Good morning, Monroe.

The Center for Children and Families earned reaccreditation from the Council on Accreditation on Sept.

23 after a rigorous review of its service quality. The local non-profit serves families in Louisiana and Mississippi with advocacy, counseling, and education—proving its commitment to excellence.

Downtown West Monroe will host Ouachita Live on Friday, September 26, starting at 4:30 p.m.—the event will include a pie baking contest, spirits and whiskey tasting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. that requires valid ID, a rhythm workshop, and a live performance by Billy Allen and the Pollies until 9 p.m. Donations will benefit the Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group nonprofit.

The City of Monroe will host a dedication ceremony for the Charlotte Bolton Tennis Center at Forsythe tennis courts on October 8 at 3 p.m.—the public is invited to honor Bolton's lasting impact on local tennis.

Bolton was a pioneering player and coach who helped many young athletes learn the game.

The Monroe Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Green Qube Giveaway that offers participants a chance to win $500 and free Johnny’s Pizza for a year.

Daily clues will be shared on local broadcasts over the next four weeks—week 1’s third clue says the green qube is hidden near a school area with bike trails, a boulevard, water, and Cypress stands and is not placed inside any business.

On his ninth birthday, Briar from Oak Grove returned to Acadian Air Base to reunite with the flight crew who saved him after a severe four-wheeler accident in March — he recovered quickly following emergency treatment for head and neck injuries.

ULM School of Education earned the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement from CAEP on September 18 in Washington, D.C.—it is one of only 22 educator programs with full accreditation and no stipulations.

Keep West Monroe Beautiful and its sister groups, Keep Monroe Beautiful and Keep Ouachita Parish Beautiful, were honored yesterday with the Circle of Excellence Award from Keep Louisiana Beautiful—an award that shows they met state program standards to keep local areas clean and recycle more.

Secretary Susan Bourgeois—head of Louisiana Economic Development—started her statewide tour in Monroe today to promote a new resource.

Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis and city officials are asking the City Council to approve over $17M in projects—aimed at improving drainage, roads, and emergency preparedness—and set the stage for future upgrades.

West Monroe Mayor Staci Mitchell received the prestigious Alice Foster Award at the Keep Louisiana Beautiful conference in Baton Rouge on September 24 for her leadership in environmental stewardship and community beautification — the honor recognizes her long-standing commitment to public service.

ULM’s Cory Crowe will mark his 300th consecutive game as the Warhawks’ voice on Saturday at 2 p.m. during homecoming against Arkansas State, continuing a 26-year streak (he has not missed a game since 2000).

Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Kiroli Park — Free entry — Celebrate Celtic culture with live music, activities for all ages, and unique artisan vendors.

Fall Celebration

10 AM – 1 PM — Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center — Free entry — Celebrate Fall with fun activities like birdhouse building and canoeing for kids of all ages.

Claiborne Christian Baseball Pickleball Tournament

9 a.m. — Claiborne Christian School — Fundraiser for the baseball team — All levels welcome to enjoy a fun day of pickleball.

Halloween Pub Crawl in Monroe

4:30-9 p.m. — Vibez Lounge — Tickets required — Get festive with spooky costumes and partake in exciting social media contests during this haunted night of fun.