St. Helena Healthy Communities has declared September 11-14 “Wellness Week,” promoting decision making for a healthy lifestyle in a series of programs.

The programs will be held every day at 10 a.m. on the Florida Parishes Campus of Northshore Technical Community College on Highway 10 in Greensburg.

On the first day, NTCC students and faculty will be treated to a nutrition and food demonstration geared toward promoting education on how to balance meals. Day two will feature a yoga class, which will be the first of its kind in the parish. Day three will feature a seminar on the effects that tobacco and alcohol have on the body. The final day will focus on drug awareness projects.

“I do hope to accomplish showing the students and faculty how to incorporate healthy meals into their lives,” said LSU AgCenter Area Agent Bianca Plant. “Yoga is also a great exercise to add to their daily routines to make it a healthier environment.”

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Oak Forest Academy announces their 2017 Homecoming Court. Shown from left: (front row) Senior maids Raelyn McDaniel, Lexie Gregory, Caylon Brabham, Kailey Kieff, Kiley Harrelson; (back row) sophomore maid Gabrielle Ragusa, junior maid Savanna Conti, junior maid Carlon Brabham, junior maid Emily Curry, junior maid Jadi Foster, sophomore maid Hallie Kent, sophomore maid Samantha Thompson.

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HAMMOND, LA – (September 8, 2017) – Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards and the Tangipahoa Parish School Board deploys the “Teaching Awareness To School Kids” (T.A.S.K.) program in conjunction with OffenderWatch Initiative (OWI) as part of a concerted effort to prevent sexual abuse against citizens.

Parents and guardians of children in Tangipahoa Parish should expect their children to receive and bring home a brochure detailing specifics of the T.A.S.K. Program. Parents are being asked to review the content of the brochure with their children, and have an honest discussion with them regarding the dangerous reality of sexual abuse and the preventative measures that can be taken to prevent it. The (T.A.S.K.) program is a 3 step email registration process. Upon completion of the program, and with parental assistance, children will print a map of their local area, sign it, and submit it to their teacher. Once the assignment has been completed, children will receive a safety prize from a local sponsor. In Tangipahoa Parish, the Berry Patch Café, located in Hammond, LA, will be providing children with a free order of beignets. If parents think they may have already signed up, they can perform a search on offenderwatch.com and print map of sex offenders in their area to submit back to school for their child to receive a prize.

In Tangipahoa Parish there are 319 published sex offenders. Do You Know Your Neighborhood? We want parents to be informed in their neighborhood. The process is fast, easy and free at www.offenderwatch.com

“We believe that keeping families informed of sex offenders moving into their neighborhood is an important part of keeping our citizens safe and protected from potential threats to their families. This partnership allows us to do that in an easy, free way,” says Sheriff Edwards.

Generous donors and sponsors like the Berry Patch Café, Whitney Bank, and Ross Downing Chevrolet make the T.A.S.K. program possible. To see how you can help by becoming a sponsor or donor of this valuable program in your community, please visit: OffenderWatchInitiative.org/donate

OWI is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to increasing public awareness of registered sex offenders through education, community notification, and improving relations between the public and law enforcement. More info at: OffenderWatchInitiative.org/about

***UPDATE*** in investigation - Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards reports that a preliminary autopsy report revealed that the victim of this investigation did not die as the result of foul play. Results revealed that the victim’s death was the effect of a self inflected means.
"Our prayers go out to the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time. "

TICKFAW, LA – (September 8, 2017) - The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently trying to determine what happened to a man that was found dead lying beside a vehicle on Stafford Rd. near HWY 442 yesterday afternoon.

The body of a 25-year-old black male was discovered yesterday afternoon at approximately 3:30 p.m. by a TPSO deputy when he stopped to check an abandoned vehicle located several feet off of the roadway on Stafford Rd.. As the deputy approached the vehicle, he observed the unresponsive male on the ground with a single gunshot wound to the head.

At this time, the events leading up to the victim’s death are still unclear. The investigation is on-going and foul play has not been ruled out at this time.

Anyone having information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800.554.5245.

HAMMOND, LA – (September 8, 2017) – The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in identifying the man operating this tractor.

The tractor was reported stolen from an uninhibited residence in the S. Airport Rd. area on August 13, 2017. After weeks of investigating, we received this picture from an anonymous source of an unknown man driving the stolen tractor in the Independence area.

This gentleman is only wanted for questioning at this time. We are unable to say if he was involved in the theft or not.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800.554.5245.

AMITE- A tell-all GPS system to be installed on parish school buses will allow parents to monitor their children's bus rides and will provide the administration with safety information while the bus is in transit.

During its September 5 meeting, the Tangipahoa Parish School Board voted to enter into a five-year, $78,900 per year contract with Synovia Solutions, LLC, to install the devices on all school buses.

The GPS systems will allow parents to check if their children are on the bus and check the arrival time, among other conditions, and allow the administration to monitor a bus's speed, railroad crossing compliance, reckless operation and more.

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Kentwood native Mary Graves will be serving as 2018 Italian Festival Queen. Graves, a sophomore at Southeastern Louisiana University majoring in marketing and a member of the Phi Mu sorority, was crowned on Saturday, August 19 and says she is looking forward to representing the Italian Festival that will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this coming year.

“As queen, I will have the opportunity to travel across the state to other festivals inviting everyone to Tickfaw, LA, the last full weekend in April to celebrate this momentous occasion,” Graves said. “It is such an honor to serve as queen because I am afforded the opportunity to represent the Town of Tickfaw, and its wonderful Italian heritage, along with the entire parish of Tangipahoa.

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Each year since September 11, 2001, memorial services have been held across the country to honor the men and women who lost their lives performing their duties as first responders, as well as the victims who senselessly lost their lives in the attacks.

In Amite, Tangipahoa Parish Fire District #1 held their memorial in front of the fire station.

This year, TPFD #1 Chief Bruce Cutrer continued the tradition, hosting special guest speaker Mike Lamana. Lamana is the father of Naval Flight Officer, Lieutenant Michael Scott Lamana, who was stationed at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

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Night Owl, a film by Flying Ghost Productions, reached significant progress after filming several scenes in the Greensburg area last week. The thriller is written and directed by Fagan Davis, III, former graduate and football star at St. Helena Central High School.

“We’ve been making films as a production company for about two years now,” Davis said. “We have made highlight and commercial videos in the past, but Night Owl is our first feature length film.”

The movie, which stars Fagan’s brother Justin William Davis, is about a struggling Hollywood screenwriter that decides to return to his small-town Louisiana home to escape the pressures of Los Angeles. Once returning to rural life, the protagonist is trying to finish a script about a serial killer suffering from insomnia. Once the writer experiences a series of his own sleepless nights due to writer’s block, he notices strange occurrences are happening around the community.

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NEVER FORGET- Shown from left: St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chester Pritchett, Police Jury President Major Coleman, Clerk of Court Mildred Cyprian, Mayor of Greensburg Paula McNabb, and St. Helena Parish Sheriff Nat Williams reflect on the events of September 11, 2001, in a ceremony organized by St. Helena Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Rita Allen. There was also a display arranged in tribute to the first responders that were on duty during the historic event at the World Trade Center Towers in New York City. Tangilena Media/ Jesse Brooks

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AMITE- A tell-all GPS system to be installed on parish school buses will allow parents to monitor their children’s bus rides and will provide the administration with safety information while the bus is in transit.

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board during its Sept. 5 meeting voted to enter into a five-year, $78,900 per year contract with Synovia Solutions, LLC, to install the devices on all school buses.

The GPS systems will allow parents to check if their children are on the bus and check the arrival time, among other conditions, and allow the administration to monitor a bus’s speed, railroad crossing compliance, reckless operation, and more.

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It was a day of prayer. A day of remembrance. A day of appreciation. A day for taking stock.

A beautiful, sunny morning much like September 11, 2001, when the world seemed to change as planes flew into the World Trade Center towers, crashed into the Pentagon and plummeted into a field in western Pennsylvania.

The Kentwood community came together Monday, September 11 underneath the Community Center Pavillon to remember the lives, the victims and the heroes whose lives were altered as a result of the 9/11 attacks 16 years ago. “We observe this day to remember the many lives lost on September 11, 2001. It is a day that we will never forget.” Those were the words spoken by Kentwood Mayor Irma Gordon.

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HAMMOND—After nearly 10 years of planning, the long-sought Club Deluxe Road widening project is now underway, and Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller asks motorists to use care in that area, as contractors begin preliminary work toward the expansion project.

Miller said that as early as this Thursday, Sept. 14, work will begin on the south side of Club Deluxe, as contractors begin clearing and grubbing along the roadway. Once the south side is completed, the contractor will begin clearing and grubbing along the north side of Club Deluxe. The entire process should take approximately three weeks, weather permitting.

While the road will not be closed during this period, heavy equipment will be on and off the road at different times, and Miller said that will likely result in minor traffic delays.

Miller reminds motorists to exercise caution in these construction zones.

Updates on local road conditions and closure notices are posted on the Tangipahoa Parish Government website (www.Tangipahoa.org) as well as on the TPG social media channels.

LORANGER—Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller announces that a portion of Graham Road east of Amite will be closed intermittently next week for cement work.
Miller said Graham Road between LA 16 and LA 1061 will experience intermittent closures as crews work in that area Monday, Sept. 18 through Thursday, Sept. 21.
Updates on local road conditions and closure notices are posted on the Tangipahoa Parish Government website (www.Tangipahoa.org) as well as on the TPG social media channels.

Press release submitted by Tangipahoa Parish Government.

MANCHAC- Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and Rural Fire Protection District 2 gathered at the public boat launch in Manchac to participate in a high-water Search and Rescue (SAR) simulation.

The simulated rescues took place along the waterways of Bayou Manchac with volunteers playing the role of “victims.” The rescuers set out in boats and addressed the victims according to a color code. Green signified the least amount of danger, red the highest risk and yellow represented a moderate amount of danger but water was high and evacuation would be advised. The danger was representative of the water levels. Upon being “rescued,” the volunteers were addressed in the same manner as they would be if the SAR were in real time and not a training exercise. While many of the volunteers were portraying flood victims, others provided support, brought water and helped however they could.

At the dock, Acadian Ambulance had a station set up to simulate life-saving techniques and first-aid. There was also a station for American Red Cross to simulate their response to refugees in a flooded area.

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On Wednesday, September 13, Healthy Communities, sponsored by the LSU AgCenter, held their first “Community Day” to begin the beautification process of St. Helena Parish Park on Charlie Overton Road.

It was an “all hands on deck” event, as community members across the parish turned out to get the basketball court up to regulation standards. Volunteers that came stenciled new lines, painted the floor and installed new goals.

“I just want to thank everyone who participated and donated their time and efforts for the basketball court beautification project at the St. Helena Parish Park,” said Area Agent Bianca Plant who organized the event. “The LSU AgCenter’s Healthy Communities Coalition could not have done it without our volunteers.”

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For the last two weeks, the Amite City Chamber of Commerce has been working to send donations of water, cleaning supplies and personal items to Dickinson, Texas, an area heavily affected by Hurricane Harvey.

From Tuesday, September 12 through Thursday, September 14, a group of individuals led by Brenda and Frank Bellavia from the Amite Oyster plant organized donations into buckets that would be stacked and shipped. In total, there were 250 buckets that were filled with blankets, shoes, cleaning supplies, bleach, hygiene care packages, and batteries. Along with the buckets were oyster sacks filled with school supplies so children would be prepared to return to school.

Frank Bellavia mentioned that eight pallets of drinking water would be shipped with the buckets and bags, providing clean water to the victims.

On Saturday, September 16, the buckets were placed on pallets and the donations were loaded on an 18-wheeler trailer provided by Prestige Oysters, the owners of the Amite Oyster plant on Highway 16. The truck set out for Dickinson on Monday, September 18.

A mother is dead and two young girls are injured after their mother allegedly shot her daughters, then herself.

Deputies responded to 5th Street in Osyka, when a woman called saying she “can’t do this anymore” and did not want to live any longer. When deputies arrived,  Osyka Chief of Police Brian Mullins was leaving the home with a 7-year-old, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Deputies took the child away from Mullins and called an ambulance for the child. A 17-year-old left the home running after suffering a single gunshot wound to the chest.

She was also transported by ambulance to Southwest Regional Medical Center.

After clearing the home, deputies noticed the mother, SheQuita Stanciel, laying upright in the master bedroom with a single gunshot to the chest.

Stanciel was pronounced dead by Corner Percy Pittman once he arrived on scene.

MBI assisted the Pike County Sheriff Department with the investigation.

Chief Mullins’ knowledge of the family helped control the incident as family members arrived on scene. Mullins was also very emotional because he knew the family.

The children are said to be alive, and officials said it looks like they will recover and their prognosis is promising. Pike County Sheriff Kenny Cotton said the mother kept the children home from school on Monday.

Authorities had one request.

“We’re asking the community to pray for the kids,” Cotton said.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Pike County Sheriff’s Department are working on the case.

Equestrians and cattlemen in Tangipahoa Parish can rejoice for the return of rodeo action to the Florida Parishes Arena. On Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30, the arena will host the 7th Annual Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Mounted Division Rodeo.

What started as a promotional event to support local law enforcement has turned into one of the largest rodeos in the Southeast region. The TPSO Mounted Division Rodeo is a Tri State Rodeo Association sanctioned event and is put on by TNT Rodeo Company.

Robby Thomas, producer for the TPSO Rodeo and owner of TNT Rodeo Company, said that the rodeo has grown in popularity over the years. Thomas stated that the TPSO Rodeo has been voted as Rodeo of the Year by contestants in the Southeast twice.

“[Contestants] feel this is their favorite rodeo to come to because of the facility, because of the production and because of the warm treatment that they get from the mounted division,” said Thomas. “This rodeo here is fast becoming one of the largest rodeos in the Southeast for the same reasons.”

Thomas mentioned that the Tri State Rodeo Association is one of the oldest regional rodeo associations in the South at 52 years in operation. As for TNT Rodeo Company, Thomas stated that they have won Stock Contractor of the Year two years running. With high achievements come high expectations, and Thomas aims to present a strong show.

This year, the rodeo will once again feature the comedy stylings of professional rodeo clown Trent McFarland, Dusti Crain from the Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and the Diamond Dig Calf Scramble for the youngsters. McFarland will be making his third appearance at the TPSO Rodeo, and Thomas said that his act has become one of the top-ranked clowns in the nation as he is currently nominated for Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Clown of the Year.

Thomas felt that TNT was extremely fortunate to feature Crain at this year’s event.

“Every now and again, she gets a weekend off and what she does is she’ll come and do her act at rodeos,” said Thomas.

While acts are fun to watch, a rodeo is a display of skill and a chance for cowboys and cowgirls to prove who is the best. The TPSO Rodeo will feature the usual contests, such as calf roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, and the crowd favorite bull riding.

Soul Man, a bull that Thomas said has gone unridden to date, will be the feature bucking bull for each night. According to Thomas, Soul Man could easily be on the professional circuit.

One unique attraction that the TPSO Rodeo brings to Amite is the professional bullfighting contest. Professional rodeo bullfighters will go oneon-one for 30 seconds against Mexican fighting bulls in a display of evasion and control.

While attending a rodeo is a fun time for the entire family, Thomas wanted to remind people that the TPSO Rodeo has a deeper purpose than just a show put on to make money.

“This rodeo is a rodeo that supports the mounted division and supports our deputies,” said Thomas. “Therefore, we do bill this as ‘Back the Blue, the Rodeo with a Purpose.’”

Although Thomas produces the show, TPSO Sergeant Jill Hutcheson is in charge of getting everything lined up and scheduling the event to support the TPSO Mounted Division.

“All the mounted division members are volunteers that use their own trucks, trailers and horses,” said Hutcheson. “All the expenses that are due, they pay for them, so this is why we put on this rodeo; to help offset some expenses for them.”

According to Hutcheson gates will open at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night with the rodeo starting at 7:30 p.m. She said that on Friday night, between 6 and 6:30 p.m., the TPSO Rodeo Pageant Queens will be announced. The pageant is being held this Sunday, September 24, with five age groups.

On Saturday, starting at 8:30 a.m., the First Annual Wild Game Cook-Off will be held and the winners will be announced that evening between 6 and 6:30 p.m.

Whether it’s for the acts, the vendors, the contests or the rustic environment, rodeo fans are sure to find many things to enjoy when they attend the TPSO Mounted Division Rodeo.

Police say they’ve captured the three men responsible for shooting dozens of bullets into several houses and cars, miraculously not wounding any of the people sleeping inside.

Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 19-year-old Dakota Gage Tetreau, 18-year-old Desmond Harold Warren and 17-yearold Bailey Joseph Koon on Friday, September 8, nearly five months after the shooting.

“Numerous residents of the peaceful community of Mt. Hermon in rural northwest Washington Parish woke to the frightening sound of gunfire as numerous bullets struck their residences,” the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a release announcing the arrests.

“In some instances, the bullets struck within inches of where someone was sleeping.”

Most of the damage was on Sunny Hill and Pleasant Hill roads.

WPSO detectives have been investigating the case, backed by a generous reward funded by the Mt. Hermon community according to police. The case began to come together over the past couple of weeks.

“From the moment this occurred, our detectives have worked tirelessly to bring the shooters to justice,” Sheriff Randy Seal said. “Finally, all of the hard work paid off and the shooters are behind bars.  I want to extend a special thanks to Detective Sgt. Jimmy Seals who left no stone unturned in his quest to identify the shooters and to all of our detectives who spent many, many hours working on this case.  I also thank the good citizens of Mt. Hermon who patiently waited while our detectives sorted out all the details of this matter.  Now that the shooters have been identified and jailed, those citizens can sleep a little better tonight.”

Tetreau, Warren and Koon are all charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault by drive-by shooting, aggravated criminal damage to property and attempted manslaughter.