Hello Monroe! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Flood supply drive, mystery mondays, and a glow turtle painting event + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Help for storm recovery: Avoyelles flood supply drive is accepting donations 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1203 Desiard Street in Monroe and Sterlington Town Hall, with new supplies especially needed -- get donation details here.
Community celebration ahead: Monroe Chamber’s Leaders of Change will host a free Flags of Freedom celebration June 30 at 8:30 a.m., alongside the installation of 250 American flags at a local park -- see the flag celebration.
Family-friendly museum challenge: ULM Museum of Natural History brings back Mystery Mondays on June 29, a hands-on clue hunt through every exhibit for kids and parents, with fresh puzzles waiting in each room -- follow the museum clues.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Your midweek reset: Trade the parking lot scroll for birdsong and easy paths at Restoration Park, a former strip mine turned wetland with a quiet environmental message. Perfect for a lunch-break loop or after-work unwind, you’ll get fresh air, reflective vibes, and zero gym membership guilt.
Freshen up the beds: Whether you need a few tough evergreen shrubs or a cart of color, Sammy's Plant World has healthy annuals, perennials, roses and fruit trees, plus people who can design and maintain your landscape and even handle irrigation. Swing by this week, get inspired, then blame the cart for filling itself.
Weeknight boredom cure: When the kids are climbing the walls or you just want strikes and arcade bragging rights with actual food and a full bar, Surge Entertainment Center packs bowling, laser tag, soft play, extreme attractions, and sports simulators under one roof in West Monroe... the easy yes for a weeknight or rainy afternoon.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🐚 Under the Sea Pottery Camp @ Clay & Canvas Art Studio (West Monroe) | Friday (6/26) at 9:00 AM – It’s a week of ocean-inspired pottery where kids ages 6 to 10 sculpt colorful fish, coral, and tidepool treasures, no snorkel required. They explore the deep, play with clay, and bring home pieces that might make fridge space competitive. Expect clay-splattered smiles, not sandy floors.
🎨 Art Era @ MoJoy Studios (West Monroe) | Friday (6/26) at 1:00 PM – Living with a soundtrack of Taylor Swift and stray glitter? Art Era is a camp where Swift-inspired projects meet pop-culture fun, perfect for kids who can name every era before breakfast. They leave with friendship bracelets, bold art, and stories, you get a quiet house.
🚗 Gbody Chicken 1st Annual Car Show @ TBD (Richwood) | Saturday (6/27) at 8:00 AM – Call it your new annual excuse to ogle chrome without pretending you need a new muffler. The first Gbody Chicken car show brings trophies, food vendors, serious builds of every stripe, a kids jumper, and law enforcement keeping the burnouts polite. Loud, friendly, wonderfully extra.
🐢 Family Day! Glow Turtle @ Painting with a Twist | Saturday (6/27) at 1:00 PM – Paint a glow turtle with the kids, then pretend it was their idea. It’s ages 6 and up, no experience needed, and all supplies are included, so you can focus on supervising, sipping coffee, and claiming the best brush.
🏥 Summer Time Community Health Fair @ The Columns of West Monroe | Wednesday (7/8) at 2:00 PM – Give your wellness to-do list a summer tune-up at the community health fair, with free health info, screenings, and local resources that actually help. Expect friendly faces, practical tips, and door prizes, because adulthood should come with rewards, not just blood pressure cuffs.
🧪 Little Sensory Lab @ MoJoy Studios (West Monroe) | Friday (7/10) at 9:00 AM – Got a small human who loves to mash, squish, and paint everything in sight? Around here, this hands-on camp lets them experiment with textures, colors, and creative chaos, while your living room stays glitter free. Think science meets art, and someone else handles the cleanup.
🏕️ Kids Camp @ Quilt N' Stitch | Monday (7/13) at 9:30 AM – If your teen needs a screen break, park them at this kids sewing camp for ages 12 and up, where they will stitch a classic rail fence quilt. Real skills, real fabric, no glue guns. Grandma might finally stop side-eyeing their seams.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Monroe report Weather forecastToday — High: 92°F — Low: 75°F — Precip: 27%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 103. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Heat index values as high as 103. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow — High: 95°F — Low: 75°F — Precip: 5%
Sunny, with a high near 95. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. This house is wildThis 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath retreat spans 3.56± acres, blending modern style with warm wood accents and high-end finishes. Soaring ceilings and generous natural light set the tone, while each bedroom enjoys its own private bath. The chef’s kitchen, impressive bar, fireplace-framed family room, sunroom, patio, and inground pool make entertaining feel effortless.
Take a peek inside → |
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