Franklin summer programs receive heavy participation

Franklin’s summer arts and dance program and summer recreation programs exceeded staff expectations this year.
There were 26 students in beginner art classes, 23 in intermediate art classes and 60 children and five adults in the dance program, Community Development Director Arlana Shield told the city council Tuesday.
The “Motown Showdown” theme of the dance program ended with a dance recital, and the student artwork was presented the same evening.
Chris Barrilleaux, city recreation director, said the summer recreation program was such a success, “I don’t know how we can fit many more people in the recreation program between our program and Arlana’s.”
There was line dancing, basketball, ping pong, wading pools and more.
Part of the summer program includes breakfast and lunch through state grant sources.
Barrilleaux said between the two recreation centers, 16,237 meals were served during the nearly two-month session.
The Broussard-Harris baseball league had 137 participants, Barrilleaux said. The basketball league is still ongoing. There were also self-defense classes for anyone in the community by a local volunteer.
“If your kid had nothing to do, you weren’t looking for something to do,” Barrilleaux said. “Because we had plenty going on at the recreation centers.”
Councilman Joe Garrison noted that according to Franklin Police Department stats, juvenile arrests went down drastically during the time the summer programs were active.
In other business, the mayor and council acknowledged Franklin Senior High School’s Kenneth Lockett, who was awarded the Ford Neighborhood Award for Best High School Coach of the Year for 2015, a national award.
Mayor Raymond Harris Jr. noted that Lockett has been in education for over 33 years as a teacher, coach, principal and system supervisor. He also serves on the Iberia Parish School Board.
Harris presented Lockett a key to the city, saying, “For 33 years, you’ve given yourself to the young people of our community, going out of your way to help kids. You’ve kept some kids on the right track and brought others off the wrong track.”
Also Tuesday, Dianna Alexander, Ella Hamilton and Lucy Watson, VFW 4201 Ladies Auxillary, reported that their recent school uniform drive was a great success, and she thanked the city for its help. She said many items of clothing were donated, slightly used and brand new alike.
Alexander also asked for community participation in keeping the city clean. She is a member of the local cleanup committee, and said she “asked a couple to clean their yards, and they called the police on me. I’ve never had anything hurt me like that.”
She said she recalled the initiative to rename what was formerly Wilson Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to develop pride in the neighborhood. But she cited instances when a cleanup takes place and almost at once litter returns. “Apparently they are doing it because they see that we want Martin Luther King to look like any other street,” Alexander said.
She stressed teaching youngsters to keep up their properties and neighborhoods.
“I want this city to be known as the beautiful city of Franklin, not just the city of Franklin,” she concluded.