fgazette.com Community news site for Union Parish Louisiana

At last week’s Commission meeting, I asked howmuch our jurisdictional utility, SWEPCO, pays to be amember of the Southwest Power Pool (“SPP”), one oftwo Regional Transmission Organizations (“RTOs) doingbusiness in our state, but the SPP representatives inattendance were not able to answer that question. I havesince found the answer — $14 million per year. I havealso found out that our …

 3 Mississippi men arrested following Farmerville store burglary; $20K seized during arrest  FARMERVILLE, La. (KTVE/KARD) — On January 8, 2026, the Famerville Police Department apprehended three male suspects following a store burglary.  According to authorities, the suspects were identified as Martin Hernandez, Matthew Lee, and Jerry Sullivan of Purvis, Miss. Hernandez was accused of burglarizing the Dollar General store and …

 Union Parish 4-H Youth Shine at Annual Livestock Show  The Union Parish 4-H Livestock Show celebrated another successful year on January 3rd, continuing a tradition that has spanned more than three decades. This annual event gives local youth the opportunity to showcase their hard work, dedication, and skills developed through the 4-H livestock program. Contestants exhibited cattle, sheep, goats, and …

 SPEARSVILLE TEEN ARRESTED AFTER DEADLY SHOOTING IN FARMERVILLE  On Friday, January 9, 2026, Union Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators responded to assist with a reported battery incident inside the city limits of Farmerville on Maple Street. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a male subject inside a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. Life saving measures were immediately started by responding units, and …

 Union Fraternal Lodge #53, F&AM, installs officers for 2026  The 2025 Master of Lodge 53, Brother Joshua Dupree, opened the Lodge on December 15th for his last time. He immediately placed the brethren at refreshment to dine on a delicious Cajun style meal prepared by the members for this special occasion. After the delicious meal; all the brethren, wives, special …

 K9 used to subdue violent man in Union Parish, deputies say  Union Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Thomas Satterwhite, 47, on Dec. 30.  UNION PARISH, La. (KNOE) – The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who is accused of violently resisting officers. UPSO said a K9 was involved.  UPSO arrested Thomas Satterwhite, 47, on Dec. 30 on the following charges:  …

FIRST CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALJUDGE ALLISON H. PENZATOAPPOINTED AS JUSTICEPRO TEMPORE TO THE LOUISIANASUPREME COURTNew Orleans, LA─ The Justices ofthe Louisiana Supreme Court have appointedFirst Circuit Court of AppealJudge Allison H. Penzato as justicepro tempore of the Louisiana SupremeCourt, First District, to fill the vacancycreated by the retirement of JusticeWilliamJ. Crain. Judge Penzato’s appointmentwill be effective December 22,2025 through June …

LOUISIANA SUPREME COURTJUSTICE WILLIAM J. CRAINCONFIRMED TO THE UNITEDSTATES DISTRICT COURT FORTHE EASTERN DISTRICT OFLOUISIANANew Orleans, LA- New Orleans, LA─Louisiana Supreme Court Justice WilliamJ. Crain has been confirmed to alifetime appointment as a judge of theUnited States District Court for theEastern District of Louisiana.Justice Crain will fill the vacancycreated by the retirement of Judge EldonE. Fallon.

Louisiana Supreme Court removesEBR judge for ‘pattern ofdishonesty’NEW ORLEANS — The LouisianaSupreme Court on Thursday removedan East Baton Rouge Parish judge fromthe bench, finding that she lied to voterswhile running for office in 2020 andto police as they investigated a car burglaryearlier that year.The justices voted 4-3 to remove TiffanyFoxworth-Roberts from the 19thJudicial District bench and bar herfrom seeking office …

 Prayers are pouring in after four U.S. hunters have been killed.  A fourth deadly U.S. hunting accident has taken place. Over the past couple of weeks, four different U.S. hunters have been killed in tragic accidents. The latest death took place in the state of Louisiana.  “Garret Verdun, 45, died after a hunting rifle accidentally discharged and struck him in …

WASHINGTON — Congress returned to Capitol Hill this week facinga huge agenda with no easy solutions.First, Congress has to figure outhow to postpone an end-of-the-monthdeadline that would double health insurance costs for 24 million workingAmericans. It also needs to approveannual spending on military construction; consider sanctions on Russia; andregulate “name, image, and likeness”payments in college sports.And there are just 12 …

 Judge grants bail to death row prisoner Jimmie Duncan  After more than 25 years on death row, Jimmie Duncan inched one step closer to freedom Friday (Nov. 21) when Judge Alvin Sharp of the 4th Judicial District in Ouachita Parish granted him bail, setting it at $150,000. The decision comes nearly seven months after Sharp vacated Duncan’s 1998 first-degree murder …