Livingston Parish new shelter space to open in 2026
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
Livingston Parish is building a new animal shelter next door to its current facility to help curb the number of stray animals running amok in the parish.
A group of about 40 local leaders and animal shelter employees gathered March 5 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new animal shelter The building on Florida Boulevard in the Town of Livingston will expand the animal shelter’s capacity Parish President Randy
Delatte said the $3 million shelter should be up and running by the beginning of 2026. It’s being constructed using funds that were already in the parish budget, and the property was donated by town of Livingston Mayor JT Taylor and his administration.
“Tripling the capacity with a new facility is going to allow us to run a true animal control throughout the parish, not just the municipalities but even in the rural areas,” Delatte said. The facility will focus on spaying and neutering animals to better control the
stray animal population, he said.
The parish president’s office said it doesn’t know the exact number of employees the new shelter will hire yet.
The current shelter has nine employees, with about half of them working full time, said shelter director
Desiree Green. Her staff spend a large percentage of their time handling animal control situations, which can sometimes take all day depending on the situation. Green and her staff are hopeful the new shelter will
READY FOR THE DANCE
Students shop for prom apparel to attend ‘A Night to Remember’ in Livingston
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
A group of Walker middle and high school students showed off their best runway walks Friday, surrounded by racks of formal dresses, rows of glittery heels and a range of accessories.
This was a glimpse inside the inaugural free secondhand clothing shopping event for Livingston Parish’s special education students before their prom. The Unique Boutique and Clothier is a twoday only clothing store for the parish’s students
Darlene Denstorff
AROUND LIVINGSTON
Crusade coming to Denham Springs
Go Tell America crusade
set for 7 p.m. March 16-19 at Denham Springs High School’s Yellow Jacket Stadium, 1000 N. Range Ave., Denham Springs. For more information, visit www.gotell-lp.com.
Mammograms offered
Woman’s Hospital is bringing breast imaging to Livingston Parish with its mobile mammography coach, which offers advanced 3D mammogram technology at convenient times and locations across Louisiana.
Physician’s orders are required and appointments are strongly encouraged.
The coach is stopping at LPG Riverside in Maurepas, 18740 La. 22, Maurepas, on March 17. Call (225) 698-3435 to schedule. On March 24, the coach will visit Mandy’s Primary Healthcare, 35701 La. 16, Denham Springs. Call (225) 791-2400 to
Former Live Oak basketball player succeeds at next level
One of the most enjoyable things about being a sports fan is following athletes as they progress and have success in their careers. Which brings me to former Live Oak high school basketball player Bryan Bayonne, who has made a name for himself in the Continental Athletic Conference this season. A senior at Spartanburg, in South Carolina, Methodist College, he was named the conference player of the year earlier this month.
Bayonne led the Pioneers to the championship game of the CAC tournament, where his last-second 3-point attempt was off the mark in a 64-62 loss to Carolina University
For Bayonne, who finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds, it didn’t diminish what he had accomplished over the course of the season. He was named CAC player of the week six times, three times for his offense and three for his defensive work.
Among his top performances, Bayonne had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 106-75 win over Bluefield College on January 3. At the CAC tournament, Bayonne was named
PHOTO BY APRIL BUFFINGTON
Walker High School’s Carah Ellis said yes to her prom dress at the formal clothing shopping event put on by the Livingston Parish School System held at LPPS Suma Center on Friday
groundbreaking on March 3.
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improve both the capacity and staffing issues. The shelter recently started
opening on Friday and Saturday, hoping to increase adoption rates and lower the number of dogs at the shelter There’s been a lot more foot traffic and a few more adoptions, she said “We don’t know the chang-
es that are going to be made yet, as far as intake,” she said. “It will allow us to help the public more.”
Rep. Roger Wilder RDenham Springs, said the shelter will provide a “much needed” upgrade to
improve public safety by managing the number of stray animals in Livingston Parish.
“It also reflects our parish commitment to responsible animal welfare and community health,” Wilder said.
few of Walker High School’s
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attending the March prom for students with significant disabilities and autism. Jacob Franco, a Walker High School tenth grade student, was all smiles as he tried on a blue blazer Franco said it is not his first dance, but it is the first jacket like that. Going to traditional prom with the entire student body can sometimes be too difficult for special needs students because of the lights or crowds. Years ago, Walker High School teacher Angel Roberts decided to arrange a dance that would alleviate these issues for her students. Originally the dance was just for Walker students, since the school has one of the largest special needs departments in the area, she said. The dance hasn’t been held since before the coro-
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schedule.
For more information including the full mammography coach schedule, visit Womans.org.
St. Joseph’s Altar
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church’s St. Joseph Mass will be held at 6 p.m. March 14 at the church and the blessing of the altar will follow at 7 p.m. The annual dinner will be preceded by the ritual of the feeding of the saints.
Following this tableau, the doors to the hall will be opened and the public will be invited to come in for the dinner
St. Patrick’s Day parade
Denham Springs’ Main Street program is holding a St. Patrick’s Day parade March 15. To register or for more information, call parade chair Mitch Droge, (225) 235-2123.
Lenten gumbo Fridays
Dine on seafood gumbo or chicken and sausage gumbo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 14, March 21, March 28, April 4 and April 11 at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 726 Maple St., Denham Springs. The gumbo is $10 per plate. For information, call (225) 665-2707 or email stfrancisgumbo.square.site.
Masquerade Gala planned
The Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce is planning a Masquerade Gala on March 28 at Carter Plantation in Springfield.
The gala includes live music, casino games, prizes and silent and live auctions.
For tickets, visit tinyurl. com/88f6trkf.
Free income tax help
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is providing free tax preparation assistance at the Southeastern Livingston Center, in Walker through April 15. For eligibility guidelines, other information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.cauw.org/VITA or call (225) 923-2114.
DSHS Hall of Fame
The Denham Springs High School Athletic Hall of Fame and title sponsor Hood Dental Care are accepting nominations for its next class of inductees through March 31. Hall of Fame nomination guidelines are available on the high school’s website at www.denhamspringshs.org or by picking up a copy at the school office. For information, contact Julie Jacobsen at julie. jacobsen@lpsb.org or (225) 405-6838.
Baseball, softball signup
Livingston Parks and Recreation’s Baseball and Softball League registration is underway The league is in the last stages of construction on renovations to its facility In the spring, players in the league will be able to compete on five new turf fields with new LED lights. Anyone interested in coaching can email jkinchen@ townoflivingston.com. To register, visit form.jotform. com/250363776892166. March 13 is the registration deadline.
Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@theadvocate. com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
attire
Walker High School’s Nathan
tries on a suit jacket.
navirus pandemic started in spring 2020. “I went to my principal, and I was like, ‘I would love to take the opportunity to
bring it back,’ ” Roberts said. “But
nated clothes from the entire parish, students have the chance to look for short or long formal dresses, suit jackets, ties and more.
“It’s all they’re talking about. You can see when they first walked in, the excitement,” Roberts said.
Velvet Crow, a district special education curriculum coordinator, said the theme for this year’s dance is “Explore” and “A Night to Remember.”
“It’s an opportunity for kids to explore the community and for it to be community based,” she said. Crow and other employees hope after returning this year the dance will grow in attendance in the years to come. The dance is at Walker High School on March 15 and the school district expects about 75 students to attend.
Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD
Livingston Parish elected officials and animal shelter employees use golden shovels to scoop dirt at the new animal shelter
Sherman
Twyler Williams, educator right show Carah Ellis, Walker High School student, how she looks in the mirror at the formal clothing shopping event put on by the Livingston Parish School System held at LPPS Suma Center on Friday.
PHOTOS BY APRIL BUFFINGTON
A
students looks for prom
at the formal clothing shopping event put on by the Livingston Parish School System.
Ernie ‘The Donut King’ Navarre, bakery owner, dies at 70
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
Residents across the southeast Louisiana coast traveled far and wide to a Springfield bakery to try its famous Mardi Gras delicacies. What people remember most about the king cakes is the man who made them.
Ernie Navarre, owner of Navarre’s Famous King Cakes and other shops in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes, died at 70 on Feb. 23, his birthday Community residents subbed the Springfield native ”The Donut King,“ for his prominent legacy as a business owner and friend. Navarre started his first pastry venture in Amite in 1972, when he opened Ernie’s Donut King. It ran for 25 years, until he moved on to his next business The Riverstop in Springfield. The Riverstop lasted seven years, before Navarre moved next door to open his final shop. Navarre’s Famous King Cakes
sells a variety of pastries, including donuts, cinnamon rolls and king cakes, which came in multiple flavors like praline pecan, raspberry and strawberry
“If you ask someone in Tangipahoa Parish their favorite king cake, Navarre’s will inevitably get mentioned,” according to a Northshore king cake guide.
Ebony Alvarado Whittington, of Ponchatoula, moved from Illinois to Louisiana in 2018. She saw a help wanted sign in Navarre’s shop, stopped in and asked for a job application. Navarre interviewed her
“Next thing I knew I was hired on the spot and making king cakes,”
she said. “They quickly became like family to me and I worked for Mr Ernie for three years.”
Whittington always admired the number of regulars and children who would come in just to eat with Navarre, she said.
“He was definitely a big part of many kids’ childhoods,” Whittington said.
LeAnn Threeton Gonzalez of Springfield, grew up going to Navarre’s doughnut shop and said he became like family to her
“You can ask anyone that has been to Navarre’s he was always there with a smile on his face greeting everyone that came through the doors,” Gonzales said.
Keep Hammond Beautiful looking for recycling, cleanup volunteers
Community news report
Keep Hammond Beautiful is looking for volunteers for several recycling and cleanup events.
Volunteers are needed March 15 to help with glass and aluminum recycling at the Hammond Farmers and Artisans Market, at a Hammond Library and another recycling event in the city To volunteer, contact Gina Anthon at ganthon985@gmail.com.
Keep Hammond Beautiful also is making plan for Love the Boot week April 5-13 and an Earth Day cleanup in memory of Barbara McKaskle. For more information, call (985) 277-5955.
Donation to fund stocking redfish in area lakes
Community news report
Fisherman will soon see more redfish in Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas area thanks to a $50,000 donation from Air Products.
Air Products announced the donation to the Recreational Fisheries Research Institute on March 3.
Redfish stocking operations aims to enhance biodiversity support recreational fishing, and maintain the overall health of marine ecosystems, a news release said.
“Air Products is committed to commercial and recreational fishing on Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas and, thanks to this donation, the Recreational Fisher-
ies Research Institute will be able to continue its important work of ensuring redfish are plentiful in Louisiana waterways,” said Danna Leblanc, commercial executive director of the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex. “Already through our Lake Maurepas Community Fund, Air Products has supported fish stocking operations in other areas of Lake Maurepas and we are pleased to be able to continue this important work.”
Randy Pausina, technical adviser for the RFFI, said the contribution “plays a crucial role in supporting our efforts to enhance the redfish population and ensure the sustainability of Louisiana’s fisheries.”
Letters provide look into WWII soldier’s view
BY JAMES MINTON
Contributing writer
Livingston Parish history buffs got a firsthand account of a pivotal battle of World War II and learned a little about the early 20th century farm economy of Denham Springs during a March 1 meeting of the Edward Livingston Historical Society at Old City Hall.
Museum Director Kathleen Dawkins shared excerpts of letters written by her father former 21st Judicial District Judge William M. Dawkins, to her mother, Daisy, during his service as an officer in Army antiaircraft artillery units. His letters expressed how much he appreciated hearing of news from Denham Springs and his native North Louisiana home, but also recounted some of the more harrowing aspects of his duties in Italy France and Germany
Dawkins said her mother kept the letters she received from her husband, but she said her one regret about their correspondence is that she does not have the letters her mother wrote to her father
Because he was always hungry for local news, Dawkins said she suspects her mother’s letters would contain a great deal
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to the all-tournament team after averaging 23.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in three games. The finals appearance was the first for SMC, which was competing in its first season as an NAIA member
Albany girls reach Division II finals
The Albany girls Cinderella run in the Division II non select playoffs ended in the finals with a 62-25 loss to top-seeded Wossman, but it was quite a run for the Hornets and first-year head coach Rebecca Buisson.
Seeded seventh Albany reached the championship game by winning 44-37 in the quarterfinals at North Vermilion and then 52-48 over No. 2 Sterlington in a semifinal game played at Southeastern Louisiana’s University Center
As the only team in District 8-3A that
of news about community life in the 1940s.
In one letter, Dawkins detailed German bombing and artillery attacks on Allied shipping near the invasion landing zone at Anzio, Italy, including a German bomb falling about 50 yards off the stern of the his ship, which carried supplies for the invading force.
“Three days and nights of sitting on bombs and gasoline was a nightmare,” he wrote.
He told of seeing starving Italian civilians once he got ashore, and wrote of “a page written in blood and tears” after five of his comrades were wounded by a German antipersonnel bomb.
Dawkins went on to serve in southern France, which he said reminded him of Louisiana, then Belgium and finally Germany, where he was sent home after the Germans surrendered.
Dawkins recounted that U.S. personnel were instructed not to interact with the German civilians, but said it was hard to ignore the German children who begged GIs for candy and gum.
In the second part of the program, Cissy Benton Grantham explained the important part that an unassuming tin-roofed building in front of the old city hall played in the Denham Springs truck-farming economy
plays up in the playoffs the other league members compete in Division III nonselect Albany did more than show it belonged in the higher division.
Denham Springs boys make state tourney
After a run to the state quarterfinals last season, the Denham Springs boys have already taken their season one step further
The third-seeded Yellow Jackets defeated No. 6 Ruston 53-50 to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2004, when former Jackets great Tasmin Mitchell was a junior Da’Jean Golmond made four 3-pointers and led Denham Springs with 20 points in the win over the Bearcats. Next up, on Thursday the Jackets play No. 2 Central with a chance to avenge a 78-64 loss on January 25.
Charles Salzer covers Livingston sports for the Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate. To reach Salzer, email livingston@ theadvocate.com.
Operated by the Denham Springs Farmers’ Association, the building was designed to allow farmers to drive through it and easily unload their crops for shipping to distant markets.
The association also had a building facing Range Avenue, which still has a reminder of the organization high on its façade.
The shipping shed’s location near an ice plant and the Illinois Central Railroad tracks made it easy for the produce to be shipped to distant markets.
A September 1926 article in the Baton Rouge newspaper reported that the association had its biggest year, with the produce and merchandise it handled amounting to $276,000.
While unfavorable growing conditions during the early spring cut down on the amount of beans sent to market, the loss was made up with the largest strawberry crop
ever marketed in the area, 42,370 crates of berries that netted the growers $134,388, the article says.
The shipping building later became part of the nearby Benton Bros. Furniture complex. The visitors also stopped by the Heritage House antique store across the street from the old farm association building, where they heard stories of two ghosts, a woman and a child, that have reportedly been seen in the upstairs section of the building, which served as a boardinghouse for years.
The historic association’s next meeting will be at 10 a.m. April 5 at the Hilltop Inn Restaurant on the Amite River Diversion Canal south of French Settlement Owner Richard Simoneaux, a former dragline operator, will speak on his experiences in dredging the diversion canal. Anyone interested in Livingston Parish history is invited to attend.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Cissy Benton Grantham leads members of the Edward Livingston Historical Association on a tour of the building with tin siding and roof in front of the old Denham Springs City Hall that served as a produce shipping point for the Denham Springs Farmers Association in the 1920s. The building later became an annex for her family’s furniture store and is now part of the downtown Denham Springs antique district.
Kathleen Dawkins, right, shared some of the wartime experiences of her father Judge William M. Dawkins, to members of the Edward Livingston Historical Association on March 1. Her granddaughter, Ashlyn Dyer, prepares to read an excerpt from a 1943 letter from Dawkins to his wife, Daisy
Members of the Edward Livingston Historical Society learned about the history of the Denham Springs Farmers’ Association during a recent meeting
PROVIDED PHOTO BY LEANN THREETON GONZALEZ
Ernie Navarre, owner of Navarre’s Famous King Cakes in Springfield with LeAnn Threeton Gonzalez, left, and Hayley Smith.
SLU Kinesiology Department celebrates 85 years
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University’s Kinesiology and Health Studies Department is celebrating its 85th year with a Birthday Bash outside
SLU computer science department to host Industry Connect Lecture
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University’s Department of Computer Science is hosting the second of the spring Industry Connect Distinguished Lectures at 4 p.m. March 20.
Casey
Scheduled in the Envoc Innovation Lab, located in room 2026 in the Computer Science and Technology Bui ldin g, the free lecture is titled “The Art of IT.” Brandon Casey, owner of Lagniappe IT in Mandeville, will serve as guest speaker. He provides comprehensive IT support and cybersecurity services for small businesses. Casey will discuss his journey and key topics, such as engineering, OSI models, and the challenges small businesses face in today’s digital revolution.
Guests are welcome to attend in person at the Computer Science and Technology building or virtually via Google Meet To be added to the RSVP list and receive all event details, email industryconnect@southeastern.edu. For more information, contact the Department of Computer Science at (985) 549-5740.
the Kinesiology and Health Studies building on campus at 400 Mane St., Hammond. The event is set from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 15. “Join us on March 15 as we cel-
ebrate this incredible milestone,” said Kinesiology and Health Studies
Department Head Charity Bryan said the event will include “great food, music and games for the entire family, as well as
tion throughout the
Tickets for the celebration are on sale and include crawfish, jambalaya and a cash bar managed by Benny’s Place. Those who order
SLU represents at American College Dance Association
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University dance students attended the 52nd American College Dance Association annual conference in Norman, Oklahoma, at the University of Oklahoma last month.
Southeastern performed one faculty work and one student work in the ACDA Adjudicated Concert, with nationally known adjudicators giving feedback on the choreography performed in the informal concert.
The student-choreographed piece titled “The Flies” was selected to be performed for the Gala during the conference.
Southeastern student Carlie Dodd, of Greenwell Springs, choreographed the piece, which was performed by Cali Boudreaux, of Gramercy; Kairah Senegal, of Lafayette; and Dodd.
When asked about choreographing the piece, Dodd said she has only ever dreamed of an opportunity like this. She began studying contemporary dance when she was 10, and immediately fell in love with it and started playing with her own choreography by the time she was 11.
“When I graduated high school, I took a few years off of dance due to lacking an outlet,” she said. “Then I learned about Dance Performance Project in the fall of 2023. To have my work put onstage at this level has been such a dream that I never thought I’d have, especially when I had to stop dancing. It’s been an incredible experience that I couldn’t have accomplished without all the hard work and dedication from the other two dancers.”
Two additional Southeastern pieces were per-
Southeastern Louisiana University dance students attended the 52nd American College Dance Association annual conference at the University of Oklahoma last month. From left, are Southeastern dance students and Dance Performance Project company members Carlie Dodd of Greenwell Springs, Kairah Senegal of Lafayette, and Cali Boudreaux of Gramercy
formed at the conference. Faculty choreographer and Southeastern Director of Dance Skip Costa presented “When we lose our why, we always lose our way,” performed by Dodd.
An additional student work titled “Ways” was performed in the Informal Concert The student choreographer was Senegal, and the dancers were Boudreaux and Senegal.
“I am so proud of our dedicated and professional students that make up Southeastern
Dance, especially when they receive a title after showing work against large university programs with over 80 dance majors and several offering master of arts and master of fine arts in dance degrees,” said Southeastern Director of Dance Skip Costa.
A total of 14 universities from across the country, including Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas, attended the conference.
SLU health systems management program goes online this summer
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University’s Health Systems Management Program will be offered 100% online for incoming students beginning this summer university officials announced. The program is designed to prepare graduates who are able to understand current and future healthcare industry trends and issues; develop, communicate and manage resources, and develop solutions to challenges for healthcare systems; and improve overall quality and outcomes of health care systems and services, a news release said Department Head of Health and
Human Sciences’ Jacqueline Guendouzi said Southeastern’s program offers hands-on, semester-long internships in the healthcare field, meets workforce needs in healthcare, and includes a nonclinical curriculum. “Students who graduate with a bachelor of science in health systems management can work as health coaches, human resources representatives and administrative assistants in hospitals, managed care companies and for insurance providers,” she said. For more information about the program, contact the Department of Health and Human Sciences at hhs@southeastern.edu or at (985) 549-2309.
Meet America’s Favorite Fisherman at the Louisiana Sportsman Show.JimmyHoustonhad such agood time at the2024 Show,thatheis returningin2025. Jimmyand his boatwill be at theshowMarch 28-30!
TheLouisiana Sportsman Show features indoor and outdoor exhibitsfromsome of thebiggest vendorsinthe
