News

Hudson Gaars Mill Water System, Inc., received highest honors this year at Louisiana Rural Water Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony when they were named the Best Tasting Water in Louisiana. The awards were presented on July 19, 2023, at LRWA’s Annual Training and Technical Conference held at the Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The LRWA Awards Program was established to recognize the outstanding efforts of Rural Water and Wastewater Systems and their personnel. Of all the systems/operators/office personnel across the state, Hudson Gaars Mill Water System, Inc. was selected as this year’s winner for dedication to providing safe drinking water and/or helping to maintain a cleaner environment through their efforts in the water and/or wastewater industry in the State of Louisiana.

Shonna Moss took over as Director of the Louisiana Political Museum on November 1, 2022. She did mention that the Rapides Foundaton grant for Strengthening Families program has been continued and she would still be involved with that project. It was a bumpy road at the beginning with little issues that came up but things are better now. Her first induction banquet was on March 4, 2023 and it was held at the WWII Museum in New Orleans which made things a little more complicated. The list of inductees was not chosen until December because the board wanted to wait until they had a new director. So they were behind on getting all the information that was needed about the inductees. Mrs. Moss has a great assistant in Jennifer Lofton who does an excellent job.

The 2023 season for Upward Soccer will kick off on August 21. Practices and games will be every Monday at the Winnfield Recreation Center for 12 weeks excluding Labor Day. The last day to register your child will be August 15. Orientation practice is on August 21 and the first team practice will be August 28.

2nd Annual Fan Drive Brings Large Crowd

The following is important information for the Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 Gubernatorial Primary Election: The qualifying period for candidates is Aug. 810. Local and municipal candidates qualify with the clerk of court in the parish in which they are registered to vote (contact your local clerk of court for office hours). Federal and state candidates qualify at the Louisiana State Archives located at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Qualifying fees must be paid in the form of cash; certified or cashier’s check on a state or national bank or credit union; U.S. postal money order; or money order issued by a state or national bank or credit union and must be accompanied by the qualifying form.

The deadline to register to vote in person, by mail or at the OMV Office is Sept. 13.

The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is Sept. 23.

Students Recognized at Recent Administrative Breakfast

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has decided not to implement a drawdown planned to start this week on Iatt Lake. The notification came in a letter from LDWF Secretary Robert E. Shadoin to the Grant Parish Police Jury dated last Tuesday.

Shadoin said the decision comes after careful consideration of the public sentiment expressed through a 600-signature petition opposing the planned drawdown as it goes against the guidelines outlined in our Iatt Lake Vegetation Control Plan.

Active Shooter Training Held at WSHS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for nearly 2.7 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grassland signup. This program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and further CRP conservation efforts. Grassland CRP is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader effort to address climate change and conserve natural resources. This year’s signup results include 930.44 acres in Louisiana. “This year’s Grassland CRP signup demonstrates the continued success and value of investments in voluntary, producerled, working lands conservation programs,” said Ronald Guidry, Jr., State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Louisiana.

The Winn Parish Police Jury met on July 17 at 5:00 pm for their regular monthly meeting. Road Superintendent Mr. Perry Holmes began his road update by telling the jury members that he had good news in that they are grading and ditching every day between rains along with pot hole patching. He stated that if anyone knew of holes that needed patching, please let him know. Mr. Holmes also shared that the grading and rock needed on Caney St in Sikes has been completed. The culverts are in on Beulah Road and they are finishing up the last road project under Hurricane Delta, which is Peppers Road.

Auditor Nicholas Fowlkes with Kolder, Slaven & Co. was present to share the good news with the jury that the WPPJ audit for 2022 showed no findings. He reviewed the audit with the jury and stated that it was a clean audit.