The Mayor and Town Council meeting for Cottonport will be held today, Wednesday, March 11, at 6pm. The meeting will be held at the Cottonport Community Center (939 Bryan St., Cottonport).
Mayor, Town Council meeting for Cottonport today at 6pm
Month: March 2026
Patrick C. Redmon sworn in as City of Bunkie Ward 10 Judge
After being elected unopposed in the most recent primary election, Patrick C. Redmon was officially sworn in as the City of Bunkie/Ward 10 judge on Monday, March 2. The oath of office was administered by ad hoc Judge Tiffany Sanders, after which Judge Redmon assumed the bench and held court.
A native of Bunkie, Judge Redmon has practiced law in Louisiana since 2008 and brings more than 15 years of legal experience to the position. Throughout his career, he has represented clients across South and Central Louisiana in both criminal and civil matters, earning a reputation for professionalism, diligence, and dedication to the law.
Judge Redmon succeeds Derrick “Digger” Earles, who resigned late last year after accepting an appointment from Governor Jeff Landry to serve the Louisiana Stadium and Exhibition District. With his swearing-in, Judge Redmon becomes only the fourth individual to hold the Bunkie City-Ward 10 judgeship since the Bunkie City Court was established in 1956. He follows Judges James Lee, James Mixon, and Earles.
Before assuming his judicial duties, Judge Redmon addressed those gathered for the ceremony, expressing gratitude for the confidence placed in him.
“I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and for the support of my family and this community,” Redmon said. “I intend to serve this court with fairness, integrity, and respect for every person who appears here. It is an honor to continue Bunkie’s strong judicial tradition, and I will work every day to earn that trust.”
BPD capture Honduran illegal alien sleeping in vacant property
A citizen came into the Bunkie Police Department on Thursday, March 5, and reported a male subject sleeping inside a vacant house located on Williams Street. Bunkie police officers swiftly responded to the location and made contact with the male subject. Upon seeing the officers, the subject began running away from them. After a brief foot chase and resisting Bunkie officers, the male subject was taken into custody without further incident.
While processing the subject, officers discovered that he had no identification on his person. The male subject stated to officers that he was from Honduras and was in the United States illegally. At this time, it is unknown how the subject arrived in Bunkie or his reason for being in the area.
Bunkie Police arrested the male subject on the following charges:
• Resisting an Officer with Force or Violence
• Flight from an Officer
• Remaining After Being Forbidden (Signage)
• Illegal Entry into the State of Louisiana by an Illegal Alien
The Honduran male was transported to the Avoyelles Parish DC-1 Jail and booked on the aforementioned charges. A detainer has been placed on the subject for DHS (Department of Homeland Security). His name and identity are pending at this time.
Assistant Chief of Police Brandon Horton released the following statement: “As always, I want to commend the brave men and women of my department who displayed courage and quick action in taking this individual into custody without anyone being injured. At Bunkie PD, we will always uphold our oath to enforce all local, state, and federal laws. The safety of our citizens will always be a top priority for me and my officers. May God bless our community and the citizens of Bunkie.”
Avoyelles Parish Weekly Weather Forecast
Avoyelles Parish is looking at some stormy weather and a lot of clouds. Temperatures will be all over the place, starting in the 80s before yoyoing between the 60s and 70s before settling into the 50s at the end of the forecast period. Friday and Saturday will see sun, but the clouds are coming right back.
Wednesday, March 11
A rainy morning with highs near 82°F and overnight lows around 50°F. The chance of rain in the morning and storms in the afternoon will be 70%. The night will start stormy, with a chance of severe storms and a chance of rain at 90%, before shifting into variable clouds.
Thursday, March 12
The day will be partly cloudy. Highs drop to 64°F, with nighttime temperatures dipping to 37°F. The night will feature clear skies, with winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Friday, March 13
The sun will come out on Friday, raising temps a little, bringing a high of 75°F. Overnight skies will be clear with a low of 47°F.
Saturday, March 14
Saturday will stay sunny and bump the temp up to 80°F for the high. Saturday night will see the clouds come back and a low of 58°F overnight.
Sunday, March 15
Temps will bump up a little again to a high of 82°F and a mix of sun and clouds. The evening and night will see partly cloudy skies with a low around 47°F. Clouds will increase as the night progresses with periods of rain after midnight – chance of rain will be 50%.
Monday, March 16
Cloudy skies early in the day, with temps dropping dramatically, with highs near 57°F and lows around 36°F. Nighttime weather will feature clouds from time to time, with winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday, March 17
Intervals of sun and clouds – but in spite of the sun, highs will drop a little more to 56°F. Overnight skies will see clouds from time to time. Overnight lows will warm up just a touch from the previous night, with a temp of 37°F.
Forecast Summary
Avoyelles Parish starts this forecast window with warm temperatures which will not persist, dropping dramatically over the forecast period. The period will start with a storm before eventually easing into sunshine, which will also not persist, with increasing clouds to follow.
- The storm that starts the forecast window carries a significant chance of both rain and severity, especially overnight.
- Temperatures will drop dramatically over the forecast window, starting with the 80s before dropping into the 60s, with a brief recovery into the 80s then plummeting into the 50s during the day. Nights will be cold.
- Following a sunny Friday and Saturday, clouds will be the name of the game.
Overall, the period is defined by a mix of clouds and sun, some rain, and rollercoaster temperatures.
Bill introduced to eliminate Louisiana vehicle inspection sticker requirement
BATON ROUGE — State Representative Larry Bagley has introduced House Bill 838, legislation that would eliminate Louisiana’s requirement for annual vehicle inspection stickers.
Bagley said the proposal has the support of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and is part of the governor’s legislative package for the 2026 session. Landry also highlighted the effort to eliminate inspection stickers in his opening remarks Monday during the joint session address marking the start of the 2026 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Louisiana’s inspection sticker program was created decades ago when vehicles lacked the advanced safety systems and diagnostic technology common in modern automobiles. Today, vehicles are equipped with onboard diagnostic systems that continuously monitor engine performance, emissions systems, and other mechanical functions. When an issue is detected, the vehicle alerts the driver through dashboard warning lights so repairs can be addressed.
Modern vehicles also include a range of built‑in safety technologies such as anti‑lock braking systems, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring systems, and computerized engine management systems. Bagley said these advancements provide drivers with real‑time information about the condition of their vehicles, making the decades‑old inspection sticker program increasingly outdated.
“Vehicle technology has changed dramatically over the years,” Bagley said. “Cars and trucks today already have sophisticated onboard systems that monitor performance and notify drivers when something needs attention.”
Bagley also noted that Louisiana is among a shrinking number of states that still require annual vehicle safety inspections. According to national transportation data, 35 states no longer require annual safety inspections for passenger vehicles.
“This legislation simply updates Louisiana law to reflect today’s technology while removing an outdated requirement for drivers,” Bagley said.
HB 838 has been referred to the House Transportation Committee for consideration.
Simmesport RISE to host a fish fry fundraiser March 21
Simmesport RISE will host a Fish Fry Fundraiser to support the Community Elderly Summer Fan Drive on Saturday, March 21, beginning at 10am at the Simmesport Health Hub.
Only $10 a plate — includes fish, fries, and coleslaw. Plus, grab some Cokes and cakes available for purchase.
Special shoutout to the Simmesport Aldermen who are pitching in to help. Come out, enjoy great food, and help make a difference in the community.
Tickets still available for Mansura VFD Spring Dinner
Tickets are now on sale for the Mansura Volunteer Fire Department Annual Spring Dinner on Sunday, March 29, 10am to 12pm. Tickets are a $13 donation and can be purchased from any Mansura firefighter or at the Fire Station.
The meal includes 1/2 pork steak, chicken leg quarter, baked beans, rice dressing, and a roll.
No tickets will be sold after Monday, March 23. Get tickets now.
Free yoga in Unity Park every Saturday in March
A free yoga class will be held at Unity Park in Cottonport every Saturday in March at 9am. Bring a towel or yoga mat; all ages welcome, and the class is beginner friendly. Come stretch it out with neighbors. Therapy is expensive – but stretching in the sunshine isn’t.
No Waiting in the Wings: The Career-First Approach at NSU’s School of Creative and Performing Arts
Talent is common, but experience is rare. Here is how CAPA turns students into working professionals before they ever graduate.
By Cole Gentry, Chief Marketing Officer at Northwestern State University
There is a moment of terrifying clarity that happens to every young artist. It usually strikes midway through a senior showcase or during the quiet drive home from an audition. It is the realization that raw talent, no matter how bright, is only a starting line. The world is full of people who can sing, paint, or write. The industry does not pay for potential. It pays for polish.
This is the hard truth of the creative life. The gap between having a gift and having a career is wide, and it is paved with rejection, technical demands, and the need for a relentless work ethic. Many young creatives hesitate here. They have the vision, yet they lack the professional-grade portfolio or the stage hours to make a casting director pause. They wait to start their careers until after graduation, only to find they are already years behind.
At Northwestern State University, inside the Mrs. H.D. Dear, Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), we operate under a different philosophy. We believe you cannot learn to be a professional by sitting in a classroom talking about it. You must do the work.
The halls of CAPA carry a specific energy. It is the sound of a piano practice room occupied in the early morning hours and the scent of oils in a painting studio late at night. Here, we do not view the arts as a hobby or a fragile dream. We treat them as a discipline.
This approach changes the trajectory of a student’s life.
When you walk through the doors of CAPA, you are not asked to wait for your turn. The hierarchy that exists at other institutions, where freshmen wait years to touch a camera or step into the spotlight, does not exist here. From your first semester, you are in the mix. You are auditioning for mainstage productions. You are hanging your work in gallery exhibitions. You are recording in professional studios and reporting for digital media outlets.
The faculty guiding this work are not retired observers. They are active artists, performers, and creators who understand the modern landscape of the industry. They know that a degree is necessary, but a reel is vital. They push students to build a body of work that stands up to scrutiny in New York, Los Angeles, or Atlanta.
Scott Burrell, Director of the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts and Professor of Theatre, emphasizes that the curriculum bridges the gap between student and professional. “We don’t ask you to wait until graduation to become an artist,” Burrell says. “We hand you the tools and the stage on day one. By the time you leave, you’re not starting a career. You’re continuing one.”
The results of this immersion are etched into playbills and credit rolls across the nation.
Look at the numbers. Twelve alumni have landed on Broadway. Graduates have appeared in over 120 film and television productions. Thirty-two professional dance companies feature NSU-trained talent. Our alumni are defining the arts. They are the graphic designers shaping global brands, the journalists leading newsrooms, and the music educators inspiring the next generation.
This success stems from a curriculum that balances creative freedom with technical rigor. Whether it is the NASAD-accredited Fine & Graphic Arts program, the elite ensembles of the Department of Music, or the Department of Theatre & Dance, one of only 150 NAST-accredited programs in the country, the standard is excellence.
We understand that talent is the fuel, but training is the engine. From Theatre and Music to Art and New Media, Journalism, & Communication Arts (NMJCA), our programs are defined by cutting-edge collaboration rather than outdated instruction. We prioritize career training that is pertinent to the industry and vital to the student. For example, NMJCA students are currently producing nationally award-winning podcast series. The Department of Music routinely brings Grammy-nominated producers into the studio to work alongside faculty and students. The Department of Art’s Design Center for in-house internships was recognized as one of only twenty elite models in a 2025 study by the Louisiana Board of Regents.
When an NSU student walks across the graduation stage, they carry a resume. They have a network of peers and mentors who open doors. They possess the confidence that comes from having done the job a hundred times before the first paycheck ever arrived.
The creative world is competitive, but it is not impenetrable. It yields to those who show up prepared. If you are ready to stop dreaming about the work and start doing it, you belong here. The studio is open. The lights are on.
Whether you seek to command the stage or master the craft behind the scenes, you will find your place within CAPA’s professionally oriented programs. The invitation is open to join the Demon family. Apply to CAPA today, schedule your visit, and let’s get to work.
Explore CAPA: https://www.nsu.la/capa
Schedule a CAPA Tour: https://www.nsula.edu/
Apply for Admission: https://www.nsula.
Cartoon of the Week: Just one more thing…
You know the moment. The meeting is wrapping up, chairs start shifting, and everyone thinks they’re about to head home. Then someone says the dreaded words: “Before we adjourn, I’ve got just one more thing.” Suddenly the agenda grows, the clock keeps ticking and what was supposed to be a quick meeting turns into a marathon. Around here, “one more thing” rarely means just one more thing.