News

The Winn Parish Police Jury convened for a special called meeting on Thursday, May 28, in Room 112 of the Winn Parish Courthouse to address key funding allocations and a local appointment.

The primary focus of the meeting centered on the distribution of the parish’s opioid settlement funds, resulting in a total of $65,000 awarded to local healthcare and legal entities.

President Frank McLaren introduced a motion to award $15,000 of the opioid funds to the Winn Parish Medical Center. The funding is specifically earmarked for the procurement of Narcan, an opioid antagonist used to reverse overdoses. The motion passed with unanimous support.

The downtown business strip continues its recent growth with the official opening of TuTu’s Coffee Shop, located at 209 E. Main St., adjacent to Friends Gifts & More.

Owned and operated by Kelli Hudson, the new establishment offers a variety of beverage and dessert options, including specialty coffees, ice cream, and lemonades.

Beyond its menu, the coffee shop features a layout designed to accommodate different community needs. One side of the establishment includes a lounge area where customers can watch television or play games. The other side is tailored for remote workers and students, equipped with a desk along the wall with a row of barstools.

The name “TuTu’s” holds deep personal and community significance, established in loving memory of Hudson’s late husband, Sergeant Toei “TuTu” Hudson.

(StatePoint) Americans overwhelmingly say brain health matters deeply as they age, ranking it on par with — or even above — physical health. Yet despite this concern, most adults acknowledge they do not know how to protect or maintain their cognitive health, according to the 2026 “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report and a new nationwide survey released by the Alzheimer’s Association.

Eighty-eight percent of U.S. adults say maintaining brain health is very important, and almost all adults ages 40 and older surveyed (99%) say it is at least as important as physical health. However, only 9% say they know “a lot” about how to maintain their brain health. More than two-thirds say they worry about their brain health and about developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Dugdemona Club Awards Clifford D. Whitehead Memorial Scholarships

Members of the Winfield Kiwanis Club were treated to a journey through aviation history during their weekly meeting on Tuesday, as Father Louis Sklar, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, presented a detailed look at the legacy of General Claire Lee Chennault and the famed “Flying Tigers.”

Father Sklar, a selfdescribed “airplane nerd” and native of nearby Campti, brought along a collection of artifacts that brought the history of World War II’s Pacific Theater to life. Among the items displayed were meticulously crafted models of the Curtis P-40 Warhawk, the primary aircraft flown by the American Volunteer Group (AVG). Attendees were also shown a vintage leather flight jacket featuring a “blood chit”—a patch written in Chinese intended to help downed American pilots secure assistance from local civilians.

After more than 30 years of serving as a District Attorney Law Clerk, Assistant District Attorney in East Baton Rouge Parish, and currently as Winn Parish District Attorney, Chris Nevils has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of his current term, ending, for now, his service as an advocate for the people of the State of Louisiana and, most importantly the great people of Winn Parish.

First elected in 2006, District Attorney Nevils took on tough challenges as a perceived outsider. Nevils worked tirelessly to change the public perception along with the perception of a parish where “justice” often depended on your surname rather than the strength of the evidence. Committed to the City of Winnfield in the parish where he and his wife, Kim, raised their two children, Kate and Emily, he always tried to meet as many people from all walks of life in making the parish his home, forever.

Members of the Winnfield Primary School 3rd Grade Garden Club spent Wednesday volunteering their time at the Food Bank of Central Louisiana and engaging in hands-on agricultural education at The Good Food Project. Under the guidance of Georgette Waters, the student crew focused their efforts on “packing pears” to be included in upcoming food distribution packages. By the end of the session, the group had successfully processed a total of 2,247 pounds of pears for local residents who utilize the food bank’s services.

Following their volunteer work, the students transitioned to the park for a community lunch featuring Raising Cane’s and finished the outing with popsicles before returning to class. Faculty organizers noted that the trip was a significant success, citing both the high volume of work accomplished and the exemplary behavior of the students throughout the day.

On May 15th, Winnfield Senior High School will celebrate a rare milestone as Bella O’Bannon and Addison Barnett graduate as Valedictorians, both having maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA for their entire twelve-year academic careers. Bella O’Bannon’s journey to the top of her class is defined by a tireless work ethic and deep community roots; she has served as the President and Treasurer of FFA, President of BETA, Co-Captain of the Cheerleading team, and a Leader for Tiger Mentors. Outside of her extensive school involvement, which includes being a 4-H Reporter and a member of FBLA, Bella has spent this year waitressing at Ember’s Restaurant. Having watched the two most influential women in her life serve the community one meal at a time since she was a child, she translated that inspiration into excellence, earning the 2025 Masonic Lodge Honesty and Integrity Award and competing at the State level for the 2023 Regional Literacy Rally.

On May 2, 2026, the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Everett S. Fick Unit 9, District 8, conducted a wreath-laying ceremony at the Winn Parish Courthouse. The event, held at the Everett S. Fick flagpole, served as a tribute to military service members who lost their lives in the line of duty. The placement of the Memorial Day wreath was intended to bring community remembrance and honor the “ultimate sacrifice” made by United States personnel.

The ceremony was marked by a strong showing of community and civic participation. Members of the ALA Unit 9 facilitated the floral tribute, joined by their counterparts from the American Legion Everett S. Fick Post 9. Local officials and parish residents also gathered on the courthouse lawn to stand in respect. The presence of veterans, leadership, and the public was highlighted by organizers as bringing recognition to the cause of veteran remembrance.