News

If you live in Winn Parish you have undoubtedly heard of the Trista Tyler Memorial Scholarship and the long list of students who have gratefully received a $500 payment towards their education. The scholarship was created by family and friends of the late Trista LeAnne Tyler to honor her memory.

Trista passed away on June 20, 2003 at the age of 17. She was a very active student and senior at Atlanta High School. Trista was a member of Beta, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FBLA, 4-H, Gifted Arts, the yearbook publications, Tri-Arts, National High School Honor Roll, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, and a member of the Atlanta Lady Varsity basketball team as well as the track team. She was scheduled to graduate in 2004 as Valedictorian. Her beloved #14 basketball jersey was retired in October of 2003 and currently hangs in a trophy case at Atlanta High School gym.

Winnfield was buzzing with excitement on April 2 with the Louisiana Forest Festival Pageant. Part of that included a special reception for Queens throughout the state that was held at the Allen building. The ladies enjoyed a beautiful display of refreshments followed by activities that included a scavenger hunt. The ladies continued the day by attending the Louisiana Forest Festival Pageant. Cont’d on page 14A

The Winnfield Senior High School Powerlifting team, led by Coach Jay Watson and parent Coach Klint Womack, excelled at the LHSAA Powerlifting State Championship held on Thursday March 24th, 2022 at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum on the campus of ULM.

WSHS Senior Travon Nichols has qualified for the state competition the past four years and placed 3rd in the 2A-198 lb. weight class with a cumulative 1395 lbs. Nichols, who won the state championship his freshman year, finished the day with an impressive 600 lb. dead lift.

Winnfield’s Clayton Chandler (Jr) also competed in the 2A-198 lb. weight class and placed 5th in the State Meet with a cumulative 1200 lbs. During his first year of powerlifting, Chandler’s dedication was evident as he qualified for the state competition by placing 5th in the statewide 2A Regionals.

It’s hard to go undefeated in anything. That’s why the WMS Softball Team never really focused on being undefeated. It was never mentioned. The goal was to take each game, one at a time, and focus on the little things that, in the end, would lead to victory. The focus was, each team member had a role and each team member was expected to carry out that role to the best of their ability. When mistakes were made, and they were made, go the next play and keep moving forward; kind of like you have to do in life when you have that adversity knock you down. You have to get back up and keep moving forward and flush the past.

This team kept getting back up, even after the one blemish that occurred in Ruston when a time limit was called in the fourth inning with the score 4-4 going into the last inning. The Lady Tigers kept moving forward and came back the very next day and won a big game at Caldwell.

The monthly regular meeting of the WPPJ opened with adoption of the agenda as well as adoption of the minutes from both the Feb 22, 2022 regular meeting and the March 7, 2022 regular meeting.

Parish Road Superintendent, Mr. Perry Holmes informed the committee and audience that sand bags were being furnished for Winn Parish citizens with prospective rainfall expected. He went on to give an update of the Infrastructure bill. The state sent information of 3 bridges that qualify for the program and an opportunity to add bridges to the list.

Grass cutting season is just around the corner and equipment is being serviced to prepare for that. Also, Grating is being done but there have been delays due to the rain. The plus side of the rain delay is the work that is being able to be done on fixing signs in the parish.

It was a day of excitement for parents and children in Winn Parish. The beautiful weather added to the perfect day for the opening ceremony of Dixie Youth, which was held at the Winnfield Recreation Center. Lynn Bankston opened with a word of prayer followed by the national anthem. The season was dedicated in memory of sweet Emmy Bostick. Wishing all of the kids a great season.

On March 20,2022, during an afternoon fishing outing near Che Che Dam, Winn Parish resident, Robert Norris, noticed this vehicle showing up on his boat equipment in about 15 feet of water. Robert called our office and Sheriff Jordan requested the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff ’s Office Dive Team who responded and assisted Pardue’s Wrecker Service in recovering the vehicle.

WPSO investigators located a VIN and Sheriff Jordan was able to determine that the vehicle had been reported stolen from Grant Parish on March 11, 2003. Sheriff Jordan notified Sheriff McCain of Grant Parish of the discovery.

The awards for the 2021-2022 Calvin Cougar basketball team are starting to roll in. Wayne Curtis Huckaby was selected as an LHSAA all-star for the West squad. He played in the all-star game held on Saturday, March 19th at Louisiana College in Pineville. At halftime of the game, Joseph Adams received a trophy of recognition as being named to the LHSBCA all-state second team. This team recognizes the top ten players of all classifications in the state of Louisiana. Congratulations to these deserving Cougars, they make our community proud!!

Winnfield voters will head to the polls on Saturday to elect a mayor and five members of the city council. A total of 18 local residents have qualified for the six positions of leadership for the City of Winnfield.

The only elected city position not on the ballot is that of Police Chief. Current Chief Johnny Ray Carpenter did not draw any opposition in his re-election bid during the qualifying period at the end of January.

A total of 541 absentee votes were cast during the early voting period that ended last Saturday.

Of the six races on the ballot, two will definitely be determined on Saturday. Those races are in Districts Three and Four. Only two candidates qualified in each of those districts.

In District Three: the candidates are Chiquita Caldwell and Sarah Junkin. The two candidates for the District Four seat are Matt Miller and Ashley Rhymes.

On the ballot for Mayor are Gerald “Scooter” Hamms, Timothy Hudgins and George Moss.

Winnfield Police Officers responded to a stabbing on North St John Street on March 16 at approximately 11:00 pm . Upon arrival they learned that a Winnfield man, Thomas K. Spillers, Jr, age 39, had been stabbed by another male suspect. Efforts to revive Spillers were unsuccessful. With the assistance of the Winn Parish Sheriff ’s Office, the investigation resulted in the arrest of Jimmy Keen, age 51, currently living at the N. St John Street address. Keen has been charged with 2 nd Degree Murder and is currently held at the Winn Parish Detention Center. Bond has not been set.