UPDATED: See add'l info from WPSO at bottom.
Local law enforcement personnel will be participating in the Special Olympics Torch Run this coming Monday.
The torch is being carried to the site of the 2025 state Special Olympics, which is Strawberry Stadium at Southeasten Louisiana University in Hammond.
The torch run will loop through the parish on May 21, coming up from St. Tammany Parish on Highway 21 toward Bogalusa.
In Bogalusa, the torch run will get on Highway 10 and head toward Franklinton.
From Franklinton, the torch run heads south again toward St. Tammany, headed toward Folsom on Highway 25.
It is estimated that the torch run will enter Franklinton on Highway 10 about 2 p.m.
With so many local law enforcement officers involved in carrying the torch, organizers are hopeful that local citizens will cheer the runners on as they pass through Franklinton early Monday afternoon on Highway 10 (Washington Street.)
Personnel from the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Franklinton Police Department and the Bogalusa Police Department will be joined by cadets from both the Franklinton High School and Bogalusa High School JROTC.
Add'l info from the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office:
This Monday, May 19, we will be leading a 41-mile relay run in commemoration of the Louisiana Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run’s 41st year.
Over 30 Deputy Sheriffs will join forces with Rayburn Correctional Center, the Bogalusa Police Department, the Franklinton Police Department, Bogalusa High School JROTC, the Louisiana National Guard, and Franklinton High School JROTC to carry the Flame of Hope Torch across Washington Parish. We will be passing the torch to the Folsom Police Department and St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office at Windmill Nursery, where they will march on until it reaches the opening ceremony for the 2025 Special Olympics Summer Games on May 23, held at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Citizens are encouraged to set up along the route to cheer us on, join in for a piece of the run, or just to say hello. We will be checking in throughout the day on our Facebook page to let people know where we are and give them a heads up before we pass through. We ask that citizens keep an eye out for our convoy and exercise caution when passing our vehicles and runners. We will have multiple marked units with flashing lights, flags, and our command center bus traveling with the convoy. You will be able to see us coming, so please slow down and keep your eyes out for pedestrians when we come through. The following times are rough estimates for when and where we will be, and our pace may change depending on weather, traffic conditions, scheduling conflicts, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Hillbilly Mall on LA-21-7:00 AM
Northshore Technical Community College Sullivan Campus-8:00 AM
City of Bogalusa-8:00 AM-9:00 AM
LA-10 between Bogalusa and Sheridan-9:00 AM-11:00 AM
LA-10 between Sheridan and Franklinton-11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Town of Franklinton-1:00 PM-2:00PM
LA-25 between Franklinton and Windmill Nurseries: 2:00PM-4:00PM.
If everything goes according to plan, our pace will be a bit faster than the above times, and we will be providing updates VIA Facebook throughout the event. We are looking forward to showing our support for the Louisiana Special Olympics and running alongside the groups that have joined in. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered their time, and we will see you guys bright and early Monday morning.
