By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – For all the attention about millages in St. Tammany Parish, and the high total for most residents living here, Slidell city officials continue to reduce some of the millages they are collecting for debt service and other operational expenses.
At the recent Slidell City Council meeting, it again reduced several millages by a small total, but nonetheless are collecting a few dollars less from property owners for bond payments, garbage, sewer, police protection and general expenses.
All millages utilized by governmental bodies have to be approved by voters for property taxes to be collected on them.
For the city of Slidell there are nine different millages that are utilized for various expenses. When originally approved those taxes came to a total of 26 mills.
However, every four years when property is reassessed the supporting millages must be rolled back to the amount the parish assessor calculates to bring in the same amount of money as the previous year. Then the government body may roll forward to the maximum voter approved total. But if a body does not roll forward to the max at least once every four years they can never go that high again.
Slidell has given up some of the 26 mills that were approved by voters and now has a total of 21.24 mills they can assess money on from all their different millages. A year ago they were at 22.24.
What all the millage talk means to the public is determining the amount of money assessed against homes or property. The Slidell City Council recently approved a new lower total for several of its millages.
“I think the public should recognize that our city is definitely operating as efficiently as we can,” Councilman Bill Borchert said at the last City Council meeting after the lower millages were unanimously approved.
Slidell currently has three debt service millages that are partly paying for the newly-approved $10 million in roads and infrastructure work, which all total 6.28 mills. That is separate from the soon-to-start $60 million in roads and infrastructure work that FEMA is giving to the city for Hurricane Katrina damage.
A millage for garbage, approved to be as much as 5 mills, was voted down to a maximum of 4 mills by the City Council, while the sewer millage will remain at 5 mills.
The state constitution allows a municipality to levy as much as 7 mills for general administration and the city of Slidell is utilizing only 4.9 mills.
Police protection could be as high as 3 mills, but two different millages are now at 2.13 mills and 2.39 mills.
Public Works could have used as much as 3 mills, but will utilize only 2.03 mills this year.

SLIDELL – A CVS Pharmacy on Gause Boulevard was robbed on Saturday around 3 a.m., according to Slidell Police Dept. Officer Chad Olivier
According to the report, an unknown subject entered the CVS Pharmacy located at 1305 Gause Boulevard, brandished a black semi-automatic pistol and demanded the money from the cash registers at the front of the store. After collecting the money, the subject ran out of the store towards a nearby neighborhood.
The suspect was described as a black male approximately 5-5, with a thin build and in his early twenties.
The black male was last seen wearing black pants, black shirt and a black beanie hat. The black semi-automatic pistol used was equipped with a laser sight.
Slidell Police are asking anyone with information on the case, to contact Detective Seymour at jseymour@slidellpd.com, the Slidell Police Department at 985-643-3131, or Crime Stoppers at 504-822-1111.

I had an interesting interview recently with the newest member of the Louisiana Legislature, Sen. Sharon Hewitt, who was elected last year and is in her first term as a state lawmaker.
Of course, I’m on the senator’s e-mail list and got a blast that she was going to visit Cuba as part of a state group wanting to see what business opportunities there were in the country.
It was only last year when President Obama made a big deal over the fact he was “re-establishing ties with Cuba.” However, the news only meant that both countries would reopen their embassies. When you look closer at the announcement there was little else to it.
For that matter, Hewitt said visitors to Cuba must have an “educational agenda” to be allowed in the country.
But that’s not the biggest problem with truly re-establishing ties with Cuba—at least for those people who see some value in it.
I was shocked to hear from Hewitt that there is a federal law which says no American lending institution or business can give credit to Cuban businesses or individuals. That law was clearly passed by Congress in years past when we wanted to ensure the Communist country wasn’t benefitting in any way from Americans.
I am a small businessman and one thing I learned in the early years of starting this newspaper was that credit is a very important, and frequently mandatory, between two businesses if they plan to do anything together.
Just as I give credit to businesses that are advertising with me, I expect a little credit from some of the companies I do business with. After I understood it better I realized it was simply a way to improve cash flow for both sides.
With Cuba, however, that is precisely what Congress does not want to take place. Hewitt returned from the trip and said she saw incredible opportunities for American businesses, but little of it would ever happen as long as the credit roadblock remained in place.
While that was one of several interesting aspects to what Hewitt told me about her visit to the country, I think I most took note of her reaction to seeing what Socialism, or actually Communism, has done to the people in that country.
For those who may need a bit of an explanation, both the Socialist and Communist form of governments have one main thing in common—both rely on the people having little or no ownership of anything, but instead, relying on the government for your well-being, food, education, health insurance and more.
Hewitt said she saw able-bodied men standing on street corners every day, clearly with no intent to do anything, because the Fidel Castro-led country gives the people most of what they need to live—at least barely.
The tradeoff, however, is that there is no motivation to work, to achieve anything, to create a better life for your family—simply put, the government has taken the incentive away from the people.
The result is that the country “appears frozen in time, back in the 1950s,” she said.
It was a concern to hear that because I am not the only American who is bothered by the fact our own government continues to provide so much to healthy, able-bodied people, who could work to make a living for themselves and their families. The latest thing is the Obamacare health insurance plan which guarantees health insurance for all Americans, even while thousands of middle-class people are paying through the nose for it, all so others won’t have to work to pay their own way.
I truly am surprised at how many Americans seem willing to live off the government. Are they simply lazy and content to not work if they can be given enough to eek out an existence? And don’t get me wrong, when help is truly needed then someone should get it, but I think we all know there are far too many people living on our government than there should be.
It’s a funny thing that some of us have a natural desire to want to work hard, to achieve something, to make something better for our families—yet others are quite happy to live off most of us who get up every day and go to work to support our families.
Hewitt saw the result of decades of Communism in that world. In the United States we have never intentionally gone to that kind of government in one major leap. But it scares me to see the way Congress continues to fund so many entitlement programs with so little effort to require work or some kind of payback for the assistance.
I know many of my friends agree with me in questioning if the current entitlement system can ever be slowed down. If it doesn’t, the United States could very well find itself in the same boat as the Cuban people—forced to rely on the government for everything with no incentive or motivation to ever make life better for anyone.

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

SLIDELL?– The St. Tammany Parish tax roll is officially open for public inspection from now until Wednesday, September 14, 2016.
This is a reassessment year and Assessor Louis Fitzmorris is urging all property owners to check the assessed values of their homes and properties now. This may be done easily by visiting the St. Tammany Parish Assessor’s Office website, www.stpao.org, calling, or visiting one of our offices.
Regular business hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday at The Towers Building, located at 520 Old Spanish Trail, Slidell or call 985-646-1990.
This public inspection period is dictated by state law and provides a very important opportunity to the taxpayer, by allowing time to assure all assessment information is accurate before the tax roll is certified and tax bills are mailed out.
Once the tax roll is certified in October, it is too late for the assessor’s office to make any changes. Any change requests must be submitted to the Louisiana Tax Commission for approval. Therefore, property owners are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity now.
If a citizen is in disagreement with their assessment, an Application for Assessment Review may be filed with the St. Tammany Parish Assessor’s Office during this designated public inspection period. Application for Assessment Review forms are available on the STPAO website, emailed to assessorreview@stpao.org or faxed to 985-809-8190. The deadline to file an Application for Assessment Review is the last day of the public inspection period, September 14, 2016.
Due to the high volume of applications submitted near the end of the public inspection period, taxpayers who wait to file at this time may experience a delay in their review determination. For this reason any taxpayer choosing to file for review is encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Taxpayers can then expect a review determination in the mail from the assessor’s office within seven to ten days.
Questions should be directed to Sheri Sable-Campbell, Director of Public and Intergovernmental Relations at shericampbell@stpao.org.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – It took four years in the bank business for Jennifer Panks to know which career path to take—it was the one she began in 20 years earlier.
Panks is a lifelong Slidell resident who graduated from Slidell High and went on to earn a Psychology degree, and is now within a year of earning her Master’s Degree in Counseling Education.
Those studies proved to be great as she finished college and started working in the home mortgage business for two different companies that spanned 17 years.
At that point she decided to try utilizing her mortgage expertise in the bank business, but after four years decided it wasn’t the right professional environment for her.
“It wasn’t conducive for my personality in what I did, which is to work closely and get to know the clients I find mortgages for,” she said. “Now I’ve found a perfect fit.”
Panks has returned to work in the Slidell area with Cendera Funding, one of the fastest growing mortgage companies in the Texas-Louisiana area that brings a unique approach to the home sale business.
Cendera Funding was founded in 1998 in Texas by Brian Collins as he built the company to nine states, now ranking as the third fastest growing mortgage company in the Southeast United States.
Panks said it is the mission of Collins that made her want to partner with Cendera..
“Brian’s mission is to lead a professional firm of mortgage bankers trusted by the communities where we live and serve there,” she said.
The Cendera Funding mission includes “believing in impeccable customer service, educating clients to the best of our ability, setting proper expectations, delivering on commitments, believing in candor, integrity and gratitude and making our life’s work fun,” Panks explained.
Panks said she is most surprised at one thing in the mortgage business.
“I can’t believe that four years since I was with a mortgage company I’m still telling people this is the absolute best time to buy or sell a house due to the rates. I never would have guessed rates would have stayed so low for this long,” she said.
Current mortgage rates run near the 4 percent mark, with some mortgages coming in under 4 percent.
“Not only are the rates so low right now, but the inventory in St. Tammany Parish is low so there are many more buyers than sellers. That means it’s a great time to sell your house too,” she said.
Panks said she remembers the early years in the mortgage business when she was closing loans for 12 percent rates.
“I know how high rates can get and sometimes I worry about young homebuyers today because they see 5 percent and think that’s high,” she said. “I hope they understand that if you get a 4 percent loan, or even 5 percent, it is so great.
“As long as rates are 5 percent or below, it’s the time to jump in and buy or sell your house,” she said. “It gives you a great savings account to own a home.”
Panks grew up with a passion to be the best she could be in school, something that carries over to her professional life.
“All the way through school I loved academics and learning,” she said. “Even with three kids now, and finishing my Master’s Degree, it’s a challenge I love since I think it keeps my mind going.”
After four years handling mortgages through a bank, Cendera Branch Manager Melissa Ruble convinced Panks to bring her longtime experience in the mortgage business to their company.
“Cendera is small enough that we have more leeway than a lot of big companies to get a mortgage closed,” Panks explained. “I developed the slogan ‘Lender for Life’ and that’s what I want to be for the people here in St. Tammany Parish.”
Her commitment to her clients is very clear in the way she describes her approach to the job.
“For my clients, I’m available 24/7, before, during and after the process,” she said. “After the close I’m always here and usually become friends with my clients. I genuinely look out for them and I think that’s why this business has been right for me.”
Cendera Funding also offers interim construction loans, home improvement loans, and lower closing rates than many larger lenders.
Panks is married to Jay Panks, son of a longtime Slidell banker the late Ronnie Panks. The couple has three children.
She can be reached by cell phone at 985-640-6738 or by e-mail at jpanks@cenderafunding.com.

SLIDELL – Three Slidell suspects were arrested and one suspect is wanted for attempted simple robbery of a local taxi driver, according to Slidell Police Assistant Chief Kevin Swann.
Cordarrell Lamar Rudolph, Clarence Ray Paige Odom Jr., Cordell Martinez, and Courtney Jervontae Kirsh allegedly conspired at a local restaurant to conduct a strong armed robbery of a taxi driver for any money he had on him.
After hailing a taxi from Parish Cab, and having the taxi drive them to a local hotel, the suspects brutally attacked a 49-year-old taxi driver and attempted to rob him for his money before they fled on foot. Slidell Police Officers were quick to respond and rendered aid to the victim.
Lieutenant Newman was able to locate the suspects nearby, and together with Officer Prosper, Officer Goleman, Officer Funck, and Officer Aucoin, they were able to make several arrests.
Detective Burtanog and Detective McNulty conducted a thorough investigation, and later obtained an additional arrest warrant for Cordell Martinez for an unrelated residential burglary.
“I hope with the assistance of our criminal justice system these young men can understand the profound impact their violent actions have had on the hard working victim and his family,” Chief E.J. Howard said.
Rudolph, 20 years old of 901 Old Spanish Trail, Apt. 19, Slidell, was arrested on attempted simple robbery.
Odom Jr., 21 years old of 56701 Hudson Street, Slidell, was arrested on attempted simple robbery.
Martinez, 19 years old of 901 Old Spanish Trail, Apt. 28, Slidell, was arrested on attempted simple robbery.
Wanted by Slidell Police is Courtney Jervontae Kirsh, 20 years old of 1930 Destin Street, Mandeville, for attempted simple robbery.

Sergeant Carlton Reginald Moree took his own life on Sunday August 14, 2016, losing his battle with P.T.S.D. and traumatic brain injury sustained while serving his country.
He was 41 years old.
Carlton Moree was born November 18, 1974, and was a lifelong resident of Slidell. Carlton graduated from Salmen High School, then joined the Army in 2003 during the Iraq War and served his country honorably.
He is preceded in death by his father, Dillman Wayne Moree Sr.
He is survived by his loving mother, Aida Terranova Moree; and his brother and sisters, Denise Branigan (Daniel), Rhonda Audibert (Scott), Dillman Moree Jr. (Karen).
He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Cheryl Booty, Scott W. Audibert, Chad Audibert, Kendall Moree and Austin Moree.
He was the great uncle to Cooper Booty and Pandora Franks; loving father to Kirsten Violette; and companion to Cheryl Estep.
Family and friends are invited to attend a military funeral with honors on Friday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 34888 Grantham College Drive, Slidell.
Immediately following the service, a funeral reception will be held at 1:30 p.m. (venue to be announced).
In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to www.Gofundme.com/2jyc59g.
To view and sign the family guestbook, visit legacy.com or BagnellFuneralHome.com, which is in charge of arrangements.

Margaret Solberger was born in McKinney, Texas, on July 3, 1920, and died on August 21, 2016 in Spanish Fort, Ala.
Her parents were the Rev. John Lorraine Oldham and Billie Jane Watkins Oldham. She grew up in Martinsburg, W. Va. and Jacksonville, FL. She was a graduate of Florida State College for Women in 1942. She married Sam Solberger, Jr., in 1942 and lived many places before settling in Slidell in 1948. She taught English in Slidell and Mobile.
In 1962, she and her family moved to Mobile where she lived until 2004 when she moved to Westminster Village. During her years in Mobile, she taught English at Davidson High and attended St. Matthews and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
After her husband died, she returned to Florida State University where she received a Master of Social Work in 1970. In 1970, she started working for the Alabama Department of Human Resources in Mobile County and enjoyed working with the agency until she retired in 1985. She was a lifelong Episcopalian and active in all of the churches she attended. She participated in every church activity except choir and cooking.
She was active in the National Association of Social Workers and the League of Women Voters of Mobile and later of Baldwin County. She worked with Interfaith Hospitality Network in Mobile and with Family Promise of Baldwin County. She was part of the Kairos Team which visited prisoners for many years and went on mission trips to Guatemala.
Margaret leaves three children, Jane DeLung (Charles Westoff, husband) of Princeton, New Jersey; Jack Solberger (wife, Carol) of Mobile; and Billy Solberger (deceased) of Tallahassee, FL; five grandchildren, Ryan Solberger (wife, Christine) of Tallahassee, FL; Ashley Solberger Webb (husband, Ray) of Stuart, FL; Carol Anne Solberger (husband, Phil Bush) of Oak Harbor, WA; Blair Solberger of Tallahassee, FL; and John Alexander Solberger of Mobile, AL; and her great-grandson is William Wallace Solberger of Tallahassee, FL.
A memorial service was held on Friday, August 26 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Daphne, AL.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Gulf Coast Flood Relief and Development or Family Promise c/o St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 28788 North Main St. Daphne, AL 36526.
Expressions of condolence may be offered at www.hughesfh.com.
Arrangements are by Hughes Funeral Home, 7951 American Way, Daphne, AL.

Roy E. West, of Slidell, passed away on Friday, August 26, 2016.
He was 63 years old.
He was the husband of Brenda West; father of Roger West (Julie), Amy West Sutherland (Kevin), and Michael West; son of the late J.W. and Cecile West; and brother of Rodney West Sr., Jessie Munch, Glenn West, Jerrie Lynn Bergeron, and the late Kevin West;
He is also survived by two grandchildren: Tyler Raffeo, and Tera Mabie.
A native of Rockdale, Texas, a former resident of New Orleans, and a resident of Slidell for the past 43 years, West was a crane operator with Associated Terminals in Chalmette.
Funeral services were held on Aug. 31 at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell.

Henrietta Wyman Kelty, age 93, died peacefully at Live Oak Village, Slidell, Louisiana, on Monday, August 22, 2016, of pancreatic cancer and associated complications.
Born February 18, 1923, in New Orleans, she lived in Metairie, Louisiana, before settling in Diamondhead, Mississippi.
She was married in her second life to Harvey Kelty. Henrietta was known for her expert sewing skills, which she used in her career as a designer of handmade wedding dresses, as well as for her superb cooking.
Survivors include her son, Robert Mehan; and her daughter, Julie Mehan. Henrietta was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey.
Services were held on Friday, August 26 at Live Oak Village, 2200 Gause Boulevard E, Slidell.
Burial will be held in private.

Shirley McGinnis Robin, of Slidell, passed away on Friday, August 26, 2016, in Slidell.
She was 85 years old.
She was the wife of the late Robert B. Robin; mother of Michael Robin, Melanie Schembre (Joe), and the late Donnie Walker, and Tracy Robin; daughter of the late Edward McGinnis and Florence Reel Buda; sister of Patricia Beaulieu, and the late Florence Falgoust; and mother-in-law of the late Billie Robin.
She is also survived by six grandchildren: Allie Schembre, Angela Schembre, Zachary Robin, Jose Walker, Tommy Walker, and Jonathan Worral.
A native of New Orleans and a resident of Slidell for the past 49 years, she was a parishioner of St. Genevieve Catholic Church, and a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxillary #2732.
Funeral services were held on Aug. 30 at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell.

Bobby Edward Wood Sr., a longtime resident of Slidell, passed away on Sunday, August 21, 2016.
He was 78 years old.
He was the husband of the late Linda Marie Comeaux Wood; father of Penny Saunders, Bobby E. Wood, Jr. (Mendy) and Emily Faughn (Daniel); and brother of Eva Martin, Matthew Wood, Juanita Pickett, the late James Wood, Flo Cole and Jessie Lowery.
He is a­lso survived by nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
He was a longtime employee of Banner Ford. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Germany.
Funeral services were held at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell on August. 26.

John Damian Olson passed away on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
He was 71 years old.
He was born on May 26, 1945 in Long Beach, California to George Emil Olson and Dee Colligan Olson.
He attended the University of Alabama Medical School and was a beloved neurologist in New Orleans, La. A highly intelligent man, he spent his life continually learning new languages, appreciating art and culture, and exploring scientific and mathematical concepts – a true Renaissance man.
He is survived by his children, Kyle Christian Olson, Jennie Sophia Olson, and Joseph Thomas Olson.
Funeral services were held on Aug. 27 at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell.

Mary B. Fischer, of Lacombe, passed away on Sunday, August 28, 2016.
She was 86 years old.
She was the beloved wife of the late Raymond J. Fischer; mother of Ray Joseph Fischer, Jr.; and daughter of the late Henry S. Beaugez and Carrie Fahrenholt Beaugez.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Dylan and Samantha Faughn; and great grandchild, Noah Barringer.
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 Thursday, September 1 at 11 a.m.
Interment on Friday, September 2, 2016 in the Biloxi National Cemetery, Biloxi, MS at 11 a.m.
Visitation at Honaker Funeral Home on Thursday, September 1 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Visit www.honakerforestlawn.com to sign guestbook.
Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell.

Three people accused of shoplifting were arrested last Tuesday after they sprinted past a St. Tammany Parish deputy who was on his lunch break and the deputy quickly pursued them, officials said.
The incident was reported about 12:10 p.m. at the Dillards store at 940 Town Center Parkway in Slidell.
“A STPSO detective was on his lunch break and found it suspicious to find several subjects running out of Dillards, jumping into a 2002 silver Toyota Camry, and leave at a high rate of speed. Confirming his suspicion, the three suspects had just stolen over $1,200 worth of merchandise from the department store,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
The detective chased the trio, which was eventually stopped on Interstate 12 – in front of the St. Tammany Parish Law Enforcement Complex.
Deputies recovered all the stolen merchandise and placed the trio under arrest on felony theft charges.
The three people arrested were identified as Austin Oliver, 32; Erica Oliver, 33; and Carshonda Barze, 28.
All three were from Hammond, Louisiana, authorities said.
The Sheriff’s Office said Oliver had an outstanding warrant on suspicion of theft over $500 from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
All three were booked in to the St. Tammany Parish Jail.

COVINGTON — The St. Tammany community has stepped up with donations valued at an estimated $330,000 as part of the STPPS Cares Fundraiser for students and schools affected by the Louisiana floods.
The districtwide fundraiser held on August 19 raised more than $132,000 of money and gift cards and more than 55 pallets of school supplies, enough to fill a swimming pool, worth an estimated $200,000.
“I am proud of our community for stepping up and coming together to help our neighbors in an unprecedented way,” said Superintendent W. L. “Trey” Folse, III. “The results were amazing and will go a long way in helping thousands of Louisiana students get back to school with the resources they need.”
The concerted effort brought together 55 schools, 38,000 students and their families, more than 5,000 employees, community organizations and businesses for the largest and most successful fundraiser ever held by the St. Tammany Parish Public School System.
Key organizations that helped with the effort were the St. Tammany Parish Government, St. Tammany Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s Office and Target.
“On behalf of the St. Tammany Parish Public School System, I would like to thank everyone for the donations, said Superintendent Folse. “This is about more than collecting school supplies and money, we are giving the victims hope and letting them know St. Tammany is behind them as they move forward with recovery.”
Once school districts most affected by flooding fully assess their needs, the distribution of donations will begin.

SLIDELL – A Slidell man lead Slidell Police on a high-speed chase into Mississippi on Friday, according to SPD officials.
Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Friday, September 9, Officer Stokes observed a pickup truck being driven erratically on Gause Boulevard and Robert Boulevard. Ofc. Stokes, believing the driver to possibly be intoxicated/impaired, activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, but instead of pulling over, the driver, Marcus Stewart fled north on Robert Boulevard.
Officer Stokes gave chase, as Marcus Stewart began swerving in and out of the travel lanes, as well as disregarding the traffic lights, all while reaching speeds in excess of 80 MPH, officials said.

Stewart continued to flee from the growing number of police cars that were behind him, and once in Pearl River, he accessed Interstate 59 and traveled north. Now on the interstate, Stewart’s reckless and careless driving continued, as he swerved from lane to lane, reaching even greater speeds, and even forced other vehicles off the road. While pursuing the vehicle on Interstate 59, officers observed Stewart throw an unknown object (suspected to be narcotics) from the vehicle, officials stated.
Stewart exited Interstate 59 at exit 4, disregarding the traffic light, and got back on Interstate 59, and proceeded south, back towards Pearl River. Officers from several agencies were involved in the chase now, and with the constant radio updates, Officer Herzog of the Slidell Police Department, was able to stop near the Pearl River Turn-Around exit, and get in a safe position so he could deploy his Stinger Spike Strip, which is a tire deflation device that punctures the tires and gradually lets the air out. Officer Herzog successfully deployed the spike strip and the two front tires of Marcus Stewart’s pickup truck began to deflate, which drastically reduced the speeds of the pursuit.
With his two front tires flat, Stewart’s truck became difficult to maneuver, and he left the roadway and entered the middle median on Interstate 59, but Stewart was not ready to quit there. He bailed out of his vehicle and began to elude police on foot, crossing the median and then running across the northbound lanes of Interstate 59. Stewart continued to flee, even with officers behind him ordering him to stop, and warning him that he would be tased if he didn’t.
Even after one officer deployed his taser, Stewart continued to physically struggle and resist arrest, but ultimately the officers were able to handcuff Stewart, bringing an end to the incident.
Stewart was charged with failure to use turn signals, improper lane usage, driving under suspension, aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to Stewart, he fled because he was scared of going to jail for driving without a valid driver’s license and for being in possession of marijuana.
“At any point during this, Marcus Stewart could have pulled to the side of the road, as he should have at the start, but he chose to flee, which jeopardized the safety of other citizens as well as our police officers. We are fortunate that no one was injured,” Slidell Police Chief Howard said.

SLIDELL — Two clinical psychologists, including one from Slidell, pleaded guilty for their involvement in a fraudulent psychological testing scheme that preyed upon Medicare recipients living in nursing homes throughout the Southeastern United States.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite of the Eastern District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Dallas Regional Office and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey S. Sallet of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.
Beverly Stubblefield, Ph.D., 62, of Slidell, and John Teal, Ph.D., 46, of Jackson, Ms., each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier of the Eastern District of Louisiana. They were charged in a superseding indictment on Oct. 22, 2015, along with co-defendants Rodney Hesson, Psy.D., 46, and Gertrude Parker, 62, both of Slidell, who were originally charged in June 2015 in connection with a large-scale Medicare Fraud takedown.
From 2010 through 2015, Stubblefield and Teal were responsible for more than $5.6 million in fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare, according to the plea agreements.
According to admissions made in connection with their plea agreements, Stubblefield and Teal practiced as clinical psychologists at Nursing Home Psychological Services, Inc. (NHPS) and Psychological Care Services, Inc. (PCS). Stubblefield and Teal admitted that NHPS and PCS were owned and operated by Hesson and Parker, who is Hesson’s mother. NHPS and PCS billed Medicare claiming that NHPS and PCS psychologists, including Stubblefield and Teal, administered psychological tests to nursing home residents throughout Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama.
In addition, Teal and Stubblefield admitted that a large number of these tests were not medically necessary and many testing services were not provided. According to the plea agreements, Teal and Stubblefield repeatedly tested the same nursing home residents even though some were incapacitated and could not meaningfully participate in testing.
Hesson and Parker are scheduled to begin trial on Oct. 11, 2016. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Trial Attorneys William Kanellis, Katherine Payerle and Katherine Raut of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged nearly 2,900 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $10 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.

SLIDELL – A day of great music is in store this Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Northshore Harbor Center as a major fundraising event is set for victims of the recent Louisiana flooding, highlighted by an online auction that features signed guitars from the bands Journey and the Doobie Brothers.
The Friends of the Harbor Center is the sponsoring organization for the Sunday music show dubbed “Louisiana United Concert,” that will feature 12 bands or solo performers.
A special highlight at the day of music will be guitars signed by band members from Journey and the Doobie Brothers. Both guitars will be on display, then offered in an online auction on CharityBuzz.com. All proceeds will go to the flood victims.

Harbor Center General Manager said there was a “quick and wonderful response” when they put out the word for bands to join in the fundraiser.
“People wanted to help the flood victims,” she said. “It was very heartwarming to see how many people have come forward to help.”
Music will begin at 11 a.m. and continues until 8 p.m. with an admission fee of $10 for adults and $5 for children with prices going up $5 on the day of the show. Tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com.
No ice chests or outside food or drink will be permitted as vendors will offer those items inside to raise money for the flood victims.
There will be raffles to raise money, including a Paul Reed Smith guitar donated by the band Journey. Lowrey said it was Journey’s sound engineer, Meaux Windhorst, who facilitated the donation. More details on the auction of the guitar can be found at charitybuzz.com.
The Friends of the Harbor Center have selected the Rotary District 6840 Foundation and STPCares as recipients of proceeds from Louisiana United.
The lineup of music is as follows:
The Castaways 11:00 – 11:45
Dr. Rock 12:00 – 12:45
90 Degrees West 1:00 – 1:45
Brian Bicycle Jones 1:45 – 2:00
Michael O’Hara-The Sheik & Resurrection 2:00 – 2:45
Chris Broussard 2:45 – 3:00
Band Camp 3:00 – 3:45
Mike Epstein 3:45 – 4:00
Christian Serpas & Ghost Town 4:00 – 4:45
Four Unplugged 5:00 – 5:45
Rick Samson 5:45 – 6:00
Supercharger 6:00 – 6:45
Sledgehammer 7:00 – 7:45

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

MANDEVILLE – It’s not surprising that Len Snyder understands the great need for a cure to be found for Alzheimer’s Disease.
Snyder owns and operates Home Instead Senior Care in St. Tammany Parish with branches serving the east and west sides of the parish, including nearly 60 families they assist with home health care.
In that kind of business it’s easy for Snyder to see first-hand the many ways Alzheimer’s can devastate lives and families with the terrible disease that usually strikes in a slow and unexpected way.
It’s also the reason Snyder and his company continue to be leading the way in the annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” fundraiser that is held nationwide, with the St. Tammany benefit set for Saturday, Oct. 8 at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville.
On the local front the walk will begin with registration at 8 a.m., a ceremony at 9 a.m., then the two-mile walk at 9:30 a.m.
Teams can be entered or someone can enter individually by simply pledging a set donation for the walk. There is no fee to enter the walk.
“This is as much about awareness of the disease as raising the money,” Snyder said. “We want people to understand how devastating this disease is on relationships and families.”
Snyder should know since he has personal experience with relatives who have dealt with Alzheimer’s, as well as the many cases he sees through his company.
“I have a cousin in Yok, Pennsylvania who worked his entire life at the Caterpillar plant there. He put away money into his retirement account for he and his wife. They were married 40 years and then she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and now he has gone through all the savings, and then his wife doesn’t even recognize him anymore,” Snyder said. “It’s very sad to see how this affects the lives of people who deal with it.”
The St. Tammany Home Instead Heroes team is open to add more members to its team by signing up online at act.alz.org, or showing up Saturday morning, Oct. 8 at the park. For more information you can call Laura Bryant at 985-726-2668.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – There are many important causes in this world for people to be drawn to.
Foster children certainly ranks among them, for various different reasons, and one Covington volunteer has made it a one-woman crusade to tackle the problem in every way she can.
Kim Bigler is the founder and CEO of James Storehouse, a small operation tucked away in tightly squeezed quarters off East Boston Street in downtown Covington.
While the name James Storehouse takes a little explaining to understand it is a home of hope for foster children, from young to old, and particularly was formed to address the issue of the kids aging out of the system when they turn 18.
“Most people do not know that when a foster child turns 18 they are on their own,” Bigler said. “For many of them they are homeless within 48 hours of turning 18.”
Bigler and her husband, Benjamin, started the first James Storehouse in Los Angeles, Cal. in 2011 after the couple met and got married in 2005 at the church they were both attending.
She felt called back to her hometown of Covington in 2015 and came back to St. Tammany Parish with the express intent of starting a second James Storehouse to assist foster children and their foster parents here.
Bigler has limited volunteer help in the small space she operates from at 527 E. Boston St., but has accomplished a lot in barely over a year. The non-profit has assisted over 300 families with supplies so potential foster parents can take in kids.
“Many foster kids go to low income people and sometimes they need help with the right supplies or furniture so they can take a child,” Bigler said. “Donations of beds or cribs, especially bunk beds, are some of the things we need more than anything since it can make a difference of whether a foster parent is allowed to take a child.”
While James Storehouse has a nice supply of toys, baby items and clothes for kids of all ages, Bigler seems most passionate about helping the foster kids who are teenagers, soon to age out of the system.
After moving to L.A. in 2009 and working for CBS television for two years, she began attending Malibu Vineyard church where she met the man who would become her husband. She served as the youth pastor and a missionary in a job that took her to Fiji, Russia, the Philippines and other countries. But all along, Bigler’s heart seemed to be attuned to teenagers.
That led to starting James Storehouse in California in 2011, an operation she and her husband headed for the past five years before Bigler felt led to return to St. Tammany Parish.
Before actually moving here, Bigler had come home to Covington to visit and was invited to a state conference hosted by former Gov. Bobby Jindal to speak to foster kids who were going to age out of the system.
“It was a conference to give them advice on how to manage and what to do,” Bigler recalls. “When I showed up as one of the speakers I looked around and realized I was one of very few adults who were there. The auditorium was full of about 50 foster kids, all waiting to hear how we were going to help them. I realized few people cared to even be there.”
Bigler took the stage and remembers passionately promising the kids there that “I will be back and we will help you.”
“That’s when I knew I had to come back here to start James Storehouse in my hometown,” she recalls.
Bigler had her own trials in her early adult life after graduating from St. Scholastica Academy in Covington and living a life that was anything but the one foster kids experienced.
“My mother is Diane Winston, the former state representative, and my father has owned several companies so I lived a life the furthest thing from what a foster kid faces,” she acknowledged.
Bigler struggled to find her path in life after leaving home and going to New York to work in fashion. But things changed when she accepted the Lord in 1999 in a decision that radically changed her direction in life.
“I used to walk the streets of New York and see the homeless people and tell them ‘get a job.’ I was so hard-hearted,” she said. “I felt purposeless until one night I went home to my apartment, fell on my knees and asked God to save me. I cried for three hours.”
Bigler left everything she had in New York, giving away all her possessions, including an expensive watch she remembers giving to a homeless woman.
“God showed me I wasn’t meant to live this way,” she said.
Leaving New York she moved to Nashville and worked in a music publishing company, attending Belmont Church, which connected her to friends who offered a job in Los Angeles with the Quincy Jones Music Publishing company. While that job didn’t last long in L.A. it was a move that led her to Malibu Vineyard, the man she would marry, and the ministry she has today.
Bigler has a long list of big intentions and plans, but admits a year into the Covington operation has shown her that she needs help in various ways. While the non-profit organization exists on private donations, she hopes for more investors to join in the ministry, especially to find a larger place to operate from that won’t cost $650 a month of the money that others are supporting James Storehouse with.
“I really need some great, steady people to help me,” she said. “There is so much we can do to help these kids, but right now I spend too much time manning the storehouse.”
During the interview she had one couple come by with a new foster son, picking up clothes and supplies, before another woman with a 7-month-old foster son came by to bring lunch and give her a hug.
Bigler wants to create a career development center for foster kids, a place with mentors, access to computers and a connection to job interviews.
“Whatever the need is for these kids I want to be there to help them,” she said. “We get so many calls every day that I know we are meeting a need. The supplies we give are helping good people stay in the game to keep these kids safe. But we need to do more to assist them when they age out of the system.”
Bigler spends as much time as possible as a guest speaker to get her message out and said she is available to speak to any local organizations about the situation.
Her heart is clearly focused on the foster kids who reach the age of 18 and suddenly are faced with a big world they have limited skills to take on.
“Most the teens leave their foster homes with only the clothes on their back,” she said. “We want to mobilize people here to help these kids. We need to be a bridge for them to have a chance.”
For more information or to offer help for James Storehouse, call Bigler at 875-888-6100.

It’s amazing how frequently I run into situations with local business owners and see why people should give the “Buy Local” idea a chance before running off to the national chain stores.
Chuck Orzehoskie has been the longtime owner of Instant Replay at 1171 Robert Blvd. here in Slidell. He was a former coach at Slidell High for many years before doing as many of us do, finding a second job!
Seriously, his “second job” was the idea of starting a local sports supply place and he opened Instant Replay. Now pushing 20 years in the business, you have to give the guy a heckuva lot of credit because he has survived against the likes of several major national sports chain stores whom I do not need to mention.
Chuck is just like me and dozens of others in Slidell—a small businessman who battles every day to make a living, along with the most difficult challenge of proving to local people that his place is as good if not better to shop at than the national chains.
When I stopped in to see him recently, since he was supporting our annual High School Football Preview section by purchasing an ad, we got talking about his store and what he does to remain competitive against the big boys.
Simply put, as I’ve seen over-and-over from local businesses, he actually is very competitive and even beats the prices on many items when going head-to-head against the national chains.
One item Chuck and I got talking about was the football helmets kids have to buy to play on local teams, including the youth sports teams. With the big increase in concern for concussions while playing football there is a state-of-the-art helmet known as the Xenith Concussion Prevention Helmet that was created by a neurologist.
The helmet has a floating interior so when a kid is hit on the helmet by another player it doesn’t make the brain absorb the entire hit. It was neat to see how the design of the helmet really works.
Chuck said he sells the helmet for $139 and the national chain stores sell it for $179—enough said. He said that other parts of the football uniform that kids have to buy are also more inexpensive at his store. Yet so often we see folks just heading to the big box store without giving our local guys a try.
I like passing these stories on because I have seen them over-and-over. I keep seeing the way local businesses really are a great place to shop and as I have said many times before—the money stays here rather than being shipped off to some major corporation.
PLEASE give our local businesses a chance, especially as we are about to head into the holiday shopping season. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see the pricing at local stores, as well as the unique local gifts you can find when you give our local guys a shot.

—-

Welcome back to town Linda Timberlake!
Linda was the longtime director of Azalea Estates in Slidell and was always one of the most personable ladies I did business with. She left Azalea over a year ago and worked in the west side of the parish, but is now “back home” as she was hired by Home Instead Senior Care to join that company.
I saw her at the Slidell Home Instead office last week when I stopped by to talk to Len and Evelyn Snyder, and their daughter Joyce Donohue, who is heading the operation in the east. Home Instead services over 50 families in both the eastern and western sides of the parish.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Linda there and happy to see she is working again locally with home health care.

—-

Here is a great quote my wife recently sent me, written by Jenkin Lloyd Jones.
“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be real people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.
Life is like an old time rail journey….delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

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

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – When you see your cell phone ringing you might want to thank Darrin Wagner or one of his employees at TEST (Telecom & Electrical Services & Technologies.)
Wagner is the owner and founder of TEST, a local company that services the technology needed for cell phone towers to operate throughout the region for most of the national companies like Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and more.
Now the 43-year-old entrepreneur is hoping you will want to thank him for the same outstanding service TEST will offer in their newest division for residential electric service. TEST Electric can service, upgrade or repair any electrical problems in your home.
“We built this company by offering the absolute best customer service possible in everything we do,” Wagner said. “Now with TEST Electric, our residential service, we will provide excellence that truly stands the test of time.”
Wagner is so big on customer service that he created a thick manual for his employees that details every aspect of outstanding service for the residential electric side, covering the company phone greeting to the time they leave your home after handling a call.
When you call TEST there are two possible phone greetings. One of them says “We are having an excellent day at TEST Electric, how may we improve yours?” Or you may hear “Good morning, this is TEST Electric, how can we make you smile today?”
The name of his company is actually an acronym for “T”eamwork, “E”xcellence, “S”afety and “T”imely. Wagner said his office will call the homeowner the day before the service call as a reminder, then call shortly before they arrive.
When arriving at a home there are special “floor savers” that workers put on their feet, a mat is used to put tools down and all electricians are licensed, background checked and drug tested.
“We want people to know they don’t have to worry about who is coming in their home,” Wagner said.
Once there, the job is evaluated and a written order is given to the homeowner for what cost there will be.
“We offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee on all our work,” Wagner said. “And so far we have never been asked for a refund.”
Wagner admits he may not always offer the lowest price on jobs, although he said their work is certainly reasonably priced, but “the difference in service is something I think people will pay a few extra dollars for.
“When we leave we want the customer service experience to be something they are very happy with, and something they would recommend us to others for,” he added.
Originally from Chalmette, Wagner showed the signs for a business career in electronics from a young age. As a teenager he was installing car stereos for friends and said “I always liked to take electronics apart and see how they worked. It was always an interest of mine.”
He finished college at Delgado with an Electronic Technology degree and although trying nursing briefly at college, ended up going back to the career he loved.
“I thought nursing might be good when I went to college since I was very aware of trying to find a career I could make a good living at, but I didn’t have the passion for nursing once I started. I switched back to what I knew and loved and it was the right choice,” he said.
Even in college he was working at a local Radio Fone store where he fixed pagers, the early rage in wireless communication, and also installed the former giant phones in cars.
“They were like the first cell phones, but man were they big,” he said with a laugh.
After college he worked for Verizon and began getting assignments to scale the cell phone towers that were suddenly springing up all over with the explosion in cell phone sales. He remembers his first tower that was 200 feet in the air.
“I remember the guys making the tower swing back and forth and I was hanging on and yelling,” he said. “But I was OK going up that high and always said I would never ask my guys to do anything I wouldn’t do.”
From that point he began to work on towers as high as 600 feet in the air, as well as towers on top of high-rise buildings in New Orleans. Seeing the great future in the industry he started his own business a week before Hurricane Katrina hit in August, 2005 and although it took six months to get the insurance and licenses to work for all the major national companies, he was on his way.
Today he has 27 employees and has built a business that includes his 19-year-old son Dylan now climbing the same towers he used to climb.
“He loves it,” Wagner said.
To contact TEST Electric for any residential electrical needs, call 985-863-5510 or check their website at test-us.net.

Justin Andrew Peralta, of Slidell, passed away on September 4, 2016.
He was 31 years old.
He was a crab fisherman.
He leaves behind his mother, Melanie Seghers (Dudley Major); his father, Stephen Peralta Sr. (Angie Fellon); grandmother, Barbara Seghers; brothers Stephen Peralta Jr. and Jordan Peralta; sisters, Lacy Peralta and Mia Peralta; nephew, Conner; step-brother, Josh Fellon; his aunts, Allison Peralta and Patricia Ford; cousin, Caitlin Ford; and fiance’, Alexandra Verdin.
He was predeceased by his grandfathers, Leon Seghers and Alvin Peralta; grandmother, Gayle Peralta; uncles, Lance Ford and Darrell Seghers; and aunt, Carol Killeen.
Funeral services were held on Sept. 12 at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell.

Mansel A. Dupuy Jr., of Lacombe, passed away on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.
He was 71 years old.
He was the husband of Elizabeth T. Dupuy; son of Marie Dupuy and the late Mansel Dupuy Sr.; and brother of Dorothy C. Hunt, Brenda Guttuso, and Glenn Dupuy.
A native of New Orleans and a resident of Lacombe since 1955, Jr was a former employee of Lemoine Enterprises and Action Drywalls.
Funeral services were held at Honaker Funeral?Home in Slidell on Monday, Sept. 12.

Carmen Benitez Tandron passed away of natural causes on September 1, 2016.
She was 90 years old.
She was the wife of the late Lt. Rafael Tandron, and the mother of Carmen Dalton, R.N. (David), Ileana Tandron, M.D. (JP), and Carlos Tandron, M.D. (Jenny), and is also survived by 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Carmen was a native of Santa Clara, Cuba, where she was an educator until her family emigrated to the United States where she became a citizen. She was a strong supporter of her family, the Catholic church, all things Cuban, and the U.S.A.
A Catholic Mass was held at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd West, in Slidell, on Saturday, September 10.

Jamie Luther Fricke, of Slidell, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016.
She was 85 years old.
She was the beloved wife of the late Clyde Morris Fricke, Sr.; daughter of the late Wm. Jennings Luther and Addie Cooper Luther; mother of Barbara A. Fricke (Skip), Clyde M. Fricke, Jr., Peggy S. Fricke and Brian K. Fricke (Connie); and sister of Linda A. Brand and the late Donald Luther.
She is also survived by grandchildren, Russell G. Crowe, Jr. (Tracey), Tiah C. Smith (Brandyn), Angela N. Fricke, Jason D. Fricke, Seth L. Fricke (Kelsea), Ryan C. Fricke, Tyler J. Fricke,Gene P. Fricke (Mitzi), Joseph W. Fricke and Denis N. Fricke (Georgette); great-grandchildren, Savannah R. Allen, Blaize Crowe, Sr., (Karlee), Brandyn T. Smith, Jr, Addie R. Smith, Mason Fricke, Wyatt Fricke, Cameron Fricke, Blake Fricke, Alexis Fricke (Mitch), Lauren Fricke, Cole Fricke, Anthony Fricke and Trace Fricke; and great-great-grandchildren, Bailee, Brinlee, Blaize, Jr., Blair, Beau and Rylee.
She was a native and lifelong resident of Slidell. She was a retired legal secretary for Alvin Singletary Law Firm.
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 Friday, September 16 at 1 p.m.
Visitation on Friday after 11 a.m. until funeral time.

Earl E. Perigoni, of Slidell, passed away on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.
He was 87 years old.
He was the beloved father of Sheryleen Grothus; Carole Pardo; Sylvia Perigoni and the late Diane Perigoni; son of the late Earl Perigoni and Mary Lafassi P. Gagliano; and brother of the late Rita Corcoran.
Also survived by his five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A funeral service honoring the life of Erna Loving will be 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2016, at First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow, OK.
The family will greet guests before and after the funeral service at the church. Erna will be laid to rest beside her husband prior to the service at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 15 at Fort Gibson National Cemetery.
Erna passed away at the age of 83 on Wednesday, September 7, 2016.
Erna was born in St. Augustine County, Texas on February 21, 1933 to Robert Manning Evers and Keturah (Fox) Evers. Erna graduated from Zavalla High School in 1949, Zavalla, Texas. She continued her education at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas for two years.
Erna married Jesse James Loving, Jr. in Beaumont, Texas on September 15, 1956. Their union was blessed with four children. Erna was a wonderful wife and mother.
Erna was very active in gardening, serving terms of president with the Tulsa Garden Club and the Oklahoma State Garden Club. She enjoyed being outdoors, growing flowers, floral design and taking care of young children. Erna sold Sarah Coventry jewelry for several years. Erna was able to participate in several overseas mission trips with her beloved First Baptist Church. She was also a member of Blue Star Mothers. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi in Lake Charles, Louisiana in the 60’s.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 100 W. Albany St., Broken Arrow, OK 74012 or to Hayhurst Funeral Home, 1660 S. Elm Place, Broken Arrow, OK 74012.
Erna is survived by son, James M. Loving and wife Sandy, Eros, La.; daughter, Melissa (Loving) Melton and husband Landon, Ponchatoula, La.; grandchildren, Chris and Kayla, Jessica and Tim, and Jake; greatgrandchildren, Trevor, Ella, Lillian, and Phoenix; sister, Mildred Lacy, Nacogdoches, TX; Mable Williams, Silsbee, TX; brothers, Robert Evers, Montgomery, TX; and Benny Evers and wife Maryann, LaPalma, CA.
Erna was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Angela, son Kevin and great-granddaughter Madison.

A memorial service honoring the life of Kevin Loving will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, September 15 at First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Okla.
Kevin passed away at the age of 54 on Wednesday, September 7, 2016.
Kevin was born in Beaumont, Texas on March 27, 1962 to Jesse J. Loving, Jr. and Erna Ruth (Evers) Loving. Kevin graduated from high school in Broken Arrow with the class of 1980.
Kevin was a wonderful son, brother and friend. He was a compassionate person and a caregiver for his mother, Erna Loving and his sister Angela.
Kevin, like his mother, had a green thumb and together they enjoyed gardening. He also enjoyed travel and would explore new destinations as much as he could. Kevin was also a big sports fan and particularly loved OU Sooners.
Kevin is survived by his brother, Michael Loving and wife Sandy, Eros, La.; sister, Melissa (Loving) Melton and husband Landon, Ponchatoula, La.; many nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends.
Kevin was preceded in death by his parents.

Lorraine Beaver Brand, of Slidell, passed away on Tuesday, September 13, 2016.
She was 83 years old.
She was the beloved mother of Berton J. Brand, Jr. (Debra Sanderson), Barbara Ponson (Joseph), Bernadette Brand and Michael Brand; daughter of the late Dale and Ann Marshall Beaver.
She was also survived by five grandchildren, Christopher Brand, Andra Ponson, James Studinski, Joel Studinski, and Keith Brand; and two great-grandchildren, Travis Conner Brand and Jacob Brand.
She was a native of Kewanee, Ill. and a long time resident of Slidell.
She was retired from the City of Slidell where she worked in the office of the chief of staff.
She was a member of the Red Hat Society and her beloved Precious Pearls.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Memorial Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church 400 Westchester, Slidell, on Saturday, October 15 at 11 a.m.
Interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Visitation at the church on Saturday after 10 a.m. until funeral time.
Donations to Notre Dame Hospice, preferred, in lieu of flowers.
Please visit www.honakerforestlawn.com to sign guestbook.
Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell.

Tracy Fujko-Whatley passed away on September 3, 2016.
She was 53 years old.
She was born on April 29, 1963 in Neenah-Menasha, Wisconsin.
Tracy is survived by her beloved son, Lance Alan Whatley, II; her parents, Joseph and Deloris Fujko; sisters, Susan Fujko-Reynolds (Paul), Heidi Fujko, and Jodi Rotolo (Keith); nephews, John Reynolds, and Ryan and Sam Rotolo; nieces, Megan Reynolds and Kate Rotolo; also an uncle, many aunts and cousins.
Tracy earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
A private burial will be held for her family.
A memorial fund has been set up at Bridge House/Grace House, C/O: Tracy Whatley Fund, 4150 Earhart Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70125 or online at: https://7868.thankyou4caring.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298
Please visit www.honakerforestlawn.com to sign guestbook.
Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell.

Carol “Granny” Partlan Scheuermann passed away on Sunday, September 11, 2016, in Slidell.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Karl Louis Scheuermann, Sr.
She was born on December 13, 1937 in New Orleans to the late Daniel Bernard Partlan, Sr. and Margarite Rittler Partlan.
Carol was the loving mother of Karen A. Scheuermann, Karl L. Scheuermann, Jr. (Stephanie), Mark A. Scheuermann (Tricia), Scott M. Scheuermann (Gina), Marie S. Wagner (Sean), Patrick E. Scheuermann (Sarah), Thomas J. Scheuermann (Ana), Michael D. Scheuermann (Chantelle), and Sherri S. Dutreix (Lonnie).
She was the proud grandmother of Kale, Callie, Kelsie, Kendall, Colin, Heidi, Alexis, Brett, Tyler, Rebecca, Sally, Chandler, Christina, Julia, Amy, James, Caroline, Matthew, Lonnie, Evan, Claire, Sam, and Henry.
Carol was the sister of Elaine Smith, Yvonne Spicuzza, Jackie Turner, Patricia Burgard, and the late Daniel Partlan, Jr.
Carol is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A funeral Mass was held at at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home Chapel, 2260 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, on September 16.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hospice Foundation of the South, www.hospicefoundationofthesouth.org.
Please Share a Memory on the Tribute Wall at www.ejfieldingfh.com or at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries.

Dorothy H. Guthans, of Slidell, passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2016,
She was 94 years old.
She was the beloved wife of the late John Herman Guthans, Jr.; mother of Sandra Lea Guthans and husband Raymond A. Miller; John H. Guthans, III and wife, Judy; sister of: Al Sira Young and the late: Doris Dare Low; Justin S. Haydel and Millicent Tardo.
Funeral services were held at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd. West (in Forest Lawn Cemetery), Slidell, on Monday, September 19.

Earl E. Perigoni, of Slidell, passed away on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.
He was 87 years old.
He was the beloved father of Sheryleen Grothus, Carole Pardo, Sylvia Perigoni, and the late Diane Perigoni; son of the late Earl Perigoni and Mary Lafassi P. Gagliano; and brother of the late Rita Corcoran.
He is also survived by his five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Althea Hebert Whitfield, of Slidell, passed away on Tuesday, September 13, 2016,
She was 87 years old.
She was the beloved wife of the late Perry M. Whitfield; mother of: Perry M. Whitfield, II and wife, Johanna; Henry B. Whitfield; Trudy W. Livingston and husband, Barton; and daughter of the late Theodule Henry Hebert and Margaret Meyers Hebert.
She is also survived by four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Calvary Baptist Church, 1615 Old Spanish Trail, Slidell, on September 17.

Louise J. Duchmann, lifelong native of St Bernard Parish and an 11-year resident of Slidell, went to be with the Lord peacefully on Thursday, September 15, 2016,
She was 91 years old.
She was the beloved wife of George R. Duchmann for 72 years; and loving mother of Margie Hitzman (Henry) and Lynne Wood (Calvin).
She is also survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Canon Hospice, 19375 North 4th Street, Covington, LA 70433.

Capt. Michael Lee Faciane, retired, of Slidell, passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2016.
He was 64 years old.
He was the beloved father of Jennifer F. Mizell, (Michael); son of the late Joseph E. Faciane and Dorothy Parker Faciane; brother of Everest Faciane, Deby F. Luther, the late Kirby G. Faciane, and Beverly F. Cocran.
He is also survived by grandchildren, Trey, Myron and Callie Mizell; and one great-grandchild, Gabriel Mizell; and survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and two special nieces, Natasha Luther and Brandee Krieger.
He was a native and lifelong resident of Slidell. He was a retired Captain with St. Tammany Fire District #1. He was also co-owner of Eddies Wrecker Service of Slidell.
Funeral servies were held on Sept. 20 at Honaker Funeral Home in Slidell.

Justine DeVito Stoltz, of Pearl River, passed away on Saturday, September 17, 2016, at home surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on February 16, 1924, and was 92 years old.
She was the beloved wife of 65 years to the late William R. Stoltz, Sr.; loving mother of William Robert Stoltz, Jr. and his wife, Kathryn Sue Robertson; James Michael Stoltz and his wife, Yvonne G. Mueller; Raymond Wayne Stoltz, Sr. and his wife, Cynthia Beverly.
She was the grandmother of nine grandchildren, their spouses, 20 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Lillian Cantu of Lacombe; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her father, Joseph DeVito; her mother, Gelorma (Mamie) Minotino; her brother, Jerry DeVito; and her sister, Catherine DeVito.
A private service will be held for immediate family members.
Donations can be made in her memory to her favorite charity of over 40 years, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org).

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – There have been many outstanding community projects that were born in the Leadership Northshore program, but none have been more satisfying and fulfilling for team members than the work from the Bring It Home Northshore organization.
Leadership Northshore is a nine-month program that offers business leaders in the area an educational opportunity about many aspects of the community, and it also results in team projects that benefit the community.
Bring It Home Northshore (BIHNS) was created by Victoria Langlinais, Jackelyn Gallo, Kevin O’Neill and Jean Hoover as a way to help families of deployed or deceased military veterans.
In many cases when a veteran is deployed, children of those individuals have to manage with only one parent at home. It creates a number of challenges in the way of having time and resources for family outings.

BIHNS raised money through two fundraisers a year so they could offer special trips, outings or other benefits for the families of those veterans.
This Sunday, Sept. 25 is one of their two fundraisers during the year as the Warrior Wing Cook-Off will be held at the American Legion Hall at 1680 St. Ann Place in Slidell from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
While their major fundraiser is the Red, White and Blue Masquerade Ball in late spring, the Warrior Wing Cook-Off is more of a way to reach veterans who may need the assistance the group offers.
Gallo said that many veterans are “proud families and don’t want to ask for help,” so they have connected with military families to help them through referrals, Facebook or other personal contacts.
The Warrior Wing Cook-Off has been one way to maintain the awareness in the community of what Bring It Home Northshore does, and helps keep the word around that they are ready to help.
“We have to say to some of the military families…PLEASE let us help you,” Gallo added. “They are seldom the ones to raise their hand and ask for help.”
Bring It Home Northshore has assisted over 60 kids since forming in October, 2013, providing such great outings as family passes for the season to Audubon Zoo, the Aquarium, Audubon Institute, Global Wildlife, rock climbing, soda shop visits and more. They recently purchased swimming lessons for a family that had bought a house just before the father was deployed. The mother was worried about her children being around the pool so BIHNS paid for swimming lessons for all the kids.
Another recent situation saw a mother with seven dependents, keeping the three kids from her sister, as well as four children of her own as her husband was deployed to the Middle East. BIHNS provided family passes for all of them for the entire year to Audubon Institute, which allows them to go to the zoo, aquarium and insectarium.
The idea for BIHNS began when Gallo’s husband, Capt. Mike Gallo, was doing his radio talk show with outdoors expert Don Dubuc and heard about a neighbor being deployed. To help out, they provided the son with a fishing trip that ended up being on Dubuc’s WWL television show.
“It gave us the idea to help these children in other ways,” Gallo said.
Langlinais said the Warrior Wing Cook-Off is a great way to find out about other military families that need help.
“Our hardest task in three years since we started is finding the families so we can help them,” she said. “We will help any family in the Southeast Louisiana area so we are asking the public to let us know about any situation where we could help a family while their mom or dad is deployed.”
The process to apply is simply. Go online to bringithomens.org and tell about the family situation, what a child likes and how the group can help out.

By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau

SLIDELL – The effort by Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan to see the Tammany Trace connected into the city at Heritage Park has hit another roadblock in the name of City Councilman Val Vanney.
Drennan has kept the Trace progress on the front burner since he came into office six years ago and admittedly would like it brought to Heritage Park before his second term is finished in the spring of 2018. The Trace now ends at Thompson Road, on the western side of Slidell—a place it has sat for six years.
The Tammany Trace is a 31-mile asphalt trail in St. Tammany Parish for hiking and cycling that winds mostly through the woods from downtown Covington to the west side of Slidell. The final plan calls for it to come through Slidell and end at the St. Tammany Fishing Pier.
For years the city administration has been trying to get the Trace into downtown Slidell, a project Drennan has seen no substantial progress on due to the financial challenges.
Drennan asked for a study to determine the best and most cost-effective route to get it from Thompson Road to Heritage Park and had those results announced at the Sept. 13 City Council meeting.
The council is faced with voting on several options at its Oct. 11 meeting.
The mayor has been pushing a route through Camp Salmen and down West Hall since the study called it the “only feasible route.”
In actuality, there are several ways to get the Trace to Heritage Park, but the one now being pushed by Vanney is an extremely costly plan that would utilize abandoned railroad tracks and need two tunnels built under Hwy. 190.
Total cost for that route would be in excess of $15 million.
“If Councilman Vanney wants us to use the tracks then we may as well scratch the Trace for at least 20 years,” Drennan said. “That is not a viable option in anybody’s mind that I know of—other than Mr. Vanney.”
The option Drennan said he is still in favor of would be the West Hall route, which would utilize city right-of-way along the side of the road. Vanney says there are too many residences along West Hall that don’t want to deal with the added traffic of bikers and joggers, not to mention they would lose parking area for their cars.
Drennan, who happens to live in one of those residences on West Hall, said he has lived there for years and already sees many joggers and bikers on the road.
“Anyone who has lived there as I do knows we already have a lot of people riding or running,” he said. “And I don’t really know yet that the homeowners along there would lose much of anything. Besides, they aren’t supposed to park their cars on the sidewalk anyway.”
Vanney said the West Hall route would involve moving sidewalks, utility poles, phone boxes and fire hydrants. City Planner Eric Lundin said in his study that the recently resurfaced road would also have to be raised 10 inches and two bridges would be needed.
Cost for the West Hall plan would be approximately $3 million, with the city needing to contribute over $500,000.
Two other options would bring the Trace from Camp Salmen to Carroll Road, then through residential areas on St. Christopher or St. Ann streets through the Carolyn Park neighborhood. The study said the St. Christopher plan would affect 48 homes, the St. Ann plan would affect 34 homes and the West Hall plan would affect 42 homes.
Vanney, who represents that area on the City Council, said the homeowners there are expressing strong opposition to anything coming through their subdivision.
“The Trace has almost no other place in 31 miles where it crosses in front of homes,” Vanney said. “Why do we have to inconvenience so many people in Slidell?
“I don’t want to stop the Trace, but don’t do the easy way out just so you can say you finished it before your term ends,” Vanney added. “We all know the mayor wants it finished before his term ends, but why do this to so many Slidell residents just to say it’s done?”
Drennan contends the West Hall route has been the preferred way to do it from the start and something he has supported since getting behind the Trace coming into Slidell at Heritage Park.
“If someone else has a better, more affordable option than West Hall, I’m all for it,” he said. “But I don’t see over $15 million as an option.”
There were previously other options like taking it towards Bayou Liberty and coming in on Sullivan Road, going over the Bayou Bonfouca Bridge and finding a route to Heritage Park. However, Lundin said there was not a suitable route from there to the park.
The city and parish have collaborated on the project from Thompson Road, with the parish footing the bill for some of the $17,000 match money that goes with $70,000 of money from the feds since that part of the project is not very costly, coming through mostly wooded areas.
The parish and city also have $2 million committed to the Trace through the Federal Recreational Trail Grant program, which would pay for 80 percent of the way from Carroll Road into Heritage Park.
The St. Christopher route, while running closer to more homes, was reported as “the most feasible route in terms of cost” by the city engineer.