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1 week 6 days ago
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1 week 6 days ago
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Louisiana Center for the Book at the State Library of Louisiana is releasing a video discussion with authors Dr.
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1 week 6 days ago
Photo by Steve Kuperstock, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
This metal outbuilding was flipped over and moved by the Franklinton tornado. It is located at a residence on Clarain Drive on the south side of Franklinton.
Although the two tornadoes that touched down in Washington Parish last Wednesday night created plenty of damage, local residents can be thankful that there were no serious injuries or deaths.
Damage was reported in the Franklinton and in the areas to the south of Mount Hermon, as well as elsewhere in the parish.
But it was more than just tornado and wind damage ---- Pine High School suffered a lightning strike and classes were cancelled for Thursday.
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1 week 6 days ago
Justin Brown, Chief of Police
, Jason Smith, Washington Parish Sheriff
Washington Parish and Franklinton first responders received plenty of praise for their efforts following last week’s tornado emergency. The Era-Leader asked Sheriff Jason Smith and Franklinton Police Chief Justin Brown to comment:
•SHERIFF JASON SMITH
“I’m thankful there was no loss of life and I want to commend the communications deputies who worked so diligently through the storm to ensure the response of law enforcement, fire, public works, DOTD, and the utility companies was properly coordinated. Thank you, Katherine Ordoyne and Abigail Knight.”
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1 week 6 days ago
The Franklinton Mayor and Board of Aldermen met most recently on March 10. Following the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes of the February 24, 2026, Regular Meeting were approved.
The Board then addressed new business.
First on the agenda was to adopt the Fleet Monitoring and Vehicle Use Policy. This item was tabled at the last meeting so that Aldermen would have more time to study the document.
By Toni Tageant on
1 week 6 days ago
The Washington Parish Council met on Monday, March 9.
By Toni Tageant on
1 week 6 days ago
Cecily Bateman
"Maybe I should just go home and ride my tractor." ----Chuck Grassley, Iowa farmer and President pro tempore of the United States Senate
By Cecily Bateman on
1 week 6 days ago
Janis Fisher, shown above, has been painting in oils for many years and is featured as one of the talented local artists with beautiful artwork in the Washington Art Association Show.
By the time the Washington Art Association holds its annual show and sale, the weather is usually warmer and it is a nice day to be outside. The 2026 show is set for this Sunday, March 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the home of Sara Nelson in Clifton.
Some wood art is usually displayed outside, with other art placed for showing inside the large Nelson home, which has been the scene of the show for many years.
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1 week 6 days ago
Photo by Tracey Ladner, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Franklinton High’s record breaking quarterback, Jacob Crain, signed with Pearl River Community College Monday afternoon, continuing his football career.
Jacob is the son of Rob and Kristi Crain of Franklinton. He is shown above with his parents and grandmothers at the signing ceremony.
From left to right are Linda Crain, Rob Crain, Jacob Crain, Kristi Crain, and Judy Simmons.
Jacob’s deceased grandfathers are Robert Crain and Reggie Simmons.
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1 week 6 days ago
Franklinton Junior High School Students of the Month were recently recognized.
Shown in the photo above are, front row, left to right, Darriuna Hart, Everett Smith, Reagan Stogner, Jacori Webb, Kollin Graves, Quentin Spikes, Will Walker, and Alexis Magee.
Back row, left to right, Ethan Pierce, Principal Misty Polk, Ziley Babin, Rayley Brown, Evan Tovar, Heaven Butler, Eugene Simmons, and Drew Hartzog.
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1 week 6 days ago
Miriltons -- easy to grow, delicious to eat
Like a lot of people who grew up in Louisiana, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg has fond memories of eating casseroles and other dishes his mother prepared using mirlitons — a unique squash that has been grown in the state for generations.
Mirlitons (Sicyos edulis or Sechium edule) — also known as vegetable pears and alligator pears — are a pear-shaped squash with a mild flavor. They’re usually green but sometimes are white. Known as chayote in their native Mexico and Central America, some sources indicate they arrived in Louisiana by way of Haiti in the 19th century.
By Olivia McClure - LSU AgCenter on
1 week 6 days ago
Rev. Jimmy Oalmann
Luke 8:26-39
By Rev. Jimmy Oalmann - Richardson Baptist Church on
1 week 6 days ago
Jim Brown
Louisiana has been called the Culinary Mecca of America. Folks in this part of the country can take just about anything edible and make it not just good, but quite exceptional. And when we say anything, we mean everything. There is virtually no limit to what a Cajun will put in a gumbo. Well, because of federal restrictions, there is one thing --- horsemeat.
For years, Congress has banned the sale of horsemeat for consumption in the U.S. But that could well change under the proposed budget by the Trump Administration.
By Jim Brown on
1 week 6 days ago
Published on
1 week 6 days ago
*A Prayer Breakfast was held on March 7th at Ole Hickory Restaurant in Angie. The atmosphere was filled with love, unity and praise. Church denominations or varied memberships did not matter.
The theme for this occasion was: Love God BY Loving Others. (Luke 10:27)
*I want to Thank God for being in the midst of this gathering. Many Thanks to Sister Myra Magee & staff for organizing a delicious breakfast and providing a beautiful setting.
By Gwen Pigott on
1 week 6 days ago
Hey y’all! I hope you all had a good week. I had a busy week of getting grades completed, paperwork, and selling veggies for the Youth of Enon Baptist Church.
This past Saturday the girls and I along with their friend Alayna went to see the Savannah Bananas play against the Party Animals in the Superdome. (Just think Harlem Globetrotters, but for baseball.) The girls and I had a great time with lots of laughs and surprises which included the Saints Quarterback Tyler Shough coming out to help the Bananas!
By Karen Thigpen on
1 week 6 days ago
Hello again everyone. First thing right off bat, is I need to apologize to Bible Baptist Church of the Thomas community and also to Acy's Creek Missionary Baptist on Hwy. 436. I totally forgot to put these churches' revival meetings in last week's column. However, depending on when you get your Era-Leader paper, you can still make the last half of the revival meetings.
By Lerand Hunt on
1 week 6 days ago
Hello there, hope everyone is blessd, we thank god for keeping us on Wednesday night during the rain and storms.
I have been stressed over my column, I was blaming The Era-Leader for all of the mistakes, but some of the problem was my I-pad. But the rest of the mistakes were on them, like my picture and the wrong number under it that 839 2809 is wrong, and one week I was left out when I had written, my column was nowhere to be found. Sometimes we can be wrong as two left shoes hoping it will get much better now.
By Brenda Magee on
1 week 6 days ago
Hello to all my faithful readers. Once again it is great visiting with you. It doesn't seem right to leave home for school when it's still dark. As the days go by hopefully it will get better for me.
On Wednesday night of last week the National Weather Service put out a tornado warning in our area until 9:15 pm. Pray for those who had damages and thankfully no one was seriously injured.
By Nell Smith on
2 weeks ago
I prefer local issues, but the recent international topics are driving everyone’s interest, so I’ll add my two bits.
Unlike many of my friends, I am not a fan of Trump’s personality. I would prefer a more genteel leader like Ronald Reagan. But Trump is the duly elected leader of our nation.
By Wyatt Emmerich on
