WINN PARISH, La. — A stretch of sunny and increasingly hot weather is expected across Winn Parish through the weekend, with afternoon temperatures approaching 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday will be sunny and hot with a high near 97 degrees. Winds will be calm before becoming southwesterly at around 5 mph during the morning. Wednesday night will be mostly clear with a low around 76.
Thursday will remain sunny and hot as temperatures climb to around 98 degrees. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low near 72.
Friday will bring another sunny and hot day with a high near 98. Mostly clear conditions are expected Friday night with a low around 73.
The heat will intensify slightly over the weekend. Saturday will be sunny and hot with a high near 99 degrees. Saturday night will remain mostly clear with a low around 74.
Sunday is expected to continue the hot and sunny pattern, with a high near 99 degrees.
With temperatures remaining in the upper 90s for several consecutive days, residents are encouraged to stay hydrated, take frequent breaks when working outdoors and limit strenuous activities during the hottest portions of the afternoon.
Winnfield native Dewayne Mitchell, founder and owner of Buckshot Records LLC, has achieved a major national milestone. Mitchell and his independent label have been named an official top finalist for the 2026 Infiniti Music and Film Awards.
The annual awards celebration, which honors outstanding talent across independent country, gospel, hip-hop, pop, and rock sectors, will take place on October 7–8, 2026, at the iconic Troubadour in Nashville, Tennessee.
From Winnfield Roots to Nashville Recognition
Founded on the principle of “Where sound meets success,” Buckshot Records LLC has grown under Mitchell’s direction into a premier destination for artist development, music production, and independent digital distribution across Louisiana and the surrounding region.
The recognition as a finalist for Music Label of the Year puts the Winnfield-born executive in the national spotlight alongside prominent independent record labels from around the country.
“It’s an absolute honor to represent Winnfield and our roster of incredible artists on a stage as storied as Music City,” Mitchell shared ahead of the event. “Our mission from day one has been to give talented voices the production, guidance, and reach they deserve to compete on a global scale.”
Key Details at a Glance
Event Details Information Honoree Dewayne Mitchell / Buckshot Records LLC Hometown Winnfield, Louisiana Award Category Music Label of the Year (Industry Awards) Event 2026 Infiniti Music and Film Awards Dates October 7th–8th, 2026 Venue The Troubadour — Nashville, TN Building the Sound of the South
Over the past several years, Buckshot Records has expanded its services to cover full-scale artist coaching, professional mixing and mastering, and distribution strategies for diverse genres including country, R&B, hip-hop, pop, and gospel.
The upcoming two-day awards showcase in October will gather producers, filmmakers, songwriters, and executives from across the music industry. As Mitchell prepares to head to Nashville, community members and local artists alike celebrate a hometown success story making waves on the national stage.
We have reached the six-week mark after heart surgery and things are slowly getting back to normal, or close to what normal used to be. Once you’ve gone through open heart surgery, life is never the same. There are still many challenges I’m looking to conquer, and some will only be conquered with time.
The physical challenges were tough, especially right after surgery, with all the tubes hanging out of my chest and just trying to find the right position to be comfortable. But once those tubes were taken out two days after surgery, I was a new man as it was such a stress relief to have those removed.
One pleasant surprise has been the lack of pain. Every person I talked with who had been through open heart surgery said the leg where they take the vein out would be painful and hurt a lot. Well, not for me. I have not had the first ounce of pain from day one. While the chest has been sore, no pain there either! Just a lot of discomfort, especially when trying to lie down.
Now don’t kid yourself, a slight cough or sneeze can send you to a place of pain that will remind you of some form of torture. The best relief for this is to squeeze the heart-shaped pillow they issue after surgery, as it truly becomes your best friend.
But even more difficult for me have been the mental challenges that come with this type of surgery. My body has gone through a complete transformation with a weight loss of 30 pounds while trying to adapt itself to all the new changes and medicines.
Anxiety was extremely high after returning home, not having nurses checking your vitals every hour of the day and night. When they say the mind is a very powerful thing, it’s true, as your mind tends to race and wonder 24/7. Emotions run high and rampant as one minute you’re crying and the next you’re so happy you’ve survived.
Trying to sleep at night has been my biggest challenge as I’ve truly been afraid I would stop breathing if I fell asleep. Taking a nap was a major challenge even though I knew and understood that my heart was as good as new. I had trouble trusting myself and the work I had done on me.
Next is the adjustment to the medications … and I mean lots of medications. I think this also plays a huge role in your mental stability as it’s just another thing your body must adapt to.
Now that we are at the six-week mark post-surgery, things are getting much better daily. The anxiety issues have slowly faded away especially since I have a low dosage of medication for that.
But sleeping at night continues to be an issue as I tend to wake up every night at 3:00. Some nights, I’ll eventually go back to sleep and other times I’ll turn on the TV and just lay there hoping to fall back asleep.
This is very frustrating as I end up taking a long nap during the day just to regain energy. Food is still the enemy for me as nothing tastes like it’s supposed to. Soups seems to be the one thing I tend to like over anything else.
Presently, I continue to try solid food, even the things I really enjoyed before the surgery. Slowly the appetite is returning, and things are starting to taste better even though I’m on a low sodium diet.
One thing I have taken a liking to … chocolate protein drinks! These are really good and tend to make me feel full. Lately, I’ve been drinking one of these at some point during the day. Before I do my morning walk, I’ve learned that it helps to have some form of solid food for breakfast as it really helps my energy level.
Again, while things are getting better and I continue to gain more strength, getting back into a routine has been very important in my metal state of mind. Hopefully this week my doctor will give me the OK to start driving again and regain some of my independence. My wife, Sherrie, has been an excellent chauffeur!
Here’s some food for thought. Not too long ago, I wrote an article about how we all need a purpose in life. Well, it’s during times like this when having a purpose is more important than ever as it helps to occupy the mind. Hopefully soon, things will get back to what I used to call normal.
This article is well used and true. I hope I express gratitude to those who teach, especially children like I was.
I was an underachieving little hellion.
In the Baptist church, they practically drew lots to see who’d be stuck with me in Sunday school. I was the kid teachers prayed would be absent — and when I was present, they prayed harder. A lesson on the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness could, under my creative influence, end with a John Wayne shootout at high noon with the Philistines. More than one Baptist teacher quit and joined the Methodists for the sake of their sanity.
Elementary school wasn’t much different. Recess was the only part that made sense: there was a ball, you kicked the ball, and then you ran. That was education at its finest. The only reason to go back inside was Cindy Stinson sitting on the second row. All the boys loved Cindy. On Valentine’s Day she received real cards and real candy — the kind that didn’t come from the drugstore clearance bin. Naturally, we all tried to impress her. Some boys used charm. I used classroom destruction. Standing in the corner meant standing closer to Cindy, and I became an expert at slapping chalkboard erasers together like a man auditioning for janitorial percussion.
My report cards were a cry for help. My teachers were frustrated. My mother was frustrated. The school janitor was probably frustrated. I was not inspired by the academic process — unless the academic process involved recess or Cindy Stinson.
Then came fourth grade.
My teacher was Mrs. Sarah Napps, a legend whose career stretched back to the 1930s. She had taught my uncle, my mother, and half the county. She was also my mother’s piano teacher, which meant she had already survived one generation of my family. For reasons I still can’t fully explain, I took a shine to her. Maybe it was her grandmotherly demeanor. Maybe it was the mythical tales of her teaching prowess. Maybe she simply had the courage of a woman who had seen everything and feared nothing.
One afternoon, during a parentteacher conference, she invited me into the room. She looked at me — not through me, not past me — and said, “You are a smart young man. I think you can do much better in school. I expect you to do much better. You’ve made progress, and I’m proud of you. But I want you to work harder, and I know your grades will improve.”
I don’t remember anything else from that meeting. All I heard was: She believes in me.
And that changed everything. Not overnight — I didn’t suddenly become a scholarly saint — but the ship began to turn. The boy who weaponized chalkboard erasers discovered the rudiments of selfcontrol. The child who terrorized Sunday school found a teacher who saw potential instead of problems.
School has begun again for many students. I’m praying for our teachers — especially the ones who must deal with “that child.” I pray they have patience, wisdom, and the courage to place high expectations on their students. Children rise to — or sink to — the expectations set by the significant people in their lives.
My life was changed by a teacher.
And maybe that’s why the stories I love best about Jesus begin with one simple word:
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Lance Patrick Ledet, a cherished husband, brother, devoted friend, and beloved charter fisherman, who left us on August 3, 2026, at the age of 55. Born on March 9, 1971, in Houma, Louisiana, Lance was a proud resident of Winnfield, Louisiana, where he lived a life filled with adventure and passion.
Lance was not only an avid fisherman but also an extraordinary charter boat captain who spent his days navigating the waters and sharing his love for the sea with others. His adventurous spirit extended to many hobbies; he found joy in RC boat racing, sharp shooting, hunting, and strumming his guitar. A dedicated member of the Voodoo Model Boat Club, he was affectionately known to his friends as “Lil’ Buddy,” a name that captured his friendly and approachable demeanor.
Lance’s commitment to his family and friends was unwavering, and he held them close to his heart. He lived life to the fullest, embracing every opportunity for fun and camaraderie. His ability to light up a room with his laughter and genuine kindness will be profoundly missed.
Lance is survived by his wife, Maggie Collins; daughter, Olivia Collins Fitzwater and husband Craig; sister, Tammy Ledet Dupre and husband Clifton; grandchildren, Abigail Fitzwater and Caitlin Fitzwater; nieces, Cierra Hughes Acosta and husband Peyton, Samantha Hughes, Debb Dupre Pierce and husband James, and Sunnie Dupre Mire and husband Brodi. They will all carry his memory with love and fondness. He leaves behind a legacy of adventure and camaraderie that will continue to inspire all who knew him.
Lance is preceded in death by his parents, Leland Joseph Ledet, Jr. and Diana Elizabeth Guidry Ledet.
A celebration of Lance’s remarkable life will be held at Chauvin Funeral Home. Public viewings will take place on Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and again on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 9:00 AM until the Liturgy of the Word Service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be held at a later date after the Memorial Service in Winnfield, LA. Please continue to check for the service details.
As we prepare to honor Lance’s life, we invite all who knew him to join us in remembering the joyous moments shared and the adventures lived. Though he may be gone, the spirit of Lance Patrick Ledet will forever remain in our hearts and memories.
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.
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.
Velma Ruth Heard March 26, 1945 — July 30, 2026 Service: Monday, August 31, 2026, 10am at Winnfield City Cemetery, 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 toWinnNewsLa@gmail.com
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.
Winnfield, La. — The Winn Genealogical and Historical Association (WGHA) will hold its upcoming meeting on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Winn Parish Library in Winnfield. Anyone interested in local history, family research, or community preservation is encouraged to attend.
Meeting schedule:
10:00 AM – Informal Discussion & Gathering: Members and visitors are invited to connect, ask genealogy questions, and share local historical stories.
10:45 AM – Library Tour & Resources: Staff members from the Winn Parish Library will lead a guided walkthrough highlighting the facility’s research tools, regional history collections, and genealogical resources available to the public.
11:10 AM – Brief Intermission
11:15 AM – Guest Presentation: Guest speakers Jimmy Fraser Davies and Penny Shelton will present on the history, documentation, and organization of the recent Winnfield High School multi-class reunions.
Business Meeting: Immediately following the guest presentation (around 11:35 AM), the association will convene to discuss upcoming fall projects and regional outreach events.
Potluck Lunch: Following the business meeting, attendees will share a fellowship meal. If you plan on bringing a dish to share, please coordinate with WGHA President Troy Rogers.
Key topics on the agenda:
Wolf Creek Fall Fest in Sikes (October 17): Finalizing plans for the WGHA informational table at the festival to showcase local history publications and help residents get started on family trees.
Proposed Historic Cemetery Tour (October 24): Planning a potential guided tour scheduled for the Saturday before Halloween, featuring the Winnfield City Cemetery and Earl K. Long Memorial Park.
WINN PARISH — Hot summer weather will continue across Winn Parish through the weekend, with highs in the mid-90s and daily chances for scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.
While rain chances remain relatively low, residents should be prepared for isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours on several days.
Extended Forecast
Wednesday: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Otherwise, sunny and hot with a high near 96°. Calm winds. Mostly clear Wednesday night with a low around 74°.
Thursday: Sunny and hot with a high near 95°. Mostly clear Thursday night with a low around 73°.
Friday: A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Sunny and hot with a high near 95°. Mostly clear Friday night with a low around 73°.
Saturday: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot with a high near 95°. Partly cloudy Saturday night with a low around 73°.
Sunday: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot with a high near 95°.
The National Weather Service encourages residents to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day, and take frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
Motorists should also be prepared for brief periods of heavy rain and lightning if thunderstorms develop during the afternoon hours.
As students across Winn Parish prepare to return to school on Friday, August 7, Winn Parish Sheriff Josh McAllister is urging all motorists to exercise extra caution and help ensure a safe start to the new school year.
“With the start of a new school year comes an increase in school buses, children walking to bus stops, and heavier traffic during the morning and afternoon hours,” Sheriff McAllister said. “The safety of our children is a responsibility we all share. A few extra moments of patience can make all the difference.”
The Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers of the following important school bus safety laws:
Stop whenever a school bus is displaying flashing red lights and its stop arm is extended, unless you are traveling on a divided highway separated by a physical barrier.
Never attempt to pass a stopped school bus that is actively loading or unloading students.
Slow down and remain alert in school zones and near bus stops.
Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of cell phones, and stay focused on the road.
Watch carefully for children, who may unexpectedly cross the street or enter the roadway.
Deputies with the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office will be conducting increased patrols during the opening weeks of school to help ensure motorists comply with traffic laws and to promote the safety of students, school staff, and bus drivers. “We want every child to arrive at school safely each morning and return home safely each afternoon,” Sheriff McAllister said. “Please do your part by obeying school bus
The storied tradition of the Winnfield High School Alumni Reunion traces its roots back to May 1953. Just days after a tragic tornado struck Waco, Texas, a casual gathering at the Enterprise-News American newspaper office in Winnfield turned toward fond high school memories. During the conversation, a remark was made about how wonderful it would be to gather the Class of 1925.
That August, Rev. Merle Averett—pastor of the First Baptist Church in Richton, Mississippi—visited Winnfield and rekindled the idea alongside classmate Miss Myrtle Dickerson. Armed with phone calls and an original 1925 commencement invitation, they compiled a roster and sent out mimeographed letters to test the waters. The response was immediate and overwhelming.
The initiative quickly expanded to include the classes of 1924, 1925, and 1926—all of which had graduated under Principal F. G. Phillips. Alumni were asked to share three things: their life updates since graduation, their families, and their favorite memories of the “roaring ’20s”. The mailing list rapidly grew to 185 alumni and faculty members.
The Early Reunions & Evolution
On June 3–4, 1955, the very first reunion was held at the Westside cafeteria, where alumni reminisced to their hearts’ content. A second gathering took place on June 24–25, 1960, at the Huey P. Long Motel. At that 1960 meeting, attendees voted to transition from meeting every five years to making the reunion an annual tradition.
Over the decades, the celebration moved through landmark local venues—including Mercer’s Goat Castle in 1962 and 1963, and Winnfield Senior High School starting in 1965. Eventually, the annual gathering found its home at the Winnfield Civic Center (formerly the Forestry Building) on the Winn Parish Fair Grounds. As documented by the WHS Class of 1963, this cherished tradition continues to bring generations of Tigers together each summer.
Decades of Dedicated Leadership
Keeping thousands of Tiger alumni connected across the nation has always been a true labor of love behind the scenes:
Rev. Merle Averett penned the formal alumni newsletter from 1953 to 1977.
Bessie Eagles Wilson of Springhill carried the quill from 1977 to 1980.
Dennis Shell, with his wife Sara (Jackson) Shell serving as the “deadline promoter,” served as editor from 1980 to 2002. Mrs. Sara Shell faithfully dedicated 32 years as keeper of the database, managing donations, classmate passings, and mailings with a team of volunteers.
In January 2012, leadership of the database and committee passed to Jackie (Bolton) Collins and Shelton Collins, working alongside editor Ron Skains to launch email communications.
For the past five years—stepping up right after the COVID-19 pandemic pauses of 2020 and 2021—the Standing Committee has been led by Jimmie (Frazier) Davies and Penny (Parker) Shelton.
“The former leader was ready to pass the torch, and I just decided to help out,” shared Miss Jimmie. “I wanted the reunions to continue out of love for our school and to keep the tradition alive.”
Adapting to Changing Times & 2026 Reunion Highlights
While reunions were historically held across two nights, Miss Penny and Miss Jimmie noted that shifting logistics—including rising event costs and limited local hotel accommodations—led to establishing the official reunion date as the 4th Saturday in June with a single, action-packed evening banquet. The change has proven immensely successful, drawing strong crowds. At the June 27, 2026 reunion, 265 total guests registered (alumni along with their spouses and guests) and 245 total attended, spanning generations of graduates:
Oldest Attendee Honored: Gloria Dale Rice Hickey (Class of 1950)
Second Oldest Attendee: Edna Jean Finney Strickland (Class of 1951)
Youngest Attendee: Noah Shows (Class of 2026)
Farthest Traveled: Sheryl Mixon Wilemon (Class of 1962), who traveled 1,139 miles from Arizona to join her fellow alumni!
A hallmark of the reunion is also the inclusion of former faculty. Each host class invites surviving former teachers, principals, and superintendents as honored guests.
“Most alumni haven’t seen their teachers in 50 years,” said Miss Jimmie. “It’s a wonderful chance to visit and thank them for giving us such an outstanding education.”
Looking Ahead: The Class of 1977
Planning the annual event is a year-long undertaking requiring monthly meetings, phone trees, and intense networking to locate lost classmates via social media, voter rolls, and local family connections. While individual classes often arrange their own gatherings—meeting up on Friday nights, Saturday afternoons, or tailgating together during football season at homecoming to reminisce—all official reunion events and activities must be coordinated through the 50-year host class committee to ensure smooth scheduling.
In addition to the main Saturday evening banquet, festivities traditionally kick off with a Saturday Morning Coffee Social, typically held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Winnfield Senior High School Activity Room.
Fresh off guiding the Class of 1976, the Standing Committee is now assisting the Class of 1977—led by Chairman Lynn Bankston and Treasurer Steve Bates, along with additional committee members—as they prepare for their 50th Golden Anniversary reunion on Saturday, June 26, 2027.
The Class of 1977 will hold its next planning meeting on Friday, August 7th at 3:00 PM in the Police Jury Meeting Room, located on the bottom floor of the Winn Parish Courthouse. All ’77 classmates are encouraged to attend, bring updated contact information for fellow alumni, and share their ideas!
Stay Connected!
The WHS/WSHS Alumni Association is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating entirely on alumni donations to cover printing, postage, and event logistics.
The association sends out three newsletters a year. If you are a graduate of Winnfield High School or Winnfield Senior High School and are not currently on the mailing list, please reach out to be added:
Miss Jimmie Frazier Davies Phone: (318) 628-0540 Email: jimmiedavies380@gmail.com Address: 131 Oak Ridge Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
Of special need, if anyone has Photos of the Class reunion this year, please forward them to Miss Jimmie.
Children living in homes where domestic violence occurs are often direct witnesses to the abuse, leading to emotional trauma and long-term behavioral effects, according to representatives with the Domestic Abuse Resistance Team.
Research indicates that 90% of children living in violent homes have witnessed one parent physically abusing another. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that witnessing parental abuse is the single most influential risk factor for children to continue violent behaviors as adults. Boys who witness domestic abuse are twice as likely to abuse a partner when they grow up.
Local advocates emphasize that exposure to domestic abuse creates emotional trauma and puts children in environments of chaos. While these circumstances are no fault of the surviving parent, the turmoil physically and emotionally impacts youth and increases the propensity for future violence.
Signs that a child may be experiencing trauma from domestic violence include:
Aggression and behavioral problems
Difficulty interacting with peers
Emotional withdrawal or detachment
Separation anxiety, fear, and general anxiety
Low self-esteem and difficulty concentrating
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network states that the most critical step in helping exposed children is removing them from the situation and placing them in a safe environment alongside their non-abusive caregiver. Assisting children in creating safety plans also restores a sense of control and reduces vulnerability.
DART has served local families since 1994. Residents seeking confidential assistance or support regarding domestic violence can reach Annie Goods, Winn Parish rural advocate, at the local office at 318-648-0559. The 24-hour crisis hotline is available at 318-251-2255.
The Winn Parish office is located at 301 W. Main St. in Winnfield.
