“Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord.
May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.” (Psalm 134, NRSV)

The changes to daily life that have affected everyone these last couple of months, bring the unintended benefit of helping recognize the blessings that shower every life: blessings noticed in their absence. Chats with friends. Visits with family. Chances to shop or travel or simply go about a day without worrying about dangers the day might hold.

There are blessings of everyday survival, as well. Indeed, their absence is far greater than simple inconvenience. The blessing of a job, or of a business that teeters now on the edge of insolvency. The blessing of the school that brings learning and nourishment and care. The blessing of health, un-threatened by pre-existing conditions or new pestilence.

These are things that people often learn to cherish only by missing them.

But even these distressing, frightening times bring blessings. The phone call of a friend. The offer to pick up some groceries to save a trip to the store. A walk in a springtime evening. The way that simple tasks like washing hands or wearing a mask become acts of care for each other, even as they are acts of care for ourselves.

We are also blessed with heroes! We look with thanksgiving to the brave and loving service of people whose entire profession has been an act of care. Doctors and nurses, police and fire, the people at shops and offices and agencies whose working days are spent serving and helping and empowering their clients and customers. Every time I need a bottle of Purell, a library book, or a role of stamps, I miss the smiling faces across the counters and breathe a small prayer of thanksgiving for all of the unnoticed times when they were there.

These are the people we see. The crisis can call to attention the valuable helpers whom we do not see. The people, there in the night to make sure that stores and shops are clean and shiny each morning. The people who stock the shelves, and these days may bring the groceries to the car. The people who served the meals, change the sheets, and respond to midnight cries in the hospital and nursing homes.

The people who stand watch by night.

The psalmist said ”Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! … May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion..”

May we bless them as well. And may we resolve, when the crisis is passed, that the ways that we recognize and appreciate them will not pass.

Let us pray: Almighty God, may this time of sickness and fear be also a time of healing and care. We remember especially those people whom we do not see, who care for us. We pray that your protecting hand rest especially with them and your blessing be with them, and with us all. In Jesus name, Amen

Fr Frank Fuller, St Paul’s Episcopal Church

Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) officials are continuing preparations to safely re-open classes for summer and fall semesters in all programs. Plans are centered around having students on-campus and online as appropriate. In addition, the college plans to provide institutional aid to significantly reduce tuition for career and technical education programs and general courses in an effort to make classes more affordable for students who are dealing with financial hardship from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. General education courses are typically courses in freshman English, mathematics, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. These courses are accepted at all Louisiana public colleges and universities including LSU of Alexandria, Northwestern State University, and Louisiana College.

“Currently CLTCC is offering essential CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) program trainings such as Nursing, Manufacturing, and Welding, to name a few,” said CLTCC Chancellor Jimmy Sawtelle. “We are conducting student training in an environment patterned after local business and industry following the appropriate safety measures, including use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), social distancing, thorough cleaning of high-traffic areas, and we have conducted specialized safety training for our employees.”

Sawtelle said online and hybrid (face-to-face and online) classes will continue to be the preferred option for many courses during the summer session, which begins June 1. But in many CLTCC disciplines, such as welding, nursing, and manufacturing, hands-on instruction is essential. “It is critical that we balance the safety needs of our students and our instructors with the educational objectives of the course to make sure our students get the best possible learning experience in an appropriate training environment,” Sawtelle said. “We are taking the necessary steps to safely use hands-on instruction where we determine that method is essential, and we are adjusting our procedures as needed. CLTCC is using screening, PPE, distancing and spacing strategies, increased cleaning efforts, and adjusting teacher-student ratios to minimize exposure.”

Also, Sawtelle said the school is making plans to be ready to welcome students back for a strong yet appropriate return to on-campus instruction for the fall semester, which starts Aug. 17.

For both summer and fall semesters, students will find opportunities for reduced tuition for many programs and general education courses. “We want everyone back, and, like everyone else, we want to see classes return similar to pre-COVID-19. But we understand many people throughout Central Louisiana have lost jobs, had their hours reduced, or experienced other financial challenges during the pandemic,” Sawtelle said. “We don’t want these life situations to be an impediment to someone pursuing their goal of going back to school, getting a training certificate, or working to increase their education and improve their life.”

As a result, Sawtelle said CLTCC will be significantly reducing tuition for general courses, such as English, Algebra and science. “We are all in this together,” Sawtelle said. “Central Louisiana has been so supportive and has really embraced CLTCC. In this difficult time, we want to do everything we can to give back and be supportive of our community. Whether it is making 3D printed PPE for local healthcare workers or reducing tuition to help during financial uncertainty, we’re proud partners with the communities in the 12 parishes we serve, and we are happy to do whatever we can to help.”
Enrollment for summer and fall classes is ongoing. For more information, visit the school website at www.cltcc.edu.

Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) is a two-year technical and community college offering associate degrees, technical diplomas, industry certificates, and customized training in more than 20 disciplines to support local workforce development and prepare students for high-demand and highwage careers. CLTCC serves 12 parishes in Central Louisiana through its eight campuses and provides instruction in one state prison and one federal correctional institution. For more information, visit www.cltcc.edu.

NATCHITOCHES:
Stanley Jones
September 20, 1976 – May 2, 2020
Arrangements TBA

SABINE:
Joseph Vance Etheridge
January 19, 1949 – May 11, 2020
Arrangements TBA

As of May 11, 2020, at 6:30 PM, the Winn Correctional Center (WCC) in Winnfield, LA, has 20 detainees that have tested positive for COVID-19, according to ice.gov. The website also states that there are no U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees working at WCC that have tested positive for the virus. It is important to note that most people working at WCC do not work directly for ICE but instead are employed by the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office (WPSO). Therefore the total number of employees that have tested positive for the virus is unknown as neither ICE nor WPSO has released full statistics for guards.  Two guards at the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, which is also an ICE detainee facility, died after contracting the coronavirus. According to reports, families of both guards believe they contracted the virus working at the Richwood facility.

On April 1, 2020, the Winn Parish Journal reported that several advocacy groups wrote letters to Acting ICE Director Matthew Albence and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf on behalf of detainees. The letter included troubling reports that “Winn Correctional Center staff have not taken the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Coronavirus inside the facility.” As well as “staff had not addressed COVID-19 concerns with immigrant detainees, including failing to instruct detainees on hand washing and social distancing.” The letter also indicated hand sanitizer was “not available.” “Social distancing at Winn is virtually impossible,” read the letter. “Winn is primed to have COVID-19 spread through the detained population like wildfire. It will be devastating and deadly to the detainees as well as the correctional officers who are exposed and then go home to families and out into the community. Medically vulnerable detainees, and those who are otherwise immunocompromised, should be released immediately,” the letter demanded.

Hunger strikes and other protests are taking place in detention centers across the country due to detainees COVID-19 concerns, and detainees at the WCC were recently pepper-sprayed during a riot at the facility.

In a statement to WPJ, ICE said it was following guidelines set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to screen and isolate any detainee who shows symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and then referred all other questions to the for-profit private company that runs the facility,  Ruston-based LaSalle Corrections and the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office that is contracted to manage it. Neither organization responded to multiple inquiries regarding confirmed detainee and WCC employee cases. 

You can review ICE reported case numbers here: https://www.ice.gov/coronavirus

The Huey P. Long Campus of Central Louisiana Technical Community College is proud to recognize the accomplishments of Practical Nursing Class 32.

“This is a great accomplishment for each of these graduates, and it demonstrates their perseverance, dedication and hard work to reach this goal in their lives,” said Campus Dean Jeff Johnson. “Normally, we would celebrate with a traditional pinning ceremony, but due to COVID-19 restrictions we cannot do that at this time. However, we want to recognize these 25 graduating students, and especially recognize the top-performing students from the class.”

Students earning awards include:

• Steven Paden Hutchinson received the Academic Excellence Award, having maintained a 3.9 GPA throughout the program.
• Lauren Wise was elected Nurse of the Year by her peers recognizing her character, compassion and ability to work with others.
• LaTasha Powell and Lauren Wise were recognized for having perfect attendance throughout the program. 

In addition to these graduates, the CLTCC Natchitoches Campus anticipates 2 additional Practical Nursing cohorts contributing to the nursing workforce in 2021. The following students are members of the National Association of Practical Nurses, Inc. (NALPN) and maintained a 3.0 or greater GPA throughout the program: Mikaela Culpepper, Jacquetta Grayson, Steven Paden Hutchinson, Natasha Johnson and Lauren Wise.

Those who are high risk should continue to stay at home, all Louisianans should wear masks when in public, practice good hygiene and social distancing.

Louisiana will move to Phase One under the White House COVID-19 guidance this Friday, May 15, which removes the Stay at Home order for Louisianans and allows additional businesses to open under strict occupancy, protection and social distancing guidelines, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday. High risk individuals should continue to stay at home, except for essential activities, like getting food or medical care.

Gov. Edwards outlined the first phase of the Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana, which adopts every major recommendation of the White House plan in Phase One. The Governor also highlighted data that shows that the Stay at Home order improved Louisiana’s overall situation in relation to new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Louisiana meets the statewide threshold criteria from the White House related to declining COVID-like symptoms, new cases and hospitalizations. In addition, testing and contact tracing are ramping up, which further supports the decision to go to Phase One.

“Because of the Stay at Home order, Louisianans were able to dramatically improve our trajectory, reduce the number of new cases, keep our health care system from being overrun and save lives. It is because of this hard work that I, in consultation with public health experts and business and industry leaders, feel confident that all across the state we can move forward with entering into Phase One. Because we meet the White House statewide threshold criteria, starting on Friday, additional businesses may open with reasonable limitations to ensure safety for their employees and their customers,” Gov. Edwards said. “Louisianans who are at high risk of dying from COVID-19, including the elderly, residents of long-term care facilities and those with poor control of certain illnesses, should continue to stay at home and only leave their homes only for essential reasons, like seeking medical care, going to an essential job or getting food.”

“Right now, the data shows improvement, and we also now have a much more robust testing and contract tracing program underway, which will allow us to better identify cases and isolate those who may have been infected. However, we are not out of the woods and if we see a dramatic spike in cases, we may have to increase restrictions. Our lives will not go back to normal for some time,” Gov. Edwards said. “I know this has been a trying time for our people, our churches and our businesses, and I am truly grateful for the continued adherence to mitigation measures designed to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives. Louisianans are a remarkably strong and resilient people, and by working together, we will continue to protect each other and our state.”

Gov. Edwards will issue an updated proclamation, the Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana: Phase One, on Thursday, May 14 that removes the Stay at Home order for Louisianans, encouraging people who are at a higher risk of becoming ill from COVID-19 to continue to Stay at Home. However, all individuals are still Safer at Home and should limit their exposure to the novel coronavirus when in public by wearing a facial covering like a cloth mask, practicing good hygiene, including frequent handwashing, and maintaining at least six feet of social distance from people who are not in their households.

The Governor’s order will detail categories of businesses that can be open and those which must remain closed. All non-essential Phase One businesses and churches will be limited to 25 percent of their total occupancy, which meets the White House Guidance for Phase One that calls for “strict” social distancing measures. All Phase One businesses and churches must have their employees who deal with the public in face coverings or cloth masks and enforce social distancing.

The 25 percent occupancy rate is based on the advice of public health officials who recommend that people generally have 110 square feet around them. This occupancy capacity includes customers and employees.

The State Fire Marshal and the Louisiana Department of Health will continue issuing guidance to different types of businesses about Phase One in the coming days, in order to ensure that businesses and churches can safely operate to the maximum level allowed in Phase One. Business owners and faith leaders can register at OpenSafely.la.gov to receive this guidance, which will also be placed online.

With the exception of gaming establishments, no church leader or business owner is required to register or to get approval of their opening plans in advance. Registering for the Open Safely site is not required to reopen, but it is encouraged as it will allow businesses and churches to get the latest information quickly.

Phase One guidance will allow essential businesses, as defined by CISA, to remain open. Non-essential businesses (sometimes called “gray area” businesses) and places of worship may remain open at 25 percent of their occupancy. All business owners should read the order to understand which category their business falls into.

New types of businesses that may open beginning on May 15, with 25 percent occupancy limits, sanitation guidelines and spacing for physical distancing include:

• Gyms and fitness centers
• Barber shops and hair and nail salons
• Casinos and Video Poker
• Theaters
• Racetracks (not open to spectators)
• Museums, zoos, aquariums (no tactile exhibits)
• Bars and breweries with LDH food permits

The following businesses remain closed: massage establishments and spas, tattoo parlors, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, trampoline parks, arcades, fairs, bars and breweries without LDH food permits, pool halls, contact sports, children’s play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, adult entertainment venues, and other similar businesses.

All business owners should review the updated order, which will be formally issued on Thursday, to understand if their business can be open as of May 15.

State buildings will begin to be open to the public on May 15 at 25 percent occupancy and state agencies are directed to continue to bring more state employees back to work in person, with proper distancing and protections in place. In line with the White House Phase One guidance, all employers that can are encouraged to continue to allow their employees to work remotely where possible, and to plan to space out their employees, close communal spaces, require face coverings like masks and increase sanitation protocols when employees do return to the office.

Click here to see the data presented at the Governor’s May 11 media briefing.

By Kevin Daugherty

This week I’ll start the discussion on managing wildlife habitat in pine plantations. I estimate that more than half of our forests in the upland portions of central Louisiana are pine. Many believe that a pine stand managed intensively for timber production can’t produce quality deer habitat and, with so many acres of it, many sportsman are afraid wildlife habitat has been destroyed. As I stated last week, I actually prefer to manage wildlife habitat in pine stands over hardwood. However, the debate over hardwood and pine is not the most important issue, how we manage our timber stand is. The key is to use a management strategy that not only provides you with an economically viable timber stand but also provides wildlife with quality habitat.

A few terms you’ll hear me use a lot are overstory, understory, plant succession, and disturbance. All are important in combining timber and good wildlife habitat production. The overstory is our cash crop, in this case pine trees. The understory is what’s growing underneath the pines. We have to intensively manage both and, in fact, managing the understory is the key to having good deer and turkey habitat. Everyone manages the overstory when they periodically thin their timber but its rare today to see the understory controlled and managed.

Plant succession simply refers to the progressive change in the plant community. If you harvest all the timber on a tract of land here in the south, the first plants to grow back are going to be grasses, forbs, and shrubs. A few common examples here in Louisiana are broomsedge, greenbrier, honeysuckle, ragweed, beggar’s-lice, goldenrod, beautyberry, and blackberry. Over time, without continued disturbance, these plants are outcompeted and start being replaced by trees. Given more time, the trees mature and shade out the early succession plants. This is forest succession in a nutshell. As wildlife managers we are, in one form or another, constantly fighting back succession because the early plants offer the best food and cover for deer, turkeys, rabbits, and a multitude of other wildlife. Remember, a deer’s world is from the ground up to about four feet high. They are early succession animals. The longer we can provide early successional habitat, the more they are attracted to our property.

So how do we control plant succession? We so by disturbance. Disturbance can come in several forms. There are catastrophic disturbances such as damaging wind, wildfire, and even insect outbreaks such as southern pine beetle. Many years ago, they came in the form of great herds of buffalo moving across the plains or Native Americans setting fires to reduce “rough” vegetation, improve hunting, and create space for crops. Today we create disturbances by harvesting timber, prescribed burning, and directed use of herbicide. In the
above paragraph, we started the succession process off by harvesting timber. You simply can’t keep vegetation at a deer’s level without disturbing it or knocking it back.

So, how do we grow pine trees and, at the same time, create disturbances to promote early successional habitat? We manage the overstory and understory almost as separate components. Once the pines grow to pulpwood size, we open (thin) the overstory enough to allow sunlight to reach the forest floor and promote the growth of the understory. Then we manipulate and manage what grows there and keep it in reach of deer. Simple enough, right? The problem, as it relates to pine plantations and wildlife habitat, is when the understory isn’t managed. We’ve got the timber harvesting part down (a lot of you are saying “AMEN” or something worse right about now). Where we fall short is in managing the understory between harvests. There are countless acres of pine stands where the understory is 10-12 feet tall and choked with yaupon, privet, saw briar, and hardwood saplings. Most of the sparse nutritious food that’s out there isn’t even within a deer’s reach. This is not good wildlife habitat and a big reason deer sightings and hunting success falls off when a pine stand reaches this stage.

I believe the biggest problem in our pine forests today is that, for various reasons, most landowners have by and large stopped using prescribed fire as a management tool. A controlled fire is by far the best means of manipulating wildlife habitat in a pine stand. Dollar for dollar, it’s the most cost-effective tool we have.

Next week, we’ll back up and look at the life cycle of a pine stand and the management practices we can employ at each stage. Until then, get out and enjoy your land!

Kevin Daugherty is a forestry and wildlife consultant, real estate agent, and the managing member of ForestLand Associates, LLC. He’s a member of the Association of Consulting Foresters, Louisiana Forestry Association, Society of American Foresters, and is a Land Certification Inspector for the Quality Deer Management Association. He and his wife live in rural Winn Parish. For questions about this article Kevin can be reached at (318) 312-1240 or kevin@forestland.com 

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with recent outbreaks of MERS and SARS.

For confirmed infections, reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms (similar to the common cold) to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:

Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:
Fever
Chills
Repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection. People infected with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.

A person is considered recovered when it has been at least seven days after the onset of illness, AND at least three day after resolution of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications) AND resolution or improvement in respiratory symptoms.

Coronavirus spreads from an infected person to others through:

• Respiratory droplets produced when coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

• Numerous cases compatible with multi-system inflammatory syndrome have been identified in
  children in Europe and the United States, including Louisiana.
• Characterized by persistent fever and features of Kawasaki disease and/or toxic shock syndrome; gastrointestinal symptoms are also common.
• Cases may require intensive care unit admission for cardiac and/or respiratory support.
• Testing for SARS-CoV-2 may be positive or negative.
• Early recognition and specialist referral are essential, including to critical care if warranted.
• Healthcare providers who diagnose pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome potentially associated with COVID-19 should immediately report them to the Louisiana Office of Public Health
  Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section using the secure online portal: https://laredcap.oph.dhh.la.gov/surveys/?s=NYW8TYETNF

Description:
A pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome, recently reported by authorities in the United Kingdom(*1), is also being observed among 64 children and young adults in New York City(*2). Similar presentations have been reported from facilities in Louisiana, and the Louisiana Department of Health is working to gather additional information on these cases. Clinical features vary, depending on the affected organ system, but have been noted to include features of Kawasaki disease or features of shock; however, the full spectrum of disease is not yet known. Inflammatory markers may be elevated, and fever and abdominal symptoms may be prominent. Rash also may be present. Myocarditis and other cardiovascular changes may be
seen. Additionally, some patients have developed cardiogenic or vasogenic shock and required intensive care. This inflammatory syndrome may occur days to weeks after acute COVID-19 illness.

The syndrome may include:

• A child presenting with persistent fever, inflammation (e.g. neutrophilia, elevated C- reactive protein and lymphopenia) and evidence of single or multi-organ dysfunction (shock, cardiac, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal or neurological disorder). This may include children meeting full or partial criteria for Kawasaki
  disease.
• Exclusion of any other microbial cause, including bacterial sepsis, staphylococcal or streptococcal shock syndromes, and infections associated with myocarditis such as enterovirus. Clinicians should not delay seeking expert advice while waiting for results of these investigations. 

Early recognition by pediatricians and prompt referral to an in-patient specialist, including to critical care is essential. This
syndrome should be considered by pediatricians and specialists, particularly when other microbial etiologies have not been
identified.

Diagnostic and serological testing to detect the presence of SARS-COV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, or corresponding
antibodies should be performed in patients who are under 21 years of age and present with symptoms compatible with
pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome potentially associated with COVID-19.

Healthcare providers who diagnose pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome potentially associated with COVID-19 should immediately report them to the Louisiana Office of Public Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section using the secure online portal: https://laredcap.oph.dhh.la.gov/surveys/?s=NYW8TYETNF

By Brad Dison

Leland was a young and inexperienced newspaper reporter for the Houston Press. Leland was awestruck by the Houston Press’s senior crime reporter Harry McCormick. Dressed in the oft romanticized reporter style with his pressed suits and tilted fedora press hat, Harry went to great lengths to get a story. Leland always kept a watchful eye on Harry so that he could learn how to become a great reporter himself.

One night, Harry invited Leland out for a beer after work. Hungry for any opportunity to advance his reporting career, Leland gladly accepted. Although there were plenty of local places to have a beer, Harry drove them far out of town. They eventually reached their destination, “a sleezy speakeasy behind an even sleezier grocery, if you can believe it.” Harry warned Leland to keep his eyes open and his mouth shut no matter what transpired. Harry and Leland walked into the speakeasy and sat at a small table. After a few minutes, a man wearing old, dirty overalls and an old, crushed felt hat, sat down at their table. The man greeted Harry and gave Leland a nod. The man looked Harry and Leland over but “said virtually nothing.” The man sat for just a minute or two before he got up and left the speakeasy. A few minutes later, at Harry’s direction, Harry and Leland also left the speakeasy.

Back in the car, Harry asked Leland, “so, what did you think of him?” “Who?” Leland asked. Harry replied in disbelief, “You didn’t recognize Raymond Hamilton?” Leland was stunned. He and Harry had just sat down with one of the country’s most wanted criminals. Raymond and his associates were responsible for a string of murders, attempted murders, kidnappings, bank robberies, jailbreaks, and car thefts, as well as holdups of grocery stores, gas stations, and various other businesses. Harry warned Leland sternly that he could not tell anyone of their meeting, ever.

Late in the evening of March 18, 1935, just a few days after their meeting, Harry stood on a Houston street corner. Ralph Fultz, one of Raymond’s partners in crime, pulled up beside Harry and forced him at gunpoint into the car. Ralph drove Harry to an undisclosed location where Raymond cautiously waited. For two hours, Raymond told Harry of his various crimes and his close calls. He told Harry of one particular close call when a policeman fired a shotgun at him. He allowed Harry to feel the bullet fragment which was still lodged in his neck near his Adam’s apple. Raymond kidnapped Harry so that the trusted reporter could tell the public the “truth” about Raymond. “I never killed any man,” he claimed. Raymond hoped that this lie would garner some sympathy and make the public less likely to turn him in if they saw him. Following the interview, Raymond and Ralph returned Harry to his car. Before the kidnappers left, Harry had Raymond place his fingerprints on the windshield of his car so he could substantiate his story.

As the sun rose on the morning of March 19, people walking by Harry’s car found Harry bound and gagged. Before Harry allowed anyone to untie him, he made sure someone photographed him bound and gagged. Harry knew the photograph would draw attention to the story. Police verified that the fingerprints on Harry’s windshield were made by Raymond. Harry got the story of his career and newspapers throughout the country ran the story. Raymond’s lie helped him little as police caught up with him a short time after Harry’s interview. On May 10, 1935, Raymond was executed in the electric chair at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, Texas. Raymond Hamilton was a member of the gang most often referred to as Bonnie and Clyde.

Leland kept his word to Harry for over fifty years, but Leland eventually shared his secret. He told of his and Harry’s meeting with Raymond. Leland explained that Harry brought him along to the speakeasy so Harry would have a witness if anything went wrong. He also explained Harry’s kidnapping; “Harry could not interview a criminal on the lam without being guilty of collusion, so he set up his own kidnapping so he could interview one of the countries most feared murderers.”

Leland’s reporting career prospered and he eventually earned the moniker “the most trusted man in America.” He broke the news to America of some of the most memorable moments of the twentieth century including the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, and John Lennon, as well as details of the Vietnam War, the Moon Landing, and a myriad of other important events. For more than fifty years, Leland kept secret his and Harry’s meeting with Raymond Hamilton, as well as the events surrounding Harry’s kidnapping. Leland was the middle name of “the most trusted man in America.” You and I know him as Walter Cronkite.

Sources:
Longview News-Journal, March 19, 1935, p.1.
The Weekly Schuyler Sun, March 21, 1935, p.1.
“Walter Cronkite meets Raymond Hamilton.” Accessed April 27, 2020.

The Winnfield Kiwanis Club Scholarship meal will be held Monday, June 1, 2020, at the Winn Farmers Market. This is rescheduled from April. If you already have tickets that have the April date they will be honored. The meal will include Boston Butt Steak, Green Beans, Potato Salad, Bread and Dessert. Tickets are $8 and may be purchased from any Kiwanian. The Kiwanis club thanks the businesses who contribute each year to our scholarship lunch. A list of those who contributed will be published after the lunch.

The meal is take out only and will be available at the Winn Farmers Market from 10:30 AM until 12:30 PM on Monday, June 1st. For more information or to purchase tickets contact President Steve Bates at 628-3985, Dr. Bill Gaddis at 628-2781, Dr. Jerry Williams at 628-6233 or any other Kiwanian. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

The proceeds from this Scholarship Meal go to fund the scholarships that are given each year to high school seniors in Winn Parish. Applications are available at Atlanta, Calvin, Dodson and Winnfield Senior High School. The amount of money raised at this event determines the number of scholarships and the monetary value of the scholarships. Please support the Kiwanis club in this worthy project and enjoy a delicious meal. Monday, June 1, 2020.

Please note that the State Law limits number of people during the visitation period and attendance at the service to ten (10) or less and that social distancing be observed! This must be strictly enforced! Thank you in advance for your cooperation. It is designed for the safety of the family, our staff and the general public.

WINN:
Adam Heath Poisso
August 01, 1988 – May 11, 2020
Visitation: Wednesday, May 13 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm and also on Thursday from 9:00 am until time of services at Central Assembly of God in Winnfield
Service: Thursday, May 14 at 10 am at the Central Assembly of God in Winnfield

NATCHITOCHES:
Ola Mae Smith
May 08, 2020
Arrangements TBA

SABINE:
Rufus G. Kelly
January 16, 1938 – May 6, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Governor John Bel Edwards today announced that Louisiana moving to Phase 1 of the White House guidelines for opening America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Edwards spoke this afternoon saying, “After reviewing the data and discussing it with health officials, we are going to move to Phase 1 on Friday, May 15th.”

The next Governor’s Proclamation will be issued on Thursday to take effect on Friday. Edwards said it will last until June 15th. Edwards said, “Although we will lift the Stay at Home order on Friday, until that time it is still in effect. We are trying to strike the right balance between concern for public health and getting More businesses open.”

“The other requirement in moving to Phase 1,” said Edwards, “is based upon testing and contact tracing. We are getting more testing capacity and we will get up to 200,000 tests per month in the state. And we are also expanding the contact tracing capacity.”

Today’s figures from the Louisiana Department of Health indicate that there have not been any new cases of COVID-19 reported in Winn Parish in the last day. There have been 52 cases reported and there have been 2 deaths recorded so far.

Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office
Name: Misty N. Cockerham
Date: 5-2-20
Age: 45
Gender: Female
Race: White
Charge: PAROLE VIOLATION

Name: George A. Jenson
Date: 5-2-20
Charge: INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH A JUVENILE

Name: Daylon W. Garner
Date: 5-3-20
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Race: White
Charge: AGGRAVATED ASSAULT-DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY,SIMPLE CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

Name: Willie J. Chapman
Date: 5-5-20
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Race: Black
Charge: RESISTING ARREST OR OFFICER, POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II DRUGS, NO SEAT BELT-1ST OFFENSE, IMPROPER PARKING, OPEN CONTAINER, SPEEDING 45 OR OVER IN EXCESS OF LIMIT, DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION WITHOUT ACCIDENT, FAILURE TO YIELD TO AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE, RECKLESS OPERATION NO ACCIDENT, OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

Name: Jennifer Roberts
Date: 5-5-20
Charge: RESISTING ARREST OR OFFICER, OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, INTRODUCTION OF CONTRABAND -PENAL INSTITUTE, POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II DRUGS

Name: Ronnie Milstead
Date: 5-5-20
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Race: White
Charge: CRIMES AGAINST NATURE

Name: Casey Estes
Date: 5-7-20
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Race: White
Charge: FAILURE TO APPEAR

City of Winnfield Police Department
Name: Jalexcia Smith
Date: 5-6-20
Time: 7:18 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Gender: F
Race: B
Charge: Aggravated Battery
Bond: $2500

Name: Eric Goff
Date: 5-6-20
Time: 7:09 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Gender: M
Race: B
Charge: Domestic Abuse Battery, Possession of Synthetic Marijuana
Bond: $77,500

Name: Donald Ray Cockerham
Date: 5-8-20
Time: 4:04 AM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Gender: M
Race: B
Charge: Simple Damage to Property
Bond: Released on Summons

Name: Justin Jewitt
Date: 5-9-20
Time: 5:18 AM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Gender: M
Race: B
Charge: 2nd Degree Battery, Possession of Firearm by Felon, Battery of Dating Partner, Possession of Stolen Firearm, 4 Bench Warrants from WPSO
Bond: Holding for WPSO

Name: Kenneth R. Brown
Date: 5-10-20
Time: 8:35 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Gender: M
Race: B
Charge: Aggravated Assault w/Firearm, Discharging a Firearm in City Limits
Bond: Bond Not Set