On Aug. 12, 1851, Isaac Merritt Singer was granted a U.S. patent for improvements to the sewing machine, marking an important moment in the development of an invention that would change how clothing and other goods were made.

Singer was not the first person to invent a sewing machine. However, his improvements helped create a machine that was practical and commercially viable for home use. His patented machine used a straight, vertically moving needle and a reciprocating shuttle to create a lockstitch.

Singer’s patent, U.S. Patent No. 8,294, was issued on Aug. 12, 1851. The machine incorporated several improvements, including a mechanism to help tighten the stitch and changes to how thread was controlled and supplied.

The development of the sewing machine had an impact far beyond the workshop. Singer’s company helped turn the sewing machine into a consumer product, making it increasingly accessible to families. The company also offered installment payment plans, encouraging more households to purchase machines.

Today, sewing machines are commonplace, but on Aug. 12, 1851, a patent helped advance a technology that would eventually bring mechanical sewing into homes across the country.

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Kerrie grew up as an only child on a farm in Benoni near Johannesburg, South Africa.  She said that “violence and turmoil was…everyday life” in Johannesburg.  There were riots in the streets because of apartheid.  Her home life was often filled with violence and turmoil as well.  Kerrie’s father, Charles, was an alcoholic to the degree that he built his own elaborate bar in the family home.  It was there that he spent most of his time.  When his drinking got the better of him, Charles would go missing for days and sometimes weeks at a time.  When he eventually returned, he and Kerrie’s mother, Gerda, engaged in what Kerrie called “verbal abuse” against each other.  Charles would throw lamps, furniture, and whatever else was close at hand, but never physically abused Kerrie or her mother.  After the fights, Charles and Gerda would not speak to each other for weeks.  The silence tortured Kerrie.  She was even too afraid to say good morning to her parents.  Kerrie thought Charles being verbally abusive toward her and her mother was normal.  Gerda had installed lockable steel doors in each room of the house except for Kerrie’s just so they could escape if necessary.  At the time in South Africa, divorce was not culturally accepted.  

Tension within the family continued to grow.  When Kerrie was around 13 years old, her mother sent her to a boarding school to get her out of the house.  When school was not in session, Kerrie’s mother took her to the movies to get her away from home.  On June 21, 1991, when Kerrie was 15 years old, she and her mother went to a movie to escape.  They returned to find that Charles had left and had locked the outer steel door on their house.  Without her door key, Gerda and Kerrie located Charles at his brother’s house.  Charles and his brother were both intoxicated.  Kerrie was in dire need of a bathroom and ran through her uncle’s house without speaking.  To Charles, Kerrie had disrespected her elders.  Kerrie said that “this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”  After a heated argument, Gerda and Kerrie returned home.  Within minutes Charles and his brother arrived at the home.  Kerrie ran to her room and turned off the light in hopes that her father would think she was asleep.  Kerrie’s mother quickly locked all the steel doors in the house to keep Charles away from them.  One by one, Charles fired a pistol through the steel doors and made his way to Gerda and Kerrie.  Charles was going to kill them both.  Gerda retrieved a pistol from their gun safe and ran into Kerrie’s bedroom.  They used their bodies to push against the steel door.  When Charles was unable to force the door open, he began firing his pistol at the door.  Charles’s drunken brother encouraged him to continue.  Somehow all the bullets missed Kerrie and her mother.  When Charles ran out of bullets, he yelled that he was going to get his shotgun from the safe and walked away from the door.  Kerrie’s mother opened the door and fired a single shot down their hallway.  The bullet ricocheted and struck Charles’s brother in the hand.  Gerda ran toward the room where the gun safe was kept and Kerrie followed.  As Charles was opening the gun safe, Gerda fired her pistol.  That fatal shot forever ended the family turmoil and saved hers and Kerrie’s lives.  Investigators concluded that Gerda had acted in self-defense.    

Kerrie left South Africa in search of a better life and she found it.  She became one of the world’s highest-paid actresses.  In 2004, Kerrie became the first South African to win an Oscar for Best Actress.  She won the Academy Award for her portrayal of a serial killer in the film Monster.  Kerrie was the childhood nickname of actress Charlize Theron.

Sources:

1.      “How Charlize Theron Overcame Her Dark Family Past,” Time Magazine’s The Interview, April 18, 2026, https://youtu.be/ndYSsk-P8bQ?si=6m7YMNeklm7TqZIq.

2.     “Charles Jacobus Theron,” Find A Grave, Accessed August 2, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109904585/charles_jacobus-theron.

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It’s that time of year when there’s not a whole lot going on in the bass fishing world. August is when there’s a lull on most tournament trails as they avoid the hot summer heat. But come September and October, trails start to crank up again with their end-of-the-season championship events. 

The goal of all anglers who fish tournament trails all spring is to qualify for the fall championship. It’s where champions will be crowned and Anglers of the Year announced. It’s also when most tournament trails reveal their new schedules for the upcoming spring. 

Most anglers make their decision on what circuit they will follow next season based on where the fall championship will be. Some like trails that stay close to home to help cut down on travel costs, while others like trails that travel more on a regional level and go to places that are known for quality fishing. 

But one thing all anglers want is to wrap up the season at a great fishing venue where they can catch a lot of fish. While most anglers would love to win a regional championship, the reality is they want a place they can enjoy and to finish out their season on a high note at a good fishery. They want a great experience! 

Most bass tournament trails also want to send anglers to great fishing destinations where anglers are rewarded for making the championship. But every once in a while, some circuits will send anglers to a place like the Red River, a body of water that tends to level the playing field with its diversity as a fishery.  

Any time you go to places like Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Grand Lake, or maybe Texoma, there are a handful of anglers who frequent those bodies of water, giving them a distinct advantage going into the event, and potentially making them harder to beat. 

River systems like the Red or the Arkansas River are places that aren’t as popular and tend to give more anglers a shot at taking home a win. Certain lakes like Arkansas’s Lake Ouachita and East Texas fisheries like Lake of the Pines or Lake Palestine are also places that are great for championship events. 

But there’s also another huge factor that determines where a tournament trail will have its championship event. What city or community will be willing to put up the money to host these events? Yep, that’s right, it all comes down to who will foot the bill to host these major tournaments. 

While these championship events bring in a lot of money over a weeklong period, it’s also great exposure for the local community. Most of the time, the standard of “how good is the fishery” falls way down on the list of things most important deciding who gets to host a championship event. Sure, the trail owners want all the anglers to have a good time, but in reality, it’s all about the money. 

Other priorities a host community must provide are free hotel rooms for the entire staff that it takes to put on one of these championship events. They must have adequate boat ramp facilities and plenty of lodging options for anglers. 

Here’s the bottom line. When anglers sign up for a particular tournament trail, the location of the season-ending-championship is very important. It’s a pride thing for all anglers to know they have qualified for the championship, as it means they have had a very good season. 

For most anglers, these championship events are a great way to end the fishing season. It also means fall is right around the corner as anglers trade in their rods and reels for bows, rifles and shotguns. 

They prepare to hit the woods and enjoy some great hunting. Bass boats will be parked, deer stands will be cleared of unwanted wasps, while duck blinds will be dressed, and four-wheelers will be cranked … because tournament anglers aren’t just bass fishermen, they are outdoorsmen who love the outdoors no matter what season it is. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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There are few places in life where a person feels quite as vulnerable as the dental chair. Reclined, mouth open, bib clipped on like a toddler at mealtimes, we are reminded—sometimes painfully—that even the strongest among us can be brought to our knees by a stubborn molar. Recently, during a stretch of extensive dental work (the kind they do before you get dentures), I found myself reflecting on forgiveness, sin, and the curious ways God uses everyday experiences to get our attention.

There I was, gripping the armrests “with my teeth clenched,” even though the dentist had politely asked me not to clench anything. As drills whirred and suction tubes slurped, I realized how much of life feels like this: uncomfortable, exposed, and out of our control. Sin works the same way. It sneaks up on us, decays what we thought was solid, and before long we’re dealing with something far more extensive than we ever expected.

The hygienist cheerfully said, “We’re just going to get down to the root of the problem.” I almost laughed. Isn’t that exactly what God does with us? Grace doesn’t just polish the surface; it goes deep, right to the root. It addresses the infection, the hidden places, the things we’d rather keep tucked away. And like dental work, grace can feel intrusive before it feels healing.

As the dentist worked, I thought about how often we “bite off more than we can chew,” how frequently we “grit our teeth” through situations we caused ourselves, and how easy it is to “sink our teeth” into resentment. Sin has a way of leaving us spiritually toothless—unable to chew on the Word, unable to speak truth without wincing, unable to smile without feeling the ache of what’s broken.

But here’s the good news: God is the Master Dentist of the soul. He doesn’t shame us for the decay; He simply says, “Open wide.” And when we do, He gets to work—cleaning, restoring, reshaping. Forgiveness is His anesthetic: it numbs the sting of guilt and gives us courage to face the deeper work. Grace is His reconstruction: building us back up where life has worn us down. And mercy? Mercy is the gentle rinse that washes away what we cannot remove ourselves.

When the appointment finally ended, the dentist said, “You’re going to feel better once the healing kicks in.” I knew he meant my mouth, but I heard something more. Forgiveness doesn’t just fix what’s broken; it frees us to heal. It lets us smile again—really smile, not the tight-lipped kind we give when we’re still hurting.

So if life has left you feeling like you’re in the dental chair—exposed, anxious, and aware of your own decay—take heart. God’s grace is already at work. And when He’s finished, you’ll walk out renewed, restored, and ready to sink your teeth into joy again.

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One of the most influential figures in space exploration was born on Aug. 5, 1930.

Neil Armstrong, who would become the first person to walk on the moon, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio. His interest in aviation began at an early age, and he earned his student pilot’s license before obtaining a driver’s license.

Armstrong served as a naval aviator during the Korean War before becoming a test pilot and later joining NASA’s astronaut program.

On July 20, 1969, Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission, delivering the famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

The moon landing was watched by an estimated 600 million people worldwide and remains one of the most significant achievements in human history.

After leaving NASA, Armstrong taught aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati and served on several national commissions related to aviation and space exploration.

Armstrong died on Aug. 25, 2012, at the age of 82, but his legacy continues to inspire generations of scientists, engineers and explorers.

Each year, Aug. 5 marks the anniversary of the birth of the man whose historic first steps on the moon changed the course of history.

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Each summer we discuss the unbearable heat as if we have somehow forgotten from previous years.  This is nothing new.  Our ancestors complained about it too.  For thousands of years, people in our hemisphere have linked the hottest days of summer, which are often times of drought, disease, and unrest, with astronomy and folklore.  Our ancient ancestors paid more attention to the stars in the sky than we do today.  During July and August, ancient keen observers noticed that a bright star appeared in the eastern sky just before dawn.  Aside from the Sun, it was the brightest star in the sky.  They concluded that the sweltering temperatures were produced by a combination of the heat from the Sun and this star which they named “Sirius,” the Greek word for “scorching.”  The Greeks and Romans believed Sirius was responsible for drought, fever, general discomfort, and a host of other unfortunate occurrences.  Ancient Egyptians believed that the appearance of this star which they called “Sothis” signaled the annual flooding of the Nile.  Egyptians depended on the annual flood because it delivered nutrients to the otherwise infertile land.  

Today, Sirius is seen as little more than a curiosity.  If you look to the east in the pre-dawn hours, you can spot Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, which is Latin for “greater dog.”  Because Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and the brightest star in the “greater dog,” it became known as the “Dog Star.”

Through the centuries, as our understanding of astronomy and knowledge in general improved, the old superstitions slowly faded away.  Well, mostly.  While trying to beat the heat this summer, you will undoubtedly hear an ancient folklore phrase based on Sirius’s appearance in the sky which has been spoken for millennia.  Most people mistakenly associate the ancient phrase’s meaning with laziness brought on by heat and humidity.  However, this phrase links the period of time when, as ancient people incorrectly believed, the Dog Star and the Sun combined forces to produce sweltering, almost unbearable heat.  That phrase which you will undoubtedly hear this summer, which has been repeated every summer for years, refers to July and August as being the Dog Days of summer. 

Source: Catherine Boeckmann, “What Are the Dog Days of Summer? Meaning, Dates & History,” The Old Farmer’s Almanac, June 19, 2026, accessed July 26, 2026, https://www.almanac.com/content/what-are-dog-days-summer.

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced a $1.1 million project to install new pavement striping and rumble strips along numerous routes throughout the Alexandria region.

Work is scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 3, weather permitting, starting on LA 1 and LA 29 in Avoyelles Parish.

Construction will begin on LA 1 from W. Bon Temps Street in Marksville to LA 114 in Echo and on LA 29 from Dora Road to Dupuy Crossing in Avoyelles Parish. Motorists are advised to watch for advance warning signs, crews and equipment in the work zone.

This portion of the project is expected to take approximately five months and is dependent on weather conditions.

The project includes the following routes:

• LA 8 (Sabine Parish)
• LA 120 (Natchitoches Parish)
• LA 3191 (Natchitoches Parish)
• LA 1146 (Vernon Parish)
• US 71 (Grant, Natchitoches and Winn parishes)
• LA 29 (Avoyelles Parish)
• LA 467 (Vernon Parish)
• LA 112 (Rapides Parish)
• LA 191 (Sabine Parish)
• LA 174 (Natchitoches Parish)
• LA 1 (Avoyelles Parish)

Future work will take place in Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon and Winn parishes. DOTD said it will provide another update when contractor Nation Striping Company, LLC moves from Avoyelles Parish to the remaining parishes.

According to DOTD, the project is intended to replace pavement striping that provides important information to motorists while improving safety through the installation of rumble strips, which alert drivers with sound and vibration when they drift from their travel lane.

All roadways included in the project will remain open to local and through traffic during construction, with no vehicle width restrictions. Lane closures will be used as needed during construction operations.

DOTD reminds motorists to drive with caution through construction zones, watch for work crews and equipment, leave adequate following distance and use caution when walking or biking near active work areas.

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Now into Week 4 of recovery from quadruple bypass surgery and I’m slowly getting some energy back. My appetite is also returning after losing close to 20 pounds. Quality, deep rem sleep is hard to come by, but the anxiety issues are getting better. 

Enough about all that, let’s talk about things to do during the dog days of summer. While health wise, I’m still a few weeks away from dropping my boat in the water and getting back to serious fishing, now is a great time to head into my fishing man cave and reorganize, clean and respool a few reels for some good fall use. 

After a busy spring tournament schedule my fishing man cave is a disaster. Bags of baits that should be on pegs are laying everywhere. I’ve got tackle boxes scattered all over the room that also need to be placed on a shelf. 

Some of my crankbait boxes need to be gone through to consider certain baits that might need to be replaced. It’s also a great time to check the hooks and replace those old treble hooks with new ones. This is one area anglers can sometimes overlook until they lose a few fish, and it costs them a high finish. 

Outside the fishing man cave, another thing anglers have to be conscious of this time of year, with temperatures reaching the mid to upper 90’s, is leaving soft plastic baits in your boat. Point being, high temperatures will melt soft plastic lures making not only a mess but costing you money. 

Hopefully you’re fortunate enough to park your boat under a carport or inside your garage. But even in the garage, temperatures can reach extreme highs. I have a large fan that I run daily in my garage to help keep the temperature down. 

If I know that I won’t be fishing for quite a while during those hot summer days, I’ll remove the soft plastic baits from my boat and store them in my air-conditioned fishing man cave. 

After reorganizing the man cave, next I’ll take a look at the fishing reels that I have used most of the spring; clean each one as well as drop a little oil on the gears and moving parts. High dollar fishing reels only act like high dollar reels if you take good care of them.

Once your fishing man cave is in order, now is the time to get into your boat and clean it out. I take everything out of my boat so I can clean all the lockers. It’s also the time to take my spring tackle out and put my fall tackle in. 

And while you’re at it, why not clean any major carpet stains? The best thing I have found to bring your boat carpet back to looking new is shaving crème. Take a small section at a time and apply the shaving crème then scrub with a soft brush or rag. 

Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then rise with water and you’ll be amazed at how good your carpet will look. It’s also great for the new marine deck foam flooring that has become so popular.

These are just a few things to add to your summer to-do list in order to make sure you’re ready for some great fall fishing. ‘Til next time, stay cool and avoid the summer heat. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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July 29 marks the anniversary of the death of Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, whose life and work have become among the most recognized in art history.

Van Gogh died on July 29, 1890, at the age of 37, two days after suffering a gunshot wound in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. Although he created more than 2,000 works of art, including around 900 paintings, he sold very few during his lifetime and struggled financially while pursuing his passion for painting.

One of his most famous final works, Wheatfield with Crows, is often associated with the final weeks of his life. The painting’s dramatic sky and winding paths have led generations of art historians and viewers to interpret it as reflecting his emotional state, though scholars continue to debate its exact significance.

Van Gogh’s distinctive style, characterized by bold colors and expressive brushstrokes, later helped shape modern art. Today, masterpieces such as The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Irises attract millions of visitors to museums around the world and rank among the most recognizable paintings ever created.

Ironically, the artist who struggled to gain recognition during his lifetime is now considered one of history’s greatest painters, with some of his works selling for tens of millions of dollars at auction.

More than 135 years after his death, Vincent van Gogh’s legacy continues to inspire artists, historians and art lovers worldwide, making July 29 a day to remember one of history’s most influential creative figures.

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Walking through our preschool the other day, a little fellow proudly showed me his bandaid. He stuck out his arm like he was unveiling a medal of honor. I asked what happened. With the solemnity only a fouryearold can muster, he said, “I got a bobo.”

Case closed. Diagnosis made. Treatment applied. Healing underway.

Children are refreshingly honest about pain. If something hurts, they point to it. If they fall, they cry. If they get a scratch, they want a bandaid — preferably one with dinosaurs or superheroes, because everyone knows those heal faster.

Adults, on the other hand, become experts at hiding our wounds. We carry heart bobo’s — hurts no one can see. Disappointments we never voice. Grief we tuck behind a busy schedule. Regrets we bury so deeply we forget where we put them. Pain that we pretend isn’t there because we think grown-ups are supposed to “handle it.”

But the truth is, some of the deepest wounds don’t show up on the skin.

Isaiah wrote, “By his wounds we are healed.” That’s not poetic exaggeration — it’s the heart of the Gospel. Jesus didn’t just die for our sins in some abstract theological sense. He took on our pain, our brokenness, our hidden hurts, our heart bobo’s. The Son of God carried what we try so hard to conceal.

There’s pathos in that exchange — Christ taking our sin and sorrow, offering us freedom, and yet we humans often cling to the very things He died to release us from. It’s like walking around with a perfectly good bandaid in hand but refusing to peel off the backing.

King David prayed, “Put a new and right spirit within me.” That’s the grown-up version of holding out your wound and saying, “Lord, this is where it hurts.” It’s the courage to admit we need healing. It’s the humility to let God do what we cannot.

And here’s the soft humor of it all: If a preschooler can trust a bandaid to make a scraped elbow better, surely we can trust the Savior of the world to tend to our hearts.

So maybe today is a good day to stop pretending we’re fine. A good day to let go of what Christ has already carried. A good day to let the Healer do His healing.

After all, Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to make broken people whole.  And that includes every one of us — heart bobo’s and all.

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Michael Ray Paddie (Slayter), age 73 of Verda, passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. He retired after many years of working in various jobs including the oil field, hanging billboards, manufacturing plants, cable tv services and his last job of delivering medical equipment for Dixie Medical. He loved fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his Mother and Stepfather, Dale and Leona Tullis, adopted parents Albert Burton and Irene Slayter, brother Albert Dale Slayter, sister Paula Jean Stafford, daughter Shani Slayter Fallis, grandson Douglas Wayne Thompson Jr., and numerous foster brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his son, Michael Brandon Slayter and wife Jennifer of Winnfield, step daughter Kimberly Bruce Futrell and husband George of Winnfield, Grandchildren Billie Thompson, Brady Fallis, Savannah Carr, Michael Braxton Slayter (Lizzy), Carlie Rhea Slayter, Megan Bruce Glenn (Chris), and Dylan Bruce (Meagan), great grandchildren Shaina Dupree (Austin), Peyton James Glenn (Bella), CJ Bruce, Jaxon Carr, Grayson Carr and Hudson Roncal and great great-granddaughter Adrianna Butts, Son in law Duane Fallis, and his significant other Cynthia Steadman. He is also survived by his twin sister Susan McCarty (Howard), brothers Ailon Slayter, Thomas Tullis, Butch Paddie and Brad Paddie, and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, July 29th, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield with Rev. Richard Debusk officiating. Burial will follow at Mill Creek Cemetery in Saline.

Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from 5-8:30 pm and again on Wednesday from 8 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be Michael Braxton Slayter, Peyton James Glenn, Dylan Bruce, Brady Fallis, Duane Fallis, Matthew White, Chris Robertson, and Danny Slayter.

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All Americans learned in school that we fought two wars against the British, namely the American Revolution and the War of 1812, but there was a third war that began in 1859 which has been largely forgotten.  Following the War of 1812, the United Kingdom and the United States agreed in the Treaty of Oregon that the boundary between the countries was along the 49^th parallel from the Rocky Mountains to the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver’s Island then south through the channel to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and west to the Pacific Ocean (see map).  This agreement was made by using crude maps by people who had little knowledge of the area.  Both parties were unaware that there were two distinct channels or straits, the Haro Strait and the Rosario Strait, which were divided by San Juan Island. Because of the way the treaty was written, both countries claimed right to the island and people from both countries began settling on the island. For years, tension rose as each side argued that settlers from the other side were nothing more than squatters or trespassers.  

The first shot of the war happened on June 15, 1859, when Lyman Cutlar, an American, shot and killed a British subject whom Lyman had found destroying crops in his field.  British authorities threatened to arrest Lyman and to evict all Americans from the island.  In response, American Brigadier General William Harney ordered a company of 64 infantry soldiers to the island.  When the soldiers arrived, the British Governor at Vancouver ordered Royal Navy Captain Geoffrey Phipps Hornby to take his 31-gun steam frigate HMS Tribune to remove the American soldiers.  More British warships joined the Tribune shortly thereafter, and more American soldiers were sent to the island.  For months, the British and Americans stockpiled weapons and built up their forces for the upcoming battle.  Each side drilled and fired their cannons, but they were careful not to aim at the opposing soldiers just yet.  As both sides were making their final preparations for battle, General Winfield Scott, U.S. Army commander and War of 1812 veteran, arrived and began negotiations.  General Scott proposed and both sides agreed on a joint military occupation until a final border could be agreed upon.  For twelve long, tense years, San Juan Island remained under joint military occupation.  In 1871, when Great Britain and the United States were still unable to agree on ownership of San Juan Island, they turned to Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany who set up a three-man arbitration commission to settle the dispute.  Both sides agreed that the commission’s decision would be final.  Finally in October 1872, after nearly a year of discussions by the commission, Kaiser Wilhelm I ruled in favor of the United States.  San Juan Island belonged to the United States.  The Royal Marines withdrew the following month, and the war ended 14 years after the first shot was fired.  The war over San Juan Island was named after that British subject who was the only fatality of this war between the United Kingdom and the United States.  It is known as the Pig War.  That’s right.  This conflict between the United Kingdom and United States was set off by a squabble over a pig. 

Source: “The Pig War,” National Park Service: San Juan Island, accessed July 19, 2026, https://www.nps.gov/sajh/learn/historyculture/the-pig-war.htm.       

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According to Winnfield Police Department officials, a vehicle was reported stolen from a residence on Dale Street during the night of July 11.  The report was on a 2021 Buick Envision with an estimated value of $25,000.  The victim reported leaving her purse and keys in her car when she parked around 9 pm.  The vehicle was missing by 10:30 pm.  

While officers were patrolling the surrounding areas, a vehicle was found parked at the Recreation Center.  The license plate indicated it came from Arkansas.  The owner was contacted and it was then reported as stolen from a repair shop in the Hot Springs area.  Arkansas officials were notified of this.

The Winnfield dispatcher on duty entered the missing Winnfield vehicle into the LLETS database and NCIC.  This triggered the Louisiana State Police to request assistance from the Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Exchange (LA-SAFE).  The fusion center is a “collaborated effect of many agencies that provide resources, expertise, and information with the goal of maximizing the ability to detect, prevent, apprehend, and report criminal and terrorist activity.” (LA-SAFE website).

On July 12 the stolen vehicle pinged on a License Plate Reader (LPR) in Milton, Florida, east of Pensacola.  Later information received by LA-SAFE that 2 subject were using the victim’s cash app/credit card in New Syrma Beach, FL which is located on the eastern side next to Daytona Beach.

On July 13 the vehicle was located by a deputy with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Department in Port Orange.  The vehicle was recovered and 2 suspects taken into custody.  The suspects were identified as Clayton Pittman, age 23, of Glenwood Pike, Arkansas and a 17-year-old runaway from Indiana.

Both suspects are incarcerated in Florida on their charges.  Warrants have been issued here for Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of Stolen Things over $5000, and the added charge of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile for Pittman.  Once the charges in Florida are adjudicated and they are through with them, extradition back to Winnfield will be initiated.  The victim’s insurance company is making arrangements to return her vehicle to her.

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Louisiana’s youth employment certificate process has changed and is now managed by Louisiana Works.

Under the updated process, employers are responsible for issuing work permits and verifying a minor’s age. Schools will no longer issue work permits or employment certificates.

Employers must use the new Louisiana Works Employment Certificate.

Louisiana Works also reminded schools that access to the Louisiana Works Employment Certificate System will end July 24, 2026.

The update is intended to provide important information for parents, students, employers and school partners preparing for youth employment.

Questions may be directed to EmploymentCertificate@la.gov or by calling 225-342-2683.

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