BSA Troop 51 of Jackson will have its annual garage sale
March 8 at the Jackson Civic Center The garage sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Teacher job fair
West Feliciana Parish Schools welcomes educators to a Teacher Job Fair on March 15, with interview appointments available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m
This event is an opportunity for teachers to meet school leaders, explore job openings, and discover what makes the district a great place to work a news release said.
For job fair details and to schedule an interview, visit www.wfpsb.org and go to the Teacher Job Fair page.
Movie event set in Jackson
The Jackson Branch of the Audubon Regional Library will hold an Emotions in Motion event at 2 p.m. March 14. The event starts with a movie followed by an AI-generated game. Call the branch to sign up.
Learn about area’s business Applications are open for Leadership North 2025
Hosted by the Zachary Chamber of Commerce, the course focuses on communication skills, strategic thinking, tam building and community engagement It’s a chance to meet and learn from local business leaders and others It includes field trips.
Spots are limited, and the deadline is Feb. 28. The course meets once a month beginning in April and runs through September Cost is $600 per student, which includes meals Sign up at www.zacharychamber.com.
Ball registration open
West Feliciana Parks & Recreation has opened registration for baseball, softball and T-ball. Deadline is March 14. Costs is $90
Visit www.wfprec.com to register Call (225) 784-8447 for information. Academy practice is at 5:30 p.m., March 19, based on level. Practices are March 24-April 11. Games are April 14 to June 6 Coaches and referees are needed.
Lane readies for cook-off
Lane Foundation’s 10th annual Code Red Chili & Salsa CookOff, set for Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., in Downtown Zachary, 4650 Main Street. The competition is open to amateurs and professionals of all ages. There are five cooking competition categories: Judges Red Chili, Judges Non-Traditional, Judges Salsa, People’s Choice Chili and People’s Choice Salsa. The Team Spirit award about how well the team embodies the spirit of the cook-off through their presentation, team costumes, decorations and overall attitude. Admission and parking to the family-friendly event are free.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
O’Neill Sanford relaxes among memorabilia from his college band directing career in
was the University of Minnesota’s first African American marching band director
FOLLOW THE MUSIC
How a kid from East Feliciana Parish became the first Black band director in the Big Ten
BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
Call it the day the music died at the University of Minnesota. The temperature was somewhere below zero, but that didn’t stop 70,000-plus fans from filling Huntington Bank Stadium.
O’Neill “Doc” Sanford doesn’t remember who the Golden Gophers were playing that day, but he does recall the frigid air’s bite. He was the band director, and it wasn’t
just chilly that day — it was brutally cold.
Despite that, everyone was waiting for the band to run out of the stadium’s end zone tunnel to begin its pregame show
“We were warming up in the tunnel, waiting to run on the field,” Sanford said. “When it came time, we’d run out to the end zone and march out on the field to do the ‘Gophers’ spell-out.”
But when the 300-piece band began to play John Philip Sousa’s “Minnesota March,” which traditionally brought them on the
West Feliciana coach’s connection with sisters grows over more than a decade
BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer
Coaching three siblings on the same basketball team seems like an unusual challenge. West Feliciana coach Tim Washing-
ton says coaching the Berry sisters was meant to be.
“They are all starters for us, good kids and good basketball players,” Washington said. “More than anything else, I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason.
“Being part of their journey as a
teacher in middle school and now as their high school coach means the world. It’s special.”
The 11th-seeded Saints (18-6) host No. 22 Assumption (12-16) at 6 p.m. Thursday to tip off the LHSAA’s Division II nonselect playoffs. Washington shares a nearly 14-yearold story that the sisters and some in the West Feliciana community know and understand.
“I was an assistant coach for the boys team and their father, Sylvester
field, no music came out of their horns
None.
“Their horns were frozen,” Sanford said. “I didn’t know it was that cold. Even they didn’t know it was that cold. And they stood there playing, but no music was coming out.”
He can laugh about it now in the warmth of his Baton Rouge home, but back then? Well, not so much.
Parade uses canine theme to aid animal welfare
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Contributing writer
Tails were wagging in time and the featured guests were barking for the cause as the West Feliciana
Humane Society Friends hosted Krewe de Canine’s inaugural Rollin’ on the River dog parade Saturday in Parker Park.
The group dedicated to local animal welfare has been in operation for more than a decade providing rescue and adoption services through the nonprofit that operates a no-kill shelter In that time, they have hosted numerous fundraisers, including the famed Wags and Whiskers Gala, but the parade was a first.
The Parker Park venue was packed and lively with dogs of all sizes and a few stuffed animals that could also be registered as parade entries.
Event organizer Pam Malara was surprised and encouraged by the response.
“We had 53 participating entries, which blows our mind, because we did not expect that much for our inaugural
PROVIDED PHOTO
From left, Sa’Lacia Berry, Sa’Maria Berry and Sa’Naya Berry, of West Feliciana High School
Animal
PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Mardi Gras-garbed golden retriever Gus leaves the Krewe de Canine’s inaugural Rollin’ on the River dog parade Saturday.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER
his home office. Sanford grew up in Slaughter and
AROUND
Continued from page 1G
There will be an arts and crafts market, kids zone, games, food trucks and live music at the gazebo all day Team entry fees range from $40 -$60. Compete in one category or all! To register a team, sponsor the event, participate in the arts & crafts market, or volunteer, contact the Lane Foundation office at (225) 658-6699 or email tpayment@lanermc.org. Proceeds from the Code Red Chili & Salsa Cook-Off will benefit the Lane Foundation.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Olivia McNeely Pass is one of two artists whose work in being exhibited at the Poydras Center, 500 West Main, New Roads.
Exhibit features Feliciana artist Poydras Center, 500 W. Main St. in New Roads, is sponsoring a duo art exhibition of Louisiana artists Kellie Martin Smith and Olivia McNeely Pass through March. The center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A retired college English and journalism professor, Pass is an impressionist painter who lives in St. Francisville and is a member of the Art Guild of Louisiana. Help the Wildflower Project
The Feliciana Wildflower Project & Festival is holding a committee meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at 11321 Old South Drive in Clinton. The festival is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7 in downtown Clinton. Visit www.facebook.com/FelicianaWildflowerProject for information.
Former band director to speak East Feliciana’s Unified Alumni Association is holding a Mardi Gras Gala at 7 p.m. March 1 Former Clinton High and Southern University band director Lawrence Jackson will be the speaker Tables seat eight and cost $300. Individual tickets are $40. Attire is formal.
The event is at the East Feliciana STEAM Academy 9414 Plank Road, in Clinton.
Save the date
n March 8: Rouge Roubaix bicycle race, St. Francisville n March 9: Uncorked Food & Wine Showcase, St. Francisville
n March 16: Songbird Fundraising Concert
n March 22: Tunica Hills Music Festival & Jam Session
Send news and events for East and West Feliciana parishes to extra@theadvocate.com by noon Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
Continued from page 1G
Southerner in Minnesota
Sanford’s unfamiliarity with Minnesota’s climate was only natural. He’d grown up in the East Feliciana Parish countryside and primarily lived in Southern states before moving to the Midwest’s northernmost region.
Weather wasn’t Sanford’s only challenge in the move. He was the first African-American hired to head the band department at the predominantly White University of Minnesota, not to mention the first Black band director in the NCAA’s Big Ten athletic conference. Not bad for a kid from Slaughter who was initially denied entry into his high school band program. This was in the early 1960s, when East Feliciana’s schools were segregated.
The White kids went to Clinton High School, while the Black kids were students at East High, now an elementary school on the north side of town.
Discovering the trombone
Sanford and his sisters spent their summers with their aunt in New Orleans. His mother wanted her children to be exposed to the culture a bigger city had to offer and their aunt was happy to oblige.
The only problem was Sanford wasn’t interested in shopping sprees with his aunt and sisters, so he often was dropped off at Louis Armstrong Park, where he’d listen to the street bands play and where he was introduced to the trombone.
When it came time to pick an instrument to play in his high school band, he decided on the trombone. That is, until the band director told him he had no rhythm or musical ability
But one person’s opinion is just that, and Sanford quickly learned this lesson in his sophomore year He’d spent a short time playing quarterback in football practices, which ended when a 230-pound linebacker mowed him down on the football field.
Band director and mentor
When the band director a woman, took maternity leave, New Orleans band director Earl Cheri stepped in to take over Sanford approached Cheri about playing the trombone.
“I told him about auditioning for the other band director, and he said he wouldn’t audition me,”
Sanford said. “He said if I was interested in playing, I could be in the band. But, he asked, ‘Will your parents buy you an instrument?’ I said, ‘I don’t know.’”
So, Cheri drove Sanford home and had dinner with the kid’s family
“My father asked me, ‘Is this something you really want to do?’” Sanford said. “He believed that once you started something, you didn’t quit. I told him I wanted to do this.”
This was a time when Sears & Roebuck sold everything from prefabricated houses to musical instruments. Sanford and his dad made a trip to the department store and bought a trombone.
Cheri, meanwhile, would become Sanford’s lifelong mentor When Sanford entered Southern University with the intent of majoring in engineering, Cheri, who was back in New Orleans by
that time, made a special trip to Slaughter to pick up Sanford’s mother and bring her to Southern.
Changing his major
The duo convinced Sanford that he was a musician, not an engineer So, Sanford changed his major to music education, marched with the Human Jukebox, performed with other ensembles and learned everything he could about music.
Years later, upon learning that his mentor was dying, Sanford made a trip to New Orleans. Upon seeing Sanford, Cheri expressed how proud he was of his protégé.
“I said, ‘You know, Mr Cheri, if I had not let you talk me into changing my major from engineering to music, my Learjet would be waiting for me at the airport right now,’” Sanford said.
“He started laughing, and the nurse told me that was the first time he had laughed since he had become sick. He was sitting up in bed by the end of our visit.”
Sanford relied a lot on Cheri’s advice through the years, as well as that of former LSU Provost Huel Perkins, who chaired the music department at Southern University when Sanford was a student there. It was Perkins who advised
SISTERS
Continued from page 1G
Berry, stopped by my house after the season,” Washington said. “I was getting ready to go on a cruise the next day and was going to propose to my girlfriend. We talked about that and about basketball.
“He told me he wished I coached girls, so I could coach his daughters. We played in an adult basketball league game that night. I told him I would see him when I got back.”
Washington never saw Sylvester Berry again. The next day Washington got a call
Sanford to take a job as band director at Sevier High School in Ferriday immediately after graduating college. Sanford and his wife, Rosa, had married in his junior year, and she had just given birth to their son at the end of his senior year
Headed to Mississippi Valley
Sanford needed to support his family, so he took the job, stayed a year then moved on to the historically Black Mississippi Valley State University as arranger and trombone instructor a year later He would later be the school’s director of bands.
This was in the early 1970s, and racism was still a hot issue in Mississippi. Nonetheless, he went.
While there, he took a sabbatical to earn his master’s degree at VanderCook Music College in Chicago. Sanford’s wife and son lived with family in Baton Rouge while Sanford paid his tuition by playing blues gigs three nights a week and delivering furniture in the mornings getting less than four hours of sleep each night.
Stories within a story
Sanford tells his life story through such anecdotes, like how Mississippi Valley was his first experience in a college music department equipped with full
telling him Berry was killed in a car crash in the St. Francisville area.
“I feel like I owe to them and their father to give them all I have as a coach,” said Washington, now in his 10th year as the West Feliciana girls coach. “I taught them in middle school. Now I coach them just like he wanted.”
Sa’Maria Berry, a 5-foot-11 senior, averages 17 points per game to help lead the Saints and is one of two seniors on the team. She recently scored her 1,000th career point. Sa’Naya is a sophomore guard and Sa’Lacia is a freshman guard.
The oldest Berry sister cried when Washington told her the story about her
instrumentation; how he became director of bands at Black Virginia State College, now Virginia State University; and how a fellow Virginia State faculty member submitted Sanford’s name for the Minnesota job, believing Sanford was more than qualified to work in the Big Ten.
Sanford never intended to make the move. But he boarded the plane at the last minute, forgetting his original music compositions needed for the job audition.
Upon his arrival, he asked for score paper — paper with empty musical staffs — then walked to a convenience store near his hotel to buy pencils and spent the night creating a new composition with full band instrumentation. A standing ovation
Sanford conducted Minnesota’s band in playing this composition, and at the end, the students gave him a standing ovation. Meanwhile, at home, his wife was delivering their second son.
Sanford was named director in 1976 and stayed nine years in Minnesota before taking the director of bands job at the University of Pittsburgh. Then came a stint back home to help his dad with the family rental business after his mother’s death. He finally landed at the historically Black Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Sanford worked as principal recruiter for Jackson State University’s band after retiring from Norfolk and, at age 81, continues to head the HBCU National Band Directors Consortium sponsored by band instruments manufacturer Conn Selmer while conducting band clinics throughout the world.
But that all happened after Minnesota, where Sanford exposed the band to new music, brought his 300-piece ensemble to such places as Spain and Mexico and stood with them on the field the day the music died.
They called him Doc, though he didn’t have a doctorate’s degree, and in 2022, the university asked Doc back to conduct the band during a halftime.
And while the band spelled his name on the field, the music was alive and well.
father during her sophomore season. The story has since been shared with her younger siblings. There is a bond with the girls’ mother Monica Harris, who was two grades ahead of Washington when they attended West Feliciana.
“Coach Washington was my P.E. teacher through middle school, so he has been part of my life for a while,” Sa’Maria Berry said. “Hearing that story did make me cry But I think it also adds to our story
“We know we have someone in this place who is looking out for us. And we know why He (Washington) was a friend to both of my parents. I think this is special.”
The Saints got off to a
rocky start before putting together a 16-game winning streak. Back-to-back District 6-4A losses to St. Michael and league champion Brusly forced the Saints to refocus. West Feliciana ended the regular season with a win over Istrouma. “One younger sister (Sa’Naya) is a sophomore and the other (Sa’Lacia) is a freshman,” Washington said. “We’re a young team and Sa’Maria is a leader The two older sisters helped the youngest sister adjust to varsity basketball.
“They make sure she’s straight and they keep each other straight. This is something. Like I said, I’m proud to be part of this with them.”
O’Neill Sanford was named director of bands at Norfolk State University later in his career Here, he’s pictured with the university’s Spartan Legion Marching Band.
PROVIDED PHOTOS BY O’NEILL SANFORD
O’Neill Sanford directs the University of Minnesota during a Big Ten football game. Sanford, who grew up in East Feliciana Parish, was the university’s first African American marching band director
PROVIDED PHOTO
West Feliciana girls basketball coach Tim Washington
PARADE
Continued from page 1G
parade,” she said. “We are just overwhelmed by the support and the love of the people of St. Francisville for this magnificent shelter.” Shelter and organization volunteer Jamie Stallone said more $13,000 was raised during the event and the money will be used to help feed and vet the animals and keep facilities operating.
“I hope everyone knows how much we at WFAHS cherish the generous donations of both time and money,” she said. “Yes, such events help keep the physical shelter afloat, but they also bring that much more meaning to the efforts of our volunteers. I, and others, felt like we were getting a big hug today and that is invaluable.”
Malara explained that donations and sponsorships covered all the event costs. “I’m very proud because 100 percent of all proceeds go directly to the animal shelter,” she said. “Our committee absorbed all the costs associated with the parade, and a lot of people donated items like banners and things like that to help us out.
“It was just an amazing event, and we feel so blessed to live in St. Francisville.”
The West Feliciana animal shelter facility was founded in 2012 Local animal lover James Bryant donated the money to start the construction. Before that time, the group only had a few holding kennels at the parish jail.
The facility includes several kennels for dogs and a large, indoor cat house. The volunteers now can provide a no-kill shelter that saves 95% of the stray West Feliciana pet population, as opposed to the previous figure of less than 10%.
For more information and to view animals available for adoption, visit wfahs. org.
Weight loss issues and insight were part of the prescription when a medical weight loss specialist led an informal discussion Feb. 7 at the West Feliciana Parish Library
The call went out to local residents who might be taking a GLP-1 medication like Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, Wegovy, semaglutide or tirzepatide or who might be considering these drugs for blood sugar control, weight loss, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease.
Dr Drake Bellanger, a local bariatric specialist, focused on weight loss strategies, including medications and dietary advice emphasizing the importance of sustainable diets and exercise programs.
Weight loss injectables have added more options for those struggling with excess weight, but Bellenger stressed that no solution is one-size-fits-all
“Whatever works for you works,” he said. “No two people are alike, so I try to get a feel for what they want. Hey, some just want some diet information.”
Several injectable medications have been introduced in recent years to aid in weight loss and the most popular ones fall into the category of GLP-1 agonists — glucagon-like peptide 1 that are also used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
Bellenger explained the difference lies in how the medicines work in the body Some suppress appetite and promote feelings of fullness
Dr Drake
a local bariatric
conducts a Q&A session Feb 7 at the West Feliciana
Library. Bellanger focused on injectable drugs used for weight loss.
like Ozempic while others target additional hormones, potentially leading to greater weight loss like Mounjaro.
The audience of participants offered plenty of feedback as well as questions. They shared what brought them to consider weight loss drugs and offered practical solutions to issues like lack of energy, addressing side effects or ways to get in daily nutrients.
Bellanger, a Lafourche Parish native, is board certified in obesity medicine with a history as a bariatric surgeon and a medical weight loss specialist. He practices through the Louisiana Center for Bariatrics at Baton Rouge General Hospital.
EAST AND WEST FELICIANA COUNCIL ON AGING
The schedules for West and East Feliciana Council on Aging facilities are as follows:
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: Nutrition education
WEDNESDAYS: Exercise/yoga
THURSDAYS: Bible study
FRIDAYS: Bingo/movie/excursion
n All people 60 and older in West Feliciana Parish are invited to join.
n For transportation to the center or questions, call (225) 635-6719.
EAST FELICIANA
n 11102 Bank St., Clinton n 3699 La. 10, Jackson
Wednesday, Feb 26
DEVOTIONAL: 11:15 a.m.
The West Feliciana Animal Humane Society Friends hosted Krewe de Canine’s inaugural Rollin’ on the River dog parade in Parker Park. Canine reveler and former shelter dog Jolene, right, greets Joy who is currently up for adoption while celebrating with organizers, from left, group treasurer and fundraiser Peggy Lucky, shelter lead volunteer worker Jamie Stallone, and benefit parade organizer Pam Malara.
PROVIDED PHOTO
The following people were booked into the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center between Feb. 10-16:
Transportation Transportation is provided to East Feliciana Parish residents of any age for appointments in East Feliciana, West Feliciana and East Baton Rouge parishes Monday through Friday. Call (225) 6839862 to schedule a transportation appointment.
Tunica Trace, Angola; possession Schedule III narcotics ALLEN, MICHAEL: 38; 17544 Tunica Trace; possession of contraband, simple possession marijuana or synthetic marijauna WHITE, ANTHONY: 56; 17544 Tunica Trace, Angola; possession of contraband
SMITH, MARTY: 51; 26618 La. 42, Holden; possession Schedule II narcotics, simple possession marijuana or synthetic marijuana, possession drug paraphernalia, improper lane usage, operating vehicle while license is suspended, no proof of insurance, probation violation
LAMBERT, JOSHUA: 33; 30974 Carter Cemetery Road, Springfield; fugitive warrant
FEB. 16
MIMS, SAMILLION: 21; 8247 Carver Road, St. Francisville; disturbing the peace fistic encounter, criminal mischief/ false report COATES, LESLIE: 39; 9857 Street D, St. Francisville; disturbing the peace fistic encounter, criminal mischief/ false report WILSON, LORI: 39; 2647
Mardi Gras cape-clad Kimber waits while Maya Ward grabs a snack after the Krewe de Canine’s inaugural Rollin’ on the River dog parade.
Woody the rescue came to the rescue of other rescues during the Krewe de Canine’s inaugural Rollin’ on the River dog parade. After ditching his costume, he shared a moment with his companions Callie Kemp, left, and Sophie Kemp.
PHOTOS BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Parading golden retriever Gus leaves the Krewe de Canine’s inaugural Rollin’ on the River dog parade Saturday with his people, from left, Ava Beecham, Anabelle Dubroc and Nicole Kora.
PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Bellanger
specialist,
Parish
PROVIDED PHOTOS
East Feliciana schools employee named officer for state association
Community news report
Latrice Smith, director of exceptional student services for East Feliciana public schools, was recently named treasurer of the Louisiana Association of Special
Education Administrators.
“We are proud to celebrate Ms. Smith for her commitment to being a leader not just for our district, but for the entire state,” said Superintendent Keisha L. Netterville.
Slaughter Elementary kindergarten students lead announcements
Super Retriever Series Classic heading to St. Francisville
The Super Retriever Series and High Flying Super Dock dogs will be in St. Francisville on April 11-13. SUPER RETRIEVER SERIES
Community news report
The Super Retriever Series is set to showcase retrievers and sporting dogs as well as the top High Flying Super Dock dogs in the country in April in St. Francisville.
The Super Retriever Series will feature more than 100 dogs competing in outdoor sports in the field and on the dock for four days of competition starting with the Retriever Trials on April 10-13, at various locations within the vicinity and the SRS Super Dock competition April 11-13, at Feliciana Parish Sports Park.
All events are free to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and watch teams compete in dock and in the field. Teams can qualify for the SRS Crown Championship to be held Oct 2-13 in Shreveport
“We are excited to be coming for the very first time to showcase the SRS Sporting dogs,” said Shannon Nardi, producer of the SRS. “Louisiana is the Sportsman’s Paradise, and our retriever teams, as well as our Dock Jumping Dogs, will feel right at home.”
The public is encouraged to come jump their own dog that Friday through Sunday in the Fun Jump hours On Saturday and Sunday, competition begins. Super Fly and Super V are parts of the competition and are like a track and field event as they do the long jump, the high jump, and a speed race called Raider Run.
In addition to the SRS Super Dock, there will be the SRS Retriever Trials, which is a hybrid style of retriever trial that includes hunt tests, field trials and all-around hunt savvy
“We are honored to host the SRS here in St. Francisville. West Feliciana Parish is the perfect backdrop for such a fun and unique event,” said Devan Corbello, executive director of Visit St. Francisville. “We look forward to welcoming the
APRIL 10
WHAT: Retriever Trials WHEN: 8 a.m. WHERE: 7485 U.S. 61, St Francisville, behind the gas station
APRIL 11
WHAT: Retriever Trials continued WHEN: 8 a.m. WHERE: To be announced WHAT: SRS Super Dock WHERE: West Feliciana Sports Park, 10226 W. Feliciana Parkway St Francisville WHEN: 1 p.m.: check-in/fun jumps and warm-up
2 p.m.: fun jumps
3 p.m.-5 p.m.: fun jumps and practice
APRIL 12
WHAT: Retriever Trials continued WHEN: 8 a.m. WHERE: To be announced WHAT: SRS Super Dock WHEN:
8 a.m.: Competitor check-in and warm-up
9 a.m.: Super Fly — Splash 1 10 a.m.: Fun jumps
a.m.: Super Fly — Splash 2 Noon: Fun jumps 1 p.m.: Raider Run (all-in-one finals)
3 p.m.: Super V (all-in-one finals)
APRIL 13
WHAT: Retriever Trials continued WHEN: 8 a.m.
WHAT: SRS Super Dock
8 a.m.: competitor check-in and warm-up
9 a.m.: Super Fly — Splash 3
10 a.m.: fun jumps
11
competitors spectators, and of course, our four-legged friends to our beautiful parish.” Nardi said, “The Super Dock is a great family-fun event. Where else would you be able to watch dogs fly through the air at distances up to 25 feet and heights up to seven feet? These dogs are amazing athletes.” Retriever Trials will showcase past SRS Crown Champions as well as the best all-
around retrievers from all over the country The 2025 SRS Classic here in St. Francisville will have a cash and prize packages for the competitors. The Retriever Trial event will be livestreamed each day starting April 10 and through the finals April 13 on YouTube Super Retriever Series. The schedule will be listed on the website as well as on the Super Retriever Series Facebook page.
East Feliciana Parish School Board honors top students for February
Community news report
Superintendent Keisha L Netterville and the East Feliciana Parish School Board recognized East Feliciana Public Schools’ February Students of the Month at the board’s Feb. 4 meeting. These students include Charles Leggett, Quad Area Head Start; Princeton Thomas, Clinton Elementary School; Korlin Davis, Jackson Elementary School; Carter Dighton, Slaughter Elementary School; Elijah Causey East
Feliciana STEAM Academy; Zyviaryah WilliamsRobinson, East Feliciana Middle School; and Jy’rin Winn, East Feliciana High School. “Our schools are celebrating this month’s Students of the Month for being wellrounded students. We are proud to recognize the hard work and positive influence of each of these students and their families,” said Netterville. “Our students are the reason we have homegrown pride in East Feliciana Public Schools.”
Smith
PROVIDED PHOTO
Kindergarten pledgers Clara Shoemaker Felix Taylor and Londyn Davis in Linda Gibbs class at Slaughter Elementary School lead the morning announcements with the principal Jan. 10.
Jy’rin Winn, East Feliciana High School
Zyviaryah WilliamsRobinson, East Feliciana Middle School
Elijah Causey, East Feliciana STEAM Academy
Carter Dighton, Slaughter Elementary School Korlin Davis, Jackson Elementary School Princeton Thomas, Clinton Elementary School
Charles Leggett, Quad Area Head Start
Alpha Mu installs members, honors
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
The Alpha Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma installed a new member into the teacher’s organization Feb. 8.
Club members also surprised a long-standing member with a special award of excellence
June Donze was installed by President
Beth Box with First Vice President Peggy Reno, Second Vice President Julee Blanchard and immediate past president Kathy Welch taking part in the ceremony Donze was presented with a certificate and pin by Box and welcomed by the 14 members present.
Beth Dawson, a member of the Alpha Mu Chapter for 41 years, was honored a nd thanked for her dedication to Alpha Mu and her extended community
Dawson served as chapter president twice. She also served twice as second vice president and then as president on the state level. Before presenting her with her certificate, a list of some of her worthwhile contributions and activities to her town, parish and state were read aloud from four pages of typed notes.
Dawson has been an active member of the Jackson United Methodist Church, including involvement with everything from Vacation Bible School to serving on the church board. She has been involved in numerous Christian outreach programs/ organizations such as Cursillo, Kairos, Kairos Outside and more.
Dawson’s educational credentials include a B.A. degree and a M.A. degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and earned 30+ from Southeastern and Southern University
She was a teacher for 33 years, including two were at Silliman Institute and 30 at Jackson High School. After retirement, she served for 15 years on the East Feliciana Parish School Board. She served as president of the East Feliciana Retired Teachers Association, of which
she has been a member for 18 years. Dawson served as regent twice for the Alexander Stirling Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as well as serving in other capacities such as planning patriotic observances to honor veterans. She wrote for the
weekly newspapers and submitted news and photos to The Advocate for the DAR as well as other groups/organizations for many years. She served unofficially as photographer for countless school activities while at JHS. She often took visiting foreign exchange students under her wing and helped show them the state as well as local places. She has served actively on the Keep Feliciana Beautiful Committee, the Jackson Tourism Enhancement Committee, and the East Feliciana Drug and Alcohol Awareness Council. She has worked as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, was director of the In His Name Food Bank and served on the Eagle Scout Review Board. She was affiliated for numerous years with the 4-H Club and served on the 4-H Foundation. She has been a narra-
tor for the Old Hickory
Railroad She was the first female member of the Jackson Lions Club, which she joined in 2013 and is active in their numerous activities along with her husband, Scotty Dawson. She is a former Girl Scout leader and supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For many years, Dawson has given talks to schools, clubs and other organizations about the Bataan Death March during WWII. She tells the story of how her father survived that march and about his years as a prisoner of war She assumed the leadership role when asked for the Baton Rouge area organization of POWs for several years. She is a mother grandmother and greatgrandmother. In years past, her hobbies have included ceramics and cross-stitch.
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Alpha Mu officers participating in the installation ceremony, from the left, are First Vice President Peggy Reno, Second Vice President Julee Blanchard and Candy Metz, recent past president.
New member of Alpha Mu, June Donze, center, stands with President Beth Box, left, and first Vice President Peggy Reno after Donze’s Feb 8 installation ceremony
Beth Dawson, left with Beth Box, president of the Alpha Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.
Assisi Heights celebrates February birthdays
PROVIDED PHOTO
From left, Earl Barrow, Jacquelyn Greenup, Linda Stevens, Ruffin Williams, Lee Cavalier, Peggy Pittman and Wilbert Riley, tenants at Assisi Heights, gather for bingo and to celebrate February birthdays. Southern’s Ag Center donates hygiene kits to East Feliciana basketball teams
