July, 2025

• 9 July

  Mississippi picked wrong state bird

  The mockingbird is Mississippi’s official statebird; I looked it up. After spending several days inour neighboring state a few years ago, I’m of theopinion that whoever chose the mocker picked thewrong bird. The right choice, in my opinion, wasright there all along, soaring, dipping anddiving over the Mississippi terrain, the ictiniamississippiensis.If the Latin name fails to yank yourchain, try Mississippi …

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• 9 July

  One cure for high costs

  It seems that the costs of living have been increasingfor some time. This phenomenon is not new, and theseincreases seem to be a norm within our culture. Yearafter year regulations enter our lives. They may be smallsubtle changes and occasionally something is implementedthat rocks the way that we live. Thenwe stop, take a big breath, look back and askhow did …

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• 9 July

  Hostile punctuator? Me??? How silly!!!

  I’ve spent much of my life thinking of punctuation asone of the great gifts of modern-day written language. Imean, if you study most of the classic languages, punctuationas we know it barely existed – and I’ve often wonderedhow tricky that must have been.That kind of wondering? I guess I came byit honest. After all, I taught journalism for 34years, including …

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• 9 July

  CHURCH NEWS

  Antioch Baptist Church3501 Hwy 828Farmerville318-368-3591Early Worship – 8:30 a.m.Sunday School – 9:45 a.m.Morning Worship – 10:45 a.m.Bethel Temple Pentecostal Church2144 Hwy 33 N.MarionSunday School -11 a.m.Sunday Worship -12 p.m.318-608-6766Canaan Baptist Church502 Canaan Church Rd.SpearsvilleSunday School -10amSunday Worship -11am870-312-3440Bro. Brian WilliamsConway BaptistChurch Homecoming4323 HWY 549North of FarmervilleDean Baptist Church2309 Hwy 827MarionSunday School – 9:45 a.m.Sunday Worship – 11 a.m.Wed. 6:30pm318-292-4463Dean Baptist …

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• 9 July

  Reading and Riding in NELA

  Reading and Riding in NELAA Read & Ride pilot programwas just completed by the LSUAgCenter in Caldwell, Franklin,Ouachita, Richland, and UnionParishes. This program, fundedby the Living Well Foundation,has placed fitness bikes with attacheddesks in selected schoolsand public libraries. Youth andadult participants can earncharms by reading a book whileriding a bike.The goals of this project wereto help improve literacy and increasephysical …

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• 9 July

  Union General Rural Health Clinic Opening

  Union General Hospital hosted a celebratoryRibbon Cutting and Open House on Tuesdayafternoon to mark the official opening of the newUnion General Rural Health Clinic, located at 1025Marion Highway in Farmerville. The event broughttogether community leaders, healthcare advocates,local residents, and staff members for a meaningfulceremony that underscored the importance ofaccess to quality rural healthcare.The program, hosted in collaboration with theUnion Parish …

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• 9 July

  UPPJ flunks courthouse legal obligations

  The Union Parish Police Jury “UPPJ” is required by law toprovide and bear the expense for a suitable building and requisitefurniture for District and Circuit Courts. R.S. 33:4713(A). The Parishis responsible for security provided in the courthouse; however,judges are authorized to implement rules of decorum and conductwithin their courtroom and judicial offices. The Parish shall alsoprovide a good and sufficient …

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• 2 July

  Centuries wrapped around Natchez Trace

  I’ve seen the sign dozens of times traveling east on I-20. The brown Natchez Trace sign just east of Jackson point to where to get on this highway. I’d heard little about driving the Trace to spark my interest, especially the part that mentions the 50 mile per hour speed limit. Compared to the speed we can zip along the …

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• 2 July

  A time for patriotism

  One of my most favorite holidays is Independence Day, the day that we celebrate as the signing of the doc- ument that Great Britain viewed as an act of tyranny but viewed by Americans as the document that threw off the yoke of tyranny. At the time of the signing the colonist were divided. One third of the citizens believed …

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• 2 July

  The ‘One Door’ Program Could Be the Key to Unlocking Louisiana’s Economic Prosperity

  Louisiana’s diverse economy—ranging from health- care to manufacturing—offers high-paying career oppor- tunities. Yet, the state faces serious workforce challeng- es, ranking 46th in employment rate with less than 60% labor force participation and over 110,000 job openings each month. Additionally, a significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line. Despite numer- ous assistance programs, Louisiana has lacked a …

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