Columbia News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Coast Guard closed 111 miles of the Ouachita River from mile marker 221 near the Louisiana and Arkansas border to mile marker 110 near Columbia, La., to all recreational and commercial traffic due to extreme high water and strong current conditions.

The swollen Ouachita River has topped 47 feet, but the rate of its rise has slowed and the levee system remains intact.

The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and The Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority are closely monitoring river stages in the Ouachita River Basin.

Thursday morning, The Ouachita Parish Police Jury declared the parish under a State of Emergency.

The Tensas Levee District says it is time to fix problems along the Ouachita River levee in Caldwell Parish, or troubles lie ahead.

Tensas Basin Levee District board members took emergency action Tuesday to stabilize a caving bank on the Ouachita River in Columbia to avert a possible levee failure if the water continues to rise.

Diana Mae Watson Spain, 66, of Graham died Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at Graham Regional Medical Center.

For 35 years, Denny Taylor has given northeastern Louisiana his all as an entertainer.

Having the Corps of Engineers work on your levees is no guarantee they'll hold. Just ask around New Orleans.

The Tensas Basin Levee District will continue to pursue legislation to protect its levees - including those along the Ouachita River - from federal decertification, executive director John Stringer told The News-Star editorial board Wednesday.

ULM history professor Dr. Terry Jones will speak from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 on topics to include how to identify Civil War artifacts.

The 54th Louisiana Art and Folk Festival is Oct. 10 in downtown Columbia. The work of artists in stained glass, pottery, paintings and other original artworks will be on display in the Art District.

Sheryll Barney of Monroe, a homemaker, died Wednesday. Arrangements are incomplete under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Monroe.

Ouachita Parish deputies on Monday arrested David Butler, 34, of 167 Hooter Road, Monroe.

DOWNSVILLE - Sam H. Bayles, a retired electrician, died Wednesday. Arrangements are incomplete under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of West Monroe.

Louisiana transportation officials have released advisory information for holiday travel on major roads across the state.

Trail Ride Ministries is sponsoring a trail ride to benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Tim and Patricia Lynne Mullenix of Hebert announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Chastity Lynne, to Justin Kade Girod.

State police have identified the victim in a fatal wreck on Interstate 20 in Monroe on Tuesday evening as Codye Mardis, 19, of Grayson.

Troop F Interstate Crash Leaves One Dead and Another with Serious Injuries August 12, 2009 Interstate Crash Leaves One Dead and Another with Serious injuries A nineteen-year-old man was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 20.