By JIM BUTLER

A burn ban is in effect in Rapides Parish.

Police Judy President Craig Smith declared it Tuesday as the parish continues to parch absent the normal tropical rains of early Fall.

The good news is a reasonable chance of rain is in the early outlook for Saturday and Sunday in the parish.

An outbreak of rain in mid-September caused lifting of a ban imposed shortly before then as the parish baked.

Burning of any kind other than government-approved instances is verboten until conditions improve.