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Big news from the Winnfield Fire Department. We are thrilled to announce that the Winnfield Fire Department has officially achieved a Class 2 Fire Protection Rating that will go into effect March 4, 2026.

Fire Departments across Louisiana are graded through a point system on a scale from One to Ten. The best a department can receive is a class one (1). Large cities such as Shreveport, Monroe, and New Orleans are just a few of the departments who are a class 1.

For many years the Winnfield Fire Department has maintained a Class 3 Fire rating but several years ago promoted the goal of reaching a class 2.

Fire ratings consist of water distribution systems, hydrant flows and inspection, Dispatch telecommunication training and performance along with Fire Department Training certifications, response deployments, Public fire safety education, Equipment, Personnel staffing, and a host of other factors.

The Krewe of Kingfish invites you to a unique Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday, February 14. This isn’t your typical parade, Krewe of Kingfish wants YOU to be part of the action! The Krewe are welcoming golf carts, side-by-sides (with or without trailers), marchers, and kids on dirt bikes or battery-operated rides. Entry is completely free! Lineup begins at 10:00 AM at Town & Country, with the parade rolling at 11:00 AM. Please note: A licensed driver must operate all golf carts. Come throw beads, trinkets, and candy, then stay for the festival immediately following the route. To enter, contact a Krewe member or apply online at https://forms.gle/FjQtW9LAgxFEHxmg8.

While most of us seek the safety of four walls during a storm, linemen are heading straight into it. Working around the clock in severe conditions to ensure our community remains safe and powered, these crews face high-risk environments where one wrong move can be catastrophic. These men and women willingly leave behind their own families, and often their own dark, unpowered homes, to prioritize the needs of the public. 24-year-old Entergy lineman Hunter Alexander serves as a living testimony to the dangers faced on the front lines. While working to repair lines damaged by the recent ice storm near Jonesboro, Louisiana Alexander sustained severe, lifealtering injuries. He has already undergone an emergency fasciotomy to restore blood flow to his arms, and he faces a long road of additional surgeries and recovery ahead. His story is a reminder that the electricity we often take for granted comes at a high personal cost for those tasked with maintaining it.

Dodson High School is set to host an evening of unconventional athleticism and community fun as Donkey Basketball returns on Saturday, February 7, at 7:00 PM in the Dodson High School New Gym, with all proceeds benefiting the Dodson FFA chapter. The competition promises a night of laughter as local teachers, students, and community members attempt to navigate the basketball court while mounted on donkeys. In addition to the main event, the evening will feature a special intermission for children aged 12 and under, which are invited to the court for free donkey rides during the break. This family-friendly event serves as a fundraiser to support the education and leadership initiatives of FFA, an organization dedicated to preparing the next generation for careers in agriculture.

We are thrilled to announce that the Winnfield Fire Department has officially achieved a Class 2 Fire Protection Rating!

This outstanding accomplishment reflects the hard work, dedication, and professionalism of our firefighters, support staff, and community partners. Through improvements in equipment, training, response capabilities, and community safety efforts, we have reached one of the top fire protection ratings available. A Class 2 rating signifies excellent fire protection services and can help support lower insurance costs for residents and businesses within our response area.

Thank you to everyone who supported us on this journey — from local water services to each firefighter who answered the call day in and day out. We are proud to serve and protect our community

Interim CEO for Winn Parish Medical Center spoke to the Kiwanis Club, Tuesday, January 13th. She was accompanied by the CFO Judy LaCroix who had been at the hospital for 2 years. Mrs. Files has been employed by the hospital for 26 years beginning in administration, then in human resources and marketing. In her time at WPMC she has seen a lot of changes and CEOs. She was excited to step into the Interim CEO position although she is still doing human resources and training someone to do payroll.

The big news at the hospital is that they have signed an affiliation with Oschner Health to work on initiatives and to improve healthcare in Winn Parish. It will bring in more services and better access to care in our rural area. It also offers opportunities in recruitment and a system update. The system update offers telehealth visits and telestroke which is beneficial for a person is having a stroke to have access to specialized care.

The Rotary Club held its weekly meeting at Mama’s Iron Skillet, where Rotarian of the Day, Ted Wold, introduced the guest speaker, Eleazar Garcia, Warden of Winn Correctional Center. Garcia is a retiree of the Federal Bureau of Prisons with over 30 years of experience in the corrections field and a veteran. Managing the ICE detention facility on Gum Springs Road is a collaborative effort. Warden Garcia operates with a team that includes Sheriff Josh McAllister and Chase Team, LaSalle Corrections Chief Executive of Operations Jay Eason, and Director of Operations Indy Ramos. Sheriff McAllister spoke highly of the Warden’s leadership during the meeting. “Not only does he have the respect of employees at Winn Correctional, but he has the respect of the detainees,” McAllister said. “He has been a great partner, along with LaSalle Correctional.” Warden Garcia informed the Club that the facility currently has a maximum capacity of 1,763 detainees.

The Winn Veterans Memorial Association (WVMA) has announced that its future memorial will be located by City Hall on East Main Street. Funded through the combined support of the community, local veterans, and generous donors, the site is designed to be a “place of peace to honor all who served.”

Once completed, the WVMA will offer maintained gardens and memorials. Not only serving as a monument, the site will serve as a community hub where veterans and their families can access various support services and attend special gatherings and ceremonies.

Mayor Gerald Hamms opened the City Council meeting by presenting the “Hammy Award” to Kenneth “Mike” Smith Sr. Hamms praised Smith for his “unwavering support, strong leadership, and exceptional contributions to helping many grow and succeed,” noting that Smith has helped “create a more positive and impactful environment for the City of Winnfield.” Mike Smith, a lifelong resident and businessman of Winn Parish, served as the State Senator for District 31 from 1996 to 2008. Smith thanked the council and community for the honor of the Hammy Award, attributing his many years of business success to his mother, Marjorie “Margie” McLemore Smith. He shared that he grew up surrounded by the values of community and hard work while watching his mother run her in-home beauty salon. She later expanded the business to include a dress shop before eventually partnering with her husband, P.K. Smith, to purchase the Huey P.

The Winn Parish Fire District 3 is proud to host a SKYWARN class through the National Weather Service out of Shreveport. The class will be held on February 9, 2026 at 6pm. This class is free and open to the public to attend! At the conclusion of the class you WILL receive a certificate as a certified SKYWARN storm spotter that is valid for two (2) years. So whether you are a first responder, storm enthusiast, or just wanting to better understand storms and severe weather, come out and enjoy the evening with us. We would love to see you all there!