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NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office has issued a statewide burn ban due to extreme heat and dry conditions. The burn ban will remain in effect until the State Fire Marshal’s Office rescinds it. Residents should avoid any outdoor burning. Private burning will only be allowed with permission through a local fire department. Barbeque grills, fire pits …

Gazette Staff Report The 2023 campaign season begins in earnest in Union Parish next week as candidates for five local offices, seven statewide offices and 2 legislative seats begin qualifying. The qualifying period for the Oct. 14 primary begins Tuesday and ends Thursday, Aug. 10. When Union Parish voters step into voting booths on election day, they will be choosing …

A Farmerville man led police on a short vehicle chase Tuesday, and after being apprehended, revealed he was enroute to kill two people when the chase began, according to a Union Parish Sheriff’s Office report. Judge H. Milliken, 42, of Farmerville was booked into the Union Parish Detention Center on charges of attempted second degree murder and multiple traffic charges, …

By Luke Britt/Editor Origin Bank has agreed to pay a fixed interest rate of 5.13 percent on the parish’s $9.7 million Landfill Assurance Trust Fund and the $8.2 million Operating Fund for the next 18 months, which should result in interest earnings that more than make up for the minimal interest the accounts earned over the past several years, Union …

Festival Schedule of Events By Luke Britt/Editor The contestants for the 60th Annual Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival pageants have been announced, and with nearly 70 babies, girls and young women registered to compete in seven categories, the pageant now has six golden tickets to bestow Saturday night, Jaycee President and Pageant Director Ashley Owen said Saturday. “These pageants mean so …

A coroner has ruled that the July 2 death of an inmate at the Union Parish Detention Center was the result of a medical emergency unrelated to a scuffle the inmate had earlier in the day, according to Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates. Kevin Grisby, 44, of Minden, experienced a seizure followed by a heart attack shortly after 8 p.m., …

Courtesy of the Union ParishChamber of Commerce Christmas in July; who has ever heard of such a thing?  In fact the Christmas in the State Park project team has already begun preparation for the 2023 extravaganza at the Lake D’arBonne State park in December.  The team promises even more fun and activities for those that visit the event. View event …

By Luke Britt/ Editor Union Parish is earning substantially more interest on funds deposited with Origin Bank today than it was a week ago after the bank informed the Union Parish Police Jury on Tuesday that it was raising the interest rate on the parish’s three largest bank accounts through the end of the year. In making that announcement, however, …

By Luke Britt/Editor When officials with Origin Bank appeared before the Union Parish Police Jury’s Finance Committee meeting Tuesday the jurors were largely silent, but citizens in attendance were not and pressed the bankers on why the parish’s largest account has for years earned a shockingly low interest rate. “Origin Bank has been loaning out our millions and making money …

BATON ROUGE, La. – Both chambers of the Louisiana legislature mustered the 2/3 vote of its membership necessary to override a Governor’s veto clearing the way for the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act” (HB 648) to become law. The bill prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender affirming care or altering a child’s appearance to validate the minor’s perceptions of his …