Otis "Sonny" Earl Bennett

Raymond Arthur Hartley passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at the age of 71. Beloved husband of the late May An Nita Hartley. Loving father of An Nita May Sharp, Joseph Bowker (Bobbie Jo), Christina Mehling (Galen) and Angelica Sharp (Ethan). Son of the late Lola Mae Beck Hartley and Robert E. Hartley. Step son of the late Sylvia Hartley. Brother of Nancy Taylor, Sam Hartley and the late Dean Hartley. Grandfather of Joshua Hartley, James Sharp, Annaleise Munson, Ethan Sharp, Jr. and Bella May Sharp. Great-grandfather of Pyper Sharp, Hayes Sharp, Maddox Hartley and Harper Sharp. Also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews.

Arnold Henry Ludwig of Loranger, Louisiana, passed away at Landmark Nursing Center of Hammond, Louisiana on Sunday, January 29, 2023, at the age of 81. He was born on Saturday, June 28, 1941, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Arnold is survived by his daughters, Karen Kimmons (Jeff Kimmons) and, Susan Ludwig...

Robert "Bobby" Oneille Lavigne, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2023, at the age of 72. He was born on October 11, 1950, in Hammond, Louisiana, the son of the late Oneille Ameal Lavigne and Janice Wild Lavigne. Bobby proudly served in the Army Reserves. He was a respected civil engineer working on shoreline preservation projects for almost 40 years for Luhr Bros Inc. until he retired. During that time he was able to travel the country especially the coastal states. Bobby was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother and an avid outdoorsman. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends.

Ms. Patricia Ann Sance, a native of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and a resident of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, for the past four and a half years passed away peacefully on January 28, 2023, at a local hospital surrounded by family. She retired from LUBA Worker’s Comp in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a...

Jessie Mae Simmons, 84, a resident of Springfield, LA, passed away Saturday, January 28, 2023. Services will be held at Galilee Baptist Church, 25969 Haynes Settlement Road, Springfield, LA. Visitation on Friday, February 3, 2023, from 4-8 p.m. Funeral service at 2 p.m., on Saturday, February 4, 2023. Interment Galilee Cemetery, Springfield, LA.

Jacqueline Sue Herzog Deffes, age 84, of Robert, LA, entered eternal rest on January 26, 2023. She was born in Galveston, Texas on April 13, 1938 to the late Bernard David Herzog and Ethel Martha Landrum Herzog. Sister of the late Bernadine Ethel Hollingsworth. Beloved wife to the late Frank...

Cynthia Ann Vilardo Alessi of Independence, Louisiana, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2023, at the age of 66. She was born on November 3, 1956, in Hammond, Louisiana. Cynthia is survived by her husband, Burnell T. Alessi; mother, Josephine "Phine" Inzinna Vilardo; children, Tiffany Alessi Carter, Amanda L. Alessi, and Jared M. Alessi and wife Megan Rushing Alessi; grandchildren, Hannah Carter, Emily Carter, Naomi Carter, Adeline Langlois, and Lillian Alessi; great grandson, Salvador Carter Reed; and brother, Salvador J. Vilardo, Jr.

Georgia M. Johnson, 64, a resident of Hammond, LA, passed away on Friday, January 20, 2023. Funeral service at 2 p.m., on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Redemption Christian Center, 13196 Old Baton Rouge Hwy, Hammond, LA. Interment Rose Memorial Park Cemetery, Hammond, LA.

Rose Marie Powell entered peacefully into eternal rest at the family home, surrounded by love on Friday, January 27, 2023, at the age of 71. Rose was the third of eight children born to Gene Powell, Jr. and Mercedes Crockett Powell on September 2, 1951. Rose graduated in 1969 from Pine View High School in Covington, Louisiana. She was a graduate of Southern University at New Orleans, Louisiana in 1974 with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. She began her employment with Texaco, Incorporated in January, 1975 as an accountant and was later promoted to financial analyst. Rose's final few years of her career were with Chevron Oil which acquired Texaco Incorporated before her retirement in 2002 after 27 years of dedicated service. Rose accepted Christ at an early age at Doughty Chapel A.M.E. Church in Covington, Louisiana under the leadership of Rev. Peter S. Atkins. Upon relocation to New Orleans, she became a member of St. Matthews Chapel Baptist Church and was baptized by Rev. James E. Landrum. Years later, she became a member of Beacon Light Baptist Church. Rose was always a part of the choir. She loved to worship and sing praises to God. Rose joined Franklin Avenue Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Fred Luter, Jr. and became a member of the choir. She participated and enjoyed Sunday School and Bible Study lessons with sisters and brothers in Christ. Rose was a willing, dedicated and faithful servant for the Lord until her health began to fail. Rose leaves to cherish her memories: her brothers, Barry Powell and Alton Powell; her sisters, Brenda Powell, Paula Powell and Benita Powell; two godchildren, Nicole Jones and Sidney Frimpong; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gene E. Powell, Jr. and Mercedes Crockett Powell, her brothers, Rev. Gene E. Powell, III, and Wiley Powell, Sr.

Maggie Elizabeth Bryan of Hammond, Louisiana, went to be with our Lord on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at the age of 94. She was born on Monday, October 22, 1928, in Patrick, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She was a homemaker as well as determined and independent like her grandmother, Katie, always knowing how to make the best of hard times yet always loving and kind to her family.

John Louis Appe passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, in Covington, Louisiana at the age of 81. John was born on April 12, 1941, in New Orleans, Louisiana to Effie (Edward) Curtis and Odette Caroline (Perez) Appe. He is survived by his four siblings: Gerald Lloyd Appe, Caroline Appe Sharpe, Jane Appe Millaway, and Catherine Appe McCrossen. He was predeceased by his half-brother Fredrick Carl Appe.

Sylvia "Sue" Pierce Perilloux, a longtime resident of Hammond, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2023, at The Columns Community Care Center in Jonesville, Louisiana. Born on June 18, 1933, in McComb, Mississippi, she was the daughter of the late Clyde Leo Pierce and Ivel Golda Lewis Pierce.

PONCHATOULA---A beloved New Orleans Easter treat celebrates its one hundredth anniversary this year. Elmer Chocolate’s Heavenly Hash Eggs have filled local Easter baskets for the past century along with other local favorites Gold Brick and Pecan Eggs. “We’re extremely proud of our Louisiana heritage,” said Robert Nelson, CEO and...

Spectrum representatives joined Tangipahoa Parish leaders this week to celebrate a $7,700 donation to Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa. The money will be used to purchase specialized surveillance equipment needed by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office to help with investigations.

HAMMOND---This week, Spectrum representatives joined area leaders to celebrate a $7,700 donation to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office through Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa. The donation is being used to purchase specialized equipment needed for video surveillance. “I thank Spectrum for this generous donation to our department, as it will...

HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University Management Instructor Aristides Baraya has been appointed to the Latino Commission by the Louisiana Speaker of the House, the Hon. Clay Schexnayder. The main objective of the commission is to identify obstacles to the effective delivery of Louisiana state government services to Latin Americans,...

HAMMOND, La. – For the final time this season, the Southeastern Louisiana University men’s basketball team will play both of its games during the week at home as the Lions welcome in Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, with the game against the Islanders on national television, to the University Center.

HAMMOND, LA. – The Southeastern Louisiana University women’s basketball team started out the weekend with a 72-50 win over UIW Thursday night in the University Center. Southeastern (12-8, 7-3 Southland) and UIW (8-12 3-7 SLC) had an evenly played matchup in Hammond as the Lady Lions would shoot 28-of-56 from the floor.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CARLOS WALKER, age 33, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, pled guilty on January 31, 2023 to one count of felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.