Commentary

Dear Editor, As a concerned citizen and resident of Winn Parish, I wish to address something that has come to my attention and I have further looked in to. I was told that several Winn Parish Police Jury employees recently received raises. First, this was not made public to the residents and tax payers of Winn Parish. Secondly, it is a constant complaint of the jury that there just isn’t enough money. If that is so, why are these raises being given.

I requested a list of all employees of the WPPJ and their salaries as of 1/1/23 and also as of 3/1/24. I am asking that you publish this information. This documentation does show the increase in salary for several employees. In fact, it show’s a total $50,000.00 in raises. It also shows, which is surprising to me, that there are 58 people on the WPPJ payroll.

We love to walk outside in springtime and breathe in all the fresh scents of nature. Our only wish is that we can bring them inside as well. You can do that by making your own simmering potpourri!

A simmering potpourri starts with a ‘base’ of some type of citrus. This can be lemons, limes, oranges, or even grapefruit. You can also use berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries. Slice citrus into thin rounds and place them in a designated potpourri pot. For berries, leave them whole or slice larger ones in half or in quarters.

Next, add a favorite herb such as rosemary, mint, ginger root, or thyme. Mint is always a good choice as it already offers a fresh aroma, and comes in several different flavors, including orange, spearmint, chocolate and more.

Vanilla extract is also a good additive to a homemade potpourri. You can add just a few drops, up to a Tablespoon, if you are making a large batch.

The only way that we can see godly changes in our hearts that will last is to cooperate with God’s Spirit that has indwelt us since the moment we accepted Jesus as our Savior, but it is God that does the changing. Of course the initial change occurs at the moment of salvation, but then He continues to take us from glory to glory; one change at a time. Every spiritual matter that needs changing, even things about ourselves that we have always wanted to change, but were powerless to, God can change in an instant; provided we allow those changes to come to pass. Maturing believers ultimately come to understand that we have to learn to get out of His Way, and let Him do what He wants to do in our hearts.

When making a menu plan to help you determine what you want to grow in your garden, you may have squash on the list. Often, we only think of eating it fresh in salads, or smothering it down with bacon and onions. But there is another way to use them, and that is turning them into pickles.

Centralizing State Public Defender Board in a New State Bureaucracy is IllAdvised

I strongly support and commend Gov. Landry’s efforts to address the crisis of violent crime in Louisiana. However, I respectfully suggest that one proposal is ill-advised and does nothing to advance that goal. Senate Bill 8 seeks to “create the office of the state public defender within the office of the governor for the delivery of indigent defense services.” My interest stems from the fact that roughly half of my current law practice is comprised of work I do at the Caddo Public Defender Office. In that capacity, I have witnessed firsthand what is required to manage a public defender office in one of our state’s largest parishes. My concern is twofold.

Jars. Our cabinets are filled with empty jars. Big ones, small ones. Plain ones, decor ative ones. So much of our food comes in jars.

If they are safe for canning, we wash them, then store them away until it’s time to fill them with delicious goodies from our gardens. If they come from the grocery store, they can’t be used safely for canning, so when they are emptied, we put them aside, hoping to find a use for them. Then one day, we realize those jars have begun to stack up to the point there isn’t room for one more, and reluctantly, we toss them all in the recycle bin or trash can.

But there’s another way you can ‘recycle’ jars by turning them into gifts! Gifts in a Jar are a perfect way to share with those who love to bake, cook, use spice blends, or do handcrafts.

Firefighters Join Together to Conduct Training

Spoon butter is one of my favorite ways to give a Gift in a Jar. It’s perfect to give as a single jar or tucked in a kitchen gift basket. It is also one of the most beneficial things you can have in your kitchen. Spoon Butter helps to keep your wooden spoons, cutting boards, and knife handles from drying out and splintering. When you make a batch, be sure to keep a jar for your own use!

Ingredients: (see the Notes below) 4 oz. Beeswax 16 oz. Neutral Oil Glass containers Directions: Put water into a pot and bring to a simmer. Put beeswax into a glass jar (a quart canning jar or mayonnaise jar will work), and place in the pot with the simmering water.

In a separate pot, add water and allow to simmer. Pour neutral oil into a second glass jar. Place the jar in the second pot of simmering water. When wax in the first pot is completely melted, remove from water and add the oil from the second pot.

by: Lareina Morgan

During this time, a man from the family called Levi married a woman. She was from the same family. Later, she was expecting a child. And she gave birth to a son. She saw that her baby was a beautiful child. So she hid him for three months. After that, she could not continue to hide him. So she obtained some plants that grow in water. And she used them to make a basket for her son. She covered the basket with a thick black substance so that water did not get into the basket. Then she placed the child in it. And she put the basket among the plants that grew along the edge of the River Nile. The baby’s sister waited at a distance and she watched. She wanted to see what would happen to the baby.

Dear Editor, Generosity throughout Winnfield contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected 10 million shoebox gifts in 2023. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2023, the ministry is now sending over 11.3 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide, including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster.

Through shoeboxes—packed with fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items—Winnfield- area volunteers brought joy to children in need around the world. Each giftfilled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received. Through the continued generosity of donors since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.