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The Town of Rayville has awarded bids to begin Phase I of its $6 million water system improvement project.

Rayville Mayor Harry Lewis said Greenbriar Digging Service of Brookhaven, Miss., was awarded the low bid to begin replacing water lines in Rayville. Greenbriar Digging’s bid was $3,413,659.

“Usually it takes 90 to 180 days from the time the bids are accepted until the work begins,” Lewis said.

Improving the town’s water system has been a major goal of Lewis’ administration. He originally obtained the first $4 million in federal funding to begin the project in 2006.

There will be no Fire on the Lake this Fourth of July on Poverty Point Reservoir.

The last three years Delhi and the surrounding area were treated to music and fireworks at the North Marina on Poverty Point Reservoir. This year, however, organizers were unable to continue the successful tradition. In spite of this, they hope to resume the fireworks display and concert next year.

An AutoZone employee has been arrested for felony theft.

Rayville Police Chief Willie Robinson said his office was contacted by the company’s district manager on June 23 in regard the the theft of approximately $5,000 worth of merchandise which had been stolen from the Rayville store. RPD officer Thomas Haire was assigned to investigate.

“During the investigation, it was learned that one of AutoZone’s employees was responsible for the felony theft,” Robinson said.

The unemployment rate continued to rise last month, according to figures released this week by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Richland Parish’s unemployment rate rose more than a point from 8.6 percent in April to 9.7 percent in May. This is almost double the rate of 5 percent recorded in May 2008.

This translates into 891 people looking for work in Richland Parish this month as opposed to 777 last month and 438 a year ago.

PRIDE Community Association will host a First Time Homebuyer Class at 5:30 p.m. July 7-8 at the Rayville Civic Center in Rayville.

The class is free and open to the public and will cover topics on repairing your credit, budgeting, and obtaining financing. Certificates will be awarded to class participants and a housing specialist will be on hand to answer your questions on the homebuyer process.

Refreshments will be served and door prizes given away.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will host a comment meeting and conduct a site visit July 14 to explore the potential environmental impacts of the Crowville Salt Dome Storage Project proposed by Perryville Gas Storage LLC.

The construction and operation of the project would take place in Franklin and Richland parishes and, when completed, would be able to store a total of 15 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity in two salt caverns.