The St. Tammany Farmer 05-06-2026

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Parish looks at vote on new sales tax

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

St Tammany Parish voters will likely be asked to approve a sales tax this fall to pay for big parts of the criminal justice system

The Parish Council voted unanimously on April 30 to move forward with a plan to ask voters across the parish to approve a .3% sales tax that officials say would fill a looming $22 million gap in the

parish’s general fund.

The sales tax plan was selected over two other options discussed at the meeting: a property tax and a new franchise fee — which the parish can charge to private utilities like Cleco for its use of public streets, sidewalks, alleys. The decision to move forward with a sales tax came after three hours of presentations, remarks by council members and law enforcement officials, and comments

School Board’s Harrell apologizes for cursing over union contract vote

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

St. Tammany Parish School Board member

Brandon Harrell apologized on April 28 for a “hot mic” moment when he used an expletive last month following a vote over a union contract. Harrell, who represents District 5 covering Abita Springs and nearby areas, said the language he used in response to the contract extension was inappropriate and that he took responsibility for his words, which he said weren’t directed at school employees.

“I should not have allowed my emotions to get the best of me and make the comment that I made,” Harrell said The apology came as school board members were poised to vote on whether to formally admonish him for his comments But following the apology, School Board President Amanda R Martin decided against bringing the question to a vote during the special meeting on April 28 in Covington.

During the April 16 school board meeting, the school board had been considering whether to approve a one-year extension of a labor union agreement with the St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees. School Superintendent Frank Jabbia and Brant Osborn, the head of the federation, told the board that although some of the details of the contract were still being worked out, the board needed to approve the one-year extension to keep the contract from expiring altogether Harrell argued the one-year extension should have been brought to the board’s attention earlier He ultimately joined the rest of the school board to unanimously approve the extension, but after the crowd erupted in applause, Harrell could be heard saying go f- — yourselves,” according to a recording of the incident obtained by the Times-Picayune Martin said that had she known Harrell was going to apologize, the April 28 special meeting wouldn’t have been necessary. Still, she encouraged members of the public to share their thoughts about Harrell’s comments. More than a dozen people spoke, including teachers and union representatives, with many saying Harrell’s language was disrespectful.

from residents.

The council vote isn’t final and only indicated a preference to continue reviewing the sales tax plan ahead of voting for a ballot measure that would be needed to enact it. If the council wants to put the tax on the November ballot, it will need to vote to do so by June, according to council administrator Mary Burckell. Many details about the tax have yet to be worked out, including

whether the funds it generates, expected to be roughly $22 million, would be dedicated specifically to criminal justice or would go to the parish’s general fund, which can be used for anything. Council member Joe Impastato, who introduced the motion to move forward with the sales tax, said it must “include an offset that would be tax-neutral or better” from other taxing bodies in the parish. As an example of reductions they’ve secured, officials have pointed to Mosquito Abatement

District’s plan to ask voters to approve a 2.95-mil tax in June, which they say is $4 million less than the 4.2-mills voters approved in 2016, though the district has collected less than that recently:

AIR

local rec district

Johnson says goal includes multi-use site

BY DARREN COOPER Contributing writer

Seeking to possibly build a senior center and multipurpose events center, Covington Mayor Mark Johnson is leading a group of residents interested in resurrecting, and financing, St. Tammany Parish Recreation District No. 10.

Though Covington has a traditional municipal recreation department that largely oversees youth sports and recreation activities in the city, a recreation district creates a distinct tax base with funds allocated for maintaining and operating parks, playgrounds and community centers.

It also reaches beyond a municipality’s borders. As it is drawn currently, Parish Recreation District 10 includes the city of Covington but also incorporates areas around state highways 1078, 437, 1081, 21 and 36.

Johnson

The idea is to consolidate a tax base, one that would provide services and facilities to people who live in much broader area of the parish.

“The first step is reconstituting the (recreation district) board and then the board will be tasked with what we are trying to accomplish,” Johnson said. “Once you have done that and gone through the site-selection process then you ask the city to draw up plans for the concept to find out the cost. Then you go to the assessor and divide that between the millage of Recreation District 10 to come up with a price tag.”

When asked what that final price tag would be, Johnson said it’s too early to tell.

“I don’t want to start meeting with people and throw out a number,” Johnson said. “As a builder I know it’s always better to come back with numbers after you’ve done the research.”

Various communities on the northshore have different concepts for funding parks and recreational activities. Covington and Slidell are the only two cities in the parish without active recreational districts.

“I always say that Covington has the best recreation department on the west side of the parish,” Johnson

Continued from page 1A

taxes per capita than fire departments in economically comparable parishes

Revenue issues

The District Attorney’s

Office, courthouse and jail all rely on the parish’s $16 million general fund because voters have rejected attempts to pass taxes for those agencies numerous times in the last 10 years. But officials argue that the parish’s general fund does not have enough recurring revenue to cover the budget requests of the agencies, and the one-time funds the parish has been using to make up for the funding gap have dried up.

As a result, the jail, courthouse and district attorney

COVINGTON

Continued from page 1A

said. “(That’s because) we have the only recreation department on this side of the parish. Our district has been served so well by the city of Covington, it made it hard for the city to vote on the tax.”

Johnson said one of his campaign promises, after better water drainage and traffic flow, was to improve the quality of life of Covington residents. He points to Pelican Park in the Mandeville area and Magnolia Park in the Folsom area as examples where a recreation district – and corresponding taxes — have boosted opportunities for people living in those municipalities and nearby unincorporated areas.

“From my perspective, I was a coach when Coquille Park passed (and was built) and I have coached in all these other places,” Johnson said. “I am a firm believer that the better activities you have available for your community, the better quality of life.”

Coquille Parks and Recreation is another instance of when a local municipality

HARRELL

Continued from page 1A

Stephanie Underwood, a leader in the teacher’s union, argued that school employees who lose their cool, as Harrell did, rarely enjoy similar leniency.

“Our employees are held accountable every day It’s time that y’all are, too,” she said.

Michelle Hirstius, who represents District 12 in Slidell, asked to bring the

faced 30% cuts in funding from the parish in 2026 compared to 2025 and fear that without more revenue, they will experience nearly 60% cuts in 2027 compared to 2025.

and people who live in the area outside the town decide to self-tax. Coquille is the hub of St Tammany Parish Recreation District No. 14 which serves the southwest portion of the parish. The park is located in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, between Madisonville and Covington Johnson said youth sports in Covington have relied on area schools for facilities, in large part. Over time, those facilities become crowded, however, and scheduling becomes difficult.

St. Tammany Parish voters have not been very interested in adding or increasing any new taxes lately and the concept of bringing back the recreational district for Covington has failed before.

“In my estimation, we need a facility for our seniors and a place where we can have large community events — there’s no real place for our gospel choirs to perform or our community band and we can use that space for youth volleyball and basketball,” Johnson said Johnson feels he’s properly equipped to see the recreation district come to fruition, quipping that not only is he a long-time youth sports coach and builder, but he’s “also a senior citizen.”

censure to a vote at the April 28 meeting, but the motion failed, with five members

District Attorney Collin

Sims and Chief Judge Alan Zaunbrecher said last week that layoffs are possible if the cuts occur The money for the courthouse pays for court reporters, staff attorneys and other staff.

“In five months, if nothing changes, I’m going to start terminating people,” Sims said at a meeting about the tax plan at the council chambers earlier in the afternoon on April 30.

Sims’ office could see some additional revenue from the state, depending on the outcome of a bill brought this legislative session by state Rep. Peter Egan, R-Covington, though it is not expected to be enough to make up for the 60% cuts.

Zaunbrecher said that specialty courts, such as drug courts and veterans courts, would likely be

He said Covington facilities and neighboring have, but said reation District “fill in the blanks.”

“We don’t a new Pelican quille,” he said. ready) have things in place.”

Covington operates acre recreation Ronald Reagan (U.S. 190) th baseball fields tice football/soccer Johnson has previously those facilities hub of a future District 10, bu city won’t just any of its assets. There is no public timeframe nize a district rectors, though began again when Parish Counci Martha Cazaubon the idea, in detail, ington City Counc Public meeting uled last month feedback rega area residents effort and also kind of services ties they’d most the recreation Andrew Canulette uted to this report.

voting yes, sev and two members ing.

threatened by the cuts, as would civil jury trials. The priority, he said, would have to be criminal jury trials.

tax

Sales

Though three options were presented at the April 30 meeting, St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper and others focused on the sales tax as the only option that would be able to fully fund the looming gap.

Ricardo H. Callender, a director at PFM Financial Advisories, a consultant hired by the parish to study the options, said the average household monthly cost for the sales tax would be $6.75, versus $10.08 for

franchise fee and $12.25 for property tax.

St. Tammany Parish currently has an average sales tax of 9.68%, Callender said.

Challenges

Some residents who attended the meeting were skeptical that voters would pass a tax to fund the criminal justice system.

Eileen deHaro, president of the League of Women Voters St. Tammany, said she thinks people are fed up with paying too much in taxes and said she thought the sales tax would especially affect lower-income people, who tend to spend a larger share of their in-

come on basic necessities.

“I understand the need,” she said, “but I’m thinking about the people who can barely afford food.”

Others suggested the DA’s office budget should be subject to greater scrutiny or that the parish should consider allowing further budget reductions for the agencies.

Sims said his budget is annually reviewed by a certified auditor approved by the state legislative auditor’s office. In past years, his office has been audited by the accountant Robert A. Neilson, audits show Sims said his current auditor is Becky Hammond of Carr, Riggs & Ingram.

Mandeville Mustangs volleyball faces crossroads

BY DARREN COOPER

Contributing writer

The popular Mandeville Mustangs volleyball program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is at a crossroads.

Due to multiple factors, including changes to the Special Olympics slate, the organization, which started with five players and has grown to more than 70 from all over the northshore, have put the volleyballs in storage.

“The ideal situation would be a local organization in maybe St. Tammany Parish or New Orleans, picking us up, and they sponsor us under their own nonprofit, and whatever we do would we would donate to them,” said Shawn Ledig, the founder and coach of the Mustangs.

“That way we could facilitate costs for our jerseys and gym time.”

Buoyed by support from area high school volleyball teams and coaches, the Mustangs fielded multiple teams of different ages and different skill levels and had success in the Louisiana Special Olympics. The program was

Visit The Northshore supporting colleague in treatment

BY KADEE KRIEGER

Contributing writer

Visit The Northshore President and CEO Donna O’Daniels along with other organization staff members are rallying around a colleague with moral support and prayers as she completes treatment and recovery from leukemia.

Leader

Tanya Leader, Visit The Northshore’s vice president of sales and services, began treatment April 15. Sheandherhusband,Jason, announced her diagnosis earlier this month on social media platforms, where they asked for prayers and thanked the community for their support. He also asked that his wife be added “to your daily prayers or send positive energy and good vibes into the universe to cheer her on” during the battle.

“The more people who can lift her up in prayer and support during what is going to be a difficult time, the better,” O’Daniels said. “She has always been a beacon of positivity and a rock for our team. We are operating under the most optimistic scenario that she will be back, and we appreciate any and all prayers and know that she does, too.” O’Daniels said the Visit The Northshore team will absorb Leader’s duties while she undergoes treatment.

Several members of Visit the Northshore responded to Jason Leader’s call via Facebook for the community to add Tanya “to your daily prayers or send positive energy and good vibes into the universe to cheer her on during this battle.”

Chief Marketing Officer Katie Guasco and multimedia content manager Roberta Carrow Jackson each echoed O’Daniels’ vow to support Tanya daily

“Tanya’s a fighter and so are you, and that makes a big difference,” Carrow Jackson told Jason Leader Leader is well known and respected among the regional tourism community, and the news of her diagnosis drew immediate reactions from organizations across the industry

The Midsouth Women in Tourism, where she is immediate past president, posted on Facebook their pledge of support.

Leader has been a part of the tourism organization for 26 years, starting as visitor services manager before leading the sales and services team.

recently honored with an official proclamation from St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper and medals were given to the coaches.

The Special Olympics tweaked its sports offerings for 2026, removing volleyball from its listings, giving the Mustangs a lack of a competition to prepare for The group has met occasionally for practice, but it’s no longer consistent

Ledig believes the best option is to become a private nonprofit to give the group freedom. He’s toyed with the idea of creating one himself for the Mustangs, but doesn’t feel he has enough time to do so. Nonprofits need a board with regular administrators.

Ledig isn’t against that type of organization, but the ethos of the Mustangs was always so much simpler The invitation was open to anyone with different abilities to come and play Even if you’ve never hit a volleyball in your life, come and play

“Our ultimate goal is to have a place where our athletes, all athletes, feel welcome to come and participate in learning whatever

PROVIDED

sport we are teaching at the moment,” said Mustangs coach Melissa O’Mally

“Allowing them to feel accepted. The greatest thing as a coach is seeing not the athlete who already excels at the sport, but it’s the one

who has never played and has learned a skill.” In addition to the success the Mustangs had on the court, the bigger accomplishment was the relationships formed between the players. Some of them have

limited social interactions and the Mustangs provided an outlet to connect with their peers. There were preliminary conversations with Miracle League about picking up the Mustangs, a group of Baton

Rouge, and Ledig said he’s had talks with an organization in New Jersey, Heavenly Outdoors Adventures, that does similar type of activities exposing special adults to the outdoors. Ledig also said there have been discussions about volleyball returning to the Special Olympics in 2027. “This group means so much to me, I know it sounds like hyperbole, but to me it’s the whole thing about what God has ordained, let no man put asunder,” Ledig said “I don’t want to let this go, ever This is a calling for me. I still get calls from people; they say my daughter has autism or my son has Downs and I say ‘bring them.’ We want to pack that gym.” “It can be simply just being able to put their hands together to hit the ball. To me that is the greatest achievement as a coach,” said O’Mally “Seeing an athlete who has never socialized with anyone, one who has basically be a hermit most of their life actually make a friend and look forward to coming to a practice. That is what the Mustangs have done for so many athletes.”

Fifth public art mural will be painted in Madisonville

BY KADEE KRIEGER Contributing writer

Madisonville artist Sarah Duncan-Jenkins plans to incorporate live oaks, purple irises and the town’s iconic lighthouse into the fifth mural — this one in her community as part of Visit the Northshore’s series highlighting towns across St. Tammany

“I’m so excited, it’s a huge honor,” said Duncan-Jenkins, who said she will weave “hidden gems” into the mural she creates. “There might be the words, ‘I love Madisonville’ hidden in an iris, or something else unique to find,” she said.

Duncan-Jenkins’ mural is the final installment in a project that Visit The Northshore created in partnership with officials in Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Abita Springs and Madisonville. The idea is to promote the region, enhance the visitor experience and celebrate local artists, Katie Guasco, chief marketing officer for Visit the Northshore, said.

“We want each mural to celebrate the personality and character of each town on whatever wall or site they choose, so that the images inspire everyone to fall in love what that place,” Guasco said “Each one brings our community’s story to life in a new way We’re proud to keep investing in public art that celebrates the northshore, with more to come.”

Each artist includes in the mural design a QR code linking to Visit The Northshore’s website.

Duncan-Jenkins said the Town of Madisonville is still working on finalizing the mural’s location. “As soon as they have the spot, I’m ready to go,” she said.

The Oxford, Miss., native has lived in Madisonville for 10 years but moved to Louisiana in 2011 with her husband, Joshua Duncan, who is from Slidell. They are both both full-time artists and operate

the Duncan Jenkins Gallery/ Studio producing fine art, paintings and ceramics. They create art both independently and as collaborators.

Duncan-Jenkins said she uses the Louisiana landscape as the focus of most of her work, which features swamp and water landscapes. She also travels to other areas on the water’s edge all along the Gulf Coast and occasionally to inland areas for mountain and desert landscapes.

“But the water is a huge influence for me, and most of my work centers on Madisonville,” she said.

Along with the progress on the Madisonville Mural, Guasco said the Marketing Team at Visit the Northshore promoted the arrival of the Seward Johnson statues in partnership with the Covington Public Art Fund and partnered with the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany for their new exhibit “Get Local.” In addition, she congratulated Communications Manager Nicole Davis on being selected as a 2026 eTourism Summit Emerging Tourism Star. As part of that, Davis attended the eTourism Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, in April to get her award and participate in discussions with other winners in the tourism industry

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Article7,Section 23(C)ofthe Louisiana Constitution andLaR.S. 47:1705(B) that apublichearing ofthe Assessment District in St Tammany Parish will be held at its regularmeeting placeinRoom 1110ofthe St.Tammany Parish JusticeCenter, locatedat701 N. ColumbiaStreet, Covington, LA on Thursday, June 18th,2026at11:00 a.m.toconsiderlevying additional orincreased millagerates without further voterapprovaloradopting the adjusted millagerates after reassessment androlling forwardto rates nottoexceedthe prioryear’s maximum.The estimatedamountof tax revenuestobecollected in the nextyearfromthe increased millage is $7,879,420.37, andthe amountof increaseintaxes attributable to the millage increase is $1,551,110.28.

embraces public art and is a regular and welcome sight around Madisonville schools, where she paints encouraging murals and inviting figures, often creating educational tools on walls and windows in bright colors.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Susan Trombatore and other warriors walk with NAMI on May 6

BY DARREN COOPER

Contributing writer

Susan Trombatore takes great pride in being a Sole Survivor and a Soul Survivor

Those are the interchangeable names for Trombatore’s NAMI Walk team that will participate in the NAMI Southeast Louisiana walk to raise awareness and funds for mental illness services May 16 at the Safe Haven Campus in Mandeville.

Trombatore has experienced the devastating lows of depression and despair in her life, but she found a guiding light when she started working at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, first as a NAMI facilitator and now as a peer support specialist.

Walking is another tangible way Trombatore helps those fighting the same struggles that she fought — and something that she still does.

“Being a peer support specialist and helping others with their mental health conditions gives purpose to my own past struggles,” Trombatore said “It made me see why I went through what I did, and it makes me a more compassionate, loving person. I feel like I receive more than I give. I know that’s a cliché, but I mean it.”

Trombatore grew up in the small town of Saucier, Mis-

sissippi, and had her first struggles with depression as a teenager “I would cry myself to sleep, but I didn’t know what was wrong,” she said.

Unfortunately, that first mental illness episode repeated itself. Trombatore was hospitalized — at one point doctors wanted to institutionalize her but she

kept fighting back.

“We have come a long way since the ‘80s — not even having a word for depression back then,” she said. “But we still have a long way to go. There are still people embarrassed to go to a psychiatrist. I used to be one of those people, now I don’t care who knows. If somebody holds that against me, then I really don’t want them in my life.”

Trombatore kept looking for steadier ground. An early marriage produced a daughter, Caroline, but the marriage eventually failed. She worked as a speech therapist and then went back to college to get her degree working with children with disabilities. But nothing seemed to fit, and the pressures and demands of life became too much.

“It all fell apart in 2011,” Trombatore said.

She was hospitalized again, lost her home and her car, and her relationship with Caroline became strained.

Slowly, things started to come back together She met her current husband, Kirk, on an internet dating site and cautiously moved to Mandeville with him in 2014.

She had done some work at the NAMI chapter in Mississippi, but it wasn’t as organized as the one in southeast Louisiana, she said. Still,

NAMI WALK NORTHSHORE

WHAT: A 5K walk raising awareness and money for NAMI on the northshore.

WHEN: May 16

WHAT TIME: 8:30 a.m.-noon; registration 8 a.m.; warm up, 8:30 a.m.; opening ceremony

8:45 a.m.

WHERE: Safe Haven Campus, 23577 Martin Way, Mandeville

MORE: www.namiwalks.org/ selanorthshore

when she got to Mandeville, she started attending NAMI support groups, then became a connection facilitator

“As soon as I did this, my self-esteem and confidence returned,” Trombatore said.

In March of 2015, she went to peer support specialist training and became a fulltime NAMI employee in 2017.

Trombatore is a captain of the Soul Survivors team that includes other peer support specialists, their families and friends. Caroline, who lives in Covington and works at Caravelle Care as a social worker, walks when she can. And Trombatore is delighted to have rebuilt a better relationship with her daughter Life is busy She and Kirk

have a blended family with four kids, five grandkids and another one due in June.

“I feel great. I feel blessed,” Trombatore said. “I know I have bipolar disorder and general anxiety, and I have to monitor my sleep and my medication, and I have to be aware of my mood changes, but my life is full now I am working with people at NAMI and helping them on their road to recovery, however they want that to look like.”

Trombatore is always looking for ways to heal and grow She helps out with the NAMI Angels project for people hospitalized during the holidays; she volunteers at her church, Mary, Queen of Peace in Mandeville; and wants to get a degree in Christian counseling.

“I would remind everyone, whether they are a family member or a friend, there is always hope, no matter how ill somebody is or how addicted they are, miracles happen every day,” she said.

“One in five people struggle with mental health issues, we all know somebody, or we are somebody,” Trombatore said. “People who come to the walk get to be part of a big party. You don’t have to raise money to be part of the movement and help get rid of the stigma and bias.”

A park relocation adjacent to SMH draws neighborhood concerns

BY JIM DERRY Contributing writer

The Slidell City Council has temporarily postponed a decision on whether to relocate a park next to Slidell Memorial Hospital, a move in location that could help pave the way for the hospital to build a parking lot where the park is now located. The unanimous vote to delay came during the council’s April 28 meeting, a session attended by dozens of the hospital’s residential neighbors who showed up to voice concerns and complaints about replacing the park with a parking lot.

The relocation will be reconsidered by the council on June 9. Residents who spoke dur-

ing the recent council meeting said the issue is not so much about moving the fitness park a couple of blocks east of its present location, just off 11th Street and Florida Avenue, to Broadmoor Street. Rather they said the issue is developing a parking lot in its place. “I don’t feel as if anyone is representing us,” said local resident Greta Abadie. “ If (the hospital) wants another parking lot, then let them do it around the area they cleared on 11th Street and build it up three stories. It won’t be in anyone’s backyard, and we won’t have to hear the honking and have the lights at 10 or 11 o’clock at night.”

The hospital’s chief operating officer, Jason Wilson,

told the council and the residents that SMH had grown immensely over the past three or four years and that “parking is paramount.” He also said building garages were unfavorable and promised that they will continue being “good stewards and good neighbors.”

That wasn’t good enough for those in attendance, some of whom said they were never notified by either Slidell Memorial or the Slidell City Council of potential plans for a parking lot.

As a result, council member Megan Haggerty, who represents the people living around SMH, proposed postponing the vote to June 9.

“I do support the move but moving forward, I would like to postpone and set up a

FROM THE FILES OF THE FARMER

25 years ago

Covington will soon be advertising for bids on two pedestrian paths, including paving and striping for the Tammany Trace throughout the city. The city will pave and stripe the trace from the Bogue Falaya bridge to a point near the old depot building at Theard and New Hampshire streets. The other project calls for a sidewalk along Columbia Street from Tyler Street to the new post office building. Adrienne Stroble, director of administration, said the trace project is expected to cost the city about $55,000 with $20,000 coming from a Rural Development grant from the Governor’s office.

50 years ago

The cancellation of theAbita SpringsTourist Park bulkhead project has shocked town officials there.

It was thought that the Resource Conservation and Development agency project was moving smoothly ahead when the town learned that an official in Alexandria had vetoed the project. Hopefully, the project would have restored a collapsed bulkhead fending off the Abita River Now, without a new bulkhead, the river is trying to force itself straight across the park, endangering the historic two-story pavilion.

That 100-year-old structure was recently put on the National Registrar of Historic Sites.

The project would have cost $32,000 for the installation of new creosote posts, but the state agency felt that sheet piling would be sturdier and suggested the two try that. Mayor Ed Peters said it was almost out of the question, since sheet piling would cost around $100,000.

The town may follow through on its other alternative, that of going to the state department of public works again to get help with the problem.

75 years ago

Work has started on the $150,000 science and physical culture building at St. Joseph’s Abbey at St. Benedict, it was announced this week It is hoped that the structure will be completed in time to open in September This is a new addition on the seminary grounds, and will embody two basketball courts, two recreational halls, one physics and chemistry laboratory, journalism room and two utility rooms. Architects for the building is a New Or-

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

Early morning runners jog over the Bogue Falaya River on the Tammany Trace in Covington.

leans firm, Wogan & Bernard, while the contractor is Cuchiara Bros., of Hammond. Also being erected on the grounds is a small store building by the student body itself. Other improvements by the seminary include the doubling in size of the studio by Rev Gregory de Wit, celebrated artist This phase of the program is in preparation for the work necessary to decorate the Abbey it was announced. Arriving to assist Father Gregory in this work is Artist Pinz, of Switzerland, who has studied at the leading art schools of Europe.

100 years ago

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125 years ago

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town hall to give everyone a chance to speak,” Haggerty said.

Fo rm er City Council member Buddy Lloyd took the podium to say that he was part of the original legislation creating the park. He said when legislation was created in 2010 and passed in January 2011, it created in an area that was designated for parks and recreation, and if the hospital wants to put a parking lot there now, Lloyd said the property will have to be rezoned.

“This property presents a buffer” between SMH and residents that live in the

area, Lloyd said. “Standalone parking lots and structures are not allowed The city has been accommodating to the hospital. They need the space, and I get that. But we need particulars on how our neighborhood is going to continue to be protected from the encroachment of the hospital.”

In other business, the council also delayed talks on the upcoming 2026-27 budget until the May 26 meeting.

Councilman Trey Brownfield said that waiting a month to discuss the budget, which would have to be approved before the new fiscal year begins on July 1, will give constituents “an opportunity to go through it all. We are doing our due diligence.”

Slidell mayor Randy Fandal expects everything to go smoothly and said that waiting to discuss the potential $63.5 million budget — his first as mayor — is a good thing.

“I have participated the last 10 years in the budget process (as police chief),” Fandal said. “This one has gone pretty smooth to date. What they have done tonight is pretty standard, and I have seen it done that way every year since I have been here.

“I am looking forward to the process, getting it done and across the finish line.”

Monique Basse blooms in Folsom where she was planted

BY JESSICA SAGGIO

Contributing writer

Monique Basse really loves her Folsom.

It’s where she grew up. It’s where she went to school. It’s where she lives on her family’s generational land. And now, it’s where she serves her community planning events such as the upcoming Folsom Scenic Rivers Art Festival.

“Folsom is not a town; it’s a village, and it’s super small, and I love it,” Basse said. “Everybody knows everybody, and some people say that’s a bad thing, but I think it’s a good thing.”

Basse is the events coordinator for the Giddyup Folsom business district and Far Horizons Art Gallery, and being able to give back to the community that raised her is something special, she said. From overseeing the local farmer’s market, to juggling all the details of nearly every event in the district, she is the dedicated face behind the scenes helping Folsom grow with grace, as she sees her hometown over the years.

Lately, she’s been hard at work fine tuning details of this year’s sixth annual Scenic Rivers Art Festival.

From arranging logistics for artist submissions and selections, to booking vendors, lining up food trucks and taking on the workload of marketing the event, Basse has her hand in just about every component of the event. The free festival, an event that welcomes children and friendly dogs, will take place May 9 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Giddyup Folsom “grounds” on La. 25

It will feature a curated art show of local pieces around the theme of Louisiana’s scenic rivers. This

is a volunteer and a planning guru who helps execute special events and community causes in the village.

The St. Tammany Parish social calendar is filled with important events throughout the year. We’ve asked organizers to help us highlight people who work behind the scenes to quietly make our most beloved events successful. Andrew Canulette, editor, St. Tammany Farmer FROM SHADOWS

year will also include art that highlights rivers from across the country in honor of the United States’ 250th birthday Basse said between 45 and 50 local submissions will be on display In addition to art, there will also be live music, food trucks and adult beverages.

For Basse, events like this are part of what make the St. Tammany village so special. Not only will it feature the art of locals, but it will be a gathering place to bump into neighbors, catch up with old friends and enjoy the simplicity of smalltown living. It’s really all about connections.

“This event is one of my favorites just because of getting to see all the local artists. I did not realize the northshore had such a broad culture of art,” said Basse, noting that her involvement with Far Hori-

FOLSOM SCENIC RIVERS ART FESTIVAL

WHAT: Art festival featuring a curated selection of local artists, all creating art to the theme of scenic rivers.

WHAT ELSE: Festival will also feature live music, food trucks and adult beverages. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs for the live musical performances.

WHEN: May 9, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.

WHERE: Far Horizons Art Gallery & Giddyup Folsom grounds, 82286 La. 25, Folsom HOW MUCH: Free admission

zons has really opened her eyes to the art scene. “Seeing the different medium, the ways people incorporate their story and how they feel in their art, it’s amazing.”

However, the art festival is only one thing Basse has imprinted. She’s also the behind-the-scenes marketing guru promoting various Giddyup efforts, creating graphics, organizing logistics and working closely with its co-founders, the father-daughter duo of Frank and Ashley Richerand.

Ashey Richarand said they are excited to have Basse’s help because she is a great events manager and so deeply rooted in the community

“We feel like we picked the person-person,” she said.

Outside of event planning, Basse is a dancer and coach for the Louisiana Ladies Dance Team and loves working on her 2011 Dodge Charger It even has its own Instagram, she said. Otherwise, you’ll find the selfproclaimed “daddy’s girl” working on cars with her father, enjoying a busy life alongside her husband and sharing memories with her extended family — many of whom live within walking distance.

That’s just the way it is in a village like Folsom.

Old Mandeville tour ready for Mother’s Day

BY DARREN COOPER Contributing writer

The raised blue house at 212 Lafitte St. in Mandeville has never looked better

Formerly a bed and breakfast called Pollyanna — and site of what is believed to be the oldest surviving well in Mandeville — it is one of the featured homes on the annual Old Mandeville Historic Association’s Mother’s Day Home Tour on May 10.

This year’s “Timeless and Today” tour runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and comes complete with local artists displaying and selling original artwork, prints and pottery on the front porch of each featured home.

The house on Lafitte Street has undergone a dramatic restoration. It has been raised several feet; 500 square feet of living space has been added to the back of the house; and the signature bright blue paint job has freshened.

Current owner Doug Cresap hopes to put the home on the market when renovations are done.

Research on the house shows that the original structure dates back to the 1800s and included an owner who wrote a letter to John Slidell asking for a French passport looking to get out of town before the Civil War.

Cresap said that during the renovation process, they found multiple artifacts, including old glass bottles, a pewter dish, layers of antique wallpaper and paint, and even an unused ticket to the Slidell Tiger Drive-In movie theatre.

“The ticket wasn’t even torn,” said Cresap “It was just sitting there.”

The Victorian-style home, currently with five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, was ahead of its time with air flow along a center hall.

Among the upgrades were restoration of the center hall to its original size; keeping original wainscoting; and repurposing the outdoor stairs for interior use. A skylight

PROVIDED IMAGE

The raised blue house at 212 Lafitte St. in Mandeville has never looked better and it is expected to be a star on the Mother’s Day Home Tour sponsored by the Old Mandeville Historic Association. Final renovations should be complete in time for the traditional walking tour

was also added to provide natural light.

“We want to leave it the same blue color,” Cresap said. “We don’t want to mess with that. We have tried to keep a lot of the historic nature to it and modernized it.”

Discovering the well was a delight.

“The well was like a treasure,” said Covington resident Patrick Anderson, a part of the design and development team.

“We didn’t know we had the oldest surviving well in Mandeville, and we wanted to keep it as an asset of the property and encourage any homeowners to keep it. We leveled it and plan to turn it into a fountain. We also added space downstairs adjacent to it.”

The shallow well is now dry, but with recent changes to the water table, Anderson said it’s possible that it could be restored. The finishing work continues, with cabinetry, counter tops and electrical work being completed.

“We’ve been using the date of the tour as our date to be ready,” Cresap said. “We knew the house had a lot of history, and we want to try

MOTHER’S DAY HOME TOUR

WHAT: An inside/outside tour of historic homes in Mandeville on

to capture that in making the house what it is now. I think there is a lot of value there. You can’t duplicate that just anywhere.”

City of Slidell to open Mixed Media 2026

BY SARAH G. BONNETTE Contributing writer

Mixed media artworks have a gravitational pull for nonprofit executive, fundraiser and arts advocate Nina Dunbar.

Only daughter of the late artist George Dunbar, she and her brothers grew up seeing their late father deftly experiment with “a diverse range of materials, from cloth and dental stone to manila file folders and gold leaf,” she says “His pleasure in layering and arranging different materials on canvases and sculpting forms into dynamic compositions feels like it is a part of my DNA.”

The siblings also spent their childhood going to gallery openings, visiting museums, and creating their own art alongside him in his first studio, a converted barn on the family’s property on Bayou Bonfouca.

“Talking about art was given equal time at our dinner table, along with sports, politics and hunting,” Dunbar says. “My father was a deeply visual person, and his aesthetics extended beyond the arts into his surroundings. As a land developer, he cared about the look and feel of the subdivisions and waterways he created, as well as how Slidell planted around its streetscapes.” His quest for beauty profoundly impacted her She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and art education from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, the same school her father attended. She envisioned becoming an art teacher but took an interest in art in public places, and earned a Master of Arts in arts management from the University of New Orleans. During her more than 30-year career, she has contributed to numerous public art initiatives, sat on selection panels for art projects and managed juried competitions for large-scale sculpture and design projects across the United States and internationally

She’ll bring those experiences to her role as juror for the city of Slidell’s “Mixed Media 2026,” the annual juried exhibition that seeks to highlight this distinct art form It will open May 8 in the Slidell Cultural Center’s George Dunbar Gallery Mixed media broadly describes the use of different mediums watercolors with ink, acrylic or oil paints with graphite, or even a combination of found objects — in the creation of a single piece of two- or three-dimensional artwork.

While the art form began in the 1910s with the cubist collages and constructions of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, it is now widely practiced by emerging and professional artists. “Mixed media is an exciting genre because it presents endless possibilities in combining different materials to create something new that is greater than the sum of its parts,” Dunbar says. Slidell’s Mixed Media 2026 is open to artists from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas who could submit up to three pieces each.

“It’s one of the few mixed media shows that’s still around,” said Alex Carollo, director of the City of Slidell’s Department of Cultural and Public Affairs. “We’ve had a good response not just from local artists, but from regional artists as well.

“We get traditional art We get sculptures. We get a few installations pieces, but we’re limited on what we can display We get 3D artwork that hangs. It’s definitely a unique show,” he adds. Dunbar’s jurying criteria for the show is “the same that I apply to all artwork does it depict a story that I want to return to again and again? Whether it is representational or abstract, I am looking for artwork that visually draws me in–through materials, color, texture, design, and or subject matter,” she says. “For mixed media in particular, each material or media should uniquely contribute to the visual story that is the artwork.”

Dunbar, who lives in Santa Barbara, California, will juror the displayed pieces digitally but will travel to Slidell to choose the first, second, and third place winners. They will receive a total of $600 in awards during the opening reception.

“There is always a personal aspect to experiencing art. The artworks I select for this show will be technically competent, but they won’t speak to everyone in the same the ways they speak to me. Nor should they,” she says, adding that she encourages “anyone curious about mixed media art to come see this exhibition — ideally on its opening night — so we can talk more about why I made the decisions I did, and you can tell me what you think.”

MIXED MEDIA 2026

WHAT: A mixed media juried exhibition of art presented by the City of Slidell WHEN: May 8 to June 26, with a public reception and awards presentation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on opening night WHERE: George Dunbar Gallery in the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall, 2055 Second St., Olde Towne Slidell MORE: Gallery hours are MondaysThursdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., by appointment only Same-day appointments are available by calling (985) 646-4375. FOR MORE INFO: visit www.myslidell. com or follow the city of Slidell on Facebook

PROVIDED PHOTO

“There

is always a personal aspect to experiencing art. The artworks I select for this show will be technically competent, but they won’t speak to everyone in the same the ways they speak to me. Nor should they.”

NINA DUNBAR, Mixed Media 2026 juror

Covington twins in national arts spotlight

BY JOLIE LINDLEY Contributing writer

Two Covington High School seniors showcased their performing arts talents in national spotlights recently, a feat made even more impressive by the fact they’re twins. Sisters Madison and Mallory Lott took their theatrical talents to the stage in New York and Washington, D.C., respectively, both finishing as finalists in their national competitions.

Madison Lott competed April 27 in the national finals of The English-Speaking Union’s National Shakespeare Competition at New York’s Lincoln Center, earning a spot in the final top 10 competitors. She earned her trip by winning first place in the New Orleans Branch regional contest and chose to perform a monologue from William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and also his Sonnet 115 at the national level. “I chose the Hamlet monologue from one of Hamlet’s soliloquies. I like the big idea of it; he’s finding his why and how in it. It’s the same feeling I have preparing, and I see how I can relate to something written hundreds of years ago,” she said.

She said taking on a traditionally male role allowed her to explore the character in a different way “I refuse to wear heels; I wear pants. It’s a powerful piece. I try to portray it less about the gender and more from the angle of the power the character is exhibiting in that moment.” She said she took the same approach to performing the sonnet, calling it “poetry with a character.”

Madison Lott has competed in the regional Shakespeare competition for three years but said her biggest accomplishment was making it to the national level.

She said she was most excited for the connections she would make and being in the room with her peer competitors.

While Mallory Lott was able to join her sister Madison for a day of sightseeing in New York, she was soon off to Washington for her own national competition, the Poetry Out Loud National Finals held at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium April 28 and 29. She earned her trip by winning the state competition in February Only one winner from each state advances to the national event, and Lott placed as a top-nine finalist by the end of the national competition.

Mallory Lott chose her three competition poems from a list provided by the Poetry Out Loud organization. “They chose poems

this year related to themes of the America 250 celebration,” she said. Lott chose “Tea at the Palaz of Hoon,” by Wallace Stevens; “Poetry,” by Marianne Moore; and “Suppose,” by Phoebe Cary

“My goal is to speak to the audience about something that resonates with me,” Mallory Lott said, who identifies as a primarily comedic actress in theater productions. She said people forget that poetry can be humorous.

“I picked ‘Poetry’ as one of my selections because it’s satirical and funny and snarky,” she said.

Mallory Lott said she also identifies with the themes in the poem “Suppose.” “At the end, it speaks that even if we don’t win it’s OK if we do our best,” she said.

Connecting with her audience is the most important thing to Mallory Lott when she performs poetry She said, “I’m just an English brain. I’ve always been drawn to poetry and creative writing. Having the opportunity to browse so many poems for these competitions over the years sparked it.”

Ironically, each sister had to compete against the other in their respective state and regional competitions to make it to their national events, but they claim no sibling rivalry “We’re lucky enough to have a healthy competition,” Mallory Lott said.

“She made it to state with me for Shakespeare There was some tension there, but we both won the competitions we’re most passionate about,” Madison Lott said. They will be able to continue pushing each other to succeed when they matriculate as theater majors in the fall.

Gary Mendoza, theater director at Covington High School, helped prepare the Lotts for their competitions. “Directing them and prepping them is more of a partnership than me telling them what to do Working with students who want to succeed and thrive on stage is what makes the job worth it. When two of those students are twin sisters, it makes it even more special,” he said.

The girls’ mother, Elizabeth Lott, said it’s been a thrill to see her daughters achieve national ranking in the performing arts. “They’re both passionate about musical theater, too, and their amazing director Gary pushed them to achieve in all areas. Their dad and I can’t believe these are our little girls. We’re very blessed,” she said.

Air Conditioning, Heating and Electric celebrating 50 years in

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS

ON STAGE

SIZE: “The Irish Curse,” a wicked new comedy with adult themes and blistering language — for audiences 18 years and older only — will be presented at Cutting Edge Theater for two weekends, May 8-9 & 15-16, at 767 Robert Blvd., Slidell. A revealing and hilarious portrait of how men and society define masculinity. In doing so, the play uses humor to pose the fundamental question on the minds of many men: Does size matter, or doesn’t it? Set in a church basement during a weekly support group meeting, a group of professionally successful New Yorkers gather to discuss their shared insecurities and how their perceived shortcomings have impacted their lives. When a new member joins the group and challenges their perspectives, it unmasks comical and truthful questions about identity body image, and the relationships men face every day. The all-male cast includes veteran actor Martin Booda, who has appeared in almost 150 mostly comedic roles in the last 40 years. Shows $30 and $50; tickets at cuttingedgetheater.com.

SAY AGAIN: The North Star Theatre and Moonlight Productions in Mandeville present “Pygmalion” with a Southern twist. Based on the George Bernard Shaw comedy about Henry Higgins, the phonetician who bets he can use speech lessons to transform Elizabeth Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl, into a high-society lady. May 29 at 7 p.m.; May 30 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and May 31 at 2 p.m. in the theater at 347 Girod St. Adult tickets $25; students, $20, at Northstartheatre.org.

SIMON: Playmakers Theater features Neil Simon’s “Chapter Two” evenings and afternoons through May 17. Directed by Joan Soboloff at 19106 Playmakers Road, near Covington, it’s the story of recent widower and writer George Schneider, who is encouraged by younger brother Leo to start dating again. George is even more depressed after a series of bad matches. Then Leo comes up with Jennie Malone — and the angels sing. Still, it’s a bumpy ride for these two not-soyoung lovers. Tickets from $17.59 to $28.29 by calling (985) 263-0055 or emailing tickets@ playmakersinc.com.

MUSIC LISTEN: New Orleans vocalist, songwriter and storyteller Shawan Rice will perform the next monthly “Up Close & Musical” performance May 8 in the Lobby Lounge, the intimate bohemian-styled listening room of the Harbor Center near Slidell. Rice packs a soulful voice and distinctly personal vision and style to every number. Her music weaves together traces of blues, R&B, and folk, laced with deeply autobiographical lyrics that invite audiences into her world. Show from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 100 Harbor Center Drive; doors open 6:30 p.m. Get advance tickets at eventbrite.com; $22 plus fees, plus two- and four-tops. This series features nationally touring acts performing acoustic or lightly amplified music monthly in this smoke-free, 124-seat venue.

SOUL: The Soul Revival will bring its high-energy show to the Mandeville Trailhead May 8 to close out Mandeville Live’s spring season of free Friday night concerts. This sevenpiece party band plays Motown, R&B, funk and Top 40 dance tunes. Bring a fest chair or blanket for seating. No outside food, drinks or ice chests allowed in the park; vendors on site. This 6:30-8:30 p.m. show was originally scheduled for May 1 but was moved due to weather.

BEGINNER’S BLUEGRASS: Free Slow Jam on May 11 (every second Monday) from 3-5 p.m. at the Pavilion in Abita Springs at 22049 Main St. Please bring a chair for yourself. This free session welcomes musicians new to jamming and playing with others, as well as those who want to practice playing at a slower tempo. To enjoy this jam, it is helpful to know major chords, especially C, G D, A and E, on your acoustic bluegrass instruments. Get more

at the door. Advance online registration is essential at fbccov.org/adults-55 by noon on May 14.

ART

DEADLINE: The deadline for artists to apply for acceptance into the “Summer Show” in the St. Tammany Art Association’s main gallery is May 16. Selection results will be announced by June 3, and the exhibit will open July 11 with a 6 p.m.-9 p.m. reception. Online entry and payment will be accepted only through www.callforentry.org

LOVE: An exhibition by photographer Rusty Costanza, “Love in the Face of ALS: A Photographic Journey,” continues in the Miriam Barranger Gallery, in the Art House, 320 N. Columbia St., Covington, through May 27.

ATRIUM: An exhibition of work by longtime northshore artist and arts educator Gail Hood is on display in the Atrium Gallery on the Christwood residential complex campus through May 30.

HEALING: The next exhibition of St. Tammany Hospital Foundation’s Healing Arts Rotating Gallery Series will hang May 18-Aug. 17 on the first floor of the Covington hospital.

COMMUNITY GUMBO

SUPPORT: Northshore Parkinson’s Support Group will meet May 6 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 57210 Allen Road, Slidell. Dr. Brian Copeland is a neurologist and movement disorder specialist, a board certified psychiatrist and an associate professor a LSU who will lead the night’s discussion topic, “Mental Health Challenges with Parkinson’s.” He will discuss how to recognize and cope with issues such as apathy, anxiety, depression, mood changes, delusions and more. The open discussion format allows for the doctor to directly answer questions from those present. As always, the meeting is free and open to everyone living with Parkinson’s Disease, their care partners, medical professionals and anyone interested in learning more about living well with Parkinson’s Disease.

FOOD: The fifth annual Mandeville Food Truck Festival is set May 9 from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Mandeville Lions Club, 720 Lafitte St. Enjoy an expanded lineup of gourmet food trucks to help support local vendors and the Lions Club mission of serving those in need. Some 20 food vendors will be joined by several craft vendors, providing last-minute Mother’s Day shopping and bounce houses for kids while parents relax and enjoy their food in the air-conditioned Lions Hall. No admission fee.

FEDERALS: Slidell Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will meet May 8 at 1 p.m. in Aldersgate Church, 360 Robert Blvd, in the Cokesbury Building. May speaker Jessica Brewster, the St. Tammany Clerk of Court, will discuss new changes in her office and recommend protections against property fraud. The Lunch Bunch will meet and eat at KY’s Olde Towne Bicycle Shop, 2267 Carey St., at 11:15 a.m. To attend lunch, notify Lynn Brooks at (504) 4959764 or Chapter President Cindy Arsenaux at (985) 646-2296 or email carsen01@hotmail. com.

NEIGHBORS: The Hermadel/Carolyn Park/ Bayou Cache Residents’ Association plans a May 14 neighborhood meeting that features a meet and greet with candidates running for Slidell chief of police and council members at large to hear their plans and priorities if elected. Meet at the American Legion Post, 1680 St. Ann Place. Pot luck at 6 p.m.; meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Bring a dish if possible, but no alcohol. Questions? Call group President Jill Dalier at (504) 307-7715.

WIDOWS: The next general meeting of the Widows’ Social Club of Slidell is scheduled May 23 at 10 a.m. in the John Wesley Center at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 360 Robert Blvd. A speaker from the Red Cross will talk about disaster relief, free smoke alarms and administering CPR. All widows welcome. Call Cindy Alberts at (985) 707-7676 with questions.

DEW DROP JAZZ HALL SHOW

WHO: Bluesman Jerry Dugger WHEN: May 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m; doors open 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: 430 Lamarque St., Mandeville

HOW MUCH: Cost is $15/ adult (cash preferred) to enter the grounds; kids and students free. No advance tickets sold. WHAT ELSE: Beer, wine, sodas and water (cash only) at the bar Hot plate dinners of fried chicken, fried fish and all the fixins’ sold next door by members of The First Free Mission Baptist Church (cash preferred). SEATING: Inside is first come/ first served for about 100, but most people sit outside, so bring a lawn chair No smoking, ice chests, outside food/drinks or pets are allowed.

PARKING: In the lot across the street or on neighborhood streets — but don’t block driveways.

Playing with NYC blues roots and a love of New Orleans

Seasoned bluesman Jerry Dugger, a longtime member of the New York blues community now living in New Orleans, will perform May 9 on the Dew Drop Jazz Hall & Social Club stage during what is the historic Old Mandeville building’s 131st anniversary

The music of Dugger, a member of the New York Blues Hall of Fame, is rooted in the grit of living. His guitar playing speaks as distinctly as his lyrics, delivering songs that feel as honest and fully human.

Dugger says he blends slow-burn blues, driving shuffles and ballads of the human heart, drawing inspiration from classic blues storytellers while forging his own unmistakable sound.

The blues still matter, according to the musician, “Because truth, struggle and soul never go out of style.”

Born in The Bronx and raised in Harlem, Dugger grew up listening to his parents sing around the house, singing with them

in church, and listening to their collection of 78 rpm records. But during a serendipitous late night walk through Washington Square Park and an encounter with a busking Matteus Mederer, Dugger was introduced to the New York City Blues scene and the Dan Lynch Blues Bar, a small place that grew into the hub of the city’s blues scene.

Dugger’s bass baritone and musicianship have since taken him throughout America and Europe. His latest release, “Don’t Crow, Don’t Cry” on Third Street Cigar Records, is said to be recorded in the style of the great Muddy Waters record “The Blues Singer,” all in one room with one vocal mic, acoustic guitars, bass drums and keyboard. The album is said to be a letter of love for his good friend and band mate “Homeboy Steve Antonakos” — lost at the start of the COVID pandemic — and also highlights the songwriting of long time friends and band mates Joe Flood and Neil Thomas. Dugger will perform at the Dew Drop from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

TITAN TOUGH

PHOTO BY MATT DOBBINS

Hannan pushes Vandebilt during 2-0 state championship defeat

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

SULPHUR Hannan fought until its final atbat, but in the end, Vandebilt senior pitcher Lauren Baudoin was just too much to overcome.

Trailing by two runs in the seventh, the third-seeded Hawks loaded the bases, but Baudoin recorded her fourth strikeout to end the game and hand the Terriers their thirdstraight state title with a 2-0 victory in the Division II select championship game at Frasch Park on May 3.

“We knew (Baudoin) could spin it really well, and she did,” Hannan coach Becky Lambert said. “She changes speeds, so you can’t time it up. We were out in front a lot, and we had a lot of weak contact right to their defenders. We were hoping to squeak out a few runs, and we were able to make her a little uncomfortable at the end.”

PHOTO BY

Hannan infielder Kodi Ricks makes a diving catch against Vandebilt Catholic in the fourth inning of the LHSAA Division II select state championship on May 3 at North Frasch Park in Sulphur

Lakeshore explodes for 11 runs to clinch quarterfinal series win over Pearl River

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

Through the first two games of its Division II nonselect quarterfinal series, the Lakeshore baseball team managed just six hits.

Still, the fifth-seeded Titans found a way to force a third game against fourth-seeded Pearl River

The Lakeshore bats broke out in a big way as the visitors posted an eight-run third inning with five hits en route to a series-clinching 11-4 victory on May 3

“I called our guys out last night because I thought we needed a better mindset in the plate, and they obviously took that message and ran with

it,” Lakeshore coach Jacob Seward said.

“I’m real proud of them. It’s a mindset with our guys. If they have the right mindset, they are going to be okay I’m proud of the way they attacked the strike zone and everything.”

Locked in a 1-1 tie, Lakshore took control in the third inning. The visitors sent

13 batters to the plate and took advantage of four hit batsmen and a walk to go with five hits.

Lakeshore first baseman Cohen Trosclair celebrates the final out of the Titans’ 11-4 victory over Pearl River in Game 3 of their Division II nonselect quarterfinal series on May 3 It’s a mindset with our guys. If they have the right mindset, they are going to be okay. I’m proud of the way they attacked the strike zone and everything.”

How good was the inning for Lakeshore? Two runs scored on Mason Maldonado’s fielder’s choice grounder as a tight game turned into a runaway victory

Baudoin earned Most Outstanding Player honors as she tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing three hits and a walk in 92 pitches. “I just commanded the zone, and my team did the rest,” Baudoin said. “I threw it over the plate, and they were right behind me to pick up anything that was hit their way My defense always has my back. That’s the most important thing in this game.”

“We just wanted to attack the fastball and barrel it up,” Lomonaco said. “We wanted to stay back and make good contact. We’re happy to move on, but it’s not over Whoever it is in the semis, we’re going to go get them.”

Lakeshore (20-14) will travel to play top-seeded Brusly (33-6) in a best-ofthree semifinal series this week.

JACOB SEWARD, Lakeshore baseball coach ä See LAKESHORE, page 3B

Covington powerlifting teams claim national titles

BY MIKE PERVEL

Contributing writer

In the world of high school powerlifting, Covington High is one of the most dominant schools in the country.

That dominance continued last month, as the boys won a fourth straight national title, while the girls took home their first team title in the equipped division at the 2026 Powerlifting America High School Nationals, held in Omaha on April 16-19.

“It was a great total team effort by our lifters. The kids stepped up and met the challenge. They took care of business and were great supportive teammates,” Covington

coach John Burford said.

“Nationals is a totally different environment with the meet set up to move at a quicker pace than at a state meet, add in the challenging bus ride (17 hours), and it doesn’t make it any easier But, they got the job done.”

Covington’s boys’ team captured a fourth consecutive national title with 50 points to hold off second-place finisher Germantown High (46) of Wisconsin. Jewel Sumner (36) was third

Covington junior Steele Rogers won his second straight national title at 205 pounds, helping lead the boys to their fourth

See COVINGTON, page 2B

St. Tammany track and

Baudoin retired 14 in a row going into the seventh inning before the Hawks tried to mount a rally Hannan junior Riley Williams drew a one-out walk before sophomore Alya Taylor singled to centerfield. After a pop out to the catcher, Hannan junior Ava Kulivan lined a single to left to load the bases Baudoin stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout to secure the Terriers’ 17th state title. Kulivan pitched well for the second straight day as she took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in 42/3 innings. She struck out one. Freshman Hunter Conners tossed 11/3 innings of scoreless relief. “I thought Ava (Kulivan) had a tremendous weekend, yesterday and today,” Lambert said. “We knew the third time through the lineup wouldn’t work because they were hitting her pretty hard. We made some good plays defensively I’m proud of Ava. She’s our ace. Hunter (Conners) went in and competed well. The whole team competed well.”

ä See HANNAN, page 12B

athletes state bound

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

The 2026 outdoor track season is quickly coming to a close. The LHSAA state meet is set for May 7-9 at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium. Classes 1A, B and C will compete on May 7. Classes 2A and 3A are scheduled for May 8, with 4A and 5A set for May 9. The top three finishers in all events at last week’s regional meets qualified for the state meet. Keep reading to find out which one of your favorite athletes will compete in Baton Rouge this week.

Region 2-5A Meet Mandeville

Collin Tullis turns attention to USA volleyball after state tennis semis finish

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

Collin Tullis’ first love is volleyball, but the sophomore made quite the impression on the tennis court at the LHSAA Division IV state tournament last week.

The 6-foot-2 Tullis picks up a racket at the beginning of tennis season and puts it back down at the end of April when his focus turns back to volleyball.

“Boys volleyball for other states is during tennis season, so I don’t really have too much to do then,” Tullis said. “When I was at (Pope John Paul II) my eighth-grade year, our tennis coach asked me to come play, so I picked it up as an eighth grader And every year,

I’ve made it farther and farther at state. It’s something that I really like, and I’m sad that it’s over for this season.”

Tullis, who is now homeschooled, competes for First Baptist Christian and posted a perfect 8-0 regular season record heading into the state tournament in Monroe. The sophomore swept his first match, but needed a 10-7 final set victory to advance in his second match before a 6-1, 7-5 win in the quarterfinals.

“On the court for me, it’s all about playing smart,” Tullis said.

“I just try to beat people with strategy and try to find ways to get them frustrated on the court. I have a lot of speed and can get to the net, so eventually, I can outlast

Jesuit wins golf regional

Mandeville, St. Paul’s advance to state tourney

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

Jesuit freshman Augustin Gros fired

a two-under-par 70 as the Blue Jays earned their first regional title in over a decade at the Division I, Region 2 Championship at Beau Chene Country Club on April 27.

“He’s only a freshman, and he’s been lights out the last four weeks,” Jesuit third-year coach Bryan Bairnsfather said. “He’s insanely talented. He hits it as close to the hole as anyone. He has no weakness in his game He has guts. He never gets nervous, and no one is going to outwork him.” Jesuit finished with a 297 total to beat runner-up Mandeville by four strokes. St Paul’s (313) and Catholic-Baton Rouge (326) rounded out the other state tournament qualifiers.

Gros was three-under-par through three holes en route to posting the low score of the day along with Mandeville sophomore Parker Greene. They were the only two golfers under par “I started off hot,” Gros said. “I eagled the first one, and I just kept it going from there. I hit the center of a lot of greens, and I had a bunch of twoputt pars. The regional championship feels pretty good. I’m glad that I was able to shoot like I did, and everyone contributed today.”

Junior Duke Nitcher (74), sophomore Brooks Blanchard (75) and sophomore John Discon (78) rounded out Jesuit’s other qualifying scores

“It’s a really difficult course, so it’s very hard to go low,” Bairnsfather said. “Sometimes you just feel like you have to hold on because there is trouble on every hole. I’m proud of their performance.”

The Skippers also had a nice day at their home course with Greene leading the way, along with senior Ben Hendricks (76), sophomore Wayne Kabrich (77) and junior Bradley Wall (78) rounding out their top 4

For St. Paul’s, the day was a bit of redemption after the Wolves missed out on the state tournament last year with a fifth-place finish. St. Paul’s was comfortably in third place this year after a good start on the front 9.

“Last year was so disappointing, because we were good enough to go,” St. Paul’s coach Luke Barwick said. “Getting back to state has been our goal the whole year We wanted to play a little conservatively today to avoid big mistakes. They did that. We wanted to shoot a good enough score to advance.” Bennett Lanasa (76), Rylan Hess (77), Elijah Dufrene (78) and Parker Church (82) posted qualifying scores for the Wolves. Barwick said his team is trending in the right direction.

“I’m real proud of them,” he said. “We did not have our best stuff last Thursday (at the district tournament), but today, we got off to a really good start. They believed in themselves and stayed positive. We’re really looking forward to going to state because I don’t think that we’ve played our best yet.” The top four teams and individuals on non-qualifying teams will compete in the Division I state tournament at The Wetlands in Lafayette on May 4-5 The four lowest-scoring individuals included Northshore’s Justin Lotz (73), who is the defending state runner-up, Brother Martin’s Sawyer Bernard (74), Brother Martin’s Gavin McDermott (78) and St. Amant’s Nolan Osborne

people. Some players are more refined in their shots, so that’s when it gets tough.”

Tullis fell in the semifinals to state champion John Howell of Ouachita Christian, 6-1, 6-1.

But there is no rest for the young athlete. The 16-year-old has a bright future on the indoor volleyball court as a libero. Just days after the state tournament, he will compete for a spot on the U19 National Team Development Program Team for USA Volleyball.

“Ball control is so important, so libero was the spot for me,” Tullis said. “We knew when I was younger that to play at the highest level, I would have to be a libero because I’m not going to be 6-8, 6-9, so that’s how it all started.”

The Covington High boys’ and girls’ powerlifting teams celebrate their national titles last month.

COVINGTON

Continued from page 1B

straight crown. Rogers, a state runner-up at 220 pounds, put up impressive numbers, finishing with lifts totaling 1,575 pounds. Rogers squatted 573 pounds, benched 435, and deadlifted 567.

“It’s great being a repeat champion, and I’m proud of my hard work,” Rogers said. “It’s a super feeling being a two-time national champion. Getting a three-peat next year is definitely one of my goals. Putting in all the hard training makes it all worthwhile in the end.” Rogers also excels on the football field as the Lions’ starting middle linebacker, finishing with 106 stops last season.

“Growing up with two older brothers, Cade and Luke (both CHS grads and athletes), beating me up all the time, I needed to be strong as a youngster I’m looking forward to spring football practice, but I’m also thinking about the upcoming Worlds competition (in August),” Rogers said. Lions’ junior Sam Aparicio captured the 231-pound title. He squatted 573, bench pressed 468 and deadlifted 545, totaling 1,587

TRACK

Continued from page 1B

relay team took second in a time of 3:23.60. Salmen senior Jordan Kitchens was third in the high jump (6-0), while junior Kyrin Goins finished third in the triple jump (44-11) Several local girls also qualified for the state meet. Northshore sophomore Grace Keene won the 800 (2:17.63), 1,600 (5:04.58) and was second in the 3,200 (11:15.62) runs. Panthers’ senior Olivia Hardin finished third in the triple jump (35-1.5).

Slidell’s 4x100 relay team was third (48.28), while Fontainebleau’s 4x400 relay team took third (4:06.93) Northshore finished third in the 4x800 relay (10:28.53), and Slidell sophomore Madyson Parker was third in the 200 (24.97).

Salmen had a pair of high jumpers qualify as junior Lila Discua was first (5-2), followed by sophomore Zoe Smith in second (5-0). Smith also won the long jump (17-7.5) and the triple jump (35-3.5) Salmen senior Miquela Steele was second in the shot put (36-4) Fontainebleau senior Margrit Pelto won the discus (106-7), while Bulldogs’ junior Olivia Crusta was second in the 100 hurdles (15.66) Fontainebleau sophomore Emma Hollowell

finished third in the high jump (4-10), while teammate Reagan McKinney was third in the pole vault (8-6).

Region 3-4A Meet

The St. Scholastica 4x800 relay team

pounds.

What made the team title even more impressive was that the Lions were without senior Brett Falco, the defending 145-pound national champion, who couldn’t compete due to a pectoral injury he suffered at the LHSAA state meet, where he won the 148-pound state title.

While the boys earned their 4-peat, the girls made history by scoring 54 points to win their first-ever national title, outlasting runner-up Germantown (48). Pope John Paul II (31) finished fourth.

The icing on the cake was that the Lions took home their second consecutive national combined team title.

Covington junior Maddie Schieble continued her superb season, winning the 125-pound national title in record-setting fashion. Schieble set a new national bench record with a lift of 242 pounds. She also squatted 319 and deadlifted 347 to finish with 909 total pounds lifted.

“It was a close competition going against Brynn Catalano (of Live Oak High). The hard work has paid off, and I guess winning a national title is my reward for my dedication to powerlifting. Being a national champion feels really good based on the tough level of com-

Teams line up for

STAFF

took home the regional crown with a time of 10:05.92. SSA eighth-grader Lola Koenig was second in the 800 (2:23.65), while Doves’ junior Lola Keim finished third in the 400 (1:00.51).

Hannan junior Grace Furlow was a regional champion in the discus (104-0.5) and finished second in the javelin (110-1). Teammate and senior Lola Soper won the javelin (117-11).

Lakeshore junior Tallulah Furman was second in the shot put (33-5).

On the boys’ side, Lakeshore senior Caleb Bourg was second in the high jump (6-2), while Pearl River junior Charles Painter finished third in the long jump (21-11).

petition. It’s a good way to close out my junior year,” Schieble said.

Burford describes Schieble as a great athlete and a phenomenally gifted and competitive lifter

“Maddie setting the national bench record is an amazing accomplishment,” Burford said. “She’s a seasoned veteran in just her second year She works hard and listens to her coaches, being so consistent. She’s always dialed in, focused on executing her next lift, doing what she needs to do.”

Schieble was joined on the podium by two of her fellow juniors. Tessa Abram earned the national title at 138 pounds. She squatted 347, benched 187 and deadlifted 352. Teammate Mya Marigny (185 pounds) also returned as a national champion, with lifts totaling 1,056 pounds. Marigny squatted 457, bench pressed 236 and deadlifted 363. PJP II’s fourth-place finish was highlighted by two standout senior lifters, who are defending state champions.

Juliette Brewer (165) earned a runner-up finish at Nationals after being recognized as the Most Outstanding Lifter in the heavyweight division at the LHSAA Division IV State Meet. Teammate Shelby Fischer (151) also garnered a runner-up finish.

Region 3-2A Meet

Northlake senior Emma Romano won the pole vault with a vault of 10 feet, while fellow senior Ava Dale won the javelin (108-4). Northlake sophomore Princess Caitlyn Lang was second in the 100 (12.84). Pope John Paul II senior Jaiden Campbell finished second in the javelin (108-3).

Region 3-B Meet

Christ Episcopal senior Gregory Jackson swept the sprints, winning the 100 (11.64), 200 (24.90) and 400 (53.46) dashes. He also finished second in the long jump (19-5.75). Junior Noah Clark was second in the 800 (2:17.98) and 1,600 (5:04.47) runs. The boys’ 4x100 relay team finished second (48.04), while the 4x200 relay was third (1:44.10). CES junior Cade Bourgeois was third in the triple jump (36-11), while sophomore Mason Owen finished third in the pole vault (8-6). On the girls’ side, CES senior Noah Watson was second in the 800 (2:32.78) and third in the 3,200 (12:15.37). Senior Liza Richards was second in the high jump (4-2), third in the 300 hurdles (55.68) and third in the triple jump (30-3). Eighth-grader Quinn Martin-Prentice was third in the high jump (4-2) and the pole vault (6-6). The Wildcats’ 4x200 relay team finished third (2:22.61).

Region 3-C Meet First Baptist Christian sophomore Jaylen Budovec took home second in the 400 run (55.94).

Against Pearl River (22-10), the Titans pounded out nine hits and took advantage of seven walks and six hit batsmen to wash away the sour taste of scoring two runs in 14 innings a day earlier

That was all the support Lakeshore starter Brennan Triche would need. He got the win, allowing four runs on two hits, two walks, four hit batsmen and four strikeouts in 97 pitches

“I feel like I could have done better, but I battled,” Triche said. “My changeup was working pretty good. I just tried my best to throw the fastball. The eight-run inning was huge because it took a lot of the pressure off.”

That quote might perfectly sum up Lakeshore’s series. The Titans battled through three games in a little over 24 hours to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2023 and the third time in the last six years.

“These kids have really brought in,” Seward said. “We’ve overcome some adversity from the offseason and early in the season, so not a lot of people thought that Lakeshore had a shot. The message to our guys was as long as we believe in what we’re doing, we’re going to be successful.”

While Lakeshore celebrated, the game marked the end for seven Pearl River seniors, who Rebels’ coach Mike Couvillion said transformed the program.

“This senior class accomplished a lot,” Couvillion said. “We haven’t put the numbers together yet, but I feel confident that they won the most games of any senior class in the history of the school. Two district championship. Three quarterfinals and a semifinal appearance. This is a really special group, and they are better people than they are baseball players.”

Senior Aiden Ward took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and a walk in two innings. He also hit a solo home run in the second inning.

Less than 24 hours before that deciding contest, the teams split a doubleheader on May 2 as the Rebels won the opener, 4-1, before a walk-off sac fly handed the Titans a 1-0 win in the nightcap at Pearl River

“The way we built our regularseason schedule, we played a lot of these three-game series,” Seward said. “It was to prepare us for the playoffs. The goal is to win two, and it doesn’t matter in what order We wanted to get that first one, and we didn’t, but we were able to come back and win the second one to stay alive.”

With his postseason life on the line after a loss in Game 1, Lakeshore sophomore Alex Duvieilh was lights out on the bump in Game 2. He needed just 83 pitches

to toss seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and no walks with seven strikeouts.

“My fastball felt really good today My curveball wasn’t feeling good in warmups, but it ended up working out,” Duvieilh said. “My fastball working really well was the key I was able to hit spots, and that was the difference today. I know that my defense is going to back me up, so I just wanted to throw strikes.”

While Duvieilh was dominant, Pearl River starter Nick Martensson battled control issues to keep the game scoreless through six innings. Martensson hit six batters and walked four more, but he allowed just two hits in 6 2/3 innings. Pearl River catcher Sammie McDaniel threw out four base runners to help Martensson, who also worked out of a one-out, basesloaded jam in the fifth.

The Titans finally broke through in the seventh as Jackson Schemmel was hit by a pitch to open the inning and moved to second on Spencer Siverd’s sac bunt. After a trick pick-off play at second allowed Schemmel to move to third on an errant throw, Lomonaco lifted a sac fly to score the game’s lone run.

“When you’re playing for a championship, it’s not always pretty,” Seward said. “Sometimes you just have to out-compete your opponent and find a way I don’t think we had our best stuff in either game, especially at the plate. Hopefully we will come out with a better mindset tomorrow I’m proud of the way the kids fought back.”

In the first game, the Rebels leaned on starter Xan Harwell as the senior struck out 12 en route to a 4-1 complete-game victory Harwell allowed one run on four hits and two walks in 105 pitches. He also went 1 for 2 at the plate with a double and two walks.

“I knew as soon as I was warming up in the bullpen that it was going to be a pretty good day,” Harwell said. “I felt great. My offense scored some runs early Now, we just need one more. It would mean a lot to get back (to the semifinals). It would be a chance to make history.” The Rebels stranded 13 runners, but Pearl River pushed across three unearned runs. The home team took the lead in the third

SIGNING DAY

PHOTO BY JOE TROMBATORE

Nine Mandeville athletes announced their college destinations on April 29. Those athletes include, seated from left, Addi Myers (University of West Georgia, cheer), Kailey Bookhardt (Southern Miss, cheer), Naleah Crandle (University of New Orleans, track), Genevieve Blanc (Loyola, track), Kennedy Kyle (Southern Miss, cheer); back row from left, Brycen Gallent (Pearl River CC, soccer), Brayden Berglund (ULL, track), Peyton Gomez (Bishop State CC, baseball) and Matthew Yeung (Millsaps, golf)

Cheer, track highlight 9-person Mandeville signing class

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

Mandeville’s spring signing class on April 30 had a little something for everyone Five sports cheer track golf, baseball and soccer — were represented For Mandeville’s three cheer signees, it was a full circle moment.

Kailey Bookhardt and Kennedy Kyle are both headed to Southern Miss, while Addi Myers signed with the University of West Georgia.

“We went to quite a few clinics and the coach told us that we needed to keep working so we could be at the same skill level that all her athletes were at,” Kyle said. “So we went to work, and she offered us. Now, we still have to keep performing to prove that we should be on the team.”

Bookhardt said her journey to Hattiesburg started with a DM from Southern Miss, followed by a text outlining the skills she needed to work on, including all the tumbling skills.

“It’s been super exciting to have someone to talk to about this whole thing,” Bookhardt said about Kyle. “A lot of people don’t get this opportunity, so it has been really nice to have my best friend to share this with.” Kyle said both she and Bookhardt are collegiate-level stunters, adding that they are ready to keep growing.

“We’re really good friends, and we’re rooming together,” Kyle said. “We actually weren’t really friends at the beginning of high school. We knew each other, but we weren’t super close. When we both made cheer together our sophomore year, we bonded immediately Sharing his whole experience together is going to be super fun because I have my other half with me I have someone to go on the journey with.” Myers said her journey to West Georgia has been special.

“They are one of the best teams in the country — they are the 34-time national champion, so that’s really exciting to be a part of,” Myers said. “I went to some clinics, and I had some friends that I used to cheer with there. I went on a tour, and I loved the campus. I just kept getting stron-

ger and better and here we are.”

Myers said she and Bookhardt used to compete against each other in gymnastics, while she used to tumble with Kyle.

“It’s this thing that has been going on for years, so it’s a great feeling to share this moment together,” Myers said.

A trio of track athletes is also headed to compete at the next level, led by University of Louisiana-Lafayette signee Brayden Berglund.

“At first, I didn’t know how I felt about UL,” Berglund said “But then I saw the coach at one of the indoor meets, so we started talking for like 40 minutes. After we talked, I went on a visit. That’s when I found out that I love the school I know a bunch of runners there, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Berglund started running in elementary school, but he also played football before injuries forced him to put down the pigskin and focus on running.

He will also run cross country at ULL and finished ninth at the Division I state cross country championship with a 3-mile time of 15 minutes, 44.6 seconds. As a junior he was part of the state-record-setting 4x800meter relay team at the Division I state indoor meet. He also holds school indoor records in the 400, 800 and 1,600 runs.

Sprinter Naleah Crandle signed with the University of New Orleans. She holds the outdoor school records in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. She is also the parish and district champ in the 100-meter dash.

Genevieve Blanc signed with Loyola University-New Orleans for track and cross country She is a state qualifier in the 3,200 run

Other singees included:

n Defender Brycen Gallent will play soccer at Pearl River Community College next season. He was a two-year varsity starter and defensive MVP for the Skippers.

n Infielder Peyton Gomez will play baseball at Bishop State Community College next season. He led the Skippers with a .395 batting average in 38 games last season. He had 49 hits, 33 runs scored, 32 RBIs, 15 walks and six doubles.

n Golfer Matthew Yeug picked Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.

PJP II swimmer picks Drury University

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

Pope John Paul II senior Eric Ring comes from a swimming family. His father, Eddie, was an All-American swimmer at LSU in the 90s, so it was no surprise when Ring took to the pool and found success.

He has been a big part of the Jaguars’ streak of six straight Division IV state titles and the freestyler has no plans to slow down any time soon. Ring signed with Division II Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, on April 29. “I had taken a lot of different recruiting visits, and I just hadn’t quite found the right fit for me,” Ring said. “I reached out to Drury in October and started talking to them, and I was just blown away by how intelligent the coaches were. They are a storied program in Division II, and since joining D-II, they have won the most swimming and diving national championships of any team. It was just a school I wanted to be a part of.” As a senior, Ring won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 39.41 seconds, earning an All-America consideration at the Division IV state meet. He finished first in the 500 freestyle (4:34.35) en route to Most Outstanding Swimmer honors. He also swam on the first-place 200-medley relay (1:45.16) and 400-freestyle relay (3:27.47) teams.

PROVIDED PHOTO PJP II swimmer Eric Ring is all smiles after signing with Drury University on April 29 With Ring are his parents, Eddie and Kristie Ring

Ring, who started swimming in elementary school, said choosing a college was a special experience.

“It’s definitely a weight off my back because obviously, I’m a little late,” Ring said.

“The enrollment deadline for many schools is May 1, so I really didn’t know where I was going until the last minute. Finally figuring that out is such a weight off my back. I’m super excited about this opportunity.” Ring said he will focus on middle-distance and distance freestyle, including the 200, 500, 1,000, and possibly the mile.

Obituaries

JulieMarieLandryKraft wasborninBatonRouge Louisiana,onMarch9, 1942.Shepassedontoher eternalhomeonApril23, 2026,peacefullyinher sleepatherdaughter’s homeinSlidell.Shewas healedofsepsisinJanuary 2026,butherbodydidnot recoverfromhavingtheill‐ness.Juliewasprecededin deathbyherparentsJ BarkerLandryandLucille DLandry;hersisters,C JaneL.ReadandSusanM Landry;andbyherson ThomasE.KraftSheissur‐vivedbyhersister,Joan LandryLasak;herchildren WilliamB.Kraft(Becky) andNicoleE.Kraft(Nicole Schmitt);aswellasher grandchildrenTimothy Kraft(Elizabeth),NicoleI. Kraft(Chantel)Melissa Kraft,VictoriaKraft, StephenKraftandAlexis Kraft;hergreat-grandchil‐dren,Lena,Titus,Demitri, Melody,andBeckett;and byhernieces,EliseRead (RobertHodges)Leslie Read,andMichelle Holmes,aswellasnumer‐ouscousinsJuliegrewup inPlaquemineLouisiana whicheventhoughitis closetoBatonRouge,itis definitelybayoucountry Herdaddyplayedaweekly pokergamewiththesher‐iff,mayor,andjudgeofthe town.Julie’sfun-loving spiritsoaredassheraced carsonthelevyoftheMis‐sissippiRiverandalso downRailroadAve.She graduatedfromStJohn HighSchoolin1960,but spentayearatboarding schoolinMississippijust becauseshewantedtotry it.SheattendedtheUniver‐sityofLouisiana–Lafayetteandthenmarried ThorntonE“TK”Kraftin 1962.SheandTKlivedin NewOrleansinvarious places–becausesheloved change–untiltheysettled downandpurchaseda homeinSlidell.Shehad threechildrenandwas veryactiveinlocalclubs liketheRotaryClubthe ElksClubwithTK,Slidell’s Newcomer’sClub,aswell asbeingpoliticallyactive intheSlidellWomen’sRe‐publicanClub,whereshe wasPresidentoftheclub atonepoint.Julieloveda goodcontroversialpolitical conversationThroughout herlife,Juliewasalsoa talentedartistandlovedto createthings.Juliewasa womanoffaithShegrew upCatholic,butinher early40swasinvolvedin theCharismaticmovement oftheCatholicChurchand latertransferredtoanondenominationalchurchin themid-80s.Afterherdi‐vorcefromTK,overthe yearsinSlidell,sheat‐tendedChurchofFaithand NewJerusalemPraise& WorshipCenter.In2001, shereturnedtoPlaquem‐inetocareforhermother Sheremainedthereuntil 2021,whenshereturnedto Slidell.Duringhertimein Plaquemine,sheattended RiverMinistriesInterna‐tionalChurchSheprayed formany,manypeople overtheyears.Through herdemonstrationofcare andconcern,shehelpedto establishafoundationof faithinotherpeople’s livesJuliedidnotknow anystrangersHerheart wasasbigashergumbo potShecouldmakesome‐thingoutofnothing,and therewasneveratime thatshecouldn’tmakea mealthatshepreparedfor herfamilyoffivestretchto feed15–withherloaves (orshouldIsaybiscuits) andfishesabilitiesThere wasneversomeonewithin hersphereofinfluence whodidnothaveahome Ifsomeoneneededaplace tolive,intoherhomeshe’d takethemandtreated themliketheywereoneof herown.Eventhoughit wasonlyathree-bedroom houseshealwaysman‐agedtomakespacetofit onemore.Thekidsinthe neighborhoodthatsome wouldlabel“juveniledelin‐quents,”shewouldcall themfutureapostles,dis‐ciplesandhandmaidens oftheLord,becauseshe’d alwaysparaphraseRo‐mans4:17,“Callthose thingswhichbenot,as thoughtheywere.”Iam prettysurethattheyareall productivemembersofso‐cietynow.Julielovedpeo‐ple,andshelovedagood game–boardgames,card gamesandDominosShe wascompetitive,which sometimescausedherto beabitofacheat,butit wasalwaysingoodfun Shewasalwaysupfora gatheringatherhomebe itforaCanastagameora BibleStudyShebright‐enedthelivesofsomany. Ourworldislittlebitdim‐merwithoutherlightinit Herlegacythough,liveson

Shewasalwaysupfora gatheringatherhome,be itforaCanastagameora BibleStudy.Shebright‐enedthelivesofsomany. Ourworldislittlebitdim‐merwithoutherlightinit Herlegacythough,liveson inherchildren,grandchil‐dren,great-grandchildren nieces,andinthelivesof allthoseshetouchedover theyearsAudubonFuneral Homewereentrustedwith thearrangements.

Agnes Charlotte Krippendorff

AgnesCharlotteMcClel‐landnéeKrippendorff,age 96,passedawayinher sleeponApril12,2026 BornonJune14,1929,in Tianjin(formerlyTientsin), ChinaCharlottewasa memberoftheRedHatSo‐ciety,aLouisianaPavilion Supervisoratthe1984 World’sFairinNewOr‐leansandalicensedtour guideinLouisianaand acrosstheUnitedStates forGermanandChinese groups.Shebredand raisedChineseSharPei dogsandshowedthem aroundthecountry.Char‐lottelovedgardeningplay‐ingbridgewithhermany friendsandfellowclub members,andtravelingto RedHatconferencesand dogshows.Charlotte spokefivelanguagesand livedinEuropeandNorth Africaforanumberof yearswithherhusband andchildrenShewasa longtimeresidentofTall TimbersinAlgiers,LA.; PortSulphur,LA;Slidell, LA;andPicayuneMS Charlottewasprede‐ceasedbyherhusbandof nearly67years,TommyB Mac”McClelland,and son,GregorySethMcClel‐land.Sheissurvivedbyher children,MarilynMcClel‐landThorpeGavinPatrick McClelland,TommyBen‐nettMcClelland,Jr.,and DwayneNealyMcClelland; 12grandchildren;10greatgrandchildren;andseveral niecesandnephews.Char‐lotte’scrematedremains togetherwithherhus‐band’s,willbeinterredin thefamilyplotinBig WoodsCemeteryin Edgerly,Louisiana.Apri‐vateCelebrationofLifewill beheldatalaterdate Memoriesandcondo‐lencesmaybeexpressed atwwwAudubonFuneralH ome.com

StephenJoseph“Steve” MoityofPearlRiver Louisiana,passedawayon April20,2026,attheageof 74.HewasbornonSep‐tember16,1951,inNewOr‐leansLouisiana,tothelate Lawrence“Chick”Moity andthelateMarianRizan MoitySteve’slovestory withhisbelovedwife RosemaryAlbertMoity, lasted54memory-filled years.Together,they raisedalovingfamily,in‐cludchildren MichtyMartrain andsephMoity Jr(Maia)Hisjoy multithearrival ofeachgrandchild:Alexan‐derJosephMartrainAbi‐gailRoseMartrain,Parker AlbertMoity,andCooper JosephMoityHealso leavesbehindtwobroth‐ers,DavidMoityand MichaelMoity,andahost ofextendedfamilymem‐bersandfriends,allof whomhelovedgreatlyHe wasalongtimeresidentof StBernardParishand graduatedfromChalmette HighSchoolwiththeClass of’69.Heservedinthe UnitedStatesAirForceRe‐serve.Anelectricianby trade,Stevewasknownfor hisstrongworkethicand hiscommitmenttodoinga jobwell,qualitiesthat servedhimthroughouthis yearswithIBEWLocal130 andinhisworkwithIATSE Local39,whereheworked asastagehand.Hefound solaceandjoyinfishing Hewasagiftedstory teller,alwaysreadyto shareamemoryfromthe pastStevecouldoftenbe foundsittingonhisback‐yardswing,surroundedby hisgardenasheenjoyed life’squietmoments.Asa parishionerofSts.Peter andPaulCatholicChurch hefoundasenseofpeac andnectionthatre flecsvaluesandth lifed.Whilehispre enlbegreatly miislegacywilllive onghtheliveshe touchedandthelovehe sharedMemoriesandcon‐dolencesmaybeex‐pressedatwwwAudubon FuneralHome.com

andthelateMarianRizan Moity.Steve’slovestory withhisbelovedwife, RosemaryAlbertMoity, lasted54memory-filled years.Together,they raisedalovingfamilyin‐cludingtwochildren, MichelleMoityMartrain andStephenJosephMoity Jr.(MeganMaraia).Hisjoy multipliedwiththearrival ofeachgrandchild:Alexan‐derJosephMartrain,Abi‐gailRoseMartrain,Parker AlbertMoityandCooper JosephMoity.Healso leavesbehindtwobroth‐ers,DavidMoityand MichaelMoity,andahost ofextendedfamilymem‐bersandfriends,allof whomhelovedgreatlyHe wasalongtimeresidentof St.BernardParishand graduatedfromChalmette HighSchoolwiththeClass of’69.Heservedinthe UnitedStatesAirForceRe‐serveAnelectricianby tradeStevewasknownfor hisstrongworkethicand hiscommitmenttodoinga jobwell,qualitiesthat servedhimthroughouthis yearswithIBEWLocal130 andinhisworkwithIATSE Local39,whereheworked asastagehandHefound solaceandjoyinfishing Hewasagiftedstory teller,alwaysreadyto shareamemoryfromthe past.Stevecouldoftenbe foundsittingonhisback‐yardswing,surroundedby hisgardenasheenjoyed life’squietmomentsAsa parishionerofStsPeter andPaulCatholicChurch, hefoundasenseofpeace andconnectionthatre‐flectedhisvaluesandthe lifehelivedWhilehispres‐encewillbegreatly missed,hislegacywilllive onthroughtheliveshe touchedandthelovehe shared.Memoriesandcon‐dolencesmaybeex‐pressedatwwwAudubon FuneralHome.com

PUBLICNOTICE REQUESTFOR PROPOSALS FOR PERACETIC ACID WASTE‐WATER DISIN‐FECTION SYSTEM SlidellFile No 300-134 ProposalNo 26-P004

TheCityofSlidel soliciting propos from interested p ties for the Peracet Acid Wastewa Disinfection tem. The pro consists of furn ing a completeacetic acid (P wastewater di fection system, cluding a multisupply of PAA, multi-year lease PAA storage feed equipmentrelated commiss ing, maintena and decommiss ing services Fi must have expe ence in perform and coordinat thistypeofwork

Interested, quali parties may ob an electronic co of the RFP pa from the City Slidell Engineer Department, Bouscaren St, Su 302, Slidell, LA, no cost by ei emailing the reque to bclancy@cit lidell.org or cal (985) 646-4270. Only propos from firms secur proposal docume from the City Slidell Engineer Department wi acknowledged.

Proposalswill receiveduntil 10:00AM,Ma 2026,inthe Directorof FinanceOffic 2045SecondSt Suite214,Slid LA70458. Each proposal be contained sealed envelope clearlymarked

amount

new percentage change in the Con‐sumer Price Index (CPI) for the prior calendar year end or five percent (5%) which-ever is less The CPI to be used shallbefromtheun‐adjusted Consumer Price Index, All Urban consumers (CPI) United States published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of LaborStatistics.

TheContractorshall have an Active sta‐tus with the Louisiana Secretary ofState.

Anexecuted affidavitand attestationform mustbesubmitted priortoaward

The signature on the proposal must be that of an authorized representative of the corporation, part‐nership or other legal entity as de‐fined by Louisiana Public Bid Law Re‐vised Statute LA R.S. 38:2212(B)(5)which dictates par‐ ties authorized to submit bids for pub‐ liccontracts.

This project may be funded with federal funds All applica‐ ble laws, ordi‐nances,andtherules and regulations of all authorities hav‐ing jurisdiction over construction of the project shall apply to the contract throughout All proposals bids and applications are welcomed. The city encourages partici‐pation by MinorityWomen-Owned and DisadvantagedBusiness Enterprise firms.

Questions regarding this project should be addressed to Blaine Clancy, City Engineer, at bclancy@cityofs lidell.org

The City of Slidell reserves the right to reject any or all pro‐ posals. CITYOFSLIDELL BlairEllinwood DirectorofFinance 185563AP29‐MAY6-13-3T

PUBLICNOTICE

REQUESTFOR PROPOSALS HVACANDVRF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

TheCityofSlidellis hereby soliciting sealed proposals from qualified and licensed contractors to provide preventa‐ tive maintenance, inspection, and re‐pair services for HVACand Variable Refriger‐ant(VRF) systemslocatedat variousCity facilities

SEALED PRO‐POSALS will be received until May 20th 10:00 AM CST in the Director of Finance Office located at the Slidell City Council & Ad‐ministrative Center 2045 Second Street second floor Suite 214 Slidell LA 70458 Any pro‐ posal received after closing time will be returnedunopened

Proposals must be contained in a sealed envelope and markedclearly: 26-P003HVAC ANDVRF Preventative Maintenance Ser‐vices

Proposal documents may be picked up in the Purchasing De‐partment 1329 Bayou Lane Slidell LA 70460 or email Kathy Taylor ktay‐lor@cityofslidell org

The signature on the proposal must be that of an authorized representative of the corporation, part‐nership or other legal entity, as de‐fined by Louisiana Public Bid Law Statute 38:2212A (l)(c) which dictates parties authorized to sign public con‐tracts

The City of Slidell encourages partici‐pation by MinorityWomen-Owned and DisadvantagedBusiness Enter‐prises

The City of Slidell reserves the right to reject any and all proposals BlairEllinwood DirectorofFinance 185386AP29‐MAY6-13-3T $159 55

PUBLICNOTICE

TheCityofSlidellis requesting bids for thefollowing: Bid#27-B019 SubmersibleLift stationPumps

SEALED BIDS will be received until May 27, 10:00 AM CST in the Director of Finance Office located at the Slidell City Council & Ad‐ministrative Center, 2045 Second Street, second floor Suite 214, Slidell LA 70458 and there‐after opened and publicly read for the following, Sub‐mersible Lift station pumps Any bid re‐ceived after closing time will be re‐turnedunopened.

Bids must be con‐tained in a sealed envelope and markedclearly: 27-B019 Sub‐mersibleLift stationPumps

Bid documents may be picked up in the Purchasing Depart‐ment, 1329 Bayou Lane, Slidell LA 70460, or email Kathy Taylor, ktay‐lor@cityofslidell. org. The phone number is 985-6464250. Bidders also have the option to review bid docu‐ments and submit bids electronically byvisitingwwwcen tralbidding.com. Electronic bids will require a digital sig‐nature You must register directly with Central Bid‐ding to utilize this service.Their phone number is 833-4125717.

The signature on the bid must be that of an authorized repre‐ sentative of the cor‐poration, partner‐ship or other legal entity, as defined by Louisiana Public Bid Law Statute 38:2212A (l)(c) which dictates par‐ ties authorized to sign bids for public contracts.

The City of Slidell encourages partici‐pation by MinorityWomen-Owned and DisadvantagedBusiness Enter‐prises

The City of Slidell reserves the right to reject any and all bids BlairEllinwood DirectorofFinance 184811MAY6-13-

PUBLICNOTICE Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Frank James McKinley and/or Ritta McKinley of New Orleans and/or Jihad Ahmad of Cleveland, OH, and/or Mamie Jones McKinley of Cov‐ington, please con‐tact Patricia R Fox, attorney at law, at (985) 264-3950. Property rights in‐volved. 184124AP22-29‐MAY6-3T $245.92

PROPOSED ACTIVITYIN FLOODPLAIN

4854. 185548AP29‐MAY6-2T $150.44

PUBLICNOTICE Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Rhiannon Nicole Burrell, contact Lindsey Olsen, Esq. (985)246-3553. 186328MAY6-1320-3T $136.63

PUBLICNOTICE

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the heirs, successors or assigns of Mary Anne Rodgers , please contact Sid‐ney J. Abdalla, Jr., Attorney, 1501 Gause Blvd., Suite 1, Slidell, LA 70458, (985) 7073793 185512AP29‐MAY6-2T $143.16

PUBLICNOTICE Anyone knowingwhereaboutsof Ian Dyer and/or Susan Dyer please contact Attty Carole Gillio (504)577-4020.A propertymatter 184455AP22-29‐MAY6-3T $158.47

PUBLICNOTICE

EARLYNOTICE OFPUBLIC REVIEWOF PROPOSED ACTIVITYIN FLOODPLAIN

To: All interested Agencies Groups andIndividuals Thisistogivenotice

To: All interested Agencies, Groups andIndividuals Thisistogivenotice that St. Tammany Parish Government as the Responsible Entity under 24 CFRPart58,hasde‐termined that the following proposed action is located within a floodplain and includes wet‐lands, and therefore an early review under HUD’s 8 Step Decision Making Process is being conducted in accor‐dance with Execu‐tive Order 11988 and Executive Order 11990 and in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Proce‐dures for MakingDeterminations on Floodplain Manage‐ment and Protection of Wetlands The proposed West Di‐version East project location is Lat 3018-1.53 N; Long -89-46-20.84 W; lo‐cated within FEMA designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) ZoneA1, in the City of Slidell, St Tammany Parish, Louisiana. This project is for pond development and expansion to a drainage project lo‐cated in Slidell, Louisiana. The pro‐ ject consists of one pond +/- 10.66 acres in size and associ‐ated weir alongside theW-14Canal.The site will be devel‐oped for detention pond for storm water storage and improved drainage capacity Based on site evaluation, the area does not con‐tain any impacts ju‐ risdictional wet‐lands, state/federal cultural resources of concerns or state/federal listed threatenedorendan‐geredspecies Due to the proposed action being located partially within a floodplain and wet‐landarea,thisnotice isbeingpublishedto inform the public and interested agen‐ cies that a project is being considered and to engage the public in identifyingalternatives that may avoid or mini‐mize impacts to floodplains and/or

St

Proposal: P aceticAcid Wastewater D fectionSystem SlidellJob No 300-134 Proposal#26DueDate/Time May21,2026, 10:00AM The

1. TwiceWeekly Can/BagCollection(Up to 3Cansper pick up)

2. OneFreeCan perhome with theprice of additional cans

LakeshoreVillagesMasterCommunity DevelopmentDistrict RequestFor Proposal forCommunity Wide TrashCollectionService TheLakeshore Villages Master Community DevelopmentDistrict(hereinafterthe “CDD”)is aspecialpurposefromoflocalgovernment.TheCDDislocatedoGtheOakHarborBlvd.and I-10betweenOakHarborBlvdandOldSpanishTrailinSlidell.Amapshowingtheboundaries of theCDD is attached.The CDDcurrently hasapproximately2500 homeswithand additional 238 lots that mayhavehomes on thenearfuture. TheCDD should total3,084 homeswhencompleted

Thefollowingisthe variousaspects of servicefor trashcollectionthatthe CDDis considering. What exactservice theCDD contractsfor will be dependentonpricing from the successful proposer.Thiswillbeanexclusive contract with oneservice provider.Under thesecircumstances theCDDanticipatesareductioninwhatwould benormalfees charged to individual users. Theservicesbeing requestedfor pricingisasfollows:

3. Will youallow homestopurchaseadditionalcansfromother sourcesand if so describe thetype of canand wheretheymay be found.

5. Monthlybulkpick-up if notfree than thecost.

4. Cost pf recyclingoncea week pick-upifnot free andwithone free recyclingcontainer perhomeorthecostofsuchcontainerandordescriptionofanacceptablecontainer.

6. Describe anyadditional services that an individual companymay supply.

TheCDD will negotiatewiththe successful proposer thebilling cycleand theCDD will pay thebillonbehalfofthe homeowners

Attached is theevaluationand scoringsheet theBoard of Supervisors(hereinafterthe “Board”),willuse to determinethe serviceprovider with thehighest scorethattheywillthen enterintocontractnegotiations.

Proposalswillbeaccepted electronically with anyadditional informationa proposer sees fit to include. Proposalsare duenolater than 5:00pmonMay 20,2026. Theemailswillbesent to lsvcdd@lakeshorecdd.org.Timeofsubmittal will be determined basedonthe timing of theemail.Inadditionquestions maybesenttothatsameemail address.

conducted in accor‐dance with Execu‐tive Order 11988 and Executive Order 11990 and in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Proce‐dures for MakingDeterminations on Floodplain Manage‐ment and Protection of Wetlands The proposed West Di‐version East project location is Lat 3018-1.53 N; Long. -89-46-20.84 W; lo‐cated within FEMA designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) ZoneA1, in the City of Slidell, St Tammany Parish, Louisiana. This project is for pond development and expansion to a drainage project lo‐cated in Slidell, Louisiana. The pro‐ ject consists of one pond +/- 10.66 acres in size and associ‐ated weir alongside theW-14Canal.The site will be devel‐oped for detention pond for storm water storage and improved drainage capacity Based on site evaluation, the area does not con‐tain any impacts ju‐ risdictional wet‐lands state/federal cultural resources of concerns or state/federal listed threatenedorendan‐geredspecies Due to the proposed action being located partially within a floodplain and wet‐landarea,thisnotice isbeingpublishedto inform the public and interested agen‐ cies that a project is being considered and to engage the public in identifyingalternatives that may avoid or mini‐mize impacts to floodplains and/or wetlands The pub‐ lic is encouraged to submit comments regarding the pro‐ posed action, poten‐ tial alternatives and any measures that could potentially be utilized to minimize adverse impacts on floodplainsandwet‐lands Following the closure of the com‐ment period, the Re‐sponsible Entity will evaluate all comments received and continue through the remain‐ing review process before making a finaldetermination. Writte nt (SFHA) ZoneA1, in

TheBoard will review theproposals andscore them.These evaluations will be reviewed at theJune3,2026 Meetingwhich will be held at theLakeshore Villages AmenityCenter, locatedat5032 LakeshoreVillage West,Slidell Louisiana, 70461.

Parish, Louisiana. This project is for pond development and expansion to a drainage project lo‐cated in Slidell, Louisiana. The pro‐ ject consists of one pond +/- 10.66 acres in size and associ‐ated weir alongside theW-14Canal.The site will be devel‐oped for detention pond for storm water storage and improved drainage capacity Based on site evaluation, the area does not con‐tain any impacts ju‐ risdictional wet‐lands, state/federal cultural resources of concerns or state/federal listed threatenedorendan‐geredspecies Due to the proposed action being located partially within a floodplain and wet‐landarea,thisnotice isbeingpublishedto inform the public and interested agen‐ cies that a project is being considered and to engage the public in identifyingalternatives that may avoid or mini‐mize impacts to floodplains and/or wetlands The pub‐ lic is encouraged to submit comments regarding the pro‐ posed action, poten‐ tial alternatives and any measures that could potentially be utilized to minimize adverse impacts on floodplainsandwet‐lands Following the closure of the com‐ment period, the Re‐sponsible Entity will evaluate all comments received and continue through the remain‐ing review process before making a finaldetermination. Written comments must be received by St Tammany Parish Government at the following address on or before (May 23, 2026) - a mini‐mum 15 calendar daycommentperiod will begin the day after the publication and end on the 16th day after the publi‐ cation: St. Tam‐many Parish Gov‐ernment, 21490 Koop Dr Mandev‐ille, LA 70471, and phone: 985 898 2552, Attention: Mike Cooper, Mayor of St Tam‐Parish Co

1.

(PointsAwarded) Considerations here include adequacy of equipmenttoperform theworkina high-quality manner; adequacy andcapabilitiesoflabor availabletoperform theworkaccordingtothe specifications; qualifications,training, andlicenses/certificates of keypersonnel; evaluation of existing andfuture workload;the volume of work previously awardedtothe firm;proposeddetailedstaffing levels,etc Availabilityofadditional services that canbeprovidedfreeoratreasonablecost.

2. Experience (20PointsPossible) (PointsAwarded) TheProposer’spastrecordand experience in similarprojectswill be considered.Additional factorsmay includepast performanceonotherprojects,recordandexperienceworkingfor thereferences provided,observation of similarsites maintained by thefirm, character, integrityand reputationof respondents, etc.

3. Understanding ScopeofRFP (20PointsPossible) (PointsAwarded) Points will be awardedbased on theProposer’sdemonstratedunderstanding of theDistrict’s needsfor theservicesrequested andthe levelofdetailprovidedinthe proposal

4. Price(35 Points TotalPossible)

TwiceWeekly Can/BagCollection(20 Points Possible) (_ Points Awarded) RecyclingOncea Week Pick Up (5 points possible) (_ Points Awarded) MonthlyBulkPickUp(Free or cost)(10 points possible) (_ Points Awarded)

Up to ten(35) points maybeawarded to theProposersubmitting thelowesttotal bidfor completing thework. Allother proposalswillreceive apercentageofthisamount baseduponthe differencebetween that proposal andthe lowest proposal

5. Reasonableness of ALL Numbers(5PointsPossible) (PointsAwarded)