December, 2023

• 14 December

  Defending our holidays year round

  

  Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. This should be my favorite time of year. The special season beginning at Thanksgiving and extending through the Christmas holidays. But there are disturbing signs of change and not for the better, as a movement continues to grow …

  Read More »
• 14 December

  A few thoughts on a busy week

  Luke Britt The Union Parish High School Farmer’s are on their way to the dome, yet again. A chance to play for a state championship is a rare thing for most high school teams, but in Union Parish, it’s just what we do in December. With the changes in college sports – specifically pay to play and the full-on embrace …

  Read More »
• 14 December

  Christmas and a return to Mayberry

  

  The residents of North Louisiana are fortunate to live in a location that allows us to greet each other with Merry Christmas and celebrate the holiday in any manner that we feel appropriate. We have all ways celebrated Christmas with all the colors and flavors of the season. Today we have a beautiful Christmas tree lighting following the Christmas parade …

  Read More »
• 13 December

  Naughty or nice?

  

  During Saturday’s Christmas on the Square celebration, Santa Claus quizzed Mayor John Crow on whether he’s been naughty or nice this year. Several hundred people gathered around the courthouse during the celebration to enjoy Christmas music, games and to see Santa fly in on Pafford One, the ambulance service’s med-evac helicopter.

  Read More »
• 13 December

  Retired teachers hosts museum, Brokers

  The Retired Teachers Association of Union Parish recently held two meetings, one in October and one in November. The group would like to thank Mrs. Jean Jones from the Union Museum of History & Art for providing a meeting location in October and for her report on the progress of the museum. Union Parish is very fortunate to have this …

  Read More »
• 13 December

  Christmas in the State Park begins Saturday

  By Luke BrittEditorThere are very few good things that came out of the Covid pandemic, but Union Parish’s annual Christmas in the State Park, which begins Saturday night, is certainly one of them.Only its third year, the Union Parish Chamber of Commerce’s festival of lights at Lake D’Arbonne State Park has become one of the parish’s largest events, drawing more …

  Read More »
• 13 December

  UPPJ 2024 proposed budget unveiled

  By Luke BrittEditorThe proposed Union Parish Police Jury budget for the 2024 fiscal year anticipates a surplus of nearly $300,000 at the end of next year, funded in large part by a significant increase in interest earnings.The budget also shows that the jury’s total expenditures in 2023 were only $1,377 over budget.The proposed budget estimates expenditures of $2.1 million in …

  Read More »
• 13 December

  Vera Letsy Everett

  

  A funeral service for Mrs. Vera Letsy Everett, age 84 of Farmerville, LA was held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Farmerville Church of Christ. Tommy Bennett officiated and Billy Anderson lead the music. Burial followed at Antioch Cemetery in Spearsville, LA under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home. Mrs. Vera was a 1957 graduate of Spearsville High …

  Read More »
• 13 December

  Peggy Diane Stinson Templeton

  

  Funeral services celebrating the life of Mrs. Peggy Diane Stinson Templeton, 72, of West Monroe, LA were at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Rocky Branch, LA with Rev. Jimmy Pitson officiating.  Interment followed in the Rocky Branch Cemetery, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe. Mrs. Templeton was born on December …

  Read More »
• 13 December

  Mollie May Redden

  A memorial service for Mrs. Mollie May Redden, age 64 of Farmerville, La, was held at 4:00 PM, Friday, December 1, 2023 at 1st Assembly of God in Farmerville, La. Mollie worked for City Drugstore and Brookshire’s Pharmacy for many years. She retired to pursue her greatest passion; spending time with and loving on her grandchildren. Mollie always had a …

  Read More »