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My slogan is: Do It Right the 1st Time – Vote #51 I am a lifetime resident of Winnfield. I have been involved with civic, community service, sports backer, school board member, teacher’s aide, supervisor at West Fraser, church mission with jail ministry and much more in my city.

I am a true Christian and a member of the Community Outreach Ministry under the leadership of Pastor Theresa Hall Lard.

I am not here to contradict the past or where we are now. I’m here to move Winnfield and my community forward on a positive note. To everyone who knows me, knows that I stand for a positive reaction.

I am married to James Carter for 56 years and the proud mother of 5 daughters (Stacy, LaChon, Patrece, J’Amie and Suzette). I also have many, many grands and great-grands.

I only ask for you to give me a chance to serve you. Again Vote #51.

Winnfield’s Rotary Club members were entertained at their meeting on March 4, 2026 by Louisiana District Judge Anastasia Wiley, who recounted some of her travel adventures involving animals.

Judge Wiley says she inherited her love of travel from her paternal grandmother and maternal great grandmother. She has traveled extensively and regaled her audience with tales of encountering animals in the wild, at the request of Rotarian of the Day, Joe Evans.

During a trip to Alaska, Judge Wiley and her travel companion drove south from Anchorage along the coast where they sighted a Beluga whale rising from coastal waters and a herd of moose grazing in a field in a small town where they stopped to fuel their SUV. They also took a tour of Denali National Park, in which only guided tours are allowed, where they sighted bears, otters and other critters.

Former Winnfield Mayor George Moss spoke to the Kiwanis Club on February 24, sharing reflections on the town’s history and its potential for tourism and community growth.

Introduced by Kiwanis President Mary Lou Blackley, Moss focused on Winnfield’s rich heritage, natural beauty, and the importance of working together to promote local assets. He noted that while some historic structures have been lost over the years, much remains that can be preserved and showcased.

Moss emphasized that tourism development does not always require major infrastructure projects, but rather a unified effort to promote what already exists. He pointed to neighboring Natchitoches as an example of a community that successfully revitalized its downtown and built a strong tourism identity through collaboration and promotion.

Beginning Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 10:00 PM, the City of Winnfield will implement a city-wide water shutoff to replace damaged fire hydrants.

Crews will be working on hydrant replacements in the following areas:

• Main Street

• Crawford Street

• North Pineville Street

• South Pineville Street We estimate the shutoff will last from 10:00 PM to approximately 5:00 AM.

We understand that any water interruption can be frustrating, and many may be tempted to complain or judge this situation based on previous incidents. But please know: the city is always working to accommodate our citizens as conveniently and efficiently as possible.

Every situation is different, and our teams are doing their best to respond quickly and responsibly.

We encourage everyone to ask questions, stay informed, and avoid assumptions.

The Winn Parish Police Jury held its regular meeting on February 17, with Gavin Snowden appearing first on the agenda to provide a road update in place of Road Superintendent Mr. Holmes. Snowden informed the Jury that three rack projects have been completed, with five remaining. While two grader operators are currently in training, the Police Jury is looking to hire three additional operators to ensure future projects meet their deadlines. Paul Hodnett, Assistant Road Superintendent, expressed the need for two tractor operators (no CDL required) and one truck driver (CDL required).

The February 17, Kiwanis meeting guest speaker was Dr. Troy Bell, Superintendent of Schools for Winn Parish. Dr. Bell and his wife have 4 children between them and 3 grandchildren. They live in Kelly, La and she works for a bank in Columbia. Her commute is shorter than his and that’s alright.

He started in education at the age of 38 and has been in eductation for 21 years. He began coaching and teaching math which is not what a coach normally teaches but he says he is a math nerd. He taught and coached in Caldwell parish and was in the Franklin parish Central office. In Franklin parish he did every job which was helpful in preparing him to be Superintendent. His doctorate is in theological education and ministry.

Both Caldwell and Franklin are similar to Winn in that they are rural areas but he said Winn has more community involvement.

Former Winnfield Mayor George Moss has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor, citing experience, steady leadership, and a continued commitment to the future of the city Moss previously served as Mayor of Winnfield during one of the most challenging periods in recent history His administration guided the city through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Laura, and two significant winter ice storms. During those crises, Moss worked closely with federal, state and local officials to maintain essential services, protect public safety, all while bringing the city into financial stability “In times of uncertainty, leadership matters,” Moss said. “I am proud of how our community came together during some of the most difficult days Winnfield has faced. We worked hard to keep our city functioning, informed, and prepared.”

Tuesday, February llth Brian Montgomery, Winnfield Fire Chief, spoke to Kiwanis. He brought Captain Charles Long and Captain Ben Murphy to the meeting with him. Montgomery started at the Fire Department as a volunteer in 1994 and was hired as employee in 1996. He became chief in 2015.

He was very happy to share the good news that the Fire Department has achieved a class 2 fire rating. This is a classification of the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana which evaluates fire departments based on a grading scale. The rating affects the fire insurance premium costs. The ratings are determined every 5 years. The rating is 1 being best to 10 being worst. The Winnfield Fire Department has had a class 3 rating for many years and a lot of work went into now being a class 2. They are well within the boundary between class 2 and class 3 so they should be able to maintain class 2. Once the 5 years is over and the rating is established the process starts all over again.

The Atlanta Branch Library