Election Day is this Saturday, April 27, as Winn Parish voters will go to their traditional polling places which will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Already, 501 parish voters have cast their ballots either early voting in-person at the courthouse or absentee through the mail.
On the ballot are two parishwide taxes. The Police Jury is seeking a half-cent sales tax for continued road maintenance. The School Board is asking for a 9.25-mill ad valorem tax for ongoing school maintenance.
There is also one issue that will be voted only by those registered in the Consolidated School District 11 (Dodson/Sikes area). That will be a 15-mill ad valorem tax to pay General Obligation Bonds for capital expenditures and improvements in that school district.
Sample ballots are posted on the wall outside the Registrar of Voters Office. Registrar Bryan Kelley advises that voters may also download the Secretary of State’s GeauxVote app which allows them to view their individual sample ballot and monitor results on Election night.
Of those early voters, office figures show that 423 are white, 76 black and 2 Other; 198 are male and 303 female; and 151 are Democrat, 464 are Republican and 86 are Other.
Cars, trucks, trailers and people converged at the Winnfield Recreation Center beginning around 11 a.m. Saturday, each delivering bags of litter that volunteers had picked up along roadsides all across the parish. The final count was 226 bags.
The Police Jury, City of Winnfield and LSU AgCenter cooperated on the beautification campaign with the overall theme “Love the Boot,” (that being boot-shaped Louisiana). Many on the organizing team sported light blue tee shirts with that theme emblem.
“I feel this was a good turnout,: said jury president Frank McLaren. “I’m proud of the participants and hope to see a future growth of this event. Let’s keep that litter picked up or better yet, don’t litter in the first place.”
Mayor Gerald Hamms also tagged the cleanup a “great success. We picked up thousands of pounds of trash. I appreciate all who turned out to clean up out roadside as well as those who worked this event.”
“Thanks goes to our community for coming together and making this event a success,” said LSU AgCenter agent Shannan Chevallier. “But let’s not let our beautification and cleanup stop here. We want to continue to keep clean the places where we live, work and play every day.”
Hamburger lunches and plenty of door prizes were enough to keep the crowd at the Rec engaged and excited. Once the winning number of the final door prize was called, participants picked up the remaining bagged hamburger lunches and headed to their cars, passing the dumpster piled with 226 bags of litter, litter that was no longer on our roadsides.
A celebration and dedication of the Winnfield Fire Department’s latest addition to its firefighting capability will be held midday this Saturday, April 27, at the fire station at 306 S. Abel Street. The new pumper “Engine 2” has emblazoned across its windshield “In God We Trust.”
The celebration will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., with the Dedication service set to begin at noon.
The truck, described as a pumper engine, arrived recently at a cost of $585,000 and once it was fitted out with all necessary equipment, the tab rose to $630,000. By way of demonstrating escalating costs, Chief Brian Montgomery said that the last pumper engine the city bought in 2007 cost $330,000.
The engine will replace the 1979 model Mack engine that the city also purchased new. The City Council approved donating that pumper to the Winn Parish Fire District 3.
Chief Montgomery said the event will include display tables showing the historic progression of firefighting tools and the evolution of firefighting techniques through the years. There will also be a fire safety table with handouts, demonstration of the proper use of fire extinguishers, available free smoke detectors and coloring books for children.
Refreshments will certainly be a part of this celebration and department personnel will be on hand to answer any questions on apparatus or any other fire-related issues. Always popular will be photo opportunities for children, including adults who are still children at heart, with the new fire engine and with firefighters.
“This Spartan-manufactured engine comes with all the necessities as we continue to work through this year towards our goal of lowering our insurance rating from a Class 3 to a Class 2,” said the chief. “It carries 1,000 gallons of water and has a slightly shorter wheel base which will improve negotiating any tight turns through our streets. Our department will continue working in efforts to earn the improved rating for the City of Winnfield in the upcoming grading cycle set for March 2025. We should learn the results later that year.”
Engine 2 will give the Winnfield Fire Department a fleet including four pumper engines (the number required for the lower insurance rating), a ladder truck with a 75-foot ladder, a reserve ladder truck, a heavy rescue vehicle and an EMS quick-response vehicle.
A Winn Parish Medical Center team gave a presentation to Rotary on how best to “Stop the Bleed,” action that can save a life in the wake of an accident. From left are Donice Fletcher, RN, clinical nursing director; Rotarian Victoria Hubbard Knighten; and LPN by Jalenna Garrett.
“Stop the Bleed—Save a Life” was the subject of the program for the Winnfield Rotary Club on April 17. Donice Fletcher, RN, clinical nursing director of Winn Parish Medical Center, assisted by Jalenna Garrett, LPN, taught the life-saving method to Rotarians at the request of Rotarian of the Day, Victoria Hubbard Knighten.
“In 2012, the Sandy Hook mass shooting left 20 children and 8 adults dead. Soon after, the Boston Marathon bombing occurred, in which many people were killed or injured,” says Ms. Fletcher. Several medical organizations whose members engage in treatment of trauma and emergency victims created a coalition with a goal to teach 200 million people the best way to treat bleeding injuries to save a life in emergencies.
The most common cause of death from an accident is bleeding. Stopping the bleed as soon as possible is critical in an emergency because a person bleeding from an artery will bleed out and die in three to five minutes, and the average time for emergency medical assistance to arrive at the scene is seven to ten minutes. Therefore, a person at the scene of the accident must act to stop the bleeding, or the victim will die.
Life-threatening bleeding injuries don’t just happen in mass shootings or bombings, according to Ms. Fletcher. Many individuals sustain such injuries in hunting accidents, accidents with knives or mechanical equipment, lawn care accidents, and such. Therefore, everyone should have training in how to stop the bleeding in an emergency, in the same way everyone should know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The Stop The Bleed (STB) method was first developed by the military for injuries in battle. It was shared with and promoted in the civilian sector with the increase in mass injuries. The first step is to recognize life-threatening bleeding and alert emergency services to get personnel on their way to the scene. Second, find the source of the bleeding. Third, apply compression.
On the extremities, compression is applied by placing a tourniquet to squeeze the artery together and stop blood from flowing through it. A tourniquet specifically made for this purpose is the best thing to use on arms or legs, and the method for applying it was demonstrated for the group. Ms. Fletcher cautioned that one should not waste time searching for a tourniquet or trying to make one, just go ahead and start packing the wound with gauze and apply pressure. Anyone may get a tourniquet to keep on hand from STB.org.
In the head, neck, trunk areas, compression is applied to the bleed by packing the injury site with gauze, using a finger to stuff gauze down into the wound until no more will go, putting pressure with the heel of the palm over the gauze to hold it in, and placing the other hand or elbow over the first hand. Never let up on the pressure with the hand until emergency personnel are there to take over, even if you think the bleeding may have stopped, because if it hasn’t stopped, the process must be repeated from the beginning.
Winnfield Senior High School played host for the District 3-2A track meet held Thursday, April 18. Following are their results. All these participants are competing today at the Regional Track Meet that is being held in Mansfield.
An amazing child, Journee Moore who had heart transplant surgery at age 5 months, celebrated her sixth birthday here on Tuesday, April 23.
Journee was born with a heart defect on April 23, 2018. Her parents, Krystal and Daniel Moore, had been informed before her birth she would need a new heart as soon as possible after birth.
Relatives and friends in the Winn community worked together to raise money to help with expenses of traveling to and from Houston for transplant surgery and doctor visits.
Fortunately, a healthy heart became available for Journee and she received the transplant on September 13, 2018.
Although Journee’s family must be diligent in staying clear of infectious illnesses due to her anti-rejection drugs, she has begun to grow normally over the past few years and is currently thriving. She and her family are grateful to all in the community who helped with the expenses related to her transplant and follow-up treatment.
WPS Grade 3: Students from left are: Cooper Moore, Jordan Guillory, Hudson Milstead, Skylar Parker. With them are Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King, Kiwanians: Mary Lou Blackley and Troy Rogers.
Members of the Winnfield Kiwanis Club Recently traveled to parish schools to recognize the winners of their monthly “Terrific Kids” awards.
Dodson: Students from left are: Brooklyn Chandler, Denton Glaze, Memphis Northcutt, Jason Garcia, and Bryleigh Hayes. Adults are Kiwanian Mary Lou Blackley, Principal Wendy Miller, and Kiwanian: Ethel Howell
Calvin: Students from left are: Ambrie Gauthier, Scarlett Shell, Ashton Bates, Brody Perot, and Carter Hylton. With them are Teacher Kim Dupree, Kiwanians Margaret Coon and Kim Futrell.
WPS Kindergarten: Students from left are: Triton Coody, Klara O’Bryan, and Roman Starks. With them are Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King, Kiwanians: Mary Lou Blackley and Troy Rogers.
WPS Grade 1: Students from left are: Nefertiti Thomas, Carma Weaver, Patrice Jones, and Kara Martin. With them are Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King, Kiwanians: Mary Lou Blackley and Troy Rogers.
WPS Grade 2: Students from left are: Rylla Johnson, Sophia Horn, Denver Bostick,and Ra’Moni Coward. With them are Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King, Kiwanians: Mary Lou Blackley and Troy Rogers.
WPS Grade 4: Students from left are: Maci Moberly, Stetson Knotts, and Kaylie Peters. With them are Assistant Principal Resa Johnson, Principal Byron King, Kiwanians: Mary Lou Blackley and Troy Rogers.
Sophomore Madison Foster shows WSHS English teacher Dr. Wiley Cole papers that outline the studies she’ll experience at Johns Hopkins University during internship this summer.
A Winnfield Senior High School sophomore applied for and has been awarded full merit scholarships for three summer learning opportunities at three different universities.
Madison Foster, daughter of Sharda Foster, will attend a four-week summer-intense program in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. There she will be among only 25 national applicants in this summer internship working with a Johns Hopkins team on kidney disease. Travel, room and meals are included. She is excited about this opportunity, citing Johns Hopkins as the nation’s first research hospital, ranked No. 1 in biomedical engineering and No. 5 among American hospitals.
She may have to choose between two other summer program offers, as both two-week programs in New Orleans fall at the same time, she explained. At Dillard University under “DU Wishes” is a residential space force science program where she’d study quantum computer physics plus health disparity in space, sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
Tulane’s offer, also residential, is a pre-college study program where interns will have the chance to interact with the university professors. Students will not only receive a close-up view of the Tulane campus but will be able to tour some other universities in the area.
Madison explained that her inspiration for these various studies was borne out of earlier experiences. “Last year I got to go to NASA in Cape Canaveral. It was one day and we were an all-girls group. We interacted with the all-women Delta Wing program where we saw a lot of women in high positions and got to ask them personal questions.”
And last summer, this young student spent about a month at Winn Parish Medical Center through the AHEC program. “There I worked with medical professionals to see what career I might be interested in. I’ve always had an interest in science and was intrigued with the radiology department at WPMC.”
Currently taking dual-enrollment classes to earn advance college credits, Madison is looking at post-secondary studies in the medical field, perhaps biology. At the moment, she feels her career goal may be in the field of radiology.
Landing these highly competitive summer intern chances took Madison through a series of essays and interviews. “I’m thankful to God for this opportunity, to my parents and grandparents for pushing and inspiring me to strive for greatness and for my teachers for their input on my educational journey.”
Pastor Norris Curry has extended an public invitation to celebrate with Calvary Baptist Church at their annual Homecoming on Sunday, April 28, with a service at 10 a.m. Southern Gospel artist Ben Waites will be the special guest speaker and singer. His music is inspirational and uplifting.
Born with arthrogryposis and bound to a wheelchair, Ben has never met a challenge he couldn’t overcome. Discovering God at an early age, Ben was introduced to the sounds of Southern Gospel music by his grandfather Jim Waites, a talented singer and founder of the Gospel Tones Quartet. Since that time, Ben’s music has been described as ‘blues meets jazz meets Southern Gospel.’ People across the world are drawn in by his authentic delivery and powerful vocals. Ben’s music is often described as “anointed worship” that “draws the Holy Spirit.”
The concert is free but a love offering for Ben Waites Ministry will be taken during this service. Following the 10 a.m. service, Homecoming covered dish lunch will be enjoyed in the Family Life Center. Everyone is invited to attend. Calvary Baptist Church is located at 2888 Hwy 84, Winnfield, (about 13 miles east of Winnfield and about 8 miles west of Tullos).
If you have followed The Copper Whisk for awhile you know that Mom’s Brownies are THE #1 recipe on my website! Now you can make and serve this absolutely delicious White Chocolate Sauce alongside the brownies for dipping. It is without a doubt the perfect partner. I love it for strawberries too.
Ingredients:
§ 1 cup heavy whipping cream
§ 2 egg yolks
§ ½ cup sugar
§ 1 teaspoon vanilla
§ ¼ teaspoon salt
§ 1 package white chocolate chips
Directions
In a heavy sauce pan simmer bring heavy cream to a low boil. As soon as it boils add egg yolks. Whisk rapidly, and as soon as eggs are incorporated well remove from heat. Stir in sugar, vanilla, salt, and white chocolate chips. Stir until white chocolate chips are melted. You can let simmer on low heat to thicken if you like, but at this point the sauce is ready.
I like to make this ahead of time and refrigerate as it will thicken as it cools. This is so so fantastic with Mom’s Brownies, strawberries, graham crackers, and pretzels.
Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.
Tomorrow night, Thursday, April 25, the Mt. Grace Men & Women Adult & Teen Challenge will return to the Winnfield Civic Center for the production of their Spring Gala, featuring dinner and a silent auction, together with a program of testimonies to the success of a Christ-based program that’s breaking the cycle of addiction for so many.
Door at the center at the fairgrounds will open at 5:45, with the dinner and silent auction set for 6 until 7 p.m. The program will begin at 7. Tickets to support this faith-based program are $10 at the door.
The Louisiana Mt. Grace program was launched in 1970 in a backdrop where some 40 million Americans (about 1 in 7 over the age of 12) have problems with drug or alcohol addiction. Unfortunately, under traditional recovery programs, there is an 85% relapse rate, often in the early months of recovery. The faith-based approach accept “In Christ, he is a new man…the old man is gone.” Success rates are higher.
Those attending tomorrow’s Gala can hear some of those stories.
Central Louisiana Technical Community College-Huey P. Long Campus in Winnfield will host a FAFSA day Monday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. FAFSA is Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
The session will provide an opportunity for students to meet face-to-face with a representative from Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) and complete a FAFSA.
This event is open to the public as well as future students of Central Louisiana Technical Community College. Contact the Campus at 318-628-4342 with any questions.
LSU AgCenter agent Shannan Chevallier poses by one of the trash receptacles (this one at the Rec) that are now placed around Winnfield thanks to a grant through the “Keep Louisiana Beautiful” program.
City of Winnfield was selected as one of the 71 recipients of the 2023-24 “Keep Louisiana Beautiful” trash receptacle grant program made possible with funding from the State of Louisiana and Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
The City of Winnfield will install 10 trash receptacles at the following locations:
T&G Park (behind Brenda’s Chicken) Pea Patch Courthouse Pharmacy Services/Allen building area The Stump Grove Street Park (2) Henderson Holden Park (2) Winn Farmers Market Area
Through the 2024 Trash Receptacle Grant Program, Keep Louisiana Beautiful awarded 628 receptacles to 71 organizations in 40 parishes for a total value of $491,294.
As part of the requirements of this grant, City of Winnfield will perform a post installation litter scan and compare the data collected to preliminary scan results. Data will be shared with the public once available.
“Litter is hurting our quality of life in Winn,” says Shannan Chevallier, Nutrition Agent, at LSU AgCenter and City of Winnfield volunteer. “With these new receptacles installed, we will be able to reduce litter and keep our community clean and beautiful.”
“Recent data collected by Keep Louisiana Beautiful shows a reduction of litter by 78 percent in areas where trash receptacles are properly installed and maintained, “ says Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “One of our organization’s key initiatives is to help build infrastructure that supports clean, beautiful communities. Funding trash receptacles is one way we do that.
Chevallier congratulated the City of Winnfield for being selected as a 2023-24 Trash Receptacle Grant recipient.”
Date: 4-15-24 Name: Angela Brice Address: Winnfield, LA Race: Black Sex: Female Age: 41 Charge: Direct contempt of court (x2)
Date: 4-17-24 Name: Ronald D Eckland JR Address: Dodson, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 34 Charge: Failure to appear
Date: 4-19-24 Name: Kristen Vines Address: Quitman, LA Race: White Sex: Female Age: 33 Charge: Serving time per court sentence
Date: 4-22-24 Name: Eghan J Allen Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: N/A Charge: Theft (felony), Criminal mischief
Date: 4-22-24 Name: Ronald D Eckland JR Address: Dodson, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 35 Charge: Threatening a public official, Mischief (x2), Prohibited telecommunications
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.
