Click here to watch Channel 17 Live on your computer or smart phone

and for local videos on demand, click here! 

The local Congressman visited the Northshore

Clerk of Court Julian Dufreche on party primaries and the upcoming big fall ballot

Sheriff Daniel Edwards updates Eric Maurer and other recent cases

 Tangipaqhoa Parish Councilman Ronnie Bankston

Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess and Parish Engineer Maurice Jordon

Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain

Senator Ben Nevers on St Helena, Bogue Chitto Park

St Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis

Tangipahoa School Board candidate Beth Davis

Rep. John Bel Edwards at Melancon fundraiser

Congressman and senate candidate Charlie Melancon

Representative Steve Pugh on Pumpkin Center Road

Turning over the keys

Independence Mayor Michael Ragusa welcomes SDT's Belinda Jarrell to the company's new Northshore headquarters in the Independence Industrial Park.  SDT has moved their entire operations center for the area north of Lake Pontchartrain, including the Baton Rouge area, to Tangipahoa Parish.  The facility is next door to the recently re-opened North Tangi Head Start School on Railroad Ave. near the National Guard Armory.

Celebrating 200 years of St. Tammany

St. Tammany Parish kicked off its celebration of the Bicentennial for the Florida Parishes Republic Wednesday night with a joint Chamber After Hours event at the Parish Government offices on Koop Drive near Mandeville.  Suzanne Parsons Stymiest, executive assistant to Parish President Kevin Davis, and Congressman Steve Scalise were among those on hand for the celebration, which include food, music, entertainment, and the unveiling of the parish's Bicentennial Celebration book.  For more on this story, check out our NEWS page now.

Recertified at Animal Control

Tangipahoa Parish Animal Control officers recently completed their annual recertification program at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.  All nine members of the TPAC office attended classes during the six-day program in Baton Rouge, which draws speakers from all over the country.  Receiving their 2010 certifications are (front):  Jill Jaufre (certified in euthenasia and chemical capture), Matilda Plumlee (certified animal control officer), Kristen Doss (certified in chemical capture), Crystal Hawkins (continuing education, animal control); and (back) Jonathan Dyson (certified animal control officer), Alan Smith (certified animal control officer), and Robert Morel, J.J. Jones, and Chip Fitz, who all attended continuing education classes for animal control.  Animal Control Director Fitz serves on the state board and taught two classes this year to help animal control officers around the state improve their report writing and case preparation and investigation skills.  The TPAC is located behind the Hammond offices of the Tangipahoa Parish Health Unit off Club Deluxe Road.  The TPAC now accepts credit and debit cards for payment.  For more information about the TPAC, please call (985) 543-0215.

Magic begins

A semi filled with "mysterious" boxes unloaded outside the home of the future Louisiana Children's Discovery Museum in Hammond earlier this week.  Reliable sources tell ActionNews17.com that the LCDM took delivery of many of their exhibit materials this week.  Organizers said the museum space will be closed to the public for the next several weeks, leading up to a special event planned for Oct. 1.  We'll keep you posted! (Photo courtesy of LCDM)

Networking

Louisiana's senior Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) poses for a photo with Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce Director April Wehrs during after a meeting with local business leaders last week in Hammond. 

Children's book author, Mike Artell, worked with TPSS Librarians, Curriculum Coaches and Instructional Technology Facilitators on literacy strategies on Friday, August 27.  Participants enjoyed the day working with each other and making plans to implement his ideas during the 2010-2011 school year. (Photo courtesy TPSS)

Hunter Certification Class

Taylor Sharkey receives instructions on the safe handling of a firearm during the hunter certification class. Despite the rain, 21 future hunters completed the course at Camp Corn Cob, just south of Kentwood under the direction of Shane Perrilloux, a volunteer with the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries. All hunters born on or after Sept. 1, 1969 must successfully complete the course in order to hunt in the State of Louisiana.

Send your pictures to actionnews@bellsouth.net

 Rep. Scott Simon at the Bogue Chitto State Park

 Rep. John Schroder of Covington in Hammond

State Representative Steve Pugh at Southeastern

Livingston Representative J. Rogers Pope at SLU

Representative John Bel Edwards at DOTD, Hammond 

State Representative Kevin Pierson of Slidell

Road Warriors

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards celebrates with 13 local officers who recently graduated from his department's Reserve Training school.  For more on the job these dedicated volunteers provide to the citizens of Tangipahoa Parish, go to our POLICE page.

Coach Scott Shaffett, candidate in Kentwood

Sheriff Edwards on Meyn case in Ponchatoula

Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson on Meyn case

 Pat Morris says her NAACP is being used as a political football in school board elections

Councilman Carlo Bruno on the Tickfaw controversy

Councilman Michael Pettito calls Tickfaw a speed trap

 Police Chief Jimmy Sparacello defends Tickfaw

Livingston President Mike Grimmer on Lake Maurepas

Click HERE for all 500 ActionNews17 Interviews

Plans for Amite

Architect Michael Holly of Holly and Smith Architects in Hammond reviews plans for the new Amite branch of the Tangipahoa Parish Library and the TPL's administration offices which will be constructed in a new multi-purpose facility next door to Tangipahoa Parish Fire District 1's main station near downtown Amite.  Holly's presentation, part of a town hall-style public hearing held by the Library earlier this week, was well-attended, drawing many, including Rep. John Bel Edwards of House District 72.  Parish President Gordon Burgess recently announced that his office has received a CDBG grant in the amount of $1.55 million to fund half of the estimated $3.2 million cost of the project.  Library officials hope to break ground on the new structure in Feburary.  (Photo by Tom Tolar) 

Video bingo continues in Independence where every weekend in July has featured "Blowout Giveaways." Several big winners have been announced all month long.  Are you next?  Check it out inside the old Caboose Restaurant on the corner of Hwy 51 and 4th Street in historic downtown Independence.  Call bingo, too at Independence Video Bingo.  See you there!

Splash!

Children cheered when park officials invited them to play on the new Bogue Chitto State Park's gigantic splash park and water slide.