AMITE — The Tangipahoa Parish School Board on Wednesday used a rededication of sales tax revenues, cuts to transportation services, elimination of a perfect attendance salary supplement and a one-time reduction in the board-mandated minimum fund balance to come within $1 million of a balanced budget for 2013-14. The remaining $892,000 needed to prevent a … Continue reading →

WALKER — Karla Waddell dashed around the fellowship hall of Walker United Methodist Church on Saturday, checking on stylists, chatting with eager moms and giving a massage to Pat Lee. Waddell, the owner of Salon Dolce, in Baton Rouge, was one of four stylists who volunteered at the Mother’s Day makeover event designed to give … Continue reading →

HAMMOND — Just outside of Southeastern Louisiana University’s Sims Memorial Library on Thursday, Rusty, a small, frisky Chihuahua and pug mix, whipped his tail around as he swiftly paced from one college student to another. As he pulled on his leash and headed in the direction of SLU student Blake Matherne, of Ponchatoula, Rusty greeted … Continue reading →

WALKER — Dogs in the city of Walker will soon have a place to play once a new dog park is completed. Mayor Rick Ramsey has agreed that the city of Walker will donate land near the lake at Sidney Hutchinson Park for the community dog park. “I was asked about a dog park … Continue reading →

Livingston Parish residents will have an opportunity to review and provide input on the new Livingston Parish Comprehensive Master Plan at two meetings. The meetings will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, and at 8 p.m. May 23 at the Livingston Parish Council Chambers, 20399 Government Blvd., Livingston. Continue reading →

The Livingston-Tangipahoa Section this week includes photos from local civic, community and school groups and highlights recent events around Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes.

Staff members of Southeastern Louisiana University’s student newspaper The Lion’s Roar were honored in the Better Student Newspaper Competition for their work at the 133rd annual Louisiana Press Association Convention April 20 in Baton Rouge. For the second year, Michael Dinino Jr. swept all three prizes for his advertising design work in the “Staff Generated-Black and White” … Continue reading →

North Oaks will hold Physical Day on Saturday at North Oaks-Livingston Parish Medical Complex for student athletes who attend participating Livingston Parish schools. Athletes from 25 Tangipahoa Parish schools and Southeastern Louisiana University received free physical examinations April 20 at North Oaks Sports Medicine Physical Day. North Oaks sponsored the 22nd annual event to help junior … Continue reading →

WALKER — Walker High School will hold a graduation ceremony at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on LSU’s campus. Honor Graduates: Randy Alphonso, Mikayla Anderson, Jessica Arbour, Karen Arledge, Victoria Arledge, Kristen Baudoin, Andrew Benton, Kelsey … Continue reading →

Retired Chief Judge Burnell J. Carter of the Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeals will serve as commencement speaker at Southeastern Louisiana University’s graduation ceremonies Saturday. The ceremony will start at 10 a.m. Approximately 1,250 students will receive bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. Carter had served on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals since 1982 and … Continue reading →

Ronald McDonald visited with Independence Elementary and Central Tangi Head Start students on April 18. The character discussed the importance of cooperating; using please, thank you, you’re welcome; and being friends, not bullies, school officials said. Students in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten attended the presentation and received McDonald’s coupons.

AWARDS AT ALBANY MIDDLE: 7:25 a.m. for eighth -graders, 8:50 a.m. for seventh-graders, 9:40 a.m. for sixth-graders and 10:30 a.m. for fifth-graders, Albany Middle School cafeteria, 29675 Reeves St., Albany. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10 a.m., Albany-Springfield Library Branch, 26941 La. 43. (225) 567-1441. BEAD TOWN WORKSHOP: 10 a.m. to noon, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 … Continue reading →

BABY & ME: 9:30 a.m., Hammond Branch Library, 314 East Thomas Road. The program is for babies ages 6 to 36 months and their caregivers. STORYTIME: 10 a.m., Ponchatoula Branch Library, 380 N. Fifth St. ADVENTURE CLUB: 10:30 a.m., Kentwood Branch Library. BABY & ME: 2 p.m., Loranger Branch Library, 1945 La. 40. The program … Continue reading →

Baked ham, macaroni and cheese, green beans, carrot sticks, wheat roll, melon cup, milk. Spaghetti and meatballs, green beans, wheat garlic bread, banana, milk. HAMBURGER, RELISH CUP, OVEN FRIES, RICE CEREAL TREAT, … Continue reading →

LIVINGSTON PARISH COUNCIL ON AGING AND TANGIPAHOA VOLUNTARY COUNCIL ON AGING: Meal site menus. For meal site locations, please call (225) 664-9343 in Livingston Parish or (985) 748-7486 in Tangipahoa Parish. Sliced roasted turkey with gravy or barbecue chicken breast, mixed vegetables, sour cream/chive potatoes, whole-wheat bread, milk.

LORANGER — A pickup struck and killed a pedestrian Monday night, State Police reported Tuesday. The incident occurred about 9 p.m. on La. 445, 3 miles south of La. 40 in Tangipahoa Parish. Troopers identified the victim as Charles Favre, 26, of Springfield. Favre was walking northward in the northbound traffic lane of La. … Continue reading →

Parents of St. Helena Parish public school students will soon have a school of their own to attend. Schools Superintendent Kelli Joseph and her staff are working to create a Parent Academy, where parents can learn more about meeting their children’s educational needs by taking classes, learning about student performance data and participating in various activities. Continue reading →

HAMMOND — The long-term solution to funding Hammond’s magnet school programs may require going before a federal judge, the Louisiana State Bond Commission and ultimately back to the voters, a Tangipahoa Parish School Board member told a parents group Monday. But School Board member Brett Duncan said short-term options aren’t much simpler. Voters in … Continue reading →

Livingston Parish residents will have an opportunity to review and provide input on the new Livingston Parish Comprehensive Master Plan at two meetings. The meetings will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, and at 8 p.m. May 23 at the Livingston Parish Council Chambers, 20399 Government Blvd., Livingston. Those interested in reviewing the plan in advance, … Continue reading →

HAMMOND — Hammond police arrested a man Friday night in a killing earlier that day, Hammond police Chief Roddy Devall said Sunday. Eugene Guidry is accused of shooting Jerrell Bird on Washington Avenue, Devall said. Police were called about 12:30 a.m. Friday about the shooting and found Bird dead in a vacant lot, Devall … Continue reading →

GREENSBURG — The St. Helena Parish School Board agreed Thursday to allow 12 seniors who met all course and grade requirements for graduation but did not pass a standardized test to participate in a May 17 graduation ceremony. St. Helena Central High School’s 67 seniors met with Superintendent Kelli Joseph to plead the case for … Continue reading →

LORANGER — A motorcyclist died in a collision Wednesday morning with a car on La. 40 near Passman Road , State Police reported. Louis Perkins, 24, of Luling, was killed shortly after 7 a.m. when his motorcycle struck a PT Cruiser that had just backed onto the road, according to a State Police news release. Continue reading →

AMITE — The Tangipahoa Parish School Board called a special meeting of its finance committee for May 15 to discuss how the district will regroup after voters narrowly defeated a property tax to support Hammond-area magnet programs. Voters on Saturday rejected a 5-year, 15-mill property tax that was projected to generate … Continue reading →

AMITE — Rock’s Cafe has quickly become the hot spot on Thursday nights as musicians from Louisiana and surrounding states gather during what seems to be the only “free-style, come-as-you-are and perform your favorite hits” event in Tangipahoa Parish. Coined “Where Townsfolk Jam Together,” the evenings feature old-fashioned gatherings where people play and sing. The … Continue reading →

HAMMOND — A coalition that has helped reduce substance abuse among youth in Tangipahoa Parish needs money to keep the project going, said Bridget Bailey of the group. Tangipahoa — Reshaping Attitudes for Community Change Coalition was formed to fight impaired driving and underage drinking in Tangipahoa Parish. While the TRACCC members wait to … Continue reading →

Children participated in the ‘May the 4th Be With You’ event celebrating Star Wars at the Denham Springs-Walker Library on Saturday. They ran through an obstacle course, folded light sabers and asteroid origami and ran pod races through book aisles at the event to prove their Jedi skills.

The Senior Crime Expo was held at Abundant Life Church in Denham Springs on Thursday. Local agencies had health and senior information at the 17th annual Senior Crime Expo. The Livingston Parish SALT Council sponsored the event.

Participants played bingo to benefit Pet Aid on Saturday at Sportsman’s Paradise Bingo in Denham Springs. Pet Aid is a non-profit spay/neuter organization that funds the spay/neutering of all the dogs and cats at the Denham Springs no-kill animal shelter.

The Division of Extended Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University is holding registration for Summer Day Camp 2013, Zoom into Careers and Art Camp. Southeastern’s Summer Day Camp includes a variety of activities, such as physical fitness, recreational games and academic activities for boys and girls pre-K through sixth … Continue reading →

Eight Southeastern Louisiana University students have been honored with Gold Circle Awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for their work on the university’s 2012 yearbook, “Le Souvenir,” university officials said. Assistant Editor Emily Melancon, a special education senior, of Prairieville, received a second-place certificate for her “academic spread,” while Chelsee LaMarca, a kinesiology senior, of Ponchatoula, … Continue reading →

For the fifth consecutive year, the Southeastern Louisiana University Epsilon Phi Chapter of Delta Tau Delta received the Hugh Shields Award, presented to the top chapters in the country, a university official said. The award is given annually to the top 10 chapters of Delta Tau Delta across the nation, said Gene Pregeant, chapter adviser. The award … Continue reading →

Hammond Westside announced the winners at the Regional Science Fair March 14 at Southeastern Louisiana University. The first-place winners were “Hot Gum” by Kiareanne Green and Ashanti Travis, and “Germ Garden” by Megan Gray and Tyana Varnado. The second-place winner was “Rope Burn” by Oliver Robinson. Third-place was “Let it Burn” by Aareona Brown and Oliva … Continue reading →

Senior Salute Spring 2013, a congratulatory social event hosted by the Hammond Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, was held April 10 at Southeastern Louisiana University. The Nu Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta said farewell to five graduating seniors. These graduates received information on how to transfer membership, how to access the Collegiate Transition … Continue reading →

The Livingston-Tangipahoa Section this week includes photos from local civic, community and school groups and highlights recent events around Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes.

SUNNY SIDE UP BOOK CLUB: 10 a.m., Watson Library Branch, 36581 Outback Road. The club reads inspirational fiction. (225) 664-3693. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10 a.m., Albany-Springfield Library Branch, 26941 La. 43. (225) 567-1441. BOOK CLUB: 10:30 a.m., Livingston Library Branch, 20390 Iowa St. (225) 686-2436. INTERNET BASICS: 2 p.m., Watson Library Branch. ESL … Continue reading →

BABY & ME: 9:30 a.m., Hammond Branch Library, 314 East Thomas. The program is for babies ages 6 to 36 months to share rhymes, rhythms, playtime and picture books. (985) 345-3909 STORYTIME: 10 a.m., Ponchatoula Branch Library, 380 North Fifth St., (985) 386-6554 ADVENTURE CLUB: 10:30 a.m., Kentwood Branch Library. The program is for tweens. Continue reading →

LIVINGSTON PARISH COUNCIL ON AGING AND TANGIPAHOA VOLUNTARY COUNCIL ON AGING: For meal site locations, call (225) 664-9343 in Livingston Parish or (985) 748-7486 in Tangipahoa Parish. Ham, white beans, brown rice, steamed spinach, fruit juice, cornbread, applesauce, milk. Not provided. Continue reading →

Beef taco salad, cheese cup, tortilla chips, salsa, taco salad cup, refried beans, cinnamon roll, pineapple tidbits, milk. Chili/cheese nachos, salsa cup, pinto beans, banana, milk. TURKEY WITH NOODLES, GREEN BEANS, VEGETABLE MEDLEY, … Continue reading →

Registration for the Carter Plantation Community Association fourth annual golf tournament starts at 11:30 a.m. Monday. The tournament begins at 1 p.m. at the Carter Plantation Golf Course in Springfield. It is open to the first 36 registered paid teams, and the format is a shotgun start, 4-man scramble. The … Continue reading →

Updated at 8 a.m. DENHAM SPRINGS — Two oil tanks that have been on fire for more than 8 hours will have to burn for another two to three hours before firefighters can smothered the blaze with foam, authorities said Friday morning. An explosion at a ruptured oil tank on Linder Road, between … Continue reading →

LIVINGSTON — Livingston Parish public schools are not technologically ready for the PARCC assessments that will be implemented in 2014, and funding for needed infrastructure and devices is limited, the district’s technology director said. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers tests will require students in the third through 12th grades — … Continue reading →

Parts of the cash box from an automated teller machine pulled from a Tangipahoa Parish deli have been located in Baton Rouge, and the truck used in the theft has been found in Hammond, authorities said Thursday. The chains used to yank open the doors of a deli in Hammond and drag the ATM out were still … Continue reading →

DENHAM SPRINGS — Thirty years of Mardi Gras history will be unveiled at 6:30 p.m. Friday during a grand opening of the traveling Bead Town exhibit at Old City Hall. The exhibit, created by self-taught artist Stephan Wanger, of Germany, features a culmination of Louisiana scenes, history and culture. Wanger employs a unique mosaic art … Continue reading →

The annual Spring Festival was held Saturday in the antique district of downtown Denham Springs.

WALKER — Livingston Parish Talented Theatre program student Jodi Bankston says theater lovers who come for the performance of Shakepeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which opens next week, can expect “magic, love, humor and so much more.” The 18-year-old Walker High School senior has been gearing up for her role as Nick Bottom, the weaver, … Continue reading →