SLIDELL – The historic Bayou Liberty PirogueRaces had been an early summer staple forSoutheast Louisiana fans for over 60 years whenCovid proved to be an event that shut themdown after 2019.After several years with no races, a group oflongtime Slidellians who lived in the Bayou Liberty area decided to bring the races back anddid so in 2025 with a huge turnout estimated atover 1,000.The races are now set to go for the secondyear in a row, with the 69th annual Bayou LibertyPirogue Races returning on Sunday, June 7,starting at 1 p.m. next to St. Genevieve CatholicChurch on Bayou Liberty Road, as well as partnering for the second year in a row with FoggyWaters Marina, which is directly across thebayou from the church.(See Races, Pg. 3A)By KEVIN CHIRISlidell news bureauSLIDELL – Take a step back intoSt. Tammany Parish history fiveyears ago and very few peopleknew who Connie Phillips was,short of the girlfriends she hadlunch with or her husband Mikeof 20 years.But fast forward since that timeand Phillips has become a veryrecognizable name in the parish,and probably for some reasonsshe didn’t really ask for.Phillips was among a handful ofmothers and grandmothers in thesummer of 2022 who discovereddozens of sexually explicit booksin the public library system of St.Tammany Parish. It was shocking,they said, when passing the wordaround to area church leaders,and then to The Slidell Independent.(See Phillips, Pg. 6A)Lenin Antonio Munoz-RiveraConnie Phillips (left) is presented the Superior Leadership Award from EastSt. Tammany RepublicanWomen President BridgettBennett.Far-left led three-year attackSmith still uncertain,but veteran lawmansays ‘I am running’COVINGTON – Thecourageous testimony of ateenage victim in a sexualabuse and rape case willbe sending a man fromCentral America to prisonfor 25 years, District Attorney Collin Sims reported,followed by his deportation when he finishes timein jail.Sims said that Lenin Antonio Munoz-Rivera, 34,now living in Slidell, wassentenced for the commission of multiple counts ofsexual abuse involving achild. Judge RichardSwartz sentenced MunozRivera to 25 years at hardlabor on each count, to beserved concurrently. Uponcompletion of his sentence, the defendant willbe subject to deportation.Munoz-Rivera was sentenced on the followingcharges:•Second-Degree Rape•Sexual Battery of a Victim Under Age 13(See Rivera, Pg. 8A)Courageous teen leads to convictionGOP group honors Phillipsfor leading book battleHonoring Sacrifice By KEVIN CHIRISlidell news bureauSLIDELL – SheriffRandy Smith continuesto have fun with the public who keeps waiting tohear if he plans to runfor a fourth term or not.Most indications suggest Smith will stepdown following his longlaw enforcement career,opening the door forwhat is expected to be ahost of candidates liningup for the powerful position in St. TammanyParish.Chris Bell is a lifelongSlidell resident who hasextensive law enforcement experience, and isnow the first candidateto announce he definitely plans to run forsheriff in the fall of 2027,whether Smith decidesto run again or not.Bell is the fifth name tosurface in recentmonths as having interest to run, with most others privately sayingthey won’t run if Smithdecides to seek thefourth term, or they arewaiting on a Smith decision before deciding.(See Bell, Pg. 7A)Bell torun forsheriffNEW! West Parish CoverageSuccessful Covington mayor heading into final year in office 2B2009 | NEWS THAT MATTERS COMMUNITIES THAT CONNECT | 2026Thursday, May 28, 2026 Vol. 17/No. 22TODAY’S INSPIRATION“LORD, I have heard of yourfame; I stand in awe of your deeds,LORD.” —Habakkuk 3:2 Managed WiFi US-Based Customer Serv Low-Latency Network Symmetrical Upload & w Unlimited Data 100% Fiber-Optic NetworDo svicewnload Speedk Differ reDiscorence odayover The T yProvidFiber InterLocally OwSlidell’s Oder!rnetwnedONLYPirogue Races returnnext Sunday, June 7‘I would put myexperience andcredibilityagainst anyoneelse who wants torun.’--Sheriff candidateChris Bell # \" \" fi ! fi ff fifflff ffifl $ fi ! fi fiffl ffl %\" $ fi ! fi ff fiffl fi ! ffff &ffl ! fi # \" \" fi ! $ fi ! ff ffl fffflSt. Luke Catholic Church holds special ceremonies each Memorial Day and Veteran’s Dayto honor all U.S. military veterans for their service. The event on Monday had a special surprise as Orleans Parish Archbishop James Checchio attended the event to offer specialprayers for veterans, their families and the St. Luke congregation. Michelle Lane, with theSt. Luke Choir, led the proceedings by singing the National Anthem as the NorthshoreROTC Cadets helped out with the colors. See more photos from the special day on page8A. (Staff photo by Kevin Chiri.)‘Connie Phillips stood upfor what is right against aradical left that was hellbent on destroying her.’--ESTRW President Bridgett Bennett
Page 2A Thursday, May 28, 2026 THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENTLACOMBE – In early May, detectives with the STPSO Narcotics Unit received an anonymous tip regardingdrug activity at a residence in the29000 block of Erindale Drive in Lacombe, Sheriff’s Office SpokeswomanLt. Suzanne Carboni reported.On May 11, detectives arrived at theresidence and executed a search warrant, which led to the discovery andseizure of the following:•20.92 pounds of marijuana•131.5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms•102.1 grams of hash•1 gram of amphetamine powder•1.5 dosage units of THC edibles•1 gram of THC powder•2 jars of THC wax/resin•104 ml of THC liquid•117 THC vape cartridges•265 doses of LSD/acid•42.4 grams of kratom•2 dosage units of clonazepam•1 dosage unit of alprazolam/Xanax(blue)•17 dosage units ofalprazolam/Xanax (yellow)•557.5 dosage units ofalprazolam/Xanax (white)•1 gram of fentanyl powder•1 syringe filled with fentanyl liquid•1 gram of MDMA/ecstasy•Less than 1 gram of methamphetamine•94 dosage units of amphetamineand dextroamphetamine•47 unidentified pills/tablets•19 improvised explosive devices•15 unlawfully possessed firearms,including two fully automatic machineguns and one stolen handgun•Several unlawfully possessedfirearm suppressors (silencers)•Assorted drug paraphernalia•$8,785.50 in cashTwo residents, 40-year-old DustinGalland and 40-year-old AmandaHaskins, were arrested and bookedinto the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the following offenses:•12 counts of Possession with Intentto Distribute a Schedule I ControlledDangerous Substance (Felony)•1 count of Possession of a ScheduleII Controlled Dangerous Substance(Felony)•2 counts of Possession with Intentto Distribute a Schedule II ControlledDangerous Substance (Felony)•4 counts of Possession with Intentto Distribute a Schedule IV ControlledDangerous Substance (Felony)•15 counts of Illegal Carrying ofWeapons in the Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Felony)•1 count of Illegal Possession ofStolen Firearms (Felony)•2 counts of Possession of a MachineGun (Felony)•19 counts of Possession, Sale, orUse of Certain Fireworks (Felony)•1 count of Transactions InvolvingProceeds from Drug Offenses(Felony)•1 count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor)Anonymous tip leads to major drug,weapons seizure in LacombeDustin Galland Amanda HaskinsSPECIAL CAMPAJOIN US FOR and JudgelaytonNAIGN AWashington Pariin St. Tammany for District Court JSupporting Ben ClRECEPTIONe 1stded)shes(RSVP(light re985 285 1947required by Junefreshments will be providemail: [email protected])(text 985-285-1947 orBUT NOT REQUIRED TO ATTENDDONATIONS ARE APPRECIATEDINTEGHONESTfor over 40 Our comm Our commfor over 40 HONESTINTEGRITYTY ANDyears...mitmentyears...TY ANDRITYAFTER in all we in all weDon’t waMARKET AND EXTENDEWE ACCEPTe do.ait:ED WARRANTIES!Faster, Better S ,Don t waService!ait:
(From Pg. 1A)A new organizationnamed the Bayou Liberty Heritage Foundation was created by PhilGalatas, Criag Sollberger and Will Walstonto facilitate the return ofthe races a year ago.They not only wanted tobring back the fun of theraces, and there areplenty of crazy races toentertain the attendees,but they are also focusing on the history ofBayou Liberty, which includes pirogue makingtrades, the art of netmaking, paddle making,decoy making and otheroutdoors-related heritage from this area ofLouisiana.Those trades will beon site for the racesagain, displaying theunique talent that hasbeen in the area fordecades. Galatas saidthere will also be boatbuilders from aroundsoutheast Louisiana, witha couple of localpirogues built this pastyear by some Bayou Liberty men.The races are now offering much more spacefor attendees thanks toFoggy Waters Marina,which will have the samefood, drinks and activities on their side of thebayou that used to beexclusively next to thechurch.“Foggy Waters hasbeen a huge partner forus,” said Galatas. “It hashelped us expand thearea along the bayou forpeople to watch theraces.”There will also be activities for the kids, foodtrucks, a cake walk, andlarge raffle held at St.Genevieve, with officialBayou Liberty 69th yearT-shirts and posters forsale.“The pirogue racesare something that a lotof people have neverseen,” said Galatas.“They are fun, crazy andsomething very differentto watch so we encourage locals to bring theirfriends who have neverexperienced it. I promise it will be somethinglike you’ve never seen.”There will also be livemusic, and admission tothe races are free.Thursday, May 28, 2026 Page 3ARACES: Slidell sees return of special racesTHE SLIDELL INDEPENDENTGet an auto insurance quote fromBUSINESS OF HELPINWORKMAN INSURANf A oruto oTired of P TOOor Truck InyTPa in O MUCHsu a ce?m our agency and you mayNG PEOPLE...NCE GROUP IS IN THEM t l ITV InsuranceBoat InsuranceAuto Insuranceminutes to find save thousandsAout how much we can save you!s of dollars a year. It only takes a few e InsuranceUmbrella CoverCommercial InsRV InsuranceHomeowner InsMotorcycle InsuLifragesurancesuranceuranceRenters InsuranGeneral LiabilityFlood InsuranceWorkers CompLife Insurancenceyemanins.comnformation:workmanins.com (98Sli3rd2285) 732-410470461d Floor250 Gause Blvdidell, LAEagentry@workmFor more inast,'&%$#&&\"!\" #fiff\"fflffi$\"flff%ffi210/.-,+*)-('&-%$#&\"!' fiffffl-ffifl 2fl) '-fl . !!'&%$#&&\"!\"fi#\"flff%ffi/1.-fl*+-%$#&-(\"!' fiffffl-ffifl ffifl) '-fl . !!' #$&#\" \" %fi%ff\"$fl'-)+--!&+\"\"\"'fffi\"#ff#$ffffl'flff- flffl'fi$ -fi+#+ff -! -!$&!ff+- ff!fl) -(flff-+*)* -fl*+* -*+**+*ffflffl'* -fifffl)ff+*fl*+fl -)!fl- flffl' \"\"\"#&%ffi\"#ffiff\"#,fl$ '*-,+$!+0-+fl+ff-)fl'-(+fl$+**-++fffffl$*+**-)!-( --\"flff) ff+fl)-+*-/-fl'&-\"!*)-'*fffl'+*-+)+&SLIDELL – The Slidell Ministerial Alliance is starting a new ministryspecifically to support pastors in thearea.The group will be called theNorthshore Pastors Connection andwill hold an initial meeting on Tuesday, June 2 at 6 p.m., at First Pentecostal Church. All pastors are invitedto the meeting that will start with apanel of three longtime area pastors:Donald Bryan from First Pentecost,Randy Boyette from Thompson RoadBaptist Church, and Norman Favrefrom Tabernacle Missionary BaptistChurch, all in Slidell. These men willshare their own experiences onlongevity in the ministry.The organization is meeting “to foster healthy relationships betweenpastors, to pray for each other and toshare resources.”There will be food and fellowship atthe event, which is free and open to allpastors.For questions on the event or theplans, contact White Dove ChurchNorthshore Pastor Tom Miller by email at: [email protected] Pastors Connection tohold first meeting Tues., June 2
One of the most frequent questions I get is “how do you know what to write about?” Or another way to put that would be—“Where do you get all the stories?” It’s a pretty fair question when you go through one week of this paper and see that we have a lot of stuff. It’s one thing I’m especially proud—we have a lot of variety in terms of stories and pictures. When I first took the shot of bringing Slidell’s paper back in January, 2009, I knew one thing that was going to be important. That was to put a lot of people pictures in the paper. Think about the success of Social Media. The posted pictures and videos are probably more interesting than the words that are posted. People love pictures and videos, which is one reason Social Media is so popular. No different with the paper, so right out of the gate with The Independent was my plan to attend as many events as possible and take a lot of people pictures. And just to give you an idea—last week was a bigger paper than normal, but we still had 91 pictures, not counting any in the ads. One thing that we do at this paper from a photography standpoint is quite different than any big paper. When a photographer from the New Orleans paper shows up to shoot an event they take dozens of shots, mainly looking for that one or two greatest pictures. And I must say they usually get it since they do have some super talented and experienced photographers like Grant Therkildsen and David Grunfeld, a couple of guys who have been around almost as long as me and have become media colleagues of mine. They are not allowed to run tons of pictures, usually having to pick their best shot, but I have a personal policy of running virtually every picture of someone that I take. Just think it’s a nice way to go, and I know for certain that people love our paper because we have so many faces in there. One thing hasn’t changed from 50 years ago with the media—people still like seeing themselves or a familiar face they know in print. But what about stories? I used to be the Managing Editor for the Slidell Sentry-News, and it was positively the training ground for young journalists. Almost every person I hired in 13 years, and I kept track during that time of every one, to see we ran through exactly 75 young reporters. That’s right. The pay wasn’t great, but they were working to get experience for their move up. It was necessary to start at the bottom and work up. When a new kid would join the newsroom they invariably walked into my office the first day and said, “well, what do I write about?” They were almost all college trained, but something like “what do I write about?” was probably not handled for very long in class. I came up with a line that worked pretty well. “There are two things a story must have to make the paper,” I told them. “It has to be informative—meaning we are the community voice and want to make sure the public knows about important events going on—or it has to be….interesting.” That’s right. I can’t tell you how many stories I have written over the years simply because “it was interesting.” Might be some huge piece of land being cleared on Gause Boulevard and every time we all drove by we thought, “hmmm, wonder what is going up there?” So, frequently I would tell you. When the barriers disappeared on Gause two months ago that were installed by DOTD and made everyone mad, I knew people wanted to know. So, I called DOTD, got an answer and wrote about it. Over the years you learn where to look for stories. Follow every agenda for government agencies, watch for special event press releases that come in and have a special angle to them (like the return of the Pirogue Races on our front page today), and of course, check all the court and police reports. Folks love crime news. But the final way I have learned to get stories is from something we all utilize as we get older—experience. I do a lot of interviews and frequently have walked away with a story I didn’t expect. Such was the case with our Memorial Day feature last week on Joe Songy, a Vietnam navigator. We featured that story in our special section, but during the interview, Joe talked a lot about his precious wife—Claudette. They had been married for 68 years and she had passed only six weeks ago. Immediately, I knew it was a story people would love. Joe told me about the night he met and told his friend, “that’s the girl I’m going to marry,” and he did. The details about Joe and Claudette made a beautiful love story in our section on U.S. veterans—and that was certainly a first. But it was all from my 50 years of writing and the spark in my brain…. “Hey, that’s a good story!” And today, I get emails from folks suggesting things, like over a year ago when I was told about a lady named Mrs. Darla, who was barely surviving with her leaky roof. This paper wrote about her and a year later she was in a brand new home, for free, thanks to a great Slidell community. (Yes, the community paper is still important.) It’s probably easy to see why I love this job of writing and don’t plan to quit until the Lord makes it clear the time has come. So, keep sending in those news tips. Kevin Chiri can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]. By Comm. John Wells, U.S. Navy Retired The United States is at war. I have said that too many times in recent years, yet it remains the truth. It is no longer useful to debate how we arrived at this moment. What matters now is that we stand united, support our troops, and face the reality before us. The war is here. We must fight it—or withdraw and leave the world in an even more dangerous state than we found it. Since the end of February, 13 American service members have been confirmed killed. Six perished in the crash of a refueling aircraft; seven were lost in Iranian attacks across the region. As many as 400 servicemen have been wounded, some gravely. Even now, American service members are fighting for their lives. We pray they all return home. We must also remember the two National Guard members shot down in the streets of Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House. Sarah Beckstrom did not survive. Andrew Wolfe continues to recover. Equipment can be replaced. Lives cannot. As our Lord teaches, every person is a unique creation of God. These men and women cannot be replaced—only remembered. And they must be remembered. Those We Lost in Kuwait •Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, Winter Haven, Florida •Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, White Bear Lake, Minnesota •Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, Bellevue, Nebraska •Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, West Des Moines, Iowa (posthumously promoted) •Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, Waukee, Iowa •Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, Sacramento, California Those We Lost in Iraq •Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, Auburn, Alabama •Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, Covington, Washington •Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, Bardstown, Kentucky •Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, Stoutsville, Ohio •Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, Columbus, Ohio •Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, Columbus, Ohio Additional Loss •Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, Glendale, Kentucky Died March 8 from injuries sustained during an enemy attack at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Remember their names and pray for their souls. Since April 19, 1775, our nation has lost 666,447 Americans in combat and another 673,831 to non combat causes while in service—a total of 1,308,468 lives. These are not statistics. Each number represents a life cut short: husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, parents and friends. Today marks the beginning of summer, but far more importantly, it is a day to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Remember also those who suffer unseen wounds—Agent Orange, burn pits, traumatic brain injuries, post traumatic stress—and those who lost their battle to despair and took their own lives. Join me in prayer: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.” We are at war—all of us. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and every other voice in this nation. As we mark the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, we must stand together to honor those who have died in service. We cannot allow partisanship to divide us or distract us from the sacrifices of the past—or those yet to come. War will always be with us. More will die. More will suffer. Let us ensure their sacrifices are never in vain. Page 4A Thursday, May 28, 2026 THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENTSlidell Independent Submission GuidelinesThe Slidell Independent is interested in publishing your information and need pictures and/or stories submitted to the newspaper through e-mail. Here is how you can have your information published in our paper: E-mail: [email protected] Please make your story a text file of some kind, preferably a Word file, then attach it to the email. If you have any further questions, call Publisher Kevin Chiri at 985-607-8852 or email him at [email protected] Slidell OpinionsEDITORIALWhere do we get all the stories?BY KEVIN CHIRI The Slidell Independent Mahalo[mә-HA-loh]\"I said ‘mahalo’ to the woman who handed me a lei.\" \"It's easy to express mahalo at the beauty of the sunrise on our vacation.\"The Hawaiian word “mahalo” likely comes from the proto-Polynesian word “masalo”; both express a form of significant gratitude more firmly rooted in the culture than simply saying “thank you.” In fact, using “mahalo” to mean “thank you” is a modern innovation: In its original form, “mahalo” was more of a statement about one’s gratitude for being alive, and to other people and the natural world for coexisting alongside one another.“Mahalo” appeared in English for the first time in American missionary Lorrin Andrews’ 1865 English-Hawaiian dictionary. In modern use, “mahalo” is frequently used as a Hawaiian stand-in for “thanks.”Hawaiian, 19th century — Part of Speech: ExclamationTo practice a musical instrument.What it meansAbout MahaloExamples of Mahalo in a sentenceDid you Know?Origin:A message for Memorial Day THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENT STAFFTHE SLIDELL INDEPENDENT985-607-8852 [email protected] Slidell Independent is a locally owned and operated newspaper that serves the eastern St. Tammany Parish area, including Slidell, Lacombe and Pearl River. It is distributed through free circulation in the eastern St. Tammany region, while also available for purchase at local stores. The Slidell Independent is published once a week on Thursday, distributed as an A.M. publication. Reproduction of any portion of the paper is not permitted without authorization of The Slidell Independent.‘Your Community, Your Slidell Newspaper’The Slidell IndependentKEVIN CHIRI: Editor and Publisher [email protected] JENNY WEISHEIT: News Editor [email protected]
THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENT Thursday, May 28, 2026NOW OPEN IN SLIDELL!30 Years in Business - 9 locations1533 GAUSE BLVD - SLIDELL, LA 70458(985) 364-0128Tom Fitzmorris rated 5-Star Restaurant11 9Tues-Sat11am - 9pmRebecca Hernandez, Carmen Lee and Rachel McClure fromKeesler.Greeting the guests at the door was “Pinata,” Slipper G.M. Angi TruebnerWebb, Laci Lee from the Picayune Chamber, Eva Magabgab with the St.Tammany Chamber, and Rish Williams from the Hancock County Chamber.Angi TruebnerWebb with MonicaLander.Slidell folks on hand included Nina Magyar, Linda Cypriano, and Yolandaand George Paz.Carrie Dossett fromSterling Surgical inSlidell, along withWhitney Bowenfrom Renard.Staff photos byKevin ChiriThe St. Tammany Chamber continued its tradition of celebratingCinco de Mayo with two nearby Chamber groups, thanks to theSilver Slipper Casino & Hotel hosting the party and networkingopportunity each year. What used to be the St. Tammany Chamber and Hancock County Chamber has now grown to include the Picayune Chamber, giving attendees more businessfolks to network with. Slipper G.M. Angi Truebner-Webb continued her obvious fun in dressing for the special events,wearing a festive Spanish outfit and providing a great Mexicanmeal, along with door prizes to boot. ffi fl ffl ffi ff fi ff 2054 Gause Blv &%$ffi # \" ! ' \" 2054 G' fi vd. East S lidell | 98 \" # $ffi ($ ' & # &ffi & # ' v ffi on| L \" 85 445 1042 ffi )*# # \" # $ffi ! 85-445-1042 | L ngogroup.net &ffi \" # $ffi \" &ffi - ,&+'#ngoSLIDELL BUSINESS News and NotesPage 5ACinco de Party!
Page 6A Thursday, May 28, 2026 THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENTPHILLIPS: Phillips recognized for leadership during book battle(From Pg. 1A)“These were notbooks with a few badwords,” Phillips said. “Itwas the hardest corepornographic stuff youcan imagine, and a lot ofbooks had pictures ofpeople having sex. Additionally, there weredozens of books in thechildren’s section promoting the gay, lesbianand trans lifestyle. All ofthem were accessible tominors with no parentalapproval.“As Christians, we hadto stand up and draw theline to protect our children, even though therewould be a cost tospeaking out,” she said.That was the beginning of what would become a three-year battleagainst what manycalled “far-left lunatics,”who fought with everything in them to keepthe books accessible tochildren and minors—all with no parental approval.Phillips helped startan organization calledSt. Tammany Library Accountability Project(STLAP), which becamethe lead group of citizens determined to getthe books into a restricted section, notbanned as many in themedia, and the far-leftcrowd claimed.Three years later, anentirely new LibraryBoard of Control was appointed, and finally a restricted section wasapproved to move thebooks there, whichmeant they were all stillaccessible, but only withparental approval.At the most recentEast St. Tammany Republican Women(ESTRW) meeting,Phillips was recognizedfor the leadership sheshowed throughout thefight, something shenever backed downfrom even though shewas constantly under attack as the person moston the left saw as themain target for conservatism and Godly values. That was because itwas Phillips who filed official complaints to over150 of the books.Phillips received theSuperior LeadershipAward from the Republican Women’s group, anhonor only given outonce a year to someonein the community whostands up for conservative values. The awardcan go to anyone of anyparty affiliation, or an organization that showsexemplary volunteerismand leadership servingour community andmaking it a better placeESTRW PresidentBridgett Bennett saidPhillips showed incredible determination in theface of constant SocialMedia attacks, and evena lawsuit that was filedagainst her personallyafter one of the liberalopponents followed herto her car and threatened her following ameeting. As the criticwas filming Phillips withthe phone in her face,Phillips pushed thephone away, leading thewoman to file a surprising charge of assaultagainst her, which waslater dismissed.“Connie Phillips stoodup for what is rightagainst a radical left thatwas hell bent on destroying her,” Bennettsaid. “These sexually explicit books are a blueprint to destroy ourchildren. Connieshowed what it is to be atrue Christian womanwho was willing to dowhatever it took to protect our children.“We were so proud tobe in the army with Connie to fight this evil,” sheadded.Phillips said she was“humbled to be honored, but there were somany others who foughtwith us against this. Thebooks actually motivated people to standup, and even led to somerunning for office.“The books are trulyhorrible and I still wonder why they were buying them for my kids,”she stated. “The wholething still makes meupset, but thankfully wehad a great group ofgrandmothers, some ofthem in their 70s, andthey sat at meetings forfive hours at times, all tospeak for what Godwanted us to say.”Phillips ended her remarks by reminding thepacked crowd that asthe United States celebrates 250 years, it istime for Christians tostand for the values thecountry was founded on.“In the case of thesebooks, we did the rightthing,” she said. “As itsays in the Book of Esther, we are here for atime like this. I amthankful for all the otherpeople who showed upto help win this fight.”SLIDELL – A Ponchatoula woman was killedon Interstate 10 headingeast after she was involved in an accident onthe highway early in themorning, then wasstanding near her vehicle when another carcrashed into the car thathad hit her.State Police TrooperMarc Gremillion reported that Troop L wascontacted about the initial accident at 4:40 a.m.on Friday, May 22.The crash occurredon I-10 heading east,just past the intersectionwith Interstates 12 and59.Deborah Severio, age63, was driving a ToyotaRAV 4 and was approaching a car in frontof her that had been disabled in the roadway. AsSeverio slowed down,she was struck in therear by an Audi A6.Following the crash,and before emergencypersonnel arrived, Severio and all drivers exited their vehicles. Forreasons still under investigation, Severio wasstanding between hervehicle and the Audiwhen a Nissan Titan approached the crashedvehicles and struck therear of the Audi, pushing that car forward,striking Severio and theRAV4.Severio sustainedfatal injuries and died atthe scene. The only passenger in the RAV4 sustained minor injuriesand was transported toa local hospital for treatment.The driver of the Toyota 4Runner that hadbeen disabled in theroad, and the Nissan,were properly restrained and uninjured.Impairment is not suspected for the driver ofthe Nissan, who provided a breath sampleof .000%. Routine toxicology samples wereobtained from all drivers for analysis as partof the ongoing investigation.I-10 car crash takes life of 64-year-old womanLOWRY DUNHAM CASEInsuring S outh Louisiana sEALTH • LIFE • www.ldcv.comE & VIVENince 1901gencyCOMMERCIAL • HOME • AUTO • H2001 1st Street • Slidell • (985) 643-1234LOWRY-DUNHAM, CASEIndependent Insurance AThe East St. Tammany Republican Women handed out prizes for their America’s 250th Birthday Essay and Poster Contest. Among the winners inthese photos are: Lillian Vu and Vivian Billere, first and second poster from Our Lady of Lourdes; Ella Ryan and Lily Scoggin, first and second essayfrom St. Margaret Mary; first place poster winners from Pearl River High included Keylin Giron, Kenadie Free, Nathan Schmiderer and Adam Hagadone; second place poster from Pearl River High included Hayden Mitchell, Grayson Durand, Aiden Ward and Lane Alsobrooks; and third placeposter from Pearl River High included Kayleigh Robertson and Jayden McGee. Standing with the kids was Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal, Pearl RiverMayor Joe Lee, Pearl River Chief of Police Jack Sessions, along with ESTRW officers Carole Gillio, Rhonda Hatherington, Charlene Stein and KarenFandal. (Staff photos by Kevin Chiri.)Attending the event was East St. TammanyCourt judge candidate Tammy Nick (right) andJohanna Miner.
(From Pg. 1A)Among those confirming “interestonly,” at this point are Sheriff’s OfficeDeputy Chief Sammy O’Keefe, current interim Slidell Chief of PoliceDaniel Seuzeneau, Heath Miller withthe Louisiana State Police, and StatePolice Superintendent Col. RobertHodges, who has announced plans toretire from that job to reportedly runfor sheriff in St. Tammany, or head theU.S. Marshal’s Office in New Orleans. While the possible field if Smithdoesn’t run is loaded with law enforcement experience, Bell becomesthe first and only candidate to statehis positive intentions, getting him outof the gate ahead of the rest.Looking at Bell’s professional workhistory, the influence to run for sheriffin St. Tammany was all around himfrom an early point in life, comingfrom many respected mentors.It started when he played baseballat Slidell High and for the summerAmerican Legion team, which happened to be coached by then St. Tammany Sheriff Pat Canulette.Bell said Canulette was a huge inspiration to him in many ways, frombaseball to life to making law enforcement a career.“I learned so much from him. Hetaught me about responsibility withmy work ethic, a never quit mentalityand gave me a summer job with thesheriff’s office. I was a reserve officerwith them right after high school andI immediately felt an excitementdoing police work.”Bell said that one day Canulette,who always made Bell sit next to himin the baseball dugout, asked him,“where do you think you will be in 15years?” Bell’s response was, “sitting inyour chair.”“Yes, it’s true I was thinking aboutbeing sheriff when I was 15,” he saidwith a smile. “I immediately liked theidea of having a job where we helpedpeople in their worst situations. I haveso much love for this community thatsupported me for many years. Now, Iwant to give something back by making this Sheriff’s Office better thanever, especially to empower deputiesto do their job without fear of retribution.”Bell’s experience in law enforcement just kept getting more intensiveduring what is now a 38-year careeras an officer. After graduating fromOle Miss with a Public Administrationdegree—something that would fitperfectly into being sheriff—he washired by the Sheriff’s Office in a fulltime role in January of 1992. Duringhis 12 years, he was involved in manytop rated divisions such as criminalpatrol, K-9, violent crime investigations, narcotics, and the burglary intercept unit.With 17 years under his belt, he washired by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and began nearly18 years in upper level crime enforcement. Starting in Texas, heworked with the units chasing and arresting drug cartels, which includedwire taps, busting huge amounts ofnarcotics and getting sent overseas tofind the drugs where they were beingmade.“I did three years in St. Croix wherewe busted the big shipments ofdrugs, a lot of times on the drug boatsyou are now seeing President Trumpblow up. We were the guys to go outwith customs on the boats and chasethose guys down,” he remarked.“I know a lot of people say we willnever stop the drug flow, and that’sprobably true. But every time webusted one dealer I knew there werepeople at the other end who weren’tgoing to get their drugs. And I used tothink it might be their ‘come to Jesus’moment that helped them go to rehaband stop doing drugs,” he explained.Bell has had plenty of other interesting connections with well-known St.Tammany lawmen. He went on patrolwith Randy Smith during his earlyyears with the Sheriff’s Office, thenlater had connections with formerSlidell Chief of Police Randy Fandalearlier in his law enforcement career,during Fandal’s days with State Police.Bell acknowledges the challengefacing him since he doesn’t have thename recognition of some others following 18 years with DEA. He especially noted Seuzeneau, who built ahuge Social Media following for theSlidell Police Department during hisyears as public information officer.“If Daniel runs I know he will havea big Social Media presence that willbe tough to overcome,” he said. “AndSammy is already known today in theSheriff’s Office. So why do I think I canwin? In 38 years, I’ve been in prettymuch every department of law enforcement, and I think I have a highlevel of likability for people who meetme.“Mostly I think that people whomeet me or those who already knowme realize that integrity and character are the things that matter most tome. Like Sheriff Canulette said tome—character is what you do whennobody is looking, and I had manydays with DEA walking away with duffle bags holding millions of dollars. Ihad guys say you could take a littleand no one would know, but I wouldknow, and that’s why I never took adollar,” he added.“I would put my experience andcredibility against anyone else whowants to run,” Bell stated.The Sheriff’s Office has maintaineda low crime reputation in St. Tammanyduring the years of Smith and othersheriffs before him. So where doesBell think there needs to be improvement?“People don’t know it, but thebudget is out of control,” he said.“They spent $2 million on a mobilecommand unit that has hardly everbeen used, they purchased $750,000boats that can’t even go in the marsh,and they opened a sub-station thatisn’t needed. I would rather see thatmoney go to employees,” he remarked. Bell also believes the narcotics unitshould be bolstered beyond what hesaid are five officers, and he wantsmore deputies on the streets.“Our narcotics unit has done a lot,but we need to be stronger and weneed to partner with other agencies.Right now, the sheriff’s office is aboutthe only law enforcement agency onthe North Shore not working with theD.A. and their drug task force. Why?We could get a good share of all theseizure dollars if we were part of it,”he noted.Other than the specifics, Bell saidthat coming in as a new face who hasn’t been around in recent years putshim in a prime position to reset thepriorities as a sheriff.“I won’t be involved in the politicalgames for people to get to leadershiproles,” he said. “I will treat everyonethe same who is on our force, and thesame for people in this community.I’m not that guy who will play games.”Bell said he will soon have a Facebook page and website online forthose seeking more informationabout him.THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENT Thursday, May 28, 2026 Page 7Asignature sidesspecialties thatexquisite steakScarlet’s SteaksEAKS & S elegant dessertst are paired with and seafoodood offersSTs & SeafSEAFOODMississippi Gulfmost memorabMake your reseand high-class ture sidesY-SPC or viFor reservations plesigna888-PLAf Coast.ble experience on theervation today for the customer service.serts,sit OPENTABLE.COM, elegant desease call9380 Central Avenue • D’IbervillMust be 21 or older. Scarlet Pearl Cae, MS 39540 • 888–752–9772 • ScarletPasino Resort reserves all rights. Gambling proPearlCasino.com •oblem? Call 1-800-522-4700.HaAOPEN at 1 OPEN at 11am 7 daysWE ARE BAAuthentic MexicMargaritaappy Hour Everya weekACK!an foodasy day: 2-6OPEN at 11am, 7 daysIn former SteakhouseBack area of a weekTSaltgrasse building -Town CenterChris BellChris Bell is seen back in his high school days, signing a college baseball scholarship with Ole Miss, as former St. Tammany Sheriff Pat Canulette (standing, second from right), a big mentor for Bell, was onhand at the signing.BELL: Veteran lawman to run for sheriff
Page 8A Thursday, May 28, 2026 THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENTLt. CommanderKurt Young, thevice rector atthe Notre DameSeminary,salutes duringthe National Anthem andPledge of Allegiance.Staff photos by Kevin ChiriUnited States military veterans who had passed away in the lineof service during the past 250 years of American’s history wereremembered and honored at the special Memorial Day remembrance ceremonies held at St. Luke Catholic Church onMonday. Orleans Parish Archbishop James Checcio attendedthe event and led prayers for veterans and the congregation,while guest speakers Commander John Wells, U.S. Navy Retired, and Commodore Pete Scamardo were keynote speakers at the event. Wells related specific names of U.S. soldiers who had died while serving in recent years and askedthe attendees to remember them, “because these are not numbers, they are real people who had their life cut short. Their families will never forget and we need to never forget whatsacrifice our American military makes every year so we canenjoy freedom.”Heroes RememberedThe St. Luke Choir performed again at the Memorial Day event, endingwith God Bless America as one small girl, Lily Lane, held by Ashley Taylor, relaxed during the singing.Orleans Parish Archbishop James Checcio (right), along with St. LukePastor Jared Rodrigue (center), were joined by David Vednos of theKnights of Columbus as they listened to the important words from theguest speakers.The St. Luke Knights of Columbus and St. Luke Catholic Church put onthe Memorial Day ceremonies each year, headed by Chuck Sabadie(right), who introduced guest speaker Commander John Wells, U.S. NavyRetired.MostAffordableSenior Living in Slidell!• One Level Community Living• On-Site Library and Computer Room• Beauty and Barbershop• Pet-Friendly• Private Dining Areas for Parties and Special Occasions• Individually Controlled Heating and Air Conditioning• Various Sizes of Suites Available with Fully Equipped Kitchens• Outdoor Walking Paths and Blooming Gardens on Landscaped Grounds• Courtesy Transportation for Shopping, Errands, and Local Doctors’ Visits(985) 641-2827Come Visit Us. Schedule a Tour.354 Robert Blvd - Slidell slidellazaleaestates.comIndependent Living. Assisted Care. Let us make life wonderful for your loved one. Serving Slidell over 25 yearsSundays • 5:00-7:00 PMHeritage Park • Free Admision(985) 646-4375 • MySlidell.comThe City of Slidell’ sMay 31Audio BeachNorthshoreCommunityOrchestraSpring/Summer 2026 Concert SeriesJune 7Bobby Ohler and the Harbor BandSpring/SumThmmer 2026 Concee City of Slidell’sSpring/Sum ert SeriesBeacAudiMay 31Spring/Summer 2026 Concechio 1mmer 2026 Concert SeriesBeacBoJuchobbyune 7HarboanOhBoor Bandnd the hlerobby OrchComNort Slidell AJunehestrammunitythshore Auditorium14 • 3 PM(985) 646-Heritage PSundarch4375 • MySlidPark • Free Aays • 5:00-7:0O hestradell.comAdmision0 PMRIVERA: Man gets 25 years for sexual abuse and rape(From Pg. 1A)•Aggravated Crime Against Naturewith a Victim Under Age 13In addition to the prison sentence,the Court issued a lifetime protectiveorder in favor of the victim.The investigation began in late 2023after the victim disclosed the abuse toa family member. The case was initially reported to the Travis CountySheriff’s Office in Texas before beingforwarded to the Slidell Police Department. Detectives determined that theabuse occurred both in CentralAmerica and after the defendantmoved to Slidell in 2021. The SlidellPolice Department worked in closecoordination with Texas authoritiesand the Children’s Advocacy Center(CAC) to secure the evidence neededfor prosecution.A forensic interview conducted atthe CAC detailed a pattern of abuseoccurring between 2021 and 2022when the victim, who was between 11and 12 years old during the time ofthe offenses in Louisiana, providedstatements that were instrumental insecuring the conviction.During the proceedings, the victim’s family member provided a moving impact statement describing theprofound trauma the abuse causedthe family.\"I was not expecting this to happenand destroy my life,\" she stated. \"It isa constant battle, to always be thinking about the past, the present, andwhat it will be of the future...I hope mywords are helpful to understand howthis situation has changed my life categorically.\"Sims emphasized the office's dedication to seeking justice for survivorsof such predatory crimes.\"The resolution of this case is a testament to the bravery of the victimand the tireless work of our law enforcement partners,\" said Sims. \"Thissentence ensures this individual isheld accountable for the irreparableharm he caused. We will continue touse every resource at our disposal toprotect our children and support families as they navigate the path to healing.\"Assistant District Attorney ChristinaFisher prosecuted the case.
SLIDELL -- SlidellMayor Randy Fandal invites residents and visitors to Heritage Park onSunday, May 31, for another evening of livemusic as the Bayou JamConcert Series continues with a performanceby Audio Beach at 5p.m. Admission is free tothe public.“After a week of rain,we’re hoping for clearskies! We’re excited towelcome everyoneback to Heritage Parkfor another great BayouJam concert,” saidMayor Randy Fandal.“We encourage familiesand friends to come out,enjoy the beautifulweather, and experience another evening offree live music in OldeTowne Slidell.”Audio Beach has become a longtime favorite at communityevents throughout theregion, including ArtsEvening in Olde Towne,White Linen andLagniappe, Mardi Grasballs and parades, GulfCoast festivals, casinos,and music venues.Audio Beach performsall music live withoutprerecorded tracks andfeatures Mario Sperandeo on guitar and vocals, Bill Stavis on drumsand vocals, Dylan Caillouet on bass and vocals, Terry Boutwell onguitar and vocals, andguest musician ScottLebell on keyboardsand vocals.Remaining concerts inthe Bayou Jam series include Bobby Ohler andthe Harbor Band on Sunday, June 7, and “SomeEnchanted Evening”featuring theNorthshore CommunityOrchestra on Sunday,June 14.Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawnchairs, blankets, icechests, and picnic baskets to Heritage Park.Concessions will alsobe available for purchase.In the event of inclement weather, cancellation decisions willbe announced by 1 p.m.on the day of the event.Updates will be postedon the city website atMySlidell.com and onthe “City of Slidell”Facebook page.For more informationabout the Bayou JamConcert Series, contactthe Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at(985) 646-4375 or visitMySlidell.com.THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENT Page 9ACOVINGTON – ASlidell man who filed afalse lien against a St.Tammany Parish policeofficer, claiming he wasowed $550 million, hasfound that such an action might not be worthhis attempt to target alaw enforcement officialwho was doing his duty.District AttorneyCollin Sims reportedthat a St. TammanyParish jury found WillieMack Cauley, 48, guiltyof Filing a False LienAgainst a Law Enforcement Officer.The trial was held before Judge Tara FarrisZeller, and was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys TaylorNicholson and IainDover.The conviction followsan investigation led bySergeant John Morse,formerly of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’sOffice, who also servedwith the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. In October 2020, theSt. Tammany ParishClerk of Court receiveddocuments from Cauley,including a UCC Financing StatementAmendment and an \"Affidavit of Status as Secured Party andCreditor.\"These documents targeted a law enforcement officer in St.Tammany Parish whohad previously arrestedCauley in the performance of his official duties.The filings falselylisted the victim as a\"debtor\" and claimed a\"Perfected\" $505 millioncommercial lien againsthim. Investigators determined the filings wererooted in \"sovereign citizen\" ideology - a tacticused to retaliate againstgovernment officialsthrough \"paper terrorism\" and fraudulent financial encumbrances.During closing arguments, Assistant DistrictAttorney Nicholson emphasized that the defendant's actions were adeliberate attempt toharass a public servant.\"Willie Cauley violated the law. It does notmatter what type of lienor encumbrance wasfiled. Any kind is a violation of the law,\"Nicholson told the jury.\"Willie Cauley did thisin retaliation for the victim acting in his law enforcement capacity. Thedefendant made hisown judicial determination. He knowingly didthis...knowing it wasfake, fraudulent, and fictitious.\"Sims praised the verdict, highlighting the office's stance against theharassment of law enforcement.\"Law enforcement officers put their lives onthe line every day toprotect our community,and they should neverbe subjected to targeted harassment or financial retaliation forsimply doing theirjobs,\" said Sims. \"Filingfraudulent liens is a calculated attempt to intimidate those who upholdthe law. This convictionsends a clear message:we will not allow ourlegal system to beweaponized as a tool forretaliation against ourofficers.\"ITREADNow Available DigitallyAVAILABLE AILABLE ON slidellindependentWillie Mack CauleySlidell man convicted for filing fraudlien against law enforcement officerLACOMBE – The Lacombe Recreation Center is offering a fantasticsummer of fun with their four sessionsof summer camps.Cost is only $75 per week for anysession (or $150 if you are out of thedistrict), and includes five days of activities to keep your child busy for thesummer, with each session runningfrom 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.The four sessions include:June 15-19: Health & PE.June 22-26: Sports.July 13-17: Entrepreneur.July 27-31: Nature.Each week includes a t-shirt, bag,field trips, refreshments, outside activities, art, games and more.Camps are open for kids ages 6 to12.For more information, e-mail to:[email protected] can register online at: lacomberec.comSummer camp sessions starting soonat Lacombe Recreation CenterBayou Jam concert series continues May 31 with local favorite ‘Audio Beach’Thursday, May 28, 2026 d f f tAssisting you to \"\"!\"\"RetirementAnnuitiesLife Insurance\"ture.oday, $#\"! fiff ffl\"ffi!fl ffiffi% R% A% L% Planning% Investment StrategiesOUR SERVICES:and for your fut \"\"!\"\" Jay Badeaux, FinanciaAmbey , al Advisor; Megan Otillioer Andre, Financial Adviso; g o, Office Manager;org ; ff ffSouthern ffiliated.11/2025 Member FINRA/SIPC. www.lincolninvestment.com Investment ffered through Lincoln Investment, Broker r,Advisory services offered through Capital Analysts or Lincoln Investment, Registered Advisers. 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Page 12A Thursday, May 28, 2026 THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENTEditorial did not properly depict lack of racism in SlidellSLIDELL ‘Letters to the Editor’Editor,The title of your editorial, “Don’tlook for racism in the city of Slidell,”was misleading and far more absolute than the facts presented in thearticle itself support.The election of Leslie Denham mayindeed represent progress for Slidell,and she deserves credit for winningher race. However, one election resultdoes not conclusively prove thatracism does not exist in our city,parish, or broader society. That conclusion is overly simplistic and dismissive of legitimate perspectivesthat many residents may hold.Ironically, the very facts cited inyour editorial point to a far more nuanced political reality. Ms. Denhamwas the sole Black candidate in a fivecandidate race for two At-Large seats,while four white male candidates divided a much larger white votingbase. In political science, vote-splitting is a well-understood phenomenon. The presence of multiple similarcandidates can significantly dilutesupport among voters with overlapping constituencies. That dynamic almost certainly played a role in theoutcome and should have been objectively acknowledged rather thanignored.Slidell is a diverse and evolvingcommunity. Current demographicdata shows the city is approximately62% white and roughly 20% Black,while St. Tammany Parish remainssubstantially majority white overall. Ina community with those demographics, race, voting coalitions, and political strategy are naturally part of thebroader discussion whether peopleare comfortable admitting it or not.That does not mean the electionwas racist. It also does not meanracism determined the outcome. Butit certainly does mean the issue deserves more thoughtful analysis thana headline declaring people shouldnot “look for racism” in Slidell.A better editorial would have celebrated the historic nature of Ms. Denham’s victory while alsoacknowledging that communities arecomplex. Racism can exist even incities where people generally worktogether peacefully. Progress andproblems are not mutually exclusiverealities.Your editorial itself noted thatSlidell has experienced divisive politics in prior elections. It also referenced “the very occasional remarkfrom someone” related to race. Ifthose remarks exist, then clearly theissue is not entirely imaginary. The responsible approach is neither to exaggerate racism nor to dismissconcerns outright, but instead to evaluate issues honestly and from everyperspective.I also recognize and respect thatnewspapers reserve the right to editletters submitted for publication. Mysincere hope is that any edits made tothis letter would not alter its intendedbalance or present bias toward eitherside of this issue. Honest civic discussion only works when differing viewpoints are represented fairly and inproper context.Slidell is filled with good people ofevery race who care deeply aboutthis community. Most residents likelydo judge others by character, integrity, and qualifications. That issomething worth celebrating. But declaring racism essentially absentbased on one election result does notadvance honest civic dialogue. Itoversimplifies a complicated issueand risks alienating residents whoseexperiences may differ.Nick Mercer(Editors Note: This letter wasprinted in its entirety and no changeswere made.)ChamberPAC seeking committments before sales tax decisionEditor,The Board of Directors of St. Tammany ChamberPAC has been approached by parish governmentleaders seeking support for a proposed tax measure aimed at addressing the state-mandated fundingshortfall for the St. Tammany ParishDistrict Attorney’s Office and judiciary staff.After conducting a comprehensivereview of the parish’s tax and fiscalstructure, much of which stems fromthe legacy of the former police jurysystem, the ChamberPAC reaffirmedits position that meaningful reformmust go beyond incremental taxmeasures.“The ChamberPAC continues to advocate for a holistic, systemic changein the dedication and allocation of existing parish revenues,” said ChamberPAC Chairman James Richardson.“This will require a broad and sweeping revision of the parish charter toensure that funds already being collected can be directed toward theservices that are most needed andappropriately prioritized.”According to the ChamberPAC, thecurrent system has resulted in significant imbalances, with certain taxingentities maintaining surplus fundswhile critical public services remainunderfunded.The ChamberPAC believes the following commitments from the parishare critical and a requirement beforedeciding on whether or not to supporta sales tax increase:1. Any sales tax proposal shall belimited to a two-year term;2. Any sales tax proposal shall benet revenue-neutral or better, ensuring parish residents do not pay morethan they currently do; 3. The Parish Council, administration officials and taxing authoritiesshall provide full transparency regarding where the revenue-neutraloffsets will come from;4. All monies collected shall go directly to the District Attorney’s Officeand judiciary support staff, without“cost allocations” or other mechanisms that could divert the funds togeneral parish operations; and5. The Parish Council, administration officials and taxing authoritiesshall, during this two-year term, provide a clear timeline for implementing a long-term solution to theparish’s funding challenges, includingaddressing longstanding funding inequities created by decades of dedicated funding structures that preventthe parish from prioritizing spendingon vital services. The ChamberPAChopes this effort will culminate in acomprehensive charter review andrevision to be presented to the voters. “We remain committed to workingcollaboratively with parish leaders toachieve a solution that not only addresses immediate funding needs butalso corrects the structural issues thathave led to this situation,” Richardsonconcluded.St. Tammany Chamber PACSt. Angelo gives recommendationEditor (As written to the St. Tammany Parish Council),Thank you for your service to ourparish and its citizens. You have a difficult job with few accolades for yourwillingness to put your hands to theplow of government. Dr. Benjamin Rush, M.D., in a speechdelivered in January, 1787 stated:“Every man (woman) in a republic ispublic property. His time and talents -his youth - his manhood - his old age- and more, life, all, belong to hiscountry… Patriots come forward! Yourcountry demands your services.”(Our Founding Father’s Prayers andDeclarations, Morris St. Angelo, 2026,page 61)A patriot in our community hasheeded the call of Dr. Rush and comeforward to serve. He is no ordinarypatriot but one with education and experience who has volunteered to offerhis abilities at no charge to St. Tammany. That man is the current President ofthe S.T. Library Control Board—Mr.Charles Branton. His current term onthis important board has been completed and he could retire, but he believes he has not completed his taskand once again offered his remarkable talents.I highly recommend Mr. Branton. Ihave known him for about 10 yearsand he is above reproach.Pastor Morris J St AngeloSlidell Ministers Association Lead MinisterResident advocates for reforms before seeking public safety taxEditor,I’ve heard many residents agree, includingmyself, our communityshould have a sustainable funding source thatcan provide high qualityand robust judicial system services— AND atsame time any plan toresolve funding issuesshould simultaneouslypursue additional initiatives that can deliverconsideration and results to earn residenttrust, and avoid substantially more waste, inefficiencies, andnon-essential scopeacross all taxpayerfunded services.I’m concerned thatuntil additional resultsmeaningful to residentscan be delivered, anynew tax proposition ormillage renewal willlikely be rejected byvoters. Some examplesof valuable ideas I’veheard or advocate include, but not limited to:1. Publish and maintain a 1-pager dashboard that articulates aclear roadmap to identify and track progressof initiatives influentialfor obtaining voter approval.2. Increase criminalcourt costs and feeslevied on convicted individuals. 3. Pursue debt collection related to unpaidcourt costs and fines. 4. Defund redundant,costly, and unequalShort-Term Rental ordinance enforcement. 5. Compel consideration for switching to anoutside legal counselmodel to provide legalservices related to allSTPGOV civil matters—opportunity for cost &operational efficiencies. 6. Compel all taxpayer funded entities tocomplete qualified andindependent serviceaudits.7. Continue to provideleadership that influences reasonable andproportional budget reductions across all taxpayer funded entities—including entities outside the Parish Council’s oversight authority. 8. Articulate aroadmap to effect taxstructure reforms thatcan better serve priorities for our community— for example,Parish Council beinggranted statuary authority to reallocate dedicated funds underspecial circumstances. 9. Continue to EarnTrust by consistentlydemonstrating leadership principles that include Deliver Results,Ownership, Learn andBe Curious, Frugality,Insist on High Qualityand Reasonable Standards, Bias for Action,and Clarity. I’ve seen parish leaders already deliver avaluable start to reducespending and eliminateinefficiencies, and I’vealso heard residentsagree we can and mustdo more. I agree thatresolution of funding issues will follow aprocess, where sustainably funding JusticeSystem Services maylikely come first— ANDwe can immediatelypursue different initiatives at the same time.I’m always open to listen and collaborate witheveryone, and I believeright now can be an effective opportunity forour parish leaders tolearn and be curious regarding initiatives described here, then takeaction to deliver consideration and results thatcan be beneficial for allof St Tammany.Glen Uhack Featuring our greFROM THE S LVA FAFOR OVER 30 YESERVING SLIDELL’S BEST SEALV GGIO F1194 HarboTuesday 11 a.mFriday &11 a.m.Su11 a.mClosed985.64 eatAMILYEARSEAFOODLor Dr. - Slidell- Thursday:m. - 9 p.m.& Saturday:. - 10 p.m.ndaym. - 9 p.m.d Monday41.0464 Featu uring our gre eat
THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENT Thursday, May 28, 2026 Page 13AOpen Mond y - SuurbaWhiskey & Boundaybon MenurThursday Steak Night / Half Price BMimosa Brunch, starts 1Outside Patio Seating AvaiBottles of Wine (Select Bottles)0AM Sat & Sunlable (pet friendly)348 Robert Blvd. | Slidell, LAOur own 'Sedra BlenBreakfast & Lunch 7 DAYS A A 70458 | 985-288-4634fee' WEEK | 6am – 3pmnd CofA th ti MWE AREi f dE BACK!Happy Hour EvMargarAuthentic MeOPEN 7 DAYS A very day: 2-6ritasexican foodWEEK at 11AM Call Jenny at 985-607-8852 to advertise in this section. LACOMBE -- Northshore TechnicalCommunity College announced itsSpring 2026 scholarship recipients, recognizing students for academic achievement, technical training, and workforcepreparation. Scholarships are fundedthrough the generous support of donorsand community partners.Scholarship recipients were recognized at the annual Chancellor’s Scholarship Breakfasts, where they had theopportunity to meet the donors andsponsors who made their scholarshipspossible.Spring 2026 scholarship recipients by city:Lacombe• Silky Sullivan Memorial Scholarship,Erica Harrison• The William Donald King Scholarshipfor Construction Trades, Cristian Santamaria• Virginia Weeks Memorial Scholarship in Registered Nursing, AshleighClaire EcuyerSlidell• Alphonse \"Gator\" Abadie MemorialScholarship, Kadi Ducarpe• Junior League of Greater CovingtonScholarship, Paige Impastato• LCTCS/Drax Foundation Scholarshipin Advanced Manufacturing and STEM,Alan Copeland, Alexis Leaphart, andDavid Eades• NCEF and Northlake-Mandeville Rotary Scholarship, Brooke Wallen• North Oaks Health System Scholarship, Jessicar Brown• Patricia “Patsy” Wainwright Memorial Scholarship, Manucheher Khaghani• Richard Weeks Scholarship in Maritime, Dwayne Sylvester• Richard Weeks Scholarship in Maritime, Bruce Heidelberg• Stuart Carlson Memorial Scholarship,Kevin Behling• Thomason Scholarship in TeacherEducation, Bethany Latino• Weeks Marine Scholarship in Electrician, Jacob Albert• Weeks Marine Scholarship in Technical Education, Tiffany BealerNS Tech announces springscholarship recipients Slidell City CouncilJune 9, 6:30—City Council.Council Chambers.June 10, 5:00—Olde TownePreservation. Council Chambers.June 15, 7:00--Planning & Zoning. Council Chambers.June 23, 6:30—City Council.Council Chambers.--Council Chambers—2045Second St.--Slidell Auditorium, 2056 Second St.St. Tammany School BoardJune 4, 6:00—Committee as aWhole. (Slidell)June 11, 6:00--Full Board meeting. (Slidell)--Unless designated elsewhere, meetings at C.J. SchoenBld., 321 N. Theard, Covington.** Slidell meetings: Robert C.Brooks Education Complex, 2544Sgt. Alfred Dr., Slidell.St. Tammany Parish CouncilJune 4, 6:00—Parish Council.June 24, 1:30—Agenda Review.---Parish Council Chambers,21490 Koop Dr., Mandeville.Fire District #1Board of CommissionersJune 16, 6 p.m., Towers BuildingSt. Tammany Levee BoardJune 17, 6:00--Committee meetings start at5 p.m.--All meetings at Slidell Auditorium, 2056 2nd St.,Slidell.St. Tammany Library BoardJune 1, 6:30—Regular meeting.--Parish Council Chambers,21490 Koop Dr., Mandeville.Upcoming Meetings
Page 14A Thursday, May 28, 2026 THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENTLACOMBE – A 12-year-old from Lacombe has become one of the topBMX bicycle racers in Louisiana andthe United States, leading to qualification for the BMX World Competition tobe held in Brisbane, Australia thissummer.Leo Ahrens began racing at the ageof six after his father passed away,giving him a sport that helped him getthrough that difficult time in his life.Now at the age of 12, he is rankedthe Louisiana State Champion in boththe Expert Class and Cruiser divisions.In March of this year, he competedin the World Challenge Race to tryand earn a spot on the Team UCAChallenge Team, which could qualifyhim for the World Championships. Hefinished second and earned one of 16spots for the Brisbane event, set forJuly, 2026.Ahrens is now in the process of trying to raise money to go to Australia,estimated at a minimum of $23,000 forthe 14-day “trip of a lifetime,” hisgrandfather John Ahrens said.The Australia event, set for a 400-meter BMX racing track at the Sleeman Sports Complex, Ahrens will beone with 3,000 riders competing.The big, long-term goal for theyoung racer is to qualify for theOlympics, something he can’t do untilhe is 18 and compiles enough pointsat qualifying races to make it to thetrials.Anyone who would like to helpAhrens in his quest to raise the moneyto go to Australia can contact hisgrandfather by e-mail at:[email protected] BMX racer raising money to compete in AustraliaIN JUNEGOLF CART FOSunsets. Sand. GolIN JUTURDf Cart Life.OR HIM | SAUNEDAY JUNE 27|9 P.M.EVERY SUNPhotos for advertising purposes oEarn entries every dayPlay. Earn. Cruise. WeGOLF CART FON – THURS IN JUNonly. Prizes may vary.y in June.e’re giving away a Golf CaTURDNE | 6 PMOR HIM | SArt for Him this month!DAY, JUNE 27 | 9Actual items mMust be present to win. See Activate EVERY SUNdoes not endorse o ® may vary. ColemanPlayers Services for details. Photos for aentries af .M. on Earn entries SundaN THURS IN JUNter 5 Por sponsor this promotion.advertising purposes only.drawing days.ay – Thursday.NE | 6 P.M.crawfish, Jonah ClawFeaturing snow crab$49.99 PER PERSONws, and more.b, fried oysters, jumbo shrimp,like USDA Prime Filets e.and Ribeyes,5000 SOUTH BEASILVERSLIPPERMACH B VD. | B Y ST. LOS.COM | 1.866.SLIPPERL A UIS, MS 39520| 1.866.754.77372 0 2 2R E A DERS’ C HOI C E A W A R D SKnight Wealth Services is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, '&%$#\"!% fiffffl!#!fi!#fi #&#!#ff&&%ff#\"!fi ff%! #'&%$ #!!fi#' ##\"'$#'& !!&# fffi#!fi ff%!#!fi!#fi #&#!#ff&&%ff#\"!fi ff%!# fffi #'&%$#&#!#!#&#fi ff!#!#!fi ff%!$#!!#ff% #!!#!fi#ff#!#fififf!#fi!ff&$Two local students were the recipients of the Pat MassariniMemorial scholarships duringthe St. Tammany Parish LawEnforcement Memorial Ceremony. Awarded by CarolMassarini in honor of her husband Pat, both big supporters of law enforcementand firefighters for years, isBrady A. Hotard and Tayler M.Helbach. Additional scholarships will be awarded toLa. State Troopers, Slidell Police Department, and St.Tammany Parish District #1 Fire Department. The scholarships areawarded to the children of these departments. Right photo, CarolMassarini presented a check to Nick Calato. His son Chase wasone of the recipients of the Pat Massarini memorial scholarshipaward. Chase is a student at LSU.Massarini scholarships awarded
Page 15AThe Slidell Garden Club will host their annualMemorial Day Program at the Veterans MemorialPark located at the corner of Stg. Alfred Dr. andCleveland Ave. on Saturday, May 30 at 11 a.m. TheSlidell Garden Club annual program rememberingour fallen heroes is held on Memorial Day traditional date. All are welcome to this free and inspiring event where we honor and remember those welost while serving our country.STARC has broken ground for their fifth residential home that will give full living independence to eight of their clients, each who will havetheir own private room. Named Cornerstone, the facility will be staffed 24/7 with compassionate, dedicated and trained staff, ensuring individuals living there will receive necessary care for their health and safety, while also having an enhanced quality of life. According to MarkBaham, STARC's Executive Director, “As families age, they may need a place for their family member to have a forever home.\" Cornerstone isslated to open in 2027.Ground broken on STARC’s fifth residential homeMemorial Day Programset for May 30Slidell 7th grader earnstop spot in golf tourneyThursday, May 28, 2026Landon Lotz, a 7th grade golfer at First BaptistChristian School competed in the District IV GolfTournament at Pelican Point Golf Course, where heearned a 1st place finish. He then advanced to theRegional Golf Tournament and placed 2nd with animpressive score of 71, securing his spot in theState Tournament. Lotz is son of Oak Harbor proJustin Lotz.THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENT
(For more information on services,contact Honaker at 985-641-1900 oronline at: honakerforestlawn.com)Jacob Charles Walsdorf, Jr., age86, of Lacombe, LA, passed away onSaturday, May 16, 2026.Born in New Orleans, LA, he was abank auditor for the FDIC, RTC andmany other banks, and proprietor ofCrescent Oaks which hosted partiesand picnics for over 20 years.He was a Third Degree Knight withthe Knights of Columbus at SacredHeart Catholic Church in Lacombe.He was a member of several jazzclubs and other bands, and enjoyedbowling and being a Mustang car enthusiast.Dolores Nunez, age 95, of Slidell,LA, passed away on Monday, May 18,2026.Born in New Orleans, LA, she was alongtime resident of Reggio, LA, before moving to Slidell.She was a longtime teacher’s assistant in St. Bernard Parish and remained active with former studentsand teachers after retiring. She wasalso the wife of a World War II veteran.Gisele Legendre Ketchum, age68, of Slidell, LA, passed away onThursday, May 21, 2026.Born in Westwego, LA, she workedfor 33 years with the Jefferson Parishschool system in the human resourcesdepartment.During her free time she loved to listen to live bands, go to the casino,dance and travel.Cleopatra “Cleo” Hastings, age100, of Pearl River, LA, passed away onSunday, May 24, 2026.Born in Logan, WV, she moved toNew Orleans and joined the SalvationArmy, ordained as a lieutenant in theArmy of God, serving for 19 years andministering in several southern states.After that time, she worked for theDepartment of Housing and UrbanDevelopment for 20 years.She had a deep devotion to JesusChrist and served as a Sunday Schoolteacher for over 50 years. Page 16A Thursday, May 28, 2026 THE SLIDELL INDEPENDENT(For information on services, contactAudubon at 985-645-0600 or online at:audubonfuneralhome.com)Judy Ann Seaton, age 75, of Lacombe, LA, passed away on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.A native of New Orleans, LA, she graduated from Andrew Jackson High Schooland worked as a hairdresser, then finished her working career at Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana. Ira Anthony “Peanut” Cunningham, Jr., age 70, of Slidell, LA, passedaway on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.Born in New Orleans, LA, he was agraduate of Rummel High School in1974 and worked as a welder and piledriver with Boh Bros. Construction.In his younger years he was an avidroller skater who joined the men’s rollerhockey travel league.George Everet Dickinson, Jr., age35, of Slidell, LA, passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2026.Born in St. Bernard, LA, he was a graduate of Pearl River Central High Schoolin 2009 and worked in the chemical industry as a material handler.He loved to fish and crab in his sparetime.Gavin Bryant Dietrich, age 21, ofSlidell, LA, passed away on Thursday,May 14, 2026.Born in New Orleans, LA, he was a former resident of Chalmette, LA, andgraduated from Slidell High in 2023,then graduated from Air Force bootcamp in 2024 after joining the U.S. military. He later graduated from JohnDeere Electrical and Service AdvisorProgram in 2026, being employed withAllemand Industries.He loved the outdoors, football, shooting guns and playing video games, especially Rocket League and enjoyedworking on cars and playing in the poolleague.Melvin Ralph Abney, Jr., age 90, ofSlidell, LA, passed away on Saturday,May 16, 2026.Born in New Orleans, LA, he was a resident of Slidell since 2005 he served inthe U.S. Naval Reserve for 12 years as asurveyor, retiring as a Petty Officer Second Class and working with theSeabees.He later worked as a butcher atSchwegmann’s and became a salesmanwith Vivian Gelpi Company before turning to shrimping fulltime.He was a great storyteller, a blind carpenter and enjoyed the open waters, especially shrimping.Audubon Funeral Home Obituary ListingsWAYNE ‘BUBBA’ FELIX BERGEZ JR.Wayne “Bubba” FelixBergez Jr., of Slidell,Louisiana, passed awayon May 21, 2026, at theage of 61. He was bornon October 13, 1964, inCherry Point, North Carolina.Bubba was precededin death by his deeplybeloved and nurturingmother, Angela FasoneBergez; his baby sister,Lisa Ann Bergez; and hisangel grandson, CarterHayes Brouillette.He survived by hisloving family who willforever treasure his lifeand memory. He leavesbehind, his devoted wifeof 33 years, GwendolynGalvan Bergez; treasured daughter, who washis pride and joy,Gabriella Bergez Brouillette (Blair); adoredgranddaughter, whobrought him his greatesthappiness and filled hisfinal year of life with joyand light, Elliana GraceBrouillette; his belovedfather, Wayne FelixBergez Sr.; and lovingsister, Tina MarieBergez, as well as numerous extended familymembers and friends,all of whom he loveddeeply.Bubba graduated fromBrother Martin HighSchool with the Class of1982 and attended Delgado Community College. Professionally, hewas employed withOrbit Lanes, Bubba’sProduce (where he gavemore than 30 years ofhard work and loyaldedication), and FritoLay. In each role, he wasrespected for his deepcommitment, tirelesswork ethic, and thepride he took in puttinghis whole heart into hiswork. Bubba enjoyedbowling in his youngeryears. He also enjoyedsinging, and through ithe shared joy witheveryone around him.Bubba will be remembered for his humor,selflessness, compassion, and loving heart.He never met a strangerand had a way of making everyone feel welcomed, valued, andloved. His kindnesstouched countless lives,and his laughter couldlight up any room. Heloved telling jokes,singing, making peoplesmile, and bringing joyto those around him. Hewas a devoted husband,father, and grandfatherwho lived his life for hiswife, daughter, andgranddaughter, whowere the center of hisworld.A parishioner of St.Margaret Mary CatholicChurch, he was a strongman of God who lovedthe Lord Jesus Christand carried his faithwith him throughout hislife, finding strength,comfort, and guidancein God. Whetherthrough a helping hand,a comforting word, or astory that made everyone laugh, he gave somuch of himself to others. Above all, he was aloving man whosewarmth, generosity, andunforgettable spirit willbe deeply missed andforever cherished.Family and friends areinvited to attend a visitation on Friday, June 5,2026, from 12 p.m. to 2p.m. at Audubon FuneralHome in Slidell. A Funeral Mass will begin inthe chapel at 2 p.m.Memories and condolences may be expressed atwww.AudubonFuneralHome.comOBITUARIESHonaker Funeral Home Obituary Listings