, 1:02.32. 3, Connor Stagnitto, FHS 1:05.52. 400 FREESTYLE RELAY: 1, SPS, 3:18.36. 2, NHS, 3:21.35. 3, PJP, 3:32.83.

NORTHSHORE

Continued from page 1B

Sam Naffa won the 100 breaststroke (1:01.94).

Despite Northshore’s team dominance, the female swimmer of the meet was Pope John Paul II sophomore Braylee Ladner She won the 50 freestyle (25.15) and 100 freestyle (55.01) I felt really good in both races,” Ladner said. “I felt powerful and just all around good. This meet felt really good, so it was good to finally hit the marks that I’ve been wanting to hit. Today showed that my hard work is paying off.”

Ladner said she has never won a swimmer of the meet award before, so the honor was a confidence boost to keep pushing and working a little harder before state.

The male swimmer of the meet award went to St. Paul’s junior Jake Bergeron, who opened his day with a comfortable win in the 200 freestyle (1:42.28). He needed a personal best time of 47.23 seconds in the 100 freestyle to hold off Castilho by 0.24 seconds.

“I really wasn’t expecting to do this well, but I always go fast at this meet,” Bergeron said. “This is where I practice every day, so it’s like a home environment. It’s just a good place to compete. The energy here is on another level.”

junior Addison

Northshore rallies for 5-set win over Fontainebleau

BY DAVE WOODALL Contributing writer

Things looked bleak for Northshore Defending District 6-I champion Fontainebleau had just used an 11-point run in the third set to take a commanding 2-1 lead on the road, but the Panthers didn’t blink

The home team rallied to take the final two sets en route to a 2518, 19-25, 13-25, 26-24, 15-7 comefrom-behind win in District 6-I play on Oct. 23.

“We picked it up in the last two sets,” said Northshore senior Kalyssa Tolis, who finished with 20 kills, 20 digs, six assists and two aces. “In the second and third sets, I think we just couldn’t get into our system, and our offense and defense were not playing together But down the stretch, we put it all together to take the win.”

The fourth set was a barn burner that saw the lead change 14 times. The Bulldogs had a nice lead midway into the set, but the Panthers clawed their way back to tie it at 24-24. Back-to-back points by Northshore forced a fifth set

The Panthers (23-9, 4-1) came out strong in the fifth set, scoring seven straight points, as the home team rallied for a dramatic 15-7 victory

“Regardless of who is doing well and who is not doing well, it’s always a competitive match against Fontainebleau,” said Panthers’ coach Danny Davis. “Fontainebleau has an awesome team, and we were very fortunate to play well late in the match. In that last set, when I called a timeout, I told the kids that I have seen them play better in practice. Yesterday we had a really nice practice that was very low-key, but we didn’t show up to play tonight, and I left it on them. I went and sat down and told them to do their own thing, and

they slowly got back in the game and made some key plays late, giving us momentum going into the fifth set.”

For Northshore, senior setter Emily Martin led the way with 37

assists, 15 digs, 11 kills and an ace. Laynie Guilbeau added 25 digs and 10 kills, while libero Gracie Schaff had 27 digs and two aces. Riley Porter finished with 11 digs, seven blocks and five kills.

For Fontainebleau (23-13, 4-1), senior Ava Freeman had 20 kills and 12 digs. Lainey Robin, Presley Sparkman, Marley Lange and Ava Kirsch each had two blocks. Lange and Sara Hickman each contrib-

is

Ava

uted aces.

“We didn’t execute when we needed to execute,” said Fontainebleau coach Kacie Mule. “We had some bad passes at the end, and we couldn’t connect to our hitters. We have to step up in big moments. It’s always a very competitive game when we play Northshore, but tonight we just came up short.”

Neither team could hold serve in the first set as the score was tied 10 times. But late in the opening set, Northshore put together an eightpoint run highlighted by an ace by Schaff to capture the set, 25-18. The Bulldogs came right back with an eight-point run of their own to take the second set 25-18 as they controlled the play at the net. Fontainebleau dominated the third set thanks to some pinpoint serves by Bulldogs’ junior libero Marianna Erickson, who put together an 11-point run for a 25-13

a come-from-behind five-set

think it was a good performance by them.” Mandeville (5-3, 2-1) knows the right time to get hot this season is now It knows it’s capable of making a run, and it also knows it needs to be at its sharpest when facing St. Paul’s this Friday The Skippers are seeking their first victory against the Wolves since 2020. Three of the last four matchups between these teams have been decided by three points or less.

“There’s been a handful of tough losses this year but they just keep coming back to work and focusing on the next opponent and just putting themselves in a position to be successful on Friday nights,” Jones said. “It’s a good group with some good character, and I’m proud of them.”

Turnovers make the difference for Covington

BY MIKE GEGENHEIMER

Contributing writer

Covington needed a spark

The Lions had a 6-0 lead over Hammond at halftime on Oct. 24, but that was despite recording only 89 total yards and twice getting stopped in the red zone. And with Hammond getting the ball to start the third quarter, their advantage was tenuous at best. That all changed in an instant

Covington launched the ball downfield on the kickoff, where senior Greyson Frederick broke free to hit the returner before he could build up steam. Frederick stripped the ball on the hit, allowing sophomore Chance Marchand to get the scoop and score

On the next drive, Derrick Dunbar recovered a fumble — his first of two recoveries on the night — that set up a 60-yard TD run by Rodney Clark on the next play

In less than four minutes, Covington went from unsteady footing to rolling to a 25-14 District 6-5A victory at Jack Salter Stadium.

“I was trying to set the edge,” Marchand said of his first career touchdown in the regular season. “I ran all the way around, and I saw Greyson make a fantastic hit. When they went to the ground, I saw the ball loose, so I ran and grabbed it. I looked around and nobody was around, and I ran like my life depended on it.”

Covington coach Greg Salter admitted the Lions played sloppy at times, but whenever they needed the defense to step up, that’s exactly what happened.

Covington (6-2, 1-1) forced seven turnovers Friday night — four interceptions and three fumbles resulting in 22 of its 25 points. Six of those turnovers and 19 points came in the second half alone. Salter said the biggest play of the night came in the fourth quarter when quarterback Matthew Fussell hit Amari Smith on a short pass that Smith took 43 yards for the score. But that play only came after Steele Rogers intercepted a tipped pass on a drive that could have given the Tors (5-3, 1-2) the lead Hammond’s final three drives all ended in interceptions to spoil any potential comebacks.

“It’s cliché, but turnovers are key,” Salter said. “We didn’t play as disciplined defensively We played tough, but we made a lot of mistakes. They’re a good team, and they exposed us. But whenever we needed a big play, we were able to get ourselves off the field with a turnover That is relentless effort, and you can be successful with that kind of effort.”

The Covington offense found more of a rhythm in the second half behind a strong run game and a few big plays.

The Lions went from just 89 yards in the first half to 152 in the second, finishing with 180 total rushing yards. Clark led the way

with 76 yards on eight carries.

“My blockers contained, so I just hit the outside,” Clark said “The seam was open, so I just took it outside and cribbed it.”

SCORE BY QUARTERS

HAMMOND

| 14 | 0 — 14

| 3 | 3 | 12 | 7 — 25

SUMMARY FIRST QUARTER CHS: Jackson Aleman 31 FG, 5:58, 0-3 SECOND QUARTER CHS: Aleman 30 FG, 4:40, 0-6 THIRD QUARTER CHS: Chance Marchand fumble return (kick failed), 11:50, 0-12 CHS: Rodney Clark 60 run (conversion failed), 8:24, 0-18 HHS: Zalen Bennett 55 run (Ethan Young kick), 7:24, 7-18

HHS: Nicholas Wilson 44 pass from Terin Jones (Young kick), 0:21, 14-18

FOURTH QUARTER CHS: Amari Smith 43 pass from Matthew Fussell (Aleman kick), 4:36, 14-25

STATISTICS

HAMMOND: 341 total yards (170 pass, 171 rush)

RUSHING: Zalen Bennett, 18-143, TD; Terin Jones, 11-28

RECEIVING: Nicholas Wilson, 2-75, TD; Reginald Monroe, 4-36; Darius Kimble, 2-27 PASSING: Jones, 11-17, 170 yards, TD, 4 INTs

COVINGTON: 241 total yards (61 pass, 180 rush)

RUSHING: Rodney Clark, 8-76, TD; Jake Pompa, 11-43; Matthew Fussell, 7-24

RECEIVING: Amari Smith, 3-48, TD; Jiwaun Brock, 1-13

PASSING: Fussell, 4-14, 61 yards, TD

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

St. Paul’s dominated the first half en route to a 17-point halftime lead, but Northshore wouldn’t go away

The Panthers opened the second half with an impressive scoring drive for their first points of the game. An earlier version of the Wolves might have struggled to continue their hot offensive start. Not this time.

St. Paul’s calmly reeled off three straight scoring drives to wrap up a 38-14 nondistrict road win on Oct. 24.

“Our kids showed a bunch of character,” St. Paul’s coach Kenny Sears said. “Northshore gave us their best shot in the second half, and we responded. In our first five games, we struggled in the second half. Over the last three weeks we’ve played better in the second half, so we’re finally starting to play for 48 minutes. That’s the key We’ve continued to improve.”

After a 17-yard Ramon Williams TD run cut the lead to 17-7 in the third quarter the Wolves (6-2) responded with a 7-yard Brady Pierson TD pass to Cody Corales.

On the ensuing St Paul’s drive, Corales took a snap in the Wildcat formation and pitched the ball forward to Troy Willis, who ran in for a 15-yard TD reception on the first play of the fourth quarter to put the game away

“We’ve been running that play in practice, so we were just waiting to use it in a game,” Corales said. “I knew he was going to pop off. He made a dude miss and scored The first two plays were big too. Explosive plays are what our offense is about. We’ve just got to keep our foot on the gas.”

Willis, who had an interception in the first half, added a 13-yard TD run in the fourth quarter

The Wolves finished with 403 yards of offense. Corales rushed for 141 yards and a TD on 12 carries Pierson finished 9-of-16 passing for 205 yards and two TDs. Senior Brennan Villa had four catches for 120 yards and a TD. Williams stole the show for Northshore (2-6). The senior came into the game 26 yards shy of 1,000 for the season, and he eclipsed the mark on his third carry He had 90 yards in the first half and finished with 153 yards on 24 carries for the game. Junior quarterback JJ Gonzales was 6-of14 passing for 78 yards, including a 25-yard

TD to Alex Mims (five catches, 73 yards).

“We moved the ball offensively, but defensively, I thought we got pushed around a little bit,” Northshore coach Bobby Sanders said “The first two plays were huge for them. St. Paul’s is a bigger, better program than us right now We struggled against their offensive line, so we just have to stay in front of the chains to be successful.” It was an absolute dream start for St. Paul’s as the Wolves scored on their first two offensive plays en route to a 17-0 halftime lead

The first TD came on a 60-yard pass from Pierson to Villa as a play fake to Corales allowed Villa to get behind the defense. Pierson hit him in stride for the score. On their next offensive play, the Wolves were at their own 8-yard line, but Corales took the handoff and raced up the sideline for a 92-yard TD run Two plays, and the Wolves were up 14-0. They never looked back Northshore’s best chance to score in the first half came on its final drive as the Panthers converted on fourth down twice, but Willis’ interception with 25 seconds left in the half

PHOTO BY JOE TROMBATORE

WEEK 8 FOOTBALL RECAP

Week 8 is officially in the books. Keep reading to see how your team did.

FRIDAY, OCT. 24

CHALMETTE 17, FONTAINEBLEAU 7: The Bulldogs took an early 7-0 lead, but the Owls scored the final 17 points to earn a District 7-5A victory Landon Suhre scored on a 6-yard run to give Fontainebleau (2-6, 0-3) a 7-0 lead, and that lead seemingly doubled on a scoop-and-score. But that play was ruled a forward pass, negating the TD as the Owls (6-2, 2-0) tied the game on a Dana Antoine TD catch at the end of the first quarter. Breez Wilson added a second-quarter rushing score, and Tristan Dubose booted a 50-yard field goal — the third longest in Chalmette history — in the second half to round out the scoring. COVINGTON 25, HAMMOND 14: See story Page 4B.

FRANKLINTON 42, PEARL RIVER 20: The Demons (5-3, 1-1) raced out to a 28-7 halftime lead and never looked back en route to a District 7-4A home victory. Trailing 21-0 in the first half, the Rebels got on the board after a punt recovery at the Franklinton 43, which led to a 6-play scoring drive, capped by a 19-yard TD run by Gage Durand. The Rebels converted on third-and-17 with an Angel Perez catch to keep the drive alive. The other Pearl River touchdowns came on a 13-yard Durand TD run and an 8-yard TD pass from Brayden Hutchison to Davyn Keicher. The Rebels (3-4, 1-2) finished with 349 yards of offense. Hutchison was 12-of-22 passing for 152 yards and a TD. He added 10 carries for 90 yards, while Durand rushed eight times for 51 yards and two TDs. Ryan Dean was the leading receiver with four catches for 61 yards. Defensively, Hutchison had four solo tackles and four assists with an interception. Dakota Johnson had six solo tackles and three assists, while Ethan Bowman added four solo tackles and five assists.

HANNAN 49 COHEN 28: The Green Hornets cut the lead to six points at halftime but the Hawks (3-5) reeled off 27 second-half points to earn a convincing nondistrict victory Offensively, junior RB Riley Jones finished with 234 yards and 4 TDs on 22 carries. Junior QB Braden Sprang was 7-of-13 passing for 69 yards, including a 21-yard scoring pass to Hunter Lay (5 catches, 47 yards).

Defensively, senior Greyson Dupre recorded 20 tackles, a TFL, a forced fumble and a PBU. Junior Gabe Timmons added five TFLs, five sacks, six QB hurries and converted a 2-point conversion. As a unit, the defense had 13 sacks, including four by Greysin Carnegie and three by Aiden Loupe Paul Hoyt chipped in nine tackles and two PBUs, while Ryan Rist added eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Colten Wetwiski and Cade McHughes both picked off a pass.

LAKESHORE 38, LORANGER 14: The Titans averaged six yards per carry on the ground en route to a dominating District 7-4A win that saw five different TD scorers. Lakeshore (7-1, 3-0) can lock up an undefeated

HALM

Continued from page 1B

The full parish schedule is below, but first, our Farmer Football 5 rankings. FARMER FOOTBALL 5

1 | Lakeshore | 7-1, 3-0 (Last week: 1)

This week: at Hannan

Since the Week 5 loss at Salmen, the Titans have outscored their opponents 12147, and honestly, they could have put up more points if two of those games were not already well in hand. The Titans are also getting healthy as sophomore defensive lineman Chaise Dore and linebacker/ running back Oudrey Gros IV came back from injury last week. And the Titans sit at No. 2 in the Division II nonselect power rankings. In short, Lakeshore is positioned extremely well for a playoff run.

2 | St Paul’s | 6-2, 2-0 (Last week: 2)

This week: vs. Mandeville

It took St. Paul’s just two plays to score 14 points against Northshore last week. Then, the Wolves put the game away with 21 unanswered points in the second half It was a complete performance from start to finish as St. Paul’s seems to be rounding into form Coach Kenny Sears, who has mentioned time and time again this season that his team needs to play for 48 minutes, said he was happy with the effort. That’s a good sign for the Wolves as they have two tough games to end the regular season.

3 | Covington | 6-2, 1-1 (Last week: 3)

This week: at Ponchatoula Covington coach Greg Salter is still looking for the Lions to put together a clean game. That didn’t happen against Hammond, but the Lions still pulled out a 25-14 district win. How? With relentless effort on offense defense and special turnovers. The Lions have played with

district crown with a win at Hannan in Week 9. Against Loranger, Shawn Brown opened the scoring with a 4-yard TD run. Cole Bodie (29-yard TD run), Dylan Cusachs (9-yard TD run) and Brody Loudermilk (15-yard TD run) added to the scoring. Loudermilk also connected with Spencer Siverd for a 35-yard TD toss Jackson Schemmel’s 34-yard FG in the first half accounted for the other points.

“Last night was cool because we spread the ball around a lot,” Lakeshore coach Brent Indest said. “We had several guys with 40plus yards. The offensive line played pretty darn good. They have some good backs, and we contained them pretty darn well. Overall, we’re playing pretty well.”

The Titans also welcomed back sophomore defensive lineman Chaise Dore from injury. Linebacker/running back Oudrey Gros IV saw a few touches, but Indest said he would be full go in Week 9.

MANDEVILLE 27, PONCHATOULA 0: See story, Page 1B.

NORTHLAKE CHRISTIAN 51, ST. THOMAS

AQUINAS 0: The Wolverines pushed their winning streak to four games as they scored 51 points in the first half en route to a District 9-2A victory in a game that was called early due to an injury in the third quarter Falcons’ sophomore Braeden Pierre was taken to the hospital after the game but was released that evening. It was a sigh of relief for both teams.

On the field, the Wolverines (5-2, 2-0) were simply dominant. Senior Kameron Casnave had eight carries for 111 yards and 3 TDs, while senior Jordan Willis added four carries for 110 yards and a score. Willis added a 25yard interception for a score. Senior Charlie Gilmore had a 65-yard interception return for a TD, and NCS scored on a blocked punt. Senior QB Sam Grant was 3-of-4 passing for 44 yards, while adding 16 yards rushing.

POPE JOHN PAUL II 40, INDEPENDENCE 8: Jaguars’ senior Dominik Smith ran for 225 yards and 4 TDs as the home team shook off a slow start to earn a convincing District 9-2A victory. Senior Aiden Fairchild added a 41-yard TD run in the final two minutes for the Jaguars (5-3, 2-1). Kale Oertling booted a 32-yard field goal to round out the scoring.

PJP II’s defense held the Tigers to just 132 total yards as Joseph Sprinkle and Jack Roniger led the way for that unit.

“All the credit goes to my teammates on the offensive line,” said Smith, who also celebrated his birthday. “Those guys (Michael Thiel, Jax Dean, Ali Khalil, Colin Kornrumpf and Wesley Geiman) don’t get enough credit. It’s not in the stats, but they make it happen. Some of those guys go both ways on the offense and defense lines, so I’ve got to tip my cap to them.” SALMEN 35, SLIDELL 21: See story, Page 1B ST PAUL’S 38, NORTHSHORE 14: See story, Page 4B.

that effort for the majority of the season, but now they get one last chance to put together a complete game before the Battle for the Little Brown Jug in Week 10.

4 | Salmen | 5-3, 2-1 (Last week: 4)

This week: at Hammond Junior quarterback Da’John Howard has been exceptional this season, and that continued with a four-touchdown performance at Slidell. Jimmy Chanzy is still an elite back, and the Salmen wide receivers are making plays. This Spartans team looks to be surging at the moment. Now, they enter a challenging stretch of games at Hammond and then Chalmette at home in Week 10. Last year Salmen stumbled in those games, but this team seems poised to avoid that fate.

5 | Mandeville | 5-3, 2-1 (Last week: 5)

This week: at St. Paul’s

The Skippers got their get-right shutout against Ponchatoula last week. Now, they head to Hunter Stadium for a huge district rivalry game against St. Paul’s. Freshman QB Krew Collura seems to be coming into his own, while the Mandeville defense is also improving. The St. Paul’s game will be an emotional rollercoaster but it’s one that the Skippers seem to be entering on the upswing.

On the fringe: Northlake Christian.

Week 9 St. Tammany Football Schedule

Thursday, Oct. 30

n Pope John Paul II at Pearl River, 7 p.m

n Slidell at Chalmette, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31

n Covington at Ponchatoula, 7 p.m.

n Lakeshore at Hannan, 7 p.m.

n Mandeville at St. Paul’s, 7 p.m.

n Northlake Christian at St. Helena, 7 p.m

n Northshore at Fontainebleau, 7 p.m.

n Salmen at Hammond, 7 p.m.

Contact Joseph Halm at jhalm@ sttammanyfarmer.net.

Merlin "Mel" Fayard Jr , of Slidell, Louisiana, passed away on October 12, 2025, at the age of 74

Born on January 6, 1951, in Algiers, Louisiana Mel was a man whose life was marked by his family faith and community Mel was preceded in death by his parents, Merlin Fayard and Williemena Fayard and his sister, Marilyn Creppel He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Barbara Fayard, and their children, Ross Fayard Sr Jonny Fa‐yard (Nicole), Heather Fa‐yard Callais (Josh) and Melissa Fayard Mel's legacy continues through his grandchildren, Ross Fa‐yard Jr Rebekah Fayard Jonathan Fayard, Macie Callais, Joshua Callais Jr., Gunner Callais, and Jade Hayes, as well as his greatgrandchildren Sophia Fa‐yard and Gemma Fayard, who brought him immense joy Mel was known for his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to his work As the owner of Fayard Insur‐ance (Amstate Insurance), his work ethic and in‐tegrity were unmatched and his contributions to the industry were widely recognized. Beyond his professional achieve‐ments, Mel's interests were deeply rooted in the simple pleasures of life. He loved vacations where he could unwind and create lasting memories with his loved ones. Shopping was more than a pastime for Mel; it was an opportunity to find the perfect gifts to express his love and thoughtfulness. He often looked forward to family gatherings and dining out, embracing the laughter stories, and warmth of shared moments with fam‐ily and friends A devoted Christian, Mel was a dedi‐cated member of Journey Fellowship Church, where he found strength and so‐lace in his faith His com‐mitment to his beliefs was evident in the way he lived his life, always striving to be a reflection of the love and grace he found in his faith Memories and con‐dolences may be ex‐pressed at www Audubon FuneralHome.com

Friend, Ralph Clayton

Ralph Clayton Friend, 92 of Slidell, Louisiana, passed from this life on Thursday, October 9, 2025, In Jefferson, Louisiana Ralph was born November 12, 1932, in Friendsville, MD, to Henry W. Friend and Pearl Ada Riley, next to the youngest of their ten chil‐dren. He served in the Army and then began his post-high school educa‐tion. He graduated from McPherson College (McPherson KS) in 1962 becoming the only one of his family to attend col‐lege. He served as a dis‐trict executive for the Boy Scouts of America in sev‐eral locations: Poplar Bluff, MO; Decatur IL; South Bend, IN and Metairie, LA. Among several later en‐deavors, he founded Cajun Popcorn and became widely known as “The Ker‐nel” He resided many years in Metairie, but in re‐cent years had become a resident of Slidell, LA. In both areas he was active in fundraising for various or‐ganizations like Magnolia School STARC, and St. Michael Special School Ralph was known to light up the room and enjoyed bringing joy and inspira‐tion to people of all ages. He is survived by his chil‐dren Sandi Friend, Pam Lisotta (Tony) and Jeff Friend and his grandchil‐dren Andrew Lisotta, Adam Lisotta and Phoenix Friend. He is also survived by his ex-wife Margaret and sev‐eral nieces and nephews Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell, LA

(McPherson KS) in 1962, becoming the only one of his family to attend col‐lege He served as a dis‐trict executive for the Boy Scouts of America in sev‐eral locations: Poplar Bluff MO; Decatur, IL; South Bend, IN and Metairie, LA Among several later en‐deavors, he founded Cajun Popcorn and became widely known as “The Ker‐nel”. He resided many years in Metairie, but in re‐cent years had become a resident of Slidell, LA. In both areas he was active in fundraising for various or‐ganizations like Magnolia School, STARC, and St Michael Special School Ralph was known to light up the room and enjoyed bringing joy and inspira‐tion to people of all ages He is survived by his chil‐dren Sandi Friend, Pam Lisotta (Tony) and Jeff Friend and his grandchil‐dren Andrew Lisotta Adam Lisotta and Phoenix Friend He is also survived by his ex-wife Margaret and sev‐eral nieces and nephews Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell, LA

Mattocks, Kathleen

Kathleen Mattocks, age 83, of Metairie, Louisiana, passed away on Wednes‐day, October 15, 2025. Kath‐leen was a native of New Orleans. She was born to the late Guy Joseph LeBlanc and Dorothy Fredrick LeBlanc. She loved her grandchildren more than life itself She had a passion for cooking, danc‐ing, and expressing her creativity in countless ways. Kathleen was always known for her generous spirit. She loved helping others and giving to every‐one around her Kathleen leaves behind her longtime companion, John Daun‐hauer; three daughters Michelle Tesvich and her husband Sam Tesvich, Deb‐orah Jessup and her hus‐band Richard Jessup Jr., and Cherie Dooley and her husband Michael Dooley She oud grand‐moth el Wells Jr., Kath up Richard Jessu ton Dooley, and ooley Kath‐leen was also blessed with great-grandchildren, Kay‐den Dooley, Nolan Dooley, and Joel Wells III, who brought her endless joy. Her warmth, kindness, and love will continue to live on through her family and all who were fortunate enough to know her Please visit www honaker forestlawn com to sign guestbook

It is with

Rosalie was a long-time resident of Kenner, LA She spent her career as a cafeteria worker for Jefferson Parish Schools She is the mother of three daughters: Rhonda Todd, Robyn Willard, and Richelle Koontz (David). The daugh‐ter of the late: Charles and Marie Impastato; sister of: Ronald Impastato Sr (Brenda) and the late Charles Impastato Jr. Ros‐alie was very proud of her family She is survived by her children, seven grand‐children: Ricky Davadi Erica Petrocelli (Joe), Nicole Davadi, Lydia Davadi, Gabrielle Barreca (Michael), Megan Jackson (Evan) and Lillie Koontz; eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Slidell made one last push, getting inside the 10-yard line with less than 30 seconds left. Lange threw an interception in the end zone that was returned for an apparent touchdown by Salmen, but a pass interference call nullified the play

The problem for Slidell was that the long return ran the rest of the time off the clock, giving them no chance to score and kick an onside kick. A last-ditch effort on a run by Jones fell short, and the game was over Jones finished with 174 yards and two TDs on 32 carries for the Tigers (4-4, 1-1), but coach Damon Page said the Spartans were just too much for his team to handle.

“The kids played hard, but we just didn’t score enough points,” Page said. “They fought hard, but we just didn’t make enough plays in the time frame of the game.”

Chanzy rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown, seemingly getting stronger as the game wore on, something both Chuter and Howard recognized.

“Jimmy is real heavy behind his pads, and he is a hard runner to take down,” Chuter said. “I’m glad he’s on our football team.” Howard agreed: “I love Jimmy When we need him the most, that’s when he shows up.”

I, BRANDON TIMOTHY LEBRETON , have been convicted of INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH JUVENILES CARNAL

MyAddress is: 2419 BLUEBIRD ST SLIDELL, LA 70460

I, Juan Kieran Faciane , have been convicted of POSSESSION OF MATERIAL INVOLVING THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN

MyAddress is: 58424 RUE LEN VIR SLIDELL LA 70460

Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 2/11/1967 Height: 5'

LAor by emailing awolfe@wlf.la.gov The public is invited tocommentonthese permits until the date of the hearing and for a period of fifteen (15) days after the hearing. Responses should be mailed to LDWF Scenic Rivers Pro‐gram P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge LA 708989000. 161621OCT15-2229-3T $606.91

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 1/09/1987 Height: 5' 6 Weight: 192 Hair Color: BLONDE Eye Color: BLUE Scars/Tattoos: Mark: Tattoo: Upper_R_ArmANGELWING, LOVE // Tattoo: L_Hand - SKULL, M (MIDDLE FINGER) // Tattoo: Upper_L_ArmCROSS // Tattoo: L_wrist - TAMI // Tattoo: L_forearmMCKAYLA, ARON // Mark:NONE REPORTED // Piercing: EarBOTH PIERCED // Scar: NeckSURGICAL(R_SID // Tattoo: NeckREDNECK (R_SIDE) // Prosthesis: - NONE REPORTED // Ultraviolet Tattoo- NONE REPORTED // Tattoo: R_arm EYEBALL, BRAD, CROWN // Tattoo: forearm - SKULL, GLOBE, BLOODY WORLD // Tattoo: R_Hand - STAR, B // Tattoo: abdomen - CROSS // Tattoo: Back - BEDGOOD // Tattoo: NeckKISS OF ETERNITY, LIPS (L_SIDE) // Tattoo: R_calf - CROWN, B // Other: - NONE

Height: 5' 6 Weight: 192 Hair Color: BLONDE Eye Color: BLUE Scars/Tattoos: Mark: Tattoo: Upper_R_ArmANGELWING, LOVE // Tattoo: L_Hand - SKULL, M (MIDDLE