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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
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 LSU AgCenter will hold a meeting for watermelon growers on Tuesday, January 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the LSU AgCenter’s Washington Parish office (1104-B Bene St., Franklinton).
This event is open to current watermelon growers, prospective growers, and producers of other crops.
Attendees will have a chance to learn about using cover crops, becoming a certified agritourism operation, getting set up to take payments through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and updates on watermelon production recommendations.
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2 months 1 week ago
Elected and appointed leaders from across Washington Parish who gathered at Holy Family Catholic Church in Franklinton last month for a “Mass For Civil Needs For Those In Public Office” are shown in the photo above. In the second row center is Archbishop James Checchio, who celebrated the Mass. Father Pedro Prada-Gomex, front row center, is the priest at Holy Family
There is great power in prayer. I was honored to welcome elected leaders from Washington Parish and across theNorthshore to a special Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church in Franklinton. Together, we united as a Christian faith community to bless our public servants and to pray for health, love, and service to one another ---- and for a future filled with hope and prosperity for our children and generations to come.
By State Rep. John Wyble on
2 months 1 week ago
Dr. Mary Helen Ferguson
What to Do After the Cold Weather, and Tips for Future Cold Events
As I prepare this, we’re getting ready for the coldest temperatures we’ve had so far this winter. It doesn’t look like they’ll get close to the low teens or single digits that we had last year, but the anticipated low 20s are still cold by our standards.
By Dr. Mary Helen Ferguson - LSU AgCenter 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
Happy heavenly birthday on January 28th to Ms. Roslin Tate. Missed by many, but certainly not forgotten.
Simayra Robinson, daughter of Brandy Tate, will be leaving this week to join the Navy! Prayers and blessings to you as you begin this journey. You got this!
Happy Anniversary to Michael and Joni Sanders, Paul and Anna Badeaux, and Max and Whitney Bahm.
Condolences to the family and friends of Robert Russell Miller and Ellen Jacqueline “Jackie” Dobie.
By Holly Gill Sanders on
2 months 1 week ago
Winter Greetings to all my faithful readers. First of all, let me say I've experienced some rainy-cold days. I was at school on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday it rained all day mostly and Wednesday was really cold. As I stood outside in the morning car line the wind was whipping and I was happy to get inside.
Guess what, my friends, Jacob is coming to Franklinton on Monday night January 26th. I'm happy you'll be there for a good time. See you there.
By Nell Smith on
2 months 1 week ago
Rev. Jimmy Oalmann
Luke 8:4-10
By Rev. Jimmy Oalmann - Richardson Baptist Church on
2 months 1 week ago
The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office (LSFM), in collaboration with the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), is urging every household to take part in Community Risk Reduction Week (January 19-25, 2026), by doing what works best: reducing risk before there’s an emergency.
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2 months 1 week ago
By Jim Brown on
2 months 1 week ago
With a massive winter storm expected to affect much of the state early next week, the LSU AgCenter has tips to protect your home and plants.
For your home, the LaHouse Research and Education Center shares practical advice to help homeowners protect their property and ensure safety during extreme cold.
“These simple steps can help avoid costly repairs and dangerous situations,” said Carol Friedland, LaHouse director.
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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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2 months 1 week ago
When it comes to the use of cellphones in public school classrooms, Mississippi is behind the curve compared to the rest of the country.
The Newsweek website reports that 26 states, including every single one in the South other than Mississippi, have a “bell-to-bell” ban on students using a cellphone, meaning from the beginning of a school day’s first class to the end of the last one.
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2 months 1 week ago
Scott Jordan: Out of jail
Following his indictment last week by a Washington Parish Grand Jury, the man charged with the murder of Donna Arceneaux in 2017 is now out of jail.
Scott Jordan bonded out of the Washington Parish Jail Tuesday (January 20) at 8:58 p.m.
Earlier Tuesday he pleaded “not guilty” to second-degree murder charges.
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2 months 1 week ago
Photo by Steve Kuperstock, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
The Franklinton Metal Recycling facility, located at the former Thigpen Concrete site just off of Lee Street, south of downtown Franklinton.
Franklinton Council members were told at their last meeting that a tall fence will be installed at a metal recycling business now located at the former site of Thigpen Concrete, south of downtown Franklinton.
Franklinton Metal Recycling is just off of Lee Street. At present, there is plenty of scrap metal piled on the site. However, Council members were assured that an 8-foot tall metal fence is to be erected, shielding the public from viewing the scrap metal at the facility.
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