If you have driven through the charming brick streets of the award-winning Historic District of Downtown Natchitoches then you are familiar with the lush and beautiful seasonal plantings. With every new season that arrives, you will witness the changing of the breathtaking horticulture and groundskeeping. Spring time gives birth to azaleas, daffodils and the ever popular, budding pots of tulips. These stunning tulips can be found on every corner of the streets, boasting as many hues as an Easter basket full of Truvy’s dyed eggs.

This past week the famous tulips were putting on a colorful show. My youngest daughter was stunned by their beauty but worried for their well-being with the impending stormy weather that was about to befall us. She was not worried about the safety of our town or the revival on the river bank that we were about to attend. She was most concerned over “Mr. Tim’s Tulips” that he just put out.

She went on to share with me that when Mr. Tim taught her class at church on Wednesday nights that he would sometimes come in directly from planting the tulips, caring for them and even occasionally sheltering the them from whatever weather event that would hinder them from growing. She also explained that this meant he possibly would have on his work clothes and appear as if his hands had been planting and cultivating something. Of course, this would lead to many questions asked by the prying children.

This is when my daughter began to share all of the knowledge she gained about the tulips that night. But, she was increasingly concerned that the incoming storm would ruin all of Mr. Tim’s hard work, so I told her that we would pray for the tulips that night at the revival and of course, the safety of our town.

But, I also wondered if my daughter had learned any other lessons while telling this story. I saw the wonder behind the story she was telling but I wanted her to see it on her own….

When we arrived at the revival that night, we happened to sit right in front of the renowned tulip master himself, Mr. Tim. So I mentioned the prayers that were coming from our household to protect the beauty of his downtown gardens. He has such a humble nature that he is quick to remind anyone that he works with a team to perfect the production of the many plants downtown. They are called the “Beautification Team”.

The team consists of Mathew Dillon, Joe Jones, Tim Hippler, Seth Freeman, Stacey Lawrence, Brian Jones, Brandon Graham, Randy Lacaze and Alicia Christophe. Mr. Tim is the Supervisor of this amazing squad. He also gives credit to the Master Gardeners and our local 4-H Clubs through the years.

If you are like me you probably wonder every year how we can have such amazing tulips in our deep southern town, it needs to be noted that this does not happen by chance. There are over 14,000 tulip bulbs that are ordered from Holland every October and kept in a walk-in cooler. In February the bulbs get planted into 2,000 pots. By mid-March they are beginning to show off their spring color by the time they make their debut downtown.

Last year during the rigid snow and ice the team had to move the 2,000 pots indoors for protection. When the electricity gave way, Tim even went back and forth several times to keep nation propane heaters running. That year they only lost 20. The weight of the ice and snow caved the roof in and the crew crawled in to pull them out with a dramatic rescue and recovery.

It is quite the fete….these downtown plants. This could only be accomplished by hands that truly love the feel of the soil and the beauty that it creates. Hands that have a gift for art and a heart for God and all of his creations.

Although Tim is a Graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Art (Visual Communication/Graphic Art) he has dedicated the last 30 years creating the Long Purple Line Portraits for Northwestern State University.

During Tim’s spare time, if you can believe that he has any, he has blessed many children and families at First Baptist Church with his selfless acts of teaching in the Children’s Ministry, Sunday School Teacher, and Vacation Bible School for nineteen years. He was the Children’s Director for five years and continues to serve at Wednesday Glow Family Nights. He is now a Bible Story Artist who draws with pastels to illustrate as the Bible Story is being told.

One of the children blessed to be in his, and his wife Melody’s, care is my daughter. When Tim shared with us that they only lost 4 pots of tulips in the recent storm, my daughter smiled because she knew we prayed for the tulips and all of Mr. Tim’s hard work. When I questioned her further about what she learned from Mr. Tim faithfully teaching children after working a long day for the City of Natchitoches, she said she felt like he never let anything get in the way of him serving God.

While Tim Murchison continues to plant seeds that make our town lovely and beautiful season after season…the seeds he has planted for the Kingdom of God will bloom eternally.

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Psalm 90:17

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In a football game, you have four downs to make a first down. If you fail at getting a first down after three attempts, you have three choices: go for it, kick a field goal if it’s within your kicker’s range, or punt. Now most coaches choose the latter, depending on their field position. Bass fishing is like football in that it’s all about the decisions you make and when. Today let’s look at why these two sports are so similar.

A couple of weeks ago I was fishing at Toledo Bend with little to no success. It was too early for fish to be on beds and spawning, but there were a few buck bass (males) roaming around the shallows looking for a place to start preparing a bed for their chosen female. I tried all the typical baits an angler should throw this time of year, but I had zero bass to show for my effort. I threw the standard rattle-in-style baits like the SPRO Aruku shad, I slowly rolled a spinnerbait, drug a Carolina-rig off the points, and threw a crankbait as well. Nothing, no bites whatsoever, so I sat down and decided it was time to back up and punt by taking a totally different approach from a bait and technique standpoint.

Turns out this was the U-Haul move of the day, as I tied on a Reaction Innovations bait known as the “Sweet Beaver.” This bait falls into the category of what anglers call a “creature bait.” Over the years, this bait has proven itself to be one of the best lures an angler can tie on, as it has won its fair share of tournaments. Again, I tried every type of moving bait known to man with no results. So, I decided to slow down and try pitching or flipping brush tops and laydowns (basically wood). The results were immediate as I boated several fish which were holding mostly on brush piles.

Now this is not unusual for bass, especially during cold snaps, but I did let the bass tell me what and how they wanted a bait. The bass told me in no uncertain way (no bites) that they were not in the mood to chase a lure. They wanted a bait that was slow and dropped on their nose. My best 5 bass that day would have pushed the scales to around 15 pounds. Point being, that due to my desire to back up and punt, it made me adjust my approach and do something that the bass really wanted. So, the next time you’re struggling to get a bite, back up and punt, and try a totally different approach and you just might find the magic to make a bass bite. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf Gamakatsu Hooks/SPRO Pro Staff

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Washington, D.C.—The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) announced on March 22 that Ken Hale, President and CEO of BOM Bank, Natchitoches, LA was elected to serve on ICBA’s ICBPAC Committee. ICBA is the nation’s voice for community banks and is committed to its 92-year mission of creating and promoting an environment where community banks flourish.

“As a civic leader and advocate for my community, I’m excited to work with ICBA to bring awareness to the vital role community banks serve locally and in our nation’s economy,” Hale said. “Community banking endures because we continue to place value on the all-important relationship and work hard to earn the trust and respect of our customers. I’m proud to be a community banker and to do my part to ensure our industry’s vitality for future generations.”

In addition to helping shape and advocate ICBA’s national policy positions and programs, Hale’s duties include engaging in grassroots activities in Louisiana to promote pro-community bank policies and serving as a liaison between community banks and ICBA staff and leadership in Washington, D.C.

“Ken is an exceptional community bank leader who has dedicated time and resources to advance ICBA’s mission and help local communities thrive,” said ICBA Chairman Brad M. Bolton, president, CEO and senior lender at Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, Ala.“We are honored that Ken has accepted this appointment to represent the industry and thank him for volunteering to serve as we work to ensure a bright future for community banks and the customers they serve.”

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America creates and promotes an environment where community banks flourish. ICBA is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education, and high-quality products and services.

With nearly 50,000 locations nationwide, community banks constitute 99 percent of all banks, employ more than 700,000 Americans and are the only physical banking presence in one in three U.S. counties. Holding more than $5 trillion in assets, over $4.4 trillion in deposits, and more than $3.4 trillion in loans to consumers, small businesses and the agricultural community, community banks channel local deposits into the Main Streets and neighborhoods they serve, spurring job creation, fostering innovation and fueling their customers’ dreams in communities throughout America. 

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WINN:
James Lee Hyatt
July 27, 1943 – March 17, 2022
Service: Friday, March 25 from 5-7 pm at the Colfax RV Park in Colfax

NATCHITOCHES:
Lynn Galloway
September 19, 1932 – March 22, 2022
Service: Friday, March 25 at 11 am at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home

Joseph Patrick Dalme
September 15, 1932 – March 22, 2022
Service: Saturday, March 26 at 3:30 pm at Memory Lawn Cemetery

Stephen Andrew Champagne
January 12, 1950 – March 15, 2022
Service: Saturday, March 26 at 1 pm at Beulah Methodist Church

Arthur Welch
Viewing: at 10a, March 26, 2022; First Baptist Church, 508 Second Street, Natchitoches
Service: at 11am, March 26, 2022; First Baptist Church, 508 Second Street, Natchitoches
Mask will be required

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The Open Municipal Primary Election is Saturday, March 26, 2022. The polls are open from 7 AM – 8 PM.

Any primary race that ends in a run-off will appear on the ballot in the municipal general election on Saturday, April 30, 2022.

On the ballot:

Mayor City of Winnfield

Name	Party	Race	Gender
Gerald “Scooter” Hamms	No Party	Black	Male
Timothy Hudgins	Republican	White	Male
George Moss – Incumbent	No Party	White	Male

Council Member District 1, City of Winnfield

Name	Party	Race	Gender
Erikia M. Breda	Democrat	Black	Female
Alicia Brown	No Party	Black	Female
Lawanda Holden – Incumbent	No Party	Black	Female

Council Member District 2, City of Winnfield

Name	Party	Race	Gender
Kristan Green	Republican	White	Female
Ada Hall	Democrat	Black	Female
Winona Harrell	Democrat	Black	Female
Ashley Patterson	No Party	Black	Female
Mickey Zimmerman	Democrat	White	Male

Council Member District 3, City of Winnfield

Name	Party	Race	Gender
Chiquita Caldwell	Independent	White	Female
Sarah Junkin – Incumbent	No Party	White	Female

Council Member District 4, City of Winnfield

Name	Party	Race	Gender
“Matt” Miller – Incumbent	No Party	White	Male
Ashley Rhymes	No Party	White	Female

Council Member District 5, City of Winnfield

Name	Party	Race	Gender
“Val” Beard	Democrat	Black	Female
Michael Mattox	No Party	Black	Male
Teresa Phillips – Incumbent	Independent	Black	Female

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Winnfield First Assembly invites you to join us in our upcoming Community Fair. The goal of this event is to connect and serve our local communities, and to create awareness of the services, resources, opportunities and products that are available to local residents to assist them or enhance their day to day lives. Those invited to participate in and exhibit at the fair include local businesses, governmental offices and representatives, elected and appointed officials, churches and other nonprofit and charitable organizations, and individual community volunteers in the Winnfield area.

As a participant and exhibitor, you are asked to provide to those attending the fair educational information, free samples or screenings, and general information about your organization, service, business or products. You will also be allowed an opportunity to speak at the event to promote your business or organization, and to give away any door prizes you choose to provide for the members of the public attending the fair. There is no charge for a booth at the event.

We also offer you an opportunity to become a sponsor of the Community Fair and have your name or the name of your business or organization on the Fair T-shirt, which will be given to each exhibitor and every member of the general public attending the fair. A donation of $100 is required to be included as a sponsor on the T-shirt. The number of donations will determine how many T-shirts are ordered and distributed at the event.

Event details are listed below. If you have questions or concerns, please free to call me at (318) 628-5200. Please leave a message and I will return your call. I would truly appreciate your participation in our Community Fair.

Sincerely,
Rev. Shaun Garner

EVENT DETAILS

DATE OF COMMUNITY FAIR: SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022

HOURS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

LOCATION: WINNFIELD FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD, 5693 U. S. HIGHWAY 167, WINNFIELD, LA                     INDOORS/OUTDOORS WEATHER PERMITTING (EXHIBITOR/VENDOR’S CHOICE, IF POSSIBLE)

ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE EXPECTED:    300

PROVIDED: One six-foot or eight-foot table and two chairs. EXHIBITOR PROVIDES: tablecloths, signs, door prizes.

FEES: No charge for booths. 

SET UP TIME: Fri. April 29 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Sat. April 30 at 9:00 am

Sponsorship amount $100. All sponsors’ names will appear on the official Community Fair T-shirt.

T-shirts will be distributed to all vendors, participants, and guests who attend the fair on the day of the event.

If you wish to participate in the Winnfield Community Fair, please complete the attached Community Fair Exhibitor form and return it to us as soon as possible.

Deadline to pay $100 sponsorship and booth: noon April 13, 2022

Deadline for booth only: noon April 29, 2022

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Date: 3-15-22
Name: Johnnie M Miles
Address: Calvin, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 52
Charge: Warrant, Cruelty to juvenile, Failure to seek assistance 

Date: 3-15-22
Name: Stephanie L Simms
Address: Calvin, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 39
Charge: Failure to seek assistance, Cruelty to juvenile 

Date: 3-15-22
Name: Chelsea L Swaine
Address: Simsboro, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 31
Charge: Theft, Warrant

Date: 3-15-22
Name: Katelyn E Brodine
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 23
Charge: Failure to seek assistance, Cruelty to juvenile 

Date: 3-15-22
Name:  Robert A Coonce
Address: Dodson, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 47
Charge: Failure to appear x2

Date: 3-16-22
Name: Ronald D Guin
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 42
Charge: Failure to seek assistance, Cruelty to juvenile 

Date: 3-16-22
Name: Angela D Carter
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Age: 36
Charge: Disturbing the peace, Interfering with an investigation

Date: 3-16-22
Name: Ronald D Guin
Address: Dodson
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 42
Charge: Failure to appear 

Date: 3-16-22
Name: Meagan Halena Cook
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 33
Charge: Aggravated assault of police officer 

Date: 3-16-22
Name: Christopher Paul Fredricks 
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 38
Charge: Possession, Open container, Prohibited acts x2, Failure to appear x3, Simple escape

Date: 3-17-22
Name: Jimmy L Keen
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 51
Charge: Second Degree Murder

Date: 3-17-22
Name: Jamie Desadier
Address: Natchitoches, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 49
Charge: Simple burglary, Warrant

Date: 3-17-22
Name: Donnie O Evans
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 62
Charge: First-degree rape

Date: 3-17-22
Name: Gregory W Washington 
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 37
Charge: Warrants, Illegal possession of a firearm, Attempt at second-degree murder, Discharging a weapon in city limits

Date: 3-17-22
Name: Adam S Gray
Address: Dodson, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 32
Charge: Warrant

Date: 3-18-22
Name: James K Richardson
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 49
Charge: indecent behavior with a juvenile, Sexual battery

Date: 3-18-22
Name: Katherine Bisha
Address: Columbus, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 28
Charge: Switched plate, Altered MVI, Possession, No driver’s license 

Date: 3-19-22
Name: Caitlyn R Gallaway
Address: Arlington, TX
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 19
Charge: Speeding, No driver’s license 

Date: 3-19-22
Name: Latara L Hall
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Age: 27
Charge: Improper lane use, Open container, BWI (boating while intoxicated)

Date: 3-19-22
Name: Terry Terriel Brown Jr
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 24
Charge: Driving under suspension, Failure to appear x2, Improper headlamps

Date: 3-20-22
Name: April L Dooley
Address: Tuckerman, AR
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 40
Charge: Speeding, Suspended license, Possession 

Date: 3-21-22
Name: Richard A Jordan
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 46
Charge: Failure to appear (bench warrant)

Date: 3-22-22
Name: Niccholas C jordan
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Charge: Failure to appear (Grant parish)

Date: 3-22-22
Name: Debra A Gray
Address: Peoria, AZ
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 61
Charge: Identity theft, Felony theft 

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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SaveCenla, a nonprofit organization focused on providing the public with information and events that will promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention, is hosting a two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) interactive workshop May 5-6, 2022 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM at CLTCC in Winnfield located at 5960 US-167, Winnfield, LA 71483. There is no cost to register. 

ASIST is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan to support their immediate safety. Although healthcare providers widely use ASIST, participants don’t need formal training to attend the workshop—anyone 16 or older can learn and use the ASIST model.

​Since its development in 1983, ASIST has received regular updates to reflect improvements in knowledge and practice. As a result, over 2,000,000 people have taken the workshop. In addition, studies show that the ASIST method helps reduce suicidal feelings in those at risk and is a cost-effective way to help address the problem of suicide. 

Saving Lives from Suicide

Thoughts of suicide are surprisingly common. At any given time, around 1 in 25 people is thinking about suicide to some degree.

For most people, thinking about suicide isn’t about wanting to die. Instead, it’s the tension between their reasons for staying alive and their desire to escape from the pain that feels unbearable.

Within this tension lies the risk of death and the possibility of intervention, hope, and life. This is where someone with the right skills can help tip the balance and change a life forever. This is where LivingWorks training comes in.

For more information on the ASIST two-day training, click here.

Register for the two-day workshop in Winnfield, La here.

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Attending the Book Fair in school is a rite of passage for many youth. Goldonna Elementary Junior High is enjoying their Fair all week Long. They are also busy collecting pennies for Penny Wars. This will end Friday, March 25th. All proceeds will benefit the Field Day Fund and End of Year Celebrations. The class with the most pennies will win a pizza party.

The Healthy Living Club is also sponsoring a “Take Down Tobacco Day” this week due to the school being out for Spring Break next week. The club is funded through the Rapides Foundation.

Mayor Jennifer Smith and School Board Member Eugene Garner are looking for sponsors who will donate $100 towards a raffle for Goldonna Elementary Junior High students who bring up their state testing scores. Each child who increases will get their name entered into the drawing. The higher the score, the more chances one child receives. They are trying spark competition and incentive to achieve their highest score ever. The Village of Goldonna will be hosting a community clean up with more details to be released soon.

March water bills included the information for the new water leak protection coverage. Bills were placed inside blue envelopes containing the flyer with more information on this valuable service. The new program goes into effect April 1st. You can opt out of this service by calling 318-527-0400. ServLine Company also offers a sewer option but it is contracted directly between the customer and the company. The cost is $2.35 per month or $28.20 annually for up to $2500 worth of coverage. This could save households hundreds of dollars in the event of an unforeseen leak.

Sales tax dollars are still coming in and being used to repair roads in Goldonna. Savell Road is now complete. Gates Road should be receiving some much needed attention soon.

Christmas in the Park will be having their first fundraiser for the 2022 Event. There will be a Community Fish Fry on April 10th and an Easter Egg Hunt for the children. The committee will be asking local churches and volunteers for meal items and eggs for the children. As of today they are looking for donations of candy filled eggs for the children to hunt. Please contact the Mayor if you are interested in donating.

The Spring Fish Fry will have photo ops with none other than the Easter Bunny himself. There will also be a scavenger hunt for the older children. Dinners are $9 each and include fish, fries, coleslaw, hushpuppies, dessert and a drink. Orders of 8 or more can be delivered. Please contact the Mayor or Alldermen for tickets for this family friendly event.

If you have news to share please email Reba Phelps at jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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By: Brad Dison

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Table scraps …

From the “You Really Aren’t Having A Bad Day” Files: It’s been nearly two weeks since several news services reported that two men at a Tennessee farm were killed by a “rampaging camel.” The farm housed several kinds of animals and no reason was given for the camel’s rampage. The bottom line is that, if you get attacked by a camel, and in Tennessee of all places, it ain’t your day…

A baseball team I follow has some long bus trips so I suspected it would be thoughtful and different to get them some playing cards along with some silly things, games children play with like Etch-A-Sketches and a magnetic checker set and some Wooly Willy drawing games, the ones where you put the “magic wand” against the plastic and it pulls little slivers of iron where you want them to go so you decorate the face of Willy. And then I thought how that was the stupidest idea I’d ever had—and it’s a long line—because all these dudes do is play on their phones and listen to music. Would have been a great idea—in the mid-80s…

Can’t give you the link here ’cause we don’t want you jumping to another site BUT in honor of these first days of spring, take 30 seconds and find “Welcome, Sweet Springtime: The Andy Griffith Show” on YouTube or the site of your choice and listen to Barney, very flatly, usher in the new season. Good ol’ 14A in your songbook. Never gets old …

To paraphrase Kris Kristofferson, my NCAA Tournament Bracket woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold its head that it didn’t hurt. Over the span of 48 hours, from the Opening Round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament through Saturday of the Second Round, my little black-and-blue bracket went from “tightness in the joints” to “full body cast.” …

BUT … to paraphrase singer-songwriter Travis Tritt, “Here’s a quarter, call someone who cares.” Because no one cares about your NCAA bracket. No one but you cares that you had Kentucky and flamed out on ascent or that you pulled a rabbit out of the hat and picked St. Peter’s. No one even cares if your bracket is leading in any of the groups you have joined, because everyone knew SOMEbody was going to win—somebody besides them. Nobody knows the trouble your bracket has seen—but no gives the slightest rat’s rip either. If it makes you feel any better, anything your bracket can do, mine can do worse. We might be enjoying the first days of spring, but it remains a cold, cold world. (Just ask anyone who’s been attacked by a camel, hard by the Tennessee River)…

Speaking of hoops, one good thing that’s come from the pandemic is that very few men’s basketball coaches wear coats and ties on the sidelines anymore. They dress down. They used to look like they were going to call time out, then take up offering. Most women’s coaches still dress up for games, but for them, dressing down is still dressing up when compared to guys. We like to think we’re dressed up if we have our shoes tied…

Country Music Hall of Famer and perpetual wonder woman Dolly Parton has teamed with bestselling author James Patterson to write a climbing-the-charts mystery, “Run, Rose, Run,” a novel about a young female singer with hopes to make it big, but a secret from her past might destroy her. I’m good as long as the secret isn’t that she killed Porter Wagoner…

For all you Bracket Folk, good luck this weekend in the Sweet 16 (and no, do NOT tell us who you’ve picked; it’ll save us both the embarrassment).

And, if at all possible, stay away from camels: any one of them might have picked Kentucky or Wisconsin to win it all and be in a surly mood.

Welcome, Sweet Springtime.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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By: Royal Alexander

It is an undoubtedly good and positive thing for America and the world to witness unvarnished courage and bravery.  That’s what we are seeing from the Ukrainian people and their indomitable president, Volodymyr Zelensky. 

 From the beginning, President Zelensky has made clear his intent—and that of his countrymen—to fight the barbaric and unjustified invasion of his country by the Russians.  When asked if he wanted a plane ride out of the country to safety for himself and his family he flatly refused saying “I don’t need a ride.  I need anti-tank ammunition.”  His strong, faithful wife also stated her position clearly.  “My husband will never abandon his country and I’m not leaving my husband.  And my children are not going anywhere without me.”

 There are also a number of reports of Russian casualties due to the proud and ferocious resistance of the Ukrainian military and that Putin miscalculated how difficult his invasion of Ukraine would be.

 As the situation worsens hourly—Zelensky this week witnessed Russian forces destroy a fully active Ukrainian maternity hospital as local officials use mass graves to bury thousands—he acknowledged that “the enemy has designated me as target number one, and my family as target number two,” he said of wife Olena Zelenska, their son, Kiril, and daughter, Aleksandra.  He concluded a call with leaders of the European Union last week with the chilling statement that “this might be the last time you see me alive.”

 Zelensky has also made clear he won’t accept a settlement on Russian terms which would mean the slavery and subjugation of his country and his people.

 One writer, Steve Brown, describes the stark personal choice Zelensky faces as clearly and powerfully as I’ve seen:

 When you know …

That likely you will not live to see your children grow up. …

That you will never be able to retire with your precious wife …

That you may well be dead before Christmas …

That no one from the Free World is sending military to help you or your people …

That your only hope is a prayer … And …

That prayer is that the Lord of Hosts will supernaturally intervene. …

And, that your will is set.  You will not leave your people and will go down with the ship.

That courage calls for the Body of Christ worldwide to cry out to the God of all mercy to assign Angel Armies to be deployed and engage the forces of hell to save Ukraine and stop the slaughter of the innocents.  So be it, dear Lord, so be it. … Thy kingdom come …Thy will be done … on earth AS it is in Heaven.  Amen.

 This kind of courage is simply breathtaking, and deeply inspiring.

 While the U.S. and other Western countries have provided military equipment, munitions, and other aid, they can and should do more—such as sending Polish fighter jets, which will be flown by Ukrainian fighter pilots, to Ukraine.  We could also quickly and easily provide S-300 surface-to-air-missile systems, helping Ukraine create its own “no fly zone” over its beautiful country and people.

 In his powerfully emotional address to the U.S. Congress last week, President Zelensky stated that “the destiny of our country is being decided.” He implored America and the free world to “keep justice in history.” 

It’s time for NATO and the west to move. 

The views and opinions expressed in the My Opinion article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Winn Parish Journal. Any content provided by the authors is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

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While retirement planning isn’t just about saving. It isn’t just about tax planning. Social Security effects almost everyone.

Statistics show approximately 90% of those currently receiving Social Security did not maximize their benefits. Current regulations allow for close to 300 options for a married couple to draw these benefits. What is the right answer for you? Begin drawing early? Wait, but to what point to gain the most dollars? Can you still work and receive Social Security? Some of the answers to these common consumer questions may surprise you.

If you are a Louisiana state employee or a public educator, you and your spouse both maybe adversely effected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO)? Both WEP and GPO reduce the Social Security benefits you actually receive each month. What you don’t know really can hurt you.

An informed decision is always a better decision. Call for your own complementary Social Security retirement benefit analysis and personal consultation to select the best option for you and your family!

Contact Reinette Today!
rfoster@reinettefoster.com
318-481-6539
www.ReinetteFoster.com

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WINN:
James Lee Hyatt
July 27, 1943 – March 17, 2022
Service: Friday, March 26 from 5-7 pm at the Colfax RV Park in Colfax

NATCHITOCHES:
Preston “Rusty” Milam, Jr.
October 22, 1957 – March 20, 2022
Service: Thursday, March 24 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Arthur Welch
Viewing: at 10a, March 26, 2022; First Baptist Church, 508 Second Street, Natchitoches
Service: at 11am, March 26, 2022; First Baptist Church, 508 Second Street, Natchitoches
Mask will be required

Pamela Dawne Gourdon
January 23, 1951 – March 20, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, March 24 from 5-8 pm at the Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Recitation of the Holy Rosary: Thursday, March 24 6:30 pm in theBlanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home chapel

Stephen Andrew Champagne
January 12, 1950 – March 15, 2022
Service: Saturday, March 26 at 1 pm at Beulah Methodist Church

SABINE:
Pamela D. Salter
June 20, 1959 – March 20, 2022
Service: Wednesday, March 23 at 2 pm at Little Flock Baptist Church

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