SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
The
W atchman
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Mardi Gras is coming Krewe de Canines presents “The Good, The Bad, The Furry” dog parade and costume contest from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 24 in Parker Park in St. Francisville. Pup registration fee is $25 and stuffed animal entry is $10. Event benefits West Feliciana Animal Humane Society. Visit krewedecanines.com for information. In Clinton, the 21st annual Feliciana Family & Friends Mardi Gras parade is at noon Jan. 31. The theme is “Boots on the Grounds.” Themed T-shirts may be ordered. Visit facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064329323928 for information.
Ballapalooza 2026 set Ballapalooza 2026 in support of local athletics will be from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at The Mallory. The annual event benefits the WF Diamond Backers and serves as a key fundraiser in support of West Feliciana baseball programs. A cash bar, food and silent and live auctions will be available. Tickets are $50 per person by scanning the QR code at tinyurl.com/4jrzvmhx.
|
W e d n e s d ay, J a n u a ry 14, 2026
$1.00N
Police Jury reelects top officers Member raises objection, makes pitch for change in leadership
BY JAMES MINTON
item of electing officers for 2026. Oliveaux said he had received numerous calls from residents East Feliciana Parish police ju- who object to continuing with the rors reelected their body’s presi- same slate of officers, year after dent and vice president to begin year. Oliveaux said it is “time to pass the new year Jan. 5, but one juror objected to their return to office. the gavel around,” but no one ofJuror Richard Oliveaux rose fered a nomination for president from his chair to address the other than that of Louis Kent, who jury when it reached the agenda has held the position for years.
Contributing writer
With no other nomination, Kent was reelected by a voice vote. Oliveaux, however, nominated Juror Kyle Fleniken for the vice president’s position, which has been held in recent years by Chrissie O’Quin. After Oliveaux’s nomination was not seconded, O’Quin was reelected to the post. Kent reacted to Oliveaux’s statements after the voting, saying in part that leaders are born, not made, and leadership is a “gift of God.” “God put me here,” Kent said, adding he was elected by a majority of the jurors.
Ground game
“I can’t appoint myself,” he said. Jurors later voted, with two dissenting, to grant a variance of the parish’s noise ordinance that will allow William Jarrell to hold a post-Mardi Gras parade party at his property at 8596 La. 963 in Ethel. A delegation of neighboring property owners opposed the variance, citing problems with the last such party on the property. They said the crowd flocking to the site blocked traffic in their neighborhood.
ä See OFFICERS, page 3G
West Fel basketball snags nondistrict victory
BY RICHARD MEEK Contributing writer
Big River Pizza Co. in downtown St. Francisville organizes a welcoming 5K run at 10 a.m. every Saturday and 6 p.m. Wednesdays, starting and ending at the restaurant, 5725 Commerce St. The route, which winds through the historic district, is open for runners and walkers. The venue offers 50% off pizza, beer, wine, draft cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks for all participants after the run.
West Feliciana manhandled host East Feliciana 60-27 in a nondistrict matchup Friday. The Saints are 14-3 and open a three-game homestand on Wednesday hosting Dunham, Lakeshore on Friday and Walker on Jan. 19. Travis Lathers is averaging 23 points a game and Tonio Sullivan for West Feliciana. Sullivan is also averaging 3.5 rebounds and two steals per game. EAST FELICIANA: The loss to West Feliciana dropped the Tigers overall record to 4-15. East Feliciana has also lost its only District 8-2A matchup. The Tigers host Northeast on Jan. 16 and North Iberville on Jan. 20. SLAUGHTER CHARTER SCHOOL: Slaughter, 4-6, 1-0 District 8-2A, host Thrive Academy on Wednesday and Mentorship Academy on Saturday.
Farmers Market
Girls basketball
Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., deals on a wide variety of fresh produce and other locally sourced goods will be available at the St. Francisville Farmers Market, 9961 Wilcox St. Visit facebook.com/stfrancisvillefarmersmarket for information.
WEST FELICIANA: West Feliciana had won five consecutive games and eight out of nine heading into a Monday game at Assumption. The Saints defeated East Feliciana 42-31 Saturday to improve to 14-4 overall heading into district play. Sanaya Berry scored 14 points and Jaterriona Johnson 13 for West Feliciana, which opens District 6-4A play at McKinley on Friday and follows with an away game at Tara on Jan. 20. West Feliciana led 19-11 at the half against East Feliciana and pulled away in the third quarter, taking a 33-20 lead into the final eight minutes. Barry is averaging 15 points per game, and Johnson and Ariannah Smith 12.6 each for West Feliciana. Smith is averaging 6.3 rebounds and Johnson 5.5 steals per game. Barry is averaging 3.1 steals per game for the Lady Saints. EAST FELICIANA The Lady Tigers fell to 7-9 overall with the loss against West Feliciana but are 2-0 in district play with wins over Slaughter and Baker. East Feliciana also dropped a 3430 decision to Pearl River on Jan.7, one day after snapping a threegame losing streak with a 44-36 win over Family Christian. Kariah Dunn is averaging more than 30 points and six rebounds per game for the Lady Tigers. East Feliciana plays at Scotlandville on Thursday and hosts Northeast on Friday. SLAUGHTER CHARTER The Knights defeated Kentwood in a nondistrict game this past Friday to run their record to 4-5. Slaughter lost its only district game. The Lady Knights host Central on Friday and play at Ascension Christian on Jan. 21.
Running group meets weekly
LSMSA open house The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts will host an open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 19. Prospective students and their families are invited to tour the campus, explore LSMSA’s living-learning environment and hear from students and staff. “We encourage families across Louisiana to join us and discover the exceptional resources and opportunities available to high school students in our state,” said Emily Shumate, director of Enrollment Management and Outreach. “LSMSA offers a unique educational experience that combines college-level academics with a supportive residential community. There is no better way to understand what makes our school special than visiting campus and meeting our students, faculty, and staff.” The event is recommended for students in eighth grade or higher; younger siblings may attend; however, they should
ä See AROUND, page 3G
PHOTOS BY MELINDA HOWELL
Audubon Regional Library Director Trevor Collings said a new playground at the Clinton Branch Library is expected to open in the middle of January.
Clinton library to open playground soon, with room to grow BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
The new playground at the Clinton Branch of the Audubon Regional Library will be opening “very soon … around the middle of the month,” Library Director Trevor Collings said Jan. 7. The playground area is a large part of the improvements and additions recently completed on the grounds outside the library facility, a former church building. While the landscaping is not yet completed, work on the redesigned parking lot and sidewalks, which includes a rectangular walking path, is done. Part of the parking lot now faces a large colorful mural featuring the library’s logo painted on the wooden fence. The mural might be the first of several, Collings said. He said there will be a soft opening of the playground very soon and a formal ribbon-cutting event will follow
A covered outdoor area that includes tables and electrical outlets faces a sloped turf surface. Collings said part of the outdoor area can be used for story time, craft activities and other programs and that outdoor movies might be another possibility. in the spring. The hours for the playground will be the same as the library. The playground gate will be locked at night, he said. All three branches of the
library system recently extended their hours of operation by one hour on one day per week. Clinton’s new clos-
ä See LIBRARY, page 2G
Email Richard Meek at livingston@theadvocate.com.