As a major lead-up for the Community Easter Egg Hunt slated for Saturday, March 30, the Winn Chamber of Commerce has announced that the annual Community Scavenger Hunt will be held the week of March 25 through 29.
Each evening at 5:30 p.m., one clue will be given.
The clues will be posted on: Facebook, Winn Chamber of Commerce, City of Winnfield, announced on KVCL and on the window next to the Easter display window at 501 East Main Street.
There will be one prize egg hidden each night with a special treat inside. Individuals finding one of the prize eggs are requested to bring it to the Easter Celebration Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church.
There, the grand prize winner will be announced and awarded their prize at the event.
As to the Saturday Egg Hunt itself, parents of youngsters ages up to 12 are reminded that the action gets underway at 11 a.m. Hotdogs, chips and drinks will be served following the Egg Hunt. There will also be a cakewalk and a photo area where children can get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny on the day of the event.
First Presbyterian Church in Winnfield will hold its next fundraiser event April 8 in its ongoing church support effort.
First Presbyterian is a big church with a small congregation that serves as a hub of service activities for the community.
This particular Monday happening will be a pork loin (au jus) plate lunch including baked beans, potato salad, bread and desert at a cost of $15 per plate.
The meals will be take-out only, with pickup from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Delivery is available on orders of 10 and more.
To place orders, contact Carolyn Phillips at 318-332-0796.
Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau (photo courtesy of Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission)
State of Purpose: The Executive Director serves as the chief administrator, providing leadership to staff and directing the CVB operation in order to develop the maximum potential of convention and visitor business, thereby bringing the greatest possible economic benefit to the Natchitoches area.
Reports to: Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission board members.
Degree of Supervision: Monthly review by NPTC Board
Supervision Exercised: Supervises all NPTC employees
Location of Job: Natchitoches Visitors Center, 780 Front Street, Ste 100.
Qualifications: Graduate of an accredited four year college in the field of Business, Marketing and Public Relations, Hospitality Management or any combination of education and experience to equal five years related experience.
Special Knowledge: Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices in convention and tourism planning services. Considerable knowledge in the fields of advertising, marketing, public relations, business administration, which includes but not limited to, personnel management, principles of accounting, and excellent communication skills. Must possess the ability to exercise initiative, judgment, tact, and diplomacy in a wide variety of public situations. Position requires frequent travel.
780 Front Street, Suite 100 Natchitoches, LA 71457 Telephone: 1-800-259-1714 Fax: 1-318-352-2415
DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Provide administrative and professional assistance to the Chairman and Commissioners along with the staff of the Tourist Commission and ensure that the board complies with all local, parish, state and/or federal laws and regulations
Responsible for hiring, termination and training all staff and volunteers.
Preparation of the annual budget and management of Commission business within the budget.
Preparation of annual marketing/advertising plan with all advertising potentials outlined in plan.
Track and prepare all financial data for annual audit or Compilation of Finances by Accounting Firm.
Represent Natchitoches Parish to national and international audiences by attending consumer and trade shows along with Groups & Tourism Sales Manager.
Oversee press releases and press packets for local, regional and national media regarding activities along with Marketing & Communications Manager.
Advise tourism partners with launching festivals, new events and ongoing events with consulting, publicity and advertising.
Host local, national and international travel writers along with familiarization tours for group tour leaders along with Marketing & Communications Manager.
Create publicity materials and brochures for distribution to guests, group tour leaders, retirees and newcomer inquiries.
Work closely with advertising agencies to create ads for regional publications in a timely manner.
Assist Marketing & Communications Manager with creating story ideas and articles for both regional and national publications.
Attend meetings of city/parish stakeholders such as City, Chamber of Commerce, Parish Council, HDBA, NHDDC, CRNHA, Christmas Festival and several others including statewide, LTA and LACVB, and regional tourism associations, El Camino Real, No Man’s Land, Holiday Trail of Lights, councils and committees and others.
Maintain a working relationship with the NSU hospitality program and university students for internships and other assistance to the Commission.
Assist Groups & Tourism Sales Manager to consult and advise conference meeting holders and large groups visiting Natchitoches.
Responsible for overseeing meeting notices, recording of minutes, transcribing and typing monthly board minutes, filing, letter writing and other necessary items for a small business office and Executive Director.
Oversee that all inquiries from potential visitors and tour groups are acknowledged immediately.
Assist Marketing & Communications Manager with updating websites, social media information with current events and festivals.
Assist with daily operations as necessary supervising the Travel Counselors and Visitor Center.
Follow the directions and seek counsel of the Chairman of the Board of Natchitoches Parish Tourism Commission, as the immediate supervisor, between Board Meetings.
Ensure no employees, nor the Executive Director; conduct any personal business on Tourist Commission property, during working hours or with Tourist Commission assets.
Date: 3-15-24 Name: Linzy P Lasyone Address: Natchitoches, LA Race: White Sex: Female Age: 22 Charge: Theft (<1,000)
Date: 3-19-24 Name: Wilbur Beard III Address: Winnfield, LA Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 25 Charge: Simple burglary of inhabited dwelling, Resisting an officer with force or violence (x3), Battery of police officer (x3),
Date: 3-19-24 Name: Keoreyanna Sanders Address: Winnfield, LA Race: Black Sex: Female Age: 26 Charge: Entry or Remaining after being forbidden, Theft (felony)
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.
Cory Cardell Pennywell November 1, 1976 – March 7, 2024 Service: Service for Mr. Pennywell held Saturday March 16, 2024 in the Chapel of Winnfield Funeral Home 117 MLK Dr. Winnfield, LA.
Beth Greer September 3, 1940-March 12, 2024 Service: Funeral services for Mrs. Greer held Sunday the 17th at the Southern Funeral Home Chapel.
Madeline Folden January 18, 2024-March 13, 2024 Service: Graveside services for Miss Folden held Monday, March 15, 2024 at Hurricane Creek Cemetery, 4609 Hwy 505, Dodson, LA.
Virginia Burnett September 17, 1951-March 14, 2024 Service: Graveside services for Mrs. Burnett held Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Friendship Cemetery in Sikes, LA.
Alligators are swifter and more agile than many believe. They’re not easy to rope. This one on the WSHS grounds seeks some protection from advancing officers by moving next to a large tree.
Photos Courtesy Winnfield Police Department
When a law enforcement posse assembled on February 27 to remove a trespassing gator from the Winnfield Senior High School campus, it wasn’t a Lakeview High School Gator. It was a real, four-legged armored reptile alligator that was none too pleased to be bothered.
Winnfield City Police received a call from a motorist who’d spotted the critter on the school grounds near Hwy 167 across from Misty Lane. By the time police arrived minutes later, the intruder had already traveled a good distance to the gravel parking lot near the stadium.
Participants in the roundup included city officers David Loftin, Andrea Allen, Timothy Schmidtendorph, chief Johnny Ray Carpenter, Jesse Phillips, marshal Jamie Maxwell and a state trooper Bradley Smith. The Department of Wildlife & Fisheries was advised but the situation was resolved by the local officers.
Through it took several attempts to rope the uncooperative alligator, the Trooper Smith was able to lasso the “small” (perhaps 5 to 6 feet) intruder and tighten the rope. Then he and Loftin pulled the alligator over Hwy 501 into the swampy lot across from the parking lot.
“They figured that was where he came from in the first place,” as patrol officer Allen. “He was probably a baby and his mother might have been over there waiting on him.” All was accomplished without disruption at the school. “No one from the school noticed.”
Detective Loftin observed that this was not the first alligator to come up out of that low-lying tract.
Detective David Loftin and Trooper Bradley Smith unceremoniously escort this unnamed gator back across Hwy 501 to the swamp they figured is his home.
A portion of the 51 feet of 12-inch city water main lies on the ground after crews repaired the lightning-caused blowout March 5.
A lightning strike March 5 on the grounds of Winnfield Senior High School caused the blowout of a 12-inch city water main and resulted in the shutoff of water for all north of Tractor Supply for some seven hours while repairs were made.
“Lightning struck a pine tree on the edge of the high school grounds across Hwy 167 from Misty Lane,” said Eddie Johnson, city water department supervisor. “The lightning traveled into the ground at the base and blew out the main. Water was coming out fast. Fortunately, there is a shutoff valve at Tractor Supply. When I closed that off, there was no water supply to the north but the rest of the town was not interrupted. We were able to minimize the impact.”
He commented that the break was not due to an old line giving out but was a true “Act of God.” He added he regrets the inconvenience to the affected users during the repair period (plus the boil advisory following), it would have been the whole city and not just 500 who would have been affected.
Perhaps lightning does strike twice in the same place, Johnson mused. It appears that the scarred pine that is still standing was hit previously, as there is a second, old lightning scar on it as well. Another adjacent tree, probably a black gum, had to be removed to allow for the repair work.
The city crew worked on the water main replacement from 9 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. and the repair was 51 feet in length. A boil advisory for those north of Tractor Supply then went into effect. As workers with their vehicles made those repairs, units from City Police and the City Fire Department were on hand with lights flashing to caution southbound drivers.
Crew members work on water main repair after flow valve is closed. (Photo courtesy City Police)
Don Reading holds one of two 65-year-old St. Louis newspapers reporting the deadly fire that took the lives of 95 students and nuns at Chicago’s Our Lady of Angels School in 1958. (The death toll rose after the headlines declared “88 Die.”)
At the age of 8, he was there at the time of a historic fire in Chicago…not the Great Fire of 1871 but the fire in December 1958 that made headlines worldwide when 92 children and 3 nuns died in the blaze at Our Lady of Angels School.
The story came to the attention of the Journal when firefighter Cassidy Martin made an inquiry about two old newspapers his father-in-law, Don Reading, has carefully saved for over 65 years. Only a child at the time of the tragedy, Reading says he has no real recall of the event itself. But his mother told him about it later when he was old enough to understand. She had attended that Catholic school (grades K-8), leaving in the late 1940’s. She likely studied under some of those teachers.
Fire broke out at the foot of a stairwell shortly before classes would have ended on that Monday afternoon on December 1. Due to the size of the school (1,600 students), lack of reliable communications and fire hazard issues that could not be understood today, heat and smoke quickly shut off safe exits for children. The fire had started around 2 p.m. but for various reasons, it was about 40 minutes before the first call to the Fire Department went through. Fire trucks arrived within four minutes but the blaze was already out of control.
In addition to those who died, many more were injured by smoke and heat inhalation and from jumping from second story windows to the ground 25 feet below. The disaster led to major improvements in standards for school design and fire safety codes. Reading said his mother had considered becoming a nun herself but after going to a convent in Wisconsin for a time, decided that wasn’t for her.
Reading, now warden at Winn Detention Center on Thomas Mill Road, was a Chicago native who made his way to Winnfield because of his wife, Gail. Her mother, Judy Head Whitaker, had Winn roots while her father, Curtis from south Louisiana, was a pipefitter who’d found a longterm work contract in Chicago. After the Readings married, they moved here. Her folks had retired here.
“We’ve been really blessed, moving down here,” he commented. They have one child, Gretta.
The 1958 fire and the newspapers he’d saved had been nearly forgotten until Martin came across plastic-wrapped paper. Just as Brown vs. Board of Education is a benchmark case in the study of journalism, so too is the Our Lady of Angels School in Chicago Fire in the study of firefighting, he said. “It’s of major significance.”
Winn’s newly appointed Office of Emergency Preparedness director Cindy Tilton talks with Police Jury President Frank McLaren.
The Winn Parish Police Jury has named Mrs. Cindy Tilton as director of the local Office of Emergency Preparedness, to serve in that role from April 1 through the end of the year.
Mrs. Tilton has worked in that office as administrative assistant under Sheriff Cranford Jordan who has been acting director since 2016. Harry Foster served as the office’s director from 2008 until 2015. Before the appearance of the term “OEP,” Dorman Guilliams served from 1992 for some years as Civil Defense director.
The topic of OEP director was on the agenda at an earlier jury meeting when they went into executive session to discuss the matter. A special session was called March 5 to review that position and again the lawmakers entered executive session, coming back to open session 40 minutes later to approve the contract with Mrs. Tilton through December 31 this year.
“It is the duty of the Police Jury president to appoint the OEP director,” said president Frank McLaren. “We wanted to bring that office back under the wings of the jury. She’s got the experience. She’s done the work at that office for eight years.”
An Internet source suggests that “Emergency Preparedness Coordinators plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g. hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.”
The parish Emergency Management Committee will meet today (March 13) at the rifle range.
All Winn Parish Council on the Aging services have now been shifted to the 200 North Church Street building instead of the familiar East Main Street site.
The Winn Parish Council on the Aging is now in a new home but is maintaining its services to community residents ages 60 and over.
Citing issues with the building at 211 East Main Street that the Council has long called home, the agency has recently shifted its services to 200 North Church Street, describing it as the “yellow building behind the Bank of Winnfield parking lot.”
Open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for residents to come in for fellowship, coffee and games in a safe gathering place, lunch is always the popular time, served from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Field trips are occasionally added to boost interest.
For senior residents who are homebound, the COA offers a special home program, sort of a “meals on wheel” plan on Tuesday whereby they will deliver a week’s supply of lunches: five frozen meals together with milk, juice, bread and snacks. For details, contact the Council at 318-628-2186.
A highlight activity offered at the Council is Bingo, held each Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
Anyone thinking that the Council on the Aging is just lunch and a TV running in the background for senior citizens needs only to look at a calendar of events. During March they’d see a Picnic Day at the park; arts & crafts; St. Patrick’s Day party; Chocolate party; soap-making class; Easter party and a donut party. And Bingo, to be sure.
Seniors looking for a place for fun and fellowship might try the Council on the Aging. But it won’t be at the East Main Street location. They’re at 200 North Church Street instead.
Winn residents are reminded that early voting for the Presidential Preference Primaries is now underway in the Registrar of Voters Office, Winn Parish Courthouse. It will continue through this Saturday, March 16.
Voting hours will be from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day. Voters will need to enter through the Main Street entrance of the Courthouse. The election itself will be Saturday, March 23, when voters will report to their usual voting places.
“Download the GeauxVote app which allows you to view your sample ballot and monitor results on Election night,” advises Registrar Bryan Kelley. Sample ballots are also posted on the wall outside the Registrar of Voters Office.
“Remember that this election is the Presidential Preference Primary and is a “closed” election. That means it is only open to members of the Democratic and Republican parties,” Kelley said. “Additionally, members of each party will vote only for the candidate of their own party that they would like to see appear on the November ballot for President.”
Winn Parish Republican voters in certain precincts will also vote for one of the candidates running for Republican State Central Committee District 31C.
In Early Voting through Tuesday, March 12, a total of 180 have participated, reported Kelley. That total was made up of 71 in-person and 109 absentee. Those were 67 male and 113 female; 149 white, 30 black and 1 other. There were 54 Democrat and 126 Republican.
Members of Dodson High School’s “Project Hephaestus” attended the March 4 session of the Winn Parish School Board where they presented an outline of their NASA project. Shown are, Back row from left, Nathan Underwood, Noah Box, Harlen Malone and Garrett Jones. Front from left are Brooklyn Malone, Kayleigh Frederick, Madalyn Cotton and Charlie Buckley.
By Charlie Buckley and Garrett Jones
“The NASA TechRise Student Challenge invites teams of sixth- to 12th-grade students to design, build, and launch science and technology experiments on a high-altitude balloon flight and rocket-powered lander during the upcoming 2023/2024 school year.” – Sarah Mann, NASA Armstrong Public Affairs Specialist.
NASA’s TechRise Student Challenge 2024 is a collaborative effort with Future Engineers to present students with the ability to grow their skills as engineers, scientists, and mathematicians through hard work, cooperation, and problem-solving. The challenge given to these students will require all aspects of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to complete and will strengthen each student’s knowledge in STEM as a whole. Students will also become familiar with thermodynamics, physics, electromagnetic radiation, and inertia.
Students were given a choice between two experiments – A High-Altitude Balloon, or A Rocket Powered Lander – with only 60 teams chosen to advance to the next level of the experiment. One of the 60 teams/projects selected as NASA TechRise winners is Dodson High School’s “Project Hephaestus” Rocket Lander whose team members include Charlie Buckley, Garrett Jones, Nathan Underwood, Noah Box, Harlen Malone, Brooklyn Malone, Madelyn Cotton, and Kayleigh Frederick with the school sponsor being Ms. Casey Tolar. With NASA technicians, their mentor Ani Williams, and the program coordinator at Future Engineers Bria Maier, they aim to complete their experiment; a payload that will document the flight of the NASA Astrobotic Xodiac Rocket Lander.
The “Hephaestus Rocket Lander project” – named after the Greek God of craftsmanship – will be a payload interface mounted inside of a flight box that will be shipped to the NASA TechRise 100m x 100m Lunar Surface Test Field (LSTF) in Mojave, California, where it will be connected to the NASA Astrobotic’s Xodiac lander. Payloads for the Astrobotic Xodiac will fly up to 80 ft (~25 m) and will be flying for 2 minutes above the LSTF recreation. The goal of project Hephaestus is to understand how the mechanics of lunar imaging works and how to advance it for further knowledge of our universe through the use of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). This LiDAR uses a pulsating laser and finds distance and change in distance by how long it takes for the light to come back to its sensor.
Opportunities such as the NASA’s TechRise Student Challenge help young students with learning about the world around them and what fields they may want to go into later in life. Having these opportunities gives students the ability to do things they have never thought possible and lead these students to see all the doors that are open to them.
No Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dessert – With the Easter holiday quickly approaching this recipe pops to mind for both sake of ease and of course YUM. Often I am asked what desserts can be made ahead for someone to take to another home. This recipe fits the bill perfectly! This is also a recipe that kids will love to help with too. Every time I make this for a crowd I hope for leftovers to take home and there are rarely any!
Ingredients:
3 cups prebaked chocolate chip cookies (I use storebought)
4 tablespoons butter, melted
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
Large box instant chocolate pudding (plus milk called for on box less ½ cup)
2 cups powdered sugar
¼ cup whole milk
8 ounces extra creamy Cool Whip
Directions
Roughly crumble the cookies in the bottom of a serving bowl. Pour melted butter over the top.
In a mixing bowl add cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk. Mix until smooth. Pour on top of cookies.
Make chocolate pudding according to package directions but reduce the milk by ½ cup. Spread over cream cheese mixture.
Top with Cool Whip. Enjoy!
Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.
The annual Kiwanis Scholarship meal will be held Monday, April 8, at the Winn Farmers Market on Main Street. The menu will consist of Boston Butt steak, potato salad, green beans, bread and dessert. It is take-out only and pickup is 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Delivery is available for large orders. Tickets are $10 each and available from any Kiwanis member.
This scholarship meal funds our scholarships for at least 2 high school seniors in the schools of Winn Parish which includes Calvin, Dodson and Winnfield Senior High School. Kiwanis Club members would also like to give a scholarship to the Central Louisiana Technical College in Winnfield. They appreciate all the support shown by the community with projects that help the children of the community.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
