EachWednesday, L’Observateur recognizes individuals and businesses in the River Parishes that have gone “above and beyond” in their efforts to make this a better place to live, work and play.

We believe an integral part of a community’s wellbeing is an attitude and arena where people who do good things who work to improve life for others … who try to make a difference are recognized and saluted. Because this is a salute to members of the community of the entire River Parishes, we solicit your recommendations for groups or individuals to be considered for inclusion.

This week we salute:

• Bianca Steib and Lindsay Dufresne, who were recently named Miss St. James and Miss Teen St. James respectively at the St. James Parish Pageant in Lutcher. Steib is the daughter of Brian and Barbara Steib of Vacherie. Dufresne is the daughter of David and Melissa Dufresne of Gramercy.

• St. Joan of Arc fourth-grader Emily Schexnayder, a swimmer for LARAYO in LaPlace who recently competed in the 8 and under regional championships at UNO. Schexnayder won first place in six events, took second in two others and set a pool record in the 100-yard medley with a time of 1:22.34.

• Lakewood Elementary School sixth-grader Lauren Watson of Luling, who recently won first place at the Louisiana Young Authors State Level competition. Watson won for her poem “The Flower Girls” about bullying.

• Parishioners at Our Lady of Grace Church in Reserve, who recently celebrated the church’s 75th anniversary with several events recently. The church is known as the first African-American Catholic parish in the River Parishes.

• West St. John High School’s Antoine Edwards, who recently retired as the school’s boys basketball coach and assistant football coach after 32 years at the helm. Edwards guided the basketball team to a state title in 2000 and brought the team back to the finals in 2005.

• The St. John the Baptist Parish Finance Department, which recently received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of Louisiana. The 2012 award marks the ninth straight year the parish finance department was honored for its record keeping.