State

Ville Platte Mayor Ryan LeDay Williams (center) greets Donashia Jack (14) on the court after the 5th seed Ville Platte Lady Bulldogs pulled off an upset against 4th seed Springfield in the quarterfinals. With the win, Ville Platte advanced to the girls’ basketball state semifinals. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Ville Platte Mayor Ryan LeDay Williams (center) greets Donashia Jack (14) on the court after the 5th seed Ville Platte Lady Bulldogs pulled off an upset against 4th seed Springfield in the quarterfinals. With the win, Ville Platte advanced to the girls’ basketball state semifinals. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Springing to state

News Staff
Monday, March 2, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor SPRINGFIELD - In 1810, 44 residents of Springfield played their part in the West Florida Revolution by assisting Baton Rouge rebels against the Spanish.
Senior Kye Smith - 120 pound champion

Senior Kye Smith - 120 pound champion

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Golden Quartet powers Basile to another crown

News Staff
Thursday, February 26, 2026
By: DARREL LEJEUNE LSN Editor There was no suspense nor second-guessing as the Basile Bearcat wrestlers dominated Louisiana’s Division III a few weeks ago in Bossier City — leaving no doubt who rules the mat.
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Balfa Week is announced

News Staff
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Lakeview Park & Beach serves as the backdrop for Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week from April 13 through April 17. Full time Balfa Week tuition includes all classes, meals, dances, and workshop. The tuition does not include lodging.
Sometime the action of the coaches on the edges of the wrestling mat are just as intense as the maneuvers of the wrestlers, themselves, as is obvious in the photos above of Coach Ben Bertrand as he cheered on his Bearcats during the recent La. High School Wrestling Tourney.

Sometime the action of the coaches on the edges of the wrestling mat are just as intense as the maneuvers of the wrestlers, themselves, as is obvious in the photos above of Coach Ben Bertrand as he cheered on his Bearcats during the recent La. High School Wrestling Tourney.

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Community + Character = State Crowns

News Staff
Thursday, February 26, 2026
By: DARREL LEJEUNE LSN Editor When the Bearcats captured their seventh state championship on Feb. 7, Head Coach Ben Bertrand’s first thoughts were not about trophies or banners, but about the people back home.
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State budget could face hundreds of millions in shortfalls

News Staff
Thursday, February 26, 2026
By: GRACIE THOMAS, DAKOTA LASZLO, and KYLAH BABIN LSU Manship School News Service BATON ROUGE – Federal and state budgeting policies could force Louisiana into structural budget shortfalls approaching $300 million in fiscal 2027 and more than $1 billion by 2029, the director of a nonpartisan think...
Mirlitons hold a special place in Louisiana’s culinary and horticultural heritage. (Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter)

Mirlitons hold a special place in Louisiana’s culinary and horticultural heritage. (Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter)

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Mirlitons are part of Louisiana’s heritage — and they’re easy to grow at home

News Staff
Thursday, February 26, 2026
By: OLIVIA MCCLURE LSU AgCenter Like a lot of people who grew up in Louisiana, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg has fond memories of eating casseroles and other dishes his mother prepared using mirlitons — a unique squash that has been grown in the state for generations.
Nixon Doucet (left) and Brecken Figueiredo (right) show off their fish they caught while competing in the LHSAA Bass Fishing Region I tournament at Toledo Bend. The two Sacred Heart anglers qualified for the state tournament. Also qualifying for state were Austin West and Jake Ardoin. (Photo courtesy of Kris Aguillard)

Nixon Doucet (left) and Brecken Figueiredo (right) show off their fish they caught while competing in the LHSAA Bass Fishing Region I tournament at Toledo Bend. The two Sacred Heart anglers qualified for the state tournament. Also qualifying for state were Austin West and Jake Ardoin. (Photo courtesy of Kris Aguillard)

Back in session

News Staff
Monday, February 23, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor After floundering the past several years in a state of dormancy, the Sacred Heart fishing team reincarnated and is back competing in tournaments. Now that it is back in session, the team wasted no time in finding renewed success on the open water.
Butler

Butler

Butler looks to better help farmers as chair of ag committee

News Staff
Monday, February 23, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor State Representative Rhonda Butler has been named as the first female to chair the state’s Agriculture, Aquaculture, Forestry, And Rural Development Committee. She is also the first state legislator from Evangeline Parish to hold the position.
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State begins restricting food stamp purchases

News Staff
Monday, February 23, 2026
By: NOLAN MCKENDRY The Center Square (The Center Square) − Louisiana residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can no longer use their benefits to buy soft drinks, energy drinks or candy starting Wednesday, as the state launches a two-year pilot it says is aimed at nudging...
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Suspect is charged in house fire

News Staff
Monday, February 23, 2026
EVANGELINE PARISH – Authorities have arrested a Turkey Creek man following an investigation into a deliberately set house fire that destroyed a Mamou home earlier this year. Fire crews with the Mamou Fire Department were dispatched around 3:12 p.m.
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