News

Please be advised of road closures during the Uncle Earl’s Hog Dog Trials being held March 17th through March 23rd at the Winnfield Fairgrounds. Country Club Road and Orange Street will be closed at the fairgrounds. The only way to access the fairgrounds will be from Hwy 34. (emergency vehicles and school busses will be allowed access). We are sorry for any inconvenience during this week but these measures gives the vendors more room and helps to keep everyone safe as they attend the Hog Dog Trials.

Willie Doherty of Joyce recently received from Rusty Reeves, deputy director of Louisiana Rural Water Association, the prestigious 2024 H.M. “Skeeter” Vickers Award for “Outstanding Dedication to the Water Industry.”

WPFD responded to a brush fire in the Calvin area earlier recently. The property owner was attempting to burn an area of vegetation and due to dry conditions, wind and low humidity the fire grew out of control requiring fire dept. assistance. Upon arrival, FFs were able to deploy a booster line, side x side and hand tools to bring the fire under control fairly quickly.

Winn Parish Sheriff ’s Office Makes Arrest on Multiple Charges, Seizes Firearms and Narcotics Winnfield, LA – February 28, 2025 – At approximately 0445 hrs. on February 28, 2025, Winn Parish Sheriff deputies conducted a traffic stop on LA 34 for failure to dim headlights. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Keneen Cravens of Winnfield, was found to be operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and had several outstanding warrants.

Cravens was arrested for Driving Under Suspension (DUS) and the outstanding warrants. During an inventory of the vehicle, deputies discovered a handgun inside a black bag, along with a plastic baggie containing suspected methamphetamine, a plastic baggie containing suspected fentanyl, one pill believed to be alprazolam, and various items typically associated with drug use. A second firearm was also located inside the vehicle’s glove compartment.

Random Acts of Kindness is celebrating during the month of February and WSHS Youth Volunteer members wanted to show their appreciation to the teachers and support staff by sharing snacks and drinks.

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.