SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
DEMOCRAT THE ST. FRANCISVILLE
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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T h u r s d ay, N ov e m b e r 27, 2025
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$2 million set for restoration projects in upper Amite basin BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
The agency charged with reducing flooding along the Amite River recently obtained $2 million for projects to restore features in the upper basin that could reduce the downstream flood risk, representa-
tives told the East Feliciana Parish Police Jury. Paul Sawyer, director of the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District, and Roy M. Schmidt, the parish’s representative on the district’s board of commissioners, spoke at the jury’s Nov. 17 meeting.
The two said U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, whose district now includes East Feliciana Parish, secured the funds in the Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations bill that was passed into law earlier this month. The Basin Commission will work with the U.S. Agriculture Depart-
ment’s Natural Resource Conservation Service to restore natural features on the upper Amite to help store flood waters, slow the river’s velocity during flooding and reduce the amount of sediment flowing downstream that is choking the river. Sawyer said the commission will
look at buying abandoned and depleted sand and gravel pits that could be altered to fit the agency’s long-term goals. Sawyer said the commission considers the upper Amite to be any part of the stream north of
ä See BASIN, page 2G
West Feliciana schools retain an A in state’s accountability program BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
PHOTOS BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
West Feliciana Schools Superintendent Hollis Milton, center, greets education and community stakeholders April Vessel, West Feliciana Middle School assistant principal, and Kevin McQuarn, director of Fantom Light Productions and producer of area-focused documentaries, during a reception in his honor Nov. 13.
‘Big Boss’ Milton a humble leader with bold ambitions for education BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
Educators can hold some impressive titles, but nothing challenges those norms more than a pre-K student who hears those titles and still asks “but what do you do?” The struggling schools chief was saved at that moment by a compassionate teacher who broke it down: “He’s the big boss — the principal of principals.” Community and civic leaders recently gathered at the Julius Freyhan Center to honor the “Big Boss,” West Feliciana Schools Superintendent Hollis Milton, and celebrate his 15 years of doing things that defy definitions while transforming both lives and the surrounding community. “Whatever my title may be, I’m just grateful to lead this great system,” Milton said. Business and community leaders note that while Milton has been superintendent for 15 years — longer than any school chief in Louisiana — he bolstered the community while leading the school system to state and national recognition as a model for instructional excellence. The school district is the top-ranked district in the state, according to reports released Nov. 20.
St. Francisville Area Foundation Chairman Christophe Levasseur, left, and Julius Freyhan Foundation Director Liz Hazlip offer thoughts on the contributions of West Feliciana ä See MILTON, page 2G Schools Superintendent Hollis Milton.
The West Feliciana Parish school system finished as the state’s topranked district for the second consecutive year, according to school accountability scores released Thursday. West Feliciana retained its letter grade of A in the state’s measurement of student achievement during the 2024-25 school year and received a district performance score of 97.7, tops in the state. The performance score was down slightly from the 2023-24 score of 98.3, which made West Feliciana the top-ranked district in Louisiana for that year. But the score edged Plaquemines Parish, which had a score of 97.6 for second place in the state rankings. Rounding out the top ten districts in student achievement, in order, were Ascension, DeSoto, Cameron, Zachary, Central, Vernon, Livingston and Lincoln. “Next year everything changes, so we are thrilled to do it twice,” Superintendent Hollis Milton said of the No. 1 finish and changes to the accountability program scheduled in the coming school year. West Feliciana Parish School Board members learned that the district again earned an “A” letter grade when they met Nov. 18, but the state rankings had not been released at that time. Jodi Lemoine, the district’s accountability director, also reported the performance scores and letter grades for the three schools graded under the state program: n Bains Elementary, 91.4 for an A. n West Feliciana Middle School, 83.9, B. n West Feliciana High School, 109.9, A. On another matter in the Nov. 18 meeting, the board approved a one-year contract extension for Milton after giving him the highest evaluation score of his tenure. Following board action in 2023, Milton’s contract was to expire June 30, 2027, but the latest vote extends his contract to June 30, 2028. Milton said later he asked for the one-year extension because the board’s membership will change dramatically after the 2026 School Board elections. “I had previously told them that when I received the last extension that I would retire at 55. However, I recently recognized that this
ä See SCHOOLS, page 2G
Visit historic home West Feliciana High basketball coach Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
The newly deemed “1832 Jackson House,” formerly known as Roseneath, will have a “Sip and See,” open to the public, from 2 p.m.-6 p.m., Nov. 30.
Celebrate in Clinton A Southern Christmas in Clinton will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dec. 5 in downtown Clinton. A tree lighting, Santa, shopping, food and drink will be available. Music will be provided by Southland Band.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
stressing accountability, discipline
BY RICHARD MEEK Contributing writer
Coming off a 20-10 season that resulted in a playoff berth, West Feliciana High basketball coach Quinton Jones enters his third year as the Saints’ boss, welcoming the return of four starters. Guards Dashard White, Brian Sullivan and Travis Lathers will handle the backcourt, comple-
mented by forwards Curtis Minor and Tim Lindsey. Lathers averaged 18 points a game to go along with three assists and five rebounds a year ago. White, who averaged eight points and three assists this past season, will quarterback West Feliciana’s offense, likely often dishing off to Sullivan, who averaged 10 points a game. Lindsay, at 6 feet, is the tallest
of the Saints’ starters, averaged 11 points and four rebounds a year ago. The Saints will also rely on promising newcomers Amari Hills and Justin Smith, both guards. Jones, who has a 26-37 overall record, has also revamped his staff with the hiring of assistant
ä See COACH, page 2G