The future has officially arrived — and apparently it wants to discuss your life goals before handing over your morning coffee. A new AI-powered coffee kiosk is leaving customers both caffeinated and confused as it replaces simple drink orders with a barrage of oddly personal questions. From optimizing emotional states to aligning beverages with long-term aspirations, the machine seems determined to do everything except just pour the coffee. Local residents report spending more time answering the kiosk than they would have spent chatting with an actual barista. Experts say this may be the first recorded case of a latte requiring a personality assessment.
Homer was born in Canada in 1919, but his family moved to Portland, Oregon, when he was a child. After high school, Homer enrolled at Linfield College in McMinnville where he competed on the basketball team and swimming team, though he said he was not the typical jock. He quickly learned that it was easier for him to get girls by making them laugh than by showing off his abilities in sporting events. The girl he eventually got was named Margaret Wiggum. Homer was a talented amateur artist. He drew pictures of common scenes and gave them comical captions. Homer began playing around with product advertisements which were comical, but more importantly, memorable.
In 1941, Homer earned a degree in English, and in the following year, he married Margaret. Homer may have envisioned settling down into family life and working as an ad man, but war was on the horizon. When the United States entered World War II, Homer became a B-17 bomber pilot. He and his B-17 crew dropped bombs on the Germans at Normandy on D-Day and later bombed Berlin. After the war, Homer began his career in advertising as an entry-level production assistant at the Botsford, Constantine, and Gardner ad agency. He climbed the ladder of success quicker than most because he had an unusual approach to advertising and clients loved his work. More importantly, consumers were receptive to his work.
In 1950, Homer’s piloting skills were needed again, and he flew transport missions during the Korean War. During the war, he became infatuated with the filmmaking process. He produced, wrote, shot, recorded the sound, edited, directed, and narrated documentaries. After the war, Homer became vice-president of the ad agency. Former Advertising Federation President Mick Scott referred to Homer as “an absolute creative genius.” Idaho potatoes became famous because of one of Homer’s ad campaigns. In 1958, Homer created his own highly successful advertising agency, but he still made time for his growing family. He and his wife Margaret had five children. To entertain his children, he often brought his work home. He gave them sketch pads and colored pencils and provided part of a story from which they created their own cartoons. Homer’s youngest son, Matt, eventually created a cartoon which has become the longest running American scripted primetime television series in history, and he named many of the characters after members of his own family including his father, Homer, his mother, Margaret went by the name Marge, and his little sisters, Lisa, and Maggie. Rather than using his own name, Matt chose an anagram of brat for the lead character, Bart. That is how Matt Groening, the son of an ad man, created The Simpsons. When Matt and his wife, Deborah, had a son of their own they named him not Bart, but Homer.
June 3 is National Egg Day, a celebration of one of the most versatile and widely consumed foods in the world.
Whether scrambled, fried, boiled or baked into a favorite dessert, eggs remain a staple in kitchens across America. This year’s observance comes after several years in which eggs became an unlikely headline-maker due to supply challenges, rising grocery costs and changing consumer habits.
For many families, eggs are among the first items checked on a grocery list. They are used in everything from breakfast plates and holiday baking to restaurant recipes and school cafeteria meals. Their affordability and nutritional value have helped make them a longtime favorite among consumers.
Eggs have also become a cultural fixture. Social media is filled with debates over the best way to cook them, while chefs continue to develop new recipes featuring the humble ingredient. In Louisiana, eggs often play a starring role in dishes ranging from breakfast biscuits and gravy to bread pudding and homemade meat pies.
The observance also offers a chance to appreciate the farmers, producers and businesses that help keep grocery shelves stocked. According to agricultural experts, Americans consume billions of eggs each year, making them one of the country’s most popular food products.
National Egg Day has no elaborate traditions, but many people mark the occasion by preparing a favorite egg dish, trying a new recipe or simply enjoying a classic breakfast.
Whether served sunny-side up, folded into an omelet or mixed into a cake batter, eggs continue to prove that some of the simplest foods can have the biggest impact.
Christie Lanette Hardy Service: Saturday, June 6 at 2 pm at Jeane’s Funeral Service in Hornbeck
Samantha Kristine Pierce Service: Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Jeane’s Funeral Service in Leesville
Vernon Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or vpjnewsla@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to vpjnewsla@gmail.com).
The Louisiana Legislature passed SB 121 Thursday, sending a new congressional map to Governor Jeff Landry for his signature following months of debate prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the state’s previous district lines.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais found that the previous map unconstitutionally prioritized race over traditional redistricting principles such as compactness and communities of interest. The new map was drawn without race as the predominant factor in determining district boundaries.
The legislation creates five Republican-leaning congressional districts statewide. A review of the enacted map shows that some parishes are split between congressional districts.
For Caddo and Bossier parishes, both remain unified within the Fourth Congressional District alongside De Soto, Red River, Natchitoches, Sabine, Webster, Claiborne, and Bienville parishes. Central Louisiana, including Rapides Parish, is kept whole within the Fifth Congressional District.
The map now heads to the Governor for signature. If signed, it will govern Louisiana’s congressional representation through the remainder of the decade.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal will continue to monitor developments.
Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana
Sheriff Sam Craft of the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office announces recent arrests made by VPSO.
May 23, 2026
Henry Reeves, age 62, of Pitkin, was arrested and charged with one count of Criminal Trespass. Bond was set at $ 1295.00. Reeves posted bond and was released.
May 27, 2026
Kourtney Rose Lewis, age 31, of Florein, was arrested and charged with one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Bond has not been set and a detainer has been placed on Lewis for the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole. Lewis remains in the VPSO jail.
Austin Paul Ross, age 28, of Anacoco, was arrested and charged with one count of Possession of Methamphetamine over 28 grams, one count of Turning Movements and Required Signals, one count of Reckless Operation of a Vehicle, one count of Aggravated Flight from an Officer, one count of General Speed Law, one count of Possession of a Schedule I Narcotic with the Intent to Distribute, and one count of Obstruction of Justice – Tampering with Evidence. Bond has not been set and Ross remains in the VPSO jail.
ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.
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A new congressional map passed overwhelmingly in the Louisiana House on May 28 and now moves to the Senate for concurrence.
State Representative Mike Johnson said the map complies with legal requirements following rulings from the United States Supreme Court. He noted that the revised plan keeps Rapides Parish whole and places it back within the Fifth Congressional District alongside much of Central Louisiana.
Supporters of the map say it is intended to keep communities of interest together, pointing to shared economic, educational, transportation, agricultural and cultural ties across Central Louisiana. They also say the changes better reflect long-standing regional connections while maintaining representation in Congress.
The proposal now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Gathering around Billy Cannon’s 1959 Heisman Trophy at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Thursday night were his wife, Dot, (left to right, standing) daughter Gina McWilliams and her husband Jay, and daughters Bunnie Cannon and Dara Kelsoe. (Journal photo by KEVIN SHANNAHAN)
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES – The Billy Cannon exhibit that opened a year-long stay Thursday night at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the glory days of LSU’s 1959 Heisman Trophy winning running back.
But that’s just one aspect of a comprehensive collection of items from the Cannon Family Trust tracking his 80 years, ending when he died in his sleep in 2018. “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend” showcases his sports highlights and also shares his fall from glory that landed him in prison. He gradually weathered the aftermath and ultimately regained his status as a sports icon while he became a profoundly positive influence, widely admired in his later years.
It was hard to tell who was more delighted among the museum visitors Thursday evening, but it would be tough to top the smiles from his widow, Dot (who turns 88 next week), his three daughters (Gina McWilliams, Dara Kelsoe, and Bunnie Cannon) and Jay McWilliams, a son-in-law.
“He would be very thrilled that y’all are able to see this and learn from his story,” his youngest daughter, Bunnie, told those who got the first look at the exhibit that will remain in the Natchitoches museum for nearly a year. “It’s important that it stays up here for a while and people can see and know who he truly was.
“He loved the people here. Whenever he would come here, he would always stay for several hours and sign autographs and talk with people. He had a great respect for everybody here and was so proud to be in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame,” she said.
Thursday’s audience included retired Natchitoches dentist Dr. Jerry Ferguson, who was in dental school with Cannon (while he played pro football) at the University of Tennessee. Also among those attending: impending 2026 LSHOF inductee Mike McConathy, former state Sen. Louis Bernard, Northwestern State football coach Blaine McCorkle, an LSU center in the late 1990s, and former Demons coach Jay Thomas, who grew up in Baton Rouge.
It’s a memorabilia-packed extension of an even larger exhibit showcased for the past 14 months at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge, part of the Louisiana State Museum system. It provides a visual and auditory review of Cannon’s life with items from his days at Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge to his college and pro stardom – and of course, it includes a replay of his classic Halloween Night Run, a weaving fourth-quarter 89-yard punt return as he dodged seven defenders for the only touchdown in an Oct. 31, 1959 7-3 victory over No. 3-ranked Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium.
It also covers his impact during many years of service as the director of dentistry at Angola State Prison, beginning several years after he finished 30 months in a federal minimum security facility in Texarkana after pleading guilty to counterfeiting charges in 1983.
Shreveporter Teddy Allen, who is in the LSHOF as a sports journalist, became close to Dr. Cannon in Baton Rouge following that prison sentence, when Allen covered LSU for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Cannon, said his daughter, “loved Teddy Allen.”
“Dr. Cannon was good at everything,” said Allen. “He went to dental school, for some time had a thriving practice. Obviously he won the Heisman. Got married to his high school sweetheart, was a wonderful husband for 62 years, had all these children (five) and grandkids.
“The only thing he wasn’t good at was counterfeiting. That was it, the only thing he didn’t master, and it’s good for us that he didn’t, that all of that worked out like it was supposed to.
“The Halloween run story is fascinating. He had a fabled life. But his best run was those last two decades of his life when he turned it around, accepted the love that people wanted to show him. He made them feel valued, and they made him feel back on top of the world.”
As Cannon restored his reputation, and joined LSU teammates for anniversary celebrations of the Tigers’ 1958 national championship, the mutual admiration blossomed.
At LSU’s 2003 homecoming game, he was recognized in an on-field ceremony between the first and second quarters. The crowd gave him an extended standing ovation and LSU players raised their helmets in salute, with LSU athletic director Skip Bertman remarking to a friend, “He’s still the icon, isn’t he?”
Cannon was forthright in his 2016 autobiography, “Billy Cannon, a Long, Long Run,” and people appreciated his frankness. In a book signing at the Hall of Fame museum, hundreds stood for hours in a line winding through the two-story building, out the front door and around the corner. It took so long because Cannon inscribed personal messages on each copy, engaged every fan in conversation and posed for photos during an eight-hour span.
“It didn’t matter where we were,” said Jay McWilliams, “somebody would recognize him, come over and shake his hand. Didn’t matter who it was, he would always take time to shake hands and visit. He appreciated people, had a heart of gold.”
Along with the exhibit, an upcoming Louisiana Public Broadcasting documentary spearheaded by former Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne will debut the week before LSU hosts Ole Miss (Sept. 24) this fall, with hopes that it will be picked up by Netflix.
“He would absolutely love this,” said Bunnie Cannon. “He would want LPB to profit, because the support for public broadcasting is not what it used to be, and he was so Louisiana proud.”
“He was just a sweet, sweet man, as sweet a man as he was a ballplayer,” said Allen. “As a ballplayer, he was Herschel Walker 30 years before Herschel hit the field.
“This state was so blessed to have him, and his whole story. Somehow it was supposed to work out like it did,” said Allen. “He was as sorry as he could be for all that (trouble). It was incredible how he made amends for it.”
AMERISAFE has announced that Rosepine High School Class of 2026 graduate Tyler Wood is the recipient of the 2026 AMERISAFE Community Scholarship.
The scholarship program is administered through the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana and is awarded annually to a graduating senior from Beauregard or Vernon Parish.
According to AMERISAFE, the scholarship provides $1,000 per year for students enrolled in a two-year program, totaling $2,000, or up to $4,000 for students pursuing a four-year degree program.
Applications for the scholarship are due each year in March.
Cleco will provide power to a new data center being developed by Applied Digital in Rapides Parish, the company confirmed Wednesday.
Gov. Jeff Landry officially announced the project Tuesday during an Alexandria press conference held in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development and Louisiana Central.
“The data center project will be transformative for Rapides Parish and our customers,” said Bill Fontenot, president and CEO of Cleco. “As a company, we welcome Applied Digital and look forward to meeting their needs for safe and reliable energy for years to come.”
According to Applied Digital and economic development experts, the project is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and another 200 long-term positions, while stimulating additional opportunities for existing local businesses.
“The number of jobs generated by this project is significant for central Louisiana, and it aligns with our priorities to foster business growth locally and throughout the state,” Fontenot said. “A project of this size will have positive generational impacts on the region.”
Company officials stated that large-load customers like data centers can help lower costs for existing customers by spreading system expenses across a broader base. The project is also expected to bring upgrades to power lines, substations and equipment to strengthen the regional power grid.
Fontenot emphasized that infrastructure costs will not fall on current residents.
“Costs for infrastructure investments and power generation will be reimbursed by the data center with assurances made that prevent the shifting of costs onto other customers,” Fontenot said. “Improving infrastructure will lead to stronger resiliency and reliability for all customers.”
The project remains subject to oversight by the Louisiana Public Service Commission.
Cleco representatives noted the utility has met Louisiana’s reliability standards for the past 27 years, maintaining power delivery more than 99.99% of the time.
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Celia Margarita Santiago-Robles Service: Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 10 am at St. Michael’s Church
Samantha Kristine Pierce Service: Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Jeane’s Funeral Service in Leesville
Johnny Lamar Nash Service: Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. in Plunkaway Cemetery
Armond Phillip James Service: Friday, May 29, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Pine Hill Baptist Church in Leesville
Carolyn E Harper Service: Monday, June 1, 2026 at 2 p.m. at LaCamp Church of God Cemetery in Hineston
Vernon Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or vpjnewsla@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to vpjnewsla@gmail.com).
Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Louisiana Main Street have announced that Leesville Main Street has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America program for 2026.
The recognition is awarded to communities that meet national performance standards established by the National Main Street Center for economic development, historic preservation, and downtown revitalization efforts through the Main Street Approach.
Leesville Main Street was one of 19 Louisiana communities and among 838 programs nationwide to receive Accredited Main Street America status, the organization’s highest designation tier.
“Our historic downtowns are more than gathering places, they are engines of economic development and community pride,” Nungesser said in the announcement. “When Louisiana Main Street districts succeed, entire communities benefit.”
According to Louisiana Main Street, the statewide program has surpassed more than $1 billion in combined public and private investment. Additional statewide impacts include the creation of 17,587 net new jobs, 4,108 net new businesses, more than $613 million invested in construction and rehabilitation projects, and more than 1.3 million volunteer hours contributed.
Main Street America President and CEO Erin Barnes said the accredited communities demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in their downtown districts and preserving the unique character of their communities.
To qualify for Accredited status, communities must demonstrate success in areas including community revitalization, organizational leadership, sustainable funding, preservation-based economic development, and measurable results.
Main Street America, a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has supported preservation-based revitalization efforts in historic commercial districts for more than 40 years.
The Vernon Parish School Board Head Start and Birth to Five Early Childhood Programs are now accepting new applications for the 2026–2027 school year.
Families who submit applications by June 1, 2026, will have them processed ahead of the first round of orientation dates currently being scheduled. Program officials note that applications received after the deadline may not be reviewed in time for initial placement, though applications are accepted year-round. Enrollment is limited, and waitlists are common.
Applications are being accepted during summer office hours, Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The office is located at 1409 S. 4th Street in Leesville, behind Burger King and next to the bowling alley.
Families with questions can contact the program office at 337-239-6899 for more information.
Officials remind families that submitting an application does not guarantee admission. All applications must be completed with required documentation and reviewed using established selection criteria before placement or waitlist consideration. Parent or guardian attendance at mandatory orientation is required for enrollment.
The first day for VPSB Head Start and Birth to Five Early Childhood Programs is scheduled for August 7, 2026.
Program staff encourage all eligible families to apply and emphasize their ongoing mission of supporting early learning, family engagement and school readiness for young children across Vernon Parish.
Local league operators Stephan Cavanaugh and Elizabeth Cavanaugh represented the NAPA League of Vernon Parish this past weekend at the NAPA International 8-Ball Doubles Open.
The duo competed against teams from multiple regions, calling the experience both competitive and rewarding as they met fellow players and took on a strong field of opponents. By the end of the tournament, the Cavanaughs secured a 5th place finish, earning $500 and the distinction of competing on an international stage.
Organizers encouraged other local players to take advantage of future NAPA tournament opportunities, noting that participation is as simple as signing up and showing up.
They also extended appreciation to tournament staff and organizers for a well-run event, highlighting the positive atmosphere and execution throughout the competition.
A wet and unsettled pattern is expected to continue across Vernon Parish this week, beginning with a high chance of rain Wednesday and followed by repeated opportunities for showers and thunderstorms through early next week.
Wednesday will bring showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, increasing to thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs will reach the lower 80s with south winds around 5 mph. Rain chances are very high at 90 percent. Wednesday night will remain mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, followed by additional showers after midnight. Patchy fog is possible, with lows around 70 and a 50 percent chance of rain.
On Thursday, areas of fog are expected in the morning before conditions gradually become partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms will remain in place, with highs again in the lower 80s. Winds will be light and variable, becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. Rain chances sit near 50 percent. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with lows around 70.
Friday brings more typical summer conditions with mostly sunny skies early and a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Highs will climb into the upper 80s with a 40 percent chance of rain. Friday night will be mostly clear early, then becoming partly cloudy with lows in the lower 70s.
The weekend continues the active pattern. Saturday will be partly sunny with a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms and highs in the upper 80s. Rain chances remain around 40 percent. Saturday night will be partly cloudy with a chance of evening storms and lows in the lower 70s.
Sunday will be mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming partly sunny later in the day with another chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs will again reach the upper 80s with a 50 percent chance of rain. Sunday night remains partly cloudy with continued storm chances and lows in the lower 70s.
Looking ahead to next week, Monday will be partly sunny with a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms and highs in the upper 80s. Rain chances remain around 50 percent. Monday night will be partly cloudy with a chance of evening showers and lows in the upper 60s.
Tuesday continues the unsettled trend with partly sunny skies and another chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Highs will return to the lower 80s with a 40 percent chance of rain.
Residents across Vernon Parish should remain weather aware throughout the week as repeated rounds of rain, thunderstorms, and brief foggy conditions remain possible.
The Vernon Parish Library, in partnership with the Vernon Historical and Genealogical Society, will host a hands-on program introducing patrons to the library’s Digital Newspapers and Yearbooks online resources.
The demonstration is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the library’s main branch in Leesville. The program is designed as a step-by-step guide to help attendees learn how to navigate digital archives and begin searching for people, places and historical events with greater confidence.
Library staff will walk participants through the system in an easy-to-follow format, with time for questions and guided practice. Attendees will also receive a take-home handout summarizing key points, along with practice questions and answers to reinforce what they learned.
Organizers say the goal of the session is to build comfort and familiarity with online research tools that preserve and showcase local history, while encouraging continued exploration beyond the program.
For more information, contact the Vernon Parish Library at 337-239-2027 or 800-737-2231, or visit the main branch at 1401 Nolan Trace in Leesville. Additional details are available at www.vernonparishlibrary.org.
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The Louisiana Department of Health announced Friday that beginning May 26, state SNAP recipients will only be able to use their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards for purchases made within Louisiana and in ZIP codes adjacent to the state’s border.
Department officials said the policy change aims to protect benefits from fraud and out-of-state use while ensuring Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dollars support Louisiana grocers, farmers, businesses and local communities.
EBT cardholders who shop at Louisiana stores and through approved online retailers will not be affected. Residents who regularly shop just across the state line in Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas will experience little to no disruption, as many of those border ZIP codes are included under the policy’s approved designation. Out-of-state purchases attempted outside of the approved areas will be blocked.
SNAP recipients who are traveling and need temporary access to make purchases outside of Louisiana can request a short-term exemption online at lifeincheckebt.com, by calling 888-524-3578, or by visiting a local department SNAP office.
Any temporary out-of-state access will automatically expire at the beginning of the following month, returning the card to the default setting.
A routine evening took an unexpected turn this week when a smart home voice assistant reportedly refused to turn off the lights until the homeowner successfully pronounced “Wi-Fi router reset protocol version 3.2-B” without stumbling.
Witnesses say the frustrated homeowner made multiple failed attempts before finally surrendering and going to bed under fully illuminated conditions. The voice assistant, meanwhile, allegedly responded with repeated reminders to “please try again clearly.”
Technology experts say the fictional scenario highlights the growing love-hate relationship many people have with smart devices, especially when simple tasks suddenly become far more complicated than flipping a switch.
There’s something special about summertime in Vernon Parish. From frozen treats and farmers markets to lake days and outdoor adventures, Louisiana’s Legend Country is filled with ways to slow down, explore, and enjoy the season with family and friends.
Treat Yourself This Summer
Cool off with one of summer’s favorite traditions — shaved ice and frozen treats. Vernon Parish has welcomed a new spot this season with the opening of Southern Shaved Ice / Sno Cones in New Llano. You can also find sweet treats across Vernon Parish at local favorites, including Anacoco Mercantile, Sno-Cone Haven, Ozan’s Shaved Ice, and more.
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the lakes, rivers, and bayous that make Vernon Parish an outdoor destination. Visitors can spend the day boating, tubing, kayaking, or fishing at Anacoco Lake, Toledo Bend, Vernon Lake, Sabine River, and Toro Bayou.
Take in the natural beauty of Kisatchie National Forest this summer. From scenic trails to wildlife sightings, it’s an ideal place to enjoy the outdoors and experience the quieter side of Louisiana’s Legend Country. Visitors can also check out the live eagle cam to follow this season’s hatchlings.
Make plans to visit Leesville’s Third Street Market every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. The market features fresh produce, handmade goods, crafts, and local vendors throughout the summer. Don’t miss Second Saturday on June 13th for additional family-friendly fun.
No matter how you spend your summer, Vernon Parish is full of legendary ways to make memories. Be sure to share your adventures using #LALegendCountry. Book your stay today!
