Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 3-4, 2026

George Shoemaker (age 39 with no address shown) was booked on the charges of Indecent Behavior With
Juvenile(s) and Aggravated Crime Against Nature by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $200000.00.

Jeffery Stuart (age 62 with Carson, Ms. address) was booked on the charge of Ran Stop Sign by Louisiana State Police. No bond set at this time.

Zachary Garrett (age 24 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Principal to Simple Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling and Resisting an Officer by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Timothy Foreman (age 18 with no address shown) was booked on the charges of Armed Robbery With Firearm, Aggravated Battery, and Carjacking by the Franklinton Police Department. No bond set at this time.

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***

Obituary

Lester Gabe Haik, Jr.

July 11, 1951 - March 2, 2026

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight   Patchy fog before 3am, then patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday   A 60 percent of showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night   A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. 

Saturday   A 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph. 

Saturday Night   A 60 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. 

Angola Prison Rodeo is April 18th & 19th

Click here for ticket information, prison rodeo policies, and general information.

FBI Arrests Slidell Police Corrections Officer

The Slidell Police Department has reported that late Tuesdy (March 3, 2026) night, Slidell Police Corrections Officer, 31-year-old Nicholas Engolia, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigations for Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

Please refer to the video for Chief Daniel Seuzeneau’s full statement in regard to this incident.

Amwaste of Louisiana Reports a Successful 2025 and Kicks Off 2026

Amwaste of Louisiana has announced their team's celebration of a successful 2025  and that they kicked off 2026 with being awarded renewal of their contract with the Town of Franklinton.

On January 8, 2026, the Town of Franklinton officially awarded the Solid Waste Contract to Amwaste of Louisiana. Amwaste of Louisiana, the Town’s current waste service provider at the time of the award, secured the new agreement, solidifying its partnership with the Town for an additional five years.  Pictured (below) signing is Amwaste of Louisiana's District Manager Lauren Anthony and Town of Franklinton's Mayor Darwin Sharp

Award recipients (also pictured below) were named as follows: The  Edward Hill Above and Beyond Award, driver of the year recipient was Angie Eugin and the Cedrick Banks Outstanding Service Award, hopper of the year recipient was Thomas Sambo.

Obituary

Johnneice T. Andrews

November 12, 1968 - February 26, 2026

Obituary

Vernell Magee Kagler

August 8, 1945  -  February 20, 2026

Obituary

Marion Paula Dutruch Fauntleroy

June 17, 1943 — February 27, 2026

Obituary

Charles Leo Crawford, Sr.

September 24, 1942 - February 11, 2026

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   A 20 percent chance of showers between 2pm and 5pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph. 

Tonight   Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Thursday   A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday   A 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 15 mph. 

Friday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

John Paul Seals Pleads Guilty to 2021 Homicide in Angie

Just as jury selection was set to begin today in the Washington Parish Courthouse, John Paul Seals, age 45 and of Angie, Louisiana, entered a guilty plea for the 2021 killing of Kevin Bryce Blackmon. The plea concludes a gruesome case involving a residential struggle, an attempted cover-up by fire, and a multi-agency forensic investigation.

Seals pleaded guilty to Manslaughter and Obstruction of Justice. Under the terms of the agreement, the Honorable Judge Ellen M. Creel sentenced Seals to 35 years with the Department of Corrections, to be served concurrently.

The case dates back to October 11, 2021, on Monroe Creek Road in Angie, Louisiana. While Seals initially claimed the death was the result of self-defense and an accidental fire, evidence compiled by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Washington Parish Coroner’s Office told a different story.

Forensic analysis confirmed that Kevin Blackmon was already deceased before his body was burned. Investigators determined that a heated argument occurred at the residence, where Seals killed Blackmon and attempted to destroy evidence by burning the interior carpet. Seals then transported the victim’s body in Blackmon’s own truck to a nearby creek.

The getaway was thwarted when Seals became stuck on a utility pole guide wire. In a final attempt to destroy evidence, he used accelerants to set the vehicle and the body on fire, accidentally catching his own clothing ablaze in the process. Before fleeing the state, Seals submerged the victim’s 9mm pistol in a sandbar and discarded a knife used in the attack.

The sentencing was marked by emotional statements from the victim’s family. The victim’s mother offered a powerful message of grace, stating that she did not hate Seals or wish for his death, but sought only the justice she felt was delivered today.

In a stark contrast, Blackmon’s sister addressed the defendant directly, stating she hoped he would see her brother’s face every time he closed his eyes until the very last time he closed them.

"The resolution of this case ensures that a violent, repeat offender is removed from our community for a significant period," said District Attorney Collin Sims. "This plea provides the family of Kevin Blackmon with the certainty of a conviction and the closure of a long, painful chapter. Our office remains committed to holding those who devalue human life accountable."

District Attorney Sims extends his gratitude to the Assistant District Attorneys Tiffany Dover and Iain Dover for their diligent work in preparing this case for trial. This successful prosecution was made possible through the seamless collaboration of several agencies, including the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police Crime Lab, Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, Louisiana State University (LSU) FACES Lab, and the Washington Parish Coroner’s Office.

Obituary

Lessie Dykes

September 25, 1935 - March 1, 2026

Obituary

Nelia Ann Allen Travis

July 12, 1944 - March 2, 2026

Obituary

Steven Keith Corkern

April 5, 1968 — February 13, 2026

Obituary

Nena Faye Jarrell

September 29, 1958 — February 25, 2026

Tickfaw Woman Arrested for Abandoning 8-Year-Old Son

The Ponchatoula Police Department has reported the arrest of 43-year-old Jeanette Edmonds of Tickfaw, was arrested for Cruelty to Juveniles, Child Desertion, and Criminal Abandonment. 

On Sunday (March 1, 2026 ) at 2:07pm, Ponchatoula PD officers responded to a call of an abandoned child at a local laundry mat when a citizen witnessed Edmonds drive away in her vehicle leaving the 8-year-old child behind alone. 

The child was safely picked up from the Police Department by a family member and officers quickly began the search for Edmonds. During the investigation, Detectives obtained information that Edmonds had two prior failed attempts to abandon her 8-year-old son earlier that same day. The first failed attempt was at a local cemetery and the second was at a nearby farm. 

With assistance from multiple agencies, Edmonds was quickly located in Harvey and taken into custody by Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. She was transported to the Ponchatoula Police Department and booked on 1 count of Cruelty to Juveniles; 1 count of Child Desertion; and 1 count of Criminal Abandonment. 

***All Persons Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty***

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 2, 2026

Andrea Sumrall (age 41 with Tylertown, Ms. address) was booked on the charge of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Christopher Gutierrez (age 34 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by the Franklinton Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Desmond Tolbert (age 25 with New Orleans, La. address) was booked on the charge of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by Louisiana State Police. No bond set at this time.

Joshua Ard (age 26 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Production of Pornography Involving Juevenile(s) Under Age of 13 and Sexual Abuse of an Animal (Filming, Distributing or Possessing Images of Abuse) by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Tommy Greely (age 36 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Contempt of Court by the Washington Parish Clerk of Court. No bond set at this time.

Terrance Robinson (age 24 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Domestic Abuse/Child Endangerment by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Richard Griffin (age 40 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Schedule II Drugs by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Ijenee White (age 31 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Alvin Chandler (age 69 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Disturbing the Peace/Loud & Abusive Language and Aggravated Assault by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight   Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday   A 20 percent chance of showers after 3pm. Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night   Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Thursday   A 20 percent chance of showers after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night   A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

District Attorney Collin Sims Announces Arrest of Bogalusa Man for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Sexual Abuse of an Animal

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on Monday (March 2, 2026), an investigation into a cyber tip led to the arrest of a Bogalusa man for possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and felony sexual abuse of an animal.

The investigation began when the 22nd JDC District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) Task Force received a cyber tip from the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. The tip identified an individual suspected of possessing and distributing CSAM within the jurisdiction.

Investigators quickly identified the suspect as 26-year-old Joshua Ard of Bogalusa, Louisiana. Members of the Covington Police Department, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI), Bogalusa Police Department, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed an arrest warrant. During the investigation, Ard reportedly admitted to the possession and sharing of the illegal files.

Ard was booked on the charges of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (Victims under 13) and Sexual Abuse of an Animal (Felony). No bond has been set as of this report.

Photo at top right is booking photo of Ard and provided by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Photo at left was provided by the District Attorneys Office.

If convicted, Ard faces a sentencing range of 10 to 40 years at hard labor.

“This case is the result of rapid information sharing and real partnership across local, state, and federal law enforcement,” District Attorney Collin Sims said. “When a cyber tip comes in, we treat it with absolute urgency. We know that individuals who seek out and trade this material can escalate from viewing to direct, hands-on abuse. Our goal is to identify them early and intervene before another child is harmed. Our office will continue working aggressively to hold these offenders fully accountable.”

The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***

Obituary

Ellen Marie Ney Campbell

November 22, 1959 - March 1, 2026

Obituary

Vickie Lynn Mansfield Cohoon

February 25, 1952 — March 1, 2026

This Week in Louisiana Agriculture

Washington Parish School System - Job Opportunity

The Washington Parish School System has posted a job opening for Supervisor of Maintenance & Transportation. For more information, go to www.wpsb.org/careers

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Sunny, with a high near 79. South wind around 5 mph.

Tonight   Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday   Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 81. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night   Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday   A 20 percent chance of showers after 3pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Obituary

Terry Allen Bell

April 9, 1948 - February 18, 2026

Obituary

Charles Ray Rogers

September 27, 1930 - February 28, 2026

Obituary

Ronald Wayne McMillan

October 9, 1954 - February 27, 2026

Obituary

Donna Sue Henley

October 31, 1959 - February 28, 2026

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Areas of dense fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.

Tonight   Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 50. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Monday   Sunny, with a high near 79. Light east wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Monday Night   Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday   Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Obituary

Charlton Harold Cranfield

November 26, 1931 - February 27, 2026

Obituary

Leo Fennel Mizell

August 21, 1930 - February 23, 2026

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for February 26-27, 2026

Robert St. Amand (age 50 with no address shown) was booked on the charge of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by the Washington Parish Sheriffs Office. No bond set at this time.

Melvin Touro (age 34 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Home Invasion/Simple Assault, Battery of Infirm, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $150000.00.

Veronica Magee (age 47 with Angie, La. address) was booked on the charge of Probation Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Macy Kuhn (age 54 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Probation and Parole Hold by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Joshua Crain (age 44 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Schedule 1 Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Obstruction of Justice/Evidence Tampering by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $10000.00.

Darian Larson (age 28 with Foxworth, Ms. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Schedule II Drugs and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $7500.00.

Duane Greely (age 45 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Probation and Parole Hold and Possession of Schedule II Drugs by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Jessica Brumfield (age 24 with no address shown) was booked on the charge of Probation Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Cassandra Thompson (age 27 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by the Franklinton Police Department. No bond set at this time.

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Tonight   Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 50. Calm wind.

Sunday   Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Sunday Night   Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Monday   Sunny, with a high near 80. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Monday Night   Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Covington Man Arrested by AG Murrill's LBI

Brandon Joseph Brown, age 36 and of Covington, was arrested February 12, 2026 at his home by Louisiana Attorney General Murrill's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation on the charges of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, Indecent Behavior/Grooming of a Child, and Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor. 

This arrest was a result of a joint investigation with The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) Cyber Crime Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, the 22nd JDC ICAC Task Force and Covington Police Department.

The investigation is ongoing.

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***

Free Internet Safety Training at Hope House is March 3rd

Source: Post by Children's Advocacy Center-Hope House and Covington Police Department — with Collin Sims DA

Over 60% of teens say they’ve received a message from a stranger online. Sextortion cases involving minors have surged nationwide in the last few years, and many victims are under age 15. Prevention starts with informed parents. 💡

Join us at Hope House on Tuesday, March 3 from 6-7PM for a FREE Internet Safety Training led by Brian Brown, Detective and Forensic Examiner with the Covington Police Department; Special Victim Unit Investigator with the 22nd JDC District Attorney's Office. Brown has been certified as an expert in numerous jurisdictions in cyber investigations and forensic examinations. 

Register now: https://www.cachopehouse.org/events 

A complimentary dinner will also be provided.

This presentation will educate parents about the dangers of their children's online use of electronic devices. It will discuss the features of various applications, as well as cyberbullying, sextortion, and sexting. 

If you have any questions, please contact us at heather@cachopehouse.org or 985-892-3885 Ext 4.

LSU AgCenter's Weekly Message

Tangipahoa and Washington Parish Are Among Top-Ranking Parishes for Horticultural Crops

For each calendar year, LSU AgCenter Extension agents submit estimates of a variety of agriculture-related values – acres and yields of crops, acres of hunting leases, numbers of farm animals, etc. – for the annual Louisiana Summary: Agriculture & Natural Resources, which we usually call the AgSummary. I’m in the process of preparing estimates of the 2025 horticultural crop numbers, so it’s on my mind. I thought some of you might be interested in knowing more about some of these values. Since the 2024 AgSummary is the most recently published one, numbers are from that year, unless noted.

The area spanning Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes is a great place to be a horticulture-focused Extension agent for someone like me who likes working with commercial horticultural crops.

As many people are aware, Tangipahoa Parish is famous for strawberries, and Washington Parish is known for watermelons. Indeed, Tangipahoa ranks first in Louisiana for strawberries, with approximately 145 acres, while Washington ranks first for watermelons, with an estimated 225 acres. These two parishes also rank near the top in combined fruit and vegetable acreage (not counting sweet potatoes or pecans, which are counted separately in the AgSummary).

Besides edible horticultural crops, Tangipahoa and Washington are also near-top-ranking producers of nursery crops. By 2024 AgSummary numbers, Tangipahoa and Washington Parish rank second and third, respectively, by harvested acreage. According to 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture numbers, the order is reversed for the value of sales (for “Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, sod”), with Washington ranking second and Tangipahoa third. (Rapides Parish, where the Forest Hill nursery area is located, is first in both cases.)

Dairy is outside of my area of responsibility, but Washington and Tangipahoa Parishes rank first and second, respectively, in Louisiana by all of the following measures: milk production and total dairy gross farm value (value of dairy animals and milk production) in the 2024 AgSummary and, in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, for the sales value of cow milk.

It will be a while before the 2025 AgSummary is published, but you can access those from 2024 and preceding years, going back to 2004, on our website. The USDA Census of Agriculture is only conducted every five years, and the most recent one was done in 2022. You can search “county”-level data for a lot of interesting information.

Let me know if you have questions.

Click here for previous LSU AgCenter's Weekly Messages

Dr. Mary Helen Ferguson is an Extension Agent with the LSU AgCenter, with horticulture responsibilities in Washington and Tangipahoa Parishes. Contact Mary Helen at mhferguson@agcenter.lsu.edu or 985-277-1850 (Hammond) or 985-839-7855 (Franklinton).

Suspects Sought in Loranger Snowball Stand Burglary

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) needs the public’s help identifying and locating two suspects accused of breaking into a snowball business in Loranger.

In the overnight hours of February 24, 2026, surveillance video at the Freeze King Snowball stand located in the 54000 block of Highway 1062 shows a man breaking in through the door and rummaging through the business with a second suspect before stealing the business’s ice machine, worth thousands of dollars.

At least one suspect is seen clearly in the video and appears to be a black male with a thin build wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt with designs on the chest and arms as well as a light colored vest on top of the hoodie and ripped jeans.

Sheriff Gerald Sticker encourages anyone with information about who these suspects are, and/or their whereabouts, to contact our Criminal Investigations Division at 985-402-0214. If you’d prefer to share information anonymously, you can do so through Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa’s tip line at 1-800-554-5245 or visit www.tangicrimestoppers.com and click on the P3 Tips icon or Submit A Tip!

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***

Obituary

Alberta R. Dillon

July 23, 1952 - February 24, 2026

Obituary

Mary Ann (Riley) Clark

August 26, 1967 - February 20, 2026

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.

Tonight   Mostly clear, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Saturday   Sunny, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Saturday Night   Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Calm wind.

Sunday   Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night   Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.