Funeral services for Mr. James Eino Nevala, age 86 of Farmerville, LA, were held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, December 14, 2023 at Crossroads Baptist Church with Bro. Jeff Freeman officiating. Burial followed at Crossroads Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home. Mr. James was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He was a Deacon at Crossroads Baptist Church …

Funeral services for Ms. Gloria Jean Heard, age 84 of Natchitoches, LA, was held at 2:00 PM, Monday, December 18, 2023 at Rock Corner Baptist Church with Bro. Larray Bullock officiating. Burial followed at Rock Corner Cemetery under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home. Gloria passed away Friday, December 15, 2023 at Arbor Lake Nursing Home. She was retired waitress …

By Markel BraggsContributing WriterWhat an ending to a great season!! We are the Division III non-select 2023 State Champions!Coach Joe Spatfora, the assistant coaches, and the Farmers’ football team entered the 2023 season with many high school football experts and enthusiasts and even some fans believing this was going to be a rebuilding year, not a championship year. But the …

I have a new book out that is part-memoir, part autobiography with a selection of humorous and touching stories from growing up along a red dirt road in rural Louisiana.The title of the book, “Bamboozled by a Bobcat” highlights one of the stories about a time when I really believed I was about to be eaten alive by a big …

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. Every once in a while I think that America has hit rock bottom only to be proven wrong as we seem to dig deeper in the mire of political posturing and positioning. As this continues to happen we seem …

When it comes to unique and unforgettable holiday traditions, we Louisianians know how to shine. Our festive customs could easily compete for the spotlight – or in this case, the Christmas gifts – with those from around the globe. Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at …

Luke Britt Editor’s note: The following is a commentary submitted by Public Servicce Commissioner Foster Campbell. I strongly encourage Gov. John Bel Edwards and Governor-elect Jeff Landry to support placing a massive, taxpayer-funded, clean-energy project in southwest Louisiana on public land, producing a windfall for Louisiana.Developers of the proposed “Project Cypress” carbon-capture facility want to locate their injection well on …

The United States Postal Service today announced that all branches will be closed in observance of Christmas and New Year’s Day. This closure affects all postal services, including retail services, mail delivery and blue collection boxes.Christmas Eve and New Year’s EveThis year, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve each fall on Sunday, when normal closures apply. There are currently no …

A Monroe man suspected of killing a Union Parish resident Sunday, was himself killed later that day when he shot at Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s deputies as they attempting to arrest him.Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates said deputies responded to a report of shots fired near Crossroads at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday and arrived to discover a deceased man on the …

By Luke BrittEditorThe Union Parish School Board is considering stiffening the penalties for fighting at school following a policy review that was initiated in the wake of a September fight involving several students.On Monday, Superintendent Kristy Fine presented the UPSB Discipline Committee with a tentative outline of the proposed policy, but the committee put off a formal vote on the …