The St. Tammany Farmer 01-21-2026

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Slidell changes development regulations

BY KIM CHATELAIN

Contributing writer

Culminating a tedious legislative process that began last summer, the Slidell City Council has approved an overhaul to zoning and development codes that will provide a blueprint for sustainable growth in St. Tammany Parish’s largest city

During its Jan. 13 meeting, the council voted 9-0 on the complex

ordinance that represents a critical step in making the code of ordinances better align with the Slidell 2040 Comprehensive Plan, a long-term land use outline for the city’s future.

The “Unified Development Code” ordinance had appeared on the council agenda on several

previous occasions, but was deferred each time because of questions raised by residents and city officials. The amended version on the recent agenda seemed to quell most of those concerns.

Former council member Buddy Lloyd, a resident of the Brugier subdivision, had previously asked the council to pump the brakes on the ordinance amid various concerns. He spoke in favor of passage this time.

“While this amendment doesn’t do everything we would like, it does enough,” Lloyd said. “I think it’s important that we move forward (and) see how the ordinance plays out.”

The changes outlined in the ordinance are designed to untangle the city’s overly complicated zoning map and regulatory code, thus providing a more streamlined approach to land management. Among other things, it addresses

minimum lot sizes, setback requirements, site development standards and short-term rental regulations.

The ordinance stalled in part because of concerns from some residents that the changes embodied in the legislation could open the door for multifamily structures in neighborhoods made up of singlefamily residences.

AIRWAVES

BY JIM DERRY Contributing writer

More than 36 years ago while still in high school, 15-year-old Steven Michell walked into the Covington Fire Department and became a volunteer firefighter At the city’s monthly council meeting on Jan. 13, he became chief of that same department.

Michell, 52, has worked his way from the bottom to the top in the only real job he has ever known, moving up from volunteer in 1989 to one of the city’s first paid firefighters in 1996 to becoming an assistant chief in 2007

He then took over in an interim capacity for Chief Gary Blocker, who died in May and was nominated to the position in a permanent capacity by Mayor Mark Johnson, which was then unanimously approved by the council.

“He was instrumental in leading our department this past year, and it was a difficult year,” Johnson said Throughout his time as interim chief, Michell reflected on how he got here and the proof that perseverance can pay off.

“I think you want to aim high, and becoming fire chief is the highest it can be,” he said. “But I take the approach that although there is a fire chief, it is a team effort. It takes everyone in the department to make it as good as it is and to try and be better than you were the day before “A lot of people said that I was owed that spot, and I disagree with that. I don’t think just putting time in that you should be owed anything. Rather, you should earn it. You should have the confidence and trust of the people who are in the position to put you there that you are not only going to do the job, but do it very well.”

There’s little question that Michell has seen tremendous changes in the Covington Fire Department since his first days as a volunteer, when the only paid position was that of chief. Today, there are 21 paid positions, of which there are a few open spots he hopes to fill in the near future.

“I’ll tell you how different times are. If you had a driver’s license, they would teach you how to drive the fire truck. They didn’t care if you knew how to operate it as long as you could drive it,” Michell said “ ‘We’ll

BY SUZIE HUNT Contributing writer

When James Robinson received his ham radio call sign — W4DDD — in 1933 at the age of 12, little did he know that the dots and dashes he sent across the airwaves would see him keying messages through a world war, hurricanes and a slew of friendships. Although born in Georgia, Robinson is a longtime northshore resident and at 104 years old, he’s also Louisiana’s oldest surviving World War II veteran. As a radio communications officer he traveled to the United Kingdom, Iceland, Greenland, Korea and Japan before landing back in the United States and eventually in Louisiana. At one of their weekly breakfast meetings in Mandeville, Robinson was joined by his good friends,

BY JESSICA SAGGIO Contributing writer

ä Trey Yuen restaurant honored for community service. PAGE 9A

“If a little girl from Mandeville can make it, you can too,” restaurateur Tommy Wong tells the young patrons who visit his restaurant, Trey Yuen. He beams with pride each time he has a reason to bring up his daughter’s success a thing he does often. After all, his Olivia is an accomplished professional dancer with roots right here on the north shore. Not only is she currently on tour as a backup dancer for the wildly popular K-pop group Blackpink, she is also a movement director and choreographer for a number of popular music artists. She’s appeared in commercials, music videos, TV series, feature-length films and live stage

PROVIDED PHOTO Olivia Wong stands on the set of the Deadline World Tour with Blackpink, a South Korean music act regarded by some music publications as the biggest girl group in the world.

DANCER

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performances. Olivia has worked with big names like the Black Eyed Peas, Becky G Bad Bunny, Nicki Minaj, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa and many, many more. She has a reputation in Los Angeles, and the dancer with humble beginnings in Mandeville has made her way to the international stage. She’s a sought-after professional who has made it in an industry not easy to crack, battling through racial stereotypes and cut-throat competition So when Tommy Wong gets a chance to brag on his girl, he does.

“It just amazes me,” said Tommy, speaking to her ability to pick things up so quickly and battle through adversity.

“The pride is overwhelming,” added her mom, Jeanne Wong, who says she cries each time she watches her dance. “Every little bit we’re proud of, everything she’s done, it’s just amazing to see.”

And it all started right here on the north shore when Olivia was 2 years old and her mom enrolled her in dance. Jeanne, who was also a dancer, said it was just a natural thing she did with all four of her daughters so they could be exposed to the art. But Olivia would be the only one who would stick with it through adulthood. Her sisters pursued other passions, she said As for Olivia, though, she would spend most of her extracurricular time training mostly at Body Expressions Center of Performing Arts in Mandeville. There, she would take every class she could, a path studio owner Heidi Miller said is crucial for any dancer who wants to turn professional. Olivia had a gift for picking things up quickly, and she lit up the stage, said Miller She attended conventions regularly with the studio’s competition dance team often winning awards

“She would do everything 110 percent; she was never lazy,” said Miller “ She always stood out.”

Olivia would eventually go through the studio’s apprenticeship program and teach as well. Additionally, she was on the Mandeville High School dance team, where she led the group to state-level recognition. She was a workhorse, often attending conventions, taking classes all day and then competing at night. But the scholarship money she could win would allow her to take even more dance classes and further hone her craft

“I was doing it all and getting as much training as possible,” she said “I just became obsessed with being a scholarship winner, and my mom and I would travel alone and I would go and compete and do a solo or take a class just so I could train more.”

And Jeanne was with her every step of the way An adoring mother, she said she loves watching her dance, even in rehearsal, and does so every time she gets an opportunity – even if it means hunting down YouTube videos from Blackpink concerts abroad. But all of that work would culminate after Olivia graduated from Mandeville High and made the decision to pursue dancing professionally. She enrolled in a collegiate program in Los Angeles at Hussian College, which has since changed ownership and runs under a different name.

“Honestly I never thought about doing anything else,” said Olivia. “I remember growing up in Louisiana and people asking me when we were about to graduate, ‘What are you planning to do?’ And I said, ‘I’m going to move to Los Angeles to dance. I’m going to find a way to make this happen for me.”

And that she did. Tommy and Jeanne packed up Olivia’s little Nissan with all of her belongings and drove her across the country to her new home.

There, Olivia worked tirelessly And even though those who know her are quick to call her humble, helpful and giving, Los Angeles quickly challenged any ego she arrived with.

“When I moved out there, my ego was so big, and I was very quickly humbled,” she said. “I was a very small fish in a very big tank.”

It also wasn’t the easiest task being Chinese-American.

“The K-pop movement wasn’t as big and she being Asian and having the last name Wong she had to fight through all the stereotypes,” said Tommy “Later on, it helped her, but in the beginning it was a stumbling block. But she fought through.”

She was “super hungry” and willing to put in the work it takes to make it. She attended school from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., then trained from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., went home, slept, and then did it all again the next day She became a “sponge,” she said, soaking up every opportunity she could and adapting to any situation, being a chameleon when needed.

She built connections by taking classes and building relationships, and that’s what really matters, she said.

“You have to be a person first. Talent at this point is half of it, not even half, maybe 40 percent and the other half is being someone people want to work with,” she said, saying this is how she got signed with her first agency She took every job she could, and eventually started to work with Becky G, an artist she said has really shaped her career

The rest is history Now 28, she has a résumé stacked with accomplishments.

But the little girl who spent her days in and out Trey Yuen (the Mandeville restaurant her dad owns and operates with his brothers) hasn’t forgotten where she came from and she’s grateful for the days when her dad would make her sing in his

restaurant or the fact he has plans to put a full-size poster of her most recent magazine cover up by the bar

“You better not do that, that’s insane,” she joked. “Deep down he is such a proud dance dad. He loves it. I never expected that, but to hear how proud he is of me is so sweet My dad is a legend. He hypes us up. He’s one of a kind.”

As Olivia wraps up her international tour with Blackpink, the grand finale will be a personal one when she travels to Hong Kong for the final shows of the tour later this month. She’s flying her parents out

first class, she said, something she has always wanted to do. The rest of her family will also meet there to see her perform and visit the village where Tommy grew up. It’s sure to be a full-circle moment for the Wongs. As for her advice to other young dancers?

“Be a student forever Be coachable. Be adaptable. Don’t let being from a smaller place make you feel small,” said Olivia. “You have to start somewhere even if its messy You just have to do it. That’s the hardest step. Full throttle.”

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But Lloyd pointed out that those concerns were alleviated by amendments made to the ordinance during the extended public vetting process.

Several council members noted that the ordinance is a “living document” that can be amended to meet the future development needs of the city

Members also praised city staffers and citizens for their diligence in tying up the loose ends in the knotty ordinance

Council member Bill Borchert said the development code ordinance was first in-

CHIEF

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meet you there — just get there, and we’ll do the rest.’

“I was living at my parents’ house. They gave me a radio, and I would drive up to the fire station. It absolutely was a different era of time.”

After graduating from Covington High School in the early 1990s, he commuted to the south shore and worked as a firefighter at Lakefront Airport. It was there he received much of the training that would get him set for his future back home.

As a volunteer in the Covington FD, he was asked to go door-to-door to help get a millage approved for full-time firefighters He did, and soon after it was approved by the voters, he was hired on Jan. 1, 1996. Michell has several goals for the near term, from expanding the program of installing free carbon monoxide monitors in Covington homes to one of the most

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and Frank Massara, where over eggs and grits, conversation turned toward memories of his military service and his obvious love for ham radio.

“My brother Wesley and I got our radio licenses at the same time. I was in the Signal Radio Corps as a civilian before going into the service,” said Robinson, who served in the Army Air Corps, the United States Air Force and retired as a major with the Florida Air National Guard

“During the war, I was responsible for sending messages about the weather between the U.K. and the U.S. as part of the AACS (Airways and Air Communications Service) We would relay messages from England, then to Scotland to Iceland to Greenland to New York, and then to Washington, D.C. It was an important job because you can’t fight much of a war without knowing the weather,” he said. While Robinson served as a communications officer his brother Wesley was a bombardier who was shot down and died during his fifth mission over Germany

“When they recovered his body, it was turned over to the German Red Cross who buried him. Since he still had his dog tags, they sent the coordinates to the American Red Cross and later they were able to get his body It was good of German Red Cross to do that,” Robinson said. Other than his brother’s death, he has a lot of good memories from his service during World War II and the Korean conflict. One special story involved his first wife Carolyn. They met and married when they were both teenagers

“She was a real Army wife and traveled to live near where I was stationed when she could. When we moved, I’d ride in the troop car on the train, and she would be in the coach. There used to be bulletin boards at the train station advertising rooms for rent. When we’d get to our new destination, I’d go with the soldiers and she’d go look at bulletin boards. Once she would be settled, she’d call the base and leave a message for me with her address,” said Robinson.

Smiling, he recalled a time when their time apart became too challenging.

“We were told we would not get leave for 15 days. I may have crawled under the fence to go see my wife. I was back before

troduced by the council in August of last year and was postponed repeatedly for alterations.

“This thing has been going on for quite some time,” Borchert said. “I’m excited to get it moving forward. It’s been tough, but I think it’s been good and necessary.”

Council member Jeff Burgoyne said the new code regulations will remain under periodic review by city officials, and he urged the public to stay in tune to the city’s future development issues.

“I’m real excited about this ordinance because of that fact alone,” Burgoyne said of the periodic reviews. “(I) look forward to seeing how this ordinance transforms Slidell into an even better place than we are now.”

important, that of using his decades of experience to help continue the “close-knit” environment in his department.

He has top officials in the city behind him. At last week’s council meeting after Johnson nominated Michell as permanent chief, members of the council spoke out in favor, and when he was named to the position, there was a standing ovation from the crowd

“What I want the public to recognize and understand is the connection (Michell) has with this city,” said Mark Verret, who is the Covington City Council president. “Administration worked with the council to select the best fire chief.”

And really, that’s all he has ever wanted to be.

“It’s overwhelming, and it’s such a huge honor,” Michell said. “Walking through the doors of the fire department when you are 15 years old, becoming chief is definitely not on your mind. But 30-something years later, you get to this point where you have given your all to a career that I just absolutely love.”

PROVIDED PHOTO BY JAMES ROBINSON

WWII veteran James Robinson, of Covington, holds a saber

to cut the cake at the US Army’s 250th anniversary at the WWII Museum in New Orleans.

dawn,” Robinson said with a grin.

Robinson enjoys sharing his memories with his fellow members at the American Legion Post 16, Robert H. Burns in Covington. He has also been active at the World War II Museum in New Orleans. As the oldest surviving WWII veteran in Louisiana, the museum has held celebrations for his 103rd and 104th birthdays

“I’m on TikTok. The Victory Belles sang Happy Birthday to me. The one from my 103rd birthday party has more than 2 million hits,” Robinson said with a grin. He also received congratulatory kisses on the cheek from the singers.

“He didn’t want to wash them off,” teased Massara. After retiring from the service, he worked for the Ford Motor Company and also in advertising. He retired at the age of 68, making his retirement years almost as many as his working career Along with his time at the American Legion post, Robinson also is active with his church Bible study group and his Wednesday morning breakfast club.

“We’ve been meeting here about 20 years. We have added and subtracted people and changed res-

Chahta Tribe will open museum in Slidell train depot

BY KIM CHATELAIN Contributing writer

The Slidell City Council has authorized Mayor Randy Fandal to provide space in the city-owned Train Depot to the Save The St. Tammany Chahta Tribe for a museum.

The city and the Chahta Tribe will enter into a cooperative endeavor and lease agreement that will provide concrete benefits to the community by showcasing local American Indian history, according to an ordinance outlining the pact. It was approved by a 9-0 vote of the council.

The nonprofit corporation, whose mission is to preserve and promote the history and culture of the tribe, plans to open its museum in a 1,400-square-foot section on the south side of the city-owned depot at 1827 Front St.

The first-floor space to be used is currently vacant and not directly needed for

public purposes, according to the lease ordinance. The city will not collect rent, officials said.

The museum will promote education, cultural enrichment, tourism, economic development and community representation, the officials said.

“These benefits are at least equivalent in value to the space provided by the city under the agreement,” the ordinance reads.

The Chahta Tribe represents indigenous Choctaw people who have deep historical roots in St. Tammany Parish Leaders say many of today’s parish residents are completely unaware of the group’s history Supporters of the museum hope to change that.

St. Tammany Parish Council members Jerry Binder and Arthur Laughlin appeared before the City Council to support passage of the agreement.

Binder said he witnessed a recent presentation from

the Tribe’s Chief Elwin “Warhorse” Gillum and was blown away by what he learned.

“I have to tell you, from a historical standpoint it was one of the most wonderful, historical speeches and bits of information that I’ve heard or read in my lifetime,” he said. “It’s just fascinating.”

Gillum thanked both parish and city leaders for their support of the partnership between Slidell and the tribe.

“We have with us here today parish leaders, past and present; city leaders, past and present, that all feel great about what we’re doing here today,” she said. Laughlin agreed, saying, “This is a long time coming. I’m glad we’re finally recognizing the chief and her people.” Under the agreement, the tribe will staff and operate the museum, which will be open to the public and for special events.

taurants,” said Motion. Throughout the meal, people stopped by the table to greet Robinson and his friends.

But throughout the breakfast meeting, the conversation always returned to Robison’s love of the ham radio. He still communicates with others on a regular basis. During his 92 years as an operator, he has learned to adapt his equipment. Hurricane Katrina taught him the importance of extra battery storage. At a former apartment, he had to take down his antenna.

“Every time I made a key stroke, the fire alarm would go off,” he said.

To get around the antenna issue at his new apartment, he now uses a VBand ham radio program through his laptop. His typing key plugs into the computer and he’s clicking away his messages just as before.

Between his radio broadcasts and visits with his friends, Robinson says he has no bucket list. He just lives day to day and his secret for his longevity is simple.

“Don’t drink. Don’t smoke, and stay vigorous,” said Robinson. After living through more than a century’s worth of history it obviously works for him.

Fontainebleau’s Esté to serve as U.S. Senate page

BY JIM DERRY Contributing writer

One day in the near future, Owen Esté very well could be representing St. Tammany Parish as a Congressman or even a U.S. Senator And if it were to happen, he might look back to 2026 as the year that kicked it all off.

The 17-year-old Fontainebleau student was honored by the St Tammany Parish School Board on Jan. 15 after being selected as one of just 30 high school juniors in the country to take part in the Senate page program in Washington, D.C., beginning later this month.

He will spend the entire spring semester away from home, going to school in the morning and working on Capitol Hill in the afternoons and evenings. And when he returns home this summer he might very well be more of an expert on civics than his teachers.

Esté already has been named the district’s Student of the Year, is a member of the National Honor Society, school theater troupe, serves on Superintendent Frank Jabbia’s advisory committee and has served as class president as a sophomore. So, who knows what might be next after his time as a Senate page?

He says he wants to be a lawyer some day and eventually become a judge, and there’s a distinct possibility he will run for some type of office.

What else would one expect from a teenager who watches CSPAN in his free time?

Esté was chosen as a page after sending an application to Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, and he found out about the honor on Dec. 2, which was the day before his 17th birthday

“I was in shock, I was frantic, and I was overjoyed,” he said. “It took about two or three days for me to calm down. When I got the envelope, I said, “What is this?!?”

The Senate’s website states that “a page’s day starts early,” and that from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. they attend school then immediately head to work, where “their shared responsibilities consist primarily of delivering correspondence and legislative material within the Capitol and Senate office buildings, preparing the chamber for Senate sessions and working on the Senate floor where they provide assistance during roll call votes, support senators and staff during debates, and carry bills and amendments to the desk.”

The little free time they have comes on weekends, when one

might expect them to rest after 14- to 16-hour weekdays. The program begins Jan. 26 and continues through June 5. Esté, who is part of the school’s “Bulldog Buddies” program, where everyday students partner with those of special needs, will

have to skip the last part of the season as a soccer player at Fontainebleau. He also says he “definitely” will miss his parents, Amy and Steven, and his little brother, Elliot, who is in the eighth grade at Fontainebleau Junior High. His mom is a longtime teacher at Fon-

St. Tammany-based Ampirical a powerhouse in energy delivery

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Electric wires on poles?

Most people don’t waste a second thinking about that kind of thing. They’re just glad they can plug their smartphone in at night or heat up leftovers in the microwave.

But “most people” doesn’t include the founders of Ampirical, a 20-year-old Covington-area engineering firm that has parlayed its expertise in power delivery to grow from a startup with six employees and a handful of small contracts into a 600-person powerhouse with revenues of roughly $500 million. Ampirical is one of Louisiana’s under-the-radar business successes, and it’s one built on good decisions — and fortuitous timing. The company’s founding partners hung their shingle in the early 2000s, when investment in power delivery was increasing because of efforts to upgrade the nation’s aging grid infrastructure Also policy was shifting toward new, cleaner types of power generation. More recently, a focus on grid resilience and a tech industry-fueled data center construction boom have made power delivery an even bigger priority fueling growth for companies that know how to design and string together those wires on poles. Over two decades, Ampirical has steadily expanded its geographical footprint, its team, the size of its contracts, and the products and services it offers And, in 2024, it landed its biggest

job to date: designing and overseeing construction of power transmission for the new Meta Hyperion artificial intelligence data center in north Louisiana.

Matthew Saacks, Ampirical’s co-founder and CEO, said the project reflects his company’s evolution into a national player

“It’s unprecedented the way the grid is transforming,” Saacks said during an interview last week at the firm’s 4-year-old headquarters located just outside Covington. “It’s not the staid old industry of the 20th century, and there’s a need for people to come up with solutions.”

Two decades of growth

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, three New Orleans-based Entergy Services engineers Saacks, Mike Sulzer and Mark Stephens decided to establish their own firm. All born and raised in Metairie, the trio worked for an unregulated division of the utility that provided power delivery solutions to industrial clients and other utilities nationwide But that type of work was increasingly being outsourced, so the colleagues decided to go into business for themselves. They soon were joined by three other Entergy alumni and got to work on a couple of small contracts handed off from the utility. Operating out of a small office in Covington, the nascent firm of civil and electrical engineers started landing jobs that involved designing every step of the power delivery system process: the high-voltage power

lines that move electricity long distances, the lowervoltage lines that distribute it to users and the substations that connect the two systems.

“I always use a driving analogy to explain to people what we do,” Saacks said “The big transmission lines are like the interstate highway system, and the substations are the on ramps and off ramps. We design it all.”

An engineering job for San Antonio’s electric utility was an early win, followed by more gigs for Entergy and other customers in the Gulf South. A project in California in 2009 opened that market. Eventually the company set up permanent offices near San Diego and the Bay Area to take on various jobs, including upgrading existing towers, poles and wires to make them less likely to cause fires.

The jobs kept getting bigger and the Ampirical staff grew steadily along with them. In addition to its 78,000-square-foot headquarters, the company also has a satellite office near Mandeville, one in Metairie and several out of state. This month, construction crews are driving piles on land adjacent to the headquarters to expand capacity

Hitting critical mass

From the start, Ampirical’s founders aspired to provide engineering, procurement and construction services (known in the industry as “EPC”), a turnkey approach that’s similar to the role a developer has in a real estate project. Instead of acting as a hired consultant, an EPC engineer takes

on financial risk and needs the cash on hand to qualify for bonds that protect customers.

Ampirical wasn’t big enough at first to take on substantial EPC jobs, but its leaders decided to reinvest profits over the years to build up the capital that could unlock those bigger contracts.

The first one of note came in 2007, when an independent power plant in Colorado hired Ampirical to design more connections to the grid Another followed soon after near Sacramento, California.

A few years later, Louisiana electric utility Cleco hired the engineering firm for several initiatives worth tens of millions, and, by 2014, Entergy began sending even bigger jobs the company’s way Today, the firm has completed dozens of EPC projects for the regional utility

“We used to have a project here and there, but when we connected with Entergy’s capital projects group, that’s really when our EPC work really hit critical mass,” Saacks said.

Now Ampirical’s portfolio of engineering and EPC projects stretches from California to Florida with growing activity in the MidAtlantic and Ohio Valley Buying and selling

Ampirical also has begun to grow through acquisitions.

In 2020, the company scooped up a boutique Atlanta engineering firm that designs transmission infrastructure throughout the Southeast with a focus on

tainebleau High. Even though it will be tough for him to be 1,000 miles away for nearly half the year he is thrilled to have an incredibly rare opportunity so early in his life. That opportunity likely will present him with not only unforgettable moments, but also some interesting challenges.

“I’ll have to get up at 5 a.m. every morning, which is 4 a.m. Central Time,” Esté said. “There could be a government shutdown right after I get there, but guess who still gets to go to work? My schedule is the Senate schedule, and it is very intense.”

Esté has not yet chosen what college he will attend, but he has plenty to do before then. Several members of his family were in attendance at the school board meeting, as was Fontainebleau High Principal Brian Hirstius.

Many board representatives already knew Esté and they made sure to publicly acknowledge his honor at the Jan. 15 meeting.

“Wow I just want to say how proud I am,” said Adaline Rutherford, who taught Esté in the sixth grade. “We have a very close bond because we’re both history buffs, and he helped me with my campaign. And I hope to help him one day in his campaign.”

smaller, customer-owned utilities in the Carolinas and Virginia. That deal came just before the boom in construction of data centers along the Interstate 95 corridor on the East Coast and led to several big jobs in the region.

“When that hit, we looked like geniuses,” Saacks said.

“They needed EPC projects, which co-op utilities typically didn’t do, but now they are, and we have the capability.”

Ampirical has acquired two other companies since, but its biggest move to date came in 2024, when, after nearly two decades of bootstrapping, it sought a buyer of its own, finding interest from competitors, private equity funds, public companies and others. Ultimately, the company chose a deal with national private equity firm SkyKnight Capital, which was looking for a way into the energy infrastructure space.

SkyKnight took a 60% stake in Ampirical, left the leadership intact, and collaborated on a five-year plan that includes more acquisitions, more bidding for big jobs, and selling proprietary software for asset management and grid monitoring.

The transaction occurred as Ampirical was securing its biggest EPC contract to date: connecting Entergy’s grid to Hyperion, Meta’s $27 billion AI data center in

Richland Parish near Monroe. Saacks said the job is worth “hundreds of millions,” and it is leading to more work in that category, including a project for a data center near Phoenix. He estimates investments like that could make up a quarter to a third of all of his company’s portfolio projects.

Looking ahead, Saacks sees some potential challenges, including supply chain constraints that could moderate growth, problems finding corridors for long transmission lines because of “not in my backyard” thinking, and rapid expansion putting pressure on rates.

But, overall, he says the data center jobs, grid hardening efforts, renewable power facilities — and industrial customers starting to develop their own power generation — all add up to opportunities for forwardthinking companies.

“When the grid was built and regulations were written, it was to manage power delivery to schools, homes, business and factories,” Saacks said. “It wasn’t shipping solar power across four states. We can be essential because we understand the engineering, labor and capital needs for projects like that.”

Rich Collins at

Parish water, sewer rate hikes likely delayed until October

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

After pushback from residents, St. Tammany Parish’s Department of Utilities is likely to delay planned water and sewer rate increases until October, now that is has received permission from the state.

In some cases, customer rates might double, officials have said

St. Tammany needs to increase its rates to hold up its end of an agreement the parish made with the state’s Water Sector Program when it received $80 million in state and federal grant funding for water and sewer infrastructure improvements across the parish, including for new water towers and water mains. As part of the agreement, the parish was required to conduct a

rate study and implement the findings. The study found that rates needed to be increased to maintain the infrastructure.

The parish originally planned to increase the rates in January but amid concerns from residents about sudden price hikes, Parish President Mike Cooper sent a letter to the state in December asking for an extension. That month, St. Tammany Parish Council member David Cougle also pushed a resolution seeking an extension. Cougle said he has nearly 10,000 constituents who use the Cross Gates water system, one of the systems run by the parish’s utilities departments. Residents who use 4,000 gallons of water and sewer a month from Cross Gates, for instance, will see their rates go from $72.60 to $126.80 Some par-

ish water and sewer customers will see their rates double.

St. Tammany’s Department of Utilities, which previously provided water and sewer under the name Tammany Utilities, operates water systems around the parish In total, the department has 16,000 water and sewer connections, which serve approximately 48,000 people, according to parish government spokesperson Michael Vinsanau.

These changes will not affect customers of municipal water and sewer systems or the private water utilities, such as Magnolia Water

At the Parish Council’s Jan. 8 meeting, Council member Jeff Corbin introduced an ordinance that, if approved next month, would officially mean the rate increases start in October Corbin said he has heard complaints from some constituents and tried to explain to his constituents why the increases were necessary

He said he told constituents that if they are on the Magnolia Water system, for instance, they would not only have to pay higher rates than the parish’s water system, but would also have to pay for the capital improvements and a profit line on top of that.

Cougle, on the other hand, said

Cooper said he was notified on Jan. 5 that the state had granted an extension to October “I am happy the state approved our request,” Cooper said in a statement. He said he asked for the extension so the grant-funded projects could be completed by the time the rate increases kicked in.

he plans to vote against Corbin’s ordinance.

“I do not think it’s fair for them to have such a massive increase, particularly at a time when a lot of people are struggling,” Cougle said in an email.

But Corbin said he expects most council members to vote for the ordinance and for it to pass easily Corbin said he has a mixed view on the extension. On one hand, he said it means the parish will not be building up a fund balance during the next nine months. That fund balance could be used to address additional water and sewer infrastructure issues in the parish, he said.

On the other hand, Corbin said he sees the benefits, since constituents will now have the time to better plan for the increases.

Leadership Northshore grads helping teach, clean up

BY SUZIE HUNT

Contributing writer

When the two teams that compose the Leadership Northshore Class of 2026 presented their projects to the public on Jan. 12, they shared the common goal of a cleaner and brighter St. Tammany Each year, Leadership Northshore participants are asked to develop projects to make an impact on the community said Charles Klepfer, Leadership Northshore’s board chairman and a member of its Class of 2013

The presentations outlining this year’s projects were “Northshore Trashformation – A Measurable Eco-Art Initiative” and “Northshore W.A.T.E.R.s – Water Awareness Through Environmental Reporting.”

Northshore Trashformation will connect area artists with the Love the Boot litter pickup event for the creation of public art projects. The group also hopes to raise awareness of the amount and types of trash littering our area. The idea blossomed from a family trip team member Amy Anderson made to Mexico.

“There were these fish sculptures that also acted as recycling containers for plastic bottles. Art was literally being made from trash and it was a striking visual,” said Anderson.

The project will evolve over a three-month period this spring. Artists involved in the Trashformation program will be required to participate in the Love the Boot community clean-up day, sponsored by Keep Louisiana Beautiful. The artists will then use items from the refuse collected to create interesting artworks. The pieces will be displayed in a show at the George Dunbar Gallery in Slidell’s City Hall in May.

Large sculptures may be displayed in Griffith Park located across the street. Photos of the trash before it was collected will be displayed next to the artist’s work.

“Using the community’s creativity, trash stops being trash and becomes inspiration,” said Lisa Bartels. The artwork will also be shared over social media.

Educational posts featuring quick and compelling facts about the effect of trash on the community will be presented, according to Cynthia Flowers.

The project’s goal is to change people’s attitudes about trash, Anderson said. The team is planning a fiveyear cycle for the program. Year one will see the launch. Outreach programs with area schools and community groups will follow Year five will see an official bench-

mark obtained for parish cleanliness.

“Eighty tons of trash were picked up in the parish last year This is not just another clean-up event. What happens when the garbage starts talking? Northshore Trashformation can start a conversation so powerful that clean-up is no longer necessary,” said Anderson The Northshore

W.A.T.E.R.s team channeled their personal connections to the area’s bayous, rivers and

Lake Pontchartrain to create their project.

Team members Kevin Caillouet recalled duck hunting with his grandfather, and Desiree Etheredge shared that her family has fished in the area for more than 200 years. Mia Kaplan confessed to being that kid that loved to play in the ditch The collective love for the outdoors helped the team to shape their project.

“A lot of the group enjoy recreation on the water so

ideas started to ping pong around that theme until we came to focus on the importance of water quality in our community,” said Etheredge. The team identified a disconnect between the information made available by the advocacy group Pontchartrain Conservancy and the general public. Pontchartrain Conservancy tests water quality in five different St. Tammany locations weekly and provides the results online It is a vital resource for

the people who fish, swim and boat in St. Tammany’s waterways. The only site tested in the Slidell area is on Carr Drive.

“Last week, two sites exceeded safety limits for people to be in the water,” said Caillouet.

A main issue in the parish is discharge from residential septic systems.

“St. Tammany has more of these systems than any other parish,” Caillouet noted.

The team’s goal is to bridge the gap between the weekly testing information and the public. The plan is to produce signs for each testing site featuring a QR code to connect people to the weekly information. It will show either a green or red icon, with red being a failed test.

“The signage will let people know what’s going on beneath the surface,” said Etheredge.

“People can decide for themselves if accessing the water is safe at that time,” said Courtney Hebert. “With this knowledge, natural areas become outdoor classrooms.” Along with the installation of the signs this spring, the group plans to host Da Bayou Bash as a ticketed fundraiser for the project.

St. Tammany Parish Director of Environmental Services Tim Brown was in the audience for the presentations and was impressed by the impact the programs can have.

“I’m the big winner tonight. I’m very happy to see them bringing awareness to the litter problem we have in St. Tammany I’m also excited about the signage. Perhaps if someone goes to the beach and finds a red notice that it’s not safe to swim, they will go home and have their own septic system tested,” said Brown. Both projects are interested in community participation. For more information about W.A.T.E.R.s, see www northshorewaters.org For Northshore Trashformation information or to participate in the artist collaboration, email northshoretrashformation@gmail.com. Additional information for both groups can also be found on their respective Facebook pages.

Trio advances to regional Student of Year competition

McMath under fire over furniture business contracts

State senator says he ‘stayed within’ ethics law

BY SAM KARLIN and WILLIE SWETT Staff writers

Brix LaFontaine, of Little Oak Middle School, Robert Ryals, of Fontainebleau Junior High, and Beija Lopes-Morgan, of Mandeville High, have been recognized as 2026 Student of the Year regional honorees by the Louisiana Department of Education.

The students will represent St. Tammany Parish Public Schools at the upcoming regional competition. If they win there, they’ll advance to the state Student of the Year competition.

Each of the winners is selected based on their outstanding academic achievement, leadership skills, character, and service to their schools and communities.

They first were selected students of the year for their schools, then for the St. Tammany Parish public school district, and then for Zone competition

There are eight zones in the state with charter, public, and private school categories

“Brix, Robert, and Beija are all remarkable students who have put in the hard work and dedication that it takes for this achievement,” St. Tammany Parish Public Schools Superintendent Frank Jabbia said.

“Our district is honored to celebrate these talented students and we are excited to have them represent St. Tammany Parish in the next round of the competition.”

Mandeville High earns AP honor

Mandeville High was announced by the College Board to the 2025 Advanced Placement Program School Honor Roll, earning bronze recognition. Honorees were selected based on criteria that reflects Mandeville High’s commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.

The Mandeville High Class of 2025 had 40% of seniors take at least one AP Exam during high school, 32% of seniors score a three or higher on at least one AP Exam, and 4% of seniors take five or more AP Exams.

The AP Program at Mandeville High includes 13 AP courses and 40 AP classes. Eleven AP teachers are among Mandeville faculty

“I am so proud of our students for this accomplishment and for all they strive to achieve,” said Mandeville High Principal Christian Monson. “It is an honor to lead Mandeville High and witness our strong tradition of success continue.”

The AP Program enables students to pursue college-level studies with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both. Through AP courses, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue all skills that better prepare them for success after high school.

Mystical Order of Phoenix honors students

The Mystical Order of the Phoenix, sister krewe to the Knights of Sparta, has announced the winners of its 2026 scholarships.

The recipients received $1,000 scholarships and will ride in the Spartan Society Parade on Feb. 7.

The seniors, chosen as Flames of the Future, are Mackenzie Venable, Frederick Douglass High School, planning to attend Delgado or McNeese to study radiology; Sophia Dusang, Northshore High School, planning to major in biology; and Beija Lopes-Morgan, Mandeville High School, who will attend Washington and Lee to study public policy

State Sen. Patrick McMath, who represents a significant portion of western St. Tammany Parish, is facing allegations of using his perch as chair of the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee to enrich his personal furniture business, with competitors claiming he has cornered much of the market in the local health care sector

McMath, R-Covington, who owns Southern Interior Solutions, has won several contracts from health systems affected by his committee, according to an investigation by WWL-TV released earlier this month.

Several furniture dealers told the station that competing with the powerful lawmaker “contradicts industry standards for fairness” and risks putting health systems in “potentially compromised positions.”

“As small business owners, we expect a level playing field without the optics of or potential for political influence,” said the owners of CI Group, Workplace Solutions, AOS Interior Environments and IDI Workspaces in a statement to WWL-TV “Louisiana small businesses should not have to compete in the private and public sectors with elected officials who hold legislative or regulatory decisionmaking over the entities with which they seek to do business.”

McMath does not appear to be violating state ethics laws, which only prohibit lawmakers contracting with the state government.

The lawmaker, who has risen to

“Louisiana small businesses should not have to compete in the private and public sectors with elected officials who hold legislative or regulatory decision-making over the entities with which they seek to do business.”

STATEMENT FROM BUSINESS OWNERS

CI Group,Workplace Solutions,AOP Interior Environments and IDI Workspaces

prominence in part by championing legislation in line with Robert F. Kennedy Jr and President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, denied wrongdoing.

In a response to questions from The Times-Picayune, McMath said by text message that his company first landed health care contracts before he was elected, and that his business dealings don’t influence his legislative work. He added that he’s been careful to not violate state ethics laws.

“Louisiana has a part-time legislature, and the ethics code is designed to allow people to maintain private businesses — but only within clear boundaries. I take those boundaries seriously and I’ve stayed within them,” McMath said. “I also understand why competitors who are losing business might be frustrated. But frustration isn’t an ethics standard. We compete on price, service, and performance — and we win on those terms.”

Many Louisiana lawmakers push bills that benefit their own indus-

FHA and 4-H to host livestock sale

Staff report

The St Tammany Parish Junior Livestock show, one of the parish’s longest running events, will be held for the 90th time on January 22-24 at the Parish Fairgrounds in Covington. Local 4-H and FFA members, ages 9 to 18, participate in the annual event, which includes students showing and selling livestock they raised. Animals to be shown and auctioned include swine, lamb, goat, beef, dairy cows, chicken and rabbits. More than 200 youth exhibitors are registered to take part in the event.

Competitors will check their animals into the show on Thurs., Jan. 22. The youngsters then compete in a “Barnyard Olympics”, which includes fun activities such as sack races, obstacle courses, and more team-bonding events. The St Tammany Cattlemen’s Association will present a showmanship clinic for competitors later that evening.

Activities ramp up again on Fri , Jan. 23 when the Livestock Show is held. The sale takes place at 6 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 24, and is preceded by dinner and an awards presentation at 4 p.m.

The public is invited to attend any of the events, though organizers said the livestock sale/auction is important to the 4-H and FFA causes, as proceeds provide a public and monetary show of support for the young people who work tirelessly to raise their livestock. Previous participants are strongly encouraged to show their support by attending the show and sale, and also to receive thanks for helping grow the events into the parish tradition they are today

This will be the 50th year for the livestock sale, making this a double-anniversary event

tries without facing repercussions: lawmakers who own nursing homes have sought to ease their legal liability in cases of understaffing, lawmakers who own gas stations have pushed bills to sideline their competitors, lawmakers who own timber companies have proposed sales tax exemptions for their products.

Lawmakers say it’s a byproduct of the state having a part-time Legislature, and they’re doing nothing wrong. But critics in the past have said state lawmakers should do more to disclose how their work at the Capitol also affects their personal pocketbooks, and the state should adopt stronger ethics laws.

Few state lawmakers have faced consequences at the Louisiana Ethics Board. When they have, the cases have largely centered on campaign finance problems rather than concerns about how they used their political cache.

Before Louisiana reformed its ethics system in 2008, lawmakers sometimes got in trouble for selfdealing. Former speaker of the Louisiana House Charlie DeWitt, for example, paid a $5,000 penalty over an instance in 2003 when he proposed legislation to help the New Orleans Fair Grounds make more money from video poker DeWitt had previously received a share in two racehorses from the Fair Grounds’ owners.

State ethics laws have gone through several changes since then. Most recently Gov. Jeff Landry and his allies in the Legislature last year weakened the powers of the board that enforces state ethics laws.

WWL reported that McMath’s

business has pursued several contracts with hospitals, including two parish-owned systems in his district.

In 2022, North Oaks Health System in Hammond spent $1.3 million in public funds to buy furniture from SIS, WWL reported. McMath became chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee in 2024, one of the most powerful assignments at the state Capitol. John Jacobs, owner of DKI, a Metairie furniture business, told WWL that a contact at a local health system told him that they were replacing his company with SIS because they were “instructed to use SIS,” the news station reported.

Reached by The Times-Picayune, Baton Rouge-based ethics attorney Gray Sexton and New Orleans-based campaign finance attorney Stephen Gelé both declined to comment. Sexton said he represents McMath, while Gelé said he represents an entity associated with McMath. Steven Procopio, head of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, told WWL that while the state law only prohibits lawmakers doing business with the state, the law doesn’t always cover broader public expectations.

Staff writer Bob Warren contributed to this story.

Interested participants who cannot attend can still bid on animals by calling Brent Spell at (985) 373-2889; Gabby Huval at (985) 9669514; or Misty Cox at (985) 590-1287.

The St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds is located at 1301 N. Florida St. in Covington. For more information, call the LSU AgCenter office in Covington at (985) 875-2635 or visit the St. Tammany Parish 4-H/FFA Livestock page on Facebook. Also on tap are the annual Southeast District Livestock Show on Feb. 5-7 at the Fairgrounds, as well as the South-Central District Livestock Show on Jan. 28-31. That event is being held at the St Tammany Parish Fairgrounds while work is being done to the South-Central District facility

The 50th Junior Livestock Sale will take

Alli Roheim, a junior at Northshore High School, won Reserve Champion Mytonics Buck at last year’s LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show. She was also the first Southeast Regional Representative from the St. Tammany 4-H program.

place Jan. 24 at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds, culminating a year of work and dedication by 4-H/FFA livestock exhibitors.

The registration of bidders starts at 3 p.m. on sale day The buyers’ dinner starts at 4 p.m. and the sale of champions — beef, sheep, goats and swine — begins at 6 p.m. and will last about two hours.

Interested participants who cannot attend can still bid by calling one of three people: Brent Spell at (985) 373-2889; Gabby Huval at (985) 966-9514; or Misty Cox at (985) 5901287.

The annual event showcases livestock projects by 4-H members in St. Tammany Parish, and the sales of animals they have raised for market help generate money for 4-H/FFA projects, college costs and extracurriculars.

Clean up Louisiana for Love the Boot Week in April

St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce elects Ronnie Simpson

Staff report

The St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce board of directors has elected Ronnie Simpson, assistant vice president for community and public affairs with Ochsner Health, to a one-year term as its chairman of the board, succeeding Carrie Calvin, director of accounting and auditing services with Bourgeois Bennett LLC Simpson was installed during the Chamber’s annual installation luncheon on Jan.13 at The Greystone that was attended by 200-plus Chamber members, business leaders and guests.

“To lead a 1,000-plus member

organization and 40-plus member board of directors requires leadership and ability to work with diverse professionals from various occupations,” said Lacey Osborne, president and CEO of the chamber in St. Tammany “In order to maintain an effective, respected Chamber of Commerce, there must be one accomplished business leader willing to take the helm each year, to give of their time, talent and treasure. It is a huge responsibility that Ronnie has graciously agreed to carry out in 2026 to ensure the continued growth and success of this chamber.” Simpson has been an active

board member for several years. With more than 30 years of experience in public affairs, communications and governmental relations, he currently leads regional community and public affairs strategy for Ochsner Health. His professional background also includes senior communications and public information roles with St. Tammany Parish Government and the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, where he supported recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

Simpson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from LSU and is a participant in Leadership Louisiana’s Class of 2026.

Abita Springs entrepreneur hits a grand slam

BY DARREN COOPER

Contributing writer

!nService has the seal of approval from NSpire.

!nService, the brainchild of Abita Springs resident Gene Billingsley, was the winner of the $100,000 grand prize Jan. 8 at the NSpire Startup Slam in Hammond, a Shark Tank-style event for Louisiana-based startups to pitch their products in front of representatives from a variety of fields. Business owners have to make a live pitch and handle questions.

“It was just Cloud 9,” said Billingsley, the entrepreneur who won Startup Slam and the big grant. “We had seen the contest and submitted last year and made the semis. We only had one customer then; we decided to enter again because we have had tremendous growth. It was a great time.”

meeting those needs.”

Billingsley started working on the concept for !nService in 2018 and got his first customer — a casino security team in 2020. COVID halted the company from further growth.

But as technology has improved, the feasibility for !nService has as well.

take notes and duplicate their work,” Billingsley said.

“On these cash-strapped small agencies, resource allocation and returning time for them on a shift is big.”

The runners-up, Bruh. Skincare, a skin care line aimed at men, and WSPER, a remote alert system, each received $5,000 grants in support of their business.

agencies in the next five years, which is about 4.5% penetration of the 15,000 small agencies in the United States,” said Addison. “This equates to about $10M in annual recurring revenue. While this is our stated goal, we hope to accomplish this in a shorter time frame.”

“What we saw at the 2026 NSpire Startup Slam was a powerful reminder of how innovation grows when a community shows up to support its entrepreneurs,” said Ginger Cangelosi, executive director of Tangipahoa Economic Development. “Tangipahoa Parish Economic Development congratulates !nService and their team We were proud to host this event in the heart of downtown Hammond and to showcase the talent, creativity,and drive that continue to move our region forward.” including industry and finance.

The exclamation point, instead of an I, in the name is to demonstrate a positive culture for the work and company, Billingsley said. The mark also means that !nService will come ahead of the letter A in an alphabetical listing of companies. The “10-8” police code means in service or available.

The winning company, !nService, streamlines the paperwork process for police officers at small-to-medium departments, giving them a web-based platform to use in the field that functions in real time.

“We feel that we have a great solution to an acute problem for police departments,” said !nService Senior Operating Officer David Addison. “We were happy that the judges could see that the product and business strategy were sound in

“We handle all of the field reporting that an officer needs to do. They get a ton of paperwork, and everything they do is documented — patrols, accidents, tickets,” explained Billingsley “What I wanted to do was put the technology out in the field with a real-time data transfer on a web app. We are fully real-time interactive.”

By reducing the amount of time an officer spends doing paperwork, it allows them to spend more time in the community, making face-to-face contact with their constituents.

“Officers used to have to

Veterans memorial being discussed in Madisonville

BY JIM DERRY Contributing writer

Unexpected controversy over improvements along the Madisonville riverfront went on for nearly a halfhour at the town’s monthly meeting Jan. 14. It began when council member Kristin Faison sought approval to have preliminary assessments drawn up on a proposed veterans memorial in front of the town’s community center Over the course of the next 25 minutes, debate ensued between councilman Louis Ogle, citizen Stacey Domingue and other members of the council. The main issue for Ogle was whether it had been advertised enough to the public and whether the money was earmarked for such a purpose, while Domingue said there were “more important things to worry about than a couple of flagpoles.”

Meanwhile, the majority of the council and Mayor Jean Pelloat stressed the public would have plenty of time to make their feelings known before potential work went out for bid, which could cost between $500,000 and $1 million.

“We should have a public meeting, specific to this riverfront project, and gather more input from the public,” Ogle said. “We can show the public the drawings that we have so we can all agree as a town what we want the riverfront to look like. Also, we need to prioritize where the money from that sales tax is going to be spent

“ Is this a priority for the town? I feel like the answer to that question is not up here; it’s out there.”

Shortly after, Pelloat noted that in the town’s master plan, which was last revised in February 2020, the riverfront was one of the major areas targeted for improvement. Some of that work already has been done, and that the veterans memorial and work to the sea wall is the next phase.

“The funds were dedicated for the riverfront improvements. What’s added and is news is the memorial,” Pel-

loat said. “It will recognize our veterans and our armed forces. It’s going to be a very big improvement. The drawings are preliminary, and we have hired the firm (Joseph Furr Design Studios of Baton Rouge), and it’s going to be a big deal.”

If eventually approved, the work would begin on the south side of La. 22.

Faison and councilman Brad Haddox worked together on the project as part of the parks and recreation committee and stressed that the money would not come out of the town fund and that there was still plenty of talking left to do before any real work would begin.

“The next step is to flush out plans and then get accurate estimates,” Faison said.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11.

RETIRING OFFICER RECOGNIZED: Town marshal Barney Tyrney and Pelloat offered thanks and congratulations to Shawn Woessner, who is retiring following 13 years of service in Madisonville and a 30-year career in law enforcement in St. Tammany Parish.

“You can’t pick a better little town to work for at the end of your career,” Woess-

ner said. “I truly appreciate the chance to work here and for your recognition.”

For !nService, the plan is to use the funds to extend their range and make pitches to various community and private police forces.

“Our initial goal is 675

“We knew if we won, it would get us up off the ground,” said Billingsley “This is my home. I love it. I expect to rub elbows with the major players in the public service software market.”

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MARCHING BANDS ARE HEARTBEAT OF MARDI GRAS PARADES

BY SUZIE HUNT

Contributing writer

People may get excited at Mardi Gras, yelling at the riders on double-decker floats to throw them some really good beads. But nothing gets a crowd moving and grooving like a marching band.

First you hear the beat of the drumline. Then the horns jump in, and the sound reverberates down the street. When the band lets loose, it’s magic.

Part community outreach and part fundraising activity, area high school marching bands have an exhausting schedule during Mardi Gras, usually participating in five to seven parades each Carnival season.

“Marching in the parades is a great source of community outreach. For many kids, a parade is their first interaction seeing and hearing a band. It’s cool to see kids mimic playing instruments,” said Joshua Stearman, Northshore High School band director in Slidell. “The parades also help support us. Parades collectively through the year are our biggest fundraiser and provide about 20 percent of our budget.”

Northshore High School’s parade schedule is all in St. Tammany this year, and Stearman enjoys the hometown crowds He is a graduate of Slidell High and was a band member as a student.

“The Slidell route is like a giant city-wide block party,” said Stearman. His band captain, senior Cassidy Cadden, agrees “The whole culture of marching in a parade is great. I’m with my band family, and I see my friends along the route,” she said The parade itself is not an easy task. Andrew Moran, director of bands for St. Paul’s School in Covington, has catalogued several aspects of parades involving his students for years

“The parade route may be several miles, but our band has different dance moves we do during the parade. When we do four steps forward, then two to the side and then back again it can almost double the dis-

tance,” said Moran He estimates that band members will march approximately 50 miles during the seven parades in their schedule this year

Preparations for the harsh carnival session starts early Northshore band members start building their strength by marching around the school parking lots during practice a few months before parade season starts, Cadden said “These parades are not short, and sometimes we have them back-to-back on a weekend. That requires some endurance. We start out small and build up the distance at practice,” she explained Kira Mixon Northshore’s drum major, particularly loves the great vibe she gets from the crowd and the dancing together with her fellow band members.

“Cassidy and I work to keep the energy up We all dance together so that we’re not just standing around when the parade stops. It’s great when the drumline plays a cadence and we can have fun just moving,” said Mixon She’s

also a self-proclaimed glitter girl and says it adds to the experience.

“We’ve got to keep up the vibe and downplay the tiredness, especially when we do two parades in one weekend,” said Mixon. She credits parental support as being important to getting through the schedule.

“My band mom, Ms. Jen, marches in every parade. She and the other band moms and boosters are like my family, and they really support us,” said Mixon.

Not every parade involves city streets. The tubas and horns of St. Paul’s Marching Wolves have been known to march down the produce aisle of a local big box store.

Moran’s favorite parade, hands down, is the indoor parade that happens at the Covington Walmart each year The store employees put on the parade for people with special needs, as well as those living at area nursing homes. It may be the shortest parade on his band’s busy schedule, but it is the most meaningful for him.

“We start out in the electronics department, go

past tires, take a left at the pharmacy and finish up around the king cakes and bananas. There are floats created by the employees using shopping carts and

pallets. I love how the whole store basically stops for 30 minutes to share the fun with these special people,” said Moran. Moran has kept an infor-

mal distance log for more than a decade, recording parade details and counting steps. He estimates that he and his band members march 25,000 to 30,000 steps over the course

near Covington Great chance for musicians of all ages and abilities to perform before a supportive audience. Each performer/ ensemble is invited to share a set of three songs or about 15 minutes. Arrive early to sign up for a spot. BROADWAY: The Northlake Performing Arts Society will hold two concerts — Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. — featuring favorite numbers from Broadway musicals Both shows take place in the Abita Springs Town Hall, 22161 Level St. Tickets $15 for anyone 13 years or older, online at NPASsingers. org or in person at Downtown Drugs, Vermont Street in Covington; C&C Drugs, La. 59, Mandeville; or at the door.

GUITAR HEROES: The “Across The Pond International Guitar Festival” takes place in four regional cities on successive days and nights, including the Fuhrmann Auditorium in Covington at 3 p.m. on Feb 1. Featured artists are Gavino Loche, Italy; Adrian Raso, Canada; Jimmy Robinson and Phil DeGruy, of New Orleans. The event coincides this year with the release of the CD “The International Guitar Trio” with 12 pieces composed, performed and recorded by

Loche, Raso and Robinson For more information, call (504) 813-2920.

THEATER

POP: Professional Michael Jackson tribute artist and impersonator Daron Wilson, performing as MJ of NOLA and The Dangerous Crew, his backup dancers, will present The King of POP Experience at the Cutting Edge Theater, 767 Robert Blvd., in Slidell, on Jan. 23-24 at 8 p.m. General admission tickets $25, VIP table seats, $35. Get them online at cuttingedgetheater. com or by calling or texting (985) 288-2933.

INFAMOUS: The Slidell Little Theatre is presenting the musical thriller “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” weekends through Feb. 8, with evening and matinee performances. Accompanied by some of the most chilling music ever written for the stage (Stephen Sondheim), the musical tells the tale of Todd, an unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th-century London seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. This Broadway smash is based on the book by Hugh Wheeler; local production directed by Gary Mendoza. See complete schedule and get tickets at slidelllittletheatre.org.

GUMBO

CANINE: Fine Wines for Canines: January Charity Dinner takes place Jan 26 at Pat Gallagher’s 527 in Mandeville to benefit Northshore Humane Society and the homeless animals in their care. The evening’s highlight will be an elegant five-course dinner curated by Chef Pat Gallagher, the food expertly paired with exquisite selections from Uncorked Fine Wines & Spirits. Cash bar opens at 5 p.m.; dinner at 6:30 p.m. Reservations $150 per person and must be made in advance. Reach the link to do that at northshorehumane.org.

BIRDS: There will be a smaller group bird walk on Jan. 24 at 8 a.m. for a maximum of 15 people to find and identify birds with a greater focus than is possible with larger

group. It will take place at a park or natural area in St. Tammany Parish, but the exact location will be emailed to participants after registration is complete. Beginners are welcome, and there will be binoculars available to borrow. Go to pelicanpark. recdesk.com/Community/ Program to register.

PEOPLE WHO MEET

WIDOWS: The Widows’ Social Club of Slidell will meet Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. in the John Wesley Center at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 360 Robert Blvd. The speaker will be nurse and community activist Sharron Newton to talk about her 50 mission trips to third-world countries with Rotaplast International, an affiliate of Rotary International, to operate on children with cleft palates. All widows are welcome to this general meeting to see old friends, make new ones and hear about all the activities that can be shared with likeminded women. Questions? Call Cindy Alberts at (985) 707-7676.

MEN ONLY: The First Baptist Church in Mandeville will hold a one-day “Everyman Conference” on Feb.28 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., a day of challenge, encouragement, fellowship and song. Main session speakers will be the Rev. Jeff Crook of Flower Branch, Ga., and the Rev. Ronny Cooksey, senior pastor at the host church. Registration details at the church website at //fbcmandeville.org/event/ec26. Cost is $40 through Jan. 31; $50 afterwards.

SAVE THE DATE

FIRST RESPONDERS: The Slidell Elks’ will hold their 32nd annual Law and Order Night program on Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. A complimentary meal will be served to those who sign up by Feb. 14. There will be a panel of speakers from different law enforcement agencies, and questions will be taken from the audience after the speakers make remarks. The Elks will also honor five distinguished first responders for outstanding 2025 service in Slidell. To reserve a meal, call the lodge at (985) 641-1266.

staff report

For families already planning their summer activities, be aware that the Northshore Humane Society will again hold nine animal-centric week-long camps for kids ages 6–11 entitled Mission: Paws of the Galaxy. The program will take campers on a fun, space-themed journey that is focused on caring for and understanding their furry friends.

Although it’s only January four weeks of camps are filled, so families are

encouraged to sign up for one of the remaining camps at the www.northshorehumane.org/form/nhs-summer-camps-2026 registration site. Through interactive games, hands-on activities, creative projects and supervised pet interaction, campers will explore the world of companion animals in an engaging and age-appropriate way Children will learn the importance of pet safety, nutrition, grooming, communication, behavior and basic veterinary care, all

while developing empathy, responsibility and respect for animals. Campers will also have the opportunity to meet animal experts, guest speakers and shelter staff, participate in meaningful service projects that support homeless pets and enjoy special interactions with rescued dogs and cats. Each child will symbolically adopt a shelter animal during their week at camp, creating a personal connection to the mission of animal welfare. Check out camp date details on the website.

Take advantage of 0% APR on balance transfersfor 12 months when youopenanew Pelican Points, PelicanPrime or Pelican Premier Credit Card.

CAREER MILESTONE

St. Paul’s Moser picks up 700th win of illustrious coaching career

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

St. Paul’s soccer coach Sean Moser has always done things his way.

The quick-witted Moser often has a joke on standby or a quirky comment for any occasion, but he has seemingly shied away from the spotlight when he hits certain milestones And thus was the case when Moser got his 700th career victory with a 5-0 district win over Slidell on Jan. 9.

The 60-year-old didn’t let his players know beforehand, but his dry wit came out after the match “It was great,” Moser said “It was funny because my wife knew,

and she’s like, ‘I’m going to get you a big cake.’ And I said that I didn’t eat it, but she said it was for the players. We played terribly against Slidell in the first half, but we had a really good second half. So after the game it had just started to drizzle — I told the players that I bought a cake for them, and I almost didn’t give it to them because of the first half. So they open it up and it says 700 wins. Nobody knew before then.”

Classic Moser

Now in his 31st season as a head coach overall and 17th season at St. Paul’s, Moser’s other signature quality is that he can seemingly recite stats and match details from almost any season.

“I’m pleased where the pro-

gram is at,” Moser said. “I’m pleased with the amount of talent that we have. Last year, I put in the work to win that championship. We were 7-5-2 and then went 18-1-2 the last two months of the season.”

He was the head coach at Sacred Heart for 15 seasons, during which he won four state titles and compiled 280-plus wins. He came to St. Paul’s in 2007 and became head coach for the 2009-10 season when the Wolves fell in the quarterfinals to state runner-up Lafayette.

Since then, St. Paul’s has played in 13 state championship matches, going 9-4, including a 2-1 win over Catholic-Baton Rouge last season. The other two times, they

Mandeville senior Benoit ‘on fire’ in District 6-5A opener against Covington

BY DAVE WOODALL Contributing writer

Mandeville’s Alanna Benoit stole the show in the District 6-5A opener as the Skippers ran away with a 53-33 win over Covington on Jan. 16. Benoit pumped in 33 points, including four 3-pointers to match the Lions’ total output

“I don’t know what happened,” said Benoit. “Everything I shot went in. I think we played well as a team. Our plan was to come out strong since it was our first district game, and that got our motor going.”

The Skippers (13-8, 1-0) came out on fire, opening the game on a 16-0 run fueled by Benoit’s 14 first-quarter points.

Senior Ava Arnone added four points as the Skippers took a 20-3 lead after one quarter

“It was really tough tonight,” said Covington coach Kevin Warner “Their zone defense bothered us, but I think it was more about our lack of execution. I don’t think we quite got into our plan, and that was the result in the game.”

The Lions (17-7, 0-1) outscored Mandeville 13-12 in the second quarter, with Leniesha “Nene” Burris leading the way with six points to cut the Mandeville lead to 32-16 at the half.

The third period saw a slower pace due to several turnovers by both teams as Mandeville maintained a 44-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter The Lions never threatened in the final period.

St. Paul’s Shartle, Ayala claim coveted sweatshirts

Wrestlers earn La Classic titles

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

St. Paul’s senior Caleb Shartle knew the feeling that came with reaching the final at the Louisiana Classic and leaving without one of those navy-blue hooded sweatshirts. He did not want to experience it a second time.

lost in the semifinals. That’s nine state titles in 15 years with a streak of 11 straight title match appearances from 2011-21.

Dating back to his time at Sacred Heart, Moser has coached in a state final in 21 of his past 26 years as a head coach. He’s won 13 state titles which he also points out — means he’s lost eight. It’s been an incredible run that might continue for a bit longer

“I think making it to 750 would be a nice number,” he said. “My kids are grown. My daughter is engaged. I got both of my knees replaced in the last two years, so I used to be walking around in pain. Now, I’m more physically healthy,

“Getting second, everyone thinks making it to the final, that’s good enough,” Shartle said. “That’s way more painful than getting (knocked) out in the first round of a tournament.” Shartle, who wrestled in the 190-pound weight division, was among six New Orleans area competitors on Jan. 17 to leave the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales with a blue hooded sweatshirt that is awarded to a champion in each weight division. Other winners included Brother Martin senior William Fontenot (106 pounds), St. Paul’s sophomore Connor Ayala (113), Rummel junior Dominick Durham (150) and Jesuit senior Will Berry (285).

Holy Cross had the highest team placement among area

Hannan’s Brady scores 100th goal as Hawks continue unbeaten season

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

Hannan senior midfielder Kaitlyn Brady was humble when she talked about scoring her 100th career goal during a 3-0 victory over defending Division I state champion Mount Carmel on Jan. 15. “I think the milestone is not just a testament to me, but to my whole team because I would not be here today without their support,” Brady said. “I think it is a huge accomplishment for everyone. It is a testament to their hard work as well.” Brady set a single-season school record with 42 goals during her sophomore season. She missed a

large portion of her junior year due to a torn hamstring, but now she’s back at 100%.

“Her development has been super impressive, and just a fun thing to watch,” Hannan’s firstyear coach Nathaniel Peters said. “I’ve been around since she started as an eighth grader, and just her maturity and style of play have grown so much. I think the biggest thing that she brings to our team is just a sense of calmness. She’s been there in those big moments, so she knows how to handle pressure situations.”

That maturity was on display

DISTRICT SHOWDOWNS

Mandeville girls soccer continues hot streak with district win over Northshore

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

For 38 minutes, the District 6-I girls soccer opener between Mandeville and Northshore at Sidney Theriot Stadium on Jan. 12 was a nip-and-tuck battle.

Then, one ball over the top scooted past the Panthers’ defense as Mandeville sophomore Mia Baham battled her way to the ball and the first goal of the match. It was precisely what the Skippers needed as the home team scored twice more in the second half for a 3-0 victory

“We wanted to try to put Northshore under pressure,” Mandeville coach Sean Esker said. “That’s easy to say but scoring that goal in the first half made them have to go into the second half knowing they needed a goal just to be even I think that changed what they were trying to do in the second half, which led to some more opportunities that we were able to put away.” That momentum shift was key as the Panthers (9-5-3, 0-1-0) upped the offensive pressure to start the second half, but the Skippers’ back line weathered the surge And Mandeville took advantage in the 50th minute as a ball got by the Panthers’ keeper, and senior Alicia Ashley scored for a 2-0 lead By the time Mandeville freshman Ella-Jane Harrington added her goal in the 62nd minute, the Skippers (16-4-1, 1-0-0) had turned a tight game into a runaway victory And while the offense got most of the cheers from the crowd, the Mandeville defense was deserving of some recognition.

“I think we did a good job of responding when Northshore got behind us,” Esker said. “We didn’t panic. We didn’t foul unnecessarily in dangerous areas We responded well when we were under pressure, so I was happy with that.”

The Skippers were missing two starting defenders on the back line. Still, they recorded a shutout with a young back line that included freshman Stella Lancaster, junior Kaya Neal and sophomores Morgan Dwyer and Isabella Bascie.

“It was a really good win,” Bascie said. “We worked together as a team. We gained a lot of confidence as the game progressed. At first, we were kind of like not in it, but then we got together and were more positive. It was a really big win for us.” Bascie added that scoring the first goal set the tone and it “set them in the right direction.”

BY MIKE PERVEL Contributing writer

Locked in a physical defensive struggle with district rival Mandeville, Northshore needed a spark to break through in a scoreless match.

That flame came in the 57th minute as a beautiful cross from Northshore senior Rowan Gipson allowed junior Cohen Silbernagel to give the Panthers the lead.

Two minutes later, senior Pedro Souza scored as Northshore earned an impressive 2-0 District 6-I victory at Sidney Theriot Stadium on Jan. 14.

“The guys did a fantastic job, and it’s a major team victory over our biggest rival,” said Northshore firstyear coach Jason Birkhoff. “It’s also special to beat them at their house. It’s always going to be tough, playing at their place, but we got a big win, which will give us great power points.”

The win was also a bit of revenge as the Skippers knocked off Northshore, 2-1, in the second round of the playoffs last year

Both defenses controlled the action and the flow of the game throughout a scoreless first half until Silbernagel’s goal in the 57th minute.

“After getting the great pass, I was around the 18, with two defenders to beat. I got past the first guy and cut it in, going to the upper right corner, beating the keeper It was a really big goal, and it seemed to fuel everyone,” Silbernagel said.

Northshore’s initial goal seemed to deflate the Mandeville side, and the Panthers (9-3-1, 2-0-0) took advantage. Two minutes later, Souza scored his fifth goal of the season as he blasted a shot from 30 yards out.

“I was able to collect a 5050 ball about 35 yards out, beating a defender I saw the goalie was off his line, so I took a quick dribble, then fired the shot, beating him top right,” Souza said.

“Getting a second goal is

always so important. It was great to help seal the deal. They beat us in the playoffs last year in the second round, so we finally got some revenge.”

The Northshore defense made the lead hold up, led by senior keeper Adam Boffenmeyer, who finished with five saves in his third shutout of the season.

“This is a great win for us,” Boffenmeyer said. “I don’t think we’ve beaten them since 2019. It’s always good to post a shutout, and I credit my defense for doing an outstanding job I love my teammates to death, and they played tremendous defense in front of me, which was big.”

Mandeville fourth-year coach Curt Aertker Jr said the teams battled pretty evenly in the scoreless first half, but Northshore dominated play in the second. “We just weren’t good enough, and the better team won,” Aertker said “We completely fell apart in the second half, and that was disappointing. We need a lot of improvement on our part. We may have to consider going younger to send a message.” Mandeville (11-6-2, 1-1-0) came into the match at No. 8 in the Division I power rankings while Northshore was No. 12.

Mandeville came into the match winners of 11 of its last 12 matches, which included victories over Parkview, Benton, St. Louis Catholic and U-High While the Skippers celebrated the victory, Northshore coach Jorge Polanco said the

SSA celebrates college signees, including D-I soccer standout

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

A trio of St. Scholastica athletes made their college destinations official on Jan 15 during the school’s annual signing day ceremony

Soccer standout Reese Dantin is headed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while basketball guard Victoria Darrah will play at Division II Spring Hill next season Volleyball standout Mia Casi also signed with Division III Centre College in Danville, Ky

“We’re all best friends, so today is emotional,” Dantin said. “This is our dream, and we knew it was just others’ dream since a very young age. So today is really special.”

Dantin played basketball with Darrah in middle school and volleyball with Casi as a freshman. The trio has been there for each other during recruitment, Dantin added.

The 6-foot forward’s jour-

ney to UAB started before a knee injury derailed her junior season. She went to an ID camp at UAB about nine months after her injury, and the rest is history

“I just decided to go,” Dantin said. “I wanted to see the campus. I said I’m not going to do that well because I might not be as quick as I was before, but I still wanted to meet everyone. I went, and I loved it. After that, I knew I wanted to go to UAB. I went on a bunch of other visits after that, and I just knew it was the place for me.”

Dantin said her physical setback helped her grow as a player

“I think the knee injury made me a different person, a different player, for sure,” Dantin said. “You definitely want to up your game on the field because you realize what a privilege it is to be able to walk and run, because I spent a whole summer learning how to do those things again. Now, you have to put in more

work, and it has helped me improve as an athlete.”

Darrah said the choice to play at Spring Hill was an easy one.

“My cousin goes there, and I went to their elite camp over the summer and

fell in love with the school,”

Darrah said. “Around my eighth-grade year, when I started on varsity, I decided that I wanted to take it to the next level. I worked extremely hard to get here. Today is very exciting, and it’s

Left-footed strike decides match between Northlake, PJP II girls

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

Northlake midfielder Elaina Taunton didn’t remember much about her game-winning 70th-minute goal against Pope John Paul II on Jan. 13. The sophomore saw the ball leaving the box and sent a left-footed shot over the keeper to give the Wolverines a key 1-0 District 7-IV home victory

“I don’t remember much, but I hit with my left foot, and it went in,” Taunton said. “I did it because I love those seniors out there. My left is my weaker foot, but it was just the way I was facing the goal. It was the best feeling in the world.”

Taunton was mobbed by her teammates as the Wolverines (7-4-2, 2-0-0) controlled the second half and finally found the back of the net Northlake fifth-year coach Mason Morise said it was a special win on senior night and his first against PJP II as head coach. It was the Wolverines’ first win over the Jaguars since 2020.

“We played very well in the first half, especially in the first 15,” Morise said. “I

mount. Junior Lexi Anderson’s long free kick was just wide in the 60th minute. Seven minutes later, PJP II keeper Lilly Juneau made a point-blank save on Abigail Willie in the box. And then another stop on the ensuing corner The Wolverines finally broke through in the 70th minute with Taunton’s arcing shot.

“We really wanted it tonight,” Taunton said.

The loss was the first of the season for PJP II (11-11, 1-1-1), and Jaguars’ coach Maureen “Meaux” Homburg said the Wolverines deserved the result.

something that I’ll remember forever.”

The 5-foot-7 shooting guard has played since age 5. She has more than 1,100 career points and 675 rebounds at SSA. Casi, who was born in Ken-

tucky said signing with Centre was a chance to be close to family

“When I started my recruiting process, I knew I wanted to stay either by my family in Kentucky or around here,” Casi said. “Centre College just fit perfectly It’s 30 minutes away from my family up there. The school is very community-based, and I feel like I fit well into it.” Casi said she remembers watching the signing ceremony in eighth grade and thinking that it would be her one day

“Today is really a full-circle moment,” she said. “Victoria and Reese are some of my closest friends, so I think it is really special for all of us to be here and sign together.”

As a senior, Casi helped lead the Doves to the state championship match for the first time in school history

The District 6-II MVP finished her senior season with 465 assists, 390 digs, 322 kills, 57 blocks and 39 aces.

think the test was that we showed Pope that we were here for a fight, and you knew they were going to respond. The test was how we were going to start the second half. The girls really wanted this one, and it showed.”

That desire was on display early as NCS dominated the first 10 minutes with four corners in that span. But PJP II slowly found its footing, and in the 22nd minute, it took an outstanding save by NCS keeper Samantha Raimondi on a shot in the box by Shealan Binian and then again on the rebound to keep the match scoreless.

BRADY

Continued from page 1B

The Wolverines controlled the second half as the chances started to

“Tonight is a case of Northlake showing up, and they wanted it more,” Homburg said. “They outworked us tonight, which was a factor in tonight’s game. They were first to every ball, and it’s a good lesson for our girls. When you work hard, good things can happen.”

Northlake locked up the district title with a 1-0 win over St. Thomas Aquinas on

15.

her 101st career goal.

“That has always been my range,” Brady said. “Especially my sophomore year,

I would hit those, and a lot of people wouldn’t expect it to be on frame. I think this year I hadn’t really been doing it at the beginning of the season, but yesterday, I just put it on frame, and it went in.”

It was a fitting exclamation point on another quality win, and the Hawks (13-0-1) have had a lot of them. This season, Hannan has beaten three reigning state champions (Mount Carmel, St. Scho-

lastica and Newman) and two state runners-up (Byrd and St. Thomas More). With just three regularseason matches remaining, the Hawks have outscored their opponents, 50-6, and they sit atop the Division III power rankings.

“This season has been unbelievable,” Brady said.

“With a new head coach, I think we have a new energy, a new drive. We had a goal at the beginning of the season,

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

With 15 seniors on its roster, the Northlake Christian boys soccer team has high expectations this season. Coming off a semifinal run last year, Wolverines’ coach Nick Chetta has said often that his team “can be special” if they continue to grow

Northlake seemingly took another huge step forward on Jan. 13, as the striking combination of senior Stevie Tujague and sophomore Harry Wall accounted for all three goals in a 3-0 District 7-IV victory over Pope John Paul II.

“We had a plan, and we executed it,” Chetta said. “In moments, we were really good, and in some moments, we let the emotions get the best of us. When you play a big-time team like Pope, you have to be good in certain areas. We took advantage of a couple of opportunities to win this one.”

The match was not only the continuation of a fierce rivalry, but it also had postseason implications as Northlake was No. 2 and PJP II No. 6 in the Division IV power rankings.

Wall opened the scoring in the 25th minute as he unleashed an unbeatable shot in the box for a 1-0 lead.

“Yesterday, we went into the film room, and today, we executed the plan,” Wall said. “We wanted to get it wide, get a 2-vs.-1 situation and then put it back in. We scored a couple of goals off that, so overall, we executed the game plan and came out with a win.” PJP II senior Kale Oertling nearly answered three min-

and we haven’t lost sight of that goal, which is to win a state championship. Everything that we do, we play with that goal in mind and for each other.”

It’s also been a busy season for Brady, who was on a recruiting trip less than 24 hours after hitting the milestone. It’s been a welcome rush for the senior, who battled through a trying junior year “I had offers at the begin-

utes later, but his free kick from 20 yards out glanced off the Northlake wall It was a sign of things to come as the Wolverines’ defense limited PJP II’s opportunities and allowed the NCS offense to pressure the Jaguars. Tujague scored in the 50th minute on a knifing run for a 2-0 lead. In the 63rd minute, Wall used that same wide attack that turned into a cutting run and his second goal. The Jaguars (8-4-4, 0-1-1) were undefeated in their last six matches, but Northlake’s finishing ability ended that streak as the Jaguars gave up three goals for the first time since Nov 29.

“Tonight was a reality check,” PJP II coach Danny Clavier said “All kudos to Northlake. They showed desire and passion in their tactical awareness. They were smarter than us on some things. We didn’t get some breaks early that I disagreed with, but it shouldn’t have altered the game. But it did, unfortunately We’re still a bit immature, but Northlake got through our defense.” Chetta credited his defense for its steady play that allowed his attack to get wide and create opportunities. He added that as the Wolverines look to lock up a Top 2 postseason seed, they need to treat every game like a championship match. Northlake (11-4-1, 3-0-0) locked up the undefeated district title with a 3-1 win over

ning of my junior year, but I had deadlines on those offers,” she said “It was a huge risk to invest in myself and basically say that I believe in myself, that I’m going to get another offer, or I’m going to wait for the right opportunity I think I’ve held on to that during the whole recruiting process. Everyone has believed in me, and I could not be happier with the timeline that I chose.”

Curtis turns up pressure early, outlasts Northshore, 65-52

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

With district play on the horizon for both teams, Northshore hosted John Curtis in a tune-up of sorts on Jan. 16. Unfortunately for a loud and engaged Northshore student section, Curtis’ constant pressure, along with a 24-point performance from Jonnie Walker, proved to be too much during a 65-52 victory

“Our goal is to put as much pressure on these guys as we can without fouling,” Curtis coach Biko Paris said “Thirty-two minutes of pressure, regardless of who we play I’ve got a lot of guys, so I try to utilize them to the best of my ability We want to cause as much havoc as possible.”

Curtis caused a ton of havoc in the first half as the Patriots’ constant ball pressure led to 11 Northshore turnovers and a 32-18 halftime lead. The Panthers shot 33% from the field and missed six free throws in the first half.

“Games aren’t won or lost technically in the first quarter, but today, we definitely dug ourselves a hole early,” Northshore coach Joshua Carlin said. “I felt like they were better prepared. I’ve got to be better I’ve got to create an environment in practice to make us feel uncomfortable so we can feel more comfortable in these types of situations and environments.”

Northshore (11-8) slowly clawed its way back into the game as it improved its ball handling Senior Roger Williams stole the ball at mid-court and raced to the goal for a crowd-pleasing dunk to cut the lead to 51-44 with 4:25 left, but that was as close as the Panthers would get.

“I tell my players all the time that we need to make more runs than our opponent, and when you feel like they are making a run, you need to stop it,” Paris said “That’s our whole goal. They had a good crowd tonight. Every time they threw a punch, we took it and

delivered back ” The Patriots scored 10 of the next 12 points, and by the time Zaveon Shephard (18 points) sent his floater off the glass to push the lead back to 15 points, the Patriots (17-2) had secured the road win.

For Northshore, Tyrie Spencer had 12 points and six rebounds.

Williams and Keith Collins Jr (five blocks) had 10 points and eight rebounds each.

The Panthers have played a gauntlet of a nondistrict schedule, and had won five of their last six games before Friday’s setback.

Carlin said for his team to erase last season’s first-round playoff exit, they have to focus on executing their game plan for four quarters.

“We made sure that we scheduled tough opponents to help us grow and expose some of our weaknesses. Clearly, as you saw tonight, there are some things

that we need to clean up,” he said.

“I do think when we get into district, that we’ll be better prepared to handle some of the things that we’re struggling with. Right now, for us to be a really good basketball team, we need to execute for four quarters and be able to execute in the half-court. And we struggled with those two things tonight.”

Northshore opened District

7-5A play at Salmen on Jan. 20, while Curtis will open District 9-5A play at Edna Karr on Jan. 23.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CURTIS | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 — 65

NORTHSHORE | 8 | 10 | 16 | 18 — 52 INDIVIDUAL SCORING

CURTIS

BY JIM DERRY Contributing writer

There’s still more than a month to go until the end of the boys basketball season, but one thing we know is that St. Paul’s has figured out how to learn from its mistakes.

Just four days after blowing a double-digit lead to rival Covington, the Wolves were in a similar situation, as a 12-point lead was trimmed to four against Mandeville with just 1:58 to go in a nondistrict game on Jan. 13.

This time, however, with tensions at a fever pitch St. Paul’s finished strong and pulled away for a 54-40 nondistrict victory at the Gene Bennett Sports Complex.

“I just told them, ‘Don’t stop, don’t stop. You’re good,’” Wolves’ coach Monty Fontenot said about a late timeout he called to revitalize the troops.

And they were good Don Peltier, who had one of the best scoring nights in his prep career with 22 points, turned a 42-38 lead into 4438, and after the Skippers missed both free throws on the other end, Carson Michel all but put it away with a strong move under the basket with 1:16 remaining.

St. Paul’s (11-7) also helped itself at the free-throw line. They were 17-of-21 (81%), and junior Ethan Ballard scored 10 of his 12 points from there.

Conversely Mandeville (13-7) couldn’t hit much of anything – either from the field or at the line

They missed their first eight freethrow attempts and finished 4-of16 (25%). From the field, they were 15-of-58 (25.9%) overall and 6-of31 (19.4%) beyond the arc after starting the game 1-for-10 there.

“I knew they missed some, but I didn’t know it was like that,” Fontenot said. “We were 8-of-18 (on

free throws) against Covington Look, they are a good shooting team. Maybe they just missed. They played really well on defense, I know that.

“Our fans and our students were awesome. Many of our alumni were here. (Mandeville coach) Josh (Priola) and I are old school We’ll meet them again pretty soon.”

Priola was quick to point that out very shortly after an ending that left him a bit fired up, and he was already looking ahead to the next meeting between the teams at the end of the month.

“It’s a great environment here, and we didn’t shoot it well enough,” he said. “Early on, we got behind, and we couldn’t find a way out of it. Look, this game doesn’t even count for district, and that’s our goal, so we’ll see you on Jan. 30.” None of the seven Skippers who scored finished in double figures, as they were led by Will Blessey’s eight points on 3-of-16 shooting.

Just one St. Paul’s player was really any better, as only Peltier was able to shoot with any consistency, as he finished 9-of-13 from the field. In fact, the rest of the Wolves scored a combined 32 points while shooting 7-of-32.

St. Paul’s, which has won six of its

est grat to

Ehrlicher, Gregory Edwin Gregory Edwin Ehrlicher passed away peacefully at Slidell Memorial Hospital on January 9, 2026, sur‐rounded by his loving fam‐ily Born on September 26 1947, Greg dedicated his life to service, both in the military and his commu‐nity. Greg proudly served in the United States Navy from 1964 to 1968, achiev‐ing the rank of Gunners Mate Third Class. His ser‐vice took him around the world including tours in Vietnam, where he earned commendations for his bravery and leadership His commitment to his country was unwavering and he was a patriotic source of inspiration to all who knew him Following his distin‐guished military service, Greg continued to serve as a member of the American Legion Post 374, the V.F.W Post 5174, and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chap‐ter 627. He served his com‐munity for many years through his dedication to youth sports, where he vol‐unteered his time to both the Slidell Youth Football Association (President Vice President, Secretary, Facilities Manager) and the Slidell Bantam Baseball As‐sociation. Greg retired from BellSouth where he was employed for 36 years and was a lifetime member of the AT&T Pioneers. He was also a member of the Communication Workers of America. The son of the late Francis Ehrlicher and Helen Ehrlicher, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lois Ehrlicher (2015); he is survived by his two children Scott (Shawn) Ehrlicher and Michelle (Josh) Broadway; his grandchildren Victoria (Ricky) Danby, Joshua (Kelsey) Broadway Jr , Brant Ehrlicher, Trevor Ehrlicher, and Jaxson Broadway; his great grand‐child Mason Danby; his brothers Michael Ehrlicher and James Ehrlicher; and his sister Jane Ehrlicher. In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to the Wounded War‐rior Project, in Greg’s mem‐ory, to support his fellow veterans Relatives and friends of the family are in‐vited to attend the Funeral Service at Honaker Funeral Home 1751 Gause Blvd West (in Forest Lawn Cemetery) Slidell, LA on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 11:00 a.m Deacon Chris Schneider, officiat‐

Michelle (Josh) Broadway; his grandchildren Victoria (Ricky) Danby Joshua (Kelsey) Broadway Jr., Brant Ehrlicher Trevor Ehrlicher, and Jaxson Broadway; his great grand‐child Mason Danby; his brothers Michael Ehrlicher and James Ehrlicher; and his sister Jane Ehrlicher. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Wounded War‐rior Project, in Greg’s mem‐ory to support his fellow veterans. Relatives and friends of the family are in‐vited to attend the Funeral Service at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd West (in Forest Lawn Cemetery), Slidell, LA on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 11:00 a.m Deacon Chris Schneider, officiat‐ing Visitation at the fu‐neral home on Wednesday after 9:00 a.m. until funeral time. Interment with mili‐tary honors will follow at the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery, 34888 Grantham College Road, Slidell, LA. 70460. Please visit www honakerforestla wn.com to sign guestbook Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell, LA

past 27 years. Boss most remembered for his deep and abiding love and loy‐alty to family, friends and pets and for his unrivalled humor Boss never met a stranger. He took care to nurture friendships that lasted his lifetime. He en‐deared himself to all with his quirky, playful and sidesplitting sense of humor Boss had a knack for nicknames, well-played pranks, and mimicry, and was always on the lookout for the humor to be had in life. He loved to laugh and took greater pleasure in making others laugh! Boss enjoyed a quiet and soli‐tary life and yet was al‐ways the life of every gath‐ering! He lived on the edge before settling into his “Zen” state of being later in life He nurtured a love of sports and had a re‐markable memory for numbers and recall for sta‐tistics. Watching football was a favorite pastime, es‐pecially college football, and most especially Al‐abama; he was a diehard Roll Tide fan Boss was genuine, humble, and hu‐morous and will be missed by his family and friends Boss is preceded in death by his parents and beloved dog, Gatsby. He is survived by his six sisters, Lisa Alt (Kerry), Martha Gruning (David) Jean Scott, Natalie Scott, Meriwether Bennett, and Elizabeth Scott; many loving nieces and nephews and great nieces; his daughter Jessica Anderton (David) and 3 grandsons; and his cats, Louie and Tavi. The family extends their deepest gratitude to Stewart, Lisa and Brita Gib‐ert for their unwavering devotion and exceptional care and friendship to Boss and to his friend and neighbor Malia Mullican, for her vigilant cat care over the years and daily support during his last months of life No dona‐tions or flowers are ex‐pected, but if you would like to make a donation in Boss’ honor, either of these South Alabama animal pro‐tection groups, the Bald‐win Humane Society https://www baldwinhuma ne org/ or The Haven https://www havenforani mals org/ represent causes dear to Boss. De‐tails regarding a Celebra‐tion of Boss’ life will be forthcoming.

Stewart, Lisa and Brita Gib‐

ert for their unwavering devotion and exceptional care and friendship to Boss and to his friend and neighbor Malia Mullican for her vigilant cat care over the years and daily support during his last months of life. No dona‐tions or flowers are ex‐pected, but if you would like to make a donation in Boss’ honor, either of these South Alabama animal pro‐tection groups, the Bald‐win Humane Society https://www baldwinhuma ne.org/ or The Haven https://www havenforani mals.org/, represent causes dear to Boss. De‐tails regarding a Celebra‐tion of Boss’ life will be forthcoming.

Werner III, Lawrence Joseph 'Larry'

Lawrence “Larry Joseph Werner III, of Slidell, Louisiana passed away on January 5, 2026, at the age of 63, after a long coura‐geous battle with cancer Born on January 3, 1963, in New Orleans, Louisiana he is the beloved son of Lawrence Werner Jr. and Delyle Buras Werner. Larry is the cherished husband of Lori Zammit Werner, with whom he shared 42 memory filled years; adored father of Lawrence Joseph Werner IV and Logan Charles Werner (Christen); proud grandfa‐ther of Scottie Keaton Werner; and brother of Craig Werner (Sheryl) and Kyle Werner (Tracey) He also leaves behind, to cher‐ish his memory, a host of extended family members and friends, all of whom he loved greatly. Larry gradu‐ated from Rummel High School with the Class of 1981. He went on to oper‐ate LJ’s Body Shop for many years An avid out‐doorsman, Larry loved hunting and fishing He found solitude and enjoy‐ment being on the water and at the camp in De‐mopolis, Alabama, where he created many fond memories with his family and friends. Larry will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him Arrangements by Audubon Funeral Home in Slidell.

is the beloved son of Lawrence Werner Jr and Delyle Buras Werner Larry is the cherished husband of Lori Zammit Werner, with whom he shared 42 memory filled years; adored father of Lawrence Joseph Werner IV and Logan Charles Werner (Christen); proud grandfa‐ther of Scottie Keaton Werner; and brother of Craig Werner (Sheryl) and Kyle Werner (Tracey). He also leaves behind, to cher‐ish his memory, a host of extended family members and friends, all of whom he loved greatly Larry gradu‐ated from Rummel High School with the Class of 1981. He went on to oper‐ate LJ’s Body Shop for many years. An avid out‐doorsman, Larry loved hunting and fishing He found solitude and enjoy‐ment being on the water and at the camp in De‐mopolis Alabama where he created many fond memories with his family and arry will be grea by all who knew oved him Arra by Audubon Funer in Slidell.

Getyourplansdowninblackand white Yourfamilywillbeglad youdid Getstartedtoday.

Albin Provosty Scott II passed away peacefully in his home on January 5 He was born in Alexandria (LA), the 3rd of seven chil‐dren and only son of Isabel Lewis Scott and Albin Provosty Scott. He was af‐fectionately known by his friends as “A.P.” and by family as “Boss” Boss grew up in Covington, LA and followed in his father’s footsteps starting out in the oil and gas business. In later years he nursed his entrepreneurial spirit through founding and growing Bay Beverage Bot‐tled Water Company in Fairhope, AL He made his home in Fairhope for the past 27 years. Boss is most remembered for his deep and abiding love and loy‐alty to family, friends and pets and for his unrivalled humor Boss never met a stranger He took care to nurture friendships that lasted his lifetime He en‐deared himself to all with his quirky playful and sidesplitting sense of humor Boss had a knack for nicknames well-played pranks, and mimicry, and was always on the lookout for the humor to be had in life He loved to laugh and took greater pleasure in making others laugh! Boss enjoyed a quiet and soli‐tary life and yet was al‐ways the life of every gath‐ering! He lived on the edge before settling into his “Zen” state of b in life. He nurtur of sports and markable mem numbers and rec tistics Watchin was a favorite pa pecially college and most espe abama; he was Roll Tide fan genuine, humble morous and will by his family and Boss is preceded by his parents an dog, Gatsby. He by his six sister (Kerry), Martha Gruning (David), Jean Scott, Natalie Scott, Meriwether Bennett, and Elizabeth Scott; many loving nieces and nephews and great nieces; his daughter Jessica (David) and 3 gr and his cats, Tavi The family their deepest gra Stewart Lisa and ert for their un devotion and e care and friendsh and to his fri neighbor Malia for her vigilant over the years a support during months of life tions or flowers pected but if y like to make a d Boss’ honor either of these South Alabama animal pro‐tection groups, the Bald‐win Humane Society https://www baldwinhuma ne org/ or The Haven https://www havenforani mals org/ represent causes dear to Boss. De‐tails regarding a Celebra‐tion of Boss’ life will be forthcoming. Familyisat theHEARTof EverythingWeDo Makeastarttowardgettingyour affairsinorder.Takethefirst stepinplanningthosedetailsto providepeaceofmindforyour lovedone.

Hollis

brothers are just one part of surging Slidell wrestling program

BY MIKE PERVEL Contributing writer

Second-year Slidell wrestling coach Brent Bourgeois is fired up about his program, and it’s easy to see why

After the Tigers went 2-15 in dual meets last year, Slidell has improved to 8-7 this season, including a 45-27 victory over Northshore in the second annual Dual For The Dell on Jan. 14.

It was an impressive turnaround for the Tigers after being mauled 79-0 at the inaugural event.

“The team vowed that this year would be different, fighting to avenge last year’s totally embarrassing effort,” Bourgeois said. “They’ve put in the work, and it definitely paid off. It was a full team effort, and I’m extremely proud of what they’re accomplishing.”

Slidell’s roster stands at 28, up from 12 last year, as Bourgeois said he welcomes students from all corners of the school, including honor students and ROTC members.

“After only having one wrestler with a positive record last year, now 70% of the team has a winning record, so we’ve become much more competitive,” he said.

A pair of brothers has added to the team’s success. Junior Jayvier Hollis (heavyweight) and freshman Zander Hollis (106 pounds) transferred in from Baton Rouge over the summer, and both have embraced their new team.

Slidell competed at the 49th Annual Ken Cole Invitational in Lafayette on Jan. 9-10 as the Hollis brothers finished a combined 10-2, and the Tigers finished 14th out of 42 teams despite competing with just five wrestlers.

Zander, 14, is off to a blazing start, registering a 51-5 mark with 35 pins. He went 5-0 at the Ken Cole Invitational and followed that up with a third-place finish at the Louisiana Classic on Jan. 17.

Quail

“I’m a very technical wrestler, always pushing to be aggressive, looking for quick pins. Actually, most of my pins have come in the first round. I stay calm, and I’m very comfortable on the mat,”

Zander said.

Jayvier (47-11) placed fourth at the Ken Cole, registering four pins and a 2-1 victory despite losing twice to Jesuit senior Will Berry

“I’d like to get some revenge when we meet again. It was kind of neck-and-neck, so I need to get better I’m looking forward to when we square off the next time,”

Jayvier said.

The duo squared off again on Jan. 17 in the finals of the Louisiana Classic, which ended in a 9-2 decision for Berry.

Jayvier said he weighed over 300 pounds when he arrived in the summer, ready to play football for the Tigers as a defensive lineman.

“Once I changed my diet and started perspiring, sweating through double practices, I lost about 60 pounds, gearing up for wrestling. It’s all about conditioning, and I was able to regain my muscle mass. I’m a very strong, confident wrestler, ready to go against anyone, anytime,” Jayvier said.

I, CHARLES EVAN STAUFFER , have been convicted of PORNOGRAPHY INVOLVING JUVENILES

“I’m extremely excited to have the Hollis boys with us. Jayvier has extensive knowledge and experience, wrestling at the club level, before wrestling at Liberty Magnet in Baton Rouge for a year, then transferring in,” Bourgeois said.

“He’s very polished, and he’s really strong. He knows the moves and the technical stuff, which has been very helpful to him.”

Jayvier said that he and his brother enjoy the team aspect of the sport

“Wrestling has always been my dominant sport,” he said. “I love the great team morale it builds. It’s a close wrestling family here. We throw get-togethers every week and enjoy spending time with each other.”

I, DavidAHughes , have been convicted of INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH JUVENILES

I, KENNETH RAY SOILEAU JR, have been convicted of CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF AJUVENILE.

MyAddress is: 62146 Crescent Dr Lacombe, LA 70445

Bourgeois said he’s fortunate to have Zander leading things off along with fellow freshman Jhase St. Amant (38-20), who competes at 113 pounds.

MyAddress is: 60207 HIGHWAY 434 ,APTApt.A-1 LACOMBE, LA 70445

Continued from page 1B

and I still love teaching and coaching. When I stop coaching, I’ll still continue to teach until I’m 67, 68.”

So how did the former Davidson player become one of the winningest soccer coaches?

That’s an easy one — he returned home.

After deciding that a 9-to-5 job wasn’t for him, he moved back to Pensacola to go to law school and worked as a graduate assistant.

He became an assistant coach at Catholic High in Pensacola, his alma mater, and won a Florida state championship as an assistant in 1992.

“I just loved it,” Moser said.

“I knew it was what I wanted to do. It was kind of like a Buddhist thing, like you find the right path. I love teaching and coaching. I didn’t go to law school.”

The rest is Louisiana soccer history

He remains true to his roots — his father started the soccer team at Catholic in Pensacola — and Moser takes that family approach to the St. Paul’s program.

“It pretty much runs itself,” he said. “We’ve set a high standard,

and the players maintain it.”

Assistant coach Cam Robinson, who has been on staff since 2021, played for Moser in 2012-14 and won one state title, while assistant coach Ben Schwing played in 2018-20 and won two state titles. Connor Allen, now a junior goalkeeper at the University of Tampa, was back over Christmas break to train this year’s keepers.

“Now that I’m coaching with him, I’ve gained a whole new respect for his tactical ability and approach to coaching itself,” Robinson said. “You bond really well with the players, and you create an atmosphere where ultimately you want them to have fun, but there is a reason that we’re a consistently successful program. His approach has made his teams extremely successful.”

The Wolves (10-3-1) are unbeaten in eight consecutive matches after a 6-0 win over Hammond on Jan. 13, marking win No. 701.

Moser hopes that continues all the way to another state crown.

“I truly love coaching,” he said. “Every team is different, and every season has its own set of challenges, but I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’d be bored if I was just sitting at home. I love a challenge, and I love winning. I’ll keep doing this for as long as I can.”

WRESTLERS

Continued from page 1B

schools by finishing third behind champion Catholic-Baton Rouge and runner-up St. Thomas More. Brother Martin was fourth, Jesuit fifth and St. Paul’s sixth.

Shartle won against Teurlings

Catholic junior Carter Macha, 117, taking away any suspense at the end with a late takedown for three points.

from school last year and “started throwing up,” he said, before he wrestled three times and lost his final match in overtime. This year, he pinned four of his six opponents and scored a major decision in the final against Paul Evans of CatholicBaton Rouge.

Durham, from Rummel, placed once at the Classic when he “got the bottom of the podium” when he was a freshman. “I didn’t like it,” said Durham, who pinned five opponents and then avenged an earlier loss to Brother Martin senior Joshua Lara in the final.

“I wanted it more than whoever else was on the mat with me,” Durham said.

Bourgeois said his newest additions are already a key part of the team.

Baton Rouge, LA The public is invited to comment on this permit request for a period of forty-five (45) days Re‐sponses should be mailed to LDWF Scenic Rivers Pro‐gram 2000 Quail Drive Room 432 Baton Rouge LA 70808 173218JAN14-2128-3T $574 06

MyAddress is: 61150 N 24th St Lacombe, LA 70445

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 8/04/1962 Height: 5' 5 Weight: 131 Hair Color: GRAY Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Mark: Tattoo: Upper_R_Arm -

Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 2/07/1992 Height: 5' 9 Weight: 170 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Mark: Prosthesis: Ear - EXTERNAL HEARINGAIDS / 171795 JAN 21-28 $250.00

“Those two set the tone, getting quick pins. They help motivate our team early on. They’re a very talented one-two punch at the top of our lineup,” Bourgeois said.

Sophomore Matthew Pierce (2810), a team captain who wrestles at 157, placed fourth at the Ken Cole Invitational, while seniors Ellington Choice and Caleb Herod also serve as team captains.

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 3/29/1978 Height: 5' 6 Weight: 170 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Mark: Tattoo: Chest - MS VICTORIA, two flowers, PIT BULL // Tattoo: Chest - Chain, Fluer de Lis,Louisiana Boot // Tattoo: Stomach Scrumptious // Tattoo: R_forearmPlayer // Tattoo: Upper_R_ArmCHRISTIAN, MUSHROOM HEAD STONE,VIRGIN MARY // Tattoo: R_forearmBRITTANY // Tattoo: L_forearm"Gage" // Tattoo: L_arm - DADDY'S LIL MAN // Tattoo: L_bicep - SKULL DEVIL, DEMON, PIT BULL // Tattoo: BackLOUISIANA RAGIN CAJUN, SKULL DEMON // Tattoo: BackKENNY, WIZARD // Tattoo: L_kneeSPIDER WEB // Tattoo: L_HandMUSHROOM // Scar: L_knee - 2IN SCAR X2 172622 JAN 21-28 $250.00

The bout between reigning state champions — Shartle in Division I and Macha in Division II came after Shartle lost in previous seasons against former Teurlings standout Braeden Simoneaux

“That motivated me this year and it’s going to continue through the state tournament,” Shartle said. “I’m ready to get the gold this year.”

In other finals, Ayala, of St. Paul’s, won by major decision over Rummel’s John Theile and Jesuit’s Berry won by decision over Jayvier Hollis of Slidell.

I, Kyle M Hamilton , have been convicted of CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF AJUVENILE. MyAddress is: 227 SCOTT DR SLIDELL, LA 70458

Other area winners also rebounded from past shortcomings to become a champion at the Classic.

Fontenot, from Brother Martin, didn’t feel well on the bus ride

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 10/26/1980 Height: 6' 1 Weight: 223 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: GREEN Scars/Tattoos: Mark: Scar: Facelip // Tattoo: R_arm - "Consider your Ways" Jesus // Tattoo: R_forearmPic of an eye // Tattoo: L_forearmPic Geisha Head // Mark: - Reports No Marks // Piercing: Ear - Both Pierced/ Tattoo: R_arm"Timmy Souther" 172883 JAN 21-28 $250.00

I, MORGAN ROY HOSLI , have been convicted of SECOND DEGREE SEXUAL ASSAULT OFA CHILD**. MyAddress is: 1274 ST TAMMANYAVE SLIDELL, LA 70460

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 1/27/1990 Height: 5' 8 Weight: 133 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Mark: Tattoo: Ribs - LEFT Ribcage HOSLI // Mark:NONE REPORTED // Other: - NONE REPORTED // Piercing: - NONE REPORTED // Prosthesis: - NONE REPORTED // Scar: chin lower chin // Ultraviolet Tattoo - NONE REPORTED // Tattoo: Chest LEFT Claw Mark // Tattoo: BackLEFT Shoulder/ Asian Symbol // Scar: abdomen RIGHTAbdomen

The Classic is the final statewide checkpoint before the LHSAA state championships Feb. 6-7 in Bossier City, where schools are broken up into three enrollment classifications for the championships.