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Local businesses participated in the second annual Sip and Shop on Friday, July 15. Stores stayed open after hours (5pm-9pm), offered refreshments, and greeted customers as they came by to shop. The local businesses that participated this year were Vintage Belles Boutique, Scentsational Scents, The Social Coffee House, Geaux 318 Entergy & Nutrition, The Mix Up, Pink Petal & Co Flower Truck & Events, Pretty Baked, Barn Door Boutique, and Pea Patch Art Gallery & Cafe

Article originates from Shreveport Times, July 13 by Meredith G. White

Winnfield, Louisiana woman Casey LaCaze-Lachney received an indecent exposure citation while attending a festival downtown and took to TikTok to complain. LaCaze-Lachney and her attorney Randall T. Hayes met with the Winnfield Chief of Police on Tuesday, July 12.

Hayes and LaCaze-Lachney met with Police Chief Johnny Ray Carpenter and Winnfield City Attorney Herman Castete on Tuesday. Hayes said both Carpenter and Castete acknowledged that LaCaze-Lachney did not violate the city’s indecent exposure ordinance.

“Mr. Castete said that he will have the citation officially dismissed,” said Hayes. “Both men told us that there is no body camera video of the incident. According to Chief Carpenter the officers all failed to turn on their cameras.”

Winnfield First Baptist Hosts July 4th Event

State Law allows certain home owners to freeze the assessed value of their home. This could result in significant future tax savings for the home owner.

You may qualify for the Home Value Freeze program if you are totally disabled, a partially disabled veteran, or 65 plus years of age. You must also currently claim homestead exemption and our adjusted gross income does not exceed $100,000.00.

For more information please contact the Winn Parish Assessor’s Office at 318-628-3267.

Students from Atlanta High School were present for the monthly meeting of the WPSB. Several lower elementary students spoke about how they spent their time at summer school, including harvesting a garden. Principal Wendy Miller was in attendance and shared updates about other activities that students participated in during the summer session. Grade recovery, remediation, and enrichment kept students engaged and eager to spend the weeks of their summer with their teachers and administrator. The students also participated in structured game playing, crafts, trivia, story time, and guest performers sponsored by Winn Parish Library.

Congratulations to Mr. Matthew Harrell for gaining his Fire Fighter One certification. Prior to attaining this cert Mr. Harrell had to also receive certifications in Hazardous material Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operations. Each of these certs requires practical testing as well as written testing. Mr. Harrell then had to complete a practical exam prior to completing a written exam for Fire Fighter one.

(Ashland)-A UTV crash near Ashland has claimed the life of a Winn Parish man and led to the arrest of another on vehicular homicide charges according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

On Saturday evening, July 9, 2022 at approximately 7:25pm, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau, Ashland Police, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS and Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #8 responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of a UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) crash involving serious injuries on the Louisiana Trails off of the Bumgardner Road between Ashland and Chestnut, La.

Responding units arrived on scene finding several individuals applying first aid to a single person suffering from serious injuries.

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS arrived and requested assistance from Life Air helicopter.

NPSO Deputies and Natchitoches Parish Fire District #8 set-up a landing zone near the Ashland Community Center.

A motion filed by DA Chris Nevils was granted earlier today, June 7, in 8^th Judicial Court requesting that the two juveniles who were allegedly involved in the May 2022 shooting on Elliott St. in Winnfield that resulted in a double homicide be tried as adults. The deceased were Jatarion Starks, 24, of Winnfield, and Gregtavioun Burks, 17, of Jonesboro.  According to officials with the Winn Police Department, around 23 rounds were fired into the house.  Investigators believe the motive was drug-related.

The Winn Parish Police Jury accepts white goods (appliances) televisions, furniture, etc. (no tires) for disposal at the Winn Parish Road Barn located at 501 Thomas Mill Road, Winnfield every first Thursday of each month between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Bins are provided and this service is free of charge. Someone will be there to assist you.

Calendar dates for the remainder of 2022: July 7, August 4, Sept 1, Oct 6, Nov 3, and Dec 1.

On Friday, June 19, 2022, Gov. John Bel Edwards directed Louisiana State Police and The Department of Corrections to provide additional personnel to assist The Office of Juvenile Justice with its staffing shortage at all secure care facilities.

On Friday, June 19, 2022, at approximately 5:00 pm, Correctional and Probation and Parole Officers from DOC began supporting OJJ staff, and State Police Troopers began securing the perimeter of the facilities. This policy update comes in direct response to the recent disturbances, multiple escapes, and 24 staff assaults combined at OJJ’s secure care facilities. OJJ reviews and updates policies on a continual basis to streamline internal processes.

Department of Corrections staff have been temporarily authorized to use interventions within OJJ’s Safe Crisis Management, however, DOC will not intervene unless requested by OJJ’s frontline staff.