Ponchatoula Live

Check out #PonchatoulaLive with special guest Judge Grace Gasaway. Our host Parker Layrisson talks to the award-winning judge and a key figure in Louisiana’s legal sphere. A local success story, Judge Gasaway shares her journey from growing up in Hammond to shaping the legal landscape across the state. You won't want to miss her insights on the diverse range of cases her court handles, includi...

Check out #PonchatoulaLive with special guest Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson. Host Parker Layrisson welcomes his brother, Chief Layrisson, to discuss his extensive service in law enforcement during challenging times. As the head of the Ponchatoula Police Department, Chief Layrisson shares insights into his team's dedication amidst hurricanes and pandemic conditions, notably partnering...

Check out #PonchatoulaLive with special guest Mary Beth Crovetto. Our host Parker Layrisson is joined by Mary Beth, the proud principal of Ponchatoula Junior High School. With over 33 years in education, Mary Beth not only discusses her career and the rich history of the school building, but also shares her exciting experiences on national game shows like 'Family Feud' and 'Wheel of Fo...

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that the goal of education is intelligence plus character.  If you agree that our community should teach young people to think creatively and act morally, then you will enjoy the story of Dr. Danny Williams.  Danny is a retired educator who has molded Ponchatoula children in every capacity imaginable: teacher, principal, parish-wide curriculum director, college pr...

“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” — Mahatma Gandhi  If you agree that our community only does well when we take care of our disabled neighbors, then you will love this interview with TARC CEO Kathleen Abels. TARC is as local nonprofit dedicated to providing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to realize their full poten...

If you want to know what Ponchatoula was like in the 1950s, and you'd like to hear about it from a community icon, you're gonna love this episode! Eddie Layrisson is best known as the most successful and longest serving Sheriff in Tangipahoa Parish history. But before that he was a kid on his bike, a St. Joseph School student, and the starting quarterback for the PHS Green Wave. His interv...

Business leaders lead lives of impact and influence. They create jobs, training, and other opportunities for our community. They help us pay our bills and provide for our families. Sometimes, they make our dreams come true. Most folks underestimate the work, vision, and financial risk it takes to build a business worth millions. Not Chance Enmon! As the President and Chief Operating Officer of the...

If you like church, family, and Ponchatoula schools, you're gonna love Mary Beth Crovetto. Mary Beth serves as Principal of Ponchatoula Jr. High School, but that's just a small part of who she is. (https://www.tangischools.org/domain/473) She is -- first and foremost -- a devoted Christian. Her faith defines her. She is also a supportive wife and a nurturing mother. Her family enriches her...

Don't you just love fall weather? In Ponchatoula, that crisp autumn air means it's time for the "Friday Night Lights" of Ponchatoula High School football in "The Swamp." The only better time and place to watch a game is Saturday night in Death Valley! Jonathan Rucker excelled as a leader and linebacker at PHS and LSU. Now, as a husband, father, businessman, and communit...

Many people wonder whether moving to Ponchatoula will be worth it. Although each trip here reveals a Mayberry-esque magic, visitors are curious about whether that small town charm lasts long into residency. In this interview, Ponchatoula Times Publisher Bryan T. McMahon, a Michigan native who moved to Ponchatoula in the 1970s, solves the mystery. In a gripping tale that begins on the "mean st...

The Ponchatoula Podcast with Parker Layrisson features local news and community interviews from the Ponchatoula Hammond area, located at the crossroads of I-12 and I-55, deep in the bayous of South Louisiana. Parker is a husband, father, personal injury attorney, author, and community volunteer who is on a mission to share the unique food, culture, events, and people of Ponchatoula with the world....