Community newspapers, now more than ever, serve important roles as neighborhood watchdog and community spotlight for residents to use.

Whether pushing for a better quality of life or holding our elected leaders responsible, L’OBSERVATEUR is here, and has been for the past 104 years, as your sounding board when issues of concern arise.

Our team members enjoy being the only media members committed to publishing positive stories and personality profiles of those important figures who make up St. John the Baptist Parish and the River Region.

However, we don’t shy away from asking tough questions and following up on the concerns brought to our attention by local readers.

One recent example began when a local delivery driver dropped off a conference room table at L’OBSERVATEUR’s office, 116 Newspaper Drive, in LaPlace. The gentleman explained he had cell phone pictures believed to depict a St. John the Baptist Parish Government employee performing work with parish equipment on private property.

The photos were grainy and some of the details of the story, which was not firsthand, didn’t paint a clear picture.

We first brought the matter to the attention of the Parish’s communications department in late December, with a brief description of our concerns and a request for answers.

By Jan. 4, L’OBSERVATEUR was informed the communications department requested information on our behalf and would get back to us as soon as something was available.

On Jan. 6 we were told the information provided was being investigated internally by the Parish and would be “addressed accordingly.”

There was an eventual change in leadership in St. John Parish Communications, possibly delaying the response, but a story was published Jan. 23 — “Parish investigating private property work claim” — in which concerns about improper work taking place in the 500 block of Central Avenue in Reserve were shared with readers, along with statements from Parish leadership indicating a single employee was being questioned and disciplinary action was being considered. At that time, the Parish had not made a final determination on the incident.

In a story published Feb. 13, “Parish employee disciplined for private property work,” local leaders confirmed parish equipment was used to cut grass on private property, leading to disciplinary action being taken against that employee. The action stopped short of termination.

In the grand scheme of things, the stories are far from “breaking news.” In fact, we didn’t publish either piece on the front page.

However, the sequence does represent how residents can use L’OBSERVATEUR, your community newspaper, to get answers. We were told by our original resident of concern that the information was presented to the Parish without much response.

By the time we spoke with the Parish Council representative for that area in mid February, he said he was unaware of any concerns.

Despite some hiccups in delivery, the public concern was brought to the right people’s attention and led to St. John Communications Director Baileigh Rebowe Helm saying, “We appreciate the community’s help in identifying some of the things we can’t see or we don’t know about. We appreciate being sent pictures and information. As soon as we receive them, we will look into it and start an investigation if necessary.”

L’OBSERVATEUR operates in much the same way.

When it comes to “Looks Bright” youth features and “Giving Back” community profiles published on our front page and the “Black History Month” profiles appearing this month, readers submit many of those positive stories.

The same goes for stories of concern. Someone either sends us an email, stops by for a visit or makes a phone call. Our staff members do their best to follow up in a professional manner.

L’OBSERVATEUR is your community newspaper, and our readers have just as much say in what stories are published and what angles are taken as any longtime employee or editor.

We thank you for your readership and common concern for the community we share.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.