On July 1, Medicare opens a national mail-order program that will dramatically drop the prices the government pays for those products but patients will have to use designated suppliers. The goal is to save taxpayers money but seniors should see their copays drop, too.

Mosquitoes are making their presence known to residents but the good news is that the insect count is at a low point so far, according to Jeff Davis Parish Mosquito Control.

That’s actually very good news considering just in May, Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM, began warning horse owners to vaccinate animals for both Easter Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and the West Nile Virus (WNV).

The Republican governor’s first stop was Monday in Alexandria.

The Zigler Art Museum (ZAM) has announced the opening date for its latest exhibition, “The Red River Artists Flow South”.

The exhibit includes eight artists from North Louisiana who have exhibited at the museum in the past 26 years. The artists include Susan Breeland, Jeanie Clarkson, Lee Estes, Marlene Gremillion, Rose Ann Holoman, Marcia Nelson, Joseph Anthony Pearson and Betty Robertson. Some of the artists’ works will also be up for sale during the exhibit. There will also be a special folk art quilt on display by Georgiann Potts.

BASILE – A teenage boy injured in a Sunday morning crash while riding an ATV here later died at an area hospital.

Louisiana State Police (LSP) Troop I reported late Sunday, June 16, that Matthew Neal, 15, of Basile, had succumbed to his injuries.

Assistant Editor

WELSH – Officials here are expected to accept a through-the-fence agreement tonight connected to an ongoing airport expansion project.

Welsh Mayor Carolyn Louviere explained that such agreements are common with airports but this will be the first time the town enters into one.

Daily News Staff Writer

Residents in Jennings may soon pay more for water and sewer services, as well as garbage collection, as city officials will vote to raise rates June 25.

The Jennings City Council will introduce proposed slight rate adjustments to water, sewer and waste collection rates for the next effective fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2014.

An Elton teen responsible for a May 16 crash in Lake Charles that claimed the life of one of her passengers was charged Friday with vehicular homicide.

Kennedy Renee Isaac, 18, turned herself in to Louisiana State Police on Friday after a warrant was issued for her arrest. A toxicology sample indicated that Isaac was intoxicated at the time of the crash with a blood alcohol content of .05 percent. The legal limit for drivers under the age of 21 in Louisiana is .02 percent.

Daily News Editor

Jennings police received a telephone tip Friday morning that led to the drug arrest of Rachael Touchet, 38, and Jordon Provost, 20, both of Roanoke.

The suspects were found to be in possession of over $2,000 in illegal narcotics, including approximately one ounce of cocaine, as well as marijuana, prescription pills and drug paraphernalia.