News

Winn/Jackson Master Gardeners, City of Winnfield, and Winn 4-H have been working hard to help beautify the Earl K. Long Park with some new hanging baskets.

On June 5 Winnfield Fire Department personnel received a request from Atmos to be on standby at the closed off part of West North Street for a damaged gas line. Fire personnel responded with Engine 4, Engine 2, and four personnel. The main gas line had been hit while a culvert was being dug out to be replaced. The sewer lids were removed to allow any gas that might seep into the sewer piping to escape and prevent it from getting into the nearby homes. Atmos back tracked the line up the hill to make pinch point to stop the flow of natural gas through the line. Fire personnel were on scene for around three and half hours roughly. Atmos personnel remained on location after crimping the line to make repairs to the main line. A reminder that if you’re going to dig anywhere on or off your property to call 811 before you dig.

Baton Rouge – Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) are alerting residents about another text message scam that has the potential to steal personal information and charge unnecessary fees. In the latest iteration of the scam, many Louisiana residents have received text messages claiming the recipient has an “outstanding traffic ticket” and must pay a fee or face repercussions. The OMV recommends that customers ignore and delete such messages.

Following a lengthy investigation by the Winn Parish Sheriff ’s Office concerning the distribution of Fentanyl, the Winn Parish Sheriff ’s Office obtained an arrest warrant on June 4th for Keyondrick Mills of Winnfield. Before serving the warrants, Mills fled Winn Parish in a red Camaro bearing Texas plates. Deputies were able to track Mills as he crossed the state line entering Texas. Winn deputies notified Texas State Troopers who were able to locate Mills on I-20 in Van Zandt County, Texas. Texas Troopers apprehended Mills on the Winn Parish warrants and additional drug charges. Mills is currently being held in Van Zandt County detention center awaiting extradition back to Winn.

Since 1913, Goldonna School has touched the lives of not only the local community, but also the surrounding communities. From students to administration and staff, there is a great history there that will continue even as the doors have closed.

As the school year ended in May, so did the school. Due to the impact of the closure of the Red River mill in Campti, decisions had to be made that included the closing of a school that has much history and great memories for so many.

The uniqueness of Goldonna School spreads far. Many of the teachers that taught there were once students of the school. There was a closeness that only little “country schools” could experience. The small community of Goldonna rallied behind the school from day one. Each time there was a discussion raised concerning a possible closure, the community stepped up and did whatever was needed to help it continue to thrive. That included a special 10 mill tax that passed last year.

Tuesday, March 27, 2025 the Kiwanis club honored their 2025 scholarship recipients. Chairman of the Scholarship Committee Lamar Tarver introduced the recipients to the club. These students were all outstanding in their high school years with their grades and their activities. Those graduating seniors were Emily Nevils (daughter of Kim and Chris Nevils), Addison Griffin (daughter of Lyndsey and Wayne Griffin), and Mason Green (son of Michael and Mary Green). Emily is planning to attend the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, Va., pursuing a degree in public policy and history. She may go into consulting or become an attorney. Addison Griffin will attend University of Louisiana at Lafayette to pursue a degree in nursing. After becoming an RN and working two years she wants to attend a nurse anesthetist program. Mason Green will attend Louisiana Tech in forestry to obtain a degree in forest management. All three of these young people received a $1000 check and a certificate.

Speakers for Kiwanis on Tuesday, May 20th were Troy Rogers and Gary Foster from the Masonic Lodge. Troy Rogers gave a little history of the Lodge. It is the oldest continuous organization in Winn parish having begun in 1857. One familiar name to the group was Eugene Love who was a mason and wrote several books about masonry. Miranda Atkins read a poem titled “I Remember” written by Susan Winters whose son is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Then Gary Foster explained The Vacant Chair. In the lodge you progress through the chairs until you are Mason of the Lodge. In researching Memorial Day and the Masons he came across a closed ceremony in another state where they brought in an empty chair, said a few words and left. He decided to elaborate on this idea and added music bringing in the empty chair to “Amazing Grace”. Then they added reenactment soldiers. Then they added the apron, which is the highest honor a mason can have. The soldiers from the past reenactment is symbolic.