5 Ingredient Italian Beef & Noodles are so good that my teenager ate 3 plates. And I loved this as much as he did because it took less than 2 minutes to prepare! Serve with a noodle of your choice or mashed potatoes. I am the biggest fan of a REALLY good crock pot recipe and this is exactly that!

Ingredients:

2 pounds stew meat
½ – ¾ can of beef broth
1 package Italian seasoning
1 stick butter
Pasta of your choice (I like a wide, flat noodle) or mashed potatoes

Directions

Place stew meat in slow cooker. Pour beef broth in. Sprinkle season evenly over. Place butter in the center. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. When it is almost time to eat, prepare your noodles, drain and mix into slow cooker. Serve over pasta or mashed potatoes.

Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.

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Sheriff-elect Josh McAllister was the guest of honor at Winnfield Rotary Club’s meeting on February 14 at the invitation of Rotarian of the Day, Scarlett Lee. McAllister will be sworn into office at midnight on June 30, 2024. 

He spoke to the Rotarians of his plans for the Sheriff’s office when he takes over the post. In connection with his law enforcement duties, he will appoint as his chief criminal deputy retired State Trooper Mike Gilliam and plans to increase the number of officers and patrols. 

The sheriff-elect also plans to participate in an intergovernmental task force and join with our neighboring parishes in combating the use and distribution of illegal drugs. His plans also include involvement of local church groups in drug rehabilitation programs.

With respect to the parish detention center, McAllister will have a workforce development crew to assist inmates in getting employment and integrating into the community upon their release. Although the cost of housing inmates is rising, he believes he can reasonably decrease the rate charged by the sheriff’s office to the police jury per inmate so the police jury may operate more efficiently and economically.

Sheriff-elect McAllister will place a trained member of the Sheriff’s force in each school in the parish. He will also work to have a trained emergency medical technician on every shift. His office will continue providing escorts for teams of school children attending out-of-town events. In addition to maintaining the current program for safety of elderly citizens, his office will have a wellness care program for the elderly.

Other plans include a partnership with the local Heart of Louisiana Humane Society to provide an animal shelter for stray animals in the parish, a program for victims of crime to provide feedback to his office about their complaints or satisfaction concerning handling of the offenses committed against them, providing ATV safety classes, providing narcotic reversal drugs for all deputies to keep on hand, expansion of the DARE program with grants, and forming advisory boards to review operations and problems and make recommendations for correction and improvement of services.

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City utility bills are high this month and will continue so due to cold weather extremes.  But customers can help ease the cost bite by diligent control of their thermostat, Utility Department Director Gladys Hobdy reported at the February 13 session of the Winnfield City Council.

She was asked to address the council in light of utility bills going out to some customers who were looking at $600, $700 or $800 charges.  She noted that during the billing cycle of January 2 through February 2, temperatures have been very cold, dropping to perhaps 10 degrees and residents have turned up their thermostats to compensate.

Cost problems compound, she suggested, when kilowatt-hours usage is high and often homes are not well-insulated.  One added issue is a “fuel cost” adjustment, the cost of the natural gas that is burned to generate electricity provided by supplier LEPA in Lafayette.  The council heard that customers ought to have a “heads-up” that bills in this next cycle may not be much better since temperatures have remained low.

Ms. Hobdy said that customers can help themselves by adjusting their thermostats.  She told the gathering in the council room that she keeps her home set at 72 degrees.  “If you get cold, put on more warm clothes.  And electric heaters are not good.  In fact they can be dangerous if they are left on all night.”

Questioned on a problem of bills sometimes going out late so that there are hardly many days to pay before a penalty is assessed after the 12th, she responded that the city now uses a billing service.  “In the past, I used to take the bills myself early to the Post Office.”

The director was also asked if the city should look to a different supplier to purchase electricity at a lower cost.  She noted that the city has gotten its electricity from LEPA for some 30 years and periodic inquiries through those years have always shown this to be cheaper than any other sources they’ve looked at. The Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA) was created by the State Legislature in 1979 and is made up of 19 cities and towns across the state, each maintaining its own independent municipal power system.

She added that anyone with a question on their bill can call the Utility Office at 628-4452.

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Renewal of a five-year contract will see Winn Parish continue to be served by Waste Connections for collection, hauling and disposal of solid waste. The Police Jury approved this at its February 20 meeting following a presentation by the company’s district manager James “Bugs” Veuleman.

“We’ve enjoyed doing business with Winn Parish,” he said, noting “We’ve been here about 20 years now. I knew there would have to be increases in the price of the new contract but I did the best I could. Trying to help the parish as much as possible, this is the best I can do. This price is firm.” He told jurors that as in other industry sectors, “costs have exploded.” He said that a truck that cost $189,000 ten years ago costs $486,000 today.

“I appreciate you having gone back to revise these figures,” president Frank McLaren stated. “I’ve looked around and don’t believe anyone else can handle us this well for the cost.” He said that District Attorney Chris Nevils reviewed the contract and believes it is a fair price. The president recommended approval.

There are lots of trash cans across the parish, Veuleman observed. It’s easier to operate pickups within cities than it is in rural areas.

Cost of trash and garbage pickup from residences is paid through a sales tax which was renewed by voters last year so while the cost from Waste Connections will be higher, Winn homeowners will not pay more.

In other action during Tuesday’s jury session, McLaren was authorized to sign documents related to the long-awaited Port de Luce Watershed Project grant program. On questions concerning the action, he explained this is “to get the ball rolling” on paperwork related to grant funding. “It seems to be moving right along. There is a list of landowners involved, mostly company land as I understand. I don’t think there will be problems.”

The parish body applied for funding on two projects, granting McLaren authority to sign those related documents. The first seeks government assistance for repairs on Mimosa Drive while the second seeks installation of digital meters for the Red Hill Water System. McLaren explained both are special grants for small (under $100,000) projects, adding that Red Hill hasn’t seen funding for a long time.

The lawmakers approved appointments for Mrs. Marcie Huddleston to replace B.R. Audirsch on the Winn Parish Library Board and for Glen Austin to replace Ms. Kelley Skains on the Winn Parish Industrial Board.

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Dodson High School students, Harlen Malone, Nathaniel Underwood, Noah Box, Garrett Jones, Kayleigh Frederick, Brooklyn Malone, Madelyn Cotton and Charlie Buckley were selected as winners of NASA’s Tech Rise Student Challenge.

This team of students, taught by Ms. Casey Thomas Tolar, was one of 60 winning teams chosen across the United States. In fact, they were the only school in the state of Louisiana that was chosen as finalists. NASA is now supporting the development and demonstration of the payload that was drawn out in their proposal submission, the Hephaestus Rocket Lander.

Dodson High School received a welcome kit, $1,500, weekly technical support from Future Engineers and earned a spot to test their completed project on a NASA sponsored flight. The team will be busy for the next few months completing the build that will be tested on a rocket-powered lander.

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Ms. Shelia Mitchell gave an emotional response upon receiving the city’s Citizen Service Award and the “Hammy” trophy during the February 13 session of the Winnfield City Council.

Mayor Gerald Hamms was slated to make this presentation but Mayor Pro Tem Teresa Phillips took that honor in his absence due to the recent loss of his mother, Earlene Turner.  The District 5 council member cited Ms. Mitchell’s “great work for citizens young and old.”

For the youngsters, Ms. Mitchell was instrumental in the startup of “Tuesday School” here in Winnfield, a weekly program providing a safe environment for children to fellowship, exercise and learn about Jesus Christ.  Begun at First Presbyterian Church, it has grown over time and now meets at First Assembly with transportation support from three other churches.

She launched what she called her “Support Ministry” in 2010, providing meals to feed folks in her own home and yard.  It’s been joined by others to become the annual Caring & Sharing “Community Feast” that provides some 800 free meals for the community in February, this year served at the city’s Civic Center.

“This is done as an honor to God,” she exclaimed as the stepped to the microphone following her presentation and photo with family.  “God is the author of all things good.  I also thank the City.  For my part, I believe I’m pleasing God.  He stirred my heart to do what I can do in the kitchen…to cook for the people.”

It was not surprise that she also took the microphone to rally for one more issue to aid local citizens that night.  (See related story, “Big Brown.”)

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Rain may have halted the rolling of Winnfield’s Mardi Gras Parade earlier this month but nothing could stop “Les Bon Temps” as Autumn Leaves Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s Krewe of Methuselah celebrated their annual Mardi Gras Pageant on February 12. 

The Krewe of Methuselah crowned a new king and queen. King was Mr. Joseph Fredieu and Queen, Ms. Doris Leeper along with their court.  Chosen 1st runners up were, Mr. John Meredith and Ms. Georginna Williams, and 2nd runners up were, Mr. Gerald Fisher and Ms. Lorrie Snook. Gracious judges were Mrs. Tiffany McBride from Lagniappe Homecare, Mrs. Delores Sampey from Hand in Hand Hospice, and Mrs. Jessica Etheridge, Marketplace Chaplain. Special entertainment was provided by Mrs. Sondra Walker and Mrs. Jessica Etheridge. 

Following the pageant, family, friends, and community were invited to stay and enjoy punch and king cakes made by Sweet Joy Bakery out of Alexandria. Autumn Leaves thanked auditors, Mrs. Kasey Bevill and Mrs. Kylie Mercer, as well as photographer, Mrs. Sandi Teal. A special thanks was extended to beautician Ms. Megan Glenn for taking care of the ladies and gentlemen for making them look so beautiful and handsome for the event. 

On Tuesday on Mardi Gras itself, Autumn Leaves extended their celebration when everyone enjoyed the Mardi Gras Parade with music, beads and masks.  The King and Queen were head of the parade. Traina’s Bakery of Jonesboro did a wonderful job on the Mardi Gras jelly rolls that were enjoyed by all.

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This Cinnamon Roll Pull Apart Loaf is the easiest and laziest weekend breakfast to relish in. We are huge fans of Monkey Bread in my house, and I dare say this was just as good. Anything with cinnamon rolls drizzled in extra creamy goodness simply cannot be beat. Enjoy!

2 cans cinnamon rolls

1/3 c sugar

1/3 c brown sugar

1 stick butter

3 T heavy cream

Icing from cans

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan. Roll out all cinnamon rolls. Melt butter & place in shallow dish. Whisk both sugars in another dish. Dredge each cinnamon roll through the butter then sugars. Stack each roll offsetting every other piece on its side in the loaf pan. Drizzle cream over the top. Bake 30ish minutes. Pour icing over warm bread. Pull apart to eat.

Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.

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Michael Durbin was born and raised in Winnfield. He learned from his father to put God first and everything else will follow. He didn’t always follow that but after marrying his wife Connie he began to do better. He has a strong work ethic and has always worked hard. Rhett Butler gave him his first opportunity in the trucking business. 

Then the business was sold to Quality Carriers. Later Michael went into business with a couple of friends and started Gulf Coast Carriers. They started with 10 trucks and now have 320. By the end of the year they should have 350. This has become a million dollar business. He believes that he is successful because of God.

In 2017 Mayor Kiah Beville formed a board for city and parish recreation called the Winn Playground and Recreation Board. This board gets grants for different projects and many have been done in the area including the Grove Street Recreation, Henderson-Holden Park, and many others. This grant money can only be spent for things that are approved by the authorizers of the grant and there are rules to go by. This board is set up on 5 year terms but they have trouble getting people to serve on the board so many of the founding members are still on the board. 

The reason Durbin came to speak to Kiwanis was about the Veteran’s Memorial. The first Veteran’s Memorial is the 3 flagpoles at the Farmer’s Market. There were supposed to be memorial bricks at the flagpole but they are not there. He has been working since 1987 to get a Veteran’s Memorial, not a park. Veterans deserve a memorial because they protect us every day and some of them have given their lives for our freedom. 

Steve and Gail Shelton approached him about giving this project a 20 year lease on the old U.B. Carpenter’s building on Main St. However, the Winnfield City Council voted it down due to wording in the lease document. They are working to fix the wording so that the council will pass this project. Durbin says he has another location (not named) if the Main Street one falls through. He believes that Winn Parish and the City of Winnfield owe this to the veterans. 

Another reason to have it on Main Street is because of the Main Street sidewalk project that is coming soon to improve downtown. This would be an open air memorial with walls and a floor but no ceiling. The floor would be bricks with veteran’s names on them. There would be a flagpole in the center that sticks up above where the roof would have been. It will be a peaceful place people can come to remember. 

They are also working on the start of a Winn Parish Veteran’s Association which would be a non-profit. There are people who would be interested in making donations once the non-profit has legal status.  Durbin was interested to learn that Wonderworks (combination of the local civic clubs) raised money with a gun raffle a few years back for the Veteran’s Memorial and that money is available to them when they are ready for it. 

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The City was asked to seek to engage the services a UPS “Big Brown” program that could help provide window air conditioning units and perhaps some basic home repairs for underprivileged families when Police Chief Johnny Ray Carpenter and citizen Shelia Mitchell spoke up February 13.

During the Audience Participation segment of the City Council’s regular meeting, the chief accompanied Ms. Mitchell to the microphone to talk about the idea.  “Last summer she tried to get cooperation from the city to call UPS’s ‘Big Brown’ but without success.  So we were able to help only a few families,” Carpenter explained.”

The United Parcel Service website shows that “James ‘Big Brown’ Joseph started raising money to buy room air conditioners for disadvantaged people on his UPS route in Louisiana. Helping others made him happy, so he expanded his philanthropy to now include the Big Brown Cares Fund.

The council head that several surrounding parishes apparently contacted “Big Brown” and received assistance for some residents.  Winnfield did not reach out so help here was limited.  Ms. Mitchell said she has the contact information for James Joseph in New Orleans and added that now, during the cold months of winter, is a good time to start a request before the heat of summer arrives.  “Our citizens need this.”

Carpenter said that the Big Brown program requires that a request for assistance must come from a homeowner (or with permission of the homeowner) and that it is for anyone in need who can’t afford the cooling unit.  There is no cost, he said.

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The Kiwanis Club of Winnfield made presentations in February for the “Terrific Kids” who had been recognized in parish schools during the month of January.

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Kiwanian Jerry Pipes, pastor of First Baptist Church, spoke to the Kiwanis club, Tuesday, February 13, on “Adding Value to Others”.

He used scripture from Ephesians 4:29. Communication is adding value to others. The weakest link in communication is listening. We do not listen with our eyes, our ears and our hearts. We are too busy thinking of what we will say in response.

The goal of communication is understanding and the mission of communication is encouragement. To say the right thing at the right time adds value to others. We need to have a daily decision to live a Christ-centered and others-centered life. Living the intentional life adds value to others. The people who are truly happy are those who are giving themselves away.

We give ourselves away by living in service to others. Communication is a process that involves sending and receiving messages through verbal and non-verbal methods. 70% of communication is non-verbal – body language, facial expressions.

Five things to do every day are 1) value people, 2) think of ways to add value to people, 3) look for ways to add value to people, 4) do things that add value to people, 5) encourage others to add value to people.

Dr. Pipes closed with a story about a teacher who did not value a messy, smelly child until she knew his back story. That information changed the way she treated him and he became an exceptional student, a doctor and influential man. He always gave the credit to the teacher that believed in him. She added much value to his life.

Kiwanis members thanked Dr. Pipes for his thought-provoking message about adding value to others through service. 

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A problem in this and other communities is the focus of February, declared “Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month” by the Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART), according to Annie Goods, Winn Parish rural advocate.

“Dating violence is when someone you are seeing romantically hurts you in some way, whether physically, sexually or emotionally,” she says. “Some 1 in 12 high school students experience such dating violence.”
The advocate asserts that unhealthy, abusive or violent relationships can have negative effects that can be both short- and long-term, possibly with severe consequences. Victims of teen dating violence are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, engage in unhealthy behavior (tobacco use, alcohol and drugs), think about suicide or exhibit antisocial behavior (lying, theft, bullying).

“We can help reduce teen dating violence by supporting healthy, nonviolence relationships,” suggests Goods. “During the pre-teen and teen years, it is critical for youth to begin learning skills to create and maintain healthy relationships. This could include managing feelings and communication in a healthy way.”

Goods explains that it is difficult to tell a teen the differences between healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships. Warning signs of abuse might be displayed through the teen’s actions of possessiveness, constant put-downs, demands, jealousy or insecurity, explosive temper, isolation, false accusations and mood swings.

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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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