Louisiana was one of first states in the U.S. to create an explosive control unit and regulate explosive materials, according to State Police Captain Chris Adams, Winnfield native and head of the State Police Emergency Services Unit. We have strived to be ahead of all the other states in protecting citizens from hazardous materials ever since. Captain Adams, who has been with the Louisiana State Police for 22 years, spoke to the Winnfield Rotary Club about his unit and its duties on June 5, 2024, at the request of his dad and Rotarian of the Day, Delane Adams.

The State Police Explosives Control Unit was created 1971 to put a single state agency in charge of regulating explosives due to both the ongoing tension in the oil industry of Louisiana and also as the result of the Louisiana Senate Chamber Bombing in April 1970. Around the same time, the U.S. Army opened its Hazardous Devices School to train personnel from law enforcement entities around the country as public safety bomb technicians including those of the Louisiana State Police.   Then in 1982 came the Livingston train derailment disaster in which rail cars containing various hazardous materials left the rails, many of which were breached or punctured, spilling contents and resulting in fires, smoke and toxic materials being released into the air. The LSP Explosives Control Unit became the Emergency Services Unit and the control and containment of hazardous materials included in its duties.  This was deemed important in Louisiana because of the widespread use, manufacture and transportation of hazardous chemicals in the state. 

Captain Adams’s unit has 29 commissioned officers, 16 certified bomb technicians, 11 civilian staff and five explosives canines. It has explosives robots which will soon be replaced with the latest models or updated with the latest options available. These relieve humans of the need to go into potentially explosive situations. The unit is also in the process of updating its fleet of drones with the newest technology such as remote temperature readings.

In addition to enforcing regulations on hazardous materials and conducting background checks on individuals applying for and explosives licenses, the unit conducts approximately 2-300 explosive sweeps a year, patrols at events involving large gatherings of people and serves as the on-the-scene commander of all incidents involving hazardous materials. The unit also has a hazardous materials training program that provides training for approximately 1300 first responders annually at no cost to their respective agencies.    

Captain Adams described several incidents in which his unit has participated, including remediation of illegally stored explosives discovered at a private facility within Camp Minden in Webster Parish in 2012. In that instance, a private company had stored a large amount of explosives on the property in a manner that violated regulations requiring such materials to be segregated and stored away properly. ESU remained on site for the six months required to safely and properly store away of all the improperly stored explosives.

Captain Adams is constantly learning about the fields in which his unit works—firefighting, for example—so he can communicate well with his counterparts. He also challenges his team members to learn more and get more training every day to do their jobs better and to anticipate the safety hazards of the future.  More information on LSP and its Emergency Services Unit can be found at www.lsp.org.  

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Ethel Howell introduced herself to the Kiwanis Club on June 11 as Ethel Marie Calhoun Evans Howell.  Her parents were Husher and Inez Calhoun.  Her mother was also a school teacher.  She has two sisters and one brother.  She was the mother of five children, but only two lived to be adults.  When she married Robert Howell, she gained six more children.

Ethel received her Bachelor of Science in education from Grambling in 1971.  Her brother graduated from Winnfield Senior High School and she and her sister graduated from Grambling, all three on the same day in 1971.  In 1978, she received her Master’s in reading.  She has 60 hours over a Masters, but did not want to pursue a doctorate degree.   Those 60 hours were to help her do her job better.  

In 1972, she got a job at Atlanta High School as the Title I reading teacher.  Later she became the 4th grade teacher.  She was at Atlanta for 15 years before moving to Winnfield Middle School.  Her son wanted to play football, but Atlanta did not have a football team.  She needed to teach in Winnfield so he could play football.  She taught reading, English, and social studies.  She was known as “the paddling teacher” who had her whole class in the hall to be paddled and they were begging to go first.  Why, you ask?  Because the longer she paddled, the harder she got.  

 In 1988-89, she went back to Atlanta as assistant principal.  She wanted to be supervisor of education so she could help teachers to help children.  But when given the choice to be a supervisor or a principal of Winnfield Kindergarten School, she chose principal.  She called it her best decision ever and her most favorite years.

Ethel shared two stories, one from the kindergarten where two girls and a boy were sent to the principal’s office.  It turned out the two girls were fighting over the boy.  One had been his girlfriend but he dumped her for the other.  The other story was a sad one about a boy in the fourth grade.  Ethel had left money in his desk so he could buy a pair of shoes.  He drowned that summer trying to save two other children in the river.

Kiwanians thanked their fellow member for an interesting program.  There was much more to say but not enough time.  (There is a story about Ethel Howell’s life in education on YouTube where her grandson interviewed her).

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The “Click It or Ticket” campaign, sponsored and funded by the National Highway Safety Administration and administered by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission started May 20 and ended at midnight on June 2.  The safety-based program focused on the wearing of seat belts according to Louisiana law. 

The Winnfield Police Department was awarded a grant by the LHSC that resulted in 100 hours of overtime hours for officers to provide saturated patrols for enforcement of traffic laws and seat belt violations.

During this time period, the total number of violations cited was 218 of which 199 were seat belt violations.  In Winnfield City Court, fine for seat belt violations, first offense, is $60.  Many officers stop offenders for moving violations and, at their discretion, drop to the lesser charge of a seat belt violation to avoid the higher fines and higher insurance rates for the driver.

The Winnfield Police Department reminds drivers that while this campaign centers around the Memorial Day weekend, all occupants shall always use their seat belts at all times as required by law.  Statistics have proven that restrained occupants are more likely to survive a crash than an unrestrained person.

This grant has also provided monies to participate in the next national campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” centered around the Labor Day weekend.  This is a High-Visibility Traffic Safety Enforcement program that begins August 16 and runs through September 3.  

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The biggest, most star-studded and fun-filled party of every summer for miles around is coming your way next weekend.

Three days of festivities are right around the corner, Thursday June 20 through Saturday June 22, with the 2024 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Natchitoches.

The LSHOF’s Class of 2024 will be enshrined next Saturday night at the Natchitoches Events Center to culminate the 65th Induction Celebration.

The Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, June 20, with the Welcome Reception from 5-7 p.m., free to the public at the Hall of Fame museum.

The Friday, June 21 schedule begins with the Celebrity Bowling Bash presented by BOM at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. The 2024 Rockin’ River Fest, a free concert presented by Rapides Regional Medical Center on the downtown riverbank stage, begins at 6 p.m. and runs until 10:30. In conjunction with the Rockin’ River Fest is the VIP Taste of Tailgating party.

The slate on Saturday, June 22 kicks off with the free LSHOF Junior Training Camp led by community relations personnel from the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, on the NSU campus at the Webb Wellness and Recreation Center and Turpin Stadium. This event has been filled to capacity since last month.

At noon Saturday, the Round Table Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation is set for Riverside Reserve on Mill Street.

Festivities culminate Saturday evening with the Induction Reception at the LSHOF museum beginning at 5, followed at 7 by the Induction Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center. Northwestern State University and State Farm Agents of Louisiana are presenting sponsors Saturday evening.

The VIP Taste of Tailgating, the Bowling Bash, the Round Table Luncheon and the Induction Reception and Ceremony are ticketed events requiring purchase in advance through LaSportsHall.com or by calling 318-238-4255. Those events are nearing sellouts.
The Thursday reception, the Friday evening River Fest and the Junior Training Camp are free.

The Class of 2024 is headlined by a star-studded group of eight inductees from the LSHOF “competitors ballot,” led by national sports celebrities Seimone Augustus, Drew Brees and Daniel Cormier.

Along with Brees, the New Orleans Saints’ NFL record-setting passer, is Augustus, a Baton Rouge native who is one of women’s basketball’s all-time best, and Cormier, the Lafayette born-and-raised Olympic wrestler who became and remains one of the most prominent figures in MMA.

This year’s class also includes 1992 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kevin Jackson from LSU along with former basketball coach Tulane Perry Clark and McNeese football great Kerry Joseph, who had a 19-year pro career.

More inductees are high school football coach Frank Monica, who won state titles at three different south Louisiana schools, and Ray Sibille, a Breeders’ Cup-winning thoroughbred jockey from Sunset who ranks among the nation’s elite riders.

Grambling’s Wilbert Ellis becomes the second-ever recipient of the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award. During his 43-year baseball coaching career and since, Ellis has made local, statewide and national impact not only in the competitive arena but also in community service and leadership.

Winners of the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism are widely-respected south Louisiana sportswriters Bobby Ardoin and Ron Higgins. Longtime Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett, a Louisiana Tech graduate, will receive the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.

The 2024 Induction Celebration will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors.  

For information on sponsorship opportunities and other participation, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com, or Greg Burke, Director of Business Development and Public Relations, at 318-663-5459 or GregBurke@LaSportsHall.com via email.  

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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.

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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.

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Michael Stewart
July 13, 1952-June 4, 2024. 
Services: Funeral services for Mr. Stewart held Saturday, June 8, 2024. Burial followed in Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home. 

In special session May 31, with Winn Parish Police Jury concurred with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries and Saline Lake Commission by adopting a resolution for a complete drawdown of Saline Lake to begin June 17 and continue through October 7 this year.

Members had heard concerns from some area resident but noted that while the lake is in better shape now than it was at some times in the past, there was no drawdown last year and the problem with giant salvinia is once again increasing.

The recommendation for this control measure comes from LWL&F biologists.  Legislative funding is provided for control measures against this invasive weed and the jury heard that more has been spent on Saline Lake than for many other lakes affected by salvinia.

Winn’s police jury appoints four members of the Saline Lake Commission while neighboring Natchitoches appoints three.  “We appoint the commissioners.  We have to listen,” they noted.  They also observed that it is Wildlife & Fisheries that actually controls lake actions and if the local lawmakers act in opposition to recommendations, biologists could find other lakes on which to spend the control funding.

In separate action in that session, the jury accepted the quote of $22,840 from Albritton Service Co. for a 15-ton air conditioning unit for the basement area of the courthouse.  The area sees  a lot of use, the lawmakers heard, including the Driver’s License Office, VA Offices and downstairs meeting room.

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Three Winn players have been named LBCA All-Region Baseball for Region 2, reported Winnfield Senior High School coach Damion Herron.

Two are WSHS seniors.  They are pitcher Jake Hemphill and infielder Canyon Campton who will be missed on Herron’s Tiger squad next season.

The third grabbing All-Region 2 honors is a Calvin Cougar, utility player Kaden Browning who is a junior.

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“Adventure has already begun at your library during the month of June with Summer Reading Quest,” says Winn Parish Library Director Priscilla Massey.  That adventure extends to branches at Atlanta, Calvin, Dodson, Sikes and Winnfield.

The adventure is underway as “Alexandria Zoo” brought a program to Sikes on Monday while “Didgeridoo Down Under” entertained at Calvin and Winnfield on Tuesday.  “The Dinosaur Experience will make a showing at Dodson at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. at Atlanta today.

Florida educator Rianhan Alam shared his skills with the ancient Australian rhythm instrument, the didgeridoo, during his hour-long presentation “Didgeridoo Down Under.”   He gave some insight on Australia’s unique wildlife while talking of the haunting voice of the of the didgeridoo which could be as natural as a termite-hollowed tree limb or as man-made as PVC pipe.

He also taught life lessons of kindness, tolerance and respect.  “No bullying.”  Worldwide “We live in one human family.  Actually, this is my real lesson,” he told the Journal.  “The didgeridoo is just the vehicle I use.”

Young readers are reminded that they can register at any library branch or online (www.winnlibrary.org) through July 23 to be a part of the Summer Reading Program.  The library reminds children, “Bring your completed reading logs to any library branch for a prize.  Your name will also be entered for a Grand Prize drawing.”

Library fun continues next week as LSU AgCenter brings “Mellow Monday” to Atlanta at 10:30 a.m. June 10 while at 1 p.m. Dodson features “Ocean Craft” for young readers age 13 and older.  Tuesday, June 11, will see a visit by Wildlife & Fisheries to Calvin at 10 a.m. and to Winnfield at 2 p.m.  Always-popular Harvey Rabbit is coming to Dodson on Wednesday, June 12, at 10 a.m. and on to Sikes at 2 p.m.  

On Thursday, June 13, the main branch in Winnfield will offer Adult Craft Day at 9 a.m. featuring “DIY Watercolor Cosmetic Bag.”  Note that the branch libraries will be closed that day to celebrate Juneteenth.  The main branch in Winnfield will be closed Friday, June 14, also for Juneteenth.

Programs pick back up Monday, June 17, when the “Alexandria Zoo” heads to Atlanta at 10:30 a.m. then at 1 p.m. also at Atlanta, “Canvas Art Painting” will be featured for patrons 13 years and older.  Tuesday, June 18, will see “Cowboy Bob” at Calvin at 10 a.m., and “Painting with Mrs. Page” will be at Dodson also at 10a.m.  “Cowboy Bob” is heading to Winnfield at 2 p.m.

Fun and educational programs will continue at Winn’s libraries throughout June and into the month of July.  Please watch the Journal and the Library website for details.

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Despite some losses and setbacks through the years, Cranford Jordon told the Rotary Club of Winnfield, “I’ve been blessed along the way” through the 50 years he’s been involved in various aspects of law enforcement.  July 1 will see the end of his three-term tenure as sheriff that began in 2012.

His election win for sheriff in the fall of 2011 was his third try, he explained, first losing campaigns in 1979 and 2007.  But that interim gave an opening for his involvement in the creation and startup of other community improvements including the 911 emergency phone system in 1989 and the rural Fire District #3 in 1995.

Things began in 1970 when Jordan was graduated from WSHS and would have been happy to go straight to work for his uncle, Sanford Jordan who served as Winn’s sheriff from 1956 to 1976.  But he heard, “No, you’re going to get an education first,” when he asked for a job so he attended LA Tech where he got a BS degree in Business in 1974, having worked here parttime as a deputy and jailer.  But his fulltime job disappeared when the new sheriff Dan Page took office in 1976.

He then spent three years with the sheriff’s office in Natchitoches.  Blessing or opportunity, he told Rotarians.  At the close of 1979, he got the civil service appointment as Winnfield’s chief of police.  The city’s population was 7,500.  The department had three vehicles (his own and two patrol cars).  In 1994, the chief’s position was changed to elective and he lost that race.

He then served as chief of police at Sikes until 2012.  Embattled sheriff Bodie Little did not run in the fall election 2011 and Jordan won that race in a field of 14 candidates.  He was set to take office July 1, 2012, but when Little resigned after conviction and sentencing on felony charges, the Police Jury appointed Jordan to start his term early, March 7.

Jordan said he began those duties on a shoestring budget.  The department had just $400,000 in the bank and nearly 10 months remaining to operate on a $2.2 million budget.  The new sheriff cut costs where he could, including half his own salary and got permission from the state to borrow $350,000 from the Bank of Winnfield.  There were 35 employees at the time.

Tax monies come in only at year’s end and “fortunately an oil company paid taxes it had previously withheld under protest.  We paid off the loan.  But times were tough those first two years.  We bought nothing new.  In fact, the sheriff of St. John the Baptist Parish sent us their used uniforms.  You might remember those black uniforms.

“In 2014, the public recognized I’d cut and saved and saw fit to approve a half-cent sales tax and we began to turn things around at the Sheriff’s Office.  We were able to add deputies, increase their pay, build our fleet and buy new equipment and bring back programs like DARE and the Seniors program.”

In 2015, CCA which handled the private management of Winn Correctional Center announced it was pulling out of Louisiana.  Jordan was approached about his department taking over that responsibility.  Jordan said he was disinclined but Winnfield mayor Kiah Beville encouraged him with the reminder that Winn Correctional was the city’s biggest water customer.  It would mean continued employment at the facility plus additional income for the department.  Winn Correctional became a federal detention center in 2019 and funding for the local department is about $1 million annually.

Jordan praised his wife, Dianne, who has supported him through the years, describing her as a “workmate,” supportive but not involved in the office.  “I’ve been blessed with her.  I had COVID and got through without longterm effects.  I’ve been shot at, stabbed, punched a lot and hit by a drunken driver.  And I’m still here.” 

Downtown Winnfield will be filled with music, food and activities for all during the 8th annual Dugdemona SummerFest this Saturday, June 8, from 4 p.m. until 1l:45 p.m.

Where else would you find a “Pucker Up, Buttercup” Lemonade Stand contest where it’s not just the biting citrus flavor of the drink but the style and presentation by its preparers that wins the award?  Look for a Chicken Wing Cookoff, Painting on the Dug, a Pacman Scurry fun run, Cornhole Tournament, activities for kids, vendors, food and more.

Organizers were even hopeful of bringing back some downtown bed races, popular during the Forest Festival heyday.  That will hinge on response from appeals to civic groups, churches and ball teams, they say.

To be sure, there will be plenty of music.  When SummerFest action kicks off at 4 p.m., Spencer Brunson will first up.  Deep Water Rehab will be in full gear at 5:15.  Then at 6:30, the sound will be that of Josh Love Trio.  Then at 8:15 p.m., the stage will feature La ROXX.

The highlight closer of Saturday’s entertainment will be launched at 10:30 when it’s dark enough for an impressive fireworks display.

Festival activities will be centered on Bevill Street between City Hall and First Baptist.  Current weather forecasts call for a warm, partly cloudy day.

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“Although working in the health care field was not my goal as I began to study marketing at Northwestern, I enjoy it very much and I’ve realized how important rural health care is,” Victoria Hubbard Knighten, Winn Parish native and currently marketing liaison for Winn Parish Medical Center, told Winnfield’s Rotarians at their meeting on May 22. Victoria spoke at the request of Rotarian of the Day, Bo Walker.

Victoria is herself a member of Rotary. She became marketing liaison for the local hospital as a sophomore at NSU and is soon to complete her degree. As liaison, she spends her time coordinating marketing of the medical center’s various health care providers and gets to do what she calls the “fun marketing,” such as promoting events on behalf of the hospital as well as being the hospital’s representative as a member of local civic clubs.

As Ms. Knighten informed Rotary of services offered by WPMC, she encourages everyone to use Winnfield-based services as much as possible to maintain those services locally.

The hospital’s lab is integrated with most healthcare providers within a 60-mile radius from Winnfield, so Winn Parish patients may have their labwork done at home and results may be sent directly to the doctor. The lab has a team on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Likewise, diagnostic imaging may be done at home and sent to the healthcare provider via a barcode, although doctors who prefer to receive a compact disc containing the images may still do so. Radiology services available at WPMC now include MRIs, CT scans, ultrasound, echocardiogram, lung cancer screening, and mammograms. Mammograms are currently done only certain days of each month, but the hospital is considering offering full-time mammography later this year. The hospital now has a bariatric CT machine for patients up to 650 pounds, which draws patients from other areas here.

A general surgeon from Alexandria, Phillip Cole, M. D., has come on board in Dr. James Lee’s office to perform procedures here on Fridays, or every other Friday as needed. 

Two nephrologists have also signed on, each of whom will see patients in Winnfield one a month.

The hospital also has a foot doctor it shares with other facilities. 

Winn Wellness Clinic has two MD’s, three nurse practitioners and two physician’s assistants. It provides weekend care on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Nurse Practitioner Kay Shepherd is a woundcare specialist in the Clinic on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Physical Therapy clinic provides therapy for injuries, post-surgical therapy and strengthening therapy.

The hospital has a hospitalist on the floor or on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the emergency room is staffed by Drs. Hart, Hayes, Iglesias, and one of the Winn Wellness doctors, Dr. Citarella.

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Some voters may receive an Address Confirmation Notice through the mail as part of the annual Canvass event that is now taking place, explained Winn Registrar of Voters Bryan Kelley.  

Canvass is done in conjunction with the USPS in an effort to keep voter rolls as current as possible. 

 If you receive an Address Confirmation Notice, the registrar asks please fill it out and mail it back.

 *  If your address is the same as what is listed, write your address in the appropriate spot and mail it back.  

 *  If your address is different from what is listed (residential or mail) or if you have added a different mailing address, write the correct address in the appropriate spot and mail it back. 

If you don’t receive an Address Confirmation Notice, the USPS verified your address as matching what we have on file.  If you have questions or would like to verify your voting information, you may call the Winn Registrar of Voters Office at (218) 628-6133.

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