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1 month 3 weeks ago
Photo by Tracey Ladner, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Rouses of Franklinton opened at 7 a.m. Monday morning to a large crowd of local shoppers eager to view the remodeled store. Rouses replaces Winn-Dixie, which has pulled out of Louisiana entirely.
At 4 p.m. Monday local officials and others joined Rouses CEO Donny Rouse for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the store.
In the photo above, a large group of local officials and Rouses personnel were present for the ribbon-cutting. Store personnel said they were appreciative of the large number of shoppers who have come to the store.
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2 months ago
Rep. Julia Letlow
Next January Washington Parish will have its 8th member of Congress in the past 30 years.
Current Congresswoman Julia Letlow will not seek re-election, running instead for the U.S. Senate seat curently held by Sen. Bill Cassidy.
With an average of one new Congressional Representative approximately every four years for the past few decades, Washington Parish has seen an extraordinary amount of turnover in its federal representation, much more than is common.
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2 months ago
From left to right with the Tourism award plaque are State Rep John Wyble, Krystal Peterson, Tourism Commission Executive Director Patty Alford, Ella Bickham, Edna Kennedy, Cynthia August, Kim Windham, State Sen Beth Mizell, Chris Landry, and Lorraine Hall.
The Louisiana Travel Association announced Washington Parish Tourism Commission as the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Outstanding Convention and Visitors Bureau/Tourist Commission of the Year at its Annual Meeting in Lafayette.
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2 months ago
Cecily Bateman
•Part 4
"You live, you die. It's the in-between that counts." --- Tommy Lee Jones in the movie "Finestkind."
By Cecily Bateman on
2 months ago
Callie Foreman
As I look back on the seasons of my life I have to laugh at how many changes aside from bone density and joint pain have occurred.
By Callie Foreman on
2 months ago
Winn-Dixie of Franklinton closed its doors for the last time this past Sunday evening as Rouses Markets prepares to become the new owner. Rouses is planning to open the store this coming Monday, February 2.
As the photo shows, the Winn-Dixie sign on the front of the store is being removed, to be replaced by a Rouses Markets sign.
To answer a question that The Era-Leader’s staff has been frequently asked: Rouses will have an advertising circular in The Era-Leader every week, replacing the weekly circular from Winn-Dixie. PHOTO BY TRACEY LADNER
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2 months ago
Hello, Mt. Hermon! With this cold weather, a hot bowl of homemade chili is just what we need. The Mt. Hermon Ruritan Club will be hosting their annual Chili Cook-off Fundraiser next Saturday, February 7th, from 11 AM-1PM. For only $5 per person, you can sample the best homemade chili in town, and cast your vote for the club member with the best. It will be a great time of community fellowship!
By Holly Gill Sanders on
2 months ago
Hello again everyone. Well, Glory..!!!! They say if don't like the weather in south Louisiana just hang on a bit and it will change. I think for the most part we missed out on all the sleet and freezing rain. Thank The Lord.!! They are ready predicting another real cold spell this coming weekend at well. We'll just have to wait and see. Ya'll please stay safe and warm. Don't forget to check on your neighbors and elderly.
By Lerand Hunt on
2 months ago
Winter Greetings!
Hello to all of my faithful readers. Can you believe the first month of 2026 is gone? Time waits for nothing and no one. Snow has been in the weather forecast, but haven't gotten any so far. There is lots of excitement when it snows, but traveling is hazardous and think about all the animals that's out in it.
By Nell Smith on
2 months ago
Jim Brown
By Jim Brown on
2 months 1 week ago
This was the Enon bridge this time last year following a winter storm. Bridges freeze sooner than roads and stay hazardous longer. Be safe!
Take no chances.
That’s the word going out to residents of Washington Parish as near-record low temperatures are predicted for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
Making the bitterly low temperatures worse, it is also possible that rain predicted for Sunday will freeze and make some roads and bridges hazardous. Even a very light glaze of ice can make sidewalks, outdoor steps, roads, and bridges slippery.
As of this posting, the weather predictions are not 100% definite. An approaching winter storm could veer more to the north or, worse, more southward into Washington Parish.
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2 months 1 week ago
Many local officials joined Gov. Jeff Landry Wednesday morning for the officiial ground-breaking for construction of a new LA Highway 424 bridge in the Thomas area of Washington Parish.
The bridge over the Morgan Branch closed in December. The new bridge is expected to be ready in July. The Morgan Branch bridge is located on Highway 424 between W.O.Turnage Road and Rev. Bennett Road.
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2 months 1 week ago
The 2026 Washington Parish Council with its newest leadership. From left: Clark Harry, Joe Culpepper, Vice President Steven Branch, President Reginald McMasters, Parish President Ryan Seal, Kim Wagner and Shawn Rice. Not shown is Councilman Carley King. Photo by Danielle Folks
The first regular meeting of the Washington Parish Council for 2026 was held on January 12. Following the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, the Council amended the agenda to have the nominations and elections of Reginald McMasters as Council Chairman and Steven Branch as Vice-Chairman. This was followed by the approval of the minutes for the December 15, 2025, regular meeting.
By Toni Tageant on
2 months 1 week ago
Franklinton Mayor Darwin Sharp and the Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday, January 13. After approving the minutes of the December 8 Regular Meeting and the January 8 Special Meeting, the Board tackled a 14-item agenda.
By Toni Tageant on
2 months 1 week ago
From left to right are Evan and Emily Tageant, Toni and Jeff Tageant, and Clay and Katelyn Tageant. Jeff Tageant is shown wearing the distinctive blue Hall of Fame coat.
Coach Jeff Tageant was inducted into the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday, January 16 at the organization's closing banquet.
Tageant was introduced by his two sons Evan and Clay, who praised his career spanning 36 years and nearly 1,000 varsity games. He motivated them to follow in his footsteps and become coaches. Tageant, a graduate of Franklinton High School, coached baseball at FHS his entire career and retired in May 2023. On hand for the award were his sons and daughters-in-law Emily and Katelyn, brother Tim, and wife Toni.
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2 months 1 week ago
Cecily Bateman
•Part 3
"The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude." -- Thornton Wilder, playwright and novelist
Continued remembrance of friends and family .
By Cecily Bateman on
2 months 1 week ago
At the January 15 meeting, Washington Parish School Board received certificates from Superintendent Jennifer Thomas for 2025 training hours. From left to right are Robert Boone, Keith Giles, Bruce Brown, Chad Dorsett, Vice President Kendall McKenzie, President Lesley McKinley, David Pettit, Scott Breland, and Amanda Dillon.
The Washington Parish School Board held its first meeting of 2026 on Thursday, January 15. Following the call to order, invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, the Board voted to approve the minutes from December 11.
By Toni Tageant on
2 months 1 week ago
The Washington Parish Free Fair Executive Board was recently sworn in by Senator Beth Mizell. From left to right are Senator Mizell, former President Robbie Thomas, Secretary Kaye Ladner, President Pam Pierce, Building and Grounds Chairman Jason Creel, Treasurer Ellen Waskom, Vice President Kay McCain and Security Chairman Justin Brown.
Photo by Chris Bautista
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2 months 1 week ago
Southeastern Louisiana University has named 4,945 students to its honors list for the fall 2025 semester.
The honors list is divided into four academic levels. To be named to the President’s List, students must have earned a 3.50 or better grade point average. Students on the Dean’s List have earned a 3.20 - 3.49 grade point average, and Honor Roll students have earned a 3.00 - 3.19 grade point average. Honors list students must be full-time undergraduates carrying at least 12 credit hours and have no grade below a “C.”
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2 months 1 week ago
A 41-year-old woman died in the Tuesday fire that destroyed this residence.
A 41 year-old Bogalusa-area woman was killed in a house fire Tuesday.
.Washington Parish Fire District #6 responded at 7:04 a.m. Tuesday, January 20 to a structure fire in the 62000 block of Brown Road near Bogalusa. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and officials have not ruled out space heaters or lithium-ion batteries as possible ignition sources.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents to practice home heating safety;
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