News

On October 21, 2016 Eighth Judicial District Attorney R. Christopher Nevils issued a final report of the circumstances, investigation, and determination of criminal responsibility by the grand jury for the death of Fernando Jewitt on May 12, 2016. According to his report, Fernando Jewitt received a single gunshot wound to his chest at Stroll’s Club. Mr. Jewitt was transported to Winn Parish Medical Center where he received medical treatment and later succumbed to the injury received. An investigation by the Winnfield Police Department revealed that Stephan Duncan, Jr. shot Fernando Jewitt with a .45 caliber pistol. At the conclusion of their investigation, the police department presented their file to the District Attorney.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler is encouraging all Louisianians eligible to vote in the 2016 Presidential Election to consider voting early. Early voting begins on TUESDAY, OCT. 25 and continues through TUESDAY, NOV. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, excluding Sunday, Oct. 30. “Early voting is a great way to conveniently cast your ballot and can make participating quick and easy,” said Secretary of State Tom Schedler. “Presidential elections are always Louisiana’s highest turnout elections, and that means lots of people will be in line on Election Day.

ALEXANDRIA, La. — To mark the 56th anniversary of National Forest Products Week, President Barack Obama this week issued a proclamation praising paper and wood-based products for the value they lend in everyday life. Forest products manufacturers and organizations are joining to celebrate forest products. Forests cover much of Louisiana, making the Forest Products Industry a big deal in the state. According to the LSU AgCenter, the economic impact of forestry to the state is $11 billion. In 2015, it provided more than 45,600 jobs in Louisiana with a combined salary of more than $817 million.

The H. Y. Bell Apartments were built in 1970 to serve low-income residents in Winnfield. In the coming months, residents of the 60-unit complex can look forward to seeing some changes. An Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from First Bank and Trust and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) has awarded H. Y. Bell a $420,000 grant for floor-to-ceiling renovations.  

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Election Day is November 8th and voters are urged to make their voices heard by participating in the electoral process. 

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October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month and the Winn Parish Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART) is working to teach the public about domestic abuse. At noon on October 21st the DART will be holding a vigil on the Winnfield courthouse square to honor and remember those who have lost their lives to domestic abuse in north central Louisiana. The guest speaker for the occasion will be Sheriff Cranford Jordan.    

On Monday, October 10, Judge Derr swore in four volunteer advocates for the Winn CASA office. These volunteers will advocate on behalf of a foster child (ren) in Winn Parish. These individuals completed an interview process, a thorough background check, and a training course prior to the swearing in ceremony.  

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The Winnfield City Council held their regular meeting on October 11th and in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mayor Beville and the council members all wore pink. The meeting was called to order at 6:00p.m. by Mayor Kiah Beville and Councilman Matt Miller led the group in prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance then followed the invocation. Before the agenda was  approved, another item was added as a new business, nonaction item, regarding a Department of Justice grant.  

BATON ROUGE, LA. –First Lady Donna Edwards and Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Dr. Chuck Carr Brown proudly unveiled Louisiana’s first anti-litter slogan amongst throngs of environmental enthusiasts gathered for the Keep Louisiana Beautiful annual state conference on September 29th at the Galvez Conference Center. After unveiling the slogan at the conference, Mrs. Edwards and Dr. Carr Brown appeared outside and carefully placed a bumper sticker on an awaiting state vehicle, the first of approximately 12,000 state vehicles that will proudly bear the message on their bumpers this fall. The winning slogan was selected after a summerlong contest, which challenged ad agencies across the state to create a catchy and positive anti-litter slogan and bumper sticker design that would convey the message about keeping our state clean, beautiful and litter-free. 

The Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame will welcome a very special exhibit and speaker on October 18th. At 2:30 and 7:00 p.m. Captain Richard Moran, the curator and director of the Louisiana Maneuvers Museum at Camp Beauregard, will be discussing the vital role that Winn Parish and its residents played in World War II. This year is the 75th anniversary of the Great Louisiana Maneuvers and our museum has been busy preparing for this event. The new exhibit is only here for a short time, so visitors will have limited opportunities to view the artifacts and memorabilia on display. John Holland will be playing music from that era and light refreshments will be served.