by MATTHEW ROY 

Members of the community in need of medical, eye or dental care were given an opportunity to address their needs without fear of costly service charges. Spanning from July 12-22, Marines and Sailors from Marine Forces Reserve and the New Mexico and Pennsylvania Air National Guard are participating in Innovative Readiness Training Louisiana Care 2017.

The IRT Louisiana Care spans three parishes- St. John the Baptist, Assumption, and Tangipahoa. In Tangipahoa, Amite High Magnet School serves as a medical facility. What are normally classrooms and hallways, have been transformed into temporary waiting rooms, examination rooms, and operating rooms.

According to 1st Lt. Kristine Racicot, Marine Forces Public Affairs Officer, medical, dental and optometry services will be provided to members of the community at no cost until July 22.

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By MARGARET ANDREWS

Despite the sweltering heat, hundreds of parents and school children from kindergarten to high school poured into the Kentwood High Magnet School gymnasium on Saturday, July 15 to receive free school supplies and new book sacks aimed at helping students prepare for the upcoming school year.

Students had big smiles when they received the free school supplies.

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ONE SASSY COWGIRL. Hadlee Monroe Day is ready to ride in her cowskin chaps and cowboy hat during the National Little Britches Rodeo Association finals held July 6, in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Hadlee was there cheering on her big brother Preston Day who competed in the Team Roping and Ribbon Roping competitions. Hadlee is the daughter of Beth and Jeff Day of Kentwood. She is the granddaughter of Helen and Barry McNabb and Sherry and Tommy Day all of Kentwood. Photo submitted.

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By JESSE BROOKS

Last week Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes announced their plans for the ninth annual Night Out Against Crime Celebration to be held at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula on Saturday October 28 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For almost a decade, the event has been held as a fall festival that allows local law enforcement and fire departments to interact with the public they serve in a fun and friendly way while promoting public safety. As in years past, the event will feature live music, food, contests and games.

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By JESSE BROOKS

Twenty-First Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux has reported that a St. Helena Parish Grand Jury has given Deborah Blades Palmer, 38, of Amite, a True Bill of Indictment with one count of second-degree murder.

Blades was arrested in early June for the murder of her sister Rebecca Blades, 36, who was found buried in a shallow grave near Anderson Road in St. Helena Parish after she was reported missing on May 10.

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By JESSE BROOKS

On July 14, local leaders met at Audubon Regional Library for a Complete Streets Visioning Session hosted by LSU AgCenter’s Healthy Communities.

The purpose of the session was to help set priorities for the implementation of potential new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, bike lanes and trails in the parish.

St. Helena Police Jury President Major Coleman and Greensburg Mayor Paula McNabb were among some of the notable local leaders that attended the session.

It emerged during the session that a majority of those in attendance felt that the town of Greensburg needed a system of sidewalks in town. The installation of sidewalks could potentially meet an immediate need for those going placeto- place locally, and could make the community more active.

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AMITE—More than four dozen miles of Tangipahoa’s 20 most-traveled roads will be upgraded with enhanced safety measures, thanks to a nearly $1 million grant awarded to Tangipahoa Parish Government by the state.

Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said 51.9 miles of Tangipahoa Parish roads will receive enhanced safety measures, such as reflectors, solid and striped line striping, and signage, as part of the Louisiana Local Road Safety Program grant, funded by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

Miller said parish leaders and DOTD conducted a data-driven review of local roads, ranking them based on crash data and the various low-cost improvements that could be made. The resulting list includes $991,365 in construction costs, along with nearly $200,000 in engineering and design fees. Miller said those engineering costs will be a collaborative effort between DOTD and the parish to provide those services above and beyond the scope of the grant.

He said this is another benefit of the parish’s participation and involvement in the Regional Planning Commission.

The roads that will be included in this grant are shown below with their ranking and the number of miles of roadway that will be improved as part of the project:

#1 Club Deluxe Road, 2.6 miles
#3 South Range Road, 1.3 miles
#4 Old Covington Highway, 5.4 miles
#6 Wardline Road, 1.5 miles
#7 Sister’s Road, 3.9 miles
#9 Happywoods Road, 2.2 miles
#10 North Hoover Road, 0.9 miles
#12 Bennett Road, 2.5 miles
#15 Rufus Bankston Road, 1.8 miles
#16 Hano Road, 3.5 miles
#17 Durbin Road, 3.3 miles
#18 Esterbrook Road, 4.1 miles
#21 Bankston Road, 0.6 miles
#22 South Airport Road, 0.8 miles
#23 Weinberger Road, 4.6 miles
#25 Stafford Road, 2.2 miles
#29 Milton Road, 1.8 miles
#31 Chappapeela Road, 3.9 miles
#34 Hood Road, 1.25 miles
#38 Turnpike Road, 3.7 miles

Miller said the parish will provide updates on these road improvements as the projects get underway. Updates on the parish’s many ongoing road projects are being shared with local media, as well as the Tangipahoa Parish Government website (www.Tangipahoa.org) and the parish’s social media channels.

Another federal investigation has hit Tangipahoa Parish, the third since late last year, with Amite the focus of the latest development.

FBI agents were reportedly in town last week passing out subpoenas to select citizens of Amite's political class. Like the federal investigation into the rogue Drug Enforcement Administration agents, the circumstances surrounding the issuing of the subpoenas is not being revealed.

They reportedly have to do with election issues, either paperwork irregularities or vote buying.

The names of some of those allegedly receiving subpoenas have leaked to the public. They include Mayor Buddy Bel, Police Chief Jerry Trabona, and Councilman Kris Hart. The group also possibly includes two other council members and a prominent Amite businessman.

A judge and an attorney/state representative are also supposedly in the group. Both are reportedly from Livingston Parish.

An August 10 court date has reportedly been set for the group in federal court in New Orleans, but court dates are subject to change during the early stages of a case.

Bel has said he and other town officials have been advised by the town attorney to say nothing about the subpoenas. All questions will go to Pris DiLorenzo, city administrator, who will forward them to Bel and the town attorney.

Councilman Jonathan Foster has reportedly said he is not among those subpoenaed.

The serving of the subpoenas comes only a week or so after Secretary of State Tom Schedler assured the citizens of Louisiana that there is no election or voter fraud in the state.

Reports of vote buying are nothing new in Tangipahoa Parish, but there have been no successful prosecutions, at least not in recent years.

Around March, the FBI was in Amite to investigate a bail bond scheme where some deputies were using the property of private citizens, without their knowledge, to grant bail.

On Saturday, July 22, first responders from across Tangipahoa Parish and gathered at the Tangipahoa Parish Fire District #1 station and the Amite branch of the Tangipahoa Parish Library. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., young people from Amite and the surrounding areas took part in a one-day event that granted them some insight into the life of a firefighter and a chance to learn more about fire safety.

The program was conceived when Amite Rotary President-Elect Heather Howell attended training for her new role.

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By MARGARET ANDREWS

Officers of the Kentwood Police Department now have new resources to help them fight the opioid epidemic plaguing our state thanks to a $1 million legal settlement between Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Pfizer.

The nasal spray kits will be carried by officers and used when needed to combat the effect of an opioid overdose.

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By MARGARET ANDREWS

On Sunday, July 26, the children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends celebrated the 100th birthday of Mrs. Vera Buckhalter Womack in grand style.

The three-day festivities kicked off with the unveiling of Petit Street being renamed Vera B. Womack Street in honor of Ms. Vera’s birthday.

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by JESSE BROOKS 

Last week the St. Helena Parish School District announced that there will be teacher and staff “meet and greets” hosted by the St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy and St. Helena Early Learning Center in various locations throughout the parish on Monday, August 7. These events will also provide important information to parents pertaining to the 2017-18 school year.

Teachers and staff will meet with parents and students in the following locations: in the First District at Womack Center in Coleman Town from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m., the Second District at Greensburg Park from 10:15 to 11 a.m., the Third District from 11:15 to noon, in the Fourth District at Dennis Mills Learning Center from 12:15 to 1 p.m., in the Fifth Ward Community Center from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. and the First and Sixth Districts at Hatfield’s Country Store in Easleyville and Bebo’s Casino near Kentwood from 9:15 to 10 a.m.

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by JESSE BROOKS 

On July 22, Turner Chapel African Methodist-Episcopal Church in Greensburg hosted a special service dedicated to remembering the life and work of Reverend Eunice Paddio-Johnson, who passed away this year on April 12 at the age of 88.

The morning served as a homecoming for the friends, family and church family of the late reverend who was a community fixture of Greensburg.

Evangelist Julia H. Brumfield presided over the service, and fondly recalled memories she shared with her friend.

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by JESSE BROOKS 

The LSU AgCenter hosted Creating Healthy Enjoyable Foods (C.H.E.F) Camp for Kids during the week of July 17-21, as part of their Healthy Communities initiative at Fifth Ward Recreational Park on Hwy. 16.

The camp’s focus was to show children the basics of cooking and nutrition education.

“Last summer we had a Chef’s camp around this same time at Northshore Technical Community College,” said Area Agent Bianca Plant. “So we’re trying to make this an annual thing every summer.”

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AMITE, LA - Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards reports the following:

On May 14, 2017, deputies with The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office responded to a residence on East Bell Road Amite in reference to a residential burglary. While on scene an initial suspect was identified and one subject arrested and charged with burglary - 21 -year old Dustin Stevenson of Amite, LA.

Stevenson subsequently admitted that he and his friend, 19-year old Tyler Delaughter from Slidell, were together when they committed the burglary. He stated that Delaughter fled to New Orleans after the incident.

Through cooperation with New Orleans Police Department Detective Zebrick was able to recover several pieces of jewelry that were reported stolen from the residence. Consequently, warrants for Tyler Delaughter were issued on the charges of burglary and theft by fraud.

On July 25, 2017, Tyler Delaughter arrested by New Orleans Police Department for riding a motorcycle without a helmet and later extradited to the Tangipahoa Parish Jail where he was booked on the outstanding warrants. Detective Alec Zebrick was able to obtain a full recorded confession from Tyler detailing the burglary.

The Kentwood Police Department would like to invite the public to attend their first-ever Night Out Against Crime event on Old Main Street in Kentwood. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 1 from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Free food and drinks will be provided.
Attendees will be able to meet Police Chief Michael Kazerooni as well as the officers that make up the Kentwood Police Department. Additionally, the Kentwood Police Department will display their patrol units, and children and adults will have the chance to check out the vehicles, try on gear and sit in the driver’s seat of a police car.
The evening will feature prizes, face painting, sno-cones, bounce houses and many other family activities.

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints (NFL) and New Orleans Pelicans (NBA), along with partner Ochsner Health System, have announced that they have agreed to a long-term partnership for the naming rights to the teams’ official training facilities. Now officially known as the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, it is the only facility in all of North American sports that houses both an NFL training and an NBA training base of operations.

“This is a very special announcement for us,” said Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson. “Ochsner has been a great partner for a long time, and to see the growth they’ve undergone in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable. We look forward to a long continued partnership together.”

“The naming signals a commitment from Ochsner, the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans to use the Ochsner Sports Performance Center to improve health and wellness across the state,” said Warner Thomas, President and CEO of Ochsner Health System. “While the Ochsner Sports Performance Center has been a hub for both basketball-and-football-themed community outreach programs and events annually including initiatives sponsored by both the Saints and Pelicans youth programs and community relations outreach programs, together the partners plan to do more. Dedicated events meant to provide education along with health screenings for the community will be geared toward not only catching diseases like cancer early, but also helping people more effectively manage chronic disease.”

The Ochsner Sports Performance Center is just the latest venture between the Saints, Pelicans and Ochsner Health System. Ochsner has been a corporate partner of both the Saints and Pelicans for nearly 10 years, and Saints and Pelicans Owners Tom and Gayle Benson have a long and proud history as ardent supporters of Ochsner and the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center. The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center offers state-of-the-art cancer services for not only Louisiana residents, but also for patients that travel from all over the world to take advantage of the most advanced, compassionate cancer care available in the region. It is just one of the many extraordinary medical care services and facilities that thrive under the Ochsner umbrella.

Saints and Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha stated, “Ochsner’s innovative, forward-thinking, patient-first medical teams and facilities are unsurpassed, and their focus on not only treating, but also preventing injuries will translate into a very beneficial partnership. In addition, Ochsner’s community commitment is so closely aligned to that of both the Saints and the Pelicans that this makes Ochsner the perfect partner to further our collective goals and programs.”

“This is an opportunity to offer the same level of high-quality care and the proactive approach to wellness that we provide to our professional athletes and make it more accessible to athletes of all ages and all skill levels,” said David Gaines, Chief Executive Officer – System Retail Services & Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Ochsner Health System. “Together, we will enhance the existing Saints and Pelicans youth and community relations outreach programs portfolio so we can change the conversation and support the movement towards a healthier future.”
The Ochsner Sports Performance Center sits on a 19.5-acre campus on Airline Drive in Metairie, La. located in Jefferson Parish. The main football facility of The Ochsner Sports Performance Center totals 77,504 square feet which includes locker rooms, physical therapy and treatment areas, doctor offices, a multi-media studio, an organizational museum and operations and administrative offices.

In addition, there is a 75,000 square foot modernized indoor practice facility, which soars to 78 feet and allows the Saints to maintain regular practice schedules throughout the year. The indoor practice facility is also home to a 20,000 square foot workout gym, a modern full-service cafeteria, as well as an auxiliary nutritional station that adjoins the player gym.

The outdoor football practice fields at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, where the Saints will hold training camp this summer, amasses four acres of perfectly maintained grass practice fields used through the football season, while an additional 53,000 square feet of AstroTurf serves as a general practice and mixed-use area.

On the basketball side, the Pelicans relocated to the brand new, state-of-the-art Ochsner Performance Center practice facility prior to the start of the 2013-2014 season. The $16 million, 50,000 square foot practice facility houses a 39,000 square foot practice area that features two full-sized basketball courts, offices for coaches and basketball operations staff and a team theatre for film review and game planning. The building also includes a 12,000 square foot area where the Pelicans’ locker room, players’ lounge, the latest in physical therapy and medical treatment technologies, a cafeteria, barber shop, equipment room, meeting rooms, and a multi-media studio are located.

For additional information on the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, please visit Ochsner.org

Ochsner Health System
Ochsner Health System is Louisiana’s largest non-profit, academic, healthcare system. Driven by a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate, coordinated clinical and hospital patient care is provided across the region by Ochsner's 29 owned, managed and affiliated hospitals and more than 80 health centers and urgent care centers. Ochsner is the only Louisiana hospital recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a “Best Hospital” across three specialty categories caring for patients from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide each year. Ochsner employs more than 18,000 employees and over 1,100 physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties, and conducts more than 600 clinical research studies. Ochsner Health System is proud to be a tobacco-free environment. For more information, please visit ochsner.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.