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Feliciana Explorer • Tuesday, June 10, 2014 • Vol. 4, No. 23 • Published Weekly • Circulation 17,000 • felicianaexplorer.com • © 2014

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See RAINY DAY on page 8

See WAR STOPPED page 8

Board votes 4 to 3 to tap into Rainy Day Fund to prevent catastrophic cutbacks in the schoolsWest Feliciana School Board Declares ExigencyBy Patricia Stallman

At its regular meeting May 27, the West Feliciana Parish School Board scheduled a subsequent special board meeting to allow members time before voting on the use of the Rainy Day Fund for school year 2014-15. During the May 27 meeting, Superintendent of Schools Hollis G. Milton reported the $496,000 he had already cut for the coming school year and stressed the likelihood that any further cuts could affect student achievement.

“Another solid year of testing”Milton opened the May 29 special

meeting with a brief report on the per-formance of West Feliciana’s public school students for 2013—14. Re-minding the Board, “Standards are ris-ing, and the tests are getting more dif-ficult,” Milton reported “another solid year of testing” for West Feliciana’s public schools.

For example, Milton said, “Thirty-five percent of our students scored

mastery or advanced on the State LEAP and iLEAP, which is second in the Capital-area region.” In the fourth grade, 12 students, a record number, achieved a 500—a perfect score—in mathematics. Further, at the eighth grade level, a record number of stu-dents scored in the excellent range on the end-of-course Algebra I exam.

News for the high school was also encouraging. “The high school grew in proficiency in end-of-course exams,” the superintendent said, with six of seven areas showing growth.

“The chart shows our tremendous growth in all areas since 2011,” he con-tinued. “The number of our students scoring excellent or good in Algebra I, Geometry, English II, English III, and U.S. History is at an all-time high.” As he had several times during his report, Milton thanked the students, teachers, staff, and parents for their hard work.

“It’s always important to celebrate,”

West Feliciana Middle School Principal Ben Necaise, left, and High School Principal Jim Carroll spoke at the May 29 special meeting of the parish school board. Both asked, in the name of their students, that the board approve use of the Rainy Day Fund for the next school year. Photo by Patricia Stallman.

By anne Butler

One Saturday in June each year marks The Day The War Stopped in the little 19th-century river town of St. Francisville, Louisiana. This is surely one of the most unusual and touch-ing of Civil War re-enactments, com-memorating the events of another hot June day in the year 1863, when a small procession trudged up the steep hill from the Mississippi River, sweat-ing in the summer heat and staggering under the weight of a coffin. The white flag of truce flew before them, and the guns of their federal gunboat, the USS Albatross, fell silent at anchor behind them as the ship’s surgeon and two of-ficers struggled toward St. Francisville atop the hill.

The procession was not an impres-sive one, certainly not an unusual event in the midst of a bloody war, and it would no doubt have escaped all notice

Day the War Stopped Celebration this Weekendbut for one fact--this was the day the war stopped, if only for a few mournful moments.

It was June 12, 1863, and 10 miles south of St. Francisville the Siege of Port Hudson was pitting 30,000 Union troops under Major General Nathaniel P. Banks against 6,800 weary Confed-erates under Major General Franklin Gardner, fighting over the all-impor-tant control of traffic on the Mississip-pi River. Port Hudson and Vicksburg were the only Rebel strongholds left along the Mississippi, and if the Union forces could gain control of the river traffic, they could cut off supplies from the West and completely surround the Confederacy. Admiral David Farragut had attempted to destroy Confederate cannons atop the Pt. Hudson bluffs from the river, but of his seven ships, only his flagship and the USS Alba-tross passed upriver safely, leaving

ground troops to fight it out for nearly another month.

Commanding the Albatross was Lt. Commander John E. Hart of Sche-nectady, New York. A young naval of-ficer whose bravery in life was renown, Commander Hart would have even more lasting impact through his death, for after having shelled St. Francisville, Hart “suicided,” died by his own hand in a fit of delirium, perhaps brought on by yellow fever, perhaps by remorse over some past military shortcoming. Hart was a Mason and had asked that his remains not be consigned to the river waters, so a delegation was sent from the Albatross to determine if there might be brother Masons in the town of St. Francisville.

There they found one of the oldest Masonic lodges in the state, Feliciana Lodge No. 31 F and AM; its Grand Master was absent serving in the

Confederacy, but its Senior Warden, W. W. Leake, was reportedly nearby, “his headquarters being in the saddle.” Leake was soon found and persuaded to honor the request for Masonic buri-al; as a soldier, Leake said, it was his duty to permit burial of deceased mem-bers of the armed forces of any govern-ment, and as a Mason it was his duty to accord Masonic burial to the remains of a brother Mason regardless of cir-cumstances in the outside world.

And so Lt. Commander John Hart was laid to rest in the Masonic burial lot in the cemetery of Grace Episcopal Church, whose bell tower had made such a tempting target for his shells. Episcopal services were conducted by the Reverend Mr. Daniel Lewis, rec-tor of Grace, and respect was paid by Union and Confederate Masons alike.

2 Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Business

Letter to EditorLetters to the Editor are unedited submissions to the Feliciana Explorer. Letters to the Editor may be submitted for publication at info@felicianaexplorer.com. Sub-

missions will be printed in the next issue of the Explorer, space allowing. Deadline for submission is by 5:00 p.m. the Thursday before Tuesday publication.

If anyone is still wondering why the Home Rule Charter (HRC) passed in WFP, I urge them to attend at least one of the Parish Council meetings. The parish still has the same district representatives as before the change, and several are still doing everything they can to disrupt our new form of government. The questions some ask the Assistant District Attorney lead me to believe most still haven’t even read it.

One of the main reasons Kevin was elected was due to his business background, not his political background, and his desire to help the parish move forward. Part of his responsibility is to help in the area of economic development. The council needs to work with the president and support his efforts in improving economic development in the parish. Past attempts, no matter what some of the council members may think, have not worked.

Unfortunately, instead of supporting him, it appears that if the parish president is for something, the majority of the council members feel they should automatically be against it without any reason. They tend to forget that he was elected by the vast majority of the voters in the Parish.

The following are my observations from one of the budget meetings and the recent council meeting that I attended. This group as a whole will disagree with the parish president’s proposed budget and argue over a $10,000 line item, and at the same time spend hundreds of thou-

sands on a lawsuit over a piece of property reportedly valued at $34,000. They were only allocated approximately $20,000 to pursue this issue to start with. After spending this $20,000, they spent approximately $200,000 more, which they could do under the old police jury form of government. Then, instead of allowing the parish president to try and negotiate a settlement, they instead voted to move $300,000 from the building and grounds fund to continue with this suit. Evidently fiscal responsibility doesn’t apply to them.

The budget presented by our president was the most detailed budget ever presented in the history of West Feliciana Parish. On numerous occasions our president offered to sit down with each councilman to discuss and explain the budget. But only a few took him up on that offer. Instead, most of the council chose to question every line item on the budget at three separate public meetings. I have no issue with them asking questions about the budget; that is their job. What I have issue with is that these councilmen were not trying to understand the budget, but rather using these public meetings to take cheap shots at the president. This was obvious to anyone who has watched our budget meetings in the past and then watched this series. In the past, budget meetings only took one meeting that lasted about an hour to an hour and a half, and they were done. An example of the above was when one councilman questioned why the parish was paying for the security at the Court House, when the parish has always paid for it. The show put on by this group took three separate meetings and lasted approximately seven hours. It was deplorable the way they treated Kevin and despicable that the real reason they are doing so is to try and maintain the power they had under the PJ system of government.

One council member at two meetings stated that according to his figures the personnel payroll had gone up approximately $300,000 in the new budget. The president assured him that it hadn’t and asked to review his report with him. He still hasn’t gotten with the parish president to compare his report with him. It does seem that if he thought his figures were accurate he would have done this by now.

This same councilman led the charge to veto the president’s proposed pay increase for the parish workers without even knowing why he was requesting it. Prior to the vote my councilman clearly explained to everyone why Kevin was asking for the money and why it was so important for him to have it. All the council knew this information before they voted. Yet the same four councilmen still cast their vote against it. It is so obvious to me and to others in attendance that this council is not doing what they think is best for the parish, but rather what they think will help them make the president fail. You might not agree with my observations, which is why I urge you to go to these meetings and make your own decisions. It is important that you see how your councilman acts in these meetings, before the next campaign season rolls around and they go on their best behavior in an effort to get reelected.

Kevin Couhig was elected, overwhelmingly, to help lead the parish forward. The council needs to let him lead and then let the voters decide in a year and a half if he was effective or not. I believe he will still be around and some of the present council members who are causing all these issues will be gone. What concerns me is this: will our present council waste yet another year before we can move forward?

West Feliciana Parish deserves better than this. I challenge everyone in the parish to do better than the majority of our council members by getting informed first and then get involved to help better our parish.

Resident Dismayed at Incompetence on Parish Council

Sammy BougeusResident of West Feliciana Parish

Tuesday, June 10, 2014 3

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The Crab GrabberColton Duggan

The time has come again for the Red, White & Blueberry Festival. This is the 9th Annual Red, White and Blueberry Festival sponsored by the Town of Clinton, Mayor Lori Ann Bell, Aldermen and Staff.

The festival will initiate on Friday, July 4 from 12:00 - 10:00 p.m.and Saturday, July 5th, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in conjunction with the Main Street Market.

The opening ceremonies will begin Friday, July 4 at 12:00 in front of the Town Hall. There will be speakers to include candidates seeking various political offices. Also, there will be various activi-ties to include wild game cook off, gospel singers, choirs, soloists, li-turgical dancers, inflatables, face painting, vendors, fresh blueber-ries, games, bands. The fireworks presentation will take place on Friday night behind Lawyers Row.

Everyone is cordially invited to come out and celebrate with the Town of Clinton as we embark on this momentous family oriented festival. Vendors are welcome both days.

For further information please call Clinton Town Hall at 225-683-5531.

Red, White and Blueberry Festival

Coming SoonJackson Elementary Shoots for the Moon on NASA Visit

While Jackson Elementary School fourth and fifth graders are usually masters of idiom, they recently took the expression “shoot for the moon” a little more literally.

The last week of school, a group of 50 JES fourth and fifth graders left Jackson at 3:00 a.m. to travel to the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This day-long field trip to NASA served as a reward to students who demonstrat-ed outstanding academics, citizenship, and effort throughout the school year. While there, the Cub scholars learned

about careers in aeronautics and sci-ence.

“We are excited that our students were able to have a learning experi-ence that was truly out of this world,” said principal Megan Phillips. “We are exceptionally thankful to the many community members who sponsored a student’s attendance on this trip, and we are particularly grateful to our fifth grade teachers Mr. Hymowitz, Ms. Perry, and Ms. Reed for conceiving and planning the trip.”

A group of JES scholars takes a break for a photo opportunity in front of some heavy machinery.

4 Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Elizabeth Russell Hess |DDS, MSfrontdesk@geauxbraces.com

P 225.570-88081215 Independence Blvd. Bldg 1, Suite BZachary, LA 70791

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Located Directly in Front of Copper Mill Elementary

On April 19, the day after Good Friday, members of the Slaughter branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, picked up over 700 pounds of trash along High-way 19 in Slaughter. "We noticed all the trash along the highway and choose this as our Annual Area Day of Service. We had 17 volun-teers from the church. We would especially like to thank the Zach-ary Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office for providing traffic control during the event," said Terry Gomez, coordi-nator of the event.

Slaughter LDS Church Contribute to Beautification of Feliciana/Zachary AreaPictured Left: 2 Local Full-time mission-aries, Vernon Brian, Al Caldwell, Carol Caldwell, Elder Hepworth, Elder Olsen, Gordon Seagraves, President Carl Walker, Larry Hertzler, Wendell Brian, Chuck Holm, Marsha Holm, (kneeling) Barbara Walker, Terry Gomez

Larry Hertzler and Carol Caldwell pick up trash near Highway 19.

Zachary Police Department police escort

Tuesday, June 10, 2014 5

Brianna Alexis Whatley and Josh-ua James Brewer will marry in a 6 p.m. Ceremony Saturday June 21st at Greystone Country Club in Den-ham Springs Louisiana. The bride-elect is the daughter of Bruce What-ley and Melissa Kinchen of Zachary. She attended Northeast High School and is currently a stay at home mom of their two sons, Josh Jr. and Joker. Her fiance is the son of Lillian Brew-er and the grandson of Billy Brewer of Zachary. Joshua is a graduate of Northeast High School and is em-ployed as a contractor at CKW con-struction, LLC in Denham Springs.

Whatley and Brewer to Wed June 21 Smith and Priest to Wed June 14Lori Annette Smith, of Kentwood, will join

Slade Buren Priest, of Centreville, Miss., in matri-mony on Saturday, June 14, 2014, at Tatum Plan-tation in Amite County, Miss. Lori Smith is the daughter of Mrs. Debbie Smith Lea and the late Byron Smith of Kentwood. She is a 2007 gradu-ate of Jewel M. Sumner High School. The bride-to-be graduated in 2011 from Southeastern Loui-siana University earning a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Lori works at Chesbrough Elementary School in Tangipahoa Parish. Slade Priest is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Alan Priest of Centreville. He is a 2003 graduate of Centrev-ille Academy. The groom-elect graduated in 2006

from Belhaven College earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Admin-istration. He is employed as a Realtor with United Country Gibson Real-tors and the host of Trained Assassins on the Sportsman Channel. After the couple’s honeymoon, they will reside in Centreville.

Zoë Isabella AnselmoCaleb and Brittney

Anselmo of Zachary are proud to announce the birth of their second child, Zoë Isabella An-selmo.

Zoë was born on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at Woman’s Hos-pital. She weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long.

Zoë was welcomed home by her big brother

Sam. Proud grandparents are Jimmy and Melissa Baker of Zachary. Also Kim Hornsby of Baton Rouge and the late Jimmy Bergeron.

Harmony Grace LeeRicky and Tiffany Lee,

of St. Francisville, are proud to announce the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Harmony Grace Lee. Harmony arrived at 12:44 pm on April 22, 2014 at Woman’s Hospital in Ba-ton Rouge. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 19 inches in length. Harmony was wel-comed by her big sister Se-renity Machelle. Maternal grandparents are Raymond and Gladys Vickery, paternal grandparents are Archie and Elaine Lee, and paternal great grandmother Hilda Mason.

Milestones Births • Engagements • Weddings • Awards Obituaries • Anniversaries • Reunions

6 Tuesday, June 10, 2014

SEND IN YOUR MILESTONE TOinfo@FelicianaExplorer.com

Milestones Births • Engagements • Weddings • Awards Obituaries • Anniversaries • Reunions

Robert E. (“Bob”) Couhig died early Thursday morning at his home in Baton Rouge. He was 97. Couhig and his wife, Marcelle (“Nootsie”) Reese Couhig, were pioneers in bringing the tourism industry to the Felicianas. In 1962 they opened Fairview Plantation, a restau-rant and gift shop, in an historic home in

West Feliciana. It later burned. In 1966 they opened Asphodel Village, one of the first B&Bs in the state. The East Feliciana complex drew hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to enjoy their well-regarded restaurant, gift shop and overnight accommodations. Couhig, who developed the modern pest control industry in the South, at one time served as manager of Orkin Pest Control for Louisiana, Arkansas and east Texas. In 1959 he relocated the primary Orkin office from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. The Couhig family purchased Asphodel Plantation, located near Jackson, for their new home. Couhig left his position with Orkin in 1965, and in 1967 started his own company, Couhig Pestaway, also based in Baton Rouge. He grew the firm into one of Louisiana’s largest pest control companies. He was active in business into his mid-80s. Nootsie Couhig died in 1986. The two were mar-ried for 37 years. Couhig, a long-time resident of East and West Feliciana, was the father of West Feliciana Parish President Kevin Couhig. Couhig’s other children include daughter Owen Couhig Kemp, St. Francisville; son Rob Couhig Jr. (wife Michelle), New Orleans; and son Mark Couhig (wife Linda), Sequim, WA. His stepson, former State Rep. Sam A. LeBlanc III, re-sides in West Feliciana with his wife Noelle. Stepdaughter Marcelle Hickey lives in New Orleans. Couhig had 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchil-dren. Calling hours were held at the St. Francisville home of Rob and Missy Couhig (4363 LA Hwy. 966) from 5 - 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 30, and from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, May 31. All were welcome. A private ceremony and interment was held at the family cemetery at Asphodel Plantation Saturday afternoon.

Robert E. “Bob” Couhig Dorothy Ann Paseur HollandProverbs 31:10, “ Who can find a vir-

tuous women? for her price is far above Rubies.” Dorothy Ann Paseur Holland, age 80, loving wife, mother, grandmoth-er and great grandmother but most of all loved her Lord and Savior, died at 4:23 am on May 27, 2014 at Baton Rouge Gen-eral Bluebonnet. She was the devoted ad-ministrator of Sonny Holland Evangelism Outreach Ministries for over 50 years. She was dedicated to her husband’s calling and ministry. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Charlet Fu-neral Home, Inc., Clinton and continue on Friday at Milldale Baptist Church, Zach-ary from 1:00 pm until service at 3:00 pm conducted by Rev. Jimmy Robertson and Rev. Danny Greig. Burial will be at Mill-dale Baptist Church Cemetery. She is sur-

vived by her husband of more than 61 years Rev. Claude R. “Sonny” Hol-land, children Nanci Holland Gayle and husband Steve of Clinton, Claudia Ann Holland of Zachary, and Monte R. Holland and wife Sheila of Denham Springs, brothers and sisters; Charles E. Paseur and wife Alice and Loyce P. Melton and husband A.V. all of Olive Branch, MS and Ray M. Paseur and wife Helen of San Diego, CA. Grandchildren; Bradley Gayle and wife Wimberly, Shane Genola, Kelli Gayle, Ben Chasteen and wife Kristin, Ran-som Holland, Sunny Brooks and husband Chad, Jessica Almand and hus-band Brett and Jordan Holland and 10 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents Asa E. and Ella T. Mohundro Paseur and grand-daughter, Trasa LeeAnn Gayle. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made for the ministry to S.H.E.O., Int’l , PO Box 265, Clinton, LA 70722.

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8 Tuesday, June 10, 2014

WAR STOPPED continued from page 1

RAINY DAY continued from page 1Milton said, “but also to know where we need to improve.”

Although West Feliciana schools have historically scored either first or second place on State tests, this year—which the State has cautioned superin-tendents is a “year of transition” with regard to testing—West Feliciana tied for fifth place.

The need for the Rainy Day FundEconomic development difficul-

ties locally have contributed to a loss in the student population, which in turn has caused a loss in student funds. As Board Member Amanda McKinney noted, the parish anticipates a revival in development, but the fruits of that development are “five years down the road.” The students, Milton stressed, cannot, in the meantime, lose ground. The loss of Minimum Foundation Pro-gram funds, which move with the stu-dents, was over $71,000.

In addition, a $520,000 per-year payback to the State “will now be in year eight of 10 in July,” Milton noted.

In 2010, the school system paid $2.4 million in retirement costs. In 2011 that number jumped by $428,978 a one-year increase, to $2.8 million. In 2012, the figure was $3 million; in 2013, $3.2 million; and in 2014, $3.6 million.

In contrast, from 2008 to 2010 the district experienced a revenue increase of $3 million from the new John J. Audubon Bridge across the Missis-sippi River.

What has changed?What is new, Milton said, in addi-

tion to increased costs for health cover-age, is the “continued decline in State funding and the impact that has had on the pension program,” which has led to

“a perfect storm financially.“Where did the money go? Milton

asked, providing his own answer: “To the pension fund,” which receives 16 percent of the budget.

With a district that has the required 10 percent fund balance in reserve and 25 years of exemplary legislative au-dits, the superintendent said, the record speaks for itself in financial responsi-bility.

Anticipated needs “We have to hope for the best and

plan for the worst,” Milton cautioned. He gave details of needs the district must meet: additional transportation for special-needs students and the implementation of the State-mandat-ed change in the calculation of grade point average, retiring personnel bene-fits, deductible for storm damage to the high school auditorium roof, just this week, and 10 percent rise for SCRL grant, to the tune of $225,000. Ad-ditionally, they must fill three teacher positions, two custodial positions and one technical support position. Ad-ditionally, they will change a teacher position from 9 months to 12 months in the technology department.

Other optionsWithout the Rainy Day Fund, he

said, the only options are privatizing the custodial staff and, another move he asked that he not “be forced to make,” charging a fee of $200 a month for pre-kindergarten classes. A charge for Pre-K, he cautioned, would prob-ably reduce the number of Pre-K stu-dents.

“My strongest recommendation to the Board,” Milton said, “is to use the Rainy Day Fund.”

During a time of financial instabil-ity, he said, “we’ve had stability at the schools. I don’t want to charge for Pre-K.” He reiterated that he wants to keep

current employees and replace teachers who must leave.

West Feliciana, he reminded the board, is a district that doesn’t short-change its students, providing, for example, many more classroom days than any other district in the State.

“Give us more time,” he said. “Don’t impact student achievement. Protect our employees. Give us this year,” he said again, as he had May 27,

“and hold us accountable.” The voteAfter Board members asked ques-

tions and proposed other possible so-lutions to the financial shortfall, they voted 4 to 3 to use the Rainy Day Fund. Voting for were: Amanda McKinney, David Cornett, Milton Coats, and Kel-ly O’Brien. Voting against were Kevin Beauchamp, James White, and Sara Wilson-Rogers.

And then the war resumed, with Lee’s northern invasion turned back at Get-tysburg July 3, Vicksburg falling July 4, and Port Hudson finally surrender-ing July 9, all in one catastrophic week.

But for one brief touching moment of brotherhood, the war had stopped in St. Francisville, and this moment is re-enacted one weekend each June. In 2014, the Day The War Stopped is celebrated the weekend of June 13, 14 and 15th. The commemoration opens Friday evening with a presentation of graveside histories in the oak-shaded cemetery at Grace Episcopal Church, where the graceful monuments date from the 1800s and bespeak several centuries of life and death in the com-munity, followed by a an open house across the street at the Masonic Lodge.

On Saturday, June 13, downtown St. Francisville’s main street is the locale for a lively parade, then lunch at the Masonic Lodge, vintage mu-sic and period dancing by beautifully costumed performers at Grace’s Jack-son Hall, and beginning at 1:00 p.m. a moving dramatic presentation focusing on Hart’s young family in Schenecta-dy. The drama depicts Commander Hart’s wife reading his last letter to their young son just as the news of his

death arrives. It is followed immedi-ately in Grace Church cemetery by the re-enactment of the burial.

These activities are all in historic downtown St. Francisville, and all are open to the public. Beautiful Grace Episcopal Church, established in 1827 as the second oldest Episcopal congre-gation in the state, is a well-preserved brick structure reminiscent of Gothic country churches which dot the Eng-lish countryside, and its peaceful oak-shaded cemetery where Commander Hart rests in peace is filled with fine statuary and Victorian monuments of marble and stone.

The commemoration of The Day The War Stopped spills over to several outlying sites as well. At Oakley Plan-tation, now a state historic site preserv-ing the early plantation where flam-boyant artist-naturalist John James Audubon was hired to tutor the young daughter of the family while painting a large number of his Birds of Amer-ica studies in the parish, Civil War encampments, lectures on the war in this particular area, black powder and musket demonstrations and authentic costumes bring to life the war years for visitors on Saturday,

Details on the annual Day The War Stopped in St. Francisville may be obtained online at www.daythewar-stopped.net