News

The chief of police of  the Grayson Police Department was convicted after taking money seized in narcotics investigations and stealing a family’s COVID-19 stimulus money, leaving them homeless, officials said Monday. A jury last week found Mitch Bratton guilty of malfeasance in office, felony theft and possession of controlled dangerous substances, the state Attorney General’s office said in a news …

In June 2023, the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (CID) received a complaint from the parent of an eleven-year-old child regarding a possible molestation. Authorities initiated an investigation and a forensic interview was conducted with the victim. According to deputies, the investigation revealed in late 2021, the victim was inappropriately touched and raped several times, within one day, …

A judge on Tuesday prohibited several federal agencies and officials of the Biden administration from working with social media companies about “protected speech,” a decision called “a blow to censorship” by one of the Republican officials whose lawsuit prompted the ruling. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana granted the injunction in response to a 2022 lawsuit brought by attorneys …

Doug Postel has been named the new Executive Director at D’Arbonne Woods Charter School. He will begin in the role effective July 1. Doug Postel A native of Haughton, Postelholds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Louisiana Tech in addition to extensive post-graduate work in educational leadership. He has 28 years of experience in education and administration at the secondary, post-secondary, …

Author Janis Pardue Hill, daughter of WWII death camp survivor J.C. Pardue, will share her father’s story in a special presentation on Saturday, July 22, in the Union Museum of History and Art. Pardue was born and raised in Union Parish, and was a lifelong resident until his death in 2012 at age 94. Dr. Hill compiled Pardue’s memoirs into …

Alexandria, Louisiana, June 21, 2023 – Agricultural producers in Louisiana who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) service center before the applicable deadline.  “Many USDA programs require producers to file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said SED Ronald Guidry, …

Lillie – On Sunday, June 11, 2023, shortly after 1:30 a.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on U.S. Hwy 167 south of Cook Road. This crash claimed the life of 25-year-old Jaylen Norman of El Dorado, AR and an unidentified passenger. The preliminary investigation revealed that a Nissan sedan, driven by Norman, was traveling …

An oil tank that was being decommissioned north of Farmerville exploded Tuesday morning killing a Vivian man and injuring four others, according to Union Parish officials. Lee A. Green, Jr., 63, of Vivian was atop one of five tanks in the area when a spark of unknown origin caused it to explode, Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates said. Of the …

The Union Parish School Board at its regular monthly meeting Monday approved one-time supplemental paychecks for current employees and approved retention and recruitment supplements for certified teachers who renew their contracts and new certified teachers hired for the coming year. The supplemental pay approved by the board is as follows: Certified teachers and administrators who were employed by the district …

The Union Parish Police Jury in its monthly meeting Tuesday rejected a request from Union General Hospital for funds to repair a flaw in the hospital’s water system.  The juror’s balked at the hospital’s request for a grant of $24,477 to cover the cost of installing a backflow preventer, with one juror noting that the lack of a backflow preventer …