Jacob Schermerhorn, age 37, of Pitkin, was arrested and charged with Resisting an Officer, and one count of Domestic Abuse Battery.  Bond has not been set.  A detainer for Misdemeanor Probation has been placed on Schermerhorn.  He remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Paul Casey Smith, age 27, of Evans, was arrested and charges with one count of Disturbing the Peace-Violent and Tumultuous Manner.  Bond was set at $881.  Smith remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

 

Krystle Leann Roberts, age 40, of DeRidder, was arrested and charged with one count of Theft over $1500.  Bond has not been set.  Roberts remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Farrah Hope Kuhlow, age 48, of Anacoco, was arrested and charged with one count of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Third Offense, and one count of Maximum Speed Limit.  Bond has not been set.  Kuhlow remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.

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A Leesville woman was killed in a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Highway 63 near Burkeville, Texas, Monday afternoon.

The Texas Department of Safety identified the woman as 41-year-old Josette Blasdel of Leesville, Louisiana. Blasdel was driving the rig when a rear driver’s side tire blew out on the tractor-trailer, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and strike a tree.  Blasdel was pronounced dead at the scene.  An unidentified passenger in the truck was not hurt.

The accident happened in Newton County, near Burkeville, at approximately 3:45 p.m.

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The Anacoco First Baptist Church invites the public to the Faith & Family Freedom Music Festival, Sunday, June 29.

Music begins at 4 p.m. and features the Erwins, Rhett Walker, the Jason Lovins Band, and five-time CMA Award winners, Shenandoah.  This event is free and open to everyone.  Event parking is available with shuttles to take festival goers to the concert area.  The church is located at 4813 Port Arthur Avenue in Anacoco.

A variety of vendors will offer food, beverages and merchandise.  The evening will end with one of the largest fireworks shows in Central Louisiana.  You are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and wear comfortable clothing.  For more information visit www.anacocofbc.org.

RELATED ACTIVITY

A fundraising Incrediball tournament will be held, Saturday, June 14 at the Anacoco Youth Fields on Greenhead Road.  The entry fee is $200 per team.  Proceeds will benefit the music festival.  Enter your 10-person team (co-ed) by calling 337-353-3804.

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The Vernon Parish Police Jury met Monday, June 16, at 10 a.m. in regular session.  Jurors welcomed Avon Knowlton from the Louisiana Military Alliance, who addressed some events being planned by the group later this summer.

Jurors went over items that came in following committee meetings earlier this month.

The Capital Properties Committee recommended the Jury enter into Annual Maintenance Agreements with Star Services for preventative maintenance on the HVAC system at the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office (new jail) and the Air-Cooled Chiller at the Judicial Building (new courthouse).  In addition, the committee recommended an Equipment Agreement for the dryers at the Vernon Parish jail, at a cost of $280.

The Economic Development Committee is in support of the Vernon Parish Economic Development District in pursuing a PILOT Agreement with NextEra Energy (Little Clear Solutions LLC) to support economic growth in the parish.

The Road Maintenance and Construction Committee recommended the Jury approve a low-quote bid from Sinclair Utility Solutions LLC to relocate a gas line on Holton-Harris bridge, in preparation for the replacement of the bridge.  Due to a wide disparity in Sinclair’s bid compared to others, further review of the bid was suggested and agreed upon by Jurors.

A public hearing was entered into regarding a proposed ordinance to abandon Pat Roberts Road in District 12/Ward 1, beginning at Lake Vernon Road, in its entirety.  There was no public comment.  The Board returned to regular session.

A public hearing will be held July 21 at 10 a.m. to hear public input on two proposed ordinances.  One ordinance would abandon a portion of Lone Oak Road in District 11/Ward 1.   Nearly 238 feet of the road would be abandoned.  The second ordinance will reduce the speed limit on Elijah Haymon Road in District 12/Ward 1 to 25 mph, in its entirety.

The next Vernon Parish Police Jury meeting will be Monday, July 14, at 5 p.m.

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It was my privilege to have been talked out of retirement and into publishing the Vernon Parish Journal in the summer of 2023.  Thanks, Bill Vance and Doug Ireland!

The two years have flown by, as we tried our best to report news from around Vernon Parish and Ft. Polk.  More than ever, good information is important today in our society.  We attempted to bring you information and news important to us all in Vernon Parish.

Thanks to contributors like Rickey Robertson, James Turner, Tony McDonald, Billy Crawford, and Carol Conner for sharing their insights and perspectives with us.  Thanks to Rick Smith for the best photos.  Thanks to the Vernon Parish Police Jury, the Vernon Parish School Board, and the Leesville City Council for access to their meetings and the information we were able to share with the public.  Thanks to the advertisers that placed their trust in the Vernon Parish Journal and spent money to support it.  Thanks to my smart and patient wife, Mary Lou, for her editorial acumen and computer skills.

The Vernon Parish Journal will continue to publish an e-paper, thanks to Journal Services in Shreveport.  My recent health concerns and age (73) have led me back to retirement.  Mary Lou retires in a little over a year, and we would like to travel.  Time for me to lose some weight and get healthier.  No more deadlines and stress over gathering news all day.  Time to concentrate on me a little.

Best of luck to you and yours, and thanks for supporting the Vernon Parish Journal.

Rick Barnickel, Publisher.

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Attendees at the Louisiana Folklife Center program “Fiddlin’ with the Finest! A Celebration of Louisiana Folk Fiddling” on Saturday at the Many Depot Museum in Many were treated to a performance of fiddle musical artistry. Several musicians participated, including three Louisiana State Fiddle Champions, Clancey Stewart (2018), Joe Suchanek (2017 and 2024), and Ron Yule (2000 and 2019). Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center and professor of English at Northwestern State University, coordinated the event, which included a discussion of various aspects of the tradition and a Q&A with the audience. Live music throughout the program included examples of fiddle styles as well as a demonstration of twin fiddling. Stewart also displayed her skill at traditional clogging or flat foot dancing, including while playing on the fiddle. 

The well-attended program was a prelude to the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship which will be part of the 45th annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival to be held on the Northwestern State University campus on July 19. The Fiddle Championship will be held at 1 p.m. in the Magale Recital Hall. Fiddlers may compete in the championship or non-championship, as well as in the twin fiddle category. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5 p.m. 

“The music performed at events like this one remind us how vital and vibrant Louisiana’s folk music can be,” said Rasmussen. “The Louisiana State Fiddle Championship provides important opportunities for fiddlers young and old to have fun while at the same time meet with peers, make new friends, and showcase their talent. When folklife is alive and well people are happier, because our traditions give meaning to our lives as individuals and as a community.” 

The event was sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center. Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and the State of Louisiana. The festival is sponsored by C&H Precision Machining, City Bank, Cleco, Evans Family, LLC, Exchange Bank, the Family Doctors of Natchitoches, the Harrington Law Firm, Natchitoches Wood Preserving Company and Young Estate, LLC. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the program did not necessarily represent those of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. 

For information on pre-registering to compete in the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332, email folklife@nsula.edu or go to nsula.edu/folklife. 

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My wife and I spend a lot of time on our back deck, overlooking the golf course.  When the weather is right, there is no more perfect place to sit and visit with each other.  When we had the deck built, we did a little landscaping.  A Loropetalum bush provides shade on the side of the deck.  When it blooms it looks like a giant pink blob from Highway 171.  It’s really just a bird condo unit!

We got curious one day about the birds we see inhabit our high-rise bird house.  We wrote a letter to a bird magazine to ask a few questions.  Why do cardinals, house sparrows and others love our bush so much?

Imagine our surprise when we got correspondence back from noted ornithologist, Dr. Andres Noseemenki.  Noseemenki is a world renowned bird expert from Uruguay who was on a trip through the southern states, studying migratory wildfowl.  He asked if he could swing by and see our habitat as he passed through Louisiana.

We welcomed Dr. Noseemenki to our home in mid-May.  He loved our deck and view.  Noseemenki is a graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in Biology.  He did his post-graduate work at Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology and studied at the University of Edinburgh and Simon Frasier University.  The good doctor loved our bottle of red Chilean “house” wine and wanted to know where the nearest Brazilian Steakhouse was.

Dr. Noseemenki visited a few hours, breaking down our birdhouse and why it attracted certain species.  He left Leesville headed for Mobile Bay and a lecture on the seafaring birds of the Gulf of Mexico.  It was a pleasure to visit him as he was passing through.  We appreciate our view even more these days.

Publishers note: This story was created with absolutely no A1…just very low intelligence.

BEWARE THE NOSEY MONKEY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

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The Army will take all necessary actions to change the names of seven Army installations in honor of heroic Soldiers who served in conflicts ranging from the Civil War to the Battle of Mogadishu. Five of them received the Medal of Honor, three received the Distinguished Service Cross and one received the Silver Star.

Fort Pickett (formerly Fort Barfoot) will be named in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient 1st Lt. Vernon W. Pickett for his extraordinary heroism during World War II. While pinned down by enemy machine gun fire, Pickett crawled forward and destroyed two enemy positions with grenades. After being captured, he escaped from a transport train with fellow POWs and rejoined his unit before being killed in action.

Fort Hood (formerly Fort Cavazos) will be named in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient Col. Robert B. Hood for his extraordinary heroism during World War I. Amid intense shelling near Thiaucourt, France, then-Capt. Hood directed artillery fire under enfilading machine-gun fire. After his gun crew was lost to enemy fire, he rapidly reorganized and returned fire within minutes, restoring combat capability.

Fort Gordon (formerly Fort Eisenhower) will be named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon for his valor during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia. Gordon volunteered to be inserted to defend wounded crew members at a helicopter crash site and held off an advancing enemy force, protecting the pilot after exhausting all his ammunition.

Fort Lee (formerly Fort Gregg-Adams) will be named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. Fitz Lee for his heroism during the Spanish-American War. During a coastal assault in Cuba, Lee voluntarily disembarked under direct enemy fire to rescue wounded comrades from the battlefield.

Fort Polk (formerly Fort Johnson) will be named in honor of Silver Star recipient Gen. James H. Polk for his gallantry in action as commanding officer of the 3rd Cavalry Group (Mechanized) during operations across Europe in World War II. Then-Col. Polk led reconnaissance and combat missions under fire, spearheading Third Army advances as part of Task Force Polk. He later served as commander in chief of U.S. Army Europe.

Fort Rucker (formerly Fort Novosel) will be named in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient Capt Edward W. Rucker for extraordinary heroism in World War I. Flying deep behind enemy lines, then-1st Lt. Rucker and his fellow aviators engaged a numerically superior enemy force in a daring aerial battle over France, disrupting enemy movements and completing their mission against overwhelming odds.

Fort Anderson-Pinn-Hill ( (formerly Fort Walker) will be named in honor of Medal of Honor recipients Lt. Col. Edward Hill, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn and Pvt. Bruce Anderson for extraordinary heroism during the Civil War. Then-Capt. Hill, Pinn and Anderson executed significant actions separately at Cold Harbor, Virginia; Chapin’s Farm, Virginia; and Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in support of the U.S. Army.

The Secretary of the Army will take immediate action to implement these redesignations, which are in accordance with Section 1749(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. 

For more information, please contact usarmy.pentagon.hqda-ocpa.mbx.mrd-press-desk@army.mil. 

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The Village of Simpson invites the public to attend their Second Annual Red, White and Blue Festival on Saturday, June 28.  The festival is free to attend and super kid friendly.  You will enjoy live music, vendors, a classic parade, food trucks and an entire area dedicated to the Kids Zone.

Vendors will set up at 9am on the grounds of Simpson High School.  Potential vendors can contact Tracy Parker for information at 337-208-7752.  Live DJ, “Big Daddy”, will hit the music from 1030-130 before live bands will take the stage to entertain.

Parade entries will gather at Simpson Baptist Church at 11am.  The parade rolls through town at noon.  Grab your lawn chairs and dress for comfort.

The Kids Zone features a 46’ obstacle course(WET) and a (WET) bounce house/slide combo.  $10 armbands are good all day for these events. You may pay by cash, cash ap or Venmo. The Kids Zone will also feature a big arts/crafts station and games galore.

Live music begins at 2pm with the Old Man Band.  Southern Country takes the stage at 4pm.

 Food and drink needs will be handled by food trucks, including the 626 Lunchbox, Two Seven Five Smokehouse and Shellshocked.

Find information on Facebook on the Simpson Community Events Committee site.

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The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration’s Round Table Luncheon is the most exclusive, yet casual, opportunity for the public to enjoy hearing from the Class of 2025 inductees.

It’s next Saturday, June 28, at noon at Riverside Reserve, 104 Mill Street, in Natchitoches. There are still a few seats available among the 300 guests for the seventh annual Round Table Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation.

Registration is available for the luncheon and can be made by visiting LaSportsHall.com, or by calling 318-238-4255. It is a ticketed event and only a few dozen seats are still open to see and hear from 2025 inductees including Nick Saban, Andrew Whitworth, Vickie Johnson, Danny Granger, Danny Broussard and Joe Scheuermann.

Festivities begin next Thursday evening, June 26, at 5 with the free of charge Welcome Reception open to all, no registration necessary, at the Hall of Fame museum facing the traffic circle at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches.

The Friday, June 27, slate begins with the BOM Celebrity Bowling Bash at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. Friday evening is the free Rockin’ River Fest concert on Cane River Lake in downtown Natchitoches, from 6-10:30, with the Class of 2025 introduced at 9:15 right before a sports-themed fireworks show over the water.

Events Saturday include the free for kids Saints and Pelicans Junior Training Camp, the Round Table Luncheon, and the Induction Reception and Ceremony, which is sold out. A waiting list is being compiled.

The Round Table Luncheon starts with tremendous Louisiana cuisine and quickly kicks into gear with Fox Sports announcer (and 2020 LSHOF inductee) Tim Brando interviewing small groups of inductees on stage in a very informal and fast-moving setting.

A poignant scene at the 2019 luncheon unfolded before the program when Peyton Manning, being inducted later that day, stopped by to greet LSU legend Johnny Robinson, who was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame two months later.

Scenes like that, up-close access and the fun-filled dialog between Brando and the Hall of Fame inductees combine to provide a memorable 90-minute event.

The Hall of Fame Round Table Luncheon shapes up as a highly entertaining opportunity for guests to have a up-close-and-personal experience and be entertained and well fed in a casual setting, with a touch of elegance at Riverside Reserve on the banks of Cane River Lake just a mile from downtown Natchitoches.

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The 45th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held on Saturday, July 19, in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum located at 220 South Jefferson Street on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The festival’s curated showcase of Louisiana folk musicians, food vendors and traditional crafts persons will open at 9 a.m., with live entertainment scheduled from 9:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. The family-oriented festival is fully wheelchair accessible. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets are $10 at the door for all events, or $6 for an evening pass to all events after 5 p.m. 

The festival features three stages of music. Music headliners include Cajun band Amis du Teche, zydeco band Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, blues artist D.K. Harrell, western swing artist the Kristyn Harris Band, roots band Smithfield Fair, gospel group the Amazing! Rhythm Disciples and swamp pop dance band the Has Beans. The festival also includes numerous food vendors offering traditional Louisiana cuisine. Outdoor activities feature demonstrations of traditional blacksmithing, Dutch oven cooking and a child-friendly hands-on demonstration of a 19th century wash day. 

In honor of this year’s theme, “Crafting Louisiana,” more than 80 crafts vendors have been invited to display and discuss their traditional work with those attending the festival. Craftspeople are expected to display beadwork, baskets, cowhide chair covers, alligator jewelry, Pysanky eggs, Native American crafts and pottery. Other expected craftspeople will display needlework, wood carvings, handmade toys and dolls, paintings, sculpture, homemade soap, spinning & weaving, handcrafted knives, handmade brooms, walking sticks, folk art quilts and more. 

The Festival will include a Red Beans and Rice Cookoff, in which professionals and hobbyists alike can compete in one of multiple categories and demonstrate their cooking skills. Registration and the cooks’ meeting will take place at 8 a.m. Tasting and judging will begin at 12:30 p.m. with winners to be announced at 3:30 p.m. There is no fee to compete in the Cookoff. Red beans & rice must be cooked on-site outside of Prather Coliseum, but beans may be pre-soaked. 

The Annual Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will be held at 1 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. There will be a non-championship class and a championship class. A twin fiddle category will also be held. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5 p.m. 

The festival includes several opportunities for patrons to engage directly with Louisiana folk culture. Free dance lessons include line dancing taught by the Classy Steppers, Celtic dance taught by the Thistle Dancers and Pipers and Cajun and zydeco dancing taught by the Cajun French Music Association Dance Troupe. Interactive activities include a yodeling demonstration by Kristyn Harris, dancing with the Louisiana Czech Heritage Dancers, a son jarocho fandango dance by the Armadillos Tejano and a musical spoons workshop taught by folk musician Clancey Stewart, with 50 free musical spoons given to workshop attendees. 

“The festival bridges the distance between artists and the festival patrons, thus breaking the artificial barriers between artists and audience,” said Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the festival and NSU’s Louisiana Folklife Center. “Rather than watching from the sidelines, everyone who takes part in these activities will share and engage in Louisiana’s rich culture.” 

KidFest will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kidfest is an area dedicated to child-friendly activities and is a fun way for children to examine their own cultural and family traditions as well as those from around the state. 

Narrative sessions will be held in the festival N-Club Room from 10 a.m. to 6 p,m. and feature presentations on traditional dolls and dollmaking, Creole architecture, Mexican fiddle styles and folk artist Clementine Hunter, with music informances on the blues with D.K. Harrell and roots music with Smithfield Fair. ASL interpretation, assistive listening devices and audio description for these cultural discussions will be made available upon prior request.  

This year also features several pre-Festival events which are free and open to the general public. Fiddlin’ with the Finest will be held at the Many Depot Museum on June 14 and will include several Louisiana State Fiddle Champions discussing and performing traditional fiddling. Attendees are invited to bring their own acoustic instruments for a folk music jam session. A second free pre-festival event, A Life of Zydeco, a Musical Informance with Chubby Carrier, will be held on June 21 at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches with Grammy winner Carrier discussing the cultural significance of zydeco to Louisiana with Rasmussen. A third pre-festival event will be an interactive crafts workshop, with Creole and Native American tradition bearers sharing their cultural knowledge. It will be held at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum on July 12. Free crafting materials will be provided for attendees. 

For a full schedule of events, as well as registration forms to participate in the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship and the Red Beans & Rice Cookoff contact the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332 or email folklife@nsula.edu or go to louisianafolklife.nsula.edu. 

Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and the State of Louisiana. The festival is sponsored by C&H Precision Machining, City Bank, Cleco, Evans Family, LLC, Exchange Bank, the Family Doctors of Natchitoches, the Harrington Law Firm, Natchitoches Wood Preserving Company and Young Estate, LLC. 

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Northwestern State University recently announced the Honor, Dean and President List candidates for the spring of 2025 from Vernon Parish. Congratulations from the Vernon Parish Journal.

HONORS LIST    GPA between 3.0-3.49

Anacoco   Cash Day, Haleigh Fox, Loryn Gross, Chelsea Kay.

Ft Polk      Morgan Bain, Kaylee Hoff, Sara Letzgus, Isabella Massanet-Martinez,Amanda Sanchez.

Leesville   Jamie Boswell, Jacqueline Cook, Ellen Daily, Alessia Gomez, Amanda Gordy, Matthew Horn, Jayden Huson, Marvin Mackey, Nashaly Molina, Kendall Noff, Amara Rodriguez, Noah-Rodriguez Gomez, Faith Sims, Lyndsie Snider, Johnathan Stewart, Jessica Underwood, Jaden Watson.

New Llano   Alexis Blalock, Angel Sanchez, Cameron Smith, Dyamond Smith.

Pitkin     Logan Cheever, Charlene Graham, Donald Nolen, Isaac Reed, Abby Robinson, Annamarie Wolfe.

Rosepine    Samantha Bailey.

DEANS LIST  GPA between 3.5-3.99

Anacoco    Darrian Chaney, Cheyanne Lopez, Shelby Milton, Abby Nicholas, Lucas Scerbo.

Ft. Polk    Autumn Clear, Angelissa Dobbins-Taylor, Samantha Kraemer, Jamie Prewitt, Stephanie Slaughter, Kathryn Whiteside.

Hornbeck    Joshua Corley, Cody Jarrell, Logan Lawrence

Leesville    James Bell, Tarina Berry-Hunter, Brianna Billiot, Dylan Carver, Carter Causey, Claire Chaney, Jace Donaldson, Cody Greenhaigh, Kaycie Helton, Camryn Huff, Elizabeth Jackson, Dacota Lee, Eric Lopez, Monique Lord, Jada Mackey, Brooklyn McGhee, Jessie Miller, Jacob Mount, Lala Mouton, Sueann Nena, Joshua Peek, Donald Sneed, Ashlan Stephens, Dana Tatum, Morgan Wilson.

New Llano   Iris McNeely.

Pitkin     Josie Halvorson, Gracelyn Lacaze, Tristan Millsaps, Alexis Thetford, Caitlin  Thetford.

PRESIDENTS LIST     GPA OF 4.0

Anacoco      Sarah Carpenter, Mallory Cooley, Eric Flaherty, McKenzie Guy, Landen Jett, Jarlea Welch.

Ft. Polk    Danielle Adams, Gennie Briggs-Johnson, Joao Vitor Dos Santos, Mary Mahaffey, Spencer Meyer, Alaina Olsen, Amanda Sinder-Lewis, Candace Sizemore, Emily Turley.

Hornbeck    Adam Rhodes.

Leesville    Chelsea Bornowski, Alexis Branch, Caleb-Mitchell Branch, Avari Cain, Raegan Ducote, Tanya Edds, Sophia Huson, Nathaniel Means, Ethan Nash, Allyce Richards, Madison Vinson, Samantha White.

Pitkin    Brenlea Carroll, Shae Wetzel

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DOTD announces that, weather permitting, work will begin on the LA 111 Rehabilitation Project on Monday, June 16, and will continue for approximately six months.

This project is located between US 171 and LA 117.

The 8-mile project will receive borrow, drainage structures, milling asphalt concrete, pavement patching, lime treatment, in-place cement treated base course, asphalt concrete overlay, and related work.

The contractor will begin milling asphalt pavement on Monday and the roadway will remain open to all local and through traffic with no restrictions for passenger vehicles. The roadway will be reduced to one lane during construction operations.

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Funeral services for Velora Ann Guess were held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Hornbeck, Louisiana, at 10:00 AM with Reverends Jack Bell, Jason Nolde, and Wayne Chance officiating. 

Velora “Vee” Ann Guess was born to E.C. and Lois Mitchell on August 17th, 1944, in Many, LA. She went to be with her personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 11th, 2025, peacefully surrounded by her family. After graduating from Many High School, she then went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in nursing from NSU. She would then move to Florida for clinicals where she would meet the love of her life, Ronald Guess, at a gas station. She and “Ronnie” were married for 48 years before he was called home to Heaven. Vee loved to spend time with her family, often playing games with her grandchildren for hours at a time. She also loved to birdwatch while enjoying nature. But most of all, she had a deep love for her church, where she sang in the choir every Sunday. She was devoted to putting God first above everything else in her life. She loved reading her Bible every day, strengthening her personal relationship with God, and even more, she loved telling others about Jesus Christ. Vee will be deeply missed by all of her family and friends, but they take comfort and peace in knowing that she is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in her beautiful mansion in Heaven.

Preceding Velora in death were her parents, E.C. and Lois Mitchell; husband of 48 years, Ronnie Guess; brothers, Jerome, Elton, and William Mitchell; sister, Carolyn Langton; and grandson, Andrew Snell.

Velora’s children left to cherish her memory are Rhonda Ellzey and husband Pat of Hornbeck, LA; son Chad Guess and wife Chelsea of Hornbeck, LA; daughter Liz Bonnett and husband Lane of Myakka City, FL; sisters, Lavonne Davis of Shreveport, LA, and Linda Montrose of Alexandria, LA; grandchildren, Alainah Williams, Caleb Snell, Zackery Ellzey, Alivia Perkins, Miranda Ellzey, Abram, Court, Lillie, and Emmy Guess; Shaun Maus, Jamie Niepert, Josh Niepert, Alex Bonnett, and Lindsay Castiglione; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Pallbearers honoring Mrs. Guess were Caleb Snell, Jason McDaniel, Donnie Dowden, Jody Browning, Scott Vines, and Roger Whatley. Honorary Pallbearers were Abram Guess, Court Guess, Zack Ellzey, & Wayne Jones.

The family would like to say thank you to everyone who has shown so much love and support through your prayers, calls, visits, or by providing food during this difficult time.

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Daniel Lee Barrington, beloved son, brother, uncle, husband, father and grandfather, passed away on June 10, 2025, at the age of 62, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. Danny fought this battle with dignity and grace, and was an inspiration for all who knew him. He was born on November 24, 1962, in Leesville, Louisiana. Danny went to school in Leesville, was a 1981 graduate of LHS, and a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish. He was a member of East Leesville Baptist Church. Danny never met a stranger; to know him was to love him. So many of his childhood friends remain close friends to this day. It was a close friend that introduced Danny to the love of his life in 1982, Michelle Harville Barrington. They were married on December 1, 1984.

In 1983, Danny began a career in the railroad industry that would span over 42 years, with the last 40 of those years spent with Watco where he was employed at the time of his passing. Danny forged many long lasting friendships during his career, and the people he worked with became his beloved work family. Danny loved anything and everything to do with being outdoors. He particularly loved planting and working in his garden and tending his chickens. He was a devoted family man who enjoyed spending time with his family. He was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren. He especially took great pleasure in spoiling his grandkids.

Danny was preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie F. Barrington and Barbara A. Box Barrington, maternal grandparents, Ellis O’Lee Box and Cherry Guin Box, paternal grandparents, H. Lonnie Barrington and Tera Addision Barrington. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 40 years, Michelle Harville Barrington their children, Carly (Art) Barlow of Clarksville, Tennessee and Lauren Barrington (Arron Davis) of Pensacola, Florida. Siblings Mike (Mary) Barrington, Sandy (Dale) Richmond and Trish (Randy) Bennett, all of Leesville. Grandchildren Noah Davis of Pensacola, Florida, Isabella Barlow and Emilia Barlow of Clarksville, Tennessee. Nieces and nephews Chris Richmond, Chasity (Paul) Cryer and Trey (Rachel) Bennett all of Leesville. Great nieces and nephews Cole Cryer, Addie Cryer, Waylon Richmond and Josephine Richmond, all of Leesville.

Service was held Friday, June 13, at East Leesville Baptist Church at 11 a.m.  under direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service.  Serving as pallbearers were Keith LaCaze, Tony Clark, Ronnie Perkins, Mike Perkins, Douglas Marshall and Jason Jeane

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VELORA ANN GUESS
August 17, 1944 – June 11, 2025
Service: June 14, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Hornbeck at 10:00 a.m.

HERMAN JOSEPH BREVELLE
November 4, 1940 – June 8, 2025
Service: June 16, 2025, at Labby Memorial Funeral Home in Leesville at 10:00 a.m.

 

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Kenneth Ralph Fetters, age 47, of Reeves, was arrested and charged with one count of Possession of a Schedule II Narcotic and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Bond was set at $6500.  Fetters remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Preston Knapp, age 24, of Ft. Johnson, was arrested and charged with one count of Identity Theft.  Bond was set at $2500 Knapp posted bond and was remanded to the custody of Ft. Johnson authorities.

Latisha Kidd, age 36, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count of Issuing Worthless Checks.  Bond was set at $7500.  Kidd posted bond and was released.

Jose Manuel Cosme, age 44, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with two counts of Identity Theft.  Cosme remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Ben Weaver, age 43, of Robeline, was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant.  Bond has not been set.  Weaver remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Sareel Cain Spencer, age 24, of Pitkin, was arrested and charged with one count of Domestic Abuse Battery.  Bond has not been set.  Spencer remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Kylie Ortiz, age 19, of Rosepine, was arrested and charged with one count of Simple Assault and one count of Simple Battery.  Bond has been set at $2562.  Ortiz remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Rusty Lee Kay, age 33, of Anacoco, was arrested and charged with one count of Domestic Abuse Battery.  Bond has not been set.  Kay remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Manuel Ybarra III, age 57, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count of Domestic Abuse Battery.  Bond has not been set.  Ybarra remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Gary Lee Grosenbacher Jr. age 46, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count of Criminal Mischief, one count of Criminal Trespass and one count of Resisting an Officer.  Bond was set at $3857.  Grosenbacher remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Cory John Simmons, age 312, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count of Criminal Trespass and one count of Criminal Mischief.  Bond was set at $2576.  Simmons remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

Krystle Leann Roberts, age 40, of DeRidder, was arrested and charged with one count of Criminal Trespass and one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.  Bond has not been set.  Roberts remains in the Vernon Parish jail.

ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.

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Sunday, June 8, at 1:30 p.m., the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from a residence in the neighborhood of Joelee Lane in Leesville, concerning a shooting of a three-year-old child.  The child had been transported by private vehicle to a local medical facility.

Detectives learned that two three-year-old children found a loaded handgun beneath a pillow on a bed.  One child discharged the firearm, striking the other child in the shoulder/chest area.  The child, who was ultimately transported to a Baton Rouge medical facility by ambulance, was listed in serious condition.

Detectives arrested Fernando Mejia, age 35, of Leesville, in relation to the shooting. Mejia was charged with one count of Second-Degree Cruelty to a Juvenile, for failure to properly secure the .40 caliber handgun used in the shooting.

A detainer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was placed on Mejia.  Mejia remains in the Vernon Parish Jail.

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The first school board meeting of the summer was held Thursday, June 5.

Food Service Director, Roland Jones briefed board members on the Sun Bucks program which adds a one-time $120 credit to qualified SNAP and Medicaid accounts.  The Vernon system is looking into a summer feeding program for 2026.  The board is in the preliminary stages of looking into the idea.

A check for $5000 was donated to Hornbeck High from Energy Transfer.  Energy Transfer operates the Gulf Run Pipeline, which has transported natural gas since 2022.  The 135-mile pipeline passes through the Hornbeck community.  Energy Transfer has donated over $165,000 to communities the pipeline impacts.  Cassidy Lamb and Kade Jantz, with Energy Transfer, made the presentation to Hornbeck principal Charlotte Hooks.  Hooks said the money would be earmarked for STEM programs at Hornbeck.

Personnel Director, Joey Bartz, told board members there are no changes to the employee handbook as it is, but cautioned, the state legislature has some policy items in front of them this summer session.

Kelly Goodwin, with the Salary and Personnel Committee reminded board members that June 16 is the deadline for transfer requests.  The committee has assistant principal positions open at Leesville, Simpson and Pitkin.  New principals are needed at Evans and Simpson.

Anne Smith with the Curriculum Department gave an overview of grants from the Rapides Foundation and how they impacted the Vernon system’s “A” rating. She also touched on plans to use teacher leaders to give their input on curriculum decisions in 2026.

Summer operating hours for schools are 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday-Thursday.  The Board office will be open from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday-Thursday.  Regular hours will resume on August 4, 2025.

June 10 Board Meeting is Historic

The Tuesday, June 10 meeting of the school board began with usual business.  Employee retirements were approved, claims paid, and budget amendments related to personnel changes were approved.

Promotional Assistant Principal positions were named at Leesville High/Logan Maddox, Simpson High/Elliot West and Pitkin High/ Phillip George. The Board will also seek a promotional principal position at Anacoco Elementary, a non-promotional principal position at Evans, and a non-promotional principal position at Simpson.

Nearly 100 students from Anacoco, Leesville, Leesville Middle School, Leesville Jr. High, Rosepine, Simpson, Evans, Hicks, Pitkin, Parkway Elementary, and Rosepine Elementary were recognized for their achievements at the state level in various competitions.

District One Board member, Robert Pynes Jr., chairman of the Redesign/Realignment Committee, offered a motion to seek assistance from a professional consulting firm.  This firm would offer input on the restructuring of the Vernon system.  Board Member, Rhonda Morrison questioned the need for a new assessment pointing to one done in the last 2-3 years.  Superintendent James Williams remarked that assessment was a broader look at the system.  A new assessment would be more in depth in addressing issues before the board. A decision will be announced in July.

Finance Director, Tim Ward, shared exciting news with the board concerning an upturn in sales tax collections of 6% in May.  This level amounted to over one million in revenue for the board.  Ward reported that bonus checks would be mailed out June 20.  Teachers can expect $12,155, support staff/aides will receive $8,785, secretaries can expect $9,324, janitorial staff will receive $8,785, bus drivers get an additional $9,904, cooks will earn $8,785, while all school board retirees will get a check for $488.  Vernon is one of two school systems in the state to offer these bonuses to educators and system staff.

Curtis Clay, Director of Birth through 5 programs in the Vernon System announced his retirement from education, after 50 years of service. Clay received a standing ovation from the Board and those in attendance.  Congratulatory remarks came from Board members who had worked with Clay since his days as a teacher.  Clay commented that the Vernon School System had been very good to him and his family.

The next meeting of the Vernon Parish School Board is Thursday, July 10, due to the July 4^th holiday.

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The Leesville City Council held a public hearing before the regular meeting to announce the introduction of two ordinances.  Ordinance 9 of 2025 will amend the Leesville Code of Ordinances Section 46-32/Garage Sales permit.  Ordinance 10 of 2025 revokes the road right-of-way named Herrington Street in the city limits of Leesville.  This was requested by the City Planning Commission.

During the regular meeting, monthly bills of $108,029.49 were presented to the Council.  City Engineer Mark McCarty reported on the ballpark lift station project receiving an increase in grant funding.  The 2025 street rehab project bids will be announced at the next meeting.  Apeck Construction was the apparent low bidder.

Fort Johnson Garrison Commander, Col. C.J. Lopez, addressed the Council his last time as Garrison Commander.  He will transition to Chief of Staff but is staying in the area.  Lopez said the entire Iowa National Guard is in rotation at JRTC through the middle of July.  This represents 5900 troops and 200 support personnel.  Traffic will be heavy on the installation.  Lopez also relayed a change of command at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital.  July 30 will be the date of a rotation support update for local leaders.  October 22 will be the date for the Cenla Economic Engagement, which will include regional and state leaders gathering on post.

Attorney Karen White, a grant facilitator, spoke on a recent grant from the U.S. Forestry Service and USDA, the first of its kind in the state of Louisiana.  The grant is for the development of plans to advance a plan to combat wildfires and form a better municipal firefighting strategy.

Resolutions were introduced the rest of the meeting.  The City will advertise for bids to fence two baseball fields at the recreation complex.  A resolution was offered to engage with local digital creator/social influencer, Jessica Herring, to provide public relations service.

A resolution was offered to authorize the initial payment of $31,244.21 to begin with construction of the new splash pad at the recreation complex.  A pair of resolutions will award Apeck Construction, LLC the work on the new walking path and new cart path at the Leesville Municipal Golf Course.

A resolution was offered to award Charles Welch Trucking & Dirt Work with the retention pond construction project. 

Much discussion was given to a resolution to approve an event permit application submitted by Jason Smith of CW Stables to host a Juneteenth Trail Ride on Sunday, June 15.  The discussion centered on horses, safety and clean up.  Council members approved the event.

A resolution to award GEO Surfacing the infield turf project at the recreation complex was given the green light.

Apeck Construction was the lowest responsible bidder for the replacement of the ballpark lift station.  A resolution was approved to award the bid.

The final resolution of the meeting was to advertise for bids to clear 15 acres of debris at the recreation complex.

Leesville Police Chief, Beth Westlake, introduced three of the four new city police officers who recently completed Academy training.  Chief Westlake commented that the officers had prior military experience and had settled their families in Leesville.

The next meeting of the Leesville City Council is set for Monday, June 23, at 10 a.m.

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The Vernon Parish Police Jury held a committee meeting Monday, June 9, at 5 p.m.

Juror Marvin Hilton took great pride introducing the Anacoco Lady Indians track and field team that won the 2025 LHSAA Class B state title.

Several Committee reports were offered.  Hilton, Chairman of the Personnel Committee, relayed a request from the parish Road Manager to hire Michael Wilson as a District 5, part-time equipment operator with a six-month probation period. It was the committee’s only order of business.

The Capital Properties Committee received annual maintenance agreements from Star Services.  One, for $4800, is for the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s office (new jail) for annual preventative maintenance on the HVAC system.  The other agreement for $1,850 covers the Judicial building (new courthouse) for preventative maintenance on the Air-Cooled Chiller.

The Equipment Committee asked Jurors to consider a resolution approving and accepting an Equipment Lease/Purchase agreement between Cadence Bank and the police jury to finance a new John Deere 5060E Cab Utility Tractor ($55,294.72/state contract) and new Grapple ($3998) for District 6.  The president or administrator/treasurer will execute the contract.

David Brister, chairman of the Road Maintenance and Construction Committee, reported a Dirt Pit Agreement from Pamela and Johnny Merriman III for Brushy Creek Road dirt pit.  The dirt will cost $3.25 per yard. Brister asked Jurors to consider holding a public hearing on Monday, July 21, at 10 a.m. during the regular monthly Jury meeting.  The hearing will consider abandoning a portion of Lone Oak Road in District 11/Ward 1.  The portion of the road to be closed is 238 feet, leaving over 1100 feet beginning at Castor Creek Road in the parish road inventory.  Quotes were received to replace the gas line on Holton-Harris bridge before bridge replacement begins. Sinclair Utility Solutions LLC quoted $18,750 for work.  Apeck Construction quoted $37,563.98 for work.  The Town of Rosepine and the Village of Simpson asked for routine maintenance on streets, including boom mowing, ditch cleaning and other work within town and village limits.

The next meeting of the Vernon Parish Police Jury is 10 a.m., Monday, June 16.

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