Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. The person who heads up the federal Department of Health and Human Services is quite essential to Louisiana.  Louisiana citizens, bless their souls, are in large numbers, poor, unhealthy, and aging at a higher rate than many other …

Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. The time seems ripe for a count-your-blessings column.I admit: I’ve actually taken this stroll before. Once, years earlier, I sauntered through our house, eyeballing everything, thinking of how this or that was a blessing in my life. And …

Next week the Gazette will run a full story on the upcoming December 7 Tax Vote.There is controversy over whether the taxes are merely renewals or new taxes. Because 2024 is a mandatory reassessment year with the assessment base increased by the assessor from $194,502,482 to $221,207,567, renewal at the current millages will result in an additional $1,996,712.25 in taxes …