DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
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W e d n e s d ay, O c t o b e r 14, 2026
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Pink cars promote breast cancer awareness
BY GIGI LIMAN Staff writer
From fire trucks to sheriff’s vehicles to tow trucks, Livingston Parish’s roads are looking a little more pink these days. The parish’s law enforcement agencies and first responders have teamed up for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, wrapping several vehicles in full pink and organizing a campaign to bring attention to the disease. Seven of the parish’s agencies, each of which secured donations from local businesses to fund their participation, have added a pink vehicle to their fleet for the month. Some vehicles have motivational quotes, while others are covered in bright, eye-catching glitter. All
of them are donned with the signature breast cancer ribbon and QR codes that link to donation hubs. Driving the vehicles are members of the multiagency “pink crew,” who are equipped with candy for kids, breast cancer awareness bags and giveaways for adults and markers for survivors to sign the vehicles. “I know how much that diagnosis hits,” said Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Nancy McDonald, a breast cancer survivor. “I want people to see LPSO’s pink unit and our team of units in Livingston Parish and know they’re not alone.” The Town of Livingston Police Department started the initiative five years ago and was the only agency to participate that year.
The next year, two other agencies joined, and participation has grown every year since. This year, 80% of the parish’s agencies are taking part in the campaign, the highest level yet, according to Janet Melancon, Denham Springs city deputy marshal. “Born out of a desire to interact with the community and show the community that law enforcement was there for more than just arresting people, one single, small town police department decided to show up and show out five years ago to raise money for cancer support,” Denham Springs City Marshal Joe Shumate said. “Seeing the success from just using a few pink ribbons and social media, it
STAFF PHOTO BY PEARL SPURLOCK
Dennis Greer, Jason Populus, Mitch Droge, Richard Stafford, Wyatt Savoy, and Collin Albin stand with a fire truck decorated for breast cancer ä See PINK, page 2G awareness Oct. 6 in Denham Springs.
FAIR SKIES
PHOTO BY RICHARD MEEK
Retired Sgt. 1st Class and Ponchatoula native Will Davis will serve as the grand marshal of the 2nd annual Ponchatoula Celebrates Veterans parade, scheduled Oct. 31.
Veteran says ride as grand marshal will be emotional
BY RICHARD MEEK Contributing writer
Fighting back emotions, retired Sgt. 1st Class Will Davis, a Ponchatoula native, discussed his upcoming reign as grand marshal of the second Ponchatoula Celebrates Veterans parade, scheduled Oct. 31. “It means a lot to me,” said Davis, a veteran of conflicts in Korea, Vietnam and the Panama Canal. “It is a great honor to go back to my hometown and be grand marshal.” Parade officials are hoping to build upon the success from a year ago when several thousand people lined the streets of downtown Ponchatoula and then drifted over to Memorial Park for the inaugural event. Event founder and Tangipahoa Parish Council member Strader Cieutat said the response was so overwhelming that her plan is to
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
Three-year-old Loni Rhea LeBlanc, front, rides a ride during the annual Family Night at the Livingston Parish Fair held on Oct. 6. Her sister, Laci Jo LeBlanc, 5, is behind her to the left. Ten-year- old Ames Lay, right, and Avery Lay, 12, eat slices of pizza Tuesday, Oct. 6 during Family Night at the Livingston Parish Fair.
ä More photos. PAGE 3G
Two-year-old Amelia Narcisse, left, and Julissa Brooks, 4, take a spin.
ä See PARADE, page 3G
Fall Fest coming to Walker Defense shines in Yellow Jacket win Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
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.
Denham Springs mayoral race forum set A mayoral forum featuring the three candidates for mayor of Denham Springs will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at the LM Lockhart gymnasium, at 320 Martin Luther King Drive
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
A visit to Yellow Jackets Stadium on Friday brought into focus one of the amazing truisms about football. Namely, past performances are not a guarantee of future results. In the case of the Denham Springs defense, this was a good thing. It was only four weeks ago that the Jackets put up 73 points against Woodlawn, a total that was much needed since the defense gave up 54 points to
the Panthers. Against East St. John, the tables were turned completely. Denham Springs put up two touchdowns and a field goal in the first half, but relied completely on its defense in the last two quarters. Even though the Jackets’ offense spent most of the second half in Wildcats territory, it produced no more points.
ä See SALZER, page 2G
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Southeastern theater celebrates milestones Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University Theatre is celebrating two milestones this season — the return to a newly renovated Vonnie Borden Theatre and the graduation of its second class of B.A. in Theatre students. To mark the reopening, the Mainstage Season opens with the first production ever produced in the Vonnie Borden Theatre in 1971 — Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” directed by playwright and theater artist Donna Gay Anderson, daughter of Vonnie Borden. The 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Thornton Wilder serves as the inaugural production in the newly renovated theater. The clas-
sic American drama asks, “Do we ever realize life while we live it?” It follows the interconnected lives, loves and losses of a fictional small American town between 1901 and 1913. Instructor of Theatre AnneLiese Juge Fox said to celebrate this event, there will be a panel discussion with the original 1971 cast members of “Our Town” at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 in Vonnie Borden Theatre, at 1220 SGA Drive in Hammond on Southeastern’s campus. Fox said. “Our Town” runs Oct. 21-24, and each production begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free for Southeastern students with valid university ID, $20 general admission, and $15 discounted for seniors, non-South-
eastern students and military. Southeastern Theatre’s 20262027 Mainstage Season features four productions, including Our Town, across three campus performance spaces, all united by the theme of hope and community. Tickets are available at the door or two weeks before opening at www. southeastern.edu/boxoffice. The next production during the fall semester is “The Dames Are Not to Blame: La Cheniere Caminada.” The show runs Nov. 18-21, in the D Vickers Studio. Seating in the new studio space is limited. Tickets are free for Southeastern students with valid university ID, $20 general admission, and $15 discounted for seniors, non-Southeastern students and military.
The world premiere of this choreopoem by Cheryl J. Williams tells the story of four volunteers who survive the night during the catastrophic 1893 Cheniere Caminada hurricane, which altered Louisiana’s coastline forever. Two productions will be offered during the spring semester. First up is “Cats!” scheduled March 12 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and March 13 and 20 at 2 p.m. in Southeastern’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. In collaboration with the Columbia Theatre and the Department of Music and Performing Arts, the production is directed by Chad Winters and Kristi-Anne Lyons. Tickets are $25-$40, and admission is free for Southeastern stu-
dents with valid university ID. Tickets may be purchased online at columbiatheatre.org or call (985) 549-SHOW. The second show of the spring semester and final of the season is “Enter Two Murderers” by Mark Holley. Scheduled April 28-May 1, in D Vickers Studio, the production is the winner of Southeastern’s 2026 Inkslinger Playwriting Contest and directed by Gary Mendoza. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free for Southeastern students with valid university ID, $20 general admission, and $15 discounted for seniors, non-Southeastern students, and military. For more information, contact Anne-Liese Juge Fox at afox@ southeastern.edu.
AROUND
Continued from page 1G in Denham Springs. This forum is designed to give voters the chance to meet each candidate and hear directly from them in a relaxed, respectful setting. The evening includes an hour of meetand-greet time before the program and another half-hour after, giving residents real opportunities to speak with candidates one-on-one, alongside a structured Q&A session where candidates will answer questions submitted in advance by voters. The forum is being hosted by the Community Impact Council, a nonpartisan community organization in Denham Springs. This is a nonpartisan event, and all three candidates have agreed to take part. “We’re incredibly grateful to all three candidates for their willingness to step forward and take part in this forum,” said Danielle Robinson, founder/president of the Community Impact Council. “This is a great opportunity for our city, and it comes right before early voting begins, so residents can meet their candidates and leave better informed before they head to the polls.” For more information, email communityimpactcouncil26@gmail.com To submit a question, visit https://www.facebook.com/photo/ ?fbid=122312878652191416&set= pb.61555742487281.-2207520000.
Law enforcement vehicles with breast cancer awareness wrappings
PHOTO BY CHARLES SALZER
Denham Springs offensive lineman/long snapper Evan Sikes
SALZER
Continued from page 1G
Old South Jamboree exhibit Not to worry. Five Denham Springs punts kept East St. John bottled up most of the half. One of those punts led to the only points of the half, when Denham Springs long snapper Evan Sikes beat everyone down the field and tackled East St. John returner Dallas Brown in the end zone for a safety. East St. John was able to flip the field once on a 47-yard pass completion, but that was it. After picking up a first down inside the DSHS 20, the Wildcats were held on downs, and finished the half with 102 total yards and just three first downs. Defensive leaders included linebackers Cameron Moore and Derek Parker and defensive back Jadarrian Clark, who shined in the fourth quarter breaking up two passes while intercepting another. On this night, the story was about the Denham Springs’ defense taking center stage. Its effort helped the Yellow Jackets improve to 5-1 overall as they prepare for a run of four District 5-5A games to close the regular season.
Albany stripped of two wins Albany football defeated Springfield 39-0 on Sept. 18, and Independence 14-6 on Sept. 25, but both wins are now listed as forfeits by scores of 1-0. Per LHSAA rules, Albany was required to give up the two wins due to a clerical error on mandatory paperwork. It is fair to point out that the error was administrative, and does not appear to have been malicious in nature. The Hornets were back on the field last week, when they opened their District 8-3A schedule with an 18-8 loss at Jewel Sumner. They are officially 0-6 on the season.
Livingston Parish Deputy Nancy McDonald, a breast cancer survivor, is with a sheriff’s vehicle wrapped in support of breast cancer awareness. The vehicle wrapping, sponsored by FMOL Health Our Lady of the Lake, is one of multiple police vehicles decorated for breast cancer awareness, all through outside donations.
Old City Hall in Denham Springs has a new exhibit about the Old South Jamboree music venue, which opened in Walker in 1969 and provided weekly live country music entertainment until March 2020. Top stars and others who went on to become some of the greatest country music stars performed there, including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams Jr., George Jones, Ronnie McDowell, Faron Young, Mel Tillis, Porter Wagoner, Marty Robbins and many others. Denham Springs Old City Hall is at 115 Mattie St. in the Denham Springs Antique Village, located in the Louisiana Main Street District. The exhibit will remain open through the end of December.
Vintage Market Days planned Vintage Market Day is presenting a Christmas Cheer market Oct. 16-18 at Florida Parishes Arena, Amite.
Bayhi’s Landing Veterans Day Parade Nov. 8 STAFF PHOTOS BY PEARL SPURLOCK
The Denham Springs marshal vehicle is pictured on a Varnado and Sons tow truck in October. The vehicles were wrapped with Thin Pink Line decals to raise awareness for Breast Cancer.
PINK
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tions— some to the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation and others to Our Lady of the Lake’s cancer institute. Multiple agencies are scheduled to bring their pinkwrapped vehicles and breast cancer awareness goodies to events throughout the month, part of an effort to reach as many people as possible.
was decided to start doing what first responders do best and join forces with other agencies.” In addition to parish and city law enforcement agencies, fire departments and a towing company are participating. The QR codes on the vehicles link Where to find the vehicles? to donation pages for cancer Oct. 17: Town of Killian Trunk treatment and research institu- or Treat, 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 18: Livingston Parish SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Trunk or Treat, 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 24: ATA Lopez Foundation’s Inclusive Trunk or Treat, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 25: Denham Springs South Park Trunk or Treat, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27: Trunk or Treat at Texas Roadhouse in Denham Springs, 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31: Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Albany, 10 a.m.
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.
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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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ST. TAMMANY PARISH FAIR
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
Nine-year-old Averi Coates, left, and Amelia Aguire 9, ride the Scrambler during the annual Family Night at the Livingston Parish Fair held on Oct. 6.
Two-year-old Oakley Tutor and Taylor Albin ride the merry-goround.
Sadie Taylor, 8, feeds baby goats at the petting zoo during the annual Family Night at the Livingston Parish Fair.
Kids take a spin on the Ride-A-Gator during Family Night at the fair.
PARADE
Continued from page 1G make it an annual event. “I see this becoming large in comparison to our fairs and festivals across the parish,” Cieutat said. “This is much more than a parade; it is a way to honor and recognize veterans across Tangipahoa Parish and beyond. “We have people reaching out from neighboring parishes who want to participate.” The parade takes off at 9:30 a.m.; veterans will ride in old and antique cars, ranging from a Model A Ford to a Corvette. Cieutat said many veterans will drive their own vehicles or will be driven. The parade will feature more than 100 entries, which are limited to veterans. The only nonmilitary personnel will be school marching bands. “You can’t have a parade without music,” Cieutat said. Parade spectators will drift from the route over to Memorial Park for the Resource Fair, which begins at 11 a.m. and features music,
FILE PHOTO BY RICHARD MEEK
The second annual Ponchatoula Celebrates Veterans parade, which rolled under sunny skies a year ago, is scheduled Oct. 31. food and beverages as well as a variety of resources for veterans and their families. Cieutat said several organizations, including the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, will be present to help veterans write résumés and find jobs. Also included are resources addressing suicide
prevention, horse therapy coping with post-traumatic stress disorder. Educational tents featuring relics from several different wars will be on display, and the Ponchatoula Literary will offer several books related to the history of wars. Cieutat said a combined 40 agencies will be
setting up resource tents. “It is a great community effort and also important because it had never been done before (2025) and is something new,” she said. “And it is an opportunity for the public to show their appreciation for their veterans.” She recalled a year ago when several Vietnam vet-
is important to instill in our children that it is a privilege to come and watch the parade, the flag raising, learn about the history of country and to see veterans from World War II up to present day. “It is a lesson we are teaching our children in patriotism, in love of their country and community and supporting the men and women who have given us our freedom.” Cieutat said Davis has been an “incredible” ambassador helping promote the event throughout the parish, including speaking at several governmental meetings. “I could not stop shouting,” Davis said of his reaction when Cieutat called to ask him to be grand marshal. “I am really enjoying it and am looking forward to the parade. He admitted he will be emotional being back in his hometown as grand marshal of a veterans parade, but added he is getting his arm in shape, preparing to wave and salute the crowd.
erans spoke about the negativity they experienced when returning home. But she said those same veterans told her how the parade and celebration was a way for the public to express their thanks. “It was something they Email Richard Meek at had never experienced or livingston@theadvocate. received,” Cieutat said. “It com
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Tour bus operator
“The future’s happening here in Richland Parish.” Kaycie
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