Release Date: January 30, 2020

The Natchitoches Police Department is asking the public for assistance in locating the suspect, Daerieon Latchie (B/M, 17 y.o.a, weighing 150 pounds, around 5’6” of Natchitoches).

An arrest warrant has been issued for Daerieon Latchie who is charged with two counts of First Degree Murder and two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder.

If you have seen Daerieon Latchie please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or Detective William Connell at (318) 238-3911. Do not attempt to apprehend or detain this individual by yourself. Daerieon Latchie is considered to be armed and dangerous. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

Dear Editor:

The League of Women Voters of Louisiana (LWVLA) is taking part in “People Powered Fair Maps,” a national campaign on redistricting sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS). All fifty states plus Washington, D.C. are participating in this campaign.

After the Census in 2020 is complete, every state will redraw boundaries for both state and congressional districts. It is important that Louisianans be made aware of and educated on the issues involved in Redistricting, such as:

-Prohibiting district lines from being drawn to intentionally favor or impede a political party or incumbent,

-Making transparent the criteria for drawing district maps,

-Requiring public engagement in the redistricting process.

The League of Women Voters of Louisiana will work with other non-partisan organizations, legislators, and volunteers to help get the message out to all citizens. LWVLA will host house parties, offer training sessions to various groups, and promote letter-writing campaigns to inform the public on redistricting.

The People Powered Fair Maps campaign will celebrate in a “National Day of Action” in mid-February sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the United States.

Hilda Walker Thomas, President
League of Women Voters of Louisiana

The Winn Western Riding Association (WWRA) will host a membership drive on February 18, 2020, at 6:30 PM in the down stairs meeting room of the Winn Parish Courthouse.

The WWRA believes that getting children involved in caring for and riding horses makes a positive difference in their lives by teaching them important life lessons. They learn tolerance, kindness, discipline and confidence as they build a partnership with their horse. 

WWRA upcoming events include:
Barrel Run                                                        April 18, 2020
Pony Rides at the Forest Festival                 April 24 – 25, 2020
Team Roping  at the Forest Festival            April 25, 2020
Annual Rodeo                                                  October 2 – 3, 2020

We encourage parents to get involved in the WWRA and Playdays!

The Winn Chamber of Commerce and Tourism held their annual awards reception on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at the Louisiana Political Museum.

The crowd was welcomed by outgoing Chamber Board President, Laurinda Crenshaw and Incoming Board President Keith Gates. The following awards were then presented:

Volunteer of the Year presented by Board Member Ellen Russell:
Lindaly Howell

New Business of the Year presented by Incoming Board President Keith Gates:
Chaddy Shack

Business Persons of the Year presented by Board Member Karen Tyler:
Frederick and Katrina Nichols

Business of the Year presented by Board Member Jodi Taylor:
All Hours Fitness

Mytice Allen Spirit Award presented by Chamber Admin June Melton:
Carolyn Lang.

The Winn Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Board consist of:
Keith Gates, President
Shonna Moss, Vice President
Ellen Russell, Secretary
Laurinda Crenshaw, Past President
Thomas Bates
Caleb Bruce
Tiffany Burke
Brad Cooper
Nancy Crain
Ashley Files
Kristen Green
Lindlay Howell
Lionell Johnson
Kim Poisso
Randa Statham
Jodi Taylor
Karen Tyler
Karla Wroten

• 

• 

• 

The new News Editor for the Winn Parish Enterprise, Tiffany Burke, spoke to the Kiwanis After Hours meeting, Monday, January 20, 2020. She graduated from Calvin in 2011 and graduated from Northwestern with a degree in Education. It was a logical choice and scholarships were available. She taught at Winnfield Senior High and Calvin for a few years. Then she went on a mission trip to New York and after her second mission trip she quit her teaching job. She has been on mission trips to New York, Brazil, Hawaii, Nepal, France and California. She started at the Enterprise on Halloween day. She originally called to apply for the sales job and ended up with the news editor job.

Ms. Burke is all about making a difference in your world. She believes you have to transfer your passion to make a difference. There are a lot of civic clubs in our town and they are about making a difference. She said authenticity sells.

Burke said we are better and stronger together. Young people and older people should be working together. Most young people’s eyes are not open to the needs around them. Young people have a lot to learn and older people have learned a lot. Therefore it would be beneficial for them to work together. A quote she used said “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”. The year 2020 should be a year of unity. We need to connect with others so that we can go far.

Ms. Burke has a lot of energy and enthusiasm for life and the Kiwanis club wishes her well at the Enterprise.

It is all a matter of perspective.

My perspective is that it is really a matter of confirmation bias.

Confirmation bias is, “a type of cognitive bias that involves favoring information that confirms your previously existing beliefs or biases.

For example, imagine that a person holds a belief that left-handed people are more creative than right-handed people. Whenever this person encounters a person that is both left-handed and creative, they place greater importance on this “evidence” that supports what they already believe. This individual might even seek “proof” that further backs up this belief while discounting examples that don’t support the idea.

Confirmation biases impact how we gather information, but they also influence how we interpret and recall information. For example, people who support or oppose a particular issue will not only seek information to support it, they will also interpret news stories in a way that upholds their existing ideas. They will also remember details in a way that reinforces these attitudes.”

Perhaps you have heard someone utter the phrase, “don’t confuse me with the facts.” That is a person recognizing their confirmation bias. Your confirmation bias can grow so large it becomes known as a blind spot. In 2020, I’m working on as many visual references as I can. Watch your confirmation bias so you avoid blind spots in 20/20.

Let’s ponder the upcoming season of Lent.

Did you know the Filet of Fish sandwich at McDonald’s is a response to falling hamburger sales in Lent? Actually, McDonald’s sold a Hula burger on Friday for a while in heavily Catholic areas. The Hula burger was a grilled pineapple ring and cheese on a bun. Tasty! Another franchisee came up with the Filet of Fish for the heavily Catholic areas. Guess which sandwich had the better sales?

For my free church readers, Lent is not what is in the dryer, your jeans pocket or your belly button. Lent is a season of spiritual preparation for Easter. The church has observed this season of penitence and preparation since the 1100’s. The season of Lent lasts 40 days. And for all of you worldly Protestants out there, Sunday does not count!

In my unofficial survey the two things given up most often for Lent are chocolate and Cokes. Those would be two good choices if you planned to give them up permanently. The idea of Lent is to create a new habit or a new way of living. Again, this is all in preparation for Easter. Remember Easter, the empty tomb, opened a new way of living for all who follow Jesus.

Now back to our previously mentioned confirmation bias. People have given up making New Year’s resolutions and practicing Lenten Disciplines because they tell themselves, “I can’t do it. I can’t make meaningful changes in my life.” Rather than try, just preempt the season and give up early.
I want to suggest a two-part Lenten Discipline. The first twenty days of Lent let’s become aware of confirmation bias in our lives. We all have them. Write down what you believe about any topic or relationship. Be aware of how you filter out contrary information regarding your bias. The second twenty days of Lent, pick one place you have a confirmation bias and change your mind.

How would your marriage be different? How would your family be different? How would Natchitoches be different? How would your church or faith be different? How would you be different?

What’s that you say, “I can’t change?”

Did I hear your confirmation bias?

Attention ALL Winn Parish 4-H’ers, parents, and grandparents!! Don’t Forget 4-H Camp Signup starts on February 3, 2020 at 8 AM at the 4-H office. Be there early!! 4-H Camp is for 4th-6th grade 4-H members. You must bring a $85 deposit to hold your spot. Call the 4-H office at 318-628-4528 if you have any questions.

TIME TO GET YOUR TABLES AND TICKETS TO THE PARTY OF THE YEAR!!!!

Don’t miss Dug’s MARDI PARDI! This year we are mixing it up and ready to party like it’s 1999 at the BATTLE OF THE DECADES! 60’s,70’s, 80’s, 90’s, it’s up to you!

February 1, starting at 8:00 PM, tables and tickets on sale now! Individual tickets, $10 pre-sale and tables are $50 for 6 people! BYOB!

For pre-sale tickets contact: Lindlay Howell at (318) 628-0401

Cash bar will be available!

WE CAN’T WAIT TO BATTLE IT OUT WITH Y’ALL and kick off Mardi Gras Dug’ style!!

WINN:
Mary Kirkendoll
May 06, 1949 – January 24, 2020
Service: Saturday, February 1, 2020, 1:00 p. m. at the New Zion Baptist Church in Winnfield, LA.
Burial: Winnfield City Cemetery

NATCHITOCHES:
Laurence John Bonnett
February 8, 1956 – December 23, 2019
Services to be held at a later date

Gregory Randle Singletary
July 03, 1992 – January 18, 2020
Visitation: Saturday, February 1 from 10 am – 2 pm at Provencal First Baptist Church
Service: Saturday, February 1 at 2 pm at Provencal First Baptist Church
Interment: Hickory Grove Cemetery in Vowells Mills

Hiram Phillips, Jr.
November 7, 1984 – January 27, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Carol Adkins Williams
November 07, 1950 – January 26, 2020
Visitation: Saturday, February 1 from 11 am – 1 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Service: Saturday, February 1 at 1 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St Denis Funeral Home

Larry “Thigh-Thigh” Batiste
September 3, 1978 – January 27, 2020
Arrangements TBA

John Gill “Bud” Rachal
October 10, 1949 – January 17, 2020
Service: Saturday, February 1 at 11 am at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, located at 911 5th St. in Natchitoches

Jessie Mae Thomas Manning
March 5, 1942 – January 24, 2020
Visitation: Friday, January 31 from 5-8 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches
Service: Saturday, February 1 at 11 am at the Friendship Baptist Church

James Pickett
January 25, 2020
Arrangements TBA

John L. Brooks
January 25, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Billy Gibson
December 25, 1950 – January 19, 2020
Service: Saturday, February 1 at 12 pm at The Camp, located at 1026 Hampton Road in Natchitoches

James Moody
January 17, 2020
Service: Saturday, February 1 at 2 pm in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel

Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office
Name: Michael McKinney, Jr.
Date: 1-19-20
Time: 6:55 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 30
Charge: Failure to Appear Warrant
Bond: None Listed

Name: Christopher Scott
Date: 1-22-20
Time: 4:03 AM
Address: Natchitoches, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 20
Charge: Failure to Appear Warrant
Bond: None Listed

Name: Michael McKinney
Date: 1-22-20
Time: 1:50 PM
Address: Natchitoches, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 30
Charge: Failure to Appear Warrant
Bond: Paid Fines

Name: Aaron M. Schmidt
Date: 1-22-20
Time: 4:25 PM
Address: West Monroe, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 36
Charge: Driving Under Suspension, Improper Lane Change
Bond: $1000

Name: Otis Hollingsworth, Jr.
Date: 1-22-20
Time: 9:00 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 65
Charge: Failure to Appear Warrant
Bond: Paid Fines

Name: Patricia Lasyone
Date: 1-23-20
Time: 10:15 AM
Address: Joyce, LA
Race: H
Sex: F
Age: 40
Charge: Failure to Appear
Bond: Probation and Parole Hold

Name: Melvin Hamilton, Jr.
Date: 1-23-20
Time: 1:40 PM
Address: Monroe, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 47
Charge: Possession of a Firearm by a Felon
Bond: $10,000

Name: Ashley Reddock
Date: 1-23-20
Time: 5:20 PM
Address: WPDC
Race: W
Sex: F
Age: 25
Charge: Failure to Appear Revocation Hearing
Bond: Probation and Parole Hold

Name: Eric Troy Evans
Date: 1-23-20
Time: 8:17 PM
Address: St. Maurice, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 37
Charge: FTA Driving Under Suspension
Bond: $5,000

Name: Reginald Brown, Jr.
Date: 1-23-20
Time: 11:15 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 18
Charge: Failure to Appear, Escape Smuggling Contraband
Bond: Hold for Juvenile Justice

Name: Damichael Lesean Perry
Date: 1-24-20
Time: 8:10 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 22
Charge: Failure to Appear Warrant
Bond: None Listed

Name: Clarence M. Barton
Date: 1-27-20
Time: 11:27 AM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 50
Charge: Self Mutilation by a Prisoner
Bond: None Listed

Name: Alissa S. Rodriguez
Date: 1-27-20
Time: 7:55 PM
Address: Ruston, LA
Race: W
Sex: F
Age: 20
Charge: Failure to Appear
Bond: Hold for Jackson Parish

Name: Mark Martinez
Date: 1-27-20
Time: 9:12 PM
Address: Joyce, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 36
Charge: Warrant
Bond: None Listed

Name: Matthew Patton
Date: 1-28-20
Time: 11:35 AM
Address: Quitman, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 40
Charge: Probation Violation
Bond: Probation and Parole Hold

Name: Jarrius D. Shaw
Date: 1-28-20
Time: 2:31 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 28
Charge: Failure to Appear Review Hearing
Bond: None Listed

Name: Shelbie Carmouch
Date: 1-28-20
Time: 3:26 PM
Address: Moreauville, LA
Race: W
Sex: F
Age: 27
Charge: Failure to Appear Warrant
Bond: None Listed

Name: Damon W. Spruell
Date: 1-28-20
Time: 6:55 PM
Address: Dodson, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 41
Charge: Bench Warrant – Failure to Appear (2 Counts), Possession of Schedule II Meth and Drug Paraphernalia
Bond: None Listed

Winnfield Police Department
Name: Tommy W. Evans
Date: 1-22-20
Time: 7:35 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 53
Charge: Aff Warrants, Malfeasance (1 Count), Unauthorized Use of Movable (4 Counts)
Bond: Transferred to Natchitoches Parish 10th Jud

Name: Corey T. Jackson
Date: 1-23-20
Time: 7:38 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 32
Charge: FTA Warrant
Bond: $223.50 + $50.00

Name: Derick Thompson
Date: 1-25-20
Time: 5:16 AM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 40
Charge: WPSO Warrant – Failure to Appear for Traffic Arraignment
Bond: Released to WPSO

Name: Kristal J. Miller
Date: 1-25-20
Time: 3:38 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: F
Age: 34
Charge: Theft in the Amount of $23.31
Bond: Released on Summons 1-25-20

Name: Jarmans D. Lowe
Date: 1-25-20
Time: 7:42 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 30
Charge: Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Aggravated Assault with Firearm, Discharging Firearm in City Limits
Bond: Probation and Parole Hold

Name: Douglas Gray
Date: 1-28-20
Time: 3:48 AM
Address: Homeless
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 58
Charge: Criminal Trespass, Simple Criminal Damage to Property, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Aggravated Burglary
Bond: None Noted

 

The Natchitoches Police Department is asking the public for assistance in locating the suspect, Jessie James Petite Jr. (B/M, 21 y.o.a, weighing 135 pounds, around 5’7” of Natchitoches).

An arrest warrant has been issued for Jessie James Petite Jr. who is charged with two counts of First Degree Murder and two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder.

If you have seen Jessie James Petite Jr. please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or Detective William Connell at (318) 238-3911. Do not attempt to apprehend or detain this individual by yourself. Jessie James Petite Jr. is considered to be armed and dangerous. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

On January 27, 2020 around 10:17 p.m., officers with the Natchitoches Police Department responded to the 900 block of Short Seventh Street in reference to a disturbance. Upon officers arrival they located Larry Batiste (B/M, 41 y.o.a. of Natchitoches), Hiram Phillips Jr. (B/M, 35 y.o.a. of Natchitoches) and a female suffering from gunshot wounds. Larry Batiste and Hiram Phillips Jr. were pronounced deceased as a result of their injuries. The female was transported to the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and later to a hospital in Shreveport where she is listed in severe condition.

The Natchitoches Police Department will release more details as they become available.

If you would like to report suspicious activity or an emergency please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or if you have additional information in regards to this investigation please contact Detective William Connell at (318) 238-3911. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

Officer John Greely
Natchitoches Police Department

Release Date: January 28, 2020

The Winn Parish School Board Budget and Finance Committee met on Monday, January 27, 2020. Representatives from the CPA firm Kolder, Slaven & Company, LLC addressed the board to review three reports prepared by their firm.

The firm performed an independent audit of the WPSB’s financial statements and expressed an unmodified opinion which is the highest quality opinion the firm can give according to the presenter.

The firm was also required to prepare an independent auditor’s report on federal awards. The WPSB receives a substantial amount of money from the federal government for programs like Title I, Special Education, Food Service, etc. When a certain amount of money is received the firm is required to audit some of those programs based on the rules set by the federal government. The firm randomly picks a couple of programs and test them for compliance issues. WPSB Management is responsible for making sure they comply with the program guidelines and the firm is responsible for auditing their compliance. The opinion given by the firm was an unmodified opinion and found no compliance findings to report. 

The third report reviewed was the independent auditor’s report on internal controls. As a governmental organization, the auditors come in and attempt to gain an understanding of the internal controls to drive the other two reports they issued. They look at compliance of state laws that the Legislative Auditor in Baton Rouge has told the firm could be significant to those controls. The firm does this to drive their procedures not to express an opinion on internal controls or to express an opinion on compliance. If they were to find anything that they considered significant of material it would be noted and brought to the attention of the board. They had no significant or material findings to report. Even though the firm does not express an opinion on this, no findings are considered relatively clean and a positive result.

The representative went over a high-level view of the WPSB’s finances for the year ending June 30, 2019. Most notable was the fact that the WPSB has been successful in moving toward the goal of having a six-month reserve in the General Fund.  They currently have close to three months’ reserves. 

You can see the entire report here. 

Taking the oath of office as District 22 state representative on the morning of January 13th in the presence of my wife, children, and parents was a truly special experience that I will never forget, but the solemnity of that momentous occasion was soon shattered when the House began proceedings to elect the next Speaker of the House. Ultimately the House members voted 60 – 45 to elect Rep. Clay Schexnayder(R-Gonzales) as Speaker, with 23 Republican representatives joining 35 Democrats and 2 Independents to provide Rep. Schexnayder the winning margin.

The citizens of District 22 should know that I voted with 44 other conservative Republican representatives to elect Rep. Sherman Mack(R-Albany) as Speaker of the House, but the coalition of moderate Republicans, Democrats, and Independents that supported Schexnayder assured that my first vote as representative ended in defeat. However, I have no regrets for my support of Rep. Mack, who won the endorsement of the Republican delegation with a super-majority of the votes during a delegation meeting I attended in Baton Rouge on December 13th.

The days leading up to the inauguration and election of the Speaker were quite tumultuous, culminating with an emergency meeting of the Republican delegation on the morning of the inauguration. In that meeting Rep. Mack offered to step down as the delegation-endorsed candidate in hopes that Rep. Schexnayder and his supporters would join the majority of the Republican delegation and come together to support one Republican candidate, but Rep. Schexnayder rejected the offer and the meeting was concluded with a fractured Republican party heading to the House floor for the inauguration.

I must admit that this was a somewhat disappointing start for the new legislature since the people of Louisiana overwhelmingly voted for conservative representation in the 2019 elections, with Republicans gaining a super-majority of seats in the state Senate and a near super-majority in the House. However, I am cautiously optimistic that the new legislature will come together and successfully implement a conservative agenda of lower taxes, tort reform, and smaller government demanded by the people of District 22 and Louisiana. Rep. Schexnayder has a conservative voting record, and since his election as Speaker he has consistently stated that tort reform and lowering insurance costs are his number one priority this session. I am looking forward to working with Speaker Schexnayder in the coming months to implement real reforms that produce tangible results for the hard-working people of District 22.

I am pleased to announce the opening of my District Office at 181 Barron Road in Pollock, and the hiring of my legislative assistant Mrs. Myrtle Lasyone. Myrtle is a native of Georgetown, LA and comes to District 22 with 24 years of legislative experience, having worked with Sen. Gerald Long for 12 years and Sen. Mike Smith for 12 years. Her experience and heart for helping others will prove to be invaluable for this freshmen representative and the people of District 22. Please contact our office at (318)765-9606 or via email at hse022@legis.la.gov or gfirment@legis.la.gov. Thank you.

Hines was recently honored as the Individual Earth Team award recipient for 2019. Hines donated approximately 700 hours in Winn and Natchitoches parishes for the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service district offices.

Hines received a plaque and was recognized for his exemplary volunteer service during the awards ceremony held on Thursday, January 8, 2020 the annual convention.

Earth Team is the official volunteer organization for the NRCS and soil and water conservation districts.