BATON ROUGE, La. – With deer season underway across Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is reminding hunters to review updated bag limits, season dates, and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations before heading into the field.

Louisiana is divided into 10 deer hunting areas, each with its own season dates and harvest limits. Hunters are encouraged to review the regulations specific to the area where they plan to hunt.

One of the primary regulation changes for the 2026-27 hunting season affects Deer Area 1, where hunters may now harvest no more than two antlered deer and no more than five antlerless deer.

The statewide season limit of six deer remains unchanged, although some deer areas have lower bag limits.

To accommodate the varying limits across Louisiana’s deer areas, hunters will receive six deer tags with their licenses. These include one antlered tag, two either-sex tags, and three antlerless tags.

Either-sex tags may be used for antlered or antlerless deer, provided the harvest remains within the limits established for the specific deer area.

Hunters can review season dates, deer area maps, and harvest regulations in the 2026-27 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations.

LDWF is also reminding hunters to familiarize themselves with regulations governing Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zones.

For the current hunting season, baiting and supplemental feeding are permitted within CWD Management Zones through March 31.

However, whether baiting remains permitted in future seasons will depend on sampling results within each management zone.

Each zone must meet a CWD sampling goal of 145 deer while maintaining an apparent CWD prevalence below 2.5%.

If a management zone fails to meet its sampling goal or its apparent CWD prevalence exceeds 2.5%, baiting will be prohibited in that zone during the following hunting season.

LDWF emphasizes that every deer submitted for testing counts toward the sampling goal, making hunter participation an important factor in determining future baiting regulations.

Hunters harvesting deer within CWD Management Zones must also follow restrictions on transporting carcasses and carcass parts outside the designated zones.

Deer carcasses and carcass parts generally cannot be removed from a CWD Management Zone, with certain exceptions.

Permitted items include cut and wrapped or boned-out meat; quarters or other meat portions without any part of the spinal column or head attached; antlers; cleaned skull plates with antlers; cleaned skulls without tissue; capes; tanned hides; finished taxidermy mounts; and cleaned teeth.

Any permitted deer parts transported outside a management zone must be accompanied by a possession tag containing the hunter’s name, address, LDWF license number, parish of harvest, harvest date, and sex of the deer.

Hunters wishing to transport an uncleaned deer head to a Louisiana taxidermist may obtain a waiver from LDWF.

LDWF has also announced changes to CWD sample collection locations following adjustments to management zone boundaries.

Because CWD Management Zones are smaller this season, some previously designated sample drop-off coolers are no longer located within management zones.

Hunters are encouraged to verify current drop-off locations before submitting deer for testing.

Additional sample collection coolers are being installed at Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge in Avoyelles Parish and D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge in Ouachita and Union parishes.

LDWF continues to encourage hunters to participate in CWD testing to help meet sampling goals and support ongoing disease management efforts.

Hunters can find CWD Management Zone maps, sampling locations, transportation restrictions, and additional regulations on the LDWF Chronic Wasting Disease webpage.

Complete hunting season dates, deer area maps, and regulations are available through the LDWF website.

For additional information regarding deer hunting regulations, hunters may contact LDWF Deer Program Manager Brad Kennon at rkennon@wlf.la.gov.

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With so many changes taking place with tournament organizations all across the country, the day of the co-angler has vanished. The days of getting in the boat with a touring pro and learning how to become a better angler are pretty much over.

Many of you are probably wondering, “What’s a co-angler?” A co-angler is usually someone who is in the early stages of learning how to bass fish or does not have the money or the time to dedicate to fishing against other anglers who want to fish the pro side. The co-angler entry fees are usually half of what the pros pay.

Most co-anglers just wanted to be able to get in the boat with what is known as a boater/pro and just go fishing. It was pretty much a cheap guided fishing trip as the boater/pro had total control over the boat and the trolling motor all day.

The co-angler, fishing from the back deck, was there mainly to monitor the boater/pro and make sure nothing was done during the tournament that might be considered dishonest.

In the Major League Fishing BFL and the Toyota Series format, co-anglers competed against other co-anglers and the pros competed against the other pros. It was basically two separate tournaments with two separate divisions.

It’s a sad state of affairs that MLF (Major League Fishing) has decided to eliminate co-anglers from the format they have stood by for over 30 years. They have totally blown up the BFL circuit, which was designed for the working man, by turning it into another team trail (like we needed another team trail).

They have also just announced the end of co-anglers with the Toyota Series which takes away the ability to monitor the pros who will now be fishing solo, opening more opportunities for cheating. They claim they will have cameras or Go Pros in each boat to help monitor each angler all day, but we’ll see how that works out.

And there’s another factor to consider: the cost. For 2027, MLF has increased the Toyota Series pro entry fee from $1,700 to $2,000 per event. That’s a $300 increase per tournament, adding even more financial pressure for anglers trying to compete at that level.

For me, this co-angler issue hits close to home because I started my tournament fishing career as a co-angler back in 2003, competing on the FLW Tour. I’m certainly not alone. Many of today’s top professional anglers started out as co-anglers, including Bryan Thrift, Andy Montgomery and Randall Tharp.

Over time, they switched over to the pro side as they gained more confidence, experience and desire to compete with the best anglers in America.

I came up through that system, and I know firsthand the value of having the opportunity to compete, sharpen my skills, and prepare for the next step.

Back in the early 2000’s, the old FLW BFL’s and the Toyota Series were great training grounds for developing up-and-coming anglers. Now that’s no longer an option for anglers who are looking to learn and improve their skills before moving up to the pro level.

So, what does this mean for the future of tournament bass fishing? While it’s too early to tell, I think it’s obvious that a valuable pathway into the sport has been eliminated, one that allowed co-anglers to learn and get better, while also being affordable for the “working man.”

Now, a lot of co-anglers will be forced to jump over to the pro side or just find a team circuit to fish with a buddy. Either way, MLF (Major League Fishing) is bringing the co-angler era to an end, and the future of tournament bass fishing looks very different than it did just a few years ago.

That’s a tough pill to swallow for those of us who remember what these opportunities meant — and for the anglers who may never get the same chance we had.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Experience. Reputation. Personal Attention. Right Here at Home.

When you need an attorney, you have plenty of choices. Television, billboards, and social media are filled with advertisements from law firms across Louisiana and beyond. But when you are facing a serious legal issue, there is something to be said for having an attorney who lives and works in your community, someone you can sit down with, look in the eye, and know personally.

At The Harrington Law Firm, we believe that choosing a lawyer should be about more than a catchy advertisement or a familiar telephone number. It should be about experience, trust, reputation, and personal service.

For nearly 50 years our family law firm has proudly served the people of Natchitoches Parish and the surrounding communities. We have built our practice on a simple philosophy: Treat our clients the way we would want our own family to be treated.

Why Choose The Harrington Law Firm?

• An AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. The AV Preeminent rating is Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating for professional excellence, recognizing attorneys who have been evaluated by their peers for strong legal ability and high ethical standards. It is a distinction that reflects the respect earned within the legal profession and places our firm in the top 10% of all law firms in the nation!  We are very proud of an honored by that recognition.
• A Family Firm That Treats You Like Family. We are proud to be a family law firm with deep roots in Natchitoches Andi surrounding area.Our clients are not simply case numbers or files on a desk. They are our friends, neighbors, and fellow members of the community. We understand that behind every legal problem is a person or family looking for answers and help.
• Personal Attention from the Firm’s Partners. When you hire our firm, you can expect to work directly with the attorneys responsible for your case. We believe in personal, face-to-face meetings, returning telephone calls, answering questions, and keeping our clients informed. You won’t simply be shuffled off to an associate you’ve never met.
• Local Attorneys Who Know Our Community. We live here, work here, and raise our families here. We understand the people, businesses, and concerns of North Louisiana. Our reputation isn’t built solely on advertising. It is built on decades of relationships and service to the community.
• Experience Across a Wide Range of Legal Matters. Legal problems come in many forms, and our firm has experience helping individuals and families navigate some of life’s most difficult situations. Whether you’ve been injured in an accident, are struggling with overwhelming debt, need help obtaining disability benefits, or want to protect your family’s future, we are here to help.
• Accountability and Accessibility. We believe you should know who your attorney is and how to reach them. Our office is right here in Natchitoches, and we stand behind the work we do for our clients. We value the relationships we build, not just the cases we handle.

How Can We Help You?

The Harrington Law Firm provides legal representation in a variety of practice areas, including:

• Personal Injury: Automobile accidents, 18-wheeler and commercial truck accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and other serious injury claims.
• Oil and Gas Matters: Oil and gas lease reviews, lease negotiations, and related property and mineral rights issues.
• Social Security Disability: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), disability denials, hearings, and appeals.
• Bankruptcy and Debt Relief: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, creditor issues, debt negotiations, and financial relief options.
• Wills and Successions: Last wills and testaments, estate planning, successions, and assistance with the transfer of property following the death of a loved one.

Big Enough to Handle Your Legal Problems. Small Enough to Know Your Name.

We know that legal problems can be stressful, confusing, and sometimes life-changing. Whether you’re dealing with a serious injury, financial difficulties, the loss of a loved one, or another legal concern, you deserve an attorney who will take the time to listen.

At The Harrington Law Firm, we don’t believe personal service is old-fashioned. We believe it’s the way practicing law ought to be.

When you need legal help, consider the advantages of keeping it local.

THE HARRINGTON LAW FIRM
Proudly Serving Natchitoches and North Louisiana for nearly 50 years.

Phone: 318-352-5900
Website: www.theharringtonlawfirm.com

Experience. Integrity. Personal Service. Right Here at Home.

Attorney advertising. The choice of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Beep. Beep. Beep.

Please pick the beep you like best. You will be hearing it again shortly.

A beep is a short, high-pitched sound intended as a signal, summons, or warning. It also replaces words unsuitable for a family digital publication. For example: “Oh, BEEP! I dropped the hot casserole after taking it out of the microwave when it BEEPED.”

Beep is an example of onomatopoeia. That is a large word describing a small noise that is slowly driving me crazy.

The microwave beeps when the food is ready. Mine continues beeping until I open the door or push stop. Apparently, it fears I will forget the sumptuous frozen dinner it has prepared. Nothing says fine dining like a plastic tray and an appliance demanding that you come get it.

The oven beeps when it reaches the selected temperature. It beeps when the cooking time is nearly over. It beeps when the cooking time is over. Then it beeps until I acknowledge its contribution to the meal. I have known preachers who needed less affirmation.

The house alarm beeps when I turn it on, when I turn it off, and when the power fails. When the power returns, it beeps to tell me the power failed. I know. I was here. The lights went out.

Every button beeps. Then the system beeps to announce that I have thirty seconds to leave the house. Suddenly, I am a contestant on a game show, gathering my keys and trying to escape before the horn announces that I have lost.

Seeking peace, I retreat to the BEEPING car.

My Toyota has a mystery beep. Sometimes I turn off the engine, open the door, and receive a beep of disapproval. I don’t know what I have done. Perhaps I have disappointed it. Perhaps it is saying goodbye. Perhaps somewhere in Japan an engineer is laughing.

The car beeps when I get too close to something, when something gets too close to me, and when I change lanes without signaling. It has become a backseat driver with factory authorization.

It beeps when the gas runs low. At the station, the pump beeps when it accepts my card and again when I select the fuel. I suspect the car and pump are talking about me.

This morning, the car beeped as I got out. The office alarm chimed as I entered. A chime is a beep that attended finishing school. Then my computer beeped about something Microsoft wanted.

Oh, BEEP.

Eventually, we stop listening. We have to. Every machine believes its announcement deserves our immediate attention.

But I wonder whether that habit follows us into our relationships.

Someone starts telling a story we have heard before. A lonely person calls at an inconvenient time. A worried friend needs more reassurance than we think necessary. We hear the first few words and mentally reach for the mute button.

I can confess to occasionally wanting people to come equipped with one.

Jesus heard a great deal of noise, too. Crowds pressed around him. People demanded answers, healing, attention. Yet when blind Bartimaeus cried out and others told him to be quiet, Jesus stopped and called for him.

The crowd heard an interruption. Jesus heard a man.

That gives me something to confess. I can become so occupied with doing the Lord’s work that I resent someone the Lord loves for interrupting it.

Christian love takes shape in these ordinary moments: listening to the story, answering the call, asking one more question—and staying long enough to hear the answer. The person before me bears God’s image and is someone for whom Christ died. That deserves my attention.

Lord, help me recognize the difference between a noise I can ignore and a neighbor I am called to love. Give me the patience to stop, the grace to listen, and a heart willing to be interrupted.

The microwave can wait.

Somebody may need to be heard.

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On October 21, 2015, flying cars were supposed to fill the skies, teenagers were supposed to ride hoverboards, and nobody was supposed to worry about tying their shoes.

At least, that’s what Hollywood told us.

The date became famous thanks to the 1989 movie Back to the Future Part II, when Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled from 1985 to October 21, 2015, in a time-traveling DeLorean. The movie imagined a future filled with extraordinary technology, strange fashion choices and inventions that seemed almost impossible at the time.

Now, on October 21, 2026, we’re 11 years beyond the future Hollywood imagined. And while some predictions were surprisingly accurate, others missed the mark completely.

For starters, where are the flying cars?

In the movie, ordinary automobiles had been converted into flying machines, allowing drivers to soar above traffic instead of sitting in it. Anyone who has spent time waiting at a railroad crossing or sitting behind a slow-moving vehicle on a two-lane Louisiana highway can probably appreciate that particular invention. Unfortunately, flying cars haven’t become an everyday transportation option.

Then there were hoverboards.

Marty famously escaped a group of bullies on a floating skateboard that glided above the pavement without wheels. The real world eventually introduced devices marketed as hoverboards, but most were simply two-wheeled, self-balancing scooters. Engineers have demonstrated actual hovering prototypes, though nothing approaching the convenient transportation imagined in the movie.

Self-lacing shoes were another memorable prediction.

Nike eventually developed shoes with automatic lacing technology, proving that at least one of Hollywood’s stranger ideas could become reality. But the movie also predicted several technologies that now seem completely ordinary.

Video calling was a major feature of the fictional 2015. Today, people routinely use FaceTime, Zoom and other video communication services to talk with family, attend meetings and conduct business. Large, flat-screen televisions appeared throughout the movie, along with voice-controlled technology and fingerprint identification systems. All three have become familiar parts of modern life.

Perhaps the funniest prediction involved fax machines.

The filmmakers imagined a future where fax machines were everywhere, even delivering personal messages inside people’s homes. Instead, smartphones, email and internet messaging largely replaced the technology. And speaking of smartphones, the movie somehow overlooked what would become one of the most influential inventions of modern life.

Marty’s futuristic world had flying vehicles, holographic advertisements and automated clothing, but nobody was walking around staring at a tiny computer in their hand. The filmmakers also imagined a 2015 filled with unusual clothing, including jackets that automatically adjusted their size and dried themselves. That particular invention might still be useful during a humid Louisiana summer.

The movie’s predictions were never intended to be a serious scientific forecast. They were an entertaining interpretation of what life might look like three decades into the future. Yet the comparison raises an interesting question.

In 1989, the idea of carrying a device capable of instantly accessing nearly all the world’s information, taking photographs, navigating highways and communicating with someone across the planet might have sounded just as ridiculous as a flying DeLorean. Today, that device is probably sitting in your pocket.

So, as October 21 rolls around again, it’s worth remembering that the future rarely looks exactly the way we imagine. We may not have flying cars or real hoverboards parked in our garages, but we have technology that would have seemed extraordinary just a few decades ago. And somehow, despite all that progress, we still haven’t figured out how to avoid getting stuck behind a tractor on a country road.

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For nearly a century and a half, Quaker Oats has been a breakfast staple. I remember being excited to eat oatmeal because we would eventually work our way down to the prize inside the cylindrical cardboard container, which was usually a plastic cup or tumbler. It was a clever bit of advertising.  In the 1960s, the Quaker Oats Company was looking to expand into the candy market. Quaker habitually spent millions of dollars advertising its products in newspapers, magazines, and television commercials, but the advertising team knew they had to come up with a unique way to showcase their new product line in addition to their normal advertising campaigns. It had to be big, but what? Numerous ideas were discussed and discarded. They eventually settled on an idea they kept coming back to. They decided to fund the production of a film in which their candy would be the focus. The name of the candy line would even be in the title of the film.

But there was one huge problem. The ad men had set into motion an advertising campaign before they had a product. As newspapers announced the upcoming film and candy line, the research and development team struggled to create a candy that they thought had the perfect combination of texture and taste to beat its rivals. Once they settled on the recipe, the company had to build the machinery to produce the candy in large quantities. It was a race to the finish. Quaker wanted its candy to be on grocery store shelves when the film came out to maximize sales, but it was not to be. When the film debuted on June 30, 1971, Quaker had only a fraction of the candy it had hoped to produce, and what little was available went to specialty shops rather than grocery stores.

Quaker spent an estimated $3 million on the film, and it was a moderate box office success. Quaker expected the film to eventually fade into oblivion, but it is now revered as a classic. It has spawned two feature films, an animated version, stage musicals, theatrical adaptations, and theme park rides. It has become a profitable franchise.  However, the candy the film was made to showcase fared far worse. Quaker Oats president Robert D. Stuart, Jr. announced that the “costs of introducing the [candy] line have had an adverse effect on Quaker’s profits.” The candy sold well, but not well enough. In December 1972, Quaker sold the candy line it had spent millions of dollars to create. A series of companies bought and sold the candy line because, like Quaker, they were unable to make it profitable, or at least profitable enough. Last month, the candy line’s current owner, Ferrero, announced that it was reviving the recently acquired candy line in a limited edition. Ferrero announced, “we’re inviting the young at heart to experience the imagination and unexpected delights that have made the brand so beloved, reimagined through a collection of delicious new treats. And who knows? You might be the next Golden Ticket winner.”  The film the Quaker Oats Company funded to advertise its failed candy line, the Willy Wonka candy line, was called Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Sources:

1.     The Los Angeles Times, April 18, 1971, p.610.

2.     The Cleveland Press, July 21, 1971, p.61.

3.     The Journal Times (Racine, Wisconsin), December 29, 1972, p.20.

4.     “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” IMDb.com, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067992/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_willy%20wonka.

5.     “The Wait is Over: A New Chapter of the Wonderful World of Wonka Arrives,” September 22, 2026, Ferrero, https://www.ferrero.com/us/en/news-stories/news/a-new-chapter-of-the-wonderful-world-of-wonka-arrives.

© 2026 Brad Dison. All rights reserved. Remember This? is distributed for licensed publication only.

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James R. “Rickey” Young
January 3, 1947 — October 19, 2026
Service: Friday, October 23, 2026, 11am at Southern Funeral Home, Winnfield. 

Willis Elton Jones, Jr.
March 1, 1954 — October 16, 2026
Service: Friday, October 23, 2026, 2pm at Southern Funeral Homes, Winnfield. 

Winn Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or bill@journalservicesllc.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to WinnNewsLa@gmail.com

October 6, 2026
Bennett Barnes, of Winnfield, was arrested for criminal trespassing and possession with intent to distribute Schedule I.

October 7, 2026
Casey Estes, 40, of Dodson, was arrested for criminal trespassing.
Richard Foquo, 48, of Winnfield, was arrested for direct contempt of court.

October 8, 2026
Andrew Smith, 43, was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal use of dangerous weapons, and aggravated second-degree battery.

October 9, 2026
Billy Finn, 29, of Winnfield, was arrested for criminal trespassing, simple criminal damage to property, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

October 13, 2026
Robert Snelling, 42, of Winnfield, was arrested for criminal trespassing.

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Arrest Report

No Report Provided for the week

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By Journal Staff

The Winn Chamber of Commerce has named Winn Community Health Center its 2026 Business of the Year, honoring the health care provider for its ongoing service and investment in Winn Parish.

Health center leadership expressed gratitude following the announcement, emphasizing that the honor reflects the dedication of its staff and the trust of the local community.

“This recognition means so much to our entire organization,” the health center said in a statement. “Every day, our team works to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients and the community we are proud to serve.”

The organization extended its appreciation to staff members, patients and regional supporters, noting that the annual award represents a shared achievement across the parish.

“To our dedicated employees, our patients who trust us with their care, and the community that continues to support us, thank you,” the center stated. “This award belongs to all of you.”

Winn Community Health Center reaffirmed its long-term commitment to expanding health care access throughout the area, adding that it remains proud to call Winn Parish home as it continues to grow and invest in community wellness.

About Trinity CHC

Founded in 2009, Trinity Community Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center delivering primary, dental, and behavioral health care across six Central Louisiana parishes and more than 30 area schools. The center leverages modern health technology, including electronic records and an online patient portal, to ensure accessible, high-quality care throughout the region.

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Early voting for the Nov. 3 election will be held Oct. 20-27 at the Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Office inside the Winn Parish Courthouse.

Early voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day during the early voting period, with the office closed Sunday, Oct. 25. Voters should enter the courthouse through the Main Street entrance.

Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Bryan E. Kelley said the ballot includes several candidate races as well as 10 proposed constitutional amendments.

With multiple items appearing on the ballot, voters are encouraged to review their sample ballot before arriving at the polls. State law limits voters to six minutes in the voting booth.

Sample ballots are available through the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website. The GeauxVote app also allows voters to view their sample ballot, update voter registration information and follow election results.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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WINN PARISH, La. — Winn Parish will see hot and sunny conditions through the middle of the week before a noticeable cool-down arrives heading into the weekend.

Wednesday will be sunny and hot with a high near 95 degrees. Winds will be calm before becoming southerly around 5 mph during the afternoon. Wednesday night will be clear with a low around 63.

Thursday will remain sunny and warm with a high near 94. Clear skies are expected Thursday night as temperatures fall to around 63.

A change will begin Friday, although the day will remain sunny with a high near 89. Temperatures will drop significantly Friday night, with mostly clear skies and a low around 53.

Saturday will be much cooler and sunny, with a high near 76. Saturday night could bring some of the coolest temperatures of the period, with a low around 48 under mostly clear skies.

Sunday will remain sunny as temperatures begin to rebound, with a high near 83.

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ST. MAURICE, LA — Descendants of founding Winn Parish families gathered on Sunday, October 11, 2026, for the annual St. Maurice Cemetery Homecoming, celebrating community heritage, honoring departed loved ones, and reviewing major preservation efforts on the historic grounds.

St. Maurice holds a distinguished place in regional history as an early Red River steamboat landing and one of the earliest settlements in Winn Parish. The gathering took place inside the historic St. Maurice Methodist Church sanctuary, a landmark originally erected in 1874 by John E. Jones and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Board member Mark Swafford opened the morning assembly with prayer, welcoming families and guests. Board member Tonia Lonadier coordinated attendee recognitions, highlighting the generations of family lines tied to the historic grounds, while a solemn time of remembrance honored those interred over the past year. Current officers serving the association include, Mark Swafford, Melissa Ward, Tonia Lonadier, and Casey Gorum.

Melissa Ward presented the association’s annual report, outlining milestones achieved since incorporating the St. Maurice Cemetery Association, Inc. in 2024 following the acquisition of the historic church and cemetery. To comply with Louisiana Cemetery Association regulations and protect family lineages, the board spearheaded a comprehensive survey utilizing GPS coordinates and aerial drone photography to create an accurate master plot map.

Financially, the association remains strong. Over $10,000 was collected for the general maintenance fund this year, securing ongoing mowing and perpetual grounds care. Additionally, a Dedicated Project Fund established for the historic 1874 sanctuary funded key restorations to the historic 10-foot windows, door framing, and exterior signage.

Casey Gorum reviewed guidelines for family plots and monument care, reminding families that all burials and headstone placements are conducted by permit only. Attendees were asked to complete a standardized reservation form to reconcile unrecorded family spaces with the master plot map.

Representing the Winn Genealogical and Historical Association (WGHA), President Troy Rogers attended to connect with kinfolk and gather parish oral histories. Among those sharing stories was Mr. Harold Bray, who recounted an extraordinary family account passed down through his grandmother, Eva Crawford, highlighting early medical history in Winn Parish.

A Piece of Winnfield History: Ava Crawford’s Grit and the Town’s First Tetanus Shot.

As told by Harold Bray at the 2026 St. Maurice Cemetery Homecoming.

Around 1917, long before grass lawns were commonplace across Winn Parish, front yards were hard-packed dirt swept tidy with brooms and garden rakes. That year, a 12-year-old girl named Ava Crawford—daughter of the Winn Parish Sheriff—suffered a painful mishap when she fell onto an iron rake, driving two or three deep puncture wounds straight into her knee.

In those days, barnyard puncture wounds carried a terrifying danger: lockjaw, or tetanus. The family quickly carried young Ava inside to the living room and sent for the local physician.

What happened next was an extraordinary stroke of good timing. Ava’s brother, Frank Crawford, was working for the local pharmacist in Winnfield. Recognizing the urgent risk of infection, the doctor sent young Frank racing to the drugstore. As providence would have it, an unfamiliar medical shipment had just arrived on the pharmacy counter. The doctor opened the package, reviewed the enclosed literature, and discovered it was the very first shipment of tetanus antitoxin to reach the community. Reading the instructions on how to administer the serum right there in the living room, he gave young Ava the first documented tetanus shot in Winnfield history.

The antitoxin saved her life, but the severe puncture trauma caused her knee joint to lock up completely. Ava walked with a stiff, unbending leg, swinging it outward with each step, but she resolutely refused to let the injury define her future.
Determined to walk normally again, she took rehabilitation into her own hands with a unique brand of turn-of-the-century physical therapy. Ava would walk over to the high curb outside the Winn Parish Courthouse, sit down with her stiff leg extended out over the ledge, and have her brother Frank bounce up and down on her knee. Through sheer grit—and the unmistakable sound of internal joint adhesions snapping free—she forced the knee to regain mobility. The joint eventually unfroze completely, allowing Ava to live an active, normal life until arthritis set in during her later years.

Following the business meeting, attendees gathered under the shade trees for a traditional homecoming dinner on the grounds.

Cemetery Guidelines & Contributions:

All burials and monument placements at St. Maurice Cemetery require authorization. For permit inquiries, contact Board Secretary Melissa Ward at Melissaward83@gmail.com. Walk-ins and wheelchairs are always welcome on the grounds.

Memorial donations may be mailed to:

St. Maurice Cemetery Association, Inc.
c/o Melissa S. Ward, Secretary
162 Alma Swafford Rd
Natchitoches, LA 71457

(Please note on the check memo line whether contributions are designated for Cemetery Maintenance or the Church Building Project Fund).

This report and oral history account were compiled and transcribed using AI-assisted technology from on-site recordings gathered at the 2026 St. Maurice Cemetery Homecoming.

Photo Caption: ​Framed by the boughs of a native Winn Parish shortleaf pine, the historic St. Maurice Methodist Church (built in 1874 by John E. Jones) stands in bright autumn sunlight during the annual cemetery homecoming on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

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For many people, applying for a loan can feel like being reduced to a number.

A credit score may be part of the lending process, but it does not always tell the full story of a person’s financial situation.

Someone may have experienced a job change, medical expense, divorce, unexpected repair or other setback that affected their credit. Another person may simply have a limited credit history because they have not used traditional financial products very often.

That does not mean their current financial need is any less real.

Better Finance believes that is why a conversation still matters.

For more than 60 years, the company has worked with customers in Northwest Louisiana by taking the time to understand why they need financing, what their circumstances are and whether a loan can be structured appropriately.

That personal approach can be especially important for people who feel overlooked by larger or more automated financial systems.

Today, many lending decisions begin online. An applicant enters information, a computer reviews the data and a decision may be made with little or no personal interaction.

Technology can make financial services more convenient, but convenience and understanding are not always the same thing.

Sometimes a borrower needs the opportunity to explain the situation.

Perhaps a vehicle needs to be repaired so someone can continue getting to work.

Perhaps several existing payments have become difficult to manage.

Perhaps a family faces a medical expense, school expense or household need that was not part of the monthly budget.

The circumstances can be very different from one customer to the next.

Better Finance’s approach is to begin by listening.

That conversation does not guarantee that every loan will be approved. Responsible lending requires evaluating whether a loan is appropriate and whether the borrower can reasonably handle the repayment.

But it does mean the customer has an opportunity to discuss the need with someone who understands that financial lives are rarely as simple as a single number on a report.

For consumers who do not have a strong relationship with a traditional bank or financial institution, that conversation can be particularly valuable.

A past financial problem does not necessarily describe where someone is today.

A limited credit history does not necessarily describe someone’s ability to work, earn an income or meet future obligations.

And an unexpected financial need does not always arrive at a convenient time.

Better Finance has built its business around personal relationships and local lending, with financing available for qualified borrowers for a variety of needs.

The first step does not have to be complicated.

Sometimes it simply starts with explaining what you need and asking what options may be available.

Better Finance: Let’s Have a Conversation.

To learn more about Better Finance and its lending options, visit CoushattaFinance.com or contact the Better Finance office in Coushatta.

This is a paid advertorial provided on behalf of Better Finance. Loan approval, terms and availability are subject to Better Finance lending requirements and applicable laws.

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