WINN:
Marvin Eugene Denler
April 22, 1972 – April 9, 2022
Service: Saturday, April 16 at 1 pm in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home

NATCHITOCHES:
Mary Ellen Averett
April 20, 1930 – April 6, 2022
Service: Saturday, April 16 from 1-3 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home.

SABINE:
Peggy Lynn Maxey
August 25, 1942 – April 12, 2022
Service: Monday, April 18 at 11 am at Aimwell Baptist Church

RED RIVER:
Fred Melborne Sullivan
March 31, 1933 – April 11, 2022
Service: Friday, April 15 at 2 pm at Ashland Baptist Church

Myrtis Rai Sullivan
August 23, 1935 – April 10, 2022
Service: Friday, April 15 at 11 am at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel

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Courtesy of the Louisiana Forest Festival (LFF), Miller Spectacular Shows is bringing a Spring Carnival to the Winn Parish Fairgrounds starting tonight from 6 PM – 10 PM and 4 PM – 10 PM on Saturday (times are subject to change due to weather.)

Armbands are $20 on Wednesday and $25 on Saturday. Regular tickets are available daily for $1 each or 22 for $20.

For more information check the LFF Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/laforestfestival

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“WOW!” “I can’t believe how fast…..” “Incredible!” were among the reactions to the demonstration given at the Winnfield Rotary Club meeting on April 6, 2022. Al Simmons, Rotarian of the day, introduced his guests, Peyton Arthur and Ryan Riley, teachers in the high school agriculture program and advisers of the Winnfield High School Future Farmers of America (FFA). They in turn introduced some outstanding agriculture students, Peyton Little, current president of the State FFA, and the members of Winnfield FFA’s parliamentary law team who won first place at the state competition: Annie Heard, Addison Jacobsen, Lauren Poole, Micah Simmons, Joy So, and Alyssa VanBlaricum.

Mr. Arthur and Mr. Riley explained that their agriculture courses and the FFA club activities go hand-in-hand, the ag students learning the basics of parliamentary procedure and Roberts’ Rules of Order, as well as a great deal of other information and training in subjects like shooting, horticulture, woodworking, in the agriculture classrooms, and then building on, refining and improving that knowledge and skill through involvement in FFA activities.

As to the required knowledge of parliamentary procedure, each ag student must learn the basics of it and be able to demonstrate effective use of the five motions available in meetings by the end of the second year in agriculture. FFA members who want to compete on a team must then put in many extra hours studying parliamentary procedure and Roberts’ Rules of Order and practicing using them effectively in meetings to be competitive against other FFA teams.

Peyton Little spoke about how much he has learned in his agriculture classes and in FFA. He attributes his attainment of the office of statewide FFA president to his instruction, practice and experience in parliamentary procedure which he learned in ag and FFA. This practice developed his ability to argue his position in a civil manner and his public speaking skills, as well as the confidence he needed to aspire to become statewide president.

The parliamentary law team gave a stellar performance demonstrating their skills in proper and effective conducting of a business meeting in less than eleven minutes, which prompted the comments mentioned at the beginning of this article. According to the advisers, each parliamentary law team consists of six people, one chairman and five voting members. Each team member is given a card at the beginning of their meeting, and one minute—60 seconds—to review it. Each card describes the scenario of the meeting and gives each team member his or her assignment, that is, which motions each must make and debate and settle during the meeting. Each voting member must make two motions and make four arguments in debate, and each motion must be settled. The meeting must be completed in eleven minutes. When the meeting exceeds eleven minutes, the team begins to lose points for the time over the limit.

In the demonstration by Winnfield’s state champion team, once the clock started, the motions were made fast and furiously! Each team member was articulate but polite and brief in advancing his or her motion and in supporting it in debate. Not a second was wasted and the meeting was completed in 10 minutes and 52 seconds. Very impressive! Each member made the motions required in the briefest language possible that would still communicate the idea being expressed.

There followed a short session in which each team member defined or described the motions or rules of parliamentary procedure demonstrated in the “speed meeting.” Each one was letter perfect. Clearly, the students have spent many hours studying the rules of parliamentary procedure and practicing demonstrations. This team will compete at the national FFA convention in Indianapolis in the summer. Based on their demonstration to Rotary, there can be little doubt they will reach the higher levels of competition, barring unforeseen circumstances. Regardless of whether these students return with the top trophy from their summer adventure, this community can be proud of their dedication and expertise, and know they will give outstanding performances to compete with the best in the nation.

Congratulations to each team member and adviser, and best wishes for continued success and victory on the parliamentary battlefield!

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Local Reaching Forward Ministries founder Kenny Bratton was the guest of radio show host Gordo Rivet on Monday to discuss the ministry’s Feeding 5000 mission.

Rivet host The Last Word on local radio station KVCL 92.1. Monday’s show was part one of the interview while part two aired on Tuesday.

You can learn more about Reaching Forward Ministries here.

You can listen to both interviews here.

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Thursday, April 14th, from 3 PM – 5 PM Dr. Bill Gaddis is hosting a retirement celebration honoring the retirement of Williams Optometry Clinic Optometrist, Dr. Jerry Williams. The celebration will take place at 1605 West Court Street in Winnfield.

Dr. Williams has been practicing for 67 years, 63 of which in Winnfield. Mrs. Gayle Gilcrease has been Dr. William’s office manager for 47 years. 

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The Kiwanis Scholarship meal was a big success thanks to all who bought tickets and donated to our cause. A thank you goes out to the Winn Parish Detention Center for the potato salad, Autumn Leaves Nursing Home for the green beans and Mac’s Fresh Market for the bread.  Kiwanian Kim Futrell provided the cakes.  

Kiwanis President Lamar Tarver oversaw the fundraiser. Dylan and Star Womack were in charge of ticket sales. Jim Nicols, Lamar Tarver and Bill Gaddis seasoned the meat. Rita James made arrangements for the potato salad and the bread donations. The cooks who started at 4 AM Monday were Jim Nicols, Joe Evans, Dylan Womack and Dr. Bill Gaddis. Kiwanians and friends who made up the plates and delivered them were Les and Janine Michie, Lamar and Candace Tarver, Mickey Parker, Mary Lou Blackley, Margaret Coon, Rita James, Dr. Jerry Williams, Jason Tarver, Kyle Armitage, Brenda Kae Richardson, and Megan Nicols who also sold a lot of tickets for us.

The money raised from the scholarship meal funds scholarships for 2 Winn Parish Seniors going to college and 1 Winn Parish Senior going to a Technical College. Thanks to the Kiwanians who sold tickets and thanks again for the wonderful support we get from our community.

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Date: 4-5-22
Name: Xavier D Wyatt
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 25
Charge: Violation of a protective order (4 counts)

Date: 4-5-22
Name: Brain E Norton
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 50
Charge: DWI (1st), Obliterated vin, ATV on highway

Date: 4-6-22
Name: Joshua L Smith
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 24
Charge: Simple battery

Date: 4-6-22
Name: Rufus Dunn
Address: Montgomery, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 45
Charge: Failure to appear

Date: 4-6-22
Name: Aaron M Poisso
Address: N/A
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 27
Charge: Identity theft

Date: 4-6-22
Name: Jerade R Sanders
Address: Dodson, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 33
Charge: Direct contempt of court

Date: 4-7-22
Name: Jacob Kelly
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 29
Charge: P and P Violations

Date: 4-8-22
Name: Charles E Barfoot
Address: Monroe, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 51
Charge: Failure to appear

Date: 4-8-22
Name: Joann Wise-Irwin
Address: Dodson, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 66
Charge: Fugitive from Grant Parish (simple battery)

Date: 4-9-22
Name: Corey D Payne
Address: Jonesboro, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 28
Charge: Fugitive from Jackson Parish (Speeding)

Date: 4-9-22
Name: Ebony Jensen
Address: Houston, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Age: 29
Charge: Simple burglary, Criminal damage to property, Failure to appear

Date: 4-10-22
Name: Jamond L Sapp
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 49
Charge: DWI (1st), Open container, Speeding

Date: 4-11-22
Name: Jarraud M Hicks
Address: Baton Rouge, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 28
Charge: DWI (1st), Speeding, Reckless operation of a vehicle, Open container

Date: 4-11-22
Name: Adrian L Carter
Address: Winn Parish Detention Center
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Age: 35
Charge: Simple battery

Date: 4-11-22
Name: Hannah Barker
Address: Winn Parish Detention Center
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 27
Charge: Simple Battery

Date: 4-12-22
Name: Joseph L Litton
Address: Sikes, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 43
Charge: Trespassing

Date: 4-12-22
Name: Tara M Allen
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 43
Charge: Trespassing

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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This year marks the 48th year for the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival! Vendors will display their wares beneath the gorgeous live oak trees of Melrose. Artists and crafters will show and sell their original paintings, gourmet foods, jewelry, clothing, plants, toys, woodworking products, and more! The festival is sponsored by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) and all proceeds go directly to the upkeep and preservation of Melrose Plantation.

Festival Hours are Saturday 9 – 5 and Sunday 10 – 4.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for kids ages 6 – 12.

Tickets sold at the gate.

Pre-purchase tickets at Eventbrite.com…search Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival.

Also available:

– guided tours of our historic buildings for $5
– food and drinks

Hand sanitizer stations will be available. Our festival will abide by LA health guidelines applicable at the time of the festival.

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By: Brad Dison

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It’s a long way to October, baseball people like to say. What happened on Opening Day this week will seem like a long time ago come autumn.

But it will still matter. Such is life: You win some, you lose some and some get rained out, but you dress out for all of them. And all of them count.

To give you something to ponder either today or between games of a lazy summer doubleheader, here are some baseball questions and observations. (The answers are at the bottom. Don’t peak. That’s like stealing signals illegally. Bad form.)

A couple of the questions are taken from George Will’s annual Baseball Quiz in Newsweek, a column I was alerted to by Big C, a Fair Park All-State first sacker in the 1950s and former Shreveport Sports bat boy. Big C likes to remind me that baseball is a very humbling game, and that life is much the same way. It pays in both to keep your eye on the ball, lest you get caught leaning. Just when you get cocky, the ball has a funny way of finding you…

Questions

1.     How did a team hit into a triple play without any fielder touching the ball?

2.     Who’s on first?

3.     Name the Hall of Famer who, when asked if he had ever felt more pressure than when he pitched in the World Series, said, “Well, there was the Battle of the Bulge.”

4. What event in the life of what player provoked old-school wisecracking actor/composer Oscar Levant to say, “It proves that no man can be a success at two national pastimes”?

5.  To what was Cesar Geronimo referring when he said he was just “in the right place at the right time”? (This is my favorite.)

6. What do most Little Leaguers do when, around age 8, they are told they have to wear protective cups, that it’s a league rule?

7. When do most Little Leaguers decide that a protective cup is actually a good thing?

8. When one team with a big lead kept stealing bases, two major league managers got in a fight at home plate in a game in July of 1985. (I saw it live and it was one of the great nights of my life.) Which manager said afterward, “If he promises to stop hitting home runs, I promise to stop stealing bases,” and which opposing manager was he talking about?

9. Who wins the 2010 World Series?

Answers
1.     With runners on first and second, the batter hit a pop-up and was out under the infield fly rule. The runner on first passed the runner on second and was out; the falling pop hit the runner on second.

2. Yes. (What’s on secone.)

3. The Braves’ Warren Spahn.

4. Joe DiMaggio’s divorce from Marilyn Monroe.

5. He was both Bob Gibson’s and Nolan Ryan’s 3,000^th strikeout victim.

6. The ones that don’t cry just look at you like you are Satan, Satan with a banana growing out of his ear.

7. Right after they recover from getting hit ‘on home plate’ that first time.

8. St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog about San Francisco’s Roger Craig, who was managing several former Shreveport Captains at the time.

9. In an all-wild card Series, Atlanta beats Boston.

(Editor’s Note: Wrong on the World Series. San Francisco beat Texas in five; Edgar Renteria was the Series MVP. Not at all hard to believe I was wrong but it is hard to think that was 12 years ago.)

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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By: Royal Alexander

New York Times and Washington Post finally admit the story was true.

Many of us already knew the truth regarding the damaging and scandalous details of the Hunter Biden laptop story.  We knew it during the 2020 presidential election.  We knew it when the New York Post, one of the oldest and largest newspapers in the world, first broke the story, which was immediately suppressed by the Deep State and Big Tech, including Twitter and Facebook.  Why?  Because it not only contained sordid details of the corrupt dealings of Hunter Biden personally—leveraging his family connections with other nations in exchange for enormous sums of money—but also it directly implicated then-presidential candidate, Joe Biden, himself.

 Remember, the 2020 New York Post story contained news of the discovery of emails revealing that Hunter Biden, clearly traded upon his dad’s then-position as Vice President by gaining favors solely by virtue of his last name that benefited the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, and his family to the tune of millions from Ukraine, Russia, and China.  In fact, one 2015 email indicates that Vadym Pozharskyi, a Burma adviser, thanked Hunter Biden for “giving an opportunity” to meet former VP Joe Biden. Numerous other emails refer to Joe Biden as “the Big Guy.”

 This revelation of influence-peddling by Hunter Biden just prior to the election was obviously newsworthy given that the former VP had repeatedly said he had “never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings.”  The new emails strongly suggest that Joe Biden was not only aware of his son’s business dealings but actually participated in meetings to benefit him.   Thus, it is clear that Joe Biden lied directly to the American people throughout the 2020 campaign and in the Presidential Debates.

The Wall Street Journal recently noted that “Hunter Biden spent years entwining the family in questionable ventures in Ukraine, Russia, and China, even as his father’s biggest foreign-policy concerns are Ukraine, Russia, and China.  This history raises legitimate questions about counterintelligence and extortion, even as it puts a spotlight on how honest President Biden has been in claiming no knowledge of his son’s doings.”

But, again, the media and tech giants blocked access to this damaging news about Joe Biden and, only now, a year and a half after the presidential election, are the allegations confirmed as true.  What exacerbates this media dishonesty and complicity is the fact that polling reflects a full 16% of Biden voters would have changed their minds and not voted for Joe Biden for president had they known of the laptop scandal at the time.  

But they didn’t know because much of the national media—and social media—today are not objective gatherers of facts and truth.  Rather, Big Media is the mouthpiece of the Democrat Party and the national Left, and that is why they are not trusted.

According to Gallup, for example, TV news is the second least trusted institution in America, at 18 percent, barely edging Congress.

This media dishonesty matters because tight races in three key swing states had a big electoral impact as “just 44,000 votes in Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin separated Biden and Trump from a tie in the Electoral College.”

If Biden and Trump had tied 269 to 269 in the Electoral College, the Constitution provides that the President be chosen in the House of Representatives with each state having one vote for president, with a candidate needing 26 states to win and the winner decided very likely by which party had a majority in each state’s delegation.   At the time, the Republicans had majorities in 26 state delegations with the Democrats in control of 23 and Pennsylvania with a delegation split between Rs and Ds.

So, with 16% of Biden voters changing their mind had they known about the laptop scandal, and only 44 thousand votes in three states being the difference between a tie in the Electoral College, and the majority of U.S. House (Republican) state delegations voting for Trump to break the tie, in quashing the laptop story the media may have changed the election result and, therefore, American and world history.

Whatever anyone thinks of Trump and his mean tweets, outlandish statements and over-the-top personality, he left the country in far better shape than the countless economic, foreign policy, and cultural disasters that Joe Biden has caused in barely over a year. 

This, again, is why millions of Americans don’t trust these institutions.

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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Public safety agencies nationwide recognize the critical role played by Public Safety Telecommunicators. These professionals are true first “first responders.” They are the people who are answering the calls and directing First Responders, they are the most critical contact citizens have with emergency services.

Every year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety Telecommunicators in the United States. In 1991, Congress proclaimed it a national week of recognition.

Public safety agencies all over the nation will celebrate this year’s National Telecommunicators Week from April 10th-16th to honor and recognize the professionals who handle thousands of emergency calls each year. These calls for service require the immediate response of public safety agencies to ensure the protection of life and preservation of property. Through their dedication, compassion, understanding and skill, our Telecommunicators ensure citizens get the help they need when they need it.

When you dial 9-1-1 a telecommunications professional answers the call. You can help by knowing your location, staying on the line, and following the directions given so the Telecommunicator can provide the assistance you need. You can rest assured there will always be someone on the other end of the line ready to help in an emergency. Please join us as we honor the men and women who serve our community as Telecommunicators

Between the Thin Blue Line and the Thin Red Line, Lies the Thinnest Gold Line. This Gold Line represents those who Rarely are Seen but Mostly Heard.

The Calm Voice in the Dark Night
The Golden Glue that holds it All together
DISPATCHERS

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(Koki Riley – The Daily Advertiser) The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) approved a “positioning statement” permitting athletes to financially profit from their name, image and likeness in an executive committee meeting Thursday.

The LHSAA will partner with Eccker Sports, a company that assists high schools and student-athletes with navigating the NIL landscape. Eccker Sports would provide “educational services and resources” to schools statewide.

“As an education-based association, I think it is imperative that everyone associated with high school athletics in Louisiana is properly educated and informed on Name, Image, and Likeness,” said Eddie Bonine, Executive Director of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, in a statement released Thursday. “There is a lot to NIL and it’s a moving target that we need to stay on top of. I am honored that Eccker Sports, with all their experience and everything they have to offer, has chosen to launch with us. The educational programming and toolbox they provide are going to be very valuable to all the individuals who participate in this and will benefit our students throughout the state.”

Principals and athletic directors will be required to take NIL courses provided by Eccker Sports. Coaches, athletes and parents will also have access to the courses.

The first NIL course will be launched on May 1 and will contain a six-part video curriculum that will “educate users on the history of NIL, key terms and concepts, and best practices.” Other courses will be available soon after.

Additionally, Eccker will provide a Resource Hub for users to find up-to-date information on NIL throughout the country. Coaches will also be supplied with “Coach Assist” an online tool from Eccker that will have “NIL presentation templates, one pagers and other tools to help them educate their communities.”

And finally, Eccker will be constructing a “network of legal, financial and tax experts” to help families navigate the NIL landscape.

“Our goal is to guide, inform and protect high school students and their families to help them thrive on their NIL journey,” Eccker Sports CEO and Founder Randy Eccker said in the statement. “By taking a proactive, impartial, and non-exploitive approach, we believe coaches, administrators, student-athletes, and their parents will be in a much better position to avoid trouble and succeed in this rapidly changing arena.

“We are proud to partner with the LHSAA and are eager to bring these important resources to the entire state of Louisiana.”

High school athletic associations in Alaska, California, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, New York and New Jersey have already permitted student-athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness. Ohio will be voting on a proposal in May that would allow their athletes to do the same.

Twenty-six states prohibit students from profiting off their name, image and likeness, and 16 states are in the process of examining new legislation on the subject.

“We are proud that this Positioning Statement on NIL has passed our Executive Committee because it’s the right thing to do for all high school student-athletes in Louisiana,” Bonine said. “NIL is a moving target, which makes ongoing education so important for our entire high school community.

“We are taking a whiteboard approach to this with Eccker Sports so that as new rules are established and things change from state to state, our members will always have the most current information available to properly guide our kids and their families. We want everyone to be prepared because even if you don’t have someone right now facing these challenges, you never know when you might, and we want everyone prepared when that time comes.”

Koki Riley is a recruiting and high school sports reporter for The Daily Advertiser and the USA TODAY Sports South Region. Email him at kriley@theadvertiser.com.

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WINN:
Marvin Eugene Denler
April 22, 1972 – April 9, 2022
Service: Saturday, April 16 at 1 pm in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home

NATCHITOCHES:
Mary Ellen Averett
April 20, 1930 – April 6, 2022
Service: Saturday, April 16 from 1-3 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home.

Levonia Rachal Coutee
January 1, 1929 – April 10, 2022
Service: Wednesday, April 13 at 11 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville

SABINE:
Elouise Potter
August 30, 1931 – April 8, 2022
Service: Wednesday, April 13 at 10 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

RED RIVER:
Myrtis Rai Sullivan
August 23, 1935 – April 10, 2022
Service: Friday, April 15 at 11 am at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel

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