News

The Winnfield Fire Department continued live burn training on Lucky Ave. May 10, 2022 at 08:00 Hrs. 11 fire fighters and four fire apparatus participated. This effort continues to serve the citizens of Winnfield by helping to clean up abandon properties they own and helps the fire fighters freshen up their skills and keeps the apparatus in tip top shape and working condition.

It’s time once again for the Annual D.A.R.E. Fair. Each year, the Winn Parish Sheriff ’s Office hosts this event and with the help of the community, offers a day of fun, food, activities for kids and adults to finish out the school year for the kids in Winn Parish as well as offer informative information.

This year’s D.A.R.E. Fair will be held on Saturday, May 21 from 10am-1pm at the Central Louisiana Technical College in Winnfield. There will be door prizes, funnel cake’s, face painting, informational booths will be set up, and lots of giveaways. Also on hand will be the LLEGS Trailer, Teen Challenge, K-9 Demo, WPSO Drone, LA State Police, the Forest Service, and the Parish Library. Free hot dogs will be served as well.

This is a family event so everyone is invited and encouraged to attend the 2022 D.A.R.E. Fair. It will be a great time for all.

The Winn Parish Police Jury / Saline Lake Game and Fish Preserve Commission and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the scheduled drawdown of Saline Lake, in Natchitoches and Winn parishes, starting approximately June 1, 2022. The primary purpose is to control the growth of giant Salvinia during the upcoming summer months when growth potential is at its highest. The 2021 WLF aquatic vegetation management plan can be found on the LDWF website (Fisheries-Publications and Brochures-Inland Vegetation Management Plans-Saline Lake, Winn Parish).

The lake will dewater at a rate of 3 to 4 inches per day until it reaches a target drawdown level of 8 feet below normal pool stage. The control gates will close on approximately October 1, 2022, to allow the lake to refill for fall, winter and early spring recreational activities.

May 8-14 is National Hospital Week and what better way to celebrate than to plan a week of honoring healthcare workers. That’s just what WPMC did. Each day held something special for healthcare workers. The hospital made sure that employees were celebrated and treated with door prizes, sweet treats, and lots of good food.

National Hospital Week began as National Hospital Day in the year 1921 as an attempt to inspire community members to support hospitals after the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918. In 1953, it was changed to National Hospital week. It actually takes place during the week of Florence Nightingale’s birthday, which is on May 12. She is considered the founder of modern nursing. The holiday was established by the American Hospital Association to shine a spotlight on hospitals, health systems, and health care workers who strive to save lives daily.

When it comes to domestic violence, the conversation typically focuses on women as victims and men as perpetrators. After all, women make up at least 85% of the victims, and most often at the hands of male abusers. But men can be victims of domestic violence as well. Also, many men may not realize at the time that what they are experiencing is abuse.

Men are abused by partners on a daily basis and often times have been victims of childhood domestic violence, or grow up in an environment of abuse.

Male survivors of domestic violence can feel a stigma to be the “strong male” who should be able to fight back against an abusive partner. They may also feel that they will face discrimination from police or domestic violence shelters.

Winn Parish prekindergarten registration has been in progress since March 5, 2022. PreK registration will continue through June 24, 2022. Once a public school PreK class reaches 20 students, the class will be closed, and children will be allowed to fill seats in other locations. As of May 5, 2022, there are only 4 seats available at Atlanta High School, 6 seats at Calvin High School, 8 seats at Dodson High School, and 12 seats at Winnfield Primary School. Students will be placed on a waiting list once the class is full if they choose not to attend another school where seats are available. Please register your PreK student as soon as possible for best availability.

Main Street was temporarily closed effective May 5 from intersection of Main and N. St. John to intersection of Main and Church due to cave in. Outside crews were be brought in as soon as possible to determine cause and timeline for repairs.

The turnout for the Municipal General Election on April 30 was low in Winnfield. The unofficial turnout was only 22.9%. City council, District 2 was the only item on the ballot with Ada Hall (DEM) defeating Winona Harrell (DEM) with Hall receiving 63% of the votes and Harrell receiving 37%.

All children under five in Winn, Jackson, Bienville, and Lincoln parishes are now eligible for registration for free books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library! Jonesboro State Bank’s Pledge 10 program has expanded their Imagination Library partnership area to include all four parishes.

“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the first anniversary of bringing the Imagination Library to Jackson Parish than by expanding this opportunity to all the parishes in our primary service area,” explains Bank President Thurston Allen. “With our focus on education, youth development, community development, and financial literacy, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a terrific fit for the mission of Pledge 10.”