Month: February 2026

Avoyelles Parish Weekly Weather Forecast

/ Megan Lowe

Avoyelles Parish is looking a more cloudy weather with initially warm then significantly decreasing temps and a chance for showers. Skies will be partly cloudy or mostly cloudy much of the week, with a break for sunshine toward the end of the forecast window. 

Wednesday, Feb. 18

An overcast day with highs near 80°F and overnight lows around 64°F. The afternoon will bring areas of dense fog, while the night will see winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday, Feb. 19

Cloudy skies early, partly cloudy in the afternoon. Highs reach 82°F, with nighttime temperatures dipping to 66°F with cloudy skies continuing.

Friday, Feb. 20

Rain showers early followed by cloudy conditions the rest of the afternoon. Highs climb to 83, with lows near 65°F. Areas of dense fog overnight with occasional rain showers.

Saturday, Feb. 21

Cloudy with a few showers and dense fog, with temperatures cooling compared to the previous day. Expect 77°F for the high and 45°F overnight. Mostly clear skies overnight.  

Sunday, Feb. 22

Temperatures dip again, leading to a high of 61°F and lows around 38°F. Few clouds and more sun, with mostly clear skies at night.

Monday, Feb. 23

Mainly sunny skies but continuing decreasing temps, with highs near 57°F and lows around 34°F. Winds light and variable at night with mostly clear skies.

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Partly cloudy again, with intervals of sunshine, with a slight temperature increase – highs near 64°F and lows around 47°F. Night will see partly cloudy skies with increasing clouds overnight.

Forecast Summary 

Avoyelles Parish starts this forecast window with warm temperatures before the clouds come to cool things off. Friday and Saturday will see some showers, but mostly it’s cloudy skies with periodic sunshine showing. 

  • The week will be consistently cloudy, ranging from partly to totally cloudy skies. Temperatures will start warm in the 80s before dropping into the upper 50s and rebounding into the 60s.
  • As the week progresses, the chance for rain will increase. The main chance for rain will be Friday and Saturday in the mornings, typically giving way to cloudy afternoons, generally accompanied by fog. 
  • Sunday and Monday will bring the sunshine without bringing significant warming.

Overall, the period is defined by cloudy, damp weather, cooling temperatures, and only precipitation risk off-and-on, featuring fog.

Council on Aging to hold series of Black History Month celebrations across parish

/ Megan Lowe

The Avoyelles Council on Aging will hold a series of celebrations across the parish in honor of Black History Month. All programs begin at 9:30am. The schedule of celebrations follows.

  • 2/19 – Cottonport
  • 2/19 – Mansura
  • 2/20 – Hessmer
  • 2/24 – Marksville
  • 2/25 – Moreauville

Every generation leaves behind a legacy. For more information, reach out to the Council on Aging.

Parish realignment to begin July 1, bringing changes for Catholic communities in Avoyelles Parish

/ cpoole003

Catholic churches across Avoyelles Parish will begin operating under a new structure July 1, 2026, as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria implements its “Together as One Church” pastoral plan.

In a Dec. 3 letter to parishioners, Robert W. Marshall Jr. announced the completion of the nearly two-year planning process. The first visible step will come June 1, 2026, when new clergy assignments are announced. From that point, pastors will have up to one year to carry out the required adjustments in their parishes.

For many rural congregations in Avoyelles Parish, the changes will mean new leadership structures, shared pastoral resources, and, in some cases, the closing of missions.

What is changing in Avoyelles Parish

According to diocesan documents, several missions in the parish are scheduled to close within one year of implementation:

  • Our Lady of Lourdes Mission in Fifth Ward
  • St. Martin of Tours Mission in Belledeau
  • St. Richard Mission in Hickory Hill
  • St. Thomas Mission in Bordelonville

Several churches will remain open but will share pastors or serve existing missions under a new collaborative structure:

  • St. Anthony of Padua Church (Mansura) and Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church (Mansura) will operate in a shared pastorate.
  • Holy Ghost Church (Marksville) and St. Richard Church (Hickory Hill) will share a pastorate (until the mission closure is finalized).
  • St. Mary’s Assumption (Cottonport) will serve the Mission of St. Thomas in Bordelonville.
  • St. Joseph Church (Marksville) will serve the Mission of St. Martin of Tours in Belledeau.
  • Sacred Heart Church (Moreauville) will serve the Mission of St. Genevieve in Brouillette.

Larger parishes in the area will continue with resident pastors, though some remain contingent on priest availability:

  • Marksville: St. Joseph Church.
  • Moreauville: Sacred Heart Church.
  • Plaucheville: Mater Dolorosa Church.
  • Bunkie: St. Anthony of Padua Church.
  • Simmesport: Christ the King Church.
  • Hessmer: St. Alphonsus Church (as long as sufficient priests are available).

What “closing,” “amalgamating,” and “suppressing” mean

Diocesan leaders emphasized that these terms have specific meanings in church law but may feel very personal to parishioners.

  • A closure means the church building will no longer be used regularly for Mass or parish activities. The final decision about what happens to the building — whether it becomes a chapel used occasionally, is sold, repurposed, or demolished — will be made following church procedures.
  • Suppression means a parish’s legal identity within the Church is extinguished. The parish no longer exists as its own entity, and its territory becomes part of another parish.
  • Amalgamation is a merger. One parish remains active while another is suppressed and folded into it. Assets, debts, and sacramental records transfer to the receiving parish.

What a shared pastor means

In shared pastorates, one priest or pastoral team oversees more than one parish. Each parish keeps its own finance and pastoral councils, bank accounts, and sacramental records. However, Mass schedules may be coordinated so the priest can travel between churches.

Priest salaries, benefits, and living expenses are shared among the participating parishes. For parishioners, this could mean changes in Mass times or combined ministries such as religious education and youth groups.

Why the changes are happening

The diocese cited several factors behind the restructuring, including a shortage of priests, declining Mass attendance, and financial challenges. In Avoyelles Parish, the focus is on creating a sustainable structure that ensures vibrant sacramental life for future generations.

Bishop Marshall acknowledged that these changes may be difficult for families in rural communities. However, diocesan leaders say the goal is to strengthen parish life and maintain pastoral care across the region.

As July 1 approaches, parishioners can expect continued communication from their pastors regarding specific timelines and Mass schedule adjustments.

Cartoon of the Week: Cut the Cord, Not the Budget

/ Megan Lowe

Remember when canceling cable was supposed to save us money? This week’s cartoon takes a playful jab at the modern household budget, where the “Streaming Services” column somehow rivals the mortgage. With platforms multiplying faster than passwords can be remembered, viewers may be wondering if they traded one big bill for five smaller ones that add up even faster. It’s a lighthearted look at subscription overload in the age of endless content — and endless monthly charges.

Registration is open for 2nd Annual Central Louisiana Master Gardeners Plant Symposium

/ Megan Lowe
The Central Louisiana Master Gardeners Association invites the public to attend the 2nd Annual Central Louisiana Master Gardeners Plant Symposium, “The Latest Dirt: Native Plants – Louisiana Favorites,” on Saturday, March 14, 9am to 2pm. 
 
Enjoy a full day of gardening inspiration featuring three guest speakers, local sponsors, volunteer club representatives, unique vendors, and a silent auction. The ticket price of $35 includes coffee, juice, breakfast snacks, and a light lunch – everything needed to fuel a fantastic day of learning and community.
 
The Symposium will be held at the Main Street Community Center (708 Main Street) in Pineville. To register follow the link below or contact DD Lamartiniere at ddl394@att.net or 318-240-8231. Registration link: https://www.zeffy.com/…/5a29f3c4-7198-4316-88b1…

APSB issues Public Meeting announcement for February

/ Megan Lowe

Notice is hereby given that at its meeting to be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 5pm at the Avoyelles Parish School System Central Office (221 Tunica Drive West, Marksville, LA), the Parish School Board of the Parish of Avoyelles, State of Louisiana, plans to consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling elections to be held in (i) the Parish of Avoyelles, State of Louisiana, for school purposes, to authorize the levy of a sales and use tax therein and (ii) Parishwide School District of the Parish of Avoyelles, State of Louisiana, to authorize the levy of ad valorem taxes therein.

APPJ soliciting quotes from painters

/ Megan Lowe
The Avoyelles Parish Police Jury is soliciting written quotes from qualified painters to paint one entire floor of the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse, located at 312 N. Main Street, Marksville.
 
The scope of work includes all labor, materials, and equipment necessary to complete the project in accordance with applicable safety standards and industry practices.
 
Interested contractors may submit quotes and request additional information by contacting:

Jamey Wiley, Secretary/Treasurer
(318) 253-9208
 
Quotes must be received no later than Wednesday, March 4, at 4pm.
 
The Avoyelles Parish Police Jury reserves the right to reject any and all quotes and to accept the quote deemed to be in the best interest of the Police Jury.

Agents cite three men for deer hunting violations in Avoyelles Parish

/ Megan Lowe

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited three subjects for alleged hunting violations in Avoyelles Parish on Feb. 9.

Agents cited Joseph Ducote, 28, of Mansura, for hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting deer using illegal methods, hunting deer illegally by boat, criminal trespassing, failing to tag harvested deer, possession of illegally taken deer, and taking over the limit of deer.

Agents cited Chancellor Williams II, 28, of Bunkie, for hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting deer illegally by boat, criminal trespassing, hunting without deer tags in possession, and possession of an illegally taken deer.

Dillon Bordelon, 32, of Moreauville, for criminal trespassing, hunting deer using illegal methods and failing to tag harvested deer.

Agents received complaints about multiple subjects for night hunting for deer from a vessel in the Little River area of Spring Bayou in Marksville.

During the investigation, agents learned that Ducote harvested five antlered deer and Williams harvested two antlered deer all at night in the month of December with a .17 caliber rifle. They used a boat on Little River to shoot deer and then went onto private property to retrieve the deer.

Agents also found that Ducote harvested and tagged an antlered deer on Jan. 21, which put him at six antlered deer for the season. The seasonal limit for antlered deer in this area is three per licensed hunter.

Agents also uncovered evidence that Bordelon utilized Ducote’s camp to trespass with an all-terrain vehicle to harvest an antlered deer on Jan. 25 utilizing a rifle during the primitive weapons only season.

Agents seized the .17 caliber rifle with scope and five deer heads with antlers.

Hunting deer during illegal hours brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Possession of an illegally taken deer carries a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Hunting deer using illegal methods and taking over the seasonal limit of deer brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for each offense. Hunting deer illegally by boat, hunting deer without possessing deer tags and failing to tag deer carries up to a $350 fine for each offense. Criminal trespassing brings a $100 to $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.

Ducote will be assessed with civil restitution totaling $7,200 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer. Williams will be assessed with civil restitution totaling $3,200 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer. Bordelon will be assessed with civil restitution totaling $800 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer.

Agents participating in the case are Sgt. James Bruce, Sgt. DJ Anderson, Corporal Ryan Durand, Corporal Kenneth Robertson, Senior Agent Lane Causey, and Corporal Micheal Thacker.