The Slidell Independent Newspaper

SLIDELL – Three women, two from Slidell and one from Mandeville, along with a Bogalusa man, pled guilty to charges relating to illegal distribution of oxycodone pills.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that Wallace Stogner, 61 years old of Bogalusa; Danielle Meisner, 31 years old of Mandeville; and Karen Smith, 57 years old of Slidell, pled guilty to the charges. Oxycodone is a prescription-only Schedule II controlled substance and a highly addictive and abused opioid drug.
Stogner pled guilty to two counts of illegal distribution of oxycodone, as charged in an indictment filed last year, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.
Meisner and Smith each pled guilty to a superseding bill of information charging conspiracy to obtain controlled substances through misrepresentation and subterfuge, a crime which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of four years. All three defendants are scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt on November 9, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Michael B. Redmann was in charge of the prosecution.

SLIDELL — St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched at approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday, August 7 to the Grand Marchand Apartments on Pontchartrain Drive in Slidell, in reference to a stabbing.
A 55-year-old Slidell man and his girlfriend were visiting Patrick McCarty, who lives at the apartment complex. For unknown reasons, the three got into an argument.
The victim and his girlfriend were attempting to leave when McCarty attacked the victim with a knife, stabbing him several times. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to University Hospital.
Patrick McCarty, 30 years old of Slidell, was arrested for aggravated second degree battery.
He was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail. His bond has not been set.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – Dance teams are big business and getting bigger—and the Slidell business community is benefitting thanks to the Northshore Harbor Center located in the eastern side of St. Tammany Parish.
Just ask Northshore Harbor Center General Manager Kathy Lowrey how big the shows are becoming after she recently put the wraps on the annual run of mammoth dance recital productions early each summer that are utilizing the Slidell convention center for their season ending shows.

Seven dance team performances or recitals were held in the past two months at the Harbor Center, bringing thousands of people to the Slidell area because the local stage and hall are proving to be the location of choice for dance teams across St. Tammany Parish, from New Orleans and even from out-of-state.
The Galloway School of Dance, Northlake Dance Center, Elite Dance Academy, Creative Dance, Just Dance and the Giacobbe Academy of Dance from New Orleans all held local recitals that brought thousands of people to Slidell for anywhere from a few days to a week-long stay.
Additionally, Beyond the Stars Dance Competition, based in New Jersey, began using the Northshore Harbor Center two years ago for their regional competition and brings over 500 people to the area for their one performance.
“We keep saying that the Harbor Center is an economic engine for the eastern St. Tammany area and the dance teams are probably the number one way to make that point,” Lowrey said. “There are thousands of people who come to Slidell for these shows. They are staying in hotels, going to local restaurants and purchasing local gifts for the kids performing.”
The Southeastern Louisiana University Business Research Center released studies for the past two years that showed the Harbor Center brought about a $3.5 million economic impact for the Slidell region in 2014, then in 2015 that impact was up to $4.3 million.
The Giacobbe Academy of Dance is one show that makes it clear the Harbor Center is providing the best venue around since the school has been operating in New Orleans for 73 years after starting in 1943 and now views the Harbor Center as the facility of choice for its annual recital that wraps up the dance year.
They have the pick of convention halls in New Orleans and many other regional sites going in any direction.
But Joseph Giacobbe said the Harbor Center has gotten their business because the site is excellent for recital shows, as well as the fact the staff at the Harbor Center has earned their business year-after-year.
“The Harbor Center is not only important, it is critical, and not only for Slidell, but for the entire St. Tammany Parish area,” Giacobbe said after directing recital performances for years in New Orleans. “We always receive professional service by a friendly, helpful staff, crew and administration. We have toured the state and I am sorry to say that is not always the case elsewhere.”
Giacobbe previously used the Slidell Municipal Auditorium or Mandeville High for their North Shore recital, but the stages were not ideal for dance recitals. He said the Harbor Center not only has a broad enough stage for everyone to be seen, but the lighting and technical team there worked with his group so the Delta Festival Ballet and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra could also begin performing the Nutcracker Ballet here each Christmas.
“I know that our students, parents and their relatives and friends love this facility,” he said. “We are able to present a professional show with stage lighting on a space that is totally adequate for these young dancers.”
Elite Dance of Covington had a show this year with over 300 dancers. Owner Michael Arnold has been directing recitals for 17 years and said the Harbor Center opened the doors for them to put on a better performance thanks to the theater environment that can be created there.
This year they had an Egyptian theme with three big pyramids on stage and girls in costumers with lots of bangles.
“It was a big success and brought families and extended families from out-of-town to stay in Slidell,” he said. “I cannot think of a better facility north of Lake Pontchartrain and the real secret to the Harbor Center is the staff. They are the most incredible people to work with and have such great attitudes all the time. It keeps us coming back year after year.”
Arnold said he understands hospitality since he worked with Disney World for many years and said the Harbor Staff reminds him of that environment.
Jennifer Galloway, founder and owner of her Slidell company, had a theme in her show this year of “God Bless America” that included over 200 kids. She has been holding local recitals and was the first dance team to use the Harbor Center.
“This was our 20th year of doing recitals,” she said. “I really don’t know what I would do for recitals if we didn’t have the Harbor Center, nor do I know where all the studios would go.”
The Harbor Center faces an important millage renewal in December for operating and maintenance expenses and Lowrey said she wants the public to understand how much the facility does to bring in local business, not to mention providing a host of entertaining shows and events for local residents.
“If we weren’t here all these shows would go to the Gulf Coast or New Orleans since they’ve grown so much that they can’t be accommodated in smaller venues,” Lowrey added.
The Harbor Center has also hosted many other out-of-town events that are adding to the Slidell economic impact.
The annual SALT Conference booked 36 local hotel rooms for their annual event, while 600 people came to Slidell for an Indian wedding, something the Harbor Center has now hosted three times.
“The family is from India and lives in New Orleans, so when they needed a place for a big wedding, we were chosen,” Events and Marketing Manager Tricia Collins said. “We had over 600 people for this wedding. It was fabulous and I guess they told their friends since we have now had three weddings here from families who were originally from India.
“I’ve really gotten to like them,” she said with a smile. “They put on some big productions that are a lot of fun.”
The Harbor Center is 45,000 square feet, but can be configured to host conventions utilizing the entire space, or separated for any kind of smaller event.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

PEARL RIVER – “Focus on the Future.”
That’s the catch phrase from St. Tammany Schools Superintendent Trey Folse to start the 2016-2017 school year, which kicked off in the public sector on Monday.
Folse is entering his seventh year as superintendent of the parish school system and picks a special phrase for each school year as a way for students, teachers and administrators to all follow a goal during that school term.
Folse said “Focus on the Future” became his special saying for the new school year as he considered the importance of setting their sights on goals that are ahead.
However, he also said the phrase has made him realize the value of celebrating past successes, particularly individuals in the school system who left a major mark from their accomplishments.
“I read a quote from the astronaut Christa McAuliffe, who was a teacher before she traveled into space,” Folse said. “She was quoted as saying ‘I touched the future, I teach.’ It really brought the point home about the importance of teaching our children and what we are molding.”
The St. Tammany public school system continues to grow as does the parish as a whole. Folse said they won’t have official numbers right away, but he is expecting “between 100 and 200 new students this year, about the same as what we have averaged for the last few years.”
The parish system ended last year with 38,439 students.
On Monday, Folse started the new school year with his annual visit to a few public schools, first starting in Slidell at Northshore High School where he congratulated Principal Frankie Jabbia for coming off last year’s showing as a Louisiana “Principal of the Year” semi-finalist, then heading to Pearl River where he visited Sixth Ward Junior High.
At Sixth Ward, Folse visited a kindergarten class with first year Principal Brian Hirstius.
“There’s something special to see the kids at the high school, then come here to a kindergarten class and see where it all started,” Folse said. “We are so proud of all our teachers and administrators because they are the reason our schools are doing so well.”
Folse responded to questions about St. Tammany continuing to rank at the top or near the top of most state scores, including the recent announcement from the state that St. Tammany had the top average scores in the state on the annual ACT tests.
“People continue to want to move to St. Tammany because of all we have here and that makes us feel good to know the schools are a big part of that,” he said.
Folse said he wants to include in this year’s “Focus on the Future” message regular events to spotlight some of the past educators who have done so much for the school system.
“We can get so caught up in the day-to-day routine of what we do that we forget to celebrate the successes we had in the past,” he said.
He noted a Slidell High baseball player, Will Harris, who went on to make it to the major leagues and was recently named to the All-Star team at the top level of professional ball.
Hirstius, 36, spent nearly 13 years as a teacher before working the past two years as the assistant principal at Sixth Ward under longtime Principal Dr. Mary Biernacki.
“She was so good to me the past two years and allowed me to begin learning how to be a principal so I don’t feel like I’m starting from the beginning,” Hirstius said. “I’m really excited to get a chance to do this.”
Hirstius has already had plenty of experience working with children besides his time as a teacher as he said he and his wife have five children of their own from ages 16 to 9, with the youngest being twins.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – So much for the hopes of adding 3 percent anytime soon to the weekly paychecks for Slidell city employees.
Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan has cautiously tried to improve the pay for city workers, always noting that it largely revolved around the sales tax revenue numbers the city had coming in, which provides approximately 50 percent of the operating money for the municipality.
The 2016 fiscal year, which recently ended in June, was looking like the best the city had seen in nearly a decade as it rolled through the first nine months of the year. Slidell saw sales tax gains as high as 6 percent more than the previous year in three of those nine months.
That led to the City Council supporting Drennan’s proposal two months ago that gave city workers a 2 percent raise.
However, that same night the council met to back the raise, outgoing Slidell Chief of Police Randy Smith came up with a unique way to get his police officers 3 percent more on top of the 2 percent Drennan got for the rest of the city employees.
That rankled many city workers who quietly grumbled to some council members about why all city employees didn’t get the 5 percent raise.
Since that time, Drennan said he has been watching revenue numbers and was hopeful of finding the proper time to add an additional raise for the rest of the city workers. The mayor said the first nine months of the fiscal year were giving him hope about coming up with the additional raise, but then came April and May sales tax numbers and it appears the raise for city workers won’t be happening anytime soon.
After nine consecutive months of growth in sales tax numbers from July, 2015 to March, 2016, the city hit the skids for April and May as it saw solid declines in both of those months.
The city saw a 2.04 percent drop in sales tax revenue in April, 2016 compared to April, 2015, then things got a little worse in May, 2016 with a 2.94 sales tax revenue decline, compared to May, 2015.
While the city is still in good shape overall for the year with a 2.46 increase in sales tax money compared to fiscal year 2015, the sudden drop in monies has the mayor cautious again.
“I’ve always said that I have to see a steady increase in sales tax money for a while to be certain it is real and will continue,” he said. “But now with these two recent months we have to hold off on any kind of raise possibility and see what happens.”
Drennan confirmed that he told the City Council members it was his intent to find the money so all city workers would get another 3 percent raise in their paychecks to equal the monies Smith got for policemen, something he did only weeks before leaving his job to become the new sheriff in St. Tammany Parish.
Smith utilized over $123,000 in the 2017 budget that was ticketed for police car purchases and maintenance, essentially gutting that line on the police budget so he could give his employees an extra 3 percent raise just before he left office.
While policemen were thrilled with the move, it left some city workers unhappy that they only got the 2 percent across the board raise Drennan and the City Council approved for all city workers, which includes the police department.
The mayor said he had not discussed the latest sales tax decline with Finance Director Sharon Howes and doesn’t know why the numbers fell off.
“I’ve heard that sales taxes are down across the parish, but as to why ours suddenly went down after such a good start to the year in the past nine months, I don’t know the answer,” Drennan said.
Looking at the two other major municipalities in the parish, Mandeville is showing solid growth with a 3.16 percent increase in sales tax money for the year, while Covington’s sales tax money is up 2.12 percent for the past 11 months.
Pearl River, under the direction of a new mayor for the first time in over 20 years with David McQueen leading the way, is having an excellent financial year with 6.24 percent increase in sales tax money for the past 11 months.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – An 11-month investigation by the Slidell Police Department has led to the arrest of an alleged heroin dealer for the death of another man who reportedly received the drug from him, and then overdosed.
Slidell Police Capt. Kevin Swann reported on Tuesday that Joseph Laue was arrested and charged with second degree homicide under the state law that is being used more frequently these days to press murder charges against dealers or suppliers of heroin.

The SPD Criminal Investigations Division worked for nearly a year to follow up the case that began on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015 in Slidell when the police were called out to the home at 429 Codifer St. for a reported drug overdose.
The deceased subject was identified as Albert Marant and the death appeared to be a drug overdose, Swann said.
An autopsy was performed by the St. Tammany Coroner’s Office and stated that Marant’s cause of death was an overdose of opiates, better known as heroin.
With the increase in heroin deaths across the country, also being highlighted as a problem in St. Tammany Parish according to law enforcement leaders, the investigation was begun to find out where Marant received the heroin from.
Swann said their investigation determined that Laue, 36, was a heroin dealer in the area and reportedly gave Marant the heroin that killed him.
“Our investigation showed that Laue was selling heroin in the Slidell area,” Swann said. “Our investigation was able to establish that Joseph Laue did provide Albert Marant with the heroin that is believed to have caused his death.”
Laue was arrested while in the Covington Jail after receiving his second conviction for heroin on June 27, 2014. He previously was convicted of heroin possession in Orleans Parish on Feb. 1, 2013 and received a six year jail sentence before adding the conviction that sent him to the Covington jail.
Slidell Police Chief E.J. Howard stated, “With today’s national heroin epidemic, everyone loses. One family lost their son as he battled with his own narcotics addition, and another family’s son, Joseph Laue, now faces the possibility of life in prison. There is help out there for anyone struggling with addition, The Operation Angel Program is just one of many designed to help those who are struggling.”
Operation Angel was announced by parish law enforcement leaders as a new option for those fighting drug addictions. Anyone who wants help can walk into any area police station, turn in their drugs without the fear of arrest, and immediately be taken to a rehab center for help.

I got a reminder last week of my advancing age.
A notice came in the mail from the Social Security Administration showing how much I will get in retirement.
“Oh yea,” I realized, I actually could take early retirement this November 3 when I turn 62. Not so sure it was as thrilling to me as I imagined “retirement” was supposed to be.
On one hand we work our entire lifetime with some dream of “retirement!”
Isn’t it interesting that when we are very young, say in our 20s and 30s, we go to work every day and have this idea of getting to a place—probably 40 years later—when we reach the Promised Land! Retirement!
But as those of you close to my age know, and begin to realize maybe after you pass 50, that dream of retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Amazingly so, the closer you get to 60, and then seeing retirement getting closer and closer, your ideas about it change quite drastically.
We’ve all heard the stories and probably even know people who followed that typical path of retirement, then were very unhappy with not enough to do every day and wondered what happened to the incredible dream of retirement bliss.
We have heard that men, in particular, need to stay busy with something meaningful. And if you worked every day, with a purpose to accomplish something important in your job each day, it’s an incredible change to suddenly wake up each day and know there is nothing you really have to do.
Trust me, as I’ve been told, those 24 hours in each day can get very long.
So here I am—with the actual chance to take early retirement in less than six months, and I can tell you it’s the furthest thing from what I plan to do.
I’ve had a little joke I like to use with others when this topic comes up. I mention that my wife has told me she would really rather not have me sitting around her house all day as a retired man.
But I get it. She and I have done fairly well together for 41 years and we positively believe that part of that success has been because we always allowed the other one complete independence to do whatever they wanted. We were never the kind to check on each other. We never had to call the other one when we got to our destination. We never had to be together 24/7.
For that matter, being apart is what makes you appreciate being together, so at least for the idea of Kevin sitting around the house watching soap operas all day and telling my wife what to do—well, she doesn’t have to worry about that ever happening. She knows me well enough to know that I have to stay busy.
The good thing for me is that I work in a profession that will allow me to continue for as long as I care to. I know I can do interviews and write stories for many, many years.
And my involvement in the newspaper has allowed me to attend business and social events in our community—something I truly enjoy doing. I mean, how many jobs allow you to eat and drink for free while getting paid!
So even though the Social Security statement came in it was only a reminder that the years are slipping by. It actually made me more intent on making the most of the years the Lord allows me to keep doing what I love, and that is working at the newspaper and using our publications as a way to do something good for the community I love.
How much better does it get than that?

—-

Got an interesting call from a good friend recently, Kay Sabadie, who I know fairly well since she is the wife of my good buddy, Chuck Sabadie.
Kay is a Registered Nurse and active in the Northshore District Nurses Association that annually honors outstanding nursing care with the Nursing Excellence Program.
They are looking for nominations of Registered Nurses in the area who will be recognized—up to 20 of them—when the awards ceremony is held in Covington on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
Kay said that in the past they never had a problem finding outstanding nurses to nominate. But this year they want to open up the nomination process to the general public so any individual who had an experience with a great nurse can make them known.
It can be a home health care situation where a nurse was wonderful to your aging parent, maybe an emergency in a hospital where a nurse provided great comfort for your family—any situation that will recognize a Registered Nurse will do.
To nominate someone you can get the proper form by e-mailing amaestri@ochsner.org. Deadline for nominations is Sept. 1.

Kevin Chiri can be reached by e-mail at kevinchiri@gmail.com.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – There is a good reason LA Fitness has steadily grown to over 900 health and fitness clubs in North America.
Since opening its first club in 1984 in Covina, Cal. the founders of LA Fitness sought what they believed to be the number one goal of most people who considered a place to work out: good health.
“We are all about helping our members attain a healthy lifestyle, and then maintain it,” Slidell’s LA Fitness General Manager Ashley Virga said at the recent grand opening.
Since opening in the Fremaux Town Center in Dec., 2014, the club has steadily grown in the competitive world of health and fitness clubs. Now approaching its two-year anniversary here, Virga said their success is all about the goal to help each member, one at a time, find their way to good health.
“Our emphasis has always been about giving our members the most for their dollar to make the LA Fitness experience accessible to more segments of the community,” she added.
LA Fitness now covers Canada and the United States with over 900 health and fitness clubs with the Slidell location their third club in Louisiana after starting with two in Baton Rouge.
“We target a way to let you pay for what you need, not being so much about other fun programs that aren’t really about working out. You’re not paying for amateur night here, you are paying for a state-of-the-art facility and equipment that is familiar and comfortable,” she added.
Clearly the LA Fitness model has worked in the health and fitness industry where a new club, and new ways of working out, seems to pop up every other month.
Virga said they have focused on the tried and true equipment and programs that the average person needs to comfortably get healthy, and then stay that way.
“Maintaining the good health you will achieve here is just as important as getting there,” she said. “That’s where I think we excel. We have a staff that is like a family to our members and they really want the members to achieve their goals and keep them, so it’s about finding a comfortable, attainable way to get there.”
LA Fitness offers every kind of fitness equipment or workout program that is available today in its massive 41,000 square-foot, two-story facility at the new Town Center retail center, just off the Fremaux Avenue exit off Interstate 10.
They have top rated strength and cardio equipment, free weights and circuit equipment, unlimited group fitness classes at any time for no additional fees, personal training, a swimming pool, sauna, aqua fitness classes, basketball and volleyball courts and even a Kids’ Klub for children to have fun while mom or dad gets healthy.
“Anyone who wants to try us can have a one-week free pass,” Virga said. “We believe they will see the way we value our members, the assistance we give you, and our commitment to fulfilling our mission by giving you the most for your dollar.”
One other emphasis for LA Fitness, Virga said, is to work with area businesses on their Corporate Wellness programs, which is another way to help employees remain healthy and remain on the job.
The group fitness classes include special “Silver Sneaker” programs for seniors, as well as Step, Yoga, Zumba, Kickbox Cardio, Indoor Cycling and 130-pound heavy bag workouts.
The club has over 10 tons of free weights and a 25-yard pool available for swimming exercise or workouts.
Virga, who is assisted by Fitness Director Rob Jacobs as one of the LA Fitness staff, is originally from Chalmette and came to the North Shore after Hurricane Katrina.
For more information on the Slidell club, go to lafitness.com, or visit the local club at the Town Center. You can also call Virga at 504-435-7679, or call the club at 985-718-3095.

Joe “Buddy” Edward Hamilton, 81 years old of Slidell, La. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, La.
He was a native of Longview, TX, and a resident of Slidell since 1973.
He was the beloved husband and best friend of the one and only love of his life, the late Dinah Fay Isbell Hamilton, with whom he shared joys and sorrows for 56 years.
He is survived by his devoted daughters, Edna Dugas (Timmie), and Deanna Lamz (Jim); four grandchildren: Dominique Dugas, Annalise Dugas, Phillip Dugas, and Jimmy Lamz (Nicole); three great-grandchildren: Maegan Lamz, Caleb Lamz, and Ella Lamz; his much adored “baby kitty – Bobbie Sox,” and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Laura Briggs Hamilton; his infant son, William Russell Hamilton; his sister, Mary Dockall; and brothers, George Hamilton, Marcie Hamilton, Lavaughn Hamilton, Leyland Dailey, Johnnie Dailey, and Dewey Dailey.
He was a 1954 graduate of Jefferson Davis High School, Houston, TX, and studied accounting at the University of Houston. Most of his career was spent as a credit union auditor, which he thoroughly enjoyed and was engaged in, even up until a few months of his passing.
He was a devoted, loving husband and father, providing for all his family’s needs as well as the needs of others through generous donations to his church and various charitable organizations.
He was an avid fisherman prior to experiencing major health issues, and spent most vacations camping and fishing with his family and his buddies. His love of life, God, and family was evident in his playful, joyful spirit and the way in which he lived life to the fullest. His achievements in life are numerous, but he will be remembered as a man of God who loved and is loved.
The family wishes to express their thanks to the numerous family and friends for their prayers and support. Gratitude is also extended to his healthcare providers, especially the nurses at Slidell Memorial Hospital, Greenbriar, and Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans for their respectful and compassionate care.
Special thanks to his next door neighbors, Bob and Catherine Sandifer, who continued to offer friendship, prayers and support to his family for many, many years.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life memorial at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 13 at First Baptist Church of Slidell, 4141 Pontchartrain Drive, Slidell.
Donations to First Baptist Church of Slidell are preferred in lieu of flowers.

Betty Riggs Humphrey, of Slidell, passed away on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, of natural causes at her home while watching her favorite TV show.
She was 79 years old.
Betty retired as a head cashier for Winn Dixie years ago. She graduated from Brooklyn High in Brooklyn , Mississippi in 1954.
She was born December 22, 1936 in Brooklyn, MS, the daughter of the late Joe and Jesse Ruth Riggs.
She married Durwood Humphrey in 1956 who passed away 19 years ago in 1997. They were married 41 years and she never remarried after his death. She lived the remainder of her life with her only daughter, Sharon Humphrey in Slidell.
She is survived by two sons, Randy D. Humphrey (Denise) and Dwayne Humphrey; a daughter, Sharon Humphrey (Joe); and a brother, Dwight Riggs(Darlene); and eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Randy Humphrey, Dwayne Humphrey, Josh Humphrey, Jimmy Humphrey, Roger Humphrey and Dwight Riggs.
Funeral services were held at Honaker Funeral Home 1751 Gause Blvd., West, Slidell,La., on Saturday, July 30.

Floyd Henry Ohler Sr., of Lacombe, passed away on Tuesday, August 2, 2016.
He was 81 years old.
He was the beloved husband of the late Edwina Theresa Ohler; father of Fuzzy Ohler and wife, Nancy; Joe J. Ohler and wife, Jeanne; Marc L. Ohler and wife, Julie; son of the late John F. Ohler, Sr. and Arima Frey Ohler; and brother of the late: Leo Ohler; John Ohler; Claire Ohler; and Dane Ohler.
He is also survived by his loving grandchildren: Lil Fuzzy; Matthew; Marc; Joe; Joshua; Jonathan; Ryan; Ariel; and great-grandchildren: Seth; Evan; Ian; Ava; Matthew; Kale’a; the late Ethan Ohler.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral services at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd. West (in Forest Lawn Cemetery), Slidell, on Saturday, August 13 at 1 p.m.
Visitation at Honaker Funeral Home on Saturday, August 13 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Lionel J. Richard, of Lacombe, passed away Tuesday evening on August 2, 2016.
He was 80 years old.
He was born in New Orleans, La. and lived in Metairie for 20 years, and has been a resident of Abita Springs for the last 16 years.
He was a baseball pitcher and held the record of most strike outs in one game on June 21, 1953. for I. A. Kramer American Legion baseball team.
Lionel was a graduate of Holy Cross and attended Tulane University. He retired as a computer program analyst after 36 years with the U.S.D.A.
He was the loving husband of 59 years to Lena Romano Richard; devoted father of Lori Richard Walker and husband Herman, Lionel J. Richard, Jr., and wife Nancy, Leslie Richard Cantelli, and husband Mark and Lance M. Richard and wife Diane; and grandfather of six grandchildren, Dr. McCall, Victoria, Kayla, Eric, Emily and Elyssa.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter Catholic Church, 125 E. 19th Ave, Covington, LA 70433 at 1:00 p.m. on August 6, 2016. Inurnment will follow at Eternal Rest Cemetery in Covington, LA. Attendance at church from 12 noon until mass time.

Patrick D. Flanagan “Blue,”?of Slidell, passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2016.
He was 69 years old.
He was the husband of Juanita S. Flanagan; father of Patrick Donald Flanagan, Jr.; Heidi Ann Guillot and husband, Terry; and Angelle Flanagan; son of the late Henry Paige Flanagan and Estelle Ernst Flanagan; and brother of Henry Paige Flanagan, Jr.
He is also survived by his loving grandchildren: Darren Guillot; Lauren Boyet and husband, Taylor; Justin Guillot; and great-grandchild, Dylan Boyet.
Blue was a Veteran of the U.S. Army and the National Guard. He retired with 17 ½ years with the New Orleans Fire Department.
Funeral services were held on Aug. 9 at Honaker Funeral Home, Slidell.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the SMH Regional Cancer Center, 1120 Robert Blvd, Slidell, LA 70458 and Mass remembrance.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

LACOMBE – For over 1,600 United States military veterans who remain unaccounted for 50 years after the end of the Vietnam War, one man in St. Tammany Parish has vowed to never quit looking.
Ride of the Brotherhood is a non-profit group begun in 2013 by Vietnam veteran Ed “Cowboy” Lewis, and despite some criticism of his efforts due to working with the Vietnamese, the Lacombe resident said it is his mission to keep up the work for years to come.
“I couldn’t imagine being a dad and having a son who never came home, and you never knew what happened to him,” Lewis said. “Our motto is ‘No One Left Behind’ and that’s what we truly believe—nobody should be left behind.”
Lewis’ initial plan was to organize a cross country motorcycle ride to raise funds for the work, since going back-and-forth to Vietnam, and hiring experts to excavate sites is not an inexpensive endeavor.
For nearly two years he made public speaking appearances and garnered sponsorships for the ride, which was to go from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., then come south to New Orleans where there would be a grand ending with a ride into the Superdome. Set for 2015, the ride never happened due to the financial challenges he faced.
But Lewis said he will never give up his personal mission to find Vietnam veterans who never came home.

He has already made several trips to Vietnam and made connections with Vietnamese officials who, he says, are cooperating in the effort. He has joined with two other small non-profit organizations and has also connected with the sister of a Missing In Action (MIA) veteran. Lewis has also obtained the assistance of Dr. Chet Walker, an Arizona archeological professor, who made one trip to Vietnam last year to view a possible burial site that could include American soldiers.
“The work is not easy, that’s for sure,” Lewis conceded. “But there are over 1,500 soldiers unaccounted for and in my opinion, the government is not moving fast enough.
“It has been 50 years since the end of the war, we can’t wait another 40 years to get serious about this,” he said.
Government websites abound with information about the work being done by the feds to find missing veterans, not only from the Vietnam War, but also the remains of World War II soldiers. It is an ongoing work that is clearly a monumental challenge that only gets more difficult as the years pass.
But Lewis, 63, even as a one-man show with limited support, insists he will continue the search. He has obtained a list of MIAs from Vietnam which tells the soldier’s name, unit and any “after action reports” that could suggest where they were last known to be.
Lewis and Donna Elliott, the sister of the missing veteran, have made four trips to Vietnam and identified three areas that are believed to have four locations of missing soldiers that were possibly buried after dying.
Lewis is now waiting for approval from Vietnam officials for the next trip when Walker would x-ray the ground and do soil testing that would provide evidence of decomposition of human remains.
“We are not doing this for any recognition. Whatever we find we will turn over to the U.S. who can move forward,” Lewis said. “We have to x-ray 10 to 15 feet down in the ground, but Dr. Walker is an expert in this work.”
Lewis said that even though he understands it may only be one soldier here or there he is ever able to identify and confirm, it would be worth every bit of effort. He has received some criticism for working closely with Vietnamese officials, but said it is not something that concerns him.
“I would sit across the table from Satan if I could find one soldier and bring him home,” he stated. “There is no reason an American soldier should be left on foreign soil.”
Lewis has had a challenging life of his own, which led to PTSD issues years after serving in Vietnam, symptoms that were compounded by Hurricane Katrina.
He joined the military in 1971 after quitting high school to do so, serving in the Air Force for four years, then the Air National Guard, giving him a total service time of 14 years and 8 months.
Lewis moved to the North Shore in 2000, but was traumatized by Hurricane Katrina when he saw all the downed trees on his acreage in Lacombe.
“It reminded me of Vietnam and I started having flashbacks again,” he said. “I never believed in PTSD before and thought soldiers were taking advantage of that. I was always a tough guy until Katrina hit and then I just lost it and needed help.”
He received medical treatment for five years and began to rebuild his life until facing another setback in 2010 when he injured his back on the job and required surgery. He receives a small disability check now and began to find consolation and support by riding his motorcycle with other veterans across the country, always for a good cause.
Lewis has owned a motorcycle off-and-on most of his life and loved taking cross country rides, something that started before he was injured in 2010. One of his early trips was 14,800 miles starting in Key West, Fla. that took 24 days to finish. Later in 2012 he was involved in a cross country ride to raise money for autism with 70 other riders.
But on the autism ride he was involved in a serious accident in Flagstaff, Ariz. in which he nearly died. Lewis had multiple broken bones and was left lying in the middle of the interstate in the hit-and-run accident. He said he still has a 37-day blind spot in his memory.
Now with almost 20 cross country rides behind him, Lewis is focusing on the work to find Vietnam veterans.
“The Vietnam veterans were never given a true welcome home and I think this is one way to help that,” he said. “This is about closure for the families and respect for our brothers. It’s time we bring them all home.”
To help support the organization or for more information, contact Lewis at 504-234-0778, or by e-mail at rotb2015@yahoo.com.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – A rare local armed bank robbery occurred on Monday morning in Slidell at the Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, off the Oak Harbor Boulevard exit off Interstate 10 near Lake Pontchartrain.
Few details have been released by local law enforcement as the investigation is continuing by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The only details that were released is that two masked gunmen entered the bank at 1900 Oak Harbor Blvd. and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Bank employees were left shaken and stunned by the shocking holdup that occurred at 11:20 a.m. Visitors to the bank later that day were greeted with a note on the door saying the bank was closed “due to a robbery.” The bank was open and operating as usual by Tuesday morning.
With the investigation still underway, St. Tammany Sheriff’s Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau said in a public release, “We understand this is very vague. Please understand we are still obtaining the facts and hope to be able to release more information in the future.”

The bank holdup was a rare occurrence for the Slidell area with two previous holdups occurring in 2013, one which happened in February of that year that also hit the same Gulf Coast Bank, a target that offers a quick getaway onto the interstate going north before the option to take I-10, I-12 or I-59 as a getaway route.
Also in 2013, Slidell saw a Gause Boulevard bank held up by a single gunman. He was arrested the next day in Mississippi.
The Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are working together on the case and asking for help from the public.
If anyone has information in reference to this robbery, they are asked to contact the F.B.I. at 504-816.3000 or the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-726-8000.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – Tolls on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway appear to be heading up after the commission unanimously voted for the increase in a $103 million safety improvement project.
However, the Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany (CCST), the parish watchdog group, isn’t giving up on the issue without a fight, pressing the Parish Council groups on both sides of the lake that will still have to approve the bonds needed to fund the plan.
Arguing their case, CCST dug up previously obscure information about where toll money is going and some St. Tammany Parish Council members are beginning to react with shock, disbelief and outrage after learning that over $2 million a year of toll money—75 percent of which comes from North Shore residents—is going to various regional agencies for a variety of unrelated reasons.

Causeway Commission General Manager Carlton Dufrechou received the backing he wanted last week at the regular board meeting with all three commissioners approving his recommendation for the safety plan that will raise the side railings by 6-inches on the southbound span, while creating safety bays for emergencies on both sides of the 24-mile bridge.
Dufrechou said he began seeking the improvements two years ago as a way to increase safety on the bridge. A total of 15 cars have gone over the side railings on the bridge in the past 14 years—only one on the northbound side where the railing is higher.
If the bond funding for the improvements is approved by the Parish Council in St. Tammany and Jefferson it will mean motorists using the causeway will pay $3 to cross the lake if they have a toll tag, while those without the tags will pay $5 for a one-way crossing. Currently the cost is $2 with a toll tag and $3 without a tag.
CCST believes the rate hike needs more study and is calling for a cost-benefit analysis. The group distributed a PowerPoint presentation to the Parish Council members and particularly questioned why over $2 million a year from tolls is diverted to various other regional agencies.
The Causeway Commission must give $1.6 million a year to the Huey P. Long Bridge, $350,000 a year for seven area parish basin foundations that address flooding issues, $25,000 a year to the New Orleans Police Department and $25,000 a year to New Orleans recreation.
“The Causeway is already generating surpluses, but those surpluses (your excess tolls) are being diverted away from Causeway operations to non-Causeway political pork when that money could be used to pay down the debt,” CCST President Rick Franzo said.
The monies that the Causeway sends to other agencies or parishes were all created through Louisiana Legislature acts in 1988 and 1995, where particular lawmakers passed laws to divert some of the toll money away from the Causeway for their own particular interests.
“The matter still needs more due diligence,” Parish Councilman Maureen O’Brien said, representing the Mandeville area where the bridge hits the North Shore. “Why should some of our money be going to the New Orleans Rec Department when St. Tammany Rec isn’t getting any?
“We can’t put this cash cow on the backs of St. Tammany,” she added. “I have not decided for sure on my vote, but I would like us to wait to see what we can do to change some of this.”
From the eastern side of the parish, Councilman Steve Stefancik said he expects the bonds to get supported unless there is a sudden change of heart by several council members. Expecting to see Councilmen Mike Lorino and “Red Thompson abstain from the vote due to their previous and current connection to the commission, there needs to be at least six votes against the bonds for it to fail.
“I know of three council members who may vote against it, but I don’t see where three more votes will come from,” Stefancik said.
“It is our responsibility for our citizens to keep the bridge safe and if the Causeway Commission doesn’t remain in charge the bridge goes over to DOTD, which hasn’t done a lot to maintain bridges,” he added.
“At that point we either need a billion dollars to replace the bridge or they shut it down,” Stefancik said. “It’s a great asset to the North Shore and this is a safety issue we need to support.”
The CCST pointed out the fact that the Causeway Commission still has $43 million in debt on the books, and with the new loan and interest for the safety plan, the commission will create a total of $339 million in debt.
“It’s hard to justify that kind of spending in this economic climate,” Franzo said. “We need to put the brakes on this project at least until we can change the laws so we don’t have all these diversions going out the back door. It’s not right and needs to be changed.”
Dufrechou argued that the cost to improve safety on the bridge is worthwhile if it saves one life.
“A life is priceless,” he said, getting choked up. “These improvements will more than triple the safety on the bridge. In my opinion you can’t quantify what a life is worth and we believe these improvements will significantly improve the safety there, reduce accidents and fatalities.”
The northbound lanes of the bridge currently have a 9-inch high railing because that span was built in 1969 after the original span was constructed in 1956. There are over 12 million trips across the Causeway annually.
Dufrechou said the real need for the higher rails is because most of the accidents since 1994, the year when SUV’s and pickup trucks began to increase in popularity, have occurred on the southbound lane where the rail is lower.
Since ’94 there have been 14 accidents where a vehicle went over the side of the bridge, and 13 of those over-boards were on the southbound side, all involving an SUV or pickup truck.
As for the need for the additional safety bays, since the Causeway does not have a shoulder on either span to pull off to, Dufrechou said it will save lives since 65 of the 178 crashes last year involved cars being rear-ended after they had broken down on the Causeway with no shoulder to pull into.
Dufrechou said the commission looked into the cost to build a shoulder the entire length of both spans and found that it would cost $1 billion, a price tag they deemed too high to consider.
CCST continues to argue there is no way to be clear on the cost-safety ratio without a study, something they hope will happen if either Parish Council does not support the purchase of the bonds.
“We are asking the council members to vote ‘no’ for the bonding. The citizens of St. Tammany Parish are being ripped off and our St. Tammany delegation (to the Legislature) has done zero for the last 28 years to change this,” he said in reference to millions of dollars in toll money going to other agencies.
Franzo added that even by the Causeway Commission’s own study they call the long bridge “one of the safest roadways in the state and 2.1 times safer than driving on Interstate 10 or Interstate 12.
“Let’s work together to change these ridiculous, antiquated laws and do the right thing for the citizens,” Franzo said in his letter to Parish Council members.
Dufrechou responded by saying “the members of the Causeway Commission truly believe in our mission, and that is to get the commuters home safely. That’s why we believe these improvements are worthwhile.”

Football sort of snuck up on me this year.
I’m sure many of you were way ahead of me when it comes to the new football season since I know tons of friends who can’t wait until the new year begins.
Then our New Orleans Saints had their first pre-season game last Thursday, although it was a losing one, and that always signals the start of the season to me.
Of course, from my days as a sports editor I am also reminded about football by another event in August and that is our annual High School Football Preview Section.
We will publish that section next Thursday, Aug. 25 and it is an awesome special publication that I hope you will make sure to pick up. We carry pictures of every starting player on each of the five local teams.
If you are a local business this is a great spot to reserve space for advertising since the paper will be kept a very long time by families or friends of all the kids who play on the area teams.
If you would like a paid advertising spot in our special section, or if you are a parent and want to run a “Good Luck” ad in the section, please contact me at kevinchiri@gmail.com or by phone at 985-774-1352.

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Speaking of football, I hope to see many of you at the greatest indoor tailgate party ever that is hosted by the East St. Tammany Chamber each year as a prelude to the Saints season.
The Chamber folks call this the “Saints Fan Up Pep Rally” and it’s gotten so big that this year it will be at the Northshore Harbor Center on Thursday, Aug. 25.
The pep rally is really so much fun, and from a business perspective it is a great opportunity to network with hundreds of other businessmen and women.
The party kicks off at 5 p.m. and rolls along for three hours. Tickets are only $20 in advance and $25 at the door and it will buy you more drink and food than you can take in for the evening. There will be a number of our great local restaurants on hand with some of their best food, so trust me, this is a great party you don’t want to miss.
One of the other fun aspects to the party that the Chamber staff came up with recently was to invite most of the well-known Saints “Superfans” that are frequently seen during games on TV from the Dome. They are the ones who dress up in the most outrageous Saints costumes. Last year they were all at the Slidell Fan Up party and it really was fun to see them.
Additionally, raffle tickets will be sold for dozens of great door prizes that will be given away all throughout the evening, and your ticket to get into the party puts you in a drawing to win season tickets for the Saints.
What else could you ask for as a great pre-season pep rally for the Saints? Call the Chamber office at 985-643-5678 for tickets, or go by their office at 1808 Front St. to ensure you have a ticket to this great party. I’ll be there and I hope to see you there too.

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Wanted to say a quick hello to a new friend I made at Summerfield Senior Living in Slidell.
I was standing in the lobby waiting for their marketing whiz, Sharon Thomas, and a gentlemen who obviously lived on the premises said hello to me as he was coming through. I had a few minutes to blow so I said hello back to him and started a chat.
Turns out John Bockhorst, now 79 years young, was a Navy man for 26 years and was married to his sweetheart of a wife, Mary, for 50 years. The couple had three daughters so he and I suddenly had something in common, although I did one-up him eight years after my girls were born when our son, Michael, joined the family!
John was in such great shape and seemed so active that he reminded me how much life there still is to live.
It was only last week in this column space that I was talking about getting my Social Security notice in the mail now that I am approaching what could be retirement age at 62. Just seeing John and his upbeat attitude and enthusiasm for life was a pick-me-up for the day.
Thanks for the chat John, and thank you for your service to our country.

Kevin Chiri can be reached by e-mail at kevinchiri@gmail.com.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – Gulf Coast Bank is in the midst of its annual mega-fundraiser—Auctions in August—a benefit effort for area charities and non-profits that has raised over $674,000 since it began in 2008.
Auctions in August was started to help support dozens of regional charities, but the unique aspect to the fundraiser is that the silent, online auction allows the individual who donates the item to designate which non-profit organization they want the winning bid money to go to.
The online auction runs from August 1 to August 31 online and allows the public to bid on hundreds of incredible, unique and special items that were donated by businesses and individuals.
“We’re very proud of Auctions in August since it was created to be a part of the community and to help the community,” Gulf Coast Bank President Guy Williams said.
The fundraiser has been an amazing success, expected to go over $700,000 in dollars raised for non-profits as they are currently working on the eighth annual Auctions in August event.
The items found online or in the 19 area branches of the bank are truly an amazing list of unique and special gifts to purchase. Just to name a few there is a fishing trip with outdoors TV and radio host Don Dubuc, a meet and greet with a star player for the New Orleans Zephyrs, a carbide watch, various spectacular weekend trips, a Les Paul guitar, an hour to be a DJ on a North Shore radio station and more.
Items are available for bidding at each the 19 branches of the bank, along with items online. The auction is open to everyone–bank employees, customers, and the general public.
It’s still not too late to donate an item to the auction. You can do that by stopping by one of the North Shore branches of the bank. In Slidell the bank is located at 1900 Oak Harbor Blvd., in Mandeville the location is 3916 Hwy. 22, while in Covington there are two locations at 423 E. Boston St. and 1110 N. Hwy. 190.
Virtually any kind of item can be accepted—a gift certificate, unique gift, or priceless item that will attract bidders and help raise funds for your favorite non-profit organization. Auction donors are able to choose which non-profit they would like 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their items to benefit.
To bid for an item online, go to gulfbank.com and select a branch location or category from the drop down box. Select “Online Bidding” in the branch drop down box if you would like to view all items available for online bidding. If you would like to view recently added items or all items, you may select “Recent” or “All” next to the Item number field.
Search for items based on category, non-profit, keyword, item number, or by the nickname you designated on any previous bids. Once your search results populate, you can sort the items by non-profit, closing date, donor, item number, last bid, location, name, or value.
Items valued at $150 or above will be available for online bidding. To bid for items online, select “Online Bidding” in the branch drop down box and click on the button under the item you would like to bid on.
Items valued under $150 will be available for bidding at one of our branch locations. All items located at a branch may be bid on in person or by phoning the branch indicated.
If you won an item, you will be contacted by a branch representative for payment and pick up.
Winners are responsible for payment and picking up items within seven days following close of auction. Cost of shipping items is the responsibility of the winning bidder if applicable after payment is received.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

MANDEVILLE – When Dr. Scott Sullivan decided to enter the field of plastic surgery there might have been some motivation from his parents who encouraged him to find a profession where he could comfortably support his family.
“My parents were always concerned about providing for the family and I wanted to do something that would impress them,” the Mandeville microsurgeon said.
But little did Sullivan realize his journey into the plastic surgery world would one day lead him to something far greater than making a nice living.
Today, Sullivan is co-owner of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery (CRBS) that is recognized as the only hospital in the world dedicated to breast reconstruction surgery for women dealing with breast cancer.
Sullivan and Dr. Frank DellaCroce teamed up in 2005 to take the risk of their lives by purchasing a former St. Charles Avenue courtroom and building, then renovating it to become the St. Charles Surgical Hospital and clinic, where the CRBS operates from.
Together, along with a team of seven surgeons, they are now performing over 600 breast reconstruction surgeries a year at the hospital, and doing it in a way that is restoring life—both physically and emotionally—to women who have gone through the trials of breast cancer.

Sullivan has become recognized in the United States and internationally for his pioneering work in breast reconstructive surgery for the innovations developed to help women walk away with outstanding work that makes them feel feminine and whole again.
“As I did more plastic surgery work I saw so many women with failed breast reconstruction work. They were left disfigured and when they complained they were told they were lucky to be alive,” he said. “I found that so offensive—these women have already faced breast cancer. They needed to feel good about themselves again and that’s what we wanted to help with.”
Through years of work to improve the breast reconstruction techniques, Sullivan and his staff are sought from across the nation, and even internationally, from women who want to have the absolute best breast reconstruction surgery.
“We’re a place to help women get fixed after they have been so broken down,” he said. “I see women come to me with massive disappointment from the breast reconstruction surgery they had.
“They have no self-esteem. They don’t think they’re pretty or attractive at all,” he said. “They are so broken down and disheartened.”
Sullivan graduated from LSU and its general surgery internship program and completed residencies in general surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery at LSU. He followed in the footsteps of Dr. Harry Buncke, a surgeon considered “the father of microsurgery,” as he perfected the skill that involves working with a microscope and enables a surgeon to reattach the smallest of blood vessels and nerves.
Sullivan worked with another pioneer in the field of microsurgery and breast reconstruction, Dr. Robert Allen, who developed an improved manner for women to keep their breast muscle in the reconstruction surgery.
“Some of the newer techniques were very difficult to do, but I saw it as a challenge to get better and provide the best outcomes for these women,” Sullivan explained. “There are too many disfigured women after breast reconstruction surgery, but I was brought up with Dr. Allen learning the best way to do it.
“I wanted to do something that few others could do,” he added. “And the more I did it the better I wanted it to be.”
Sullivan said it has been the women who dealt with breast cancer who have motivated him to improve the surgical procedures, and also to create a center that respected them and their situation. That’s what led to he and DellaCroce risking everything they had to purchase the building on St. Charles.
Unfortunately, the challenge got even tougher when they bought the building in early 2005 and began renovations only to see the area hit by Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005. They took another risk at that time when real estate values plummeted, purchasing two more buildings and investing millions of dollars to create the entire Center for Restorative Breast Surgery clinic and hospital.

“After Katrina we couldn’t work at all for six weeks and came close to financial ruin,” Sullivan said. “For two years we had to give everything we made back to the bank—we were working up to 14 hour days and I was on call at the hospital emergency room.
“Many times I wondered why we were doing this and was ready to give up,” he said. “But once we had all that money invested we had no alternative and today we’re glad we stuck with it.”
His motivation, and that of DellaCroce and the surgical team, continued to be the women turning to the CRBS for help after their breast reconstruction surgeries were expected to give them a restored look after cancer, but left them ready to quit on life.
“Many failed cases came to us after they initially thought they had to live with the poor outcomes,” he said. “We consider our hospital the place for broken toys, and we’re the ones who find ways to fix the problems.
“If you talked to these women you would understand why we are so passionate about this work. These women don’t feel feminine or even human anymore because of how they look. They don’t expect to be a 10, they just want to look good in their clothes again,” he added.
Sullivan has an equally interesting story about his years growing up. Born in New Orleans, he lived in Kenner until the age of seven when his father accepted a job that took them to Dubai in the Middle East. The family that included two sisters grew up across the street from the son of the sheik of Dubai.
“They had an entire zoo at their house—tigers, lions, peacocks—my sister was given a monkey one year for her birthday,” he said.
Every summer they returned to New Orleans after his mother took advantage of living internationally by taking the kids to a multitude of great adventures, such as the pyramids in Egypt, locations throughout Europe, and more.
“I wish I would have appreciated it more, but when you are a kid you just don’t,” he said with a laugh. “My mother tried to get us to see as much as possible. It was a great adventure living there.”
The family returned to the United States for good when Sullivan was 14, locating on the North Shore in Mandeville before he went on to college at LSU.
Sullivan met his wife, Michele, when he was a chief resident at Charity Hospital. Also heading into the field of plastic surgery, his wife was a former University of Maryland cheerleader who came to New Orleans on a job interview. Sullivan said that after meeting her during the day he was so interested to re-connect that he dropped a date he had to a Christmas party that night so he could get set up for a date with his future wife.
The couple was married in 1997 and has two children, both girls age 12 and 16, and she works in cosmetic surgery at her private practice in Mandeville, where the CRBS also has a North Shore clinic.
The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery has gained such notoriety that some of their patients actually set up appointments for surgery from out of the country, having never personally met with the surgeon. They arrive on one day and have surgery the next morning with total trust in the surgical team there.
“We never saw this as a business opportunity, but I suppose it has become that because we have become so popular,” Sullivan said, now heading the hospital and clinic with 150 employees.
“But being popular doesn’t mean you are good and we continue to improve our technique every day,” he said. “I love this job and it’s because of the patients. They are inspiring to me and working with them has really put life in perspective.”

William Thomson Lowry passed away on Saturday, August 13, 2016.
He was 92 years old.
A native of Jackson, MS., he was a resident of Slidell for the past 60 years.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Air Transport Command, first in the Atlantic and then later in the Pacific theatres during WWII.
He was a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the retired owner of Lowry-Dunham Insurance Agency, which he owned for over 35 years.
He was the past Chairman of the Board of Slidell Savings & Homestead Assn/South Savings, a past Grand Master of the Slidell Masonic Lodge #311.
He was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Slidell, and the annual William Lowry Service Above Self Scholarship is named in his honor.
He was also a member and Deacon of First Presbyterian Chuch.
He was the beloved husband of the late Pomeroy Dunham Huff Lowry; father of Brenda Lowry Case (John) and Charlotte Lowry Collins (Tom); son of the late Benjamin S. Lowry and Cynthia Thomson Lowry; and brother of the late Frances Lowry Dunn, Benjamin S. Lowry, Jr., Ruffin Thomson Lowry and Wiley Potter Lowry.
He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Lucy Huff Bishop; three grandchildren, Christopher Case, Alan Case, Lowry Curley; and two great grandchildren, Kaegan Jacqueline Case, Henry Thomson Case; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Masonic services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 1041 Ninth St., Slidell, on Thursday, August 18 at 10:45 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11 a.m.
Interment will follow in the Poplarville City Cemetery, Poplarville, Ms., at 1 p.m.
Visitation at the church on Thursday after 10 a.m. until funeral time.
Donations to the Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 888, Slidell, La. 70459, the First Presbyterian Church, 1041 Ninth St., Slidell, La. 70458 or the Guardians of Slidell History, 2065 2nd St. Slidell, La. 70458, preferred, in lieu of flowers.
Visit www.honakerforestlawn.com to sign guestbook.
Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell.

Early Sunday morning, August 14, 2016, Stanley Emile LeBlanc, Jr., left this earth surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren.
He was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in April, 2016.
He is the son of the late Stanley E. LeBlanc and Jeannette LeBreton LeBlanc. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patricia Lagattuta LeBlanc; his sons, Stanley E. LeBlanc, III, (Jennifer), Russell A. LeBlanc, Steven R. LeBlanc (Dana); and his daughter, Cindy M. LeBlanc.
He has 10 amazing grandchildren that he loved dearly, Adam LeBlanc, Ryan LeBlanc, Kady LeBlanc, Jordan LeBlanc, Shelby LeBlanc, Steven LeBlanc Jr, Matthew LeBlanc, Lance LeBlanc, Carly LeBlanc and Braeden Ellens.
He is also survived by his siblings, Linda LeBlanc Waguespack (Leonce), Elaine Wagener, Mary Francis Boneno, James LeBlanc (Linda) and Fay Newfield (Theodore).
He is preceded in death by his sisters, Jeannette LeBlanc Hagardorn, Barbara LeBlanc Samrow; and his brothers-in-law, George Hagardorn, Roy Wagener and Frank Boneno.
He retired from the United States Post Office after 36 years of service, and received his Eagle Scout badge from his father in 1957.
He has coached and mentored many youths for over 35 years in Jefferson Parish at Delta Playground and at Covington Recreation Department. He was an avid golfer and spent each week playing the game his father taught him to love and working at Abita Golf Club.
He also was a volunteer at the PGA professional golf tournament in New Orleans and for the Champions Tour in Mississippi for 20 years. He has left behind many friends from many areas of the community.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral services at St. Peter Catholic Church, 125 East 19th Ave, Covington, LA, 70433 on Thursday, August 18 at 1 p.m.
Interment will follow in Pine Crest Memorial Gardens, 2280 West 21st Ave, Covington, La. 70433.
Visitation at St. Peter Catholic Church on Thursday, August 18 from 10 a.m. until funeral time at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Blood Center of Southeast Louisiana would be appreciated.
Visit www.honakerforestlawn.com to sign guestbook.
Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell.

Daryl Younce passed away at his residence on June 29, 2016.
He was 62 years old.
He leaves behind his wife, Debra Lagattuta Younce; two daughters, Darnelle Townsend (Chris), and Dionne Younce; and two grandchildren, Sophia and Cooper Townsend.
His son, Daryl Younce, Jr, preceded him in death.
He was the son of the late Wayne D. Youce and Ellen R. Younce.
He leaves behind his sisters, Gayle Younce, JoEllen Sandrock (Fred), Dawn Morella; and his brothers, David Younce, Kelly Younce (Thyra).
His brother Edward Younce preceded him in death.
He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
Daryl had many memories with his years of coaching at P.R.L.L, SYFA, and SBBA. He stayed close with many of his players while making many memories with his own children.
Many thanks to St. Joseph Hospice with all the help to his family during this time.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to American Lung Association and the National Kidney Foundation.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday August 20 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. with service starting at 12:30 p.m. from the chapel of D.T. Williams Funeral Home 67525 Hwy. 41, Pearl River, LA 70452.

Betty Hecht, of Slidell, passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2016, at Louisiana Heart Hospital in Lacombe.
She was 84 years old.
She was the beloved wife of Richard Hecht; loving mother of James Hecht, William Hecht, Thomas Hecht, Daniel Hecht, Susan Hecht Douglas, Mary Hecht Robertson, Charles Hecht, and John Hecht; daughter of the late Frederick and Margaret Lottes; and sister of Robert Lottes, Geraldine Connors, Philip Lottes, and Sandra Prince.
She is also survived by 19 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the viewing and funeral. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, 910 Cross Gates Blvd, Slidell, on Monday, August 22 at 11 a.m. with viewing and visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Reception following the services.

Jeannine Faye Vivien, of League City, Texas, passed away on Friday, August 12, 2016.
She was 54 years old.
She was the beloved wife of Donald James Martino; daughter of Barbara Wall Vivien and the late, Lloyd E. “Mickey” Vivien, Jr.; and sister of Lloyd E. “Lee” Vivien, III, and wife, Julie and the late Scott Christopher Vivien.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral services at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell on Aug. 19 at 1 p.m.
Visitation at Honaker Funeral Home on Friday, August 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 3924 Berkley St, Slidell, LA, 70458.

Carl Ritzmann, of Slidell, passed away Sunday, August 7, 2016, at Slidell Memorial Hospital.
He was 65 years old.
He was the beloved husband of Nancy Adams Ritzmann; father of Heather Ritzmann Becnel; step-father of Michelle Langston and Kelly Tournier; son of Ada Becnel Ritzmann and the late Frank Ritzmann; brother of Julie Millard (Earl Millard).
Carl is also survived by two granddaughters and two grandsons.
He was a resident of Slidell since 1985.
Carl was active in the insurance industry as the Regional Sales Manager for Pan American Insurance for 20 years. He was a very active member of Christ Episcopal Church, Slidell.
A Requiem Mass was held at Christ Episcopal Church Slidell, 1534 Seventh Street, Slidell, on Aug. 11.
Dudley Anthony Vandenborre, of Slidell, passed away on Saturday, August 6, 2016.
He was 87 years old.
He was the husband of Marilynne Arrigo Vandenborre the past 63 years; father of Dudley Vandenborre (Kim) and Debra M. Vandenborre; son of the late Henry P. Vandenborre and Bessie Sanders Vandenborre; and brother of Henri P. Vandenborre, the late Rollie Robert Vandenborre and Cpl. Elroy John Vandenborre.
He is survived by five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 11 at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell.
Donations to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church or to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, preferred, in lieu of flowers.

Sandra A. Melton, of Slidell, passed away on Monday, August 15, 2016.
She was 56 years old.
She was the mother of Kelly Melton, Jennifer Reynolds (Micheal), and Charles Melton Jr.; daughter of the late Camille and Raymond Hansford; and sister of Raymond Hansford Jr., Leroy Hansford, June Hansford, Oscar Hansford, Barbara Buras, Harold Hansford, Ethelmae Hansford, and the late Terry Hansford.
She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Brianne Reynolds, Hailey Reynolds, Paycience Reynolds, Mikey Reynolds II, Kayla Melton, Lexi Melton, Isiah Melton, and Kyrin Melton.
She was a native of New Orleans, and a longtime resident of Slidell.
Memorial services were held on Aug. 20 at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell.

Alice S. Kelly, of Slidell, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, at Slidell Memorial Hospital.
She was 86 years old.
She was the wife of the late Thomas L. Kelly Sr.; and mother of Thomas L. Kelly Jr. (Debra), Darlene Kelly, David W. Kelly, and the late George Edward Kelly.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Aug. 22 at Honaker Funeral Home, Slidell.

Joe Lyman Richardson, of Slidell, passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2016.
He was 87 years old.
He was the beloved husband of the late Isabel Smyth Richarson; father of Robert Richardson (Debra) and Joey Richardson (Jill); and brother of Bill, Howard Richardson and Allie Mae Mitchell.
He is also survived by grandchildren, Jacob and Brandon Richardson, Andrew and Megan Richardson.
He was a native of Tuckerman, Ark. and a longtime resident of New Orleans. He was a retired Office Manager and worked for Gordons Transport, Alliance Shippers and G.S.T. Corporation.
He was a longtime distinguished member and served many years on the Advisory Board of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, New Orleans for many years.
Funeral services were held at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell on August 23.
Donations to the American Cancer Society, preferred, in lieu of flowers.

Ronald Karl Sorjonen, of Slidell, passed away at home with his wife of 51 years, Gisela, by his side on August 19, 2016.
He is survived by his son, Michael (Allison); and brother, Donald (Sheila).
He was the son of the late Charles Sorjonen and Dorothy Fogg.
Ron was born in New Orleans and graduated from LaGrange High School in Lake Charles, La. He served his country in the U.S. Navy submarine service and the U. S. Navy reserve for 28 years and was employed by South Central Bell for 31 years.
Ron enjoyed his membership in the USSVI Redfish Base and was an avid scuba diver who made numerous trips with Gisela and friends to exotic locales in the Caribbean.
He was a long-time member of The Village Church (Lutheran).
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a memorial service at The Village Church (Lutheran) 29180 Highway 190, Lacombe, on Thursday, August 25 at 2 p.m.
Rev. Paul Ernewein, officiating.
Interment will be held at a later date in the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Slidell.

Andre Mabeleen Copeland passed away in her home on Friday, August 19, 2016.
She was 81 years old.
She was predeceased in death by her parents, Andrew and Annie Moody of Grange Arkansas.
He is survived by her husband of 61 years, Herschel Copeland of Pearl River; and sons, Andy Copeland of Carrier, Ms., Alan Copeland of Bay St. Louis, Ms., Brian Copeland of Grapevine, TX., and a foster daughter Elizabeth Vance of Fayetteville, Tenn.
She is blessed with nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and several nieces and nephews.
Andre was a longterm resident of Charter Oak/Evans Creek Community. She was a member of Evans Creek Southern Baptist Church where she taught a children’s Bible class for 47 years. She was also a member of the church choir.
On retirement, she and her husband toured the United States and Canada on a Gold Wing motorcycle for five years.
She was waked at Williams Funeral Home, 67525 Hwy. 41, Pearl River, on August 24.
Services were officiated by Dr. Reggie Ogea and Dr. Jerry Barlow.

Thomas Ray Jones, Sr., of Pearl River, passed away on Thursday, July 28, 2016.
He was 71 years old.
Jones was a logger, commercial fishermen and an avid hunter.
He is survived by his children, Thomas “Tommy” Ray Jones, Jr., Jimmy Dewayne Jones, Wilbur “Russell” Russell Jones, Sr. (Christine Lynn McPhate Jones), Ronald Lynn Jones, Donald Lynn Jones, Sr., Vickie Renee Bilquist, Shirley Rachelle Branton (Colin Christian Branton), Amanda Regina Crouch and Brandie Raynell Singletary; siblings, John Ira Jones (Vivian Singletary Jones), Woodrow “Willie” Wilson Jones, Billy Alford Jones, and Diane “Marie” Marie Jones.
Tommy is also survived by grandchildren, Skyler Branton, Russell Jones Jr., Thomas “Trey” Ray Jones, III, Brooke Colon, Kaitlyn Jones, Hunter Jones (Courtney Jones), Victoria Jones, Savannah Bilquist, Aimee Jones, Donald Jones, Jr., James Branton, Austin Ruiz, Sadie Jones, Hana Jones, Kailey Jones, Haley Crouch, Karli Branton, Emily Branton, Justin Adkinson, Slaiden Bilquist, Hevin Jones, and Cambree Branton; and great-grandchildren, Carter Brueggert, Rebecca Brueggert, Rayleigh Jones, Kynlea Jones, Mason Andrews, Aubrie Jones, and Izabell Jones.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Winnie Jones; siblings, James “Toby” Hardy Jones, George Wilbur Jones, Jim “J.W.“ Warren Jones, Douglas “Mac” McArthur Jones, and Katy “Sister” Nell Jones; and great-grandchild, Aiden Brueggert.
Funeral services were held on July 30 at D.T. Williams Funeral Home, located at 67525 Hwy. 41, Pearl River.
Bro. Billy Trusley officiated.

Darlene Margie Herrod, our beloved mother and Honey, passed away on Aug. 14, 2016.
She was 67 years old.
She is survived by her husband, Walter Herrod; son, Jason Herrod; daughter, Jamie Dakin; son-in-law, Kim Michael Dakin, Jr.; and her two beautiful grandchildren, Kyleigh Grace Dakin and Beau Michael Dakin.
Funeral Services were held on August 19, 2016, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 66192 St. Mary Street, Pearl River. Visitation was from 9 to 11 a.m. and the memorial was at 11 a.m.

Robert “Roscoe” McFarland, of Slidell, passed away on Saturday August 13, 2016.
He was 49 years old.
He is survived by his fiance’, his mother, two step-children, four brothers, two sisters, and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on August 19 from the chapel of D.T. Williams Funeral Home, 67525 Hwy. 41, Pearl River.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – The announcement one year ago by President Barack Obama that the United States was re-establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba brought hope to many American businessmen about new opportunities in the nearby country.
But an educational trip taken to Cuba last month by 100 Louisiana business and political leaders, including La. Sen. Sharon Hewitt (R-Sli.), makes it clear those economic opportunities are still far off.
Hewitt, the first year senator from District 1, said the six-day trip to Cuba was interesting, eye-opening and fascinating for many reasons. But she also learned something that most Americans are probably not aware of that is hindering U.S. businesses from finding new opportunities in the small island near Florida.
Hewitt said there is a strong contingency of Cuban-Americans, many based in Florida who settled in the United States after fleeing Cuba, who believe the U.S. should not do any business with that country until restitution is paid to the many Cubans who left everything they had to escape the Fidel Castro regime there.

“Many of the Cuban-Americans who are leading the call for restitution are now congressmen and state representatives from Florida,” Hewitt said. “It’s a very serious issue and one that Congress does not appear ready to take on.
“Until that issue is addressed in some way, it will be hard to start doing much business with Cuba, even though it is clear there are tremendous opportunities there for American businesses,” she explained.
The biggest roadblock to doing business with Cuba, Hewitt said, is that there are several laws Congress put in place years ago that are hindering business taking place.
Most prominent among those laws is one that says no United States business or lending institution can give credit to Cuban businesses.
In today’s business world it is almost universally accepted that a seller gives credit to a buyer in most transactions, even if only for less than 30 days.
“As long as that law is in place it means the only business Cuba can do with the United States businesses is by having cash,” Hewitt said. “And Cuba is cash poor, so that is a big problem.”
After Hewitt returned from the Cuba trip on July 17 she met with U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise from Louisiana to discuss the situation, but she said “he made it clear there is no sense of urgency to change the law.”
Hewitt, along with her husband Stan, were among 100 business people and public officials who made the trip to Cuba on July 12-17, a trip that is only allowed if it is deemed “educational.” While Obama made big news in July, 2015 when he announced it was time to re-establish ties with Cuba, all that happened is each country re-opened their embassies. No other changes occurred in laws or business opportunities.
Hewitt said she does appreciate the feelings of Cuban-Americans who expect restitution to completely restore relations with that country. But she also said that the U.S. bombed Japan in World War II and many years later, re-established relations and trade with that country.
“Time certainly will change the feelings about that,” Hewitt said.
Meanwhile, she said the business opportunities are great in Cuba since the country currently imports 80 percent of their food and consumes five times the amount of rice every day that Americans do. The U.S. has a surplus of rice they could easily sell to Cuba for a lower price than the current exports all the way from Vietnam.
Hewitt, who has a professional background in the oil and gas industry, said she also saw a great opportunity in that area for the United States, but hopes there is a way to still do business with Cuba even with the cash and credit obstacles.
“Cuba only produces 46 percent of the energy they need,” she said. “They are trying to reduce their energy consumption by 20 percent and while we were there we saw that as we experienced rolling blackouts. We also saw gas stations closed because they don’t have any fuel to sell.”
Hewitt said she met with the leadership of the Cuba Oil Company and learned about an arrangement they are utilizing with other companies to drill for oil on the island. She said Cuba owns the oil leases to drill, but a U.S. company could bring in their money, technology and cash to drill. The first oil reserves that are obtained will repay the American company for their investment, then after that, all oil and gas is split between Cuba and the American company, thereby avoiding the need to have cash to purchase U.S. oil.
“They are using this deal with other companies and I think it can work for American companies,” Hewitt said.
She is scheduled to attend the Louisiana Oil & Gas fall meetings in September and will bring the proposal to oil and gas executives at that time.
Hewitt also said there are many agriculture and construction opportunities in the country.
On a personal note, the senator said she was amazed at the lack of progress in Cuba since it is a Socialist country where the government basically owns everything.
“All the cars you see are from the 1950s and construction is almost non-existent. We were told that three buildings a day, on average, collapse due to disrepair since the government owns everything and nothing gets fixed. Nothing new gets built, there are no recognizable stores and people have to rent from the government to have their house,” she said.
Hewitt said the effects of a Socialist government, which means the people rely on the government for everything, were very clear.
“People are given health care, rationed food, get free education and whatever else they need, so there is no incentive to go to work,” she said. “Able-bodied men are seen standing around everywhere.”
She said they were told families were rationed one chicken leg and one thigh a month and had to stand in long lines to buy a gallon of milk for a nickel.
“But the amazing thing is that the people don’t know what they don’t know,” she said. “They don’t understand about a Democratic society and that things could be different. And that’s why Castro doesn’t want Americans coming there because then the people will learn it can be better.”
Hewitt said that one tour the group was given took them to a 25-acre farm, considered one of the biggest in Cuba. An American farmer offered to give a new tractor to the men working the fields since they plowed it all with two ox.
“But the man said it would have to go to the government to decide if they could have it,” she said. “It was truly amazing to see what a world it was.”
Hewitt said she will respect the feelings of the Cuban-Americans in their pitch for restitution and seek ways to bring business to Cuba from American businesses in other ways.

SLIDELL – Former Salmen High School quarterback Daniel Sams was arrested on Saturday in connection to a home invasion where a man was killed in Lake Charles, La., according to a report by the American Press.
Sams received a scholarship in 2011 to play football at Kansas State University where he remained until he transferred to McNeese State in Lake Charles in 2014.
While in high school Sams had been recruited by a host of major national colleges, but after a non-football related incident in 2009 he was expelled from Salmen late in his junior season, which reduced the interests from some of those schools, including LSU.

The arrest on Saturday in Lake Charles for 23-year-old Sams charged him with accessory after the fact to armed robbery, accessory after the fact to home invasion, accessory after the fact to attempted first degree murder and accessory after the fact to second degree murder. His bond was set at $200,000.
The arrest was made following a home invasion on Aug. 12 in Lake Charles, where a former McNeese State defensive back, Aaron Sam (no relation), was fatally shot. The report said Sam was part of an armed group that invaded the home.
Sams is the fourth person police to be arrested in connection with the incident.
While at Salmen in Sams’ senior year he passed for 577 yards and seven touchdowns, and rushed for 579 yards and nine touchdowns. Sams received a 3-star rating by Rivals.com in the athlete category and also made PrepStar magazine’s All-Southeast Region team.
When he played at Kansas State, Sams rushed for 1,042 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also throwing for 507 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats. Sams transferred from Kansas State in order to be closer to his family and gain increased playing time. He briefly changed positions to receiver with K-State, but moved back to quarterback with McNeese.
At McNeese State, which plays in the FCS, he threw for 2,290 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for 1,645 yards and 13 touchdowns. He started all 11 of the Cowboys’ games last season.

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