The 39th annual Melrose Plantation Arts and Crafts Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday April 13 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday April 14.

More than 100 vendors from around the region will exhibit and sell their original work on the grounds of Melrose Plantation.

Louisiana Tech University has announced the winners in the 2013 North Louisiana District Rally qualifying for the State Rally in Baton Rouge or who won first through fifth place in a subject for which there is only district testing have been announced following competition on Saturday, March 23.

Due to problems with testing materials for Agriscience II and Agriscience III, all students who took these two tests will be eligible to compete at the state rally, said Joan Edinger, associate director of admissions at Louisiana Tech and district rally director for the North Louisiana High School Rally Association.

Approximately 1,600 students from 18 North Louisiana parishes competed. Schools also compete for the sweepstakes award in each division. Testing in 49 subjects is separated into five divisions based on school size.

The Natchitoches Alligator Park starts its season on today. The park is the largest alligator park in the state. Some gators are 17 years old, 10-12 feet long and weigh 1000lbs.