Date: 10-8-25 Name: Joshua Leonard Womack Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 40 Charge: Possession of Schedule 2, Warrant, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Date: 10-9-25 Name: Adam Reading Catlin Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 43 Charge: Warrant, Video Voyeurism
Date: 10-8-25 Name: Denis Johnson Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 55 Charge: Distribution of Schedule 2 (x3)
Date: 10-9-25 Name: Denis Johnson Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 55 Charge: Possession of Schedule 2, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Date: 10-10-25 Name: Johnathan T. Hill Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 44 Charge: Warrant, Battery of Dating Partner
Date: 10-10-25 Name: Terrance D. Bryant Address: Montgomery, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 35 Charge: Warrant, Failure to Appear
Date: 10-13-25 Name: Tony Jerome Phillips Address: Winnfield Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 55 Charge: Expired Inspection, Cancelled Plates
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Date: 9-29-25 Name: Vernell McCoy Address: Winnfield, LA Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 34 Charge: Domestic Abuse Battery
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Nicholas F. Verret Sr. November 16, 1937 – October 8, 2025 Service: Funeral services for Mr. Verret took place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 11, 2025 in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield. Interment followed in the Magnolia Cemetery.
Conrad Allen Broomfield Jr. August 31, 1967 – October 8, 2025 Service: Funeral services for Mr. Broomfield took place at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 13th, at the Dodson Church of Christ (309 Murphy St., Dodson, LA). Interment followed in the Transport Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.
Terence Lynn Musgrove, Jr. February 1, 1972 – October 9, 2025 Service: Funeral services for Mr. Musgrove will be held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield. Interment will follow at Bolton-Teagle Cemetery.
Eleanor Nell Waters Dean October 26, 1930 – October 9, 2025 Service: Funeral services for Mrs. Dean took place at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield. Interment followed in the Garden of Memories Cemetery.
From the left, School Board President Browning and Former Supt Simmons, side by side at the Oct 6 meeting.
Dodson High School’s parking lot, pending leadership changes and strategies to keep more students in class topped the Winn Parish School Board’s Oct. 6 agenda.
Members recapped a report on Dr. Bob Jordan, Chief Technology Officer, addressing full and half day attendance requirements, chronic absenteeism and the Louisiana Department of Education’s Power of Presence initiative. Jordan plans to share a series of approved articles with the Journal in the coming weeks to better direct ongoing questions and concerns regarding the issue.
The board confirmed that the one-time state stipends for certificated and uncertificated employees were paid Oct. 3 and accepted the Sept. 29 committee recommendation to transfer former Supt Al Simmons’ duties to Supt-elect Troy Bell on Oct. 15. Simmons will remain employed through his Dec. 31 retirement to provide consultation as needed.
Dodson High School’s parking lot project moved forward with an alternate concrete bid from Highway Safety Solutions, LLC at $1.37 million among the five other placed during Mondays bid conference. The low base bid for asphalt was $1.15 million, by Tudor, Inc though the board opted for concrete choosing durability and a more manageable construction window from November through March. Plans call for drainage upgrades, tying into the existing lot and creating more accessible handicap space.
Enrollment stands at 1,647 students districtwide (1,563 based on MFP funding, which does not include Pre-K), according to Supt-elect Troy Bell. Discussion following the report focused on keeping students in the district by improving parent communications, expanding vocational pathways, boosting outreach and enhancing athletic departments.
The meeting concluded with heartfelt thanks to former Supt. Al Simmons for the years spent serving the district and his willingness to stay on and ensure a steady handover.
Dr. Bob Jordan addressing attendance regulations and absenteeism at the September 29 Committee meeting.
By Dr. Bob Jordan, Chief Technology Officer
School attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. Each day a student is present at school is a day of learning, growth, and connection. On the other hand, each day missed represents lost opportunities that can have adverse effects that last well beyond the classroom. The impact of absenteeism can be seen at every grade level:
In the early years, it disrupts the development of reading and math foundations.
In middle school, it contributes to disengagement and can predict student graduation,
In high school, it directly impacts career readiness and postsecondary opportunities.
Absenteeism also extends beyond academics. It limits students’ opportunities to build friendships, strengthen social-emotional skills, and connect with teachers and other caring adults.
Unfortunately, Louisiana has seen a sharp increase in absenteeism in recent years. In 2019, approximately 18% of students were chronically absent. By 2024, the number had climbed to 25%. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing (excused or unexcused) 10% or more of the days a student is enrolled. This means that one out of four students in Louisiana missed at least 10% of their school year in 2024. This number represents children not only across the state, but also in our home parish of Winn.
As a rural district, Winn faces unique barriers to regular school attendance. Transportation difficulties, long commutes, family responsibilities, and access to healthcare are among the top barriers the families of Winn Parish face. However, because research consistently links chronic absenteeism to lower academic achievement, improving attendance has become a priority for the parish. The Louisiana Department of Education has partnered with Winn Parish to improve chronic absenteeism rates for our parish and has set a clear goal to keep the parish’s chronic absenteeism rate below 38 percent for the 2025/26 school year. Improving attendance and reaching this goal requires a community-wide effort between schools, families, and local organizations. Strategies to improve attendance rates in Winn Parish include:
Raising awareness that every day of instruction matters.
Partnering with parents and guardians to address barriers.
Celebrating good and improved attendance to build positive momentum.
Communicating with families quickly to notify them of their child’s absence.
For the Winn Parish School System, the message is clear: there is a “Power in Presence.” Reducing absenteeism is about ensuring that the children of Winn Parish have a chance to learn, grow, and succeed. Winn Parish Schools enter the school year with a strong desire to build a culture of attendance that will benefit our students today, and are dedicated to a focus on attendance that will strengthen our community for years to come.
From the left, Winnfield Primary Principal Mr. King, Winnfield Middle Principal Mr. Savell, Winnfield Senior High Principal Mr. Bartlett, Dodson High Principal Mrs. Miller, and Calvin High Principal Mr. Tinsley. (Photo design and credit to Danielle King)
October is National Principals Month, and Superintendent Dr. Troy Bell is recognizing these five leaders whose work reaches beyond office doors and morning announcements to shape classrooms, strengthen teachers and help every student in Winn Parish succeed.
Bell, who has spent recent weeks visiting campuses and connecting with staff and students across the parish, noted that effective school leadership is built on trust, consistency and care for people, praising each principal for creating schools that are safe, welcoming and centered on student growth. “Their leadership is not just about managing schools; it’s about setting a vision, building trust and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed,” he said.
This month’s recognition also supports a broader district effort to present Winn Parish’s strengths to current and prospective families. By showcasing campus leaders and their school cultures, the district affirms stability and high expectations while continuing to build momentum and improve despite recent challenges.
Bell invites all families, students and staff to mark the month with a moment of appreciation for Winn’s principals and the countless ways their leadership is making a daily difference in our schools and communities.
Make no mistake – Winnfield isn’t celebrating its 1-4 start after a 46-28 loss to Bunkie on Friday.
But the Tigers are taking stock of what has gone right – and the offense has produced in the first season of Byron Keller.
Winnfield rushed for 231 yards and kept Bunkie from completely pulling away Friday as the Panthers (5-0) remained undefeated.
Bunkie scored the first three touchdowns to build an insurmountable lead, but the Tigers did match their opponents from that point on.
“We need to find success at the start of the game,” Keller said. “We have been in this routine of making mistakes the first two series on offense and defense.
“We’re having to climb out of a hole the rest of the game. We have to control the start of the game and make our opponents have to catch up.”
Detavious Williams sprinted five yards for Winnfield’s first score, and Richard Williams scooted 31 yards to cut Bunkie’s lead to 27-16.
The Panthers added a score to build their cushion, but Winnfield’s Craig St. Cyr got in on the action with a wide 18-yard run to keep Winnfield within 35-22.
But Bunkie running back Zion Lee (Navy commit) proved to be too much as he rushed for six touchdowns and kept the Tigers at bay.
The Bunkie defense has also been stars of their show as the Panthers have allowed just 31 points combined in its first four games against teams like St. Louis Catholic, Central Catholic and Avoyelles.
But Winnfield, with its meaty offensive line and explosive weapons, nearly matched that total with 28 points.
Now the Tigers just need faster starts, and they’ll try their hand this week against a Rosepine (0-5) squad still looking for their first win.
The contest is the last non-district game before Winnfield dives into District 3-2A play.
“We have a tough, resilient mentality, and we’ll play until the clocks hit zeroes,” Keller said. “We are definitely battle-tested. We have contended with a top Class 4A program and two top Class 3A programs.
“We are getting better every week, and we are working hard to win the district championship.”
TBRI Practitioner Bobbye Mathews speaking to participants on empowering principles during Oct. 1 training.
District Judge Anastasia Wiley and her team hosted a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training at the Winnfield Civic Center on Oct. 1, drawing child representatives, officers, attorneys, judges and community leaders from Winn, Grant and LaSalle parishes.
The training was led by Bobbye Mathews, a certified TBRI practitioner and instructor, whose direct yet approachable teaching style encouraged open discussion and steady participation. Mathews walked participants through how trauma shapes behavior, noting that many challenges stem from unmet needs and relational trauma.
TBRI is a trauma-informed approach designed to help caregivers and professionals meet the needs of vulnerable children by building trust and strengthening relationships through three principles: connecting, empowering and correcting. These principles focus on forming secure relationships, ensuring physical and emotional safety, and guiding children toward positive behavior through nurturing responses.
Mathews also introduced tools like the IDEAL Response: Immediate, Direct, Efficient, Action-based and Leveled, as well as the use of “redo” opportunities to help children practice healthier reactions after missteps.
The course showed that TBRI is not limited to one field but can be applied in homes, schools, treatment centers and court systems. It is particularly effective for children who have experienced neglect, multiple placements or violence, but its principles benefit all children by promoting understanding and structured support at home and in the community.
As the training concluded, Wiley outlined plans to contact participants about future sessions and related developments, adding that an update on the Children and Youth Planning Board is forthcoming with the hope of adopting TBRI as the framework for the developing collaborative.
Left to Right: Dr Gaddis, Sheriff Josh McAllister and LaSalle Corrections Warden Eleazar Garcia Jr.
Reported by Troy Rogers, Winnfield Kiwanian
The facility located deep in the piney woods of Winn Parish, now known as the Winn Correctional Center and currently housing about 1,400 ICE detainees, was the topic of discussion Tuesday, September 30th, as Sheriff Josh McAllister and LaSalle Corrections Warden Eleazar Garcia Jr. addressed the Winnfield Kiwanis Club. The two leaders spoke on their long-standing partnership and the facility’s operations.
Warden Garcia brings a wealth of experience to the facility, having retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He also worked at the Pollock Federal Prison north of Alexandria. While living in Central Louisiana, he met his wife, making the area his home.
LaSalle Corrections, an established family-owned developer and operator of correctional centers in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Georgia, has partnered with Sheriff McAllister in Winn Parish. The company is owned by William McConnell and his son, Clay McConnell, operating through a complex structure of various limited liability companies (LLCs).
Warden Garcia emphasized that detainees are not inmates and that all essential needs are met. Services provided include health care, dental care, a picnic area for family visits, indoor and outdoor gym activities, and limited access to electronics. Detainees also have access to Immigration court services, ensuring all rights are maintained under immigration laws, most of which have been in place since the Clinton administration. Winn Parish Sheriff Josh McAllister interjected, clarifying that criminal detainees, or inmates, are sent to facilities like Camp J at Angola.
The Winn Correctional Center has a high turnover rate, with an average intake of 104 to 106 individuals and 80 to 90 detainees leaving daily. The average stay is short, at only 30 to 40 days. Detainees arrive from anywhere in the United States, often routed through the Alexandria staging facility, which functions as a major deportation hub for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The facility employs approximately 306 personnel, all of whom undergo a thorough background check. Additionally, the Winn Parish Chase Team, which provides search dogs for various law enforcement agencies in Central Louisiana, is headquartered within the facility. Under the direction of Major Chellette, the team—comprising 15 dogs and 8 Sheriff’s department members—has an impressive reputation for many apprehensions and rescues, including one child found.
The Winnfield Kiwanis thanked the Sheriff and the Warden for their dedication and the work they provide for the residents of Winn Parish.
Left to right: June Swensen, Laila Evans, Mrs. Jones, Lena Jones, Della Etheridge, Derwin Virgil
Winnfield Primary School launched its first 4H meeting of the year on Sept. 29, teaching students how effective meetings, and leaders, are made.
Newly elected officers learned how to run an official meeting, from opening the agenda to closing business. Students practiced their parts and reviewed their responsibilities for the year ahead. Officers are: president Laila Evans; vice president Derwin Virgil; secretary June Swensen; reporter Lena Jones; and wildlife chairman Della Etheridge.
4H clubs are sponsored by the LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.
From the left, Stephanie Francis and Andrea Dubiel, Louisiana Mental Health Association representatives.
Stephanie Francis of the Louisiana Mental Health Association led a Mental Health First Aid session at the Louisiana Political Museum in Winn Parish, walking community members and local leaders through the dos and don’ts of Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training.
YMHFA teaches caregivers to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use concerns, to offer initial support, and to connect individuals or families with help. It is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment, but research shows it supports early intervention and reduces stigma through informed, compassionate responses.
The course centers on a five-step action plan (ALGEE): assess for risk of suicide or harm, listen nonjudgmentally, give reassurance and information, encourage appropriate professional help, and encourage self-help and other support strategies. Trainees also reviewed how to spot early and developing signs of depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use disorders.
Francis focused on practice over theory, using scenarios to help participants open conversations with young people, ask clear safety questions, de-escalate tense moments and follow up after an incident.
She closed by urging participants to know parish and regional contacts to better connect children and families with quick, accessible help. For more information on Youth Mental Health First Aid or upcoming sessions in your area please contact email Stephanie Francis atsfrancis@louisianamha.org.
Judge Anastasia Wiley and Strengthening Families Rep Shonna Moss during a recent SFP session.
Attention Parents!
Do you ever feel like your kids only hear you when you say “Dinner’s ready!” but somehow go completely deaf when you say “Clean your room!”?
We’ve got you covered! The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) helps parents and kids learn to actually listen to each other (yes, it’s possible!), improve communication, and build stronger relationships without the eye rolls!
Bonus: We even feed you a FREE delicious meal each session!
New session starts Thursday, October 9th and will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Winnfield. Contact Shonna Moss for more details at 318-628-0169.
Join us for some laughs, learning, and a happier family life with no bribery required!
This program is proudly facilitated by Winn Community Health Center and funded by a Strengthening Families Program Grant from The Rapides Foundation.
The Juanita Pharr Cancer Support Group’s October meeting will take place on the 21st, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at First United Methodist Church (300 W Main St, Winnfield, LA).
Meetings are open to anyone affected by cancer, including patients, survivors, family, friends and caregivers.
For information or to volunteer, contact the group on Facebook, email juanitapharrcsg@gmail.com or call 318-332-4713.
The Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART) will hold their annual candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church (430 West Jones Street).
The event will honor those who lost their lives to domestic violence, offer hope to those still facing abuse, and celebrate survivors.
The vigil is open to the public. For information, contact DART’s Winn Parish office at 318-648-0559.
