News

The Winn Retired Teachers Association met on March 15,2022 and continued to honor and remember those members who passed during the COVID pandemic. There were over 45 people present including family of those who were to be memorialized. WRTA President, Mr. Tommy Bankston, introduced each family member and then continued the meeting with the business being taken care of before fellowship and food.

On March 4, 2022, Winn Parish deputies were called to the emergency room of the Winn Parish Medical Center for possible child abuse.

Patrol Deputies and Detectives began a combined investigation, which led to four Winn Parish residents, to include the father and mother of the child, to be arrested after warrants were obtained. The child was placed in the care of LA Department of Child Protective Services.

All four arrested persons were charged with:

Failure to seek assistance

Cruelty to a juvenile

Brodine, Miles, and Sims were taken into custody on March 15. Guin was taken into custody on March 16.

Bond was set at $7,500 and all are currently housed at the Winn Parish Detention Center.

Early Voting for the Spring Municipal Primary Election will be held in the Registrar of Voters office in the Winn Parish Courthouse Saturday, March 12 through Saturday, March 19 (closed Sunday, March 13) from 8:30 AM until 6:00 PM. Enter through the Main Street entrance. The election will be Saturday, March 26. See sample ballot on page 4.

Mrs. Page’s class was very excited to participate in a Mardi Gras float contest. Congratulations to Asia Thomas – 1 ^st place, Akira McFarland – 2 ^nd place, and Jada Guin – 3 ^rd grade.

Students from AHS participated in the 10 ^th Annual Louisiana Life Smarts Competition in Baton Rouge on March 11. The statewide consumer education competition hosted by Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Office tests teens in grades 9-12 about personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technolo gy, and consumer rights and responsibilities.

“Congratulations to the Bulldogs of Atlanta for their impressive display of knowledge on such important issues as banking, energy, fraud, nutrition, privacy, and security. The LifeSmarts competition is meant to prepare students to enter the real world as educated and informed young adults. These fabulous students represented Winn Parish and our entire State very well; and I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.” – AG Jeff Landry

BOM Bank is a sponsor of the Dodson High School softball program. Pictured left to right: BOM’s Kira Yeates and Carrie Hough, Dodson Head Softball Coach Krystin Bruno, Assistant Coach Brittenee Underwood, and BOM’s Jarrod Abraham.

The annual Kiwanis Scholarship meal will be held Monday, April 4, 2022 at the Winn Farmers Market on Main Street. The menu will consist of Boston Butt steak, potato salad, green beans, bread and dessert. It is take out only and pickup is 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Delivery is available for large orders. Tickets are $10 each and available from any Kiwanis member.

This scholarship meal funds our scholarships for high school seniors in the schools of Winn Parish which includes Atlanta, Calvin, Dodson and Winnfield Senior High School. This year we will also give a scholarship to the Central Louisiana Technical College. We appreciate all the support we get from the community with our projects that help the children of our community.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.

So many great things are happening in Winnfield for the children of the community including updating of all of the playgrounds within the city. Shannan Chevallier, Chairman of the Recreation Board spoke to Rotarians at the March 9 meeting and gave updates on projects going on. Through a $300,000.00 grant from the Rapides Foundation, there have been many repairs done to parks and recreation. The City of Winnfield, LSU Ag Center, Winn Parish Police Jury, and the CDC have all been active in the projects and have each helped financially. There were several forums held during the process allowing citizens to give their input and feedback.

No park in Winnfield had been updated in 50 years. Former Mayor, Kiah Beville began the process during his term and it has gone forward with the help of the board and grants received. Mrs. Chevallier shared slides of each park and the improvements made. Functional equipment was needed for all of the parks.

Mayor of Atlanta, Mrs. Janet Finklea is pictured with Mr. Gregg Davies as well as Mrs. Susan McLaren who is a representative of Atlanta Methodist Church.

The Calvin Cougar basketball team defeated the Hicks Pirates in quarterfinal action by the score of 68-51 to advance to the state semifinals in Lake Charles for the first time since 2003. The #1 ranked Cougars will take on the #4 ranked and defending state champion Simpson Broncos on Tuesday, March 8 ^th at 4:30 pm in Burton Coliseum.