SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
The
W atchman
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, M ay 27, 2026
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Commissioner banned from building Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Feliciana Wildflower Festival June 6
EAST FELICIANA POLICE JURY
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury took the unusual steps May 18 of removing a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission and banning him from entering the jury office for at least the rest of the year.
John “J.R.” Rouchon had been banned by administrative order from the building since mid-April for allegedly causing a disturbance over his demands that the jury pay him for using his car while answering a call as a coroner’s investiga-
Yamesha Harris. Harris also serves as interim parish manager. The jury’s Executive Committee tor. He no longer works for the coro- recommended the full jury take ner’s office, and he was not allowed action against Rouchon after meetto participate in an April Planning ing with him the previous week. and Zoning Commission meeting Rouchon “caused chaos” in the because of the administrative orä See BANNED, page 2G der, issued by Secretary-Treasurer
The Feliciana Wildflower Project is hosting its third annual Feliciana Wildflower Festival from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. June 6 in downtown Clinton near the historic courthouse. Activities include vendor booths with garden related and other items, food vendors, educational classes/presentations, activities for children, plant nurseries, cut flower bars by local flower farmers, art exhibits by local artists, and nearby business will be open. Visit www.facebook.com/ FelicianaWildflowerProject to volunteer, donate or sponsor the project and or festival, or to get more information.
Summer library activities are here Be sure to visit the Audubon Regional Library and the West Feliciana Parish Library to find activities and reading programs.
West Feliciana summer activities West Feliciana Parks and Recreation is hosting summer basketball camps for ages 5-12. Registration deadline is May 31. Cost is $75. Preseason practice runs June 8-26, and games are June 29-July 31. West Feliciana Summer Camps run May 26-July 24 for ages 6-11. Cost is $175 a week. Camps include games, art and crafts, and field trips. The camps are 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Old Bains Elementary Gym. Register online at www.wfprec.com. For any questions, call (225) 784-8447 or emailmpatten@wfparish.org.
Tamia McCray enters the stadium at East Feliciana High’s graduation May 14.
Extension Office to hold Master Gardener Class The East Feliciana Parish Extension Office in Clinton will hold a Master Gardener class beginning Aug. 12. Applications are due to Hoover by June 26. The class is from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and concludes Nov. 18. The course fee is $200. Classes will be held at the East Feliciana Parish Extension Office, 4419 Idlewild Road, Clinton. The application is available at www.lsuagcenter. com/FelicianaMG or contact County Agent Jessie Hoover at jhoover@agcenter.lsu.edu or (225) 683-3101. The Louisiana Master Gardener Program is a volunteer development program offered by the LSU AgCenter. Master Gardener volunteers are highly trained and provide proven, researchbased educational programs to Louisiana residents. Participants in the Master Gardener class receive 40-plus hours of horticulture training in topics such as botany, plant propagation, entomology, plant pathology, weed science, soils, pesticide safety, lawn care, vegetables, fruits, herbaceous plants and more. Upon successful completion of the training and volunteering for 40 hours, participants will become Certified Louisiana Master Gardeners.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
PROVIDED PHOTOS
READY TO FACE THE FUTURE
ä East Feliciana High School graduation list, more photos.
PAGE 4G
Carol Tunia and Emily Thompson march in as members of the Class of 2026 at East Feliciana High’s ceremony.
WEST FELICIANA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Top students, educators, employees honored BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
The West Feliciana Parish School Board capped off another successful school year May 19 with public recognition of students and employees. “It’s been a great year,” School Superintendent Hollis Milton said, thanking board members, teachers and other employees, as well as students, for contributing to the district’s success. West Feliciana remained the top-ranked school district in the state for the second year in a row. Three students were recognized as Students of the Year: Briggs McKnight, Bains Elementary; Betsi Kate David, West Feliciana Middle School; and Jared Lane, West Feliciana High School.
ä See HONORED, page 2G
East Feliciana COA celebrates with ‘Hoedown in the Hay’ summer picnic BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
Hoedown in the Hay was the theme for the annual beginning-of-summer picnic for members and potential members at the East Feliciana Council on Aging. Drawing seniors from around the parish, the event was May 15 at the Jackson site. Eighty seniors got into the spirit with costumes and props, music and dancing, and with enough donated door prizes awarded for PHOTO BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL each attendee to win one. Line dancing, couples Members of the East Feliciana Council on Aging’s One dancing and posing for
Step at a Time line dancers hit the floor at the recent summer picnic.
ä See COA, page 2G