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1 month ago
Sometimes a short street tells a long story.
That is what I came away thinking after sitting down with Gerald Beard, the former public works director for the City of Jackson and a longtime construction manager who volunteered to help St. Richard Catholic Church pave Druid Hill Drive, the street that serves the church’s new elementary school campus.
The facts alone are enough to make a taxpayer sigh. It’s a cautionary tale for those who think state control of Jackson will lead to miraculous efficiencies.
By Wyatt Emmerich on
1 month ago
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1 month ago
Riverview Apartments on South Main Street in Franklinton.
A fire in one unit at Riverview Senior Apartments in Franklinton Sunday night forced the evacuation of the entire building.
Residents were evacuated via Council on Aging buses and were taken to Franklinton High School and Hillcrest Baptist Church.
The apartment complex is located on South Main Street near Riverside Medical Center.
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1 month ago
Franklinton’s Kaden Breaux dives for the base to try to beat the Assumption baseman’s out attempt in Game One of FHS's first round victory.
PHOTO BY RAYNELLE BUFFINET
Both Franklinton High and Pine High suffered losses in the regionals of the state baseball playoffs on Thursday and Friday.
The losses brought the 2026 baseball season to a close for the Demons and the Raiders.
Franklinton fell to 3rd seeded Lutcher in the Division II playoffs, losing narrowly 4-3 in the first game on Thursday and again by 4-3 in the second game on Friday.
Pine faced 5th seeded Erath in the Division III playoffs and fell 8-2 on Thursday and 6-0 on Friday.
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1 month 1 week ago
The April meeting of the Magnolia Belles is designated as the Spring Outing. The Social Committee organized a day outing to the Houmas House Estate and Gardens in Darrow, Louisiana.
It was absolutely beautiful! After a walk through the beautiful gardens and majestic oaks, the club members were given a guided tour of the home.
After this, they dined at the Carriage House restaurant located on the grounds. A big “Thank You” to Tammy Magruder and the Social Committee for organizing this event. Also, thanks to Tammy and Edna Kennedy for serving as chauffeurs.
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1 month 1 week ago
Published on
1 month 1 week ago
Jim Brown
Two hundred and ten years ago, Louisiana was the center of a major turning point in both American and world history. The War of 1812 was the first time in the short life of the nation’s history that the U.S. had declared war, and the three-year conflict came to a final struggle at the Battle of New Orleans. The major victory over the British by a small group of ragtag Louisianans launched America on to the world stage, and the new nation became a significant power. But it also just might have caused a domino effect that changed the course of world history.
By Jim Brown on
1 month 1 week ago
Action in Game #1 between Franklinton and Assumption.
Both Franklinton and Pine were successful in the first round of the state baseball playoffs, and both teams will move on into the regionals next week.
#14 Franklinton knocked off #19 Assumption in the best-two-out-of-three Division II first round on Saturday at the FHS diamond. Franklinton won game #1 4-1, and the Demons won game #2 12-5.
Franklinton will travel for the regional round, playing #3 Lutcher at Lutcher. Lutcher had a first round bye. The regionals will be played next week with the date to be announced shortly. Once again, it will be best-2-of-3.
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1 month 2 weeks ago
The Washington Parish Council met on Monday, April 6.
The minutes of the March 23 meeting were approved and the Council then heard an appeal filed March 18 concerning the decision of the Washington Parish Planning Commission on March 17 in the matter of a Conditional Use Permit Application proposing a new cell tower.
By Toni Tageant on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Sheriff Jason Smith
A bill to raise the daily reimbursement rate for housing state inmates advanced with broad bipartisan support last week, as Louisiana lawmakers seek to ease financial pressure on local correctional facilities while acknowledging the increase still falls short of covering true costs. This is especially true in Washington Parish, where Sheriff Jason Smith pointed out that even with extremely careful budgetary management, the true cost per inmate is more than even the increased state reimbursement.
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1 month 2 weeks ago
Over the past several months, the Louisiana State Police Narcotics/Violent Crime Task Force (NVCTF) conducted a comprehensive investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) operating in Washington Parish.
This joint operation was carried out in collaboration with the 22nd Judicial District Court District Attorney’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
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1 month 2 weeks ago
Carley Donald Provost Jr.
A Washington Parish Grand Jury returned a true bill last week, indicting Carley Donald Provost Jr, age 47, of Bogalusa on the following charges:
•1 Count of Second Degree Murder
•1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of Certain Felonies
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on December 29, 2025. According to investigators with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a shooting in the Bogalusa area, where they discovered the victim, Reno Miley, dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.
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1 month 2 weeks ago
Cecily Bateman
"The land is the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for, because it's the only thing that lasts."
---Gerald O'Hara in "Gone with The Wind" as written by Margaret Mitchell.
By Cecily Bateman on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Callie Foreman
When I look back on the past 38 plus years of marriage, I am not quite sure how my husband and I survived the years raising a house full of boys. It really doesn’t matter if it is a house full of boys or girls, or one boy or girl. Life is hard and now that my sons are in their 30’s with the trials of careers, marriage, finances, and children, I can only nod my head when they call me up. All I can say to reassure them is the “30’s” are rough. The “40’s” get a little better because you begin to prioritize better. And the “50’s” get good because you really don’t care that much anymore.
By Callie Foreman on
1 month 2 weeks ago
FHS's JoJo Burkhalter is shown in a recent game.
PHOTO BY RAYNELLE BUFFINET
There was no true Spring Break for the Franklinton Demon Baseball team.
Rain the week before Easter forced them to play four games in five days to get back on schedule. Unfortunately, three of the games featured two of the toughest teams in the district, Loranger and Lakeshore.
On Monday, April 6, the Demons traveled to Lakeshore and fell 6-1 to the Titans.
Eli Galiano earned the win for Lakeshore and Rick Songy took the loss for the Demons. JoJo Burkhalter and Bryce Barber each collected two hits with Barber batting in one run.
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1 month 2 weeks ago
It’s a blessing to live in a community that has a Ruritan Club! They do so much for our community and school. The week before Easter, they hosted the Annual Easter Egg Hunt for MHS Pre-K and Kindergarten students. With over 600 eggs to find, the kids had an egg-cellent time! After the hunt and refreshments, Mrs. Celeste Hickman shared a special story with the group.
The Ruritan Club then donated books for the Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms. Also, in March, all the 3rd graders were given their own dictionary.
By Holly Gill Sanders on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Hi Everyone, I hope you’re enjoying this almost humid-free weather. We all know that when Summer gets here the humidity will accompany it. So let’s make the most of each day while we can and be grateful.
Church News:
Wesley Ray UMC:
*Communion Sunday Worship was held on April 12th, with Rev. Anice Moses preaching. Her sermon scripture came from the book of John 20th chapter and was entitled: The Secret Weapon (which is the Holy Spirit). Amen.
School News:
Varnado High School (VHS/VJHS):
By Gwen Pigott on
1 month 2 weeks ago
The Youth and Children of Enon Baptist Church had a great time at Glow Night this past weekend. There was a lot of food, fun, and FELLOWSHIP! Thank you to all who participated and helped with this fun activity.
Blessing of Food will be April 16th and 17th.
If you have a graduate (high school or college) who is a part of our church family, please get their information to Brother Chris.
April 25th is Enon Night on the Levee. Get your tickets ASAP for some amazing Jambalaya and music by Dean King.
By Karen Thigpen on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Hello there once again thank god for this week, I will have news from bethel church soon hold on to the horse. I am giving u news from other communities as of now. Hayes united Methodist church, having their annual black history program, date February 21, 2026, time 2:00pm. Pastor Anice Moses 30891 old Columbia rd. Franklinton la. All are invited to come and share black history. Now this news is very important to hear. Denim on the outside, faith on the inside. No one fights alone. Wear your denim and share your heart. Date March 7,2026 time 3:00 pm.
By Brenda Magee on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Habitat for Humanity affiliates serving western St. Tammany and Washington Parishes have announced plans to combine operations, creating a unified affiliate designed to strengthen long-term housing impact and ensure sustained service across both parishes.
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