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BATON ROUGE — A bill allowing Louisiana residents, 18 and older, to carry a concealed handgun without a permit received final approval from lawmakers Wednesday.After years of GOP-led efforts for permitless concealed carry, the bill is poised to become law with Gov. Jeff Landry signaling that he plans to sign the legislation. Upon the Republican’s signature, Louisiana would become the …

By Luke BrittEditorReaction to the news last week that Farmerville had purchased property adjacent to Lake D’Arbonne where a mega boat ramp will be constructed can be summed up in a single word: “excited.”Business owners, community leaders and public officials reacting to the news all said they were excited about the possibilities for the community and pleased to see the …

Union Museum of History and ArtArcheological Research Center Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. The Archeological Research Center that is associated with the Union Museum of History and Art is dedicated to archeological research and the education of residents of North Central Louisiana. In an …

The Louisiana Legislature convened this week for a special session called by Gov. Jeff Landry in an effort to implement new tough-on crime policies.The bills lawmakers approve are likely to drastically reshape the state’s justice system, rolling back many of the efforts by former Gov. John Bel Edwards to reduce the number of people incarcerated in state prisons.Bills filed this …

Construction on the new Reeves Memorial Medical Center in Bernice continues, and this week the hospital announced that the dirt work necessary to prepare the site for construction is nearly complete. The new $25 million medical center broke ground in November and when finished will include state-of-the-art facilities that include new services, including dental and 0women’s health care. The facility …

By Luke BrittEditorFormer Union Parish High School football star Trey Holly on Saturday issued a statement on social media saying he is “100% innocent” of the criminal charges levied against him last week.Holly was one of three people arrested Feb. 15 for their alleged role in a Feb. 9 shooting at Union Villa Apartments in Farmerville that left two people …

The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program will award scholarships to worthy Louisiana students to assist with furthering their education and training.“We support education in Union Parish, and I encourage our students to apply for these scholarships,” said Sheriff Dusty Gates.There are no restrictions on the purposes for which scholarships are spent. The scholarships are not loans and will be awarded as …

By Luke BrittEditorRetired Farmerville Police Chief George Cothran, who led the town’s police department for nearly 25 years, died Feb. 8. He was 83-years-old.Cothran was described by those who knew him as a generous man who enjoyed helping people and seldom passed an opportunity to make people laugh.“If you know someone who is loved by young children and old people, …

The Linville Firetower Road bridge, closed about two weeks ago, will remain closed for the foreseable future. The DOTD delivered the closure notice, along with images of deteriorating pylons like the one at left, to the Union Parish Police Jury this week, and the repairs necessary to reopen the bridge are extensive. Major repairs were made to the bridge in …

Through an attorney, Holly says he is not guilty of the crimes By Luke BrittEditorFormer Union Parish High School and current LSU runningback Trey Holly and two other people have been arrested by the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office and charged with multiple felonies in connection with a shooting that occurred in Farmerville last week that left two people injured, one …