News

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 …

By Luke Britt/Editor Spearsville Mayor Karen Black seldom gets three phone calls a month from people looking to invest in her quiet corner of Northeast Louisiana, so when she recently received three such calls in a single afternoon she said she knew something was up. “Someone called about economic development in the area, then someone who wanted to purchase some …

By Luke Britt/Editor The muses, those nymphs of Greek mythology believed to inspire all art and knowledge, have been whispering in the ears of Union Parish’s legislative delegation, and fortunately, Rep. Chris Turner and Sen. Stewart Cathey were listening. On Tuesday, Turner and Cathey were on hand to announce a $500,000 capital outlay for the Union Museum of History and …