News

Most of the country will have its eyes turned toward New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl today as number two Georgia takes on number six Ole Miss. For East Carroll Parish residents, the game resonates with a personal connection. Wydett Williams Jr., the son of East Carroll’s sheriff and clerk of court, will take the field with the Ole Miss Rebels, bringing pride and excitement to his many relatives, friends and just plain fans in Lake Providence.

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Arrests as of December 28, 2025: East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office: 12/16/25 - Marcus Bland, 36, domestic abuse battery by strangulation. Bond $50,000.

As fireworks stands and tents experience increased business after Christmas, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents to prioritize both safety and awareness when purchasing and using fireworks.

Christmas came early for Josh Payne. First, he received word that he was one of the lucky winners of the bear lottery from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Then on Monday, December 8, 2025, he bagged the first bear killed in East Carroll Parish in many, many years. “My grandfather says he doesn’t even remember anyone killing a bear in his lifetime,” Payne said.

The time is drawing closer for the new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food restriction waiver to take effect in Louisiana. On February 18 of next year, SNAP recipients will no longer be able to purchase sugar-laden items with their SNAP benefits.

With a generous donation from the First Baptist Church of Lake Providence, the East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office was able to deliver Christmas toys and lunch for over 62 families in town earlier this week. Sheriff’s deputies, with the assistance of First Baptist Church members and volunteers, handed out bikes and toys to children in each family, and also provided them with a meal including a protein, starch, vegetable, dessert and bread. East Carroll Parish Sheriff Wydette Williams said that he is thankful for the assistance of First Baptist Church, and thankful that the sheriff’s office is able to continue this ministry for children who might otherwise not receive gifts at Christmas time.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is partnering with the Lake Providence Watershed Council and the East Carroll Bass Club to collect Christmas trees for use in a fisheries enhancement project on Lake Providence.

Banner offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 24 to Friday, Dec.

Despite not feeling well last Thursday night, Alderwoman Sucletter Brown-Crye attended the Lake Providence Board of Aldermen meeting in order to produce a quorum. Mayor Bobby Amacker presided over a business- as-usual meeting, after conducting the public hearing on a new ordinance.