Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan began last week.This is known as one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims are obliged to participate.I recall my first Ramadan in Saudi Arabia and it showed the sacrifices that …

Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. Maybe you’ve run across some of the same online word lists that I have – like “54 Everyday Things You Never Knew Had Names.” Or “34 of the Craziest Words in English.” Or “100 Totally Weird Words (Like …

National Beta members from Union Parish Elementary are celebrating their first-ever Louisiana Elementary Beta State Convention held January 17 – 18, in Lafayette. Eleven Beta members in the 4th and 5th grades at Union Parish Elementary attended the convention along with almost 5,500 other members from elementary schools all over the state. The National Beta State Convention allows students the …