ABITA SPRINGS • BARKER’S CORNER • BUSH • COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • PEARL RIVER • SLIDELL
Farmer The St.Tammany
Scan here to sign up for our weekly newsletter, The North Shore Report
S T TA M M A N Y FA R M E R.N E T
|
W e d n e s d ay, J a n u a ry 21, 2026
50¢N
152ND YEAR, NO. 15
Slidell changes development regulations Contributing writer
ä Historic train depot to be site of Chahta Tribe museum. PAGE 3A
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
BY KIM CHATELAIN
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
A LIFE ON THE AIRWAVES
Michell named fire chief of Covington 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 fireMichell fighters 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
ä See CHIEF, page 3A
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.
ä See SLIDELL, page 3A
Where in the world is Mandeville dancer Olivia Wong? BY JESSICA SAGGIO Contributing writer
“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 ä Trey Yuen daughter’s success — a thing he does often. After restaurant all, his Olivia is an accomhonored for plished professional danccommunity er with roots right here on service. PAGE 9A 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
ä See DANCER, page 2A
PHOTO BY SUZIE HUNT
Louisiana’s oldest surviving World War II veteran, 104-year-old Covington resident James Robinson, is still going strong with his ham radio, his breakfast club, his many stories and multiple other interests.
Covington WWII veteran continues to enjoy ham radio, church and breakfast club 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, Ben Motion
ä See VETERAN, page 3A
Louisiana Local
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.
SAVE up $ 98 to 3 When You Buy 2
SAVE 70 ¢ LB
— ONLY —
— ONLY —
USDA GRADE A SANDERSON
99
Whole Chicken LIMIT 2
¢LB
12 OZ PACK SELECTED
Jimmy Dean Bacon
10 - 12 COUNT SINGLE SERVE OR 10 - 12 OZ BAG
Community Coffee
12 PACK 12 OZ
Pepsi, Mountain Dew or Brisk Tea
visit rouses.com for more weekly ad specials!
12
2/$
Prices good at all New Orleans, Gretna, Kenner, Metairie, Marrero, Slidell, Mandeville and Covington stores January 21st - January 28th, 2026.