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
|
W e d n e s d ay, J u n e 24, 2026
$1.00N
PHOTOS BY JACKSON REYES
LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green talks to kids at the youth football camp he held at East Feliciana High School on June 13.
Trey’Dez Green holds football camp BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer
LSU’s Trey’Dez Green grew up just 45 seconds from East Feliciana High School. He remembered walking down the street to school. He takes pride in being from Jackson, Louisiana, and representing the community. Following his sophomore season, Green got the opportunity to give back with a youth football camp he held at East Feliciana High earlier this month. The camp was free for kids aged 6 through 14 years old. “It means a lot to me,” Green said. “Being from here, being from the state
of Louisiana, and being from the city of Jackson. The turnout was amazing, everybody came out and supported me and I’m thankful for everybody.” Green had wanted to do a youth camp since he joined LSU as a freshman two years ago. Entering his junior year, he felt he had the resources to put a camp together. “We got the resources to do it, why not give back to the community that has just pushed me and poured so much into me,” he said. He described the full circle moment of hosting a football camp at the same place he was once a student, playing high school football.
“I have never thought that I would be out here,” Green said. “Just be a leader for this community. I just want the kids to know that they can too, minus all the haters and the doubters that tell them that they can’t.” Green, who graduated from Zachary High, wanted the kids at the camp to see that they can also make a name for themselves and represent the East Feliciana community. He loved what he saw from the kids at the camp. “We’ve got some dogs out here at East Feliciana,” Green said. “For all the coaches out there listening, come down and check us out.” The camp included position drills,
skills tests like races, and one-on-one drills between receivers and defensive backs. Green enjoyed seeing the effort shown by the kids. “I saw the grit and the will to want,” he said. “They could’ve used their free will and come out here and half-sprinted, not jogged, not been intent, but they came out here and gave 110%. “That’s all we just ask for,” he continued. “They were amazing. I love to see the smiles on their face. They made my day.” He hopes to keep the camp going as an annual event in the summer. Green
ä See GREEN, page 2G
Bluey and Bingo visit West Feliciana Parish Library BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
The popular characters Bluey and Bingo and children listen as a book is read.
More than 130 children and their families attended the June 17 program at the West Feliciana Parish Library in St. Francisville where they enjoyed time with two of their favorite cartoon characters — Bluey and Bingo. The morning event was opened by youth librarian Lily Martinez, who welcomed all and urged the children to come forward in the large meeting room where there was space for movement. PHOTO BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL The beloved blue and orange characters created excitement in
the room, as children danced and played the familiar keepy-uppy balloon game. The wiggling kids bobbed and jumped as the tried to keep the balloons in the air. The music included the familiar theme from the popular series from down under and simple standards like “BINGO” and “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” The gathering also included a story about Bluey and a butterfly with the youngsters in the audience participating with arms aflutter. After the presentation, children and parents lined up to
ä See VISIT, page 4G
Feliciana school employees to receive Party on July 3 in Jackson West $7,000 stipends thanks to Hut 8 development Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
On July 3 there will be an Independence Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Cotton Field’s Coffee Shop, 3053 Bank St. in Jackson. Music will be provided by Corban Barnes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and there will be lots of games for the family to enjoy. In addition to the regular fare there will be funnel cakes, cotton candy, popcorn and food truck offerings. For more info call (225) 5887075. Owner Fields Day invites the extended community to come celebrate the 250th anniversary of independence on July 3. The shop
ä See AROUND, page 3G
BY JAMES MINTON
representing the parish government, school system and Sheriff’s Office, agreed earlier on a plan to split the initial $10 million payment. The School Board will get $5.3 million, the West Feliciana Parish school employees will get a $7,000 stipend for the next two school Sheriff’s Office $800,000, and the parish govyears, courtesy of an early infusion of cash to ernment $3.9 million. parish agencies from data center developer School Superintendent Hollis Milton told Hut 8. the School Board on Tuesday that the $5.3 milParish officials, in a series of meetings this lion, coupled with expected increases in sales week, approved an agreement in which Hut 8 and property tax revenue, will give the school will pay the parish $10 million in lieu of prop- system a projected revenue increase of $3.65 erty taxes a full year early. ä See STIPENDS, page 3G A new parish Industrial Development Board,
Contributing writer