By Luke BrittEditor The Union Parish Detention Center’s $3 million-a-year inmate work release program has been under audit since September when the Department of Corrections discovered that the balances in a number of inmate accounts did not match the balances recorded in the detention center’s accounting software. The DOC’s Chief Auditor, Jewell Freeman, confirmed on Wednesday that no inmate funds …

Funeral services for Dr. Verna Lucille Barron, age 75 of Nacogdoches, TX, formerly Spearsville, LA, were held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at Farrar Funeral Home with Bro. Kurt Auger officiating. Burial followed at Spearsville Community Cemetery under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home. Dr. Barron was born September 23, 1948 to Guy Tom Waston Barron and Lucille …

 By Sarah Hamilton Union Parish High School The Union Parish High School FFA chapter recently competed in the FFA National Chapter Award competition.  The National Chapter Award evaluates a portfolio built by FFA members to showcase the outstanding leadership and citizenship displayed by its members.  During the 2022-2023 school year, UPHS FFA members completed 15 community service projects and leadership …

By Luke BrittEditor If the 2023 election season is any indication, parish voters are happy with any elected official who isn’t a member of the Union Parish Police Jury. Voters re-elected incumbents Sheriff Dusty Gates and Sen. Stewart Cathey to another four years in their respective offices, while Clerk of Court Dodi Eubanks, Tax Assessor Lance Futch and Rep. Chris …

School Choice Will Soon Find Another Opportunity in LouisianaAll the way back to the administration of Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana has viewed private-school choice statewide as very positive public policy that needed to be enshrined in state law to improve the quality of education of poor and minority children, and to provide the same educational choice enjoyed by children from …

The Metz Motel in Farmerville is no more. Workers  demolished the motel this week and next week will  haul the debris to the landfill, bringing the motel’s 80-year history to an end. Built during World War II, for years the Metz was Union Parish’s only motel, advertising rooms at “$4 a day” in The Gazette in 1950. At left is …

By Markel Braggs Contributing Writer The Farmers hit the road to take on the Wossman Wildcats for a key district matchup with huge playoff implications on the line.  On the first drive of the game, the Farmers’ offense started out strong, but the Wossman defense came up with a huge 4th down stop to give their offense the ball. The …

Baby, It’s Cold Outside! When the temperature drops, older adults run a higher risk of health problems and injuries related to the weather, including hypothermia, frostbite, and falls in ice and snow. Like most things in life, it is better to be prepared. Here are a few precautions everyone should take, especially older adults, during the winter. Hypothermia Hypothermia occurs …

By Jackie HuntContributing Writer Editor’s Note: This is the ninth installment of the When Marion Played Sports series. Click the link to see all the articles in the series. The early to mid-1970s was a time of program building for Marion High School. Although the school was just a small lower classified school, it did not take long to see there was …

Funeral services for John Christopher Jones, age 21 of Farmerville, LA, were held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, October 26, 2023 at Darbonne Church of Christ. Michael Fox will be officiating. Burial followed at Post Cemetery in Farmerville, LA under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home.  John was a 2020 graduate of Union Parish High School and was a member of …