News

August 22 • events at the EC Library • Fall Paint and Sip • 10am • Parenting Class • 4:30-6pm • call 559-2615 for more information. Poverty Point World Heritage Festival • Saturday, September 21 • starts at 9am • call 318-501-0708 for more information..

The sights and sounds of smooth rhythm and blues music, along with children playing and laughing, reverberated across downtown Lake Providence. The aroma of the world's finest soul food cuisine drifted through the air, as the townspeople gathered. A light breeze rolled off the Mississippi River, bringing some relief from the brilliant August sun. With their booths dressed in vibrant multicolors, the vendors sold their wares as they likely did in the 1830s when the Lake Providence area was settled. Intertwined with artists and soul food chefs, they surrounded the historic East Carroll Parish Courthouse, creating a majestic scene against the blue sky and lush green trees. It was a lovely sight, with people from all walks of life enjoying this beautiful Lake Providence day.

After a discussion that spanned several meetings, and with each board member commenting on the issue, the East Carroll Parish Hospital Board voted four to one to outsource its employee drug testing to Delta Recovery.

Having a baby at 16, while still in high school, could be a life-changing event, but when you are as strong and determined as Cadence Grey, you take the lemons in your life and make lemonade. “Quitting school was not an option,” Cadence said. “I was determined that I was going to stay in school and I was going to excel.

A Lake Providence man is facing multiple charges after allegedly ramming the car of his ex-girlfriend, forcing it off the roadway where it came to rest in a ditch after hitting an electrical pole. Gregory Jones, 47, has been charged withdomesticabusebattery, simple criminal damage to property, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

East Carroll Parish Sheriff Wydette Williams better equipped his staff last week with the addition of body cams to be worn on all the field deputies’ uniforms. “The body cams will give us the opportunity to record interactions between the public – suspects and victims – and the law enforcement officer,” Williams said, adding “Also it will relay to the public that we want to demonstrate complete transparency for our community.”

Arrests as of July 29, 2024: East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office: 7/22 – Antron Janell King, 25, charged with domestic abuse battery, flight from an officer. Bond is set at $1,000.

The United States Department of Health and Human Resources has announced a new 988 helpline number to make it easier for residents to get the help they need in times of crisis. The new three-digit number replaces the 10 digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number. The Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health has engaged Recovery Innovations as a consultant to provide Technical Assistance to Improve the Interoperability between 988 and 911. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers in the United States that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) hatcheries produced and stocked approximately 4.2 million freshwater sportfish into 50 waterbodies statewide, including Lake Providence, during the spring 2024 stocking season. The stocked fish primarily consisted of Florida Bass (4.2 million) and Hybrid Striped Bass (67,100).

East Carroll schools will soon have another layer of protection with the installation of a panic button that will speed up emergency response. The RAVE Mobile Safety Panic Button is mandated and financed by the State of Louisiana who has begun preparing the East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office and local schools to put the panic button in place.