One of the early churches in the Simpson area is the Church of God, established in 1897, with the Rev. R.H. Owens the first minister. From Tall Pines II A History of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and its People by Erbon W. Wise. 

 The First Baptist Church of Leesville was organized in 1898 with the Rev. S.C.Self as its pastor. From Tall Pines II A History of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and its People by Erbon W. Wise.

A class act from beginning to end, “The Last Station” chronicles a late-in-life period of Leo Tolstoy, most of it taking place in and around the vast country estate of the then “most celebrated writer in the world.”

Can you imagine being stuck 50 feet up on a chairlift? Now imagine that everyone but you and your two friends have gone home and won’t return for four days at the earliest. Oh, and there’s a blizzard bearing down and hungry wolves licking their chops in hopes that you’re foolish enough to jump.

It was easy to get swept away in the pure romance of “Dear John” until the wheels fell off in the last act.

When a guy in the audience threw up, Adam Green knew his movie was a success.

Dr. Brown Word served as Vernon Parish Sheriff from 1934 to 1936. From Tall Pines II A History of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and its People by Erbon W. Wise.

To soothe what ails his aching psyche, Barry Kerch needs no antidepressant pill or psychiatrist's couch - just a drum kit and concert stage. The prescription of live rock also aids other members of Shinedown. Their emotion-roiling songs not only please fans but serve as a catharsis for the quartet, whose personal foibles often serve as inspiration for lyrics. For them, a live concert functions as a massive support group that helps Shinedown shed angst.

Maybe it’s because I’m a dad myself, but flicks with vengeful fathers have been added to my list of not-so-guilty popcorn-movie pleasures.

Taylor Swift is talented (more so for her songwriting), but c’mon people. She is not very good live. In fact, her Grammy performance Sunday was anything but swift. I was embarrassed for Stevie Nicks. Swift ruined “Rhiannon” by singing off-key.

Oscar nominees Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren chew the scenery at will in "The Last Station," an account of the final year in the life of “War and Peace” author Leo Tolstoy.

These paintings and more will be on display at Gallery One Ellleven this month as part of an exhibit featuring the work of local students. Students at Leesville Junior High School, Leesville High School and Pickering High School created the works as an interpretation of Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken". A reception will be held this Saturday, Feb. 6, to introduce the exhibit to the community and feature the young artists.

The Antioch Baptist Church, which is located about seven miles north of Leesville, east  of La. 117, was founded in 1883 by Frank  Bolten, Jim Stephens, Riley Hillman, Joseph Williams and Newton Williams. From Tall Pines II A History of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and its People by Erbon W. Wise. 

While Hollywood pats itself on its bloated, vainglorious back for a year of “cinematic achievement,” the equally snobby and self-righteous Golden Raspberry awards sneak in the servants’ entrance and try to crash the party.

Leading up to Tuesday’s Season 6 premiere of the uber-popular drama “Lost,” it seemed the only way you could avoid all the hype was to be lost on a desert island. At the very least you had to de-activate your Facebook and Twitter accounts and blow off work for the day.