Chief Judge Kathryn E. “Betsy” Jones, 20th judicial district, delivered the following address October 5, 2024, on the front lawn of the East Feliciana Parish Courthouse during the celebration of the Town of Clinton’s Bicentennial.
Good afternoon. I’m Betsy Jones, Chief Judge for the 20th judicial district, which includes both East and West Feliciana Parishes. We are here today celebrating the 200th birthday of the Town of Clinton, the parish seat of East Feliciana Parish. So in addition to wishing our wonderful town and its citizens the happiest of birthdays, I’ve been asked to give a brief overview of the history of our beautiful East Feliciana Parish Courthouse.
The original owner of the land on which we’re standing was Lewis Yarborough, and he sold it to business partners James Holmes and Susan Bostwick in 1825. Yes, it was very unique, at that time in history, for a woman, especially a married woman, to directly participate in business transactions, but Susan Bostwick (married to John Bostwick) did. Later that same year, 1825, James Holmes and Susan Bostwick donated this square to the Parish to use as the seat of justice; additionally, they gave the timber to build a courthouse. That original
courthouse was built but sadly burned to the ground sometime around March 29, 1839. It is unknown whether the arsonist responsible was ever caught and brought to justice.
After the fire, the Police Jury sought bids and plans for building another courthouse, ultimately accepting a bid of $23,000 by Lafayette Saunders. He was, at the time of the bid, a police juror. So he resigned from the jury to oversee building the Courthouse. In September 1840, the building was examined and although the roof leaked, it was accepted IF the builder would make the roof good. This seems to be a recurring issue, since the Police Jury just had to have some leaks repaired earlier this year (2024). I’m happy to say those repairs seem to have been successful.
With the best of intentions, in the early 1960s, some renovation work was done that proved to be detrimental to the
Edward Hughes, former Mayor of Slaughter
By Patricia Stallmann
rachal2743@gmail com
225-721-5534
Mayor “I got a lot done in Slaughter because of the people I knew,” Ed Hughes said on August 26. His daughter, Deborah Darsey, had asked him to put aside his worries of “appearing to brag” and simply share his memories of the town he served as mayor for 27 years.
The Slaughter saga began in 1957, when Ed and Barbara moved— shortly after Debbie’s birth—from Highway 952 in Jackson to the small town on Highway 19 where freight trains, Mr. Hughes recalled, “roared through at 80 miles an hour, from Natchez to St. Francisville and Slaughter to Clinton and back.”
And he continued, quietly, to oblige his daughter’s request, telling his story for the next three hours, never missing a beat.
At that point, one of his listeners, beginning to flag, asked, “You’re 95, Mr. Hughes?”
“Ninety-six in November,” he answered.
Ed “Paw Paw” Hughes died a few weeks later, on Friday, September 20, at his daughter’s Zachary home, having said his farewells “to all who loved him,” Debbie reports, to all of the family members and friends who stopped by to see him.
The Tale Edward Hubert Hughes opened Hughes Garage, later Hughes Texaco, on Highway 19, “on the block where the hotel had just closed down,” he said, in a building that had previously served as storage “for an ice plant and a milk plant” in the days before refrigerators had freezers.
The hotel was The Moore Hotel, east of the railroad track, on the southeast corner of Highway 19 and East Church Street. Gayle Donnell Anders, a lifelong resident of Slaughter, recalls that Lizzie Moore, the proprietor, and her daughters Elizabeth and Jane, “provided rooms and three meals daily for those who called the hotel home and the noon meal for many others.”
In a 1999 report, Mrs. Anders wrote that diners “included railroad men (there were many trains then), truck drivers who delivered produce to local grocery stores, drummers (salesmen), and the Kean’s laundry man twice a week.”
She found it “amazing” that Mrs. Willie Moore—who had bought the Slaughter Hotel from Mrs. Henry Harvey—though never knowing “how many people would be seated at her long dining table, always had enough food to go around.”
A beauty shop and the old co-op stood nearby, and, next door, Goudeau’s Liquor Store, “half liquor store,” said Debbie, “and half convenience store.” Morris Goudeau “died just a few months back, in January. Mr. Goudeau and daddy grew big gardens together and took vacations together.” And both were members of Slaughter First Baptist. Boudreaux–Langlois Chrysler Plymouth was a going business, along with Hawco, now Atlas SSI, and D & W Welding. And a Kleinpeter owned Lockwood Dairy on Lemon Road, “Lemon Dairy Road” back then. Her dad leased land along the same road, Mrs. Darsey said, where he kept his own 50 to 60 head of cattle.
The Slaughter Methodist church—which dates to 1883, six years before the town incorporated—bought its first property in 1890 east of Highway 19 on Church Street, around the curve toward Plank Road…just past the corner where The Moore once stood.
“Dan Rice was the mayor,” Mr. Hughes continued. “He was serving a four-year term when he died.” As the alderman who had received the most votes, Ed, the mayor pro tempore, “took his place”…and served for the next 19 years. “Mr. Hughes,” Slaughter Mayor Janis Landry explains, “served as mayor from 1966 to 1985 and again from 1989 to 1997, for a total of 27 years.” His own memory verified that accounting, as he recalled “running…and running again and serving another eight years.
“When I retired, Jerry Boyd took over, and then Bobbie Bourgeous.”
During Mr. Hughes’ nearly three decades at the helm, “we built the new town hall” where the ESSO service station formerly stood (“My good work put ‘em out of business,” said Mr. Hughes, just stating the fact). “We came in under budget, and by the time we moved in, we had it paid for.”
Under his leadership, the town started the volunteer fire department (“Daddy got the truck and the volunteers and hired the first chief”).
And the new Slaughter Elementary School replaced the old.
“When he ran Slaughter,” Mrs. Darsey said, “he always had money left over and the streets were good.” She stopped for a moment. “He built that town. And he was chairman of the deacons when we built the new Baptist church.” Nothing wrong with a daughter bragging on her dad.
Of course, Mr. Hughes’ “connections”—the people he knew, as he
Edward Hughes with Zoey, his great granddaughter, who was always close to her Paw Paw, spending weekends with him at his daughter’s home in Zachary for the last year and a half. Photograph provided by Debbie
Judge Kathryn E. “Betsy” Jones delivers her history of the East Feliciana Parish Courthouse during Clinton’s celebration of its bicentennial on October 5. Photograph by Nathanial Bell
In Our Wellness Community
Dr. Gia Landry Joins Lane Gastroenterology
Gia Landry, MD, has joined the staff of Lane Gastroenterology, located at 6550 Main Street, Suite 3500, in Zachary
Dr. Landry earned her Medical Doctorate from Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts and completed her residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. She completed her fellowship in Gastroenterology/Hepatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and her fellowship in Transplant Hepatology at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Landry also earned a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, Texas. She is board certified in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Dr. Landry specializes in comprehensive diagnosis and management of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, biliary tract, and pancreas), inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s, as well as liver and pancreatic diseases, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, primary biliary cholangitis, pancreatitis and other autoimmune disorders.
“I am very excited to be a part
Dr. Gia Landry
of the Lane team,” says Landry. “It is an honor to be involved with such an outstanding group of providers. I look forward to learning about the needs of this community and providing exceptional, patient-centered care.”
Dr. Landry is now accepting new patients. For more information or to make an appointment, please call Lane Gastroenterology at 225-658-6780.
Lane Home Health Celebrates 40 Years
Throughout the month of November, Lane Home Health is celebrating 40 years of service.
Since 1984 Lane Home Health has provided in-home care to more than 25,000 patients. Physicians agree that care provided by licensed home health nurses and therapists is the best alternative to lengthy hospital stays or emergency room visits.
Lane Home Health provides quality care, seven days a week, for patients confined to the home and recovering from injury or illness. Services include:
• Pre and Post-Operative Care
• Diabetic Management
• Cardiac Home Care
• IV Antibiotic Therapy
• Pain Management
• Wound Care/Wound Vac
• Physical/Speech/Occupational Therapy
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Total Parenteral Nutrition
• Hydration Therapy
• Enteral Therapy
• PT/INR In-home Testing
• Medical Social Services
• Medical Nutrition
• Intermittent Personal Care
• Catheter/Ostomy Care
“We have seen a lot of changes in the past 40 years,” says director Claudia Cantwell, RN. “Regulations have changed, services have expanded, technology has improved, and our team has grown. Throughout it all, our one constant has been to always keep the needs of our patients first and foremost as quality care is the cornerstone of our agency.”
Providing quality care is evident. Lane Home Health has a 5-star rating for patient satisfaction by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
For more information or physician referral assistance, please call 225-658-4150 or visit LaneRMC.org/home-health
Give Yourself the Gift of Health
As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season approaches, don’t forget about you. Take the time to take care of yourself and achieve your best health. Dr. Nyirenda and Dr. Richardson at Lane Family Practice can help you manage chronic health conditions as well as unexpected illnesses and injuries so you can enjoy the holiday season.
The best gift you can give yourself is the gift of good health!
continued from page 1
longevity of the building. The original bottom floor wooden flooring was removed and the crawl space underneath was filled in with concrete. As a result, over the years, moisture was trapped beneath and had no way to dissipate except through the walls, which was destructive to the walls, brick, and plaster. The moisture intrusion damage extended up the walls 6 to 7 feet and ultimately threatened the structural integrity of the building.
On September 9, 1987, history of fire damage somewhat repeated itself when another arsonist set fire to the bottom floor of the building, which was at that time utilized as the Clerk of Court’s office. Although damages amounted to over $100,000, no official records were destroyed; however, the entire interior of the building was blackened with soot. The soot was carefully removed and repairs made to the Clerk’s office. This time, the arsonist was caught and brought to justice.
In 2008, initiated by a million dollar donation from the Pennington Family and with the assistance and direction of several local residents, including (but certainly not limited to) Leslie Ligon, Ann Jones, Clyde Kennedy, Ross Maggio, Police Juror Louis Kent, retired Judges
Hal Ware and Bill Carmichael, and then Clerk of Court Debbie Hudnall, a major restoration project on this Courthouse was begun. Head & Engquist, LLC, through Jeff Stringer, contributed the use of equipment for the restoration work.
At the State level, former Representative Tom McVea and former Commissioners of Administration Jerry Luke LeBlanc and Angelle Davis were integral in keeping the necessary state funding flowing. The State of Louisiana appropriated another $5.3 million to fund the complete restoration.
This restoration took approximately three years and consisted of trenching around the building to establish a gravel-based moisture dissipation method, removing the 1960’s concrete fill, and replacing it with heart pine flooring, salvaged in New Orleans, from the same era as the original construction, thereby restoring the bottom floor to its original appearance.
The columns you see were constructed of brick covered with plaster and had been damaged by the same moisture issue as the walls. To remediate that issue, all the plaster was removed, the columns were allowed to dry, and a more modern plaster material was applied that allows the brick columns to breathe and dissipate moisture.
When you go inside the bottom floor,
you’ll see the beautiful wood floors and trim, and the original double staircase. The paint colors on the walls, baseboards, and window trim are those determined by the architectural archaeologist to be the colors used in the original construction. Originally, the bottom floor offices housed the Sheriff, the Assessor, the Clerk of Court, and the District Attorney. Now it provides a handicapped accessible courtroom, restrooms, and a jury room.
Upstairs in the primary courtroom, the colors again represent what you would’ve seen in 1840. They are somewhat muted colors because of the scarcity of paint options at that time. If you look at the large counsel table, you’ll notice, under the glass, a black cloth material. This is the type of oil cloth that was used on the original counsel table. During the course of researching, it was discovered that the same company that supplied the cloth in 1840 was still in business; therefore, the cloth you see today is literally as close as possible to that used in 1840. Additionally, the red bunting you see surrounding the Judge’s Bench and the Bailiff’s Stand was duplicated in the same manner by matching fragments of the original cloth that were discovered during the restoration.
This latest renovation was completed in the summer of 2011, and our Court-
house reopened for full operation as the courthouse serving East Feliciana Parish on September 28, 2011. What you see in our Courthouse today is as identical as is feasibly possible to what was constructed in 1840. Of course, the modern necessities of recording equipment, electrical lighting, restrooms, and (very importantly!) air conditioning have all been incorporated.
The East Feliciana Parish Courthouse was accepted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and was designated as a National Landmark in 1974. Our Courthouse is the oldest Courthouse in the United States still functioning FULLY as a courthouse. There are a few older, but they are used for ceremonial functions and partial court functions only.
I have to say that for the twenty-plus years that I practiced as an attorney here, it was an amazing and humbling feeling to work in this historic structure. And the almost-ten years (so far!) that I’ve been blessed to serve as judge here have been my greatest honor. I hope to continue serving the citizens of this parish for years to come.
Please enjoy your time with us today as we celebrate the Bicentennial of the Town of Clinton. Enjoy our beautiful Courthouse Square, our local businesses, and our friendly citizens.
Helena, and I had worked on cars all my life.”
In Jackson, he worked “first at the Chevy place, and then the Ford place bought me; I was shop foreman.
“When it closed, I decided to open my own shop in Slaughter,” where his wife’s parents, the elder Walls, had moved, as both worked at East in Jackson. At this point, Debbie has taken over the telling of the story she has heard all of her life. In 1957, on August 5, as Edward “was in the middle of moving the business,” Barbara gave birth to Debbie at the hospital in Centreville, Mississippi. Barbara’s sister, Betty Layne—“Bellaine” to everyone—arrived to help care for Faye, then 4, and Don Ed.
“On August 8, three days after I was born, when we were just home from the hospital, the older two children were walking to the post office with Bellaine, when a gravel truck lost control,” injuring “all three.
“Don and Bellaine, who were not seriously hurt, were taken to ELMS,” to East, in Jackson, where “they bathed Don in Vaseline, as he had road rash, and kept him on a pillow.” Faye, who had suffered internal injuries, went to the Baton Rouge General.
“Mama’s mother stayed at ELMHS with Don, and daddy stayed at the General with Faye. They didn’t tell him the extent of her injuries. She was alert and begging for water but couldn’t have it, the doctors said. The next day, on August 9, she died. It still haunts daddy that she died wanting water.” The listeners turn to Mr. Hughes, almost seeing in his eyes what he still sees, the death of his first born.
Two weeks later, the Hughes family moved to Slaughter, where Ed Hughes opened Hughes Garage, later Hughes Texaco, now Jett’s.
Having to Go On “There was no therapy back then,” Debbie says, recounting the story others have told her: how she “stayed with a lot of people,” including new neighbors, among them the Mercers, while her parents “were healing from Faye’s death and from moving the business.”
Her dad re-enters the conversation, crediting those who helped so long ago. “There were some good people in Slaughter back then. I’m the only one left from that time…me and Gayle,” he
She was a
Maw Maw, and very kind, very hardworking. I remember all of these aunts and uncles and cousins…and her little house was always plenty big enough for all of us.” New Home Upon first moving to Slaughter, the Hughes family—Ed and Barbara and their children, Don and Debbie, lived in “the red house behind Speeg’s store. Of the four now deserted shoebox-style buildings near the traffic light on 19, “Felix Embree and his wife and the cat,” Debbie recalls, “had the general store, and Ms. Bishop lived in the apartment behind it. The last time I saw Mr. Embree, he had his shoes on the wrong feet, and when I pointed that out to him, he said, ‘I wondered why my feet were hurting.’
“Most people went to Mary Speeg’s mercantile next door because it was cleaner. You could buy candy, cold drinks, bread, meat, Koolaide, pots and pans, fabric…a little bit of everything. Some of that fabric was 100 years old because nobody bought it! But I did; I bought a yard to make an apron for 4H.
“Mary’s store had two benches in front, originally breadboxes for bread deliveries, then for newspapers. You’d get a cold drink and candy and sit on a bench. I’d sit there with Grandpa Mercer, our neighbor when my folks first moved to Slaughter and I stayed with the Mercers a lot.
“Then, a year later, daddy built the first house in the Meadowood subdivision, on Landmoor Street.” Mr. Hughes jumps in: “Third house on the right. Before we got water and gas in there, the town ran pipes on top of the ground to the house. One year later, one house built on each side of me and one in front, and the subdivision went from there.” Growing up in Slaughter, says Debbie, “was like growing up in Mayberry RFD,” the town that still, in re-runs, defines the Andy Griffith television series. “When the stores shut down for the day, the kids played Fox and Hound in the street” and waged “bottle rocket wars. It’s a wonder we’re still alive.” The trains provided excitement, too: “Hobos caught the train in Clinton,” Debbie said, “and jumped off after the curve in Slaughter.”
Her dad “ran the fireworks stand at the Fourth of July and Christmas. It was a little bitty shed—next to the service station, facing Highway 19—with a gas heater, and it was full of fireworks. We’d huddle around that heater, not knowing we were fixing’ to get blowed up.”
She remembers, too, riding her bike north along Highway 19 “to Safer Drive, to Naquin’s store, now Gary’s to Go,” confessing that she never told her mother the extent of her travels. Still, “we were those kids who were drug to church,” she adds. “We just went every time the doors opened!” That included youth activities every Sunday night. Slaughter’s Fall Fest, an annual celebration, dates back to the days when Ed Hughes moved his family to Slaughter: “It was just the townspeople,” he says, “and we just got together and cooked, and bobbed for apples…and we’d grease the flag pole in the ball park and you’d win
SHORT OR LONG-TERM HOSPITAL STAY?
We Offer Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Services for Care and Healing Close to Home.
smoked sausages in our smokehouse, and he took the sausage and candy to his good customers.” Hughes Texaco Back when everyone knew everyone, Ed Hughes ran his mechanic shop on Highway 19, in the middle of town.
“We were a full-service filling station,” he said. “We put in your gas and checked your oil.” And your tires, if you asked. And squeegeed your front window. And Hughes Texaco offered a full-service mechanic shop: “We worked on tractors and
“And Horace Williams, who was like one of the family.”
Debbie inserts, “He never wore shoes! He had feet like alligator hide!” Her father responds: “I miss him the same as I’d miss family. He was a good employee, and a faithful employee.” He smiles. “And he knew which people would tip him in cash or with a King Edward!”
Debbie steps in again, “And remember how Mr. Kleinpeter had that old truck you kept running for him, and he never paid? And Mrs. Kleinpeter had a Cadillac, and she’d pay every time.”
Her dad again balances the scales: “Mr. Kleinpeter had an ongoing bill, and every now and then he’d bring me a cow or a cow and a calf, and I’d wipe out his bill.”
That’s how things got done, back then. Everyone knew everyone, and people were friends or knew if they weren’t. Then, Debbie says, “Because of the gasoline shortage of the ’70s, in 1979, my parents converted the service station into a convenience store that sold gasoline, groceries, fried chicken, and daddy’s renowned homemade hamburgers.” At that time, the Hughes, bowing to the suggestion of a grandchild, changed the name of their enterprise to “Paw Paw’s Fried Chicken & Groceries.”
Debbie notes that her father “worked tirelessly every day for 60 years, from 1957 until 2017.” Paw Paw’s, a news story reported at the time of Hughes’ final retirement as mayor, opened “at 4:15 a.m.
In Our Kindness Community
Publisher’s note: The Zachary Post and Feliciana Explorer newspapers asked Donald J. “Pete” Charlet to help us launch this column by discussing his involvement with the game of chess.
Chess is Life
“I mandate mutual kindness and respect, which is love in action.”
By DonalD J. “Pete” charlet
We live in a culture of competition, frequently tempted to believe that “Winning isn’t everything… it’s the only thing.” When Vince Lombardi quoted that statement, he meant to stress, he explained later, the importance of “effort and goals,” of striving to win. He did not intend to promote winning at any cost.
Lombardi’s statement, for me, means that winning is doing our very best, leaving it all on the field. In the Agape Chess Club, “No one loses playing chess.” We are all winners, in that we play our best, and if checkmated, we learn from the experience.
West Feliciana is one of the newest and most advanced Critical Access Hospitals in the region with a team of skilled physicians, nurses, and therapists providing our patients the latest in cutting-edge treatment and technology.
• Emergency Department Physicians on-site 24/7 for urgent needs
• Board Certi ed Hospital Medicine Physicians providing daily rounds
• On-site Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy
• Large private patient rooms with special beds designed for comfort and recovery
• Spacious bathrooms feature tile along with low shower thresholds for easy access
• Patient monitoring equipment throughout the hospital
• Low nurse-to-patient ratio (1:3) allows for quick response to patient needs with about an 11-second average response time
West Feliciana Hospital is Joint Commission Accredited certifying we have passed nationally recognized performance standards in quality and safety.
Consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the nation o ering essentially everything you would nd in a larger facility right here West Feliciana Parish.
If you or a loved one are seeking high-quality hospital care delivered here in your community, ask your physician or case manager to contact one of our UR Nurses at 225-635-2409. Most commercial insurance and Medicare plans accepted.
Bobby Fisher said that “Chess is life,” and I agree. In chess we evaluate, then make moves; in life we make countless choices every day Choices always have consequences. We evaluate and learn from consequences. In chess we employ strategies; in life, principles and values guide us.
Our club’s name, “Agape,” was a “spirit created” name in that, as director, I mandate mutual kindness and respect, which is love in action. We are blessed to have several players the U. S. Chess Federation has labeled “high ranked.” In their kindness and love of the game, they share their wisdom of chess. Though I listen intently, I have discovered we can learn chess only by playing it and “learning humility” on a regular basis…and I love it!
At our club, we do not require playing by the rules of the U. S. Chess Federation, which means a timer and notation of the game. As membership increases, however, and skills improve, we do anticipate holding tournaments.
It is my pleasure, as director of “Agape Chess Club,” to extend an invitation to everyone, from 13 years of age, to consider joining us. Our group presently has a faithful membership of 15 attendees and another 15 on the roster. The meetings are every Sunday at the East Baton Rouge Library in Zachary from 2 p.m. to closing at 6 p.m.
In addition to leading our club, I currently mentor chess at the Baker Learning Center each week and have mentored at Bains Elementary School in St. Francisville. I would be happy to spend time teaching the basics to anyone interested.
To join Agape Chess Club or to request lessons, please email Donald J. “Bro. Pete” Charlet at djpcharlet@ gmail.com.
Please note: We ask that readers contribute, via email, their own experiences and observations involving kindness. Send submissions to rachal2743@gmail.com. Please include name and contact information.
Please submit calendar notices to: rachal2743@gmail.com
November 19, third Tuesdays: The East Feliciana Drug and Alcohol Awareness Council’s monthly meeting takes place at the EFDAA Council office, 12080 Marston Street in Clinton. Time: 5 p.m. This meeting is open to the public. Please use the side entrance. For more information, please call 225-6630696 or email secretaryefdaac@outlook.com.
Friday, November 22: SHOP SMALL FIRST this Holiday Season and join us in Zachary for our first annual PINK FRIDAY event. Enjoy extended hours, special sales and discounts, and small-town Holiday Cheer! Participating Zachary Boutiques: Best & Co. Boutique (225-306-4357), Elle Boutique (225286-5548), Persnickety Unique Gifts (225654-6168), Lee Street Boutique (225-2865308), and Z Market (225-286-5606). Check with each boutique for Pink Friday Specials.
Friday, November 22: PINK FRIDAY at Best & Co. Boutique in Zachary. Hey, Besties! Shop Small First this Christmas and join us for a day filled with exciting deals and surprises. We will be open SPECIAL EXTENDED HOURS, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Holiday Brunch Edition Sip and Shop is 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Whimsy Gems Handcrafted will be here from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. making her amazing signature charm jewelry; and an Evening Edition Sip and Shop is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. You DO NOT want to miss this EPIC Shopping Event and its special deals throughout the day! Get your Christmas Shopping done early at 4480 Main Street in Zachary. For more information, call 225-3064357.
Friday, November 22: Celebrate Pink Friday at “The Green Door at H Mercantile,” 12408 St. Helena Street, Suite B, Clinton. Pink Friday, a nation-wide initiative, reminds shoppers to support small businesses and local retailers. Enjoy live music by Justen Taylor and dinner specials. Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 225-2447110.
Friday, November 22: The Southland Band, live at El Mejor Mexican Bar & Grill, 5051 Highway 61 south of St. Francisville. For more information, call 225-635-4915.
Saturday, November 23: FREE Children’s Drawing and Painting Workshop with Ms. Shaun. New times: 1) from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for elementary school students ages 4–6 AND 2) 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. for students ages 7–12. Place: the West Baton Rouge Museum, 845 N. Jefferson Avenue, Port Allen. The art instructor, Shauna Landry, is a Louisiana native who has over eight years of experience developing children’s artistic skills…from painting and drawing to breaking complex objects into foundational images. Shauna earned an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from New Mexico State University and pursued formal art instruction at the AHH Ha School of Arts in Colorado and the Young Rembrandts Program. She is currently teaching art at Impact Charter School in Baker while pursuing a bachelor’s degree online from Arizona State University. This workshop will take place on the fourth Saturday of each month (except for date changes during the holiday season). All art supplies are provided, but space is limited. ADVANCED REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED; call 225336-2422. For more information, visit www. WestBatonRougeMuseum.org.
Saturday, November 23: “Artful Autumn” Program at Audubon Regional Library’s Clinton Branch, 11023 Bank Street. Please join us at 10:30 a.m. for our autumn painting program. Beginners and skilled artists alike will paint a fun Thanksgiving Day or vibrant autumnal scene. Canvases are limited, so please stop by or call to register and save your spot! As painting can get messy, wear clothing appropriate for the project! For more information, please call 225-683-8753.
Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ audubonregional or visit our webpage at www.audubonregional.net.
November 23, 30, and Every Saturday: Scrabble Club at Audubon Regional Library’s Jackson Branch, 2637 Highway 10. Calling all Scrabble enthusiasts! Join us every Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon, to put your spelling skills to the test in the ultimate Scrabble showdown! Call 225-634-7408 for more information.
Saturday, November 23: Holiday Kickoff at the Zachary Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Zachary, celebrates Thanksgiving, football games, and Christmas shopping. Vendors will feature football décor. Enjoy a football toss game, and take pictures at the stadium photograph backdrop. Stock up on food for tailgating or game watching from home. Organizers will hold drawings for market money. For more information, contact zacharyfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
Saturdays, November 23, December 14 and 28: Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders will exhibit its model train collection from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3406 College Street in Jackson, behind the Republic of West Florida Museum. No admission fee. For further information, or to book space at no charge for a birthday party, please email maczilla1@ bellsouth.net or call 713-858-9251.
Saturday and Sunday, November 23 and 24: Shop Small, Y’all! In St. Francisville. For information, contact stfrancisville.net.
Sunday, November 24: Cocoa with Santa, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at “The Green Door at H Mercantile,” 12408 St. Helena Street, Suite B, Clinton. During H Mercantile’s open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit to share cocoa and take photographs. For more information, call 225-244-7110 or check hmercantile.com.
Sunday, November 24, and every Sunday: Zachary’s AGAPE Chess Club meets from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the East Baton Rouge Library’s Zachary Branch, 1900 Church Street. The roster includes almost 30 members ages 13 to 80. Our objective: to discover the “mystery of chess” through the joy of competition among very kind and sensitive players. Everyone is welcome, especially children. Our interaction is clearly reflected through our name: AGAPE, which means “love and kindness.” Please consider joining our organization by contacting Director Donald J. “Pete” Charlet at dipcharlet@ gmail.com.
Sunday, November 24 at 5:30 p.m.: A Community Thanksgiving Service. Slaughter First Baptist Church, with Slaughter United Methodist Church and Little Rock Baptist Church, invites the entire community to join together for a Thanksgiving blessing and fellowship and for Thanksgiving dinner following the service. Place: Slaughter First Baptist Church, 3227 Church Street, Slaughter. For more information, call 225654-4145.
ONGOING DAR PROJECTS: The Alexander Stirling Chapter of the DAR is collecting Flags of the United States of America that need to be retired. On November 20, the Chapter, along with the West Feliciana High School JROTC and the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department, will hold a Flag Retiring Ceremony at the Louisiana Veterans Home in Jackson, Louisiana. Contact a DAR Chapter Member, or email alexanderstirlingdar@ gmail.com, if you have flags to retire or if you wish to sponsor a wreath for Wreaths Across America at Port Hudson National Cemetery or Louisiana National Cemetery.
Tuesday, November 26, and the Last Tuesday of Every Month at 6 p.m.: Free yoga (all levels) at the West Baton Rouge Museum, 845 N. Jefferson Avenue, Port Allen. Please do not eat beginning one hour before class, and please bring a yoga mat. Classes convene in the Brick Gallery; please enter through the courtyard or the gravel driveway. For more information, visit www.WestBatonRougeMuseum.org.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 6, 7, 8: Christmas in the Country. Visit St. Francisville for the tree lighting, a living Nativity, the Jingle Bell Mingle, Cookies and Cocoa Drive Thru, music, artists, food trucks, Breakfast with Santa, the annual Tour of Homes, Christmas spirits, the Peep into our Holiday Homes event, and the Christmas Parade. Check stfrancisville.net for more information.
Friday, November 29, through Sunday, December 29: Louisiana Lights at Burden Museum and Gardens, 4560 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. Experience the magic of the season as you stroll through the beautifully illuminated historic Windrush Gardens. For more information, call 225-765-2437. Burden is an LSU and LSU AgCenter facility.
Saturday, December 7: Curry’s Christmas Extravaganza! Stop by Curry’s, 10463 Highway 67 (Plank Road), Clinton, for sales, giveaways, food tastings, special vendors, and photos with Santa! It’s always a FUN morning! Time: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 225-683-8188.
Saturday, December 7: A Jane Austen Christmas, Audubon State Historic Site, St. Francisville. On Saturday night, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the plantation comes to life during the holidays as it shows off its seasonal decorations. Costumed guides accompany the visitor in a trip into the past through the candlelit Oakley House. Take a taste of what’s cooking in the kitchen, enjoy our yearly Christmas dance, and enjoy music by the Lagniappe Dulcimers. Chestnuts will be roasting and wassail served. For more information, please contact the park at 225635-3739.
Tuesday, December 10 (one date in December): Clothes Closet in Clinton. Every second and fourth Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Blessed by Grace and the East Feliciana Drug and Alcohol Awareness Council invite the community to visit the Clothes Closet at the Council’s office, 12080 Marston Street. Please use the side entrance. This is an opportunity for those in need to find essential items. For more information, please call 225-663-0696 or email secretaryefdaac@outlook.com.
Wednesday, December 11, and Every Second
Wednesday: “Homeschool Hangout” at Audubon Regional Library’s Clinton Branch. Time: 11 a.m. Address: 11023 Bank Street. Come in and sign up today to network with library staff and other homeschoolers. Learn about upcoming events and resources the library offers. Make new friends, enjoy activities, and discover how the library can support your educational journey! Call 225683-8753 for more information.
Friday, December 13: Zachary presents “Christmas in the Village” and “The Mistletoe Holiday Shopping Market” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For information, please contact Nita Edwards, zacharyfarmersmarket@gmail. com.
Saturday, December 14: The Zachary Charity League presents the Chasing Santa Fun Run, which begins at 8 a.m., and the 5K, which begins at 8:30 a.m., immediately before the Zachary Christmas Parade at 10 a.m. For more information and to register, visit www. zacharycharityleague.org.
Saturday, December 14: Zachary’s Christmas Parade, “Luau Under the Mistletoe,” will roll at 10 a.m. Start thinking about floats and names, from jingle bells to coconut shells! Registration is now open. Visit www. zacharychamber.com.
Saturday, December 14 and Saturday, December 21: The Zachary farmers market will present “Mistletoe Holiday Shopping Market” on the 14th and “Stocking Stuffer Saturday at the Market” on the 21st, both from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, email zacharyfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
Saturday, December 14. The Women of Oakley. Four generations of women owned and operated Oakley House in what was
otherwise considered a man’s world. At the same time, the generations of African American women who served them fought to create and maintain their own identities. In this guided experience, you will get a behind the scenes look at both lineages of resilient women. Wander the halls and explore the very rooms where female empowerment bred and hear the intimate stories that you won’t hear anywhere else. The tour will be offered at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.; house tour fees apply. For more information, please contact Audubon State Historic Site in St. Francisville at 225-635-3739.
Saturday December 14 and Every Second Saturday: Crochet Club at the Jackson Branch of the Audubon Regional Library, 2637 Highway 10. Crochet enthusiasts: Join us every second Saturday to learn new stitches, work on projects, and chat about what we have learned. If you have your own crochet books and yarn, please bring them with you! Registration is required; call 225-634-7408
Saturday, December 14: Help Create Happy Tales for Happy Tails! Is there room in your home and your heart for one more? Stop by Happy Tails dog adoption day at Tractor Supply, 7327 Highway 61 in St. Francisville. Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. But no need to wait! Call or email Michelle Hamilton, Happy Tail Rescue, for details about the dogs now looking for homes: 225-245-4123 or thehappytailrescue@outlook.com.
Saturday, December 14: Jackson’s White Light Christmas event, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Experience a small-town Christmas! Visit Jackson’s eateries, and shop along Charter Street (Highway 10) and inside the McKowen Building. For more information, contact Ginger at 225-933-4911. Sponsor: the Jackson Tourism Enhancement Committee.
Saturday, January 25: Feliciana Family and Friends 20th Annual Mardi Gras Parade, “Mardi Gras in the Country,” will kick off from the campus of East Feliciana Middle School, 10410 Plank Road in Clinton, at 12 p.m. The deadline for submitting parade entry forms is January 15, by noon. For the parade route; for an entry form; for entry fees for bicycles and horses, floats and marchers, and motorcycles, cars and trucks; for the Code of Conduct; for parking directions; and for the names of the Mardi Gras committee members, please email sflower8@bellsouth.net. Join the party; it’s for all of us! MARKET DAYS
CHANGES: Thursday, November 21, and Tuesday, November 26: St. Francisville Community Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 9961 Wilcox Street in St. Francisville. Beginning in December, the market will open only twice a month, though still on Thursdays: December 5 and 19; January 9 and 23; and February 6 and 20. Call Claudene Cockrum, 225-7153597, or Faye Ritchie, 225-245-1752, or email jritchie49@bellsouth.net.
First and third Saturdays, December 7 and 21—Clinton Community Market Day, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. along St. Helena Street (Highway 10) in downtown Clinton. Contact hmercantilellc@ gmail.com.
Saturdays—November 23, 30: Zachary Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lee and Main Streets. Contact zacharyfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
CANCELLED: First Fridays, December 6, Jackson Market, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the town hall gazebo on Charter Street (Highway 10). Contact Ginger Goudeau at 225-933-4911 or ging130@yahoo.com.
LOCATION CHANGE: Saturday, January 11: “Pop-Up Tent Community Market” is now at the old 4-H barn, 9961 Wilcox Street in St. Francisville. Time: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. All products are welcome. No vendor fee at this time. For more information, please contact Faye Ritchie at 225-245-1752 or jritchie49@ bellsouth.net.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY | CLASSIFIEDS
Mobile Home for sale “as is.” 4br 2 ba doublewide. Asking $15,000 but willing to negotiate. Must move. Call 225-3012439.
Art Studio Space Available- Historic Jackson, Louisiana. Spaces Available for Monthly Rent- NO LEASE. Spaces Starting at $125/month Contact: 225200-9155
HELP WANTED/ SERVICES OFFERED
Experience Labor Workers Needed in the Felicianas call 225-955-7584
Bank of Zachary - Universal BankerBank of Zachary is looking for a highly motivated individual to fill a Full-Time Universal Banker position. This position offers an exciting opportunity for candidates with prior teller, cash handling, customers service, or retail sales experience who are interested in beginning a career with opportunities for growth and development. Universal Bankers perform all Teller duties along with providing support in many aspects of retail with a broad knowledge of the bank’s products and services, along with account opening. Must be customer focused with ability to multi-task and perform as a team player. Stable work history and high school diploma or GED required. 1-2 years prior/current banking, sales, cash handling, and/or customer service experience required. EEO/ AA/M/F/VETERAN/DISABLED. Send all resumes to hr@bankofzachary.com.
Bank of Zachary – BSA Officer - Job Overview: The BSA (Bank Secrecy Act) Officer will play a key role in ensuring the bank’s compliance with BSA/ AML regulations, fraud prevention, and managing the Red Flags Program. This position involves monitoring for suspicious activities, conducting risk assessments, and maintaining compliance with federal and state laws. The BSA Officer will collaborate with internal teams and regulators to protect the bank from financial crime and identity theft. Key Responsibilities • Oversee the bank’s BSA/AML compliance program, including monitoring transactions and filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). • Manage the Red Flags identity theft prevention program. • Detect and prevent fraudulent activity through data analysis and collaboration with law enforcement. • Respond to subpoenas and coordinate document collection. • Conduct risk assessments and make recommendations to senior management. • Provide staff training on BSA/AML compliance and identity theft prevention. Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree preferred • 3+ years of experience in BSA/AML compliance, fraud detection, and subpoena handling in the financial industry. • Strong knowledge of BSA/AML regulations and fraud detection techniques. • Proficiency with BSA/AML software and data analysis tools. • Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills. Working Conditions: • Full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. • Occasional travel to bank locations and industry conferences. Compensation: Experience Based. Reports to: Chief Risk Officer. = EEO/AA/M/F/VETERAN/DISABLED. Send all resumes to hr@bankofzachary.com.
MISCELLANEOUS/ ITEMS FOR SALE
Cross Creek Cowboy Church. Sundays breakfast 9:30, service 10:30. 21160 Plank Road, Zachary. Come as you are. Crosscreekcowboychurch.com
I will pay cash or your junk cars and remove any scrap metal. Call (225)2764273.
