Deputies wrangle 9-foot gator out
of a Maurepas kitchen
Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
Cavalier House Books sets book signing for Louisiana’s astronaut
Louisiana astronaut Hayley
Arceneaux is coming back to the state to promote her new picture book “Astronaut Hayley’s Brave Adventure!”
She’ll be signing and discussing her book at 2 p.m. April 5 at Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs.
Arceneaux, who attended school in Baton Rouge and has roots in West Feliciana, is a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a career she committed to after surviving pediatric bone cancer She served as an ambassador for the hospital when she joined the first allcivilian orbital space mission, Inspiration4, in 2021. At 29, she became the youngest American to orbit the earth, the first astronaut with a prosthetic body part, and the first pediatric cancer survivor to go to space.
Hungarian Heritage Day
Visit the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian Church, 30795 Hungarian Presbyterian Church Road, Hammond, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for Hungarian Heritage Day
The free event features vendor booths, goulash cook-off, Hungarian dancing and tours of the museum, church and cemetery For more information, call Mindy Starkey at (985) 9746883 or Emily Miller, (985) 874-2667.
Breast cancer screening
Woman’s Hospital brings breast imaging to Livingston Parish with its mobile mammography coach. A physician’s order is required, and appointments are strongly encouraged The coach will stop at RKM Primary Care in Springfield on April 11. Call (225) 395-8022 to schedule. Visit Mandy’s Primary Healthcare in Denham Springs on April 21 for the screening Call (225) 791-2400 to schedule. For more information including the full mammography coach schedule visit Womans. org.
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BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s depu-
ties wrangled a 9-foot alligator out of someone’s kitchen Thursday night with the help of a volunteer and released the ambitious gator back into the wild
“The family tells us this gator broke in through their screened-in porch,” Lori Steele, sheriff’s office spokeswoman, said. The 911 call came in about 10 p.m. from a Maurepas home on the Division Canal in the Waterfront East subdivision.
Sgt. Bradley Harrell and Deputy Nicholas Bean were able to get a rope around the alligator’s head,
with one of the officers at one point standing on the kitchen island to get good traction on the rope.
A video of the safe capture of the alligator, which made bold “death rolls” as it gripped a chair pillow in its jaws, was posted to the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
With the help of a parish resident volunteer, deputies got control of the alligator’s head, then used electrical tape to tape closed its mouth.
The incident took about five to 10 minutes, Steele said. Deputies measured the gator at 108 inches.
The team of three alligator wranglers can be seen in another
FEST OF FANS
Varland Owens, left, as Glinda, and Vanessa Williams as Elphaba, both characters from ‘Wicked,’ talk to Brynlee Seidel before their performance Saturday at the annual Livingston Parish Library Comic Con held at the Denham Springs-Walker branch in Denham Springs
Fans celebrate at Denham Springs Comic Con
Community news report
Varland Owens and Vanessa Williams, dressed as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, the main characters in “Wicked,” treated attendees to a performance Saturday during the annual Livingston Parish Library Comic Con Saturday at the Denham Springs-Walker Branch Library
The library’s largest event of the year, inspired by the annual megaevent that takes place in San Diego, offered fans of all genres of pop culture a chance to cosplay as their favorite characters as well as many activities and demonstrations and a wide array of items for sale.
Live Oak softball in the thick of district race
Salzer
SPORTS ROUNDUP
Last week, the Live Oak softball team finished off a stretch of three District 5-5A games in four days by impressively scoring a combined 29 runs in wins over Walker and East Ascension Even though Live Oak lost the first game to Dutchtown in 14 innings, the following two wins were just what the Eagles needed to stay in the thick of the race for the district title. Afterward, Live Oak coach Katie Prescott praised her team for playing 27 innings of solid, competitive softball in four days. “We told the kids, ‘Y’all are tough being able to play this many innings so many days in a row,’” Prescott said. “The games ended up being closer than we expected, but it’s softball. We’ll play any day.” The 2-1 week left Live Oak at 12-10 overall
state, but our district is challenging to say the least,” Prescott said. “I like it because it means your coaches and your players have to be ready every single game.”
The Eagles were ready Thursday when they collected 14 hits in a 16-6 win over Walker A day later in a game that was moved up because of weather concerns, the Eagles pounded out another 14 hits in a 13-4 win over East Ascension. What caught Prescott’s eye was her team’s error-free play in the field. “Pitching and defense is what gets us going,” she said. “As far
Arceneaux
STAFF FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Live Oak head coach Katie Prescott during a 2024 game.
Charles
SCREENSHOT FROM LIVINGSTON
Cherie McDonald, right, demonstrates crochet technique to Darina Mae Paulk, left, and Elizabeth Dubreuil at her booth.
ä More photos. PAGE 4G
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
SLU College of Education sets speaker series
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Education will present “The Kennedy Autopsy: An Eyewitness Report” as part of its second annual College of Education Speaker Series on Thursday, April 10
Richard A. Lipsey is the featured guest speaker for the free event, which will take place at 7 p.m., in the Cate Teacher Education Center Kiva, room 250. Although the presentation is free, registration is required to guarantee a seat. Registration is available at bit.ly/4bMI6KM.
Lipsey is a 1961 LSU graduate and a 1987 Har-
vard Business School graduate. While in the Army, he served as aide to the commanding general of the Military District of Washington and was intensely involved with the funeral of President John F. Kennedy, the only military officer to witness the entire autopsy of the President, a news release said. After returning to Baton Rouge, Lipsey entered the family business, Steinberg Sports Centers. In 1977, he purchased S & S Wholesale Sporting Goods — now Lipsey’s — and grew it into the nation’s largest fire-
arms distributor He and his family own Haspel, a line of men’s tailored clothing that originated in New Orleans in 1909. He is the founder and partner in Lipsey Communications, a chain of over 300 wireless phone stores. An active volunteer at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center since its inception, Lipsey has served more than 11 years on the board of directors and as chair of the center He was also a founder of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Foundation, formerly the Board of Trust, and served
as the first chair
Lipsey was appointed to serve on the Louisiana State Board of Commerce and Industry and subsequently on the State Board of Regents by former Gov Bobby Jindal. He served as co-chair for the transition team for Gov John Bel Edwards. Lipsey is a longtime higher education leader and served on the Louisiana Board of Regents from 2013 to 2021. In 2023, he was elected to the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.
For more information, contact the College of Education at (985) 549-2217 or collegeofeducation@southeastern.edu.
Sunshine Ladies install officers
Community news report
On March 11, the Sunshine Ladies held its monthly meeting at Murphy’s Seafood Restaurant, in Hammond, where club members installed new officers.
President Ann Bourliea thanked the previous officers for their service to the organization, and installed new officers for the 2025-2027 term
The new officers are President Bourliea, Vice President Malinda Sanchez, Secretary Marie Heck treasurer Anita Murray, reporter Kathy Brandon and parliamentarian Ginny Shartle.
In addition to the new officers, new chairs were named for various committees. These included Literacy Chair, Anita Murray; Family Life, Ginny Shartle; Environment, Sheila Gagliano; International, Sandra McConnell. Hostesses for the monthly meetings were also determined for the remainder of the year Every year, Tangipahoa Volunteers For Family and Community presents a graduating senior with a $1,000 scholarship to a Louisiana college or trade school. Three members will serve on the TVFC Scholarship Committee for 2025 with sister chapter, Wednesday
Volunteers. Committee volunteers are Anita Murray, Marie Heck and Ann Bourliea, with Malinda Sanchez serving as alternate. Jean Hebert is the chair of the scholarship committee.
Members agreed to projects for the year, including next month’s project, Restoration House in Hammond, a pregnancy resource center serving all of our parish.
Anyone interested in joining the group to serve in the community are welcome to visit meetings, which are the first Tuesday of each month, usually at a local restaurant. Contact Bourliea at abourliea79@gmail.com or visit www.tangvfc.com.
SALZER
Continued from page 1G
as our offense, its not a one-man show One through nine our hitters are doing their job, and that’s where we’re really good. Whenever our hitters are driving in runs, our slappers are getting on base and our grinders are moving people over, that’s when we have a lot of success.”
THE LIVINGSTON-TANGIPAHOA ADVOCATE 10291 Hwy. 190 Walker LA 70785 or P.O. Box 309 Walker LA 70785 (225) 388-0215 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY Online at www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/livingston_tangipahoa/
EDITOR
Darlene T. Denstorff ddenstorff@theadvocate.com
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Against Walker Halle Maxwell, Damiaya Dunn and Karley Chaney each had three hits. A day later at East Ascension, cleanup hitter Bailey Spencer picked up three hits while starting pitcher AK Phillips and Dunn had two apiece.
“We played good defense behind (AK), which is a really good thing because at the beginning of the season we weren’t,” Spencer said. “This week, everybody played really hard one through nine. When we do that we’re pretty hard to beat.”
Charles Salzer covers Livingston sports for the Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate. To reach Salzer, email livingston@ theadvocate.com.
Lipsey
PROVIDED PHOTO
Attending a March 11 Sunshine Ladies meeting, are Sandra McConnell, Freda Arbogast, Lisa Menche, Ginny Shartle, Kathy Brandon, Monique Broussard, Marie Heck, Malinda Sanchez, Paula Francois, Anita Murphy, Gail Riché, Sheila Gagliano and club President Ann Bourliea.
AROUND
Continued from page 1G
Lenten gumbo Fridays
Dine on seafood gumbo or chicken and sausage gumbo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 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.
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 to
GATOR
Continued from pag
Sheriff’s Office post pulling and big gator to a d nal, untaping i releasing it back “Livingston close to 400 nautical of waterways,”
schedule an appointment, visit www.cauw.org/VITA or call (225) 923-2114.
Art workshop, exhibition
The Amite Arts Council is sponsoring an adult art workshop Saturday, April 12. Registration is underway at Amite City Hall. There is a $10 registration fee.
The workshop will be held in the Amite Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday There will be a display of the students’ work at 1 p.m. on Friday Admission to the display of the students’ work is free.
Participants will explore creating still life using the grid method as well as a re-
view of oil pastel blending techniques.
The teacher will be talented visual art teacher
Jennifer Wheeler
For more information, call Amite City Hall at (985) 748-8761.
Farmers market
The Four Seasons Farmers Market is open from
8 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the city parking lot at Hummel Street and Railroad Avenue. Fresh vegetables, fruits and handmade items are on sale from vendors.
Blood drive in Walker Donate blood from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 2 at the Walker municipal building, at Walker Gas and Water Works, 13600 Aydell Lane, Walker To register, visit donor.liefshare.org or email lisa.frey@walker-la.gov
Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 3880731.
Breaking barriers:Women leaders atExxonMobilinBaton Rouge transform theenergyworld
son Ard said. “This isn’t our first run-in with a gator and won’t be our last — it’s part of the job.”
The video of the dramatic alligator capture is tagged with the line, “Ya gotta be #Built Different to work in the LP, y’all!”
Email Ellyn Couvillion at ecouvillion@theadvocate. com.
Travel the world with three Livingston Parish Library databases
Community news report
Discover a new culture or learn a new language with databases available through the Livingston Parish Library
All three are accessible inlibrary or from home with a library card number To see all the databases the Livingston Parish Library offers, visit www.mylpl.info/ databases.
Mango
Learn over 70 world languages and 20 English courses through Mango Languages, a resource offered to Louisiana residents through the State Library of Louisiana.
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone’s language division uses cloud-based solutions to help all types of learners read, write and speak more than 30 languages. This is an effective, easyto-use course that allows you to learn a new language on your own time.
Accessible on a computer or mobile device via the Rosetta Stone app.
Global Road Warrior Global Road Warrior is the world’s most extensive country-by-country resource for learning about culture, customs, history and language worldwide, consisting of 174 country guides of 119 topics each
If you ve visited the ExxonMobil facilities in the BatonRouge area recently,you mayhave noticed that more womenthaneverare in leadership positions. Thesewomen have hadmeaningfulcareers at ExxonMobil,advancing throughthe ranksthanks to theirtalent, ambition,and thementorshipthey have received from both male andfemaleleaders We spoketothese womentolearn abouttheir motivations, theirpassion for theirwork, andthe advice that hasguidedthemalong theway
Patrice Aron,Mid-Atlantic/SoutheastArea Manager, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company Aron graduatedfromIstroumaHighSchooland earnedadegreeinsecondaryeducationmathematics from SouthernUniversity. Shetaughtinthe East BatonRouge Parish School System for severalyears priortojoiningExxonMobil.
“In2001, Iwas in aconversationwithacolleague whowasinterestedinchangingcareersandmentioned ExxonMobilwashiringinOperations.Shementioned sheheard themathportion of thetestwas hard,and suggestedI take thetestsoI couldtutor her, since Iwas amathteacher,” Aron said.“Itookthe test, passed it,was hired,and 23 yearslater Iamhere with no regrets.” Throughout herprofessionaljourney,Aronhas oftenreliedonthe advice of her grandfather,who always encouraged her to be thebestshe couldbe andhelpothersalong theway
“WhenIstartedworkingasamathteacher,Istrived forexcellence, notfor myself but formystudents.I carriedthatsamemindset with me when Istarted with thecompany in 2002,” shesaid. “Therefore, I attributemysuccesstobelieving in God, taking my grandfather’sadviceand helping others.”
Aron said herworkatExxonMobilisespecially meaningful,since shegrewupabout 12 milesfrom therefinery
“WhenIamatevents, Isee lots of familiar faces, from councilmembers andcommunity leadersto teachers andjudges,”she said.“KnowingthatI work for acompany that trulycares aboutthe community andthe environmentisamazing.”
Ashleigh Celedonia,PortAllen Lubricants
PlantManager
Fromayoungage,mathwasapassionforCeledonia Ahighschoolteacher recognized that strength and pushedhertotakemoreadvancedmathclasses.That rigorousacademicbackgroundinfluencedCeledonia’s collegeand majorchoices,ultimatelyleading herto becomea dual majorinactuarial mathematicsand management engineering.
NowatExxonMobilfor 15 years, Celedoniahas worked in numerous departments, including sales, planning, logistics, supply chainand operations
“The varietyofexperiences I’ve hadduringmy career hashelpedwithmyindividual growth and developmentandallowedmetocontinuechallenging myself,” shesaid. “Wespend an incredible amount of time at ExxonMobil in developing people,and as
an individual exhibits strengths, newopportunities presentthemselves.”
Celedoniasaidher mentorsatExxonMobilhave also helped herfind thebalance betweenhomelife andher professional goals.
“It’sperfectly finetostrivefor somethinginyour career andalsocreatespace to celebratethose importantmilestoneswithyourchildren,”she said “IalsorememberwhenIwasplanningmymaternity leave andwantedtotakeabout fivemonths, my boss askedmeifthatwas enough. It waswonderfulto have that encouragement andknowthatIcould step back into my career when thetimewas right.”
Regina Davis, BatonRouge ComplexRefinery Manager Davis’ trajectory started in herearly years with encouragementfromher mother, “a wise, God-fearingwoman,” Davissaid. Recognizing that educationwould help herchildrenbreak thecycle of generational poverty, shemadesuretheyattended asummerprogram each year.Itwas during one of those programs in hermiddleschoolyears,that Davismet afemaleengineer. That encounter was thespark forwhatwas to come
“Itjust resonatedwithme,”she said.“Iwas fortunatetohavemymom’sforesighttomakesurethatwe were exposedtothe possibilities, andthatexposure piqued my curiosity.”Davis carriesthisexperience forwardinher ownpassion forvolunteeringand mentoringother youngladies to getthemexcited aboutcareers in STEM fields. Davisended up majoringinchemical engineering andstaying an additional semester at Louisiana Tech,choosingtotakeonaninternshiptogain more real-world experience. Shegraduated in the earlydaysofa recession,but stoodout to potential employers with hersmartsand skills
Sincebeing namedthe first Blackwoman to lead theBatonRougerefinery,Davissaidshehasreflected oftenonher experiences andhow shecan usethose to “pay it forward” to help developthe next generationofleaders. Shecredits herfaith,hardwork, andhavingateamofsupportersincluding family friends andamazing mentorsaskeystoher success today. WhileDavis is proudofbeing an exampleto otheryoung women, shealsofeels that shehas a responsibilitytohelpshiftthe narrative. “I do wear with pridethe fact that Ihavebeenthe first in many arenas.Mydiverse perspectives,the skills Ihave developedovermycareerand my commitment to excellence have enabledmetodeliver resultsand continue paving theway forothers,”saidDavis Laura Eiklor,Baton RougePlasticsand Resin PlantManager GrowingupinPennsylvania,Eiklorhadhereyeon pursuing musicprofessionally. But, twohighschool teachers recognized hertalents in math andscience andurged hertoconsider acareerasanengineer. “Myparents both have biologybackgrounds,and they encouraged me to find my way,”she said.“I
enteredPennStateasamusicmajor,butIchangedto chemicalengineeringbytheendofmyfirstsemester.” At ExxonMobil,Eiklorsaidshe is gratified to be apartofteamthatsolvesproblemsinrealtimethat impact theproductsthatmillionsofpeopleuse each day. Sheadded that shecontinues to be inspired by hercolleagues’ passion, dedication to qualityand commitment to unlockingone another’spotential “Someofthe bestadviceI’vereceived at ExxonMobilistoliftwhere youstand.Ifyou candoyour best in your currentjob,peoplewillhelpyou getto thenextlevel,” shesaid. “The other oneistodream big. When Ihad beenwiththe companythree or four years, someoneasked me aboutmycareergoals, andmyanswer wassmall.Theyencouragedme to dreambiggerand picturemyselfgoing further. That changedmymindset andmademewilling to trymorenew things.” KateLightfoot,ChemicalPlantManager,Baton RougeComplex Lightfootmadehistory in 2018 as thefirstfemale sitemanagerattheChemicalPlantinBaytown,Texas “I felt blessedtohave an opportunitytobean exampletoother womenthattheycan be wives, moms andleaders whilestill taking care of their physical,mentalandemotionalhealth,”sherecalled. Inadditiontoherwork,Lightfootandherhusband have threechildren, andshe is oftenactiveinlocal civicorganizations andprofessionalassociations. It’s quitethe balancingact,but onethatLightfoot says is possible thanks to “lotsand lots of planning.”
“Ithinkahead,Imakeaplan,andevenwhenIdon’t feellikeit,Iexecutemyplan.Myplanincludestesting that balanceofthese rolesoverthe course of weeks andmonths. Idon’t stress toomuchifa givenday or week feelsweightedone wayoranother,” shesaid. No matter what each daymight bring, Lightfoot startseachmorningthesameway–bynamingthree blessingsfor whichshe is grateful,decidingher intentionfor theday anddetermining what shewill accept each day. Shealsomakes time forself-care planningout howshe will fuel andmoveher body plus getenoughrest, to be thebestversion of herself. Lightfootsaidshe is heartenedtosee more girls andyoung women interested in STEM careers. Her advice is simple–gofor it!
“Getinthereandlearnanddeveloptoyourgreatest potential,andthenfollowthe path that Godprovides for youtoserve your purposeinthisworld,” shesaid. Thesewomen leadersare notonlybreakingbarriersinthe energy sector butare also giving back to theircommunitiesthroughmentorshipandsupport. Theircommitmenttonurturing thenextgeneration of female engineersisevident in theirinvolvement withinitiativeslikeExxonMobil’s“IntroduceaGirlto EngineeringDay.” By sharingtheir experiences and providingguidance,theseleadersarepavingtheway foramoreinnovativefutureinthe energy industry
By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This articleisbrought to youbyExxonMobil.
“Shell's RootsRun Deep in St.Charles Parish. To us,beingagood neighbor means morethan safely clocking in and out;itmeans actively supporting theplacesand communitiesthathavebeen thefoundation of our business fornearly acentury.”
TAMMYLITTLE | General Manager,ShellNorco
In honor of ShellNorco's 95thanniversary,ninety-fiveemployees partnered with thePontchartrain Conservancytoplant1,000 treesat Wetland Watchers Park in St.CharlesParish.
Thesetrees will help fortifythe Lake Pontchartrain shoreline,createnew wildlife habitat, and supportlocalair quality.Atthe event,Shell NorcoGeneral Manager Tammy Little announced a$175,000 donation to theSt. Charles Parish Parksand Recreation Department to helprebuild thepark’spier,which wasdamaged in Hurricane Ida.
shell.us/louisiana |#PoweringProgress
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
Mea Bordelon, left, Livia Gideon, Kinsley Williams, and Isabella Tareleton pose during the annual Livingston Parish Library Comic Con held at the Denham Springs-Walker Branch on Saturday in Denham Springs Kaya Willis, left, Anna Warren and Ali Moore.
Sarah Granger, right, shows her friend Shianne McClain a Batman comic.
Kids laugh during a performance of the Dinosaur Experience during the Livingston Parish Library Comic Con.