DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
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W e d n e s d ay, S e p t e m b e r 16, 2026
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Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
Lifelong Learning Program announces classes Southeastern’s Lifelong Learning Program membership drive is underway for the July 1-June 30 session. By purchasing this membership, you will receive a 10% discount on the first five classes you register for after purchasing the membership (not applicable to special events or podcasts), one free digital literacy class per year, and you will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad at the end of the year that is exclusive to members; discount will automatically apply once you create an account. Fee is $25. For more information, visit southeastern.nbsstore.net/lifelong-learning-livingston-center.
Hungarian Festival plans Celebrate Hungarian heritage with a weekend of family fun, food, music and entertainment at Fayard Field in Springfield with traditional Hungarian dancing and entertainment Sept. 25-27. The Hungarian Harvest Festival will include authentic Hungarian foods and pastries. For more information, call (985) 974-6883, (225) 278-3770 or email albanymagyars@ gmail.com.
Denham Springs Fall Fest The annual Fall Festival is from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in Denham Springs Antique Village. Special sales in the stores, over 160 vendor booths, food, free kids’ zone and music.
Fall Fest coming to Walker The Walker Fall Festival, featuring a gospel concert, is from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Sidney Hutchinson Park. Bring the whole family for a free night packed with pumpkin painting, hayrides, mechanical bull, kids village, scavenger hunt, vendor market, food trucks, petting zoo and gospel concert.
Veterans Day Parade Nov. 8 Bayhi’s Landing is hosting a Veterans Day Parade at 3 p.m. Nov. 8 from downtown Springfield to Bayhi’s Landing. Car clubs, truck clubs, motorcycle clubs, Jeep clubs, families, businesses and proud Americans — decorate your vehicles, fly those American flags and join us for an old-school, hometown jamboree. Then, everyone will gather at Bayhi’s Landing for the Bullets and Bacon Fest. Event grand marshal is Walter Penalber and music will be provided by the Fly by Night Band. Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 603-1998.
STAFF PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
The weight room inside the new field house at Denham Springs High School
Denham Springs High opens new $6.7 million football complex:
‘Second to none’ BY GIGI LIMAN
Staff writer
Denham Springs High School officially opened its new $6.7 million field house Friday evening, as the lights came on for the football team’s first home game of the season. The two-story, 5,000-square-foot complex gives the football program at Louisiana’s largest public high school a dedicated home. For years, as the parish and its schools have grown, sports teams at the school had shared weight rooms and locker rooms, rotating through the spaces depending on the season. “It’s a vast improvement,” said Denham Springs High School Principal Wesley Howard. “The facilities that we had previously, with the teams growing to the size they were, could not house them.” The field house includes a weight room, team room, locker room complete with 118 lockers, an equipment storage room, treatment rooms and a coaches office. The second floor has an indoor and outdoor suite, each with box seats overlooking the field. The facility also houses a new training room, where athletes are taped and treated before and after practice. The room is outfitted with rehabilitation equipment and a large cold-immersion tub used for recovery and in heat emergencies. “I’ve been doing this for years, and this is as good as I’ve seen,” said Steve Wilson, a physical therapist who works with student-athletes at the school, referring to the training room. The cleats of Remy Hidalgo, a Denham Springs football player who died of heat stroke in 2020 after collapsing during a
Steve Wilson chats with his son, Walker, 4, as he sits on a bed in the sports medicine room in the new field house at Denham Springs High School on Sept. 4. team practice, hang in the building’s lobby, along with a memorial plaque honoring him. The field house was one of two athletic projects celebrated at Friday’s ribbon cutting. The school also renovated its old centralcampus weight room, turning it into a facility for the track and field and soccer programs. The renovation added dedicated locker rooms for the teams and gave them their own weight-training space for the first time. It includes a room where visiting football teams can gather before games and at halftime. “This whole project was the reason I ran for school board,” said School Board member Cecil Harris, a multisport athlete at
Denham Springs High in the 1960s. Before the two facilities opened, Harris said, students often changed in parking lots, bathrooms or wherever else they could find space. “Our facilities overall are now second to none,” Harris said. The facilities are part of a series of athletic improvements at Denham Springs High School that began in 2021. The school has repositioned and resurfaced its football and soccer fields, built new baseball and softball complexes, constructed a new track and field facility and added a practice area for the marching band. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Denham Springs Yellow Jackets went on to beat the Albany Hornets 49-0.
Denham Springs runs into tight defense of Central High As a sportswriter, one of the things that rarely happens is taking on an assignment where you are rooting for anything in particular to happen. Game coverage of LSU aside, the only thing that usually moves the needle is the length of the game — the faster a game plays out, the more time you have to put together a story as you run up against your deadline. While covering Denham
Springs’ football and its pleted 6 of 11 passes Week 2 visit to Central for an unimpressive on Friday, I was inter25 yards. Three of the completions were ested in watching Yelscreen passes that got low Jackets sophomore blown up for losses, quarterback Devin Charles and there were also Kinchen play against Salzer two interceptions as one of the better teams SPORTS Kinchen played behind in the state. As usuROUNDUP an offensive that is also ally happens, the best young. team on that night won, Still, Kinchen had his which was Central, 41moments. One of them was on 20, but what about Kinchen? the Yellow Jackets first possesThe statistics show he com-
sion of the game, a series that produced their first score and a brief 7-3 lead. The drive got going when Kinchen showed patience eluding the Central rush to find Jaylen Williams for a 13-yard gain on thirdand-12. Three plays later, Kinchen read a crashing right defensive end, pulled the ball out of running back Tanner
ä See SALZER, page 2G
Author explores 1920s Tangipahoa crime that ended in hangings BY JAMES MINTON
of “Spirit of Vengeance,” spoke about the century-old case during the Edward Livingston Historical A 1920s crime story that origi- Association’s September meeting. On May 9, 1924, six Italian-Amernated in Tangipahoa Parish caused an international uproar and had a icans were hanged, two at a time, link to Livingston Parish. at the Tangipahoa Parish courtJohn V. Baiamonte Jr., author house in Amite. Contributing writer
Andrea Lamantia, Joseph Giglio, Roy Leona, Joseph Rini, Natale Deamore and Joseph Bocchio were twice convicted of the murder of Independence resident Dallas Calmes the night of May 8, 1921, as they attempted to break into a bank near the Calmes residence.
Baiamonte said their first conviction was overturned on a technical issue, but they were quickly convicted again. Baiamonte, who wrote his master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation on Italian immigrants in Tangipahoa Parish, said his book was
published by LSU Press in 1986. “It’s amazing that it is still in print, in paperback,” he told the association members. The book is subtitled, “Nativism and Louisiana Justice, 1921-1924.”
ä See CRIME, page 2G
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North Oaks Medical Center earns national recognition Community news report North Oaks Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus award for the second consecutive year. The award affirms the hospital’s commitment to delivering evidence-based stroke care, a news release said. The hospital also earned the
Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest science-backed guidelines. The Gold Plus award
acknowledges hospitals that maintain a prominent level of compliance with evidence-based stroke care measures over an extended period. The Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite designation recognizes hospitals that achieve rapid treatment times for eligible patients receiving clot-dissolving therapy. The Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recog-
nizes hospitals that provide evidence-based care for stroke patients with Type 2 diabetes, who face an increased risk of complications. Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United States. Studies show patients experience better outcomes when health care teams consistently follow proven
treatment protocols, the release said. According to stroke data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Louisiana has an ageadjusted mortality rate of 57.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, compared with the national average of approximately 36 to 40 deaths per 100,000 residents North Oaks Health Presi-
dent and CEO Michele K. Sutton said, “For more than a decade, we have invested in the expertise, technology and coordinated systems needed to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. This award honors the dedication of our care teams and their relentless focus on helping more patients return to their families and daily lives.”
Denham Springs head coach Brett Beard and his staff wait for the next play in the first quarter of the game against Central.
STAFF PHOTOS BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Denham Springs wide receiver Jaylen Williams cuts through the Central defense in the first quarter on Friday in Central.
SALZER
Continued from page 1G Central defensive lineman Jaydon Garnett (11) grabs Denham Springs quarterback Devin Kinchen (12) for the sack in the second quarter.
Koerner’s gut, and zig-zagged through the Central defense for a 35-yard touchdown run. The game got away from Denham Springs in the second quarter, when Central scored three touchdowns, but Kinchen appears to have “next play” mentality. Some of that can be attributed to his multi-sport background. He was one of the key bench players last season for the Denham Springs basketball team, which advanced to the state semifinals before losing to– wait for it– Central. Kinchen played well in Denham Springs’ season-opening win over Albany. He and his teammates can get back above .500 with a win over Woodlawn this week. Here’s hoping the game doesn’t run long.
Live Oak volleyball off to fast start The Live Oak volleyball team is off to its best start since 2018. Even though the Eagles suffered their first loss of the season at Brusly last Tuesday, through two weeks their 7-1 record is better than any they have opened with in the last 15 years. Live Oak started out 5-3 in 2018, 2016 and 2013, and advanced to the regional round of the LHSAA playoffs each of those years.
CRIME
Continued from page 1G A contemporary New York Times article by the Associated Press noted that three of the six were 21 years old when the crime was committed, two had served with American forces in World War I and four left widows and children. “The Italian ambassador at Washington pleaded with Gov. (John M.) Parker for the lives of his countrymen, but his plea, as well as those of thousands of ItalianAmericans went unheeded,” the article says. The Independence murder revived feelings lingering from the 1891 lynching of 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans, five months after the killing of the city’s police chief, who said he was shot by Italians but did not identify his assailants before he died. The suspects were killed by a mob that attacked Or-
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Central defensive back Dylan Thompson (6) drags down Denham Springs wide receiver Jordan Hampton (19) for a loss in yards in the second quarter on Friday in Central.
leans Parish Prison, an incident that caused international repercussions. Baiamonte said the six targeted the Independence bank because they suspected it would be overflowing with cash because of the strawberry season. Calmes heard a noise and investigated, thinking someone was stealing his chickens. He encountered the wouldbe bank robbers, and one of them shot him. Eventually, all six prime suspects would be convicted and hanged, although it is likely that only one killed Calmes, Baiamonte said. The suspects fled in their stolen car, entering Livingston Parish north of Albany. Baiamonte’s book details the manhunt that followed, including a gunbattle at one point and the suspects’ eventual capture. He said he was criticized after its publication for not saying why their car was abandoned before the chase extended into wooded areas. The car was filled with
EDITOR
Andrew Canulette editor@ sttammanyfarmer. net
several kinds of explosives, which the men apparently intended to use to breach the bank’s vault. Albany resident Rhett Cowart brought a .32-caliber revolver to the ELHA meeting, telling the group that his grandfather, Harvey Stewart, found it in the getaway car. A shotgun also was left in the vehicle, Cowart said his grandfather told family members. Baiamonte said the gang, unfamiliar with the area, forced two young Sicilian immigrant strawberry farmers to accompany them and show them the way to Independence. Although they were taken into custody, they were not charged with the crime. While giving a talk in Alexandria, Baiamonte said he was approached by a man who said he was one of the farmers. The man said members of the gang were “bad men,” and he and his companion had no choice but to comply with their orders. “I was unprepared for it.
Denham Springs returner Jaylen Williams (5) races upfield on a Central kickoff in the second quarter.
PHOTO BY JAMES MINTON
Author and historian John Baiamonte, seated, discusses a 1921 manhunt in Livingston Parish that resulted in the capture and eventual hanging of six Italian-American men accused of killing an Independence man during a botched bank robbery. Baiamonte spoke at the Edward Livingston Historical Association’s September meeting, and Rhett Cowart, right, displayed a pistol his grandfather said was recovered from the suspects’ getaway car. I was in shock,” Baiamonte said of the meeting. He said he had a similar feeling when he was approached in Kenner by a man who said he was a son of one of the six.
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The man said his family had no complaints about the book, Baiamonte said. While researching the case, Baiamonte said he got a tip that a Denham Springs
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woman, who was a member of the Calmes family, had a “scrapbook” on the case that would be helpful. The woman agreed to let him view the material, which he said filled a large box. He eagerly began looking through the material and taking notes until the woman stopped him. “Are you planning to stay here forever and go through that box? Take the thing and go home. I trust you,” Baiamonte said the woman told him. He said he was surprised at her generosity and in her trust in him. “I wouldn’t have done that,” he admitted. Baiamonte also said the judicial administrator of the Louisiana Supreme Court in New Orleans was helpful in arranging for him to copy the trial transcripts from the case, which were in the court’s archives. Copies of the transcripts are now in Southeastern Louisiana University’s archives, he said.
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SCHOOLS
Four Livingston Parish high schools honored Community news report The Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance has honored four Livingston Parish high schools for their efforts in workforce development. The alliance was established nearly 20 years ago to promote innovative solutions to local industry issues. Live Oak High School was given an Excellence Award, Doyle High School received an Award of Merit, and Albany High School and Walker High School both received Recognition Awards. Each school offers craft career and technical education programs that teach students hands-on, practical skills for specific jobs and future careers. The recognized programs may include traditional CTE pathways, pre-engineering and PTEC programs. The school programs are evaluated by GBRIA through an application process and in-person presentations. “We are proud to recognize the schools that inspire and prepare students, the contractors who invest in training and career development, and the plants that support these efforts,” said GBRIA CEO Connie Fabre. Livingston Parish Schools’ CTE coordinator Brandi Desselle said
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Business and education professionals received recognition at the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance Award Ceremony for their work with Livingston Parish Public Schools. From left are Byron ‘Boo’ Ragan, director of recruiting, EXCEL Contractors; Hoyt Ponder, CTE instructor at Albany High; and Cody St. Arnaud, training and workforce development manager, EXCEL Contractors.
Shatona Bingham, CTE teacher, and Ashley Sharp, principal, accept the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance Award of Merit.
Live Oak High School CTGE teachers Krista Baehr and Billy Doiron accept the Workforce Development Excellence Award at the GBRIA Awards Ceremony.
the program identifies best practices across the state. Each year, the GBRIA’s Workforce Development Awards highlight critical real-world partnerships between local educators and regional industrial facilities that keep Southeast Louisiana’s talent pipeline strong and thriving. Local contract firms and industrial plants nominate high schools whose career and technical edu-
Live Oak High School was nominated by Performance Contractors, Cajun Industries, and ISC Constructors LLC; Doyle High School was nominated by Brown & Root Industrial Services LLC; Albany High School was nominated by EXCEL Group; and Walker High School was nominated by Performance Contractors, Cajun Industries, and ISC Constructors LLC. The GBRIA Workforce Develop-
ment Awards program was established in 2007 through a joint effort by its Contractor Workforce Development Committee, board of directors and local contractors. The program is designed to promote best practices that improve the skills and retention of craft personnel across the region, and to recognize the contractors, schools, educators and individuals who are making it happen.
cation programs were exemplary in their engagement with parents, fundraising, enlisting support to reinforce training, sharing student success stories, and explaining the value of the CTE programs to their school, community, and students, a news release said. Judges review the applications and score presentations to determine if each school is performing at an exemplary level.
Walker High School STEM Quest inspires future innovators Community news report The Walker High School Robotics and 4-H clubs on Aug. 29 hosted the inaugural Walker High School STEM Quest, welcoming 56 students along with their parents and family members for an evening of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math exploration. The community STEM event featured 17 interactive stations designed to engage elementary and middle school students in real-world STEM experiences. Participants rotated through activities led by local organizations, university partners, school clubs, and student leaders, gaining exposure to a wide variety of STEM careers and educational opportunities. “The goal of STEM Quest was to provide students with engaging, hands-on experiences that spark curiosity and encourage future involvement in STEM programs,” said high school science teacher Jennifer Vulgamore. “By connecting students with community partners, industry professionals, and student organizations, we hope to help inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, healthcare professionals, technologists and innovators.” Students at the Walker High School 4-H Chemistry Station created colorful chemical reaction lava lamps to demonstrate chemical reactions and explain density, while the club’s Plant Science Station provided basic information on plant growth and cultivation, along with planted herbs that attendees could take home. Representatives from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality discussed environmental concepts and explored how science is used to protect Louisiana’s natural resources. Representatives from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory introduced students to concepts in physics, helping them understand the science behind discoveries that expand understanding of the universe. At the same time, the Society of Women Engineers at LSU challenged students to design and build catapults, introducing engineering principles through hands-on problem-solving. The Walker High School FFA members educated attendees about hydroponics and modern agricultural technology, demonstrating how plants can thrive without traditional soil, while the Livingston Parish 4-H Program showcased the properties of matter using Oobleck, a non-Newtonian fluid that behaves as both a liquid and a solid — it behaves like a liquid when left alone, but like a solid when force is applied. The Walker High School Robotics team set up four stations highlighting the diverse applications of STEM. The students explained coding fundamentals, remotely controlled a FIRST Robotics competition
Linda Gardner, director of the Livingston Parish Litter Abatement Program, talks about the importance of maintaining a litter-free environment. robot, explored basic circuits and MATE ROV underwater robotics, as well as experienced computer-aided design through CAD and 3D printing demonstrations. Other presenters included Walker High School HOSA, Livingston Parish Litter Abatement, which discussed the growing concern of microplastics and their impact on ecosystems, and Mighty Moms in partnership with the LSU AgCenter, which emphasized the importance of nutrition and healthy choices. Students learned about Louisiana’s natural environment through Louisiana Youth Wetlands, which highlighted the importance of plants in wetland ecosystems, and the Louisiana Freshwater Sponge Project, which educated participants about the critical role freshwater sponges play in maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems and supporting biodiversity. The Livingston Parish Library Mobile Van introduced families to educational resources and reading opportunities available throughout the parish, while Southeastern Northshore STEM showcased its SeaPerch program, allowing students to explore underwater robotics and engineering concepts. Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 4 assisted with the setup of the SeaPerch pool, helping provide an engaging hands-on learning experience for participants. The event was envisioned and led by the Walker High School STEM Leadership Team, a group of students dedicated to increasing STEM awareness and opportunities within their community. Team members included Logan Vulgamore, Jayden Paetz, Oliver Koelbel, Ian Bayliss, T’relle Sellers, Ruston Graham and Olivia Vulgamore. “With strong community support and enthusiastic participation, the event successfully introduced young learners to a broad range of STEM concepts while showcasing the educational opportunities available throughout Livingston Parish and beyond,” Vulgamore said.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Amani Beachem and Amya Sallilnger work on math problems during class at Woodland Park Magnet School.
Hands-on learning Math is shaking
things up at Woodland Park Magnet School. The students had a blast participating in a “Shake Those Disks: Compare” lesson. Working with partners, students organized and compared their disk totals using greater than, less than, and equal to.
Emma Hughes and Tamia Penn participate in a ‘Shake Those Disks: Compare’ lesson.
Max Dyson and Emmett Scroggs Moore work during a math lesson.
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A member of the Walker High robotics team shows a young attendee how to remotely control a robot that is used in competition.
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