As a lifelong resident of St. John the Baptist Parish, I take interest in the events of our community and the way they are reported in L’OBSERVATEUR.

Under the leadership of Stephen Hemelt, for the past five years our local newspaper has chronicled not only current events, but our history. In addition, woven throughout are stories of our residents – their struggles and their victories.

Stephen’s recent promotion requires his family’s move to Texas, and not only will I miss reading his editorials and stories, I will miss his wife Candace.

Candace and I are members of the Rotary Club of LaPlace, and she is one of the most energetic, hard-working, positive women I know.

She fulfills our group’s motto, Service Above Self, and her dedication to serving our community earned her last year’s Rotarian Rookie of the Year award.

The silence that fell over the room when Candace announced her move was broken by members expressing their appreciation for her active involvement.

The Hemelts leave with my best wishes and prayers. I believe that God will plant them in the community that awaits, and that they will be warmly embraced by it.

And I consider my life richer for counting them as friends.

Ronny Michel can be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.