LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / June 21, 2000

HAHNVILLE – It’s summer, and time for the launching of the proclamation season for the St. Charles Parish Council. At Monday’s meeting,proclamations honored the Juneteeth observation and the Louisiana Catfish Festival.

Juneteeth is an African-American celebration and commemoration of June 19, 1865, when Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation took effect in the South.

Juneteeth, which originated in Galveston, Texas, is the earliest-known celebration of the end of slavery.

District One Justice of the Peace Alesha Smith accepted the proclamation and introduced members of the 2000 Ms. Ebonee court.These include Ms. Ebonee Maranda Pierre, 17, daughter of Tracy Pierre ofLuling; First Maid Anatasia F. Brown, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. AurelinoBrown of Killona; Second Maid Akendra L. Jackson, 18, daughter of Ralphand Ursula Hilaire of Hahnville; Miss Congeniality Liza M. Smith, 18,daughter of Emelda and the late Billy Smith of Hahnville; Miss Photogenic Claudia Marshall, 19, daughter of Stanley and Audrey Pierre of LaPlace; and Miss Personality Jamona Anderson, 17, daughter of Ramona Kelly of Hahnville.

The court was selected in a pageant held June 17 at the Holy Rosary Community Center in Hahnville.

The Louisiana Catfish Festival, set July 7-9 in Des Allemands, designated by Act of the Louisiana Legislature as “Catfish Capital of the Universe,” was also recognized in the person of Louisiana Catfish Queen Kristy Durio, 20, daughter of Irene and Nelson Durio of Metairie.

She was selected at the annual pageant held June 10.

Return To News Stories