Amite Police Investigating: Man Bought Mower With Stolen Credit Card

The Amite City Police Department initiated an investigation on Monday (June 30, 2025) into
the fraudulent use of a credit card at East Side Garage in Amite.

On June 16, 2025, an individual contacted East Side Garage to order a lawn mower. Payment for the lawn mower was processed by use of a credit card. Later that day, the mower was picked up by the individual shown in this photograph and loaded into a white dual-wheel pickup truck. Subsequently, East Side Garage received a notification from the credit card company indicating that the credit card used for payment of the mower purchase had been reported stolen. 

Anyone who can identify the individual in this photograph is urged to reach out to the Amite City Police Department at 985-748-6169. If you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa’s anonymous tip line at 1.800.554.5245 or visit www.tangicrimestoppers.com and click on the P3 Tips icon or Submit A Tip! You may be eligible for a cash reward.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Obituary

Clyde Elmo Smith

July 16, 1956 - June 26, 2025

Bogalusa - Back in the News!

An article "Meet the accountant who now runs Bogalusa. He doesn't speak with Mayor Tyrin Truong" by Willie Swett was published June 30, 2025 on nola.com. The complete article can be read here. The article is partly based on an interview with Robert Neilson but includes comments by Bogalusa Mayor Truong and additional comments by Swett.

Later on June 30, 2025, The Silent Lantern posted this response (see below) that gives context to the article written by Swett. Previous posts by The Silent Lantern can be reviewed here. 

On January 29, 2025, the Fiscal Review Committee voted to place the City of Bogalusa under Fiscal Administration and appointed Robert Neilson as Fiscal Administrator. Click here for background on Neilson's appointment

Neilson was appointed to fix the financial mess that the City of Bogalusa is now in. Yet, following his appointment, Neilson was met with resistance and the resistance continues. 

One thing is certain, REVERSING COURSE IS NOT AN OPTION. 

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for June 29-30, 2025

Phillip Accardo (age 43 with Amite, La. address) was booked on the charge of Bank Fraud by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Chassidy Lange (age 24 with Mandeville, La. address) was booked on the charge of Driving With Suspended License Due to Previous DWI (or Other) by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Brian Johnson (age 49 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Aggravated Assault With a Firearm, Aggravated Burglary, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting an Officer, and Contempt of Court (2 counts) by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Damarea Gay (age 24 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Aggravated Assault With a Firearm, Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearm, and Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Jessica Gorsuch (age 38 with New Orleans, La. address) was booked on the charges of Driving Under Suspension, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Schedule V Drugs, Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearm, and No Proof of Insurance by the Bogalusa 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   A 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight   A 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday   A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. 

Wednesday Night   Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.

Thursday   A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night   Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.

Tropical Disturbances Today

Near the Southeastern U.S.:  A frontal boundary is expected to stall and weaken off the southeast U.S. coast late this week.  An area of low pressure could develop from the weakening front by the weekend over the Atlantic waters off the southeast U.S., over Florida, or over the eastern Gulf. Some gradual tropical or subtropical development could occur thereafter as the low drifts and moves little. Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent and formation chance through 7 days...low...30 percent.