The Livingston Chamber of Commerce is planning its Young Professionals Conference June 26 at Forrest Grove Plantation, Denham Springs.
Doors open at 11 a.m. and speakers and networking runs through 1 p.m. Speakers include “American Idol” season 17 winner Laine Hardy, who will share his story Hardy is a singer and musician from Livingston; and Paxton Moreau, co-owner and CEO of Off the Hook Restaurants.
Justin Barksdale, owner of Barksdale Safety Solutions and Barksdale Leadership Solutions, will also talk.
To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/5xkfnbxz Fireworks coming July 5
Walker’s Celebration in the Park and Fireworks will be held from 5 p.m. to dark July 5 at Sidney Hutchinson Park.
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Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
Decell takes over as softball coach at Denham Springs
Old workout routines are blending in with new coaching this summer for the Denham Springs softball team. Always a time when athletes put in unsung work, the warm season is a chance for the Yellow Jackets to go through the paces as preparation for their 2026 season. This year, it’s also part of a feeling-out process thanks to the presence of first-year coach Amanda Decell.
A familiar face in Livingston Parish, Decell won more than 200 games in 11 seasons at Doyle High, including the 2018 Class 2A state championship She spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Live Oak, and will look to turn around the fortunes of the Jackets, who haven’t finished with a winning record in five seasons The workouts began earlier this month and, so far, the focus has been on effort and attitude.
“With softball, you don’t have to be the biggest or the strongest You don’t have to be the most talented, but you have to have a group of girls that loves each other, that loves the game and loves to compete,” Decell said. “That’s what I’m trying to build this year If I can get them to play hard for me every game then that’s a win. We’re going to be successful just because of that.” There is a long history of softball success for Denham Springs with nine title game appearances and four championships The last of those championships came in 2000, well before Decell took Doyle to the
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Denham Springs celebrates Juneteenth
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
Denham Springs residents and a handful of elected officials sang gospel songs and bowed their heads in prayer June 19 in the historic L.M. Lockhart Park Gym to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States 160 years ago. The celebration included a parade on Saturday Camp Empowerment and the West Livingston Advisory Committee hosted about 70 people at the annual Juneteenth Community Celebration. Pastors, local elected officials, children and a Louisiana Supreme Court justice all shared songs, prayers and speeches about the importance of Juneteenth. The federal holiday commemorates the date in June 1865 when Union troops arrived in Texas, the westernmost state to secede from the United States and join the Confederacy to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free more than 250,000 slaves. Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Guidry, the fourth African American justice elected to the state Supreme Court, delivered an impassioned speech reflecting on history
“You cannot hide history And if you try to take it out of the schools, try to take it out of the community — we will hide it in our hearts,” Guidry said to applause.
A float rider tosses a bag of
“You cannot hide history.
And if you try to take it out of the schools, try to take it out of the community — we will hide it in our hearts.”
JOHN GUIDRY Louisiana Supreme Court justice
Guidry said Juneteenth reminds people that history can’t be rewritten, but through struggle and hard work, anyone can make it.
“If a poor boy from the bottoms of south Baton Rouge can sit on
our state’s highest court, then the sky is the limit,” Guidry told the audience. “But it’s a choice that you have to make each and every day.”
The Rev Debra Keller, of Denham Springs, told the crowd about the history of Juneteenth and why it is important to celebrate it.
“It reminds of freedom. It teaches us to celebrate progress even when there is more work to do. It teaches us to remember the struggle, because freedom was not free,” Keller said. Children from C amp
Decell
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
Children applaud during a performance of the Crescent Circus at the Denham Springs/Walker Branch Library on June 18.
Zyan Whitney, 9, right, looks surprised as Nathan Kepner pulls a coin from Zyan’s shirt
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Members of the Camp Empowerment Choir perform at the annual Juneteenth Community Celebration at the L.M Lockhart Park Gym on Thursday in Denham Springs.
PHOTO BY DAVID NORMAND
treats to the crowd during the second annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration parade in Denham Springs on Saturday.
AROUND
Leadership Livingston accepting applications
The Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the Leadership Livingston Class of 2026. In its 13th year, the program has graduated nearly 300 leaders.
Leadership Livingston is a 10-month experience that starts with a retreat in August and includes monthly field trips from September to May Participants learn about key areas of the parish and work in teams on community improvement projects
The program concludes with a graduation in June. Applications are open through July 15. Apply at www.livingstonparishchamber.org or call (225) 6658155 for more information Farmers Market Saturday Four Seasons Farmers Market opens every Saturday morning at 116 North Range Ave., Denham Springs. The event includes fresh produce and crafts items. For more information, call (225) 366-7241 or email thefourseasonsfarmersmarket@gmail.com. At the library
The Denham Springs-Walker branch library is busy this summer with a long list of program For more information, call (225) 6864140 or visit www.mylpl.info.
Thursday, June 26, 10 a.m.: Adult Writers’ Club (ages 18+) Are you looking for a friendly writer’s atmosphere? Feedback for your latest writing project? Then check out the library’s creative writing group, which focuses on support, helping each other and having fun All genres and all levels from novice to pro writers, are welcome. During each club meeting, writers will participate in troubleshooting discussions, enjoy some writing time, and end the session with friendly feedback for those who want it To find out how to join, contact Lee Cline at lcline@mylpl.info.
Thursday, June 26, 6 p.m.: Rocker Ducks (ages 13-18). What’s more exciting than a rubber duck? A rocker rubber duck. Decorate one with your own creative edgy style.
Friday, June 27, 1 p.m.: Art Nouveau Decoupage Wood Board (ages 18+) Discover the art of decoupage Transform a wood cutting board with art nouveau designs using paper and paint. This decor project is not only easy to customize but serves as an excellent gift idea Registration is required.
Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
SALZER
Continued from page 1G
state championship tournament five times during her last seven seasons.
“(Building a program) is what I enjoyed so much at Doyle,” Decell said. “It’s not going to happen overnight, but I expect Denham Springs to build more and more until we are one of those state contenders every year That’s the ultimate goal.” If Decell reaches that goal, it will happen on her own terms. Those terms? Giving all she can to the Yellow Jackets without sacrificing time with her own family. They are priorities that played a role in her decision to step down at Doyle and also factored into accepting the job at Denham Springs.
“I did miss leading a program and being a head coach, and I knew if I did it again it would have to be the right fit,” Decell said “Denham Springs is really the only other school I could see myself at because I need to be close to home. When that position came open, it was a perfect opportunity for me and my family.” It should be a fun ride for softball fans.
Charles Salzer covers Livingston sports for the LivingstonTangipahoa Advocate. To reach Salzer, email livingston@ theadvocate.com.
JUNETEENTH
Continued from page 1G
Empowerment led the crowd in singing a gospel song and shared group projects about the importance of Juneteenth and celebrating being Black.
Local leaders reflected on parish history and emphasized the importance of future generations learning from it.
Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry highlighted the importance of celebrating at L.M. Lockhart Park Gym. The site is home to the former West Livingston High School, one of the few all-Black schools in the parish that shut its doors after desegregation in 1970.
“If you always remember what happened in the past, you won’t make the same mistakes going forward,” he said. “We can learn from the past and grow, and we can become a better, dynamic, stronger community together.”
Livingston Parish President Randy Delatte spoke about working together on a parishwide level to support the parish’s future generations.
“Our children is the next generation in this battle. My grandchildren are the age of these children. We all have to fight together,” he said.
PHOTO BY DAVID NORMAND
The Natalbany Middle School marching band plays as they march down Range Avenue during the second annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration parade in Denham Springs on Saturday.
PHOTO BY DAVID NORMAND
Little Miss Juneteenth Camyn Allen, left, and Mister Juneteenth Jeremiah Johnson wave to the crowd as the parade rolls down Range Avenue.
PHOTO BY DAVID NORMAND
People watch as the parade rolls down Range Avenue during the second annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration parade in Denham Springs on Saturday.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Members of the crowd sway in their chairs during a song to open the annual Juneteenth Community Celebration at the L.M. Lockhart Park Gym on Thursday in Denham Springs.
Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry delivers a powerful address at the annual Juneteenth Community Celebration at the L.M. Lockhart Park Gym.
PHOTO BY DAVID NORMAND
A dance group dances down Range Avenue.
Nathan Kepner balances himself on Morgan Tsu-Raun as he juggles plastic clubs during a performance of the Crescent Circus at the Denham Springs/Walker Branch Library on June 18
Performer Nathan Kepner balances an acrylic ball on his head.
SLU uses Keep Louisiana Beautiful grant to support refillable water bottle stations
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University has been selected as a recipient of the University Affiliate Grant by Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the state’s premier anti-litter and community improvement organization.
The $5,000 grant will support Southeastern’s Water Bottle Refill Stations project, an initiative to educate and engage students, faculty, staff, and administration to reduce the amount of disposable drinking containers and make healthier drink choices
“Litter, specifically single use containers, generate a large amount of waste that can be avoided by reusing drinking containers,” said Southeastern Director of Physical Plant Chris Asprion.
“The choice to refill drinking containers lowers the amount of waste going to landfills as well as the amount of litter generated, litter that could find its way into storm drains, ditches, canals, and other waterways.”
PHOTO Southeastern
The University Affiliate Grant program was developed as part of a $500,000 five-year EPA Gulf of Mexico Trash-Free Waters Grant secured in 2021 by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, with Keep Louisiana Beautiful as a sub-recipient.
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
Eight-year-old Melissa Dickerson helps Nathan Kepner with a rope trick.
Performer Morgan Tsu-Raun twirls three metal hoops.
Members attend bunco game, meeting in Metarie
a June 3 meeting in Metairie, are members
On June 3, 11 members of Tangipahoa Volunteers for Family and Community along with two guests attended the Jefferson Parish Volunteers for Family and Community’s annual bunco fundraiser at the Piccadilly Restaurant in Metairie.
Members played the game while socializing with members
Community news report
Tangipahoa Volunteers for Family and Community honored volunteers during its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.
The May event was at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hammond. Karen Moran served as chair for the event and the planning committee included club vice president Marie Heck, reporter Pam Villagran, Anita Murray and Lucie Hanewinkel.
Guests included LSU 4-H agents Angela Myles and Cassie Faunce, and LSU AgCenter administrative coordinator Melissa Ordoyne
The Rev Louis Boldt, of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, gave the opening and closing prayer for the event.
Kicking off the event presentations, TVFC’s scholarship chair Jean Hebert recognized the club’s 2025 scholarship award recipient, Jaxon Forrest, who is a graduating senior at University View Academy in Kentwood. The scholarship funds will be earmarked for Forrest’s college expenses this fall as he attends the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine with a focus on large animal care. Forrest thanked TVFC members and shared his future aspirations to become a veterinarian. His mother, Heather Forrest, and his brother, Maddox Forrest, were both on hand He has been a dedicated member of 4-H for the past 9 years, during which time he has served as the Louisiana 4-H State Board president and vice president.
He is serving as a Southeast Regional Representative on the Louisiana 4-H Executive Board. He also participates in shooting sports, is active in various community service projects and leads a weekly young men’s Bible study. Following a meal, TVFC President Gloria Messenger presented numerous certificates to members in recognition of various achievements. On behalf of Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community, Messenger presented a certificate to TVFC’s Raise-A-Reader Project chair Anita Murray. The certificate was in recognition of an LVFC Mini Grant that was awarded to TVFC during the LVFC state convention in April, and its funds are earmarked to help support TVFC’s R-A-R program for 2025. Messenger also presented certificates to those members who had perfect atten-
of JVFC and other LVFC parish clubs across South Louisiana. Tangipahoa Volunteers for Family and Community is an all-volunteer arm of LSU Agriculture Extension Service. It consists of two chapters: Wednesday Volunteers for Family and Community (WVFC) and Sunshine Ladies.
dance at club meetings in 2024; to those members who qualified for LVFC’s Community Champions award for 2024; and to those members who have been in LVFC and TVFC for five years or increments of five years. Messenger presented TVFC’s membership chair Sue Nelson with the coveted LVFC Membership Plaque, which TVFC won at the state convention. LVFC awards the plaque each year to the LVFC parish club that gained the largest number of new members in the previous year
Nelson will house the plaque on behalf of TVFC until next year Then she will bring it to the 2026 convention to be awarded to that year’s winning club.
Tangipahoa Volunteers for Family and Community is an all-volunteer arm of the LSU Agriculture Extension Service. It consists of two chapters: Wednesday Volunteers for Family and Community and Sunshine Ladies. For information on the TVFC local groups, email Messenger at ggmessenger1@gmail.com or Nelson at suenelson41@yahoo.com.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Attending
of the Tangipahoa Voluntters for Family and Community, from left, Donna Bouterie, Lisa Meche, Anita Murray, Jo Ann Francois, Melinda Sanchez, Bobbie Brigman, Susan Melancon, Jean Hebert, Suellen Buckley, Betty Bankston, Ginny Shartle, Sue Nelson and Marie Heck.
Anita Murray, TVFC’s Raise-A- Reader Project chair, helped to win an LVFC Mini Grant for the program.
