News

Jonathan Paul and Josh Colyer were the special guest speakers at the recent Kiwanis luncheon. Jonathan other wise known as JP, is the City of Winnfield Electric Department Supervisor, along with Josh one of his Lineman. J P went over several of the goals for the City to help keep the Lights on. The city has a new bucket truck with a 72 foot reach, along with some other equipment. He has initiated a project of buying heavier duty polls, and the city has started a program to changed out old Street Lights to newer more efficient LED lights. They have hit targeted areas for removing Trees that could cause power failures in Storms. He does all this with Six employees.

He talked about how the city gets it Electricity. The Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA), created by the State Legislature in 1979, consists of 20 Louisiana cities and towns, each maintaining its own independent municipal power system.

A total of 19 students recently completed the first evening Practical Nursing cohort offered at Central Louisiana Technical Community College’s (CLTCC) Huey P. Long Campus in Winnfield.

“Since I began working at this campus, I have wanted to offer an evening course for the Practical Nursing program,” said Campus Dean and CLTCC Director of Adult Education Jeff Johnson. “Providing an evening option provides opportunities for students who cannot attend day classes, due to jobs or other obligations.”

Winn Parish schools will host inperson prekindergarten registration events at the school sites in March 2025. Prekindergarten registration packets for the 2025-2026 school year may be obtained beginning March 4, 2025 at Calvin High School, Dodson High School, Winnfield Primary School, and the Winn Parish School Board Office. The 2025-2026 Winn Parish Early Childhood Application and financial forms will be included in the folders obtained at the identified locations and will also be available online at www.winnpsb.org beginning March 4, 2025.

The Louisiana Political Museum will induct seven new members into its Hall of Fame during ceremonies Saturday, April 5 in Winnfield. The 33rd annual event celebrates the remarkable achievements of Louisiana political leaders, public servants and trailblazers who have made their mark in the state through judicial service, policy making and preserving history and recording it.

The 2025 Hall of Fame inductees are:

• Judge Marion F. Edwards – A judge from Jefferson Parish who is renowned for his contributions to law and justice, including pioneering one of Louisiana’s first drug courts and serving as Chief Judge of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.

• The Honorable Don Burkett – Louisiana’s longest-serving District Attorney, representing Sabine Parish is recognized for his leadership, justice reforms, and dedication to victims’ advocacy.

On January 29, 2025, Calvin middle and high school students attended the Regional Leadership Conference at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches and had a great time with speaking events, workshops, networking with area schools, and awards for various competitions. Awards are leveled as Excellent, Superior, and 1st Place, with Superior and 1st Place winners getting to compete in those events at the State Leadership Conference at the end of March. Students that placed Excellent: (Middle School) Lathon Powell - Exploring Computer Science, Shyanne Durand - Financial Literacy, Mykenzie Maloy - Interpersonal Communication, (High School) - Clayton Vines – Agribusiness, Melanie Mercer - Help Desk, Melissa Johnson – Journalism.

Chapter 709, Part B of Bulletin 140 states that “The lead agency shall provide an opportunity for each publicly-funded program in the community network and the general public in the coverage area of the community network to comment on the proposed funding request prior to submission to the department and shall include documentation of this process in the funding request.”

The Winn Parish Coordinated Funding Request and the Winn Parish Coordinated Enrollment Plan are available for viewing at the Winn Parish School Board Office. The Winn Parish Early Childhood program invites any public comment about the Community Network’s Coordinated Funding Request to be submitted in written form by email, fax, or mail to Amanda Taylor at the Winn Parish School Board. You may also call with any comments, concerns, and/or questions. We appreciate your feedback.

Brad Cooper, US Forest Service District Ranger at Kisatchie, spoke to the Kiwanis club Tuesday, January 28th in his role as President of the Louisiana Forest Festival Board. The Forest Festival was not held in 2024 for a lot of reasons but Cooper as US Forest Service District Ranger was disturbed by that and wanted to do something about it. Forestry is a major industry in Winn Parish and in Louisiana.

He went to the board meeting for the La. Forest Festival to determine how to make it happen this year. The board is made up of previous board members Michael Brister, Brieanna Howell, and Kelley Skains Holmes and new board members Brad Cooper, Buddy King, Randa Williams, Vic-toria Carpenter, and Kayla Martin. Cooper ended up as head of the board. The Forest Festival needs to have strong ties back to the forest industry.

Members of WPFD are continuing to excel in education as 3 members traveled last week to receive training in various areas to further strengthen the service that is provided to citizens of Winn Parish. Earlier in the week, Mr. John Fannin traveled to Baton Rouge to participate in an advanced extrication class. Also, Mr. Cody Lockridge and Mr. Josh Coyler Jr. recently traveled to the Louisiana Fire and Emergency Training Academy Pine Country Campus to a “mini school” with focus on multiple areas of the fire service including but not limited to fire behavior and rescue operations. *Photo credit-FETA extrication and LSFM FETA

WSHS Beta Students Eligible for National Conference