DEMOCRAT
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
The deadline is approaching for sponsorship of the Feliciana Wildflower Project & Festival.
The organization is looking for new sponsors who want to be featured on official festival T-shirts, banners and other media. Submit completed sponsorship forms and payment by May 1. Visit https://tinyurl.com/ bdfyx67a for forms and information.
E-recycle at the library
The Audubon Regional Library is partnering with the Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council to provide electronic recycling. A truck will be at the Clinton branch from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. Thursday Other library events include:
n The Jackson branch will show an “egg-citing” movie at 3 p.m. Friday.
n The Clinton branch will show an animated G-rated film based on the Peter S Beagle novel about magical creatures, adventure and the quest to find one’s place in the world. Show is 10 a.m. Saturday
n The Clinton branch is holding an elevated coloring hour at 2 p.m. April 25. Ornate coloring sheets and coloring pencils will be provided along with soothing music.
Top retrievers,dock dogs
The Super Retriever Series will feature more than 100 dogs competing in outdoor sports in the field and on the dock Thursday through Sunday in St. Francisville. All events are free to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, and dogs are invited to take part in the Fun Jump hours.
The schedule of events includes: THURSDAY Retriever Trials
8 a.m. Series 1, 7485 U.S 61, St Francisville, behind the gas station FRIDAY Retriever Trials
8 a.m. location to be announced SRS Super Dock West Feliciana Sports Park, 10226 W. Feliciana Parkway, St. Francisville
1 p.m.: check-in/fun jumps and warm-up
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: fun jumps and practice SATURDAY Retriever Trials
8 a.m. location to be an-
Centenary alumni mark bicentennial
Legacy’ exhibit.
Group travels to Jackson campus
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
Centenary College
alumni visited Centenary Historic Site, the former college campus in Jackson, during a March trip as part of the bicentennial celebration activities planned for the 2025 calendar year The group was led by
Chris Brown, director of the Centenary College and United Methodist Church of Louisiana Archives, whose family has been associated with Centenary for several generations. The event was planned by the Alumni Department in conjunction with the Bicentennial Committee, according to Hannah Rachal-Hughes, director of alumni and family relations.
The group’s visit to the historic site was somewhat abbreviated because of intermittent rain but
ring spring of The
Parish Library.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Jackson groups host events, raise money
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing
writer
It was a busy weekend in Jackson as groups hosted springtime events.
The fourth annual Jackson Car Show had a little over 90 cars, trucks and other vehicles to view according to spokesperson Kimberly Broome-Cleveland. There were old, new, classic, custom, most in pristine condition and some projects-inthe-works vehicles displayed. The event raised
$1,000 and collected a “55-gallon drum full of nonperishable food items,” said Dianne Parker, spokesperson for the Jackson food bank. With winds scuttling the clouds above and intermittent sunshine warming all at the grassy field location, attendees looking at vehicles could hear the music of Corban Barnes and his band. Organizers of the event thanked the car show sponsors, the participants and attendees
ä
Substance to reverse ODs stocked at library
Community news report
West Feliciana High student Leila Ramos has been continuing the work of the nonprofit Hope Resuscitated, which she founded, an organization focused on overdose prevention.
“I started this organization to make overdose reversal medication — specifically Narcan — accessible to everyone, especially young people and rural communities who are often left behind,” Ramos said.
Ramos said the nonprofit recently restocked Narcan at the West Feliciana Parish Library, which distributed over 30 doses in one week.
Narcan is available at the library completely free no ID required, no age limits and no judgment.
“We’re also expanding distribution through schools, community events and website requests at hope-resuscitated.org. Every dose we give out is another opportunity for someone to survive — and every conversation like this brings us closer to the community we hope to build,” Ramos said.
“I’m someone who’s experienced the devastating impact of this crisis,” said Ramos, a senior and future premed student. “That’s why I built Hope Resuscitated around a simple belief: NO stigma, NO barriers, just HOPE.”
Ramos said she has support from District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla, Mayor Andy D’Aquilla and Library Director Stacie Davis.
Hope Resuscitated also works with Capital Area Human Services, which supplies Narcan. She received a $3,000 grant from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge.
“The mentorship I received through YEA has been a gamechanger — helping transform my passion into a sustainable nonprofit ready to grow,” she said.
Leila Ramos and her nonprofit Hope Resuscitated delivers more Narcan to the West Feliciana
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Some of the Centenary College alumni pose at the Professor’s Cottage before walking back to the West Wing dormitory building at Centenary Historic Site.
The old Jackson campus Centenary College in Jackson can be seen at the bottom of a flyer for the ‘Centenary’s
A 1938 Pontiac coupe belonging to Barney Huggins, of Cheneyville, sits at Saturday’s Jackson Car Show.
Claude and Barbara Wilson, of Ethel, sell honey at the Stop & Shop event in Jackson. With them are friends Ken and Sandra Dillon visiting from Vacaville, Calif.
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Zach and Wally Isenhower check out the Old Hickory train engine and passenger car at the train depot, which is part of the museum complex.
East Feliciana artist Alice Kent works on an oil painting at a Charter Street Studio in the historic Presbyterian Church in Jackson.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
See SPRING, page 2G
ä See CENTENARY, page 2G
EAST AND WEST FELICIANA COUNCIL ON AGING
Devotional: 11:15 a.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
Art class: noon
Thursday Choir class: 9:30-10:15 a.m.
Bingo: 10:30 a.m
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
Friday
Exercise class: 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
Monday
Exercise class: 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday
Choir class: 9:30-10:15 a.m.
in
All people
and
are
to
or questions, call (225) 635-6719. East Feliciana Council on Aging 11102 Bank St., Clinton 3699 La. 10, Jackson Wednesday Sewing and quilting class: 10 a.m.
AROUND
Continued from page 1G
Breast scans set in the area Woman’s Hospital mobile mammography coach will be in the area. A physician’s order is required, and appointments are strongly encouraged.
n East Feliciana Primary Care, 3050 Charles Drive, Jackson, on April 21. Call (225) 634-3517 to schedule.
n Zachary Internal Medicine, 1169 La. 19 Suite B, Slaughter, on April 25. Call (225) 570-2257 to schedule.
n LPG Baker, 6516 E. Myrtle Ave., Baker, on April 30. Call (225) 774-9486 to schedule.
Angola Rodeo coming
The Spring Angola Rodeo at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is April 26-27. Gates will open at 8 a.m., and the rodeo will start at 2 p.m. All tickets are $20 per person. Ages 2 and under are free if they sit in a lap. No refunds or exchanges allowed. Call (225) 655-2030 or (225) 655-2607 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or visit 0f472fe.netsolhost.com/tickets.
4-H fundraiser set
East Feliciana 4-H’s Shotgun Fundraiser begins at 9 a.m. May 31 at Riverside Sporting Clays, 52400 La. 16, in Denham Springs. Sign in starts at 7:30 a.m. Visit east-feliciana-4-h-foundation
Bingo: 10:30 a.m Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
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.
square.site to register
Audubon Regional art contest
Audubon Regional Library is holding its annual Design Discovery contest for 18 and under Participants should turn in a library-themed art piece by July 15.
The winner will be featured on the library’s website for a year, and the winning design will be the new library card for a year
Contact your branch for guidelines and a template.
Lenten fish fry
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Hall is holding a fish fry fundraiser at 6 p.m every Friday in Lent except Good Friday
The $13 plate includes fried or grilled catfish, potato salad or fries, coleslaw, bread, desserts and soft drinks. Visit www.felicianacatholic.org for information.
Home and garden event
The Feliciana Master Gardeners and St. Francisville Beautiful will hold the St. Francisville Home & Garden Stroll on May 10. Proceeds from the open house, garden tours and afternoon workshops go to 4-H scholarships, school gardens and other community projects.
Send news and events for East and West Feliciana parishes to extra@theadvocate.com by noon Friday or call (225) 3880731.
from page 1G
did include a tour of the remaining West Wing dormitory and the viewing of an informational video about the history of the college. They were welcomed to the site by Daniel Goyer, park manager for Centenary and Port Hudson historic sites. The two-story, columned dormitory was built in 1837. The visitors viewed several of the downstairs rooms, which today offer displays of historic significance In addition to the larger room, where the
informational video was shown, other artifacts, including student graffiti, were viewed.
The remaining dorm, which was one of two, was also shown in a painting which clearly illustrated, by comparison. The impressive size of the college’s main structure known as the Center Building. Dodging showers, the group retreated back to the ballroom of Old Centenary Inn in Jackson. That structure was built with some of the bricks and columns salvaged from the dismantling of the college in the 1930s. There, Brown spoke to the group about archives and special collections, specifically the ones in the Magale Library on the campus of present-day Centenary College of Louisiana, 2911 Centenary Blvd., in Shreveport. “We collect, preserve and make
WEST FELICIANA PARISH BOOKINGS
THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE WERE BOOKED INTO THE WEST FELICIANA PARISH DETENTION CENTER
BETWEEN MARCH 24-30:
March 24
WOODS, SAMUEL: 63; 105 Creekbend Road, Natchez, Mississippi; driving under the influence
March 25
BRUCE, GAVIN: 25; 20 Egret, Angola; intentional cruelty to juveniles
March 26
METZ, JAMES: 41; 8941 Old Tunica Road, St. Francisville; theft of a motor vehicle
BURNS, TOMMY: 29; 2245 College Drive, Baton Rouge; speeding, possession with intent to distribute Schedule I, possession of firearm committing/attempting crime, possession of firearm concealed by convicted felon WASHINGTON, BRYANT: 23; 31050 La. 16, Denham Springs; possession Schedule II, possession of firearm committing/attempting crime
March 27
PITTMAN, ERIN: 31; 4303 Cooper Lane, Jackson; theft less than $1,000, criminal mischief/tampering with property of another WILLIAMS, ROBERT: 43; 17531 Tunica Trace, Angola; possession Schedule
I, possession of contraband ROLLINS, ROBERT: 47; 9704 Royal St., St. Francisville; speeding, expired motor vehicle inspection, violation of a protective order
March 28
HUNT, DEONTRE: 27; 4303 Gwendolyn Drive, Baker; turning movement and required signals, driving under the influence first offense, improper lane usage, possession Schedule I, open container, no proof of insurance/registration
March 31
BARTON, NATHANIEL: 54; 5275 Rollins Road, Zachary; theft less than $1000, fugitive warrant
SPRING
Continued from page 1G
for another successful event.
Right up the hill, families toured the Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders’ numerous and varied train exhibits at the Old Hickory Model Train Museum The colorful scenery with mostly realistic details — although sometimes whimsical additions like dinosaurs — added to the train displays, both inside and outside.
Just a short walk away on La 10/Charter Street, shoppers visited the booths at the Jackson hub of the 25-mile Stop and Shop the Choctaw Trail garage sales. Food and plants added to the many items available.
Across and down the street, the foot traffic indicated visitors were on hand as desired by the Jackson Tourism Enhancement Committee, the sponsoring organization.
Nearby the Charter Street Studio artists displayed paintings done in
various media along with several sculptures on display in other adjacent rooms. The studio is in the rear of the historic Presbyterian Church. The entire antebellum
church building was open to tour Attendees strolling through the studio spoke with some of the artists, viewed their works and enjoyed light refreshments.
available the historic records of Centenary College and United Methodism in Louisiana,” a brochure from the Archives and Special Collections stated.
Brown gave examples of the variety of materials and artifacts that the special collections and archives have and later encouraged visitors to share some similar materials they might have, though more recent, or might discover and could share with younger and future generations.
Brown said the “Centenary’s Legacy” exhibit at the Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary runs
DEMOCRAT
through May 2 and Sept 2 to Dec. 6. Brown continued the learning activity with the audience. He gave out different archival information to small groups for them to read, study and eventually share.
An example of the primary source material given out was a letter from Walter Compton at Centenary in Jackson to his sister dated Dec. 14, 1850. The photocopy of the handwritten letter also included a typed version of the transcribed/translated oldfashioned cursive for that group.
From Compton’s letter the audi-
ence learned about the news he had shared of past events and upcoming activities — true glimpses back in time. Brown continued using the primary sources as he questioned the groups in his audience/class, drawing out other interesting facts. At the conclusion of the activities in Jackson, the alumni were given several items as keepsakes including a painting of the West Wing. For information about the Centenary archives and special collections, call (318) 869-54 62 or visit centenary.edu/archives.
Continued
Jackson historian Michael Howell, right, points out details near the West Wing dormitory at Centenary Historic Site in Jackson. With him is Ann Reiley Jones, of Blairstown.
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL In front of the Poppin’ Up Plants booth at the April 5 festivities in Jackson, from left, are Christian Johnson, Hailey Parfait and Athena and Timothy Parfait, from New Iberia.
Visitors view one of the larger displays of the Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders’ exhibits on April 5 at the Old Hickory Model Train Museum in Jackson.
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Park Manager Daniel Goyer, left, speaks to the Centenary alumni before a video on the history of the college.
Wednesday Club members learn about La. Super Plants
LSU extension agent Jesse Hoover, who specializes in horticulture, talks about Louisiana Super Plants to Wednesday Club members at the March meeting
PHOTO BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
Established and aspiring gardeners with the Wednesday Club got some of the latest information and recommendations about Louisiana Super Plants and more at their March meeting. Jesse Hoover, LSU extension agent specializing in horticulture, spoke and later answered questions from the members. The meeting, hosted by Viv-
PROVIDED PHOTO
Following her presentation to the Rotary Club of St. Francisville, Lauren Pourciau poses with members of the club, including, from left, David Norwood, Pourciau, Craig Dalferes and President Dyvar Anderson.
St. Francisville Rotary learns about Felicité de Galvez, wife
of early Spanish governor
Community news report
Lauren Pourciau spoke to the Rotary Club of St. Francisville at the end of March. Pourciau, dressed in period garb of the 1770s, delivered a historical portrayal of Felicité de Galvez, for whom tradition has it, the Feliciana Parishes were named.
The French Creole widow was married to Louisiana’s
Spanish colonial governor (1777-1783) at the time, Bernardo de Galvez, who is credited with, among other things, conquering the West Florida region of Louisiana from British rule.
To learn about the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, visit www.lsdar.org/alexander-stirling-chapter-nsdar
To learn about the Rotary Club, visit www.stfrancisvillerotary.org.
Assisi Heights residents celebrate March birthdays
ian Ross, was held in the fellowship hall of the historic Wilson Community Church, which began as a Methodist church in the mid 1800s.
Members received a handout with lists of 2025 LSU AgCenter recommended plants in four categories: warm season bedding plants, cool season bedding plants, shrubs and trees.
Hoover discussed the Super Plants “good for the Felicianas.” At one point, Hoover suggested that a trip to the Ham-
West Feliciana High ProStart Team places at state management competition
Community news report
West Feliciana High’s Peyton Pirie, Caden Gates and Amaya LeMay placed third in the state Raising Cane’s Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational Management Competition.
The WFHS ProStart Team also earned the Judges Award for Operations Management.
mond Research Station would help members pick up tips on growing the plants. She discussed citrus trees and drew the shapes of leaves for lemon trees that had been grafted She explained that the kind of desirable or undesirable fruit on a mature tree can be indicated by the shape of the leaves.
Fire ant control was another topic. She said members could check by mid-April to see if the fire ants were “foraging” simply by using a “potato
chip” on the suspect mound. Various ways to treat the unwanted ants, ant baits and how the different products worked were discussed. The best plants, and their specific needs for sun and water, for hanging baskets were Hoover’s final selected topic. At the conclusion of her talk, she answered a variety of questions from her audience. For more information, call Hoover at (225) 683-3101 or visit LSUAgCenter.com/SuperPlants.
Bobcat Run makes fitness fun at Slaughter Elementary
Community news report
Fitness was fun as Slaughter Elementary School students participated in an obstacle course, foam pit and slip‘n’slime, and even got to slime Principal Jennifer Thornton at their inaugural Bobcat Run on March 13.
East Feliciana students read together
Community news report
Kaylyn Leger’s kindergarten students at Slaughter Elementary School and Alva Franklin’s IBCA student at East Feliciana Middle School worked in small groups and pairs to read aloud texts to each other Intentional peer-to-peer collaboration is a key component to literacy learning across grade levels in East Feliciana Public Schools, a news release said.
NoticedisherebygivenpursuanttoArticle7, Section23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution andR.S. 47:1705 (B) thata public hearing of the Town of ClintonDistrict of East FelicianaParishwill be held at itsregular meetingplace at the ClintonTownHall Officelocatedat11209BankStreet,Clinton, LA on Tuesday, May13, 2025 at 5:45 p.m. to considerlevying additional or increased millagerateswithoutfurthervoterapproval or adoptingthe adjusted millage ratesafter reassessment androllingforward to rates nottoexceed the prioryear’smaximum. Theestimated amount of tax revenues to be collectedinthenextyearfromtheincreased millage is $1,523,094.23, andthe amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase is $8,942.39.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Aiden Jones, April McBride and Kasei Matthews read together at East Feliciana Middle School on March 14.
Je’merrius Headspeth and Lolly Thornton read together at Slaughter Elementary on March 14
PROVIDED PHOTO
The West Feliciana High ProStart Team of, from left, Peyton Pirie, Caden Gates and Amaya LeMay earn third place in the state and gained the Judges Award for Operations Management at the Raising Cane’s Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational Management Competition.
ABOVE: Third grade students enjoy the foam pit at the color run. LEFT: Sadie Rogers stands with Principal Jennifer Thornton, who got slimed.
ABOVE: Adele Dighton travels through the jungle pit. LEFT: Lucy Templet, Emma Walters, Caden Rogillio pass through the bubble tunnel.
PROVIDED PHOTOS Sawyer Woodard, Grayson Williams and Easton Stokes finish the color run at Slaughter Elementary School on March 13
PROVIDED PHOTO
Assisi Heights Apartments residents celebrated March birthdays with refreshments and bingo. From left are Jacquelyn Greenup, Lee Cavalier, Carolyn Bell, Linda Stevens, Darrell Fourrier, Ruffin Williams, Wilbert Riley, Rosemary Williams and Samuel Franklin.
