Funeral services for Dr. Verna Lucille Barron, age 75 of Nacogdoches, TX, formerly Spearsville, LA, were held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at Farrar Funeral Home with Bro. Kurt Auger officiating. Burial followed at Spearsville Community Cemetery under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home. Dr. Barron was born September 23, 1948 to Guy Tom Waston Barron and Lucille …

 By Sarah Hamilton Union Parish High School The Union Parish High School FFA chapter recently competed in the FFA National Chapter Award competition.  The National Chapter Award evaluates a portfolio built by FFA members to showcase the outstanding leadership and citizenship displayed by its members.  During the 2022-2023 school year, UPHS FFA members completed 15 community service projects and leadership …

By Luke BrittEditor If the 2023 election season is any indication, parish voters are happy with any elected official who isn’t a member of the Union Parish Police Jury. Voters re-elected incumbents Sheriff Dusty Gates and Sen. Stewart Cathey to another four years in their respective offices, while Clerk of Court Dodi Eubanks, Tax Assessor Lance Futch and Rep. Chris …

I was born in Louisiana and growing up I couldn’t have been prouder.  We went to the local theater, attended a local church and after lunch on Sunday drove around the streets of our town in a car loaded with friends.  Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email …

The news item that started it all had this headline: “Kendall Jenner Struggles to Climb Stairs in Fitted Dress at Kourtney’s Wedding.” Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. I just had to take a screenshot of that “news story” when it appeared in my …

School Choice Will Soon Find Another Opportunity in LouisianaAll the way back to the administration of Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana has viewed private-school choice statewide as very positive public policy that needed to be enshrined in state law to improve the quality of education of poor and minority children, and to provide the same educational choice enjoyed by children from …

The Metz Motel in Farmerville is no more. Workers  demolished the motel this week and next week will  haul the debris to the landfill, bringing the motel’s 80-year history to an end. Built during World War II, for years the Metz was Union Parish’s only motel, advertising rooms at “$4 a day” in The Gazette in 1950. At left is …

By Markel Braggs Contributing Writer The Farmers hit the road to take on the Wossman Wildcats for a key district matchup with huge playoff implications on the line.  On the first drive of the game, the Farmers’ offense started out strong, but the Wossman defense came up with a huge 4th down stop to give their offense the ball. The …

It may surprise you to learn that Louisiana drivers have a much lower chance of striking a deer than drivers in other states. That’s a statewide fact, but this time of year in some of our rural communities it probably seems completely bogus. The insurance company State Farm tracks vehicle-animal collision rates nationwide, and the company estimates that Louisiana drivers …

Baby, It’s Cold Outside! When the temperature drops, older adults run a higher risk of health problems and injuries related to the weather, including hypothermia, frostbite, and falls in ice and snow. Like most things in life, it is better to be prepared. Here are a few precautions everyone should take, especially older adults, during the winter. Hypothermia Hypothermia occurs …