DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
ADVOCATE THE LIVINGSTON -TANGIPAHOA
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
1GN
Special Olympics changes lead to more participation in Livingston Parish BY RICHARD MEEK
“It means we do our team events, our teams, our own everything, which means we have to raise money — Buy new uniforms, buy new equipment to keep all our athletes within the school and our older athletes within the community to take care of all of their needs.”
added. She said previously, the various parishes under Capital Area made Livingston Parish Special Olymmoney together and bought things PAULETTE ROBERTS, Livingston Parish Special Olympics coach together. pics is in the early stages of a seis“But when we separated, (Capimic change that one coach called “extremely exciting.” tal area) kept the (equipment) and The new structure assigns each own events, but it remains under uniforms, buy new equipment to The old uniforms sported Capital we started new, which we are doparish statewide responsibility for the Capital Area Regional group keep all our athletes within the Area on the front, and now that will ing good.” school and our older athletes with- be changed to Livingston Parish. training its athletes and hosting lo- when it comes to larger events. Livingston Parish is wrapping “And now we have to buy new up softball and horseshoes and “It means we do our team events, in the community to take care of cal events. Coach Paulette Roberts equipment, starting from scratch, recently finished bowling and said that since the summer, Liv- our teams, our own everything, all of their needs.” Also included are the purchase because the old equipment beingston Parish has been training which means we have to raise its own athletes and managing its money,” Roberts said. “Buy new of new uniforms and equipment. longed to Capital Area,” Roberts ä See SPECIAL OLYMPICS, page 2G Contributing writer
Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
Denham Springs kicks off holiday season The Denham Springs Old City Hall lights up for the holiday season starting at 6 p.m. Nov. 28, 115 Mattie St. The night starts with the Kindness Keepers Choir singing and a special guest singing Christmas songs with the audience. Santa will be on hand for free photos and the streets will be lined with sponsors giving away hot chocolate, cookies and goodies. Children can write letters to Santa, decorate cookies and play games. Amusement rides will be featured in the parking lot and wagon and train rides will be offered. The Denham Springs Antique Village’s Christmas Open House is Nov. 29 along Range Avenue. The day of shopping is from 10 a.m. to 5 pm. Denham Springs Merchants Association sponsors the event. The Chef’s Evening and Wine Tasting Event is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 4. Antique Village businesses will serve food and beverage from area restaurants. Get your tickets before they are gone at www.denhamspringsmainstreet.org. The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra performs 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Train Station, 198 Railroad Ave. The Kiwanis Lighting of the Christmas Tree is at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Train Station Park. Livingston Parish Children’s Choir starts the night off with the sounds of Christmas songs. The Kiwanis Christmas parade starts at 2 p.m. Dec. 13 through the city. A live Nativity scene will be featured Dec. 14 in the Christmas Alive program in the park. SADD students organize the night of live animals and the reason for the season. Grinchmas in the Village is from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 along Range Avenue in the Antique Village. Enjoy a great day of shopping in the village. This is the second year for this event. Start at Heritage House Antiques and register for the Jingle Bell event and drop your tickets in the bowls at participating stores, for a drawing for gift certificates. Join the Grinch costume contest at MT Lockers from 5 pm. to 6 p.m.
Walker Christmas celebration planned The Walker Christmas Parade starts at 3 p.m. Dec. 6 at Walker High School. After the parade, the city will host Christmas in the Park.
Free pet food pantry supports Louisiana families in need Rescue Rehome Repeat of South Louisiana is launching a free pet food pantry throughout November to support pet owners in the Livingston and Baton Rouge areas who are
ä See AROUND, page 2G
STAFF FILE PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE
World War II veteran Tolley Fletcher, left, talks with Andrea Pizza, a member of the Victory Belles, before the Dr. Hal Baumgarten D-Day commemoration ceremony at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans on June 6, 2024.
‘A GOOD LIFE’
104-year-old Denham Springs veteran thankful for a life well-lived
BY RICHARD MEEK
Contributing writer
Tolley Fletcher, 104, eased into his recliner, his television unsurprisingly set on country music, in the den in the house he built in 1979 offering a sense of comfort and serenity. His eyes that have borne witness to more than a century of living remain alert, his voice strong, his gentleness genuine. “Overall, a good life,” said Fletcher, who four years ago
lost his wife, Lorna. “I am well satisfied.” Fletcher’s story is one with the humblest of beginnings, a farm boy who did not live in a house with electricity or running water until he was 15 years old. But from those roots, his life blossomed, taking him back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean on several occasions and also to North Africa, where he was able to spend time in Casablanca, which he said was overrated, to Normandy as a participant in the D-Day invasion.
He has lived in Washington D.C., Maryland and Illinois before returning to Denham Springs, where he still lives in the 1,600-square-foot house he, Lorna and his son built on a 3.5-acre lot. Along the way, he has met Navy buddies who he stayed in touch for years, married and had five children before the marriage ended, and then met Lorna, who had four children from a previous marriage and became his soulmate. Fletcher fondly recalls
traveling through Arkansas and asking Lorna if she would marry him. When she said yes, they pulled into a small Arkansas town and exchanged vows, thus beginning a nearly 50-year odyssey. Fletcher has been honored on more than one occasion by The National WWII Museum in New Orleans and has appeared in several local parades, one in Walker that surprised him with a 100th
ä See VETERAN, page 3G
Walker girls basketball coach likes what he sees in early season action issue for players or coaches, but it Every basketball season brings its own challenges as roster changwas Ponchatoula, a Division I nonselect quarterfinalist last season, es mean the most important early goal is to find team chemistry. that won the game 59-50. That is certainly the case for the “It was great. We’re young and Walker High girls basketball team there were some first-game jitters, Charles but I saw a lot of good stuff out of where the Wildcats have the added Salzer dimension of breaking in a new our girls,” Armstrong said after the SPORTS coach. game. ROUNDUP Something Armstrong didn’t see The new guy is Bobby Armstrong was four players he expects to be III, a Shreveport native who has the pedigree to continue the level among his top seven later this seaof play that Walker has achieved in recent son. Those four are out for various reasons, seasons. Armstrong comes to Walker after but it will give other players a chance to coaching the past two seasons at Mesquite step into the spotlight. High School near Dallas. “There’s not a lot of depth for us right Wildcats fans got their first look at Arm- now with four girls out, but we will get betPHOTO BY CHARLES SALZER strong and his team on Nov. 17, when Pon- ter,” Armstrong said. Walker girls basketball coach Bobby Armstrong III chatoula paid a visit for the season opener. surveys play. ä See SALZER, page 3G Team chemistry didn’t appear to be an