By KERI CHAMPION

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE-St. John the Baptist Parish is making plans to celebrate its bicentennial in 2007, commemorating the 200th birthday of St. John the Baptist Parish.

A committee has been formed to plan the event, made up of Judy Songy, Judy Mackels, Tomy Acosta, Wilhelmina Armour and Deroch Watson.

St. John the Baptist Parish was founded in March of 1807 after a 12 county area was divided into 19 separate parishes.

Celebration plans include a beard contest for Fall 2006 and an art contest depicting the lifestyle and times of St. John the Baptist Parish. A festival slogan contest and a book naming- contest will also be part of the celebration.

The slogan contest is open to the public and should highlight a characteristic of the parish. Slogan and book title ideas can be submitted to Judy Songy, 425 W Airline Hwy Suite A, LaPlace, 70068. You may phone her with questions at 985-651-0021. Entries must be submitted by October 31, 2006. The winning slogan will be used in the book.

The art contest is be open to school children in St. John Parish. The winners will be recognized at the 2007 Andouille Festival. Other planned activities include mural paintings painted by student artists to be put on display throughout the parish. There are also hopes to have a historical steamboat ride available to experience a taste of river life in the 19th century.

The book will be a pictorial history of St. John the Baptist Parish and will feature a history of life in the parish and its various cultures.

Information on plantation life, African-American and German influences, and a short history of parish firsts will be included in the book.

There will also be a section on individuals and families who have made significant contributions to the area and a section for looking ahead to the 21st century.

The book is currently in the last stages of the rough draft and will begin the editing process in about a month. The book will be 195 pages in hardcover. The committee is still actively seeking family, individual and corporate sponsorships ranging from $125 to $1000 and sponsors will receive a free copy of the book. Contact Deroch Watson at 985-703-2304.

The anniversary celebration committee is also looking for help from residents who can provide them with old 8 mm films, video, historical artifacts and photographs of parish events and depictions of life, particularly from the 150-year celebration. Contact Deroch Watson to learn more.