Notice of Death – July 22, 2025

Larry Gene Moses
August 20, 1943 – July 11, 2025
Service: Thursday, July 24, 2025, 2pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Marksville.
 
Jessie D. Dauzat
September 4, 1962 – June 25, 2025
Service: TBA
 
Avoyelles Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or billvance.erg@gmail.com. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to billvance.erg@gmail.com.)

Arrest Report

The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.


Avoyelles Parish Litter Abatement program receives $10,000 for litter surveillance cameras

The Avoyelles Parish Litter Abatement program applied for and has been granted $10,000 to purchase litter surveillance cameras in order to catch gross and intentional littering through out Avoyelles Parish. The Program is working in conjunction with the Keep Louisiana Beautiful program to clean Avoyelles Parish up.

Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) is a state program under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism that promotes personal, corporate, and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. KLB supports local communities through programs and resources for litter education, prevention, removal, enforcement, beautification, recycling, waste reduction, and sustainability initiatives. KLB is affiliated with national organization, Keep America Beautiful, and is supported by a statewide network of Community and University Affiliates. To learn more, visit KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org.


Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,

My name is Lucas Hubbard, and I grew up in Avoyelles Parish. Growing up in Avoyelles is something I was once proud of, from playing football at Avoyelles High and running track to going to Afghanistan in 2003-2004.

Nowadays I am embarrassed to have to say that I am from Avoyelles. The politics in Avoyelles need a complete overhaul and rebuild.

In 2019 I relocated to Hot Springs Arkansas and fell in love with living on the lake and being in the mountains. It was a much-needed fresh start in life. In Arkansas things were going great until I received notice that the 12th Judicial District Court was making custody decisions concerning my minor child while we were domiciled in Arkansas.

That was in December 2021 when an Ex Parte order was issued giving custody of my minor child to my mother, Carrie Clark, the order was only valid for 20 days until a hearing could be held. The order was not executed until May 12, 2022, almost six months after the expiration date on it.

I reported kidnapping because someone was paid to carry out the plan. I suffered for 11 months until April 3, 2023, when I was finally able to get my case in front of Judge Bennett.

Going in front of Judge Bennett was the easiest court appearance I have ever had to attend in my life, Keith Manuel the other attorney failed to follow Procedural and Substantive Due Process of the law, I was never served on any paperwork, never attended the Ex Parte hearing, and lost everything I owned in
the process from failing to complete the remodel of my home in Arkansas because of triggered PTSD, going crazy worrying about my daughter.

The other party involved took it as an insult when Judge Bennett vacated every order that was signed on their behalf. Custody was once again awarded to me instantly.

My daughter and I immediately returned to Hot Springs with the intention of moving to Tampa Bay Florida later that same summer. Things were going great, I had my kid in Taekwondo lessons, we went to the movies on the regular, went ice skating, go kart riding, and we had fun. I walked her back and forth to school every day. I made sure that she was ok and had everything she needed.

Some people in Avoyelles Parish just could not handle losing in court, so on July 27, 2023, someone drained the oil from the Mercedes Benz I was driving and the engine locked up in Little Rock. On August 1, 2023, someone intervened in the divorce from my first wife even though there was still a judgment owed to me on it.

On August 7, 2023, my daughter was kidnapped from my home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. There was a dirty police officer involved, dishonest investigator from DHS, crooked landlord, crooked real estate broker, and a group of Aryans from Hot Springs. My daughter was listed as a runaway juvenile instead of a kidnapping.

Once again I contacted the Little Rock FBI Office and got nowhere fast due to the fact that Darlene Shockey, my ex-girlfriend’s mom, is a deputy clerk of court for Hot Springs County and told her contact at the FBI office that I was mentally disabled and not to believe anything I said, just so she could cover up her family’s involvement in the situation. I have been fighting for my kid since this happened and our good old judicial system in Marksville has kept me away from my kid with a temporary order.

I have only got to see my kid a half dozen times since August 2023 and have not gotten to see her at all since April 27, 2024. Judge Spruill, who is presiding over this matter, is nowhere near the caliber of Judge that Mark Jeansonne was. Judge Spruill had me attend over half a dozen pretrial conferences that I was not allowed to be a part of to defend myself from false allegations. I put the whole bunch of them in federal court, eight defendants and six of them got dismissed without prejudice. I am amending the complaint and giving it right back to them.

I’ve lost my home and possessions twice, several vehicles, some of the most precious years of my kid’s life, all because of a court system that’s about as straight as Highway 451 that shouldn’t have been making custody rulings in the first place due to lack of personal and subject matter jurisdiction. I even was
arrested twice for violating a vacated court order, spent 10 days in the Avoyelles Parish Jail and suffered from three bulging and degenerate discs in my neck, the C4, C5, and C6.

I am quite sure that they will figure out some kind of way to lock me up again for writing this, but I do not care, the people in Avoyelles need to know exactly how crooked our court system is and how much our Sherriff will sweep something underneath the rug to keep it from being exposed. It is amazing what a thick white envelope in a trash can in a certain office in the courthouse or handed under the table at Fresh Catch will get for you in the 12th JDC.

I cannot even get the court to properly hear the closing of a tudorship that was done on me as a child to release money that is a large amount that is mine, instead they are letting the other party use it as their retirement fund. Judge Bennett himself told me in chambers on September 1, 2024, that he knew that I
was done wrong. I suffered $343,289.38 in losses from monetary damages.

Why isn’t one of our proud officials doing something to make it right instead of hiding in federal court crying about “lack of jurisdiction”? I am a Pro Se Plaintiff in United States District Court and have given four attorneys with a top-notch education a run for their money and still have two plausible claims. I am just completely sick of corrupt politics in Avoyelles Parish and feel like everyone that calls Avoyelles home should know about this situation.

I think that if people with political power would actually use it in the way the forefathers of this country meant for it to be used, we would have a war on poverty instead of judging a disabled veteran that is prescribed a Louisiana Medical Marijuana Card. I am a musician too and I have already started writing
an album DON’T HATE ME JUST CAUSE I’M A LIL COOLER VOLUME 1 coming soon by November 22. I hope and pray that this letter touched the hearts of the people in Avoyelles Parish.

Sincerely,
Lucas Hubbard


Bunkie Chamber reflects on events, growth

Given the many events and growth that has happened over the last few weeks, the Bunkie Chamber of Commerce took a moment on its Facebook profile to reflect and celebrate.

  • Bunkie enjoyed another amazing Corn Festival, a cherished tradition that brings everyone together.
  • Bernice’s Sandwich Shop was passed on to the next generation – a legacy continued.
  • Lolo’s Naturals expanded with a brand new full coffee shop inside their store.
  • Freedom Behavioral Bunkie officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
  • Griffin’s Antiques & Main Street Market now opens bright and early at 7:30am, serving up breakfast.

The Chamber also took a moment to shout-out several local businesses. Here are just a few places to the Chamber recommended:

  • Bunkie Pizza Shack – Delish menu options.
  • Zyria’s Boutique – stylish and affordable fashion right here in town.
  • Steeles Florist and Jewelry – beautiful custom arrangements and unique gifts.
  • BeEncourage Resale – faith-filled finds and upscale resale treasures.

So many local businesses are growing, innovating, and contributing to the energy in Bunkie.


Simmesport VFD to host open house July 20

The Simmesport Volunteer Fire Department invites the public to its Open House to celebrate their  new fire truck and lifesaving equipment.

The Open House will be held Sunday, July 20, at 4pm at the Simmesport Fire Station. 

Bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun, learning, and community spirit. There will be a fire truck walkthrough and photo opportunities and a meet and greet with local firefighters. 

Come show support and see the equipment that helps keep the community safe. 


MHS announces new Head Boys Basketball Coach

Marksville High School will welcome Coach Antonio “O’kie” Benjamin as the new Head Coach of the Marksville High School Boys Basketball Team. 
 
Married to Erica Benjamin, together they have 4 beautiful kids: Armonii, Acire’, Addison, and Ashton. As a former Marksville High student, Coach received All-District 1st team in football and basketball, played on the 33-4 Marksville Stage Runner-Up team (04-05), and named All-State HM.
 
Coach continued his journey playing Junior College basketball at Bevill State Community College (2007 ACCC State and Region XVI Champs) and played Division II Basketball at Ouachita Baptist University (2007-2008 Gulf South Conference Champs).
 
Coach O’Kie has an impressive list of accomplishments that MHS will help add on to:
  • Avoyelles Charter 2012-2025
  • 2x LHSAA State Champions – 2023 / 2024
  • 2025 LHSAA State Runner-Up Class B
  • 2018 2A State Semi-Finalists
  • LHSAA Class B Coach of the Year Award – 2022 – 2023
  • 2023 – 2024 NHSACA Boys Basketball Coach of the Year
  • 2023 – 2024 NFHS Coach of the Year for Louisiana
  • 2023 – 2024 District 5-B Champions
  • 2022 – 2023 District 5-B Champions
  • 2018-2019 District 4-2a Coach of the Year
  • 2018-2019 District 4-2a Champions
  • 2018 Cenla Coach of the Year
  • 2017-2018 District 4-2a Co-District Champs
  • 2017-2018 District 4-2a Co-Coach of the Year
“I’m excited to be home and ready to get to work. I look forward to putting on that purple and gold again and helping these students athletes reach their full potential!” stated Coach O’kie.

APL to host “Are You Feeling Sciencey?”

The Marksville Branch of the Avoyelles Parish Library will host a Science Day program, “Are You Feeling Sciencey?” on Friday July 18, 1pm-3pm. Four different STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities will be available for children to explore. Activities recommended for grades k-6.

Limited seating. Registration for this program is now open. For more information, call library headquarters at 318-253-7559.


Bunkie Middle School Site Revitalization survey opens

For the past couple of years, the Bunkie Middle School gym has been back online, serving the city’s youth via educational, recreational, and character-building programs. Exciting upgrades are on the way for the gym.
 
Complete the survey In the link below. Public input is essential as Bunkie moves forward in the restoration and revitalization of this vital, historic community resource.
 

Our Lady of Lourdes to host Allons Souper a’Lourdes, Jr. Taste Fair July 26

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Fifth Ward has issued a call to all junior chefs for the Allons Souper a’Lourdes, Jr. Allons Souper a’Lourdes, Jr. is a Taste Fair Event showcasing the talents of young cooks, ages 18 and under.

The event will be held on Saturday, July 26, from 5-7pm in the Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall.

Registration is still open to chefs 18 years or younger. Adults can ‘assist’ the cooks. Call 318-729-2851 for registration information.