The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of retired K9 Cenzo, the longtime partner and companion of Deputy Rob Edwards, who passed away at age 16. Born in the Czech Republic in 2009, Cenzo joined the department in 2010 and served until 2015, earning certification through the North American Police Work Dog Association and excelling in tracking, narcotics detection, evidence recovery, and suspect apprehension. Known for numerous narcotics seizures and successful tracks, Cenzo was equally beloved for his gentle nature, often visiting coworkers for affection and enjoying a happy retirement of swimming and playing catch. Sheriff Randy Smith said Cenzo’s service and loyalty left an enduring mark on the agency and community.
–The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Hammond has announced two standout fall events, starting with the world premiere of The Graveyard Girls, a new Halloween play by Tommy Jamerson that follows a group of teens swapping scary stories in a secluded cemetery. Performances are set for 7 p.m. on October 17 and 24, and 2 p.m. on October 18, 19, and 25 in the theatre’s intimate Studio Theatre, with an original score by Voice of the Enemy’s Hayden Kimball. Artistic Director Jim Winter describes the PG-13 production as perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Tales from the Crypt. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students and children, recommended for ages 13 and up. Earlier in the month, on October 2 at 7:30 p.m., the venue will host A Tapestry of Sound and Movement, a collaborative concert featuring Southeastern Louisiana University’s Wind Symphony, Gospel Choir, Saxophone Ensemble, Bella Voce, dance ensembles, and opera scenes, with theatre students serving as emcees. Tickets for that performance are $20 for adults and $15 for students and children, while SLU students are admitted free with ID. Both events are at 220 East Thomas Street, and tickets are available now at www.columbiatheatre.org.
–The Hammond Police Department is investigating a September 8 burglary at Walmart, 2799 West Thomas Street, in which an unidentified suspect stole about $8,000 from a lock box. Security footage shows the suspect hiding inside the store until closing, then disguising himself as an employee to enter a restricted area around 12:38 a.m. Detectives ask anyone with information to contact Detective Dustin Williams at 985-277-5755 or williams_dj@hammond.org.
–Southeastern Louisiana University has named David A. Cavell its 2025 Young Alumnus of the Year, honoring the 2011 business management graduate during the university’s Centennial Homecoming celebration. Cavell, now state government affairs director for Dow, Inc. in the Southeast, previously served nearly a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives as district director for Congressman Garret Graves and district representative for Congressman Bill Cassidy, and has held leadership roles in higher education and political campaigns. He will be recognized at the Alumni Awards Evening on Oct. 17, which will also honor 2025 Alumnus of the Year District Attorney Scott Perrilloux and other distinguished faculty, staff, and alumni.
–St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape is asking the public for help locating relatives of two women who recently died of natural causes in unrelated incidents. Investigators say 67-year-old Dale Serene Martin was found dead July 15 at her home on Cedarwood Drive in Mandeville; despite extensive searches, no next of kin have been found, and records in her native Trinidad and Tobago show no trace of her family. On August 5, 74-year-old Julia Elaine Brown was discovered deceased at her home in Abita Springs, and efforts to identify relatives have also failed. Brown was reportedly born in Central Europe and adopted by a U.S. military serviceman and his wife, who had no other children. Anyone with information on either woman’s family is urged to contact Investigator Chris Knoblauch at 985-781-1150.
–The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana has officially broken ground on the new Doug A. Brooks Family Donor Fund Clubhouse in Covington, located at the northeast corner of West 29th Avenue and North Tyler Street. This new facility will serve youth ages 6–18, offering after-school and summer programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, good character, and citizenship. In 2024, Clubs across Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, New Orleans, and Slidell collectively served over 1,000 kids and teens. Local leaders, including President Cooper and Councilman Strickland, were on hand for the groundbreaking, underscoring community commitment to expanding youth development resources.
–Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert, joined by Councilman David Dunham, city officials, and community leaders, cut the ribbon this week on the city’s new Automated Floodgate and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Monitoring System near the Lee Street Drainage Basin, a $250,000 project funded through a Louisiana State Appropriations Budget secured by former Senator Sharon Hewitt. The upgrade retrofits an existing manual floodgate with a motorized actuator for rapid automatic operation during heavy rains and adds a SCADA system that allows Public Operations staff to monitor and control the gate remotely in real time. Designed by GIS Engineering and built by Gill’s Crane & Dozer Services, the project is the second recent stormwater improvement in south Slidell, following the groundbreaking of the new Riecke Retention Pond.
–U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced that Louisiana airports will receive a total of $46.7 million in federal grants from the Federal Aviation Administration, funded through Cassidy’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Airport Improvement Program. The money will support safety upgrades, runway extensions, drainage improvements, and new hangar construction at airports statewide. The largest award, $20.24 million, goes to Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport to extend Taxiway L by 6,500 feet to meet current federal standards.
–Washington Parish Fire District 1 is urging residents to avoid any outdoor burning after a blaze consumed 16 acres Monday along Highway 25 and Bethel Road. Although no official burn ban is in place, firefighters warn that extremely dry conditions make the area vulnerable to wildfires. Crews from the Franklinton Fire Department, District 2, St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 5, and the state forestry service helped extinguish the fire, preventing damage to nearby homes. Officials caution that even a small ember could spark a major fire and ask residents to exercise extra care to protect their neighbors and property.
–Southeastern Louisiana University is inviting soon-to-be graduates to its Grad Fair, a one-stop event for all commencement needs, on Tuesday, Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the third-floor Student Union Ballroom. Students can purchase caps and gowns, order class rings and commencement invitations, and take graduation photos while getting information about alumni services as they prepare to celebrate their achievements.
