Local News
GOVERNMENT: Bills signed into law May 30 by the governor from House and Senate
BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal signed bills May 30 passed by the Legislature into law, bringing the total number of bills signed for the 2013 Regular Legislative Session to 75. HOUSE HB 9 by...
May 30, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Southeastern, Amite Chamber, EDC host free business incentives seminar June 13
AMITE--A free class on financial incentives for small business owners provided by the state will be hosted at the Amite Library June 13. It's presented by Louisiana Economic Development. It's aime...
May 30, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Eric Maurer of Springfield gets life with hard labor for murder-robbery of Rube Rogers, 'The Country Boy'
By Don Ellzey AMITE -- Eric Maurer of Springfield was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, May 28, for the brutal murder of former radio personality Rube Rogers, known locally in the late 1950s an...
May 30, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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AMITE--Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess, speaking the hurricane summit he hosted May 21. Photo by Mark Mathes.
TANGI COUNCIL: Gordon Burgess opposes 3-term limit suggested by member Harry Lavine
By Don Ellzey AMITE -- Parish President Gordon Burgess said Wednesday, May 29, that he absolutely opposes a Tangipahoa Parish Council proposal to amend the Home Rule Charter to include term limits...
May 29, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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TANGI SCHOOL BOARD: Members wrangle over minutes and what actually happened
By Don Ellzey AMITE -- It took the Tangipahoa Parish School Board three and one-half hours on May 15 to agree to proposals submitted by the administration to bring next year's budget into balance,...
May 24, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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TANGI SCHOOL BOARD McDaniel asks for new discussion for paddling in schools
By Don Ellzey AMITE -- The Tangipahoa Parish School Board may be asked to take another look at its prohibition against corporal punishment--paddling. Board member Gail McDaniel asked during the Ma...
May 24, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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TANGI SCHOOL BOARD: James Tymon calls for improvements for Independence Middle Magnet
By Don Ellzey AMITE -- The president of the Independence Middle Magnet School PTA asked the Tangipahoa Parish School Board during its May 22 meeting for assistance in making improvements at the sc...
May 24, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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HURRICANE PLANNING: How you can save state sales tax on storm-related items May 25-26
BATON ROUGE – Louisiana residents can save money on flashlights, batteries, generators and other emergency supplies during the 2013 Louisiana Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday on Saturday, ...
May 23, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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AMITE--Council member Jonathon Foster at the May 20 Amite city council meeting. Photo by Mark Mathes.
Amite council hires APD officer, security for $1500/year; tables Mayor Bel’s budget with cuts
AMITE—The Amite City Council agreed to hire a uniformed Amite Police officer to screen those who attend council meetings with a metal detector and a “wand” to spot weapons or other objects, at a c...
May 20, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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INDEPENDENCE--A delegation of solid waste professionals from China visited the Tangipahoa Parish Landfill Monday, May 20, at the invitation of parish President Gordon Burgess and landfill Director Terrance Stewart. Photo by Don Ellzey.
GOVERNMENT: Gordon Burgess, Terrance Stewart host Chinese delegation at Tangi landfill
INDEPENDENCE--A delegation of solid waste professionals from China visited the Tangipahoa Parish Landfill Monday, May 20, at the invitation of parish President Gordon Burgess and landfill Director ...
May 20, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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AMITE--School board members Gail McDaniel and Al Link exchange small talk prior to the May 15 meeting of the Finance Committee. Photo by Don Ellzey.
TANGI SCHOOL BOARD: Cuts in vacant jobs, transportation and busing; teachers to get raise. Still $1.4 million in red.
By Don Ellzey AMITE -- During a marathon three and one-half hour meeting that included some spittin' and spattin' between north and south Tangipahoa Parish members, the school board whittled a pro...
May 18, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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AMITE--Fire Chief Bruce Cutrer, left, and parish council member Greg Varnado, center, and council member Trent Forrest, talk fire department issues following the May 13 parish council meeting. Photo by Don Ellzey.
TANGI COUNCIL BIDS: Arena bids above budget, so new bids will be requested. Council accepts bids on other projects.
By Don Ellzey AMITE -- Start of construction on the events center at the Florida Parishes Arena off US 51 at Amite will be delayed somewhat after bids came in above what the parish has budgeted fo...
May 18, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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More Local News
TICKFAW--2013 Italian Festival Queen Kasey Daniels greets festival fans on the midway at the Italian Festival April 27 in Tickfaw. The festival midway is US 51, closed to traffic for the weekend. Photo by Mark Mathes.
Update. ITALIAN FESTIVAL: What you can see and do at 5th annual Tickfaw festival
2013 5th Italian Festival April 26, 27, 28 Our Lady of Pompeii Church grounds, Tickfaw. 2013 Italian Festival Queen  Kasey Donnel Daniels 2013 Italian Festival Calendar April 26- Ann...
Apr 27, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend
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Tangipahoa Registrar of Voters John Russell in July 2012. Photo by Mark Mathes.
ELECTIONS: Registrar Russell reports slow early voting on Tangi Schools tax elections in Amite, Hammond
AMITE--Early voting is slow on a Tangipahoa Parish-wide decision about the re-dedication an existing school tax, and another tax only for Hammond area property owners. Here are the unofficial vote...
Apr 25, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 7 7 recommendations | email to a friend
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HAMMOND--The Amite business community and city has a large delegation at the 2013 joint meeting of the Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation and parish chambers of commerce April 25 at Twelve Oaks Cafeteria on the Southeastern Louisiana University campus. From left: Ronnie Sistrunk, Amite Chamber president-elect; Chamber board member Mary Jo Robertson; Bracy's Nursery owner Randy Bracy; Chamber manager Ashley Adamson; Mayor Buddy Bel and city manager Vince LaBarbera. Photo by Don Ellzey.
Why Tangipahoa? 4 business operators tell why they chose this region at Southeastern forum
By Don Ellzey HAMMOND -- Tangipahoa Parish is an excellent business location because of its ready access to transportation and especially because of the support for business from parish and munici...
Apr 25, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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AMITE--Eunice Harris of Entergy (left) with Debi Fleming of the Tangipahoa Council on Aging.
Entergy's Eunice Harris donates $1,000 to Tangi Council on Aging
AMITE--The Tangipahoa Voluntary Council on Aging is constantly keeping the seniors active and involved. The council held a Bowl-A-Thon in March and will host a Walk for Seniors on May 17. “And E...
Apr 25, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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AMITE--Ryan Pourciau of Ponchatoula in TPSO booking photo.
Suspect Ryan Pourciau, 18, found by deputies under bed in Ponchatoula victim’s home. Family member sees a clue: bulletproof vest.
PONCHATOULA—Shooting suspect Ryan Pourciau was found hiding under a bed in the victim’s home around 3 p.m. Deputies and Pourciau exchanged gunshots, Sheriff Daniel Edwards said in a televised news...
Apr 24, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend
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Independence Mayor Mike Ragusa asked town departments to cut $30,000 to $40,000 from the current budget Aug. 13. Photo by Mark Mathes.
INDEPENDENCE HOUSING: Audit finds finances OK, questions how Mayor Ragusa appoints, terminates board members
INDEPENDENCE--The Housing Authority of Independence seems to have some weaknesses in how the five board members have been terminated and replaced by Independence Mayor Mike Ragusa. The audit for t...
Apr 23, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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AMITE--Veteran union leader Doris Flanagan has retired as president of the Tangipahoa Federation of Teachers and vice-president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. Elected to fill both positions is Ponchatoula High School teacher Kevin Crovetto. From left: LFT President Steve Monaghan, Doris Flanagan, Kevin Crovetto and LFT Vice President Dona Scully of Ponchatoula.
TANGI SCHOOLS: Union chief Crovetto asks that teachers be excused for BR rally
By Don Ellzey AMTE – The newly-elected president of the Tangipahoa Federation of Teachers urged the Tangiaphoa school board Tuesday, April 16, to allow teachers to attend an April 30 rally at the ...
Apr 17, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 5 5 recommendations | email to a friend
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AMITE--Who'd like to be Oyster King for a day? Well, Amite Police Chief Jerry Trabona decided to try the crown on for size April 12. The scene: City Hall. The crown: 2014 Oyster King Dick Covington. Trabona surrendered the crown before Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival court members arrived at 9:15 a.m. Photo by Mark Mathes.
Amite Oyster Festival King, Queen, Pearl greet Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival royals at City Hall
AMITE--The new 2014 Oyster Festival King, Queen and Pearl welcomed fellow royalty from the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival early Friday. They were rewarded with a champagne toast by Fire Chief Bru...
Apr 12, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 10 10 recommendations | email to a friend
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Captain Jason King, who came up with idea for training at the park, lets firefighter Payton Givens lead the way through the course. Photo by Stephanie Warren
TPFD #1 firefighters go through training using playground equipment
By: Stephanie Warren Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten property and civilian or natural populations and to rescue ...
Apr 09, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 7 7 recommendations | email to a friend
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AMITE--State Rep. John Bel Edwards pelts the parade crowd with signature go-cups at the annual Amite Oyster Festival Parade March 16. Photo by Mark Mathes.
What State Rep. John Bel Edwards of Amite says after Gov. Jindal drops his sales tax plan
BATON ROUGE—When Gov. Bobby Jindal dropped the bomb Monday that he was dropping his sales tax hikes, State Rep. John Bel Edwards was front and center. Edwards, D-Amite, is the first to announc...
Apr 08, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 5 5 recommendations | email to a friend
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GREENSBURG--Claretha James stands proudly with the staff outside St. Helena Parish Hospital. From left: Hospital CEO Naveed Awan, Director of Nursing Tawnia Crain, Jerry Lynn Ransboddim wound care nurse, Claretha James, Claretha's youngest daughter Carrinita Carter, Claretha's grand-daughter Tyneisha McClendon, Claretha's daughter Shirley McClendon and Lou Reynolds registered nurse. Photo by Stephanie Warren.
Woman wheeled in to Greensburg hospital paralyzed from neck down walks out 3 months later
GREENSBURG--Claretha James was born in 1930 in St. Helena Parish. She has lived in Greensburg her entire life. As a child growing up she witnessed a few changes with the times, but not many. Most ...
Apr 08, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 15 15 recommendations | email to a friend
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The survivors along with the k-9's, supporters and relayers walked their survivors lap around the arena. Photo by Stephanie Warren
North Tangi Relay For Life holds first annual Bark for Life campaign
The North Tangipahoa Parish Relay For Life held it's first annual Bark for Life campaign on Saturday, April 6 at the fairgrounds in Amite. The American Cancer Society Bark For Life honors the careg...
Apr 06, 2013 | 1 1 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend
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