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On Oct 24, 2020, the Winnfield Police Department arrested two suspects, Edward D. Powell, and Christopher Bryant. Bryant was charged with open container, aggravated assault, resisting by flight, and possession of firearm with obliterated serial number. Powell was charged with open container and aggravated assault with firearm. At the time of the arrest the WPD took into custody a .22 caliber bold action rifle and a high point .45 caliber handgun. The handgun had the obliterated serial number.

Going forward, the Winn Parish DA’s office began processing and preparing the case, which included picking a jury for trial. A week before the trial was to begin, District Attorney Chris Nevils requested the two weapons be brought out of the evidence locker. The weapons could not be found. Mr. Nevils office was told by the evidence custodian at WPD that the weapons were never placed into evidence.

Frank & Tammy will be performing at the Winn Parish Library as part of the 2022 Summer Reading Program. Frank and Tammy combine puppetry with magic and comedy to inspire everyone to visit the library and read. Come visit the library and participate in a show that is fun, encouraging and inspirational. The times and dates of the performances are: June 28, 2022 – Atlanta Branch Library at 10:00 and the Main Branch at 2:00, June 29, 2022 – Dodson Branch Library at 10:00 and the Sikes Branch Library at 2:00.

On July 1, Mr. Gerald “Scooter” Hamms will take his seat as the newly elected mayor of Winnfield. With that position c o m e s many goals and much determination. Hamms states that he wants to “gain the trust of the citizens and incorporate everyone working together for one common goal.” In that, he wants to bring local and parish offices to work together to better the city. One of those things is city cleanup and better the quality of life for everyone. In doing that he hopes to bring in more industry and businesses.

Dr. Jerry Pikes and Winnfield 1 ^st Baptist Church have been on a mission to reach out to those in Winnfield and Winn Parish. Dr. Pikes are offering a gift from WFB to every family in the community by having a “Family & Fireworks” day on July 4 from 7pm-9pm.

There will be a live band, inflatable jumpers, burgers and hot dogs, and lots of things for the entire family, all free to the city and parish to come together and celebrate the birth of our country. Once it gets dark enough, there will a fireworks display.

Dr. Pikes states that the fireworks display will be “unbelievable and will rival that of the river front in Shreveport. He also shared that the company that is coming in to handle the display is one of the best in the country.

Update - The Natchitoches Police Department was notified that Dave Bigord, the suspect, was pronounced deceased from a single selfinflicted gunshot wound after being transported to a hospital.

Original Story - The Natchitoches Police Department is investigating a homicide that took place Sunday afternoon on North Melrose Avenue.

On June 19, 2022 around 2:13 p.m., officers with the Natchitoches Police Department responded to the 100 block of North Melrose Avenue in reference to gunshots in the area. Upon officers arrival they located LaDarious Scott (B/M, 22 y.o.a. of Winnfield) who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. LaDarious Scott was pronounced deceased by the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office as a result of his injuries.

The annual WHS/WSHS alumni reunion will be Saturday, June 25, 2022. Activities include a coffee on Saturday morning from 10:00 to 12:00 at WSHS. Please use the entrance adjacent to the bus dock. The banquet will be at the Central Louisiana Technical Community College beginning at 6:00 PM with a meet and greet hour from 5:00 to 6:00. Doors will open at 4:30. It is not too late to register and pay for the banquet meal. If you need a registration form, contact Jimmie Frazier Davies at 318-628- 6622 or by email at jimmieleedavies@hotmail.com. Deadline for registration is June 11, 2022. If you would like to receive three alumni newsletters a year, contact Ms. Davies to be added to the database. With the exception of 2020 and 2021, the reunion has been held yearly on the fourth Saturday in June since 1955. The graduating class celebrating their 50th year hosts the reunion.

Mike and Kaylin Davis have a story that could inspire even the most broken of hearts. Both have faced many defeats and challenges in life, but through each have become stronger and grown as human beings and servants of the Lord.

Kaylin’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. She admittedly struggled with addiction from an early age. This addiction landed her in jail, but through that experience her life was changed for the better as the courts allowed her to enter the Teen Challenge program. Kaylin credits God and his use of Teen Challenge in transforming her life. She now works as the men’s case manger for that same ministry that changed her life and is able to help others who are going through what she once went through. Kaylin is also pursuing a Social Work degree at NSU.

Each year the Dugdemona Soil Water and Conservation District gets input from landowners, groups, and other units of government on what their natural resource concerns are in the parish and district, stated Kalee Dorton, Watershed Technician for the Dugdemona SWCD. The number one resource concern is ALWAYS property and wildlife damage from feral hogs. DSWCD began to seek out avenues to help with this issue. In the beginning it was done with funds from their own projects such as the conservation tree sale and other self-generated local funds. Glenn Austin, District Conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service states that with those funds, DSWD was able to purchase two Jager Pro Hog Trapping Systems. This trapping system has electronic gates that are compatible with cell phone cameras which also allows the gate to be dropped through the cell phone. These large traps were loaned out to landowners in the parish.

Rotarian of the Day for June 8, 2022, Ted Wold, secured Winnfield’s mayor-elect, Gerald Hamms, to speak to the Winnfield Rotary Club about his goals and plans as he takes office in July.

Mr. Hamms, born and reared here in Winnfield along with his four siblings, graduated from Winnfield Senior High School in 1978. He attended Louisiana Tech, and then joined the United States Marine Corps. After a military career of 24 years in the Marine Corps, Hamms returned to Winnfield, where he has continuously lived and worked since.

Along with working in leadership positions in different businesses, Mr. Hamms served Winnfield as the City Councilman for District 2 for two terms before running for mayor. He served on the Budget/Finance Committee, the Public Safety Committee, and several others in his time on the city council.

Cowboy Bob will be performing at the Winn Parish Library as part of the 2022 Summer Reading Program. Cowboy Bob is the craziest, singing, balloon making character in the west! Come visit the library and participate in a show that is fun, encouraging and inspirational. The times and dates of the performances are: June 21, 2022 – Atlanta Branch Library at 10:00 and the Main Branch at 2:00, June 22, 2022 – Calvin Branch Library at 10:00 and the Sikes Branch Library at 2:00.