In just the first week of the new year, the town of Addis has made history with the hiring of the town’s first female police officer and the installment of the town’s first female council member.

New Addis Mayor David Toups said that he is excited about what the future may hold for the town. Toups is in his first term as mayor.

During the town’s December 2012 meeting, the council decided to hire the first female officer for the police department.

The West Baton Rouge School Board decided they would hold an in-depth discussion during their January 2013 committee meeting, which will take place January 14. concerning security measures of parish schools.

During their regular December school board meeting, talks arose about the need for improved security measures following the Newtown, Connecticut massacre where a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary school and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children, before killing himself.

For their 26th year, Santa’s Helpers of West Baton Rouge, an organization that collaborates with area schools to help less fortunate families during the holidays, has provided their own “Christmas miracles” to several families in the parish.

Since November, the organization has been in the process of collecting monetary and toy donations to be given out to families considered less fortunate.

In 1966, a 21-year-old Carroll Bourgeois moved his family to Addis upon his taking a job at National Food Stores in Plaquemine.
Bourgeois said he was turned away from renting homes in Plaquemine, as owners did not want to rent to families with young children.
“So we moved here to Addis and we’ve been here ever since,” he said as he reminisced Thursday afternoon. “The people here made us feel very welcome.”