Columbus
Leesville Leader
Positive audits for Beauregard, Vernon sheriff’s offices
By Emily Burleigh Audit reports for both the Beauregard and Vernon sheriff’s offices were released published. Both offices were found to present their financial information fairly as of June 30, 2023. The audit for BPSO was conducted by Windham and Reed, L.L.C in DeRidder, and VPSO was completed by David M. Hartt, CPA, in West […]
Body of Pineville boater recovered in Vernon Lake
By Emily Burleigh The body of Pineville man Derrick Green, 42, was recovered in Vernon Lake on Sunday afternoon near Anacoco, according to the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office. At about 9:38 a.m. on Sunday, VPSO said it was notified by the Vernon Parish E911 Office of a potential drowning in the lake near Anacoco following […]
WEATHER WATCH: More rainfall expected for already waterlogged SW La.
As Southwest Louisiana continues to deal with residual river flooding in the wake of last week’s excessive rain, the region is now facing even more rainfall this weekend. National Weather Service Lake Charles Storm Warning Coordinator Doug Cramer said most locations in Southwest Louisiana have received more than eight inches of rain in the past […]
Dylan Coats experiences consistent joy in the classroom
By Emily Burleigh Iowa High School mathematics teacher Dylan Coats, 32, is certain everyone can be good at math. It is the effort that makes a difference. This is his educator’s philosophy, and he is happy to take on the job of helping students become confident in their math skills. From “lightbulb moments” to taking […]
State Rep. Owen discusses new Congressional maps
By Emily Burleigh State Rep. Charles Owen, R-Leesville, made his rounds in Beauregard and Vernon parishes to update constituents on the new Congressional maps that the Louisiana state legislature approved last week. The new Congressional maps created a second majority-Black district by redrawing District 6, which is currently represented by Rep. Garret Graves. Owen attended […]
Leesville Mayor’s Youth Council back in action
By Emily Burleigh For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Rick Allen and the Leesville City Council have sworn in new members for the Mayor’s Youth council. The Mayor’s Youth Council is an opportunity for 10th- to 12th-grade students from Leesville High School to participate in municipal and community activities and events. During […]
Perpetual motion: Leesville multi-sport athlete Mills-Zacapa always on the move
By Rodrick Anderson Multi-sport athlete Lina Mills-Zacapa is always on the move and enjoys every minute. Her love of sports started at a young age when she ran her first mile as a 5-year-old living in Hawaii. She picked up cross country in junior high and just kept going. She competes in four sports (track, […]
Brandi Russell: ‘Teaching the hardest job you’ll ever love’
By Emily Burleigh Brandi Russell, 46, believes education helps the community by being a hub for growth and development. She sees school as a place for students to belong, grow and flourish, in addition to being an important stepping stone in young people’s future. “Of course, education helps with jobs and earning, but it creates […]
Local students named to Sowela’s honor lists
The following students were named to Sowela’s chancellor’s and deans’ lists for the fall 2023 term. Students achieving a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher while carrying 6 or more credit hours earned a place on the chancellor’s list. Students achieving a GPA of 3.0-3.49 while carrying 6 or more credit hours earned a place […]
WEATHER WATCH: Another cold night for SW La. coming
Another cold night is on tap for Southwest Louisiana tonight, but first the area is experiencing dangerous wind chills this morning. The National Weather Services’s Lake Charles office is reporting single-digit wind chill values across much of Louisiana with northerly winds of 15-25 mph and gusts up to 30 mph. “Combined with the cold temperatures, […]
WEATHER WATCH: Freezing rain in Monday’s forecast ahead of Tuesday’s hard freeze
Southwest Louisiana is set to experience freezing rain early Monday evening ahead of a hard freeze Tuesday into Wednesday. National Weather Service Lake Charles office meteorologist Donald Jones said freezing rain is expected to develop across the region Monday afternoon and continue into Monday night. He said an accumulation of no more than .05 of […]
Weather tips to help prepare for upcoming freeze
By Emily Burleigh In preparation for incoming cold weather, government entities are encouraging citizens to take the time to winterize their homes. Southwest Louisiana will be hit with a wave of freezing temperatures and rain early next week. The National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles said temperatures Monday through Wednesday will be “unusually cold,” […]
BENOIT MOTORS TEACHER OF WEEK: Schroeder continuing family’s legacy of teaching
By Emily Burleigh For third-grade teacher Michelle Schroeder, 37, the opportunity to educate young people and invest in their lives is a privilege and joy. “Watching them learn, getting to know them and what they enjoy, this is my favorite part!” She was raised in a family of educators; Her dad was an elementary resource […]
Weather Watch: Freezing temperatures on the way
There is an increasing probability that a cold front with some type of arctic air will reach Southwest Louisiana on Monday. If that occurs, the cold period will continue through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office. “If guidance trends continue, this will be the coldest air of the season for southeast […]
Louisiana Violent Crime Task Force releases draft report
By Steve Wilson | The Center Square The Louisiana Legislature’s Violent Crime Task Force released its draft report this week with its recommendations for lawmakers. With three Louisiana’s largest cities — Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans — listed in the top 10 nationally of the most dangerous cities for violent crime, lawmakers created the task […]
Top 10 stories of 2023: Johnson named Speaker of the House
U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson easily secured enough votes in October to be elected House speaker, ending three weeks of political chaos at the Capitol. Now the U.S. House of Representatives’ top two leaders are both from Louisiana; Majority Leader Steve Scalise holds the second-highest position in House Republican leadership. Johnson — elected to Congress in […]
Top 10 stories of 2023: Fort Polk name change
By Emily Burleigh The local institution formerly known as Fort Polk was redesignated as Fort Johnson on June 13, 2023, in honor of Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a distinguished World War I veteran. The renaming was mandated by the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, requiring bases with Confederate ties to change their names. Fort Polk […]
Leesville Leader
198+
Posts
334K+
Views
TheLeesvilleLeader.com is the digital news site for its affiliated print publication, the Leesville Leader. TheLeesvilleLeader.com newsroom is located in Leesville, Louisiana, and covers community news and sports in Leesville, Vernon Parish, Louisiana, and the surrounding area.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.