SLIDELL NEWSPAPER

Daily Late Charges Stop at All 12 Branches, While Fees for Lost or Damaged Materials Continue ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. — St. Tammany Parish Library has ended daily overdue fines throughout its 12-branch system, giving residents greater flexibility when books, DVDs, audiobooks and other qualifying materials are returned after their assigned due dates. The parishwide policy took effect Aug. 3, 2026. Existing overdue fines will also be cleared from patron accounts, removing older daily penalties that may have discouraged some residents from using library services again. Library officials continue to ask patrons to return borrowed materials as soon as possible. The updated policy eliminates routine late fees, but borrowers remain responsible for returning public property so other residents...

Bret Ibert Takes Over As Interim Sheriff Pending A Special Election St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith resigned Wednesday after pleading guilty in connection with a May 29 attack at Keith Young’s Steakhouse in Madisonville, according to the District Attorney’s Office and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The resignation placed one of the parish’s most prominent law enforcement offices into a temporary leadership period and put Bret Ibert in charge while voters wait for a special election. The case has drawn heavy public attention because it involved an elected sheriff, a felony plea and an incident reported at a familiar Northshore restaurant. District Attorney Collin Sims said Smith pleaded guilty to one felony count of second-degree battery and one misdemeanor count of...

St. Tammany Parish Voters Approve Sheriff’s Office And Mosquito Abatement Tax Renewals St. Tammany Parish voters approved at least two closely followed local tax renewals in Saturday’s June 27 election, including the Sheriff’s Office law enforcement millage and the parishwide mosquito abatement renewal, according to public statements and election-night reporting reviewed by Slidell Times. The results show continued voter support for parish services tied to public safety, mosquito control and everyday quality-of-life concerns. Local tax renewals often draw close attention because they help decide whether existing service funding stays in place or whether agencies may need to adjust future operations. The St. Tammany Parish Registrar of Voters listed a crowded local ballot for parish...