News

The federally-funded, $4.8 million watershed project should alleviate much of the flooding that occurs in Farmerville during heavy rains like those shown above from 2020. Planning, approval process will be lengthy, construction won’t begin for more than a year By Luke Britt/Editor The long-awaited Farmerville flood mitigation project first approved by the state in 2018 showed signs of progress this …

By Luke Britt/Editor An increase in assets with only a minimal increase in expenses left Union Parish in a slightly better financial position at the end of 2022 than it was at the end of the 2021, according to the Union Parish Police Jury’s annual audit.  The audit, completed in mid-August, found no major issues with the jury’s financial reports, …

By Luke Britt/Editor A project to replace a pair of failing culverts on Burma Road is turning out to be one of the more difficult projects the Union Parish Police Jury has attempted this year and may well be the parish’s most expensive culvert project ever. After months of trying to locate a contractor willing to undertake the difficult project, …

By Luke Britt/Editor A special tax election, the 2022 financial audit, an expansion of the parish’s heavy hauler ordinance, an emergency road project and repairs to Scotts Hideaway Road were among the items approved by the Union Parish Police Jury during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday. During committee meetings earlier in the day, jurors also discussed the possible hiring of …

Jerome and Avery Wilson brought their son, Hudson, by the UPSO to thank Sheriff Gates for the Friends of UPSO program. The Friends program is designed to minimize the chance of negative interactions between law enforcement officers and people with special needs. By Luke Britt/Editor News reports of developmentally disabled people being harmed by police are always tragic, but for …

Ned White, candidate for state Senate from District 33, speaks to a crowd of a little more than 100 people who turned out for Thurday’s Union Parish Political Forum in which candidates for state senate, sheriff and Police Jury   were given a chance to make their case to voters. By Luke Britt/Editor Covid mandates, gun rights and who should …

By Luke Britt/Editor A portion of Scotts Hideaway Road that was resurfaced less than a year old has begun to deteriorate and last week the Union Parish Police Jury sent the contractor who built the road a letter formally requesting that the company repair the road at its own expense. The jury sent Dreher Contracting, LLC of Bastrop the letter …

Mary Barrios, Community Outreach Director for the Town of Farmerville, is a 2023 recipient of the prestigious Angel Award presented annually by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation to Louisianians who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service tothe state’s children. Mary Barrios A press release announcing the award said, “The Angel Award specifically recognizes people who have …

Durrett accepts responsibility for approving unauthorized projects  By Luke Britt/Editor An emergency meeting of the Union Parish Police Jury’s road committee Tuesday became heated when Police Juror Ben Bridges accused fellow juror Dewayne Ramsey and Public Works director Tommy Durrett of orchestrating two recent projects in Ramsey’s district that violated Policy Jury policy and state law. According to Bridges, a …

By Luke Britt/Editor The attorney for former Louisiana State Trooper Kory York, one of three defendants charged in the 2019 beating death of Ronald Greene, asked Third District Judge Thomas Rogers on Tuesday to dismiss the charges against his client because he believes an expert witness’s grand jury testimony was tainted by an internal LSP report the expert should not …