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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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Audie Marie Hand Jordan
May 16, 1926 – February 13, 2025
Service: Funeral services for Mrs. Jordan started at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Interment followed in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Winnfield.

Carilyn Ashcroft
September 18, 1927 – February 15, 2025
Service: Funeral services for Mrs. Ashcroft will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories, Winnfield.

Joseph Preston “J.P.” Tarver
January 22, 1934 – February 14, 2025
Services: A graveside service for Mr. Tarver will be held at 2:30 PM on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Belah Cemetery in Trout, Louisiana, where interment will also take place. The family will receive loved ones and friends from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM the same day at Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home in Jena, Louisiana.

On January 9 corrections officers at the Winn Parish Detention Center intercepted a “care package” intended for an inmate, which contained illegal narcotics and other contraband. The package, delivered by an unidentified male, was handed directly to a corrections officer at the facility’s front office.

Upon conducting a thorough search of the package, officers discovered toothpaste, bar soap, 29 assorted pills, a clear plastic baggie containing suspected methamphetamine, and another baggie with suspected marijuana. Investigators from the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office were immediately called to the scene.

After reviewing security footage, investigators identified the suspect as Xavion Joe of Winnfield. The evidence was sent to the North Louisiana Crime Lab, where analysis confirmed the presence of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and Anilo-phenethyl, a controlled animal tranquilizer.

A warrant was issued for Joe’s arrest on charges of Introduction of Contraband Into a Penal Facility.

On February 6 Winn Parish deputies arrested Joe on the outstanding warrant. During the arrest, deputies discovered 17 grams of suspected synthetic marijuana in his jacket pocket. As a result, an additional charge of Possession of Schedule I Controlled Substances was filed. The newly discovered substances have also been sent to the crime lab for further analysis.

Sheriff Josh McAllister commended the corrections officers for their vigilance and dedication to keeping illegal substances out of the facility.  “Their efforts are crucial in maintaining a safe environment.”  He also reminded the public that “All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

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The Winnfield City Council in its February regular session Tuesday introduced an ordinance that will raise sewer rates for its customers, an increase that was estimated to be about $5 monthly for the “average customer” who now be paying about $22 monthly. The additional charge to major users will be higher, members heard.

City engineer Henry Shuler came before the council with his studies and report and opened with a “Don’t Shoot the Messenger” explanation of the situation.  The state has recently changed its regulations in relation to municipal finances in regard to their receiving a state grants for water and sewer improvements.

The state sets financial guidelines and “it’s no longer that you should or could…you must follow their guidelines.  This is a ‘shall,’ not a choice.”  In this case, Shuler said the state requires that the city’s sewer program must show a 15% profit of income over expenses.  The excess allows a municipality to build a reserve for future sewer equipment replacement and repairs, not having to depend on emergency grants as solutions.

Shuler emphasized that “it’s not a question of if but rather when, because equipment will have to be replaced.  When that happens, they want you to have the money in the bank.”  The state position does include a “threat,” the engineer indicated.  Should a municipality “bow up” and refuse to impose the guideline increases on customers, the state could demand that municipality to repay the grants they had received.  In Winnfield’s case, that would be several million dollars.

The good news from Shuler’s report came when he told the council that when the state originally reported its findings, the rate increase they were asking from Winnfield was higher.  But the engineer successfully showed that figures they had used to reach their conclusion were too broad so the revised percentage was the one the council acted on.

Auditor Steven McKay, attending the meeting to report on the city’s financial audit for the year ending June 30, 2024, commented on the sewer rate guidelines imposed on Winnfield.  He noted that rate increase here is one of the “most moderate” that he has seen on numerous municipalities in the region.

Councilman Matt Miller brought up the point that this increase applies only to the sewer rates.  “Could they come back with increases on water rates?” he asked.  Shuler said there is no immediate impact on water rates but suggested that if the city later pursues a major grant for the water system, it’s likely that water rate guidelines would be attached.

Also Tuesday night, on the audit report given by McKay, the council heard that the city has “passed with flying colors.”

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Local folks may know him as Santa Claus.  He’s been Santa for the City of Winnfield for the past six years (and had worked in that role here in the past before moving away).  With his own red suit and his home-grown white beard, he’s a natural.

But there’s more to Bill Thompson than “Ho, ho, ho” and Christmas candy, the Rotary Club of Winnfield discovered when Thompson gave an engaging and entertaining presentation he might have entitled, “The Many Hats of Bill Thompson.”

Born in Mississippi, he was moved to Union Parish at such a young age that he claims that as his native parish and is where he grew up.  He told members that he received his degree in Pulpwood Hauling and spent 35 years as a Medical Legal Forensic Death Investigator.

While working in north Louisiana, he married Lisa who was from Montgomery and she convinced him they ought to move here.  Unfortunately, she died young, leaving him with an 18-month son.  While here, he launched chapters of Sons of Confederate Veterans in Winn and Jackson parishes.  He was very involved with full-uniform Civil War reenactments.  (Hold that point for later in the story).

In Winnfield, he met and married Denise Verret and they remained here until her death.  Because of his knowledge of the Confederacy, Thompson got the opportunity to work as a guide at Beauvoir in Biloxi, the last home of Jefferson Davis.  There he would conduct seven tours a day throughout the week, “going heavy on the Southern charm when the guests came from north of the Mason-Dixon Line.”

He then met a “California girl,” Noelani, and “I moved her to Mississippi then we came home to Winnfield.”  When they married, she became “Mrs. Claus” and they served as a team for the first time this past Christmas.  He’s put in a request to the City Council to provide a new Santa House to replace the aged and dilapidated one that has serviced the city for years.  

He joked that when he rides in a fire truck in parades, perhaps instead of being named “Ladder 1,” it should be “Red One.”  Now home is not the North Pole.  “My house is in Winnfield.”

Back to the war re-enactments, Thompson was with a group just finishing a re-enactment when they heard the movie Gettysburg was seeking re-enactors.  They got some parts and the concept stuck.  “I’m a member of the North Louisiana Film Association.”  He’s been in films, TV shows, commercials and photo shoots.”  Productions include Gettysburg, Goodbye Cleveland and Leverage Redemption.

As he entertained with some of the behind-the-scene action, he explained, “You get to meet people, hear some great performances…and get paid for it.”  He said they can arrive for an assignment, not even knowing the movie situation until they’re on the set.  They are sent to Makeup in nice, crisp shirts where they hear, “Make them dirty.”  Makeup does just that, only to hear, “dirtier.”

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The cold, wet weather this week may not indicate it but Mardi Gras fun is set to come down Main Street on Saturday, February 22, with the annual parade.  Organizers are hopeful that Mother Nature will cooperate in letting “the good time roll” in the tradition Winnfield has enjoyed since 1992.

The parade that Saturday will begin at 11 a.m. with lineup at 10 a.m.  There will be plenty of the always-popular beads and candies and throws for folks lining Main Street.  But the difference this year, explains Shannon Thompson will be that there will be no floats, trucks or cars, as seen over the past three decades.

“We’re going to try something different,” explained Thompson.  “Our parade participants will be driving golf carts, side-by-sides and 4-wheelers.  We may even have children pulling wagons.  We know this will give a new look to the Main Street parade.  We’ll see how it goes.”  Captain of the Krewe of Kingfish Mardi Gras Parade will be Hannah Austin.

Parade goers are invited to follow the February 22 parade to its end because a Mardi Gras Festival will begin where the parade ends, at the Farmers Market opposite the Methodist Church.  It will feature vendors, food, crafts and free children’s activities.  Planned for the kids will be face-painting, cupcake walk, a station for creating their own Mardi Gras masks and maybe more.

Adults won’t be left out.  Lined up so far will be a Split-the-Pot Bingo, a silent auction and a Split-the-Pot raffle…maybe more, said Thompson.  There will be two or three different food trucks on the site.

For information on how you can be part of the festivities, contact Shannon Thompson at 318-623-0477.  You can also see more on the Krewe of Kingfish Facebook page or their website at kreweofkingfish.org.

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Jonathan, otherwise known as JP, is the City of Winnfield Electric Department Supervisor, along with Josh one of his Lineman.  J P went over several of the goals for the City to help keep the Lights on.  The city has a new bucket truck with a 72 foot reach,  along with some other equipment.  He has initiated a project of buying heavier duty polls, and the city has started a program to changed out old Street Lights to newer more efficient LED  lights. They have hit targeted areas for removing Trees that could cause power failures in Storms.  He does all this with Six employees.

He talked about how the city gets it Electricity. The Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA), created by the State Legislature in 1979, consists of 20 Louisiana cities and towns, each maintaining its own independent municipal power system.

LEPA is a joint-action agency working to provide its member communities with firm, stable sources of electricity at the lowest possible cost.  

Many questions about service and the number of customers were asked.   He believes the city serves about 4,300 meters,  of these about 400 have been upgraded to allow automated communication and control. 

Kiwanis thanked them for their dedication to keeping the power on day and night.

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The Louisiana Political Museum announces the 33rd annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, taking place on Saturday, April 5. This prestigious event celebrates the remarkable achievements of Louisiana’s political leaders, public servants, and trailblazers who have shaped the state’s history.

The evening begins with a reception, open free to the public, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Louisiana Political Museum, located at 499 East Main Street, Winnfield. The festivities will continue with a dinner and induction ceremony at 6 p.m. at the City of Winnfield Civic Center, 2000 South Jones Street (Fairgrounds).

The 2025 Hall of Fame inductees are:

Judge Marion F. Edwards – Renowned for his contributions to law and justice, including pioneering one of Louisiana’s first drug courts and serving as Chief Judge of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.

The Honorable Don Burkett – Louisiana’s longest-serving District Attorney, recognized for his leadership, justice reforms, and dedication to victims’ advocacy.

Mr. Charles S. Weems III – A distinguished attorney whose impact on law, education, and civic life includes pivotal roles in establishing LSU at Alexandria as a four-year institution.

Ms. Marsha Shuler – Celebrated journalist whose decades-long political reporting informed and inspired Louisiana citizens.

Mr. Jim Harris – A political strategist and public affairs pioneer instrumental in advancing Louisiana’s environmental and legislative initiatives.

The Honorable James Maxwell “Max” Kelley – Former mayor of Winnfield and key figure in founding the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame.

Ms. Carolyn Reber Phillips – The museum’s first executive director, credited with preserving Louisiana’s rich political heritage and growing the museum into a state treasure.

Tickets are $125 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10. Reservations can be made by calling the Louisiana Political Museum at 318-628-5928 or visiting lapolmushof.com. Please purchase tickets by March 21.

For organizations and individuals interested in supporting the event, diverse sponsorship opportunities are available. Those seeking additional information about sponsorships can contact the Louisiana Political Museum at (318) 628-5928 or (318) 628-0169.

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The Winn Main Street Design Committee will be working on projects throughout town to spruce things up. Their first project is “The Stump” Food Truck Park. 

The cool temperatures this week didn’t stop the design committee members of this team from stenciling a little hopscotch fun in the food truck park. The design team is excited to revitalize Winnfield. 

“We hope the citizens of Winnfield will utilize the food truck park more and enjoy the healthy additions that are being added, says Shannan Chevallier.  It’s our goal to create a fun family atmosphere in the park as well as a bright spot in our community.

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“Love is Kind and when it is not, even for a moment, it’s cause for harm,” says Winn Parish Dart Advocate Annie Goods.

The definition of Teen Dating Violence, she says, is physical, sexual, emotional and/or verbal abuse in a relationship, which can include online or physical stalking.

“Intimidation, threats, ridicule, obsessive communication and forceful behavior is not normal.

It is never okay to physically or emotionally hurt someone or force them to do something. And most importantly, it is never the victim’s fault.”

She points out that typical warning signs of abuse from a partner include checking your phone, email, or social media accounts without your permission or putting you down frequently, especially in front of others.

They also include isolating you from friends of family (physically, financially, or emotionally), extreme jealousy or insecurity and explosive outbursts, temper or mood swings; any form of physical harm, possessiveness or controlling behavior and pressuring you or forcing you to have sex.

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“Hearing” will be the topic of the next session of Wellness Wednesday that will be held at the Winn Parish Library in Winnfield, says Gettysburgof the LSU AgCenter.

The Wellness Wednesday lunch will begin at 11:30 with the program slated for noon.

The event is supported by the library, LSU AgCenter, City of Winnfield and The Rapides Foundation.

For details, contact Gettysburg at 318-623-7732.

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by Brad Dison

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