On Saturday, February 8th, the streets of Goldonna were filled with the Teen Challenge Men’s Ministries Team. They could be seen at every street corner holding signs reminding residents that they are loved and inviting them to church at Goldonna Assembly of God on Sunday, February 9, 2025. The church had a large crowd for the special service in the ministry shared testimonies from their membership. 

Let the good times roll! The Goldonna Elementary Junior High Wildcats have scheduled their Valentine’s Celebration the same day as their Mardi Gras Parade for Friday, February 14, 2025 Classroom parties will be held at 12:30 and the parade will roll at 1:30. If you would like to donate beads or parade throws please contact the front office. The Cheerleaders are still selling Candy Grams until Thursday, February 13th, at 3:00pm. The Cheerleaders also have practice every day from 3:00 to 4:00pm. Students will remain home for Winter Break from February 17-23 returning to school on Tuesday February 24th. 

The school is also collecting gently worn uniform tops and bottoms of all sizes to replenish their uniform closet. They are in need of smaller sized bottoms for boys and girls Pre-K to 2nf grade. Donations can be dropped off at the school or you can call the office at 318-727-9449 to arrange pick up. Attendance recovery is held every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 until 5:00, excluding holidays. 

The Goldonna Dusty Cut League is making preparations to have a successful season.Tara Ayres, the local coordinator, is still seeking players for the 2025 Summer League. The sign up fee is $35.00 for one player, $25 each for two players and $15 for each additional child. The coordinator is collecting names, ages, shirt sizes and parental contact information. For more information or if you would like to make a donation, Tara Ayres can be reached at 318-471-8557.

Goldonna Baptist Church is once again hosting their Annual Skeet Shoot. It will be held on March 22, 2025 at the 4H Shooting Range in Winnfield, Louisiana. The event will offer five shooting locations and one thrower location. Shooters will supply their own ammo and safety gear. The skeet shoot will have three divisions. Junior (17 and younger), a Ladies division and Senior division. The entry fee is $25 will all proceeds will be benefiting the Operation Children Child efforts of the church. For more information, donations and sponsorships, please call Pastor Ben Dupree at 318-663-0302.

Reba Phelps jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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President Trump has stated numerous times that “I am going to return your country to you … I’m going to give you back your country!” What he has done to achieve that goal in a mere 17 days is astounding.

Let me recap his dizzying pace: 

He demanded Mexico stop illegal immigration into the U.S and block the river of fentanyl.  Mexico initially appeared to resist then quickly folded.  Canada, with its flaccid, idiotic prime minister also initially resisted Trump demands, then quickly folded.  Panama immediately agreed to reduce the Chinese influence in the Panama Canal.  Venezuela and Colombia tried to appear defiant but soon submitted. Venezuela has even returned 6 American hostages.

The anti-American U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is on its way out.  It’s wasteful and shameful spending is too lengthy to document.  Here are only a few examples of the waste and abuse:

$1.5 million to “advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities,”$70,000 for production of a “DEI musical” in Ireland, $2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam, $47,000 for a “transgender opera” in Colombia,$32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru, $2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala,$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt, hundreds of thousands of dollars for a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations, millions to Eco Health Alliance—which was involved in research at the Wuhan lab, hundreds of thousands of meals that went to Al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria, funding to print “personalized” contraceptive birth control devices in developing countries, hundreds of millions of dollars to fund “irrigation canals, farming equipment, and even fertilizer used to support the unprecedented poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan,” benefiting the Taliban.

The list goes on and on—and has all been happening for decades!

The fifty-one former intelligence officials who lied about the Hunter Biden laptop prior to the 2020 presidential election have all had their security clearances revoked.  Trump this week also banned men from competing in women’s sports.

Being scrutinized are many of the FBI agents who participated in the weaponization against Trump, the J6ers, pro-lifers, Catholic churches, and parents—who were deemed “domestic terrorists”—of public-school students who challenged the forced masking and vaccinations of their children during Covid and the existence of Woke, pornographic and transgender literature in public school libraries.  

The Department of Education (DOE) is on the chopping block.  The DOE has not been primarily focused on educating students in decades but, instead, upon indoctrinating students with Critical Race Theory madness.

Further, thousands of federal employees have been offered a buyout package but they are leaving one way or the other. 

Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader was with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, with his typical bluntness, Trump made clear that Israel will be protected, and that the Gaza Strip will become something entirely different but never again the killing fields it has been for decades.  

Trump has also reimposed harsh sanctions against Iran such that it will no longer be funding terrorist proxy groups but also said he would like to come to some sort of an agreement with Iran.  However, under no circumstances will Iran possess a nuclear weapon.  He further exemplified what courage and leadership look like when someone asked Trump about the continuing efforts of Iran to have him assassinated.  His response was epic. He stated he had already given instructions and that if Iran assassinated him “that country will be obliterated. There won’t be anything left.”

We’ve never had an American president who successfully shrunk the size of the federal government or significantly diminished its oppressiveness in our lives. I doubt the lawsuits being filed in opposition to these executive actions will get very far because the changes Trump is making fall within his core constitutional powers as the head of the Executive Branch and Commander in Chief.

This is an historic time for us to witness and be alive.  There is no doubt that the relentless prayers of millions of us have put our nation in this very hopeful position.  May God continue to guide, bless, and protect this nation He ordained and may the world be blessed and uplifted by the strong presence of America to which President Trump literally gives his life to ensure President Lincoln’s dream: That our,

“Government of the People, by the People, for the People, shall not perish from the Earth.” 

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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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Louis Albert Franks
January 7, 1931 – February 3, 2025
Service: Services for Mr. Franks began with visitation at Southern Funeral Home on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and again on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 1:00 PM until the time of service at 2:00 PM. Funeral services took place at Southern Funeral Home on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Interment, with military and Masonic honors, followed Sanders Chapel Cemetery.

Mary Louise Vann Smith
February 5, 1936 – February 5, 2025
Service: Graveside services for Mrs. Smith  graveside service took place at 1:00 PM. on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at New Hope Cemetery in Gaars Mill, Louisiana under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield. 

Patricia Kay “Trisha Kay” Specht
April 1, 1951 – February 5, 2025
Service: Services for Mrs. Specht began with visitation Friday, February 7, 2025, in the Chapel of Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home, Jena Friends from 5-8 P.M. Services will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Nebo Baptist Church. Visitation will start at 9 A.M. until services begin at 11 A.M. Bro. Joey Paul and Bro. Carl Gulde will be officiating. Interment followed in the Nebo Cemetery, of Nebo Community, south of Jena.

Gregory Alan Hemphill
October 9, 1967 – February 6, 2025
Service: Services for Mr. Hemphill began with visitation Sunday, February 9, 2025 at Southern Funeral Homes of Winnfield from 5:00PM until 8:00PM, and again on Monday, February 10, 2025 at Zion Baptist Church of Georgetown, then from 12 noon until time of services. Funeral Services took place at 1:00PM on Monday, at the church. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Action at Monday night’s School Board meeting was short and routine, mostly involving approval of minutes and reports from committee sessions a week earlier, as some members anticipated activities that would be taking place an hour later 12 miles up the road at Dodson High School.

For the first time in over 20 years, the school’s gym would be the scene of an FFA fundraising Donkey Basketball game with real donkeys and real riders.  Board member Lance Underwood was already taking barbs from fellow boardsmen prior to the meeting’s 5:30 p.m. start who said they’d heard he would be riding a donkey.

Underwood deflected the remarks by noting there was a weight limit on riders.  “I’m a bit too fluffy to qualify.”  The Underwood riders were in fact FFA president Nathan as well as Olivia.

Supt. Al Simmons closed the business session with his observation that Winn is progressing into the Spring Session, adding he anticipated seeing board members at the Dodson event shortly after the closing gavel.

The Dodson gym was described as a “packed house,” with close to 550 in the stands (capacity 640).  Add to that number the participants and crew on the floor.  “This game pulled folks from all over,” exclaimed an exuberant Principal Wendy Miller.  “Here, Alexandria, Shreveport, Farmerville, Monroe.  There were students, families, faculty, staff, central office, board members.”

FFA sponsor Austin Stevenson declared, “This is the best, clean family-oriented event that Dodson has seen in years.  All of the proceeds will benefit our kids through FFA, their education and well-being.”

Miller said she was thrilled to see the smiles and laughter on everyone’s faces brought on through this nonsensical performance.  “Kids were on the sidelines, lying down with their chins propped up on their hands.  During the halftime intermission, the younger children were given the opportunity of free donkey rides.  We were happy to see it all.”

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The Winnfield City Police Department announced that its city jail is back in service this week after being mothballed since 2021 due to deficiencies cited by health inspectors and the Fire Marshal’s Office.  The jail had served the community since completion of the police station complex in 2003 before its closure.

All corrections have been met for opening of the front portion of the jail (12 cells) and work has been contracted for the air conditioning unit for the back portion (20 cells), Asst. Chief Charles Curry told the Journal.  The department began transferring city inmates back on Monday in the initial phase with hopes of fully implementing the facility by early summer.

During this interim, city inmates have been housed at the parish detention center with monthly costs to the department averaging $7,000 plus additional medical expenses.  In some special instances, inmates had to be housed out-of-parish at higher rates.  At the same time, the department lost positions, both fulltime and part-time.  

The necessary repairs and updates have been made at the jail facility, Curry explained.  Included have been a comprehensive camera system, state-of-the-art sprinkler system, new commercial grade refrigerator as part of the commercial kitchen, $116,000 contract for the HVAC unit that will allow opening the back portion, plumbing issues fixed, cleaning and painting “top to bottom,” and reorganization of the entire facility.  The control room has video view of each area of the jail and station as well as control to lock or unlock all doors.

“It’s an ongoing process,” said Curry.  “We still have things to do that are not part of the failed inspections four years ago.  This was a priority when I became assistant chief in August.  The first thing I did was to ID a person with knowledge and contacts with the Department of Corrections.  This is a task where you must stay in contact with people on a daily basis, developing a relationship with vendors.”

He explained that an operational jail has a greater impact on community safety than the public may realize.  When there is room to house city inmates and even those on hold, awaiting a trial date, “officers can be more aggressive and the judge is able to do his job to take the criminal element off our streets.  It’s a trickle-down effect.”  This process has been frustrated when jail space was limited.

This also allows the department again to have some “new, young, energetic people” being five fulltime jailers:  warden Angela Williams plus Joseph Carrithers, Tyler Smith, Michael Slayter and Kaylee Sweet, as well as three part-time jailers Karen McNeal, Frenettra Holden and Keona Sapp.

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The school calendar for 2025-26 was officially set at the February 3 meeting of the Winn Parish School Board.  Members described it was being similar to last’s year’s schedule.  The superintendent explained that several options were offered to educators but there was no overwhelming preference.  This was the favorite.

School will begin in Thursday, August 7, with a half-day of classes.  Educators will have been preparing through Staff Development the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.  The full class schedule will begin that Friday, August 5.  The next three weeks of August will be 5-day weeks, with classes held Monday through Friday.  The 4-day schedule will resume in September.

There will be a Staff Development day on Monday, October 13.  Another Staff Development day will be Monday, March 16.

The first holiday break will be Thanksgiving, observed the week of November 24-28.  Three weeks later, Christmas Break will be observed from December 22-January 2.  Tuesday, January 6, will mark return to classes for students although educators will be involved in Staff Development that Monday, January 5.  Spring Break will be the week of March 6-13.  Classes will also be out on Good Friday, April 3.

The sessions of Progress Reports, each a Wednesday through Friday, will be September 10-12;  November 12-14;  February 4-6 and April 15-17.  The End of 9-Weeks will be marked on October 10;  December 19;  and March 6.

May 6 will be the Last Day for Seniors while May 22 will be the Last Day for Students and Teachers.  

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On the morning of January 15, Officer Joseph Young of the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office was on his routine patrol when he noticed a dog kennel engulfed in flames on Ed Carpenter Road.  

Acting quickly, Officer Young called dispatch to request immediate assistance from the local fire department. It appeared that there was a heat lamp placed in the kennel to keep the animals warm during the cold weather. 

While awaiting the fire department’s arrival, Officer Young took swift action to ensure the safety of the animals. He successfully removed the animals from the kennel, ensuring they were safe from harm. Thanks to Officer Young’s quick thinking, no animals were injured in the fire.

The homeowners were notified of the situation, and fortunately, there was no damage to the home. The fire department arrived shortly after Officer Young’s actions, and the fire was promptly extinguished.

“We are grateful for Officer Young’s swift response and quick thinking in ensuring the safety of these animals,” said Sheriff Josh McAllister. “This is a reminder of the dedication and professionalism our officers exhibit every day, even in unexpected situations.”

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A children’s game, as they intertwine their fingers, goes:  “Here is the church.  Here is the steeple.  Open the doors and here’s all the people.”

That’s kind of like what’s going on at Mt. Grace for Women on Deer Pen Road in Winnfield.  A chapel is under construction, moving along as quickly as donated funding will allow.  Currently the ladies meet in the dining hall for their worship activities but their hope is for a separate chapel.

And on top of that hope (literally) is a steeple.  The ladies have expressed hope that there would be a steeple atop the new chapel once it is complete, explains Bro. Dick DeBusk, the prime mover in this particular construction project.

When the Journal arrived on the scene one recent rainy day, the concrete slab, I-bean structure and roof were in place and the framing-up with 2x4s seemed to be nearing completion.  The heavy metal front doors had been hung and were standing open, showing the volunteer crew at work.

“I call them servants of the Most High God,” says DeBusk.  “It’s like in Ezra when they determined to rebuild the temple.  I want to say this:  I’m here because of the Lord.”

He said the framing is up and the team is ready to start hinging sheetrock.  “It will take about 35 of 4×12 half-inch sheets.  They cost about $30 apiece, for anyone wishing to donate to make this dream possible.  But if donating towards sheetrock doesn’t excite them, there will be plenty of other needs before this chapel is complete.  We’ll need bales of hay, musical instruments, sound equipment, flooring, siding, insulation, electrical supplies, lights, chairs, air conditioning.  You name it.”

But he pointed out that one of the “higher points” of his project is the desired steeple.  The team is working on ideas for construction of one for the new campus addition.  But donation of one no longer in use would be perfectly fine.

For steeple ideas or donation, call Mt. Grace for Woman at 318-648-1100 or send donations to Mt. Grace for Woman at 560 Deer Pen Road, Winnfield LA 71483.

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The Kiwanis Club of Winnfield continued its ongoing tradition of recognizing students in Winn Parish schools, grades Kindergarten through Grade 4, as “Terrific Kids.”  In the month of December, schools recognized were Calvin High School and Dodson High School.

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Members of the Rotary Club of Winnfield prepared dictionaries for distribution to fourth grade students all across Winn Parish during their January 29 meeting.

This has been a popular and longstanding tradition of this local service club. Members affixed inside the front cover is a nameplate that bears the Rotary emblems and the date when the book was presented to the student, as well as a line for the child’s name so they’ll know it’s theirs.

The dictionaries will soon be presented to children at each Winnfield Primary School, Dodson High School, Calvin High School and Magnolia Bend Academy.  Literacy has long been an area of focus not only for the local Rotary Club but also worldwide for Rotary International.

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Area residents are now able to experience the benefits of low-impact exercises thanks to a twice-a-week morning program that has been launched at the Grove Street Recreation Center in Winnfield.

Organizers have invited the public to “Join us for a low-impact morning workout.  Kickstart your day, stay active and have fun in a supportive environment.”

These free classes at the Grove Street Rec are being held every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., with the program launch yesterday, February 4.  Participants will be able to experience yoga, tai-chi, walking, cardio-drumming, chair aerobics and more.

For additional information about this new opportunity, contact Shanna Chevallier at 318-623-7732 or Amanda Wilson at 318-628-0246.  Activities will be at the Rec which is located at 800 N. Grove Street in town.

The Low-Impact Morning Workout Program is sponsored by the LSU AgCenter, City of Winnfield and The Rapides Foundation.

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In the continuing effort to provide education about Domestic and Dating violence the Winn Parish, DART Rural Advocate Annie Goods sends a reminder that February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

She explains that dating violence is when someone you are seeing romantically harms you in some way, whether it is physically, sexually, emotionally, or all three. About 1-in-12 high school students experience physical dating violence.

There are consequences, she says.  Unhealthy, abusive, or violent relationships can have short-and-long term negative effects, including severe consequences, on a developing teen. Youth who are victims of teen dating violence are most likely to:

*Experience depression and anxiety symptoms

*Engage in unhealthy behaviors, like using tobacco, drugs, and alcohol

*Think about suicide

*Exhibit antisocial behaviors, like lying, theft, bulling, or hitting

Violence in an adolescent relationship sets the stage for future relationship problems, including intimate partner, violence and sexual violence perpetration and/or victimization throughout life. For example, youth who are victims of dating violence in high school are at higher risk for victimization during college.

Supporting healthy, nonviolent relationships could reduce TDV and prevent its harmful, long-lasting effects on individuals, their families, and their communities. During the pre-teen and teen years, it is critical for youth to begin learning skills to create and maintain healthy way. Research also highlights the need for prevention efforts that address the unique needs of teens who are at greater risk of experiencing teen dating violence.

Goods cautions to watch for warning signs.  It can be difficult to tell her the difference between a healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationship. While there are many warning signs of abuse, here are ten of the most common to look for:   Checking your cell phone of emails without permission;  Possessiveness;  Constant put downs;  Telling you what to do;  Extreme jealousy or insecurity;  Explosive temper;  Isolating you from family or friends;  Making false accusations;  and Mood swings.

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