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Our 2008 People to Watch

Nine people. Nine personalities. Nine reasons to watch them.

225 looks at those who will leave their mark on everything from film to farming, and art to politics.

Richie Adams, Owner, River Road Creative, River Road Films

Sylvia Fowles, All-American LSU basketball player and future WNBA star

Jamie Griffin, Business development manager, Raising Cane’s; president, Forum 35

Jeff Kleinpeter, President, Kleinpeter Dairy

Shanelle Matthews, Social activist, recent LSU graduate

Erin Rolfs, Public information officer at the Louisiana State Museum and executive director of Culture Candy

Timmy Teepell, Chief of staff for Gov. Bobby Jindal

Trey Trahan, President and principal-in-charge, Trahan Architects

Chanel Ward, Editor and creator of the popular style blog Hip Candy

Did you watch them?

We told you to watch rockers, hoopers and politicians in 2007. Here’s how three of them did.

Jay Dardenne, secretary of state

APRIL Eliminates state museum fees and adds exhibits.

JULY Son John Dardenne, an aspiring comedian, submits a video for the CNN YouTube Debate in which he appears shirtless and asks to be Hillary Clinton’s intern. The secretary handles the bizarre exposure with panache.

AUG. Suffers spinal injury and broken ribs in a two-car collision on the interstate.

OCT. Handily wins re-election.

NOV. Announces push to abolish ridiculous July elections, which in 2007 had a miniscule 4.5% voter turnout.

The Eames Era, rock band

JAN. “When You Were a Millionaire” airs regularly on MTV as the theme song for I’m from Rolling Stone.

APRIL Wins a South By Southwest video contest and releases Heroes & Sheroes.

JUNE Tours without drummer Greg Gauthreaux who takes leave from the band to get married.

SEP. Rocks Spanish Moon at what many whisper is Gauthreaux’s last gig.

DEC. Singer Ashlin Phillips moves to Chicago.

Glen “Big Baby” Davis, basketball player

JAN. Compiles strong stats, but LSU loses five of its first seven SEC games.

MARCH Scores only six points in a season-ending loss to Ole Miss.

MAY Loses 45 pounds, but still labeled risky for the NBA.

JUNE Drafted in the second round by Seattle, who trades him to Boston.

NOV. Bumping chests with Kevin Garnett (and playing some, too) for the rejuvenated Celtics.