BY GRANT THERKILDSEN
Fire Chief Kenneth Moore speaks at the opening of the St. TammanyParish Fire Protection District. No. 4station, locatedat 92 JudgeTanner Blvd. nearInterstate 12.
Greater Mandeville area hasnew firestation
BY KIM CHATELAIN
Contributing writer
The last time aribbon was cut on afire station in the Mandeville area, Ronald Reagan was president, and the northshore city had about half of its current population. That is, until Oct. 25, when St. Tammany Parish Fire District No. 4unveiled Station 45 on the corner of Judge Tanner Boulevard and Lakeview Court near LakeviewHospital.
It is the fifth station for the fire district that serves an approximate 75-square-mile region in and aroundMandeville, including 12 miles onto the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.About 60,000 residents reside in the district.
Jason Frosch, the fire district’sdirector of administration, said the new station will improve the response times for residences and businesses along U.S. 190 between La. 22 and Interstate 12, and on the eastend of Dove Park and Sharp roads.
The new station is thehome basefor a fire company that had been sharingspace with another companyatastation on La. 22,
CovingtonpastorAlfredYoung Jr. rememberedwithstreetrenaming
BY DARRENCOOPER
Contributing writer
For decades,the Rev.Alfred Young Jr.guided northshore residents on apath to abetter life, and now there’sanactual pathway bearing his name.
The beloved Young, who passed away in 2022 at age 66, was recently honored in Covington as asection of 30th Avenue was officially renamedRev Alfred Young Jr.Memorial Avenue.
Covington MayorMarkJohnson thinks it’sthe first time a road has beennamed for aformer residentofthe town
“TocallPastor Young apillar of the communityisanunderstatement,” Johnson said. “The people whose lives he affected is in the hundreds, andhereally helped transform ahistoric, impoverished community into
astrong middle class one.”
Young is credited with opening achurch in Belize and three different churches on the northshore: FaithBible Church, Covenant Church and the Community Church. Each one had a distinct identity and attracted a largecongregation. Youngrecognized members of hiscongregations and wasknownfor joking that he had to be familiar with “Jesse Jackson in the morning and Rush Limbaugh in the afternoon.
“Rev.Young made such an impact in the city of Covington,”
BY JESSICA SAGGIO
Contributing writer
It’sa time to honor those who have served the country,and St. Tammany is celebrating Veterans Day in grand style this year
Anumber of events are taking place across the parish. Some are triedand true traditional gatherings, but there is asplash of new this year,too. The Mandeville Lakefront will play host to the parish’s newest —and perhaps biggest —Veterans Day celebration this year.But there’sa little somethingfor everyone when it comes to honoring those who have served.
Graves at LaFontaine Hilltop Cemetery in Lacombe were decoratedwith candles on All Saints’ Day— Nov. 1—ina traditionthat dates back at the particular burial site for at least150 years, and likely many more.
Cleaning of the graves is a tradition in the Catholic faith on All Saints’ Day, but the faithful go astepfurtheratmany south Louisiana cemeterieswith candles placed atopeach grave to light the wayfor loved ones to their eternal rest.
Here’sarundown on what’sgoing on and where.
Nov.9:Mandeville Veterans DayParade, Partyand Jambalaya Cook-Off The new Old Mandeville Restaurant &Bar Associationishoping to bring the biggest Veterans Day celebration to the Mandeville Lakefront this year by hosting aparade down Lakeshore Drive that starts at 11 a.m. and culminates in afestival in front of Pat’sRest Awhile and along the lakefront. There will be traditional Veterans Day activities, like the pledge ofallegiance and keynote speaker,Gen. Michael A. Cushman. Aspecial
See GATHERINGS, page 4A
PHOTO
PHOTO BY BOBBYGILBOY
ä See STATION, page 2A
Adecorated graveatLaFontaine Hilltop Cemetery. ä More photos. PAGE 2A
PHOTOSBYGRANT THERKILDSEN
Juliana Grace Laurent and Jimmy Laurent place alit candle atop agrave on AllSaints’Day in Lacombe.
STATION
Continued from page1A
across from the Roquette Lodge.
St ati on 45 is a 6,133-square-foot facility built by Voelkel McWilliams Construction,of Mandeville, at acostof $2.7 million, Froschsaid. Five district staff members will be stationed at the new building. And whileitisthe first station to open in the fire district since 1987, it will soon be followed by another.Construction on Station 46 on La. 1088 just south of Soult Street is nearing completion and could open by early next year
The district’sfirst station at 709 Girod St. opened in 1963; Station 42 on La. 22 was built in 1975; followed by Station 43 on La. 59 in 1985. Twoyears later,Station 44 opened on U.S. 190 near BigBranch
The fire district holds a Class 1ranking from the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana, which rates departments on a1 to 10 scale, with 1being the highest. It is internationally accredited through the Commission on Fire Accreditation, Frosch said.
station.
PHOTOSBYGRANT THERKILDSEN
District Chief Sean Bradyringsthe bell to signal the opening of the newstation.
PHOTOSBYGRANT THERKILDSEN
TheRev.Thomas Kilasaraand DeaconBillCurry praywhile Juliana Grace Laurent holdsthe prayerbook at LaFontaine Hilltop Cemetery.
Deacon Bill Curry blesses the graves as dusk arrivesatLafontaine Hilltop Cemetery.
Avea Nunn lights acandleonAll Saints’ Day.
Chandler Laurent uses steadyhands to light a candle.
Sam Laurent helps illuminatethe graveofSheltonA.LaFrère.