The Dart: Family settles down in Vidalia house
Published 1:45 am Monday, February 27, 2017
VIDALIA — One Vidalia family is settling into the community after a recent move from Ferriday.
When The Dart landed on Peach Street Friday, Joyce Stovall was babysitting her grandchildren, while their mother was in Baton Rouge looking for a new vehicle.
Stovall said her daughter, Iesha Brown, had moved to Vidalia only a month ago, and her children were settling into the schools and getting to know the people of the neighborhood.
“It is really cool back here, I like it,” Stovall said. “The neighbors are very friendly. The little kids are friendly, too. My grandchildren have kids they can play with.”
Stovall’s granddaughter, A’Lanna Brown, recently turned 4 and had a weekend birthday party — themed after Disney’s “Frozen.”
“When she had the party, the neighborhood kids all came,” Stovall said. “We had a bunch of children out here Saturday, and they all got along, no fighting.”
A month in, Stovall said she’s also impressed with the Vidalia schools.
“The teachers are very involved,” she said. “They will let us know when the children are cutting up, and they will also let us know when they are doing good.
“My daughter likes the schools, too. The teachers take a lot of time with the kids.”
Stovall said she was glad her daughter was able to find a house in Vidalia and get out of the Kyle Road apartments in Ferriday.
“I’m very happy she is out of the projects,” Stovall said. “The children can come out here and play out in the yard.
“They couldn’t in the projects — too many shootings and people selling drugs. We wanted to get the kids out of that environment.”
Family friend Donnella Harvey of New Orleans was visiting for A’Lanna’s birthday, and Harvy said she was enjoying the stay.
“I’m glad they were able to find a house, it’s much better,” she said. “I love a good house. It’s nice to have space.”
A’Lanna said she was also happy to have found a house.
“We’ve got a house with a big yard,” she said, smiling.