The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers from Aug. 10 through Aug. 16.
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.
The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office has shared the following official disaster recovery announcement issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding Rental Assistance for local residents.
FEMA has announced that Rental Assistance is available to eligible Louisiana renters, homeowners, and students who are unable to live in their primary residences due to damage caused by Tropical Storm Arthur from June 17–24. FEMA Rental Assistance is a temporary grant to help pay for temporary housing—such as a house, apartment, recreational vehicle, or other option—while one’s permanent home is being repaired, rebuilt, or while you search for a new place to live.
Eligible parishes include Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Terrebonne.
FEMA emphasizes that grant funds must be spent strictly on approved rental expenses and all receipts must be retained. Covered costs include temporary housing rent, security deposits, and essential utility costs (gas, electric, water). Costs NOT covered include Internet and cable television services , replacement of personal property (such as lost food or clothing) , home repairs, or transportation and fuel costs.
Initial grants are determined on a case-by-case basis and cover one to two months. Continued Temporary Housing Assistance may be granted for three-month periods upon submitting receipts and documentation proving prior funds were used properly. If a person has insurance and the policy includes Additional Living Expenses (ALE) or temporary housing benefits, the person must provide FEMA with that insurance claim settlement, proof of exhaustion, or denial documentation to determine grant eligibility.
The application deadline is Thursday, Oct. 1. All applications and case reviews are managed directly by FEMA. To apply:
* Online (Fastest): Visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
* FEMA Mobile App: Download the official FEMA App on your smartphone.
* FEMA Helpline: Call toll-free at 800-621-3362. Phone lines operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with multilingual support (Press 2 for Spanish). Relay service users (VRS, captioned phone) can provide FEMA with their service number.
* Disaster Recovery Centers: Find an in-person center by entering your ZIP code at FEMA.gov/DRC.
Additional program information can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4927.
This public safety notice is shared as a courtesy to residents by the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Another week of hot and humid weather is what Avoyelles Parish has to look forward to – another week of sun, clouds, and thunderstorms. High temperatures will range all over the 90s – low to middle to upper. Lots of clouds predicted for this forecast window, with a brief pause for isolated thunderstorms – then rinse and repeat.
Wednesday, Aug. 26: Partly cloudy skies with possible stray storms. Partly cloudy skies followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms later during the night; chance of rain 50%. High near 97, low around 74.
Thursday, Aug. 27: Thunderstorms likely in the morning, then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon; chance of rain 60%. Occasional showers with a thunderstorm possible overnight; chance of rain 40%. High near 92, low around 73.
Friday, Aug. 28: Intervals of clouds and sun with the chance of an isolated thunderstorm in the afternoon; chance of rain 30%. Partly cloudy skies overnight. High around 94, low near 71.
Saturday, Aug. 29: Sun and clouds mixed. Partly cloudy skies overnight. High near 95, low around 72.
Sunday, Aug. 30: Mainly sunny skies with a few clouds later in the day. Partly cloudy skies at night. High near 97, low around 73.
Monday, Aug. 31: Sunny early in the day followed by scattered thunderstorms developing later; chance of rain 30%. Partly cloudy overnight. High near 96, low around 74.
Tuesday, Sept. 1: Mostly sunny skies with a few clouds in the afternoon. Partly cloudy overnight. High of 95, low of 73.
Avoyelles Parish will remain under a persistent summertime weather pattern through the week, featuring hot afternoons and high humidity with clouds making frequent appearances. Isolated thunderstorms are possible but none are forecast to be severe. Rinse and repeat of last week going into this week. Heat index values may exceed 100 degrees during the afternoon, so residents are encouraged to stay hydrated and take frequent breaks if working outdoors.
The City of Bunkie recently shared an update on its ongoing Operation Fight Blight project, this time focusing on abandoned and/or inoperable automobiles.
Eleven (11) abandoned/inoperable vehicles that cleared due process procedures were addressed. Four (4) were removed by owners, six (6) were resolved via towing, while one (1) matter is pending the result of a citation.
In the case of the citation, refusing to remove inoperable vehicles following notification/due process, refusing to allow them to be moved, or placing impediments to prevent them from being removed (ex. blocking with another vehicle or placing them behind an enclosure) is a violation of the law subject to the issuance of a summons to appear in court.
The problem of abandoned/inoperable vehicles remains; the city wants to work with residents on a solution.
The mayor and city council are urging residents who have such vehicles, yet have no means to dispose of them, to call City Hall for assistance. (318-346-7663)
Movie Bunkie Forward hosted a Lunch & Learn on Aug. 20 that featured Nancy Barr, RN, and Super Patches.
Ms. Barr, a nurse with more than 30 years of healthcare experience, introduced participants to Super Patch technology, explained the different patches and their intended uses, and answered questions about how they are designed to support everyday wellness.
MBF expressed its appreciation to everyone who joined attended the event, asked questions, shared experiences, and enjoyed lunch together. Their Lunch & Learn sessions are about more than gaining information—they’re about creating opportunities for tje community to come together, learn, and make informed choices about healthier living.
As the beginning of football season approaches, beginning with the Football Jamboree this Saturday at Bunkie Magnet, Avoyelles Parish Schools wants to remind students, families, and fans of the APS Athletic Event Guidelines that will be in place at all APS athletic events for the 2026–2027 school year.
These guidelines are designed to help create a safe, positive, and enjoyable game-day atmosphere for everyone.
A few important reminders:
• K–8th grade students must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times.
• Re-entry is not allowed once you exit the event.
• Only clear bags are permitted.
• No outside food, drinks, or coolers.
• Spectators are expected to remain seated during the event.
• No loitering in parking lots or surrounding areas.
• All tickets and concessions are **CASHLESS**.
Take a moment to review the complete guidelines in the graphic above before heading out to support any APS team.
Bunkie High School Cheer and Danceline is gearing up for football season by getting the football program ready. Bunkie invites any parent, business, or alumni that would like to give a Panther shout-out in this season’s program. Please have the order form (attached below) and payments turned in by Friday, Aug. 28, to Sarah Riche. If possible, email graphics/logo/pic to sarah.riche@avoyellespsb.com.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries issued a Declaration of Emergency to modify the Gag Grouper season. The season for the recreational harvest of Gag Grouper in Louisiana state waters shall open at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 1 and remain open until 11:59 pm on Sept. 30.
The regional administrator of NOAA Fisheries has informed the Secretary that the 2026 recreational season for the harvest of Gag Grouper in the federal waters of the Gulf of America has been modified to open on September 1, 2026, and close on October 1, 2026. Compatible season regulations in state waters are often enacted to facilitate efficient enforcement of the fishery and to prevent long-term overfishing of the species.
I’ve always felt that I grew up in the perfect era. It was the early ‘70s and the Vietnam War was coming to an end. My generation never had to worry about being drafted by the armed forces. If you wanted to join the military, it was strictly voluntary.
While a few of my classmates chose to go in that direction, my attention was trying to get an athletic scholarship to play either football or baseball on the Division 1 level.
Let’s go back to my early years of growing up in the small East Texas town of Mt. Pleasant. As a child during this time frame, we had a lot of freedom. If you had a bike, it was this form of transportation that was basically unlimited. If you could ride your bike on it, there was no limit to where you could go.
We woke up at daylight and were on our bikes by 8 o’clock every summer morning and only came home for lunch, or right at dark. My kids still have a hard time understanding that the only rule we had — be home when the streetlights came on.
Parents didn’t always check on their kids. They pretty much knew where they supposed to be. My mother always knew where I was and who I was with most of the time. There was also a certain amount of trust between parents and their kids, until that trust was broken and we got into trouble.
We lived about three miles out of town and several days out of the week, I would ride my bike for miles. I was either playing ball somewhere at a local ballpark or somebody’s back yard. We rode our bikes looking for coke bottles on the side of the road that we could trade for candy at the local country store.
We played in creeks and ditches, especially after a big rain. As friends we were always together every day and spent a lot of time playing baseball or going to the local pool.
Occasionally, you could find me fishing at one of the stock ponds, or tanks as they call them in Texas. If I wasn’t at one of the ponds on our ranch, our neighbor Mr. Rayford Jones, who lived across the road from our house, owned a cattle farm and allowed my brother and me along with his grandson to fish his two ponds (tanks) that were full of bass and catfish.
Growing up in the country meant you probably had a garden to tend to. Every other day, I had to spend a couple of hours raking grass out of the garden, which was absolute torture for me. But the produce that came out of the garden was incredible, especially after dad had a load of chicken manure brought in!
We also had about two acres around our house that had to be mowed once every two weeks. Not with a riding mower, but with a push mower! That’s right, a 14-inch cut push mower, which required at least two days to complete the job.
I had a brother, seven years younger, who was supposed to take over the lawn cutting duties after I left home for college. Guess what showed up two days before I left home: that’s right, a Sears riding mower!
To say I voiced my displeasure to my parents about this purchase would be an understatement. For five years I push-mowed two acres and now my little brother would get to use a riding mower!
That being said, there were several chores demanded of me that my brother never took on. So, I guess you could say being the youngest had its privileges.
Looking back, I had an awesome childhood with more freedom than kids have today. They say it’s a different world than what my generation grew up in. I’m not sure that’s totally right.
There’s just so much more media exposure with up to the minute news and social media sites that are always shedding light on topics most really don’t want to hear about.
There’s always been bad people in the world who are looking to prey upon the weak. Today’s kids are growing up in a bubble of overprotection. Parents are less likely today to allow their kids to roam free like we did.
I think kids and young teenagers today are not near as mature as earlier generations. This is due to parents being overprotective, afraid to let their kids make mistakes they can learn from. With my generation, we all had summer and part-time jobs that helped us to mature and understand responsibility at an early age.
Our parents did a great job of preparing us for the real world. That gave us something I think is lacking with so many of today’s youth –maturity and accepting responsibility. We can only hope and pray that the generation of today will find its own path to success sooner rather than later.
Our country is at a crossroads in so many ways today. Far left extremists continues to gain ground in small areas of the country. But I don’t think when it comes down to a national election, they will have enough support to win.
I think common sense once again will prevail with the American people,like it did back in the good ole days. If it wasn’t for today’s social media, these small pockets of far-left activists would never even be heard. In God we trust! Stay strong America!
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com
What if one concert could bring together people who love classic hymns, contemporary Christian music, love country music by artists like Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Brooks & Dunn & Jelly Roll, those who love Southern Gospel and traditional Black Gospel, along with those who grew up listening to the Eagles, the Beatles, James Taylor, STYX and classic rock?
There’s one that can.
It’s an Amazing! Rhythm Disciples (ARD) concert.
The Disciples’ mantra is “Familiar Music. Timeless Message.” They like to describe their concerts as seven very accomplished musicians with very diverse backgrounds coming together to make “A VERY Joyful Noise!”
ARD was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in the fall of 2024, when seven musicians who also happened to be friends came together to play music, have fun and praise God—and ended up forming a unique music ministry.
“It all came together very quickly and very organically,” said bassist Keith “Don’t call Me Shirley” Shirley. “We were just jamming around and having fun. We would play a Southern Gospel song, then a contemporary Christian song, then a country song, then a classic rock song. Sometimes we would almost accidentally mash them together, look at each other and say, ‘Hey, that works!’”
Shirley gives credit where he believes it belongs.
“We knew the good Lord had His hand in this from the get-go,” he said. “The blending of the various musical styles—or ‘mashups,’ as we call them—came together so naturally and so quickly that we knew God was doing something.”
Don’t let all the joking fool you. There is an extraordinary amount of musical experience on an ARD stage.
Among the Disciples are four members of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, current and former church music directors and ministers, and musicians holding at least five music degrees, including a doctorate. Violinist Andrei Kurti studied at the Moscow Conservatory and has performed at Carnegie Hall and in concert halls throughout Europe.
Altogether, the group stopped counting after passing 300 years of combined musical performance experience.
But ARD is difficult to put into a musical box.
“I don’t think you can pigeonhole us as a Gospel group or even simply a Christian music group,” said vocalist Julia Brown. “What we see happening over and over at our concerts is that folks who don’t normally listen to Christian music hear us play a classic rock song or even a current country song reinterpreted through the lens of faith, and they think, ‘Hey, I know that song!’ Before they know it, they’re hearing a contemporary Christian song or a Southern Gospel song and finding that they like it, in spite of themselves.”
“Familiar music is the bridge, and Jesus is where the bridge leads.”
The Amazing! Rhythm Disciples have performed at churches of various denominations, non-denominational churches, festivals and other events. Along the way, they have watched people of different generations, races, backgrounds and faith traditions come together to laugh, cry , praise and sing along while hearing a message centered unmistakably on Jesus Christ.
“We take music people know, along with humor and fun, and use it to open the door,” said one of the Disciples. “Then we walk through that door with them. And no one receives a bigger blessing than us.”
That connection is at the heart of an ARD concert.
“We’re constantly striving to connect with someone in the audience and convey the message that no matter what problems you’re having in your life, you don’t have to face them alone. There’s strength and hope in Jesus. If we reach one person, it’s all been worth it.”
After a recent Disciples concert at a church, an elderly lady approached the group with just one word to describe what she had experienced:
“Joyous.”
The band couldn’t have asked for a better description.
ARD believes sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ doesn’t have to be somber. There can be laughter. There can be great music. There can be familiar songs, unexpected arrangements, stories, memories and plenty of fun.
And there can be joy.
That’s why the Amazing! Rhythm Disciples plan to keep doing exactly what they set out to do:
Making a VERY Joyful Noise!
THE AMAZING! RHYTHM DISCIPLES
Familiar Music. Timeless Message.
Making a VERY Joyful Noise!
For appearances and hosting information:
www.amazingrhythmdisciples.com
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