This Information is Courtesy of the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Department 

According to Winn Parish Sheriff Josh McAllister school resource deputies and local school
officials recently attended critical incident training.

Entitled Lessons Learned from the Department of Justice Critical Incident Review of Uvalde,
Texas School Shooting, the training was sponsored by the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, LSU
Police Department, and the Office of Homeland Security.

The Sheriff stated that the training covered recommendations for tactics, leadership, incident
command, coordination, school safety, emergency management, public communications, pre-
incident and post-incident process, and traumatic support services.

“Everyone agrees that our children and grandchildren are the most important thing to us and
we should take every step to protect them. We want to be sure and support our school system
and make sure our first responders know what to do when facing critical situations. This and
like training helps our people get ahead of the curve in confronting those situations,” Sheriff
McAllister stated.

Members of the Winnfield Kiwanis Club went to local schools to recognize the “Terrific Kids” for the month of September, a tradition for the organization

The Police Jury meeting room was filled at noon Friday, December 6.  There was no agenda to approve, no gavel, no call to order or motions for ordinances.

Instead, the room was filled with talking and laughter and the smell of good Christmas cooking.  The occasion was the annual courthouse Christmas luncheon.

“It’s just something we do each year,” explained Police Jury Secretary/Treasurer Karen Tyler.  “We all work here in the courthouse but in different offices so we don’t get much of a chance just to talk and visit.  That’s what we’re doing now.  Everybody brings something and we just enjoy the food and a little time with each other.”

The holiday cooking was good.  The fellowship was uplifting.  There were calls for recipes to be shared.  And one by one, folks gathered up their empty plates and made a grateful and quiet exit from the meeting room to go back to their individual offices to carry on the work of Winn Parish as the year draws to a close.

Judge Jim Wiley spoke to the Kiwanis club Tuesday, December 10. The topic of his talk was “The People I Have Met, Good and Very BAD.”  

He grew up in Jonesville and met his first politician (Earl Long) at a young age across the street from his house at the Wiley Fish Company which belonged to his uncle. He attended Law School at Loyola in New Orleans and worked at the Civil District Court while going to school. Earl Long also graduated from Loyola Law School. Huey Long never graduated from high school or college but studied for a year and got a judge to see that he passed the bar. 

After graduating law school and passing the bar, Wiley started practicing law in Jena. He came to Winnfield 51 years ago at the invitation of Charlie Bice. Mr. Bice was district attorney at the time and he needed someone to help with his private practice. 

Much of Wiley’s talk involved his work in New Orleans and the people he met there, some of whose names were familiar and some were not. He told Kiwanians some stories about Edwin Edwards and other politicians from the 1970’s. Two of the lawyers he really admired in Winnfield were James Womack who was a charter member of the Kiwanis club and Martin S. Sanders. 

Kiwanis thanked Judge Wiley for a very interesting program.

By Annie Goods, DART Advocate/ Winn Parish
The holiday season is often portrayed as a joyful time filled with gatherings, celebrations, and family traditions. However, beneath the festive surface lies a troubling reality: for many individuals, particularly in abusive relationships, the holidays can be a time of increased danger and distress. Studies and reports from domestic violence organizations consistently reveal that domestic violence rates often spike during this time of year. Several factors contribute to this unsettling trend.

The holidays bring unique stressors that can exacerbate tensions in already volatile relationships: 

Financial Strain: The costs of gifts, travel, and holiday events can put added pressure on individuals and families, especially those already facing financial hardship. Financial strain is a well-known trigger for abusive behavior, as it heightens feelings of frustration and helplessness for some, which they may unfortunately take out on others. Increased Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol use tends to rise during the holiday season, with many gatherings featuring alcohol as a staple. Studies have shown that alcohol can impair judgement, reduce inhibitions, and escalate aggression, leading to a higher likelihood of abusive incidents in some relationships.

Family Pressure and Unrealistic Expectations: The idealized image of a “PERFECT HOLIDAY’ can create a sense of pressure for couples and families to maintain appearances. For some abusers, this pressure to conform to a happy image intensifies their need for control. Additionally, victims may feel compelled to stay quiet about abuse to avoid disrupting family events or out of fear of judgment from others.

Limited Resources: Many community resources, including support centers and counseling services, may be closed of have reduced hours over the holidays, leaving fewer options for victims to seek help. With fewer avenues for escape or support. victims may feel trapped and isolated, unable to get the help they need.

Isolations: Some abusers may take advantage of the holiday season to isolate their partners even further, discouraging them from visiting family or friends or using the holiday as an excuse to keep the victim close and away from external support networks. 

For victims, the holidays can amplify feelings of isolation, fear, and despair. In addition to the physical and emotional trauma, victims often experience feelings of shame and guilt, especially around family-centric holidays. Many choose to stay in abusive relationships during this time, hoping to preserve family harmony or avoid “ruining the holidays for their children or extended family. This often means that victims suffer in silence, putting on a brave face to get through the season. If you know someone who may be experiencing domestic violence, it’s essential to approach the situation with sensitivity.

Avoid judgement or pressure; instead, let them know that you are there to listen and support them, whatever choice they make. Offering information on local resources, like shelters or hotlines, can be helpful, but respecting their autonomy is key. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, help is available, even during the holidays.

DART provides a 24/7 crisis hotline number at 318-648-0559 or 318-251-2255, where individuals can seek assistance discreetly. Reaching out can be difficult, but it may be a critical step toward safety and recovery. The holidays should be a time of peace and comfort, but for too many, they bring fear and danger. By raising awareness and fostering a culture of support, we can help ensure that no one has to face this season, or any season trapped in a cycle of abuse.

Most fathers would do just about anything to protect their daughters from harm, criticism, and unhappiness.  Margaret’s father was no different.  In December 1950, Margaret, a soprano singer, performed at the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee to crowds who were enthusiastic about her “winning manner, discriminating selection of music, and naturalness.”  She had had many successes in concert and solo roles with several orchestras.  On this particular night, Margaret was accompanied by Herman Allison on piano.  When the curtain rose, Margaret greeted the large, cheering crowd wearing a concert dress of sari material, billowy material woven of gold and silver threads, which had been a gift from the wife of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.”  One critic reported that she won over the audience “before she sang a note.”  During her performance, she sang such difficult selections as “The Nightingale” by Schubert, “The Nut Tree,” by Schumann, and an aria from “Le Nozze de Figaro.”  So enthused was the audience that night that Margaret performed two encores.

While many other critics wrote positive reviews, 34-year-old Paul Hume, music editor for The Washington Post, was less than impressed.  Hume wrote that Margaret “cannot sing very well” and “is flat a good deal of the time.”  “There are a few moments during her recital,” he wrote, “when one can relax and feel confident that she will maker her goal, which is the end of the song…  It is an extremely unpleasant duty to record such unhappy facts about so honestly appealing a personality.  But as long as [Margaret] sings as she has for three years, and does today, we seem to have no recourse unless it is to omit comment on her programs altogether.”  It was a biting review.      

In response, Margaret said that she had not had time to read the review but he, Paul Hume, “has a perfect right to say whatever he thinks.”  She had received other negative reviews from critics in the past, but concert hall, radio, and television audiences adored her.  Despite the critics, people flocked to see her perform.  Margaret brushed off the negative review.  Margaret’s father, however, was enraged by Hume’s review.  He wrote a scathing letter to Hume in which he said, “I have just read your lousy review buried in the back pages.  You sound like a frustrated old man who never made a success, an eight-ulcer man on a four-ulcer job, and all four ulcers working.”  Margaret’s father’s anger grew as he continued to write.  “I never met you but if I do, you’ll need a new nose and plenty of beefsteak and perhaps a supporter below.”  In the letter, Margaret’s father threatened to “beat [him] up, from top to bottom.”  On the following day, newspapers reprinted parts of Margaret’s father’s letter.  At first, Margaret was surprised and did not believe her father wrote the scathing letter.  When she learned that her father had written the letter, she told the press that she had “no comment to make.”  Margaret’s father explained that he had written the letter out of love for his daughter.

On March 27, 2002, more than five decades later, Margaret’s father’s letter to Paul Hume was auctioned by the world-famous Christie’s Auction House.  The letter sold for $193,000.  You see, Margaret’s father wrote the letter on White House stationery. Margaret’s father was President Harry Truman.

Sources:

1.      “Truman, Harry. Autograph letter signed (H.S.T.” to Paul Hume, Music Critic of the Washington Post, D.C., 6 December 1950,” Christies.com, https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-3886900.

2.     The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee), December 9, 1950, p.1.

3.     St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 1950, p.13.

I was thrilled to read that Meta (Facebook) had selected Holly Ridge in Franklin Parish (near Monroe, Louisiana) as the site of its planned $10 billion Artificial Intelligence data center.  Governor Jeff Landry stated that “this investment is a game changer for our state.”  He further noted “this project is expected to be the largest private capital investment in the state’s history.”  Wow!

However, this tremendous success is nearly two decades in the making.

In 2006, I was serving in D.C. as Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Rodney Alexander (no relation).  One of the many projects Congressman Alexander was working on was assisting Governor Kathleen Blanco with preparing the Holly Ridge, Louisiana mega site location in Congressman Alexander’s 5th Congressional District.

The late Governor Blanco recognized early on that this large piece of land, situated as it was on Interstate 20 and within the proximity of Interstate 49 in Shreveport, could provide an ideal location for some major industry.  So, Gov. Blanco pushed her Department of Economic Development to focus on getting the land certified as “site ready.”  She then sought potential suitors and led an economic development trip to Asia for that purpose.  (During her tenure, one of Gov. Blanco’s signature achievements was landing Union Tank Car Co. in Alexandria, LA, also in Congressman Alexander’s congressional district).  

Governor Blanco invited Congressman Alexander to accompany her on the Asia trip, but he was unable to do so due to several major votes in Congress as well as critical votes on the House Appropriations Committee, on which he sat.  He simply couldn’t afford to be away.  So, I volunteered to travel with Governor Blanco in support of the 5th Congressional District.

What a trip.  

One event involved Governor Blanco and our group meeting with the Vice President of Toyota Motor Company.  I remember being briefed on the way over that the Japanese people are a shy, highly respectful people and not to be loud or overly expressive in the typical American and Louisiana way!  However, Coach Raymond Blanco, the Governor’s husband, departed our plane and immediately provided a bear hug to the leader of the greeting party at the airport who seemed at first taken aback but then smiled warmly.  I got the feeling we were not the first Americans who had not adhered to the “hands off” protocol.  

Toyota appeared genuinely receptive to our pitch and had a number of questions for Gov. Blanco and her economic development team, headed by Michael Olivier, who was well prepared.  I remember my one utterance was to tell the VP of Toyota that “there really is no place as special as Louisiana and no potential plant site as promising for Toyota as our Holly Ridge site.” (I also note the years of lobbying by economic developer, Tana Trichel, to bring this project to fruition).

Next, we headed to Beijing, China. I noticed that the moment we had gotten into Chinese air space all our phones and electronic devices said “China” on them.  I realized that our devices were likely being monitored by the Chinese communist government.

In Beijing, we toured several major industries.  I was reminded that in a communist country there is no need for permits, environmental impact statements or any other delays.  Once the government decided a project was needed, it was undertaken and completed.  One evening we were invited to a formal dinner.  I sat down and looked around.  It struck me that I had never before, and likely never would again, eat dinner in a room full of communists.  It was surreal.  I remember Gov. Blanco and her staff enthusiastically pitching, through interpreters, Louisiana generally and our mega site location specifically.  

Gov. Blanco emphasized that Louisiana would be a great business partner and would offer very competitive economic incentives to Chinese companies that located to Louisiana.  I felt the Chinese leadership at the table were listening closely.

Returning home, I was hopeful about the prospect of Asian investment in Louisiana, and especially at the Holly Ridge site.  That didn’t happen at that time but the extensive preparation that went into getting the property “site ready” is what made this decision possible by Meta. Without the foresight of Governor Blanco and the unconditional support of Congressman Alexander, this decision by Meta could not have occurred.

I also salute Governor Landry and his staff for doing the work necessary to cross the finish line of this unprecedented economic victory for Louisiana.  

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.

Charles Phillip Holmes
Passed-December 8th, 2024
Service: There are no services planned for Mr. Holmes at this time. 

Mark Durand Autrey
August 23, 1962- December 11, 2024
Service: Funeral services for Mr. Autrey took place Friday, December 13th, within Southern Funeral home. Interment followed in the Pine Ridge Cemetery (northwest Winn Parish).

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on September 9, 2024 

XAVION D. JOE: Defendant entered guilty plea to criminal mischief. Imposition of sentence suspended, placed on 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee and fee to Office of Public Defender. 

ROBERT EARL STARKEY, III: Defendant entered guilty plea simple flight and unlawful operation of an off-road vehicle and theft under $1000.00. Sentence on simple flight and unlawful operation of an off-road vehicle 6 months in the custody of Winn Parish Sheriff. Sentence on theft under $1000.00 imposition of sentence suspended, pay fine, court cost, probation fee, fee to Office of Public Defender and restitution. 

JOSHUA TURLEY: Defendant entered guilty plea attempted possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies. Sentenced to 7.5 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, credit for time served. 

DOMONIQUE DESHAUN WALKER: Defendant entered guilty plea criminal trespass. Sentence 30 days without hard labor in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff. 

AUSTIN DANIEL WISE: Defendant entered guilty plea aggravated second degree battery and possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies. Sentence on aggravated second degree battery serve 5 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. Sentence on possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies serve 7.5 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, concurrent. 

THOMAS JUSTIN WISE: Defendant entered guilty plea criminal trespass. Sentenced to 30 days without hard labor in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served. 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on September 12, 2024 

KENDRICK L. ABRAMS: Defendant entered guilty plea no drivers license on person. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

JEREMY PAUL COLLINS: Defendant entered guilty plea violation of protective order first offense. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay court cost, probation fee and fee to Office of Public Defender. 

KEITH DAUZAT: Defendant entered guilty plea criminal trespass and hunt/take turkey during closed season. Sentenced to 2 years probation, pay fines, court cost, probation fee and prosecution fee. 

MICHAEL SHEROD PIMPLETON: Defendant entered guilty plea no drivers license on person. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on September 16, 2024 

MALIA SNOWDEN: Defendant entered guilty plea child desertion. Sentenced to serve 6 months in the parish jail, credit for time served. 

DE’KARIAN D. STARKS: Defendant entered guilty plea child desertion first offense. Sentenced to serve 6 months in the parish jail. 

JAKEITHRA S. STARKS: Defendant entered no contest plea to negligent homicide. Sentenced to serve 5 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. Execution of 3 years jail sentence suspended and placed on 3 years supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, 6 months consecutive. 

LAQUETTA M. THOMAS: Defendant entered guilty plea child desertion first offense. Sentenced to serve 6 months in the parish jail, consecutive. 

DANIEL DASHAWN CORNETT: Defendant entered guilty plea hunt or take deer during illegal hours. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee, fee to Office of Public Defender and any gun forfeited. 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on October 14, 2024 

CHANDRA CHANAL GILBERT: Defendant entered guilty plea battery of a correctional facility employee by inmate and operating a vehicle while intoxicated – second offense Sentence on battery of a correctional facility employee by inmate serve 6 months in the custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served. Sentence on operating a vehicle while intoxicated – second offense serve 6 months in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served, concurrent. 

BENNY C. MARTIN, JR.: Defendant entered guilty plea operating a vehicle while intoxicated – second offense. Sentenced to serve 6 months in the parish jail, credit for time served. 

RONNIE GLENN MILSTEAD: Defendant entered guilty plea crime against nature. Sentenced to serve 4 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. 

GARRETT W. NORRIS: Defendant entered guilty plea obstruction of justice. Sentenced to serve 4 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. 

DERRICK J. THOMPSON: Defendant entered guilty plea 2 counts simple burglary. Sentence on the first simple burglary serve 6 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, credit for time served. Sentence on the second simple burglary serve 6 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, consecutive. 

JASON WHITSTINE: Defendant entered guilty plea simple burglary, theft of a motor vehicle – $1500.00 or more and theft of $1000.00 or more, but less than $5,000.00. Sentence on simple burglary serve 12 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. Sentence on theft of a motor vehicle – $1500.00 or more serve 5 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, consecutive to simple burglary. Sentence on theft of $1000.00 or more, but less than $5,000.00 serve 5 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, consecutive to the two previous sentences, concurrent with time defendant is serving. 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on October 15, 2024 

ROBERT LEE BROWN: Defendant entered guilty plea misdemeanor theft. Sentence deferred, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee, fee to Office of Public Defender and restitution. 

VICTORIA T. MADDOX: Defendant entered guilty plea simple criminal damage to property. Sentence – 6 months suspended, 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee, fee to Office of Public Defender and restitution. 

NOLAN R. WOMACK: Defendant entered guilty plea domestic abuse battery – 1st offense. Sentence – 6 months suspended, 2 years unsupervised probation, community service, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on October 17, 2024 

BOBBY LOMEZ BARNES: Defendant entered guilty plea disturbing the peace. Sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

RICARDO ANTONIO BROWN: Defendant entered guilty plea criminal trespass. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

JOHN PAUL CULPEPPER: Defendant entered guilty plea disturbing the peace. Sentence – suspended imposition of sentence, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

JAMES DAVID MOCKOSHER: Defendant entered guilty plea disturbing the peace. Sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

JOHN DANIEL MOCKOSHER: Defendant entered guilty plea disturbing the peace. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

FRANK BRENTON PATTON: Defendant entered guilty plea expired motor vehicle inspection sticker. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

JORGI A. CAPPS: Defendant entered guilty plea simple battery. Sentence deferred, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

RONALD DAVID ECKLUND: Defendant entered guilty plea telephone harassment. Sentence – 6 months suspended, 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee and fee to Office of Public Defender. 

JESSICA DANIELLE PESNELL: Defendant entered guilty plea operating a vehicle while intoxicated 1st offense. Imposition of sentence suspended, 24 months probation, pay fine, court cost, fee to Office of Public Defender, probation fee, satisfactorily complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance abuse and driver improvement program. 

TONY JEROME PHILLIPS: Defendant entered guilty plea expired motor vehicle inspection sticker. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on October 18, 2024 

OLIVIA SHANEL BARNES: Defendant entered guilty plea resisting an officer. Sentence deferred, 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee, fee to Office of Public Defender and prosecution fee. 

JAMIE LYNN DESADIER: Defendant entered guilty plea misdemeanor illegal possession of stolen things. Sentence – 6 months suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee and prosecution fee. 

RUSSELL CHAD JONES: Defendant entered guilty plea two charges of distribution of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance. Sentence on the first charge serve 10 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, execution of 6 years jail sentence suspended and placed on 3 years supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. Sentence on the second charge serve 10 years, consecutive to sentence on previous charge, 10 years suspended and placed on 3 years supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. 

LEONARD LEROY WHITE, III: Defendant entered guilty plea simple possession of marijuana < 14 grams. Sentence deferred, 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

KANDI CRAWFORD: Defendant entered guilty plea theft under $1000.00. Sentence – serve 3 months in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, consecutive. 

KARLTON RAI MADDOX, JR.: Defendant entered guilty plea resisting an officer. Sentence – serve 100 days in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served. 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on October 21, 2024 

STEVEN JAMES BILLIOTT: Defendant entered guilty plea simple battery. Sentenced to serve 110 days in the parish jail, credit for time served. 

STORMY LANE JONES: Defendant previously pled guilty to possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance and was present for sentence and contempt. Defendant admitted contempt and sentenced to Lincoln Nova Rehab or 30 day program and must comply with rehab conditions. 

MICHELA LEANN LOWE: Defendant entered guilty plea false communication with the intent to cause an emergency response. Sentenced to 3 months in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served. 

CODY DEVIN PARISH: Defendant previously pled guilty to illegal possession of stolen things and was present for sentence. Sentenced to serve 5 years at hard labor with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, credit for time served and court recommended Steven Hoyle Center or another treatment or after care. 

AUDIS WAYNE ROSS: Defendant entered guilty plea contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Sentenced to 6 months in the Winn Parish Jail, credit for time served. 

BRANDON EARL BANTA: Defendant entered Alford plea to felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Sentenced to 5 years at hard labor with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, credit for time served and ordered to register as sex offender annually for 15 years. 

KATELYN MICHELLE BROWNING: Defendant entered guilty plea to simple burglary. Imposition of sentence deferred and placed on 3 years supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections and be released from jail only to a rehab for 2 years. 

MARY JANE CALLAWAY: Defendant entered guilty plea theft of $25,000.00 or more. Sentence – 20 years suspended and placed on 3 years supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on October 25, 2024 

AARON LONG: Defendant entered guilty plea obstruction of justice and DWI 1st offense. Sentence obstruction of justice 5 years suspended, 3 years supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections; DWI 1st offense – suspended imposition of sentence, 2 years unsupervised probation, misdemeanor probation concurrent with sentence on obstruction of justice, pay fine, court cost, fee to Office of Public Defender and probation fee, complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance and driver improvement program.

(Some photos Courtesy Troy Rogers)

The Kiwanis Club of Winnfield has successfully completed another Winnfield Christmas Parade, a project they have coordinated since 1991.  The parade was previously handled by the Jaycees until the local chapter folded, then run by the City for several years until Kiwanis took it on.  Chairman of the club event is Jason Tarver.

The event drew families into the chilly downtown, with children lining Main Street in hopes of bagging candy or other treasures thrown from more than 50 floats.  Weather was cold but cooperative since there had been rain in the week leading up to Friday’s parade and threats of more rain following.  Yet the sky was clear, perfect for the parade and the fireworks that followed.

In the change of format this year, Kiwanis judges viewed each float and took notes as they passed the Main Street stairsteps leading to the old sanctuary of First Baptist Church.  After the parade, judges grouped and compared notes before reaching their decision.  In the past, they walked the staging area prior to the parade to judge, then presented trophies at that main viewing area.

Following are their results:

President’s Award – James Drilling Company

Governor’s Award – Louisiana Political Hall of Fame and Museum

Mayor’s Award – City of Winnfield

Theme Award – First Baptist Church

Spirit Award – New Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Honorary Mentions were awarded to:

Elite Athletics

City of Winnfield Animal Shelton

First Assembly of God

Calvin High School Varsity and Junior Cheer

One Eighty Ministries/The Family Church

Winnfield Senior High Band and Toy Tigers

Dustin Hillman – “Grisswold”

Goldonna Elementary/Junior High Cheer

Winnfield Senior High Cheerleaders

Jordan Hill United Pentecostal Church

The Chase Team

Tiger Shine Auto Matt