News

Despite the weather the 30th anniversary celebration of the Louisiana political museum and Hall of Fame was a success! When the planning of the celebration began the decision was made to remember the past, celebrate the future and honor the individuals that made it all happen. All of these things were accomplished.

Representative Jack McFarland opened the ceremony by welcoming an audience of over 100 people in attendance. Representative McFarland remembered the first board members of the Louisiana Political Museum. They were George Harrel, John Lutes Jewel Johnson, George Harrison and Patricia Harrison. Mrs. Patricia Harrison attended the event and was recognized. Representative McFarland then introduced Brother Joel Carter of the First United Methodist Church of Winnfield who gave the invocation.

What is Chronic Care Management? According to Seantel Price and Charlene Bollier, Medicare Chronic Care Management Nurses and at Jackson Parish Hospital, it’s a care coordination program designed by Medicare to help patients better manage their chronic conditions. It was designed to give you greater support and access to care between office visits, even while at home.

This Care Coordination is the deliberate organization of patient care activities and sharing information among all of the participants concerned with a patient’s care to achieve safer and more effective care. It provides an extra layer of support and care between doctor visits to eligible patients who have two or more chronic conditions. “We are a continuity of care between doctor’s visits if needed. We advocate between the patient and physician,” states Price.

Northwestern State University hosted 76 high school guidance counselors and administrators from 10 parishes for an articulation workshop for Zone VI of the Louisiana Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (LACRAO).

LACRAO is an agency that builds relationships among recruiters, admissions staff, records and registration staff and enrollment managers at Louisiana’s public and private colleges and universities, including those in the Community and Technical College system.

School counselors representing Vernon, Rapides, Avoyelles, Concordia, Catahoula, LaSalle, Grant, Winn, Natchitoches and Sabine parishes heard from representatives from LOSFA (Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance), the Board of Regents, LELA (Louisiana Education Loan Authority) and ACT for updates regarding financial aid, admissions requirements and ACT test prep and discussed best practices for helping high school students navigate the enrollment process.

Kiwanian Jason Tarver spoke to the Kiwanis club, Tuesday, August 22nd. Dr. Bill Gaddis introduced Tarver, known in the Kiwanis club for being in charge of the Christmas Parade every year. Tarver is the Regional Lender for Sabine State Bank. He gave an interesting talk on FICO Scores and gave several handouts so we would have more information. There are 3 credit reporting bureaus-Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. For an in house loan a bank would use Experian. For home mortgages a bank would use all three. FICO scores or your credit score is based on your payment history, amount owed on everything, your available credit balance and your length of credit history. FICO scores do not take into account that people do life and things happen. If you close out a credit card or do not have a credit card it lowers your credit score. Closing out an existing credit card reduces your available credit limit. There are people who have not received a loan because they did not have a credit card.

The Winn Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a “Candidate Meet and Greet” on August 31 at 6pm. This event is being held at the LA Political Museum. Local and district candidates will talk about their plans and vision for the community and the office they are running to hold. This will include all candidates for district and local offices.

The 1st Annual Winnfield FFA Open Car Show was held on August 26. The event was a huge success and has everyone already looking forward to next year’s event that promises to be even bigger and better.

The heat didn’t keep spectators away and the location, which was at WSHS, offered shade. Sponsors graciously made donations to help prepare for the event as well.

Below are the results. Winnfield FFA Chapter raised over $2,500 and are getting closer to being fully funded for national.

Below is a list of the winners: Sponsor Award- Sheriff Cranford Jordan #34- Jason Gregoire, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Sponsor Award- Golding Barge Line # 43 Mike Carlton , 1932 Ford Roadster

Students’ Choice Award

#46 Martin Brister , 1958 Ford Skyliner Top 10-Sponsored by PK Smith

#3 Michael Woods, 2019 Ford Mustang GT

#7- Todd Hundley, 1969 Plymouth GTX

#9- Kim Brantley, 1978 Chevy Camaro

State Fire Marshal Dan Wallis, in collaboration with Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, in effect as of August 25, 2023, at 12:00 p.m., prohibits ALL private burning, with no limitations, pursuant to authority under R.S. 40:1602. This order shall remain in effect until rescinded.

This updated burn ban order coincides with a separate burn ban order issued by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry prohibiting all agricultural burning including by not limited to prescribed burning.

Violation of this burn ban order could result in civil and/or criminal penalties.

Mr. Donnie Moon, LSU AgCenter County Agent Winn Parish, was present at the regular monthly meeting of the Winn Parish Police Jury. He explained that drought monitoring is going to start by placing a rain gauge in other parts of the parish as there is only one in the northern part of the parish. One will be at the courthouse and one will be in the southern part of the parish. He further explained that this is the reason that money is not going out to the farmers and producers here in Winn Parish, because there was no way to gauge the moisture.

Wayne Duperron, West Fraser Manager, spoke to the Kiwanis Club Tuesday, August 15th. He has been at the Winnfield plant for 4 years. He was the number 2 man for 3 years and became the manager on July 1, 2023. He was born and raised in Michigan about 10 miles south of Detroit. Because of that he began his career in the automotive industry. After changes with the automotive industry and his job he began working in the lumber industry. He has been in the south for over 20 years. He and his wife live in Sikes. She is from Plain Dealing and wanted to be closer to her mother.

West Fraser wants to be involved in the community and he was told to be involved in the community hence his speaking to the Kiwanis club.

Per Winn Parish Ordinance 003 of 2006, I hereby declare a BURN BAN on all outside burning in Winn Parish effective at 6 am on Friday, August 4, 2023. It shall remain in effect until further notice.

The BURN BAN shall not apply to prescribed burns by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, by those trained and certified by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry or by those who conduct prescribed burning as a “generally accepted agriculture practice” as defined by the Louisiana Right to Farm Law (R.S. 3:3601 et seq.).

The current KBDI puts Winn Parish in a SEVERE DROUGHT Condition.

Violation of this BURN BAN may result in a $500 fine and/or six months in jail.

Harry Foster Fire Chief Winn Parish Fire District #3