News

(The Center Square) – Gov. John Bel Edwards has ordered Louisiana’s COVID-19 mitigation restrictions to be loosened further Wednesday, including eliminating the statewide mask mandate.

Local governments and private businesses are free to continue requiring face coverings. Schools, universities, health care facilities, public transit and most state government buildings will continue to require masks, though agency heads can request a waiver. Edwards said agencies led by his cabinet appointees will continue to require masks.

Limits on the number of people who can gather outdoors will be lifted. Organizers of indoor events, including sporting events, can choose 75% occupancy with distancing or full occupancy with masks, Edwards said Tuesday. At least 10 feet should be maintained between the stage and the audience during live music performances, according to the new mandates.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that signup has reopened for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) as part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. The initial CFAP 2 signup ended on Dec. 11, 2020, but USDA has reopened sign-up for CFAP 2 for at least 60 days beginning April 5, 2021, for producers to apply or make modifications to existing applications.

CFAP 2 programs provides direct financial relief to producers due to market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.

National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), the annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry, will spotlight the critical role that travel will play in driving economic recovery efforts and building the path forward through the theme Power of Travel.

Celebrated annually the first full week in May, NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to elevate the economic power of travel in the U.S. The 38th annual NTTW (May 2-8) arrives at an opportune moment to recognize the importance to the U.S. economy of initiating a post-pandemic travel recovery.

Salute the power of travel in Toledo Bend Lake Country by attending these upcoming events during National Travel and Tourism Week:

• 13th Annual El Camino Real Sale on the Trail-Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8.

All are thankful for our local dispatchers! Last week was Dispatchers Appreciation Week and BOM’s Many staff delivered cookies to the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Officer Dispatchers. 

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Parents and their children will especially enjoy watching “Dora and the Lost City of Gold”, the FREE movie playing at the Many Community Center on Saturday, May 8, at 7 p.m. the theatre will open at 6:30

DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD starts off showing a young Dora enjoying life with her parentsand her cousin Diego in the jungle -- until Diego and his parents move “to the City.” Young Dora looks directly at the camera, asking viewers to repeat words in Spanish, and believes that her monkey Boots talks to her -- just like on the show. But in the movie, her parents consider it a quirk of her being homeschooled.

Third grade students at Zwolle Elementary School participating in the Leader In Me program selected the Northwestern State University Food Pantry as the focus of a community service project. The students hosted a cereal drive and collected 129 boxes of cereal for the Pantry, which is free to NSU and BPCC@NSU students.

The Choctaw-Apache Powwow celebrates the diversity of Native American culture while helping to preserve traditions and heritage. The bright colored regalia and tasseled shawls moving with the motion of ancestral dance make the Choctaw-Apache Powwow a must-see event.

The Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb will host its 28th Annual Powwow Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24, at the Choctaw-Apache Tribal Grounds, 217 Gene Knight Rd., Noble, La. located adjacent to the Ebarb school. Chief Thomas Rivers and the Tribal Council invite everyone to attend!

The 13th annual El Camino Real Sale on the Trail will take place Friday and Saturday, May 7-8, 2021 along 100+ miles of the historic El Camino Real de los Tejas from Natchitoches, La to Nacogdoches, Tx.

Travel the Trail for hot sales and deals, food, vegetables, plants, flowers, art, homemade and handmade one-of-a-kind treasures!

This year, Fort Jesup State Historic Site in Many, La will have vendor spaces available. The cost will be $25 to benefit the Friends of Fort Jesup. Please contact the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission at 318-256-5880 to register for booth space at the Fort.

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The Friends of Fort Jesup and the Fort Jesup Society of the Children of the American Revolution have teamed up to sponsor a “Tea” on the grounds at Fort Jesup on May 8 from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Pre-registration will be required due to limited seating. Bring your favorite tea cup/coffee cup and share the history of your set or use one of ours. Several varieties of tea along with a light lunch will be provided for $10.00 per individual. You may dress according to the period, dress up, or come casual. Make this a special treat for yourself or bring your children/ grandchildren to share the memories. Girls and boys are welcome.

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Shari Wilson of Florien has been named the winner of the first NSU-Argus Award for Excellence in Creative Writing. Lily Bedoya of Alexandria was second and Ruben E. Smith of Clayton was third.

The winners of the contest will hold a virtual reading on Thursday, April 29 at 7 p.m. over Microsoft Teams.

The contest was judged by poet Sarah Lilius and coordinated by Dr. Rebecca Macijeski, director of NSU’s creative writing program and an assistant professor of English.

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