News

Monday. September 30lh, Winn Parish Sheriff Josh McAllister received a report of a missing person. The family of Marvin Lewis, Jr., Winnfield, la., stated they had not had any contact with Marvin for 24 hrs. and were concerned. The Lewis family also reported they received information their son, Marvin Lewis Jr, had been shot.

Investigators from Winn Parish Sheriff ’s Office and Winnfield City Police Department began interviewing possible witnesses and people who recently had been in contact with Marvin Lewis Jr. Investigators were able to learn a 2013 white Nissan Versa belonging to the Lewis Family was missing along with Marvin. A BOLO was issued for the Nissan and sent to surrounding parishes.

(StatePoint) The stakes of the upcoming 2024 election are high for parents, infants, toddlers and families across the country, with such issues as child care, paid leave, maternal health, Head Start and more at an inflection point.

“If policymakers don’t take action to address these issues, young children and families will suffer. We have to get it right. Individuals, advocates and organizations can take action between now and the election to help ensure policymakers know what babies need,” says Miriam Calderon, chief policy officer at ZERO TO THREE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring every child has a strong start in life and a member of the National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT).

Why is this issue so important?

No one is immune to mental health concerns. Everyone has problems and we never know if those problems will lead to suicide ideations. Suicide is preventable and anyone can make a difference. ASIST/Save Cenla offers training to help create a safer community through prevention and postvention. It is evidence-based and proven-to-beeffective.

SaveCenla will host a two day workshop on Nov 18th (8am – 4:30pm) and 19th (8am – 4pm) at Winnfield CLTCC. Anyone 16+ years old is encouraged to attend. It is beneficial and a tool for all professions (parents included).

Those interested can register at Save/Cenla.com. This event is free of charge – must attend both days. It is also worth 12 CEU’s for MHP. That cost is $78.

To inquire, call 337-519-1888.

The 2024 Fall Festival has been slated for October 31 in downtown Winnfield from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. when Main Street is traditionally lined with booths, tables and pickup trucks from the Methodist Church down to the Political Museum where youngsters can find plenty of Trick or Treat goodies.

A good starting point for activities is always the Costume Contest for all ages, set to begin at 5:30 p.m. (registration at 5 p.m.) at the Louisiana Political Museum. Six age groups are 0-3 years, 4-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-13 years, 14-17 years and 18 years and up. There will also be Theme Groups and Pets divisions.

Sheriff Josh McAllister reports that investigators from his office recently attended a specialized training regarding child abductions.

The Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) training was sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for state and local law enforcement.

Sheriff McAllister stated that the training is designed for investigators and initial responders to child abduction reports and introduces them to various resources available. The FBI introduced attendees to the numerous available resources they offer and FBI agents will rapidly respond when called upon by local authorities. The training also consisted of best investigative methods to be used and offered case studies on many previous abductions.

Elected and appointed officials from eight parishes gathered on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, for a meeting at the LaSalle Parish Community Center in Jena, LA. LaSalle Parish hosted the meeting for members of the Police Jury Association. In addition to LaSalle Parish, Region VIII includes Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn.

During the Business Session led by PJAL Executive Director Guy Cormier, the 2025 Region VIII Host Parish was announced as Vernon Parish. The Region VIII President and Secretary/Treasurer will come from Vernon Parish, as well. The Region VIII Vice President will come from Grant Parish. Rapides Parish’s Sean McGlothlin was reelected to serve as Region VIII Executive Board Member. Jim Tuck and Curtis Clay of Vernon Parish and Joe Bishop of Rapides Parish were re-elected to serve on the Resolutions Committee. LaSalle Parish’s Jack Zeagler presided over the meeting and gave the welcome address.

Dr. Bill Gaddis and Kim Futrell represented the Winnfield Kiwanis club at the 106th Annual LaMissTenn District Convention held in Tupelo, Ms. July 26-28, 2024. The service project was a book drive for the Tupelo School District. The Kiwanis mission is that one day all children will wake up in a community where they are cared for.

Kim attended breakout sessions on how to get new members and how to retain members. One of their suggestions was to take a prospective member out to lunch or dinner after they have attended a meeting and tell them what Kiwanis does. Another suggestion is to give new members a job so they feel welcome and involved. A child from a K-Kids club spoke at another seminar. This is a primary school Kiwanis club. To start a club in a school you need the involvement of a teacher, the principal and permission from the school board. The cost to the sponsoring club is $400.

The Strengthening Families Program was introduced to Winn Parish in 2020 through a grant received by Winn Community Health Center, funded by The Rapides Foundation. While the grant will soon be completed, the program will continue to support families in our community, and we are now seeking compassionate volunteers to serve as coaches.

This evidence-based initiative focuses on improving family dynamics, fostering better communication, and building resilience in both parents and children. As a coach, you will guide families through structured sessions designed to promote positive relationships and effective parenting techniques.

Training is provided over the course of three days, giving you the skills and resources needed to make a lasting impact. After training, coaches are asked to commit just a few hours per week during 11-week sessions. Your involvement helps ensure that more families can access the support they need to thrive.

Rotarians of Winnfield learned about the Winn Parish Industrial Board at their meeting on September 4, 2024, from Board member Larry Bates and Winn Parish District Attorney Chris Nevils.

Nevils explained that the Board was formed out of the agreement between the Police Jury and Jeld-Wen when Jeld-Wen located its plant in the parish. The Industrial Board acquired the property on which the plant is located, and Jeld-Wen leases the property from the board, paying annual rent of $50,000 to the board.

The Industrial Board uses the funds to investigate industrial development opportunities for the area to attract businesses which will provide jobs for Winn Parish. Bates reported the Board has sought out manufacturing companies which might make their products locally, although none of those discussions has resulted in success.

(StatePoint) When a new school year begins, most teachers don’t wait long before they begin scheduling tests, and assigning loads of homework and reading assignments. Here are three tips for helping kids stay on top of all their coursework: 1. Focus on organization: One of the most valuable life skills a student can develop while in school is time management. Teach kids how to prioritize assignments with upcoming deadlines and those which are easy to knock off their to-do list. Encourage them to find an organizational tool, such as an academic planner or calendar, that works for them. Depending on their preferences and learning style, they may prefer to use app-based tools. The important thing is that they always know what is on their to-do list and when it must be completed by. If they are struggling, help them chunk their afternoon into segments so that they budget enough time for each of their tasks.