Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report

Date: 11-10-25
Name: Casey D. Estes
Address: Dodson, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 39
Charge: Failure to Appear

Date: 11-11-25
Name: Mary E. Hayes
Address: St. Maurice, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 33
Charge: Failure to Appear x2

Date: 11-12-25
Name: Christopher K. Anglin
Address: Trout, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 35
Charge: Failure to Appear

Date: 11-13-25
Name: Russell Mcgee Jr.
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 52
Charge: Failure to Appear, Assault Battery, Probation Revoked

Date: 11-13-25
Name: Jackie Folden
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 58
Charge: Resisting an Officer, Felony Theft, Failure to Appear, Probation and Parole Warrant

Date: 11-13-25
Name: Sheila Short
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 60
Charge: Obstruction

Date: 11-13-25
Name: John R. Williams
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 57
Charge: Possession of Schedule 2 (Cocaine)

Date: 11-13-25
Name: Chadreck A. Carter
Address: Winnfield, La
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 38
Charge: Obstruction of Drivers’ View, Resisting by Flight, Littering, Illegal Use of Dangerous Instrumentalities, Obstruction of Justice, Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I, Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, No Drivers License.

Date: 11-13-25
Name: Joseph Clint Atkins
Address: Joyce, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: N/A
Charge: Possession of Schedule 2 (Meth), No Seatbelt, Failure to Signal, Open Container

Date: 11-14-25
Name: Randy L. Carley
Address: Saline
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 64
Charge: DWI (1st offense)

Date: 11-15-25
Name: Carl Allen Hatchins
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: N/A
Charge: Failure To Appear, Possession Schedule II, Possession Drug Paraphernalia

Date: 11-15-25
Name: Austin Ray Ourso
Address: Sikes
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: N/A
Charge: Resisting Arrest, 2nd Degree Battery on Police Officer, Maximum Speed

Date: 11-15-25
Name: John Allen
Address: Dodson, LA
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: N/a
Charge: Remaining on Property After Forbidden

Date: 11-16-25
Name: Cortais Lee Brown
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: N/A
Charge: Failure to Appear

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.


Winnfield Police Department Arrest Report

Date: 11-13-25
Name: Tanisha Washington
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Age: 42
Charge: Monetary Instrument Abuse, Prohibited acts with Schedule 2, Driving Under Suspension

Date: 11-13-25
Name: TyLashia L Williams
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Age: 17
Charge: Disturbing the Peace by Violent and Tumultuous manner

Date: 11-14-25
Name: Tyliyah Sapp
Address: Natchitoches, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Age: N/A
Charge: Disturbing the Peace by Violent and Tumultuous manner

Date: 11-16-25
Name: Demarcus Powell
Address: Atlanta, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 32
Charge: Battery of dating partner

Date: 11-17-25
Name: Kadaryan Thomas
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: 21
Charge: Aggravated Assault with Firearm

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.


Notice of Death- November 18, 2025

Joanna Hall
April 1, 1936 – November 12, 2025
Service: Services for Ms. Hall will be on Saturday November 22, 2025 at 2 p.m. at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church 430 W. Jones St. Winnfield, La. 71483. Burial will follow in Winnfield cemetery. 

Brenda J. McManus Carter
November 16, 1941 – November 11, 2025
Service: Graveside services for Mrs. Carter took place at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at New Jerusalem Cemetery. Interment will follow in New Jerusalem Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

Sheriff McAllister Reports Progress in Public Safety and Community Service

The Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to expand its efforts to enhance public safety, strengthen community partnerships and modernize operations under the leadership of Sheriff Josh McAllister.

To improve response times and increase visibility, the office has added additional deputies, providing a minimum of three per shift. Six deputies recently graduated from the P.O.S.T. academy, and ongoing training continues for all deputies and investigators to maintain professionalism and readiness.

Every public school in Winn Parish now has a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO). Two deputies are now certified as DARE instructors, and several others are completing P.O.S.T. SRO certification. Deputies also regularly attend games and school activities to build relationships with students and staff.

The Sheriff’s Office has launched an Elderly Check Program in partnership with two local pastors to check on senior residents. A phone call system provides regular contact and welfare checks. Residents can sign up for the program through the Sheriff’s Office app or by calling the office.

To keep residents informed, the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office relies on its mobile app and social media accounts. Through the app, residents get news, events and weather alerts and can submit patrol requests, tips, complaints or concerns directly to the office.

Through a state grant, the Sheriff’s Office acquired a litter truck for parish-wide cleanups. Litter patrols are conducted regularly using trustees from the Winn Detention Center to help keep roadways and communities clean.

The parish animal shelter at the Winn Detention Center is in its final stages, with kennels installed and utility connections being completed. Stray animals will be cared for by trustees under staff supervision.

A Narcotics Task Force has been implemented, and detectives are making progress in removing drugs from local streets. The office is working with neighboring parishes through cooperative agreements to combat drug trafficking across parish lines.

McAllister’s administration maintains an open-door policy, encouraging citizens to visit, call or text with any concerns, compliments or complaints. The sheriff and his staff respond personally and aim to handle every matter legally, fairly and compassionately.

The office previously averaged about 2,000 calls per year. In 2025, that number has more than doubled to more than 4,800 calls, reflecting what McAllister describes as “increased community trust and proactive policing.”

Those calls include incidents such as murders, shootings, aggravated assaults, juvenile matters, vehicle crashes, narcotics arrests, domestic abuse, DWIs, trespassing and animal-related issues.

Sheriff McAllister pledged that the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office will continue to respond swiftly and professionally, treat all citizens with respect and fairness, and remain open and accessible to help keep Winn Parish safe for families.


Winnfield takes must-win game against Lakeside, heads to Mansfield in first round

Photos courtesy of Winnfield Sports Media

By Matt Vines, Journal Services

MANSFIELD – Byron Keller knows what it’s like to face a district opponent in the first round of the playoffs.

He led Red River to a resounding win against Winnfield in 2024, and now he finds himself in the same situation as the head ball coach of Winnfield.

The No. 25 Tigers (3-7) will head to No. 8 Mansfield (8-2), a District 3-2A foe that topped the Tigers 56-22 in Week 8.

Winnfield hung tough when Mansfield visited this season, staying within two touchdowns of the Wolverines for the better part of three quarters before Mansfield separated late.

The defense must contain Mansfield running back Terrell Pegues, who averaged nearly 16 yards per carry en route to 174 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.

But the Tigers are already in playoff mode, needing a win against Lakeside to climb into the playoff picture in Week 10.

Winnfield locked up Lakeside 20-6 to secure its second straight playoff berth.

“Holding Lakeside was huge,” Keller said. “Our defense played with confidence, and that was a great finish to the regular season and start to the playoffs.

“It’s important in our building process to play as long as possible and continue building. We need to build confidence in our players and gain as much experience as possible. I love these kids, and I want to keep our season going as long as possible.”

Winnfield proved its running game is diverse as usual receiver Craig St. Cyr scored twice against Lakeside, adding to the lethal duo of Detavious and Richard Williams.

“St. Cyr is a weapon any time he is on the field, and we want the football in his hands as much as possible,” Keller said. “He is the player who has the ability to make explosive plays every time he touches the football.”

Quarterback Nickalas Mockosher continues to make strides in the passing game as a junior, and a consistent air attack paired with Winnfield’s explosive rushing game could spell trouble in the first round.

Mansfield has somewhat of a balance between the run and the pass as quarterback J.J. Howard threw for 131 yards on just 4-of-6 passing and two scores in the first Winnfield matchup.

But it’s a Winnfield defense that’s showed signs of maturity in recent weeks, particularly in the Lakeside contest in a must-win scenario.

Mansfield has won a playoff game in each of the past two seasons. A perennial playoff team, the Wolverines hadn’t pulled many recent wins with the last coming in 2018 before this streak.

 


Winnfield Police and Fire Departments Highlight Community Connection at Recent Fall Events

Winnfield Police Officers, from the left, Assistant Chief Charles Curry and Officer Cassidy Martin showing their Halloween spirit during the Nov. 4 Fall Fest on Main Street.

The Winnfield Police Department, along with the Winnfield Fire Department and Winn Parish District 3 Fire Department, joined residents across the city for a full slate of fall activities, including Trunk or Treats, the Breast Cancer Walkathon and WSHS homecoming.

Activities began with a Trunk or Treat at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home on Oct. 23, followed by the Breast Cancer Walkathon on Oct. 25 and another Trunk or Treat for residents of Winnfield Nursing and Rehabilitation on Oct. 30. The month concluded with Winnfield Senior High School’s homecoming football game and related activities.

The annual Main Street Trunk or Treat, originally scheduled for Oct. 28, was held Nov. 4 and drew an impressive turnout.

Winnfield Police said they look forward to continuing community engagement through several upcoming events, including the Veterans Day celebration on Monday, Nov. 11, which featured a parade around the Primary School, a walk-through of the school and lunch with the children.

Other upcoming events include the annual Christmas Open House in downtown Winnfield on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and a Boot Drive for the 19th annual “Shop with a Cop” program on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers will be stationed at the intersection of U.S. Highway 167 North and Thomas Mill Road to collect donations.


Kiwanis Hears From Dr. Gaddis on Veterans Day

Dr. Bill Gaddis, a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Dr. Bill Gaddis shared his experience of his service during the Vietnam war with the Kiwanis club, Tuesday, November 11th, Veteran’s Day.

Gaddis, upon graduating from LSU with draft number 25, completed four years in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), was commissioned as a lieutenant and then volunteered to enter the Army.

He was assigned to Darnell Army Hospital in Killeen, Texas, where he served nine months as assistant to the registrar. The job involved research and writing letters for the registrar to share with congressmen who were making inquiries about their constituents. He was not a dentist at the time but had been in premed at LSU.

He landed in the Central Highlands and spent 365 days in Vietnam, noting that he wasn’t in the line of fire often. He went on R&R after nine months, as the invasion of Cambodia was underway, and returned to learn that 12 of his aides had died in that invasion.

He shared the number of casualties from each war the U.S. has been involved in, including the Civil War (about 620,000) and the Revolutionary War (about 25,000).

After serving his 365 days in Vietnam, he returned to Jena, where he and his wife Jackie were married.

Gaddis ended his presentation with an update on the Veterans Memorial planned for Winn Parish at the site of the old U.B. Carpenter’s store on Main Street. He said it will be an open-air plaza, that the demolition has been funded and should take place in two weeks, and that donations are being sought to complete the remaining phases.

For more information on donating to this project he said to contact the Winn Veterans Memorial Association Board President, Michael Durbin at 318-623-7732 or mdurbinwvma@yahoo.com.


Rotary Hears Update on Veterans Memorial Project

Left, Michael Durbin, president of the Winn Veterans Memorial Association with Rotarian of the day, Jerry Price, right.

Jerry Price, Rotarian of the Day invited Michael Durbin, head of the recently formed Winn Veterans’ Memorial Association, to update Winnfield’s Rotary members on the progress of the planning and construction of the Winn Veterans’ Memorial.

Mr. Durbin is a native of Winn Parish and manager of local transportation business, Gulfcoast Express. The veterans memorial project has been in the works for several years now, and at last some tangible developments have been accomplished. Michael, along with a group of others with interest in the project as well as Winnfield’s Main Street project, have formed the Winn Veterans’ Memorial Association, a nonprofit organization which will own the memorial and the real estate on which it’s located and raise money to fund the construction of the memorial.

According to Mr. Durbin, Winn’s memorial will be the finest in the state of Louisiana. The location will be the old U.B. Carpenter’s dry goods store next to City Hall on Main Street, which has been donated by Steve and Gail Shelton. The memorial will be open air with a beautiful marble front leaving large open spaces for entry and sharing a wall with a building ultimately intended to house military and veterans’ memorabilia and information.

Demolition will be done in the next week or two, with those services donated by a generous local contractor who chooses to remain anonymous. Mayor Gerald Hammons has committed to dispose of the demolished materials at no charge to the memorial association or the contractor.

The interior will have a brick floor and house a set of six sculptures: the center sculpture will feature a mother kneeling in prayer, which will be surrounded by sculptures of a member of each branch of our U.S. military—the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. The public may purchase bricks to replace those in the original installation in memory of any veteran anywhere, with the name and years of service for each. Winn Parish veterans’ bricks will be placed in a special pathway.

The WVMA is committed to making this memorial a project of the people of Winn Parish rather than seeking donations in large amounts by one person or organization, so that it is a community memorial and not identified with one person. The entire project is estimated to cost between $150,000 and $300,000.

What can we as individuals do to help with the project? Anyone can become a member of the association and pay annual dues of $35. This money will be used to maintain the structure and sculptures and cover insurance and other maintenance costs. The public can also participate in raffles and other fundraisers being held periodically.

Anyone can make a donation to the WVMA at Sabine Bank, Venmo: @WinnWMA, PayPal: Chevallierwvma@yahoo.com or by mailing a check payable to WVMA to:
Winn Veterans Memorial Association
P.O. Box 823
Winnfield, LA 71483


Chamber Honors Businesses and Individuals at Award Banquet

Richard Heard, Recipient of the Winn Chamber of Commerce & Tourism 2025 “Distinguished Achievement Award”.

The Winn Chamber of Commerce and Tourism marked its 2025 awards banquet last Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Winnfield Civic Center, celebrating businesses and volunteers whose efforts drive community growth across Winn Parish.

Awards presented that evening included the “3rd Annual People’s Choice Award” to Soulful Wings; “Distinguished Achievement Award” to Richard Heard; “New Business of the Year” to The Vintage Vault; and “Business of the Year” to Family Jewelbox. The “Business Person of the Year” was Brentin Chandler, the “Volunteer of the Year” was Mary Lou Blackley, and the “Spirit of Myrtis Allen Award” went to the Kiwanis Club.

Special recognition went to Linda Peevy and her staff for preparing the meal and to the 4H Junior Leaders for serving guests, drawing thanks for their role in the evening’s success.

The Chamber was also proud to welcome representatives from Winn Main Street, Main Street America and Louisiana Main Street, who took a break from their three day community vision tour to join in celebrating the accomplishments of this year’s honorees.

Chamber President Kristen Green expressed in closing that each award reflects the dedication, service and entrepreneurial spirit that continues to strengthen the Winn Parish community and is continually grateful for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by local business owners and citizens in Winn. 


Rain Delay Didn’t Dampen Fall Fest Fun

Axel McDuff, dressed as Frankenstein, stands with his parents after winning first place in the 0–3 age group during the Fall Fest costume contest Tuesday, Nov. 4, in downtown Winnfield.

Winnfield’s annual Fall Fest may have been reschedule due to rain, but Tuesday night’s clear skies brought a crowd downtown for an evening of costumes, candy and one last round of hometown Halloween spirit.

The evening kicked off with the costume contest at 5:30 p.m. on the front lawn of First United Methodist Church and the return of the haunted hayride, which wound through several spooky stops along Church and South Jones streets. 

Even with a week’s delay, the crowd didn’t miss a beat. Kids darted from booth to booth, their treat bags growing heavier by the minute as sugar-fueled chatter echoed down Main Street and marked yet another year of fun filled Fall Fest memories.

Costume contest results: 

Age group 0-3 yrs:
1st place – Axel McDuff as Frankenstein
2nd place – Adrianna Butts as Velma from Scooby Doo

Age group 4-7 yrs:
1st place – Losie Curry as Annabelle
2nd place – Perry Smith as Stitch

Age group 8-10 yrs:
1st place – Paloma Vazquez as Catrina
2nd place – Harper Hubbard as Cinderella

Age group 11-13 yrs:
1st place – Atlas Cowel as Huggy Wuggy
2nd place – Jaxson Scannell as Grim Reaper

Age group 14-17 yrs:
1st place – Hailey Hudson as Pirate Captain
2nd place – Brylee Bruce as Pirate First Mate

Age group 18 & up:
1st place was Meghan as a cat
2nd place was Joyce John’s as a Dark Princess

Theme groups:
1st place – Lillian and Copper as The Fox & The Hound
2nd place – Sidney, Stephanie, Dustin & Riley as the Red Coats

Pet group:
1st place – Alice Joy as a Dragon
2nd place – Peanut Jurek as a Spider


Strengthening Families Teaches The Power of “LUV Listening”

A father and daughter duo practice their newly learned ‘LUV Listening’ techniques during the Oct. 23 Strengthening Families Program session at First United Methodist Church in Winnfield.

Did You Know?

Families who practice respectful communication and listen with care see real benefits:

  • Children and teens are more likely to feel safe sharing their feelings.

  • Emotional bonds between family members grow stronger.

  • Using kind, assertive language reduces conflict and stress in the home.

Strengthening Families Lesson #3: Communicating with LUV and Understanding

Strengthening Families Program (SFP) met on October 23rd, at First United Methodist Church in Winnfield for Lesson #3 — a session focused on the power of loving, respectful communication to strengthen family bonds.

Listening, Understanding, and Validating

This week’s lesson introduced LUV Listening — a simple, powerful way to truly hear each other. Families learned to:

  • Listen carefully, without distractions, and show attention through eye contact, nods, and kind words.

  • Understand by asking questions and summarizing what they heard to make sure they got it right.

  • Validate by recognizing each other’s feelings, even if they don’t always agree.

Using LUV Listening helps family members feel heard and respected, making it easier to solve problems and avoid misunderstandings.

Speaking with Respect

Families also practiced “I-Messages”, a way to express feelings without blaming or shaming others. Examples include:

  • “I feel worried when I don’t hear from you after school because I don’t know if you’re safe.”

  • “I noticed the laundry on the floor. It makes me feel unappreciated. What can we do differently next time?”

Parents and children learned to be assertive rather than aggressive, stating their needs clearly and respectfully. Aggression, harsh words, or sarcasm can create tension, while assertive communication builds trust and cooperation.

Banish Communication Boulders

The session also highlighted Communication Boulders (C-Boulders) — rude or hurtful ways of speaking that damage relationships. Families discussed strategies to avoid behaviors such as sarcasm, put-downs, yelling, and name-calling. By replacing these with polite, constructive communication, families create warmer, safer homes where love can thrive.

Practicing Together

During the Family Practice Session, parents, teens, and children came together to role-play real-life scenarios, practice LUV Listening, give respectful I-Messages, and identify any C-Boulders they wanted to banish in their homes. These fun exercises help to teach families how to practice these skills so that they can put them to good use in their everyday lives.  

By the end of Lesson #3, families left with a powerful message: listening, understanding, validating, and speaking respectfully can transform how families interact. Regular practice, including weekly family meetings, apologies when needed, and saying “I love you” and “I’m sorry,” helps create lasting bonds and a home filled with love and peace.

Weekly SFP sessions continue through mid-December at First United Methodist Church in Winnfield.

The SFP is facilitated by Winn Community Health Center and funded through a grant from The Rapides Foundation, brings parents, teens, and children together each week to build skills that nurture emotional well-being and positive family relationships.

For more information, contact Shonna Moss at 318-628-0169.

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Community Backbones Contest Winners Named

2025 Community Backbones Contest Winning Skeleton, “Mr. Wade Fisher” by Autumn Leaves Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

The Winn Parish Chamber of Commerce & Tourism wrapped up its “Community Backbones” contest with more than 40 local businesses taking part and hundreds of community votes cast.

First place went to Autumn Leaves for their entry, ‘Mr. Wade Fisher’

Second place to Winnfield Physical Therapy for their entry, ‘Ghost Rider Rehab Edition-Born to be Wild’

Third place to Winn Parish Library for their entry, ‘Libby Lookthrough’

The Winnfield Post Office received honorable mention for their entry, ‘Penelope Peaches Bobette’

Check out the slides below to view the other spooky spirited skeletons mentioned above.


Kiwanis Thanks Community for Pancake Supper Success

The Winnfield Kiwanis Club served up another successful Pancake Supper on Thursday, Oct. 23. This annual event is held in efforts to raise money to support club projects like their Terrific Kids Program. 

This year’s donors included Pine Land Title, P.K. Smith, C.C. “Buck” Carter, Winn Collision Center, James Drilling, Central Management, Sheriff Josh McAllister, Winn Animal Clinic, JKM Logging, West Fraser and Grantadams Dairy Maid.

From the griddles to the ticket table, Kiwanians kept the line moving, mixing batter, flipping pancakes, packing takeout and serving diners. The crew included chairman Steve Bates, Jason Tarver, Mary Lou Blackley, Lamar Tarver, Rita James, Margaret Coon, Chet Atkins, Dr. Bill Gaddis, Ethel Howell, Bryan Price, Troy Rogers and Miranda Atkins.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The Winnfield club meets Tuesdays at noon at Mama’s Iron Skillet and welcomes new members.