The First United Methodist Church of Alexandria (FUMCA) Urban Sketching Art Ministry, led by Artist-in-Residence Rev. Jean Sanders, continues to invite the public to participate in free creative sketch gatherings throughout the Alexandria–Pineville area. Through partnerships with local community spaces, the ministry creates welcoming opportunities for people of all experience levels to draw, observe, and connect.

A special “Pop-Up” Urban Sketching meet-up will take place Tuesday, March 17 at 3 PM during the Alexandria Farmers Market, located on the FUMCA campus at 2727 Jackson Street. Sketchers will have the opportunity to capture the movement and atmosphere of the market while engaging with the surrounding community. The Alexandria Farmers Market is a weekly gathering that connects the community with farmers, ranchers, and agricultural artisans of Central Louisiana. The market strives to improve the physical, social, and economic well-being of the region by providing access to fresh, healthy, local food for residents, fostering community relationships, and serving as a business incubator for growers and producers.

Later in the month, the Urban Sketching group will meet on Saturday, March 28 at 10 AM at Tamp & Grind Coffee in downtown Alexandria. Participants will begin with coffee and fellowship before heading into the surrounding streets to sketch together. As with all FUMCA Urban Sketching events, participation is free and no prior experience is required.

The FUMCA Urban Sketchers group has been meeting regularly since October 2025, emphasizing presence, community, and creative engagement rather than established artistic skill. These gatherings encourage participants to slow down, observe their surroundings, and record what they see through drawing.

The April meet up will take place April 11 at 10 AM at the Alexandria Museum of Art. During that event, participants will have the opportunity to sketch downtown Alexandria and views of the Red River from the museum grounds and third-floor gallery. The morning will begin with an informative tour led by Gar Pickering, FUMCA Creative Engagement Director, exploring the museum’s medieval Spanish chapel reproduction from the 2003 Heart of Spain exhibition. The tour will discuss biblical themes represented in the chapel, the role of sacred imagery in Christian teaching, and its influence on the development of Western art. Sketchers may choose to study the chapel’s frescos or sketch nearby architecture and river views.

Admission to the museum on Second Saturdays is free, allowing participants to attend this sketching event at no additional cost as well.

Through partnerships with community spaces such as the Alexandria Farmers Market, Tamp & Grind Coffee, and the Alexandria Museum of Art, the FUMCA Urban Sketching Art Ministry continues to provide accessible spaces for creative expression while fostering connections between art, spirituality, and community life.

What is Urban Sketching?

At its core, urban sketching is the practice of drawing on location—indoors or outdoors—capturing what the artist sees through direct observation. It is about recording time and place: something happening, somewhere, at a specific moment.

Urban sketchers may use any medium, and the goal is not a polished, expertly executed finished piece. Instead, the focus is on capturing the essence of the moment. A drawing might be quick and loose with a short caption, or it may be developed more fully while remaining on site. As long as the drawing is created from firsthand observation and reflects lived experience, it qualifies as urban sketching.

While including the date or location is not required, written notes often help strengthen the storytelling aspect of the work. Unlike plein-air painting, which typically emphasizes aesthetic outcome, urban sketching prioritizes witnessing, documentation, and narrative.

Urban sketching also does not have to take place in a city. It can occur in urban, rural, or natural environments. The defining element is simply drawing on location to tell the story of a place in real time. In its narrative form, sometimes called reportage, urban sketching combines drawing with short written commentary to provide a visual account of events, culture, and everyday life.

Students from Central Louisiana schools earned top honors during the Natchitoches Regional National History Day Contest held Feb. 26 at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum.

Participants from Bolton Academy and Buckeye High School competed alongside students from schools in Natchitoches as part of the annual National History Day program. This year’s theme, “Revolution, Reaction, and Reform,” challenged students to examine turning points in history through research and creative presentations.

Students presented projects in several categories, including documentary, exhibit, paper and performance. The top four entries in each category advance to the Louisiana History Day state competition scheduled for April 11 at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The top two entries at the state level will then advance to the national competition held June 14–18 at the University of Maryland near Washington, D.C.

Bolton Academy students earned several top finishes at the regional contest. Isabella Croom and Skilyr Scroggs captured first place in the senior group exhibit category with their project on revolutions inspired by reactions to prison reform. Will Crooks placed first in the junior individual exhibit category with a project on the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Kennedy Stewart earned first place in the junior individual performance category with a project titled “Order of the Phoenix.” In the senior group performance category, Deekshita SenthilKumar, Elise Soileau, Lyla Taylor, Abigail Tubbs and Caroline Tubbs captured first place with a presentation on reactions to the Dust Bowl. Another Bolton Academy group consisting of Madyson Brunson and Mia Ellington placed second in the same category with a performance on Alice Paul and Lucy Burns and the Silent Sentinels.

Buckeye High School students also earned recognition. Jyllian Beran, Cody Duncan and Gavin Steimel placed second in the senior group exhibit category with their project exploring the history of Czech immigrants in Louisiana.

The regional contest was coordinated by Dr. Emily Bryant of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum. Judges included educators and historians from organizations such as Northwestern State University and the National Park Service.

Students advancing from the regional contest will present their work at the state competition in April for an opportunity to move on to the national stage.

Talent is common, but experience is rare. Here is how CAPA turns students into working professionals before they ever graduate. 

By Cole Gentry, Chief Marketing Officer at Northwestern State University

There is a moment of terrifying clarity that happens to every young artist. It usually strikes midway through a senior showcase or during the quiet drive home from an audition. It is the realization that raw talent, no matter how bright, is only a starting line. The world is full of people who can sing, paint, or write. The industry does not pay for potential. It pays for polish.

This is the hard truth of the creative life. The gap between having a gift and having a career is wide, and it is paved with rejection, technical demands, and the need for a relentless work ethic. Many young creatives hesitate here. They have the vision, yet they lack the professional-grade portfolio or the stage hours to make a casting director pause. They wait to start their careers until after graduation, only to find they are already years behind.

At Northwestern State University, inside the Mrs. H.D. Dear, Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), we operate under a different philosophy. We believe you cannot learn to be a professional by sitting in a classroom talking about it. You must do the work.

The halls of CAPA carry a specific energy. It is the sound of a piano practice room occupied in the early morning hours and the scent of oils in a painting studio late at night. Here, we do not view the arts as a hobby or a fragile dream. We treat them as a discipline.

This approach changes the trajectory of a student’s life.

When you walk through the doors of CAPA, you are not asked to wait for your turn. The hierarchy that exists at other institutions, where freshmen wait years to touch a camera or step into the spotlight, does not exist here. From your first semester, you are in the mix. You are auditioning for mainstage productions. You are hanging your work in gallery exhibitions. You are recording in professional studios and reporting for digital media outlets.

The faculty guiding this work are not retired observers. They are active artists, performers, and creators who understand the modern landscape of the industry. They know that a degree is necessary, but a reel is vital. They push students to build a body of work that stands up to scrutiny in New York, Los Angeles, or Atlanta.

Scott Burrell, Director of the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts and Professor of Theatre, emphasizes that the curriculum bridges the gap between student and professional. “We don’t ask you to wait until graduation to become an artist,” Burrell says. “We hand you the tools and the stage on day one. By the time you leave, you’re not starting a career. You’re continuing one.”

The results of this immersion are etched into playbills and credit rolls across the nation.

Look at the numbers. Twelve alumni have landed on Broadway. Graduates have appeared in over 120 film and television productions. Thirty-two professional dance companies feature NSU-trained talent. Our alumni are defining the arts. They are the graphic designers shaping global brands, the journalists leading newsrooms, and the music educators inspiring the next generation. 

This success stems from a curriculum that balances creative freedom with technical rigor. Whether it is the NASAD-accredited Fine & Graphic Arts program, the elite ensembles of the Department of Music, or the Department of Theatre & Dance, one of only 150 NAST-accredited programs in the country, the standard is excellence.

We understand that talent is the fuel, but training is the engine. From Theatre and Music to Art and New Media, Journalism, & Communication Arts (NMJCA), our programs are defined by cutting-edge collaboration rather than outdated instruction. We prioritize career training that is pertinent to the industry and vital to the student. For example, NMJCA students are currently producing nationally award-winning podcast series. The Department of Music routinely brings Grammy-nominated producers into the studio to work alongside faculty and students. The Department of Art’s Design Center for in-house internships was recognized as one of only twenty elite models in a 2025 study by the Louisiana Board of Regents.

When an NSU student walks across the graduation stage, they carry a resume. They have a network of peers and mentors who open doors. They possess the confidence that comes from having done the job a hundred times before the first paycheck ever arrived.

The creative world is competitive, but it is not impenetrable. It yields to those who show up prepared. If you are ready to stop dreaming about the work and start doing it, you belong here. The studio is open. The lights are on.

Whether you seek to command the stage or master the craft behind the scenes, you will find your place within CAPA’s professionally oriented programs. The invitation is open to join the Demon family. Apply to CAPA today, schedule your visit, and let’s get to work.

Explore CAPA: https://www.nsu.la/capa 

Schedule a CAPA Tour: https://www.nsula.edu/admissions/campus-tours/ 

Apply for Admission: https://www.nsula.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/ 

LAKE CHARLES – Seeded second in their divisions, the boys basketball teams from Alexandria Senior High and Peabody tip off in state semifinal playoff contests today hoping to reach Saturday championship games.

The contests are in Burton Coliseum on the south side of Lake Charles, on the third day of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Marsh Madness boys state tournament.

ASH plays at 4:30 today against a surprise team in the Select Division I final four, Edna Karr, which won only seven games last year. Karr, the 11^th seed, has navigated three playoff games, notably winning in the second round at sixth-seeded Archbishop Rummel last Tuesday.

Karr beat 14^th-seeded Captain Shreve 55-49 last Friday night to reach Lake Charles. Coach Lance Brasher’s Trojans dispatched neighborhood rival Tioga 50-42 in the quarterfinals after dominating 15^th seeded Carencro 73-46 in the second round.

Peabody, hoping to capture its 11th state title and 10th under Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Charles Smith, has a tough assignment at 8 o’clock against third-seeded Washington-Marion, which is playing in its hometown.

The Warhorses blew out visiting University Lab, the seventh seed, 71-31 last Friday night.  The Charging Indians won at home 68-52 over sixth-seeded John F. Kennedy in the quarterfinals.

Oh, how times have changed in the tournament bass fishing world. In the last 20 years, tournament bass fishing has had several things that have taken the sport to another level. The first being the most obvious, electronics and forward-facing sonar. But there have been a few other things like how anglers get information today. 

“Back in the day” as we old timers would say, getting information was sitting down with another angler and a paper lake map. You would use a highlighter to mark spots on the map where either he had caught bass before or places you might want to check. 

Anglers would spend hours staring at a waterproof paper map like it was the Holy Grail. We brought them along with us in the boat to make sure we hit every spot marked. We made notes on the map as to what we caught, what time we caught fish, what bait we caught them on and what depth the fish were. We made notes on the water temperature as well as wind direction. 

Maps were our main source of information on how a lake would set up for how we wanted to fish. Maps today are still very important, but now they’re on a screen, on our I-pads, cell phones and electronic units on our boats. 

But there were also other ways anglers got information just like they do today. Who has more information than an angler who guides on a particular body of water? It’s that guy that spends every day of the week taking people out fishing. This person is full of information that can be a real asset to a tournament bass fisherman. 

Also back in the day, we would meet a friend for lunch who maybe fishes a certain body of water frequently. He would tell you about spots that he knew about or had caught fish before. So, word of mouth was also a way we got information. 

Fast forward to 2026, and the information highway is insane. Today, there is so much information that the younger generation has grown up with that it’s mind blowing. Someone asked me before, “Can you get too much information?” 

Yes, too much information can create confusion and sidetrack you on what you need to be doing in order to compete in the tournament. Also, information is only good for so long, as bass fishing can change daily or even hourly. 

All anglers process information differently, and personally, I don’t like talking to a lot of anglers about what, how and where I need to fish. Over my 30-year career, I can only think of maybe twice that information actually paid off with either a win or cashing a check. 

To this day, I feel confident in my ability to find fish on my own. One of the first lessons I learned was that it’s hard to go and catch another angler’s fish. Even with good information about a certain spot, you still have to figure out boat positioning and the best way to approach the spot. 

A lot of people complain that today’s anglers are networking together and forming their own little information group, especially the rookies on tour. The young anglers today have come up through the ranks with college and high school fishing teams, where they communicate a lot. 

This is nothing new. Ever since professional bass fishing started, anglers have been forming partnerships with other anglers. That’s why anglers form small groups that travel and eat together, while developing true friendships and trust. 

But the younger generation of anglers today are doing some things that I feel may not be in good spirit of the sport. They have budgets they use to purchase weigh points or dots as they call it.  

That’s infringing on the integrity of the sport. This, in my opinion, is going too far and should not be allowed in tournament competition. 

Of course, just like so many other things today, money is a factor along with how much you have. Some of the younger anglers have budgets of $30,000 plus (provided by parents) to spend each season for weigh points. 

This is an unfair advantage whether you want to admit it or not. It’s proving the point that if you have money, you can compete for the win rather than just trying to cash a check.

It’s really hard to make it as a pro on your own. Today, you need that support system of information and money because it’s so difficult to fish against the best anglers on the planet on your own. It’s a different game today than it was 20 years ago.  

On March 11, 1970, the beginning of the end for one of the most influential bands in music history quietly unfolded. On that day, a press release tied to the upcoming solo album of Paul McCartney included a self-interview in which he confirmed he was no longer working with The Beatles.

Though tensions had been building within the band for months, McCartney’s public comments made what many feared official: The Beatles were effectively finished.

Formed in Liverpool in 1960, The Beatles — comprised of McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — had transformed popular music in less than a decade. From early hits like “She Loves You” to groundbreaking albums such as “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” the group reshaped recording techniques, songwriting standards and global celebrity culture.

By 1969, however, creative differences and business disputes had strained relationships within the band. Recording sessions for what would become “Let It Be” were famously tense, later chronicled in documentaries and studio footage that revealed the fractures behind the harmonies.

McCartney’s March 11 announcement did not immediately result in legal dissolution, but it signaled to fans around the world that the Beatles’ collaborative era had ended. The official breakup would follow in 1970 after legal actions were filed.

The news stunned fans and dominated international headlines. For many, the breakup symbolized the close of the 1960s themselves — a cultural shift away from the optimism and experimentation that defined the decade.

In the years that followed, each member embarked on successful solo careers, producing enduring hits and continuing to shape music independently. Yet the impact of The Beatles as a collective remains unmatched.

More than five decades later, March 11 stands as a pivotal date in music history — the day the world learned that the band that defined a generation was no more.

“How do I take our money off ‘subscription auto‑pilot’ and put it back under family control?”
 See what Ida says 

Funeral services for Mr. David Michael Swift will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, with Reverend Aaron Theard officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Ball, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Mr. Swift, 67, of Pineville, entered eternal rest on Friday, March 6, 2026, in his residence surrounded by his loving family.

He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who cherished the time he spent with his family. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, and could often be found relaxing while watching his favorite westerns.

A man of deep and unwavering faith, he loved the Lord and lived his life guided by that belief. Even during his time in hospice care, he made it a point to pray for his nurses, never letting them leave without offering them a prayer first.

He was known for being an excellent shot and took great pride in volunteering at the Woodworth Rifle Range, where he served as a Rifle Training Officer. His dedication, skill, and willingness to serve others left a lasting impression on those who knew him.

He will be remembered for his faith, his generosity, and the love he shared with his family and community.

He was preceded in death by one son, Christopher Michael Swift; his parents, David L. and Katie Swift; and one sister, Constance Swift.

Those left to mourn his loss and cherish his memory include his loving wife of forty-seven years, Martha Swift of Pineville; one son, Nicholaus Swift of Halle, Germany; two daughters, Angela Miller (Michael) of Scott, and Brittany Swift of Pineville; one grandson, Jonathan Swift of Halle, Germany; two sisters, Sharon Swift of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Diane Swift of Utah; and a host of nieces and nephews.

A time of visitation will be held at Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitation will resume in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.

Friends may post online messages of condolences for the Swift family by visiting http://www.rushfh.com

By JIM BUTLER

Notes from current Legislative Audit Reports:

Sheriff’s Office

General Fund revenues in most-recent fiscal year were $58.2 million; expenses totaled $58.7 million. 

Taxes accounted for $38 million revenue, fees another $12.3 million. 

Enforcement costs were $10.5 million, capital outlay $3.1 million.  

General Fund balance, $25 million. 

Department assures auditors systems in place to improve compliance with purchase order procedures, training in ethics, sexual harassment awareness and cybersecurity per state laws. 

Lecompte 

Combined revenues totaled $2.1 million, expenses $1.5 million. 

Net position grew to $6.76 million. 

Town told auditors it was continuing to work toward divesting self of Pie Festival, which auditors again noted fell short of complying with town financial procedures. 

Chamber of Commerce

The Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce had revenues of $718,000 and disbursements of $714,000. 

It is publicly audited because it receives governmental funds for programs and meetings. 

In the audit year those were from:

• City of Alexandria, $19,500;
• City of Pineville, $4,500;
• GAEDA, $1,800. 

Menard’s girls just finished an historic basketball season with a record-smashing senior scorer and rebounder named Meynard, and they achieved a mythical upset in the state semifinals. And what did their coach lose most sleep over through it all?

Their seeding for the playoffs.

As it turned out, getting a No. 4 seed rather than a No. 5 seed as Menard initially anticipated, was big. More than big. Huge. Menard and De La Salle of New Orleans tied for the coveted seed, and Menard won a complicated tiebreaker process for that seeding, and De La Salle was fifth.

“To have a quarterfinal game at home is huge,” said 60-year-old Menard coach Craig Whittington, who has 35 years in coaching at almost as many schools (just kidding). “In my book, a quarterfinal game at home gives you a 10-point advantage.”

After winning a district championship for their first time since the 2008 Lady Eagles shared the title, Menard received a first-round bye and then whipped Rapides, 56-23, in a Division III Select regional playoff.

Next up, the quarterfinals. At home.

Their opponent: De La Salle.

Last year, in Whittington’s first season as Menard’s coach, the Lady Eagles went to New Orleans for the quarterfinal round and lost to Academy of the Sacred Heart.

Flip the calendar to this year and Menard, playing before a rowdy packed house in its final home game, beat De La Salle, 47-32. The Lady Eagles’ reward for that victory was a trip to Marsh Madness at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond for the Division III Select Final Four.

The semifinal opponent: top-seeded, five-time state champion Lafayette Christian Academy. Menard had never won a girls basketball semifinal. Most recently, Menard lost in the semifinals in 2023 (against Episcopal-BR) and ’24 (Parkview Baptist).

Not only had the defending state champ, Lafayette Christian, won five straight state titles (in three different divisions) but eight of the last nine. As if awed to be playing on the same floor, Menard trailed by 16 at halftime and by 18 early in the second half. Then, something magical happened. Not all at once, but gradually, methodically.

The Lady Eagles cut the lead to 10 and played defense as if they were pick-pockets in a Dickens novel, consistently preventing LCA from scoring while whittling away its lead. Senior sensation Carly Meynard, whose mother, Tara Meher, is Whittington’s cousin, compiled 29 points and 8 rebounds, LCA missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Menard pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament with a 45-43 triumph.

Whittington, who won four state titles coaching at University Academy when it was affiliated with LSUA, came close last Friday to getting a fifth. Sixth if you count the state title, he was part of as an assistant to Robert Flowers (later a Menard girls coach) at Glenmora in 2005.

And Coach Whittington, in his two seasons at Menard, by necessity, had to shift from the up-tempo style he had coached at all his previous stops – at Bayou Chicot, Glenmora, Pine Prairie, University Academy (which since merged with Alexandria Country Day), and Sacred Heart of Ville Platte.

“Our team depth was not what it needs to be at that caliber of play,” Whittington said of the playoffs, where he played five players – all seniors – for most of the games, although having 13 eligible players on the roster. They needed to emphasize ball control, milking the clock and defense.

It worked for four quarters in the finale, with Menard leading by small margins most of the way. With Whittington’s 93-year-old father and 84-year-old mother in attendance, the Lady Eagles stayed out of foul trouble, controlled the tempo offensively, and, thanks to playing mostly zone defense, kept their legs fresh in the last four minutes.

Meanwhile, the 5-foot-11 Meynard, who has committed to play collegiately for Loyola-New Orleans, nearly propelled Menard to the win, scoring 18 points and grabbing 20 rebounds.

It seemed to be the game of a lifetime, reaching deep within herself to will her team to victory, but two days later Carly said, “I think I always play like that, giving all my effort, and going out and doing my thing.” The girl whose role model growing up was NBA legend Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers because he had a “dog mentality” and “never gave up,” extended her game to the max.

And it was like that every game she played.

She averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds a game this season. She scored 2,282 points in her high school career while snaring 1,686 rebounds – both school records. As a sophomore, she became the first Menard player to achieve 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in the same season. She will be playing in the LHSAA’s East-West All-Star Game at LCU on March 21.

In the summer before her junior season, she developed a cyst on her spine that sidelined her – and made walking difficult – until November – in time to resume play for the start of the season. Yet, she has dealt with back spasms during competition since.       

In the ultimate game, Rosepine tied it at game’s end to force an overtime.

That was one extra period too much.

Rosepine outscored Menard 9-1 in overtime to win its third state title in four years and become one of three Vernon Parish teams (along with Pitkin and Simpson) to return home with a state championship trophy.

Yet, Menard’s first outright district girls basketball title since ’01-02 and its first venture to the state finals – powered by Meynard and fellow seniors Kaylee Methvin, Madeline Roy, Sawyer Shelton and Jamie Bordelon – will live on in memory at the Coliseum Boulevard campus for decades.    

House Bill 6 would allow the parish to decide whether CO₂ pipelines and injection wells can operate locally.

A bill filed for Louisiana’s 2026 legislative session would give Rapides Parish officials the authority to decide whether carbon capture and sequestration projects can operate within the parish.

HB6_Rapides_CarbonCapture

House Bill 6, prefiled by Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, would allow the Rapides Parish Police Jury to determine whether Class VI carbon injection wells and carbon dioxide pipelines may be permitted locally. The measure was placed on the legislative interim calendar Jan. 23.

Johnson also filed two related measures. House Bill 5 would allow any parish governing authority — or local voters — to decide whether carbon capture projects may proceed in their jurisdiction. House Bill 7, called the Louisiana Landowners Protection Act, would repeal the state’s CCS unitization statute and remove the ability of private companies to use eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines and storage.

Rapides Parish is among the areas targeted for potential carbon storage. CapturePoint Solutions LLC has proposed the Central Louisiana Regional Carbon Storage Hub, which would span Rapides and Vernon parishes.

The legislation comes as opposition to carbon capture projects grows across Louisiana. Gov. Jeff Landry issued a moratorium in October 2025 on new carbon dioxide injection permit applications, though projects already permitted were not affected.

Two carbon capture sites currently operate in Louisiana — one tied to a CF Industries ammonia plant in Ascension Parish and another at a gas processing facility in Beauregard Parish.

Environmental researchers estimate at least 65 carbon capture projects have been proposed statewide, which could inject more than 135 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually into underground formations.

Industry groups, including the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, warn that parish-level bans or moratoriums could drive investment and jobs to other states.

The bill is currently pending before the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee.

The 2026 Louisiana legislative session opened Monday in Baton Rouge, with more than 1,300 bills filed.

The Rapides Parish Police Jury has rescinded the parishwide burn ban following recent rainfall.

The burn ban was officially lifted at 9 a.m. on March 9, 2026. Parish officials said the decision was made due to improved conditions after recent precipitation in the area.

Residents are still encouraged to use caution when starting outdoor fires, avoid leaving fires unattended and keep a water source nearby to help contain and control flames if needed.

Officials also thanked residents of Rapides Parish for refraining from outdoor burning during the period of dry weather.

For additional information, residents may contact the Rapides Parish Police Jury at 318-473-6660.

The TJ Maxx celebrated the grand opening of its new store in Pineville by giving back to the community with a $10,000 donation to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana.

Food bank officials said the donation will help provide meals to families experiencing food insecurity across the organization’s 11-parish service area in Central Louisiana.

The contribution comes as part of the retailer’s celebration of its new location and its introduction to the Pineville community. Food Bank leaders expressed gratitude for the support, noting that partnerships with local businesses play an important role in helping the organization continue its mission of fighting hunger in the region.

LAKE CHARLES – Six Plainview seniors had their high school basketball careers ended one game earlier than hoped Monday as the Hornets ran into a buzzsaw in the LHSAA’s Class C semifinals at Burton Coliseum in Marsh Madness.

After winning it all last year, bringing home a state title for the first time in 65 years, Plainview lined up against the same opponent they beat, 58-54, to capture the 2024-25 championship. This time, second-seeded Pleasant Hill was not only very good, but also, got some help from adversity that hampered the Hornets from the early stages of Monday’s game.

P-Hill scored the game’s first nine points, led 18-4 after the first quarter. The Hornets battled admirably in the second period, outscoring the Eagles 16-15. But despite Plainview’s efforts to hang in and rally, Pleasant Hill blew it open in the fourth quarter to record a 70-40 victory over the defending champions.

Plainview’s top scorer all year, Kendan Maricle, was the most obvious casualty, turning an ankle early in the game and unable to contribute anything close to normal. Caleb Calhoun stepped up with 21 points for PHS.

The third-seeded Hornets finished with a 23-8 record. Pleasant Hill improved to 37-10.

Calhoun, Maricle and the other five seniors – Alex Mendez, Brian Mendez, Tommy Tarver and Lane Thompson – helped the Hornets win 54 games against only 13 losses in their last two seasons.  

Pineville High School recognized Jessica Blood as its Support Staff of the Year during an event held March 9.

School officials said Blood plays a vital role in daily campus operations, assisting with financial management, working in the front office and helping wherever needed to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

Administrators and staff expressed appreciation for her dedication and the many ways she supports the school community.

Lowell K. “Sandy” Robinson was a deputy for the Tulare County California Sheriff’s Department until he was elected Sheriff in 1951.  From that election until the election in 1966, Sandy had easily defeated all others who vied for the office.  The November 8, 1966, election day was a disaster for Sandy because he received only about half as many votes as his contender received.  On January 1, 1967, he turned his office and the title of sheriff over to the incoming sheriff. 

One of Sandy’s daily tasks was to retrieve his mail from post office box number 510 at the Visalia Post Office.  It was a task that had become so routine that he performed it without much thought.  It was just one of the routine details of his daily life such as putting on his shoes and grabbing his car keys.  Soon after the election, Sandy decided to leave Visalia, California and move to Baxter Springs, Kansas to be near his parents and siblings.  In the chaos of moving, Sandy forgot to return his post office box key.  It remained on his keyring.  Sandy was still getting things settled in Baxter Springs when a local hotel manager resigned and moved to another town.  The hotel owner offered Sandy the hotel manager position and he quickly accepted.  Sandy had not set up his new address in Baxter Springs when he was hired for his new job.  When he visited the post office, he requested the same post office box which had been used by the previous manager just in case any mail intended for the hotel was delivered to that box.  After completing the necessary paperwork, the postal clerk gave Sandy the box key.  Stamped on one side of the key was the post office box number.  Sandy was surprised when he looked at the key and saw it stamped with the number 510.  Sandy had the same post office box number in Baxter Springs that he had in Visalia some 1650 miles to the west.

Sandy shrugged off the coincidence.  He made sure the new key worked, retrieved a few pieces of mail from the box, then put the key on his key ring with little thought.  Nearly two years went by, and checking his mailbox at the Baxter Springs Post Office became just another item on his daily routine.  Then in August 1969, Sandy pulled out his keyring and opened box number 510.  He retrieved the mail and was in the process of locking his post office box when he noticed that another key on his key ring was stamped “510.”  That is when he finally realized that he had forgotten to return his key to the Visalia Post Office.  Then, he wondered which of the two keys he had been using for nearly two years to get his mail.  Other than normal wear, the keys were practically identical.  Sandy tried both keys in each of the mailboxes in the Baxter Springs Post Office.  Although they would not open any other box at that post office, both keys opened post office box number 510.           

Sources:

1.     The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), August 25, 1969, p.5.

2.     The Daily Item (Port Chester, New York), October 1, 1969, p.8.

3.     “Lowell Sandy Robinson,” FindAGrave.com, accessed March 1, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28198671/lowell-sandy-robinson.  

Arah Kathleen Harville, affectionately known as Kay, passed away at the age of 82 on March 7, 2026 from a brief battle with bone cancer, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She is survived by her devoted husband of 62 years, Andy; her son Doug (Sherri); her daughter Dana Simmons (Ricky); and her cherished grandchildren, Weston Simmons (Katie, Wade Simmons (Rachel), and Loren Miller (Blaine). Kay is also survived by her brothers, Charles Roberts (Doris) and Hugh Roberts (Elaine), along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.

A lifelong resident of Pineville, LA, Kay found joy tending to her beautiful garden, crafting the latest trends, and cooking exceptional meals, particularly her famous chocolate pies. She cherished the holidays, relishing the opportunity to prepare grand feasts, host family and friends, and adorn her home with her handcrafted decorations.

Kay was an active member of First Baptist Church of Pineville, LA, where she se various capacities, from rocking babies to attending Sunday School. Her positive outgoing nature meant she never met a stranger, and she lived by the motto, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Kay’s legacy of love, kindness, and creativity will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.

The family would like to give thanks for the exceptional care and support given to her during this time by Dr. Michael Buck, Rapides General Hospital, Hilltop Nursing Home and Compassionate Care Hospice.