WINNFIELD, LA— Winnfield Police Department Assistant Chief of Police Russell L. Jones is retiring June 30, 2024, after over 43 years of continuous service to the citizens of Winnfield.

Jones was first hired in October 16, 1980, under then Chief of Police Cranford Jordan.  He graduated the Alexandria Regional Training Academy on Apil 10, 1981.  He has served under several administrations both Chiefs of Police and Mayors.  Chiefs included Jordan, Gleason Nugent, Benji Phelps, and current Chief Johnny Ray Carpenter.  Mayor included Jack Henderson, Max Kelley, Deano Thorton, Ronald Goff, BR Audirsch, Kia Beville, and current Mayor Gerald Hamms.  

Assistant Chief Jones has many milestones in his career, being the first African-American in the Winnfield Community to be appointed as a Sergeant, then Lieutenant, and finally Assistant Chief beginning September 16, 1999. During his time, he was able to obtain his Associate degree from Northwestern, an Associate from Louisiana College, his Bachelor’s Degree from Louisiana Baptist University, and is currently working on his Master’s Degree.

A reception in his honor will be held Thursday, June 27, at 12:00 Noon at the Winnfield Civic Center located at the Winn Parish Fairgrounds.  All are invited to attend and wish him the best as he has accepted the Lord’s calling to pastor a church here in town.

Trinity Community Health Care will celebrate 15 years of “Primary Health Care Service Regardless One’s Ability to Pay,” opening in Winnfield July 1, 2009, and expanding through the years to provide services in Grant, Bienville, Lincoln, Rapides and Avoyelles parishes.

Launched as Winn Community Health Center with 5 employees and one small office behind the old Sonic on the 5-lane, the health center has grown to include the 6 parishes with over 300 employees.  The name “Trinity” was adopted as the center expanded over time with multi-parish clinics.  In 2023, Trinity treated 144,000 patients, including those on Medicaid, Medicare, private pay and uninsured.  Since 2009, Trinity has served 850,000 patients.  Trinity has a $20 million annual payroll and over $55 million in assets.  

Services include primary care medicine, pediatrics, mental health and behavioral services, dental health, podiatry, pharmacy and at some centers, gastro-intestinal services.  They also offer diagnostic testing in eye care and diabetics.  Trinity has 40 school-based clinics in Winn and Rapides parishes, with some 12,000 students enrolled.

During the spring groundbreaking of the 3-story, 52,000 square foot headquarters in Winnfield of their multi-parish health center, CEO Deano Thornton explained that in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he was mayor at the time and became acutely aware of the lack of local health care services available to Medicare patients.  

An answer seemed to lie in the Federally Qualified Health Center program which local individuals began to pursue.  In July 2009, Winn Community Health received that FQHC designation.  Thornton would resign as mayor to pursue this larger dream.  In the face of early observers suggesting that they “might be moving too quickly,” the CEO noted, “We now have 7 stand-alone clinics plus our 40 school-based clinics.” 

He told the Journal, “At Trinity, we want to bring more specialty services to our communities.  There are several expansion projects in the works that should be announced in the next few months.”

The new Winnfield facility is now under construction and is expected to take 18 months to complete. The first floor will house the pharmacy, pediatrics, primary care, behavioral health and radiology. The second floor will house oral health services, vision health services, and physical therapy. The third floor will house administration, billing, finance, IT and medical records for the entire Trinity network, along with a large meeting room and a commercial kitchen. 

As of midnight on June 30, Winn Parish will have a new sheriff and as Josh McAllister and his team step into that office in the courthouse, he’s stated when he spoke to groups that he has a vision for the parish.  “This is not my office, it’s yours, the people of Winn Parish.”

On Saturday, June 29, that same public is invited to be a part of this changeover as the installation service of Joshua C. McAllister is held in the Central Louisiana Technical College at 2 p.m.

“I am ready to get back to work for the people of Winn Parish,” he told the Journal.  “I served on the Police Jury for eight years but I’ve been out of the picture for the past six months as I’ve prepared for the duties of this office.  I’m ready to get back in.  As for the installation service, I’m excited for our citizens to see my team and for them to know that this office will be serving Winn Parish.”

The Saturday event will open with The Lord’s Prayer which will be led by Todd Martin.  This will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a Welcome to the gathering.

Recognition of special guests will follow.

The afternoon will be filled with special music from local churches, with the first presentation coming following the introduction of guests.

Then will come the focal point of the service, the Installation of Sheriff Joshua C. McAllister.  Performing this honor will be Lt. Gov Billy Nunguesser.  Again there will be some Special Music.

Keynote speaker for the afternoon will be Bro. Craig James.  Special Music will follow his presentation.

A Community Prayer to solemnize the service will be initiated by Bro. Craig James.  In this Community Prayer he will ask for all local pastors to come forward and pray over the community and the office and the deputies.

Once more, Special Music will fill the Civic Center.

Justice Jay B. McCallum, Louisiana Supreme Court, will preside in the swearing in of Chief Deputy Michael Gilliam and other officers.

Then Sheriff Josh McAllister will give his remarks to turnout in the hall.

Closing Prayer and Blessing will be given by Bro. Author Robinson.

Refreshments to follow.

When Josh McAllister launched his campaign for Winn Parish Sheriff last year, he filed his Position Paper (a document outlining his intentions) with the Clerk of Court’s Office on June 15.

Asked why, McAllister replied, “All the time, politicians promise the world to voters when they are running but when they get into office, they never deliver.  I want the people of Winn Parish to know what they can expect from me.  This Position Paper will remain posted at the Sheriff’s Office so the voters can hold me accountable.”

When discussing the Sheriff’s Office after July 1, McAllister is hesitant to use the term “my office” when he speaks.  “It is not my office,” he explains.  “It belongs to the people of Winn Parish.  It is their taxes that support it.  The people who are coming to work for me, they will understand that as well and the Position Paper will be a reminder to them.

“These are not empty promises.  Our job will be to fairly enforce the law, to act as public servants to all the people of Winn Parish.”

McAllister’s Position Paper is posted below:

Winnfield City Police remind residents there are 3 ways to take care of a bench warrant:

• Traffic Charges have resulted in your license being suspended.

• Some dates are Arraignment, Trial, or Sentence Review

• Go by the City Court Clerk’s office at 113 E Main Street, meet with Cash Melville, City Court Clerk, and get a recall on the warrant:
  
  
  

Name:   Reason/Charges:   Case No.:    Date of Warrant:

Tarrance Triplett   Disturbing the Peace   220502   9/26/22

Courtland Turner   Speeding   220186   06/27/23

Traffic Control Devices, No D/L   2307300   6/27/23

Katie Trouille    Speeding    220834    12/13/23

Avereon Terry    Speeding    2306100   7/17/23

Derius Veal    No D/L in Possession    230771   2/22/24

Lori Wise   Speeding   210545   8/5/21

Angela Wright   Theft   210325   7/22/21

Sharon White   Criminal Mischief   210323   7/22/21

James Williams   Possession Marijuana, FTA   190658   5/5/22

Speeding   220235   5/5/22

Austin Willis   No S/B   220378   3/16/22

Desera Williams   No S/B   230200   5/22/23

Carl Womack   Stop Signs   230355   7/6/23

Delois Williams   Disturbing the Peace, FTA   170450   8/3/23

Kendrell Wilson   Speeding   230547   11/17/23

Colleen Wilson   Theft, FTA   230741   3/26/24

Kevin Wright   Expired MVI, DUS, No Insurance    240122   4/2/24

Off Road Vehicle, Careless Operation,  Stop Signs, FTA  230617   5/16/24

Skyler Wheeler   Speeding   240159   5/2/24

Michael Walker   Resisting an Officer   240185   4/2/24

Illegal Possession of Stolen Things   200164  4/2/24

In 1990 Julie Evans gained employment with WPSB as school bus driver for Calvin High School. The position was perfect, “I brought my kids to school and home again” Julie laughs and states “I always knew they arrived safely”. Julie retired after 23 years of service to fulfill the requirements of a higher education.

Julie graduated from Northwestern State University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Addiction Studies, with a minor in Psychology, and again in 2014 with a Master’s degree in Counseling with concentrations in school counseling.

After graduation, Evans enter the school system again as student counselor with RRPSB. “It was a blessing to begin my professional career with such a supportive administration”, shared Evans. She later gained employment with Winn Community Health Center where she humbly serves as student counselor for the Winn Parish students. She went on to say, “I am thankful for my employer, Mr. Deano Thornton, and my position within the school-based clinic”.

In 2020 Julie enrolled into the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans in the Ph.D. Counseling, Leadership, and Education program. Having graduated with her Ph.D. Evans calls it her last degree while her family just nods and laughs.

In 2022, with a nudge from the Holy Spirit, Julie began forming a private practice offering Christian counseling services. Evans says, “There is such a need, people want more than what the secular world can offer”. She counts her practice, Ash Street Ministries LLC, as a blessing from the Lord and without Him, she states, it “just wouldn’t work”. Evans admits being called Dr. Evans will take some getting used to, as she humbly says, “Ms. Julie works just as well”.

Julie is a wife, mother, grandmother, and a child of God. ASM takes all insurances, and welcomes new patients.

Julie Evans, Ph.D.
National Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor
Certified Telemental Health Provider

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Evans at 318-471-1221 or email her at ministriesllc@yahoo.com

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Curtsy of Winnfield Fire Department 

Winnfield Fire Department personnel have been busy these past few weeks. A structure fire on Turpentine Street and two control burns, one on Holmes Street and Mcleod Street. Also you may have noticed Engine-2 apparatus on the streets a lot lately. Fire personnel have been putting in the time on driver training with the apparatus. 

What industry was productive near Winnfield from 1931 through 1965 but ceased abruptly in 1965 to the detriment of about 100 employees and the entire community? Local amateur historian, John Holland, reminded Rotarians that Winnfield’s economy was once bolstered by the Carey Salt Mine just a few miles out on Highway 84 at their meeting on June 12, 2024. Rotarian of the Day Kiah Beville, arranged Holland’s talk, which he presented at the Louisiana Political Museum which preserves memorabilia from the salt mine. 

Winnfield native and life-long resident John Holland has delved into the history of our local salt mine. Holland’s grandfather was employed at the mine for many years and John went to the mining site frequently with him over the years. 

In his research about the Carey Salt Mine, John learned the salt dome just west of Winnfield was discovered in 1929, and the mine was opened by Carey Salt Company in 1931. Carey purchased the property to tap into southern markets. Winnfield’s most famous native son, Huey Long, Louisiana’s governor at the time, was involved in the project of getting the mine open. Huey even had part of Highway 84 moved closer to the salt mine to reduce the company’s transportation costs.

Holland also learned of an underground salt museum in Hutchinson, Kansas, location of the first Carey Salt Mine. From the museum’s director, he obtained photographs of the local salt mine and its employees taken in the 1950’s and 1960’s by a photographer hired by the Carey Salt Company to record a pictorial history of the Carey plants and documents related to the salt mine here. This material—photographs, samples of salt and salt products, a map of the salt tunnels in the local mine and other memorabilia—is on display at the local museum.

John described the mining process—sinking a shaft into the salt deposit, placing dynamite charges in a specified location, setting off the blast, going down into the shaft and cleaning up the mess made by the blast, and moving salt chunks to the production facility where it was converted into granulated salt. The production plant was in a three-story building near the mine, where administrative employees, chemists and engineers were also housed. 

As John told of the mine’s closing, the work of mining the salt was going on as usual on the day of the flooding. As they often did, workers placed dynamite charges in a designated location and set off. They would then return the next morning with the smoke cleared and do the cleanup. The following morning on this occasion, the miners discovered water entering the mine from an underground water source. The source of the water remains unidentified to this day.

Fortunately, no loss of life or limb resulted from the flood. Unfortunately, all employees lost their jobs that day, and many moved to other areas in search of new jobs. 

For anyone interested in learning more about the salt mine, Holland recommends the book, Images of America: The Carey Salt Mine by Barbara C. Ulrich, which is, of course, available on Amazon.

A Total of 313 Allied Health Graduates in 2024 Academic Year 

Alexandria, LA, June 25, 2024 — Across its five campuses, Central Louisiana Technical  Community College (CLTCC) graduated a record 143 Practical Nurses in the past academic year  (July 2023 through June 2024), including 40 graduates who went beyond the Technical Diploma  and earned an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Practical Nursing. In total, 313 students  graduated from the CLTCC Allied Health programs including the Pharmacy Technician, Nurse  Assistant, and Patient Care Technician programs. 

“This accomplishment is a testament to our students’ hard work and dedication as well as the  exceptional faculty instruction received at CLTCC,” said CLTCC Chancellor Dr. Jimmy  Sawtelle. “The healthcare field has heroically risen to the challenges precipitated by recent  events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. At CLTCC, our nursing programs continue to trend  upward in number of students, graduates, and careers in our Central Louisiana communities.  CLTCC is grateful and proud to partner with local healthcare providers and pharmacies to  provide a well-trained workforce in the Allied Health profession. We would also like to thank  The Rapides Foundation for their strong support of expanding program offerings.”  

Sawtelle noted data collected by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System  (LCTCS) shows a majority of CLTCC graduates remain in Central Louisiana, with many  remaining in either the parish of origin or a neighboring parish. 

“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of CLTCC nursing and Allied Health programs  and graduates. For many graduates, CLTCC programs are the first step toward vast opportunities  and advancement in nursing and other healthcare fields. One example is LPN to RN Bridge  programs that recognize and award advanced standing credit for practical nursing education and  work experience”, Mignonne Ater, RN, MSN, CNE, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health.

CLTCC offers multiple concentrations, nursing training and cohorts, including evening Practical  Nursing at the Alexandria, Ferriday and Huey P. Long campuses. This access and flexibility  allows a diverse range of aspiring nurses to get the necessary education and training to excel in  their careers. CLTCC’s Allied Health programs include Practical Nursing, Patient Care  Technician, Nurse Assistant, Electrocardiogram (EKG), Phlebotomy, Billing and Coding, and  Pharmacy Technician. 

Sawtelle said the college is very excited about receiving accreditation from the Southern  Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and is working on  new initiatives for 2024 and 2025. These initiatives will support and expand the scope of  CLTCC’s nursing programs and continue to support the transfer mission for those who desire to  further their education at Central Louisiana universities. “We are confident this success will  continue to grow as we witness more students graduating and entering the Nursing profession.” 

Applications for the upcoming semester are now open. For information about enrollment visit  http://www.CLTCC.edu/apply. For more information, contact the school via email at info@cltcc.edu or call 800-278-9855. 

Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) is a two-year technical and community  college offering associate degrees, technical diplomas, industry certificates, and customized  training in more than 20 disciplines to support local workforce development and prepare students  for high-demand and high-wage careers. CLTCC serves seven parishes in Central Louisiana  through its five campuses and provides instruction in one state prison and one federal correctional  institution. For more information, visit http://www.cltcc.edu. 

Media Contact: 

Dr. Jimmy Sawtelle, Chancellor 

(318) 487-5442 

jsawtelle@cltcc.edu 

Courtesy of Brian Montgomery 

The information below is a generated summary of the aid and service the Winn Parish Fire Department has lended its community over the course of the year. We thank our local firefighters and EMTs for their vigilance and protection of Winn Parish and all who call it home. 

Jerome “Jerry” Silberman was born in 1933.  When Jerry was eight years old, his mother had a heart attack.  When she was well enough to return from the hospital, her doctor escorted her and Jerry’s father back to their home.  This was in the era when doctors made house calls.  The doctor made sure Jerry’s mother was comfortable in bed and gave Jerry’s father a few instructions.  Then, the doctor spoke to Jerry in another room.  The doctor took Jerry by the arm, leaned over him, sternly looked him in the eye, and slowly said, “Don’t ever argue with your mother because you might kill her.”  Eight-year-old Jerry stood there in silence as he tried to process what he had just been told.  Then, the doctor continued, “try to make her laugh.”  Those instructions changed Jerry’s life.

Jerry followed the doctor’s advice and his mother slowly recovered.  When Jerry was eleven, he saw his sister, Corinne, perform in a dramatic recital in front of about 200 people.  Before the show began, the people in the audience jabbered away loudly.  Then, the lights went down, and a single spotlight shone on his sister.  For twenty minutes, the crowd was absolutely silent. Jerry was entranced by his sister’s ability to make the crowd want to hear her every word.  Jerry remembered thinking that that was, “about as close to being God as you could get as a human being.”  After the recital, Jerry asked his sister’s acting coach to teach him.  The teacher asked Jerry his age.  When Jerry answered, “eleven,” the teacher responded, “If you still want to when your 13, come see me.”  The day after he turned thirteen, Jerry began studying acting.

 In high school and college, Jerry studied drama and theater and performed in several Shakespearean plays.  His acting earned him a spot in the prestigious Actor’s Studio, a membership organization for professional actors in New York City.  His plan was to become a serious actor, but life has a way of changing plans.  Throughout his long career in the film industry, Jerry often remembered the words his mother’s doctor told him when he was eight years old; “Don’t ever argue with your mother because you might kill her.  Try to make her laugh.”  For more than forty years, he tried and succeeded in making us laugh.   

As I said earlier, Jerry initially aspired to become a Shakespearean actor.  Jerry said, “I didn’t think Jerry Silberman in MacBeth had the right ring to it.”  Jerry decided he needed a stage name but was unable to find just the right one.  One evening, Jerry went to his sister and brother-in-law’s apartment for dinner.  Also joining them was a screenwriter named David Zelag Goodman.  During dinner, Jerry explained his stage name dilemma.  David saw this dilemma as a fun challenge.  Over dinner, David went through the alphabet, beginning with A, and came up with a last name for each letter.  David was nearing the end of the alphabet, but nothing seemed right.  Then, he came to the letter W.  When David said a name that began with W, Jerry said, “the bell went off.  I wanted to be Wilder.”  Thus, Jerry Silberman became Gene Wilder.

Sources:

1.      “Gene Wilder Interview (HARDtalk Extra 2005) – BBC News,” YouTube, September 6, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYGxF-VLL08&t=4s.

2.     “Gene Wilder: In His Own Words | a Docu-Mini Narrated by Gene Wilder,” Hats Off Entertainment, February 21, 2021,  YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoJMkIshGHY&t=

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.

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.