SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
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T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, F e b r u a ry 25, 2026
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EAST FELICIANA
Is carbon capture safe?
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
‘Talent’ is coming The “East Feliciana’s Got Talent” showcase and festival fundraiser for the East Feliciana COA is evolving. The March 28 event will include a festival outside with vendors selling arts, crafts and such from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. along with Cajun music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and raffle drawings throughout the day. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. inside, the talent contest with refreshments will benefit the Council on Aging. Admission will be a $20 donation. MORE AUDITIONS: Another day of auditions for the show has been set for March 21 from 9 a.m. until noon. Singers, dancers, musicians and other performers from East Feliciana are encouraged to audition to participate in the talent contest. The winner to be chosen by the audience at the March 28 event. The location for the auditions is at the Jackson site for the COA, 3699 La. 10, Jackson.
Local markets The Clinton Community Market is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 8 in downtown Clinton. The St. Francisville Farmer’s Market is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday at 9961 Wilcox St., St. Francisville.
Yard Sale Trail returns The Tunica Hills Yard Sale Trail is from 8 a.m. April 24 to 4 p.m. April 26. Deadline for signing up is April 1. The trail for the multifamily progressive yard sale will follow Angola Road, Old Tunica Road and the Greenwood area. A Facebook group is available at www.facebook.com/ groups/832172577337930 to see details as they are posted.
Art and music event set for April From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 25, Clinton is Home will host An Evening of Art and Music on St. Helena Street and surrounding area.
Annual reenactment coming The Siege of Port Hudson Battle Reenactment is March 28-29 at the state historic site, 236 U.S. 61, Jackson. It starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Gates open at 9 a.m. Concessions and sutlers/ vendors will be on-site. Living history and weapons demonstrations will be throughout the day. Reenactor camps will be on tour. Admission is $6 adults, $4 seniors 62 and above, $3 activeduty military and free for children under 6. Call (225) 654-3775 for information.
Walk in the Park set for March 7 Walk in the Park will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 7 at Parker Park, St. Francisville. Live music will be by Ben Bell and the Stardust Boys from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Gazebo.
Need a bed? Help the band The West Feliciana High School Band is hosting its third annual Mattress & Adjustable Bed Sale from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 8 at the high school gym.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Police jurors consider resolution opposing the process
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Joining in the fun at the Council on Aging party Feb. 13 in Jackson, from left, are Bobbie Bond, Ben Dart and Hadley Hudnall, of Clinton.
Seniors celebrate Mardi Gras, Valentine’s BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Contributing writer
The East Feliciana Parish Council on Aging’s Mardi Gras and Valentine Feb. 13 celebration included the crowning of royalty representing members from the two sites in Clinton and Jackson — a king and queen from each. Representing Clinton was King John Coleman and Queen Gwen Stewart. In Jackson, King Sam Rayford and Queen Helen Creed were selected to reign. The seasonal gathering was at the Jackson site where colorful costumes, smiles and happy conversation were abundant. Mardi Gras music and decorations dominated the room but the Valentine’s Day spirit was apparent, too. Some of the partygoers dressed themselves with half-and-half outfits or accessories — one part in Valentine red with the other part in Mardi Gras green, purple and gold. Staff members handed out Mardi Gras beads. As usual, there was line-dancing, and the group composed of members from both classes held at the two sites announced they had officially named their dance group the One Step at a Time. Donated door prizes were handed out and guest had a pastalaya, nachos and king cake. The party included a Mardi Gras Mambo dance/parade around the center. As part of her announcements, director Cyndi McManus thanked all who helped and donated items. Attendees were also Mom Helen Creed, and Melissa Pope, modeling her reminded of the upcoming COA fund- half-Valentine-half-Mardi-Gras hat at the COA party raiser titled “East Feliciana’s Got Talent” ä More photos from the party. PAGE 3G showcase and festival set for March 28 ä Council on Aging activities. PAGE 3G in Jackson.
Two local legislators want the East Feliciana Parish Police Jury to adopt a resolution opposing carbon-capture and sequestration projects in Louisiana, including carbon dioxide injection wells and pipelines. Jurors heard from Reps. Roy Adams, D-Jackson, and Robby Carter, D-Greensburg, at their Feb. 16 meeting but tabled the resolution, saying they need more information on the process of storing carbon dioxide deep underground as a means of improving air quality. In other action, the jury renewed a tax exemption for local first responders, despite no one taking advantage of it last year. Jurors also introduced a proposed ordinance regulating so-called “solar farms” that produce electricity from large arrays of photovoltaic cells. Adams, who represents East Feliciana Parish in the state House of Representatives, deferred to Carter for most of the carbon-capture presentation, although Adams said Shell Oil Co. representatives had approached him for support and he has heard from constituents who are against the concept. Carter, who once represented part of East Feliciana, said carbon-capture represents a health and safety danger to rural areas like St. Helena and East Feliciana parishes. St. Helena has three proposed injection well sites on land owned by the Weyerhaeuser Co. If put into operation, the carbon dioxide pumped into the ground would spread out in the underground formations to an area of 45,000 acres, he said. “How do they know that when you’re saying it’s under Weyerhaeuser land that it’s not going under your land?” Carter said. Meanwhile, St. Helena has 50 to 60 abandoned oil wells from which the pressurized carbon dioxide could escape and endanger the public and local drinking water, Carter said. He said the wells were dry holes that were capped with concrete years ago and the material used to cap them may not be able to hold the pressure. The gas would be converted to a liquid under high pressure to move it through pipelines to the well sites, and Carter said an explosion on such a pipeline already has occurred in Mississippi. The proposed resolution asks the state Legislature and appropriate state agencies to impose an immediate moratorium on permits for the wells, pending further scientific review and “robust public engagement.”
Tax exemption The jury adopted a property tax exemption of $250 of the assessed value of a first responder’s property, which would be added to the $7,500 assessed value exemption for Louisiana homesteads. The jury could have exempted up to $2,500 in additional assessed value, but stuck with the $250 figure it adopted last year. The exemption, which must be renewed every year, is available for law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency dispatchers and other personnel who respond to public service calls.
ä See CARBON, page 2G
Feliciana basketball action continues in playoffs for some BY RICHARD MEEK
Bulldogs 15-5 in the third period. The Saints defense held Cecilia to 16 secondhalf points. Sanaya Berry led West Feliciana with 14 points and Jaterriona Johnson added 13. Slaughter Charter BOYS Berry leads West Feliciana in scoring, averThe Knights got off to a slow start in their aging 14 points game. Johnson is averaging 13 West Feliciana playoff opener against Northeast and ended a points and Ariannah Smith 11 points a game. West Feliciana ended its season with a 54-50 63-43 loss to Northeast on Feb. 19. Slaughter, 10-18, scored only four points in East Feliciana playoff loss to Tara on Feb. 20. The Saints had defeated McKinley 44-37 on the first quarter and trailed 31-16 at the half, a The Tigers opened the playoffs with a 38-20 deficit from which they were unable to recover. win over Lakeview on Feb. 17. Feb. 18 in their playoff opener. Travis Lathers finished the season as West Kariah Dunn is averaging 13.2 points a game Feliciana’s leading scorer, averaging 23 points GIRLS for the Tigers, 18-10. a game. West Feliciana Slaughter The Saints finished 24-12. The Saints advanced out of the first round of The Knights ended their season with a 60-39 East Feliciana the playoffs with a 50-37 victory over Cecilia. loss to Amite in the opening round of the playWest Feliciana, 22-6, and the District 6-4A offs. The Tigers’ season ended with a 59-35 first champs, led 28-21 at the half and outscored the round playoff loss to Capitol on Feb. 18. Slaughter finished 10-10. The second half plagued East Feliciana, 9-22, throughout the season, as the Tigers averaged 16 points in the final two stanzas, including Here’s a look at sports around the Felicianas. seven in the fourth quarter.
Contributing writer