Author: cpoole003

Winn Student Makes 4-H National Conference Delegation

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National 4-H Conference is the pinnacle experience in 4-H civic engagement, providing 4-H members the opportunity to connect with others and develop ideas to lead change that impacts communities across the nation and world.
 
Louisiana 4-H members selected as delegates will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National 4-H Conference. Delegates will also spend a year in their role learning how to effectively advocate for the 4-H program and issues affecting their community.
 
The 2023 Louisiana 4-H National 4-H Conference Delegation:
Andrew Courville, Vermilion
Payton Prichard, Bossier
Emily Nevils, Winn
Samantha Shelton, Franklin

Winnfield FFA Strawberry Fundraiser

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The Winnfield FFA Alumni Chapter is happy to present its fourth annual strawberry fundraiser! Whole flats are $26 and half flats are $15.

Orders are due Feb. 14 and delivery will be in mid March. Feel free to comment or message orders. Or ask any spring semester WSHS Ag students!

Thank you for helping support our alumni as they help support us!

NSU Announces Fall 2022 Honor Rolls

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Five hundred sixty-six students were named to the Fall 2022 President’s List at Northwestern State University. Students on the list earned a grade point average of 4.0.

Winnfield — Richard Bishop, Haley Collins, Ashlyn Little, John Spikes, Kaitlyn Turner, Natalie Womack, Taylor Womack, Alecia Zimmerman; 

Dodson — Heather Wehunt  

Atlanta — Emily Thomisee;  

Seven hundred and fifty-six undergraduate students were named to the Fall 2022 Dean’s List. Students on the Dean’s List must be enrolled full time and earn a grade point average of between 3.5 and 3.99.    

Dodson – Gaje Womack;  

Winnfield – Kimberly Bedgood, Emalee Dill, Brian Griffin, Anthony Knight, Kelli Leeper, Emily Shecton, Maggie Womack; 

Six hundred and ninety-three students who were named on the Fall 2022 Honor List. Students on the Honor List must be enrolled full-time at Northwestern and have a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.49. 

Dodson – Faithe Williams, Logan Womack; 

Winnfield – Mattie Beaubouef, Keaton Burnum, Haley Chandler, Matthew Harrell, Lucas Homan, Victoria Hubbard, Adrienne Jones, Kayla Jones, Jordan Patterson, Landen Womack; 

For questions about the honor lists, contact the University Registrar at (318) 357-6171, toll-free at (800) 807-8849 or registrar@nsula.edu.   

Save the Date: Mardi Gras Festival FEB 4

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Save the Date for the Mardi Gras Festival, set for Saturday, Feb. 4 in the lot beside the Winnfield Post office. Food trucks and vendors will begin selling at 11 am and fun will begin immediately following the parade, which begins at 2 pm. There will also be kid’s activities. For more information contact Lacey McManus through Facebook or via text at (318) 302-2427.

Winnfield Fire Department Responds to Camper Fire on Christmas Day

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Christmas Day 2022 started off early for the Winnfield Fire Department when police dispatch notified fire personnel of a camper fire off of Patton St. Engine 1, Engine 3, Ladder 1, and Support 2 responded with 9 personnel. Command arrived on scene and advised of a fully involved camper trailer. Engine 1 deployed front bumper attack line for fire suppression.
 
Fire fighters were challenged with a hydrant at the intersection that was not in operation but were able to contain and extinguish the blaze with the tank water off of Engine 1. Fire fighters extinguished the fire and commenced overhaul procedures. There was light damage to another travel trailer next to it but luckily fire fighters were able to get a quick knock down on the fire. The owner was not home at the time and was given assistance to American Red Cross.
 
Great job to all personnel who showed up on a cold Christmas Day away from their families!

LA Department of Insurance Offers Tips to Stay Safe on Road, at Home New Year’s Eve

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The Louisiana Department of Insurance Offers Tips to Stay Safe on the Road and at Home This New Year’s Eve

After the New Year celebrations end at midnight, many revelers will be leaving bars and parties to make their way home. The increased number of travelers combined with an inevitable increase of impaired drivers makes for a highly dangerous time to be on the road. The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) offers these tips to help ensure you have a safe celebration and a happy year to come.

Staying Safe on the Road

When out and about for New Year’s Eve:

  • Avoid driving between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. if possible.
  • Stay at or near your location overnight, designate a driver, or take a cab or ride-share service.
  • Be a good friend and make sure no one gets behind the wheel while intoxicated.
  • Be the responsible one on the road by not speeding, following too closely behind other vehicles or driving distracted. Go one step further by making a New Year’s resolution to stay off the phone while driving.

Auto Safety

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the number of vehicles stolen in the U.S. is expected to surpass 1 million by the end of the year. In addition, News Year’s Eve and Day are the holidays when car thieves are most active. The Louisiana Automobile Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority (LATIFPA) offers the following advice:

  • Make your vehicle less of a target by parking in well-lit areas and keeping belongings out of sight. Keep windows rolled up and always lock the doors. Never leave your vehicle running unattended and make sure you keep the keys or fob with you. If property is stolen from your vehicle, it may be covered under your homeowners/renters policy or your auto policy. Check with your agent to learn more.
  • Use anti-theft devices such as car alarms, steering wheel locks and car wheel clamps.Many insurers offer discounts for drivers who use anti-theft devices.
  • If your vehicle is burglarized or stolen:
    • Report it to the police and contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible.
    • Keep a record of your license plate number, vehicle identification number and a copy of your registration to help identify and locate your vehicle after a theft.
    • Depending on your coverage, your insurance may cover a rental car while you are looking to replace your stolen vehicle.
    • If your vehicle is recovered, insurance may cover the impounding and towing fees.

Fireworks Safety

If fireworks are legal where you live and you choose to use them, be sure to follow these safety tips:

  • Never allow young children to handle fireworks, and older children should only use them under close adult supervision.
  • Avoid handling fireworks while impaired.
  • Do not ignite fireworks in your hands or in a make-shift container.
  • Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting.
  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  • Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak malfunctioned and used fireworks in water before discarding.
  • Keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby to fully extinguish fireworks and to use in case of a fire.

If you have questions about what is covered in your insurance policy or have issues with an insurance claim, contact the LDI at 800-259-5300 or find more information online at www.ldi.la.gov.

First United Methodist Church Invites you to Candlelight Christmas Service

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The First United Methodist Church wants to extend a warm invitation to everyone to join them for their Candlelight Christmas Service. We will sing together, share in Holy Communion, tell of the birth of the newborn King of Kings, and will share in singing Silent Night by candlelight.
 
The service will be on Friday, Dec. 23, at 6pm. Couley UMC will meet at 4:30pm.
 
A special note about the weather: it is projected to be below freezing all day. If they should lose power, please bundle up and bring a blanket with you to service, and they will truly have a candlelight service. Please travel safely, and don’t take unnecessary risks.

Winnfield Sr. High FFA Chapter Members Move on to Nationals

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Winnfield Senior High School’s FFA Chapter attended State LDEs on Dec. 15 at CLTCC in Alexandria. We are happy to announce the following:
 
1st place in Prepared Speaking, Jasmine Jones
1st place in Extemporaneous Speaking, Annie Heard
1st place in Employment Skills, Lauren Poole
 
All three of these individuals are now state champions and all move on to Nationals in Indiana next fall!

Motorists Urged to Drive Safely During Holidays, Winter Weather

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Baton Rouge – Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. was joined by transportation partners to discuss the importance of safe driving, especially during the holiday season.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, there were 10 crashes that resulted in 10 fatalities. During the same time period last year, there were 19 crashes that resulted in 25 deaths. From January to November 2022, throughout the state there have been 768 crashes with 825 fatalities.

Several crashes were caused by speeding, impaired drivers, and distracted driving. Some of the deaths were related to individuals not using their seat belt. Seat belts are the number one safety feature in a vehicle and they can save a life when used properly.

“One death is one too many and as a community, we need to work on reducing this number until there are zero deaths on our roadways,” said Secretary Wilson. “We see entirely too many deaths due to preventable acts, such as driving impaired and not wearing a seatbelt. Safety is our number one priority and this agency, along with our safety partners, works diligently throughout the year to provide resources and educational material on safe driving.”

“The hardest part of a trooper’s job is to deliver the horrific news that a loved one was killed in a motor vehicle crash,” said Colonel Lamar Davis, Louisiana State Police superintendent. “Please make sound judgments when behind the wheel. Drive sober, wear your seat belt, buckle your children properly, and avoid distractions. Just a few simple decisions could mean the difference between life and death. If you witness hazardous drivers, please call *LSP (*577) and report the vehicle to the nearest troop.”

“Christmas is a special time—a time of joy and a time to celebrate all that is good in our families and communities,” said Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman. “Christmas has also been a time of sadness, as we have seen our friends, neighbors, and family members sustain almost 600 injuries in motor vehicle crashes during last year’s Christmas holiday. And tragically, we lost 14 people in traffic fatalities in that same holiday time frame. Louisiana is due for a Christmas miracle on its roadways—a time when good fortune prevails on our state’s highways. We have the power to make the miracle happen by designating sober drivers, keeping our attention on the roadway, and always wearing our seat belts. That can be the magic of Christmas 2022.”

“An average of 24 emergency responders, including tow operators, are struck and killed by vehicles while working at the roadside each year – meaning someone in this line of work is killed, on average, every other week in America,” said AAA Public Affairs Specialist Don Redman. “This senseless loss of life is completely avoidable if drivers remain attentive behind the wheel and look ahead for hazards or emergency situations. Just by choosing to move over or slow down, we can all play a part in protecting our emergency roadside workers, especially during the busy Christmas and New Year holidays.”

“We see many types of accidents across the state, as MAP is often the first to arrive at a scene,” said Motor Assistance Patrol Regional Supervisor Richard Ardis. “We encourage motorists to slow down and move over, especially during the holiday season. Help us keep you safe so we can all make it home to our families.”

With Christmas and New Year’s approaching, motorists should expect to see an increase in traffic and should drive using the following safety tips:

  • Avoid driving while distracted.
  • Allow for extra driving time.
  • Make sure there is plenty of room between vehicles.
  • Wear your seat belt; it’s amazing how many people don’t wear seat belts when it’s clear they save lives.
  • Don’t drive impaired.
  • Be sure to use headlights if windshield wipers are on.
  • It’s the holiday season, so be nice to your fellow drivers.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please let us know how we may better serve you: Customer Service Survey.

Louisiana Shows Improvement on Latest Fall Reading Report

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BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Education released its Fall 2022 Reading Report today that shows how public school students in grades K-3 scored on a literacy screener given during the first 30 days of the current school year. Louisiana’s overall score improved and students in grades 1-3 grew for the second consecutive year, while kindergarten scores saw a decline. This year’s third graders earned their highest score since 2018.
 
“It’s good to see the continued reading progress for our students,” said Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana’s Superintendent of Education. “Ensuring children can read must remain a fundamental priority in every school across our state”

The Fall 2022 Reading Report includes state, school system, and school data for public school students in grades K-3. School systems can choose among four research-based screening assessments to administer. Students who take a screener earn either “On or Above Benchmark” or “Below Benchmark.” In August, Louisiana adopted the state’s first K-2 accountability plan. This plan will include a uniform literacy screener for students in these early grades.

“Louisiana’s comprehensive literacy plan is building momentum across the state, and we are beginning to see the impact of this foundational shift in how we teach children to read,” said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jenna Chiasson. “Our youngest learners were the most impacted by the disruptions of the past few years. We have the support in place to keep our students in grades 1-3 on the right track and to accelerate the progress for our new kindergarten children.”

While scores for students in grades 1-3 increased for the second consecutive year, scores declined for students entering kindergarten. These literacy screeners are given to students during the first 30 days of the school year and capture a snapshot of a child’s reading ability as they enter a new grade.

This is the latest data to show the continued progress of Louisiana students following unprecedented classroom disruptions caused by hurricanes and the pandemic. Earlier this month, Louisiana’s statewide performance score returned to its pre-pandemic level. In October, the Nation’s Report Card showed that Louisiana students avoided some of the most dramatic learning loss seen across the nation. In August, the Department released 2021-22 LEAP scores that showed Mastery rates improved in ELA and math for students in grades 3-8. 

About the annual Louisiana Fall Reading Report:Louisiana law and Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) policy require that  school systems administer a literacy screener not later than thirty days after the beginning of each school year to all students in kindergarten through grade 3. Annual screening is vital for ensuring that all students are on the right track to become proficient readers by the end of third grade. School systems can choose among four research-based screening assessments. The screening assessments measure a particular skill or skills that are typically predictive of later reading success. The skills build upon each other from one grade level to the next and are appropriately matched to children’s ages and developmental stages.