Have you ever wanted to use prescribed fire on your property for wildlife or forest management? Join us for the Piney Hills Prescribed Burn Association’s 6th annual membership meeting!

DATE: August 25th, 2026

TIME: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

LOCATION: Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, 161 Camp Rd, Ruston, LA 71270

Prescribed burning associations, or frequently called PBA’s, consist of landowners and other concerned citizens creating partnerships to conduct prescribed burns – Neighbors Helping Neighbors Getting Fire Back on the Ground.

Through the sharing of knowledge, equipment, time and experience, the Piney Hills PBA has been safely and effectively increasing burned acres in North-Central Louisiana since 2021. If you’re passionate about wildlife habitat, forest health, wildfire risk or overall land management, this is for you.

The meeting is open to all current members and new folks looking to join or learn more. Annual dues are only $25, and please bring exact cash or check. We look forward to seeing you!

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It’s time to celebrate: Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame festivities begin Thursday

Three days of festivities unfold beginning Thursday through Saturday for the 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Natchitoches.

The LSHOF’s Class of 2026 will be enshrined Saturday night at the Natchitoches Events Center to culminate the 67^th Induction Celebration.

The Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday with the Welcome Reception from 5-7 p.m., free to the public at the Hall of Fame museum at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches. No need to dress up, just come enjoy appetizers, entertainment and the first look at the new items the 2026 inductees have provided for display.

The Friday schedule begins with the Celebrity Bowling Bash presented by BOM at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. Lunch is served at 11:30 with a festive warmup session for the bowlers before celebrity introductions and the competition begins about 12:45. Tickets are available at LaSportsHall.com.

The 2026 Rockin’ River Fest, a free concert on the downtown riverbank stage, begins at 6 p.m. and runs until 10:30. In conjunction with the Rockin’ River Fest is the VIP Taste of Tailgating party, a ticketed indoor-outdoor event, with an array of Louisiana dishes and specialty drinks at Mama’s Oyster House and Blues Room overlooking the Rue Beauport riverbank venue.

The slate on Saturday kicks off with the free LSHOF Junior Training Camp led by community relations personnel from the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, along with Northwestern State coaches and this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, on the NSU campus at the Webb Wellness and Recreation Center and Turpin Stadium. This event is presented by Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and is nearing capacity. Free registration for kids ages 7-16 is required and can be easily accomplished at LaSportsHall.com.

At noon Saturday, the Round Table Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation is set for Riverside Reserve on Mill Street. Fox Sports broadcaster Tim Brando emcees an entertaining program.

Festivities culminate Saturday evening with the Induction Reception at the LSHOF museum beginning at 5, followed at 7 by the Induction Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center. Northwestern State University and State Farm Agents of Louisiana are presenting sponsors Saturday evening. A few seats are still available.

The VIP Taste of Tailgating, the Bowling Bash, the Round Table Luncheon and the Induction Reception and Ceremony are ticketed events requiring purchase in advance through LaSportsHall.com or by calling 318-238-4255.

The Thursday reception, the Friday evening River Fest and the Junior Training Camp are free.

The Class of ‘26 is headlined by a star-studded group:  Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 inductee Sylvia Fowles, NFL stars Joe Horn, Todd McClure and Pat Williams, Major League Baseball All-Star Jonathan Lucroy and legendary basketball coaches John Brady, Mike McConathy and Dewain Strother.

Alexandria native and LSU baseball hero Warren Morris will receive the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award, earning enshrinement into the LSHOF. His walk-off home run won the 1996 College World Series for LSU and resulted in the Bolton High School product becoming a lifelong spokesman for college baseball, the CWS and LSU.

LSU graduate and New Orleans native Gil LeBreton and multi-faceted Shreveporter John James Marshall are going into the Hall as the 2026 winners of the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism. Former Tioga girls basketball coach and nationally-acclaimed high school sports administrator Kathy Holloway is being inducted as the recipient of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.

The Induction Celebration will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors. 

For information on sponsorship opportunities and other participation, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com, or Greg Burke, Director of Business Development and Public Relations, at 318-663-5459 or GregBurke@LaSportsHall.com via email.  

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Music, food, family fun at free Hall of Fame Rockin’ River Fest Friday, June 26

Friday night is just right for some midsummer magic under the moonlight, free for all, during next weekend’s Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Natchitoches.

Specifically, it’s going to happen next Friday evening into night, June 26, on the Rue Beauport stage bordering Cane River Lake smack dab in the middle of the City of Lights’ historic and beautiful downtown district. It’s the free Rockin’ Riverfest party presented by Rapides Regional Medical Center and Louisiana Propane Dealers.

The showcase act is Blue Crab Redemption, a Louisiana bred and fed alt blues/rock band whose major influences include Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder and The Eagles.  Their sound is a raw, classic vibe from ghosts of legends past blended with the soulful influences of the modern rock era.

The opener is Connor Martin, a country artist passionate about creating music that inspires and connects. Recently, Martin has opened for Easton Corbin, Tyler Farr, Parker McCollum, and Keith Urban.

Good times will abound during the riverfront concert, which runs from 6 p.m. to 10:30. One of the highlights: at 9:15, the Hall’s impressive Class of 2026 will be introduced on stage, and celebrated with a 10-minute fireworks show set to sports-themed music over Cane River Lake. Then the music cranks up again for another hour of festivities.

And yes, you read correctly. It’s free to attend.

There will be food and beverage vendors – Girlines Home Cooking, Soulful Wings, Summer Snow To Go and for the grown-ups, Maggio’s, on the riverfront, and of course, Front Street’s always fun watering holes/restaurants are just a few steps away.

MOVE Sport and Spine will set up their sharp-looking apparel line for sale, and Hall of Fame gear will also be available.

It’s family friendly. A free interactive kids zone presented by the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans will include basketball, football, baseball games and inflatables for all ages to enjoy. NSU athletes will be on hand to help the kids have all the fun, and give away some basketballs.

If you want to beat the summer heat and enjoy a tasty collection of Louisiana foods and specialty refreshments, hurry and visit LaSportsHall.com to snap up some of the fast-disappearing $100 tickets to the VIP Taste of Tailgating presented by Hancock Whitney.

That party runs from 7-10 p.m. in the air-conditioned comfort of Mama’s Oyster House and Blues Room that will provide exclusive access to the 12-member 2026 Induction Class.

Join the fun and celebrate some of Louisiana’s sports greats, for free, on Friday evening, June 26, in downtown Natchitoches.

Rockin’ River Fest is one of three free events during the Induction Celebration, starting with the free Welcome Reception Thursday evening, June 25, from 5-7 in the Hall of Fame museum. It’s not a dress-up event, just a come eat and meet the inductees and check out the world-class museum at no charge. The other free event is the Saturday morning June 27 Saints & Pelicans LSHOF Junior Training Camp for kids. Advance registration is necessary at LaSportsHall.com.

For information on all seven events during the June 25-27 Class of 2026 Induction Celebration, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

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As Larger AI Data Centers Race into Louisiana, New Report Finds
Ratepayers Could Be Left With Half the Cost

A report released today by the Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE) in collaboration with Sierra Club Delta Chapter, finds that Louisiana families and existing businesses could ultimately shoulder billions in added costs for power lines and gas plants to serve new “hyperscale” data centers. Examining public filings, permits, and financial data, the report shows a consistent pattern of nondisclosure agreements, confidential utility contracts, and intentionally complex financial structures that obscure the true costs of projects by Meta, Amazon, and others now building across the state.

The report, “Louisiana Data Centers: Financing and Energy Overview,” produced in partnership with Empower LLC, examines five “hyperscale” data center projects currently under development: Meta’s proposed Hyperion facility in Richland Parish, three Amazon data centers in northwest Louisiana, and Hut 8’s AI infrastructure project in West Feliciana Parish.

Researchers found that just two of those projects—Meta’s Hyperion campus and Hut 8’s planned facility—could require up to 7.2 gigawatts of electricity, roughly equivalent to the annual power use of 5.7 million homes.

The report also raises concerns about opaque financing structures, undisclosed utility agreements, and Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) rules that could shift major infrastructure costs onto residential ratepayers.

“This research shows that Meta can walk away from billions of dollars of investments in 2033, leaving Louisiana families to pay for this new infrastructure for decades,” said AAE Executive Director Logan Burke. “We deserve to know the real stakes of these projects.”

Among key findings of the report:

• Meta’s Hyperion project is being financed through a $27 billion private financial deal described as the largest corporate bond issue in history. The structure allows much of the project’s debt to remain off Meta’s public balance sheet.
• A December 2025 LPSC rule allows for data center developers to pay just 50% of new power infrastructure costs, potentially leaving consumers responsible for the balance through higher electric bills.
• Meta’s agreement with Entergy Louisiana allows the company to exit its lease as early as 2033 – potentially forcing ratepayers to foot the bill for three new gas-fired power plants, at least three transmission lines, all gas-related pipelines, and at least a dozen substations needed to serve the Hyperion project.
• In February 2026, the LPSC rejected a formal investigation into the financial risks of Meta’s off-balance-sheet deal, despite concerns from consumer and environmental groups.
• Pension funds including the California State Teachers’ Retirement System and Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System are invested in Blue Owl Capital funds backing these data centers, tying retirement security to a potentially high-risk, low-transparency financial structure.
• Act 730 grants data centers 20-30 years of tax breaks for creating as few as 50 jobs, with no wage standards or automatic penalties for unfulfilled promises.

The report also details how large private investment firms, including Blue Owl Capital, have become central players in financing Louisiana’s data center expansion through private-market transactions that are subject to limited public scrutiny. The $27 billion bond backing Meta’s Hyperion project received a rating from only one agency (S&P Global) and is held by major financial institutions including PIMCO, BlackRock, and Prudential.

“The scale of power demand associated with the Meta project is staggering,” said Dennis Wamsted, Energy Analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. “Unfortunately we are seeing rapid growth with little thought to what it means for consumers across the country. The reality is, utilities should be skeptical of projects that overlook ready-to-deploy, reliable, and affordable energy sources like solar, wind, and battery storage.”

“Even as new details about these massive data centers come to light, our public officials refuse to acknowledge the real concerns and resistance from people on the ground,”says Angelle Bradford Rosenberg, Chair, Sierra Club Delta Chapter. “Communities are just not given adequate time to address the financial risks, let alone the other knock-on impacts.”

Community advocates say residents have repeatedly sought more information about the projects and their impact, only to encounter confidentiality claims and limited disclosure.

We’ve asked for information again and again but have been turned away by our elected officials and appointed regulators,” said Mary Stahl May, Caddo Parish resident. “We deserve to know the details of these deals and to have a say in our own utilities and public costs.”

The full report is available here.

About the Alliance for Affordable Energy
The Alliance for Affordable Energy is a Louisiana-based nonprofit group dedicated to advancing affordable, equitable, and environmentally responsible energy policy for all Louisiana residents.

About Empower LLC
Empower is a social enterprise dedicated to strategic research, strategic guidance, and training with the aim of strengthening civil society and improving corporate accountability.

About Sierra Club Delta Chapter

The Sierra Club Delta Chapter represents members, volunteers, and supporters across Louisiana who are committed to exploring, enjoying, and protecting the planet. Through grassroots organizing and advocacy, public education, and local partnerships, the Chapter works to advance environmental justice and safeguard Louisiana’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations.

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Hall of Fame’s Round Table Luncheon will provide up-close, memorable moments

The “youngest” event during this month’s Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration is the most exclusive, yet casual, opportunity for the public to enjoy hearing from the Class of 2026 inductees.

It’s the Round Table Luncheon Saturday, June 27, at noon at Riverside Reserve, 104 Mill Street, in Natchitoches. There are still seats available for the eighth annual Round Table Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation.

Registration is available for the luncheon can be made by visiting LaSportsHall.com, or by calling 318-238-4255. It is a ticketed event.

Festivities begin Thursday evening, June 25 with the free of charge Welcome Reception from 5-7 open to all, no registration necessary, at the Hall of Fame museum facing the traffic circle at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches.

The BOM Celebrity Bowling Bash is at midday Friday, June 26 at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. Friday evening brings the free Rockin’ River Fest concert on Cane River Lake in downtown Natchitoches, from 6-10:30, with the Class of 2026 introduced at 9:15 right before a sports-themed fireworks show over the water.

Events Saturday, June 27 include the free Saints and Pelicans Junior Training Camp for kids, the Round Table Luncheon, and the Induction Reception and Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center.

The Round Table Luncheon starts with tremendous Louisiana cuisine and quickly kicks into gear with Fox Sports announcer (and 2020 LSHOF inductee) Tim Brando interviewing small groups of inductees on stage in a very informal and fast-moving setting.

A poignant scene at the 2019 luncheon unfolded before the program when Peyton Manning, being inducted later that day, stopped by to greet LSU legend Johnny Robinson, who was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame two months later.

Scenes like that, up-close access and the fun-filled dialog between Brando and the 2026 inductees combine to provide a memorable 90 minutes.

The Class of ‘26 is headlined by a star-studded group:  Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 inductee Sylvia Fowles, NFL stars Joe Horn, Todd McClure and Pat Williams, Major League Baseball All-Star Jonathan Lucroy and legendary basketball coaches John Brady, Mike McConathy and Dewain Strother.

Alexandria native and LSU baseball hero Warren Morris will receive the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award, earning enshrinement into the LSHOF. His walk-off home run won the 1996 College World Series for LSU and resulted in the Bolton High School product becoming a lifelong spokesman for college baseball, the CWS and LSU.

LSU graduate and New Orleans native Gil LeBreton and multi-faceted Shreveporter John James Marshall are going into the Hall as the 2026 winners of the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism. Former Tioga girls basketball coach and nationally-acclaimed high school sports administrator Kathy Holloway is being inducted as the recipient of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.

The Hall of Fame Round Table Luncheon shapes up as a highly entertaining opportunity for guests to have a up-close-and-personal experience and be entertained and well fed in a casual setting, with a touch of elegance at the Riverside Reserve on the banks of Cane River Lake just a mile from downtown Natchitoches.

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Hundreds of kids who dream of playing in the pros – or, kids who just love to play – can get signed up for the free New Orleans Saints & Pelicans/Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Junior Training Camp on Saturday morning, June 27 on the Northwestern State campus in Natchitoches.

The JTC annually provides two hours of full throttle fun alongside Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame members and NSU coaches, and staff from the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans community relations department.  It is presented by Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

The clinic registration can be done quickly on the LaSportsHall.com website under the “events’ button. Or parents can call the LSHOF Foundation office at 318-238-4255 for registration help. The camp fills to its 300-kid capacity almost every summer.

The LaSportsHall.com website has the full schedule for the Induction Celebration June 25-27. The JTC is one of three free events, beginning with the Thursday evening Welcome Reception from 5-7 at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches. The biggest free ticket is Friday night, June 26 Rockin’ Riverfest concert from 6-10:30 on the downtown riverbank, featuring a fireworks show after the Class of 2026 is introduced at 9:15.

The Junior Training Camp runs from 9-11 a.m., starting with registration between 8-9 a.m. at the Webb Wellness and Recreation Center (WRAC) gymnasium on the NSU campus. It’s important for parents to get their campers checked in well before the fun starts at 9 a.m. Then, campers get introduced to the sports stars who will be coaching them for the next two hours, inside focusing on basketball skills, and outside at Turpin Stadium, with football and general sports skills instruction.

Every camper will bring home two free T-shirts, other items, and a coupon for a meal at Raisin’ Canes. Photos from the camp will be posted on the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Facebook page, and so will a highlight video.

The goals of the JTC are simple – a fun, and thrilling, experience for the kids, free of charge; skills instruction from some of the best to ever play, or coach, the games; and promotion of health lifestyles and positive life choices.

The campers are separated into two groups. One stays inside for the first hour for basketball instruction, while the other is next door at Turpin Stadium, having football fun. The groups switch locations in the second half of the camp.

Parents can follow their favorite campers and watch all the fun from the stands in the gym and on the east side of Turpin Stadium – where it will be sunny, and hot, watching some really cool memories being made.

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The biggest, most star-studded and fun-filled party of every summer for miles around is coming your way in a month.

Three days of festivities are approaching beginning Thursday, June 25 through Saturday, June 27 for the 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Natchitoches.

The LSHOF’s Class of 2026 will be enshrined Saturday night, June 27 at the Natchitoches Events Center to culminate the 67^th Induction Celebration.

The Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, June 25, with the Welcome Reception from 5-7 p.m., free to the public at the Hall of Fame museum at 800 Front Street.

The Friday, June 26 schedule begins with the Celebrity Bowling Bash presented by BOM at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. The 2026 Rockin’ River Fest, a free concert on the downtown riverbank stage, begins at 6 p.m. and runs until 10:30. In conjunction with the Rockin’ River Fest is the VIP Taste of Tailgating party, a ticketed indoor-outdoor event.

The slate on Saturday, June 27 kicks off with the free LSHOF Junior Training Camp led by community relations personnel from the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, along with Northwestern State coaches and this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, on the NSU campus at the Webb Wellness and Recreation Center and Turpin Stadium. This event is presented by Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and is nearing capacity. Free registration for kids ages 7-16 is required and can be easily accomplished at LaSportsHall.com.

At noon Saturday, the Round Table Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation is set for Riverside Reserve on Mill Street. Fox Sports broadcaster Tim Brando emcees an entertaining program.

Festivities culminate Saturday evening with the Induction Reception at the LSHOF museum beginning at 5, followed at 7 by the Induction Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center. Northwestern State University and State Farm Agents of Louisiana are presenting sponsors Saturday evening.

The VIP Taste of Tailgating, the Bowling Bash, the Round Table Luncheon and the Induction Reception and Ceremony are ticketed events requiring purchase in advance through LaSportsHall.com or by calling 318-238-4255.

The Thursday reception, the Friday evening River Fest and the Junior Training Camp are free.

The Class of ‘26 is headlined by a star-studded group:  Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 inductee Sylvia Fowles, NFL stars Joe Horn, Todd McClure and Pat Williams, Major League Baseball All-Star Jonathan Lucroy and legendary basketball coaches John Brady, Mike McConathy and Dewain Strother.

Alexandria native and LSU baseball hero Warren Morris will receive the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award, earning enshrinement into the LSHOF. His walk-off home run won the 1996 College World Series for LSU and resulted in the Bolton High School product becoming a lifelong spokesman for college baseball, the CWS and LSU.

LSU graduate and New Orleans native Gil LeBreton and multi-faceted Shreveporter John James Marshall are going into the Hall as the 2026 winners of the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism. Former Tioga girls basketball coach and nationally-acclaimed high school sports administrator Kathy Holloway is being inducted as the recipient of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.

The Induction Celebration will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors. 

For information on sponsorship opportunities and other participation, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com, or Greg Burke, Director of Business Development and Public Relations, at 318-663-5459 or GregBurke@LaSportsHall.com via email.

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Note: Winn Community Health Centers of Winnfield operates the Trinity Community Health Center in Ruston.

On Monday, April 13, just a few days away, the public will be able to see first-hand Winnfield’s newest, tallest building complex, the new Winn Community Health Center at 407 W. Court Street.  The public is invited to the Grand Opening of the health center beginning at 11 a.m., announced CEO Deano Thornton. 

Construction of the impressive three-story, 52,000 square foot structure has seen it rise over the past two years to occupy a footprint between W. Lafayette and W. Court streets.  The building will house the expanded array of services of Winn Community Health Center as well as the seven-parish organizational support of Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana.

“Who would have thought that it would come to this when we first started talking about this kind of medical care for our community in 2005?” he said.  “We were funded in 2009, opened our doors July 1 that same year, outgrew that office and moved to our current location in 2011 and are now poised to move into this wonderful structure.”

Over those years, WCHC also expanded beyond its Winn Parish borders to seven parishes with 11 clinics and 60 school-based centers under the inclusive name of Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana.

“So how have we come so far?  I’ve always said that when you surround yourself with good people, good things happen,” Thornton continued.  “Our organization is made up of people who care about the well being of the folks in their community and it shows.  We’re in the business of taking care of people.  This is an amazing, state of the art facility which we’ve been proud to add to the heart of Winnfield.”

The Grand Opening for the general public is Monday, April 13, with activities beginning at 11 a.m.  Thornton said there will be a tent, music with a DJ, refreshments including Dana’s Pulled Pork Sandwiches and giveaways.  The following morning, Tuesday, April 14, medical services at the new center will commence.

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Photos below give an early view of what awaits the public during Monday’s Open House:

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Residents have watched as Winn Community Health Center has grown from its 2,000 square foot building with a small client base in July 2009 to a multi-parish, nine-site health service with over 500 employees and last year surpassed its 1 million patient mark.

In the same way they’ve watched as ground was broken in spring 2024 on their Winnfield location between the 5-lane and East Lafayette St. and their spacious three-story building has slowly risen.  It’s an impressive structure that will house the multiplicity of services that will be handed there once opened as well as the management needs of all locations under the umbrella of Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana.

CEO Deano Thornton appeared before the Rotary Club of Winnfield and explained he cannot say for sure when the opening date will be, since finishing stages of any project always take longer than hoped.  “But this will be a proud part of this community for years to come.”  Looking at an edifice of this size and cost, he added that “people don’t know what WCHC has sacrificed through the years to get us to this point.”

Trinity opened clinics first in Winnfield then Colfax, Ringgold, Pollock, Ruston, Alexandria, Marksville, Dry Prong and Bossier, with others planned soon.  Their goal from the outset has been to provide quality professional healthcare to patients regardless their ability to pay.  This is vital in a low income area like north-central Louisiana, Thornton said, as some 63% of their 152,000 patients last year were Medicaid, while 11% were Medicare and 3% uninsured.

The speaker walked through a floor-by-floor slideshow of photographs and diagrams, showing what will greet patients as they enter the front door.  The lobby and the building as a whole will have “a very open feel to it.”  The health center is not simply primary care but many different specialty services as well, some of those varying from center to center throughout the Trinity organization.

The first floor will house general medical practices with 22 exam rooms, pediatrics, pharmacy, specialists, behavioral health, chiropractic, a spacious nurses’ station, radiology, labs, a warehouse and lots of office space.  It includes two elevators and an escalator to the second floor.  As big as the building appears from the outside, “it looks twice that size on the inside.”

Thornton explained that patients will be served through the same waiting area whether they arrive for an annual checkup, for behavioral services or other medical needs, thus eliminating worries of stigma issues.  For the children, a glass wall will separate the “sick” from the “well” patients, giving parents peace of mind.  Interactive boards are also installed to occupy the youngsters as they wait.

From the second floor, visitors will be able to look down from the common waiting area into the lobby.  That floor will include physical therapy as well as the dental and oral hygiene departments. 

The third floor will house support and administration for the entire Trinity organization.  Included will be offices for finance, IT, billing, records, company officials, board room, kitchen (there are more than 130 people in the building) plus an employee break room, as on each floor.  Thornton stressed that this does involve a number of people “but I’m old-school and want to hire local people who our clients can actually talk to rather than farm it out to businesses in other parts of the country.  It helps our people and helps our economy.”

There will also be a banquet room on the top floor large enough to seat 100 people banquet-style that can be used for Trinity functions and when the organization wants to host a community event.  He’s proud of the wood-look to many areas of the interior and exterior of the three-story.  “I wanted it to look like it belongs to the community where timber products are so important.”  He noted that TBA Studio is the architectural firm that made this happen, with Winn native Lisa Peddy Frontaura taking the lead role.

He also called attention to the center’s in-house 340D pharmacy serviced by pharmacists Steve Burnam and Chip Little.  The advantage to patients receiving prescriptions from Community Health Center providers is that costs will be based on household income.  He gave an example of a lady who had been paying $225 for one prescription who received the same for only $8 through the center’s pharmacy.

Be sure to watch the Journal for future details on the Grand Opening.

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Paid Editorial Feature – The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Lincoln Parish Journal.  

Last month, OnPath Federal Credit Union agreed to buy Heritage Bank of St. Tammany in Covington, Louisiana, a century-old institution with deep local roots. The deal was hailed by OnPath CEO Jared Freeman, who praised Heritage’s “unwavering commitment to the local community.” But what Freeman failed to mention is that the acquisition will rob that community of a critical source of revenue.

Because OnPath is a credit union and thus tax-exempt, the deal means that St. Tammany Parish will lose a reliable stream of tax payments. Those dollars help fund schools, pay essential public servants like police officers and firefighters, and support other vital public services across the parish. Once the acquisition is finalized, that revenue will disappear, and the burden of making up the difference will fall squarely on the shoulders of local taxpayers.

The example of OnPath in Louisiana illustrates a much bigger problem across the country: credit unions are no longer the small, member-focused institutions they were established to be. Many have grown into large financial operations, similar to banks, all while enjoying tax-exempt status. Lawmakers must investigate whether credit unions’ tax-exempt status is still necessary in light of their significant growth, which is ultimately leaching revenue from state and local governments and setting the stage for higher taxes on local communities.

The situation in Louisiana is not the first. Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU) had planned to acquire Sabine Bank and Trust, which is based in Many, Louisiana. Although TDECU ultimately backed away from the acquisition, it underscores the fact that credit unions have strayed far from the original mission Congress envisioned when it exempted them from most federal, state, and local taxes under the Federal Credit Union Act. It’s time for Congress to revisit whether the tax breaks are still justified.

Credit unions like TDECU have grown into large financial institutions by leveraging taxpayer subsidies. Far from its founding mission to serve the residents of Lake Jackson, Texas, TDECU now serves over 380,000 members across the state. Ending 2024 with $4.8 billion in total assets, TDECU’s services have widened to include wealth management investment products through its partnership with LPL Financial, which they even acknowledge as being a conflict of interest. The growth doesn’t stop there. Credit unions are buying community banks at a time when bank consolidation and burdensome regulations are putting extreme pressure on banks’ bottom lines. The current regulatory environment and credit union acquisitions are exacerbating bank consolidation. In fact, data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) shows that the number of community banks dropped by 46% over the last two decades, falling from 7,620 in 2003 to 4,129 in 2023. Credit unions are thriving, and skirting taxes while community banks are getting squeezed.

One negative outcome of tax-exempt credit unions acquiring community banks is that local and state governments lose revenue. This essential tax revenue helps fund local schools, projects, and infrastructure. The state of Louisiana has a bank shares tax that funds local communities, but when a credit union acquires a bank, it eliminates that source of revenue and results in less funding for local services. The shortfall in revenue could compel a parish to raise taxes on households to maintain a balanced budget. According to the Tax Foundation, “since 2011, more than 100 credit union–bank acquisition deals have been announced across the country.” Credit unions get to grow and avoid paying taxes, while American households across the country are getting forced to foot the bill at the end of the day.

Americans expect transparency, safeguards, and a level playing field from banks. These same principles should apply to credit unions. This is not about eliminating credit unions; it is about accountability and ensuring the law matches credit unions’ behavior. In an era where credit unions operate more like large financial institutions and less like community-oriented lenders, Congress should conduct oversight hearings and reexamine whether their tax-exempt status still aligns with their actions today. Louisiana taxpayers, in towns like Many and Covington, and in parishes around the state, should not have to pay more taxes because the law, as currently written, allows credit unions to exploit their tax loophole.

Ken Hale is the President & Chief Executive Officer of BOM Bank

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Notice is hereby given that David St. John, administrator of these successions, proposes to sell the aforesaid immovable property, at private sale, for the price and upon the terms set forth above. Any heirs. legatees, creditors or others opposing the said sale are required to make opposition, if any they have or can, to such sale, within seven (7) days, including Sundays and holidays, from the date whereon the last publication of this notice appears, or the court may grant the application without further action.

07/15/25, 07/29/25

Please view the Attached the Signed Court Document:

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Notice is hereby given that David St. John, administrator of these successions, proposes to sell the aforesaid immovable property, at private sale, for the price and upon the terms set forth above. Any heirs. legatees, creditors or others opposing the said sale are required to make opposition, if any they have or can, to such sale, within seven (7) days, including Sundays and holidays, from the date whereon the last publication of this notice appears, or the court may grant the application without further action.

07/15/25, 07/29/25

Please view the Attached the Signed Court Document:

The three-story medical complex rising along Winnfield’s five-lane should be open by year’s end, Winn’s retired teachers heard during their monthly session May 19.

What launched as Winn Community Health Center with 5 employees in 2009 has grown into a healthcare operation covering seven parishes with nearly 500 employees, explained CEO Deano Thornton.  Asked about the name “Trinity,” he replied that as the coverage area grew, an overall name of Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana was adopted, although each clinic retains the name of its specific parish.

With Thornton was Lisa Peddy Frontaura, a 2000 graduate of WSHS who was described in introduction as “the principal architect who oversees everything from the beginning of design to the end of construction and everything in between.”  She is vice president of operations for TBA Studio.

The CEO and former Winnfield mayor told the retired teachers that his dream is to leave something lasting here in the community.  Inspired by a saying by longtime educator Etoy Ashley, he noted, “Make your community better because you were part of it.”

When asked, he said cost of the project from the ground up is about $30 million, including $1 million in furniture.  “I called Lisa and said I wanted to build this clinic.  She is a Winn graduate and proud to be involved with this construction.  She is young enough to do the IT work whereas I’m too old, more traditional.”

Frontaura confirmed, telling the gathering that she is happy to be here and part of this project.  “When I was approached, I was glad to be giving back to this community.”  Having worked on projects big and small over the 20 years of her career, she called this “the height of my activity.”  In its design, she sought a façade that reflects the region’s forestry rather than simply a “white medical building.”

The audience seemed to enjoy descriptions of each of the three floors.  Thornton continues to be proud of the escalators from the ground to second floor as well as the elevators, although if a patient ends up on the third, administrative floor, it’s only because they got lost, he said.  First floor will contain primary care, clinic pharmacy, behavioral health, nurses’ station and x-ray.

Second floor will house optometry, dental care, physical therapy as well as a visual space to “look down” on the first floor plus an outdoor balcony.  The third floor will have administration for the multi-parish clinics, billing, medical records, finance, IT, a kitchen and conference room large enough to seat 100 banquet-style.

The three-story was designed not just for patients but also employees so every floor has a break room for staff.  About 125 people will work in the building daily.  “My mission is to create jobs, not to farm things out.”  Parking and access to the building with be ample, the visuals showed.

Since Trinity’s new center interfaces with the varied aspects of its services—clinic patients, school-based clients, pharmacy—he said the move could be in phases including school holidays to minimize service disruptions.  He anticipates that move should be complete by the end of the year.

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Your Guide to Peach Festival Weekend

The 75th Annual Louisiana Peach Festival will take place on June 7, 2025, but the peach celebrations will be going all week long in Ruston, LA!  If you’re planning to spend a full weekend soaking in the sweet peachy charm of Ruston, let this guide help you make the most out of your adventure.

Friday, June 6

Eat:

From June 2-7, enjoy Peach Culinary Crawl, a weeklong tasting tour featuring over 20 local restaurants. Each participating location will offer special peach-inspired items. From peach BBQ and burgers to peach toast, cocktails, and desserts. There’s something to satisfy every craving. The full Culinary Crawl menu is available in late May on the Peach Fest website. 

See:

In celebration of the festival’s 75th anniversary, The Louisiana Peach Festival is collaborating with the Lincoln Parish Museum to present Peach Fest Through the Decades. This special exhibit will showcase memorabilia from the very first Peach Festival all the way through present day.

• Peach fest hack: After visiting the exhibit, explore downtown Ruston to scope out the festival grounds and snap a picture at one of the colorful murals!

Experience: There’s plenty to experience Friday before the festival. 

• Take a stroll through Downtown Ruston and browse the Peach Sidewalk Sale. Participating downtown shops will be offering peachy deals and special promotions from June 2-6. 

• • Peach Fest Hack: Grab a Peach Fest fit at the sidewalk sale to wear at the festival!

• The Peach Parade is a long loved and cherished tradition by festival attendees. The parade will take place in Downtown Ruston on Friday, June 6, at 6PM.
• After the parade, you can head over to the 36th Annual Peach Festival Rodeo for family entertainment, trick riders, and more. The rodeo starts at 8PM.

Saturday, June 7 – Festival Day

Festival activities start at 9:00AM and there’s plenty to eat, see, and experience—all located on the festival grounds.

Eat:
This year, enjoy bites from a variety of food vendors, offering everything from burgers, sandwiches, and pizza, to classic festival treats, refreshing drinks, and tasty snacks. You’ll also want to pay a visit to the Historic Fire Station for a scoop of frosty peach ice cream from the ladies of Beta Sigma Phi. 

• Peach Fest Hack: Ask vendors what their special peach item is! All food vendors create and offer a peachy item just for the Peach Festival.

The festival is also conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Ruston, so there’s plenty of local restaurants you can walk to. 

See:

• Festival Art Displays: Discover art boards and interactive displays by local artists that will be showcased throughout festival grounds.

• Ruston Antique Classic Car Show: Head over to Cadence Bank from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM for the Car Show. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just love vintage charm, this show is sure to impress with its lineup of beautifully restored classic vehicles.
• Drone Show: Stick around till the headliner performance for the Peach Festival’s first ever drone show at 8:45 PM! This transforming sky display will take place before the headlining act to kick off the grand finale to the festival.

Experience: 

• Live Music: Enjoy more than 12 hours of live performances at the Railroad Park stage. With an exciting lineup of artists, the festival’s musical energy will keep you dancing all day long. Don’t miss the headliner, The Band of Heathens, taking the stage after the drone show.
• Kids Alley: A family-friendly zone packed with interactive activities and entertainment to keep the little ones smiling.
• Curated market: The festival will have over 70 vendors, all selling their handmade arts, jewelry, clothing, mugs, decorations, candles, and lots more. Additionally, you can stop by the Peach Fest Sticker Wall in the market—perfect for a fun and unique photo op. 

• • Peach Fest Hack: arrive early to the Curated Market before your favorite vendor sells out. Visit www.lapeachfest.com/vendors to get a sneak peek at what vendors are offering. 

Sunday, June 8

After a Saturday full of adventures, take it slow on Sunday. Sleep in, relax, and savor your last day in town before heading home.

Eat: 

Start your day with a delicious Sunday brunch at Trio’s. Whether you choose a cozy table indoors or enjoy the sunshine on their patio, you’re in for a wonderful dining experience. Looking for a spot closer to downtown? Try Board & Bottle’s Sunday brunch and specialty brunch cocktails.

See: 

While you’re at the festival Saturday, you will likely spot a few of Ruston’s unique bulldog statues scattered throughout downtown. In total, there are 22 bulldogs placed around the city—each with its own charm. Stretch your visit a little longer and turn your Sunday into a scavenger hunt to track down the ones you missed.

Experience: 

Wind down with a peaceful visit to Lincoln Parish Park. This park offers mountain biking and walking trails, kayaking, fishing, and a playground for the kids. It’s the perfect way to soak in the natural beauty of Ruston and cap off your Peach Festival weekend.

From peachy treats to live tunes and everything in between, the Louisiana Peach Festival is the perfect way to kick off your summer. Soak up the fun, explore Ruston, and celebrate 75 years of sweet traditions and unforgettable memories! 

To learn the insider tips and tricks all seasoned festival goers know, read up on our How to Peach Fest blog.

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Two men who said they were victims of a shooting near Ruston Tuesday afternoon were arrested on drug and gun charges by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to a report of gunshots in the area of Pecan Street and Donna Lane about 4 p.m. Nov. 19. They found a disabled vehicle riddled with bullet holes near the intersection of La. Highway 146 and South Chatham Spur just outside the city of Ruston.

The two occupants of the vehicle were still at the scene and stated the gunfire had been directed at them. During the course of the investigation, deputies recovered a Glock 19 9mm pistol and approximately 84 grams of suspected marijuana.

During interviews, Karmekizik Z. Barber, 19, admitted possessing the pistol while aware the other occupant, Tremarious D. Lewis, 17, was in possession of the marijuana he was attempting to sell.

Lewis admitted he was attempting to sell the marijuana. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Barber was charged with illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $25,000.

Both men are from Jonesboro.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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The 2024 Louisiana High School Athletic Association state football playoffs into the second round with match-ups in all eight divisions.

For all the scores for all five classifications, CLICK HERE

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By Hanna Singh

The holidays are coming to Ruston.

At their annual Holiday Press Conference, Experience Ruston announced the official kickoff to the 2024 holiday season. In partnership with the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, Experience Ruston shared details about upcoming holiday events in Lincoln Parish, as well as holiday announcements from around North Louisiana.

Kicking off the press conference, Ruston Main Street Director and Community Coordinator Amy Stegall shared a sentiment about the hometown feel of Ruston Louisiana, expressing her excitement to share the holiday fun with visitors this year. She encouraged visitors to come support local businesses, vendors and restaurants in Lincoln Parish. Stegall shared a bit about what makes Downtown Ruston so special during the holiday season.

“When we turn on the lights in downtown, something magical happens to this place,” said Stegall. “This is a historic place that’s been here since the late 1800s, and it just becomes this little Hallmark village. People love to come down and shop with the people they know and just find incredible treasures for the people that they love. So, whether you eat here, shop here or just come and walk around the lights, it just has a feeling that you can’t really put into words. So, we love that it’s our hometown.”

In partnership with Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, Experience Ruston Director of Marketing and Communications Tori Davis shared some of the exciting holiday activities that will be happening is Ruston over the next few weeks. Many local partners and businesses will be hosting holiday events, all included on Experience Ruston’s holiday calendar. Davis highlighted some of the larger events, including the Holiday Open House, Lincoln Lights Up the Pines, Ruston Community Theater’s production of “White Christmas”, and the Holiday Arts Tour.

“We are so fortunate to have such passionate and dedicated partners here in Ruston and Lincoln Parish,” Davis said. “We have something happening every single week, and often multiple things happening throughout the week. There are so many events that you won’t want to miss.”

Reflecting on the work that goes into bringing the holidays to Lincoln Parish, Mayor Ronny Walker thanked many of the organizations, community members and workers who dedicated their time to making Ruston so beautiful during the season.

“It takes a village, or in this case a city,” said Walker. “Amy (Stegall) does an incredible job with our main street and our merchants downtown. Amanda (Carrier) and Tori (Davis) with the CVB help tremendously with publicity, ads, and events like this. I think the group that is often left out is the group of about 30 people from the city that put up all the lights. They actually started this process about 5 weeks ago and they come in early to try to get all this up.

“So, I want to say a big shoutout to our city workers, from electrical department to the street department. Everybody in the city pitches in because it takes so many people to do all this. Especially thank you to the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Main Street and the merchants.”

Several other groups from the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights group spoke and invited the community to experience the holidays in North Louisiana. Speakers included guests from Discover Monroe-West Monroe, Visit Shreveport-Bossier and Visit Webster Parish.

Visitors and community members can find out more about the holiday events in Lincoln Parish by picking up an Experience Ruston Official Holiday Guide from the visitor’s center at 2111 N Trenton St. Or you can view the holiday calendar online at www.rustonlincoln.com. Let your heart be light this season and come experience the joy of the holidays in Ruston and Lincoln Parish.

 

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Have you ever noticed that when under stress, you (or a friend or family member) exhibit extreme behavior, ranging from acting out to shutting down?  That could be displayed in anxiety, anger, depression (low mood/low energy).

This may point towards a condition known as “behavioral maladaptiveness” or the inability to adapt to stress or change.  It can impact folks of all ages.  Maladaptive behavior’s severity can also range from minor to severe and professional help may be advised.

Good news is that such help is available here in Ruston at Lincoln Community Health Center at 1140 S. Vienna Street (as well as at Bienville Community Health Center at 3265 Military Road in Ringgold).  Among their full range of professional medical service professionals at the centers is Monte Moore, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, board certified, who has been helping individuals young and old since 2019 through his work at LCHC.

A psychiatric nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse who is trained to provide care to patients struggling with mental health problems.

The north Arkansas native received his undergraduate degree and two master’s degrees, all in English, and he taught English and Journalism before obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing.  “When I was finishing school, a recruiter suggested I interview with Trinity Community Health Centers,” he told the Journal.  That led him to north Louisiana.

He explained that by way of interview with each patient, he ascertains his diagnosis for the most appropriate tools to treat the symptoms.  Those could be medication, psycho-dynamic therapy, hypnosis or referral to other therapists. 

This Advanced Practice Nurse stressed that problems of maladaptive behavior affect the full gamut of ages.  “The most dominant issue, say 95%, is family childhood trauma.  It starts at a young age and it could be going on ‘just down the street.’  I’ve treated kids as young as 2-1/2.  Then like a snowball that rolls through life, it gets worse and worse.

“For this diagnosis, ‘talk therapy’ alone doesn’t work.  And medications won’t stabilize the problem long term.  The best long term results come through a combination of medication and therapy,” says Moore.  “In an optimum scenario, a patient will learn to manage symptoms with a minimum, or no, medication.  That’s my goal.”

 “Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana Provides comprehensive medical, dental, and/or behavioral health care to all, regardless of ability to pay,” says CEO Deano Thornton.ou may contact Lincoln Community Health Center at 318-224-7190 to schedule an appointment.  Or call Bienville Community Health Center at 318-894-2341.

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Last week was only the second Sunday of this 2024 NFL season, a mountain of games and weeks and months away from Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans February 9, 2025, what is to be a record-tying 11^th Super Bowl in New Orleans (Miami also has 11) and the eighth in the Superdome.

But when the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys play, it’s an early Super Sunday in these parts.

And so it was Sunday, and so it was not that surprising when the preacher let loose with some football talk to a congregation secretly intent on making it home by midway through the first quarter, what with kickoff being at noon and all.

(Saints and Cowboys fans always pray for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff but … not all prayers are answered with a ‘yes.’ This sets us up for another column on patience, faith, and hope. But for now, the lesson is ‘acceptance.’ Anyways… )

The sermon was the first in what is to be a series on the book of Philippians, one of several epistles, or letters, that the apostle Paul wrote 2,000-plus years ago, give or take, to young churches, the football equivalent of expansion teams in the early days of Christianity.

The letter was addressed to the young church at Philippi on the Aegean Sea and began, the preacher said, with a word of grace “to all the Saints in Philippi…”

“Notice,” our pastor said, “Paul didn’t write ‘to all the Cowboys in Philippi…’”

Boom. And all the Saints fans said, “Amen.”

And all the Cowboys fans thought, “Boooooo!” This proved to be good practice, because the guys with the star on their helmets got smoked by the Saints Sunday in Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, 44-19.

Old news if you’re a Cowboys fan, still music to the ears of Saints lovers.

And the new joke is that the star on a Dallas helmet isn’t a logo: it’s a one-star rating.

Mercy.

Whether that was preaching or prophecy or a little of both, the preacher’s prelude to Sunday’s game was something to smile about before a game that, although it’s only mid-September, presented in its conclusion a two-headed question:

Did the Saints go marching in? Or did the Cowboys go marching out?

Way too early to tell. But this much we know.

After two games, the Saints are No. 1 in scoring (45.5 points per game), No. 4 in total offense (405.5 yards per game), No. 4 in scoring defense (14.5 ppg) and No. 8 in total defense (273 ypg).

Glory!

Meanwhile the Cowboys were favored by a touchdown and lost by … 25 points? 26? Something like that.

Speaking of 26, ESPN picked the Saints to finish 26 in the 32-team league. The Cowboys are picked 6^th.

All that said, it’s a long, long way to the NFC Championship Game. The NFL season is a brutal slugfest, a tedious journey at best. The Cowboys got smoked at San Francisco 42-10 in early October last season, and still won seven of their next eight to finish 12-5, a tie for best in the NFC.

Green Bay then cleaned their clock in the playoffs, 48-32. It is tough being a Cowboys fan these past few (25-plus) years, one would imagine.

Meanwhile a Saints fan can hang his or her helmet of hope on the 44 points scored Sunday and what looked like a defense that could make the playoffs, something New Orleans hasn’t done since 2020.

And as summer turns to autumn, fans of either team could always fall back on Philippians. It’s only four short chapters — but not short on the subject of joy, no matter the circumstances.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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Working moms (and dads) know what’s involved when they get a call from the school about a sick child.  Certainly there’s concern over the child’s health but there’s also the issue of lost work time as they pick up the child, try to find a doctor and likely stay home the rest of the day with the little one.

Trinity Community Health Centers in both Winn and Rapides parishes have incorporated a system of care within their network that can resolve the lost-work problem while providing professional health care for children.  It’s called a School-Based Health Clinic.  This past school year they saw over 4,500* students through this service.

Candace Hubbard, a family nurse practitioner at Winn’s School-Based Clinic, explains.  “The focus of our clinic is keeping kids healthy and in-school.  We handle cases of acute illness so that the parent doesn’t have to leave work to get a doctor’s appointment.  But we’re more.  We also offer wellness visits in an effort to keep the children healthy and to head off later problems.”

The nurse practitioner assures that Trinity performs follow-up calls and works closely with parents in all cases.  Through contact with the Trinity professionals, Hubbard says, “the children see us.  They know who we are.  This helps eliminate the ‘fear factor’ of going to the doctor.  Because of this, kids take on a bigger role of taking care of themselves with little things like brushing their teeth and wearing seatbelts.”

As they say, “And there’s more…”  Trinity’s School-Based Clinics offer not only basic health care for the children but also offer a dental clinic, behavioral health services as well as vision and hearing screenings.

In its operation, the Trinity staff works closely with the schools and school nurses to provide this service.  “I love being able to work in the same area where my children go to school,” says Hubbard.  “I love the family-centered environment, bringing health care to people who might not afford it otherwise.  We fill the gaps in areas like transportation.  I truly believe we are meeting those needs.”

Candace Hubbard and husband Shane have two children, Alison and Gabriel Wren, who are students at Winnfield Senior High School.  She joined the Trinity Community Health Center family in 2013, assisting in the launch of the school-based clinic when it was a pilot program.  That clinic was initially located in the old Winnfield Intermediate School building but shifted to the old Adult Learning Center around the corner following Hurricane Laura.

The Lakeview High School graduate received her BS degree in nursing from NSU in 2005 and her MS degree in nursing, also at NSU, in 2013.  In the interim, she worked as an RN in the Natchitoches Hospital’s labor & delivery department.

*School-based student services numbers for the 2023-24 school year were 655 for dental cleaning, 904 behavioral health, 2,503 medical (sickness & wellness visits), 338 sports physicals and 189 flu shots.

“Our mission at Trinity Community Health Centers has always been to provide quality healthcare services to students and their families, regardless their ability to pay,” says CEO Deano Thornton.

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