EMOCRA
SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
The
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T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, D e c e m b e r 3, 2025
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Fire chief touts game-changing rating jump Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Visit Santa at the library Santa is set to visit three branches of the Audubon Regional Library as Christmas approaches. Pictures with Santa will be followed by a festive story time and kids’ craft. No registration needed. Visit Santa Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Clinton Branch Library and 3 p.m. at the Jackson Branch Library. He’ll be at the Greensburg Branch Library at 11 a.m. Dec. 22.
New grade means quicker response times, lower costs BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
If you are too young to know that 3 is a magic number, West Feliciana Fire Chief Rick Dudley is leading a master class to tout how his department’s No. 3 ratings translates into quicker response times, life-saving improvements and lower insurance premiums for the agencies, businesses and residences covered by his district. The West Feliciana Parish Fire District is evalu-
ated by the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana every five years to grade several factors including in-house operations, the parish water system and the communications district (911 call center). PIAL grades fire districts on a 1-10 scale. This rating impacts homeowners’ fire insurance premiums, with a lower number indicating better fire protection and potentially lower rates. A score of 1 is the best, while 10 means no fire protec-
tion. Factors used to determine the rating include the number of firefighters, fire trucks, available water and response times. The district improved from a Class 5 rating in 2020 to a Class 3 rating in the most recent evaluation, which is a significant improvement. “To improve one point is a lot, once you get down around 5,” Dudley said. “To get below 5, you really
Playoff losses end Feliciana football season
Celebrate in Clinton A Southern Christmas in Clinton will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday in downtown. A tree lighting, Santa, shopping, and food and drink will be available. Music will be provided by Southland Band.
‘A Wonderful Life’ in Jackson “It’s A Wonderful Life” will start at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Cotton Fields Coffee and Gift Shop, 3053 Bank St., in Jackson. Doors open at 6 p.m. Christmas cotton candy, hot cocoa and popcorn will be provided. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and cozy clothes. Santa will make an appearance. Suggested donation for entry is $15. All funds go toward the Jackson Project’s town beautification fund to provide flower baskets on Main Street.
BY RICHARD MEEK Contributing writer
Christmas in St. Francisville Christmas in the Country is Friday through Sunday. FRIDAY First is the tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. The town Christmas tree will be lit and fireworks will follow. Bains Elementary, West Feliciana Middle and West Feliciana High choirs will perform on the front porch of Town Hall. n Living Nativity: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church at the corner of U.S. 61 and La. 10 n Jingle Bell Mingle: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Commerce St. Live music by The Remnants. dancing, food and shopping n Hospital Christmas Lighting: 6:30 p.m. Drive-thru lights from Burnett Road into the hospital campus. Cookies and cocoa will be available along the drive along with a gift for children. SATURDAY Start the day at Community Prayer Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church on Fidelity Street. n Breakfast with Santa: Three seatings begin at 8 a.m., Jackson Hall, 11621 Ferdinand St. n Music in Parker Park: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. n Artist in Parker Park: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. n Quilt Show: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. A Christmas quilt will be raffled and handmade gifts on sale. n Friends of the Library Tour of Homes: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. n Christmas Spirits: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Stroll along Royal Street with four cocktail stops for the adults and live music. Bains fifth grade Beta will entertain kids under a tent with letters to Santa, reindeer food and train rides. n Peep into holiday homes on Ferdinand and Royal streets from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Signs will mark houses to view. n Hymn singing: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. United Methodist Church, Royal Street n A Jane Austen Christmas: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Audubon State Park
PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
West Feliciana Parish Fire Chief Rick Dudley leads a tour Nov. 29 of the specialized vehicles that helped ä See FIRE, page 3G improve the fire district’s fire protection rating.
STAFF PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Shawn Sagrera, owner of Sagrera Farms in Ethel, is a fourth-generation cattle farmer.
Cattle call Ethel farmer expands on generations of experience as he partners with BR restaurant to use superior beef
BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer
When Shawn Sagrera was 6, his dad told him he could pick out any cow to be his own. That was the day he became a fourth-generation Louisiana cattle farmer. Now, his family legacy continues in Sagrera Farms in East Feliciana Parish. “I’m so fortunate to have this legacy, this family history of raising cattle,” Sagrera said. The sun had just risen on a chilly early November morning at Sagrera Farms in Ethel. With the dew sparkling on the grass, owner Shawn Sagrera held a handful of fermented cow feed to his nose, inhaling the grain’s
The final two Feliciana parishes football teams remaining in the playoffs saw their seasons come to an end Friday night. East Feliciana fell to Mangham 4916 and West Feliciana lost 39-16 at Belle Chasse in the playoffs. Mangham, 10-2, put the game away with a 20-point second quarter, allowing the Dragons to take a 28-16 lead at intermission. The Tigers, 9-4, did keep it close early when Markus Cannon Jr. thew a touchdown pass and Kayden Wilson ran in the two-point conversion to tie the score at 8. With two minutes left in the second quarter, Cannon tossed a second touchdown pass and a second successful-point conversion pulled East Feliciana to within five points at 21-16. But Mangham scored one minute before intermission to give the Dragons a 12-point cushion and their defense stifled the Tigers during the final two quarters. Mangham led 42-16 at the end of three quarters.
W. Feliciana falls to Belle Chasse
Cattle eat their morning fermented grain feed. sweet aroma. A tractor de- protein. “It’s sweet. How livered it to the troughs sec- beautiful.” Twice a day, the feed nouronds before. “Smell that,” Sagrera ishes Angus cattle in the last said, holding a handful of ä See FARMER, page 3G chopped feed that’s 17%
BR moms bet on Jackson with renovation of 1832 home
The Saints traveled to Belle Chasse riding the crest of a fivegame winning streak but that quickly came to an end against the 11-1 Cardinals. The Saints were 8-5 in coach Terry Minor’s first season. Quarterback Brooks Hebert finished the season averaging 241 yards per game passing and running back Colton Gates averaged 105 yards on the ground.
Hot start for basketball West Feliciana is off to 3-0 start in the young basketball season, with two of the Saints’ wins coming in front of the home crowd. The Saints opened the season with a 64-54 win at home over Springfield, won 54-42 at French Settlement and
ä See FOOTBALL, page 2G
BY JAMES TAYLOR FOREMAN
Contributing writer
ä See AROUND, page 2G PHOTO BY JAMES TAYLOR FOREMAN
Shannon Carmouche, left, and Stephanie Bennett in the welcome hall of the house they restored, 1832 Jackson House.
When Shannon Carmouche woke up in the nearly remodeled 1832 Jackson House for the first time in July 2024, celebrating her daughter Chloe’s 22nd birthday, she had tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe we did it.” Carmouche had always dreamed of
ä See RENOVATION, page 2G
PHOTO BY DAVID THOMAS JR.
Ryan ‘Bug’ Moore attempts to break a tackle of a Mangham Dragon defender.