By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / December 9, 1998

LAPLACE – A large part of St. John the Baptist Parish will be shut downearly Friday so as many fans as possible can attend the Superdome Classic football Class 2A state championship game between the Riverside Rebels and the West St. John Rams.”The parish is going to be empty!” Lt. Michael Tregre of the St. John ParishSheriff’s Office observed. “But we have it all worked out.”The game has drawn the attention of parish government, as well. ParishCouncilman Ranney Wilson’s son is a senior defensive lineman for the Rebels, and Parish Councilman Perry Bailey has “a host of relatives” on the Rams team.