DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
ADVOCATE THE LIVINGSTON -TANGIPAHOA
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W e d n e s d ay, D e c e m b e r 31, 2025
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Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
Sober driving campaign underway The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with several other local law enforcement agencies will increase patrols in Livingston Parish through New Year’s Day as part of the Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over campaign aimed at deterring people from driving while impaired. Motorists are urged to drive carefully and comply with all Louisiana traffic regulations. Specific locations of the patrols will not be released in advance. Overtime officer pay for the officers involved is being funded through a federal grant administered by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
Gumbo cook-off planned The Watson Bird and Sausage Gumbo Cook-off is set for Jan. 31 at Livingston Fairgrounds. Gates open at 10 a.m. and opening ceremonies are at 11 a.m. A $15 donation gets you samples of the gumbo. Entertainment starts at noon, and awards will be presented at 4 p.m. All proceeds donated to Honor Flight Louisiana, Baton Rouge Soldier Outreach and Books for Boots. For information, call (225) 3370041.
Merriest Mile in Livingston The Merriest Mile Christmas Light Drive-thru is open through Dec. 31 at the Livingston Parish Fairgrounds. The light display is open every day from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 13325 Florida Blvd. in Livingston. For tickets, visit https://tinyurl. com/7fyhzsxt.
SLU holiday closures Southeastern Louisiana University offices are closed for the annual holiday break through Jan. 5 at 7:30 a.m. University police officers will patrol campus buildings and will request identification from anyone found in buildings officially closed for the break. The University Police Department is open around the clock to assist with all inquiries or special needs.
PHOTO BY DAVID NORMAND
Four-year-old Brynleigh Stewart, left and Michael Reine, 5, make snow angels in their Watson neighborhood Jan. 21. The Watson area received more than 6 inches of snow.
A look back at 2025 through our favorite photos Krewe of Denham Springs king Scooter Keen leads a second line during the krewe’s Feb. 1 Mardi Gras ball.
BY DARLENE DENSTORFF Community News Editor
As the year comes to an end, many of us reflect upon how the year went. As an editor, I like to look back on the photos published on these pages. I’m lucky to work with some talented photojournalists who tell stories with their images. I also receive a wealth of submitted photos from readers who want to share their news with our readers. It’s been a rough year for my family and my newspaper family. The death of my husband in August was unexpected and disrupted things for quite a while. I’m thankful for my friends, relatives and readers who have helped me through these difficult times. Here are my favorite shots and memories from the first half of 2025.
PROVIDED PHOTO BY BARCLELL STUDIO
January Photographer David Normand ventured out when the area received a rare snow event on Jan. 21.
February The Krewe of Hullabaloux transformed North Park Recreational Center on Feb. 1 into a big top circus tent for this year’s theme, “The Greatest Show,” as the Krewe of Denham Springs
ä See PHOTOS, page 4G
Cornhole in Walker Play cornhole every Friday at the Walker Community Center. The weekly tournaments are $10 for the lower division and $20 for the upper division. For information, call (225) 3057183.
Denham Springs parade The Krewe of Denham Springs Mardi Gras parade rolls at 3 p.m. Jan. 31 through the historic Denham Springs Antique Village and down Range Avenue.
Chamber plans events The Livingston Chamber of Commerce is planning its installation of board members and committees on Jan. 7, the annual meeting and awards banquet Jan. 22 and gala on March 13. Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
Children learn history of, create pickle ornaments
Growing Coffee business plans to open cafe BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD
BY RICHARD MEEK
Staff writer
Contributing writer
Luke Hopkins’ 6-year-old hands worked with purpose, putting the final touches on an ornament that would soon join the other decorations on the Christmas tree in his Central home. But this was far from a traditional ornament. There was not the face of Santa Claus, Noel or even Lane Kiffin on the work in progress. Rather, Hopkins and several youngsters spent Dec. 20 at the Arts Council of Livingston Parish making pickle ornaments.
PHOTO BY RICHARD MEEK
Laila Altazan, left, and her cousin, Luke Hopkins, put the final touches on a Christmas pickle ornament at a workshop ä See ORNAMENTS, page 2G at the Arts Council of Livingston Parish on Dec. 20.
A coffee brand founded in a small Louisiana town and now available in grocery stores, on LSU’s campus and even in Washington, D.C., is working on a new venture: its first cafe. French Settlement Roasting Co. was founded by Billy and Shannon LaGrange, of French Settlement, over a decade ago, using a popcorn popper to roast coffee. Now, the couple operates a fullscale roasting facility in Holden,
ä See COFFEE, page 3G
New Walker game announcer displays singing talent Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
One aspect of having covered high school and collegiate sports, as well as occasional professional sporting events, for more than 30 years, is that I have heard countless renditions of our national anthem — live and recorded.
Many of these have been very good and some have been exceptional, although it is the live versions that stand out most. On the other end, there were numbers that sometimes came up short of their intended marks, but I recall a
reverence and dedication associated with each of the performances, regardless. The most revered seems to be the recording of Whitney Houston’s Super Bowl XXV performance, which many
consider to be the gold standard. Besides performances by school bands, I have also heard students, teachers and other unheralded singers deliver
ä See SALZER, page 3G
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SLU announces Christmas tree recycling project Community news report Southeastern Louisiana University is again asking area residents to give the environment a gift after Christmas. Turtle Cove and its partners will provide Christmas tree recycling at the Hammond maintenance facility. Discarded Christmas trees can be dropped off and used for wetland restoration rather than throwing them out with the trash. “Recycled Christmas trees while also reducing the waste going into landfills,” said Rob Moreau, manager of Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, located on Pass Manchac between Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. Although grant funding from the state programs for Christmas tree recycling in many areas ended years ago, local partners stepped up to keep the project going. This marks the 31st year Southeastern has conducted its recycled tree program. Each year, students from Moreau’s environmental awareness class, as well as volunteers from the local community, have helped to deploy the trees into areas needed most in the Manchac Swamp Wetlands. This year, Turtle Cove Education/Outreach Coordinator Ariel Ebanks is teaching the class and
will lead students in the deployment of the trees in mid-March. Approximately 45,000 trees have been deployed through the Southeastern program in the past 30 years. Southeastern scientists and volunteers use the discarded trees to help build up marshland in areas that have been impacted by erosion and other factors, said Moreau. Moreau said the trees will be used to create new habitats for wildlife and help to control erosion along various shorelines, most recently occurring on Galva Canal and in areas around the research station itself on Pass Manchac and the boatshed/parking lot area at Galva Canal. This practice also provides hands-on environmental education opportunities for students and other volunteers who help with the project. Collaborating in the project for the 11th consecutive year is the Southeastern Sustainability Center, which will serve as a drop-off point for area residents to leave their used Christmas trees. Other primary partners include the cities of Hammond and Ponchatoula, Middendorf’s Restaurant in Manchac, and a new partner this year, the Hammond Downtown Development District.
PROVIDED PHOTO BY RANDY BERGERON
Southeastern Louisiana University students help deploy discarded Christmas trees to aid in Louisiana wetlands restoration. This is the 31st year Southeastern has conducted its recycled tree program. Trees can be dropped off beginning Jan. 6 through the day after Mardi Gras from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hammond maintenance facility, located at 18104 U.S. 190. Trees should be dropped off using the gate on Falcon Drive next to Piggly Wiggly. During those same dates, city of Ponchatoula residents can drop off trees anytime at 385 N. Fourth St. by the fence. The Southeastern Sustainability Center, located at 2101 N. Oak St., will collect trees beginning Jan. 6
through the end of the month from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday. Moreau said a drop-off area is available at Middendorf’s Restaurant, so diners going there can also drop off trees starting Jan. 7. St. John the Baptist Parish will also collect trees and bring them to Manchac. Curbside pickup can be scheduled in St. John the Baptist Parish by calling Public Works at (985) 652-4815 and will take place
beginning Jan. 5 through Feb. 20. This year, a drop-off location is offered as well. Residents can drop off trees at the Recycle Yard located behind the Percy Hebert Building at 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace. Collection will begin Dec. 29 and run through Feb. 20. “The city of Hammond will again provide transport of collected trees from Hammond and Ponchatoula to the Turtle Cove Galva Canal parking lot area in Manchac, where they will be stored until they are deployed in the marshes in the spring,” Moreau said. For all of these sites, no flocked trees will be accepted, and all trees should be stripped of any ornaments, lights, tinsel, stands, nails and screws, etc. “This greatly helps our efforts to get the trees quickly deployed,” Moreau said. For more information, contact Moreau at rmoreau@southeastern.edu, Ebanks at Ariel.Ebanks@ southeastern.edu, or visit the website at www.southeastern.edu/ turtlecove. Donations to help support the activity can be sent by check payable to Southeastern Foundation — c/o Turtle Cove and mailed to Southeastern Box 10585, Hammond, LA 70402 or can be made by credit card through the Turtle Cove website under the donations link.
Volunteer Liesl Smith offers guidance to families during a Christmas pickle ornament at a workshop at the Arts Council of Livingston Parish.
ORNAMENTS
ing it,” Luke said, adding that his favorite part of the process was selecting the colors of the pickle’s eyes, which turned out to be red and blue because those are his favorite colors. Luke’s cousin, Laila Altazan, even joined the fun, creating an ornament of her own. And be assured these were not glass ornaments available at the local Christmas shop or online but were handmade and hand-painted. “I saw what they were doing and I came in,” Altazan said. “The story is fascinating.” Origins of the ornament vary, with one legend having it rooted in Germany, which has since been discounted. Tradition dictates that when the pickle ornament is placed on the tree it is hidden among other ornaments. On Christmas morning, as the story goes, the first person to find the pickle ornament is rewarded with an extra present from Santa or, for the more
Continued from page 1G
A pickle ornament? Would that be dill or sweet? The young people were actually carrying out a little-known German American tradition that dates to the late 19th century, its popularity so obscure that at that time the New York Times polled 2,057 Germans and determined 91% were not aware of the ornament. “I was told the story of the Christmas pickle and I went from there,” said Arts Council board member Mary Felder, who was intrigued by the story and organized the pickle ornament workshop. The class captivated several families who were spending the day at the Denham Springs Christmas Village. Seems the allure of making a Christmas pickle ornament was too intriguing to pass up. “I am excited and enjoy-
PHOTOS BY RICHARD MEEK
Young people and even some adults, captivated by the idea of a Christmas pickle workshop at the Arts Council of Livingston Parish on Dec. 20, make their own homemade creations that hours later were hung on their family trees. discerning, a year of good fortune. Berrien Springs, Michigan, self-proclaimed as the Christmas pickle capital of the world, and who would dispute that unusual boast without credible evidence, holds an annual pickle festival, complete with a parade. Berrien Springs is located
in extreme southwestern Michigan, near the Indiana state line. “I will be the first one to find (the pickle ornament), yes sir,” said Luke, in a bit of Yuletide trash talking. “And get the extra present.” Felder said the class was free of charge and the Arts
Council provided all of the materials. Volunteers also showed up to help the younger set. “I wanted to do something that would show the community what we are doing,” Felder said. “We just wanted to give back to the community.” And a 6-year-old boy
walked out of the Arts Council and back into the unusually warm weather with a confident smile his magical creation would result in a bit of Christmas lagniappe. Email Richard Meek at livingston@theadvocate. com.
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Darlene T. Denstorff ddenstorff@theadvocate.com OFFICE: (225) 388-0215 CELL: (225) 603-1998 COMMUNITY NEWS REPORTER Leila Pitchford livingston@theadvocate.com (225) 388-0731
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PROVIDED PHOTOS
French Settlement Roasting Co. products pictured at the roasting and packaging facility in Holden on Dec. 16.
Doyle softball team and coaches gather during a recent ring ceremony celebrating their recent state championship.
SALZER
Continued from page 1G
PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
French Settlement Roasting Co. owners Billy LaGrange pulls up one of his first coffee roasting machines at their roasting and packaging facility in Holden on Wednesday, Dec. 16. LaGrange said he never thought he’d spend so much money on a coffee machine before spending lots more money on commercial size roasting machines as the business grew.
COFFEE
Continued from page 1G supplies more than 20 locations with their product, has a mobile coffee truck and are currently preparing to open their first brickand-mortar cafe. The coffee business, known for its “Bloody Angola” and “Jet Fuel” blends, expects to start building the store at the beginning of 2026 and open it by the summer. The location in Maurepas, next to Diversion Pizza and Sarita’s restaurants, plans to serve coffee, tea and breakfast food. “It took off. Everybody wanted the coffee. Everybody who tries it buys it. That’s still the model,” Billy LaGrange said. Parish President Randy Delatte, in August, named the coffee brand the “official coffee of Livingston Parish.” “It’s a veteran-owned, homegrown success story that brings pride to Livingston Parish. When something made right here in our community is being enjoyed on the Senate floor in Washington, that’s worth celebrating,” Delatte said in the August proclamation. Delatte was referring to U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, who has supported the local coffee business for years and has even brought it to Washington, D.C., during Senate meetings.
From popcorn popper to full-scale coffee roaster
a popcorn popper. People around him also wanted the coffee he made, so he eventually decided to upgrade to a small roaster and then, eventually, the full-scale roaster the business uses now. The LaGranges began selling the coffee grounds at local farmers markets and have now expanded to grocery stores in Livingston and Ascension Parishes and cafes in Baton Rouge like City Pork LSU. “That’s probably one of the biggest ones, I think. When we got it, it was like, ‘Oh, cool!’ ” Shannon LaGrange said about serving their coffee on LSU’s campus. Shannon LaGrange said a lot of the feedback they receive comes from people who originally couldn’t drink coffee due to taste or other factors. She said one customer who was going through chemotherapy couldn’t drink coffee because the medicine changed her taste buds. “She found us when she was going through chemo … nothing tasted good. But she could drink our coffee all day long,” Shannon LaGrange said. The couple runs every aspect of their business, from roasting the coffee to making deliveries, all while they still keep their day jobs working at an Entergy plant and in health care, respectively. Along with keeping their jobs the same, the LaGranges have also never changed the price of their coffee to remain affordable. “Everything in the world went up, and coffee, in general, in the last six months, went up double. But yet we’re still at the same price,” Billy LaGrange said.
French Settlement Roasting Co. began when Billy LaGrange, while working at a nuclear power plant, sought a cup of coffee that actually tasted good to him. “I used to hate coffee,” he said. Eventually, he realized he Email Claire Grunewald could make it himself and at claire.grunewald@ began roasting coffee with theadvocate.com.
amazing live renditions of their own at a wide variety of sporting events and venues. Have I seen it all? Not even close. The latest example of the unexpected occurred recently at the first girls basketball game of the season for Walker High. In addition to new head coach Bobby Armstrong III, Walker was also breaking in its new public address announcer, Denham Springs native Denver Ballard. As pregame activity began to wind down, Ballard, who I was seated next to, used the microphone to ask the crowd to rise for the national anthem, which I also did. Seconds later, he scared the daylights out of those of us at the scorer’s table as he launched into his own presentation of the anthem. Although the song was performed flawlessly, Ballard had not introduced himself or given any other setup before he began. As it turns out, Ballard, a 33-year-old AI technician, is also a talented singer. He has performed the national anthem at numerous LSU events including baseball, softball and women’s basketball as well as other sporting events around Baton Rouge. Is he now expected to perform the anthem as part of his announcing duties? “Honestly, that conversation never happened,” Ballard said earlier this month while announcing at
Doyle’s five seniors, from left, Kassidy Rivero, Shelby Taylor, Alyson Fletcher, Bailey McLin and Kylee Savant with the championship trophy and rings. the Livingston Parish basketball tournament. “But after hearing someone play a recording of the anthem, I just said, ‘I can’t do that.’ So I just sing it when its time to go.” Ballard’s singing ability means there will be no wor-
ries about a mechanical failure when it comes to the anthem. “Singing is really just a hobby,” said Ballard, who acknowledged that singing the anthem usually meant a good seat for the event he was attending. “When it
comes to sporting events, I’m in it for the tickets.” Charles Salzer covers Livingston sports for the Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate. To reach Salzer, email livingston@ theadvocate.com.
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French Settlement Roasting Co. owners Billy and Shannon LaGrange pose for a picture in front of their coffee roaster, nicknamed ‘Lotta Gold.’
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A float rider prepares to throw a string of beads during the annual Krewe of Denham Springs Mardi Gras parade Feb. 15.
PHOTO BY DAVID NORMAND
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Student athlete Robin May runs into a first place finish as Elijah Williams comes in second during their race in the 2025 Livingston Parish Special Olympics at Live Oak High School on Feb. 26.
PHOTO BY MOLLY BAHLINGER
Sara Brignac, from left, Robyn Richards, and Robin Talamo take a selfie with a dwarf goat at Old Rusty Gate Farm.
PHOTOS
Continued from page 1G celebrated its 45th annual Mardi Gras ball. The krewe submitted photos from the ball. Normand captured the spirit of Mardi Gras when he shot photos at the Krewe of Denham Springs Mardi Gras on Feb. 15. Advocate photographer Javier Gallegos captured scenes from the Livingston Parish Special Olympics on Feb. 26 at Live Oak High School.
March Photographer Patrick Dennis photographed competition between Denham Springs and
Live Oak’s Brayden Allen (7) slides safely into home as Denham Springs’ catcher Kayden Boyer (18) waits for the late throw in the seventh inning of the 5-5A game vs Denham Springs in Denham Springs. Live Oaks won 6-1. PHOTO BY PATRICK DENNIS
Live Oak baseball teams during a March game in Denham Springs.
May On May 4, Advocate photographer captured the emotion of the Doyle High softball team when they won the Division III nonselect championship. Emotions were front and center May 19 when Denham Springs High School’s Class of 2025 graduated and Normand was there to catch the action.
PHOTO BY DAVID NORMAND
A graduate shows her excitement after receiving her diploma during the Denham Springs High School graduation ceremony held in the University Center at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond on May 19.
June A June story about goat yoga provided some interesting photos of, well, goats and yoga participants at the Old Rusty Gate Farm in Livingston.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Doyle catcher Kylee Savant (00) is mobbed by her teammates after being named the most valuable player following the win over Jena in the Division III nonselect championship May 4 at Frasch Park in Sulphur.