Winnfield Police are investigating a hit-and-run incident involving a toddler that occurred during a gathering at Luckey Street Park.

According to authorities, officers were notified through a 911 call that a child had been taken to the emergency room at Winn Parish Medical Center after being struck by a four-wheeler. Reports indicate the incident happened during a family gathering where multiple individuals were riding off-road vehicles.

Investigators said the suspect was identified and was seen loading the four-wheeler onto a trailer before leaving the scene.

Officers conducted a search and later located the vehicle at a residence on Cedar Drive. Authorities said warrants are being prepared for the suspect.

Proposed charges include hit-and-run driving, reckless operation of an off-road vehicle and second-degree cruelty to a juvenile.

Officials said the child was treated and released, and the injuries were not considered life-threatening.

A traffic stop Sunday evening in Winnfield resulted in the arrest of a Baton Rouge man on multiple charges, including drug possession.

According to the Winnfield Police Department, Sgt. Ashley Carpenter observed a vehicle traveling 22 mph over the posted speed limit on East Lafayette Street and initiated a stop in the parking lot of the Winnfield Tire Center.

The driver was unable to produce a valid driver’s license. Officer Caden Sellers arrived as backup and was granted consent to search the vehicle, where open alcohol containers were found. A standardized field sobriety test was conducted, and the driver was determined not to be impaired.

During the stop, an officer observed the suspect placing an item in a stack of tires nearby. Upon inspection, officers located two bags of a substance identified as methamphetamine with an approximate combined weight of 10 grams.

The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the Winnfield City Jail.

Joseph C. Scott of Baton Rouge was charged with speeding (57 in a 35 mph zone), no driver’s license, open alcohol container, possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance and resisting an officer. Authorities said bond had not been set as of the latest update.

Four people were injured early Sunday morning in a shooting at the Winnfield Civic Center following an event attended by local teenagers.

Authorities reported that gunfire erupted around 1:30 a.m. when two individuals began shooting for reasons that remain under investigation. The incident caused panic as attendees attempted to leave the area and find safety.

All four victims, described as bystanders, were transported to Winn Parish Medical Center. Two of the injured were later airlifted by Pafford Air to trauma centers for additional treatment. As of the latest update, no fatalities have been reported, and one individual remains in critical condition.

Winnfield Police initiated an emergency response that included calling in off-duty officers to assist with crowd control, securing the scene and launching an investigation. Deputies from the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Department also responded, including Sheriff McAllister and Chief Deputy Guilliam.

The investigation is being led by Lt. Brian Glenn and Officer Edward Starks. Authorities said suspects have been identified and charges are pending.

Officials have not released the names of the victims due to their ages and out of respect for their families.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Winnfield Police Department at (318) 628-3511. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details will be released as they become available.

Residents across Winn Parish can expect a mix of sunshine, clouds, and periodic storm chances as a shifting spring pattern settles over the region through the upcoming week.

Midweek: Warm with Isolated Storms

Wednesday begins on a relatively quiet note, though a slight chance (20%) of afternoon showers and thunderstorms develops after 1 p.m. Skies will transition from mostly cloudy to gradually sunnier conditions, with temperatures climbing to around 87°F. Winds from the south at 5–10 mph may gust up to 20 mph at times.

Wednesday night remains mostly cloudy and mild, with a low near 67°F and continued southerly breezes.

Thursday into Friday: Increasing Rain Chances

Rain chances ramp up Thursday, with a 50% likelihood of showers and thunderstorms under mostly cloudy skies. Highs will be slightly cooler, topping out near 81°F. Storm chances taper slightly Thursday night, dropping to 20%, with lows around 65°F.

By Friday, another round of scattered storms is expected, especially after 1 p.m., with a 50% chance of precipitation. Despite the unsettled weather, temperatures rebound to near 86°F under partly sunny skies. A few lingering showers may persist into Friday night before diminishing after midnight.

Weekend: Stormy Start, Then Cooler Air Moves In

Saturday continues the unsettled trend, bringing a 50% chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Highs will reach the low 80s, but conditions become more active Saturday night with continued storm chances and a noticeable drop in temperatures to around 53°F.

Sunday sees a shift toward cooler weather, with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high near 70°F. Overnight lows dip further into the mid-40s as rain chances decrease.

Early Next Week: Clearing and Comfortable

By Monday, calmer conditions return with mostly sunny skies and a pleasant high near 70°F—offering a refreshing break from the previous days of humidity and storms.

Bottom Line:

Winn Parish will experience a classic spring pattern this week—warm, humid days with scattered storms, followed by a cooler and drier air mass moving in by early next week. Residents are encouraged to stay weather-aware, especially during afternoon and evening hours when storms are most likely to develop.

The Kiwanis Club welcomed the Rev. Lamar Carpenter as its guest speaker during a recent meeting, where he delivered a message centered on the meaning of Easter and Holy Week.

Carpenter was introduced by Kiwanian Chet Atkins, who is also a member of Beulah Baptist Church. A graduate of Calvin High School, Carpenter later earned an associate degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as pastor of Beulah Baptist Church for 35 years and has indicated plans to retire from pastoral ministry in the near future.

In addition to his pastoral work, Carpenter has been involved in a long-standing nursing home ministry and serves as a chaplain for the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Department.

During his presentation, Carpenter spoke about the significance of Holy Week, the period leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Drawing from multiple passages of scripture, he reflected on the suffering of Jesus, the discovery of the empty tomb, and the central message of the resurrection.

Carpenter also shared insights from a personal visit to Israel, made possible through the generosity of a church member. During that trip, he participated in a Lord’s Supper observance in the Garden of Gethsemane, which he described as a meaningful spiritual experience.

His message emphasized the foundational Christian belief in the resurrection and its importance as the central focus of Easter.

The Kiwanis Club expressed appreciation for Carpenter’s visit and his message to members.

For the past two years, Winn residents have watched the rise of the impressive three-story complex on West Court Street that will house the array of services of Winn Community Health Center as well as the seven-parish organizational support of Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana.

Now the time has arrived. On Monday, April 13, the public is invited to the Grand Opening of the center beginning at 11 a.m., announced CEO Deano Thornton. There will be a tent, music with a DJ, refreshments of Dana’s Pulled Pork Sandwiches and giveaways.

“Who would have thought that it would come to this when we first started talking about this kind of medical care for our community in 2005?” he said. “We were funded in 2009, opened our doors July 1 that same year, outgrew that office and moved to our current location in 2011 and are now poised to move into this wonderful structure.”

Over those years, WCHC also expanded beyond its Winn Parish borders to seven parishes with 11 clinics and 60 school-based centers under the inclusive name of Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana.

“So how have we come so far? I’ve always said that when you surround yourself with good people, good things happen,” Thornton continued. “Our organization is made up of people who care about the well being of the folks in their community and it shows. We’re in the business of taking care of people. This is an amazing, state of the art facility which we’ve been proud to add to the heart of Winnfield.”

The center’s staff held an early preview of this new structure on March 31. The Grand Opening for the general public is Monday, April 13. The following morning, Tuesday, April 14, medical services at the new center will commence.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that a significant bridge replacement project in Winn Parish received bids in March.

The project will replace five bridges along Louisiana Highway 124 near Winnfield. The improvements are intended to enhance structural safety and ensure long-term reliability for motorists traveling the route.

The apparent low bid for the project totaled $10,330,565.30, making it one of the larger المشاريع included in the latest round of bid announcements.

Transportation officials said bridge replacement projects are prioritized based on structural condition and public safety needs.

DODSON — The Winn WMU will host its Second Annual Crafty Spring Fling on Saturday, April 11, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Welcome Home Baptist Church, 3778 Hwy. 34 in Dodson.

The event serves as a community fundraiser supporting mission efforts coordinated by the Winn WMU, the women’s mission organization representing Baptist churches throughout Winn Parish and affiliated with the North Central Baptist Association.

Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of handmade and homemade items available for purchase, including quilts, frozen casseroles, gumbo, soups, chili, jellies, pickles, mason jar cookie mixes, local honey, crafts, books, puzzles, vintage items, Christmas décor, and more.

A smoked brisket lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with plates available for $12 each.

All proceeds from the event will go toward mission projects. Funds are distributed based on the direction of participating members and allocated following the organization’s June meeting.

Organizers encourage the public to attend, support local missions, and enjoy a day of food, fellowship, and shopping.

Contact: Winn WMU through local Baptist churches in Winn Parish
Admission: Free (food and items priced individually)

Pulling up to the gas pump has started to feel less like a routine stop and more like a scene straight out of a horror movie. You swipe your card, start fueling up, and suddenly—there it is—the total climbing faster than you can look away. At $100 and still rising, it’s the kind of moment that makes you question every decision that led you to that pump. The real twist? No jump scare soundtrack needed—just the quiet panic of watching the numbers roll. And honestly, the caption says it best: “Based on a true story.”

Students from Winn Parish pursuing degrees through Northwestern State University’s School of Education were recognized during an Apple Pinning ceremony held March 24, marking their acceptance into teacher candidacy.

The ceremony honors students who have demonstrated a commitment to careers in education and will now advance into upper-level education coursework.

Students from Winn Parish recognized include:

Catheryn Busha of Winnfield, Secondary Education

Callie Lang of Winnfield, Elementary Education

While I was growing up, my parents fully supported my athletic career. But they also believed in hard work and understood that free time for a teenage boy was not a good thing. To say my teenage years were structured would be an understatement.

While they never kept me from playing whatever sport I wanted to play, they had a rule that if I was not playing a sport, I had to get a job after school and on Saturdays. Note — our family was in no way desperate for money as my dad was superintendent for an oil drilling company.

They wanted me to understand the benefits of a good work ethic. At the age of 10 my first job outside the family ranch was picking up trash on the mornings following all the baseball games the night before.

They believed that many of life’s lessons were learned through working. Personally, I understood early in my childhood what a good work ethic was while growing up on a cattle ranch where there’s never a shortage of things to do.

Jobs included, but were not limited to, building barns, vaccinating cattle, building fences and hauling hay. Owning a cattle ranch is a seven day a week job that requires a lot of commitment and dedication. It’s like raising kids; every day someone must do a head count while making sure they are fed.

My last three years of high school, I had a job that I really enjoyed, working at Foxworth-Galbreath Lumber Yard. While I played three sports — football, baseball and track — it was during basketball season that I worked at the lumber yard after school.

I learned a lot from that experience, like how important it is to be on time. It was good that I answered to someone who held me accountable. I learned about the different grades of lumber and plywood as well as inventory control and how a lumber yard is managed.

This also gave me a sense of independence as the job provided money for dating and gas. It taught me how to be responsible and how important people skills are in order to work with others. It also motivated me to continue my education and get a degree.

These are lessons that many of today’s younger generation have not mastered. Many of today’s youth have no idea what it’s like to work for what they have. To answer to someone else who doesn’t accept excuses for being late or not doing the job right.

Every job I ever had, and I’ve had my share, taught me something. In high school and college, I not only worked at a lumber yard, but I also worked construction with Brown & Root, unloaded box trucks for a shipping company at 4 a.m. each day, lined fields and kept the books for Dixie Youth games every night and was an engineer’s assistant for the Texas Highway Department.

Each one of these job opportunities taught me a lot. But the most important lesson I learned was accountability, which is an important ingredient for being successful in life. So, if you’re looking for a purpose in life, maybe you need to get a job!

Main Service 11:00am

No serve that evening.

Bro Larry McGee has something special planned for Sunday School that morning, but he has kept it a secret! Bro Paul Pruitt will be preaching.