Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Garage sale weekend set
The Choctaw Trail garage sales dates are planned for 8a.m. to 3p.m. Sept. 6-7. The route stretches from Clinton Jackson and St. Francisville. Vendor space is available to rent in Jackson, and spaces are available at the Clinton Community Market from 8a.m. to 1p.m. on Sept. 7. Call (225) 933-4911 or email ging130@yahoo.com for information. If setting up at your house,contact the organizers for ayard sign. The saleofguns and animals is not permitted.
4-Harchery tournament
East Feliciana Parish 4-H announces its first Archery3D InvitationalonSept. 14 at the Bob R. Jones Idlewild Research Station, 13248 Gross Road, Clinton.
This event invites all current 4-H members, 4-H alumni, 4-H shooting sports coaches and parents to participate. The invitationalwill have both individual and team divisions.Team member score will alsoqualify as an individual competition. Costis$25 for individual entries and $40 for team entries. Square invoice willbesent once registration is received Visit tinyurl.com/yj4hy2mvto register
People wishing to sponsor a target can contact KaylaBanta, assistant extension agent, East Feliciana Parish at 4419 Idlewild Road, Clinton, LA 70722 or (225) 683-3101.
TractorSupplymarketset
St. Francisville TractorSupply will hold aCommunity Market from 9a.m. to 3p.m., Sept. 21. If you are interested in being avendor,call Christa Wilcox at (225) 635-2223. Flag football
Registration is open through Sept. 1for flag football in West Feliciana Parish. Registerat www.wfprec.com. Fees are $75. The season runs Sept. 9-20 for preseason practice and Sept 23-Oct. 31for games. Practices are from 5p.m to 8p.m. Monday-Thursday Games are 8p.m. Tuesdaysand Thursdays at West Feliciana SportsPark. Coaches and referees arealso needed. If interested, contact mpatten@wfparish.org or (225) 784-8447.
Free cancer screening
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is holding breastand colorectal screenings from 9a.m. to 2p.m., Oct. 24 at the East Feliciana Police JustOffice building, 12064 Marston St., Clinton. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins welcome.Call (225) 425-8034 for an appointment. Through donations,screenings are free is you have not been screened within the past 12 months. Insurance will be billed for mammograms. Colorectal screenings will bea take-home kit.
Felicianafootballschedules
East Feliciana High School
All games start at 7p.m
Aug. 30: Jamboree
Sept. 6: Kentwood
Sept. 13: at St. Helena
Sept. 20: at Albany
ä See AROUND, page 2G
DEMOCRAT
Pagesofhistory writteninstone at Locust Grovesite
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
History is recorded in books and illustrated through art, but history also speaksfrom the graves and tombs of charactersinhistory’ssagas andlegends.
Take Eleazer Wheelock Ripley.Hewas born in New Hampshire in 1782 and was the grandson of the founder of famed DartmouthCollege,gainedherostatus in theWar of 1812, rose to therank of brigadier general, and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, aprecursor to theMedal of Honor,were his wartime accomplishments.
Where is he now? In an eternal resting spot outside St.Francisville.The dead, contrary to apopular sentiment, do tell tales andLocust Grove, aseemingly silenced cemetery,screams storiesof triumph and tragedy.During one of its quarterly openings, interpretivepark rangers Daniel Wilcox and TomScarboroughgavethe mic to the interned whose book covers are grave markers and tombstones.
Wilcox started with Ripley’sstoryAug. 10,because theNew Hampshirewar hero is noted, but not awell-known native son Afterthe war,Ripleymoved to Baton Rouge and started apolitical career.He served in the Louisiana State senate and later wenttoWashington, D.C., as aU.S. Representative. He is buried in the family plotbecause of close ties to afounding family member “Greensleeves wasall my joy, Greensleeves wasmydelight Greensleeves was my heart of gold, and who but my lady Greensleeves. Well, I willpray to Godonhigh, that thou my constancymaystsee, and that yet once before Idie, thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.”
Awakened from this fever dream, Jefferson Davis heardthe familiarvoice of hisveryyoung bride struggling to sing her beloved “Greensleeves.” Legend says Davis crawled to his wife’sside, held her closeuntil she breathed her last breath. She was 21.
ä See HISTORY, page 3G
Classes in session
East Feliciana schoolsraise starting teacherpay
BY CHARLESLUSSIER Staff writer
Community news report
East FelicianaParish public schools welcomed students Aug. 12.
“Thisyear,our focus is on taking Homegrown Pride to new heights, and it’sbeen exciting to watch all of our employees and studentsstartthat work this week,” schools SuperintendentKeisha L. Netterville said. “Our team has worked very hard and veryintentionally throughout the summer to prepare for students to arrive. It’sbeen ajoy to watch students’ smiling faces arrive at our improved and refreshed facilities and enjoy achoice of fruitwith our improved meals
“Wewillneedeveryone’shelptosupport our children in reaching these newheights.”
Nettervilled said families can track students’ academicsuccess by downloading the JCampusStudent app.
“Wealsoinviteall interested families to join ournew Parent-Teacher Organization,” he said.
The starting salary forpublic school teachersin the Baton Rouge region these days routinely tops $50,000 ayear thanks to aseries of locally funded payraises approved in recentmonths.
Sevenofthe 12 school districts within the nineparish region —East Baton Rouge and eight surrounding parishes —have approved teacher pay raises over thepast four months. They range from $283 moreayear in Livingston Parish to a $7,236 raise in East Feliciana Parish.
Six of those seven pay raises vaulted starting teachers above the $50k threshold. Pointe Coupee, St. Helena and Livingston parishes are the only districts in theregionthatpay starting teachers less than that.
The districts that have thus faropted against teacher pay raises this year are Baker and Zachary as wellasPointe Coupee, St. Helena and West Feliciana parishes.
Some of those districts, though, made notable stridesinthe recentpast. Forinstance,the City of Baker ayear ago increased starting teacher pay by almost $11,000 ayear,lifting it briefly to second in the region. $50K club
wait on state
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
St.Francisvilleofficials areawaiting state approval of abid to correct erosion problems in Audubon Hillssubdivision, MayorRobertLeake told the Board of Aldermen on Aug. 13. Leake said he had hoped the board could accept the bid, contingent on the state Office of Facility Planning’sapproval, but learned town’sacceptance would have to wait until state officials look over the documents.
The project will address the erosion behind residential lots on Cypress Street, where street drainage pipes have collapsed and the erosion is eating into the high ground where the homes were built. The state Legislature appropriated money for the project last year
The Legislature also awarded the town $1 million in the last session to use in improving traffic flowand parkingona sectionofCommerceStreet by Parker Park. The townisseeking $2.2 million in federal grants to bury utility lines, add parking spots and reroute drainage in the area, which has undergone acommercial renaissance in recent months. On another matter,the board voted 3-0 with two members absent to lower the speed limit on all streets in Martin subdivision, an area generally
PHOTO BY FRANCESY.SPENCER
Interpretive Park rangers explainthat BobbieLee, a descendant of the Stirling family,isone of the mostrecent peopleburied in the historicLocust Grove Cemetery. Direct descendants of the founding families are still eligibletobe buried in the small, private cemetery.
East Feliciana Middle School student Leon Armsteadreviews his class schedule on the first dayofschool.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Courtlyn Rogers, BailynMuse, Jeremy Allen, Elias Cormier and Valerie Barker greet Clinton ElementarySchool teacher Darren Matthews on the first dayofschool.
Elementary School kindergarten student CaileyUnderwood poses aquestion to district literacy
and Amber Aulds share their hopes forthe upcoming school year at Slaughter ElementarySchool during the school’sorientation Aug. 9.
Members of the Clinton High School Alumni Association present adonation to Clinton Elementary School Principal Laron McCurry on the first dayof school. Gathering, from left, are Amie Bennett, JerryKelly, Andrel Sanders, Sandra Kelly,Nikisha Kelly and honorary member Kali McFadden.
AROUND
Continued from page1G
Sept. 27: at Episcopal
Oct. 4: Capitol (Homecoming)
Oct. 11: Slaughter Charter
Oct. 18: at Donaldsonville
Oct. 25: Dunham
Nov.1:atBaker
Nov.8:atNortheast
West Feliciana High School
All games start at 7p.m.
Aug. 30: Jamboree at Zachary
Sept. 6: Alexandria
Sept. 13: at Belaire
Sept. 19: Broadmoor
Sept. 27: Woodlawn
Oct. 4: Plaquemine (Homecoming)
Oct. 11: St. Michael
Oct. 18: at Brusly
Oct. 25: Istrouma
Nov.1:atMcKinley
Nov.8:atTara
Garden speakers coming
The Southern Garden Symposium is Oct. 18 at Rosedown in St. Francisville.
Speakers are Marianne
Willburn and Scott Beuerlein. Visit www.thesoutherngardensymposium.org fordetails and registration.
Wildflower Festival plan
After its initial festival this year,the Feliciana Wildflower Festival is planning the 2025 event. On Facebook, the group has announced the festival will be June 7and the group is seeking applications for vendors and guest speakers. Visit www.facebook.
FILE PHOTOBY
MELINDARAWLS HOWELL AJune 1festival close-up of the plentiful blooms that were planted by the supporters of the Feliciana Wildflower Project.
com/FelicianaWildflowerProject forinformation. Also, aplanning meeting will be held at 6p.m. Aug. 21 at Clinton United Methodist Church, 11321 Old South Drive.
AudubonLibrary fine-free The Audubon Regional Library announced on Facebook that it is now finefree. Also, the library will now allow patrons to print or make copies for free, up to $1 aday.Outgoing faxes will be free up to $10. Send news and events for East andWestFeliciana parishes to extra@ theadvocate.com by noon Friday or call (225) 3880731.
THE ST.FRANCISVILLE
DEMOCRAT
THE ST.FRANCISVILLE DEMOCRAT P.O. Drawer 1876,St. Francisville,LA70775 (225) 388-0215
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Here are annual salaries for starting teachers in theregion for select districts:
n Iberville, $56,606
n Ascension, $50,533
n East Baton Rouge, $50,000
n Livingston, $47,400
n St. Helena Parish, $41,000
Starting teachers, in this comparison, are those with abachelor’sdegree whoworkninemonths of theyear. These figures don’tinclude various stipends, performance pay and other incentives districtsroutinely disburse. Nor do the figures account for often very competitive pay offered by charter schools andsomeprivate schools. Over the past two years, the state has stopped short of approving perma-
PROJECT
Continued from page1G
to includeall streets in the development: Leonard, Havard, Ruth and Martin streets. Town resident Robert Honeycutt,
nent pay raises for school employees, optinginsteadfor one-time stipends This year,the Legislature approved, for asecond year in arow,stipends of $2,000 for educators and $1,000 for support workers. East Baton Rouge Parish, the largest district in the region and home to about 3,000 teachers, approved an across-the-board pay raise of $2,200 for teachers. Similarly,Ascension Parish, thethird-largest district regionally,opted for a$1,750 pay raise for all teachers. Those pay increases are costing$11.4 million and $8.1 million ayear,respectively Thebiggest mover regionally when it comes to employee pay is East Feliciana Parish, which approved abig employee pay raise. It added $7,236 to the pay of all of its teachers. Starting teacher pay increased from $42,764 to $50,000 ayear.The pay raise is costing thedistrict an estimated $1.3 million. The latest pay raise is part of alarg-
who said he did not oppose lowering the speed limit, neverthelesscriticized the idea of “a group of three” aldermen extending the scope without astudy orinput from residents. The boardalso adopted aresolution commemoratingthe service of retirededucatorand alderman Al Lemoine, who died June 22. Alarge number of Lemoine’sfamily members attended to hear the resolution read. The 72-year-old first-term alder-
er 36% increaseinstarting teacher pay going back to 2021. That year, starting teachers in EastFeliciana made $36,664 ayear,byfar the lowest in the region. Thelastprevious district-funded teacher pay raise in that district was in 2008.
The latest raise puts EastFeliciana’s starting teachersonpar with East Baton Rouge and just shy of neighboring Zachary and West Feliciana —Zachary pays just $22 more, while West Feliciana pays $272 more.
“A starting salary for teachers of $50,000 makes our teacher pay competitive with other districts in the Capital region while still ensuring that we can sustain these increases longterm,” KeishaNetterville, East Feliciana Parish’sschool superintendent since fall 2019, explained in an email.
Email Charles Lussier at clussier@ theadvocate.com and follow him on Twitter,@Charles_Lussier
man was ateacher,coach, assistant principal, principal and central office supervisor during acareer that began in 1974. In other action, the board adopted aresolution declaring Friday,Sept. 6, “Loyal to the Royal Day,” areference to the high school’scolors, royal blue and white. The school’s football team plays Alexandria High School that night. Residents and businesses are urged to displaythe school’s colors.
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SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS R. GRANTLALONDE (225)388-0625
Noticeisherebygiven pursuant to Article7, Section23(C) of theLouisiana Constitution andR.S.47:1705 (B)thatapublichearing of theParishSchoolBoard of theParishofWest Felicianawill be held at itsregular meeting place, theParishSchoolBoard Office,located at 4727 Fidelity Street,St. Francisville, LA, on Monday,September 30,2024at5:00p.m to consider levyingadditionalorincreased millagerates withoutfurther voter approval or adopting theadjustedmillage ratesafter reassessment androlling forwardtorates nottoexceedthe prioryear’smaximum
Theestimated amount of taxrevenuestobe collectedinthe next year forSchoolDistrict RegularConst.fromthe increasedmillage is $2,009,168.18and theamountofincrease in taxesattributable to themillage increase is $72,052.27.The estimatedamountoftax revenues to be collectedinthe next year for Consolidated School District No.1fromthe increasedmillage is $6,644,670.57and the amount of theincreaseintaxes attributable to themillage increase is $238,289.49. Theestimated amount of taxrevenuestobe collectedinthe next year forConsolidated School District No.1fromthe increased millageis$1,689,323.03 andthe amount of theincreaseintaxes attributable to the millageincreaseis$60,582.08. Theestimated amount of taxrevenuestobecollected in thenextyearfor Consolidated School District No.1fromthe increasedmillage is $4,955,347.54and theamountofthe increase in taxesattributable to themillage increase is $117,707.41
behind the town hall
agenda item called for the change on ashort section of Leonard Street, but the board decided
East Feliciana High School student Brandon Gravessmiles getting off the bus with his classmates on his first dayof high school.
Lauren Matthews, Monique Douglas, RandiKates Aulds
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Jackson
coachRaegan Thompson during breakfast
HISTORY
Continued from page1G
Sarah Knox Taylor Davis hasled alife and death linked to remarkable stories. Her father,Zachary Taylor,was awar hero who wanted anonmilitarylife for his “Knoxie,”who was born at FortKnox. Taylorlater became the president of the UnitedStates. Her husband, Jefferson Davis, resigned his commission to marry her.More than two decades after her death, he became the president of the Confederacy Jefferson andSarah Davis were on their honeymoonvisiting his sister Anne SmithatLocustGrove Plantation, near Bayou Sara when theyboth fell seriously illwith yellow fever Smith is founder of the family cemetery on what is left of LocustGrove.
Wilcox explained that the cemetery is afunctioningfamilyplot,and family
members can still opt to be buriedthere.Otherwise, the site is closed to thepublic andopens aboutonceeach quarter to the public.
Locust Grove Cemetery wasdeeded to the Officeof State Parks in 1937 by heirs of Anna Davis Smith, who’s
buried there along with many of herdescendants and relatives.
TheLouisiana Historic Sites cover 16 locations across the state and are apart of thestate parks system.Local sites include Port Hudson and the Audu-
bon Historic Site. Wilcox encouraged visitorstoattendthe Revolutionary War Reenactment andLiving History programs from 10 a.m. to 3p.m.Oct.26-27 at the Audubon State HistoricSite.
The infamous Battleof
The graveofJefferson DavisStirling II is among the graves mentioned Aug. 10 at Locust Grove Cemetery. Stirling,who was not adirect descendent of Confederacy President Jefferson Davisdied in 1982, but rangers explained that ‘Jefferson Davis’ was averycommon name in the early 1900s
Baton Rouge will getspecial focus in the two days of programscentered around the sights andsoundsofthe Revolutionary Warcampaign. For information aboutLo-
cust Grove Cemetery or to arrange atour,contact the Louisiana Parks andHistoric Sites department at audubon@crt.la.gov or call (225) 635-3739.
PHOTOSBYFRANCES Y. SPENCER
Interpretive Park Rangers Daniel Wilcox, left,and TomScarborough offer ahistoric narrativeatthe graveofSarah Knox Taylor Davis on Aug. 10 at Locust GroveCemetery. Davis died nearly 30 years before the Civil Warand wasthe firstwife of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacyand the daughter of ZacharyTaylor,the 12th presidentofthe United States.
InterpretiveParkRangers Daniel Wilcox and TomScarboroughled aguided tour of Locust GroveHistoric Site.
Daniel Wilcox, interpretive park ranger at Audubon State HistoricSite, stands next to the graveofEleazar Ripely while guidinga tour of Locust Grove Cemetery. Ripleyisa notablemilitaryhero from the Warof1812 whorose to the rank of brigadier general.Heis one of fewnone family members buried at the historicsitejust east of St. Francisville
EAST ANDWESTFELICIANA COUNCILON AGING
The schedules for West and East Feliciana Council on Aging facilities areasfollows:
WEST FELICIANA
n 12292 Jackson Road, St. Francisville, (225) 635-6719
n Start time for all activities
is 10 a.m. FIRST AND THIRD MONDAY: Line dance
FOURTH MONDAY: Religious service
TUESDAYS: Nutritioneducation
WEDNESDAYS: Exercise/ yoga
THURSDAYS: Bible study
FRIDAYS: Bingo/movie/excursion
n All people 60 and older in West Feliciana Parishare invited to join.
n Fortransportationtothe center or questions, call (225) 635-6719.
EAST FELICIANA
n 11102 Bank St., Clinton n 3699 La. 10, Jackson
Wednesday, Aug. 21
ARTCLASS: 9a.m.
DEVOTIONAL: 11:15 a.m. LUNCH: 11:30a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 22
BINGO: 10:30a.m. LUNCH: 11:30a.m.
Friday, Aug. 23
TAICHI: 10:45a.m. LUNCH: 11:30a.m.
Monday, Aug. 26
TAICHI: 10:45a.m. LUNCH: 11:30a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 27
BINGO: 10:30a.m. LUNCH: 11:30a.m.
Transportation Transportation isprovided to East Feliciana Parish residents of anyage for appointments in East Feliciana, West Felicianaand East BatonRouge parishes Mondaythrough Friday.Call (225) 683-9862 to schedule a transportation appointment.
WEST FELICIANAPARISHBOOKINGS
The following people were booked into theWestFeliciana Parish Detention Center between Aug. 5-11:
AUG. 6
SEYMORE, KAYLA: 22; 745 WoodhavenSt., Baton Rouge; fugitivewarrant
JOHNSON, ANTHONY: 38; 655 NE 83rdTerrace, Miami, Florida; fugitivewarrant
AUG. 7
JONES,PAMELA: 47; 45 HoneydipperLane, Woodville,Mississippi; domestic abuse aggravatedassault, recklessoperation of avehicle
VANCE, ROGER: 56; 75 FireTowerRoad,Natchez,Mississippi; driving underthe influence first offense, improperlane usage
AUG. 8
FORT,JAMES: 43;11707 Kingston Drive,Baton Rouge; bench warrant
AUG. 10
ROWAN, RICKY: 64; 10382Sligo Road, St. Francisville; indecent behavior with juveniles
VESTAL, TED: 52; 122 Jefferson Davis Blvd., Natchez, Mississippi; driving under the influence, no seat belt,open container
Watermeter projectcomplete, Havard says
Leaksfound in process to be repaired
BY JAMES MINTON Contributingwriter
West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard toldthe Parish Council Aug. 12 that acontractor is winding up a project to replace about 5,000 meters throughout the parish water system. Havard said he signed documentsrelated to the project’scompletion, although
BY MELINDARAWLS HOWELL
Contributingwriter
WEST FELICIANACOUNCIL
some work remains as leaks are discovered where some of the new meters were installed.
The council authorized Havard in December 2022 to sign a$2,361,361 contract with Ferguson Waterworks to install new automated meters, with funding to come from aDrinking Water Revolving Loan Fund loan administered by the state health department.
The fund’srules often allow portions of its loans to be forgiven, Havard said.
Jackson’snewly elected Town Marshal Mitch Harrell spoke at length at an Aug. 8meeting hosted by the Jackson Lions Club.
The town deputies present were introduced, given achance to speak and took part in aquestion-and-answer session.
Harrell, who retired from Hood Containerpapermill in St. Francisville, worked part-time as adeputy in Jackson for 36 years. Since taking office as marshal, he reported hisdepartment has grown, essentially doubling the number of staff from the last marshal, to ateam of 20.
The staff includesHarrelland six others as full-time and 13 other parttime officers.
Harrell told the audience that as marshal he will “serve the Lord” and “serve and protect the public,” adding it’sthe same thing he tells his deputies. We will “do what’slegal and right”and that “wewanttobeagreat police department.”
He said, “we will use only the amount of force needed.
Harrel said his staffincludes “Black, White …male, female… We are diverse and we are proud of it.”
“Each person brings something unique to the table,” Harrellsaid, and “we will work as ateam.”
The full-time staff includes Chief Deputy Justin Nevels, Detective Chance Davis, Deputy Carey Quiet,
Havard said council members and the public should report anyleakstohis office.
The meters can be read remotely,and thewater system staff has received trainingon thenew system.
In the near future, customers will be given instructions on howtheycan seethe meterreadings by computer and monitor their own water usage.
During the replacement project, contractors found some residences that had no meters or meters that did
not work, along with afew instances of more than one residence being servedbya single meter,Havard said Havard also said state emergency preparedness officials want the parish to use its storm debris collection contractor to pick up debris left from spring storms on state highway rights of way The state will pick up the tabfor thework, whichwas originally scheduled to be done by astate-hired contractor,hesaid Havard said his office is looking forasite to dumpthe debris thatwill meet state standards.
Echegoyen and Brandon Brooks. Harrell praised the group and said they will be “here for you.”
Many changes have been made and more are to come, Harrell said. He mentioned the budget constraints that theMarshal’s Officehas andthe lack of tax revenue in the town and parish. He saidgrants have been asource of funds for needed items and grant money will be needed in the future. Updating technology is important and “costs money,” he said.
In his talk, Harrell mentioned some of theproblems in the community including blight and drugs —and explained that his team will work within the town limits, which is theirjurisdiction, and assist the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office when requested and vice versa. Harrell said there will be mutual aid agreements between the various law enforcement departments.
He said residents will see their presence and law enforcement will follow up and let residents know when cases are closed.
Deputy Melissa Clark, Deputy Darius Day and Deputy Chris Hillard.
Thepart-time deputies, whichincludes some full-time lawenforcement officersfrom other towns, are
Both Harrell and several deputies reminded and encouraged the public to “call us if you see something. You are our eyes.” For nonemergency concerns or complaints, call (225) 683-5459 and for emergencies call 911.
Sgt. Larry Sagely and Deputies Isaiah George, Tony Miller,MikeCourtney, David Nelson, Dalton Corban, Gerald Smith, Ray Allen, Sharon Madria, Michael Carlile, Michael Comeau, Hector
PHOTO BY MELINDAHOWELL Newly elected Jackson Marshal Mitch Harrell addresses agroup of residents at ameeting sponsored by the Jackson Lions Club
Artofthe dodge
PHOTOSPROVIDED BY WESTFELICIANA EDUCATION FOUNDATION/MACKENZIETRISH
With calf-hightube socks and headbands, dodgeballers with the teams Dodge Deez Balls and Fireballz Fire Station 1sprint to theballs at the opening of amatch on March 23 at West Feliciana SportsPark. Ben Lowery,TravisLinks and BlakeDupuy of Dodge Deez Balls can be seen grabbing the balls as Micheal Harvey, Heather Bridges and Corlton ScottofFireballz, left toright, closein. Parents and other supporters of thelocal public schools competed in daylong dodge balltournament to raise moneyfor theWest Feliciana Education Foundation. The nonprofitraises moneyfor the small parish schoolsystem north of Baton Rouge.
Aspring adult dodgeball tournament put on by the West Feliciana Education Foundation to raise moneyfor the parish schools included aKid Zone for children whocame to the event. The area at West Feliciana Sports Park in St. Francisville included bounce houses, yard Jenga, connect four, pick up sticks and jambalaya
This area was sponsored by the Tregle and Fournet families and all proceeds raised fromthe zone were donated to Cub Scout Pack 61.
Foundation’s bigevent raises dollarsfor West Felicianaschools
BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer
Blue Crossattorney Laura Bryan waspreparing to play dodge ball for the first time in close to 20 years andfound she didn’thave the throwing arm that she once did.
So, Bryan took on aspecialized rolewith her coed dodge ball team this spring when she andother parents in West FelicianaParish schoolsformed their team, the Pepper Brooks Wrench Dodgers, for afundraising tournament in St. Francisville.
Bryan, whohad last played dodge ball as ahigh school teacher in her early 30s, became afront line pawn whowouldfreeupthe team’sshooters behind her
“My strategy was to kind of draw some throws and maybe try to catch one and knock somebody out, but to kind of be the frontline andlet our guys that throw,you know,knock people out,” shesaid “So, pretty much everyround Igot knockedout, which was fine. You know,itwas fun.”
The St. Francisville dodge ball tournamenthas been an important fundraiser for the West Feliciana Education Foundation since its creation in 2015.
The nonprofit raises money for the highly rated rural school system of nearly 2,200 students north of Baton Rouge, trying to fill in gaps forteachers andstudents with grants and scholarships and inspire volunteerism in the process.
Brandy Brecheen Fournet, board president of the foundation, said thenonprofit wasformed as parents realized the system couldn’tfully fundall its needs with tax revenue and recognized that teachers often come outof pocket for their own classroom initiatives.
“So, some parents here thought it would be agreat opportunity to give back. We hadagreat school system. We just knewthereare needs,” Brecheen Fournet said Brecheen Fournet saidthe foundation’sfounders started small by asking teachers and administrators what their needs were, came up with alist and then formed ideas on how to raise the dollars The group also decided to give teachers and administrators annual competitive innovation grants for up to $2,000.
In addition to the annual dodge ball tournaments, the foundation has tried other fundraising efforts, including encouraging studentsto
Sports Park in Marchfor fund-raising event for the West Feliciana Education Foundation. The nonprofitraises moneyfor the small public school system north of Baton Rouge.
paintonfive-inch-by-five-inchtiles for afuturecommemorative structure to be installed potentially in theplaygroundatthe two-year-old Bains Elementary School.
Thefoundation has raised more than $150,000for the school system over the years, including $23,000 from the tournament on the tennis courts at West Feliciana Sports Park this spring, Brecheen Fournet said About $16,000 to $20,000 goes to teachers each year.
Brecheen Fournetsaidthe program has alsofinanced or helped sponsor amiddle school trophy case, band uniforms, academic competitions, benches at an elementary school playground, guest speakers, teacher welcome and annual educator awards banquets, the Reading Council anthology, footballteam safety equipment,a schooldebate team trip to Washington, D.C., andothers.
SchoolsSuperintendent Hol-
lis Milton said the nonprofit has kept his district’s schools on the cuttingedge. He said supporting educationalfoundations like West Feliciana’sare more common in larger urban districts
“It is such aunique organization
in arural area thatdoes suchgreat work,”hesaid.
Miltonpointedtothe flexible furniture thegroup helped finance several years ago for the new BainsElementary. Ashift from traditional desks, thefurniture was designedtobring students together in groups andmakeit easier forteachers to fostercollaborative, problem-solving assignments.
“You could seehow the furniture really made teachers’ lives easier” by facilitating the creation of student groupings, he said.
While the foundation has delivered on manyschool system needs, it’salso reliedona sense of humorand funtoinspire parent and volunteer interest in the district.
Played by generations of studentsinphysicaleducation class, dodgeball, the martial game of hit-or-be-hit by flying balls from opposing teams,has filled that role forthe foundation neatly.
Thetournament made acomeback this Marchafter amultiyear hiatus following COVID.The quest for the golden hippo trophy drew18teams this year,including onewith Superintendent Milton
Dr.Tim Lindsey, Dawn Hanna and Trey Unglesbyofthe Pepper Brooks Wrench Dodgers team let flyontheir opponents during adodge ball tournament on March 23 at West Feliciana Sports Park. The dodgeball teams were participating in afund-raising event for the West Feliciana Education Foundation. The nonprofitgroup raises moneyfor the parish school system.
Inspiredbythe classicBen Stiller and VinceVaughn 2004 comedy,“Dodgeball: ATrue Underdog Story,”tournamentcalls forteams to have thematic costumes, as the teams outlandishly did in the movie, and hasgivenrise to many inside movie references andnotso-subtle double entendre
For instance, Bryan’steam’s name, the “PepperBrooksWrench Dodgers,”comes fromacombination of acult-favorite character in the movie andcomments made by the mentor of Vince Vaughn’s dodge ball team and erstwhile dodge ball legend, Patches O’Houlihan, who was played by actorRip Torn
O’Houlihan told theteam that if they could dodge awrench, they could dodgea ball and proceeded to throw wrenches at them as part of their pretournament training.
Played by actor Jason Bateman, Pepper Brooks is adaft fictional EPSN colorman who helps announcethe dodge ball tournament thatVaughn’s team wins.With some of themovie’smost quoted lines,Brooks hasa hilarious talent forstating theinappropriate and the obvious Otherteams’ names among the competitors this year included Austin& the Heine’s, Game of Throws, BSFBallers,Balls to the Wall, Pepper Brooksand NotJust Tennis. The team awarded best name was the West Feliciana ParishSheriff’s Office team,Pigs in
aBlanket.
Ateam of Bains Elementary teachers didn’twin the tournament but won thelook Known as theBains Bling Team, theteachers wereoutfitted with thick gold chains, sparkles, pink bandannas and other attire and took top prize.
“I just thought ‘cause we needed to be shiny and stand out,” said SarahFudge,afifth-grade teacher who has taught at Bains Elementary for32years.
She said participating in the tournament —and practices at school beforehand —gave students an opportunity to see their teachers in adifferent light andto throw balls at them and allowed themembers of herteam to show theirspirit forthe school Fudge said her team didn’tlast long in the tournament, but, according to the tournament organizers, looked good doing it.
She said the foundation tournamenthelps draw in additional peopletosupport theschoolsystem beyond the traditional groups of volunteers andisanother example of thecommunity-mindedness of small-town West Feliciana.
“It amazes me every day what we do foreach other,” Fudge said.
“We’ve got big hearts here,” she said.
David J. Mitchellcan be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LAURA BRYAN
Laura Bryan, bottom center,poses with other members of her dodgeball team, thePepper Brooks Wrench Dodgers, at West Feliciana