An elderly Mangham man has been arrested after leading deputies on a 100-mile-per-hour chase Thursday.

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting an altercation with shots fired just off LA 576 and LA 622 at approximately 4:34 p.m. Sept. 22.

Richland Parish Sheriff Lee Harrell said that upon arrival of deputies, the suspect, Billy J. Mercer, had left the scene. 

Deputies located the suspect on LA 135 near Goldmine Plantation and a pursuit ensued.

  The pursuit reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.  The pursuit was terminated on LA 133 south of LA 132 due to the hazardous speeds and roadways.

Pursuit was joined by Louisiana State Police and the Caldwell Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Later the suspect’s vehicle a 2004 Cadillac CTS, was located inside Caldwell Parish by Caldwell Parish Deputies.  

At approximately 7:45 p.m., the suspect was located by family members and surrendered to Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office at approximately 8:15 p.m.

Billy J. Mercer, 76 years old, of Mangham, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, reckless operation and flight from an officer.  

Mercer was booked into the Richland Parish Detention Center.

The Rayville High School JROTC color guard presents the flags as the American Legion Tommie Cook Post #122 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Christian Phillips Post #3375 hosted their second annual POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony Sept. 18 at the Rayville Civic Center.

The Goetz Fibers cotton warehouse located off the Gin Road in Rayville was destroyed by a fire Friday. Fire other parish fire departments responded to help District 8 fight the blaze but the building was already engulfed in flames when the firemen arrived. They battled the blaze for four hours in order to keep it from spreading.

Richland Parish is beginning to prepare for the 2015 Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree.

Each year, the Salvation Army gathers the names of needy children throughout the area and places their names on ornaments on a Christmas tree. 

People who wish to purchase Christmas gifts from these children may pick their names from the tree.

This year, applications for the Salvation Army Christmas Assistance Program will be taken on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Oct. 5-7 at the Rayville Civic Center.

Angel distribution will be Dec. 11 at the Rayville Civic Center, Families are asked to please bring appropriate documentation when applying. 

Applications will not be processed unless appropriate documentation is provided. There will be no appointments made. 

Applications will be taken on a walk-in basis only. 

Applications for the program can be picked up at Citizens Progressive Bank.

Please call Melissa Woodard at 728-7291 if you have any questions about the application process. 

The head of household must bring the following documentation:

• Applicant must indicate why assistance is needed;

• Applicant must reside in northeast Louisiana;

• Picture identification is required for head of household;

• A certified birth certificate is required for all children in the home (ages 0-12 years);

• You must provide pant, shirt, dress, coat and shoe sizes of each child;

• Income or no income verification (Employment, DHS, Unemployment, etc.);

• Verification of SSI/SSAlSSD, Food Stamps, Child Support, etc.;

• Proof of residency (Utility bill, rent/ lease receipts); and

• Proof of expenses (household, vehicles, medical. insurance, etc.).

No children are allowed to accompany parents at the time of signup.

The purpose of the Sellers Aycock, Jr. Service Award is to honor selfless community volunteerism as personified by Sellers Aycock during his lifetime.  

This year’s nominees are Wayne Chapman,  Melda Silk, Katie McClain Weber and the Staff of Care and Share.  

The Sellers Aycock, Jr. Awards Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Rayville United Methodist Church Family Life Center.

The 2015-2016 Louisiana-Mississippi-W. Tennessee Kiwanis  Governor Gary Graham, will be the keynote speaker for the evening.  The 2015-2016 Division 6 Lieutenant Governor, Karen Quinnelly, will also be present for the event.  

Tickets are on sale for $10 each.  A sponsor table for eight is available for $300.  Tickets may be purchased from any Kiwanis member. Contact Henry Cumpton at 267-2410 for additional information.  

Early voting starts Oct 10 for the fall election and the election ballot will have an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution that affects all parishes in the state of Louisiana. 

Amendment No. 4 is a Constitutional Amendment that (if approved by a majority of voters) would clarify the state law to read “Out of State Companies” are not tax exempt from property taxes. 

In 2014, West Carroll Parish was ordered by the court to refund $407,031.74, and East Carroll was ordered to pay $120,372.46 that was being held in escrow to Memphis Light & Gas, due to a four-year lawsuit, ruling in their favor.

These were ad valorem taxes Memphis Light & Gas owed for storing gas in West Carroll and East Carroll Parish from 2009 to 2013.  The 2nd Circuit Court ruled that the Louisiana Constitution did not clarify who was tax exempt.

The proposed constitutional amendment No 4, which was put on the ballot through the work of State Representative Charles “Bubba” Chaney of Rayville states:  

“Do you support an amendment to specify that the ad valorem property tax exemption for public lands and other public property shall not apply to land or property owned by another state or a political subdivision of another state?”

“It is very important that the voters of Louisiana understand how crucial it is this amendment passes,” Richland Parish Assessor Lee Brown said. “Voting yes will amend the Louisiana Constitution and protect our Parishes.  If the amendment fails, parishes are subject to lose ad valorem taxes.”

Rayville Mayor Harry Lewis hopes the town’s newest water system expansion will lead to economic growth.

The town has plans to use a pair of capital outlay grants of $740,000 and $6,960,000 to extend the town’s water lines 16 miles along US Hwy 80 to the Franklin Farms Megasite.

“This would open up all the property between Rayville and the Franklin Farms Megasite to be developed commercially,” Lewis said.

The state is working to develop the site, hoping to interest a large employer or industry to locate in Richland Parish. In addition to making access to Rayville’s water system available to the site and the property between Rayville and the site, Lewis said the connection will increase the value of the megasite to potential industries.

“When people are looking at locating an industry there, they want to know if the infrastructure is available,” Lewis said. “They don’t want to wait three or four years for water or sewer to be available. With this project, we can tell people those services are already available at the site.”

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s office is looking for a suspect in a murder which occurred Monday in Rayville.

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a shooting on Blackmon Street in Rayville at approximately 2 p.m. Monday.

Upon the arrival of deputies, the victim, Michael C. Bradley, 23, was found on the ground with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds.  Richland Parish Coroner’s personnel pronounced Bradley deceased at the scene.

Witnesses report that there were two males playing dominos at the residence on Blackmon Street in the yard.  

They stated the victim arrived at the residence and within minutes they heard multiple gunshots.  Witnesses described the suspect as a black male wearing camouflage clothing and last seen running north from the scene.

Due to the close location of Rayville Junior High School and Rayville High School, the school officials were notified.  

The school officials as a precaution put their schools in lockdown.

“I requested Louisiana State Police, Criminal Investigative Division, to lead this investigation,” Richland Parish Sheriff Harrell stated. “At this time our investigators along with LSP investigators are conducting interviews.  We are also being assisted by LA Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Probation and Parole and Rayville Police Department.”

Harrell said the investigation revealed the shots were fired from within a house trailer located at the crime scene.  At approximately 6:54 p.m. Monday, a search warrant was executed at 108 Blackmon Street. 

The search located four rifles and one handgun as well as other evidence.

The Investigation revealed four subjects were involved with this homicide.  Arrested at approximately 8:30 p.m. Monday were Mary J. Miles, 53; Terrance Miles, 23; and Robert E. Miles, 25; all of Rayville. All three were booked into the Richland Parish Detention Center and charged with conspiracy to commit second degree murder.  No bond has been set at this time.

In addition, authorities are seeking Larry Ray Brown Jr., 29, or Rayville. He is described as being 5’11” and weighing 200 pounds. Brown should be considered armed and dangerous.

If you have ny information on the location of Larry Brown Jr., please contact the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office at 728-2071 or Louisiana State Police – Troop F at 345-0000.

Early voting for the Oct. 24 Gubernatorial Primary Election will be held Oct. 10-17.

Richland Parish Registrar of Voters Carol Morgan said early voting will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in her office which is located in the basement of the Richland Parish Courthouse. 

No voting will be held on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Those wishing to vote are asked to bring proper identification.

In addition to early voting, eligible votes may request an absentee by-mail ballot. Voters may obtain a form from the Registrar of Voters Office or by visiting www.sos.louisiana.gov.

A Rayville man was arrested for possession of synthetic marijuana after passing out in the drive-through lane at McDonalds.

Rayville Police Chief Willie Robinson said the department received a called from McDonald’s on Sept. 28 advising that a customer had passed out in his vehicle at the drive-through window.  Upon arrival at McDonald’s, Sgt. Czyz Williams and Officer Austin Self removed the unresponsive subject from his vehicle and arranged for him to be transported to Richardson Medical Center for assessment and treatment.  Officers observed drug paraphernalia in plain sight in the vehicle.  A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed suspected synthetic marijuana.

The driver, Cole McDonald, 18; of 132 Beach Road, Rayville, was charged with possession of synthetic marijuana. 

Chief Robinson would like to commend his officers for their quick response to this call which led to the arrest.

“The timely response and intervention of Sgt. Williams and Officer Self not only got this man the medical treatment he needed quickly, but also provided an opportunity to once again remove some illegal drugs from the streets of Rayville,” the chief said.

Chief Robinson also advised that citizens should be aware of how dangerous synthetic marijuana really is.

“Growing, possessing, selling and smoking marijuana -- even the naturally grown varieties -- are illegal activities in the State of Louisiana,” he said. “Synthetic marijuana is much more dangerous and potent due to the chemicals used in its production.  This dangerous drug has resulted in many emergency room visits nationwide.”

Berwick – David Dupree of Rayville raced alone in a kayak from Bossier City to Berwick in the inaugural 410 de Louisiane.

Finishing the 410-race on Sunday, Oct. 4, Dupree won first place in his class, earning a check for $1,000. He did it in 124 hours, 32 minutes, 17 seconds.

It is still-water most of the way, making this perhaps the toughest boat race in the nation.   

The paddlers, just 11 in all, went down two rivers and two bayous, through 12 parishes and the Chitimacha Indian Reservation, from the top of the state to the bottom. 

The 410 de Louisiane consists of two very different races back-to-back. The first one is the Tour de la Rivière Rouge, 275 miles from Shreveport-Bossier City to Port Barre. It’s an around-the-clock race through the wilderness, far from roads and lights.

Seven days later, the 410 racers join Tour du Teche 135, a three-day staged race through towns and farms where spectators line the banks and shout encouragement.

The quintet of Phil Bowden and Chris Champion of San Marcos, Texas, Heather Harrison of New Braunfels, Texas, Bobby Smart of Anacoco, La., and Wendell Smith of Seguin, Texas, won first place in Big Boat Racing Division in both the 410 and Tour du Teche, breaking the class record in TDT. 

They finished the 410 in a combined time of 68 hours, 51 minutes and 32 seconds.

The other history-making paddlers of the 410 de Louisiane were:

    •Cork Werk of Breaux Bridge, 129 hours and 43 minutes – second place in Solo Unlimited Double Blade class;      

• Jeffery Duzan of Breaux Bridge, 140 hours, 26 minutes, 45 seconds – third place in Solo Unlimited Double Blade class;

• Max Dugas of Lafayette and Adam Jones of Austin, Texas, 142 hours and 43 minutes – first place in the Tandem Unlimited class in both the 410 and TDT.

• Jack Cover of Lafayette, 142 hours, 51 minutes, 30 seconds – first place in Solo Unlimited Single Blade.

The Tour de la Rivière Rouge started under the Barksdale-Shreveport Bridge at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, and finished on Bayou Courtableau at Port Barre. The racers went down the Red River, portaging or locking through at five lock-and-dams, motor-portaging around a bridge demolition in Alexandria, entering the Atchafalaya River and motor-portaging from Krotz Springs to Bayou Courtableau.

    Tour du Teche, which runs the entire length of Bayou Teche, began at Port Barre at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2.

Dupree, 52, has finished the Tour du Teche four times.

A Rayville man was arrested for second degree murder following a 10-day manhunt.

Larry Ray Brown Jr., 29, of Rayville was located and arrested without incident in Monroe at approximately 6:45 p.m. Oct. 7, Richland Parish Sheriff Lee Harrell said.

Brown had been at large since the September 28th shooting death of Michael Bradley in Richland Parish.

“This investigation and resolution was a joint effort between many area law enforcement agencies,” Harrell said. “There were some sleepless nights during this 10 day manhunt.  I personally thank our deputies, Rayville Police Department, Louisiana State Police – Troop F, Louisiana State Police – Criminal Investigations, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Monroe Police Department and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office.  I also thank our citizens for their cooperation and for coming forth with information.”

Brown’s bond has been set at $1,000,000.

The investigation began when the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a shooting on Blackmon Street in Rayville at approximately 2 p.m. Sept. 21.

Upon the arrival of deputies, the victim, Michael C. Bradley, 23, was found on the ground with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds.  Richland Parish Coroner’s personnel pronounced Bradley deceased at the scene.

Witnesses report that there were two males playing dominos at the residence on Blackmon Street in the yard.  

They stated the victim arrived at the residence and within minutes they heard multiple gunshots. Witnesses described the suspect as a black male wearing camouflage clothing and last seen running north from the scene.

Harrell said the investigation revealed the shots were fired from within a house trailer located at the crime scene.  

At approximately 6:54 p.m. Sept. 28 a search warrant was executed at 108 Blackmon Street. 

The search located four rifles and one handgun as well as other evidence.

The Investigation revealed four subjects were involved with this homicide.  

Arrested were Mary J. Miles, 53; Terrance Miles, 23; and Robert E. Miles, 25; all of Rayville. 

All three were booked into the Richland Parish Detention Center and charged with conspiracy to commit second degree murder.

Mangham Fire Chief Gary Piro is asking people to vote for the department’s parcel fee renewal on Oct. 24.

The renewal would allow the Mangham Fire District to continue collecting $100 from each home and business in the district. The parcel fee generates approximately $96,400 per year for the district. The fund are earmarked for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, maintaining and operating fire protection facilities and equipment.

“Without this fee, we just wouldn’t have a fire department,” Piro said. 

“Without this renewal, we won’t have a fire district -- period,” Piro said.

He added the parcel fee currently pays for the maintenance of 14 trucks, four stations and pays the insurance for all the buildings, vehicles and equipment.

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a Texas man on charges of forcible rape and intentional exposure to Aids virus at approximately 12:15 p.m. Oct. 8.

Richland Parish Sheriff Lee Harrell said RPSO received a report of a sexual assault on Oct. 5.

The report alleged that the assault occurred in Richland Parish on the evening of Oct. 4.  

Bobby Gene Yates III, 46, of Ore City, Texas was arrested without incident and booked into the Richland Parish Detention Center.  Yates’ total bond has been set at $350,000.

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office will be displaying our nation’s motto “In God We Trust” on their patrol vehicles.  

Sheriff Lee Harrell stated this move came about after he was approached by Deputy Caleb Smith.  Deputy Smith has seen other agencies display the decal and asked permission to display this on his assigned unit.

Sheriff Harrell said, “with all that is going on in our nation, surrounding law enforcement, this is a where our trust needs to be and I am proud of Dy. Smith taking this stand.  Deputy Smith’s unit is the first one to display the motto.”

Sheriff Harrell stated, no taxpayer money will be used, as the decals will be purchased by private and/or personal funds.  

Four Constitutional Amendments will be on Saturday’s ballot.

• Amendment 1:

The main purpose of this proposed amendment is to create a constitutionally protected fund for state transportation projects. The amendment converts the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, which is also known as the Rainy Day Fund, into two companion subfunds: one to fulfill the functions of a Budget Stabilization Fund and the other to become a new transportation fund. The amendment does not raise taxes. It does not change the state’s existing Transportation Trust Fund, which will continue to be the primary source of state infrastructure spending. Basically the amendment would take a portion of the state’s mineral revenue that would otherwise be placed in the Budget Stabilization Fund and send that money to the new transportation fund.

A vote for would steer state mineral revenue to a new transportation projects fund and restructure the Budget Stabilization Fund.

A vote against would leave the current revenue flow and Budget Stabilization Fund intact.

• Amendment 2:

This amendment would allow the state treasurer the option of investing in the state infrastructure bank.

The Legislature has created a Louisiana State Transportation Infrastructure Bank modeled after programs used in some other states. The bank is designed to provide a revolving loan program to local governments seeking low-cost financing for transportation projects. The bank needs deposits to get started. The Legislature may appropriate or dedicate money to the bank.

This amendment would provide another option for financing the infrastructure bank. It would allow the state treasurer to invest with the bank. The state always has money that needs to be invested, such as cash in dedicated funds or tax revenue that is not immediately spent. The treasurer already invests these state monies in interest-earning bonds or other financial tools, and this amendment would give the treasurer a new option by allowing investments in the new infrastructure bank.

A vote for would allow the treasurer to invest public funds in a state infrastructure bank.

A vote against would require the newly created infrastructure bank to rely on other financing.

Amendment 3:

This amendment would allow lawmakers in a fiscal session to “legislate with regard to the dedication of revenue” and to “legislate with regard to taxes.” The list of various tax breaks would be deleted although these types of instruments still would be allowed under this umbrella phrasing. The impact of the proposed change would be to make clearer the intended broad grant of authority to the Legislature as to taxation by removing various specific terms and replacing them with sweeping language. These provisions allow wider parameters in a fiscal session for the types of tax and revenue bills that can be considered in an unlimited fashion, especially including bills dealing with tax administration, collection, reporting and dedication. A practical effect of the amendment is that a legislator in a fiscal session would not be limited in the number of bills that concern tax administration and other tax matters not directly related to raising taxes. A bill fitting this category would not have to count as one of a legislator’s five “general” bills pre-filed for a fiscal session. Although the amendment removes specifics, it does add a special type of instrument: it allows fiscal session legislation “with regard to rebates.” The amendment makes no changes to what can or cannot happen during a general session.

A vote for would broadly define what kind of tax and revenue bills can be filed in a legislative fiscal session.

A vote against would leave in place the specific list of allowable tax legislation for fiscal sessions.

Amendment 4:

This amendment allows local governments to tax property within their jurisdictions that is owned by local or state governments outside of Louisiana.

A vote for would require states or local governments outside of Louisiana to pay taxes on properties they own in Louisiana.

A vote against would leave the question to the courts, which recently ruled that state or local governments outside Louisiana are exempt from property tax.

Richland Parish voters will head to the polls Saturday to elect candidates to a number of state and local offices.

Voters will also decide the fate of four constitutional amendments and a parcel fee renewal for the Mangham Fire Department.

Candidates seeking office are:

• Governor: Scott Angelle, R-Breaux Bridge; Beryl Billiot, No Party-Kentwood; “Jay” Dardenne, R-Baton Rouge; Cary Deaton, D-Metairie; John Bel Edwards, D-Roseland; Jeremy “JW” Odom, No Party-Natchitoches; Eric Paul Orgeron, Other-River Ridge; S L Simpson, D-Shreveport; and David Vitter, R-Metairie.

• Lieutenant governor: Elbert Lee Guillory, R-Opelousas; Melvin “Kip” Holden, D-Baton Rouge; “Billy” Nungesser, R-Port Sulphur; and John Young, R-Metairie.

• Secretary of state: “Tom” Schedler (incumbent), R-Mandeville, and “Chris” Tyson, D-Baton Rouge.

• Attorney general: Geraldine “Geri” Broussard Baloney, D-Garyville; James “Buddy” Caldwell (incumbent), R-Tallulah; Isaac “Ike” Jackson, D-Plaquemine; “Jeff” Landry, R-Broussard; and “Marty” Maley, R-Baton Rouge.

• Treasurer: John Kennedy (incumbent), R-Madisonville, and Jennifer Treadway, R-Baton Rouge.

• Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner:“Charlie” Greer, D-Natchitoches; Adrian “Ace” Juttner, Green-Abita Springs; Jamie LaBranche, R-LaPlace; and Michael “Mike” Strain (incumbent), R-Covington.

• Insurance Commissioner: “Jim” Donelon (incumbent), R-Metairie; Donald Hodge Jr., D-Baton Rouge; Charlotte McDaniel McGehee, D-Prairieville; and Matt Parker, R-Calhoun.

• BESE, District 5: “Johnny” Fatheree, R-Downsville, and Gary Jones, R-Alexandria.

• Sheriff: Gary Gilley, other, Mangham; Lee Harrell, R-Rayville; and Willie Lee Robinson Sr., D-Rayville;

• Police Juror, District 1: Steve Craig, R-Delhi; Buddy Hagood, D-Delhi; Linda Benson Jones, D-Delhi; Joe Kenne, D-Delhi; Milton Vance Linder (incumbent), D-Delhi; Randy Sanders, R-Delhi; Gerald “Mooney” Washington, D-Delhi; and Wayne Worsley R-Delhi.

• Police Juror, District 2: Mikel Davis, D-Delhi; Freddie Harris, D-Delhi; Larry R. Houston, other, Delhi; Zack McDowell, D-Delhi; and Patrick Stubblefield, D-Delhi;

• Police Juror, District 3: Melvin Allen Sr., D-Rayville; Sharon Gee (incumbent), D-Rayville; and Larry Lockeby, other, Raville;

• Police Juror, District 4: Mitch Adcock, R-Rayville; Phillip Hendrix, R-Rayville; Joe Lively, R-Rayville; James “Steve” Loftin, R-Rayville; and Andy Thompson, R-Rayville;

• Police Juror, District 5: Kelly Evans, R-Rayville; Frank Greer, R-Rayville; Gordon “Scooter” Medlin (incumbent), R-Rayville; and Paul Slayter, R-Rayville;

• Police Juror, District 6: Jackie Hayes, D-Rayille; Johnny “Renael” Jones, other, Rayville; and Althan Smith (incumbent), D-Rayville;

• Police Juror, District 7: Bobby Free, R-Archibald; Claude Hicks, R-Rayville; Linda Kelley, no party, Rayville; Bobby Mullins, R-Rayville; Kirby Phillips,  other, Rayville; Cecil Reddick, R-Rayville; and Jesse Shiers Sr., D-Rayville;

• Police Juror, District 8: Danny Carroll, no party, Rayville; and Elliot Colvin (incumbent), R-Rayville;

• Police Juror, District 9: Roy Barmore, D-Mangham; David Barton, other, Mangham; Charles Kelley Gilley, other, Mangham; W.O. Shiers, D-Mangham; and Roy Wiggins Jr., R-Mangham.

The primary election will be held Oct. 24, with the general election and run offs set for Nov. 21.

Early voting is Nov. 7-14 (except Sunday and holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the Nov. 21 general election.

The Richland Parish 911 service is working to keep citizens safe by working with the sheriff’s office to replace missing 911 signs.

E911 employees Garth Sullivan and Beth Lewis provide the dispatchers with current spatial data so they may know where 911 calls come from. Also, they provide maps to responders so that they may be able to navigate the parish roads with efficiency. 

To do this, they need each house to be marked with a proper 911 sign.

“It is important to maintain that safety you should feel in your home by knowing that the units responding to your crisis will know of your exact location,” Sullivan said. “If you have noticed, there are thin, white fiberglass stakes placed at each one of the resident homes and businesses. These signs provide responders with specific E-911 addresses. The signs are required so that they have an easier way to locate and recognize an emergency number. However, the signs often need replacing due to various situations.” Their next step is to work with Richland Parish Sheriff Lee Harrell in having deputies and trustys replace the missing signs. 

“This is a long and ongoing process in which the public’s knowledge would be of great help,” Sullivan said. “If your sign needs replacing or you need to update them with your household information, please contact the Richland Communications District at 318-728-2233 or by e-mail at richland911@bellsouth.net.”

Richland Parish will soon have a chamber of commerce.

A collaborative effort between the Northeast Louisiana Economic Association, the northeast Louisiana legislative delegation and mayors from Mangham, Delhi and Rayville over the past several months determined a need for a chamber of commerce that supports the needs of Richland Parish communities. 

A founding board has been established with representatives from Delhi, Mangham, Rayville and Start.  The Richland Chamber of Commerce will focus on supporting local agricultural, local business and future business needs in the parish. The chamber will collaborate with local city governments, councils and NELEA to help drive economic prosperity for Richland Parish communities.  

The Richland Parish Chamber of Commerce will hold events in the near future to highlight the resources and support the chamber can provide to members.  The chamber will be seeking citizens interested in building a strong local economic development base with support for existing business and community development to strengthen the marketing efforts of Richland Parish, NELEA and the state. 

For questions regarding the Richland Parish Chamber of Commerce please call 878-7942.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will host an open house Nov. 3 at the Rayville Civic Center to discuss placing a traffic circle at the intersection of US Hwy 425 and Louisa Street in Rayville.

The DOTD plans to construct of a four leg, two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Grimshaw Street on the west approach, South Julia Street (US 425) on the north approach, Christian Street on the east approach, and South Louisa Street (US 425) on the south approach. 

The open house will he held from 4-7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the civic center in order to provide information about the project and to obtain input from the public and any other interested parties. Informational materials will be distributed and graphic displays will be available for viewing. 

A continuous presentation will be shown describing the project and its anticipated impacts, including acquisition of right-of-way.

Representatives will be present to answer questions and discuss issues related to the project and verbal and written comments about the project can be submitted.

Comments can also be mailed to Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Environmental Engineer Administrator, P. O. Box 94245, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245. The mailing deadline is Nov. 13.