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1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bitesized pieces 1 medium onion, chopped 1 bell pepper, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup Louisiana brown rice, rinsed 2 cups no-salt-added chicken broth 1 can (14.5 ounces) no-saltadded diced tomatoes 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon paprika ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 1 cup frozen okra Set the electric pressure cooker to the sauté setting. Add olive oil and cook chicken for 3 to 4 minutes.

A tattoo on a suspect in a totally unrelated burglary led East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s deputies to arrest a suspect who is believed to have committed three church burglaries in the past weeks. Twenty-eight-yearold Antoine Albright was arrested and charged with two counts of simple burglary and one felony count of simple criminal damage to property after Investigator Tystin White noticed a unique tattoo while looking at photos taken from another burglary investigation.

Arrests as of September 7, 2026: East Carroll Parish Sheriff: 8/30/26 - Toni Hutto, 55, domestic abuse battery. Bond $500.

The John H. Scott Memorial Fund recently announced that they recently broke the top six in the state in sign-ups for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for two months in a row. It seems that the whole world is mourning the loss of this giving lady with a big heart. It is great to know that her legacy is everlasting with her free books for children. The fund memorial credits these ladies with making this distinction possible: Tracy Reynolds — Lake Providence educator who was with us from the beginning, helping us launch and grow the program in Lake Providence. Thank you for showing up for our community’s youngest readers.

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.

Diaper Giveaway • sponsored by Together for Hope-LA at Hope House, Scarborough St. • 4-5:30pm • September 24 (A-M), October 29 (N-Z), November and December days to be announced Celebrate Public Lands Day, Poverty Point World Heritage Site • 10am on Saturday, September 26 • ranger-led hike begins at museum, takes around 2 hours • event is weather permitting • $6 admission fee, $4 for seniors • 6859 HWY 577 in Pioneer • call 888.926.5292 or 926.5492 for info Poverty Point World Heritage Fest will be on October 24th, in Oak Grove, Louisiana. We can’t wait to see you there for a day of family fun celebrating ancient history right here in West Carroll Parish!

September 2026 FRIDAY 11 Chair exercise for adults • 10am • ECP Library Picks for football contest due at Banner offices • by 5pm • see rules on page 6 MONDAY 14 Chair exercise for adults • 10am • ECP Library TUESDAY 15 SNAP benefit signup 9:30am-3pm • East Carroll Parish Community Action Agency LAKE PROVIDENCE ALDERMEN FINANCE COMMITTEE 3:00pm • in the Mayor’s Court room, City Hall WEDNESDAY 16 Chair exercise for adults • 10am • ECP Library THURSDAY 17 Chair exercise for adults • 10am • ECP Library LAKE PROVIDENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY 12 noon • LPHA office, Foster St. LAKE PROVIDENCE BOARD OF ALDERMEN 5:30pm • in the Mayor’s Court room, City Hall.

The East Carroll Parish Hospital board appointed three new members to its medical staff in a short monthly meeting last Thursday. Doctors Matthew Allison and Richard Keebler are both radiologists who will be on staff to read and interpret testing performed continued...

A new truck staging area, meant to ease Highway 65 congestion during harvest season, is moving forward, according to Lake Providence Port Director Bryant Killen. The project calls for leasing or acquiring 11 acres on the west side of the highway, across from the port, from Terral RiverService, who the board says has been cooperative.

Time to play East Carroll Banner's 48th annual Football Picks contest, which begins today and continues for 11 more weeks. The picks this week include high school and college games, since the pros don’t open their regular season until September 9.