Luke Britt

BCBS sale will impact consumers statewide

From news serivces reportsState officials are continuing discussions of a possible $2.5 billion sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, a non-profit health insurer used by nearly half of the state’s residents, to a much larger for-profit insurer based in Indiana.A legislative committee held a nearly eight-hour meeting Monday to consider the proposed sale of Blue Cross and …

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Cemetery Restoration

Tombstones in Farmerville’s historic cemetery that were damaged last year when high winds felled a large oak tree are being restored thanks to the efforts of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes. Mayor John Crow said he reached out to Kilpatrick’s for advice on how to restore the damaged markers, some of which are 150 years old, and the funeral home’s Jerry Roark …

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UPPJ fires public works director Landfill to begin selling captured natural gas

By Luke BrittEditorThe Union Parish Police Jury fired Public Works Director Tommy Durrett during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday.The vote to remove Durret came after a meeting of the jury’s personnel committee earlier in the day produced a recommendation that the director be terminated for “poor performance.” The jury did not disclose a specific reason for Durret’s firing during the …

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Elmer Fernon “Bo” Craighead

Elmer Fernon “Bo” Craighead passed away on Friday, February 2nd, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 6th, 1935, in Start, LA, but became an icon of his Union Parish home. The first of 4 children born of William Joel “Buster” and Doshie Lee Kyle Craighead. Bo worked and played in many ventures during his long …

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Billie Jean Taylor Clinton

Mrs. Clinton was born on April 14, 1927, and passed away on January 31, 2024.  She is preceded in death by her husband, William David Clinton, Jr.; her parents, William Broadus and Mildred Smith Taylor; and her sister, Doris Lane Taylor Dupuy.  Mrs. Clinton was an active member of the Farmerville Methodist Church, where she was a regular attendee at …

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Environmental win-win possible with carbon capture

State and industry officials are bullish on the prospect of Louisiana becoming a national leader in the practice of carbon capture and sequestration, basically capturing carbon dioxide that would otherwise contribute to atmospheric warming and injecting it deep into the ground.With huge economic development projects lining up — and with a full understanding of the state’s extreme vulnerability to rising …

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St. Jude Radiothon scheduled Feb. 8-9

The 43rd broadcast of North Louisiana’s St. Jude Radiothon is set for Feb. 8-9 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on Ruston station Z107.5. At that time donations can be made by calling 1-800-787-5288 or by donating online via the station’s Facebook (Z107.5) or Instagram (Z1075fm) pages. In-person donations will be taken in related side events at the Ruston Walmart Supercenter and …

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UP library to host singer-songwriter mentor series

The Union Parish Library is hosting a unique opportunity for teens who are budding singer-songwriters called SPARK: Songwriter Studio Series sponsored by Origin Bank for students in Union Parish. Stephanie Herrmann, Director, comments, “We wanted to offer something we never have hosted here in Union Parish. A lot of our students have guitars, write songs, but they’ve just never had …

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Laissez les bons temps rouler

Farmerville Mayor John Crow gives a thumbs up to the 2024 Krewe of D’Arbonne Mardi Gras King and Queen, Kenny and Marci Kavanaugh, during the 17th Annual Farmerville Mardi Gras Parade Saturday. The parade and the Mardi Gras Ball held Friday were coordinated by the Farmerville Jaycees with support from Union General Hospital, April Isaac Fuller, Connie Bevans Bearden, Audrey …

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Landry scuttles D’Arbonne college campus, for now

Staff and News Service Report The red line shows where the proposed Farmerville campus of Delta Community College will be built, if funding is restored. The new Delta Community College campus on Lake D’Arbonne, announced barely three months ago, has been scuttled by Gov. Jeff Landry’s new administration, according to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. The $18 million campus that could …

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