Local

Employment hits post-pandemic high in Central Louisiana

Harlan Kirgan
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
The Louisiana State University of Alexandria College of Business releases its March issue of the CENLA Economic Dashboard. Employment is the dominant story for the local economy. “Employment in the Alexandria MSA hit a new post-pandemic high in December,” says Dr.
News notes items

News notes items

News notes

Myra Miller
Monday, March 21, 2022
St. Francis Night Out set for March 26 St. Francis will hold Night Out dinner and auction from 6 to 11 p.m. on March 26 inside St. Francis School gym. St. Francis is located at 490 St. Joseph Ave., in Iota. The cost is $100 per couple, donations are accepted.

Spaniards and the cache of silver

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 18, 2022
Some years ago, a fellow from the Cecilia area of St. Martin Parish suggested to me that Spaniards had traveled far up the Teche a long time before the history books said any European explorers got to south Louisiana.
People jam 2nd Street in Eunice during Mardi Gras. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

People jam 2nd Street in Eunice during Mardi Gras. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

Tourist director cites increased visitors

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 18, 2022
The St. Landry Parish Tourism Commission Visitors Center counted 3,776 visitors in 2021, 25% increase over the 2020 count, according to annual report by Herman Fuselier, executive director. As Fuselier stated, the 2021 increase is over the 2020 year noted for COVID-19 and hurricanes.

Regional juvenile detention center proposed

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 18, 2022
Juvenile crime is on the rise and, with no place to house the violent offenders, Acadia Parish is facing fees of $250 per offender per day to house those juveniles indicted as adults.
Jade Fontenot, a teacher at Eunice High, presents a $100 cash reward to Eunice High School’s Student of the Year Philippe Soileau during the school’s Renaissance Pep Rally. (Photo by Myra Miller)

Jade Fontenot, a teacher at Eunice High, presents a $100 cash reward to Eunice High School’s Student of the Year Philippe Soileau during the school’s Renaissance Pep Rally. (Photo by Myra Miller)

Eunice High celebrates academic performance

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 18, 2022
Eunice High School celebrated its annual Renaissance Pep Rally Friday morning. The event is considered an academic excellence celebration and its focus is on students who go above and beyond in academic performance. Students earning a 3.
Rep. Mike Johnson

Rep. Mike Johnson

U.S. House OKs Liberty legislation

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 18, 2022
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that requires National Park Service (NPS) to transfer its partial ownership of the Liberty Theatre to the City of Eunice. The vote on Wednesday was 422-4, according to District 4 Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Benton, who handled the bill in Congress.
Ruth Andrus, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, reads a statement from her organization about Confederate memorials at the St. Landry Parish Council meeting on Wednesday in Opelousas. At left is Council member Coby Clavier. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

Ruth Andrus, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, reads a statement from her organization about Confederate memorials at the St. Landry Parish Council meeting on Wednesday in Opelousas. At left is Council member Coby Clavier. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

Stone cold monument heats up Council chamber

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 18, 2022
A stone cold monument to Confederate soldiers on the St. Landry Parish Courthouse grounds managed to raise the heat in a Parish Council meeting. At stake was whether to remove the 18-foot tall memorial and place it in storage, move it to a new location or even sell it.

School tax propositions spur voting

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 18, 2022
A 40% voter turnout is forecast for the March 26 election that includes three St. Landry Parish School Board tax propositions. Cheryl Milburn, registrar of voters, made the voter turnout prediction based on early voting, which totaled 2,424 at the end of voting on Thursday.

Jobless rates edged up in January

Harlan Kirgan
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Tri-Parish unemployment rates in January edged up compared to December, but are down from January 2021 rates, according to statistic released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Tri-Parish workforce grew 0.8% in January compared to a year ago i January.