“Are you finding it harder to set and enforce rules around your children’s screen time and social media use? How do you balance keeping them safe while giving them enough freedom to learn responsibility?”

 See what Ida says 

John Dillinger was one of the most notorious of the Depression Era criminals. His crime sprees included charges of desertion from the U.S. Navy, theft, auto theft, armed robbery, bank robbery, attempted murder, and murder. On January 25, 1934, Dillinger and his gang were captured in Tucson, Arizona. Dillinger was extradited to Crown Point, Indiana to stand trial on a host of charges including the murder of a police officer. Lake County officials claimed their jail where Dillinger was held was “escape proof.”

At about 9:30 on the morning of March 3, 1934, Dillinger and his cellmate, convicted murderer Herbert Youngblood, sat impatiently in their cell as a guard, Sam Cahoun, was making his rounds. As Sam peered into their cell, Dillinger aimed a pistol at him and ordered him under threat of death to open the cell door. Sam was unarmed and had no choice but to comply. Dillinger told Sam to remain quiet and to follow him. At Dillinger’s request, Sam called out for Deputy Earnest Blunk. As the deputy stepped out of the fingerprint office, Dillinger stuck the pistol against his side. Dillinger led Sam and Deputy Blunk back to the jail cell. After locking Sam in the cell, Dillinger had Deputy Blunk call out for Warden Lou Baker. As Warden Baker and three others stepped out of their offices, Dillinger aimed his pistol at them and forced them into the cell with Sam. Dillinger locked the cell door and headed for the warden’s office. Dillinger exchanged his pistol for one of the machine guns from the warden’s gun rack and told Youngblood, “Come on, quick. Get one of those guns there.” Youngblood took a machine gun from the same gun rack and followed Dillinger’s lead. Dillinger used Deputy Blunk in the same manner to disarm a total of six deputies and 16 guards, all of whom he locked in jail cells. Unable to find any car keys in the prison offices, Dillinger, Youngblood, and Deputy Blunk made their way out of the jail house where they met the warden’s wife. Dillinger told her, “Be a good little girl and we won’t kill you.” She let them pass. Dillinger, Youngblood, and their hostage made their way to the Main Street Garage where they located Edward Saagers, the garage mechanic. Dillinger ordered Saagers to give Deputy Blunk the keys to the fastest car in the garage, which happened to be a black police car. Then, Dillinger ordered Saagers to get in the car with them. At Dillinger’s order, Deputy Blunk slowly drove the escape car away from the prison as to not attract attention. Mrs. Baker alerted the sheriff, which set off a search for Dillinger by practically all of the law enforcement officers in Indiana and Northern Illinois. Two hours after their escape, Dillinger and Youngblood released Deputy Blunk and mechanic Saagers at Peotone, Illinois, 35 miles south of the Crown Point jail. Before driving off, Dillinger gave Deputy Blunk and Saagers a $4 tip and told them, “Good job!”

Newspapers reported that it was one of “the most spectacular breaks in the history of American crime,” partly because the pistol Dillinger used to set off the daring jailbreak was absolutely harmless. It was not loaded. It could not be loaded. You see, the pistol Dillinger used in that escape was one he had whittled out of a piece of wood.

On March 18, 1944, the romantic wartime drama Casablanca took center stage at the 16th Academy Awards, winning three Oscars including Best Picture.

Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, “Casablanca” tells the story of an American expatriate torn between love and sacrifice in the shadow of World War II. Set in unoccupied Morocco, the film blended romance, suspense and patriotism at a time when global audiences were living through the war itself.

The film’s win for Best Picture cemented its place in Hollywood history. Director Michael Curtiz also took home the Oscar for Best Director, and the film earned a third award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Though not initially predicted to sweep the ceremony, “Casablanca” resonated with audiences and Academy voters alike. Its themes of duty over desire and moral courage struck a chord during wartime America.

The film’s dialogue has since become iconic, with lines like “Here’s looking at you, kid” and “We’ll always have Paris” embedded in pop culture for generations. Bogart’s portrayal of Rick Blaine transformed him into a lasting symbol of cinematic cool, while Bergman’s performance remains one of the most celebrated in classic film history.

Over the decades, “Casablanca” has consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made, frequently appearing atop lists from the American Film Institute and other organizations.

March 18 marks not only a major milestone for a beloved film but also a reminder of Hollywood’s enduring power to capture emotion, history and hope on screen.

Ms. Ruby Charlene Myers, age 84, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Montgomery, Louisiana.

Ruby was born on February 8, 1942, in Blackton, Arkansas to Archie Dalton and Gladys Dunavan. She spent her life devoted to her family and her faith. A loving homemaker, Ruby found great joy in caring for her home and those she loved. She faithfully served her church for many years as a Sunday School teacher and was well known in her community for gathering neighborhood children and bringing them to Vacation Bible School. Ruby also cherished the quiet moments spent working in the garden alongside her beloved husband, Bobby.

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, Bobby Ray Myers; her parents, Archie Dalton and Gladys Dunavan; her siblings, Melva Norris, James Dunavan, and Bob Dunavan; and her great-granddaughter, Everly Rae Bakalis.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Ted Allen Stroud, Robert Stroud and wife Marie, Donny Stroud and wife Toni, and David Stroud and wife Cheryl.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Camile Stroud, Chasity Adcock and husband Jason, Cory Stroud and wife Kayla, Nicole Bakalis and husband Phil, Cody Stroud and wife Taylor, Jonathan Ray, Tonya Chaney and husband Dave, Chris Eddleman and wife Carla, Bree Spillman and husband Ethan, Megan Barnes and husband Micah, and Brent Shaw and wife Jessica; twenty great-grandchildren; and her sister, Myrna Hearne. Ruby is further survived by a host of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends who will miss her dearly.

Visitation was held at New Salem Baptist Church on Monday, March 16, 2026, from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM.

Funeral services followedat 11:00 AM at New Salem Baptist Church with Bro. Jimmy Plunkett and Bro. Corky Cooper officiating. Interment will follow in Crews New Salem Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were Jason Adcock, Phil Bakalis, A. J. Lavespere, Abel Lavespere, Cory Stroud, Cody Stroud, and Chris Eddleman.

Honorary pallbearers were George MaGee, Curtis Carver, Harper Stroud, and Wes Bakalis.

Expressions of sympathy and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting http://www.southernfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers please send donations to New Salem Baptist Church Buidling Fund, 10157 Hwy. 71 Montgomery LA. 71454

Residents in Winn Parish should prepare for a round of strong showers and thunderstorms Wednesday before a stretch of sunny and cooler weather settles into the area later in the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters say Wednesday will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms during the morning, with more widespread showers and possible thunderstorms developing after 1 p.m. High temperatures are expected to reach around 82 degrees. Winds will be out of the south at 5 to 15 mph, with gusts possibly reaching up to 20 mph. Rain chances are high, with a 90 percent probability of precipitation.

Storm activity is expected to continue into Wednesday night, with showers and a possible thunderstorm before 1 a.m., followed by a lingering chance of showers overnight. Temperatures will drop significantly, with lows around 48 degrees and an 80 percent chance of rain.

Conditions will improve by Thursday as skies clear and sunshine returns. Thursday’s high is expected to reach about 66 degrees, followed by a clear and cooler Thursday night with lows near 42.

Sunny weather will continue into Friday, with afternoon highs climbing to around 77 degrees and overnight lows near 49 under clear skies.

The warming trend will continue through the weekend. Saturday is expected to be sunny with a high near 81 and a mostly clear night with lows around 57. By Sunday, partly sunny conditions are forecast with temperatures rising to around 85 degrees.

Meteorologists encourage residents to remain weather-aware Wednesday as storms move through the area before enjoying the quieter and warmer conditions expected later in the week.

The Winnfield Primary School held their sixth 4-H meeting on Feb.10. The meeting was called to order by the president, Laila E. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ellie F. and the 4-H pledge was led by Karter P. The secretary read the minutes from the last meeting and the reporter read the news article.

We had two demonstrations. The first one was led by Ian C. He talked about the effects of screen time. You should only speed two hours on screens per day. According to an article published by the National Geographic, if you spend more than two hours on screens, you will have trouble sleeping, paying attention, and you spend less time outside.

Della, the wildlife agent, gave us some myth or fact questions about animals and animal life. We had fun testing our knowledge.

The educational program was conducted by our 4-H agents Mr.Donny and Mrs. Bethany.

They taught us about how to put together a healthy plate of food using the “My Plate” as a guide. We split into partners and created a healthy, balanced meal with a goal of under 600 calories. We got to choose from a list of items and had to work together to add up the calories of the items we chose. We realized some of the tastiest foods have a lot of calories.

Our club supported the local food pantry during the month of February by collecting packs of dry beans and peas.

4-H clubs are sponsored by the LSU AgCenter Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Have you ever wanted to use prescribed fire on your property for wildlife or forest management? We’re hosting an interesting meeting to kick off a Prescribed Burn Association in Winn Parish and other surrounding areas!

March 24, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Winn Parish Library
200 N St. John St, Winnfield, LA 71483

Prescribed burning is a commonly recommended land management tool, but can present challenges for landowners with limited experience and confidence to carry out without professional help. Prescribed burning associations (PBA’s) consist of landowners and other concerned citizens creating partnerships to conduct prescribed burns – Neighbors Helping Neighbors Getting Fire Back on the Ground. Through the sharing of knowledge, equipment, time, and experience the PBA can reduce risk, safely increase burned acres and help landowners accomplish their habitat management goals.

If you’re passionate about wildlife habitat, forest health, wildfire risk or overall land management, this is for you. Let’s work together to use good fire safely and effectively. 

You know the moment. The meeting is wrapping up, chairs start shifting, and everyone thinks they’re about to head home. Then someone says the dreaded words: “Before we adjourn, I’ve got just one more thing.” Suddenly the agenda grows, the clock keeps ticking and what was supposed to be a quick meeting turns into a marathon. Around here, “one more thing” rarely means just one more thing.

Oh, how times have changed in the tournament bass fishing world. In the last 20 years, tournament bass fishing has had several things that have taken the sport to another level. The first being the most obvious, electronics and forward-facing sonar. But there have been a few other things like how anglers get information today.

“Back in the day” as we old timers would say, getting information was sitting down with another angler and a paper lake map. You would use a highlighter to mark spots on the map where either he had caught bass before or places you might want to check.

Anglers would spend hours staring at a waterproof paper map like it was the Holy Grail. We brought them along with us in the boat to make sure we hit every spot marked. We made notes on the map as to what we caught, what time we caught fish, what bait we caught them on and what depth the fish were. We made notes on the water temperature as well as wind direction.

Maps were our main source of information on how a lake would set up for how we wanted to fish. Maps today are still very important, but now they’re on a screen, on our I-pads, cell phones and electronic units on our boats.

But there were also other ways anglers got information just like they do today. Who has more information than an angler who guides on a particular body of water? It’s that guy that spends every day of the week taking people out fishing. This person is full of information that can be a real asset to a tournament bass fisherman.

Also back in the day, we would meet a friend for lunch who maybe fishes a certain body of water frequently. He would tell you about spots that he knew about or had caught fish before. So, word of mouth was also a way we got information.

Fast forward to 2026, and the information highway is insane. Today, there is so much information that the younger generation has grown up with that it’s mind blowing. Someone asked me before, “Can you get too much information?”

Yes, too much information can create confusion and sidetrack you on what you need to be doing in order to compete in the tournament. Also, information is only good for so long, as bass fishing can change daily or even hourly.

All anglers process information differently, and personally, I don’t like talking to a lot of anglers about what, how and where I need to fish. Over my 30-year career, I can only think of maybe twice that information actually paid off with either a win or cashing a check.

To this day, I feel confident in my ability to find fish on my own. One of the first lessons I learned was that it’s hard to go and catch another angler’s fish. Even with good information about a certain spot, you still have to figure out boat positioning and the best way to approach the spot.

A lot of people complain that today’s anglers are networking together and forming their own little information group, especially the rookies on tour. The young anglers today have come up through the ranks with college and high school fishing teams, where they communicate a lot.

This is nothing new. Ever since professional bass fishing started, anglers have been forming partnerships with other anglers. That’s why anglers form small groups that travel and eat together, while developing true friendships and trust.

But the younger generation of anglers today are doing some things that I feel may not be in good spirit of the sport. They have budgets they use to purchase weigh points or dots as they call it.

That’s infringing on the integrity of the sport. This, in my opinion, is going too far and should not be allowed in tournament competition.

Of course, just like so many other things today, money is a factor along with how much you have. Some of the younger anglers have budgets of $30,000 plus (provided by parents) to spend each season for weigh points.

This is an unfair advantage whether you want to admit it or not. It’s proving the point that if you have money, you can compete for the win rather than just trying to cash a check.

It’s really hard to make it as a pro on your own. Today, you need that support system of information and money because it’s so difficult to fish against the best anglers on the planet on your own. It’s a different game today than it was 20 years ago.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

All 4th-6Th grade Winn parish 4-H members are invited to STEM Day on March 16 at South Winnfield Baptist Church from 3:00-4:30!

On this day students will learn all about STEM careers, engineering design, and will have the chance to use their knowledge of engineering design to create a leprechaun trap using only the materials provided. To sign up for the event, you may stop by the 4-H office and register or visit the following website to sign up online. https://forms.office.com/r/RE8AcF51m5

The cost is $5. Cost includes materials needed and snacks.

Agenda for STEM Day:
2:45-3:00-Check in, assign groups
3:00-3:15 Rotation 1*
3:15- 3:30 Rotation 2*
3:30-3:40- Short Break
3:40-4:10- Design Challenge (Leprechaun Trap)
4:10-4:20- Test Leprechaun Trap
4:20-4:30- clean up and exit survey
*The two rotations are STEM careers and engineering design

Should you need ADA accommodation, please contact our office at (318)628-4528 no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Through the whole season of Lent, I work on answering the question, “What am I giving up for Lent.”

A friend told me recently, “I’m simply frazzled.” Now, when a minister says “frazzled,” my imagination goes straight to cartoon mode. I pictured him with his hair standing straight up, soot on his face, clutching a smoldering Bible in one hand while trying to answer a phone call and a text message with the other. Ministry does that to us. Then I looked at my own calendar—those blank spaces I had optimistically filled in with “rest”—and I understood exactly what he meant.

There’s an old saying: “I’m so busy I don’t know if I’ve found a rope or lost a horse. “Some days, that feels less like a saying and more like a spiritual condition.

Our culture practically demands frazzled, frenetic activity. If we’re going to play the game, we’re expected to check email, Facebook, Instagram, and X like we’re on some sort of digital scavenger hunt. I left Facebook, I never tweeted, and my computer only checks email a couple of times a day. I do peek at Instagram—because that’s where my family hangs out—but even that can feel like a part-time job.

Maybe a good Lenten discipline would be to give up the tyranny of the immediate. If it doesn’t get done today, I’ll get to it tomorrow. And if it’s still sitting there tomorrow, maybe it didn’t need doing in the first place.

Now, I’m not suggesting you shirk your responsibilities. I’m suggesting we learn something about living for the long run, something our souls have been trying to tell us while we’ve been too busy checking notifications.

God took the seventh day off. You, however, will not—because I know you. So let me offer a substitute: two peace pockets a day.

A peace pocket is a ten-minute break where you turn off the phone, turn off the computer monitor, close the door, and do absolutely nothing. If anyone asks, tell them you’re about to “work very hard for the next ten minutes on doing nothing.” Only we could turn rest into a job description.

If you can’t take a day off, take two peace pockets and call me later.

We spend so much time ruminating over trifles. The disciples once “lost” Jesus—not because He was lost, but because they were. They finally found Him praying alone. Breathless, they announced, “The whole town is looking for you!” Jesus calmly replied that He had other places to go. In other words: “I’m not ruled by your urgency.”

Jesus had priorities. He didn’t let the trivial masquerade as the essential.

If God rested and Jesus set priorities, maybe we should take the hint. Maybe Lent is the perfect time to let go of the things that make us feel frazzled, frantic, and spiritually threadbare.

Then, perhaps, we can finally decide whether we’ve found a rope or lost a horse.