DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
ADVOCATE THE LIVINGSTON -TANGIPAHOA
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
Livingston library is ready for summer Livingston Parish Library locations will be closed June 19 to commemorate Juneteenth. All summer, branches will have a busy schedule for the family. Check out these events at the Denham Springs-Walker branch. To register for information, call (225) 686-4140 or visit mylpl.info. Nature on the Geaux (all ages): 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Animals Around the World program brings a live animal experience with Tanee Janusz. Get up close with creatures from across the globe while learning about their habitats, behaviors and adaptations. Bilingual Storytime (ages 0-8): 10:30 a.m. Thursday. An interactive bilingual storytime for children and caretakers combines stories, songs and activities in both Spanish and English. Thread Beads & String Earrings (ages 18 and older): 3 p.m. Thursday. Turn bright thread into colorful beads and then string them together into earrings in the first class of two classes. In the next class, participants will learn creative ways of stringing beads into jewelry. Completion class 1 is required for class 2, so be sure to sign up for both. Registration is required. Watercolor Anglerfish (ages 3-8): 6 p.m. Thursday. Create an anglerfish that lights up. The Dinosaur Experience (all ages): 5 p.m. Monday. Oversized puppets bring the ancient giants to life when they stomp into the library.
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W e d n e s d ay, J u n e 10, 2026
1GN
Livingston shows up at Star of Stars
One of the premier events that comes at the end of every school year is The Advocate’s Star of Stars awards banquet, an event that recognizes athletic excellence throughout the 10-parish metro area. As one of those parishes, Livingston was well represented this year with four athletes and two coaches who were honored. Livingston Parish has nine of the more than 30 high schools that compete in the LHSAA at various levels, and the awards were a reflection of the overall quality of its athletes and coaches. Of the athletes, Live Oak boys powerlifter Dylan Rockett and French Settlement softball player Malloy Miles were named the Star of Stars for their sport, and each was a finalist for their respective
Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
athlete of the year awards. Also named Star of Stars was French Settlement boys bowler Carson Childers and Walker’s Special Olympian Savannah Marler. French Settlement’s Jake Bourgeois juggled duties as coach of both the boys and girls basketball teams, and led both to the Division III non select state playoffs. While the boys got as far as the quarterfinals, the girls won their third overall state championship and their first since 1964. Bourgeois was
a finalist for girls coach of the year, but his achievements with both programs were notable. Also a girls coach of the year finalist was Live Oak powerlifting coach Cash Littlefield. The Eagles sent 10 lifters to the state meet, where they edged four-time defending West Monroe for the title. Leading the way was a trio of sophomores — Kaila Maher, Brynn Catalano and Jenna Robertson — who each finished first in their weight class for a program that finished seventh at the 2025 state meet. Miles knows a few things about playing as an underclassment. French Settlement’s starting pitcher since she was an eighth grader, she had an 0.48 ERA with 225 strikeouts during her junior season. During the season, she surpassed
Bourgeois
Littlefield
Childers
Marler
Miles
Rockett
800 strikeouts for her career as the Lions reached the Division III non select semifinals. Rockett capped off his senior season with an individual championship in the Division I, 181-pound weight class. He
ä See SALTZER, page 2G
ENTERTAINMENT ON THE BOOKS
Church garage sale set St. Francis Episcopal Church, 726 Maple St., in Denham Springs is holding a garage sale June 19-20. Shoppers will find a variety clothes, toys, home decor, tools, housewares and more. Proceeds support the mission and ministry of St. Francis Episcopal, which holds worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays. For information, call the church office at (225) 225-665-2707 or visit stfrand.org.
Class of ’76 plans 50th reunion It’s almost time to celebrate for the Denham Springs Class of 1976 — my class. We were called the Spirit of ‘76 class and everything was red, white in blue in addition to our high school colors. Adults tried to make us understand the importance of celebrating the country’s 200th birthday, but I’m not sure that clicked with a bunch of 17- and 18-year-olds. Now, the Spirit of ‘76 is celebrating as the nation celebrates 250 years. The event is planned for June 13 at Forrest Grove in Denham Springs. Reunion organizers are asking classmates to send photos from 1976 and now for a booklet. To volunteer or share your information with the organizers, email daleh76ds@gmail.com. Congratulations to all the ’76 graduates celebrating their 50th reunion this year.
Vacation Bible school set St. Francis Episcopal Church’s vacation Bible School theme is “Road Trip — On the Go with God.” The Bible school journey is based on Joshua 1:9 — “The LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” The program is June 15-19 for kids entering kindergarten through sixth grade. Dinner is served at 5:30 p.m.; the program is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 726 Maple St., in Denham Springs. Registration and more about Road Trip VBS is online at stfrands. org, or call the church at (225) 6652707. Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 603-1998.
PHOTOS BY RICHARD MEEK
The Livingston Branch library bustles with activity May 18. The Livingston Parish library system has opened a slate of summer entertainment and educational activities.
Livingston libraries plan children’s education events while school’s out
The busiest spot May 18 was the front desk. One mother said she told her children they could check out two books, but they each checked out three. ‘I would have been OK with five,’ she said.
BY RICHARD MEEK Contributing writer
Joyous sounds of youthful laughter filled libraries throughout Livingston Parish on May 18 as doors swung open to a summer of entertaining and educational activities. The Summer Kickoff Reading Day welcomed parents and youngsters alike, with the added bonus of winning prizes and also presenting projects for children to work on. “I look at today that is kind of like a birthday party with less cake,” said Scott Kleinpeter, interim director of the library system and manager at the Livingston branch, where he was for the summer kickoff. ä See BOOKS, page 2G
Learn about historical databases, too Community news report
Ancestry (Library Edition)
In today’s digital age, the quest for personal and historical knowledge has never been more accessible. Livingston Parish Library patrons have free access to two comprehensive online databases for exploring personal and national history, a news release said. From immigration records to vital statistics, these resources help uncover ancestral roots and historical connections. Whether tracing family lineage or diving into broader history, the library’s digital collection makes discovery easy and accessible.
With an online collection of more than 7,000 databases, you can uses sources like censuses, vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court and legal documents, directories, photos and maps.
American Antiquarian Society Gain digital access to a highly comprehensive collection of American periodicals published between 1691 and 1912. Subject coverage includes: advertising, health, women’s issues, science, the history of slavery, industry and professions, religious issues, culture and the arts.