The St. Francisville Democrat 03-05-2025

SPRING AHEAD

Set clocks forward Sunday, March 9

New sewage treatment plant begins operations

BY JAMES MINTON

Contributing writer

St. Francisville’s new sewage treatment plant is now operating as a replacement for an outdated oxidation pond system, the town’s engineer said during a Feb. 25 meeting Engineer Bianca Hillhouse said the contractor for the plant, located at the intersection of Feliciana and Princeville streets, is putting finishing touches on the facility, including additional landscaping

The plant was built on a hill on donated property and was designed to be as unobtrusive as possible because of its proximity to a residential area.

Voters approved a half-cent sales tax in December 2020 to repay $5.25 million in bonds for the project, and the state Water

ST. FRANCISVILLE

Sector Commission, an agency funded with federal Covid-19 relief money, put up another $2.88 million.

Hillhouse told the mayor and Board of Aldermen at the meeting that her firm has submitted a plan to close the oxidation ponds to the state Department of Environmental Quality for approval.

The oxidation ponds often were put out of commission by floodwaters from the Mississippi River and were deemed out of compliance with environmental regulations while the project was being designed.

The town put a moratorium on major new residential construction in mid-2020, and the board has extended it several times. It

is scheduled to expire at the end of March.

Addressing another sewage issue, the board approved a $1,900 contract to inspect a privately-owned sewage lift station and a $16,250 contract with another firm to clean and make a video inspection of the sewer lines connected to it.

Mayor Andy D’Aquilla said the lift station was built by the developer of a commercial area on U.S 61 across from the Commerce Street intersection. A bank now owns the lift station but wants to donate it to the town.

D’Aquilla said state health officials are calling both the town and bank to spur an effort to correct problems with the lift station because raw sewage is leaking in the area, which includes a motel.

The mayor said the town will be reimbursed for the inspection work which will

help determine how much money the bank will have to spend to bring the station up to town standards before the donation. The board also introduced an ordinance to beef up the town’s ordinance requiring the removal of blighted and abandoned buildings. A public hearing will be held before a vote on March 11.

D’Aquilla mentioned several properties that need to be torn down at the owner’s cost. He also said he does not believe the town’s existing ordinance adequately spells out a procedure for ridding the town of blighted buildings.

The new ordinance spells out how the owners will be notified, their appeal rights and how they could convince the mayor and board to allow them to make needed repairs,

D’Aquilla said.

Calling all photographers: Enter Focus on the Felicianas exhibit at West Feliciana Parish Library

Community news report

The West Feliciana Parish Library, in partnership with Arts for All St. Francisville, announces the Focus on the Felicianas Photography Exhibit, a celebration of the natural beauty and culture of West and East Feliciana.

Local photographers — amateur and professional — are invited to submit their best shots of the Felicianas for a chance to have their work featured in this community showcase.

The exhibit will officially open with a reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 21, at the West Feliciana Parish Library.

The free event will give attendees the opportunity to view local photography, meet the artists, and celebrate the landscapes, wildlife and people of the Felicianas.

How to enter

Submissions will be accepted at the West Feliciana Parish Library Front Desk from 8:30 a.m , March 10 through 4 p.m. March 17. Each participant may submit up to two photos, though space limitations may require us to display only one. If submitting two, please indicate your preferred entry

Photo Requirements

Photos must be 8-inch by 10-inch or larger

Each entry must be ready to hang, with a wire or clip attached to the back

The back of each photo must include:

n Title of the photo

n Shot location (must be taken in West or East Feliciana)

n Photographer’s name, email, and phone number

n Price or “NSF” (Not for Sale) designation

n Preferred entry (if submitting two photos).

For questions regarding submissions, contact Debbie Greer at (225) 245-3746.

Jackson Lions Club members learn about cybercrime prevention

BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL

Contributing writer

Members of the Jackson Lions Club learned about cybercrimes Feb. 13 during a presentation given by East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s

Office Detective Caleb Carter. Carter spoke about the various types of fraud and scams committed “on the computer and internet.” From phishing to sextortion, he said his talk would focus mostly on the elderly He also shared information about the sextortion of juveniles.

He briefly touched on the evolution of technology of computers, the internet, social media and phones from 1991 onward. As

crimes from phishing to sextortion grew he said it’s only in recent years that most regulation of the internet has taken place.

He said Louisiana is ahead of many states in that area. Carter described the iPhone/ smartphone as “revolutionary for its time and access to the internet” and as he held up his phone, calling it “a computer in your hand.”

Speaking to an audience of mostly older adults, he said they are prime targets because not only are they “not as digitally friendly,” but they “have the money.” Phishing, which is sending emails or messages claiming to be

State travel group honors St. Francisville tourism director

Community news report

The Louisiana Travel Association announced Devan Corbello as the recipient of the Rising Star of the Year at its annual meeting in February in Monroe.

This year the LTA celebrated excellence in the Louisiana tourism industry by presenting 20 Louey Awards to individuals and organizations. These awards honor those who have made significant contributions to promoting and enhancing Louisiana’s vibrant tourism landscape, according to a news release.

“I am thrilled and honored to receive the Rising Star of the Year

ä See TRAVEL, page 2G ä See CYBERCRIME, page 2G

Rouge Roubaix returns to

PHOTO BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL

Detective Caleb Carter of the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office, discussed various types of cybercrimes on Feb 13 at the Jackson Lions Club meeting

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY LEILA PITCHFORD

This 2022 photo of Ferdinand Street in St. Francisville shows off the setting sun. Take a moment to find you favorite shots of the Felicianas to enter in the Focus on the Felicianas exhibit.

plications are available at the hospital’s front desk or via email at HR@wfph.org

The deadline to submit applications is March 14.

Lane diaper drive set

Lane Regional Medical Center is hosting a diaper drive through March 16

Donations of new or open packs of disposable diapers can be dropped off at the collection bin inside the 1st floor elevator lobby at Lane Regional Medical Center, or at any Lane clinic.

As a partner agency of the Junior League of Baton Rouge’s Diaper Bank, our goal is to collect 1,000 diapers to distribute to families experiencing diaper need through Lane Pediatrics.

Reasons to donate:

n 1 in 2 families struggle to afford diapers

n Diapers cannot be obtained through WIC or SNAP

n Children who stay in dirty diapers have an increased chance of diaper rash, viral illnesses, and urinary tract infections

n Most child care centers require a day’s supply of disposable diapers

n You are helping babies have a healthy start in life and are making a difference in our community

The Junior League of Baton Rouge’s Diaper Bank distributes almost 500,000 diapers every year through partner agencies such as Lane Pediatrics.

Breast imaging set

Woman’s Hospital brings breast imaging to East Feliciana Parish with its mobile mammography coach.

The coach will be at RKM Clinton, 11190 Jackson St., Clinton, March 28. Physician’s orders are required and appointments are strongly encouraged. Call (225) 683-5292 to schedule. Visit womans.org to see dates for other nearby locations include Baker and Zachary

Scout garage sale set

BSA Troop 51 of Jackson will have its annual garage sale Saturday, 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

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.

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.

Chili & Salsa Cook-Off Lane Foundation’s 10th annual Code Red Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, set for Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in downtown Zachary, 4650 Main St. 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. 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 and 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.

Artist in exhibit 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.

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.

Polo event returns

The Azalea Polo Classic is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 6 at West Feliciana Parish Park, 10226 W. Feliciana Pkwy., in St. Francisville. The event benefits the West Feliciana Historical Society Event tickets are $125 per person and include admission to the event, hors d’oeuvres, house wine and beer and prepared cocktails. Must be 21 and older to purchase event tickets (18 and older to attend the event). General admission tickets went on sale Feb. 1. Visit www.azaleapolo classic.com for infor mation.

Save the date 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) 3880731.

From

TRAVEL

Continued from page 1G

Award from the Louisiana Travel Association,” said Corbello, executive director of Visit St. Francisville.

“This recognition is not taken lightly and inspires me to continue to strive for

CYBERCRIME

Continued from page 1G

from a reputable company in order to get personal information, is one of the most popular scams, he said. They stress the need for you to take immediate action and send payment to keep your account in good standing or safe. Many of these emails come from India and Germany according to Carter Some scams are sophisticated and look like the real thing, but there are lots of clone accounts, he added. He said check the URL (uniform resource locator) and look for clues in the message like a vague or general greeting such as “valued customer.”

There are other scams that may say you have won a Publisher’s Clearing House prize or the lottery but to receive the prize or collect the money you must pay cer-

excellence, especially when showcasing the rich and vibrant culture of West Feliciana Parish and all of Louisiana to the world.”

Other awards recipients of the 2025 Louey from the area include Tourism Campaign of the Year (budget up to $29,999) Gold, Visit The Northshore — All The Waves Podcast; Tourism Campaign of the Year (budget of $30,000 and above) Platinum, Visit Baton Rouge: With A Capital; and Tourism Campaign of the Year (budget of $30,000 and above) Gold, Ascension Parish Tourism Commission — Louisiana’s Sweet Spot.

tain fees or taxes, he added.

Carter said there are even scams in which a person is contacted, supposedly from a law enforcement official or sheriff’s office, saying something about a warrant for a loved one’s arrest. Then they say that if a payment is made, the charges will be dropped.

He urged everyone to be vigilant. If you suspect something is a scam, stop, ask your peers, a friend or call law enforcement and ask them about it, he said. “You may not be thinking clearly,” so reach out, he said.

Carter addressed the cyber crimes of sextortion of adults, briefly, and in somewhat more detail, the sextortion of juveniles.

Carter said an adult may get an email more like phishing that says something like “you’ve been hacked your account has been infected with malware” or one more

DEMOCRAT

At the meeting, the group also installed officers for its executive committee and board of directors. Those from the area include 2025 LTA officers Chair Donna O’Daniels, Visit The Northshore; and Treasurer Carla Tate, Tangi Tourism; and 2025 returning directors Morgan

like sextortion that says “we are recording everything, watching you we know what’s going on.” Quickly will follow requests or demands for money to fix the problem or make it go away as in blackmail, he said. Again, he urged anyone receiving such information or threats to reach out to law enforcement agencies which all work together to stop the illegal scams, fraud and blackmail/sextortion. There are steps that can be taken by a victim and law enforcement agencies will pursue the criminals Getting into the area regarding juveniles Carter said the Sheriff’s Office will be going into the schools to inform students. They need to know about what is illegal and about sextortion, a dangerous cybercrime that has been linked to teenage suicide. He said juveniles need to know that sending a nude photo is against the law, that

authorities want to warn them and “to save lives.” Nowadays AI artificial intelligence — is also making it harder for many “to figure out what is real and what is not,” he added. Social media, including Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook, has opened up the potential for serious problems often coming from teenagers who simply want friends, he said. He mentioned the stages that usually take place leading up to sextortion and gave as an example the rapid and tragic case in early 2022 of Jordan DeMay It was eventually determined by authorities that it took only six hours from initial contact for the 17-year-old from Michigan to make the mistake of sharing a nude picture of himself, then when threatened, to become so desperate that he would be exposed to friends and family, that he killed himself.

East Feliciana teachers practice CPR,

other skills

As part of Feb. 7’s professional development day, East Feliciana public schools staff members from all schools received training on providing CPR and using the AED machines at school sites.

‘Student and staff safety is the cornerstone of all of our work in East Feliciana public schools,’ said Superintendent Keisha L. Netterville

JUNG

left, Cody Gray, Tico Soto, Devan Corbello, Donna O’Daniels, Chris Landry celebrate Corbello being named Rising Star of the Year at the 2025 Louisiana Travel Association annual meeting

Moss, of The Myrtles Plantation & Blue House Hospitality St. Francisville; and Vimal “Ricky” Patel, Divi Hospitality, Gonzales.

Slaughter Elementary School health and physical education teacher Kristen Mayfield practices CPR.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Slaughter Elementary School health and physical education teacher Tina Doughty practices CPR on Feb 7.

What a difference: Live oaks 25 years later

In 2000, members of the Rotary Club of St. Francisville planted three live oak saplings on the grounds of the local post office with a grant from Entergy.

Twenty-five years later, those same trees stand over 30 feet tall.

To learn about Rotary, visit www stfrancisvillerotary.org.

Food truck duo speaks on business

Local business partners Mario Franklin and Stacy White recently spoke to the St. Francisville Rotary Club.

With the help of family and friends, the duo founded Nana’s Food Truck and Concessions in 2020, with the aim of becoming a provider of popular food items throughout the region.

Since its inception, the mobile catering business has gained a group of dedicated followers and customers throughout the region.

To learn more about their business, visit them on Facebook at Nana’s Custom Concessions.

To learn more about Rotary, visit www.stfrancisvillerotary org.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Among the Rotarian volunteers who helped plant live oaks in 2000 in St. Francisville are, from left, standing, Gwen Sellers, Nancy Roppolo, Harold Babin, Gigi Robertson, Oscar Robertson, David Walker, David Bunch, Fred Westphal, Kevin Dreher and Jesse Perkins; and front row, Juneann Walker, Reuel Walker and Lucy Plettinger

In 2000 the St. Francisville Rotary planted live oaks at the St. Francisville post office. Two of those trees are seen here 25 years later

PROVIDED PHOTO

Local business partners Mario Franklin, left and Stacy White, right, are joined by St. Francisville Rotary Club President Dyvar Anderson-Wright following their presentation to the Rotary’s weekly meeting in February.

Clinton, Jackson

clubs make butter

During Clinton Elementary School’s monthly 4-H meeting, the members received an update on Delta Dawn, their adopted cow She was 39 inches tall and weighed 140 pounds. The members also learned that dairy cows like Delta Dawn can produce milk that can be used to make butter 4-H and Cloverbud members at Clinton Elementary and Jackson Elementary School made butter and had the opportunity to sample their creations.

Clinton Elementary School 4-H member Brandon Cryer focuses while making butter

Clinton Elementary School 4-H member Akira Ringo explores butter during the Jan. 30 club meeting

PROVIDED PHOTOS Jackson Elementary School 4-H member Cydnee Dennis shakes the butter during the Feb 2 4-H meeting

students learn

Students enrolled in English I at East Feliciana High School developed their research, writing and communication skills by sharing their research findings on important figures in modern Black literature, including

carpentry class recently completed exterior framing and finishing on a deer stand, their fourth build of the NCCER carpentry curriculum.

Tupac Shakur

PHOTO Aiden George shows his research project on Tupac Shakur

East Feliciana High Agriculture I students John Goudeau and Tonny Ringo acclimate broilers.

PROVIDED PHOTO

East Feliciana High students Briston Galmon and Damorian Matthews work with the broilers.

East Feliciana carpentry students John Goudeau and Kemarion Matthews work to finish a deer stand

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Kemarion Matthews works on the exterior framing of a deer stand Jan. 31 at East Feliciana High.