Winn’s School District will be asking voters to approve a parishwide maintenance tax on the April 27 ballot to support school operations throughout the parish.

The 9.25 parishwide maintenance tax is “simple in what it says,” according to Supt. Alfred Simmons.  “The money is used to maintain our schools.  That could be anything from air conditioning to routine maintenance and supplies, all manner of things, even broken floor tiles.  It could be for emergency repairs not covered by insurance.  This is absolutely necessary to keep our schools running.”

Business manager Jennifer Vidrine concurs, noting that “there is not money in the General Budget to make up for this.  Air conditioning units alone will run $25,000 to $30,000.”

Simmons stresses that this is not a “new” tax.  “The people of Winn have been paying 8.15 mills for 10 years.  That brings in about $700,000 a year.  But as you know, inflation has driven up costs over the past few years, not to mention over the past decade.  What we’re asking is a small increase of 1.1 mills which could add another $90,000, not enough to keep up with inflation.  To be correct, this will be termed a ‘tax in lieu’ rather than a ‘renewal’ on the ballot.”

The board tried this tax call in spring 2023 but members speculated that the community did not understand the need for the 13.5% increase and in a low voter turnout, the issue failed.

Asked about the impact on the average homeowner in Winn, Mrs. Vidrine termed the response a little complicated.  She said the average taxable home value in Winn is so low, that if you use the state average of $135,000 instead, property tax would increase only about $30 when you consider Homestead Exemption.

“It’s vital to the welfare of our public education that we win the support of the community this April,” said Simmons.  “Nobody likes to talk about taxes but this is critical so that we can provide a safe and comfortable environment for our students and employees.  We’d hope folks will look at this as an investment rather than an expense.”

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A glance at a possible school calendar for the 2024-25 year showed board members at their committee session this week that next year could look pretty much like this year.

Supt. Alfred Simmons handed out a schedule Monday night for members to consider but emphasized that it is up to the board rather than the superintendent to set the school calendar. This is generally done in February or March so that families can begin making travel plans.

Similarities suggested include opening school with a five-day week until Labor Day then going back to four days. One difference will be the Presidential Election Day, November 5, when schools must be closed.

Simmons observed that he believes people like the calendar and the timing as it is running this year. But there is not enough data in yet that would drive any changes. “I’m not asking you to approve anything at this point. This is just informational.”

Committee members will also be on the search for a new maintenance manager for the school district. The superintendent announced that manager Mark Maxwell has announced his retirement in February. The board heard that the position entails “more than fixing and maintaining around our schools. There’s also acquisition and delivery of supplies and materials.”

Discussed by the members is the level of training the board desires for this post. Simmons showed the board labor-only costs of bringing in licensed vendors for some of the specialized work like electrical or plumbing. “When we can, we do it ourselves.” But often the demands or risks are too high and professional service is required.

When board members asked about hiring a HVAC-certified manager to handle those situations, they heard it’s a money issue. Last time there were two certified applicants but when they heard the salary offer, they walked away. The range was reported in the $30,000’s for starting without experience up to the $50,000’s with time and experience.

Joe Llaine Long said maybe the board would be fortunate to find someone who is certified, near retirement and ready to move closer to home. In response to a question by Lance Underwood, members heard that the individual would need to be a combination of hands-on worker and “pencil pusher” since he’d be handling acquisitions, distributions and the entailed record-keeping. “We’ll keep our fingers crossed,” said Underwood. “We’ve got to try.”

While deer season has closed to local hunters, residents at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home and Rehab got a special extended opportunity when an in-house hunt was staged in the main room on Wednesday, January 24.

And what an adventure it was for the Autumn Leaves residents who had the opportunity to enjoy their very own inside deer hunt.  The residents were able to shoot “deer” which were employees dressed up in deer costumes.

The employees appeared as white tailed deer with brown costumes, their tails showing white as in flight and masks of a deer’s face and antlers.  They began to move into shooting range about 2 p.m.  Residents, too, were in the spirit of the hunt, armed with Nerf rifles, some of them also dressed for the hunt in their hunting blind.  Appropriately, as it was in the dining area, plates of deer corn were out on the floor to attract the wild game. 

After all the laughs and fun, residents and staff were served Honey buns, coffee, and hot chocolate.

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Winn Wellness Clinic has brought in a new health care provider to serve its patients, according to Victoria Hubbard-Knighton, Rotarian of the day on January 24. That new provider is Nurse Practitioner Amy Brewer, who was born and reared in the Verda community in Grant Parish.

According to Ms. Brewer, her home was right at the Grant/Winn Parish line. She attended nursing school and obtained her Bachelor’s degree of Science in nursing in 2003. During her nursing career, she worked in Winn Parish to set up our local Nurse Family Partnership, a community health partnership in which specially-trained nurses guide first-time mothers through pregnancy and her child’s first two years.

After working as a nurse in different capacities for many years, Ms. Brewer attained her Master’s degree in Nursing from University of Louisiana at Lafayette and completed the requirements to become licensed as a Nurse Practitioner.

As a primary care provider at Winn Wellness Clinic, Ms. Brewer provides care to patients of all ages, genders and ailments. She has a particular interest in management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, and providing diabetes care education to those afflicted with the disorder.

Ms. Brewer said she enjoys working with other health care providers and learning from them. She finds Dr. Mark Shelton a great mentor in the clinic. They work together to provide the best health care possible to the patients at Winn Wellness.

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Lakeview 1-23-24

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Winnfield’s Tuesday School, part of the local Caring & Sharing Ministry, held graduation January 23 for its high school students, some who have attended the weekly program since it started five years ago.

Tuesday School is an after school program that teaches God’s Word in a safe environment.  It is designed for children pre-K through 8th grade.  Previously, the program ran through high school but now those older students are graduated.

Although a number of students received this Tuesday School honor, due to bad weather only four were present for the ceremony.

Rev. Shaun Garner, pastor of the host site First Assembly, addressed the graduates, saying “We want you to know Jesus and how He loves you.”  He quoted Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

Pastor Shaun said, “You are strong and courageous.  Don’t let others decide for you.  You decide for Jesus and go forward.”

Part of the weekly routine at Tuesday school is Christ-centered boot camp training.  On this day, every child whether graduating or younger, received their very own chain and dogtag with their name on one side and “Tuesday School” on the other.  The graduates were each presented with a certificate and an additional medallion for their dogtag.

Children enjoyed their usual refreshments as well as a special cake commemorating the occasion with “Congratulations Graduates” emblazoned atop.

Tuesday School was launched five years ago at First Presbyterian Church but soon outgrew that site and shifted to First Assembly where a bus ministry was added to help grow participation.  This Christian service continued even during COVID when snacks and individual lessons were delivered weekly to the children’s homes by volunteers.

Activities got back to normal following the pandemic and as attendance continued to grow First Baptist, East Winnfield Baptist and First United Methodist churches began to assist with the bus ministry.  At Christmas, gift bags were prepared and the total of students at that point numbered 55.  “It’s a God-thing,” observed volunteer Jane Purser.

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This annual event in Winnfield grew out of a practice begun by Shelia Mitchell of getting a meal together and inviting her neighbors to come to her yard and partake of it with her, including ministers from the community who might share the Word with the people in the yard throughout the day. Over several years, the number of people served in Shelia’s yard grew so that her kitchen and her yard couldn’t contain the event, and she needed more help in preparing the meals.

When Shelia joined with Jane Purser and Mary Lou Blackley to form Caring & Sharing in Unity for our Community Winnfield in 2019, the group began sponsoring what is now known as the Winn Community Feast hosted by Laurel Heights Baptist Church in 2020 and 2021. 

In 2022, through the generosity of the City of Winnfield and its mayor, George Moss, the location was moved to the Winnfield Civic Center on the Winn Parish Fair Grounds, which has continued under the administration of current Winnfield Mayor Gerald Hamms. 

The entire community is invited to attend and share a meal together at the civic center on Saturday, February 10, between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Deliveries will be made to those in the  community who are physically unable to get out to the civic center, what with flu and COVID going around. Some limited “take-out” will also be available.

“We do the feast as an expression and celebration of God’s love for every person in the community and invite anyone who wants to come and share a good hot meal. We want everyone in our community to come together, learn to care for each other, share their needs, goals and aspirations, and work together to help each other,” say the organizers of the event. 

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January 31, 2024

Decisions, decisions, decisions…. that is something both coaches and tournament anglers have in common. For a baseball coach, he must decide when to make a pitching change. If he waits too long, the opponent will take advantage and push runs across the plate. For a football coach, calling the right play at the right time can be the difference between winning or losing.

But for a tournament bass angler, he or she must make the right decision all the time or they’ll get to watch someone else walk across the stage collecting the check that was meant for themself. For anglers, it’s about being in the right place at the right time. Timing in bass fishing is everything and it’s important that the angler plan out his day and try to be in the right location approximately at the same time he might have caught them the day before, give or take an hour.

Some anglers keep a log of every practice day and make notes on when, where, and how they caught fish. Some anglers use what is called an iSolunar Chart which is a predictor of daily wild game activity. This chart is based off the position of the moon and its location in the sky. For example, when the moon is underfoot or overhead, game activity is supposed to be at its peak. I’m a firm believer in this chart and it has proven itself to be fairly accurate over my many years of fishing and hunting.

Now don’t misunderstand, it’s not an exact science but it is based off science. The way I attempt to use this chart is to make sure I’m in one of the better areas I found in practice during the predicted peak time the chart says. The problem with using this type of logic, or science, is that if you don’t catch them during this so-called peak period predicted, it can cause you to spin out or lose confidence, which is something all anglers try to avoid.

For tournament bass fishermen, confidence is very important. You must believe in and try to execute whatever game plan you’ve put together. Whether they believe in moon charts or horoscopes, an angler’s mental state of mind is crucial for their success. But the one constant that great anglers tend to have is the ability to adjust their game plan depending on changing conditions that mother nature presents.

In bass fishing, every day is a new day and how you caught them in practice may not be how you catch them on tournament day. Bass fishing is a constantly evolving game depending on the conditions. No two days are hardly ever the same except during the summer months when the weather tends to be stable with less fronts coming through.

Once again, tournament fishing is all about making the right decision at the right time. Like a poker game, you must know when to hold them or when to fold them. Till next time good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to apply your sunscreen. Melanoma is the number one killer of all types of cancers. Don’t take any chances, wear good UV protective clothing, and use sunscreen.

Steve Graf

Angler’s Perspective

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After what we have gone through weather-wise over the past two weeks, I might have an inkling of why all this has come to be. 

Could it be something called El Nino or La Nina? I don’t have a clue what these weather phenomena is all about but I’m searching for something – anything – to explain why we here in the south have taken such a beating from Mother Nature.

It all started last summer. As April showers brought May flowers, the clouds which up to then had been friendly, blessed us with sufficient rains to get things going. Tomatoes were up and growing crimson and plump, purple hull peas were sprouting and we could hardly wait to pick a mess, cook a pot of them and serve them up with a pone of homemade cornbread and slices of those beautiful tomatoes. 

Then, just like that, Mother Nature shut off the spigot. Days turned into weeks that turned into months without rain. We watched our ponds slowly shrink in size until all that was left was dry cracks as the pond that was once home to crawfish and turtles and frogs and minnows. Cows in the pasture would walk by, give what was once their water hole a longing look, swish tails at horseflies and sadly walk away.

We had a neighborhood red tailed hawk that spent much of the day on the power line overlooking the pond, looking for a morsel. As the pond disappeared, so did the hawk. Why hang around to sit and look at cracked ground? 

Finally, the skies became more friendly and gave us a few showers. The pond bottom became a puddle; dry cracks thirstily lapping up the scant few gallons of precious liquid.

Things started looking up somewhat in November and December giving us a false hope that whatever Mother Nature had against us was beginning to wane just a bit.

Then came January. We welcomed the New Year clinging to the hope that finally things would start to settle out and return to a semblance of normalcy. The weatherman began talking about an event due the middle of the month that caused us a bit of concern. An artic front was due around January 14 with the forecast of not only frigid temperatures but with the possibility of frozen precipitation. 

No problem, we were duped into thinking. It’s January and a little snow might provide a bit of excitement and would probably be gone the next day. Boy was that a misnomer. We went to bed Sunday night with falling temperatures and by daybreak Monday, we were wrapped up with snow, sleet and ice with a temperature in the 20s and heading south. 

We became prisoners to the elements; there was no way we could leave the house and that became a growing concern as I watched the level in my jug of milk sink lower and lower. We were down to eating the last end pieces of the remaining loaf of bread. The heating unit never seemed to shut off and take a breath before kicking on again. I might have to float a loan to pay my utility bill.

Finally, things thawed enough to drive the road to the grocery store to replenish the milk and bread. By week’s end, we could at least function a bit better. Things looking much better, right?

Forecast for last week said otherwise. All the rain we missed last summer was dumped on us all at one time with heavy rain all week long.

I found a statement on-line that says it better than I can.

“It’s like Mother Nature is mad and keeps storming out, then comes back yelling, ‘And one more thing’!”

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Courtesy of Brian Montgomery 

The information below is a generated summary of the aid and service the Winn Parish Fire Department has lended its community over the course of the year. We thank our local firefighters and EMTs for their vigilance and protection of Winn Parish and all who call it home. 

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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 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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Helen Bell Gilbert
December 28, 1940 – January 11, 2024
Service: Service will be celebrated Saturday, January 20, 2024, 11:00 a. m. at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 303 Brown Street, Winnfield, LA 71483. Burial will follow in the Choctaw Island Baptist Church Cemetery near Clarence in Natchitoches Parish.

Lucille Remo
May 20, 1942 – January 23, 2024
Service: will be celebrated Saturday, February 3, 2024, 2:00 p. m. in the Winnfield Funeral Home Chapel, 318 North St, Natitoches, LA 71457. Interment will follow in Lawrence Serenity Sanctum.

Dannie Ray Braxton
March 30, 1954 – January 24, 2024
Service: Services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel (318 North St. Natchitoches, LA 71457). A public viewing will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in the Choctaw Island Baptist Church Cemetery in Clarence, LA.

Jerry Faith Davidson
December 29, 1938- January 23, 2024
Service: A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday January 26, 2024, at Verda Baptist Church under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

Eugene ‘Chick’ Leeper
April 11, 1927-January 24, 2024
Services: Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at Southern Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Sanders Chapel Cemetery, in Calvin.

James Ray “Goob” Johnson
March 8, 1940-January 29, 2024
Service: The funeral service will take place at Southern Funeral Home on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 11:00 AM. The interment will follow at Bethlehem Cemetery.

 

The city has approved the creation of the Winn Community Subdivision on West Lafayette Street.  This is not an annexation of a new area into the town but rather a consolidation of various individual lots into a single tract, explained District Attorney Chris Nevils.

Over time, most of the lots and structures on that area of West Lafayette between the hospital and the Primary School have been acquired and cleared in preparation for a “fantastic” construction project by Winn Community Health Center.  The project is to build a multi-million dollar health facility for this multi-parish health service, Nevils explained.

Although all of the individual lots are owned by a single entity, progress of the work will be easier if this is formed into a single tract, he said.

Nevils said that a number of contractors are very interest in this project and that Winn Community Health’s CEO Deano Thornton hopes to have a in-hand by the first or second week of February.  “He will have a public announcement at that time.  This will be fantastic.”

The Winn City Council approved the action at its January 18 special meeting.

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