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The St. Tammany Farmer 07-08-2026

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ABITA SPRINGS • BARKER’S CORNER • BUSH • COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • PEARL RIVER • SLIDELL

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S T TA M M A N Y FA R M E R.N E T

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W e d n e s d ay, J u ly 8, 2026

50¢N

152ND YEAR, NO. 39

Slidell swears in mayor, police chief City Council’s nine members also take oath of office

BY WILLIE SWETT

Staff writer

Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal and Police Chief Tommy Williams were sworn into their positions at a packed inauguration ceremony in Slidell on July 1, along with each of the nine City Council members, several of them elected for the first time this spring. “The future of Slidell is bright. We are

growing, investing and improving, but these accomplishments do not belong to one person or one administration, they belong to all of us,” Fandal said, pointing from the lectern to the over 600 people in the city’s crowded auditorium. Fandal has been serving as mayor since winning a special race against former council member Bill Borchert last October. He won a full four-year term in the May 16 elec-

tion after running unopposed. “When I first sought this office, I promised to focus on public safety, infrastructure, economic development and quality of life. Today, I’m proud about the progress we’ve made and the future ahead,” Fandal said. Williams, the new police chief, did not speak during the ceremony, but in an interview afterwards said that he “went back to work the day after I was elected.”

LIGHT IT UP

Williams retired from the Slidell police department in 2015 but had been serving as a reserve member before deciding to take the leap to the top office and winning a decisive victory in May against former police officer Brian Nicaud. Williams said he plans to name former interim police chief Daniel Seuzeneau the department’s assistant chief unless Seuzeneau decides to step away. Seuzeneau has said he is considering running for St. Tammany Parish

ä See SLIDELL, page 6A

Overpass memorializes Covington Marine BY JOLIE LINDLEY

Contributing writer

Slidell Celebrate America 250 Golf Cart Parade on July 4. The 96-year-old was joined in the cart by his wife, Barbara, some buddies from the Slidell Elks Club and was followed by dozens of family members. “I didn’t know I was worth all

Honoring a beloved son of Covington, the elevated portion of U.S. 190 over the Bogue Falaya River is being named the “Lance Corporal Justin D. McLeese Memorial Bridge” to remember the 2003 Covington High Marine Lance Cpl. School graduate who was Justin McLeese was killed in action the followkilled in combat in ing year in Iraq. McLeese, only 19 when Iraq in 2004. he died, was awarded “The new Highway the Bronze Star, a Purple 190 bridge over Heart, and the Global War the Bogue Falaya on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for his heroism. River is the most Matt Cole, Sam impactful traffic Baumgartner and Steve change in St. Chesne, all members of Tammany Parish the local Marine Corps League Lance Corporal history, and we feel Justin D. McLeese Dethere is no better tachment 1487, were inway to correlate strumental in seeing this the memory of our legislation through. “The hometown hero’s idea of naming the new bridge came from one actions. Covington of our members, Steve and St. Tammany Chesne. Our then-comParish will be mandant, Wade Price, excited for this and approached Rep. Mark happy to honor ‘JM Wright’s office with our Forever!’ ” formal request,” Cole said. Wright successfully in- MATT COLE, Marine Corps League member troduced the measure in the Legislature, and it has now been signed into law by Gov. Landry. “The Marine Corps League had reached out to me during the summer about naming something around here for Justin. I called my senator, the mayor and the parish president for suggestions, too.” Wright said. “We had just finished redoing the bridge, so it was perfect. It’s big, and it was longawaited, so it was perfect for this type of honor.” Cole agreed that the bridge was the best place to memorialize McLeese. “The new Highway 190 bridge over the Bogue Falaya River is the most impactful traffic change in St. Tammany Parish history, and we feel there is no better way to correlate the memory of our hometown hero’s actions,” Cole said. “Covington and St. Tammany Parish will be excited for this and happy to honor ‘JM Forever!’ His actions saved the lives of his fellow Marines and forever impacted the lives they live now. For those of us who survived combat and know of Justin’s story, we are

ä See VETERAN, page 3A

ä See MARINE, page 3A

The sky over Lake Pontchartrain glowed with brilliant colors on July 4 as Mandeville celebrated America’s 250th birthday with the 11th annual Light Up the Lake Festival & Fireworks Show. PHOTOS BY GRANT THERKILDSEN

She’s in it to win it! Romee Schroeder, 5, sneaks a peek at the competition during the Sparks in the Park pie-eating contest on July 4 in Covington.

AMERICA

INSIDE ä More from Mandeville. Page 2A ä Celebration in Covington. Page 2A ä Fun and games in Folsom. Page 4A ä Pearl River parties. Page 4A

PHOTO BY BOBBY GILBOY

Veteran, 96, leads 250 golf cart parade in Slidell

Navy veteran Baldo Albrecht, who soon turns 97, was grand marshal of the first Slidell Celebrate America 250 Golf Cart Parade on July 4.

BY DARREN COOPER Contributing writer

Baldo Albrecht’s entire life has been a fantastic ride. Then he went for another on July 4. This veteran of post-World War II occupation in the Pacific and the Korean War was the grand marshal of the first

PROVIDED PHOTO BY CITY OF SLIDELL

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