News

Mardi Gras is around the corner and the festivities are already in play in Winn Parish

The first WPSB meeting of 2023 was held on Jan 9. Prior to the regular meeting, Clerk of Court, Chesney Creel Chandler, preformed the swearing in of the new and returning board members.

School Board President, Michelle Carpenter, announced that it was time to elect a new president and vice president to the board. Mr. Joe Lynn Browning was elected unanimously for the position as president and Mr. Patrick Howell was elected unanimously for the position a vice president. Mr. Browning and Mr. Howell took their new positions at that time.

Mr. Donnie Moon appeared before the board to thank them for their continued support of the Winn Parish 4-H program and to give them an update on the success an happenings of the club.

Dodson High School Presents Homecoming Court

Local Firefighter Reaches Milestone

My name is Chet Atkins. I was born in Urania, LA. I lived in Winn Parish and went to Kindergarten in Winnfield and have deep roots in Winn Parish. My grandmother, Yvonne Long, and my grandfather, James Orlean Atkins, were very active within the parish. I wound up moving around to LaSalle, then to Grant Parish with my mom and step-dad. I graduated from LaSalle High School and then earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a minor in Wildlife Management. I worked for the Evans family and learned a lot about Forestry practices,(cruising timber, marking SMZ’s, marking timber for harvest, prescribed burning, painting lines and finding corners).

An installation ceremony was held prior to the regular monthly meeting of the Village of Goldonna on Jan 5. Those sworn in were (L-R): Reed Franklin - Alderman, Jesse Rachal - Alderman, Gayle Cloud - Mayor, Norvell Garner Alderman, Lawrence “T Boy” Sampey - Cheif of Police, David Stamey - Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Dr. King was actually born on Jan 15, 1929, but this federal holiday is set, as similar ones are, under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

Dr. King, a Baptist minister is considered the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

Throughout the U.S. on this day, celebrations are held, events are planned, and acts of kindness are shown. “The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others.” – Coretta Scott King.

Winnfield Mayor Gerlald Hamms recently signed the Lagniappe application that starts the Main Street application.

Back in 2019 Lt. Governor Billy Nungresser and Louisiana Main Street opened the Lagniappe Community Application process to accept new communities into the Louisiana network of the Main Street America program.

Many great things happened in 2022 for Heart of Louisiana Humane Society. During that time, 34 transports were completed with 13 of those being made to Helen Woodard Animal Center in California, 8 to For the Love of Dogs in Vermont, 7 to Pets Plus Natural in Pennsylvania, 4 to Wisconsin Rescue Groups, 1 to Scooby Doo Rescue in Virginia, and 1 to Canada with the help of BARK.

It was a hard year for transports. One Heart of Louisiana Humane Society’s main transport partners took less than half of what was done the year before. Although, through those transports, 810 dogs, 21 cats, and 4 pigs were sent bringing a total to 835 animals saved through Heart of Louisiana Humane Society transport partnerships. During 2022, there were 488 adoptions made straight to homes from HLHS. Also, 258 dogs, 250 cats, and 2 guinea pigs found forever homes from their foster based rescue. This is a huge feat considering that the organization operates fully on volunteers and donations.

Jan 3 – Castor – Away (6pm) Jan 6 – Monterey – Away (5:30pm) Jan 9 – LaSalle – Away (6pm) Jan 10 – Georgetown - District at Dodson (6pm) Jan 13 – Saline – District at Dodson (6pm) Jan 17 – Atlanta at Dodson (6pm) Jan 19 – LaSalle – Homecoming at Dodson (6pm) Jan 20 – Calvin – District at Dodson (6pm) Jan 23 – (JV Boys) – Downsville at Dodson (6pm) Jan 24 – Larto – District (Away) (5pm)

Winnfield Middle School Softball 2023

Saturday, January 28, Montgomery Tournament – TBA Monday, January 30, St. Mary’s of Natchitoches – 4:00pm (Home) Thursday, February 2, St. Mary’s of Natchitoches – 4:00pm (Away) Monday, February 6, LaSalle – 4:00pm (Away) Thursday, February 9, Montgomery – 5:00pm (Away) Monday, February 13, Montgomery – 5:00pm (Home) Tuesday, February 14, Grant – TBA (Away)