The Tangipahoa Chamber’s highly anticipated Chillin’ with the Chamber $10,000 Raffle Party is back and set for Saturday, August 9, from 6:30–9:30 p.m. at the Chappapeela Sports Park Gymnasium. This exciting annual fundraiser plays a crucial role in helping the Chamber maintain the historic Hammond Train Depot and support a wide range of member programs and services that strengthen the local business community. Guests will enjoy an evening filled with lively entertainment, featuring live music by 3rd Street, delicious food and drinks from participating Chamber member vendors, a silent auction with more than 30 fantastic items up for bid, and a liquor pull where every participant takes home a bottle valued at $20 or more. Each $125 ticket admits two people and includes a chance to win either the $10,000 grand prize or a Large Big Green Egg in a Nest, generously donated by Gabriel Building Supply. Attendees do not have to be present to win. A special thank you goes to First Guaranty Bank for returning as this year’s Title Sponsor and helping make this signature Chamber event possible.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) is investigating a late-night shooting in the Fluker area that left an 8-year-old boy injured while sleeping in his home. Around 4 a.m., deputies responded to reports of gunfire on Guiteau Mill Road, where a mother later discovered a bullet hole in her house and found her son had been shot in the foot. As of yesterday, the child was listed in stable condition at a local hospital. Authorities are urging anyone with information—especially about potential suspects or vehicles involved—to contact TPSO or anonymously report tips through Crime Stoppers, where information could lead to a cash reward.
–Detectives with the Ponchatoula Police Department now believe that 17-year-old Gracie Vincent, last seen on July 8, 2025, in Ponchatoula, is a runaway juvenile based on new information obtained during the investigation. Authorities continue to seek the public’s help in locating her and urge anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective James McGovern at (985) 386-6548.
–The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has approved the establishment of two new Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) — Flatwoods Savanna in Allen Parish and Bogue Chitto in Washington Parish — during its July 9 meeting in Baton Rouge. Now open for non-consumptive activities such as hiking and wildlife viewing, the Flatwoods Savanna WMA covers 426 acres between Reeves and LeBlanc, while the Bogue Chitto WMA spans 1,642.5 acres south of Franklinton near Bogue Chitto State Park. The WMAs were created in partnership with the Trust for Public Land and funded in part by the Louisiana Outdoor Fund, with additional support from several conservation organizations and foundations. These areas aim to enhance public access to natural spaces and contribute to long-term conservation efforts across the state.
–It has now been three weeks since James Wood was last seen, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to search for answers in his disappearance. The last confirmed sighting of Wood was on June 19 at the LA 22 Mart in Ponchatoula, where surveillance footage shows him wearing all black and walking down Lee’s Landing Road, away from Highway 22. His vehicle, keys, and other personal belongings were later found at his home on River Road, where he lives alone. Although a few tips have come in, none have led to his location. Sheriff Gerald Sticker urges anyone with information to contact the TPSO Investigations Division at 985-902-2045 as detectives remain actively involved in the case.
–Beloved by British Invasion icons like The Rolling Stones and The Kinks, Baton Rouge blues legend Slim Harpo gets his due in King Bee: The Slim Harpo Story, airing this Sunday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. on the Southeastern Channel. Told through the voices of those who knew him—and Slim himself—the documentary explores the life and legacy of the man behind hits like “I’m a King Bee” and “Rainin’ in My Heart.” Harpo’s influence spans generations and genres, with more than 250 artists, including The Replacements and many more, having covered his timeless songs. Chances are, you’ve heard his music without even realizing it.
–AN17 reports that residents of Independence are breathing easier now that the Gulf Island Shrimp plant has relocated its shrimp peeling operations to another Louisiana facility, significantly reducing the foul odor that had plagued the area for years. City officials say the plant is now primarily used as a freezer for packed shrimp, and neighborhoods near the facility and a nearby grocery store have reported a noticeable improvement in air quality. The move followed nearly a year of legal and regulatory efforts by the city, aimed at bringing the plant into compliance with environmental standards. While the change led to layoffs, local leaders believe the impact on the town’s economy will be minimal, as the workers were not permanent residents. City officials continue to monitor the plant’s emissions daily to ensure ongoing compliance.
–Palette, a dynamic new co-working and community hub on the Northshore, was created to foster creativity, collaboration, and connection among local professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Born from a vision to bring people together in an inspiring space, Palette is quickly becoming a key resource for the region’s growing business and creative communities. Ahead of its Grand Opening Bash on Wednesday, August 13 from 6:30–8:30PM—with live music, food trucks, drinks, and tours of the new space—Palette is hosting its next networking event at The Arena Collective in Covington on Tuesday, July 22 from 5–7PM. This free, public event (registration required) highlights Arena’s role as a valuable corporate partner in Palette’s mission. Those eager to join can reserve a spot now for just $100 at www.palettenorthshore.com, with limited “Founding Memberships” still available—offering steep discounts and locked-in rates for years to come, but only through grand opening week.
–District Attorney Ricky Babin announced that Matthew Mire, 35, has pled guilty to multiple charges, including the 2021 ambush killing of Louisiana State Police Master Trooper Adam Gaubert, as part of a violent, multi-parish shooting spree that left two dead and three critically injured. Under a comprehensive plea agreement, Mire confessed in court to all crimes committed across Ascension, Livingston, and East Baton Rouge parishes and was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus hundreds of additional years, with no possibility of parole, appeal, or any form of early release. He will be formally sentenced later for remaining crimes in Livingston Parish but will remain imprisoned for the rest of his natural life.
