Pamela Sleezer

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Cpt. Tracy Darbonne was recognized recently for her ongoing dedication to the state’s D.A.R.E. program when she was presented with the 2022 D.A.R.E. Lifetime Achievement Award during a ceremony in Opelousas. Darbonne has been with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Offi…

A late Leesville-born artist has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed to her husband to mark the couple’s trailblazing efforts in teaching artists across the U.S., Canada and Europe through their art instruction videos. This summer, Ralph Liliedahl accepted the award from PleinAir…

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Detective Michelle “Shelli” Fontenot was recognized last week for her hard work and determination when she was awarded the 2022 Law Enforcement Officer Distinguished Service Award by the Louisiana Bankers Association. Fontenot said she was grateful…

A Leesville man charged with handcuffing and chaining his mentally impaired fiancé in a bedroom for days against her will received additional charges this week. Robert Allen McCrary, 30, was arrested on June 23 and was charged with false imprisonment and domestic abuse battery, but on Friday Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft announced that additional […]

Beauregard Parish Deputy Brittany Smart was praised recently by Sheriff Mark Herford for her outstanding service to the department, naming her the BPSO Deputy of the Month. A 2004 graduate of DeRidder High School, Smart worked in the medical billing and coding field while attending McNeese State Uni…

Vernon Parish voters approved the continuation of a 10 mills tax on Saturday to benefit the West Vernon Parish Waterworks District, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office. Of the 115 total votes cast, 73 percent, or 84 votes, were cast in favor of the tax continuation.…

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Detective Jill Feverjean was recognized this month for her selfless act of kindness during the historic flooding event last May. On May 17, several communities in Calcasieu Parish were blindsided with a historic flood event that brought 16-18 inches of rain in a six-hour period. During that flash flood, deputies with […]

The hard work and dedication contributed daily for more than 20 years by Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Montgomery was rewarded recently when he was promoted to lieutenant and made public relations officer at the Bell City Law Enforcement Center. Now Lt. Montgomery is responsible for the ov…

Serving on a team that works together to achieve goals for the greater good has been one of Deputy Chief Darren Hall’s most passionate goals over his 29-year career in law enforcement. Hall was appointed as Deputy Police Chief for the DeRidder Police Department in March of 2020. During his interview…

Four artists from Southwest Louisiana will be featured in an exhibit in southern France this summer that highlights the intriguing history and culture behind “No Man’s Land.” Beauregard Parish artist Joey Governale and Vernon Parish artists Isabelle Massart-Bursh, Tony McDonald, and photographer Ric…

A chance meeting with a global business owner last year led to what officials are calling a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the Beauregard Parish animal control kennel to receive a desperately needed renovation this year. Sheriff Mark Herford confirmed to the American Press this week that Cathy Bissel…

Tuesday night’s matchup of LSU and Kansas State in the 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl Game shone a spotlight on Southwest Louisiana as Lake Charles native and musician Sean Ardoin graced the football field to deliver the game’s National Anthem. It was the first time for the groundbreaking musician to perfor…

Lake Charles Police Department Cpl. Bret Dommert made a special Christmas wish come true recently when he reunited with one of his biggest fans, and was reminded of the reason he proudly protects and serves his community. “There are really good people in this world and there are good police officers…

Sulphur resident Chris Broussard remains humble this Christmas season despite his recent selection as regional EMT of the year recently by Acadian Ambulance. He was selected out of EMTs servicing the Calcasieu, Jeff Davis and Acadia parishes. Acadian Ambulance officials said Broussard has establishe…

The American Press carrier who was brutally attacked last week has been released from a Shreveport hospital, but still faces a long road to recovery. Woodie Blanks, 67, will have a different Christmas experience this year than usual after sustaining serious injuries from an attack last week while de…

Dewayne Simmons never imagined himself wearing a badge while he was growing up, but he admits now that being a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputy is one of the most fulfilling life choices he could have ever made. “It was never a job I ever thought I would want. When someone first mentioned it to me,…

A Beauregard Parish Marine Corp veteran was bestowed an exceptional gift this month, as he was one of 16 veterans across the nation to receive the grant of a service dog at no cost to his family. On Dec. 7, Merryville resident Cameron Morrow was honored in one of 11 events held simultaneously, both …

Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Fletcher has served in multiple facets during his nearly 15 years with the department and was an immediate choice for Deputy of the Month for November, according to Sheriff Mark Herford. “Brandon’s supervisors did not hesitate to nominate him because of the…

A Zwolle man was arrested just outside of Leesville last week after leading Sabine Parish deputies on a high-speed pursuit across parish lines and into Vernon Parish, according to authorities. Tristen Dupuis, 22, is facing charges of reckless operation of a vehicle, illegal possession of stolen good…

Voters in Beauregard Parish overwhelmingly supported the renewal of a tax to support public schools throughout the parish, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s office. With 73 percent approval, or 1,141 votes out of a total 1,559, voters passed the 9.25 mil tax renewal on Sa…