Date: 3-20-24 Name: Charlene M Harper Address: Campti, LA Race: White Sex: Female Age: 41 Charge: Failure to appear (x4)
Date: 3-20-24 Name: Blake A Tims Address: Goldonna, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 41 Charge: Headlamp out, Driving under suspension, No insurance, Switched atgs, Prohibited acts
Date: 3-21-24 Name: Billy L Wise Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 64 Charge: Hit and Run, Careless Operation, Expired Drivers license, No seat belt
Date: 3-23-24 Name: Benny C Martin Jr Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 56 Charge: DWI (2nd), Careless Operation with accident
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.
No current Arrest Reports for the Winnfield Police Department as of 3-26-24, please check back next week on 4-3-24. Thank you and Happy Easter to All!
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.
Frank Dow March 11, 1937-March 18, 2024 Service: a service for Mr. Dow held Friday, March 22, 2024 in the Southern Funeral Home Chapel. Interment at Winnfield City Cemetery followed.
Kathy Elaine Allgor Spikes November 1, 1953-March 17, 2024 Service: Service for Mrs. Spikes was held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Southern Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the St. Maurice Cemetery.
Pamela Copeland Harvey June 24,1958-March 21, 2024 Service: Services for Mrs. Harvey will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Cypress Creek Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Cypress Creek Cemetery (dodson).
Early on when weather was cold and damp, this Oklahoma family settles in for a week of activity at the trials, planning to see some baying action and hoping to sell some dogs like this Catahoula cur in the process.
Uncle Earl’s Hog Dog Trials have begun. Already, tents, trailers and posh RVs cover the Fairgrounds and more are expected with the peak day for spectators and competitors anticipated Saturday when the weather forecast is for warm and sunny for “Best of the Best.”
Dogs, mostly Catahoula curs, are everywhere: in pens, around campsites, under the roof of the livestock pavilion, in the show arena. They may rest quietly or bark excitedly. Wild hogs are penned by the rodeo arena, hearing the barking and perhaps figuring on ways to outwit the dogs they’ll face.
For residents who haven’t experienced the Hog Dog Trials, they might think of the fringe areas as like an LSU tailgate party. The game is inside the stadium but the fun is on the outside where smoke from campfires and the smell of good food cooking fill the air. The calls of children at play, sometimes music and, of course, the barking of dog can be heard.
Call it a “community.” Ray Crochet of the Jennings area notes that through the years, the competitors themselves have become family. He with his four brothers have been coming back to Winnfield during the third week of March for the past 15 to 20 years. Maybe not all of them every year, but enough to have created what he calls “The Cajun Camp.”
Listening to Crochet leads you to believe the some nonstop cooking is going on during these hog dog trials. “People came here, taking a whole week of vacation, even if they don’t bring dogs to compete. They come to watch the dogs bay. And we make a difference here. We buy food at the grocery stores and at Wal Mart. We spend thousands of dollars.”
Not only do they cook and compete, Crochet says. The Crochet brothers sing on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. It’s all starting to sound more like a festival than a dog happening.
The 29th annual Hog Dog Trials here will continue through this Sunday, March 24. It’s been held under the direction of HogBaying.com with Jake Loiacona coordinating for the past five years and they’ve just signed a five-year renewal. While the early events of Puppy Bay and Old & Young have been held, still up are One-Dog competition today and tomorrow with Two-Dog events beginning Thursday as well; Two-Dog continues Friday; the Two-Dog Finals will be held Saturday along with the ultimate “Best of the Best”; and the week wraps up Sunday with Youth Bay competition.
Times will be 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. Admission is $10 for a one-day wristband and $25 for the full week
Abandoned buildings are not just an eyesore to city officials trying to clean up the appearance within Winnfield’s corporate limits but also a frustration to residents who see how slowly the wheels of government can turn.
The problem was witnessed at the March 12 meeting of the Winnfield City Council meeting when during the “Guest and Audience Participation” item on the agenda, Lena Avenue resident Shena Williams Jacobs voiced her concerns over her view of failed cleanup efforts in District 5. She explained that after attempts to work with council member Teresa Phillips and Mayor Gerald Hamms, she thought to bring her complaints before the entire council.
“I work hard. I’m a veteran. I want to bring my kids up in District 5.” She said she’s done everything she could to get a home but conditions of abandoned homes that area are so bad, appraisers won’t even come in to make an appraisal. ‘’You can come in and cut grass but you can’t take care of these buildings. What’s more important?”
City attorney Herman Castete responded that the City of Winnfield is actively working on cleanup, the city fire department having done control burns on several while other properties are being processed. But it’s not as easy as Ms. Jacobs hopes. “The grass is a city ordinance we can control but property demolition is state law that we must follow.” That becomes really complicated when the only name on a deed on condemned property is that of the deceased and the heirs don’t want to take responsibility.
He added that people don’t understanding the legal length of time it takes to take care of a condemned house, suggesting that the City Council has done a “yeoman’s job” in their efforts to remove these eyesores.
The frustration in this length of time was evident. Ms. Jacobs said, “This is where I live. This is what I see every day. The problems of dilapidated houses, of abandoned trailers. A leaking fire hydrant that’s sunk so much it’s just covered with a black bag. I spoke with Ms. Phillips. I spoke with Mayor Hamms. I’m trying to make a record of these problems in District 5.”
CALVIN from left: Kitt Ferguson, Connie Hill, Karis Jacobs, Jolie Taylor, Mackenzie Mattox. Teacher Kim Dupree, Kiwanians: Mary Lou Blackley and Kim Futrell.
The Kiwanis Club of Winnfield announced the winners of their “Terrific Kids” program for the month of February, with members of the civic organization going to each of the schools to make the individual presentations.
DODSON from left: Silas Bishop, Stetson Yruegas, Jase James, Arbor Maxwell,Jared Bishop. Kiwanian: Ethel Howell, Principal Wendy Miller, KiwanianLamar Tarver.
WPS Kindergarten from left: Jude Roberts, Stephanie Simmons, Kinsley Bartlett. Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King, Kiwanians: Margaret Coon and Miranda Atkins.
WPS Grade 1 from left: Dakota Lemay, Kingsleigh Evans, Autumn Amos, Eve King Armstrong. Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King,Kiwanians: Margaret Coon and Miranda Atkins
WPS Grade 2 from left: Lane Smith, Travis Stringer, Cecilia Cooper, Keymonie Jones.Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King, Kiwanians: Margaret Coon and Miranda Atkins.
WPS Grade 3 from left: Leah Catlin, Landon Williams, Da’Michael Hall, Jeannie Tolbert.Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King, Kiwanians: Margaret Coon and Miranda Atkins.
WPS Grade 4 from left: Jamikal Hall, Emma Swensen, Aaliyah Washington.Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King, Kiwanians: Margaret Coon and Miranda Atkins.
Early voting for the Saturday, March 23, Presidential Preference Primary came to a close at 6 p.m. Saturday and the turnout in Winn was light. Registrar of Voters Bryan Kelley reported that only 202 voters walked through the door of his office in the courthouse to take part during the week of Early Voting while another 112 sent in their absentee ballots. The total was 314.
This may not have been a surprise since any major opponent of President Joe Biden on the Democratic side had already dropped from the race and the same was true for potential opponents of former President Donald Trump on the Republican side. Since the qualifying date for the state ballot was some time ago, those names appeared on the voting machine screen but their votes will have no impact.
That said, the regular preference election will be held this Saturday, March 23, at the regular voting precincts which will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Voters are again reminded that in this “closed election,” theirs won’t be a choice between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Rather, Republicans will pull the lever for their preferred Republican candidate while Democrats will indicate their preferred Democratic candidate. Anyone registered otherwise will not participate.
There will be one other choice for Republicans living in the District 31C area. They may vote on two candidates seeking the post of the Republican State Central Committee. Vying for that post are Rhett Edwards and Lisa Tarpley Price.
Kelley also reported that of those who voted early (or absentee), 254 were White, 58 were Black and 2 were Other. There were 191 females and 123 males. Republicans made up 217 of the count while Democrats were 97. Obviously, 0 were “Other Party.”
The registrar once again reminded residents who are interested in keeping track of results as they come in Election Night should download the Secretary of State’s “GeauxVote app.”
City Police Lt. Chuck Curry gives report to City Council at March meeting in relation to hiring of department personnel.
Winnfield City Council members heard what they expected to be an “Audit Update” at its March 12 meeting but it turned out instead to be the final audit report from CPA Steve McKay and it was good news.
McKay, from Rozier, McKay & Willis of Alexandria, took blame for the annual report being late, citing a family loss around reporting time. He described the city’s financial position as “healthy,” giving the city “high marks” in their operations with what he described to the Journal as a “clean audit.”
Any adverse or qualified opinions in the audit appeared to be just in notations in reporting in two areas. “We look at financial statements not only to see if they are good or bad but if they are accurate.”
Winnfield’s financial health is so good, McKay said, that “most other communities this size would be happy to trade places. You are in a great spot. I’d suggest no changes.”
In a prior session, the auditor had suggested that the city look into investing funds in the state’s LAMP program rather that in the bank at lower rates. But LAMP rates fluctuate with the market, DA Chris Nevils had pointed out at that earlier meeting. Since that time, McKay learned that the bank rates may now pay nearer to what LAMP might generate.
In other action, the council approved Police Department personnel changes introduced by Council member Teresa Phillips. They agreed to hire Harley Johnson as a fulltime jailer on provisional basis and Dena Young as a parttime dispatcher, with a training period noted.
Councilman Matt Miller announced an ordinance for action on itinerant vendors, increasing fees from $50 to $100 while increasing time from 40 to 60 days. This was accepted.
Council member Erikia Breda received support for her resolution that Tuesday, March 19, be designated as “Main Street Day” in Winnfield to coincide with the celebration of Main Street Day at the State Capitol.
Bryan Price, right, stands with his father, Jerry Price, by a display of Southern Funeral Home history following his presentation to the Rotary Club.
Local funeral director with Southern Funeral Home, Bryan Price, recently entertained both Winnfield Kiwanis Club on February 27 and Winnfield Rotary Club on March 13 with the history of Southern Funeral Home, as well as his writings and poetry reflecting on life, death and memories.
Bryan is a Winnfield native and grew up in the house behind the funeral home. He graduated from Winnfield Senior High School and began his career as funeral director with Southern in 1993, one of the fourth generation in his family to work in the business. He has also followed in the footsteps of his father Jerry Price and uncle Larry Price by serving as president of the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association in the midst of the COVID pandemic. He has also served on the National Funeral Directors Policy Board.
Mr. Price’s collection of the historical information on Southern Funeral Home grew out of his interest in genealogy, which prompted him to gather detailed information on his family going back several generations. Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield was opened in 1939 at the corner of Main Street and Grove Street. Bryan’s great grandparents, R. W. and Jamie Spurlock Bryan, moved to Jonesboro and his great grandmother obtained her funeral director’s license in 1944. In 1945 purchased Southern which had locations in Jonesboro and Winnfield. The Bryans then moved to Winnfield to run the funeral home and lived in an apartment above the funeral home.
In 1953, the funeral home was relocated from Main Street to 202 E. Lafayette Street where it remains today. In 1957, the old building was torn down and the current building was constructed. Bryan’s grandparents took over operation of the funeral home from his great grands, and his uncle Larry and father Jerry both went into the business. Bryan and Larry’s son Pat are now the fourth generation to become funeral directors with Southern Funeral Home here in Winnfield. In addition to the funeral homes in Winnfield and Jonesboro, Southern Funeral Home purchased Edmonds Funeral Home in Jonesboro and merged the two Jonesboro locations. Southern also purchased Kinnear-Stephens in Jena in 1980.
Mr. Price noted that in earlier years, the funeral home’s hearse was also used as an ambulance, so it was equipped with a flashing red light and a siren. The funeral director was called out to accidents and in other health emergencies to transport patients to hospitals at any time of the day or night until hospitals began to maintain their own ambulances.
In speaking of his faith and philosophy, Mr. Price said he believes that, amid the many tragedies that befall human beings, God has a plan and sets a path for those who believe in and worship Him. He bases this on St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 8, verse 18 [ESV] which says: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us,” and verse 28 [ESV] “[a]nd we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Jurors Stanley Garrett, Kyle Potts and Road Committee chairman Phillip Evans were part of the discussion on parish road maintenance during the March 18 meeting.
Roads were a discussion priority when the Winn Parish Police Jury got together for its regular March session Monday.
Road superintendent Perry Holmes reported that work is being done on bushhogs and tractors to have them in good running order as spring arrives with warmer, drier weather. He added that they will likely need a mechanic to come in to install computers on some machines and said that should not be too expensive.
The parish had been having difficulty obtaining gravel for road maintenance but at a previous meeting, Holmes reported that a source had been located. Monday night he told the lawmakers that the jury has a driver and the supply is such that “we can now have the rocks available on demand.”
One concern raised by jurors in committee session and again at their March meeting is the inefficiency and lost time when a grader operator is called off of a scheduled maintenance to work on another road elsewhere. Holmes explained that there are four graders working in four sections. Stanley Garrett suggested that if work is carried out in those sections in a tighter pattern, not so much transport time would be lost and the entire road system might be completed within a month and a half or two.
Holmes agreed, saying perhaps it would only take a month but that would depend on weather and it would also assume that the graders were not diverted to other emergencies. The jury was also looking at the possibility of GPA monitoring available through Louisiana Machinery for the jury’s Caterpillar equipment so that the parish can monitor their operation and location.
Discussion indicated the jury will work to develop some type of operational strategy.
Also at an earlier committee session, members heard a presentation on a chip-sealing process for roads as a method of adding some life to blacktop roads. Of the 750 miles of parish roads in Winn, about one-third of them are blacktop built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Chip-sealing could help preserve, “if we already have a base,” said Garrett. “If we don’t, we’ll lose it.” Cost of the process is around $100,000 per mile, compared to $700,000 or $800,000 for new asphalt.
Holmes also reported that several FEMA road projects have been completed since the February report. Included roads are Buddy Bates Road, Lonehill Church Road, Floyd Johnston Road, Doug McCarty Road, McDavid Road and work is under way on the Tom Hudson Road.
Goldonna Elementary Junior High School Principal, Cori Beth Manuel, would like to congratulate the following most recent honor roll recipients.
Principal`s List
Kayden Dewayne Bedgood Bryson Layne Carter Alaynna Cheyenne Day Grace Elora Day Anthony Isiah Giannone-Flores Brody Eli Guin Piper Raylyn Killingsworth Bronson Micheal Mclendon Posey Lane Riddle Lani Elizabeth Todd
A Honor Roll
Piper Leann Adams Chaylie Delise Cox Mackenzie Dodge Saydee Alise Flack Willis Edward Freeman Brookelyn Ciara Garner Carlee Rose Martin Zalien Antowine Paul Hunter Leigh Ann Quinn Brinley Grace Sampey Case Blaine Sampey Awnah Renee Schmidt Gavin Lane Spears Victoria Marie Stewart Dillon Dax Tebbetts
B Honor Roll
Henry Barnum Haiden Justis Black Nathan Joseph Black Ella Marie Chism Silas Trevor Collinsworth Kayden James Dodge Lydia Charlotte Mogridge David Edward Quick Ayden Blake Smith Johnny Wayne Stewart Autumn Rain Womack
Many well wishes for a successful final semester to the 23-24 school year. Fall enrollment will be right around the corner. If you would like more information about enrolling your child for the 24-25 school year at Goldonna Elementary Junior High School please reach out to the School Board Office at 318-352-2368.
There will be no Louisiana Forest Festival held in Winnfield when the fourth weekend in April arrives this year. After much consideration, the Forest Festival Board concluded that it is not economically feasible to produce the event in 2024 that would live up to the expectations built on festivals past.
“We understand how much the festival means to all of you and how it brings our community together each year. We share in your disappointment and want to assure you that plans for next year’s festival are already underway,” the board explained. With the hard-hit economy, especially in the timber community that the festival heralds, sponsorships were markedly down.
The board hopes to take this year off in an effort to “regroup and come back even bigger and better next year.”
Most residents are familiar with the festival at the Fairgrounds that since the 1980s has featured games, industry exhibits and woodcutting competitions at both 4-H and professional levels. That’s been on the fourth weekend in April.
But many may not remember that the Louisiana Forest Festival actually began in 1948 when Earl K. Long was governor with the dream of celebrating the industry that so strongly affects the economy of our region. The event was initially held in the fall in conjunction with the Parish Fair. At the time, the legislature provided $5,000 seed money for each festival and the fair in the state. Unfortunately, that funding ended in the early 1960s and so did the Forest Festival.
For nearly 20 years this giant lay dormant. In January of 1980, a handful of citizens got together and breathed life back into the festival. They discovered the original charter was still valid and in May celebrated the first revival of the Louisiana Forest Festival. Beginning in 1981, the date was changed to the fourth weekend in April.
The Forest Festival Board is hopeful that once more the economics of the Louisiana Forest Festival will rebound and another great event can be staged on the fourth weekend of April 2025.
Mushroom Pork Chops are a perfect week night or Sunday dinner choice. I am always looking for a new pork chop recipe as we love them so much. This one is one of our favorites! I love the twist of using chicken broth and beef bouillon in this one. The flavor is absolutely spot on. I hope you love it!
Mushrooms:
3 tablespoons butter
Splash of olive oil
1 flat mushrooms
Pork Chops:
4 pork chops
¼ cup flour
Salt & pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
Gravy:
2 cups chicken broth
1 beef bouillon cube
1 teaspoon Worcestershire
1/3 cup half & half
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground mustard
½ cup white wine
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons flour
Directions
Pound pork chops with meat tenderizer. Sprinkle with salt.
Assemble gravy: In a bowl with a spout combine broth, bouillon, Worcestershire, half & half, and seasonings for the gravy. Set aside.
In cast iron skillet heat butter and oil for the mushrooms. Cook mushrooms 3-4 minutes. Remove to plate.
Dredge pork chops in flour. Het oil and butter in cast iron skillet. Sear chops 3 minutes each side. Remove pork chops to a plate. Add wine and garlic to same skillet over medium heat. Use a wooden spoon to scrape stuck bits. Add butter and flour. Stir 2 minutes. Add gravy mixture in small splashes whisking continuously. Bring to gentle bubble then reduce to low simmer. Stir in mushrooms and add pork chops back. Cover and let cook until gravy thickens.
Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.
