News

The holiday season is a time designed to bring out the best in people: many of us strive to be more emotionally charitable at family and social gatherings, or financially charitable toward our favorite organizations and causes. Being our best selves can come as a challenge for even the most well-intentioned, given that the holiday season is so busy and potentially stressful.

However, for domestic violence survivors, the holiday season brings with it far more stressors than for most, as the should-be joyful time sees surges in domestic violence rates and incidents. Understanding the factors contributing to this is crucial for prevention and intervention efforts. Here’s why domestic violence during the holidays is a serious problem — and how you can help by being the best version of yourself this season.

“God is no respecter of persons.” See Acts 10:34 below. He does not have favorites. Believers in Jesus are one in HIM. See Galatians 3:28 below. However, without contradiction, the Bible also declares the uniqueness of the Jews; a special people before God. There are several compelling reasons for this indisputable fact.

First and foremost, in order to bring salvation to the world, God created and established a people in which to bring forth the Messiah, therefore, Jesus is Jewish. This fact alone should tell us that the Jews are not more loved, but special and unique as a people group. This is why the Apostle Paul declared that salvation comes first to the Jews, then to the Greeks. See Romans 1:16 below. Christianity has come through the Jews. They are the most unique and special of all people groups because of these things, as well as a few other relatable factors. See Zechariah 2:7-8 & Deuteronomy 32:910 below.

Dustin Parker Appointed New Fire Chief of Winn Parish Fire District 3

A Paralegal Studies Program will be offered on Northwestern State University’s Cenla Campus starting Thursday, Jan. 18. The class is offered through NSU’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education and will be held on Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. through May 30. The deadline to register is Monday, Jan. 15. The Cenla Campus is at 1410 Neel Kearby Boulevard.

Winnfield Fire Department Gets New Fire Truck

Local Church Visits Residents of Autumn Leaves Nursing and Reahabilitation

A literacy grant from International Paper Foundation will enable Northwestern State University’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development to create a Center for Excellence in Teaching to serve aspiring teachers through mentoring, service projects and well-being awareness.

The IP Foundation presented the $5,000 grant to administrators in the School of Education where components are already in place to improve teacher preparation. Creating a Center for Excellence will enhance and centralize those initiatives, according to Dr. Neeru Deep, interim dean of the College.

A recently approved grant known as CCAP B-3, written through the Winn Parish School Board, could offer qualified families with paid tuition for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years of age at a Type III childcare center.

In addition, it was announced that a Type III childcare center is now in operation here, with the Rapides-based Cenla Christian Childcare Center having opened its doors in Winnfield this November. Cenla Christian Childcare Center owners Matt and Shannon Johns announced the opening of their fifth location, this one in Winnfield, in early November. CCCC has grown from four active locations to this fifth location in Winnfield which is Matt’s hometown. The center currently serves children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age, has an experienced and credentialed staff, and has the capacity to serve over 50 children.

Ensuring a positive impact on the forestry industry across the southern United States, Martin Sustainable Resources LLC in Alexandria recently donated $1 million to Louisiana Tech as a leadership gift toward construction of the University’s new Forest Products Innovation Center (FPIC), with the assurance of another $1 million to be presented by June 2024.

The Center will be on South Campus and provide space for a transdisciplinary approach to solving the challenges associated with the timber industry. Groundbreaking is set for late Spring, 2024.

Many many thanks to the Calvin School and everyone that participated in donating toys for the Kiwanis Toys for Kids program. Lots of happy faces for needy children on Christmas morning. It fills my heart with goodness when children will give to other children. What a wonderful community we live in. Again thank you Calvin school, the only school that donated.