From Louie Bernard

I have always been able to find the right words to convey thanks or appreciation.  But mere “words” somehow seem very inadequate to express the heartfelt gratitude I feel to all of you, for having allowed me to serve as your Senator for District 31 these past four years.

It seems like yesterday that Gayle and I were criss-crossing the parishes of Natchitoches, Sabine, Red River, Winn, Grant, and Rapides, meeting people who are the bedrock of Louisiana.  I asked you for your support and your vote.  I told you I would always call you back, and that I would exhaust every effort to move our state in a more positive direction.  You allowed me to come into your homes . . into your businesses . . to your festivals and parades . . and to the countless number of celebrations of all those events you hold dear.  You reinforced what I have believed all my life . . that government isn’t about Governors, or Senators, or Representatives.  It is about “people” . . folks just like you and me, who sit down at the kitchen table every month and try to figure out how to make ends meet.  The challenge is always about applying common sense to the issues that so affect our lives.

I voted on literally hundreds and hundreds of pieces of legislation during my four years in the Senate.  And, while no elected official pleases all of the people, all of the time, I am proud to have represented the basic conservative belief that government should be accountable, transparent, and a good steward of your taxes.

 I pray that we will continue to prioritize Early Childhood Education, Higher Education, and teacher pay . . that we will focus on workforce training and development . . that we will look for ways to increase funding for our infrastructure system . . that we continue to recognize and assist small business . . and that Louisiana will take great strides to ensure safer cities, towns, and communities across our state.

Finally, I want to state, as I have many times, that Northwestern State University is foundational to the success and quality of life in Northwest Louisiana, and to our state.  I am proud to have been a partner in securing Capital Outlay funding to replace Kyser Hall, and for the renovation of our Health and Performance Center on campus.  By working together with both the Senate and the House, we were also able to secure $13M in “P-5” funding for Warrington Place in Shreveport, which is so necessary to continue Northwestern’s premier role in graduating nurses who help staff hospitals across our entire State .In my farewell address to the Senate on May 15^th, 2023, I reflected on the temptation elected officials have to talk about their achievements.   I said, “The enthusiasm with which we extoll the virtues of our accomplishments, should be tempered by the sobering reality of all that is left to do.”

And so, I congratulate all those who were elected to office this past fall.  I especially extend every good wish to my successor, Senator Alan Seabaugh and his wife, Laura.  Along with our new Governor and the entire Legislature, they have evidenced a willingness to fight the good fight in Teddy Roosevelt’s “arena.” For ourselves, for our children, and for our grandchildren, I pray for their every success!

My heartfelt gratitude for having been allowed to serve you and your families.  It has been the honor of my life!

Sincerely,

Louie Bernard

The unending ringing at the railroad crossing on Main Street has been remedied. The problem was not due to lack of interest from the folks at Louisiana Southern Railroad. Instead, the resolution lay a little deeper than what might have been thought as faulty wiring in the control box.

On several occasions, railroad personnel would come down to check out the problem and turn off the incessant bell. But, as employees at the Louisiana Political Museum or Winn Parish Enterprise could testify, the bell would start all over again. Or worse, the railroad people would come down and report that the bell wasn’t ringing and they could find nothing wrong…much like when a driver takes his car into the shop for a problem that won’t manifest while the mechanic is listening.

Then when a supervisor asked if a sensor ran from the Main Street crossing, up the rails towards the Center Street crossing by the School Board office, the answer was “Yes, almost as far up as the overpass,” roadmaster Judson Rogers of Louisiana Southern told the Journal. Followup investigation revealed a broken rail at the Center Street crossing. That triggered the sensor, thus the ringing.

Early this week, Center Street was blocked as a crew worked to repair that rail and the crossing. Since no train can pass, the Main Street bell is off, providing peace and quiet at the museum and newspaper. Once repairs are complete, it will be reconnected.

While asphalt was not available Monday, Rogers anticipated delivery Tuesday to complete the repair work and by the time readers see this short story, traffic should once again be driving across the track on Center Street.

Problem solved. 

If you drive down the beautiful streets of Goldonna, cross the railroad tracks and come to a complete stop at the stop sign and look to the left you will notice a small box. This is called “The Blessing Box.” This box was the brainchild of Goldonna Assembly of God youth leaders, Sarah and Seth Johnson. They wanted to find a way to be a blessing to the community and settled on this idea. Community members can leave nonperishable items in the box such as food items, books, or clothing. If someone is in need they can visit the box. Everything is completely free of charge and given out of the goodness of your heart. The Johnson’s along with the youth group played a role in building and installing the box.

“The name of the box says it all,” shares Pastor Timmy Harris.

Goldonna Assembly of God Church is kicking off the new year with a revival. Evangelist Chris Klock will be ministering at the church from January 14th through January 20th. Services will begin at 6:30pm each night.

Goldonna Baptist Church will resume their Operation Christmas Child collections for 2024. January’s items will be Christmas cards, stockings, stationary, etc. What better time to collect these items than when they’re on sale? The OCC outreach program was a tremendous success with their sister churches’ help. “We would especially like to thank our brothers and sisters at River of Life for their generosity,” shared Pastor Dupree. Pastor Ben Dupree would like to formally challenge all of the area congregations to join them in this tremendous opportunity. The church will be posting each month’s theme to their Facebook page.

Kingdom Kids will resume on January 10. A full meal, transportation to and from GBC and an opportunity to learn about our Lord Jesus will all be provided. Everyone is welcome! Dr. Wiley Cole’s “Walk through the Bible” lessons will resume on January 7th at 5 pm, followed by supper, and are these lessons are always available on YouTube. We are currently in the book of Acts. Our wild game cook-off will be on January 21st at 6 pm. $5/entry fee and the winner gets their name published in the weekly bulletin as well as our Facebook page. All proceeds will benefit the Operation Christmas Child shipping costs.

Goldonna Elementary Junior High announces that Muffins with Mom will be held Friday, January 26th from 9:00 until 10:00am. Please RSVP and pay the fee of $3.00 by Friday, January 19th. Forms will be sent home after the holiday break. The school would also like to remind parents that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be observed on January 15th and school will be closed.

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

On December 20, 2023, Winnfield’s Rotary Club was honored to host as its guest speaker newly-elected Louisiana State Senator for District 31, Alan Seabaugh, compliments of Rotarian of the day, Judge Keith Gates. District 31 cover Red River and Sabine parishes as well as parts of Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides and Winn Parishes, including Winnfield. 

Seabaugh is a partner in the law firm Seabaugh & Sepulvado with offices in Shreveport and Baton Rouge. He is married to the former Laura McLelland with whom he has four daughters. He is connected with Winnfield through his parents, Tommy Seabaugh and the former Shirley McLemore, who met while attending Winnfield Senior High School.

Mr. Seabaugh, a member of the Republican party, served in the Louisiana House of Representative from 2010 to his recent election to the state senate.

With Jeff Landry taking office as Governor of Louisiana, and a 2/3 majority of Republicans in both the Louisiana House of Representatives and Senate, as well as all elected state officials being Republicans, Seabaugh sees great opportunity for progress ahead. 

First priorities are redrawing districts in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Plans are underway to create a Crime Task Force to study reasons for and recommend solutions to the rising crime rate in Louisiana. He expects the legislature to also address the problems of rising insurance rates in Louisiana.

A most important focus will be reducing the size of state government and eliminating many of the excessive supervisory positions. Senator-elect Seabaugh pointed out that reducing existing appropriations is very hard but noted that Louisiana’s budget has doubled since Jon Bell Edwards took office as governor. Thus, reducing government spending is also a priority.

After Seabaugh answered audience questions, the meeting was adjourned with the club motto, “Service above self!”

By Bob Holeman

Christmas decorations.

Let’s compare this with Thanksgiving dinner.  Momma spends days, maybe weeks in planning and excited anticipation for a wonderful family gathering around the dining room table.  A day or so in advance, she creates her traditional pecan pie, sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole with the crispy canned onions on top.  She might even set the table ahead of time with her special holiday napkins and the fancy plates and glasses so she won’t have to rush at that on Thanksgiving Day.

Momma’s up early Thursday, taking the turkey out of the refrigerator where it’s been thawing since Tuesday to get it ready for the oven.  Rolls have to be prepared.  Dressing for the turkey and gravy, for sure.  Salad’s optional…too healthful for this family.  Maybe a quick slaw.

Mealtime arrives and, love them though you might, the kids and grandkids swarm in like locusts, eat everything that isn’t moving and ask permission to go back outside to play football with Grandpa or play games on their pads.  Momma’s left with the dishes and turkey bones to start a pot of gumbo.  Still with a smile on her face because of family.

So Diane and I took down our Christmas lights last week.  The parallel I’m trying to paint is the amount of planning compared to the duration of the event.  Diane plans, I procrastinate.  By mid-December we had our outside lights up.  Diane already had our indoor decorations in place.  She decided that since no family would be coming to visit, perhaps our big tree should stay in the attic.  It is a large amount of work to light and decorate.

But we have a smaller, genuine 1960s-era gold aluminum tree from her folks, also stored in the attic.  I dusted off the box and was amazed that the gold aluminum fronds on each limb are still in great shape after so many years of disuse.  She set it up in the dining room window and hung the white satin balls that came with the tree. I found a spotlight in the storeroom and we were in business.

Outside, we had strands of white mini lights coiled around the pillars, strands of colored lights randomly laid in the front porch bushes while more white lights shined in the kitchen-side bushes.  I’m happy to report that only one old strand blew out while we were putting them up and a second new strand went out during the showtime season.

But guess what?  Once Christmas is passed, it’s like a light switch turned off.  Some un-decorate the day after Christmas, the traditional “Boxing Day.”  Others hold onto their lighting through New Years.  We did but that was mostly my own procrastination.  Diane started putting things up pretty quickly after our return from family in Tennessee.  After we got out last week’s Journal, Diane convinced me that it was time to get down the lights.  True, they hadn’t been lighted since New Year’s Eve but it was time to get them into their boxes and back in the attic.

The Christmas season is gone.  Perhaps we can hold onto the joy and hope of that season as we proceed into 2024.

It was most definitely a wonderful time of year at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home. The residents had a very productive and fun-filled month during December.

On Monday, December 4, Autumn Leaves held their first Christmas lighting along with caroling, Christmas cookies and hot cocoa.

On Thursday, December 14, residents enjoyed their second annual trip to the Saline Creek Christmas Tree Farm where they were also able to shop in the gift shop there, have their lunch, and also meet a very special guest, The Grinch who greeted them.

December was also filled with different Christmas arts and crafts which they love doing. On Tuesday, December 19, residents also had a special visit from Santa and their families where they enjoyed their Christmas Party and opening gifts.

Virginia moved to New York and found work as a salesclerk at the women’s specialty clothing store called Ann Taylor.  Day after day, Virginia, dressed in Ann Taylor clothing, helped other women select just the right outfit from their collection.  On one Saturday, Virginia, dressed in her Ann Tayler clothing, stopped by the Ann Taylor store with some of her friends.  In the showroom window, they saw a couple of mannequins dressed in Ann Taylor apparel sitting at a little café table as if they were having lunch.  Plastic food sat on the plates in front of them.  A mischievous thought came over Virginia.  She turned to her friends and said, “Hey, dare me to go and sit in the chair?”  With wide grins, they replied, “Yeah, go ahead, do it.”  When no one was looking, Virginia snuck into the showroom display window and sat down with the mannequins.  She sat perfectly motionless.  Her friends just stared from outside the store.

People passing by noticed the girls’ fixed stares at the showroom display.  A crowd began to gather outside the showroom window.  They were curious and asked, “What are you looking at.”  The girls would only say, “Just wait, just wait.”  Virginia’s friends knew that she would have to blink her eyes eventually.  Finally, Virginia blinked her dry eyes.  It was over in an instant.  She made no other movement.  The people in the crowd who saw her blink said, “Wooo!”  The people who missed it asked the ones who had seen it what they missed.  Some of those who saw her blink were second guessing what they had just seen.  Did she really blink?  Was she real or a mannequin?  The crowd became larger.  All eyes were fixed on Virginia’s eyes.  Finally, another blink.  The people in the crowd who saw her blink went wild.  The crowd grew larger, as did the cheers, at every blink of Virginia’s eyes.  Although no one in the crowd could tell, because she sat completely motionless except for an occasional blink which was over in an instant, Virginia was thoroughly enjoying her prank. 

Finally, the manager noticed the noise coming from outside the showroom window and went to investigate.  She looked at the crowd and looked at the mannequins sitting in the showroom window.  Finally, Virginia blinked, and the crowd went wild again.  The manager rushed back into the store and scoldingly told her to “Get out of the window!”  As Virginia stood to remove herself from the window, the manager had a sudden realization.  Their showroom window had never drawn so much attention before.  “Stay in the window!” she said.  Virginia sat back down and continued to pretend to be a mannequin.  The large crowd was delighted and continued to watch in eager anticipation of every blink.  The store hired Virginia every Saturday to be a mannequin.

The mannequin prank led to bigger things for Virginia.  A few Saturdays later, Virginia signed with New York’s Zoli modeling agency.  From there she was cast in the 1982 film Tootsie.  In jest, Virginia described her part in the film as “someone who’s going to be in their underwear a lot of the time.”  She was cast in the short-lived television series Buffalo Bill, and guest-starred in Family Ties, Riptide, Remington Steele, and Knight Rider.  Virginia appeared in the Chevy Chase comedy Fletch, and starred in Transylvania 6-5000, the Fly, Earth Girls Are Easy, Beetlejuice, Thelma & Louise, A League of their Own, and The Accidental Tourist, for which she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.  The list of films and television shows which Virginia has starred in continues to grow.  Virginia Elizabeth Davis was given a nickname shortly after her birth by her older brother, Dan, to differentiate her from an auto also named Virginia.  You and I know her as Geena Davis.

Source:  “Geena Davis on Her Early Gig as a Living Mannequin,” National Public Radio, February 11, 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/02/08/1155478251/geena-davis-on-her-early-gig-as-a-mannequin.

A Winn Community Gospel Singing is held monthly and the next will be this Saturday night, January 13 at 6 p.m., organizers announced.

The session will be held in the First Presbyterian Church at 302 S. Beville Street, right across the street from the Southern Funeral Home. The public is invited to come and be blessed through the musical presentations and further invited to bring music to sing before the gathering, if desired.

Over the past quarter century, the South owns college football national championships. Monday night’s Michigan-Washington title matchup was rare as a Baptist who hates bacon.

Hope our northern football-playing brothers and sisters enjoyed Monday’s scrap — hat tip to the Wolverines, a fast and fun-to-watch 34-13 winner over the Huskies — because history suggests it will be a while before such shenanigans happen again. 

In the 1998 season, trying to break free from naming a national champion by poll voting (and because the new way would mean more money for the TV schools), college football moved to a Bowl Championship Series.

The first BCS Championship game was the 1999 Fiesta Bowl.

Tennessee beat Florida State, 23-16. Rocky Top.

The second was the 2000 Sugar. 

Florida State beat Virginia Tech, 46-29. Remember how VA Tech teams were mean back then? Blocked like four kicks a game? 

The third was the 2001 Orange.

Oklahoma beat Florida State, 13-2, to finish the season undefeated in a game no one remembers — outside of the opening coin flip by beloved actor Denzel Washington (who I almost ran over in my Jeep, corner of Lake and Louisiana, years ago — another story for another time).

You can’t help but notice something about those matchups, right? All the teams, both the winners and losers, are from Southern states. (And yes, Oklahoma, our geography books say, is part of the West South Central States, along with the Ark-La-Tex. Boomer Sooner.)

Nebraska, an Official Northern State, at long last made the finals in 2002 and was summarily handed its helmet by Miami, 37-14, back when The U was still The U and Nebraska was enjoying its final days of football glory.

We will summarize here to make the point: counting Monday night’s Michigan-Washington game, there have been 26 title contests since the BCS began. Of those, 22 have been won by Southern teams. Four have been won by Northern teams: Ohio State won it all twice (in 2003 against Miami in OT, 31-24, and in 2015 against Oregon, 42-20), USC beat Oklahoma in 2005, 55-19, and Michigan beat Washington Monday night.

So the South is 22-4 in The Big Pigskin Enchilada. That overwhelming. That’s rain water against Noah. Consonants verses verbs. No mas.

Of the 26 title games since the first one in 1999, 15 have been All Southern matchups. Nine have been North vs. South, and the South has won seven of those; the North’s two wins came when Ohio State beat Miami in ’03 and USC beat the Okies in ’05. Two title games have been All North: Ohio State over Oregon in 2015 and Monday night’s scrap down in Houston.

If those illustrations aren’t enough, the following names and numbers, to me, hammer home the South’s dominance in the past quarter century.

From 1999-2006 (the BCS infancy), eight different schools won the title, and four of the eight title games were All South matchups. Of the 16 teams in those eight games, only three were non-Southern schools.

From 2007-2014 — the BCS National Championship Game series over eight seasons — Alabama won three titles, Florida won two, and Auburn/Aubrin, Florida State, and LSU won one each. You’ll find Big Foot before you’ll find a non-Southern champion during this run. (Only Ohio State twice and Oregon and Notre Dame, once each, even played for a title during those eight seasons.)

Finally, since the “College Football Playoff National Championship” began with Ohio State beating Oregon in 2015, the Buckeyes in 2021 (52-24 losers to Bama) are the only Northern school, until Monday night’s matchup, to play in the title game. The other seven games have been All The South, All The Time. A whole bunch of Bama, Clemson/Climpson, Georgia, and LSU. Over and over and over. TCU wandered in from “over Texas way” last January representing the South and played as if they were from the North, getting drubbed by 58 by Georgia. Still, they were America’s next-best opponent and the Bulldogs found them just one time zone over.

It will be no surprise when next season’s 12-team playoff is Southern flavored. Book it. And it should come as no surprise to learn, in case you didn’t realize it, that the campus of the 2024 CFP champs is in Ann Arbor, and that Ann Arbor is in … southern Michigan. Deep Southern Michigan. Almost to the state line. Figures … 

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application journey is intricate, and for those met with the initial challenge of denial, understanding the nuances of the appeals process becomes paramount.

Delving into the reasons behind denials is a strategic starting point. Denial letters often present complex information, necessitating a meticulous examination to uncover specific issues. Seeking professional assistance can be invaluable, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the grounds for denial. You have 60 days from the date of your denial letter to file for the first stage of your appeal, known as a Request for Reconsideration.

The Request for Reconsideration phase offers applicants a second chance to present their case. This stage allows for the submission of additional medical evidence and a detailed addressal of deficiencies identified in the initial application. Leveraging this opportunity is crucial, as it can significantly strengthen the foundation of your claim. If your case is still denied at this stage, which most likely will be, do not give up as the next stage is where the majority of success occurs! The next stage is requesting a hearing with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

The ALJ hearing stands as a pivotal moment, where individuals can directly present their case to a judge. Here, meticulous preparation is key, and the significance of legal representation cannot be overstated. Understanding the intricacies of this in-person hearing can greatly impact the likelihood of success.

Social Security’s evaluation process considers factors such as age, education, work background, and the severity of the medical condition. Understanding how these interconnected elements contribute to the overall evaluation can empower applicants to strategically present their case.

The Social Security GRID (Grid Rules) and Listings serve as powerful tools in the appeals process. The GRID factors in considerations like age, education, and work experience, while the Listings provide specific criteria for various impairments. Aligning your case with these tools can significantly bolster the strength of your claim.

At The Harrington Law Firm, success in securing SSDI approvals has been a cornerstone of our practice. C. Edward “Eddie” Harrington brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in navigating the intricacies of the appeals process. We are committed to leveraging our expertise to guide applicants towards success in their claims.

Recognizing the importance of informed decision-making, The Harrington Law Firm offers free consultations. This opportunity allows individuals to gain valuable insights into their specific case, empowering them with the knowledge needed to navigate the SSDI appeals journey.

The SSDI appeals process demands a comprehensive approach, combining knowledge, meticulous preparation, and strategic thinking. Denials are part of the journey, not the end. Understanding the intricacies at each stage, leveraging professional expertise, and aligning with Social Security criteria can significantly enhance the chances of a favorable outcome. At The Harrington Law Firm, we stand ready to empower your journey toward securing the benefits you rightfully deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation, where your resilience, determination, and our legal expertise converge for a brighter and more secure future.

The Harrington Law Firm handles cases involving Bankruptcy, Social Security Disability, Personal Injury, and Last Wills and Testaments.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and let us help you through these challenging times.

Natchitoches- (318) 352-5900
Leesville- (337) 535-0700

For more information go online to theharringtonlawfirm.com or email Eddie.Harrington@theharringtonlawfirm.com.

As humans, we all want to be a part of a group. We want to feel like we belong to something, someone, or somewhere. Even as kids, it is important for one’s self-esteem to be a part of a click. Nothing is worse than to be excluded from your friends or co-workers. Today, we’ll talk about just how important it is for tournament anglers to be a part of a group and to have guys they can trust.

Trust is the key ingredient or the glue that all anglers must have within the click they run with. To be successful on the pro level, it’s important that you have a handful of guys that you can talk to about anything. Anglers you can trust to tell you the truth about how they might be catching fish. Guys that aren’t trying to lead you astray and send you on a wild goose chase.

But one thing an angler must avoid during the course of a tournament is listening to what is called “dock talk.” This is where guys are standing around a boat ramp, weigh-in, or at dinner and spreading false information about how they are catching fish with the intention to lead another angler down the wrong path. The best advice I’ve ever been given as an angler is never trust an angler you do not know and proceed with caution on anything they tell you. It’s a game anglers play every tournament hoping to give themselves an advantage. Anglers are the best liars on the planet and will do or say anything to gain an advantage.

This is why it is so important that an angler find a group of guys he can travel with and trust. These are guys who will come to your rescue when you break down on the water or on the highway, guys who are willing to share their tackle when you need a bag of worms or a particular bait, guys you trust to tell the truth about what and how they might be catching fish.

Finding that right circle of guys can be a challenge and it may take some time. But when you do, it can make your tournament experience so much more enjoyable and productive. Let’s face it, you’re never going to win every tournament, but your goal is always to finish in the money and collect a check.

But understand, there’s always competition within the group. Even within your own click, you want to be the guy that finished the highest. The best clicks are the guys that will help one of their own to win a tournament when they are in position to do so.

Tournaments today are highly competitive and it’s very difficult to be successful on your own. Anglers that have that circle of guys they can rely on, will have a greater chance for success. Even though pro fishing is not always a team sport, having guys you can share accurate information with is a huge advantage.

For years we’ve all heard how the key to success is to surround yourself with the right people. Professional bass fishing is no different and now you can see that being a part of the right click can lead to success on the tournament trail. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and when in doubt, set the hook!

Steve Graf

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.

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.

Elsie Marie DeWolf Allen
January 6, 2024
Service: Wednesday, January 10, 2024, 1pm at the Southern Funeral Home.

David Lee Wimsett, Jr.
July 11, 1960 – January 8, 2024
Service: Under the direction of Southern Funeral Home, Winnfield.