The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested 40-year-old Connie Noel Estes of Slidell in connection with the August 13 hit-and-run that killed a child on Northshore Lane. Investigators say the young boy was riding a scooter in his driveway when he was struck by a passing vehicle that fled the scene. The child’s mother rushed him to a hospital, where he later died. Deputies initially arrested another man based on early evidence, but further investigation determined his vehicle was not involved. Detectives later identified a silver Nissan Armada, driven by Estes, as the suspect vehicle. Estes, also known as Connie Noel Flettrich or Noel Gorgone, was arrested Thursday evening and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on charges of Felony Hit and Run with Death or Serious Bodily Injury and Felony Obstruction of Justice. Sheriff Randy Smith emphasized that speculation about personal connections influencing the case is false, adding, “I am deeply disgusted that someone would strike a child and leave them to die.”
–In the early afternoon of Sept. 1, a damaged tank at the Smitty’s Supply facility in Tangipahoa Parish overpressurized, blowing out the roof but causing no injuries or further damage, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s South Central Region. EPA said response crews are checking other tanks for pressure concerns following the Aug. 22 explosion and fire at the site that prompted a one-mile evacuation. Within hours of being notified of the August incident, EPA deployed an on-scene coordinator, technical contractors, and its ASPECT aircraft to assist with community air monitoring and safety efforts. The agency said 18 EPA staff and contractors remain on the ground, working in Unified Command with state and parish officials, the National Weather Service, and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security. Residents experiencing health effects were urged to contact their medical provider or the Louisiana Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that search and rescue efforts were underway on Lake Pontchartrain after a sailboat struck the Causeway near mile marker 14 early Sunday morning, sending two people overboard. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a female passenger, but the male remained missing. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is leading the investigation, with assistance from STPSO’s Marine Division, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Coast Guard. Authorities say residents can expect a high police presence on the lake as search operations, which were suspended at dark Sunday, resumed at first light Monday morning.
–On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) is marking major progress in storm surge defense and coastal restoration, reporting that projects since 2005 have cut statewide flood damages by nearly 60%. Formed in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, CPRA has secured $21.6 billion in funding, rebuilt nearly 400 miles of levees, restored more than 93,000 acres of land, and constructed over 70 miles of barrier islands and berms. A retrospective study by The Water Institute and Purdue University confirmed the scale of those gains, showing that the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System—built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with CPRA—prevented up to $165 billion in damages during Hurricane Isaac alone. CPRA Executive Director Michael Hare said the results show Louisiana is “safer, stronger, and more resilient,” while officials emphasized that the investments made since Katrina continue to protect lives, livelihoods, and coastal ecosystems.
–The St. Tammany Parish Library is celebrating National Library Card Sign-Up Month in September with its annual Food for Fines program, allowing patrons to erase late fees by donating non-perishable food items. Each item clears $1 in fines, with donations supporting parish food banks and, for the first time, the parish’s Pet Food Pantry to aid struggling pet owners. This year’s theme, “Kickoff Your Imagination with a Library Card,” ties into both football season and the power of reading, with branches decorated in football style and hosting themed activities. The effort also highlights September’s Hunger Action Month, a national campaign to raise awareness about food insecurity.
–The Covington Business Association (CBA) will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at The Atrium at Christwood, 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington. A social will take place from 5:30 to 6 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6 p.m. sharp. The gathering is open to CBA members and first-time guests only, and attendees are encouraged to bring a door prize donation if they wish.
–Rain on Friday delayed soil cement operations in Tangipahoa Parish, pushing work on Baytown Hills Road to after the Labor Day holiday, Parish President Robby Miller announced. Overlay crews were off Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of Labor Day and will resume Tuesday, Sept. 2, with shoulder dressing on multiple parish roads, patching on Brown Road, Baytown Hills, Company Town, and Johnson Holton Road, and soil cement work on Baytown Hills. All work is weather-dependent, and motorists should expect delays in construction zones; updates are available at www.Tangipahoa.org and on TPG social media channels.
–Louisiana native and New York Times bestselling author Erica Spindler will headline the Hammond Regional Arts Center’s annual Celebrating the Written Word program on Saturday, Sept. 13, sharing her experiences adapting her acclaimed suspense novels for television and film. The ticketed event, set for 2–4 p.m. at Tope La Catering in downtown Hammond, will feature afternoon tea by Fleur de Lis Tea Company of Amite and treats by Tope La in a literary-themed setting. Organizers describe Spindler as a “warm, witty and fascinating speaker” whose storytelling continues to captivate fans worldwide through more than 40 published novels. Tickets are $25 for the public and $20 for HRAC or Friends of Sims Library members, available at www.hammondarts.org.
–Washington Parish authorities confirmed that both inmates who escaped custody earlier have been recaptured. Corey Ard, 21, was located around 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 25 and Highway 16, while Kaid Elliott, 21, was found at 10:11 p.m. behind the Cargill Animal Nutrition Plant in Franklinton. Both men are now back in custody.
–Jaylon Carter, 24, of Covington, Louisiana, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to three counts of distributing fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced. Court documents show that in January 2024, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office received information that Carter was selling “M30 blue pills” from his apartment complex and vehicle, leading detectives to conduct three controlled purchases. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and STPSO, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
–Hammond Ballet has announced open auditions for young dancers ages 4 and up to join the cast of its 2025 production of The Nutcracker, marking the company’s 29th anniversary performance of the holiday classic. Dancers from across the community are invited to take part in the beloved tradition, which has become a magical centerpiece of the holiday season in Hammond. Full audition details and registration are available at www.hammondballet.com.
–Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center in Ponchatoula has announced NOCTURNE: A Twilight Celebration of Light and Music, a fundraising gala set for Saturday, Oct. 4, from 7–10 p.m. that promises an evening unlike anything Tangipahoa Parish has seen. The two historic churches that house Twin Steeples will be transformed into canvases for a projection mapping light show by New Orleans artist Jesse Ide, with additional artwork by Ashely Franklin and Malaika Theodore, plus an interactive light installation. Guests will enjoy food from local restaurants, drinks from Benny’s Place, live DJ music, and opportunities to bid in a silent auction and raffle, including a grand prize weeklong stay in a Perdido Key beachfront condo. Tickets are $75 for general admission and $100 for VIP, which includes premium seating and a signature cocktail, with all proceeds supporting Twin Steeples’ mission to bring arts and culture to the Northshore.
–St. Tammany Fire District 1 reports that crews from Station 18 responded to an incident at Slidell Airport yesterday after a skydiver experienced a rough landing and suffered a broken leg. Firefighters provided immediate medical care at the scene before the individual was transported by Acadian Ambulance to Slidell Memorial Hospital’s main campus for further treatment.
–The Louisiana Food Truck Festival, presented by Silver Slipper Casino Hotel, will return to The Harbor Center on Saturday, September 6, attracting over 2,000 attendees. Sponsorship and vendor booth opportunities are now available for businesses looking to showcase their brand at this popular event. Interested parties can reserve their spot by contacting Jessica at jessica@harborcenter.org or by calling 985-781-3650.
–The Parkinson’s community will gather on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Lafreniere Park in Metairie for Louisiana Walks for Parkinson’s, an annual fundraiser benefiting the Parkinson’s Foundation. Registration opens at 9 a.m., with the optional walk beginning at 11 a.m., followed by live music, food and beverages, a kids’ corner, a silent auction, and raffle opportunities including a Liquor Wagon and Parade of Prizes. Organizers say the event is designed to support both local programs and national research aimed at improving care and moving closer to a cure. “Louisiana Walks for Parkinson’s is about community, hope, and action,” said founder and Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador Michelle Lane.
