John “J.G.” Breithaupt
October 10, 1949 – November 21, 2024
Service: Services for Mr. Breithaupt began Saturday, November 23, 2024 at the Oak Grove Baptist Church 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM, with funeral services taking place shortly after. Interment followed within Pine Grove Cemetery (Rhinehart, LA).

While Winn Parish voters have concluded all national elections activity, there is still another election date ahead, Saturday, December 7, when Louisiana voters will go to the polls to decide the fate of four Constitutional Amendment issues.

Registrar Bryan Kelley advises that Early Voting will be held in the Registrar of Voters office in the Winn Parish Courthouse from today Friday, November 22, through Saturday, November 30. (The office will be closed Sunday, November 24, and Thanksgiving Thursday, and Friday, November 28 and 29).  Hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.  Enter through the Main Street entrance.  The election will be Saturday, December 7.  

Kelley also suggests that “voters download the GeauxVote app which allows you to view your sample ballot and monitor results on Election night.”

Sample ballots are also posted on the wall outside the Registrar of Voters Office.

Reminder:  All Absentee by Mail ballots must be received in the Registrar of Voters Office by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 6.  The deadline to request an Absentee by Mail ballot is December 3.  However, the Registrar strongly advises that voters request a ballot as soon as possible to ensure there is time to receive and return the ballot.

2024 Proposed Constitutional Amendments, December 7 Ballot:

Proposed Amendment No. 1  

Act 405 (2024 Regular Session) – Proposing to amend Article V, Section 25(C) and to add Article V, Section 25(A)(4) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the judiciary commission; to require the judiciary commission to conduct certain investigations; to provide for membership of the judiciary commission; to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors; and to provide a ballot proposition. 

Do you support an amendment to allow the Supreme Court to sanction a judge upon an investigation by the judiciary commission, and provide that the recommended sanction shall be instituted by the judiciary commission or by a majority of the supreme court, and to provide for the appointment of five members of the judiciary commission? (Amends Article V, Section 25(C); adds Article V, Section 25(A)(4)) 

Proposed Amendment No. 2 

Act 406 (2024 Regular Session) – Proposing to add Article III, Section 16(F) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to provide relative to consideration of appropriations bills; to provide for time periods and required information relative thereto; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. 

Do you support an amendment to require that the legislature wait for at least forty-eight hours prior to concurring in a conference committee report or amendments to a bill appropriating money? (Adds Article III, Section 16(F)) 

Proposed Amendment No. 3 

Act 407 (2024 Regular Session) – Proposing to amend Article III, Section 2(A)(3)(a) and (4)(a) of the Constitution of Louisiana and to add Article III, Section 2(A)(5) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to regular sessions of the legislature, to allow the legislature to extend a regular session for a limited time period for a specific purpose; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. 

Do you support an amendment to allow the legislature to extend a regular session in increments of two days up to a maximum of six days if necessary to pass a bill appropriating money? (Amends Article III, Sections 2(A)(3)(a) and (4)(a); Adds Article III, Section 2(A)(5)) 

Proposed Amendment No. 4 

Act 409 (2024 Regular Session) – Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 25 of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to ad valorem tax; to provide for the administration of tax sales of immovable property; to provide for the postponement of taxes under certain circumstances; and to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot proposition. 

Do you support an amendment to eliminate mandatory tax sales for nonpayment of property taxes and require the legislature to provide for such procedures by law; to limit the amount of penalty and interest on delinquent property taxes; and to provide for the postponement of property tax payments under certain circumstances? (Amends Article VII, Section 25).

(Use Act Number of read complete text of Act on Louisiana Legislature’s website)

The Honesty and Integrity Awards presented to Winn Parish juniors on November 11 when nine Students recognized for their high school activities by members of Eastern Star lodge #151.  

The lodge members welcomed these students along with their families for the ceremony and meal. Guests were treated to a great meal of chicken and spaghetti prepared by Carla Owens and Masonic green beans by the Joneses.  

Those recognized were, Charlie Buckley, Levi Beaubouef, Ellie Bryant, Isabella O’Bannon, Elizabeth Page, Andrew Chevallier, Jess Nelson, Noah Shows, and Audrey Tarver.  

Bro. Gary Foster gave a very interesting talk about how Honesty and Integrity are major tenants of Masonry.   

Bro. Charles Carroll spoke to the crowd about the many accolades and achievements that entitled these students for this recognition. 

Tuesday, November 19, Donny Moon from the LSU AgCenter spoke to Kiwanis. He has been in Winn Parish for 32 years and said he may be getting close to the end of his job here. He said he has the “Papa Bear Syndrome” in that he is very protective of all the kids when they go to their various projects and contests. 

The LSU AgCenter has a great set of leaders and volunteers. Enrollment in 4-H across the parish accounts for 40% of our school system’s populations. There are 4-H clubs in every school including Magnolia Bend. 

There was a good Parish Fair this year and they just finished up with the State Fair. During this year’s fair they held an Ag Awareness that involved the Forest Service and the FFA. It got kids involved from neighboring parishes, Grant and Jackson. They are getting ready to put up a rabbit shed at the fairgrounds. There was an increase in the number of livestock showed. Jackson and Grant parish had exhibitors in the fair. They want to add new classes to the fair for next year. 

Three students from Calvin and one from Winnfield are going to a National Forestry competition in Weston, West Virginia, because they won at the state level. The contest is in the summer.

At the request of Dr. Gaddis, Moon talked about problems people have with their yards, lawns, flowers, and more. The main thing that Moon encourages people to do is take a soil sample. The pH for Winn Parish soil is usually around 5.7 which is an acidic soil. If you do not lime and fertilize, you will not get the growth you want. St. Augustine grass is a needy grass and Centipede grass grows well. MSM turf, Atrazine and a surfactant are good products for your lawn, he said.

He mentioned 2 kinds of ants – fire ants and town ants. In Texas they are working on something to use to get rid of feral hogs. Two plants that are mistreated are roses and crepe myrtles. Most people prune them incorrectly just chopping them all off to the same height. Moon calls this “crepe murder.” In crepe myrtles this kind of treatment leads to a powdery mildew. You should just thin out roses and crepe myrtles. 

Donnie Moon said he is here for the people. Just call him and he will come and help you. He really appreciates the support that he and the LSU AgCenter receive from the community. 

Winnfield Police Department Officer Cassidy Martin received certification as a Special Weapons And Tactics, (SWAT) Officer the week of November 10-15. Officer Martin, who has been with the police department since 2006, attended and graduated from the 27th Basic SWAT Operator School located in Lafayette. The 60-hour course included intense physical fitness testing that involved runs with and with special gear, weapons training, obstacle courses, and live scenario practices that used simulation rounds.

Officers also received training in reacting to life-threatening emergencies like barricaded subject, hostage negotiation and rescues, deployment of specialized weaponry and vehicles, and different marksmanship techniques that were conducted night, day and during inclement weather. After accumulation of all their training on Friday, officers from Lafayette, Kenner, Iberia Parish, Carencro, and Winfield received their certifications. Martin brings back his training and expertise to the department where he can assist other officers in proper protocols in different situations. 

“I congratulate Officer Martin on his accomplishment and for further advancing his training and certifications. This benefits both the Winnfield Police Department and the community by having properly trained officers in specialized areas” said Chief of Police Johnny R. Carpenter.

Martin stated, “It was very intense training and by far the best I have ever attended. I intend to apply this training to other officers to help protect the citizens of Winnfield.” 

The department and Martin thanked the Lafayette Police Department for allowing Martin to attend their training and certification program even though he was from a different area. Developing relationships and networking across the state is vitally important to make a department successful and develop a Mutual Aid concept during emergencies, whether criminal or natural disaster. The department still mourns the death of Sr. Corporal Segus Jolivette, the Lafayette SWAT officer killed in the line of duty back in July of this year.

While researching past historical documents of the Winnfield Police Department, it was found that that Martin is the very first police officer of this department to have advanced to such a skilled position. His SWAT training along with the School Shooter Training sponsored by the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office will work hand in hand to provide the safest environment to the schools, city and parish.

Winnfield recruit officer Edward Starks III graduated from the Alexandria Regional Police Academy November 14 after 16 weeks of training to become a Post Certified Police Officer.  Starks was hired by the Winnfield Police Department at the city council meeting on August 16, 2023. He started the police academy on July 28 of this year.

During his time at the academy, Starks was training in basic policing which includes the topics of Criminal Law, Criminal Code of Procedures, defensive tactics, emergency management, hazardous materials handling, basic first aid, hostage negotiation techniques, tactical police driving, Crisis Team Intervention, and rigorous physical fitness training.  Specialized training included DWI and Drug Impairment Driving, Intoxilizer 9000 operator certification, spike strip usage, certification in less-lethal weapons such as chemical and Taser®, traffic enforcement and crash investigations, and many hours of weapons training on their duty pistols, patrol rifles and shotguns.  

The Alexandria Regional Training Academy is a division of the Alexandria Police Department that utilizes specially trained Instructors, normally considered experts in their areas, from the different aspects of law enforcement, from APD certified instructors, physical fitness trainers, P.O.S.T. certified weapons instructors, defensive tactics instructors, as well as outside sources that include Judges, lawyers, state and federal agents and guest instructors.

With completing the academy, the cadets are classified as P.O.S.T. certified Police Officers and will continue with field training with their respective departments.  They are also awarded 15 hours of college credits towards degrees offered at LSU-A in Alexandria.

The department reported that Edward Starks III was also awarded the Jeremy Carruth Memorial Physical Fitness Award for maintaining the highest physical fitness standards through the academy.

Graduation ceremony was attended by his family and his supervisors from the Winnfield Police Department who congratulated Trey on his accomplishments and look forward to working with him.

Gardeners in Winn and Jackson Parish are invited by County Agent Donny Moon to take part in a seminar that will be held Monday, December 16, on pruning and grafting that will be held in the Winn Extension Office, LSU AgCenter.

Making the presentation at the 5 p.m. training will be Donald Boyett whose focus will be fruit trees.

“Grafting is significant because you can add extra varieties to your garden without adding extra trees.  With fruit trees, you’ll often graft to hardy root stock for disease-resistant trees.  For apples, for instance, grafting is the only way it will work.  You can’t grow them from seeds which are all hybrids.  Every seed will grow a different tree.”

Boyett noted on pruning that generally, any primary pruning to fruit trees should be done during the dormant season although general trimming can be done any time.  A gardener may was to prune for form, looking at light exposure.  For productivity, horizontal limbs do better than vertical.

“For peaches, you prune to spur new growth.  A limb produces flowers and fruit only one time.  The only production that limb will have the next year is in its new growth at the tip.  So you need to prune to generate new growth.  I hear people say their peach trees are losing productivity over time.  That’s the reason.”

Learn more on December 16.

In a warmup for the 2024-25 high school basketball season, the Winnfield Senior High School Tigers had a successful outing when they traveled to Jonesboro-Hodge for Jamboree action November 14.  WSHS topped the J-H Tigers by a score of 42-28.

The two fighting Tigers matched pretty evenly in the first period of play, going into the locker room at halftime with Winnfield ahead by only 3 points, 18-15.

But the WSHS Tigers came roaring out in the second half, outscoring their opponents nearly double, by a 24-13 margin to bring about the 42-28 tally at the final buzzer.

“In the first half, the ball movement was good to start the game, but we couldn’t make shots. In the second half we got a couple easy baskets in transition, and forced Jonesboro-Hodge to change to man defense,” said Coach Allen Tew.

Jaylon Jackson was top scorer for Winnfield with 14 points, 3 assists and 5 rebounds.  Kendrick Davenport poured in 11 points including one 3-pointer plus 3 rebounds.  SemaJ Evans hit 5 points (with a 3-pointer), pulled down 8 rebounds with 1 assist.  Jaydyn Rainwater also scored 5, with 2 rebounds and an assist.  Also putting points on the board were Datavius Howard with 3, Relique Benjamin with 2 and Germany King with 2.

Point leader for J-H was Ariy’un Bradford whose 13 points made up 46% of the team’s total.

Winnfield’s field goal percentage was 34.2% on the night and 59.1% from the free throw line.  They recorded 11 steals with 3 blocks but committed 14 turnovers and 8 personal fouls.  Meanwhile, Jonesboro-Hodge posted a field goal percentage of 31% and just 25% from the free throw line.  They recorded 4 steals with 2 blocks and committed 13 turnovers and 13 personal fouls.  

I have watched with hopefulness as President Trump names his cabinet picks, including RFK Jr., Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem, Pete Hegseth, Matt Gaetz, and others.   

The American people voted for dramatic change and President Trump is planning to deliver it. 

Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is intriguing, headed by Elon Musk and the talented Vivek Ramaswamy.  The thought of Musk developing a software program to ascertain who among our 2.87 million current federal employees are actually necessary to the running of the federal government will be tremendously encouraging to millions of Americans who believe the federal government is far too large, taxes and regulates far too much, and exerts far too much power over our daily lives.

In fact, reducing the footprint of the federal workforce should be low-hanging fruit for DOGE in that, at most, only one in three federal employees have even returned to the office since the China Virus Pandemic ended three years ago!

Over many decades the lines of constitutional authority at the federal level have become blurred and, as a result, our enormous federal agencies—and the tens of thousands of unelected bureaucrats who work at them—are where the laws we live under are actually interpreted and then enforced with far too much “discretion” afforded to the relevant agency. 

This is a violation of our U.S. Constitution which exclusively vests the constitutional authority to make our laws in the U.S. House and U.S Senate in conjunction with the president signing or vetoing a bill.  With the great support President Trump will no doubt give DOGE, I think by the time he leaves office he may have shrunk the size of the federal government by 1/3rd.

I am also intrigued by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK, Jr.) being nominated to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  One of RFK Jr.’s great passions is addressing the terrible health of millions of Americans and the food, drink and drugs that are the cause of it.  At HHS, Kennedy will be able to directly address that problem. 

I am encouraged by the appointment of highly decorated Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.  He has combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq and is currently an officer in the National Guard.  I think Trump values Hegseth’s strong personality and desire to weed out Woke, political, “TV” generals whose loyalty often seems to be to that behemoth of an institution, the Pentagon, as well as the military-industrial complex in general, rather than to the President who appointed them. 

When generals conduct themselves in this way the civilian military authority that our Constitution vests in our Commander-in-Chief is undermined.  This is to say nothing of the fact that generals who view the need to treat our military as an experiment in social engineering, including transgender and “racial equity” issues, also endanger the critical military mission.  I believe Hegseth will not hesitate to take this on.

I am excited to see Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota nominated for Department of Homeland Security and Tulsi Gabbard nominated as Director of National Intelligence.  I think they are competent, loyal, and tough.

I close with the nomination of U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz to serve as Attorney General. 

President Trump may view the greatest wound he suffered in his first term being when his then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself allowing the Russia “investigation” (hoax) to accelerate into what became the complete lie of a 2 year Mueller persecution of Trump and his Administration.  Further, while I was hopeful about Trump’s second AG appointment, Bill Barr, I ultimately was very disappointed in Barr’s unwillingness to fight for the Trump Administration or to even open an investigation into voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election when there was abundant video and eyewitness testimony in several swing States of rampant vote fraud and violation of federal and state law and regulation.  

An AG does not head an independent agency.  The Department of Justice (DOJ) is a part of the Executive Branch, and the AG serves at, and only at, the pleasure of the president who appoints him.  Barr was weak and “swampy.”  No more.  If Gaetz is confirmed he will apply the equivalent of a political blowtorch to the DOJ and bring that wayward monolith back to its constitutional roots—serving the president and the nation.

These are key first steps in re-establishing a “Government by the Consent of the Governed.”

If you’re ever presented the opportunity to go on a dove hunt in Mexico, don’t turn it down! It’s one of the greatest hunts you’ll get to experience! But a hunt in Mexico is more than just about shooting a lot of doves, it’s also a humbling experience and one that will make you appreciate this great country we live in. 

One of the great perks about my days as Louisiana Director of Manufacturing for Holloway Sportswear was the opportunities it presented for taking part in some good hunts, as well as getting to play golf at some of the best golf courses in America like Pinehurst, North Carolina and Old Waverly in Mississippi. 

But I’ll never forget a hunt we made at La Paloma Resort in Mexico about two hours south of Harlingen, Texas. You’ve heard the expression, “Half the fun is getting there!” Well, that was definitely the case on this trip. 

Just going through gun check at the Mexico border was a little intense and took several hours to get approval. The one thing you don’t want to do is make the border agents mad or question what is taking so long. You’re better off just going with the flow and trying to survive the process. 

It’s funny how hard it is to cross the Mexico border from the US side, but so easy to get back into the United States. You would think it would be the other way around! But hopefully our border crises will be solved now that we’ve elected a new President.

There’s only one way to describe a Mexico dove hunt…. unbelievable! For anyone who has ever shouldered a shotgun and shot a few doves, I cannot put into words how incredible this hunt is. Doves fly over, not just as one here and there, but in clouds one wave after another! There are so many doves flying that it can be difficult to pick one out to shoot.   

Here’s another example of just how many doves there are. It was not uncommon for every hunter in our party to bring in over 100 doves each on a two-hour hunt. During each hunt, every hunter is given two bird boys (or retrievers) to make sure all the doves that were shot are not left in the field. These bird boys ranged in ages from 10 to 18 years of age and will stop at nothing to retrieve a bird.

Each boy was incredible at going and getting every bird that was knocked down. They would go through barbwire fences and brier patches to get a downed dove! 

Each bird boy was paid $50 per hunt, and it was encouraged to tip them as well. The impressive thing was that the money paid to them was not for a new PlayStation game, but for school supplies and clothes for the upcoming school year. 

No dollar was waisted! So, I made sure my boys were taken care of by tipping them at least another $50 each per hunt since I knew the money was being well spent and they earned it! 

Another way to describe how great these hunts are is that each hunter in our party, over three days, went through almost 2 cases of shotgun shells. One case is 10 boxes of 25 shells per box. So, 2 cases would be the equivalent of 500 shells shot over the three-day period. This turns out to be just over 80 shells shot per hunt. You shot so much, that you could not touch the barrel of your gun because it was so hot! That’s why you needed two guns on each hunt so you could alternate guns. 

My best advice if you go on one of these great dove hunts is make sure to leave your 12-gauge at the house and bring two 20-gauge shotguns instead. Funny story… as we loaded (owner) Randy Holloway’s private jet in Dallas to fly to Harlingen, Texas, my peers all laughed at me for bringing two 20-gauge shotguns…called me a wuss! But I knew if we shot as much as I had heard we would, that by day two my shoulder would be more than just a little sore. 

Well guess how many “sore shouldered” guys in my party came to MY room on the morning of day 2 asking to borrow one of my 20-gauge shotguns? Every one of them! That’s right, I could have auctioned off one of my 20-gauge shotguns for more than the price of a Rolex watch, as each of them finally realized what I already knew. LEAVE THE 12-GAUGE AT HOME!

Turns out, I shot more doves than anyone else in my party over those three days because my shoulder was just fine! Guess I wasn’t the wuss after all! Till next time, good luck, good hunting and stay safe. Remember, that if you were born on or after September 1, 1969, and plan to hunt, you will need to take a Hunter Safety Course.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

The investigation into the Hit and Run incident on October 29 in which Denzell Foster was seriously injured, has been upgraded to an attempted murder investigation resulting in the arrest of a local woman.

Through the efforts of Winnfield Police Department officers, the vehicle involved was located at Plunk’s Towing Service in West Monroe.  It was originally dropped off at the Enterprise Rental Company parking lot in Ruston about one hour after the 11:10 p.m. incident.  

Enterprise officials, through legal means, were able to provide the rental agreement on the vehicle as well as security surveillance video of the car as it was dropped off and the driver leaving in her own vehicle which had been parked on the lot when she rented the car.  

The rental car had been in a secure location at Plunk’s allowing officers to process for DNA and fingerprint evidence.  Officers working the original scene believed that due to the movements and momentum of the impact on Foster that this was an intentional act.

The suspect was arrested on a previous outstanding warrant.  Later she was interviewed and told officers that her actions were intentional although her motive is unclear.  Chiquitha Johnson, age 27, of Winnfield has been charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder and is currently incarcerated at the Winn Parish Detention Center.  

Family members of Foster indicate that he is making progress in his recovery process.  

In the October 29 incident, police received a call that a man was in the ditch on the side of South Jones Street, bleeding from the head.  Foster was known to frequently walk wherever he needed.

Responders found Foster had sustained severe head trauma and internal injuries.  He was taken to the Rapides Regional Medical Center Trauma Unit in Alexandria and later transferred to trauma ICU at Ochsner’s LSU Medical Health in Shreveport. 

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named 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.

The Winnfield Police Department’s photo enforcement program became operational on October 13 when the trailer along with the proper signage was put in place.  The caution period for motorists to become familiar with the system has ended and full enforcement has begun.  

“As officers have now completed their training, they can be expected to move around to different ‘hot zones’ to slow traffic down in dangerous spots,” Asst. Chief Charles Curry reported this week.  The required signage will be in place prior to enforcement.  

Curry reminded “this does not take away from officer patrol duties, as off-duty P.O.S.T.-certified officers are paid to use these enforcement devices. The limited enforcement has graduated to full enforcement effective November 13. The speed violations are civil in nature and begin at 11 mph over the posted speed limit.  The citation does not appear on your driving record and will not affect your insurance.”

The costs of speed violations are set by city ordinance and are as follows:

10-19 mph over posted speed limit: $165

20-29 mph over posted speed limit: $175

30+ mph    over posted speed limit: $185

“Do not be fooled into thinking that at 40-plus miles over the limit is only a $185 fine.  Officers working this detail will use that evidence to perform a normal traffic stop and more than likely make an arrest for those excessive speeds if they feel that others have been placed in danger,” said the assistant chief.  

“Our top priority is to promote safety throughout the city.  We will be having officers conduct the violation spots in neighborhoods from time to time based upon the complaints received and the amount of speeding traffic.  We will, however, address any speed limit signs or such if they are unreadable or missing with the street department and make sure that these are marked correctly before any type of enforcement in a particular neighborhood.

“Notice of Speed Violations will include the location, time and date, information on your vehicle, a photograph of the license plate, and the recorded speed.  Information also includes the violation amount, due date, citation number, and an access pin number (left bottom section of front page).  Payments can be made at https://www.metatraffic.net, and will need your citation number and the access code mentioned above.  You can mail payments to MT-City of Winnfield, PO Box 245, Harrisonburg, LA 71340.  If you have trouble with these procedures, you can call Meta-traffic at (855)783-5138.  Remember, they are a growing company and do not have the number of people to answer each call as they are made, but you can always text that number and they will return your call within a day or two.  

 “If you were not the operator or owner of the vehicle at the time of the violation, the back of the notice at the bottom section includes an affidavit that must be completed and mailed to Meta-Traffic.  You may transfer the responsibility to the actual driver at the time of the violation. This affidavit must be notarized prior to mailing.

“If all else fails and you still have questions, you may call Assistant Chief Curry at the Winnfield Police Department.  His direct line is (318)727-3010.  If you do not get an answer, please leave a voice mail and he will get back to you.  

“We request that you do not call the regular business line, 911, City Court Clerk, City Hall or the District Attorney’s office as they will only refer you to the direct line. Those offices do not have any dealings with this enforcement, other that we have to follow the city ordinance as it was written and passed.” 

As of November 15, from the trailer and from Lidar enforcement, there have been 3,065 noted violations resulting in 1,534 issued citations, with 860 warning to parish residents and 671 not processed yet.

It was good news for Sikes residents when word came through of $2.65 million in grants to improve both their water and sewer systems.

The village has received a $1.7 million grant from the EPA for two water wells to be dug west of Sikes plus another $950,000 in grants ($750,000 from the Louisiana Department of environmental Quality and $200,000 from the Overflow Sewer Grant Program) to improve the sewer system.

“When I was growing up, you couldn’t see the bottom of your bathtub and I figured that was normal,” Mayor Sheryl McDaniel told the Journal.  “But when I was elected mayor four years ago, I set as a goal for Sikes to have clear, safe, drinkable water.”  Unopposed in the most recent election cycle, McDaniel can now see that goal within grasp.

The Sikes water system has been under an Administrative Order from the LDH for poor water quality since 2016.  That order should be lifted once the new wells are completed.

“Our water grade has been an ‘F’ since the state began grading two years ago,” said McDaniel.  “No doubt it would have been an ‘F’ since the 1970s if it were graded back then.  These grants will give the Sikes system the new infrastructure that is way past due and we are so grateful.”

Grants for sewer improvement will bring about brand new infrastructure for that system, including a new lift station and manholes.  Work on those improvements began the first of the month and are expected to be complete by March 2025.