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Roy L. Horner
Passed-May 22, 2025
Service: Services for Mr. Horner took place at the Morning Star Baptist Church, 306 MLK Drive, Winnfield, LA 71483 Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Interment followed in the Saline Cemetery near the Calvin Community.

Richard Offney “Butch” Brouilette II
November 19, 1967 – May 30, 2025
Service: Services for Mr. Brouilette took place Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 4-8:00 PM within the Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield. Following cremation Butch’s cremains will be interred privately at a later date.

Stylen Delayne Wise
January 6, 2003 – June 1, 2025
Service: Services for Mr. Wise took place Monday, June 9, 2025 in the Chapel of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield at 2 PM.

Benny Doyle Barridge
July 19, 1942 – June 1, 2025
Service: Services for Mr. Barridge took place Thursday, June 5, 2025, in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home, at 2 PM. Interment followed at Bethlehem Cemetery in Calvin, Louisiana.

Georgia Lea Couch Butler
November 10, 1931 – June 4, 2025
Service: Services for Mrs. Butler took place Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church, 11 AM. Interment followed in the church cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

Neva D. Erskins
September 17, 1929 – June 7, 2025
Service: Services for Mrs. Erskins took place Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at East Winnfield Baptist Church, 2 PM. Interment followed in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Winnfield under the direction of Southern Funeral Home.

Richard Allen Rozelle
October 30, 1961 – June 7, 2025
Service: Graveside services for Mr. Rozelle will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Following a lengthy investigation concerning the distribution of Fentanyl, the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant on June 4 for Keyondrick Mills of Winnfield.  Before the warrants could be served, Mills fled Winn Parish in a red Camaro bearing Texas plates.

Deputies were able to track Mills as he crossed the state line entering Texas.  Winn deputies notified Texas State Troopers who were able to locate Mills on I-20 in Van Zandt County, Texas.  Texas Troopers apprehended Mills on the Winn Parish warrants and additional drug charges.  Mills is currently being held in Van Zandt County detention center awaiting extradition back to Winn.

After Keyondrick Mills’ arrest, Winn Parish deputies executed search warrants at two of his Winnfield residences, including one at 135 Dunbar Street. Inside, the deputies located large amounts of suspected Fentanyl pills (100ct), Methamphetamine (84.6g), Oxycontin Pills (45ct), Hydrocodone pills (31ct), Mojo (340.9g), cash ($2,225) and counterfeit money with a street value totaling $12,600.  

After locating the evidence, deputies collected, weighed, and secured it in evidence containers for submission to the crime lab for analysis, with results pending.  Additional warrants will be obtained based on evidence collected at the residence. 

Sheriff McAllister thanked his deputies and narcotics task force for their work, diligence and dedication to the safety of Winn Parish.  He also expresses his gratitude to the Caldwell Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety for the assistance and apprehension of Keyondrick Mills.  Collaborative partnerships are crucial in delivering aid and strengthening our agency’s efforts. 

McAllister assures the citizens of Winn Parish that he is committed to addressing the parish’s drug problems.  He emphasized that his team will continue to work to protect the safety of this community, especially its children and their future.  

“To those involved in illegal drug activity, particularly the distribution, transportation, or use of fentanyl, I strongly encourage you to reconsider your actions.  We are taking firm and deliberate steps to protect the safety and well-being of our Parish. Fentanyl is claiming far too many lives, and I am tired of having to deliver the heartbreaking news to families that their loved one will not be coming home due to a fatal overdose,” Sheriff McAllister emphasized.

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The Winn Parish School Board voted unanimously Monday night at its regular June meeting to ban the wearing of hooded sweatshirts (hoodies) in schools beginning this fall.  The matter had been proposed in committee session a week earlier.

Board member Lacey McManus had brought up the question in committee, saying that principals and teachers had asked for this action.  “It’s not just in town but every school,” she told the Journal.  Previous discussion had indicated concern that materials could be concealed in the hoods and pockets of the garments and could slip undetected through screening devices.

The ban also encompasses the dress code.  Although head coverings are not allowed inside buildings, some students have refused demands by teachers to remove their hoods.  “It has been a constant battle,” said McManus.

Board members also spent a good deal of time looking over the 2025-26 Staffing List of school personnel within a budget based on numbers from the start of school last year.  Supt. Al Simmons said they anticipate a balanced budget although there is “still a lot of work to do” to make that happen.  The board could vote on the budget as early as their July meeting before submitting it to the state.

This Staffing List showed names of returning teachers and other employees at each school and also included a number of blanks.  Members heard that some of those blanks represent teachers who have retired or resigned but others are non-certified teachers who have been in classrooms.  If certified teachers apply for those posts by this fall, they would teach but if the positions are unfilled, the non-certified teachers could return.  

“Based on what we’ve seen,” said Supt. Al Simmons, “I don’t imagine there will be many certified applicants.”

The totals indicated an overall loss of one teacher parishwide.  “If the July budget allows for hiring of additional teachers, I’d love to hire more.  It’s up to the board” Simmons observed.  If the district hired some 13 additional teachers the board wants, he said the low-end cost (if none needed insurance, for instance) would be around $500,000.    But the high-end cost (with insurance including family coverage) would run closer to $1 million.

Figures shift constantly in the financial office as the board moves towards its budget deadline and a picture of a break-even budget seemed more likely than a surplus.  And “there’s no historic data to hope that a student increase this fall is a realistic expectation,” said Simmons.

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Winn Parish Superintendent of Schools Al Simmons announced at the conclusion of the board’s June meeting this Monday that he plans to retire at the end of this calendar year, December 2025.  He indicated plans to move on to other things.

Simmons has been an educator for 33 years, with about 30 of those being here in Winn Parish.  He has worked at the Central Office for some 20 years and took over as superintendent in June 2021.

Asked why he would be leaving at the mid-year mark, Simmons replied that the process of creating a budget is complicated as the board works to consolidate its current budget while looking ahead to the fall and creating a new one.  “Your incoming superintendent will want to be part of that budget-creating process instead of having to work with something we handed them.”

Simmons will have served as superintendent for 4.5 years when he retires.  Internet figures show that the average tenure of a superintendent today is just 3 years.  Watch the Journal for additional details at a later date.

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The agenda wasn’t All-Business Monday night when the Winn Parish School board recognized the Louisiana State Champions in two sports, track and softball, representing two local schools.

Up first was Winnfield Senior High School’s coach and athletic director Byron Keller who introduced the boys’ 4×200 track team who brought home the gold.  With him also was Breanna Wayne who is head coach for the girls’ track team.

The 4×200 members are Brelan Starks, Detavious Williams, Richard Williams and Damascus Lewis.  “These four young men dedicated themselves to carrying out perfect relays through body positioning and exchanges,” Keller said.  “This event is not just about speed but working together as a team.  They represented Winnfield well, not just WSHS but the community.”

He added that Detavious Williams also brought home two additional medals with a second place finish in the 100-meter dash and third place in the 200 meter.

Calvin High School softball coach Cody Martin, accompanied by assistants JoAnn Taylor and Brian Griffin as well as principal Justin Tinsley followed with their introduction of the Lady Cougars who returned from competition in Sulphur with the Class C state championship.

Martin described the “up and down year” in which the young players set a goal of not only winning but to win the state championship.  “Each of them overcame some obstacles of some kind along the way, I believe.  It was a heck of a ride.  This is a great group of kids and they worked very hard to get this honor.”

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At their meeting on May 28, Winnfield Rotarians were honored to have as their speaker Winnfield native, Audrey Calhoun, the first Black woman in the United States to receive a bachelor’s degree in the field of forestry. Ms. Calhoun graduated from Pine Crest High School in 1968 and attended Grambling State University where she attained a B. S. in biology in three years, so she could graduate at the same time as her older sister, Ethel Howell, one of Winn Parish’s outstanding local educators.

In 1973, Ms. Calhoun landed a summer job with the U. S. Park Service at Yellowstone National Park and fell in love with the park. Upon her return to Louisiana in the fall, with a goal of working for the National Park Service, she enrolled in Louisiana Tech’s forestry program, worked at Yellowstone the following summer, and completed her forestry degree that year. Although she was offered an industry job, Audrey was determined to work for the NPS despite the stiff competition for such jobs. 

Calhoun’s first job with the NPS was a temporary job, which enabled her to acquire enough experience to get a permanent position. She then did her training at the NPS school at Grand Canyon National Park. The most memorable skill she acquired at training school was how to make an uncooperative mule move by popping it between the eyes.

After completing ranger training, Audrey became a permanent park ranger. All park rangers are listed in the NPS employee database along with their level of experience and qualifications. When a position within the Park Service opens up, the employees with the qualifications for that position are considered for it.  The Park Service moves its people around about every five years so the new folks coming into each park will have new ideas and can make changes to improve each property.

The U. S. has over 400 national parks, national historical parks and national monuments under the management and supervision of the U. S. National Park Service.

Ms. Calhoun was first a park ranger and was assigned to educate park visitors about the parks, their history and wildlife. She worked on Theodore Roosevelt Island located in the Potomac River near Washington, D. C., the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, George Washington Memorial Parkway, a 25-mile scenic drive along the Potomac River built as a memorial to George Washington, connecting his home to Washington, D. C., and at Presidential Park, which includes the green space around the White House. She ultimately returned to the George Washington Memorial Parkway as the superintendent, the person responsible for every part of the park and required to develop a 20-year plan for the park.

After 34 years of service, Audrey retired and returned to Winnfield where she is actively involved in caring for family members unable to care for themselves and local civic activities.

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By Philip Wilkerson, Captain/PR Officer
Winnfield Fire Department

On April 29 and 30 the Winnfield Fire Department along with personnel from the Winn Parish Fire District #3, Winn OEP, and Louisiana State Guard attended a National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) 300 class at CLTCC Huey P. Long Campus in Winnfield.  Instructor Ryan Spiller from GOSHEP taught the class. Everyone in the class passed the post testing. 

Again on May 27 and 28 the Winnfield Fire Department along with personnel from the Winn Parish Fire District #3, Winn OEP, and Louisiana State Guard attended a NIMS 400 class at CLTCC in Winnfield. Everyone in the class passed this class as well. Instructors Ryan Spiller and Wes Anders taught this class. 

Officers gave their congratulations and thanks to all attendees for furthering their education to better serve the citizens of Winnfield and surrounding areas in the state of Louisiana. Special thanks went out to CLTCC for allowing use of their facilities for these classes.

The Nims 300 course describes how the NIMS Command and Management component supports the management of expanding incidents and the incident/event management process for expanding incidents and supervisors as prescribed by ICS. It also implements the incident management process on a simulated Type 3 incident and allows students to learn how to develop an Incident Action Plan for a simulated incident.

The Nims 400 target audience for this course is senior personnel who are expected to perform in a management capacity in an Area Command or Multi-agency Coordination Entity. This course provides training on and resources for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS). This course expands upon information covered in ICS-100 through ICS-300 courses. This course will include but not be limited to: major and/or complex incident/event management, area command, and multi-agency coordination. This course is designed to provide overall management skills rather than tactical expertise.

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On Monday, May 26, a joint meeting was held at 106 N. Bellville St., Winnfield, that was open to the public. This was in recognition of the last full measure of Devotion given by many selfless members of our Military. 

Both Eastern Star Lodge #151 and O.K. Allen Lodge #33 were open at 4 pm in the 3rd Degree, along with members of Calvin Lodge #431 and immediately went to Refreshment, which allows the Lodge to admit non-members into inner sanctuary.  Members of all three Blue Lodges in Winn Parish participated in this “Masonic Ritual of Remembrance.”

The evening’s event started then with a reception of our visitors, and at 6 p.m., an evening meal was enjoyed, consisting of Chicken and Spaghetti, green beans, rolls and cake. As in all Masonic endeavors, prayer was given beforehand.

Then the guests were invited into the Blue Lodge, which was Open and at Refreshment, where they were witness to the solemn events which honored those who died in service of their country so that we may never forget that “Freedom is not Free.”

The Program consisted of a Honor Guard, Lodge Positions and Soldiers representing Historical figures from our past. Guests were witness to the Display of our Colors and Flag Presentation to Sister Noelani Thompson, representing Susan Winters, whose son is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, by reading the Poem, “I Remember.”

Brother Michael Watts, Retired Army, then talked about the origin of Memorial Day. Then the Vacant Chair was introduced into the Lodge and positioned in a place of Honor in the East, by Cast members representing the Sprits of Soldiers Who paid ultimate Price for our Freedom. Bill Thompson, as a disoriented Soldier, entered the Lodge where Brother Louis Champagne called his attention to the Holy Bible on our altar and gave him the Bible lecture, which explains the importance of the Bible in our everyday life.

At the end of the ceremony, guests and cast members alike were asked to place a forget-me-not on the vacant chair to remember those that they know who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

The Lodge was Closed in a summary manner by Keith Gates, Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana.

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Rotarian of the Day for May 21, Al Simmons, presented as Rotary’s honored guest Emily Nevils, to speak about her experiences as one of only two delegates from Louisiana selected to attend the United States Senate Youth Program. To qualify for this prestigious program, students must show demonstrated leadership by serving in elected or appointed positions in which they are actively representing a constituency in organizations related to student government, education, public affairs and community service. 

Emily, daughter of Chris and Kim Nevils, was one of the valedictorians of this year’s Winnfield Senior High School’s graduating class and, as far as Winn Parish Superintendent of Schools Al Simmons could determine, the only person in Winn Parish to have ever been selected for this significant honor. Selection of the students who represent each state as delegates at Washington Week is a rigorous process involving testing and the composition of numerous essays describing the student’s activities related to government, public affairs and community service, as well as a proctored essay on similar topics selected by the applicant. Emily’s essay topic was federalism as embodied in the United States Constitution, and the division and balance of power and authority between our national government and the individual states’ autonomy. Four students from Louisiana are selected for the final step of the process, interviews by several people on the state selection committee to determine the top two students deserving to represent Louisiana in the program.

Emily was nominated by her principal for this honor after her junior year of high school and was selected as an alternate to represent Louisiana at Washington Week. In 2024, she once again undertook the competition and was successful in being selected as worthy to represent our state at Washington Week.

Emily described Washington Week, the week in which 104 high school students gathered in Washington, D. C., to meet many U. S. Senators, including the co-chairs of this year’s program, Senator Tom Tillis, Republican from North Carolina, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat from New Hampshire. There were talks by leaders such as Bill Doherty, co-founder of Braver Angels, Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh, Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, Jackie Barber, Secretary of the Senate, Ryan Nobles, Chief Capitol Hill correspondent for NBC news, a visit to the National Archives, a luncheon with the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, NASA, the Pentagon where they met Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and Troy E. Black, a U. S. Marine and the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Even with all the meetings, talks and receptions, the group managed to fit in what Emily called “touristy things,” seeing some of the iconic sights and sites in Washington.

Washington Week is sponsored by the Hearst Foundation which pays all transportation, hotel and meals for the delegates during the week in Washington. Each delegate attending the full week of activities also receives a $10,000 college scholarship from the Hearst Foundation for their undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. 

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The highly popular “Harvey Rabbit” Summer Reading Program will return to two local libraries next Tuesday, June 10, the Winn Parish Library announced.

The puppets and presenters will be at the Main Branch Library in Winnfield at 10 a.m. then make their way to Atlanta for a 2 p.m.  Note that Pedro will be at the Calvin Branch Library at 10 a.m. with his program on “Tornadoes.”

But that’s not all that’s happening in our libraries this week and next.  Today, Wednesday, June 4, Shanna (LSU AgCenter) will be at Dodson at 10 a.m. with art and carry that fun on to Sikes at 2 p.m.  An adult program on crafting wind chimes will be featured at Dodson on Monday, June 9, at 1 p.m.  And on Wednesday, June 11, Pedro will take his “Hurricanes” program to Dodson before traveling to Kimes for an “Extreme Heat” presentation.

Young readers are encouraged to continue their summer reading efforts to complete their reading log to earn a prize.

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The Winnfield Kiwanis Club and Sabine State Bank treated the Kiwanis 11 & 12-year-old boys baseball team to a pizza party to celebrate their final game of the season.  After the game Tuesday, May 27, the boys and their families gathered at Johnny’s Pizza to enjoy pizza and celebrate the season. 

Kiwanian Chet Atkins was the coach of the team along with Tommy Knotts and Kreston Phelps.

Boys and coaches pictured are front row left to right: Oscar Moya, Baron Atkins, Colyn Williford, Kayden Booker, Jed Rhymes, Remi Baker, Carlos Moya, Major Young, Stetson Knotts, Peter Page, Carson Atkins, Taytum Spivey. Back row left to right: Coach Tommy Knotts, Eli Jones, John Michael Rouse, Noah Williford, Coach Chet Atkins, Max Carson, Blaine Mitchell, Coach Kreston Phelps.

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“Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of abuse often encounter significant legal challenges when seeking justice,” advises Annie Goods, Winn’s DART advocate. “While laws are designed to protect victims, systemic barriers frequently hinder their ability to obtain the support and accountability they deserve.”

She says research shows a number of those challenges. Below are some of the most common legal obstacles survivors face:

1. Lack of Legal Representation
Many survivors struggle to afford legal counsel, making it difficult to navigate complex legal proceedings. Free or low-cost legal aid is limited, especially in rural areas, leaving survivors to represent themselves against well-funded defense attorneys.

2. Burden of Proof
In many cases, survivors must provide substantial evidence to support their claims, which can be difficult when abuse occurs behind closed doors. The legal system often demands physical evidence, witness testimony, or medical reports, which may not always be available.

3. Fear of Retaliation
Survivors frequently fear retaliation from their abusers, who may threaten further violence, financial ruin, or harm to children and loved ones. The legal system sometimes fails to provide adequate protective measures, making survivors hesitant to pursue justice.

4. Delays in the Legal Process
Legal proceedings can be lengthy, causing emotional distress and financial strain. Delays in court hearings, case backlogs, and prolonged investigations can discourage survivors from following through with their cases.

5. Inconsistent Law Enforcement Response
The response of law enforcement officers can vary significantly. Some officers may be supportive, while others may dismiss or downplay a survivor’s claims. Inconsistent application of protective orders and lack of training on trauma-informed care can make the process even more challenging.

6. Restrictive Statutes of Limitations
Many survivors face strict time limits to report crimes or file civil claims. Trauma often delays reporting, and by the time a survivor is ready to come forward, legal deadlines may have already passed, preventing them from seeking justice.

7. Child Custody and Family Court Challenges
For survivors with children, family court can present additional barriers. Abusers may use custody battles as a form of control, and some courts fail to recognize the impact of domestic violence on parenting arrangements. Survivors may be forced to co-parent with their abuser, putting them and their children at further risk.

8. Immigration Barriers
Undocumented survivors may fear deportation if they come forward. Although laws like the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) offer some protections, fear of immigration consequences still prevents many from reporting abuse or seeking legal recourse.

Goods concludes that “while the legal system presents significant challenges for survivors, advocacy efforts continue to push for reform. Expanding legal aid, improving law enforcement training, and strengthening survivor protections are crucial steps in ensuring justice is accessible to all. By raising awareness of these barriers, communities can work together to support survivors in their pursuit of justice and healing.”

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Dear Goldonna Community,

Reba contacted me last week and asked if I would like to include a letter to the community in the Goldonna News column in the Natchitoches Parish Journal.  Truth be told, before she asked, the letter was already in the beginning stages of creation in my brain.  

I’m going to begin by saying that just as a church is not made of the building where the members meet, a school is not housed within the building that holds the students.  As children learn, knowledge grows and becomes intrinsic.  It becomes a natural part of the learner; an extension of themselves.  A long time ago, when asked where someone went to school, they would say that they “received their education” from a specific school.  Our education is taught to us; given to belong for a lifetime within us and planted like a seed that continues to grow with nurture and care.  Yes, we work hard for it.  Some harder than others; however, the reward is just as sweet and the possession of the knowledge is just as valuable, regardless of the physical location where that seed was planted.

The physical site of GES has been a cornerstone of the Goldonna community for over a century.  The site may be closing its doors as an educational institution; however, there is a saying that when God closes a door, another one opens.  There is much truth to that saying.  Our current students closed the door at GES on May 22, but they will go on to experience new academic and athletic opportunities as they walk through open doors by attending other schools like Fairview Alpha and Lakeview, and our teachers will continue making a positive difference in the lives of many, many more children.

Throughout this second half of the school year we began each week with a Monday Message powerpoint from the principal.  Each Monday in the powerpoint, students who had met their goals from the previous week were recognized, important announcements were made, students and teachers were given a reminder of what our school goals for the year were, etc.  What spurred the beginning of this weekly routine was that my husband decided that we should begin having a weekly book study on John C. Maxwell’s The Complete 101 Collection:  What Every Leader Needs to Know  at home with our two sons.  Each week we would read a chapter and take turns leading a discussion on key points from that chapter.  So what began as a new practice in our home turned into something that I felt could benefit my students.  

One of the main veins that runs throughout this book is that you are in control of your success.  Your attitude is a very powerful weapon and must be treated and used carefully.  Attitude is not permanent!  The author drives home the idea that YOU are in control of the changes in your attitude, thus putting the fate of your success directly in your own hands.  Who you are today is a direct result of choices that you made yesterday.  

Dr. Seuss wrote a book called Oh the Places You Will Go!  A favorite quote of mine from this children’s book is “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”  In a nutshell, you decide your direction toward success.

In closing this school year, I encourage everyone to celebrate the education they have received as GES Wildcats and the education they will continue to receive in the future at their new schools.  Remember that we decide our direction toward success with our own actions and attitude.  My hope and prayer is for the continued growth and success of the children of Goldonna as they transition into FAE Wildcats or LHS Gators.  And don’t ever forget, that it is ALWAYS a great day to be a Wildcat!

Cori Beth Manuel

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