The Slidell Police Department has once again partnered with Cross Gates Family Fitness to spread holiday cheer through its annual “Give a Bike to a Kid” drive, an initiative focused on promoting healthy, active, and fun lifestyles for local children this Christmas. Community members can support the effort by donating a new, assembled bike or helmet at any Cross Gates Family Fitness location or by making a monetary donation through the QR code, with all proceeds used to purchase bikes and safety gear. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 20, and Slidell Police School Resource Officers will distribute vouchers to children in need, serving as invitations to the bike pickup event scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cross Gates Family Fitness Gause Boulevard location. Organizers say the goal is simple: to give children a Christmas gift that keeps them active, smiling, and moving all year long.
–The Tangipahoa Chamber is urging businesses and community partners to register this week for its 2026 Annual Installation and Awards Luncheon, set for Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Southeastern Student Union Grand Ballroom in Hammond. The event, presented by Intralox, is expected to draw more than 350 business leaders, with more than 240 seats already reserved and the registration deadline set for Friday, Dec. 18. Reserved tables and individual tickets remain available, but no tickets will be sold at the door. The luncheon will recognize the 2025 Businesses of the Year, along with outstanding volunteers, including the Frances Chauvin Volunteer of the Year, Board Member of the Year, Ambassador of the Year, and the Chamber’s 2026 Premier Investors. Additional information and registration details are available on the Tangipahoa Chamber’s website or by calling 985-345-4457.
–St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services is urging residents to protect their pets as freezing temperatures are expected in the coming days. Officials remind pet owners to bring dogs indoors and to politely alert neighbors if they notice animals left outside, emphasizing that all animals must be shielded from extreme cold under both Louisiana state law (LA R.S. 14.102) and parish minimum care standards. Shelters must keep pets warm—standard igloo-style dog houses are insufficient. If an animal is observed outside in frigid conditions after hours, the department asks residents to call 985-809-0183, where an answering service is available for emergency reports from 4:30 p.m. to 7:59 a.m. the following morning.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office invites all senior citizens to attend the annual Deputy’s Association Holiday Luncheon today. Doors open at 8 a.m., with the program starting at 10 a.m., and no reservations are required. Attendees can enjoy entertainment from Rockin’ Ron and a special visit from Santa and friends. The event is made possible thanks to the generous support of local sponsors.
–The Lobby Lounge at the Harbor Center will host its first-ever Christmas Concert on December 17, featuring Hannah Belle. The show will include Hannah’s country hits, original Christmas songs, and classic holiday tunes for audience sing-alongs. Festive decorations will be on display, and Santa will be available for photos. Proceeds from the event will benefit Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organization providing aid to people affected by war, poverty, and natural disasters worldwide. Advance tickets are available with priority reserved seating and optional table upgrades, and top donors will receive special Samaritan’s Purse mementos.
–A 61-year-old Laplace man was killed Thursday evening following a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 in St. Tammany Parish, according to Louisiana State Police. Troopers with Troop L responded around 7 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2025, to the crash near LA 433 (Old Spanish Trail), where preliminary findings show Brian Chappell was riding a 2011 Harley-Davidson westbound in the right lane when the motorcycle crossed into the center lane and struck the right rear of a westbound 2019 Cadillac Escalade. Chappell lost control, left the roadway, and crashed into a ditch. Despite wearing a DOT-approved helmet, he suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger on the motorcycle, also wearing a DOT-approved helmet, was transported to a local hospital and remains in critical condition. The driver of the Cadillac was properly restrained and uninjured. Routine toxicology samples were collected from both drivers, and the crash remains under investigation. State Police urge all motorists to make safe and responsible decisions, including obeying speed limits, wearing proper safety equipment, never driving impaired, and considering motorcycle operator training courses offered through the Department of Public Safety.
–U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), is scheduled to join the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on Monday, Dec. 15, at the organization’s New Orleans headquarters to mark President Trump’s signing of the SUPPORT Act into law. The legislation strengthens prevention, treatment, and recovery services for Americans struggling with substance use disorders and mental illness. Cassidy will be joined by NAMI representatives, law enforcement officials, and Louisiana families who have lost loved ones to the fentanyl crisis for the event, which will be held at NAMI’s headquarters at 4403 Canal St. in New Orleans.
–The Hammond Regional Arts Center is spreading holiday cheer with its Holiday Gift Edition newsletter, spotlighting creative and one-of-a-kind gift ideas available at HRAC for all ages and interests. Featured offerings include ARTisTRY Spring Season Passes for children, teens, and adults, providing discounted access to four hands-on art classes from February through May 2026, with projects ranging from sculpture and clay to drawing and painting. Also highlighted is Art of the Cocktail 2026, set for Feb. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at HRAC, with tickets available as a festive gift option, including a VIP upgrade that offers early entry, cocktail sampling, and an extra vote for favorite drinks. More information on exhibitions, classes, and events is available at www.hammondarts.org.
–Border Patrol agents arrested three men Saturday at a construction site in Slidell, at the Lakeshore Condominiums just east of I-10. Cell phone video shows the men being led off the unfinished building’s roof, handcuffed, and placed into a Border Patrol truck. Legal experts note that construction sites without finished walls or locked gates, like this one, do not afford individuals a “reasonable expectation of privacy,” allowing agents to approach and question people without a warrant. A Border Patrol spokesperson provided details of a similar December 13 operation in Metairie, where three subjects fled onto a construction site roof and were apprehended after assistance from local police and fire departments. All three men from the Slidell site remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
–Florida Parish Human Services, Harmony Center Inc., and Roro Purpose LLC will host Kidsmas Day on Dec. 21, a parish-wide holiday celebration centered on drug-free education, substance abuse prevention, and spreading Christmas cheer to children and families from Kentwood to Manchac. The free event will begin at 3 p.m. at 1541 CB Temple Road in Kentwood and is designed to create positive interactions between children and community leaders who promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles. Pastors, teachers, elected officials, candidates, vendors, and organizations are invited to participate at no cost, reinforcing a unified commitment to the next generation. The event will feature a special appearance by Trashica “Keysha” Robinson, author of Christmas of Hope, CEO of Roro Purpose LLC, and former mayor of the Village of Tangipahoa, who will read to children and share messages of encouragement and empowerment. Attendees will also have opportunities to highlight prevention programs, engage families through positive activities, share community resources, and build partnerships aimed at creating a healthier and safer 2026. For more information or to participate as a vendor or partner, email rtrashica@yahoo.com.
–Tangipahoa Tourism President and CEO Carla Tate is encouraging residents to celebrate safely this holiday season by sharing online personal Christmas stories and a festive mocktail recipe as part of Tangipahoa – Reshaping Attitudes for Community Change’s (TRACC) “Six for the Season” campaign. The initiative promotes responsible decision-making during the holidays by highlighting alcohol-free options and positive community habits that help reduce impaired driving and substance misuse. Through partnerships with local leaders, organizations, and families, TRACC works to strengthen prevention efforts and foster healthier choices across Tangipahoa Parish. Additional mocktail videos and recipes from the “Six for the Season” campaign can be found at www.sixfortheseason.com.
–The Blood Center says this December, donate blood at participating donor centers for a chance to win an exclusive, framed, and signed print by renowned artist Terrance Osborne! Each week, three lucky donors will be randomly selected to receive one of these unique collector’s items, which can’t be bought anywhere else. Winners will be contacted every Friday to arrange pickup or delivery. Not only could you walk away with a stunning piece of art, but your donation will also help patients in need right here in our community. It’s a holiday gift that gives twice—so be a hero and donate blood today!
–Petty Officer 1st Class Lauren Sierra’s Navy journey began in the small village of Albany, Louisiana, where the values of adaptability, hard work, and community shaped her path to military service. A 2015 graduate of Albany High School, Sierra said growing up in south Louisiana—amid cultural diversity, frequent natural disasters, and long days of outdoor labor—prepared her for the demands of Navy life. She joined the Navy seven years ago after leaving college due to financial hardship, viewing military service as a steppingstone to stability, education benefits, and opportunity. Today, Sierra serves as a legalman assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Four (VQ-4) in Oklahoma City, supporting Strategic Communications Wing One and the Navy’s critical “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) mission, which provides airborne communications to U.S. nuclear forces. Though stationed on an Air Force base in a landlocked state, the assignment is strategically vital, allowing rapid global deployment. As the U.S. Navy marks its 250th anniversary this year, Sierra’s story reflects how service members from small communities contribute to missions of national and global significance.
