Taylor McCoy, ’18, chose finance on whim. That quick decision made during Orientation before starting her freshman year set in motion a string of chance encounters leading to her position at a Fortune 500 company today.

“I was a little nervous about my choice at first because I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I wouldn’t take any finance courses until my junior year,” explained McCoy. “But, I got into that first very finance class and immediately knew I made the right choice.”

To McCoy, finance was “fun math,” and she loved the idea of using math to help people and companies. She was able to hone her financial skills in Ray’s Financial Trading Room—an experience she noted was not a class, but a job. McCoy was part of the first cohort to utilize the Trading Room’s advanced technology to plan the initial investment from the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF).

The 5-6th grade girls again produced a trophy winning performance as they led WMS runners at the Good Hope Middle Invitational in West Monroe. The girls finished 3rd in a field that included 8 schools.

Raelynn Bartlett raced to her 3rd top ten finish of the year, finishing 5th in 7:38. Breanna Pray also had her 3rd top ten finishing 9th in 7:50. Monica Smithson just missed the top ten finishing 11th in 7:55. Destiny Smith was next to cross the line for WMS in a time of 8:25, followed by Rylee Duff 8:38, Ellie Jo Bryant 8:42, Emmalie Higginbotham 8:51, Emily Nevels 9:03, Natalie Bruce 9:12, Addison Griffin 9:19, Laniya West 9:43, Jada Smith 10:31, Alli Jordan 10:34, and Mattie Miller12:00.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Winn%20Parish%20EnterpriseID437/

In a field of predominately 5A schools, the Tiger cross-country team finished 8th in a field of 14. Senior Tyler Hight ran a career best time of 16:08 over the rolling 3-mile course to lead the Tigers. Tyler finished 6th overall out of 113 runners. Junior Cole DeBusk followed with a season best time of 19:00. Senior Edward Teal was next in 19:42 with senior Kaleb Hemphill close behind in 20:05. Junior Dylan Irby finished in 27:46.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Winn%20Parish%20EnterpriseID437/

Victoria Michelle Adams and Charles Dalton Davis announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. Victoria is a 2009 graduate of Calvin High School and a 2018 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Mississippi Delta Community College. Tori has an Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene and is employed with Batesville Dental and Dr. K. S. Bearden Dental of Batesville MS. Victoria is the daughter of Ms. Gwen Adams, and Mr. & Mrs. Myron Adams and the granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. Evyonne Weeks and Mr. and Mrs. Max Adams all of Calvin, LA.

Dalton is a 2011 graduate of Strider Academy and a 2012 graduate of Holmes Community College in welding. Dalton is currently employed on the family owned farm where he farms soybeans alongside his dad and uncle in Tippo, MS. Dalton is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Charles Tracy Davis and the grandson of Mr. & Mrs. Buddy Scallions and Mr. & Mrs. Charles Davis all of Tippo, MS.

The Board of Directors of The Jena High School Alumni Association has announced that the 2018 JHS Hall of Fame inductees will be honored during the annual banquet to begin at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 1, in the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church in Jena.

Guest speaker for the banquet is 1950 JHS graduate, Rev. T. W. Terral, retired Baptist minister. T.W. played football on the very first football team of Jena High School and played four years with the Louisiana College Wildcats.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Winn%20Parish%20EnterpriseID437/

Mrs. Billie J. Southern, age 88 of Castor, passed away on Friday, October 12, 2018. She is survived by her husband, Ray L. Southern; her children, Mike Collinsworth, Barry Collinsworth and wife Betty, Sandy Keiffer and husband Clifton, Debbie Keiffer and husband Harvey; 10 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ben Collinsworth; daughter, Linda Collinsworth Hawkins; granddaughter, April Collinsworth; great-great grandson, Chandler Wise; parents, Doss Elmer and Minnie Lou (Toms) Caskey. Friends visited with the family on Monday, October 15, 2018 from 11:00AM- 2:00PM at Edmonds Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services followed at 2:00PM with Reverends Jerry Martin and James Lovell officiating. Interment was in Pine Ridge Cemetery near Goldonna under the direction of Edmonds Funeral Home.

Each year millions of dollars are awarded through grant funding and competitive contract proposals each year by private foundations, government agencies, businesses, and federated entities such as United Way.

Grants can encourage economic development, support construction, municipal infrastructure, technical assistance, business start-ups, youth services, STEM education, rural development, and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities and regions.

In addition, every day businesses submit competitive proposals for contract bids that will expand their client base, add new jobs, and increase revenue.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

The early Saturday morning hours proved to be exhausting for Winnfield Police Officers as they responded to multiple gunshot calls. They first responded to a report of gunfire at a car in the Maplewood apartment complex on South Jones Street. The car was occupied by 2 males. The driver received minor injuries from broken glass. He was treated at the scene and released. He reported hearing at least 6 shots in the area.

A 911 call from the Winn Parish Medical Center reported a gunshot victim at the Emergency Room. The victim was identified as Montais Brown of Winnfield. Brown sustained injuries from 6 shots to his back. It was discovered to have occurred at the Maplewood complex. He was not an occupant of the earlier vehicle. Brown was transferred to Rapides Regional Medical Center where he has undergone 3 different surgeries over the weekend. He is currently listed as in critical condition.

A five-month-old in Winnfield is getting a second chance at life. Journee Castle was born in April. Her grandmother, Shelia Mitchell, says she has been a fighter ever since.

When Journee’s mom was five months pregnant, doctors found out Journee had a heart defect. She was scheduled to have surgery after she was born, but her condition was so severe doctors could not perform the surgery.

“Doctors told her she either could watch her die or pray and ask God to come in and work a miracle,” Mitchell said.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

The WMS cross country team brought home 12 medals for top 5 finishes at the Rapides Junior Runners meet held at the Ward 9 Recreational Complex in Pineville. This included 3 first and 2 second place finishes.

Chloe James started the morning finishing 2nd in the middle school girls race in a time of 15:27. Lauren Poole followed in 8th at 17:59.

In middle school boys action Kaden Victor placed 17th with a time of 15:51.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/