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Father dead and son arrested, hatchet attack
Bernice, LA — On Saturday, July 12, 2025, deputies with theUnion Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported stabbing atthe Bernice Villa Apartments, located at 115 W. 4th Street. Uponarrival, they discovered a man deceased inside the apartment.UPSO Criminal Investigations Division (CID) responded andbegan an investigation. Investigators determined the victim,71-year-old Delmer Watt Sr., of Bernice, was likely deceased severalhours before …
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Road rage incident turns violent
MICHIGAN MAN JAILEDAFTER ROAD RAGE INCIDENTTURNS VIOLENTOn July 5, 2025, atapproximately 1:41 PM, UnionParish Sheriff’s Office deputiesresponded to a battery complainton Hwy 2 near the Antiochcommunity in Farmerville,Louisiana, following a suspectedroad rage incident.
Read More »Recognizing Five UPSO Deputies
In July 2025, Union Parish Sheriff’s Officedeputies responded to a critical call involving aperson with a severe, self-inflicted injury withinUnion Parish. Upon arrival, they encountered acombative individual resisting medical aid. Withgreat composure, deputies performed criticalinterventions, including applying tourniquets,to stabilize the individual, while other deputiescoordinated efforts to secure the chaotic scene.
Read More »Editor’s Note – UPPJ Courthouse UPDATE:The UPPJ Courthouse Committee met on July 15, 2025, and opened bids for labor, plumbingand mechanical to replace/repair the air-conditioning system in the existing courthouse. Later thatafternoon the full jury approved the low bid from Mechanical Services & Systems, LLC from WestMonroe, La. The low bid was $875,200.00.Two other bids were received: one from The Payne Company of Shreveport, La. in the amount of$928,000.00; and one from Byrnes Mechanical Contractors, Inc. of West Monroe, La. in the amountof $1,060,000.00.The Gazette attended the bid opening and asked when the start work date and finish work datewould be. No one knew the answer to that question. Juror Hutto stated “as soon as possible.”The Gazette also inquired about the status of security for the courthouse, to which Juror Huttoresponded to the effect that while discussions were being had, there was no information he couldrelease on that subject at that time.
134th Continental Congress D.A.R. in D.C.
WASHINGTON, DC – More than 4,000 members of theDaughters of the American Revolution convened this weekin the nation’s capital for the 134th Continental Congress,the latest gathering of the longstanding service organization’sannual meeting. The week-long convention consisted ofbusiness sessions, committee meetings, and social functions,and was topped off with formal evening ceremonies at whichnational DAR award recipients were honored. In attendancewere Vice …
Read More »Reading and Riding in NELA
Reading and Riding in NELAA Read & Ride pilot programwas just completed by the LSUAgCenter in Caldwell, Franklin,Ouachita, Richland, and UnionParishes. This program, fundedby the Living Well Foundation,has placed fitness bikes with attacheddesks in selected schoolsand public libraries. Youth andadult participants can earncharms by reading a book whileriding a bike.The goals of this project wereto help improve literacy and increasephysical …
Read More »Union General Rural Health Clinic Opening
Union General Hospital hosted a celebratoryRibbon Cutting and Open House on Tuesdayafternoon to mark the official opening of the newUnion General Rural Health Clinic, located at 1025Marion Highway in Farmerville. The event broughttogether community leaders, healthcare advocates,local residents, and staff members for a meaningfulceremony that underscored the importance ofaccess to quality rural healthcare.The program, hosted in collaboration with theUnion Parish …
Read More »Gov. Landry accused of election scheme
Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming believes Gov. Jeff Landry is orchestrating an elec- tion scheme in an attempt to have Congresswoman Julia Let- low beat U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in the 2026 Senate race only for Landry to eventually land in the Senate himself. The maneuvers and friction among many of the state’s top Republicans promise to elevate Louisiana’s 2026 Senate …
Read More »Trey Holly trial postponed due to faulty AC
According to The July 7th trial date in the Trey Holly case has been cancelled due to failure of the air conditioning system which served the courtroom. The presiding Judge rightfully concluded that Jurors and other necessary participants could not be expected to perform their duties in a courtroom where the temperature soared to 99 degrees in recent days. A …
Read More »Tips for staying safe in hot weather
Summer is in full swing. And with summer comes hot weather. Temperatures in the mid-90s, with feels-like temperatures nearing 105 degrees, are forecasted for the week of June 22-28. With these temperatures, it is important to remember that heat can be dangerous. The Louisiana Department of Health reports that heat-related illnesses happen when the body cannot maintain a normal body …
Read More »Ten Commandments law struck down in court
(Reuters) -A federal appeals court on Fridayblocked Louisiana from enforcing a law requiringthe display of the Ten Commandments in all classroomsof the state’s public schools and universities.Calling the law “plainly unconstitutional,” athree-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court ofAppeals in New Orleans unanimously upheld aNovember 2024 ruling by a lower court judge whoenjoined the law’s enforcement.It is a victory …
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