City of Winnfield Police Department
Date: 2-22-22
Name: Tarrence Tripplet Jr.
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 33
Charge: Disturbing the peace
Date: 2-22-22
Name: Tyrong L Kimble
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 23
Charge: Illegal carrying of weapons, Possession
Information courtesy of Louisiana District 13 Rep. Jack McFarland’s office.
The Winn Parish School Board Committees will meet MondayFebruary 28, 2022 at 5:00 PM in the meeting room of the Winn Parish School Board.
Executive Committee
Matt Walton
Michelle Carpenter
Todd Martin
Personnel and Salary
Christy Harrell
Joe Lynn Browning
Michelle Carpenter
Todd Martin
Michael Riffe
Personnel and Salary – Harrell, Browning, Carpenter, Martin, Riffe
Executive – Walton, Carpenter, Martin
According to the City of Winnfield, the water samples collected on 2/25/2022 cleared. As a result, at 10:20 AM on 2/26/2022, the Louisiana Department of Health/Office of Public Health rescinded the Boil Advisory issued by the City of Winnfield Water System.
The Kisatchie National Forest (KNF) will soon be filling a Support Services Specialist on the Winn Ranger District, located in beautiful Winnfield, Louisiana. The salary for this position ranges from $40,262 to 58,158. If interested, please respond by March 11, 2022. Those that express interest will be notified when the position is advertised on www.usajobs.gov.
The SSS position is located on the Winn Ranger District, Winnfield, LA, and will serve under the supervision of the District Ranger.
This position provides administrative support and oversight in a variety of functions on the unit including: assists with planning and monitoring of annual operating budgets at the district and forest level, planning and implementing in areas such as purchasing and contracting for supplies, equipment and services through open market purchase by blanket arrangement or field purchase order using a VISA credit card; human resources and personnel support. This position also plans/performs general property management support services, such as property inventory and maintenance and/or disposal of equipment. Other responsibilities include staying apprised of agency procedures and policies affecting the administrative functions, training and informing others in administrative functions and policies, correspondence management, maintenance of unit resource files, oversight and performance of visitor information services, and maintenance of office supply stock. This position supervises one Office Automation Assistant. One Resource Clerk that is supervised by the Forest Service Representative assists the Admin Team, as needed as well. This position generally manages the overall office setting and provides direction in administrative services in an environment where programs and priorities are constantly evolving. Strong interpersonal and organizational skills are important in a candidate for this position.
This position also performs as one of the Kisatchie National Forest’s Budget Resource Team with the budget and work planning process. The incumbent will also be required to perform other duties as assigned, and may support fire management activities or other collateral duties.
The Kisatchie National Forest is Louisiana’s only National Forest and was established in June 1930. It is comprised of over 600,000 acres and is located in central and northern Louisiana and is divided into five Ranger Districts. The Supervisor’s Office is located in Pineville at the Alexandria Forestry Center and is one of the unique locations where the National Forest System, Forest Health, and Research are located together at one integrated facility. The Kisatchie is a diverse forest with bayous, prairies, bottomland hardwoods and upland pine forest types. The terrain across the forest is flat to gently rolling hills, with maximum elevations of approximately 400 feet MSL. The weather is temperate; summers are hot and humid and the winters are cool and mild. Temperature ranges include a few days in the 20’s during the winter months, but usually remain in the mid 30 to 40-degree range, while the summer months may be in excess of 95 degrees with high humidity. The average annual rainfall is approximately 45 inches per year.
The Winn Ranger District consists of approximately 165,000 acres in Winn, Grant, and Natchitoches Parishes located near Winnfield, Louisiana. The District has an active timber sale program of approximately 40,000 CCF per year, a prescribe burning program of about 25,000 acres per year, and an active wildlife program which is involved in the restoration of the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. The District shares management of the National Catahoula Wildlife Management Preserve with the Catahoula RD. The Recreation program includes both developed and primitive campgrounds, horse and hiking trails, and canoeing on the Saline Bayou National Wild & Scenic River.
For more information about the Kisatchie National Forest and the Winn Ranger District visit the Forest web site at: www.fs.fed.us/r8/kisatchie/.
The city of Winnfield is located approximately 45 miles north of the Pineville/Alexandria metro area (Pop. 50,000) and 35 miles east of Natchitoches (Pop. 18,000) which is the oldest settlement in Louisiana.
Winnfield has a population of approximately 4,500 with an estimated 14,000 living in Winn Parish which is known for its interesting political history and local festivals. It is a full-service community with a library, local newspaper, hospital, several doctors, dentist, pharmacies, ambulance service, two banks, and numerous churches of varying denominations. There are three grocery stores, a Super Wal-Mart, and several motels/bed & breakfast, restaurants, and fast food establishments. The city is served by its own fire department while a volunteer fire department services the parish.
There is a parish-wide school system with schools located in outlying communities as well as Winnfield. Numerous school activities are available in various academic clubs, band and athletics. There a four (4) universities within an hour’s drive of Winnfield. The Central Louisiana Technical College has a branch location in Winnfield.
Local Dixie Youth Softball, Little League Baseball, and adult softball are sponsored during the summer months with Youth football and basketball scheduled during the fall and winter months by the city recreation department. Outdoor opportunities include hiking, boating and water skiing, camping, canoeing, and horseback riding. Louisiana is known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise”, and the surrounding area has an abundance of hunting and fishing opportunities. Numerous festivals may be found most any time of the year including the Louisiana Forest Festival and Uncle Earl’s Hog Dog Trials in Winnfield, the Louisiana Pecan Festival in Colfax, and the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. Additional information can be found at web site: http://www.cityofwinnfield.com.
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Brad Cooper, Winn District Ranger, at 318-628-4664, or by email at bradley.cooper@usda.gov.
Community Development Works (CDW), a program of The Rapides Foundation, announces its free skill-building trainings for Cenla residents and nonprofits. The spring classes run from March 8 through May 10.
CDW training topics are geared toward nonprofit staff, board members, community volunteers and people interested in starting a nonprofit to improve their communities.
The spring schedule includes webinars, in-person workshops and classes offered in the hybrid mode, where participants can choose to attend in person or online. Workshops are held in The Rapides Foundation Building in downtown Alexandria. The training calendar also includes one podcast and two videos that can be accessed at any time after registration.
Spring trainings are presented within the following topic areas: starting a nonprofit, grant writing, marketing and staff development.
Spring class titles are as follows:
Participants have the option of attending all trainings in a series or choosing only the ones that interest them. Residents who register for a webinar but are unable to attend at the designated time will be given a link to watch the class at a later date.
Registration is required for all webinars, in-person workshops, podcasts and videos. To register, visit www.communitydevelopmentworks.org/attend-training to find a list of the classes. Call CDW at 318-443-7880 or 800-803-8075 for more information. Starting in 2022, webinars and hybrid classes will be offered online at BigMarker.com/cdworks. Participants do not need to download software to attend the online courses.
CDW trainings are part of The Rapides Foundation’s Social Environment Initiative and have the goal of building the capacity of nonprofit staff and volunteers in Central Louisiana. Trainings are offered in the spring and the fall.
WINN:
DONALD LEROY TARVER
June 12, 1930 – February 12, 2022
Service: Monday, February 28 at 12 pm
SABINE:
Mike Wilson
July 1, 1959 – February 24, 2022
Service: Tuesday, March 1 at 2 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel
Dr. David Howard Horner
January 24, 1951 – February 23, 2022
Service: Monday, February 28 at 10 am at First Baptist Church of Many
RED RIVER:
Brenda Wimberly Jones
December 19, 1944 – February 23, 2022
Service: Monday, February 28 at 2 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
As a precaution, the City of Winnfield Water Department is immediately issuing a boil advisory. This boil advisory is to remain in effect until otherwise noted. The boil water advisory is issued for the EVERYONE North of Tractor Supply (167 North).
It is recommended that all consumers disinfect their water before consuming it. This includes water for fountain drinks, making ice, brushing teeth or using it for food preparation or rinsing off foods by the following means:
Boil water for one full minute in a clean container. The one-minute starts after the water has been brought to a rolling boil. Once the water has been boiled, you may improve the taste of the water by shaking it in a closed container, pouring it from one clean container to another, or adding a small pinch of salt to each quart of water that is boiled.
Consumers should disinfect their water before consumption until otherwise notified.
The Winn Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is proud to 
announce that Floors by Design has been selected as our
February 2022 Business of the Month.
Winnfield is so thankful for our local businesses and what would we do without Floors by Design, owned and operated by Susie and Ronnie Potts since 2010.
Just how did Susie and Ronnie decide on the flooring business? Well, it was the natural decision since Ronnie was a building contractor and it just seemed like the right thing to do. Susie said that after 25 years of working for Wal-Mart, she was ready for retirement. A few weeks later, she decided that sitting at home was not for her. A good friend from Monroe was in the flooring business and Susie went and worked for her for a couple of weeks and decided that maybe she and Ronnie could do something local. So, they became part-owners in a lumberyard business in Jonesboro. After 5 years of working in Jonesboro, they decided to bring a business to Winnfield. They sold out of the lumberyard business and in 2010, Floors by Design opened up in Winnfield. With Susie having always worked in retail and Ronnie being a contractor, this was the perfect place for them to land. And we are thankful they did!! A family-owned business, they handle all types of floors, from hardwood to linoleum. In addition, they install custom showers and custom back splashes and are state licensed for residential construction.
With business thriving, their boys eventually came into the business full-time and they take care of
installation. Family-owned, local, and there to meet your flooring needs. Keep Floors by Design, on
your mind for your next housing project!
Congratulations again on being selected as February 2022, Business of the Month, by the Winn Parish Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.
Senator Bernard updates the public regarding his new Senatorial District and the process of how the lines for not only his district was redrawn but also how Natchitoches Parish was divided into 3 separate House of Representative Districts
The 2022 Special Redistricting Session of the Louisiana Legislature adjourned Friday, February 18th with new maps drawn for Congressional districts, state legislative seats, the Public Service Commission, and BESE districts. The separate bills now head to the desk of Governor Edwards who can veto the legislation or allow them to become law. Even if the governor allows the bills to become law, it appears likely that lawsuits will be filed on the assertion that minority populations are not properly represented in the new district maps. Although it is difficult to predict if the governor will veto any of the maps, in my opinion the map most likely to be vetoed by the governor is the congressional map which included only one majority black district.
Due to significant population loss in North Louisiana, there were substantial changes to the state House of Representatives and state Senate districts in our area. My House of Representatives seat, District 22, will look very different when elections are held in the Fall of 2023. District 22 currently consists of all of Grant Parish, most of LaSalle Parish, large portions of north Natchitoches Parish, most of Red River Parish except the town of Coushatta, and one precinct in Winn Parish. Under the new map District 22 will consist of all of Grant Parish(approximately 52% of the district population), most of the city of Natchitoches and precinct 4-9 south of the city(approximately 34% of the district population), and a large portion of LaSalle Parish, including Olla, Tullos, Urania, Searcy, and Rogers(approximately 14% of the district population).
The most notable change to area legislative districts was the moving of House District 23, currently occupied by term-limited representative Kenny Cox, from its current location in Natchitoches, Red River, and Desoto parishes to the New Orleans area. Unfortunately, North Louisiana had to lose at least one House of Representatives seat and one state Senate in North Louisiana due to the extreme population loss in the Shreveport area. The District 37 state Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Barrow Peacock was moved from Caddo, Bossier, and Desoto parishes to South Louisiana. Based upon 2020 reported census data, House District 23 lost over 4,000 residents over the past 10 years making it a logical choice to be absorbed by neighboring districts. Colonel Cox is a good man who has nobly served his country, state, and community for many years, and it has been a great privilege for me to work with him and befriend him my first 2 years in the state legislature. I look forward to working with him until our current terms end and hopefully we can work together in some capacity in coming years as well.
The new House of Representatives map has most of northern Natchitoches Parish, including Goldonna, Ashland, Creston, Fairview Alpha, Clarence, and Campti represented by District 13 currently occupied by Rep. Jack McFarland of Winnfield. Under the new proposal House District 25 currently held by Rep. Lance Harris would extend from west Rapides Parish into rural Natchitoches Parish, taking in the communities of Natchez, Provencal, Robeline, and Marthaville. As previously mentioned, District 22 would include the great majority of the city of Natchitoches, with the exception of a few precincts on the north and west sides of the city. All of Red River Parish will be represented by District 5 which also includes portions of south Caddo and south Bossier parishes.
My biggest disappointment throughout the redistricting process has been District 22 losing rural communities I currently represent in Natchitoches, Red River, and LaSalle parishes. I have worked hard to establish relationships and work with mayors, council members, police jurors, and citizens to make their communities better places to live and raise families. Of course, I will continue to fight for these communities until my current term ends and beyond if I am fortunate enough to be re-elected. I sincerely believe that we are on the verge of transforming rural North Louisiana through investments in broadband and badly needed infrastructure.
Although I am saddened to lose these rural communities, I am extremely excited about District 22 representing the historic City of Natchitoches for the next 10 years. I have already started making contact with leaders in Natchitoches to form relationships and determine priorities. Should the voters of District 22 see fit to re-elect me in 2023, it will be a tremendous honor for me to work with local stakeholders to see that the City of Natchitoches – “The South’s Best Small Town” – continues to thrive and prosper for many years to come. I sincerely believe that there is unlimited potential for the city that can be realized with vision and a unified effort to succeed.
Of course, the future of Natchitoches and several area parishes relies in large part on our willingness to invest in the future of Northwestern State University. Northwestern is extremely important to me personally – my wife and several family members are NSU grads – and I recognize that the university is the economic engine that drives not only Natchitoches but our entire region. NSU’s impact on the region economically exceeds over $400 million annually, and supports thousands of jobs critical to the citizens in Natchitoches and surrounding parishes. My commitment to Northwestern State University is absolute and unwavering.
There will also be substantial changes to the area state Senate districts for the next 10 years, with Natchitoches Parish being split between District 31 currently held by Sen. Louie Bernard(23,452 Natchitoches population), and District 29 presently occupied by Sen. Jay Luneau(14,063 Natchitoches population). The major changes to the District 31 map include losing a small portion of Grant Parish, a smaller footprint in Rapides Parish, and adding significant population in new parishes such as Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Bienville, and Desoto. All of Red River Parish will continue to be represented by District 31.
Residents of Natchitoches and Red River Parish will see very little change to the Congressional, PSC, and BESE maps. Both parishes remain in the 4th Congressional District held by Congressman Mike Johnson, PSC District 5 held by Foster Campbell, and BESE District 4 held by Michael Melerine. In closing, I would like to say that I am extremely excited about the future of District 22. I have a great relationship with our current area state representatives and senators, and I know that we are all committed to seeing our region thrive and prosper in the coming years. If you have any questions about redistricting or about the upcoming regular session please contact me at (318)765-9606 or at gfirment@legis.la.gov. Thank you and God Bless.
Gabe Firment
District 22 State Representative
The application deadline for AHEC of a Summer and M.A.S.H. Summer programs is Tuesday, March 1st. Students are encouraged to get their applications submitted before Mardi Gras/winter break. All program applications are available online at www.clahec.org.
Please note the required ACT score for the M.A.S.H program has changed to 19 per LSUA.
*Per Winn Parish Medical Center any student participating in AHEC of Summer must be vaccinated before the start of the program OR complete an exemption form. Students who are interested in applying for AHEC of a Summer are encouraged to get their exemptions forms submitted directly to krystal.rachal@clahec.org as soon as possible so required paperwork can be submitted to the hospital.
Download Exemption Form and Program Informational Flyer below
Let’s continue our conversation from last week on what anglers should and should not do. Some of these topics we’re talking about are things the younger generation of anglers coming up have not been taught. As great as high school bass fishing is for the sport, this group of anglers needs some undivided attention on things that are important, like boat management and fishing etiquette on tournament day.
First let’s talk about things you should never do with your boat. With so many anglers on the water today, which has increased by the hundreds over the last 15 years, confrontations are occurring at an alarming rate. Just like road rage, now you have water rage. It’s only a matter of time before someone takes matters into their own hands and hurts someone who is basically innocent due to the fact they’ve never been taught boating etiquette. You should always respect another angler’s area that he’s fishing by idling past or around him. So many times, I see anglers get on plane way too soon which creates a 3-foot wake, which can result in throwing another angler out of his boat. Always idle past or out of an area slowly if it is being fished by other anglers. This is called respect and all anglers appreciate this jester. To add to this, never run too close to another angler either. I’ve seen several near misses with boats traveling 60 MPH or faster within 10 feet of another boat.
No one is impressed with your ability to run a bass boat like you’re in the Daytona 500. Always navigate your boat at a safe distance away (at least 20 yards) from other boats fishing that area. Now obviously there are times when this may not be possible, such as when anglers are fishing in a marina or a narrow creek channel. Even when you’re running in a creek channel and you come upon a boat that is fishing, shut down before you get to them. This eliminates a big wake that can throw the other boat up on the bank or into a dock or tree line. For the most part, just be respectful…it’s really just common sense or common courtesy.
The next issue I see all too often is the lack of respect for the area or a stretch another angler is fishing. Every day I see someone pull up on another angler, shut off their motor (way too close) and create a 3-foot wake! Then they jump up on the front deck and start fishing on the same side of the pocket (or stretch) within 20 feet of another angler going in the same direction! It’s as if they are wearing blinders like a horse in the Kentucky Derby! This is becoming a major problem today with guys competing for the areas that have proven to be productive over time. Every lake has popular areas that anglers know hold good quality fish. Not all areas on a lake or river are created equal, and good anglers who do their homework know where these are. If you’re going to fish the same area or stretch, fish away from me in the opposite direction. DO NOT go in front of me twenty yards and start fishing. This is called “cutting someone off” and it’s not right. It’s another one of those unwritten rules of bass fishing…. never cut someone off by fishing in front of them.
Now there is another situation that can occur, especially out on the open lake. All over most lakes there are brush piles that other anglers have put out in order to attract bass. With today’s electronic fish finders and forward-facing sonars, it’s easy to find these brush piles. This is where anglers get a little confused and frustrated. You have to understand that when you sink brush on a public body of water, it’s now considered community property and anyone can fish it. Unfortunately, the angler that has worked hard to put out that brush pile does not always see it that way and will go to extraordinary lengths to protect it. Many a feud has occurred on the water over who is entitled to fish it. The best advice I can give you on this…ask permission to share this area with the other angler if he got there first. If he says “no”, then move on to another area to fish.
I hope you gained some knowledge and understanding today on some of the hot topics we are experiencing on our lakes and waterways. Again, as our lakes and waterways become overcrowded, we need more anglers to step up and try to educate the next generation on the ethics of bass fishing and how to conduct themselves. So, if you’re on the water and see youngsters doing things that aren’t right, exercise patience and feel free to educate them on the unwritten rules of fishing. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!
Steve Graf
BATON ROUGE- Due to recent dry conditions statewide being sufficiently alleviated following several rain events, State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, along with Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, is rescinding the statewide cease and desist order for all private burning issued on February 15, 2022.
This rescind notice is effective as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
“I want to thank the public for its cooperation with this recent burn ban and for understanding the sensitive situation many communities and their first responders were recently facing with some very dry conditions,” said State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, “It never ceases to amaze me how supportive Louisianans can be to each other in times of emergency and I’m proud of how the majority of our state responded this past week.”
Residents should be aware that local and parish governments may continue their own burn bans at their will.
Where the burn ban is being lifted, the State Fire Marshal’s Office would like to remind residents that the only legal items you can burn in Louisiana are vegetation and ordinary yard waste items like leaves, tree branches, grass clippings, etc.
According to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, items NOT allowed to be burned include:
• Plastic and other synthetic materials
• Tires and other rubber products
• Paints, household and agricultural chemicals
• Asphalt shingles, heavy oils, wire
• Newspaper, cardboard and other paper products
• Buildings and mobile homes