The Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate 04-01-2026

Livingston is fastest growing parish in state

Ascension is not far behind

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

Livingston and Ascension parishes continue to lead the Baton Rouge region when it comes to population growth, though the pace of growth has slowed, according to the latest U.S Census population estimates

Between the last U.S. Census in 2020 and July 1, 2025, the federal agency found Livingston is the fastest growing parish in Louisiana, expanding its population by 9% That equates to almost 13,000 more residents.

Ascension is not far behind, growing its total number of residents by almost 7%, or 8,600 people. That’s the third fastest pace of growth in the state.

The parishes have the ninth and the 11th largest populations out of

the state’s 64 parishes.

Comparatively, Louisiana as a whole declined in population over that five-year span by almost 1%, or nearly 40,000 people. Similarly, only 14 out of those 64 parishes added residents overall since when the Census was administered in April 2020. Andrew Fitzgerald, a senior vice president with the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership, formerly the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, said the latest popula-

tion estimates reflect national trends.

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“Suburbs have been growing,” Fitzgerald said. “It was happening before COVID. COVID accelerated that trend.”

Those growth rates slipped between 2024 and 2025 to 1.2% in Livingston and 0.8% in Ascension.

Over that year, the state population was flat, growing less than a tenth of a percent,

Between the formal census every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bu-

Darlene Denstorff

Crawfish Kingpin Cook-off April 11

The Walker Kiwanis Club’s Crawfish Kingpin Cook-off is April 11 at the Livingston Parish Fairgrounds.

The event, which starts at 10:30 a.m., includes the best crawfish cooks around competing, vendors, entertainment and funs for the children.

Calling all DSHS band mates

The Denham Springs High School band and color guard have a rich legacy of excellence and community Past members are updating an alumni registry and need your help. Visit forms.gle/soTpymy7ZYjA9Cp58 to fill out the needed information.

Class of ‘76 reunion planned

If you’re an alum of the Denham Springs Class of 1976 my class — your help is needed to organize the upcoming reunion. The event is planned for June at Carter Plantation

To volunteer or share your information with the organizers, email daleh76DS@gmail.com.

Two-year-old Brenay Pryer, of Denham Springs, gets ready to pet a rabbit being held by Brenay’s mother, Crystal Pryer, during Walker’s Easter in the Park at Hutchinson Park on March 29.

BY RICHARD MEEK

BY RICHARD MEEK

Contributing writer

Chicken nachos or Mexican hot dogs? Why not both?

For Amanda and Tom Hixon, the decision was easy as they sampled both March 28 at the Food Truck Festival in Denham Springs.

Sponsored by Denham Springs Main Street, the festival attracted hundreds of visitors carrying big appetites with six food trucks ready to satisfy their culinary cravings, including Czech, fare and a truck with such staples as chicken, hamburgers and even a Lent-appropriate shrimp burger

“We knew it was going to be a beautiful day and some good food and some good vibes out here,” Tom Hixon said as he and Amanda Hixon alternated between the Mexican hot dog, which was wrapped in bacon, and the nachos topped with both chicken and

“I feel like local businesses always have the best food anyway so when they

More than 600 people hunt eggs, meet Easter Bunny, play games at Walker’s Easter in the Park

were over, their faces painted, photos with the bunny taken, multiple games conquered and their stomachs sated. An estimated crowd of close to 600 people gathered Sunday at Sidney Hutchinson Park in Walker to participate in the annual Easter in the Park event. Families came from nearby and as far away as Covington and Baker “I like to come out here

GROWING

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nice and interesting case of population growth on that side of the river,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald said the parish has been a local engine of economic growth, but its population growth is less than it would be because of the “chokepoint” of the Mississippi River Bridge, where extended traffic delays are a regular occurance. Fitzgerald said he’s hopeful that continued economic development further south on the west side of the Mississippi in Donaldsonville and Iberville Parish will lead to residential growth there as well. Iberville Parish lost 2.2% of its population between 2020 and 2025.

The parish with the biggest population decline in

strawberry patch contest, Hungarian treats and cultural performances, strawberry-eating contest for kids, music, vendors and in-

flatables. Fayard Field is at 32127 Church St., Springfield. All proceeds benefit the Árpádhon Hungarian Settlement Cultural Association to help preserve our Hungarian heritage. If interested in participating in crawfish cook-off or dessert bake-off, call (225) 278-3770 or (985) 974-6883. If interested in being a vendor call (225) 955-8239. Livingston schools kindergarten registration underway Livingston Parish Public Schools is accepting online registrations for incoming kindergarten students for the 2026-27 school year A child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30 to register for kindergarten. Online registration is available at

EASTER

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because I know the environment is going to be good,” said Baker resident Fayette Harris, who was with her young daughter, Imani.

“She is having a blast,” Harris said.

As for Imani, she was anticipating the Easter egg hunt but had also found a new friends in the petting zoo.

“My favorite thing is petting the chickens,” Imani said. “And they did not bite me.”

Rebecca Lamparski said she often makes the drive from Covington to Walker to attend many of the park’s events, including during Christmas and Easter as well as other times of the year

“It is kid friendly, organized and we feel safe and secure,” she said as she watched son putt a ball through an Easter-themed obstacle in the many games that were offered.

Shortly after the count hit zero and hundreds of children that were separated into age groups scrambled to pick up as many of the 10,000 eggs as possible.

And when the eggs were gone, there were no winners or losers, but the happy smiles on young faces spoke to their joy.

Email Richard Meek at livingston@ theadvocate.com

PROVIDED PHOTO

Southeastern’s College of Business’ newly opened Lion Pride Career Closet on campus provides Southeastern students access to new and gently used professional attire.

Community news report

Southeastern Louisiana University has started a program to provide professional clothing for students looking for jobs.

For many college students in the U.S., financial worries are an everyday burden. And once all the costs associated with earning a degree are paid, both monetary and in terms of hard work and time, there can still be one more barrier to landing that first big job the need for professional

clothing.

To help clear that final hurdle, Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Business has officially opened the Lion Pride Career Closet on campus in Garrett Hall for Southeastern students.

The closet provides students access to new and gently used professional attire for interviews, career fairs, networking events and graduation, a news release said.

Students who may not have access to professional attire or related resources are eligible to

schedule one appointment at the Career Closet each year To make an appointment, visit southeastern.edu/careercloset.

“We want every student to feel prepared and confident as they pursue internships and careers,” said Marketing and Supply Chain Management Interim Department Head and Assistant Professor April Kemp. Kemp said if students want to keep the outfit after the interview or professional event, they are welcome to do so, or if they

think they will not use it in their career they are welcome to donate it back to the Career Closet for other students to use.

Community members can donate to help Southeastern students dress for success. Appropriate items include business formal and business casual professional/interview attire such as business suits in traditional colors, dress shirts, blouses, professional slacks and skirts, blazers, ties, belts, shoes and professional bags, purses and accessories.

obits@theadvocate.com WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS CALL: (225) 388-0738

EMAIL: nuptials@theadvocate.com

CALL: (225) 383-0111

EMAIL: classifieds@theadvocate.com LEGAL ADVERTISING CALL: (225) 388-0128

EMAIL: weeklylegals@theadvocate.com

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“That was very interesting, and I think I will carry that forward.”

Torres expressed a desire to learn watercolors for her art business and also to socialize with fellow artists to gain insight into new ideas.

“When I saw there was a watercolor class and a master teacher I was interested,” she said. “I have been thinking to myself I want to get some work and instruction and that popped up.”

Novice artist Kirstin Everage

said she was asked by her friend, who is an art teacher, to attend the class and decided “it could be fun.”

“I have always drawn but I did not think I could do water coloring but I learned I could, although it is very difficult,” Everage said.

She also learned art is not perfect, a lesson Farrell preached throughout the two-day class. Her lesson to students is there are no mistakes in art but only “happy accidents.”

“From the happy accidents, quite often, something wonderful will come out of it,” she said. “Turn (the art) upside down and sideways and look at what you have and what you could do with it.”

Options include drawing over the artwork with ink or layering it with a new media.

Farrell, a native of San Diego who has been teaching art for 46 years, said rooted in “accidents” is the potential for the piece to become something the artist will embrace and be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

“There is such a spectrum,” said Farrell, who grew up in foster care and was encouraged to purse her passion by her “forever mom,” whom she met at the age of 11 and who bought all of Farrell’s supplies “I’ve been painting ever since,” she said.

Torres said social considerations also factored into her decision to attend the class.

“Artwork can be a very solitary thing” she said. “I just love engaging and being in that space, that vibration where other people are creating.”

Everage was encouraged with her newfound passion, saying “it is something I want to continue with.”

As for Torres, attending the class was like meeting up with an old friend.

For more information on the Livingston Parish Arts Council classes and events, visit https://www.artslivingston.org/.

Louisiana leaders against litter at the 2026 Keep America Beautiful

the Louisiana Department

of Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful;

Leaders against litter receive national awards

Community news report

Leaders against litter were recognized Feb. 26 at the Keep America Beautiful National Summit awards luncheon in New Orleans.

Winners included Lt. Gov Billy Nungesser representing the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism; Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Glenn Ledet, Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell, and Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful Director Ginger Tastet.

“Hosting the largest-ever Keep America Beautiful National Summit in New Orleans was a proud moment for Louisiana, and it was even more meaningful to see our state’s leaders recognized on the national stage,” Nungesser said. The award ceremony was attended by Nungesser, Keep America Beautiful CEO Jennifer Lawson, and Greatest American Cleanup Cochair Lucinda Robb, whose grandmother, Lady Bird Johnson, continues to inspire the organization’s mission and work.

Award winners from Louisiana included: Innovation Award, Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful Ginger Tastet, director of Keep Tangipahoa

Beautiful, received the Innovation Award for her community affiliate’s work in youth education.

In collaboration with Tangipahoa Parish Government, Tastet visits local public and private schools four days a week, engaging approximately 600 students annually in litter education, utilizing Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s Rocksey’s Toolbox curriculum. Tastet’s lessons incorporate litter mapping, poster contests, hands-on activities, and field trips to the local landfill. To date, Tastet has reached over 5,600 students with litter education.

“Ginger Tastet has been the heart of the program, building relationships with schools, personally delivering the lessons, and inspiring students and adults to care for the environment,” said Cabell Mouton, KLB Community Engagement and Affiliate Services director. “Her passion, persistence, and leadership have been key to the program’s success and continued growth across the parish.”

State Agency Partnership Award, Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Nungesser received the State Agency Partnership Award on behalf of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. The group’s

values, prioritizes and understands that a clean and beautiful state is good for tourism, our economy, and the health and safety of its residents and visitors.Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

Secretary Glenn Ledet Jr., received the State Agency Partnership Award on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

DOTD works to keep the state clean and beautiful through public-private partnership programs, waste tire removal and litter-only contracts. In fiscal year 2024-25, DOTD removed 4,800 dump truck loads of litter from roadways.

Sue Smith Professional Leadership Award

Susan Russell, Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful Russell first joined the Keep America Beautiful Affiliate network as the Director of Keep Mandeville Beautiful, where she served her local community for eight years In 2014, she became state executive director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful.

SLU student juried art exhibition open

Community news report

The Southeastern Louisiana University Contemporary Art Gallery’s 2026 Juried Student Exhibition runs through April 17. Featuring artwork from Southeastern students, the exhibition is juried by graphic designer and New Orleans artist Kay Curley and Curator of the Arts of the Americas at the New Orleans Museum of Art Orlando Hernández Ying. Gallery Director Cristina Molina said Southeastern Contemporary Art Gallery invites two jurors to campus every year from the artistic community in order to select from a pool of submissions that reflect exemplary artwork made by Southeastern students. This year Curley and Ying selected a variety of art-

works ranging from area concentrations, such as ceramics, drawing, graphic design, new media and animation, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

“The Contemporary Art Gallery is dedicated to providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their works and in keeping with our mission,” Molina said. “This exhibi-

tion provides an excellent opportunity for students to exhibit their artworks in a professional setting and have their artwork reviewed by two arts professionals.” Curley develops visual identities, digital landscapes, print design and motion graphics for creative brands, D2C companies, cultural institutions, and collaborators across

There is never a bad time to stop by Walker High and catch a softball game, although this season has been a particularly good one to do so. With about two weeks left in the regular season, Walker has been the toprated team in the Division I power rankings for much of the way And then there is District 5-5A, the league that Walker competes in. Last week, the district had four of its seven teams ranked in the top 10, a feat that is no anomaly this late in the season. So, Thursday, when Walker hosted No. 2 St. Amant, a program that has won nine state titles, it was one of those particularly good occasions.

The two teams delivered a contest worthy of their lofty rankings. There were momentum swings, drama and, of course, clutch performances. One of the most important performances was a bounce-back of sorts by Wildcats pitcher Alexis Pitre, whose evening began on a sour note. More on Pitre in a minute. St. Amant put three runners on base to start the game and chase Pitre from the mound. All three would score, and the Gators added three more runs in the top of the second to take a 6-1 lead before Walker finally settled down.

The Wildcats chipped away, and Oaklee Bailey’s two-run homer helped them pull to within 8-7 in the bottom of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth, Pitre moved back to the mound, and, this time, she found the groove she was looking for She allowed only one base runner in the fifth and sixth innings combined, and set the stage for Walker’s bats to rally in its half of the sixth. Bailey led off the at-bat with a game-tying home run to right-center Wildcats right fielder Mckenna Thibodeaux eventually came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, and was plunked on her batting helmet to force in the go-ahead run. All that was left to preserve a 9-8 win was for Pitre to throw another scoreless inning, but it wasn’t easy An infield single and a ground-rule double left St. Amant with runners at second and third with one out, but Pitre stayed focused. After an infield pop up, Pitre got a strike out to end the highly competitive game. In the end, a game that looked like it might get out of hand in the early innings delivered a nail-biting finish.

It was Walker’s second one-run win over St. Amant this season, but with the playoffs coming up, the two teams could be destined to play for a third time. Like last week’s meeting, it would be a must-see softball game between two of the state’s best teams.

Email Charles Salzer at livingston@theadvocate. com.

through April 17

many sectors. Her client list includes Meta AI, NIKE, Sephora, and the Color Factory Museum, to name a few Prior to his position at NOMA, Ying worked for the Hispanic Society Museum and Library in New York, where he was a curatorial associate, National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow and Rockefeller Curatorial Fellow and curatorial intern. The gallery is located in East Strawberry Stadium on campus at 411 Ned McGehee Drive. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, contact Molina cristina. molina@southeastern.edu. To keep up with gallery events, visit southeastern. edu/slucontemporary