February 13, 2026

Obituary

Dr. Nancy L. Kliesch

November 9, 1937 - January 11, 2026

$1000 Scholarships Available to Graduating HS Students

Source: Washington Parish Sheriff's Office

The Louisiana Sheriff’s Scholarship Program is awarding $1000 scholarships to graduating high school students from each parish. This scholarship is intended to assist hard-working students in furthering their education and training. 

There are no restrictions on how scholarships are spent. The scholarships are not loans and will be awarded as gifts to defray the rising costs of tuition and related expenses in higher education. 

The only limitations are that applicants must be permanent residents of Washington Parish, Louisiana, scholarships must be used for higher education within the state of Louisiana and students must be enrolled as full-time undergraduates. 

Applications must be submitted to the Franklinton Sheriff’s Office by April 1, 2026. To qualify, applicants must be eligible for admission to the school indicated on the application. All scholarship winners will be announced by May 1, 2026. 

For guidelines, criteria and printable applications, please visit https://lsa.org/scholarship/

For more information, please contact us at 985-839-3434.

Obituary

Virginia Faye Knight Varnado

March 21, 1943 - February 9, 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 75. Calm wind.
Tonight   Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 55. Calm wind.
Saturday   A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Light southeast wind increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night   A 100 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 60. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight. 
Sunday   A 80 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 73. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. 
Sunday Night   A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

February 12, 2026

Man Sentenced to 60 Years for Brutal Kidnapping & Rape

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on February 12, 2026, Antoine Massey was sentenced to a total of 60 years in prison by the Honorable Judge Alan M. Black. The sentencing follows Massey’s December 2025 conviction by a unanimous St. Tammany Parish jury on charges of Second Degree Rape, Second Degree Kidnapping, Domestic Abuse of a Dating Partner by Strangulation, and Second Offense Violation of a Protective Order.

In total, Massey will serve 60 years hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

The charges originated from violent, hours-long attacks on November 10, 2024. After discovering domestic violence paperwork in the victim’s purse, Massey beat and strangled her before kidnapping her and driving her between Slidell and New Orleans. Throughout the ordeal, Massey repeatedly assaulted and raped the victim. The abuse only ended when the victim managed to escape and flag down a stranger in New Orleans to contact the New Orleans Police Department.

Click here for a previous related story

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Black addressed Massey directly, highlighting the severity of his actions and his extensive prior record, “Your criminal history is significant and started a long time ago,” Judge Black stated. “This crime here was over an extensive amount of hours. It was brutal…and extreme violence – this all adds up to what the court considers.”

The case was notable for the extensive digital evidence presented by Lead Detective Katie Ragan of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. Despite Massey’s attempts to coerce the victim into recanting through jailhouse calls – and an advocate’s attempt to interfere with the victim’s testimony in open court – prosecutors used license plate readers, Ring doorbell footage, and recorded calls to secure the conviction.

District Attorney Collin Sims praised the sentence as a vital step in protecting the community and honoring the victim’s initial courage. “Judge Black’s imposition of this 60-year sentence ensures that a violent predator is removed from our streets for a very long time,” DA Sims said. “Domestic violence is a cycle of fear and manipulation, but the meticulous work of our investigators and prosecutors provided a voice for the victim when she was most vulnerable. We remain committed to holding abusers accountable, even when they attempt to subvert the justice system from behind bars.”

DA Sims extended his gratitude to Assistant District Attorneys Zachary Popovich and Elizabeth Authement for their successful prosecution, as well as the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the New Orleans Police Department, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their roles in the investigation and Massey’s apprehension.

Keldric Harry Found Guilty of Murder in Bogalusa High School Shooting

District Attorney Collin Sims announces that on Wednesday (February 11, 2026), a Washington Parish jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict against 18-year-old Keldric Harry of Bogalusa, Louisiana for the January 2024 shooting that claimed the life of a 14-year-old and injured two others.

Click here for a previous related story

Following a trial held before the Honorable Judge John A. Keller, Harry was found guilty on one count of Second Degree Murder and two counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder.

The conviction stems from an incident on January 11, 2024, in the parking lot of Bogalusa High School during a basketball game. Evidence presented at trial showed that the victim, identified as 14-year-old D.J., and two friends were fired upon after entering an unlocked vehicle. The prosecution detailed how Harry, alongside co-defendant Hakheim Young, used an automatic weapon to unleash a “death sentence” on a child for a minor property crime.

District Attorney Collin Sims praised the verdict as a necessary step for community safety. “This verdict sends a clear and resolute message that senseless acts of violence will not be tolerated in our district,” Sims stated. “Our office remains committed to holding those who devalue human life accountable. While we cannot restore what this family has lost, we can ensure that this individual faces the full weight of the law.”

During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Gary Tromblay emphasized the calculated nature of the violence. “This wasn’t trick-or-treating…this was murder and attempted murder,” Tromblay told the jury. “The victim made the wrong choice at the wrong time – he broke into the wrong car. Did he deserve a death sentence? Did he deserve to get zippered with a machine gun? He bled out in the back seat of that car. That’s just cold-blooded, calculated killing.”

A pivotal piece of evidence in the state’s case was a voice recording of the defendant captured approximately 12 hours after the murder. Despite defense efforts to label the audio as AI-generated, Assistant District Attorney Jay Adair successfully argued for its authenticity.

“The defense trying to gaslight you into an alternate reality just tells me how damning that piece of evidence is,” Adair told the jury. “Logical consistency is important. It’s authentic…down to the bursts of an automatic,” he declared, referring to the sounds the defendant made in the recording while describing the gunfire.

Adair continued by placing the weight of the decision on the jury’s sense of duty: “You get to decide if based on reason and common sense that aligns with everything else you heard. I’m not going to feel joy or delight – regardless of what you decide – at most, I will feel that justice has been served for this family—that they cannot ever get their 14-year-old son back – who got a death sentence for opening an unlocked door of a car at a game.”

The investigation, led by the Bogalusa Police Department, utilized camera footage and witness statements to unravel a web of untruths regarding the getaway vehicle. Evidence confirmed that Harry remained in the parking lot specifically because he was banned from school campus, eventually using a friend’s vehicle to flee the scene after the homicide.

The Office of the District Attorney extends its gratitude to the jurors for their service and to the investigators who ensured a thorough presentation of the facts.

Sentencing for Keldric Harry will take place on April 20, 2026, before Judge Keller.

The co-defendant in this matter, Hakheim Young, is currently pending trial. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Illegal Firearms, Burglary Tools & More Seized During Slidell Traffic Stop

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives removed multiple illegal firearms along with burglary tools from the streets during a proactive enforcement operation in Slidell on Tuesday (February 10, 2026). 













Detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Proactive Enforcement Unit and Narcotics Division were conducting proactive patrols near Oak Harbor and Interstate 10 when they initiated a traffic stop on a northbound red 2010 Nissan Versa. The vehicle was occupied by four individuals identified as 23-year-old Dakari Williams of Slidell, 18-year-old Lavonte Price of New Orleans, 17-year-old Aalijah Lyons of New Orleans, and a 16-year-old juvenile (not pictured).



While the occupants were exiting the vehicle, one individual attempted to destroy evidence by discarding marijuana, which led detectives to conduct a search of the vehicle. During the search, detectives located four firearms, including: a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol, a mini-Draco Avtomat Kalashnikova 7.62x39mm style pistol, a Glock 19 9mm pistol, which was reported stolen out of Jefferson Parish (illegally modified), and a FEDARM AR-15 .223 style pistol that had been illegally modified to function as an automatic firearm.

Detectives also located items commonly associated with vehicle burglaries and thefts, including a re-keying device used to clone automotive smart keys, remote fobs and transponder chips, as well as ski masks, gloves, goggles and a window punch/glass-breaking tool.

All four occupants were arrested and booked on numerous charges. The adults were transported to the St. Tammany Parish Jail, and the juvenile was transported to the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center.

Following his arrival at the jail, Williams was also found to be in possession of three Tapentadol tablets, a Schedule II narcotic with a high potential for abuse.

“This case highlights the importance of proactive policing,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “By actively patrolling areas where criminal activity is known to occur, our deputies and detectives are able to intervene before these illegal weapons are used and before residents become victims. Removing these firearms and burglary tools from our streets helps prevent crimes that could otherwise be inevitable.”

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

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is committed to proactive policing, crime prevention and keeping our communities safe. Sheriff Smith is asking anyone with information about narcotics or other crimes, to submit a tip utilizing the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office website (www.STPSO.com), by calling the narcotics tip line (1-888-GO-2-JAIL) or by calling Crimestoppers. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward through Crimestoppers.

Obituary

Leonard Ray Reynolds

April 12, 1952 - February 12, 2026

Obituary

Larry Wayne Quinn

October 17, 1944 - February 11, 2026

Obituary

Annie Grace

02/18/1945 - 02/09/2026

Obituary

Dr. Dedria Shuri Givens

March 8, 1960 — February 9, 2026

Obituary

Audrey Delories Williams McNeese

May 18, 1942 - February 11, 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 73. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tonight   Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Calm wind.
Friday   Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind.
Friday Night   Increasing clouds, with a low around 56. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Saturday   A 40 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night   Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 62. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

February 11, 2026

Folsom Man Arrested On Charges Related to Child Sexual Exploitation

In August, 2025, the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (LSP/SVU), working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Covington Police Department concluded a six-month long investigation into child exploitation in St. Tammany Parish. 

The investigation resulted in the arrest of 35-year-old Taylor J. Tassin of Folsom. Throughout the investigation, Tassin reportedly sent sexually explicit conversations with whom he believed to be a minor. 

On February 10, 2026, Tassin was arrested in Lacombe and charged with Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, and Child Grooming. Tassin was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. Bond was set at $150,000.00. This case remain under investigation.

This investigation highlights the continued collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in combating sexual crimes that threaten the safety of Louisiana children. 

The Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit works to rescue and seek justice for victims of child exploitation and human trafficking through partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as public education. The public plays a crucial role in identifying suspects and reporting criminal or suspicious activity. An anonymous reporting form is available online at http://la-safe.org/ by clicking the “Suspicious Activity” link. Your vigilance helps protect vulnerable members of our communities and supports the fight against exploitation and trafficking.

Bicyclist Critically Injured in Slidell, Arrest Made

The Slidell Police Department reports the arrest of 37-year-old Derreck Gahagan of Covington, following a collision that left a 63-year-old bicyclist critically injured.

Shortly before 6:00 p.m. on Sunday (February 8, 2026), Slidell Police responded to reports of a large box truck striking a male bicyclist in the 1600 block of Highway 190 West. Upon arrival, officers located the victim suffering from critical injuries. The victim was stabilized at the scene and airlifted to a New Orleans-area hospital for further treatment.

Investigators determined the victim was traveling westbound on Highway 190 West when he began experiencing issues with his bicycle chain. The victim pulled off the roadway to make the repairs to his bicycle, when a westbound box truck, for reasons still under investigation, left the roadway and struck him.

During the investigation, the driver displayed signs of impairment. Investigators conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) on the driver and determined there was sufficient probable cause and evidence to support that the driver was impaired at the time of the collision. As part of standard procedure with accidents involving serious or fatal injuries, blood samples were also collected for a toxicology analysis from both the driver and the victim. The toxicology report is pending. 

Gahagan was identified as the driver of the box truck and was subsequently placed under arrest and booked into the Slidell City Jail on the charges of 1st Degree Vehicular Negligent Injuring, Driving While Impaired - 4th Offense, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Driving Under Suspension, and Switched License Plate.

This investigation remains ongoing.

Accused of Robbing the Same Business Twice in a Week

The Slidell Police Department has reported the arrest of 26-year-old, Durbert Ashford who they say robbed the same business twice within a one-week period.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 4, 2026, a male suspect entered the Smoke N Smoke shop located in the 700 block of Brownswitch Road. The suspect concealed his identity and demanded cash from a store employee. He then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. Slidell Police investigators immediately began working the case and developed information identifying a possible suspect and residence.

On Sunday, February 8, 2026, as a Mardi Gras parade was underway in Slidell, a second robbery occurred at the same Smoke N Smoke location. During this incident, the suspect concealed his identity and again made off with cash.

Using the information previously developed, Slidell Police and St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office deputies quickly responded to a residence associated with the suspect. Officers located a male standing in the driveway wearing clothing matching the description of the suspect in the second robbery. The suspect was detained, and evidence related to the robbery was recovered from his person. During the investigation, detectives also located evidence linking the suspect to the first robbery. 

Ashford was arrested and charged with two counts of Simple Robbery.

Slidell Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau praised the efforts, stating, “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘛𝘗𝘚𝘖 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘐𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘦. 𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦.”

Obituary

Donna Williams Bruney

August 16, 1967 - February 2, 2026

Obituary

John Wesley "Keith" Lott

November 24, 1960 — February 9, 2026

Obituary

Sharon Mae Bywater Mulhern Birmingham

March 21, 1946 — February 7, 2026

Obituary

Geoffrey Scott Strahan

July 17, 1964 — February 4, 2026

Obituary

Betty Jean Lewis- Toney

September 19, 1949 - February 4, 2026

Obituary

Bernard Magee

May 10, 1947 - February 6, 2026

Obituary

Sally Ann Luper Gainey

February 14, 1950-February 9, 2026

Obituary

Tamara Joan Wolf

September 27, 1961 - January 16, 2026

Washington Parish Government Office Closure



Obituary

Billy Wayne Thomas

October 28, 1943 - February 9, 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 after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Tonight   Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Thursday   Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.
Thursday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Calm wind.
Friday   Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Friday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.

February 10, 2026

Altercation at Lee Rd. Jr. High School Leads to Arrest

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office reports that 21-year-old Kameron Hossley has been arrested following an altercation that occurred after a youth basketball game at Lee Road Junior High School in St. Tammany.

On Thursday, (February 5, 2026) spectators were leaving a youth recreational basketball game at Lee Road Junior High School when a physical altercation broke out between two adult men as they exited the gym. During the incident, one man was struck multiple times in the face and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The second individual left the scene and could not be located at the time.

Following an investigation, deputies with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s 4th Criminal Patrol District obtained an arrest warrant for Hossley for one count of Second-Degree Battery. Hossley later turned himself in and was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on  February 10, 2026

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office reminds residents that youth sporting events should remain safe, family-friendly environments, and violence will not be tolerated.

Letlow Announces Washington Parish Office Hours

Tomorrow (February 11, 2026), Congresswoman Letlow's district staff will be holding satellite office hours in Washington Parish to assist constituents with casework issues. Any Washington Parish resident who is facing issues with a federal agency - such as the IRS, VA, or Social Security - is invited to attend and receive specialized assistance.

BOGALUSA OFFICE HOURS

Wednesday, February 11

10:30 am-11:30 am CT

Washington Parish Sheriff's Office

302 Masonic Drive, Bogalusa, LA 70427


FRANKLINTON OFFICE HOURS

Wednesday, February 11

2:00 pm-3:00 pm CT

Franklinton City Hall

301 11th Avenue, Franklinton, LA 7043

Obituary

Christopher Randall Higinbotham

March 21, 1977 - January 9, 2026

Obituary

Violet "Vi/Nana" Abernathy Burdick

December 8, 1930 - September 9, 2025

Obituary

Linda Ester Sayers

July 22, 1946 - February 4, 2026

Obituary Update

Billy Wayne Rester 

August 14, 1937 - February 6, 2026

Jail Death in Amite Under Investigation

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an inmate at the jail Monday evening.

Around 5 p.m. on February 9, 2026, inmate Ernest Holden, age 65, was found dead in bed in a medical observation area of the facility where he had been receiving treatment for abdominal pain since Sunday. Holden had been in jail since December following a drug arrest by Hammond PD.

The TPSO Criminal Investigations Division is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this death, which will include an autopsy to determine the cause.

Obituary

Tommy "Lightweight" Magee

August 23, 1960 - February 7, 2026

Mardi Gras Motorcycle Parade in Bogalusa is Saturday



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 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight   Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday   A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night   Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Calm wind.
Thursday   Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind.
Thursday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Calm wind.

February 09, 2026

Slidell Man Arrested On Charges Related to Child Sexual Exploitation

In January, 2026, the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (LSP/SVU), working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Covington Police Department concluded a multi-week investigation into child exploitation in St. Tammany Parish. The operation concluded with the arrest on February 6, 2026 of 42-year-old Joshua W. Dugger of Slidell. LSP reports that Dugger sent sexually explicit conversations with whom he believed to be a 15-year-old minor. 

Dugger was arrested at his residence and charged with Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, and Child Grooming. Dugger was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. This case remains under investigation.

This investigation highlights the continued collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in combating sexual crimes that threaten the safety of Louisiana children.

The Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit works to rescue and seek justice for victims of child exploitation and human trafficking through partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as public education. The public plays a crucial role in identifying suspects and reporting criminal or suspicious activity. An anonymous reporting form is available online at http://la-safe.org/ by clicking the “Suspicious Activity” link. Your vigilance helps protect vulnerable members of our communities and supports the fight against exploitation and trafficking. 

Burn Ban Issued by Washington Parish President



This Week in Louisiana Agriculture

From community rodeos to preserving Louisiana traditions, this week’s episode covers the people and stories shaping agriculture across the state. In this week's show, Josh Meeks takes us to Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles to see this year’s BRODEO, a rodeo created especially for special needs children. Neil Melancon introduces us to one man working to preserve cypress pirogues and the history tied to them. Karl Wiggers takes us to Vermilion Parish and shows us how grassroots involvement allows Aaron Lee to continue farming some of Louisiana’s most iconic commodities. Plus, we look ahead to the 83rd Southern University Livestock and Poultry Show and the warmth Winter Storm Fern left behind in a heartwarming TWILA Boost. 

LSU AgCenter's Weekly Message

Amaryllises Can Provide Lovely Flowers Now and in the Landscape

My mother gave me an amaryllis bulb for Christmas this past year. The plant is flowering beautifully next to my west-facing window. It has several blooms right now, and it looks like there will be more before this year’s show is over.

At the same time, a couple of amaryllis plants that Mom gave me in previous years are in the ground in my perennials bed. They had green leaves until the current stretch of hard freezes began. I just planted one in the ground last spring, so it hasn’t bloomed in the landscape yet. I planted the other one in 2024, and it flowered in early April last year, before the Easter lilies and giant plume ginger. I plan to add my new amaryllis to the bed this spring, after the last hard freeze.

What we most often call amaryllises are plants in the Hippeastrum genus. There is an Amaryllis genus, but those species aren’t commonly grown here. Hippeastrum plants are descendants of ones in South and Central America, while true Amaryllis species are from South Africa. All of these are in the amaryllis family.

After amaryllis plants growing indoors have finished flowering, cut off the flower stalk, but allow the leaves to die back naturally. To grow them in the landscape, plant bulbs in a site with full sun to partial shade and good drainage. If you don’t have an in-ground spot that fits these criteria, you can plant them in containers.

Don’t plant amaryllis bulbs too deeply. Place them so that the narrow part at the top of the bulb is above the soil. In parts of Louisiana that get cold enough to be in USDA Hardiness Zone 8, about 3 inches of mulch can be spread over the bulbs during the winter to protect them.

You can fertilize amaryllis plants after they finish flowering.

Since amaryllis bulbs like the ones I have are sold largely for flowering indoors, I suspect that there is a good deal of variation in terms of how well they survive in the landscape and how much they spread. If you’re looking for something that survives reliably and spreads vigorously outdoors, you might consider the one that’s often called St. Joseph’s lily or hardy amaryllis (Hippeastrum x johnsonii). It has red flowers with white stripes and has been around since the late 1700s. It’s one of the most cold hardy Hippeastrum hybrids, surviving temperatures as low or lower than those found in USDA Hardiness Zone 7.

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).

Obituary

Lisa Kathryn Parrish

October 11, 1959 - February 6, 2026

Obituary

Jason Monroe Duncan

January 23, 1984 - February 6, 2026

Obituary

Barry Lavelle Hall

September 1, 1958 - December 2, 2025

Obituary

Patrick Earl Hayden

February 12, 1979 - February 6, 2026

Obituary

Billy Wayne Rester

August 14, 1937 - February 6, 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 74. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Tonight   Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 53. Calm wind.
Tuesday   Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday   A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night   Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Calm wind.

February 08, 2026

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 72. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Tonight   Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 49. Calm wind.
Monday   Areas of fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Monday Night   Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Calm wind.
Tuesday   Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night   Cloudy, with a low around 56. Calm wind.

February 07, 2026

Obituary

William Randall “Randy” Reviere

July 16, 1958 - February 6, 2026

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 64. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the afternoon.
Tonight   Clear, with a low around 37. Calm wind.
Sunday   Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Sunday Night   Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. Calm wind.
Monday   Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Monday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Calm wind.