No deaths to report for this current edition.

The Winnfield Police Department, in collaboration with the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office, successfully apprehended a suspect in connection with a recent gas theft at Murphy’s USA. The incident, which involved a theft of $150 worth of fuel, occurred when a suspect in a pickup truck left the station without paying.

Following the employee’s report, law enforcement began an investigation, reviewing security footage from the gas station. This led to the identification of both the suspect and the vehicle involved. A tip directed authorities to Poole Street in Calvin, where the suspect’s vehicle was located. Officers from both the Sheriff’s Office and Winnfield Police quickly responded to the scene.

Upon approaching the vehicle, the male occupant, later identified as Jefferson Hastings of Goldonna, fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, officers successfully apprehended Hastings. He was charged with Theft, Resisting Arrest, and Fugitive from Grant Parish. Hastings was booked into the Winnfield City Jail, where additional holds have been placed.

Sheriff Josh McAllister praised the successful collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office and the Winnfield Police Department, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts in keeping the community safe. “It’s rewarding to see our agencies working together to ensure the safety of our community,” he said. “We will continue to strengthen our partnerships to make Winn Parish a safer place for everyone.”

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District 6 Winn Parish School Board member Michael Riffe has tendered his resignation with the Secretary of State’s Office, citing health reasons, it was revealed at the board’s committee session Monday night.

Supt. Al Simmons presented a plaque from the board to Riffe for his service to the district during that March 31 session.  He noted that Riffe had submitted the required paperwork to Secretary of State by mail a week earlier but when no confirmation had been received, he re-submitted his notification online.

A Tuesday afternoon notice from the School Board Office indicated that communication has been received and the vacancy declared for the District 6 School Board seat.  “Residents of that district who have an interest in being appointed to fill that vacancy until a special election may be held should submit a letter of interest and resume’ to Superintendent of Schools Al Simmons no later than the close of business Thursday, April 10, 2025,” the board’s notice reads.

Based on discussion, with the Secretary of State’s confirmation, the board now has a 20-day period during which to name an interim District 6 member who would serve until a special election is held.  If that is the case, Simmons said a special-called meeting of the board may be in order.  

That determination and an election date to fill the vacancy will be up to the Secretary of State’s Office.

In other action, Dr. Bob Jordan gave an update on the school district’s efforts against truancy.  He advised members that truancy figures have improved over the past 12 months as the Winn district has coordinated efforts with the FINS program in the District Judge’s Office, with officer Aleta Hoffman.

FINS (Families in Need of Services), he said that he’s come to understand by working with them through these months, is not a program to punish children and families for nonattendance but rather a “stopgap measure to help keep children and families from getting into the court system in the first place.  When students stay in school, they are more likely to become productive members of society.”

Jordan told members that Winn schools have about a 90% attendance rate.  Truancy rates (compared to a year ago) have improved monthly since a marked improvement of 19.1% in August.  The only downturn in absenteeism came in November (29.1% worse) but the board was reminded that was when flu hit the school system.

Local efforts to improve school attendance have included designating an attendance liaison at each school, not necessarily the guidance counselor since not all schools have one.  They coordinate with the affected families and the FINS office.  Meetings twice a semester bring together these liaisons, principals, central office, FINS and the Sheriff’s Office.  There have been regional virtual training sessions.

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Winnfield’s Assistant Police Chief Chuck Curry and Jessie Phillips, WPD public liaison officer, brought the program for Winnfield’s Rotary Club on March 12. The topic of greatest interest was the photo enforcement of the speed limit in the town of Winnfield.

Asst. Chief Curry, a veteran on the WPD force for the past 24 years, along with a term of five years before he took another job, emphasized that photo enforcement of the speed limit has been legal for a long time. Many cities have cameras on their traffic signal intersections, but Winnfield does not. The monitors one sees at intersections with traffic signals are sensors which detect the presence of vehicles stopped at the intersection, but have no capability to measure the speed of a vehicle.

One of the two photo enforcement cameras in Winnfield is located on Highway 167 North beside the intersection with Cotton Street. The camera is triggered after the vehicle is well past the camera. A letter-ticket is issued only on vehicles going at least 11 miles per hour over the speed limit. The camera is positioned after two 35-mile per hour speed limit signs on the highway.

The location of the camera is intended to prevent accidents at the Y-intersection with Highway 84, and has been successful. According to Asst. Chief Curry, City Police worked three accidents a month at the Highway 167-Highway 84 intersection before the camera was placed on Highway 167 near the intersection. Since the placement of the camera, they have worked no accidents at the intersection.

The other speed camera is on Grove Street going toward Winnfield’s Recreation Center. The purpose is to slow down traffic for the safety of children engaging in recreational programs at the Rec.

In response to the claim that a speed camera must be a certain distance from a speed limit sign, AC Curry noted that the state law cited by persons opposed to the cameras applies only to hand-held radar units and does not apply to the stationary cameras in Winnfield.

The tickets issued by Meditraffic which administers Winnfield’s photo enforcement system are civil tickets and do not go on a person’s record. The fine is $165, Meditraffic keeps 40% of the fines and the City gets 60%. The City uses the money to improve the tools it uses for law enforcement.

The letter sent to inform a person of the infraction and fine has a questionnaire on the back which gives an opportunity for the registered owner of the vehicle to deny being the driver at the time of the infraction and to give other information. 

Curry also explained that the statement by the Louisiana Attorney General advising citizens not to pay tickets was not applicable to the photo enforcement.

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District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on March 13, 2025 

GLENN J. DUPREE, JR.: Defendant entered guilty plea battery of a police officer. Sentence – serve 90 days in the custody of the Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served. 

JOHN F. ISRAEL, III: Defendant entered guilty plea criminal trespass. Sentence – serve 30 days in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served.  

SAMMY D. SMITH: Defendant entered guilty plea no drivers license on person and contempt of court. Sentence – serve 30 days after that get credit for time served.  

TYLER ZACHARY ETHRIDGE: Defendant entered guilty plea DWI 1st offense. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years supervised probation with Winn Parish Probation Office, pay court cost, fine, fee to Office of Public Defender, probation fee, complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance abuse and driver improvement programs.  

ASHLEY ROCHELLE HEAROLD: Defendant entered guilty plea DWI 1st offense. Defendant placed on 2 years probation with Winn Parish Probation Office. Sentence deferred, pay court cost, fine, fee to Office of Public Defender, probation fee, complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance abuse and driver improvement programs.  

MICHAEL L. SMITH: Defendant entered guilty plea DWI 1st offense. Sentence – Suspended imposition of sentence, placed on 24 months probation with Winn Parish Probation Office, pay court cost, fine, fee to Office of Public Defender, probation fee, complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance and driver improvement programs.  

TIM BRADLEY SPARKS: Defendant entered guilty plea reckless operation first offense. Sentence – Imposition of sentence suspended, placed on 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee.  

DANILLE LAMOND STARKS: Defendant entered guilty plea DWI 1st offense. Sentence – Suspended imposition of sentence, 2 years probation with Winn Parish Probation Office, pay court cost, fine, probation fee, fee to Office of Public Defender, complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance abuse and driver improvement programs.  

DECORTEZ JQUAN STAVES: Defendant entered guilty plea DWI 1st offense. Defendant placed on 2 years probation with Winn Parish Probation Office, sentence deferred, pay court cost, fine, fee to Office of Public Defender, probation fee, complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance abuse and driver improvement programs.  

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on March 24, 2025 

BRUCE LEE FLETCHER: Defendant entered guilty plea  expired MVI sticker. Sentence –  serve 30 days in the custody of the sheriff.  

PRINTIS MONTRAL SCOTT: Defendant entered Alford plea to theft under $1,000.00 and pled guilty to criminal trespass first offense. Sentence on criminal trespass first offense serve 30 days, credit for time served. Sentence on theft under $1,000.00 serve 30 days, consecutive to sentence on criminal trespass first offense.  

ETHAN ALAN SMITH: Defendant entered guilty plea resisting an officer. Sentence – serve 6 months in the custody of the Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served.  

KEVIN JAMES WRIGHT, JR.: Defendant entered guilty plea simple criminal damage to property. Sentence – suspended imposition of sentence, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee, fee to Office of Public Defender, prosecution fee and restitution.  

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“Closure of the International Paper plant in Campti is nothing but bad news for the timber industry in Winn Parish,” according to Toni McAllister, executive director of the Louisiana Loggers Association, and Tony McManus, owner of McManus Timber Co. who spoke to Winnfield’s Rotarians on March 26, 2025 at the invitation of Rotarian of the Day, Bob Holeman. Closure of the containerboard mill in Natchitoches Parish was announced by IP on February 13 and will take effect by the end of March.

Of the approximately 600 direct jobs, around 150 of those employees were from Winn Parish.  McAllister has heard that most of these jobs were absorbed by the surrounding mills but it is the indirect jobs affected by the shutdown that we have yet to feel the impact of. The Campti mill used around 800,000 tons of pulpwood a year for making containerboard. “When the mill goes down, the pulpwood demand will plummet.” Supply and demand are what keeps our industry rolling, and without the demand of pulpwood, suppliers (loggers) are not needed.

McAllister estimates that at least 20 – 25% of the logging businesses in central Louisiana will not be able to remain in operation due to the decrease in demand for pulpwood close to home. Demand for pulpwood to further destinations increases the cost of transportation and increases unloading times, lowering the profit for contractors such that continuing in business will be difficult.

A few alternative markets exist for pulpwood chips, such as energy or paper production, that may absorb some of the pulpwood harvested in Winn Parish, but, again, those markets are farther away from Winn Parish than the Campti facility but the cheaper, sawmill residual production of chips and bark will be used first before logged round wood.  

Mrs. McAllister has met with the Governor, Louisiana Workforce Development office, Roy O. Martin, CLECO and other business interests in central Louisiana to consider ways to minimize the economic impact on central Louisiana, but any new developments or projects to replace the demand for pulpwood will not be in operation for three to four years.

McManus says pulpwood currently sells for around $5 a ton, but once the Campti mill shuts down and the demand for pulpwood decreases the price will drop dramatically, maybe even as low as $2 a ton.

McAllister says Winn Parish must prepare for a recession (she hopes she is wrong), and logging businesses must reduce expenses as low as possible, prepare to haul less pulpwood beginning now, and take very good care of trucks and logging equipment, if they are to stay in business through the recession. This is a monumental readjustment in the timber and logging industry.  By the time new markets come into play, the industry would already be adjusted to the lesser demand of round wood.  Mrs. McAllister believes that more markets will be available, but not soon enough to stop the down turn on the industry. 

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Area families will want to have their little children ready for the annual Community Easter Event on Main Street in Winnfield when it returns to the lawn of First United Methodist Church on Saturday, April 19.

The Egg Hunt will mark the beginning of activities and will start at 11 a.m.

Fun activities on tap for the day will include hot dogs, face painting, scavenger hunt, photos with the Easter Bunny, cakewalk, jumpers and an Easter Bonnet decorating contest.

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Mrs. Mary Inez Young, age 81, of Winnfield, LA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 30, 2025, in the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Young was born July 03, 1943, to Hamilton and Sylvia Dauzat who preceded her in death, along with her loving husband Lee Roy Young, one brother-Alton Dauzat, one daughter-Judy Bond and two grandchildren, Debbie Bond and Jessie Dauzat.

Mary loved her Jesus first and foremost followed by her family, and church family. She was happiest when she had a houseful to spend time with. She loved embroidering, reading and talking with family and friends.

She is survived by four daughters-Jeannie Foy, Bridgett Gauthreaux (Noel), Minnie Young (Pedro) and Janice Austin; four sons – Leslie Dauzat (Lynn), Robert Young, Merke Aymond Jr. (Yolanda) and Kevin Aymond, 15 grand children (Jamie Dauzat, Paul Dauzat, Tracy Dauzat, Trey Dauzat, Shane Young, Diamond Cofield, Thomas Young, Tiara Broomfield, Alyssa Aymond, Gabby Aymond, Justin Gauthreaux, Emily Gauthreaux, Nathanael Young, Michael Austin, and Mikaela Hutcherson, 24 great grandchildren, numerous great-great grandchildren; 7 step grandchildren, 40 step great grandchildren and 47 step great great grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved with all her heart.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 2, from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Jordan Hill United Pentecostal Church, located at 148 Big Creek Rd. Winnfield, and again on Thursday, April 3, from 11 a.m. until service time at 2 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. at the Jordan Hill United Pentecostal Church with Rev. Brian Montgomery officiating with burial to follow at the Corinth Tabernacle. Nathanael Young, Jonathan Montgomery. John Hurt, Antonio Hernandez, Dustin Parker and Robert Jones will serve as pallbearers.

Friends may express messages of condolence to the family online by visiting southernfuneralhome.com

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Officers from the Winnfield Kiwanis club recently attended the Mid-Year Education Conference of the LaMissTenn District of Kiwanis International. 

There were 160 attendees from 51 clubs at the Convention Center in Natchez, MS. 

Pictured seated from left to right are Vice-President Ethel Howell; Immediate Past President Margaret Coon; and President-Elect Mary Lou Blackley. Standing left to right are Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Bill Gaddis; President Rita James; District Governor Claude Vinson; and Past President Kim Futrell.

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The Juanita Pharr Cancer Support group was restarted in February this year with the support of the First United Methodist Church, Kiwanis heard at their March 25 meeting. The church provides a meeting place and helps in other ways.

The Juanita Pharr Cancer Support group first started in 1994 by Juanita Pharr when she was diagnosed with cancer.  She realized that people needed support from other cancer patients as well as family and friends. This group seemed to give Mrs. Pharr a new attitude and direction. When she passed her husband took over the group and it became a lifeline for him as well.

The cancer support group is open to cancer patients, family members, friends and people who just want to help. So far they have averaged about 20 people per meeting, not always the same people. The meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday every month at the First United Methodist Church at 5 PM in the Fellowship Hall. They meet and fellowship, share ideas, share burdens and feel less alone. Due to donations they are able to help local people with expenses from treatments-travel and overnight stays.

The Dugfest Celebrity Waiter event will be donating some of the proceeds from this event to the cancer support group.  Lindley Howell spoke to the group as a representative of the Winn Parish Medical Center. She said she attended the original support group from a very young age with her grandparents, the Pharrs. The American Cancer Society Relay for Life left our community because our population became too low. 

The hospital is working on some events to bring some form of Relay for Life back to our community. Plans are in the works for a Cancer Walk in the fall and maybe some other events. The good news about this is that any money raised will be able to stay in our community unlike Relay for Life.

At the end of the meeting Rhonda Pharr said that her dream is to someday have a Memorial Garden that people can come to to reflect, to find peace and just to enjoy nature.

Any person can contact this group or the First United Methodist Church to get help for expenses dealing with cancer treatment.

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This Saturday, the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame will induct seven new honorees during the 33rd annual dinner and ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. at the City of Winnfield Civic Center.

And the general public who may not be attending the big event will have the opportunity to mingle with these individuals who have made an impact on the political picture of the state when a reception is staged inside the Louisiana Political Museum at 499 East Main Street in Winnfield.

That reception will be held from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Of particular interest to area residents will be the two local inductees on the 2025 slate.  They are Carolyn Phillips and James Maxwell “Max” Kelley.  Also honored will be Don M. Burkett, Marion F. Edwards, Jimmy “Jim” Harris, Marsha Shuler and Charles S. Weems.

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Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that affects individuals regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic background.  However, underserved communities often face unique challenges in accessing support and resources to escape abusive situations, according to Winn’s DART advocate Annie Goods. 

Addressing domestic violence in these areas requires a comprehensive approach that considerers economic barriers, cultural stigmas, and systemic inequalities. Many underserved communities whether rural areas, low-income neighborhoods, or marginalized populations-experience significant obstacles in seeking help for domestic violence.

Some of the key challenges include:

Limited Access to Resources:  Many victims in underserved areas lack access to domestic violence shelters, legal assistance, or counseling services. Geographic isolation, lack of transportation, and insufficient funding for local support programs exacerbate the problem.

Cultural and Social Stigmas:  Cultural beliefs and societal norms may discourage victims from seeking help. Fear of community backlash, religious expectations, or traditional gender roles can prevent individuals from reporting abuse or leaving an abusive relationship.

Economic Dependence:  Financial instability is a major factor that traps victims in abusive relationships. Many survivors lack employment opportunities, affordable housing, or childcare support making it difficult to gain independence.

Lack of Legal Protection and Awareness: Many victims are unaware of their legal rights of find the legal system inaccessible. Language barriers, distrust of law enforcement, and bureaucratic red tape can prevent individuals from obtaining restraining orders or other legal protections.

Addressing domestic violence in these areas requires targeted efforts to overcome the unique barriers victims face.  Some key strategies include:

Expanding Access to Support Services: More funding is needed for domestic violence shelters, hotlines, and mobile advocacy unit to reach victims in remote of underserved areas. Telehealth services can also help provide counseling and legal consultations for those who cannot travel to physical locations.

Community Education and Outreach:  Raising awareness about domestic violence through community workshops, schools, faith-based organizations can help break cultural stigmas and empower victims to seek help.

Economic Empowerment Programs:  Providing job training, financial literary education, and micro-loans can help survivors gain financial independence and break free from abusive relationships

Improving Legal Accessibility: Simplifying legal procedures, offering multilingual legal assistance, and fostering trust between law enforcement and the community can help ensure victims receive the protection and justice they deserve.

“Organizations like the Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART) play a crucial role in supporting victims in underserved communities. By offering crisis intervention, legal advocacy, and educational programs, these groups help bridge the gap between victims and the resources they need,” says Goods.

“Domestic violence in underserved communities is a complex issue that requires collaborative efforts form policymakers, community leaders, and advocacy organizations. By addressing economic barriers, cultural stigmas, and systemic inequalities, we can create a safe environment where all survivors have access to the help they need.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact DART’s local office at 318-648-0559 or the 24-hour crisis hotline at 318-251-2255 for confidential support and assistance.

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My morning routines are just that, routine. The alarm goes off, then without missing a beat, it’s coffee, Bible (Not that I choose coffee over the Bible, it has to have time to brew, put your stones away!). I cook breakfast while watching the news, and then goodbye prayers as my youngest rushes off for school. She is an early bird so she gets there the same time as the school staff. 

Once she leaves, this is when I will either linger around the house and enjoy the quiet or sometimes, I will report to my office super duper early to get a jump on the daily tasks. On one particular morning this week, my daughter left as usual, but as I walked back in the house I had the most amazing feeling of gratefulness completely wash over me. It was the most beautiful and comforting feeling that I have ever felt in my whole entire life. 

I found myself standing in my kitchen, stopped dead in my tracks, and just basking in all of the blessings that God has bestowed upon my little family. He blessed my older daughter with her dream job (I wish it was twenty three hours closer to home, but we are still working on that). He is blessing my youngest daughter with admission to her college of choice (she is still working on funding but that is another prayer for another day). He has blessed me with the most amazing job(s) that I truly cherish and find fulfillment in. We have a roof over our heads, a vehicle to drive, we are healthy, and there is literally not much else we could ask for. 

The wave of thankfulness was so powerful, all I could do was cry and tell the Lord that his faithfulness and mercy is almost too good to bear. It was the warmest feeling, almost as if the Lord was standing in my kitchen with me. I truly have trouble describing how beautiful it was in words. 

Every time I thought about it at work I would just smile. It can only be described as a true “Jesus Moment”.

I don’t know If you ever feel like you do not have a reason to be grateful. But I am telling you that if you will make it a habit to thank God for something every single day, it will not be long before you are flooded with constant thoughts of his goodness and mercy. Train yourself to stop and remember the little things that he does for you. You have air in your lungs. You have food to eat. You have a job. You have family. You have your health. You have a community. You have a church. You have a home, you have a pet. The list could go on for days. Taking a small moment to be thankful for the little things will produce huge moments where you feel his love and his presence. 

There is no greater moment than a Jesus moment. 

 

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Psalm 107:1

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