Larry Dillon
February 19, 1947 - February 15, 2026
February 23, 2026
Inmate Found Deceased at Slidell City Jail
The Slidell Police Department reports that early Sunday (February 22, 2026) morning, an inmate at the Slidell City Jail was found unresponsive inside his jail cell.
The individual has been identified as 65-year-old Douglas Koch. Preliminary information indicates that Mr. Koch appeared to have suffered a medical emergency in his sleep. He had been arrested approximately two days prior for second offense D.W.I. and was housed alone in his cell at the time of his death. At this time, foul play is not suspected.
As is standard procedure with any in-custody death, the Slidell Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is conducting a full investigation. Based on current information, all indications suggest Mr. Koch died of natural causes.
An autopsy will be performed by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office, which will officially determine and classify the cause and manner of death.
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 54. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Tonight Widespread frost after 5am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 27. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 61. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 10 mph.
February 22, 2026
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for February 19-21, 2026
Joryiel Cyprian (age 18 with Tangipahoa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Obstruction of
Justice/Evidence Tampering and Illegal Carrying and Discharge of Weapon by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $30000.00.
Robert Westmoreland (age 35 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Probation Violation and Contempt of the Court by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.
Jasmin Pacheco (age 37 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Failure to Appear (2 counts), Contempt of Court, and Bond Surrender (2 counts) by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $20000.00.
***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 56. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph.
Tonight Clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Monday Night Widespread frost after 4am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 26. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 61. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. South wind around 5 mph.
February 21, 2026
Fire weather Warning for Washington Parish
Critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today A 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers before 7pm. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 40. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Monday Night Clear, with a low around 26. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
February 20, 2026
Tangipahoa Parish Jail Nurse Pleads Guilty to Fraud Offenses
U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that Tonya Denise Brown, age 49, a licensed practical nurse, and of Tangipahoa Parish, pleaded guilty to five felonies on February 12, 2026. Specifically, Brown pleaded guilty to four counts of Wire Fraud, with each count involving a different scheme.
Click here for a previous related story
According to court records, in one scheme, Brown used a nursing job at the Tangipahoa Parish Jail to obtain money with false promises of assistance with state criminal prosecutions.
In the other three schemes, Brown defrauded people by claiming that, in exchange for money, she would help them obtain disaster assistance benefits. As a result, Brown defrauded the HUD-funded Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program, that provided grant funding to homeowners affected by disasters, and defrauded FEMA’s rental assistance program that provided grants to help displaced disaster victims pay their rent.
Finally, Brown pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone Hydrochloride pills, a Controlled Substance and admitted that she offered to sell such. She also acknowledged that she lied to the FBI and to a judge regarding this matter.
The possession with intent to distribute count, the wire fraud count for false promises of assistance with state criminal cases, and the wire fraud count for false promises of assistance with disaster benefits and are each punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment. The wire fraud counts related to the Restore program and the FEMA rental assistance program are each punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment due to enhanced penalties for fraud involving disaster benefits. A fine of up to $250,000 may be imposed for each count except the Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance count, for which a fine of up to $1,000,000 may be imposed. Brown is subject to at least three years of supervised release and is required to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, per count.
Washington Parish Government: 2025 By the Numbers
In 2025, Washington Parish Government continued working to strengthen infrastructure, improve public facilities, and support growth.
Highlights include:
- 30 miles of roads asphalted
- 116 culverts installed
- nearly $3 million secured in grant funding
- major bridge, facility, and recreation improvements
- 2,013 permits issued, reflecting continued growth
- 5,856 bags of litter collected parish-wide
- 100% live release rate at our Animal Shelter
"We are grateful for the partnership of our employees, Parish Council, and citizens. We look forward to new projects in 2026 as we continue moving Washington Parish forward." - Parish President Ryan Seal.
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 5am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday A 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 43. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
February 19, 2026
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for January 29 - February 18, 2026
Note: This record may be incomplete due to the WPSO upgrading their system and to the non-availability of inmate release records.
John Weakland (age 39 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Distribution of Schedule II Drugs (2 counts), Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule II Narcotics, Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule II Drugs, No Drivers License, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (3rd + Offense), and Possession of Marijuana by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $75000.00.
Douglas Demmons (age 39 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Distribution of Schedule II CDS (2 counts), Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule II Narcotics, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Convicted Felon in
Possession of Firearm, Possession of CDS With Weapon Present, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (3rd + Offense), Failure to Appear, and Contempt of Court (2 counts) by the Washington Parish Sheriffs Office. Bond set at $150000.00.
Etric Peterson (age 42 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling and Resisting an Officer/Simple Assault by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $30000.00.
Terry Jefferson (age 48 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Resisting an Officer and Contempt of Court by the Washington Parish Sheriffs Office. Bond set at $2500.00.
Charles Robinson (age 49 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Failure to Provide Proper Info, Resisting Arrest by Flight, and Failure to Comply in Person Sex Offender Registration Tier 1 by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $15000.00.
Matthew Jones (age 20 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Aggravated Battery, Principle to Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property, and Contributing to Delinquency of Juvenile by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $5000.00.
Skylaar Moore (age 35 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Probation Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.
Clifford Mancuso (age 27 with Perkinston, Ms. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Schedule II Drugs and Posssession of Drug Paraphernalia by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $7500.00.
Austyn Reynolds (age 28 with no address shown) was booked on the charges of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $7500.00.
Ronald Heyne (age 27 with no address shown) was booked on the charges of Domestic Violence Battery/Strangulation and Criminal Damage to Property by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $2500.00.
Douglas Chaney (age 49 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Contempt of Court (2 counts) by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Michael Chain (age 68 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Stolen Things Under 1000, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and Failure to Appear by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $5000.00.
Jerry Johnson (age 38 with Folsom, La. address) was booked on the charges of Driving During Darkness With Parking Lights, Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearm, Driving Under Suspension, Introduction of Contraband to Correctional Facility, Possession of CDS With Weapon Present, Possession of Mariuana, Possession of Schedule II Drugs (2 counts), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and No Proof of Insurance by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $500000.00.
Ernest Frank (age 55 with Poplarville, Ms. address)was booked on the charges of Ran Stop Sign, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Introduction of Contraband to Correctional Facility, and Possessin of Schedule II Drugs by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $12000.00.
Kendrick Johnson (age 46 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Probation Violation and Contempt of Court by Probation and Parole and the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Jasper Hunt (age 62 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked In From Court and on the charge of Contempt of Court by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Shelbie Hoffman (age 33 with Bush, La. address) was booked on the charges of Probation and Parole Hold and Failure to Pay Fine (2 counts) by Probation and Parole and the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $2820.00.
Nicolas Calidonia (age 45 with Bush, La. address) was booked on the charges of Parole Violation and Contempt of Court by Probation and Parole and the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Jessica Cooley (age 44 with no address shown) was booked on the charges of Aggravated Domestic Violence Assault, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Sale Distribution or Possession of Legend Drugs Without Prescription or Order, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $5000.00.
Monica Truax (age 54 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Domestic Abuse Battery and Possession of Schedule II Drugs by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $7500.00.
Michelle Rogers (age 31 with no address shown) was booked on the charges of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction and Possession of Schedule II Drugs by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $7500.00.
Gregory Levias (age 69 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses, Proper Equipment Required, MVI Expired, and Contempt of Court by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $10000.00.
Jaycob Burkhalter (age 19 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Illegal Use of Weapons or Dangerous Instrumentalities, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Possession of CDS With Weapon Present, Possession or Dealing in Unregistered or Illegally Transferred Weapons, Tampering With Sign Identifying a Firearm-Free Zone, Resisting Arrest, Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Illegal Discharge of Weapon, and Resisting Arrest by Flight by the Bogalusa Police Department and the Franklinton Police Department. Bond set at $40000.00.
Aquilla Baker (age 43 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of False Swearing by the Franklinton Police Department. Bond set at $2500.00.
Calvin Peters (age 62 with no address shown) was booked on the charges of Issuing Worthless Checks 300-500 and Failure to Appear by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $7500.00.
Lindsay Brunet (age 32 with no address shown) was booked on the charge of Aggravated Second Degree Battery 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 Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Tonight A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday A 40 percent chance of showers and possibly thunderstorms. Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday A 60 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
February 18, 2026
LSU AgCenter's Weekly Message
PhytoFindings: Cotton Jassid on Okra
It will be a while before we have okra or eggplants in our gardens again, but I want to alert you to an insect pest that we may encounter in the upcoming growing season.
In September 2025, LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. James Villeagas notified us that the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry had found a new-to-Louisiana insect pest, the cotton jassid, on ornamental hibiscus plants at some nurseries. In early October, he alerted us that they had also been found in cotton fields in Tensas Parish.
A little over a week later, in mid-October, I was looking at my okra plants. It was late in the season, I hadn’t side-dressed them with fertilizer, and I knew that I had root knot nematodes in this area. So, I wasn’t surprised that they weren’t looking their best. It occurred to me, though, that my Orleans Parish colleague Dr. Joe Willis had mentioned that cotton jassids affect okra plants. I flipped over a leaf and, sure enough, found some suspicious light green critters. I sent some photos to Dr. Villegas, who agreed that they appeared to be cotton jassids.
The cotton jassid (Amrasca biguttula) is also known as the two-spot cotton leafhopper. It has piercing-sucking mouthparts, meaning that it doesn’t make holes in plants but removes sap from them. Toxins in its saliva also contribute to the symptoms it causes, including yellowing, reddening, marginal browning, leaf distortion, and plant stunting. Like many piercing-sucking insects, cotton jassids feed from the undersides of leaves, and they’re small. Nymphs (juveniles) range from 0.6 to 2.2 mm long, or from about one-fortieth of an inch to a little under one-tenth of an inch, while adults can reach up to 3 mm long, or a little under one-eighth of an inch. So, you probably won’t see them unless you look for them.
Cotton is the most economically important crop that the cotton jassid damages, hence the name. However, it also affects other plants that are valuable to us. Cotton, okra, and the many Hibiscus species are all in the mallow family (Malvaceae). We value most cultivated hibiscus plants for their ornamental qualities, but people grow roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa, also called sorrel or Florida cranberry) so that they can use its calyxes (part of the flowers) for making tea and other products.
Eggplants are in the nightshade family with tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes, but the cotton jassid feeds on them, too. Leaf symptoms are not as distinct on eggplant as they are on cotton and okra, but yield loss has been reported.
We don’t yet know to what extent the cotton jassid will overwinter in Louisiana. Nevertheless, it is highly likely that numbers will be lower early in the growing season than later.
So, while both okra and eggplant are heat-tolerant vegetables that can be planted later than some other warm-season crops, I recommend planting them early within their recommended planting windows this year. Okra sometimes experiences damping off if planted too early, when soil is still cool, so don’t go crazy with early planting but consider planting in April in southeast Louisiana. Likewise, eggplant is more cold-sensitive than some other warm-season vegetables, but it can be transplanted in mid- to late-March, once no frosts are in the forecast.
At this time, we’re largely relying on information from other states about insecticide efficacy for cotton jassid. The most effective insecticides are not available in quantities appropriate for most home gardens.
Imidacloprid has some efficacy, and there are at least a couple of imidacloprid-containing home garden insecticide products – Bioadvanced Fruit, Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control and Monterey Fruit Tree & Vegetable Systemic Soil Drench – that are labeled for use around okra and eggplant, once per year. Both must be applied to the soil at the base of the plants, just after they’re transplanted or shortly after plants emerge from seeds. They are not labeled for spraying onto the leaves of the plants.
There are other imidacloprid products labeled for use on ornamental plants. Because these products are systemic and due to concerns about bees, they have restrictions related to the timing of application relative to flowering, and this affects when they can be used on ornamental hibiscus plants.
Another option for home gardeners is neem oil. There are a number of neem oil products on the market, and some have broadly worded labels that allow use on many types of vegetable plants and ornamentals. However, the spray must cover the undersides of the leaves, and repeated applications will likely be needed. Even if one of the imidacloprid products is used, I would suggest regularly checking okra plants for cotton jassid nymphs and adults, and spraying neem oil if you start seeing them.
Make sure any insecticide you’re considering using is labeled for the type of plants on which you plan to use it, and read and follow label instructions.
Since many other insects (most of which are not pests) occur in the garden, and a wide range of other factors can cause plant problems, let us know if you need help with troubleshooting.
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, 985-277-1850 (Hammond), or 985-839-7855 (Franklinton).
Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden Party is March 12th
The LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station is pleased to announce the Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden Party, a special event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the beloved Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden. The celebration will take place Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Hammond Research Station, located at 21549 Old Covington Highway, Hammond, LA 70403. Refreshments will be provided for all guests.
Established in 2006, the Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden honors the extraordinary legacy of Margie Y. Jenkins, a nationally recognized plantswoman and horticultural pioneer celebrated for her passion, generosity, and decades of influence on the nursery and landscape industry. Over the past 20 years, the garden has become a vibrant showcase of azalea diversity, a living resource for research and education, and a treasured destination for Louisiana gardeners and visitors.
“We are proud to honor Margie Jenkins’ remarkable contributions to not only Louisiana horticulture but to Southern horticulture,” said Dr. Christine Coker, Station Coordinator. “The azalea garden stands as a testament to her passion for plants and people.”
The event is free and open to the public. A special raffle will be held with proceeds going to support the Azalea Garden.
If you would like to support the Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden, or for more information, please contact the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station at (985) 543-4125.
Body of Apparant Drowning Victim Recovered Near Enon
The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office reports that the remains of 66-year-old Marcel Chauvin of
Marrero have been recovered and received by the coroner.
Earlier on Tuesday (February 17, 2025) evening, WPSO had reported that deputies were searching for the body of a man in an old gravel pit near Holdens Run in Enon. It was reported that the victim attempted to grab a kayak, fell into the body of water and did not resurface. First responders were on scene with a sonar boat and dive gear.
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Thursday Night A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.
February 17, 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 71. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Thursday Night A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
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