The Children’s Museum of St. Tammany announced that Joey Roberts has been named its new executive director, bringing a background in education, nonprofit leadership, and community service to the role. Roberts, a former YMCA executive director, educator, and current Covington City Council member, is known for his passion for art, youth development, and public service. In a statement, he said he is excited to help the museum “inspire, motivate, and educate” children across the region and views the position as both a professional and personal opportunity. As executive director, Roberts will lead the museum’s hands-on learning initiatives, expand partnerships with schools and community organizations, and help shape its future growth.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a man and woman were found dead Monday morning at a home in the Money Hill subdivision near Abita Springs. Deputies were called to a residence on Orchard Row just before 7 a.m. after a neighbor reported hearing possible gunshots the night before. Responding deputies discovered a deceased woman near the front door and a deceased man inside the home. Detectives with the Major Crimes Division are leading the investigation, and while details remain limited, the sheriff’s office said all individuals involved were believed to be accounted for at that time.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Library has launched its annual African American Honorary Service Award, highlighting exceptional middle and high school students who are making a meaningful impact in the community. The announcement is accompanied by a seasonal safety campaign image featuring a local tourism team promoting responsible celebrations — a reminder of how community leadership shines in many forms. Library officials say the award recognizes African-American youth who demonstrate leadership, compassion, and a commitment to service, whether through volunteering, mentoring, or advocating for positive change in Tangipahoa Parish. Nominations are now open at tangilibrary.com and will be accepted through Friday, January 9, 2026, at 5 p.m. The library encourages parents, educators, and community members to honor the young people who inspire others and help strengthen the parish through their everyday actions.
–District Attorney Collin Sims announced a major milestone on the Northshore, reporting that a unified effort between the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the DEA, and local law enforcement has led to historic reductions in fentanyl-related overdose deaths over the past two years. Through the multi-agency “Trifecta” model, which merges federal, state, and local resources, St. Tammany Parish has seen a 70% decline in fentanyl deaths, with Washington Parish down 58.5% and Tangipahoa Parish down 45.3%. Sims said the results show the life-saving power of intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement targeting cartel networks and local dealers, including pursuing second-degree murder charges when distribution leads to death. Families of victims Nicholas Platt and Jacob Massi spoke at the announcement, underscoring the human toll behind the statistics. Sims said their stories reinforce the district’s commitment to holding traffickers accountable and preventing future tragedies.
–Nearly two years into the regional “Trifecta” initiative for a “Fentanyl Free America,” officials say the partnership—led by the DEA New Orleans Division and supported locally by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office—is driving major progress in the fight against deadly opioids. New data shows 2025 fentanyl overdose deaths dropping 45% in Tangipahoa Parish, 58% in Washington Parish, and 70% in St. Tammany Parish, reductions authorities attribute to coordinated enforcement, targeted arrests, market disruption, and increased public awareness and treatment outreach. “Every bit of the work our men and women do every day is to stop the next overdose,” Sheriff Gerald Sticker said, noting TPSO’s continued participation in Operation Angel, a program that allows individuals battling addiction to seek free treatment at any sheriff’s office location without fear of legal consequences. Officials say the strategy is saving lives, reshaping the local drug landscape, and still gaining momentum.
–Tangipahoa Parish school officials say they’ve taken an “all hands on deck” approach to campus safety, with Superintendent Melissa Stilley emphasizing that protecting students and staff is “an absolute highest priority” and a daily commitment to families. The district has expanded its multi-layered security strategy this year, adding perimeter fencing, controlled access gates, metal detectors, and security wands at all middle and high schools, while also integrating routine K9 searches for drugs and weapons. Handlers Chris Gideon and Marshal Dean recently conducted the first sweep of the school year at Sumner High, part of a rotation that now includes both high schools and participating middle schools. Assistant Superintendent Ron Genco said the teams search entire campuses—classrooms, hallways, and parking lots—and praised families after a recent sweep found nothing of concern. Gideon also commended the professionalism he’s witnessed across campuses, saying public perception often doesn’t match the reality of well-run schools. Sheriff Gerald Sticker noted that TPSO continues to station school resource officers and security personnel where needed and stands ready to adapt as safety needs evolve. Alongside personnel, the district has implemented ID badges, monitored entry points, locked exterior doors, clear-bag policies at athletic events, crisis planning, and mandatory safety drills. Officials urge the community to report concerns through the Crime Stoppers P3 Tips app, stressing that maintaining safe, orderly campuses is essential to providing students “a pathway to success.”
–St. Tammany Parish officials announced that a $1.3 million project to repave Harrison Avenue from LA 59 to I Street will begin in early January, with completion expected in the spring. Parish leaders said the work is part of President Mike Cooper and the Parish Council’s ongoing push to upgrade local infrastructure. They also noted that a separate project to widen the same stretch of Harrison Avenue is slated to start in early 2027.
–As of last night police were searching for two teens accused in a deadly Nov. 12 shooting that left Chadrick McGaffney dead inside his vehicle on Wall Street just before 10:30 p.m. Investigators say surveillance video captured two men walking in the area moments before gunfire erupted, followed by a white car fleeing the scene. Warrants have been issued for 18-year-old Kymani Nunnery of Liberty and 19-year-old Jeffrey Sibley of Gonzales, Louisiana, both wanted for first-degree murder, and authorities believe the pair may be in the New Orleans area. Anyone with information is urged to contact the McComb Police Department at 601-684-6991.
–The Covington Heritage Foundation invites the public to step into holiday cheer on its 2025 History & Holly Home Tour, set for Sunday, December 14, from 2 to 5 p.m. in historic downtown Covington. The self-guided tour features a curated selection of historic homes, new homes with classic charm, and local landmarks adorned in festive décor, while friendly docents share stories about the city’s architecture and heritage. Guests can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the seasonal ambiance, perfect for families and visitors, with registration at the Chapel at Saint Paul’s, 917 S. Jahncke Ave. Parking is available along the Saint Paul’s campus or at the Justice Center lot on Jefferson Avenue.
–When the curtain closes on February 5 for the Tangipahoa Parish School System’s Talented Theatre Movie Project premiere, it will also mark the close of a 27-year run for the unique student-led program founded by longtime Talented Theatre teacher Charley Vance. Launched in the late 1990s with a $600 grant and expanded over the years through additional funding, the initiative has involved thousands of students who have collectively created 80 original films—each one conceived, written, and developed entirely by the teens. Vance says the project, which has earned five national awards and remains the only program of its kind in Louisiana, teaches far more than filmmaking, giving students lifelong skills in imagination, conflict resolution, and confidence. As he prepares to retire next spring, Vance describes this year’s group as especially dedicated, even as they juggle the program without earning Carnegie credit. Their final slate includes three films—Seven Deadly Sins, a symbolic tale built around metaphorical characters; a story about a girl whose garage-sale necklace grants prophetic visions; and Lessons Learned, following a student overcoming past behavioral struggles. The district has upgraded the Amite High School Auditorium with a theater-grade projector and wide screen for the premiere, which Vance says will feel “just like going to the movies.” The final world premiere is set for Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 7 p.m., and Vance invites the community to attend and celebrate the students’ creativity.
–At least twenty-three Louisiana law enforcement agencies, including the Kenner, Hammond, Gretna, and Pearl River police departments, have joined a federal partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under a revived 287(g) task force model, giving local officers authority to detain undocumented immigrants. The program, which has roots in older agreements but was canceled in 2012 over profiling concerns, allows certified officers to verify immigration status and act in coordination with ICE, rather than waiting for federal agents. Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley says the initiative improves public safety by removing criminal migrants more efficiently, while immigration attorney Homero Lopez Jr. warns it could redirect local resources from traditional policing and expand enforcement authority to stops based primarily on immigration status. Fifteen Kenner officers are currently certified or undergoing training, with plans to expand participation across the force.
–Skywatchers are in for a treat this weekend as the Geminid meteor shower—one of the brightest and most reliable annual celestial displays—reaches its peak December 13–14, with ideal viewing conditions expected thanks to a dim waning crescent moon that won’t overpower the streaks of light. Under dark rural skies, observers could see as many as 120 meteors per hour, while suburban viewers may catch around 30, and heavily lit urban areas like Baton Rouge and New Orleans may see far fewer. Experts advise finding a rural spot away from city lights, watching between 10 p.m. and dawn, looking near Jupiter by the constellation Gemini where the meteors appear to originate, and allowing time for eyes to adjust. Cloud cover will be the final factor, with forecasters urging viewers to check updated conditions heading into the weekend.
–St. Tammany Parish will become the first parish in Louisiana to plant a “Liberty Tree” as part of the America 250 initiative, Parish President Mike Cooper announced, with a live oak sapling set to be placed on Koop Drive on December 9, 2025. Cooper said the tradition echoes the original Liberty Tree in Boston, a 1765 gathering point for early patriots that helped spark the American Revolution, and he called the new tree a meaningful symbol ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The sapling, donated by Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain, will be planted during a public ceremony at the St. Tammany Parish Government Complex in Mandeville. The Liberty Tree Program, introduced by the Sons of the American Revolution and supported by a 2025 legislative resolution encouraging each parish to participate, is one of several events planned locally for the America 250 celebration.
