Winnfield Police Department officers have investigated several reported thefts in the past week. They are unrelated, the department says. The majority of thefts occur at local businesses.  

On May 21, management of the Dollar General located at 802 W Court St reported a shoplifter who had left with $52 worth of merchandise.  Officers responded and found the suspect walking east. He was identified as the suspect and placed under arrest.  During arrest, the offender resisted officers’ attempts to arrest him, and when searched incident to arrest, was found in possession of a concealed weapon. The recovered items were returned to the business.  Officers learned when checking his criminal history that he had been convicted on Domestic Abuse Battery previously.  Jason Edwards, age 44, of Winnfield was charged with Theft Under $1000, Resisting an Officer, and Possession of a Firearm by Persons Convicted of Domestic Abuse Battery. He is currently in the City Jail with his bond set at $175.000.

On May 21, hospital administrators and IT Specialist reported a theft of a laptop computer from a doctor’s office inside the Winn Parish Medical Center. With assistance of video footage from the hospital security system, police were able to identify the suspect.  The offender was arrested on May 22 for outstanding bench warrants and theft.  Efforts by officers led to the recovery of the computer.  Theresa Edwards, 42, of Winnfield, was charged with Theft Over $1000 and 2 counts of Failure to Appear in City Court.

On May 23, police received a call for assistance at Walmart with a possible theft.  Investigation by officers found the items reported missing and returned them. This case was resolved without an arrest but did result in Possession of Marijuana charges against Ronald E. McDonald, 64, of Jackson, MS.

May 25 ended the theft reporting as a vacant house on Dunbar Street was entered and 2 window unit air conditions were removed without the owner’s consent.  Total value of the theft is $900.  There are no further leads at this time.

Anyone with information on possible involvement in this or any theft/burglary is encouraged to call the police department at (318)628-3513.  You do not have to give your name.

---

---

The “Click It Or Ticket” campaign, sponsored and funded by the National Highway Safety Administration and administered by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, started May 20 and end will end at midnight on June 2.  The Winnfield Police Department was awarded a grant by the LHSC that resulted in 100 hours of overtime hours for officers to provide saturated patrols for enforcement of traffic laws and seat belt violations.

In Winnfield City Court, fines for seat belt violations, 1st offense, is $60.  Many officers stop offenders for moving violations and, at their discretion, drop to the lesser charge of a seat belt violation to avoid the higher fines and higher insurance rates for the driver. The average cost of a speeding ticket is $250.  

“Whether it is due to the saturated patrols, speed enforcement, or extra careful drivers, we are happy to report that there was only 1 motor vehicle accident inside the city limits of Winnfield during the holiday period 6 p.m. May 22 through midnight May 28,” reported Asst. Chief Charles Curry. “There were minor property damage and no injuries.”

The Winnfield Police Department reminds drivers that while this campaign centers around the Memorial Day weekend, all occupants shall always use their seat belts at all times as required by law.  Statistics have proven that restrained occupants are more likely to survive a crash than an unrestrained person.

This grant has also provided monies to participate in the next national campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” centered around the Labor Day weekend.  This is a High-Visibility Traffic Safety Enforcement program that begins August 16 and runs through September 3.  

---

A group of about 25 local youngsters took part in a 6-week after-school program entitled “Mad Lab: Making Science Fun with Madison” that had a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math).

The program was launched by Madison Foster, a junior at WSHS who spent last summer in an internship at Johns Hopkins University where she was challenged to bring back to her hometown a portion of what she learned to share with others. Children participating ranged in ages from Kindergarten through Grade 8.

The program was held every other Thursday at the Tommy Hamms Memorial Center. “Making Science Fun” covered a lot of “fun stuff,” like DNA extraction, robotics and chemical explosions but also included some science basics such as lab safety and a general introduction to STEM studies.

The program’s costs were covered through donations and Madison expressed her thanks for the supporters. She says “Mad Lab” will return this fall, coming to The Learning Tree at First United Methodist Church.

---

Tuesday, March 27, the Kiwanis club honored their 2025 scholarship recipients. Chairman of the Scholarship Committee Lamar Tarver introduced the recipients to the club. 

These students were all outstanding in their high school years with their grades and their activities. Those graduating seniors were Emily Nevils (daughter of Kim and Chris Nevils), Addison Griffin (daughter of Lyndsey and Wayne Griffin), and Mason Green (son of Michael and Mary Green). 

Emily is planning to attend the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, Va., pursuing a degree in public policy and history. She may go into consulting or become an attorney. 

Addison Griffin will attend University of Louisiana at Lafayette to pursue a degree in nursing. After becoming an RN and working two years she wants to attend a nurse anesthetist program. 

Mason Green will attend Louisiana Tech in forestry to obtain a degree in forest management.  All three of these young people received a $1000 check and a certificate. The Kiwanis club raises money for these scholarships with our Boston Butt scholarship lunch held each year in April.  “We appreciate the support of the community in helping us to give this money to deserving students,” Tarver said.

---

Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) and allies — advocates and public officials — have been a constant presence in Baton Rouge throughout the 2025 Legislative process, using strong data to point out insufficiencies in the proposed budget and urging lawmakers to end the practice of one-time funding for domestic violence shelters. 

“Louisiana is overdue to establish a permanent, adequate funding base for statewide domestic violence services,” says Winn’s DART advocate Annie Goods. “This investment — and the message it sends — will save lives, support families in crisis, and build safer, more resilient communities.”

The annual “Day at the Capitol” on Monday, May 12, attracted the support of Gov. Jeff Landry’s office, with the staff turning out in purple to support LCADV, and Laurie Marien, Director of Women’s Policy, sharing a proclamation declaring May 12 LCADV Day in Louisiana.

“We are seeking $10 million for the upcoming fiscal year to help ensure that no survivors are turned away when they seek help and that every community has access to the support and safety resources they need,” Goods observes.

The $10 million appropriation would go to the Family Violence Prevention Program within the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and is intended to maintain and expand emergency shelters, outreach services, legal advocacy and crisis response for victims of domestic violence and their children.

LCADV data to support this request includes:

• Unmet need remains high: Louisiana’s 16 domestic violence shelters serve all 64 parishes, yet shelter beds are consistently full. Prior to state investment, more than 2,600 requests for shelter went unmet each year due to lack of capacity. In human terms, that means an average of seven times each day a victim seeking safety was turned away because there was no available space.

• Recent gains are at risk: In 2023-24, an additional $7 million in state funding allowed LCADV to add 229 new shelter beds — raising the statewide total to just over 600 — and to open 11 new outreach offices, reducing unmet shelter requests to a historic low.

• Public Safety and moral responsibility: Louisiana consistently ranks among the states with the highest rates of domestic violence homicides, with a domestic homicide rate nearly twice the national average. A 2021 Legislative Auditor’s report concluded that the state does not adequately fund domestic violence services and recommended increased appropriations.

“Federal funding — your tax dollars — is critically important to organizations such as LCADV to keep shelters across Louisiana open, including the DART’s shelter that covers Jackson parish victims, and to expand community programs supporting victims of domestic abuse,” says Goods. “Please let your Congressional representatives know your feelings.”

The National Day of Action Against Domestic Violence, to be held on June 5, is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about domestic violence and advocate for increased federal funding for support services. It brings together individuals, organizations, and communities to highlight the need for resources like shelters and hotlines that help survivors. Activities include rallies, social media campaigns, and contacting lawmakers to push for better support for those affected by domestic violence.

---

A “Summer Break Event Party” for youngsters will be held at the Louisiana Political Museum this Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The fun event is hosted by community supporter Shelia Mitchell and sponsors and will feature a water slide, bounce house, face painting, food and more.

The museum is located in the old railroad depot at 499 East Main Street in Winnfield.

---

Laurel Heights Baptist Church will be the scene of a rummage sale a week from Saturday, on June 7.  It won’t be a long sale, opening at 8 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m., so shoppers are encouraged to arrive early.

Organizers are putting out word early because there are two aspects to the sale.  Not only is the church offering up a lot of items for sale, organizers are opening the opportunity for other vendors to set up tables as well.  

The event will be held in the church gym and in the adjacent fellowship hall.  Vendor cost for the gym is $20 and for the (air conditioned) fellowship hall is $30.  For details, contact Margaret Coon at 318-481-5954.

Some of the items listed for the sale include children’s tables and chairs, desks, cabinets, shelves, metal filing cabinets, toys, books, wooden children’s puzzles, decorative, flowers & vases, dishes, Christmas dinnerware, clothing, craft supplies, a min fridge and much, much more.

---

I didn’t intend to address this topic until “reporter” Jake Tapper came out with the promotion of his new book.  Not only is what he says transparently hypocritical but the truth he previously attempted to obscure sets a dangerous precedent for America.

Let me recap: any one of us who observed President Biden for much of the last 4 years could recognize he was suffering from some form of mental and physical deficit.  We saw him falling up the stairs, walking off from other world leaders in a group photo—requiring one of those leaders to gently grab him by the arm and lead him back to the group, struggling to merely exit a stage from which he had just spoken although there were frequently 3 or 4 well marked exits from which to do so, and regularly and awkwardly losing his train of thought—slurring and stammering in such a way he was simply not able to be understood.  We saw it clearly but were attacked and then subjected to world class gaslighting by Biden supporters and the Leftist national “media” when we pointed it out.

Then came the June 2024 debate between President Trump and President Biden and the wheels came off; the lies were completely unmasked when Biden was unable to stand at his podium and speak coherently. However, what is astounding is how the Left is incapable of seeing itself in its true light.  How it is so often wrapped up in its own fabrication and virtue-signaling that it simply cannot comprehend what average Americans see clearly—that the emperor has no clothes.

The Wall Street Journal makes this point well: “The Biden senility coverup is also a media reckoning. Whenever someone dared to point out that Mr. Biden wasn’t up to the job, a praetorian media guard assembled to deny it.  We could quote chapter and verse from many media sources, but one example worth citing is none other than Mr. Tapper” with “the CNN host casting doubt on those who cast doubt on Mr. Biden’s mental fitness.” (WSJ, May 18, 2025).  

WSJ concluded its blistering critique of Tapper and major media by stating, “the coverup of Mr. Biden’s mental decline will go down as one of the great scandals of modern politics. By refusing to admit what voters could so clearly see, Democrats denied their party an open primary.  Democrats and the press are now appalled by Mr. Trump’s second term. They would do better to think upon, and seek contrition for, their own role in making it possible.”  Ouch.

Tapper has responded as anyone would whose tail feathers were being burned, stating he had found “tremendous humility about my coverage.” I laughed out loud.  If he had any humility he would never have been so smug and dishonest in the first place. 

Broadly though, it makes you wonder who was making presidential decisions. 

The presidential autopen scandal is being looked into now.  I also recount a story Speaker Mike Johnson has related publicly, and with me privately.  It involves a conservation he had with President Biden when Speaker Johnson was at the White House on a different matter.  Speaker Johnson pulled President Biden aside and stated something to the effect “Mr. President, may I ask why you imposed the ban on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports … it’s really hurting my state of Louisiana.”  To which Biden replied, “I didn’t do that.”  Speaker Johnson respectfully but firmly pushed back, “Sir, it’s happening in my own state.  I assure you that you did impose the ban.”  To which Biden again stated, “I didn’t do that.”  Speaker Johnson was truly taken aback.  How could Biden not know he had imposed the ban and how many other things did Biden supposedly do that he had no idea he had done, or did not do himself at all?

This is all disturbing but what is truly worrisome is that an incapacitated Biden could have been called upon to make life and death decisions, perhaps in a crisis involving an Iranian nuclear strike on Israel, for example, or the need to send American troops to war.  There are countless grave and dangerous situations with which a president must contend.  To think Biden would have been faced with one or more of them in his fragile mental and physical health is alarming. 

This coverup needs to be fully exposed and memorialized in hopes this kind of treachery never occurs again.

---

---

Is there nothing better than a calm and beautiful day at the beach with mild weather, a slow but purposeful breeze,  sitting under an umbrella with a book that is nearly impossible to put down, even for a second? Sometimes it will take me months to pick out the perfect book to bring to the beach when I know a trip is coming up. The search for the perfect book is almost as fun as reading the perfect book.

Having a sister that is an English teacher, as well as a ferocious reader; she has always been my guide as to what would make a good beach book. She is meticulous about her reading. She has her literature that she reads. She has her literature that she teaches, books that are clever and a little scary but then she has her easy reads, which are for the beach and purely entertaining. Being the person I am, I read beach reads all year long. I love the easy reading. Nothing too serious and definitely nothing that will keep me up at night or flinch when I hear a bump outside. 

Over the past few months I have actually been choosing books on my own and I have been enjoying every single one of them. Sometimes I jokingly say that I am not emotionally stable enough to enjoy good books. I become so engrossed in the character’s lives and enjoy the story so much that I always savor the last couple of chapters. It’s almost as if I hate for the story to end. Within that last chapter, sometimes I’ll flip to the very last page and read the last sentence. It is such an awful habit,one that I am not very proud of. 

During this most recent beach trip, I picked a book from an author who has never let me down with a storyline. I was so excited about reading this book I could hardly wait, the excitement was too much to bear. This book was so unique in the fact that it had numerous characters being introduced, all the time. At first it was fun. I felt like the author was building such an amazing storyline with numerous twists and turns. But it was so many new characters that it was hard to keep up with them, my ADD was in overdrive. I kept flipping back pages to find out where these characters came from or to see if I missed something. It was at this point that I decided to Google the reviews of this particular book because I was so stressed out trying to keep up with all of these new people. It was when I read the Google reviews I realized that I was not alone in my confusion and disappointment. Many of the reviews stated the book had way too many characters, way too many details about people that didn’t even matter, and it was hard to follow. The reviewers even went on to state that they did not like the way the book ended. This is when I began questioning myself even further. Do I finish the book or do I move on with my life and pretend like this never happened?

Up until this point my life, I have never put a book down without finishing it. The debate went on for hours and hours. A beach read simply should not be this stressful but I was no quitter. I decided to finish the book. A couple of chapters after my decision, the author was still introducing new characters. Each new character received a fresh new eye roll from me. Make it stop already. I was grateful there wouldn’t be a quiz awaiting me at the end of the book. 

Nearing the end of the beach trip I had successfully read two books (one of them was started before I left home) and I read my Bible daily. One would say that it was a successful reading (and napping) venture. The most successful reading happened within the beautiful pages of the Word of God. Reading the Bible on the beach during a sunset is unmatched to any earthly reading pleasure that one could imagine. Sitting and viewing his creation while enjoying his words will leave you with a peace that surpasses all understanding. I was never even tempted to turn to the last page because I know how his story ends. His words never disappoint me. They are full of truth. The characters he introduces in his pages look eerily similar to me . Full of flaws and in desperate need of his grace and mercy. While other books may come and go from the New York Times Best Seller list, while other books are reviewed and critiqued by readers such as myself, there will never be another book that will withstand until the end of the ages. May you take the time to enjoy the easiest of reads, whether it is on a beach, your house or your vehicle. May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone. Amen.

Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away

Reba Phelps jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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.

---

---

Regina Hall Calloway
October 30, 1957 – May 14, 2025
Service: A Memorial for Mrs. Calloway took place Saturday, May 24th, 2PM at the Winnfield Senior High School Auditorium (631 Thomas Mill Rd).  

Patsy Jean Martin
November 17, 1936 – May 22, 2025
Service: A private graveside service for Mrs. Martin took place Tuesday, May 27, in Sanders Chapel Cemetery under the direction of the Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield, Louisiana.

James Anderson
October 19, 1934 – May 25, 2025
Service: Graveside funeral services for Mr. Anderson will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Cypress Creek Cemetery. Interment will follow after under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on April 7, 2025 

FRANCHESCA RENE JOHNSON: Defendant entered guilty plea accessory to armed robbery. Sentence – serve 5 years, execution of 5 years suspended, 3 years supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections.  

SERENITY E. LEGRADY: Defendant entered guilty plea theft under $1,000.00. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee, fee to Office of Public Defender, restitution and cost of prosecution.  

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on April 8, 2025 

CATHERINE MICHELLE CABLE: Defendant entered guilty plea accessory after the fact second degree murder. Sentence – 2 years at hard labor with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, execution of 2 years suspended, 3 years probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections.  

DELVONTE R. SNOW: Defendant entered guilty plea disturbing the peace. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee and fee to Office of Public Defender.  

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on April 10, 2025 

SIRENA GAIL WHITSTINE: Defendant entered guilty plea careless operation of a motor vehicle. Sentence – serve 22 days in the Winn Parish Jail, credit for time served.  

RYLAND GAGE BRISTER: Defendant entered guilty plea underage operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Sentence deferred, placed on supervised probation with Winn Parish Probation Office 24 months, pay court cost, fine, probation fee, complete 32 hours community service, drug and substance abuse and driver improvement program.  

TODD WAYNE SMITH: Defendant entered guilty plea no drivers license on person. Sentence – Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost, and probation fee.  

JARED K. WAGES: Defendant entered guilty plea operating a vehicle without required liability insurance. Sentenced to 30 days with the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office, credit for time served.  

RICKEY BORDELON: Defendant entered guilty plea to failure to comply with deer tagging or harvest record commission rules and regulations and taking or killing over the allowed limit of migratory or resident game birds, protected birds, wild quadrupeds, or protected quadrupeds. Imposition of sentence suspended, placed on 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court, probation fee and hunting license suspended until 12/3/25 midnight.

  

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on May 5, 2025 

MICHAEL EDWARD EVANS, JR.: Defendant entered guilty plea simple battery. Sentence – serve 6 months in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, sentence consecutive. 

JAMES R. JONES: Defendant entered guilty plea possession of marijuana less than 14 grams. Sentence – pay fine, court cost and probation fee.  

TIFFANY NICHOLE TRICHEL: Defendant entered Alford plea to simple burglary. Sentence – 4 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, credit for time served. 

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on May 6, 2025 

STEVEN ALLEN DUNN: Defendant entered guilty plea obscenity. Sentence – serve 1 year at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, credit for time served.  

TERRY L HAYES: Defendant entered guilty plea theft (felony level). Sentence – serve 303 days in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff. 

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on May 8, 2025 

MARTY GLEN BRUNSON: Defendant entered guilty plea operating a vehicle while intoxicated first offense. Imposition of sentence deferred, placed on misdemeanor probation with Winn Parish Probation Office 24 months, pay court cost, fine, probation fee, community service fee and complete drug and substance abuse and driver improvement programs.  

JAMES R. LEMOINE: Defendant entered guilty plea simple battery. Imposition of sentence deferred, placed on 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

LOUIS TYRONE SHORTER: Defendant entered guilty plea operating a vehicle without proof of insurance. Sentence – serve 30 days in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served, concurrent with any other time.  

CHRISTOPHER J. SMILEY: Defendant entered guilty plea resisting an officer by flight. Sentence – serve 60 days in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff concurrent with any other time, credit for time served.  

JUSTIN T. JEWITT: Defendant entered guilty plea battery of a dating partner and domestic abuse battery – 1st offense. Sentence – domestic abuse battery – 1st offense serve 6 months in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served, runs concurrent with any other time. Battery of a dating partner – serve 6 months in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, concurrent.  

ANDREW D. SMITH: Defendant entered guilty plea battery of a correctional facility employee. Sentence – 90 days in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, credit for time served, concurrent with any other time. 

---