The Watchman 06-10-2026 by The Advocate

Fees set for solar arrays, farms

Leila Pitchford

AROUND THE FELICIANAS

Bible school planned for Jackson

Jackson United Methodist Church will have vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon July 20-24. Children ages 4-12 are invited to “Snowball Mountain Challenge.”

Clinton High alumni picnic

The fourth annual Clinton High Picnic is Sunday through June 20. On Sunday, pick up a parking pass and wristbands at a class rep meeting. On June 19, an Alumni Kickback for ages 30 and up will be from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Jefferson’s Place, 10591 Spurlock Lane, in Clinton.

On June 20, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Alumni Picnic will be at the former Clinton High, now East Feliciana Middle, 10410 Plank Road.

Letlow hosts satellite hours

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow’s district staff will host satellite ofﬁce hours in West Feliciana Parish from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m June 17 at West Feliciana Parish Government Ofﬁce, 5934 Commerce St., in St. Francisville.

The staff will also be in East Feliciana Parish the same day: from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Jackson Town Hall and Marshall’s Ofﬁce, 1610 Charter St., in Jackson, and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at East Feliciana Parish Government, Police Jury Ofﬁce, 12604 Marston St., in Clinton. Staff will be available to help constituents of Louisiana’s 5th District with federal agency related issues.

PROVIDED PHOTO

A Retired U.S Flag Collection Box has been donated to the West Feliciana Parish Library.

Flag collection box put at library

The West Feliciana Parish Library has received a Retired U.S Flag Collection Box, donated by Rebecca Corkern at Woodmen Life. The box has been placed next to the ﬂagpole and is a great resource for proper and respectful disposal of worn or damaged ﬂags.

Woodmen Life is also donating a new American ﬂag to the library Basketball camp planned Slaughter Community Charter School will host a Summer Basketball camp.

Grades 5-7 will meet June 22-24 from 9 a.m. to noon. Grades eight to nine will meet July 9-10, 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Friday More dates follow in July Space is limited, so sign up soon. Fee is $150.

BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer

The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury adopted an ordinance June 1 that sets standards for large-scale solar arrays for generating electricity

The new regulations will not apply to a solar farm now under construction in the southeastern part of the parish, known as

Willis Pond. Its construction has been delayed for months, but it was authorized under a zoning law that had to be adopted when the owner ﬁrst approached the jury about the project.

The new ordinance sets up a permitting scheme for future projects, including submission of site plans, a drainage study, environmental study and a trafﬁc plan for clearing the site and

hauling in equipment.

The ordinance does not apply to solar collectors intended to provide electrical power to a single residential or commercial building.

The ordinance sets a permitting fee of $5,000 for a solar farm of 500 or fewer acres. For larger tracts, the fee was set at $10,000, plus $5 per acre for areas greater than 500 acres.

THOUSANDS BRAVE SHOWERS FOR A GLIMPSE OF

An estimated 5,000 visitors made their way to the

Saturday. The event promotes native wildflower

and several food and product vendors.

BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

Contributing

writer

Dave May set out on the short journey to embrace unappreciated parts of Louisiana’s history and identity

The road led him to Clinton, a blooming mecca of color and culture.

The thousands who joined him were drawn and fueled by flower power Feliciana Wildflower Project celebrated a wet but wonderful third annual Feliciana Wildflower Festival on Saturday in its continuing quest to bolster the environment and draw tourism dollars to the Felicianas.

May, decked out in a large straw and False River T-shirt, treated every inch of the festival like his own classroom. He learned about plant and ﬂower species native to Louisiana and had questions about the two types of wood used by one vendor to make furniture and crafts. His

near the conclusion of the third annual event.

In earlier meetings, Juror Richard Oliveaux pushed for a larger permitting fee, suggesting the jury follow Washington Parish’s lead and base the fee on a percentage of the total construction cost.

During a public hearing before the jury vote, Clinton resident Debbie Kemp said calculating

Troubled zoo seeks fresh start

New owners ending controversial animal encounters

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Employees at an embattled private zoo in East Feliciana Parish say they are trying to start over by converting the preserve into a nonproﬁt and ending controversial hands-on animal encounters that once drew crowds from around the country Magnolia Wilds, formerly Barnhill Preserve, has been owned and operated for more than 14 years by local conservationist and Clinton native Gabe Ligon. By 2023, the preserve in Ethel had swelled to 100 acres, housing hundreds of exotic animals alongside a safari park and Louisiana’s longest zip line. Ligon’s company also ran a traveling program that brought animals to schools across the Gulf South.

But the zoo’s signature handson animal encounters, including swimming with otters and penguins, and holding and feeding sloths drew criticism from animal welfare groups, while the zoo’s overall conditions accrued repeated federal violations. In 2024, the park rebranded after U.S. Department of Agriculture ofﬁcials seized a sick giraffe over failure to provide it adequate veterinary care. When Ligon announced plans to sell the property in January, he said the incident had damaged the park’s reputation and strained its ﬁnances.

A month later Ligon was arrested at an airport in connection with a failed business deal involving another Louisiana zoo owner In the aftermath, many former employees alleged widespread negligence at the park, resulting in frequent animal deaths and escapes, as well as unsafe working conditions for a mostly inexperienced staff. In April, Ligon said no buyer had emerged.

Now, the handful of employees who remain say they want to rebuild the operation themselves.

Rachael Hovis, a senior zookeeper at Magnolia Wilds, said staff approached Ligon about purchasing the property In response, she said, he agreed to donate the remaining 125 animals.

“We, as the employees, presented to the owner that we wanted to

Baton Rouge resident Dave May takes a moment to plan his next move and soak in a variety of experiences at the festival.

PHOTOS BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

third annual Feliciana Wildflower Festival

species and includes an art show, shopping

Feliciana Wildflower Festival organizer Arlene Culpepper and founder Paul Davidson discuss wrap-up logistics

Aunt and nephew duo Christina Seal and Mark Seal traveled from Holden to display their wood working and crafts products.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

Among the controversial offerings at the Magnolia Wilds preserve, formerly Barnhill Preserve, in Ethel is swimming with otters.

ä See SOLAR, page 3G

St. Francisville is home to a scary bridge for cyclists

Community news report

To ﬁnd out which bridges are especially intimidating for cyclists, California-based injury lawyers Bisnar Chase commissioned a survey via Cherry Data Signals of 3,057 cyclists, asking them to rank the bridges they fear most Two bridges in Louisiana were ranked among the most nerve racking in the country

The John James Audubon Bridge, came in at No. 68

“The John James Audubon Bridge has the long, lonely feel of a rural mega-crossing,” according to the study “It spans the Mississippi River and is one of the few crossings for a long stretch of river, which can make it feel unavoidable rather than optional.

“Bicycles are allowed to use the shoulders, but there are no dedicated bicycle lanes or pedestrian walkways, so the ride still carries that exposed highway-bridge tension: open river, fast road, big span, and a lot of distance to cover

before the far bank feels close.”

At No. 35 is the Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish.

The survey said, “The Huey P. Long Bridge feels industrial in the most literal sense: road traf-

ﬁc below, rail trafﬁc above, steel everywhere, and the Mississippi River moving underneath.

“Cyclists have discussed riding it as a legal but nerve-testing crossing, and state correspon-

dence cited by local riders has noted that accommodations were made on the bridge shoulders, including covering joints and removing raised pavement markers.

One hurt in W. Feliciana during gunbattle involving 2 vehichles

BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer

One person was injured during an argument between two groups of people that escalated into a shootout between two vehicles along U.S. 61 in West Feliciana Parish, the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce reported.

West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Brian Spillman said deputies responded to a hospital where a victim showed up with a gunshot wound around 1 a.m. Saturday The victim was then transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge with an injury that was not life-threatening, Spillman said. During the investigation, detectives learned an alter-

cation between two groups of people in the lower end of the parish turned into a “running gunbattle” between two vehicles, the sheriff said. Shots were ﬁred from both groups. Spillman said authorities have identiﬁed suspects and are working to get arrest warrants Detectives are unsure what caused the altercation.

The John James Audubon Bridge, connecting West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee parishes via La. 1, ‘has the long lonely feel of a rural mega-crossing,’ according to a Cherry Data Signals survey ranking United States bridges cyclists fear the most.

“That detail almost says everything. It may be possible, but it still sounds like the kind of bridge where a rider would want steady hands, clear weather and no surprises.”

The following people were booked into the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center between May 18-31

May 18

COBB, BRANDON: 39; 7800 block of Solitude Road, St. Francisville; aggravated burglary, violation of protective order, attempted ﬁrst-degree murder

May 20

PECORA, SIDNEY: 39; 6800 block of La. 19, Ethel; probation violation

May 25

May 28

LANGFORD, CARLTON: 27; 8900 block of Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge; view outward or inward through windows (window tint violation), possession of Schedule I, fugitive warrant, speeding FUSELIER, DANIEL: 73; 2000 block of Terrace Highway, St. Martinville; criminal trespassing

May 29

RHINEHART, JOHN: 39; 300 block of Bacque Crescent, Unit C, Lafayette; residential contractor fraud WILLIAMS, DARRIUS: 35; 17531

PARKER, KALEN: 25; 700 block of Walton Road, New Iberia; bank fraud, theft $1,000-$5,000

Tunica Trace, Angola; aggravated battery DUPLANTIS, JOHNATHAN: 28; Tunica Trace, Angola; battery of a correctional facility employee

May 30

AUCOIN, KAREN: 64; 13600 block of La. 411, Maringouin; ﬁrst offense-operating a vehicle while impaired

May 31

LAMBERT, CODY: 42; 200 block of Terrio Drive, St. Francisville; second offense-operating a vehicle while impaired, reckless operation of a vehicle, open container

Summer library activities set

Community news report

Summer library activities are underway in the Felicianas. Audubon Regional For information on any program, contact your local branch. In Clinton 11023 Bank St., call (225) 683-8753. In Jackson, Jackson Branch, 2637 La. 10, call (225) 6347408. In St. Helena, 6108 La. 10, Greensburg, call (22) 435-7135 Also visit Facebook at facebook.com/audubonregional or the webpage at audubonregional.net. The summer reading program, which runs through Aug. 1 has a “Plant A Seed, Read” theme. Readers of all ages are welcome. All participants will receive a prize for completion, with the chance to win a grand prize baskets. Summer Reading Storytimes at Audubon Regional Library: Tuesdays in June at various branches. Each week will have new themed stories, songs, rhymes, activities and an accompanying craft for the kids to take home at 10 a.m. at St. Helena, 10:30 a.m. at Clinton and 11:30 a.m. at Jackson.

Movie Day: 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays in June at the St. Helena Branch Nature on the Geaux: Friday June 12, at various branches. Engage with animal ambassadors at 10 a.m. at Jackson, at noon at Clinton and at 2 p.m. at St. Helena.

LSU AG: Deer Resistant Plants and Handling Pests: 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at the St. Helena Branch

Jesse Hoover, of the LSU

AG Center, will teach practical, research-based strategies to protect landscape from deer and other nuisance wildlife.

Selah Flower’s Dance Workshop: 1:30 p.m. June 18 at the Clinton Branch.

See a demonstration of various dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop to young and young-atheart dancers. Come in comfortable clothing that is easy to move around in and wear soft-soled shoes (preferably tennis shoes, not crocs or ﬂip ﬂops).

Layne Langley Presents Bite into Summer with MyPlate: 9:30 a.m. June 29 at the Clinton Branch.

Children will discover where food comes from and learn how to use MyPlate to make healthy choices every day Theater with Ms. Jen: June 30 at various branches.

10 a.m. at Jackson, noon at Clinton and 2 p.m. at St. Helena.

West Feliciana

For St. Francisville, call (225) 635-3364 or visit 5114 Burnett Road, or visit wfplibrary.org for information or to register for activities.

West Feliciana is using dinosaur tracks in “Unearth a Story” to keep track of reading time. All ages can join. Sign up at the library or at wfplibrary.org/summer

Pick up or print out a library log. Mark your reading time for every 30 minutes. All reading counts. Redeem the tracks for prizes or rafﬂe tickets. For kids, 30 minutes of reading earns one dino track. Three levels of rewards can be redeemed for

different track numbers.

Every 10 tracks earns a rafﬂe entry For teens and adults, two tracks, an hour of reading, earns a rafﬂe ticket. Drop your tickets into the box for the prize you want to win

Every 20 tracks earns you a free book from the book cart. Last day for all to turn in tracks is July 24. The grand prize winner will be drawn at a party on July 29

Activities include Toddler Storytime at 10 a.m. Tuesdays; Castle Club for teens at 2 p.m.; various art classes on Fridays (registration required); and tween crafts at 2 p.m. Thursdays (registration required).

Summer activities for children at 11 a.m. Wednesdays include Bluey & Bingo on June 17, Louisiana Snake ID on June 24, Mitch the Magician on July 8, Ocean Adventures: Our Great White Shark Adventure on July 15, Harvey Rabbit & Friends Show on July 22 and an end of summer party on July 29. A birthday party for the United States’ 250th birthday is set at 2 p.m. July 1.

FILE PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK

Fees set for solar arrays, farms

Leila Pitchford

AROUND THE FELICIANAS

Bible school planned for Jackson

Jackson United Methodist Church will have vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon July 20-24. Children ages 4-12 are invited to “Snowball Mountain Challenge.”

Clinton High alumni picnic

On June 20, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Alumni Picnic will be at the former Clinton High, now East Feliciana Middle, 10410 Plank Road.

Letlow hosts satellite hours

PROVIDED PHOTO

A Retired U.S Flag Collection Box has been donated to the West Feliciana Parish Library.

Flag collection box put at library

Woodmen Life is also donating a new American ﬂag to the library Basketball camp planned Slaughter Community Charter School will host a Summer Basketball camp.

BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer

The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury adopted an ordinance June 1 that sets standards for large-scale solar arrays for generating electricity

The new regulations will not apply to a solar farm now under construction in the southeastern part of the parish, known as

Willis Pond. Its construction has been delayed for months, but it was authorized under a zoning law that had to be adopted when the owner ﬁrst approached the jury about the project.

The new ordinance sets up a permitting scheme for future projects, including submission of site plans, a drainage study, environmental study and a trafﬁc plan for clearing the site and

hauling in equipment.

The ordinance does not apply to solar collectors intended to provide electrical power to a single residential or commercial building.

The ordinance sets a permitting fee of $5,000 for a solar farm of 500 or fewer acres. For larger tracts, the fee was set at $10,000, plus $5 per acre for areas greater than 500 acres.

THOUSANDS BRAVE SHOWERS FOR A GLIMPSE OF

An estimated 5,000 visitors made their way to the

Saturday. The event promotes native wildflower

and several food and product vendors.

BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing

writer

Dave May set out on the short journey to embrace unappreciated parts of Louisiana’s history and identity

The road led him to Clinton, a blooming mecca of color and culture.

The thousands who joined him were drawn and fueled by ﬂower power

Feliciana Wildflower Project celebrated a wet but wonderful third annual Feliciana Wildflower Festival on Saturday in its continuing quest to bolster the environment and draw tourism dollars to the Felicianas. May, decked out in a large straw and False River T-shirt, treated every inch of the festival like his own classroom. He learned about plant and flower species native to Louisiana and had questions about the two types of wood used by one vendor to make furniture and crafts. His

festival.

In earlier meetings, Juror Richard Oliveaux pushed for a larger permitting fee, suggesting the jury follow Washington Parish’s lead and base the fee on a percentage of the total construction cost.

During a public hearing before the jury vote, Clinton resident Debbie Kemp said calculating

Troubled zoo seeks fresh start

New owners ending controversial animal encounters

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

In April, Ligon said no buyer had emerged.

Now, the handful of employees who remain say they want to rebuild the operation themselves.

Rachael Hovis, a senior zookeeper at Magnolia Wilds, said staff approached Ligon about purchasing the property In response, she said, he agreed to donate the remaining 125 animals.

“We, as the employees, presented to the owner that we wanted to

Baton Rouge resident Dave May takes a moment to plan his next move and soak in a variety of experiences at the

PHOTOS BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

third annual Feliciana Wildflower Festival

species and includes an art show, shopping

Feliciana Wildflower Festival organizer Arlene Culpepper and founder Paul Davidson discuss wrap-up logistics near the conclusion of the third annual event.

Aunt and nephew duo Christina Seal and Mark Seal traveled from Holden to display their wood working and crafts products.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

Among the controversial offerings at the Magnolia Wilds preserve, formerly Barnhill Preserve, in Ethel is swimming with otters.

ä See SOLAR, page 3G

St. Francisville is home to a scary bridge for cyclists

Community news report

To ﬁnd out which bridges are especially intimidating for cyclists, California-based injury lawyers

Bisnar Chase commissioned a survey via Cherry Data Signals of 3,057 cyclists, asking them to rank the bridges they fear most Two bridges in Louisiana were ranked among the most nerve racking in the country

The John James Audubon Bridge, came in at No. 68

before the far bank feels close.”

At No. 35 is the Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish.

The survey said, “The Huey P. Long Bridge feels industrial in the most literal sense: road traf-

ﬁc below, rail trafﬁc above, steel everywhere, and the Mississippi River moving underneath.

“Cyclists have discussed riding it as a legal but nerve-testing crossing, and state correspon-

dence cited by local riders has noted that accommodations were made on the bridge shoulders, including covering joints and removing raised pavement markers.

One hurt in W. Feliciana during gunbattle involving 2 vehichles

BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer

One person was injured during an argument between two groups of people that escalated into a shootout between two vehicles along U.S.

61 in West Feliciana Parish, the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce reported. West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Brian Spillman said deputies responded to a hospital where a victim showed up with a gunshot wound around 1 a.m. Saturday The victim was then transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge with an injury that was not life-threatening, Spillman said. During the investigation, detectives learned an alter-

“That detail almost says everything. It may be possible, but it still sounds like the kind of bridge where a rider would want steady hands, clear weather and no surprises.”

DEMOCRAT

The following people were booked into the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center between May 18-31

May 18

COBB, BRANDON: 39; 7800 block of Solitude Road, St. Francisville; aggravated burglary, violation of protective order, attempted ﬁrst-degree murder

May 20

PECORA, SIDNEY: 39; 6800 block of La. 19, Ethel; probation violation

May 25

May 28

May 29

RHINEHART, JOHN: 39; 300 block of Bacque Crescent, Unit C, Lafayette; residential contractor fraud WILLIAMS, DARRIUS: 35; 17531

PARKER, KALEN: 25; 700 block of Walton Road, New Iberia; bank fraud, theft $1,000-$5,000

Tunica Trace, Angola; aggravated battery

DUPLANTIS, JOHNATHAN: 28; Tunica Trace, Angola; battery of a correctional facility employee

May 30

AUCOIN, KAREN: 64; 13600 block of La. 411, Maringouin; ﬁrst offense-operating a vehicle while impaired

May 31

LAMBERT, CODY: 42; 200 block of Terrio Drive, St. Francisville; second offense-operating a vehicle while impaired, reckless operation of a vehicle, open container

Summer library activities set

different track numbers.

Community news report

LSU AG: Deer Resistant Plants and Handling Pests: 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at the St. Helena Branch

Selah Flower’s Dance Workshop: 1:30 p.m. June 18 at the Clinton Branch.

Layne Langley Presents Bite into Summer with MyPlate: 9:30 a.m. June 29 at the Clinton Branch.

Children will discover where food comes from and learn how to use MyPlate to make healthy choices every day Theater with Ms. Jen: June 30 at various branches. 10 a.m. at Jackson, noon at Clinton and 2 p.m. at St. Helena.

West Feliciana

For St. Francisville, call (225) 635-3364 or visit 5114 Burnett Road, or visit wfplibrary.org for information or to register for activities.

West Feliciana is using dinosaur tracks in “Unearth a Story” to keep track of reading time. All ages can join. Sign up at the library or at wfplibrary.org/summer Pick up or print out a library log. Mark your reading time for every 30 minutes. All reading counts. Redeem the tracks for prizes or rafﬂe tickets. For kids, 30 minutes of reading earns one dino track. Three levels of rewards can be redeemed for

Jesse Hoover, of the LSU AG Center, will teach practical, research-based strategies to protect landscape from deer and other nuisance wildlife.

Every 10 tracks earns a rafﬂe entry For teens and adults, two tracks, an hour of reading, earns a rafﬂe ticket. Drop your tickets into the box for the prize you want to win

Every 20 tracks earns you a free book from the book cart.

Last day for all to turn in tracks is July 24. The grand prize winner will be drawn at a party on July 29

A birthday party for the United States’ 250th birthday is set at 2 p.m. July 1.

FILE PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK

turn the organization into something completely new,” Hovis said.

“It’s going to be more so focused on what the animals want to do, what makes the animals happy.”

Hovis said Ligon agreed. She and animal care director Lauren Cotton, along with a handful of other remaining staff members, are leading the transition and have launched a fundraising campaign to acquire the property Meanwhile, Ligon, who could not

SOLAR

Continued from page 1G

an upfront fee on the final construction figure would be difficult, but she suggested basing the fee on the number of solar panels that would be installed.

The jury’s building official, Jeff Williams, said, however, that setting a high permit fee would shortchange the landowners who lease their property to solar operators, because the companies would move to a parish with cheaper fees.

Before the vote, jury

Vice President Chrissie O’Quin successfully pushed for a requirement that solar operators post a bond to protect the landowners when the time comes for the solar panels to be dismantled.

Juror Kyle Fleniken also persuaded jurors to increase the buffer zones between the solar arrays and neighboring property or roads and to add language stiffening the requirements for repairing roads damaged during construction.

In other action, the jury:

n Adopted a resolution accepting the results of a 2.5-mill Audubon Regional Library tax proposal that was on the May 16 ballot. Voters approved the proposition, 2,696 to 1,811. The measure also passed in St Helena Parish.

n Renewed property insurance coverage for the parish jail for a total cost of $58,144, a decrease of more than $2,000 from last year’s premium amount

be reached for comment, has indicated he is leaving the business for good.

“I can promise that I will never work and/or participate in the zoo industry again,” he told The Wall Street Journal. The plan for those staying behind is to relaunch the facility as a nonproﬁt called Sanctuary Hill by Aug. 31. While tours will continue, Hovis said the zoo will eliminate direct animal encounters, a practice widely criticized for causing severe stress to the creatures. At Magnolia Wilds, USDA inspectors also noted otter swims resulted in several children being bitten.

Until the transition date, the park will continue offering existing bookings, including otter swims and sloth feedings.

“We didn’t want to take away from people that already booked stuff,” Hovis said.

Hovis, who plans to attend LSU’s veterinary school this fall, said the long-term goal is to operate as a sanctuary and rehabilitation center with stronger community ties, including volunteer and educational programs for local students.

“We really want to be involved in the community,” she said. “If you want to be able to help out, by all means help out,” indicating that

FESTIVAL

Continued from page 1G

kid-in-a-candy-store attitude only brightened when he realized that he became a part of the moment. The moment is green and organizers hope the future will be rich with two types of green. There is the hope that blankets of wildﬂowers will continue to draw tourists and encourage a revival of native plant species that are best for Louisiana’s native bees.

Organizer Arlene Culpepper said the 2026 festival drew about 5,000 visitors and included education programming, food and the second Feliciana Artists

Group art show Festival founder Paul Davidson, an organic farmer and conservationist, wants to create a community focused on enhancing the local environment by increasing native plants and wildﬂowers.

“We’re trying to tie together with the intent of contributing to economic development through tourism and educating the community about the importance of our native wildlife,” he said. “This natural world is all God’s creation and we’re trying to do God’s work. That’s why we’re here.” For information, email felicianawildflowerproject@gmail. com or visit the project’s Facebook page, facebook.com/felicianawildﬂowerproject.

needs include animal care, construction of enclosures or even yard work. She said staff involved in the transition are working toward rehabilitation licensing and exploring accreditation through organizations such as the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, both of which require higher standards than a typical roadside zoo.

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals praised the proposed changes.

“PETA welcomes Magnolia Wilds’ long-overdue shift away

AROUND

Continued from page 1G

Retired teachers group to meet

The West Feliciana Retired Teachers Association will hold its June meeting at 10 a.m. June 17 at the West Feliciana Parish High School, 8604 U.S 61, in St. Francisville The organization is inviting all retired teachers in the surrounding region to join the free meeting, which will discuss the 2026 regular legislative session as it relates to retired teachers. The meeting is followed by lunch.

Day the War Stopped

The Day the War Stopped will be Saturday in St. Francisville.

Play mahjong to support dogs

Pungs for Paws, a fundraiser for Must Luv Dogs Rescue, is at 2 p.m. June 20 at First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd., in Baton Rouge.

The mahjong fundraiser is presented by Magnolia Mahj.

Individual entry is $30 and the event will set up. A table for four is $100, which includes a table contest the entrants set up. Onsite vendors, a rafﬂe for a tile set and door prizes will be available. Register at form.jotform.com/ mustluvdogs/pungpaws.

Concerts to help build chapel

In September, Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is holding a concert series to raise funds for the Allen Correctional Center Chapel Foundation.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections with

from public encounters that subject animals to the stress of irregular sleep, loud noises, and mishandling by strangers. With new leadership now at the helm of this facility, PETA supports its plan to seek accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, which will help ensure that the animals there ﬁnally get the care they deserve,” the group said in a statement.

Some former employees, including Josh Webb, remain skeptical given the facility’s history and documented ﬂaws. “I wish them the best,” he said. “They might make it.”

God Behind Bars will hold shows Sept. 18-19. Details will be release later, so check angolarodeo.com for information as it becomes available.

To donate to the chapel project, visit paypal.com/ncp/payment/ A66Y9R8FNUBYG.

Master Gardener class set

The East Feliciana Parish Extension ofﬁce in Clinton will hold a Master Gardener class beginning Aug. 12. Applications are due by June 26.

The class is from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and concludes Nov 18. The course fee is $200. Classes will be held at the East Feliciana Parish Extension Ofﬁce, 4419 Idlewild Road, Clinton. The application is available at lsuagcenter.com/FelicianaMG or by contacting County Agent Jessie Hoover at jhoover@agcenter.lsu. edu or (225) 683-3101.

The Louisiana Master Gardener Program is a volunteer development program offered by the LSU AgCenter Master Gardener volunteers are highly trained and provide proven, research-based educational programs to Louisiana residents. Participants in the Master Gardener class receive 40-plus hours of horticulture training in topics such as botany, plant propagation, entomology, plant pathology, weed science, soils, pesticide safety, lawn care, vegetables, fruits, herbaceous plants and more. Upon successful completion of the training and volunteering for 40 hours, participants will become Certiﬁed Louisiana Master Gardeners. Email Leila Pitchford at lpitchford@theadvocate.com.

PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

Sawyer Aucoin and bearded dragon Mushu greet attendees of the Feliciana Wildflower Festival on Saturday on behalf of Magnolia Wilds animal park, which will soon transition to an animal sanctuary.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Beth Young, right, recognizes East Feliciana Enrichment Academy’s Jherica Kelly as most courteous teacher through the Louisiana’s Most Courteous Teachers Recognition Program.

La. Cotillion Auxiliary honors local teachers

Community news report

Seven educators earned special recognition thanks to a new partnership between East Feliciana public schools and the Louisiana Cotillion Auxiliary.

As part of the organization’s third annual Louisiana’s Most Courteous Teachers Recognition Program, Beth Young, president of the Louisiana Cotillion Auxiliary, visited each East Feliciana public school campus May 19 to recognize each campus’s most courteous teacher Clinton Elementary School teacher Monica Corey earned district-level recognition as the Most Courteous Teacher

Earning recognition as their school’s most courteous teacher were Jackson Elementary School’s Miranda Johnson, Slaughter Elementary School’s Amber Hopkins, East Feliciana Enrichment Academy’s Jherica Kelly, East Feliciana STEAM Academy’s Amin Washington, East Feliciana Middle School’s Tre’Darius Carr and East Feliciana High School’s Ashley Selders.

The recognition program seeks to identify and celebrate Louisiana’s Most Courteous Teachers — educators who model kindness, patience, respect and positive character while shaping the lives of students. Recipients earned recognition through nominations by their peers, administrators, students and families.

“Developing students who are safe and empow-

SLU graduates 100,000th student

Community news report

Southeastern Louisiana University celebrated its 1,215 graduates May 16 in two commencement ceremonies in the University Center The ceremonies mark the 100th anniversary of Southeastern’s ﬁrst graduating class. During the afternoon ceremony, Southeastern celebrated its 100,000th graduate. Gracie LeBlanc, a psychology major from Cut Off, received the distinction and was awarded a special plaque to commemorate the occasion. The university awarded its highest academic honor, the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence, to 26 students with the highest cumulative GPA in the university’s ﬁve colleges.

Medal recipients from the region were: College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: art major Brenna Stamper, of Gonzales College of Business: business administration major Kyleigh Overheim, of Watson College of Education: English education major Collin McClure, of Watson; social studies education major Layla Meng, of Denham Springs; and social studies education major Austin Nelson, of Albany College of Nursing and Health Sciences: kinesiology major Chrysler Mitchell, of Denham Springs College of Science and Technology: chemistry major Carlie Bankston, of Denham Springs; computer science major Ajyol Dhamala, of Hammond; and computer science major Jared Talbot, of Walker Area students receiving associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees were: East Feliciana

Masters degrees

Clinton

Christina Herrod, Counseling

Community news report

Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana Tech University has announced graduates from its spring 2026 commencement ceremonies held May 23.

East Feliciana Parish

Jackson Joshua Nicholas Wittig: bachelor of science

West Feliciana Parish

Southeastern alumna and astronaut Hayley Arceneaux gives the commencement address at the 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. ceremonies at Southeastern Louisiana University May 16. In addition to serving as the medical officer on Inspiration4, Arceneaux made history in other ways, such as becoming the first person with a prosthesis and the first pediatric cancer survivor in space, and the youngest American orbital astronaut.

Ethel Lee Cox, Nursing Slaughter

Brittany Morgan, Executive MBA Bachelors degrees

Clinton Madelyn Babineaux, Marketing Shannon Dawson, Criminal Justice Janie Rogers, Accounting Jesse Smith, Business Administration

SPRING GRADUATES

elementary education grades 1-5

LSU

LSU graduation ceremonies were held May 15 and16, 2026 in various buildings on campus.

Graduates from the region include: East Feliciana Parish

Aiden J. Bowen: bachelors, Slaughter

Kade Snyder, Information Technology

Ethel Lauren Caldwell, Kinesiology

Jackson

McKenna Chaney, Biological Sciences

Michelle Hay, General Studies

Dasia Matthews, Psychology

Ralph Walker III, Kinesiology

Slaughter Caecilia Norris, General Studies

Ethel Garrett Lawson Cook: bachelors, Clinton

Henry Lawson Hanchey: bachelors, Slaughter Jamar Keon Whitﬁeld Jr.: bachelors, Jackson Kaleb Jason Coleman: bachelors, Jackson

Brady Trisler: bachelors, St. Francisville

Cooper Williamson: online, masters, St. Francisville

Deanna Dawn Gresham: online, Post-Baccalaureate Certiﬁcate, St. Francisville

Ella G. Robin: bachelors, Weyanoke

Julia Katherine DeJean: bachelors, St. Francisville

Laura Elizabeth Turner: online, bachelors, St. Francisville

ered starts with educato rs w ho are strong positive role model s,” said East Feliciana Superintendent Keisha L. Netterville. “We are delighted to join with the Louisiana Cotillion Auxiliary in shining a light on these educators.”

St. Francisville

Sara Kaitlin Barrow: bachelor of Fine arts

Caylen A. Delaney: bachelor of science

Evelyn K. Perdue: associate of science nursing

William Hatcher Ralph: bachelor of science

Preston Joseph Shidaker: bachelor of interior design

Raeghan Lashay Williams: bachelor of science

Alexander Michael Dunaway: masters, Clinton Bailey Rose George: bachelors, Jackson

Brady P. Neyland: bachelors, magna cum laude, Slaughter Bria Je’Nae Washington: online, masters, Clinton Caleb Travis: bachelors, Clinton Cierra Symone Irvin: bachelors, Jackson

Da’Sharnae Ka’tara Smith: online, masters,

Katherine Grace Bauer: bachelors, magna cum laude, Clinton Lucas Jackson Gawarecki: bachelors, Ethel Madison Elizabeth McGehee: bachelors, Ethel Mia Breyon Smothers: bachelors, Slaughter

Savannah Jane Smith: bachelors, Slaughter Sean Scott Burrell: online, masters, Slaughter Zoie Harmony Kelly-Atol: bachelors, magna cum laude, Slaughter West Feliciana Parish Anna Claire Bergeron: bachelors, St. Francisville

Maggie Bell Hawkins: bachelors, summa cum laude, Angola Michael Edward Mebruer: masters, St. Francisville

Nicholas Roy Lester: bachelors, St. Francisville

Tailenn A. FungcharoenMcCray: bachelors, St. Francisville

Tramel J. Veals: bachelors, St. Francisville

Wesley Thomas Johnston: bachelors, St. Francisville

West Feliciana 4-H youth showcase skills in annual fashion show

Community news report

After months of hands-on classes focused on learning new skills, mastering sewing techniques and having fun, members of the West Feliciana 4-H Sewing Project Club on May 14 took the spotlight at their annual Fashion Show

The event, held in partnership with West Feliciana Middle School, transformed the school gym into a runway where youth modeled garments they created throughout the year. Under the guidance of Martha Robertson and her team of volunteers, participants met weekly for workshops to develop their sewing abilities. This year, the program implemented a new structure by grouping youth based on experience level rather than age, allowing for more targeted skillbuilding. The club included one beginner group, two intermediate groups and one advanced group Participants completed a variety of garments based on their skill level Beginners crafted pajama pants, early intermediate members designed skorts, late intermediate youth constructed dresses, and advanced participants created original outfits of their choice, which will be showcased at 4-H University in June.

Prior to the runway show, all garments were judged by a panel evaluating quality and craftsmanship. Following the show, winners were announced, and all participants received certificates and prizes recognizing their hard work and achievements

To learn more about West Feliciana Parish 4-H or the sewing club, call (225) 635-3614 or email klucas@agcenter.lsu.edu.

East Feliciana High School Principal Candace Bailey, right, recognizes courteous teacher Ashley Selders

The beginner group in the West Feliciana 4-H sewing group model the pajama pants they sewed. PROVIDED PHOTOS

LEFT: The early intermediate group in the West Feliciana 4-H sewing club shows off their skorts. ABOVE: The late intermediate group shows off their dresses

Corey Hopkins Johnson Young Washington

religion, handicap, etc.

The following report is asummary only.Detailed financial records are available and on file in the Sheriff’s Office. Interested persons may examine the budget document between the hours of 8:00-4:00 Monday through Friday.This notice is prepared and published in compliance with the Louisiana Revised Statutes 39:1301-1315.

At the June 25, 2026, meeting, the Sheriff will select the Advocate as the Official Journal for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. He will announce that he intends to levy and continue the currentadvalorem property taxes for the 2025 tax year

Jeffery E. Travis, Sheriff Parish of East Feliciana East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Proposed Budget 2026-2027

Commissions

Excess of Revenue and prior years’

NOTICE

The East Feliciana Parish Sheriff has adopted the final budget amendments for fiscal year 2025-2026. The amended budget is available for public inspection in the Sheriff’s Office during regular office hours, Monday through Friday (8:00-4:00)

The following report is asummary only.Detailed financial records are on file in the Sheriff’sOffice, Parish of East Feliciana, Clinton, Louisiana. Atthe June 25, 2026, meeting, the

lo entienda bien). Our constant goal is to provide you with asafe and dependable supply of drinking water.Wewant you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water Our water source(s) arelisted below:

Source Name SourceWater Type

PROSPERITY STREET- WELL #4 Ground water

ST FRANCISVILLE WELL 3PARKERSTGround water

ST FRANCISVILLE WELL 4PROSPERTYST(P&A) Ground water

ST FRANCISVILLE WELL 5ATHARDWOOD Ground water

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

Microbial Contaminants -such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

Inorganic Contaminants -such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

Pesticides and Herbicides -which may come fromavariety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

Organic Chemical Contaminants –including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which areby-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

Radioactive Contaminants –which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

ASource Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) is now available fromour office. This plan is an assessment of a delineated area around our listed sources through which contaminants, if present, could migrate and reach our source water.Italso includes an inventory of potential sources of contamination within the delineated area, and a determination of the water supply’ssusceptibility to contamination by the identified potential sources. According to the Source Water Assessment Plan, our water system had asusceptibilityrating of ‘MEDIUM’.Ifyou would like to review the Source Water Assessment Plan, please feel freetocontact our office.

In order to ensurethat tap water is safe to drink, EPAprescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility.Ifyou have any questions about this report, want to attendany scheduled meetings, or simply want to learnmoreabout your drinking water,please contact the Town Hallat225 635 3688.

Thereisnosafe level of lead in drinking water.Exposuretolead in drinking water can cause serious health effectsinall age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposurecan also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead beforeorduring pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Contact your health careprovider for moreinformation about your risks.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals -Office of Public Health routinely monitors for constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. The tables that follow show the results ofour monitoring during the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2025. Drinking water,including bottled water,may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The pre8ence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses ahealth risk.

In the tables below,you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms, we’ve provided the following definitions:

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/L) –one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years orasingle penny in $10,000.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (ug/L) –one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or asingle penny in $10,000,000.

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) –picocuries per liter is ameasureofthe radioactivity in water

Treatment Technique (TT) –anenforceable procedureorlevel of technological performance which public water systems must follow to ensurecontrol of acontaminant.

Action level (AL) –the concentration of acontaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that awater system must follow

Maximum contaminant level (MCL) –the “Maximum Allowed” MCL is the highest level of acontaminant that is allowed in drinking water.MCL’s areset as close to the MCLG’sasfeasible using the best availabletreatment technology

Maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) –the “Goal” is the level of acontaminant in drinking water below which thereisnoknown or expected risk to human health. MCLG’sallow for amargin of safety.

Maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) –The highest level of adisinfectant allowed in drinking water.There is convincingevidence that addition of adisinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal (MRDLG) –The level of adrinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do notreflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

Level 1assessment –Astudy of the water

microbiological contaminants. With the microbiological samples collected, the water system collects disinfectant residualstoensurecontrol of microbial growth.

Disinfectant Date Highest RAA Unit Range MRDL MRDLG Typical Source CHLORINE2025 0.8 ppm 0.0 -1.74 44 Water additive used to control microbes In the tables below,wehave shownthe regulated contaminants that weredetected. Chemical

Water Regulated Contaminants

Approval April 23, 2026, Agenda

b. Approval of March 26, 2026, Minutes Corrections noted by Ms. Anderson:

1) Reverend Olton Scott’snamewas spelled incorrectly on signature line.

2) Mr.Ernest Ayo’sname was spelled incorrectly on BOC Attendees.

Mr.Hazlip moved to accept the changes to April 23, 2026 minutes, and accept the consent agenda as presented. Ms. Cook seconded. The motion passed unanimously

6) OLD BUSINESS

a. BoardBy-Laws

Reverend Scott informed the BoardofCommissioners that copies of the current BoardBy-laws wereincluded in their boardpackets.

He emphasized the importance of reviewing these By-laws and asked all BoardCommissionerstosubmit any recommended updates. Mr.Chastant instructed members to send their proposed changes directly to him. Meanwhile, the hospital attorneys are also reviewing the current By-laws and will suggest any necessary amendments.

b. Urgent CareStatistics

Mr.Chastant reviewed the Urgent CareStatistics to date. The reports are included in the BoardBooks.

7) NEW BUSINESS

a. Appointment of Committees

Reverend Scott reviewed the standing BoardCommittees as follows: Executive Committee –Reverend Olton Scott, Mr.Magruder Hazlip, and Ms. Rhonda Beauchamp Finance &Audit Committee –Mr. Magruder Hazlip, Ms. Rhonda Beauchamp, and Ms. Aimee Cook Compliance Committee –Ms. Dyvar Anderson, Reverend Olton

Scott, and Father Craig Dalferes Employment Practices &Policy Committee –Mr. Ernest Ayo, and Reverend Olton Scott.

Reverend Scott advised the Boardthat the Ad Hoc committees would be filled on a“as needed” basis. Ad Hoc Committees (as Needed) consist of the Construction Committee and Building &Grounds Committee.

b. West Feliciana Hospital’s Heart Program

Mr.Chastant provided an update on the hospital’sstatus as an American College of Cardiology Certified Chest Pain Center.He reminded the BoardofCommissioners that our hospital was one of the first Critical Access Hospitals in the country to receive this accreditation. This recognition aligns with our “Jump Start a Heart” Program, which is implemented throughout West Feliciana Parish.

Samantha Williams presented the data collected on STEMI patients since the inception of the program in 2022 up to the present. The analysis is included in the BoardBooks for further review

Samantha Williams and Lee Chastant attended the American Hospital Association conference, wherethey were filmed discussing the impact of the “Jump Start aHeart” Program and its role in engaging the community to improve patient outcomes. Additionally,the Patient Safety Member Story,which was featured by the American Hospital Association, is included in the board packets for reference.

c. Website Re-Fresh

Denise Paul and Kathy Terry reviewed the selection process for a web designer tasked with the Website Refresh Project. The proposalsare included in the Boardpackets.

Denise and Kathy presented the project plan from the selected website designer Gatorworks. This plan involves using the WordPress platform, implementing security measures, and managing hosting and updates. The expected completion date for the website refresh is October 2026.

d. Foundation BoardAppointment

Reverend Scott informed the BoardofCommissioners that it is required for acurrent member of the Hospital Boardof Commissioners to serve on the Foundation Board. Currently

Mr.Ernest Ayoisserving on that boardasanat-large member Reverend Scott then opened the floor for nominations to fulfill this obligation on the Foundation Board, to serve representing the hospital board.

Ms. Beauchamp moved to appoint Mr.Ernest Ayo to the Foundation Board. The motion presented was seconded by Mr.Magruder Hazlip.

With all in favor,the motion passed unanimously

e. ScholarshipRecipients

Mr.Chastant