Happy New Year!

There’s much to be excited about as 2026 arrives tonight at midnight. Maybe it’s your plans for New Year’s Eve; for an extended holiday weekend; or, simply the hope that 2026 brings happiness.

As for your Winn Parish Journal team, we are eager to continue bringing you quality coverage of local news and information.

We are thankful for your taking advantage of our free publication. We’re never going to charge you a penny, we’re never going to bombard you with pop-ups and pay walls, and we’re never going to share your e-mail address with anybody.

We are, however, going to take the rest of the week off to start the year! We did the same last week for the Christmas holiday. To allow our wonderful team members to enjoy quality time with their families, friends and pets, or in the woods, in front of the TV, or finding fun and relaxation to refresh for 2026.

We will resume our regular schedule Wednesday, Jan. 7, with our 6:55 a.m. email edition. All will also be posted on our website and shared on our Facebook page, with plenty of content – all at no cost to you.

As Christmas approaches, the Winn Parish Journal would like to extend our warmest wishes to each of our readers. This season reminds us of the joy of community, the comfort of tradition, and the importance of taking time to appreciate the people who make life meaningful. We are truly grateful for your support and for the privilege of sharing Winn Parish’s stories throughout the year.

To allow our staff time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends, WPJ will take Thursday and Friday off. We’ll return Wednesday, refreshed and ready to bring you more of the news and updates that matter to our parish.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas, and may your holiday be filled with peace, warmth, and all the things that make this season bright.

Drivers through downtown Winnfield recently encountered a new experience when a demonstration roundabout was put in place at Main Street and Abel, on the east corner of the Courthouse.  The structure consists of a series of hay bales assembled in a circular formation, with motorists encouraged to follow the British style of carefully driving “round-about” rather than waiting for the light to change.  The second photo gives some details of this Demonstration Project.  Work at the next intersection by City Hall indicates that a second roundabout is to follow.

The City of Winnfield hosted a reception Friday afternoon at the Winn Parish Library for 2025 Christmas Parade Grand Marshals Tommy and Helen Bankston.  After welcoming remarks by Winn Parish Library Director Priscilla Massey, Kiwanian Lamar Tarver gave an opening prayer. Mayor Gerald Hamms then welcomed everyone and spoke about the contributions the Bankstons have made to our community. Kiwanis President Mary Lou Blackley spoke about the ways the Bankstons have contributed to the community in the years they have been here through the school system and also Parkview Nursing Home. The Bankstons were presented a plaque by Ms Blackley recognizing them as Grand Marshals of the 2025 Winnfield Christmas parade. Dr. Bill Gaddis also made a few remarks concerning the Bankstons.  Teresa Moran and Mike Roberts then led in singing “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow” and “You Are My Sunshine”.

Family, friends and community members were well represented at the reception. The City of Winnfield provided refreshments. A Christmas tree was used as a backdrop for many photos taken by Troy Rogers of different groups of people. Also on hand for the reception were Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

Thanks to the community for coming to the reception and honoring the Bankstons on this special occasion.

The race to find a cure for Friedreich’s Ataxia came a step closer when the November 8 “Ride Ataxia Dallas” event raised $118,000 for research.

Winnfield grandparents Bo and Chris Walker and Jimmy and Helene Walker were proud to report that “Kate’s Krewe” accounted for $33,451 of that total and the krewe was again named the Number One fundraising team at the Dallas event.

Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance has a slogan that says Together We Can Cure FA. “We firmly believe that,” said the families. “To say thank you to everyone that contributed is not enough to express our very sincere appreciation for continuing to help us in our fight to cure this disease.”

The photos show the ride participants and “Kate’s Krewe.”

Kiwanis November 2025 Terrific Kids

Calvin

Dodson

Winnfield Primary School

On Veterans Day, Winnfield’s Main Street members placed a wreath at the entrance of the future home of the Winn Veterans Memorial.  Shown are veterans Rayford Riley and Michael Durbin, together of Shannan Chevallier.  Work is now underway, with demolition of the existing old building taking place from the rear.

There are many things or hobbies in life that we enjoy, and for me that would be tournament bass fishing. But like many other hobbies, fishing bass tournaments is expensive and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t justify the cost! For myself, with over 30 years of tournament experience, here’s how this works.  

I don’t care what level you’re fishing, whether club tournaments, pro-am, weekend warrior or professionally, it’s hard to break even. Now some guys will boast that they have been making money for years with tournaments. Liars! They just hope their wives don’t figure out how much money they are spending on fishing!

They want you to think they’re making money because they’re not looking at the whole picture and, in most cases, don’t want to! It’s a sport that has so many hidden costs that anglers forget by choice.

Very few anglers sit down and truly put a pencil to how much money it costs to fish any tournament trail. If you’re really honest with yourself and include everything, the numbers just don’t add up. 

First, there are entry fees which can range from $150 to $300 per event for lower-level events like the BFL’s and team tournament trails. On the high-level circuits and the professional side, entry fees can range from $1,700 up to $5,000 per tournament.  

Next, you’ve got to make sure you have insurance for your boat. You’ll not only need collision, but most high-level pro/am events won’t let you enter without $300,000 in liability insurance. 

Now let’s talk about boat gas expense, which can vary depending on how long the tournament is. Some events are one day while others are three days, but you also have at least three days of practice. This means you’re looking at 5 or 6 days per event.

Gas prices obviously fluctuate, but on average for me I spend anywhere from $125 up $175 just on boat gas alone. Truck gas, I usually spend around $150 up to $200 depending on how far away the tournament is. 

Ok, we’ve covered gas and entry fees, now let’s look at housing. The one good thing that really helps with this is having a couple of other anglers to help split the cost. On average, for five days and nights which includes practice time, you’re probably looking at around $300 each if you find a really good deal. 

Food! This can be an area where you can cut a few corners. Eating out is expensive and convenient but it can also be costly. Hopefully you have a couple of guys in your house who can cook and don’t mind doing it. 

I will cook at least one night, sometimes two. It might be homemade burgers one night or spaghetti another night. I‘ve also made a good vegetable beef soup or chili, which is nice on those cold early events. Cooking your own meals is certainly one way to reduce expenses.

Now for me, I usually bring something for breakfast like a sausage biscuit or maybe I’ll eat a small turkey sandwich. Then I’ll pack another turkey sandwich for lunch. This way, I’m only actually eating out one meal at night which will be in the range of $15 to $25 per dinner. 

But the one thing that we must add into the cost of tournament fishing: tackle!  Holy cow, the money I have spent on the road simply because I’ve run out of a particular color worm or lost a crankbait that I must replace or maybe I’ve had a lot of breakoffs and need more hooks or weights. 

One thing I do now, that I did not do early in my fishing career, is bring extra tackle with me that I think I might need for a particular body of water. But it never fails, no matter how many containers I bring full of baits and tackle, there will be that one thing I did not pack and must go buy. But that’s the life as an angler!

As you can see, tournament fishing is and can be very expensive. It is a sport that requires money if you want to compete. What I’m starting to realize after all my years of doing this is that nowadays just having the skill of catching fish is not good enough to fish at the highest professional level. 

To fish as a pro in 2025, it takes money, and lots of it to cover all the expenses required. This to me is sad and is taking the sport in a direction that I don’t think is good. It’s now becoming a sport that is pretty much for the elites since many great fishermen can’t afford the day-to-day costs involved.

In the long run, this will not be good for the sport of professional bass fishing. Which means the average Joe, with a depleted checkbook, will no longer be welcome on any pro circuit. 

By Cole Gentry, Chief Marketing Officer at Northwestern State University

You remember the excitement of freshman year. You picked out the dorm decor, bought the textbooks, and had a clear picture of how college was supposed to go.

But sometimes, despite the hard work you’ve put in, the reality doesn’t match the dream. Maybe the campus feels too big and impersonal, or perhaps the program isn’t what you expected.

For many students across Louisiana, coming home for a weekend or a semester break brings a quiet realization: the school you chose at 18 might not be the school you need to become the professional you want to be.

There is a common misconception that transferring means failure or, worse, losing all the ground you have gained. The fear of wasted credits and tangled paperwork often keeps students stuck in places where they aren’t thriving.

At Northwestern State University, the philosophy is different. We believe that realizing you need a change isn’t a step back. It is a step toward a future that fits.

The biggest hurdle to transferring is the uncertainty. Will my classes count? Will I graduate late? These questions create a gap between where a student is and where they want to be.

“We get it. Transferring can feel stressful because of the unknowns,” says Emily Miller, Director of Recruiting at NSU. “Our goal is to close that gap immediately. From day one, we provide a dedicated transfer advisor and fast credit evaluation. We look at the work you’ve already done and find every possible way to apply it to a degree at NSU. We want you to move forward, not start over.”

This approach transforms the process from a bureaucratic headache into a personalized welcome. Whether you are looking for the traditional on-campus experience in Natchitoches or the flexibility of our robust online programs, the focus remains on the individual student.

One of the primary reasons students transfer to NSU is the desire for connection. It is easy to feel like a number in a lecture hall of 400 people. Northwestern offers a different environment, one defined by small classes and professors who actually know your name.

“Transferring to NSU was one of my best decisions,” says Chris James, a Communication Arts and New Media transfer student. “From the start, I felt like I’d found a place to grow. I’ve covered live events with ESPN+ and worked with NSU TV News, the student newspaper, yearbook, and on-campus radio station, pushing me further than I imagined.”

“When a student joins the Demon family, they are bringing their unique story and potential to our campus,” says James T. Genovese, President of Northwestern State University. “We empower every student to shape their future. We are committed to providing the culture, the scholarships, and the academic support to ensure every transfer student finishes strong.”

This commitment includes scholarships specifically designed to recognize the progress transfer students have already made. It is a validation that your previous hard work matters here.

If you are feeling like your current college isn’t the right fit, you don’t have to wait a year to fix it. You can change your trajectory right now.

Spring classes at Northwestern State University begin January 12, 2026, and registration is currently open.

Ready to become a Demon? Visit nsu.la/transfer to see how your credits transfer and start your application today.

On December 17, 1903, a cold wind swept across the sandy dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, setting the stage for one of the most transformative moments in modern history. While the Wright brothers’ first powered flight is widely taught, the unusual circumstances surrounding that morning—particularly the coin toss, the failed first attempt, and the unexpected crash—still capture the curiosity of historians and aviation enthusiasts.

The day began with a bitter 27-mph headwind, strong enough to lift sand in sweeping sheets across the dunes. Wilbur and Orville Wright had spent several seasons conducting glider experiments at Kitty Hawk due to its steady winds and isolation. But on this morning, their focus shifted to the powered Wright Flyer, a machine built from materials including spruce, muslin, and bicycle components.

Before making their historic attempt, the brothers flipped a coin to determine who would fly first. Wilbur won the toss. What followed, however, was far from the clean takeoff schools teach today. After speeding along the track, Wilbur pulled too sharply on the controls, sending the Flyer into the air briefly before it stalled and crashed back into the sand. Though the damage was minor, the failure delayed the attempt by several hours.

Following the repair, it was Orville’s turn. His flight lasted only 12 seconds, covering 120 feet—yet it marked the first controlled, sustained, powered, heavier-than-air human flight. What many overlook is that the aircraft again landed hard, breaking parts of the skids and requiring additional adjustments.

Throughout the morning, the brothers made three more attempts. Their final flight, piloted by Wilbur, lasted an impressive 59 seconds and covered 852 feet. As they wheeled the Flyer back toward camp, a gust of wind suddenly flipped the aircraft repeatedly, damaging it beyond immediate repair. The Wright Flyer never flew again.

A single photograph—taken by John T. Daniels, a lifesaving station worker who had never used a camera—captured the moment of takeoff. Daniels later recounted that he accidentally smashed the camera after the final crash while trying to break free from the tangled wreckage.

Despite the chaotic nature of the day, the achievements of December 17, 1903, changed not only transportation but global culture. What began with a coin toss, a stall, and a crash led to a technological revolution that reshaped commerce, defense, travel, and communication.

The Wright brothers’ imperfect yet groundbreaking morning remains one of the most captivating stories of innovation, demonstrating that monumental success often begins with trial, error, and a willingness to try again—sometimes in the face of wind, sand, and unexpected setbacks.

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