Southeastern Louisiana University is kicking off the 40th season of its Fanfare fall festival with a week packed with music, theater and scholarship. The celebration begins Sept. 23 with a free “Then and Now” lecture by historian Lily Filson, who will explore Renaissance water-powered automata in “Animating the Divine: Water, Magic, and Knowledge in the Automata of Villa Pratolino,” at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. On Sept. 25, the Southeastern Wind Symphony performs “Inspirations,” a 7:30 p.m. Pottle Auditorium concert featuring works by William Schuman, Percy Grainger, Joel Puckett and the world premiere of a wind version of Quinn Mason’s “Inspiration! Festive Overture.” That same night, the Columbia Theatre in downtown Hammond hosts the Jefferson Performing Arts Society’s touring production of the hit Broadway musical “Waitress,” with music and lyrics by Grammy winner Sara Bareilles. Tickets for “Waitress” are $45 for adults and $25 for students, available at www.columbiatheatre.org or by calling 985-549-2787. Most other Fanfare events are free; details are available at 985-549-2999.
–St. Tammany Parish grand jury has indicted former Covington Police Deputy Chief Randall Joseph “Trey” Mahon III on 17 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile under 13, District Attorney Collin Sims announced. Mahon, 41, had previously faced five similar possession charges and one count of indecent behavior. Prosecutors said a joint investigation by the DA’s Special Victims Unit Task Force, Covington police, the Department of Homeland Security and New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs uncovered additional child sexual abuse material on his electronic devices and a cloud storage account. Mahon is set for arraignment and a bond hearing on Sept. 25.
–North Oaks Health System marked a major milestone Friday with a ribbon-cutting for its new Clinic Building 3, a five-story, 96,000-square-foot facility representing a $50 million investment in expanded specialty care on the Northshore. Located at 15795 Paul Vega, MD, Drive, the clinic brings together 20 providers across nine specialties—from endocrinology and neurology to oncology and pain management—along with a blood draw lab, optical shop, prescription center and a PJ’s Coffee café. President and CEO Michele K. Sutton said the project underscores a commitment to keep care local and future-ready, noting North Oaks has added more than 900 jobs and recruited over 60 specialized providers in the past three years. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller hailed the hospital system as an economic driver with an estimated $2.7 billion impact, calling the new building a boost for both healthcare access and regional growth.
–AN 17 reports that negotiations between the South Tangipahoa Port Commission and its largest tenant, Premier Chemicals, remain unresolved despite months of talks over a new lease agreement. Port attorney Andre Coudrain told commissioners earlier this month that two sticking points are a proposed 50-year lease covering both warehouses—one currently under a 25-year contract and the other month-to-month—and steep insurance costs that affect both sides. The port is seeking $25,000 a month plus $400 for rail car rentals, up from the current $19,000. Premier manager Andy Parker has agreed to regular inspections of the warehouses, one used for chemical blending and the other for storage, with Arcane Inspection Services set to perform the next review for $3,600. Commissioners noted the tenant is responsible for all maintenance. In other business, officials said a small drainage project between the two buildings will be postponed and incorporated into a larger $12 million transloading project funded mostly by the state Department of Transportation and Development.
–Louisiana State Police say 23-year-old Sarah Stone of Madisonville was killed last week in a two-vehicle crash on LA 444 near Acosta Lane in Livingston Parish. Investigators report Stone was driving east in a 2002 Honda Civic when she failed to negotiate a right curve, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a westbound 2014 Peterbilt tow truck. Stone, who was properly restrained, died at the scene, while the truck driver suffered minor injuries. Troopers said impairment is not suspected but routine toxicology tests are pending as the investigation continues.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office honored Deputy Marylin “Mary” Mayo over the weekend on the first anniversary of her death, remembering her courage and sacrifice. Mayo was 26 in June 2007 when a violent thunderstorm struck as she rode in a funeral procession for a fellow deputy. A falling pine tree crushed the patrol car, killing her fiancé, Sgt. Beau Raimer, and leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. She died on Sept. 21, 2023, from complications related to those injuries. Sheriff Randy Smith asked the community to keep Mayo’s family and friends in their prayers as the department reflected on her service and resilience. Meanwhile the Mandeville Police Department marked six years since the line-of-duty death of Capt. Vincent “Vinnie” Liberto Jr., honoring his service and sacrifice. Liberto, a U.S. Marine veteran and respected leader within the department, was killed on Sept. 20, 2019, during a traffic stop that turned violent, a tragedy that left the city in shock and grief. In a statement, officers and community members reflected on his enduring legacy of dedication to family and community, pledging to remember his life and the example he set while continuing to “have his six” in spirit.
–The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, working with the state health and wildlife agencies, has begun testing seafood from the Tangipahoa River and nearby Lake Pontchartrain for possible contamination linked to runoff from the Smitty’s Supply fire in Roseland. The first sampling round started Sept. 18 and uses standard Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries methods to collect fish and other species for analysis of heavy metals and petroleum-related hydrocarbons, with control samples taken from unaffected Bayou Lacombe. Accredited labs will conduct EPA-approved tests and share interim updates after each round, with a final report to follow once trends are clear. Officials said the effort, which includes consultation with the EPA and multiple rounds of testing over several months to detect any bioaccumulation, will determine whether seafood consumption advisories are needed to protect public health.
–Keep Hammond Beautiful is inviting residents to pitch in for its Fall Clean Ups, set for the fourth Saturday of September, October and November. The first cleanup will be Saturday, Sept. 27, starting at 8 a.m. at the new digital sign on the corner of SW Railroad Avenue and E. Coleman Street. Volunteers will receive litter sticks, garbage bags, gloves and safety vests to collect trash along downtown sidewalks and green spaces. KHB’s monthly Glass Recycling Program also continues this Saturday, Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Hammond Farmers and Artisans Market, where volunteers can help staff the table or drop off glass for recycling. Upcoming events include the KHB board meeting Oct. 16, another glass recycling day Oct. 18, and the next community cleanup Oct. 25. More information is available on the Keep Hammond Beautiful Facebook page.
–Construction of Tangipahoa Parish’s new Loranger Branch Library is progressing well, according to Tangi Library officials. The upcoming 7,000-square-foot facility will replace the current 1,770-square-foot branch and include meeting rooms, an outdoor plaza and other modern amenities. Library leaders credited Tangipahoa Parish Government, the Louisiana state government and State Rep. Nicholas Muscarello Jr. for helping secure $500,000 in state funding to launch the project, which they say will serve Loranger residents and the wider parish for years to come.
–Southeastern Louisiana University is gearing up for Homecoming 2025, with celebrations beginning Monday, October 13, and culminating in the Homecoming football game on Saturday, October 18. The university plans a full week of events for alumni, students, and the community, with details to be announced in the coming weeks. Southeastern also thanked its Alumni Tailgate sponsors, Fidelity Bank Louisiana and NOLA Lending, for supporting the festivities.
