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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W e d n e s d ay, D e c e m b e r 24, 2025
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Christmas comes alive in Denham Spring’s Nativity
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
One of the wise men brings a gift to Mary and Joseph during the annual SADD Christmas Alive program held at Train Station park in Denham Springs Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.
Community news report
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Denham Springs High’s SADD students on Dec. 14 presented their “Christmas Alive” program at Train Station Park in Denham Springs. The event features a variety of holiday activities
to celebrate the Christmas season. The students presented a live Nativity and hosted games, crafts, a petting zoo, refreshments and sweet treats.
Judy Cannedy takes a cookie from SADD club member Megan Margi.
Christmastime celebration grows at RISE in Tickfaw
BY RICHARD MEEK Contributing writer
From scary to merry. From a popular haunted house in October to a winter wonderland in December. Four years ago, a family made the leap to transition its 30-plus acre plot of land nestled in central Tangipahoa Parish where the flats of the south nudge against the rolling hills of the north from its annual RISE Haunted House to a Christmas extravaganza. Build it and Santa will come. And in four years so have many of his friends. “Instead of having an empty piece of property during the offseason, we thought what is another way we can use it instead of it just sitting there,” said co-owner Davy Plaisance, explaining the launch of Christmas at RISE. “Also, we wanted to be able to offer something else to the community,” said Shontay Laiche, the sister-in-law of Davy PHOTO BY RICHARD MEEK and Mindi Plaisance. She has noticed many community Actors perform a skit at one of the several stops on the popular hayride at Christmas at members do not engage in the eeriness RISE in Tickfaw on Thursday. of Halloween activities, so that “was our number one reason” for establishing a new Christmas holiday tradition in Tangipahoa in-law and sisters-in-law Davy and Mindi donning Santa Claus in Halloween props. Parish. Plaisance and Shontay and Nevelle Laiche, He said that was not an option. Davy Plaisance said many of his counterwho are also neighbors in Tickfaw, made “It was not family orientated; it was for parts who also offer haunted houses put to- haunted house enthusiasts,” Laiche said. the risky decision to launch the Christmas extravaganza. So five years ago the group of brothersgether a Scary Christmas for one weekend,
Naturally, the first question was identifying and acquiring appropriate holiday attractions. Sure, they were familiar with the creepiness of Halloween swag since they had had the haunted house for 10 years at the time. But Christmas? So the families loaded up their vehicles, youngsters and all, and began their odyssey of searching for family-friendly Christmas-themed decorations. While not exactly a National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation adventure, the experience was valuable. “The children traveled with us, and whatever they gravitated to we wanted,” said Nevelle Laiche. “It’s the main reason we have our bear factory; our 12-year-old wanted it, and so we said we had to get this.” Shontay Laiche agreed, saying the adults garnered input from their children as part of the decision-making process regarding potential attractions. “We just loaded up and traveled and took them,” she said. “We learned how to get ideas, and we searched every (Christmas) venue.” Brandi Plaisance said the children were younger and enjoyed exploring various Christmas shows. She said Halloween is always busy, so a decision was made to use Christmas as a time to spend with family
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Holiday greetings TRADITION OF GIVING As the clock ticks down to other local law enforcement Christmas and New Year’s agencies will increase patrols Day, many of us reflect on in Livingston Parish through 2025. While it had its posiNew Year’s Day as part of the Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over tive spots, most of the year campaign aimed at deterring has been stressful for many Darlene people from driving while imarea families, including Denstorff paired. mine. AROUND The death of my husband Motorists are urged to drive LIVINGSTON carefully and comply with all in August was unexpected and devastated my family. Louisiana traffic regulations. He was the heart and soul of our Specific locations of the patrols will family. His bigger-than-life personnot be released in advance. Overtime officer pay for the ofality kept us together. We miss his presence, and I know other families ficers involved is being funded experiencing loss understand. through a federal grant adminisBut I’m hopeful for the new year. tered by the Louisiana Highway Here’s wishing all my readers a Safety Commission. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Grinchmas in Denham Springs Year. Denham Springs is hosting GrinHoliday deadlines set chmas in the Village from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 along Range AvSubmissions for the New Year’s Eve editions are due Dec. 26. Share enue in the Antique Village. your holiday lights, party and celeStart at Heritage House Antiques, bration photos with us at livingston@ register for the Jingle Bell event and drop your tickets in the bowls theadvocate.com. at participating stores for a drawing Sober driving campaign underway for gift certificates. Join the Grinch The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s ä See AROUND, page 2G Office in conjunction with several
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Lt. Chase Carrier hugs Paula-marie LeJeune after delivering her a bag of gifts, bottom right, during the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office Christmas Crusade on Friday. Deputies delivered donated gifts to low income Livingston families across the parish. ä More photos. PAGE 2G