Local 'celebrities' overcome with 'island fever'

What do an actor, a preacher, a sheriff, a basketball coach and player, a bunch of lawmakers, a Realtor, Elvis and some media types all have in common? They pull out all the stops to raise money for a very worthy cause. Celebrity luau

Some 45 local "celebrities" got a bit of island fever for Youth Oasis' third annual Celebrity Waiter Luau at the Sheraton Atrium Oct. 8. Mary Garner Devoe of Keller Williams Realty reprised her role as the top woman tip earner with Lee Burns, owner of Mattress Direct, claiming the men's title.

East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux was the evening's celebrity host. Joining him in all manner of antics (Hey, it's for a good cause!) to earn tips for runaways and homeless youth were Chris Andrews and Brad Franklin, First United Methodist; Lance Hahn and Jacob Kesling, Church of the Highlands; Ricky Sinclair, Miracle Place Church; Baton Rouge Little Theater actors Aron Coates and Leonard Augustus; Lucas Babin, Snap Fitness; Drs. Susan Bankston and Timothy Bella; Fabian Blache III, SIUtopia; Kathy Blackman and Randy Nichols, Gulf Coast Teaching Family Services; former LSU and NBA basketball player Ricky Blanton; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jude Bourque; Constable Reggie Brown; LSU women's basketball coach Van Chancellor; attorneys J. Cullens and Russel Primaux; Lee Feinswog, "Sports Monday"; and LSU women's volleyball coach Fran Flory.

Also, Tyana Williams and Jay Grymes, WAFB-TV; Whitney Vann and Luke Margolis, WBRZ-TV; state Rep. Michael Jackson; LSU Professor Gary King; Norman Landry, Cortana Mall; Jeffrey LeBlanc, Martinez Custom Clothier; Metro Councilwomen Denise Marcelle and Tara Wicker; Katherine Martin, O'Brien House; Faith Miller, Massage Emporium/ Red Stick Roller Derby; Rob Miller, Medical Management Options; Robert Myer, Express Professionals; Gordy Rush, Eagle 98.1's "LSU Gameday" co-host; Bob Smith, Fidelity Bank; Todd Teepell, Advance Baton Rouge/Progress Is; Wayne Triche, Wayne Triche & Associates; Kolby Tullier, Body Mechanics; and Bruce Wilkinson, Mid South Transportation Analysts Inc.

Serving as emcee for the festivities, which included live and silent auctions, was Malcolm Myer. The evening was chaired by Lee Ann and Eric Lockridge and Sara Sotile.

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