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.

---

Carolyn Carter
July 26, 1945-February 7, 2024
Service: Viewing and burial took place Friday, February 9, 2024.

Earlene “Maw Maw” Turner
April 15, 1943 – February 12, 2024
Service: Turner’s celebration of life will be held at New Zion MBC of Winnfield on Saturday February 24, 2024 at 11am. A public viewing will be this Friday, February 23, 2024 from 6pm until 8pm at the New Zion MBC of Winnfield. Burial will take place at the Winnfield Cemetery.

Gertis Demery
Passed-February 13, 2024.
Service: Viewing and Burial took place on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

Yemiah Hall
February 17, 2000 – February 15, 2024
Service: Miss Hall will be celebrated at the Abiding in Christ Ministries Church, 299 Mill Street, Campti, LA 71411 Saturday, February 24, 2024, noon. Burial will follow immediately in the St. John Baptist Church Cemetery, Chestnut, LA.

Robert Davis
Passed- February 14, 2024.
Service: Celebration of life service will take place in the chapel of Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home, 318 North Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 Saturday, February 24, 2024, 11:00 am. with burial following in the Springville Cemetery of Coushatta, LA.

Wade Bohannon
December 16, 1969-February 12, 2024
Service: Graveside service held Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

Bruce Crain
March 23, 1947-February 14, 2024
Service: Viewing and burial held Saturday, February 14, 2024.

Mary Harris
October 13, 1932-February 15, 2024
Service: Viewing and burial held Sunday, February 18, 2024.

Work should get under way by early April on an impressive new three-story Winn Community Health Center on West Lafayette Street according to CEO Deano Thornton during a presentation February 8 at the Louisiana Political Museum.  It is expected to take 16 months to complete the work.

The 52,000 square foot facility will house its patient services on the first two floors. The third floor will be administration and support for Winn and the other five parishes the health center has grown to serve since 2009.  The project cost including construction, furnishings and equipment will be around $28 million.

Thornton explained that there is a huge amount of due diligence involved in a project this large, unlike “going to the bank and borrowing money from one source.”  Financial paperwork is anticipated to close March 21 with a ceremonial groundbreaking and project startup in early April.  TBS Studio is the Shreveport/Bossier architect while Ratcliff Construction of Alexandria is the general contractor.

It was a very competitive bid process on the project, the CEO said, with contractors from Dallas and Little Rock as well as others in Louisiana hoping to win the contract.  Due to proximity, Ratcliff in Alexandria will be able to access local subcontractors.

The Health Center has acquired most of the property on the north side of West Lafayette Street between the hospital and the primary school for this construction.  The new building itself will be adjacent to the ATM at Sabine State Bank and parking will extend westward to the center’s present administration building.  Design unique to Winnfield construction will be inclusion of two elevators and two escalators.

Besides the Winn Community Health Center here in Winnfield, this office operates centers in Grant, Bienville, Lincoln, Rapides and Avoyelles parishes.  It also has school-based services in Winn and Rapides parishes, serving some 40 schools.  In 2023, they saw 39,000 different patients for 135,000 visits.  The center’s network has 300 employees and when its new building is complete, 125 employees will be here daily.

Services include primary care medicine, pediatrics, behavioral health, dental, podiatry, pharmacy and at some centers, gastro-intestinal services.   Once the larger building is completed, the additional space will allow for expanded services, Thornton said.

“They like to call this an investment in a rural, under-served, heavily-minority area, which we are,” said Thornton.  “I’m thankful to be able to make this kind of investment in our community.  It enables us to meet our mission in providing quality healthcare services here for the next 50 years.”

---

One Winnfield man has been arrested and a warrant seeking the arrest of a second has been issued in connection with a police pursuit and hit-and-run February 7.

The incident began around 4 p.m. last Wednesday with a routine traffic stop by state police, according to local officials. The subjects fled the scene and the pursuit followed.

One witness described it as a “slow-speed pursuit” as the Louisiana State Police SUV with emergency lights flashing tailed an older white vehicle north on Ethel Street. “At Wren Street, the fleeing vehicle’s driver paused before gunning it up the Wren Street incline. The driver then made an impressive right into the back drive of Lagniappe Home Health. The state patrol trooper also made the tight turn while activating the siren.”

Police reported that the suspect drove through the parking lot. Upon entering the five-lane across from the Donut Palace, the suspect’s car impacted a small black pickup that ended up sideways on the curb. Two black males abandoned their car and fled the scene. Sirens of other law enforcement vehicles responding to the incident were heard and the road was soon blocked by police and emergency vehicles. No injuries from the wreck were reported.

State Police were joined by units from the Sheriff’s Office, City Police and City Marshal’s Office in a search for the men that focused on the Mosley Drive area. Sheriff Cranford Jordan said his office’s chase dog team was employed as one man attempted to cross Hwy 84 west around Sylvan Meadows where he was apprehended around 5:15 p.m.

Arrested was Ario Armbrister, 25, of King Street who was charged as a felon in possession of a firearm and aggravated flight. State Police sought a warrant for the arrest of the second suspect and that was signed by Judge Anastasia Wiley.

---

Winn Parish students will begin school on Wednesday, August 7, for the 2024-25 school year, with a calendar very similar to the current school year schedule. The Board approved that proposal at its February meeting held Monday.

The three full weeks of August will be five-day classroom weeks as they were this year, then the pattern of four-day weeks with Mondays-off will resume after Labor Day, September 2.

Traditional holidays will include the full week of Thanksgiving, November 25-29 (returning to class December 3); the full weeks of Christmas and New Years, December 23-January 3 (returning to class January 7); and the full week prior to Easter, April 14-18 (returning to class April 22). Schools get one additional holiday thanks to the Presidential Election on November 5 when school closure is mandated.

The school year ends for Seniors on May 7 while May 22 will mark the final day for the remainder of the student body.

Progress Report periods will be September 11-13, November 13-15, February 5-7 and April 9-11. End of the first 9-Weeks will be October 11. End of the second 9-Weeks will be December 20. End of the third 9-Weeks will be March 7.

As to Professional Development days for teachers when students do not attend, educators’ school year will start Monday and Tuesday, August 5-6. Other Professional Development days will be Monday, October 21 (also Parent Conference); Monday, January 6 after Christmas break; Monday, March 17 (also Parent Conference); and Friday, May 23 at the close of the school year when report cards will be mailed out.

Supt. Alfred Simmons explained that the schedule provides 152 school days, made up of 63,720 “instructional minutes” that don’t include time to move between classes, lunch and recess. Teacher Days total 158. He also noted that based on input since the committee session a week earlier, the Easter/ Spring break was switched from the week after Easter to the week prior. “Some thought it was too long from Christmas break to this. The switch makes sense.”

---

Winnfield City Police continue seeking leads that could result in the arrest of the individual responsible for the robbery of Lagniappe Video Bingo on Hwy 167 north on January 25.

Detective David Loftin says that security video on the premises shows seven occupants were in the building at 1:47 a.m. when an unknown male entered the room wearing pantyhose over his head as well as a facial mask, a brown jacket, black shirt, black jeans and cleated shoes.  He had a firearm in-hand that he waved as the other occupants fled the building.

Loftin said the video had no audio so it is unsure what the robber demanded.  The images did show that the intruder then used a passcode to gain entry into the count room.  Once inside, he saw money on the table, grabbed it all and exited the building, the detective reported.

“No one was hurt in the incident and this crime is still under investigation,” he said.  “Anyone with information that might assist is encouraged to call the department at 628-3511.”

---

The Kiwanis Club of Winnfield made presentations in January to the “Terrific Kids” at parish schools for the month of December. The local club has been involved with this uplifting program for students grades Pre-K through Grade 4 for over 25 years. It’s not just grade-structured but a pat on the back for all-around citizenship, with teachers rather than Kiwanians making the selection of the worthy children. Each child personally receives a certificate, a gift packet and a tee shirt from club members who go to the schools monthly.

---

Goldonna Baptist Church will be hosting a Skeet Shoot on March 30th with all proceeds benefitting the Operation Christmas Child mission. resume their Operation Christmas Child collections for 2024. The entry fee is $25 and lunch will be provided. The church is asking for local businesses to consider donating an item for the winner’s prize package. Donors will be recognized on the day of the event as well as social media “shoutouts”. Please contact Pastor Ben Dupree if you want to participate or donate prizes.

Anytime someone asks what makes Goldonna so special it is easy to point to the residents who comprise the Village of Goldonna. Out of the four hundred twenty four residents, one particular lady stands out in the crowd. Although she doesn’t live in the city limits of Goldonna, she spent most of her life there with her family consisting of her husband and three sons. Mrs. Linda Dupree has been an active member of the community and supporter of all things “Goldonna” as long as anyone can remember. Her family of five quickly grew to include daughters-in-law and grandchildren. While it is not easy to sum up her love for her community in words… mainly because she is often found on the “serving” side of church events, town events, weddings and funerals… it is easy to remember some of her contributions that many may not know about. During COVID Linda began a ministry and labor of love that including providing families with Bible study lessons while church were closed due to the pandemic. These Sunday School lessons began with a small group of five people but soon grew to encompass more than forty families. Although churches have long since reopened, her ministry continues with a smaller group that is homebound. These lessons are routinely mailed to anyone who has a need. While I personally was the recipient of these lessons for a few weeks, I can attest to the blessing that came neatly placed in an envelope with a message that was compiled with love by Linda Dupree, herself. Goldonna is blessed to have Linda Dupree as a dedicated friend.

Goldonna Assembly of God Church will host a Men’s Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, March 23rd at 8:00am. The special guest speaker will be Russel Jones. To RSVP please contact Daniel Kirkham at 310228-7698. The church will also hosting a Revival with the Seed Sowers beginning on March 3rd at 10:00am and 5:00pm. March 4th thru 9th services will begin at 6:30.

Goldonna Elementary Junior High School will host a Mardi Gras Parade on Friday, February 16th at 9:00am. The parade will exclusively feature the Pre-K through 2nd grade students. Baseball and softball are in full swing. Goldonna Wildcats will take on the Marthaville Hawks on February 27th at 5:30. The Good News Club will meet on February 27th, March 26th and April 30th from 3:00 until 4:45. After school programs and attendance recovery is held Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays from 3:00 until 5:00. Attending two days of after school programs will excuse one full unexcused absence.

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

---

Despite rainy weather that probably cut down on attendance, organizers of the ninth annual Winn Community Feast called the February 10 event a success.  The lunch was held at the Winnfield Civic Center.

It was one more effort by a group calling themselves “Caring & Sharing in Unity” not only to provide meals here in the community but at the same time to draw folks closer by encouraging them to share those meals together.  This time the repast was grilled/smoked chicken with macaroni & cheese, green beans, a roll plus a table with a wide variety of desert selections.

The concept was launched by Shelia Mitchell at her home in 2010 as “Support Ministry.”  It expanded to Caring & Sharing in 2019 with the involvement of Jane Purser and others.  Through the years it’s been held in different places including churches and back and forth at the Civic Center and Ms. Mitchell says she hopes this might be their permanent site.

“This feast and fellowship was possible due to so much help and support from Laurel Heights Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, Christ Wesleyan Fellowship, South Winnfield Baptist Church and Louisiana Adult & Teen Challenge Women’s facility,” said Mary Lou Blackley.

“Franklin Williams’ very talented “one-man band” added a wonderful gospel atmosphere to the occasion.  We are especially grateful to our main cooks, Roderick Williams and Jessie Phillips. Both men have cooked on the grill for us in the past, as well as this year. We couldn’t put on the event without them!”

---

Photos Courtesy Tiger Snaps

 

The Winnfield Senior High School Tigerettes wrapped up district play February 9th at Lakeview and willl enter the LHSAA Playoffs will begin tomorrow, February 15.  The #18 Lady Tigers of Marksville will travel to Winnfield for Thursday night’s Playoffs opener.  With a victory, Winnfield’s ladies will travel to #2 Amite on Monday, February 19.  The Lady Warriors have a first round bye.

The Tigerettes finished regular season play with an overall record of 14-13 and a District 3-2A record of 6-4 and are currently ranked #15 in the Power Points Ratings.  Their results in district competition this season were as follows:

 

January 9, 2024  vs Red River at Home

Won 59 – 21

Leading Scorers:  Janyiah Weary 16 pts

    D’Onna Starks 14 pts

 

January 12, 2024 vs Many at Home

Won 70 – 41

Leading Scorers:  Emari Evans 21 pts

    Ala’Zea McMiller 16 pts

 

January 22, 2024 vs Jonesboro at Jonesboro

Won 53 – 25

Leading Scorers:  Emari Evans 13 pts.

    Ala’Zea McMiller 11 pts

 

January 23, 2024 vs Lakeview at Home

Loss 46 – 62

Leading Scorers:  Denasia Brown 10 pts.

    Emari Evans 10 pts.

 

January 26, 2024 vs Red River at Red River

Won 47 – 30

Leading Scorers:  Emari Evans 13 pts.

    Denasia Brown 9 pts.

 

January 30, 2024 vs Many at Many

Won 49 – 45

Leading Scorers:  Alyvia Monnin 12 pts. (Four 3-pointers)

    Janyiah Weary 10 pts.

          D’Onna Starks 10 pts.

 

January 31, 2024 vs Mansfield at Mansfield

Loss 16 – 44

Leading Scorers:  Emari Evans 10 pts.

    D’Onna Starks 4 pts.

 

February 2, 2024 vs Mansfield at Home

Loss 30 -42

Leading Scorers:  Emari Evans 8 pts.

    Denasia Brown 7 pts.

 

February 6, 2024 vs Jonesboro at Home (Senior Night)

Won 59 – 47

Leading Scorers:  Emari Evans 17 pts.

    Denasia Brown 11 pts.

 

February 9, 2024 vs Lakeview at Lakeview 

Loss 37 – 57

Leading Scorer:  Emari Evans 9 pts.

 

WSHS Tiger Boys Action Seen

Photos Courtesy Tiger Snaps

 

---

Friends, family and the Winnfield Senior High School Tigers football team gathered in the school’s activity room February 7 to celebrate signing day for senior Eli Little who penned his commitment to play for the NSU Football Demons in Natchitoches this fall.

He received a “Preferred Walk-On” offer from NSU, an amazing vote of confidence by the university in the athlete’s potential skills since Little was unable to play a single down in his senior year due to surgery to fix a dislocated and broken ankle received during preseason practice, said Coach Jay Watson.  “He’s happy to be attending school near home.  We hate to lose him.  He’s a great student athlete, a great campus leader.”

Watson believes NSU knows “they’re getting a steal in this student athlete because other schools were interested.”  Eli received scholarship offers to play at Harding University, 2023 Division II National Champions, and LCU.  He received Preferred Walk-On offers from ULM and Louisiana Tech.  After much thought, visits, and prayers, Eli decided to join the NSU Demons under Head Coach Blaine McCorkle.  

Watson had watched as Eli came out in his freshman year as a 6-foot, 150-pound free safety.  He moved up to be a linebacker in his sophomore year and an offensive tackle in his junior year, growing to 6’3 and 265 pounds.

Eli is the son of Rob and Marianne Little, brother to Anna.  His grandparents are the late Ray and Melba Little and the late John T. and Shirley Elliott.  He has decided to major in Health and Human Sciences with a Pre-Physical Therapy concentration.  

The young athlete started his football career at the Winnfield Recreation Center at 4 years old with flag football, continued to Winnfield Middle School, and then on to WSHS.  He was one of two players to receive Most Improved Player in 2021, as he progressed from JV to a Varsity to a Varsity starting position at Linebacker that year.  He moved to Offensive Line at Right Tackle after the first scrimmage of the 2022 season.  He was the only starting Junior on the Offense that year.  He earned Second Team All-District, Offensive Line, that year.  Eli attended numerous football camps at surrounding universities and even LSU in 2022 and 2023.  He was elected Team Captain by his teammates in 2023.  

Eli is active at WSHS in clubs and sports.  He is a 4-year member of the Baseball Team and is fully released to play his senior season.  Eli has been awarded the Coaches Award in 2021, Second Team All-District Utility Player in 2022, and helped with coaching his junior season as he suffered a season ending broken elbow.  He is also a member of the revived Golf Team.  Clubs he is a member of include:  BETA, FFA, FBLA, 4-H, 4-H Junior Leaders, FCS, National Honor Society, and Tiger Mentors.  He has also managed to maintain his grades.  He was honored by the Eastern Star No. 151 Lodge as one of their Honesty and Integrity recipients for 2023-2024.  Eli selected to attend AHEC’s “A Day with the Doctors” this year.  He has competed in District and State Competitions in FFA and FBLA.   He has competed in District Literary Rally.  Eli has competed at 4-HU multiple years, placing 4th in the State in Sports Broadcasting in 2022 and 4th in the State in eSports Team Competition in 2023.  

He is a life-long member of First Baptist Church of Winnfield.  He has been active in his church through

---

Pickup trucks filled the parking around Wattsville Center this misty Saturday morning.  Gathered inside, in addition to the regulars with the pancakes and coffee, a group of men waited for the announcement of the winners of the third annual Wattsville Big Buck Contest.

In the back of the room on the floor and counters were the trophies they’d brought in, standing side-by-side, looking like a forest of antlers rising out of the bags that contained them.  Dan Taylor with a measuring tape in hand took on the responsibility of grading the whitetail deer trophies by the Boone & Crockett standards of width, mass and length.

This is the third year of the contest, explained store owner and contest sponsor Ken Bates.  All of the deer were shot in western Winn Parish.  The winning score has increased ever year and for 2024, there were 27 entries.  Bates noted that any contestant had to register for the contest before they killed their deer, meaning they were betting on their personal hunting kills rather than on a trophy they already had.

Saturday’s winner was Shannon Perot whose trophy scored 143-6/8 points.  Second went to Kayden McNaughton with 132-7/8 points.  Third went to Burch Gill with 114 points.

Showing the increase each year that Bates mentioned, the first year’s winner was Mike McNaughton with 122 points.  The second year’s winner was Shannon Perot with 133-6/8 points.  And the current repeat winner was Shannon Perot with 143-6/8 points.

Strawberry Almond Bread.  That drizzle.  That almond flavor.  Those strawberries.  This is just begging you to make it for Valentine’s Day!  The good news is that you probably have all of these ingredients – just pick up some fresh strawberries!  This recipe is one of my favorites to gift in small paper loaf pans as gifts for Valentine’s Day.  Everyone absolutely loves this.  Enjoy!

Bread:

•  3/4 cup sugar

•  1/2 cup milk

•  1/2 cup vegetable oil

•  1 egg

•  2 teaspoons almond extract

•  2 cups flour

•  1 teaspoon baking powder

•  1 teaspoon baking soda

•  1/2 teaspoon salt

•  2 cups diced strawberries tossed into 2 tablespoons of flour

Glaze:

•  2 cups powdered sugar

•  2-3 tablespoons melted butter (more is always better!)

•  1/2 cup finely diced strawberries

•  1/2 teaspoon almond extract

•  2 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a bowl whisk sugar, milk, oil, egg and almond extract.  In another bowl whisk remaining dry ingredients.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.  Add strawberries.  Pour into greased loaf pan and bake 50-55 minutes.  Let cool completely.

To make the glaze:  Whisk all ingredients except strawberries together.  Add strawberries.  Cut into the bread like you are slicing it but do not cut all the way through.  Pour glaze over, allowing glaze to drizzle into partial cuts.  Then fully slice to serve!

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

---

Don Causey, long-time member of Winnfield’s Rotary Club, became a Paul Harris Fellow along with his wife Sheila in the latter part of January.  He was Rotarian of the Day on February 7 and asked fellow Rotarian Bob Holeman, an active member and leader in the organization for many years, to speak to the local members about what Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellowship is and how it impacts communities.

Holeman began by telling the gathering that Paul Harris, an attorney in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century, was one of the founders of Rotary in 1905. The purpose of the club was to create networks of businessmen to do good in their communities.

In 1917, Rotary held its annual convention, gathering together from all cities which had a Rotary club for exchanging information and ideas about improvements of their communities. When it concluded, Rotary International had $26.50 left over and established a foundation, investing the proceeds to assist individual clubs with projects in their cities and neighborhoods.

The foundation began to grow modestly. However, when Paul Harris died in 1947, the Rotary Foundation received a huge influx of funds in memory of Rotary’s founder. At that point, donors of significant funds to the foundation began to be recognized as “Paul Harris Fellows.” The Paul Harris Fellowship became an honor bestowed upon all who generously supported the Rotary Foundation with donations of $1,000. 

The Rotary Foundation has thus grown from $26.50 in 1917 to over $1 billion today.

So, what does Rotary do with all this money? Holeman explained that the funds in the foundation are given to individual clubs all over the world to build projects needed in their own communities. For example, Winnfield’s club has received district grants for local projects. Bigger projects can be achieved when two clubs from different countries contribute towards the effort and receive a matching grant from the Rotary Foundation to build that project. For example, Rotary’s District 6190, which includes the Winnfield club, partnered with another district to build a clean water project in Central America with funding from the Rotary Foundation.

Rotary projects must involve one of seven focus areas: (1) Fighting disease; (2) Providing clean water, sanitation, hygiene; (3) Saving mothers and children; (4) Supporting education and literacy; (5) Growing local economies; (6) Protecting the environment; and (7) Promoting peace.

One of Rotary International’s projects since 1985, falling under focus area number 1 of fighting disease, has been an initiative to end polio around the world. After the Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin vaccines eradicated polio in the United States, Rotary International set out to eradicate it around the world, and is now very close to achieving this goal, with Pakistan being the last country in which work is needed.

---