BUILDING A BETTER AVOYELLES Acquires Parish Oldest Business, Preserving and Modernizing Local News.

The future of newspaper media in Avoyelles Parish looks brighter thanks to the acquisition of Avoyelles Publishing by Building a Better Avoyelles, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the parish’s culture and community institutions. At a time when newspapers across the country are closing or being absorbed into national chains, this transition ensures that Avoyelles Parish will maintain a strong, independent local press.

Building a Better Avoyelles is led by co-directors State Representative Daryl Deshotel and Dr. Jay Callegari, who will take an active role in guiding Avoyelles Publishing into its next chapter. They will be joined on the nonprofit’s governing board by Randy DeCuir, Chris Rousseau, Allison Augustine, Leigh Soileau, Aliya Callegari, and Noah Deshotel.Together, this leadership team brings deep local knowledge, cultural roots, and a commitment to serving the people of Avoyelles Parish.

For over 50 years, longtime publishers Randy and Susan DeCuir have led Avoyelles Publishing. While retiring from full-time management, they will remain as permanent consultants, continuing to provide guidance and support. The entire staff will remain in place, guided by Amy Ducote, a veteran of the newspaper industry with decades of experience. Importantly, the talents of seasoned writers Donna Culcotta and Raymond Daye will continue to be at the heart of Avoyelles Publishing’s reporting.

Avoyelles Publishing will also undergo immediate production upgrades with the latest computer technology and software, along with the launch of a newly redesigned website, AvoyellesToday.com. Readers will soon notice a fresh look and improved access to local news across print and digital platforms.

A Message From the DeCuirs

“We are very happy that Daryl and Jay have put together this package so that the newspapers of Avoyelles will remain strong and independent rather than being sold to an out-of-parish chain. By structuring it into a nonprofit, it means the paper belongs to the people, which keeps with the philosophy we’ve had for the last five decades.
Of all the buyers who expressed interest in the company, we felt Building a Better Avoyelles was the best choice for Avoyelles and for our dedicated staff. The newspapers of Avoyelles are a reflection of our great culture, and Jay and Daryl have the talent and expertise to keep that going. They truly have their hearts in the right place and want the best for Avoyelles.”

— Randy & Susan DeCuir

About the Newspapers

• The Avoyelles Journal — Founded by the DeCuirs in 1978; delivered free to nearly every home in the parish each Wednesday.
• The Bunkie Record — Established in 1888, shortly after the railroad reached Bunkie; has served southern Avoyelles for more than 135 years.
• The Marksville Weekly News — Founded in 1843, the same year the City of Marksville was incorporated; recognized as Louisiana’s oldest weekly newspaper.
• AvoyellesToday.com — The company’s digital presence, now being relaunched with a modern format to expand parish-wide online coverage.

The three local weeklies have outlasted daily newspapers that once dominated Avoyelles—including those from Alexandria, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Opelousas. Even as advertising revenue declines nationwide, readership in Avoyelles remains strong, underscoring the community’s need for trusted local reporting.

Future Plans

Avoyelles Publishing will see immediate upgrades, including:

• A redesigned, mobile-friendly website
• A new app delivering real-time news alerts tailored to readers’ interests
• Modernized production and editing technology

“As technology changes the newspaper industry nationwide, Avoyelles is now poised to keep its newspaper coverage intact through this nonprofit structure,” said Deshotel.

“We want to bring local media into the 21st century while keeping it rooted in our parish’s values and traditions.”

“Our goal is simple,” added Callegari.

“To keep Avoyelles informed about the issues that affect them most—our schools, our roads, our water, our taxes, and our communities. By combining our parish’s 163-year tradition of journalism with modern technology, we can keep local news alive, relevant, and accessible.”

With Building a Better Avoyelles at the helm — and the leadership of co-directors Deshotel and Callegari alongside the expertise of the DeCuirs — Avoyelles Publishing is positioned to remain a trusted, independent voice of the parishwhile adapting to the needs of today’s readers.