News

After much research and review, the East Carroll Parish Communications District has signed a contract to upgrade and replace the outdated call taking system that it has been using for 12 years. Debra Hopkins, Director of the 911 District, signed the contract on behalf of the board at the Louisiana annual symposium in Bossier City on Monday, April 27, with three of her board members present, as well as assistant director, Gloria Wright.

The Memorial Day and Flag Retirement Ceremony will be held May 25, 2026 at Lakeside Park Gazebo beginning at 11:30 a.m. The popular Brown Bag Lunch, sponsored by Moses Shelby Chapter NSDAR, will be immediately after the ceremonies at Virginia Harris Hall, directly across the street from Lakeside Park.

SNAP benefit signup every Tuesday @ 9:30am-3pm East Carroll Parish Community Action Agency EAST CARROLL PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 1st Tuesday of month @ 6:30 pm • in the Board R oom, Administration building DEPT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DRIVER’S LICENSE OFFICE 1st Thursday of month from 9am-3 pm (lunch 12-1) East Carroll Parish Police Jury office building (old health unit) EAST CARROLL PARISH POLICE JURY COMMITTEES 1st Wednesday of month @ 10am • in the Police Jury Room EAST CARROLL PARISH POLICE JURY Tuesday following committee meetings @ 12 noon • in the Police Jury Room EAST CARROLL HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD 2nd Wednesday of month @ 10am • at Housing Authority, Mike Ave. LAKE PROVIDENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY 3rd Thursday of month @ 12 noon LPHA office, Foster St.

Ammual Memorial Day Ceremony • Lakeside Park Gazebo • May 25 • 11:30am • followed by brown bag fundraising lunch for $7 • 318-318-381-9547 for info.

May 2026 THURSDAY 7 DEPT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DRIVER’S LICENSE OFFICE 9am-3pm (lunch 12-1) East Carroll Parish Police Jury office building (old health unit) FRIDAY 8 Community Internet Conversation and Workshops • Grads in Gowns could win a free laptop • 1-3:30pm • East Carroll Parish Library • register at deltainterfaith.org/may8 Graduation for Briarfield Academy and General Trass High School • both at 6pm SATURDAY 9 Fifth annual Lake Providence Levee Festival • 5K run at 9:30am • music from 9am-4:30pm • food, crafts, information, drinks • www. lakeprovidenceleveefestival.com TUESDAY 12 Chair exercise for adults • 10am • ECP Library SNAP benefit signup 9:30am-3pm • East Carroll Parish Community Action Agency EAST CARROLL PARISH POLICE JURY 12 noon • in the Police Jury Room THURSDAY 13 EAST CARROLL HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD 10am • at Housing Authority, Mike Ave..

On April 15, 2026, a federal grand jury in Lafayette returned a four-count indictment charging Kelsi J. McDaniel, a 29-year-old Lake Providence resident, with one count of embezzling from the East Carroll Parish Housing Authority (“ECPHA”) and three counts of concealment money laundering relating to that embezzlement. McDaniel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the federal program theft charge, up to 20 years in federal prison for the money laundering charges, and three years of supervised release for each count.

When her friend, Leon Becker, got her into long distance running, Lillie Kate Thornton said she initially thought he was crazy. “A year ago, I could hardly run a mile,” she said. But with Leon’s support and rigorous everyday training, Lillie Kate shot for the stars. On February 21, she entered the 11th running of the Red Dirt Ultra, a 50K race in the heart of the Kisatchie National Forest near Natchitoches, Louisiana. And she won. Lillie Kate ran 33.7 miles in six hours, starting at sun up. Becker took second place in the 100K, a whopping 66 mile long race.

Non-resident landowners in Louisiana could soon buy a license to hunt the state’s black bears. A bill establishing a non-resident bear hunting license for landowners, carried by Rep.

A Declaration of Emergency (DE) expanding the CWD Control Area to Ouachita Parish was confirmed by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioners (LWFC). Commissioners approved the confirmation during their monthly meeting on April 9 at the Vidalia Convention and Visitors Center.

Early voting for the May 16 election starts Saturday, May 2, and continues (excluding Sunday, May 3) until May 9, from 8:30 a.m to 6 p.m. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is May 12 by 4:30 p.m.