NEWCOMER’SUNION PARISH AND VISITOR’S GUIDE 2019-20 Published by The Gazette, Union Parish Chamber of Commerce and the Union Parish Tourist Commission, Farmerville, Louisiana 2019 Newcomer’s & Visitor’s Guide 1 The Friendly Town of Farmerville Welcomes You Stein Baughman, Jr., mayor alderman alderman alderman alderman alderman/ mayor pro-tem Robertalderman Allen Lavellealderman Maine Carolinealderman Gatson Rickyalderman/ Johnikin Jerryalderman Taylor District A District B District C mayorDistrict pro-tem D District E Wayne Jones Lavelle Maine Caroline Gatson Gerome Nation Jerry Taylor District A District B District C District D District E Town Officials Town Officials (318)368-9242 Town Officials Marshall/PoliceMarshall/Police Chief: Chief: Ernest Ernest “Bim” “Bim” Coulberston Coulberston (318)368-7142(318)368-9242 (fax) Marshall/PoliceTownTown Clerk: Clerk: Chief: Gay GayErnest Nell Nell “Bim” Pepper Pepper Coulberston [email protected](318)368-7142 (fax) City Attorney/Mayors Court Magistrate: Joe Cusimano City Attorney/MayorsTown Clerk: Gay Court Nell McIntosh-PepperMagistrate: Joe Cusimano [email protected] Address: City Attorney/MayorsFireFire Chief: Chief:Court Billy BillyMagistrate: Jung Jung Joe Cusimano Town of Farmerville Supervisor of Public Services: MailingTown of Address: Farmerville SupervisorFire of Chief: Public Billy Services: Jung Mike Eric Allen Page P.O. Box 427 Street Superintendent: Kenneth Bilberry TownP.O. Box of Farmerville427 SupervisorStreet Superintendent: of Public Services: Kenneth Mike Bilberry Allen Farmerville, LA 71241-0427 Sanitation Supervisor: James Lloyd P.O.Farmerville, Box 427 LA 71241-0427 StreetSanitation Superintendent: Supervisor: Charles James Lloyd Boyd Recreation Center Director: D. Jerro PhysicalFarmerville, Address: LA 71241-0427 RecreationSanitation Supervisor:Center Director: James LloydD. Jerro 407 South Main Street Recreation CenterStaff Director: D. Jerro Physical407 South Address: Main Street Staff 407Farmerville, South Main LA 71241Street Nell Wayne, Karen Brown-Broeder, Collette Barns, Farmerville,www.farmerville.org LA 71241 Nell SamanthaWayne, Theon Stephens, Butler, Dee Velvet Nyegaard Roberts, Crystal Meeking, Lillie Gunter, Judy Rachal www.farmerville.org 2 2019 Newcomer’s & Visitor’s Guide ON THE COVER: The annual Fourth of July firework show on INSIDE UNION PARISH Lake D’Arbonne has a become a traditional part of summertime fun in Union Parish. Photo by Dusty Alford August 2019 - May 2020 GAZETTE STAFF EDITOR 5 Welcome home to Union Parish Scott Boatright [email protected] ADVERTISING 20 C.A.S.T for Kids Hillary Hohlt [email protected] PHOTOGRAPHY Dusty Alford 22 Lessons from the Past GENERAL MANAGER Cody Richard 104 N. Washington 30 Farmerville, LA 71241 American Crappie 318.368.9732 Fax: 318.368.7331 Email: [email protected] Online at www.fgazette.com facebook.com/fgazette Reproduction of the 2019 Union Parish Newcomer’s & Visitor’s Guide in whole or part is strictly prohibited without express written permission from the publisher. For additional information call 318.368.9732. The 2019 Union Parish Newcomer’s and Visitor’s Guide is published by The Gazette in cooperation with the Union Parish Chamber of Commerce Union Parish Tourism Commission 6 Communities I 14 Education I 16 Festivals 21 Where to Eat I 27 Outdoors I 34 Clubs/Organizations 24-25 Pull out lake map 2019 Newcomer’s & Visitor’s Guide 3 Fireworks over Lake D’Arbonne Beginning at 9 p.m. Visit www.facebook.com/Union.Chamber or call 318.368.3947 for more information Pillars of the Community Claiborne Electric Cooperative, Inc. • Farmerville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, LLC • First National Bank • Marion State Bank Origin Bank • Town of Farmerville • Union General Hospital • Union Parish Police Jury • Morehouse Community Medical Centers Farmerville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, LLC Member FDIC 4 2019 Newcomer’s & Visitor’s Guide Welcome Home to Union Parish…… In the world of technology, cell rienced in my life.” tion projects scheduled to start phones and laptops, we have dis- This year, Louisiana Delta Com- this fall, including new sidewalks, covered that we can live anywhere munity College opened a new lighting and safety features. and still conduct business locally, campus located in the parish seat The local economy is experienc- nationally and even around the of Farmerville. Delta is an open- ing growth, with expansion of world. admissions college offering mul- existing businesses and with new More and more, young couples tiple paths to higher education, businesses moving into the parish. and business people are looking career, and personal fulfillment. Major commercial construction forward to early retirement and Delta prides itself on offering a projects are underway with sched- even golden parachutes. Why not friendly, student-centered learning uled completion this fall. take advantage of your opportuni- environment where their students We have a beautiful Lake ties and come home to Union Par- can flourish. D’Arbonne State Park (655 acres) ish and its nationally known Lake Delta invites you to explore their which lies in timbered, hilly terrain D’Arbonne in northeast Louisiana. academic offerings and admis- adjacent to Lake D’Arbonne, where Union Parish is known for its sions options on your way towards you can enjoy its wonderful natural natural resources including five professional and personal growth. resources, including fishing, camp- scenic rivers and waterways; in- We hope that you will find Louisi- ing, hiking, kayaking and canoeing. cluding its crown jewel, Lake ana Delta Community College to Union Parish is the seventh larg- D’Arbonne, which covers 15,000 be the ideal place to start and go est parish in Louisiana hosting acres and 150 miles of shoreline. anywhere! many festivals scattered across the Lake D’Arbonne has gained na- We also have excellent primary parish, including D’Arbonne Fes- tional recognition as evidenced by and secondary educational facili- tival and Fireworks, Watermelon two major crappie fishing tourna- ties, including two new state-of-the- Festival, Mayhaw Festival, Corney ments (American Crappie Trail art schools, Union Parish High Creek Festival, Christmas on the National Tournament and Crappie School and D’Arbonne Woods Char- Square and many more than we can Masters) were held this year on ter School. Plus, newly remodeled list. Each event has many vendors our lake, with teams participating Downsville Community Charter targeting young and old alike. from 15 states. National champion School and Union Christian Acad- Antique shops, general stores, Jeff Riddle even stated on national emy. clothing and specialty boutiques TV, “Lake D’Arbonne is the best Our parish seat Farmerville has surround the courthouse square crappie fishing lake I’ve ever expe- three major downtown revitaliza- and are located throughout town. Did we mention food? Union Parish features great Cajun seafood, real Italian, BBQ, lots of plate lunches and downhome cooking. (A complete list- ing of Chamber member businesses can be found in the back of this visi- tor’s guide.) We invite you to come visit our little “piece of Heaven,” experience the simpler times of our childhood and stay for a weekend or lifetime. And remember, “You can always come home to Union Parish!” Jon McKinnie President/CEO, Union Parish Jon McKinnie Jay Snell, Board Chair Chamber of Commerce 2019 Newcomer’s & Visitor’s Guide 5 Communities Junction City Lillie Spearsville Union Wildlife Upper Ouachita Management National Area Marion Wildlife Refuge Bernice Farmerville Lake D’Arbonne Union Parish Airport Rocky Branch D’Arbonne Downsville National Wildlife Antioch Marion Refuge Bernice Mt. Union Canbeal Oakland Crossroads Ouachita City Conway Point Dean Quigley DeLoutre Randolph Union Parish Post Offices Downsville Rocky Branch BERNICE LILLIE 308 6TH ST. 113 HWY 15 Evergreen Sadie BERNICE, LA LILLIE, LA Farmerville Salem 285.9744 285.7082 Haile Shiloh DOWNSVILLE MARION Junction City Spearsville 9507 HWY 145 302 MAIN ST. Litroe Spencer DOWNSVILLE, LA MARION, LA Laran Taylorville 982.1107 292.5703 FARMERVILLE SPEARSVILLE Lillie Tiger Bend 202 E. GREEN ST. 1360 HWY 15 Linville Truxno FARMERVILLE, LA SPEARSVILLE, LA Lockhart Weldon 1.800.275.8777 778.4366 Loco Wilhite 6 2019 Newcomer’s & Visitor’s Guide Farmerville Town of Letter from the Mayor Farmerville is the largest town and viding some 1,300 jobs. ed. Many coming from Alabama up the parish seat of Union Parish. It is locat- The premier festival salutes another Ouachita River from Fort Miro to claim ed in the North Central region of the mainstay of regional agriculture. The their future homes disembarked at the state, about 20 miles from Interstate Louisiana Watermelon Festival is held spot which became known as Alabama 20, in the heart of Louisiana’s “Sports- the last weekend of July, and is hosted Landing, a name that still survives. A man’s Paradise.” The terrain is hilly by the Farmerville Jaycees. well-known location for fishing, boat- and its pine trees grow tall. The people of Union Parish are a ing and picnicking, it is about 25 miles Farmerville is considered a rural people of faith. Religion is a tradition east of Farmerville. community, but it is a very friendly that runs deep in its communities, and Not until 1839 was Union Parish town with a population of 3,800 proud there is a wide variety of churches and created out of the northern part of residents. Downtown you will find a denominations to accommodate your Ouachita Parish, and in