By Bonnie Culverhouse

Today, Sept. 10, the Webster Parish Police Jury officially decided to get out of the landfill business.
Republic Services, under the subsidiary name of Webster Parish Landfill and the company that currently holds the landfill operating contract, won the right to call the landfill their own with a bid of $20M. Madden Contracting of Minden was the only other bidder at $6.2M. The bid threshold was $10M.

“I believe we are obligated to the citizens of Webster Parish to accept the $20 million bid,” said Dist. 4 juror Randy Thomas, who is also head of the Environmental Committee. “It was way above what I was thinking it would be.”
WPPJ president Jim Bonsall said the landfill makes very little money – if any – for the parish.
“Even if the landfill made us $200,000 a year, it would take us 100 years to make $20 million,” Bonsall said. “There’s a lot of things we can do with this money.”

Parish attorney Patrick Jackson said money from the sale will be available for projects in Webster Parish at the jury’s direction.

“From my perspective, the jurors are the policy makers,” Jackson said. “It’s your decision whether to accept the bid, then with regard to the funds, you have the ability to restrict them, to dedicate them, split them up. It’s obvious there are pressing needs in many areas.”

According to the bid contract, mineral rights on the property were reserved, along with a no-drill clause. The jury will still maintain all roads leading into landfill property.

Jackson said before the sale is finalized, “There are some logistics – we have to come to some terms, and that’s why the bids were required to be held for a period of time. Assuming we can come to terms on the environmental liability, the insurance, financial security, the sale will take place immediately. However, the landfill is still under lease and would operate under those terms until it expires, unless the operator (Republic Services) determines otherwise.”

That operational lease is set to expire in August 2022.

Several jurors said they were disappointed because they could not go with the local bidder.

“We all hate this predicament we are in,” Nick Cox, Dist. 8, said to John Madden of Madden Contracting. “The $20 million for the landfill was such a good offer. We really want to help our local businesses – I think this whole jury does – but it’s very important to me, personally, that I feel I’m doing the best thing for Webster Parish as a whole.”

The vote was 11 in favor with 1 abstention from Dist. 3 juror Daniel Thomas.

“I abstained because of my history working with waste as a whole,” said Thomas, who retired from landfill construction after more than 25 years. “I have done business with Republic in the past, and also with several of the people that might’ve bid. I didn’t want anyone to say that I was biased one way or the other with my vote.”

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By Josh Beavers

It’s been 20 years. Two decades. They’ve gone by in a blink, and many of us have forgotten as those years have passed. Other troubles have come our way. Wars. The economy. Job loss. Politicians. Division, discord, disillusionment. The destruction of what it means to be a united country.

But we need to remember.

We need to remember the shock. We need to remember the tears. We need to remember our unity.

Twenty years ago, a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history.

The images are burned indelibly into memory – four hijacked American aircraft cut through a cloudless late summer sky; the World Trade Center plummeting to the earth; inky smoke billowing from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93, the call of “Let’s Roll” earning a place of immortality as heroes fought back against evil to spare further death and destruction.

Yet, I’d reckon the most heartbreaking images are those that only one or two of us have seen at any given time. These are the images of an empty seat at the dinner table. These are the images of children aging without a mother or a father.

The families of the 3,000 Americans who died that day go to bed every night with the knowledge that their husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends will never again walk through the doors of their homes.

They were taken. Taken too soon.

In that great time of need, our pettiness was forgotten. Our politics and prejudices cast aside. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded aid and succor.

We reaffirmed our ties of simple humanity to one another. Community and country took precedent over class and political ideology. No matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we claimed, united as one American family we were.

Yet as time passed the old ways resurfaced, grievances reemerged, and squabbling returned. And today, 20 years after 9/11, this nation is arguably the most divided socially and ideologically it has been in its history.

But perhaps for a brief time we can stop our bickering. Perhaps for a brief time, a single day is all, we can remember our loss and the way it united us on that dark day and the uncertain ones that followed.

Perhaps we can remember those lives lost instead of being consumed by all our other faults.

Just for a day.

Because what happened on Sept.11, 2001, is one of the single most significant and tragic events in American history.

It must be respected. It must be remembered.

By everyone.

At least for a solitary day.

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Carter J. Moreau
October 27, 1931 – July 30, 2021
Visitation:  9:00 am until time of service
Services:  September 18, 2021 at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church in Plaucheville, Louisiana
Rosary and Mass will begin at 11:00 am

Kin Michael Fulton
July 18, 1964 – September 6, 2021
Services: Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. 

John Kinney Lawrence
March 7, 1939 – September 5, 2021
Services: Monday, September 13, 2021at 10:00a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana.
Visitation:  4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday, September 12, 2021.
Burial: Hill Crest Memorial Park, 601 Highway 80 East Haughton, Louisiana. 

Scott James Willmes
July 19, 1971 – September 4, 2021
Services:  Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 522 E. Flournoy Lucas Rd., Shreveport, Louisiana.
Private ceremony: at Rose-Neath Cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Rd. in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Joseph “Joey” Anthony Cannatella, Jr.
November 4, 1952 – September 3, 2021
Services: Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana.
Visitation: Friday, September 10, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Burial: Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City, Louisiana. 

Adam J Desoto
May 18, 1990 – September 7, 2021
Services: Saturday, September 11, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marksville, Louisiana.
Burial: will be held in St. Joseph’s Mausoleum #2. 

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By Josh Beavers

The Minden SweeTees were honored during Tuesday’s Minden City Council meeting for their strong showing in the Dixie World Series.

The team took third place in the tournament but couldn’t get past a tough Tennessee state champion team.
Logan Hollingsworth is the head coach. Assistant coaches are Tyler Lewis, Laura Perryman and Paige Chanler.

Team members include:

Laikyn Hollingsworth #13
Harper Barnette #18
Laikyn Lewis #9
Aubrey Chanler #33
Marley Bogues #2
Willow Still #6
Conleigh Jernigan #50
Lexie Perryman #24
Stella Perryman #8
Olivia Crawford #14
Annabel Sunderland #17
Adley Igo #1

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A decision of whether to sell the Webster Parish Landfill will have to wait until Friday.
Members of the parish police jury voted Tuesday to table the vote and convene in a special session at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10 when it is hoped all jurors will be available.
“We have two people out, due to Covid and quarantines, and this is a very important vote,” police jury president Jim Bonsall said. “I believe all the jury should be here to vote.”
Three businesses recently responded to a request for bids to purchase the Webster Parish Landfill, but only two of those companies submitted actual numbers.
The Webster Parish Police Jury requested a minimum bid of $10M.
Madden Contracting Co. of Minden bid $6.2M, plus “to be negotiated overage to ultimately obtain the $10M plus minimum over a yet to be determined negotiated number of years.”
Webster Parish Landfill, LLC, which is a subsidiary of current operator Republic Services, submitted a bid of $20M.
Green Meadow Sustainable Solutions did not submit a formal bid, however, they requested an additional 60 days, saying there was a lack of information available and the current operator Republic Services, has “significant additional information related to the landfill which would have been beneficial to all bidders … “
John Madden, representing Madden Contracting, agreed, admitting his bid of $6.2M “is no small change for a local company.”
Madden’s submitted bid had verbiage acknowledging it did not meet the bid criteria to the letter, but with the documentation he had, the numbers did not add up.
“What we received said the landfill’s gross annual revenue was $5.7M, based on 150,000 tons,” Madden said. “In an addendum (to the management agreement with Republic) that went into effect Jan. 4, 2005, there was a stated fee of $14.65 per ton tipping fee.”
Madden said he called the police jury office because “nowhere in the documentation” was stated the tipping fee was $17.35 a ton, an increase he felt should’ve been in the paperwork.
“If you go to the $14.65 in 2005 and use the admissible 1 percent increase over those years, it’s $17.35, so I felt good about those numbers,” he said, in explaining why Madden’s bid was so much lower than Republic’s. “If you multiply 150,000 tons a year – that was in the paperwork – times $17.35, that number is about $2.5M.”
Like Green Meadow, Madden said there was a lot of information unavailable to his company, even though he said he contacted the police jury office a number of times.
“I hope – and I believe – that we gave everybody the answers that we knew,” Bonsall said.
“I’m not saying you didn’t,” Madden responded. “I’m saying it was poorly done, and – like Green Meadow said they couldn’t even submit a bid. We’re local, and we did submit a bid.
“We didn’t submit as strong a bid as we probably could have because of the lack of information,” he continued, saying there were many more issues than what he just pointed out to jurors.
While the police jury has owned the landfill for more than 25 years, they have not operated it since 1997. Since that time, it has always been operated by a private company, currently Republic Services.
The landfill, located north of Dixie Inn, consists of more than 420 acres and includes the Sarepta substation.
(Photo by Bonnie Culverhouse/John Madden of Madden Contracting explains his company’s bid for purchase of the Webster Parish Landfill.)

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By Josh Beavers

Lakeside is reaching out to those in need and is asking for the community’s support.

Coach Rendi Dillard is leading an effort to collect items to send to communities in south Louisiana that are struggling to recover from Hurricane Ida. The collection will be from now through next Wednesday, September 15th.

“The communities have lost so much and are still suffering,” Dillard told The Journal. “This is something small we can do to help however we can.”

Please see the list below for suggested items to donate. No donation is too small, Dillard said.

*cases of bottled water
*gallons of water
*non-perishable food
*can openers for canned food
*baby food and formula
*hygiene items (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant)
*baby items (diapers of all sizes, wipes, diaper rash ointment, bottles, lotion, baby wash, infant medicines)
*bug spray
*contractor trash bags
*paper products (paper plates, paper towels, toilet paper, cups)
*batteries
*Tylenol and Advil

Hurricane Ida ravaged parts of the Gulf Coast and especially Louisiana.

Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in Louisiana, most of them outside New Orleans, still didn’t have power as of this writing and more than half the gas stations in two major cities were without fuel nearly two weeks after Hurricane Ida slammed into the state.

The storm’s remnants also brought historic flooding, record rains and tornados from Virginia to Massachusetts. Ida’s death toll as of this writing was 65.

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Budget? We don’t need no stinkin’ budget.

There are times when sittin’ in this rockin’ chair gives us a view of things better left unseen. This most recent city council set-to was one of those.

After watching the actions, or more appropriately, the inactions of the hired hands, thoughts from Rocker wafted to Sir Winston Churchill. With apologies to one of history’s master wordsmiths, we twisted one of his famous observations.
“Never was so much disappointment heaped on so many by so few.”

Once again, our city governing body declined to approve a fiscal year 2022 budget. The vote, 3-2. No comments, no reasons offered at the time. Maybe that was a good thing. The hands were, after all, on the record and Honest Abe had something to say about remaining silent.

With that vote, the city will now be obligated to follow state law R.S. 39:1312. As the Legislative Auditor interprets…“If at the end of any fiscal year, the budget has not been adopted by the governing authority , then only 50% of last year’s final adopted budget is deemed to be appropriated for the current year. This 50% limitation continues until a new budget is adopted.”

Half to spend on everything. That might not be so bad if seat-sitter salaries are halved. And, while law is clear about the half spending, it’s not clear which (if any) state agency will monitor the discount spending which must be regularly reported. Any volunteers?

While the law is clear that the cut rate continues until a new budget is adopted, who knows when that will be. One would have to have the wisdom of Solomon to know when, and the patience of Job to wait for this bunch to agree on anything.
And yet again, our folks turned down another state grant (as in, free money) during Tuesday’s show. This $75,000 would have been dedicated to a new animal shelter. The squabble, we heard, was over the location. Or should we say, the Mayor’s preferred location.

Ah, but we understand. It would have been too easy to take our returned tax dollars and discuss where to spend it later. The dogs and cats can wait until their humans display their superior intelligence. That could take the life span of a Galapagos Land Tortoise.

Maybe it’s just coffee shop gossip, but what we heard from the rocker is ignoring the budget deadline boils down to salary increases for a couple of the Mayor’s hires. Seems a promised raise to a couple of mayoral hires raised hackles among some on the governing (?) body.

Could there have been a compromise? Only the uncompromising know for sure. But digging in heels often makes heels of those who sit in the supposed power seats. It’s a big responsibility to show who’s really in charge.

One counciler suggested adding salary increases for the city’s police officers and firefighters. A workshop, he said, could be scheduled to work on details for an amendment to the budget. That idea died with the non-budget.

To understand the plight of first responders, one must take a step or two in their shoes. Rocker hasn’t met more than a finger-full of elected officials who will run to the sound of gunfire or into a burning building.

While considering whether or not these servants deserve a tad more for their lives, maybe we, the great unwashed, should call our dedicated public officials when an emergency arises. If they respond, we’ll gladly take up a collection and pay them thirteen dollars an hour for their service.

A final word: To quell a rumor, this child is not cynical. Rocker just watches government and reports the facts.

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Shea Vernon Lewis, 40, of the 200 block of Lucy St., Cotton Valley, was arrested by Springhill Police as a fugitive from Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Samuel Dance, 38, of the 100 block of Timothy Dr., Minden, was arrested by Minden Police and WPSO on an active felony warrant.

Jana LeAnne Windham, 56, of the 300 block of Adkins Rd., Cotton Valley, was arrested by WPSO deputies for violation of a protective order.

Hunter G. Woolems, 18, of Pulaski, Ark., was arrested by WPSO for simple criminal damage to property.

Chandra Nicole Mosley, 42, of Haughton, was arrested by WPSO for forgery and monetary instrument abuse, while in custody. Tarenzo Joshua Jones, 24, of Minden, was arrested by Louisiana State Police Troop G for driving while intoxicated (first offense) and careless operation of a motor vehicle.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Trespassing and drugs landed a Minden woman in jail Sunday afternoon.
Kimberly Anne Holland, 40, of the 700 block of E. Todd, Minden, was arrested by Minden Police and charged with criminal trespass, possession of Sch. II Methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile.
Chief Steve Cropper said officers were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Tatum Street in reference to trespassers.
“Lt. Chris Hammontree, K9 officer Tigo and Off. Jason Lee found two subjects – Kimberly and David Holland – arguing with the property caretaker,” Cropper said. “Off. Lee attempted to separate the parties, but the Hollands appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant. The female would not stop moving and chewing, while the male was sweating profusely.”
David Holland told officers they had been at the house less than a minute to see if it was for sale.
“When the officer pointed out that David was sweating, he told them their vehicle was stuck in a hole, and he was frustrated,” said Cropper. “Then he told officers that when he tried to leave, the property caretaker pulled a gun on them. It was during this conversation that a nine-year-old girl exited the Holland’s vehicle.”
The caretaker reportedly told officers he received a phone call concerning a vehicle on the property. When he arrived, he found the Hollands. According to reports, when the caretaker called the police, David Holland approached him aggressively. In fear of his safety, the caretaker removed his handgun from his truck but said he never pointed it at anyone.
David Holland reportedly granted permission for officers to search his vehicle.
“Lt. Hammontree found a black bag on top of a purse with a Meth pipe inside,” the chief said. “K9 Tigo alerted on the passenger side door of the vehicle. Also discovered was a used Meth pipe, snorting straw and baggie of suspected Methamphetamine that later weighed at 6 grams. All of the items were inside Kimberly Holland’s purse. She was arrested on the drug charges, while David Holland was cited for trespassing and released.

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The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest History Museum: Sports, History and More!

Completed in 2013, Louisiana’s newest museum is located in the heart of the state’s oldest city. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum is a superb place for sports and history buffs.

The building’s award-winning modernist architecture is its most notable feature. The firm of Trahan Architects designed the building which was constructed at a cost of approximately 28 million dollars. The building is covered in copper cladding reminiscent of plowed fields while the curved walls of the interior suggest a river-like flow. The effect is quite remarkable and makes the museum building itself a destination for architecture buffs.

The museum is perhaps best known as the host of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremonies, an event that draws attention to the incredible array of athletic talent in our state. There is more to the museum, however. In addition to the LSHOF inductees, the first floor has hosted rotating displays on everything from plantation photography from the 1920’s to historic fishing lures. The second floor has displays on the history of high school and college sports as well as hunting. There are also displays of artifacts dating from the 18 th century to the early 20 th century that interpret the history of our area.

The museum’s educational outreach program is remarkably eclectic. The facility sponsors around eight “Lunchtime Lagniappe” programs each year in which experts in a variety of topics speak over lunchtime. The Ladies Bass Anglers Association held “Teach a Kid to Fish Day” complete with casting practice. There have been presentations on Louisiana in WWII as well as panel discussions on bass fishing techniques. The topics on the Lunchtime Lagniappe and other programs hold something for any interest. There is no admission charge for the museum if attending a program.

The museums hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Admission is $6.00 for adults, $5.00
for seniors 62+, students and active military. Children six and under are free. The museum’s address is
800 Front St. Natchitoches, LA 71457, 318-357-2492.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Police arrested a local man recently on multiple charges including resisting an officer, resisting an officer by force and violence and simple criminal damage to property.
Johnel Woodard Jr., 38, of the 100 block of Pine Street was arguing with a female on Main St. near the library when MPD officer Jason Lee was dispatched to break up the incident.
Chief Steve Cropper said his office was told there were children at the scene and the two adult subjects were throwing things at one another.
“Off. Lee pulled his police unit into a close parking spot near Woodard, who was then walking down Main St., pushing a child’s stroller,” Cropper said. “Woodard immediately began telling the officer that he had not done anything wrong.”
Cropper said the officer observed a crying infant in the stroller.
“The officer asked Woodard to identify himself, but he refused to answer the question,” said the chief. “Woodard failed to comply with numerous verbal orders to identify himself, so he was placed under arrest with the assistance of Lt. Chris Hammontree and and Sgt. Donald Brice.”
Woodard reportedly struggled with officers who were trying to put him in the police unit.
“While getting Woodard into handcuffs, a female, later identified as Taylor Robinson, came walking toward the officers from the west on the sidewalk,” Cropper said. “Robinson said she and Woodard were near the library, trying to call a taxi to take them to their residence when they got into a verbal altercation. She said Woodard then threw a cup of ice at her. Although it didn’t hit her, there were two small children present at the time.”
Woodard was transported to MPD and reportedly began yelling profane statements, saying multiple times that he wanted to engage in a physical altercation with the officers.
At MPD, Woodard continued to yell obscenities at the officers and kicked the unit door, causing a dent.
After being held at MPD, Woodard was transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Returning to the scene of the crime was not a good move for a local man.
Willie James Green, 21, of the 100 block of Loop Rd., Minden, was arrested by Minden Police for simple robbery and felony criminal damage to property.
Chief Steve Cropper said Lt. Chris Hammontree was dispatched to Washington Street in reference to a disturbance.
“Lt. Hammontree made contact with a female who told him her ex-boyfriend, Willie Green, came to the residence and started a disturbance,” Cropper said. “Green tried to grab the female’s phone, but she kept it by holding it with both hands. The two struggled over the phone until Green got it and fled the scene.”
Green reportedly returned to the address about an hour later and threw the stolen phone from the window of a vehicle in which he was a passenger.
“Lt. Hammontree located the vehicle and the owner – Green’s cousin – told the officer that Green threw the phone on the ground and broke it before taking it back to the female’s residence,” said Cropper. “Green gave officers several different stories concerning the phone, but he admitted he ‘snatched’ it out of the female’s hands.”
Retail value of the phone was around $1,200 making the destruction a felony act.
Green was arrested and booked at MPD before being transferred to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Local contractor Benton & Brown has made quick work of improvements to Longleaf and Woodard streets, just north of Country Club Circle.
Having received three bids, Benton & Brown was lowest qualified bidder at $416,500. The City of Minden had budgeted a little more than $500,000 to repave the two streets.
The project stopped short on Woodard Drive, as a portion of it is outside the city limits.
Some residents feel Longleaf and Woodard were in such bad shape due to the number of residents in the Timberline Subdivision.
Webster Parish Assessor Denise Edwards said there are 137 parcels in Timberline with 10 on Deer Creek, nine on Longleaf, eight on Post Oak Lane and 50 on Woodard – 37 inside and 13 outside, which are included in the Timberline total.
“It is one way in and one way out and that is Woodard, Post Oak and Longleaf,” Edwards said. “And there is also Deer Creek Subdivision and the only way in and out of it is Longleaf.”
Edwards said new houses have been built in these areas over the years, so much of that traffic included materials and equipment trucks.
“And many of these families have teenagers who also have a vehicle so it is Mom, Dad and kids going up and down the roads, which have not been overlaid in years,” she said.
As of today (Thursday, Sept. 9), striping was finished and only some shoulder work appeared to remain.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A Minden woman is behind bars after refusing to leave a Family Dollar Store on Shreveport Road.
Kami Dodge, 31, of the 1200 block of Shreveport Rd, was arrested by Minden Police and charged with two counts of resisting an officer by force and remaining after forbidden.
Chief Steve Cropper said Officer Chris Cayer was dispatched to the store in reference to a subject who refused to leave after being told by staff.
“When the officers arrived, the staff informed them there was a female with red hair who refused to leave,” Cropper said. “The officers verified with employees that the female, later identified as Kami Dodge, was told to leave and refused.”
When officers placed Dodge under arrest, she reportedly began resisting Off. Cayer, who was assisted by Off. Anthony Miller and Lt. Brandon Curry.
“During the apprehension, Dodge attempted to kick Off. Miller and strike Off. Cayer,” said the chief. “She was eventually handcuffed and transported to MPD. Once there, she continued to resist officers and had to be carried into the police department where she continued to try kicking officers until she was placed in a holding cell.”
Dodge was booked and transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center

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By Brad Dison

A large percentage of the world’s population uses mobile phones in their daily lives to do a myriad of tasks. Just over a century ago, however, telephones were in their infancy. Prior to the telephone, messages were transmitted between two points by a telegraph system. Rather than hearing a human voice, the person receiving a message only heard a series of beeps (Morse code) which he had to decipher.

In 1876, the United States Patent Office issued a patent to Alexander Graham Bell for the electric telephone, a device that clearly produced a replication of the human voice as a second device. On March 10 of that year, Bell completed the first successful intelligible telephone transmission when he spoke into the telephone’s microphone “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” Thomas Watson, Bell’s assistant, was listening to a receiver in an adjoining room. He heard and understood each word.

In the following year, Bell’s father-in-law organized the Bell Telephone Company. Other telephone companies were subsequently established throughout the world. Initially, two telephones were connected by a single, direct wire or line, which meant that the two callers could only communicate with each other.

For telephones to be more marketable, they needed to be able to connect to other telephones with ease. In May of 1877, Edwin Holmes, owner of the Holmes Burglar Alarm Company in Boston, Massachusetts, installed the first ever telephone switchboard. Telephone callers in Boston called the operator at the Boston Telephone Dispatch and requested to be connected to whomever they wanted to speak with. The operator manually plugged in a cable which connected the two telephones. Switchboards in large cities were usually mounted floor to ceiling to allow for the ever-increasing number of telephone users. When the number of calls reached capacity, another switchboard was installed on another wall nearby. Switchboards in rural areas were usually located in the operator’s home so the operator could service calls at all hours.

Originally, the Boston Telephone Dispatch company hired only boys as telephone operators because they had been successful as telegraph operators. The company quickly determined that the boys lacked patience, expressed bad attitudes to callers, and their general behavior was unacceptable. In September, the company hired Emma Nutt, the world’s first female telephone operator. The experiment was so successful that, for the next 80 years, most telephone companies only hired female operators.

Candlestick telephones were common from the 1870s until the 1940s. These telephones featured a mouthpiece mounted onto a stand and an earpiece which the user held to the ear during a call. In 1919, the Bell telephone company sold and installed the first ever rotary dial candlestick telephone in Norfolk, Virginia.

As more and more telephone customers upgraded their telephones with ones featuring rotary dialing, switchboards with live local operators were mostly abandoned for automatic switchboards. This improved telephone callers’ privacy because operators had the ability to listen in on telephone conversations. Rather than telling an operator who you would like to be connected with, callers dialed the proper number and connected themselves to the person with whom they wished to speak.

Most of the telephone switchboards in the United States were eventually upgraded to automatic switchboards. Santa Catalina Island, just off the coast near Los Angeles, was the last holdout. The island was the last telephone office in the United States which operated entirely using manual switchboard operators. Santa Catalina finally replaced its 19 wooden switchboards and its 16 full-time switchboard operators with dial telephones…in 1978, one hundred years after the installation of telephone operators.

Sources:

1. Chicago Tribune, October 23, 1876, p.3.

2. The Boston Globe, March 7, 1912, p.11.

3. The Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia), March 8, 1916, p.3.

The Los Angeles Times, August 10, 1978, p.162.

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By Hailey Dinkins

North Webster Yearbook Staff

Last Thursday night North Webster High School held their annual Spirit Walk, hosted by our local Piggly Wiggly grocery store. The Spirit Walk is when the Band of Armor, Auxiliary, Lady Royales, Cheerleaders, Knightline, and football players parade from the school to the south end of Main Street to throw a city-wide pep rally!

During the pep rally, each spirit group took their turn to dance and cheer for the surrounding crowd of parents, students, and Knights fans. We are so thankful that our fans came out to support us despite their busy schedules and the end of summer heat.

The Spirit Walk is packed full of fun and games. Because we were outside, we got to have a water balloon toss. The participants in this game paired up and tossed their water balloons back and forth as they took a step back each round. If your balloon bursts, you’re out! This game was dominated by Jacobreious Walker and Tytravion Mendenhall.

We then had a dance off, in which Kamry Morris won by a long shot. All of the participants had fun and danced their hearts out to the music, but Kam’s moves were untouchable.

My favorite part was when we were divided into our classes to play a new and slightly dangerous game, where the smallest in each class walked across planks held by their classmates. I may have been dropped on the ground a few times, but it was worth it when my class, the seniors, won!

We ended our pep rally with Jacobreious Walker inviting everyone to the game the following night against Haynesville (Spoiler Alert: We won 34 to 7). He also expressed gratitude on behalf of our school to Piggly Wiggly for sponsoring this epic event. After his speech, the team gathered in a huddle to call it up. “Knights on me, Knights on 3! 1,2,3, KNIGHTS!”

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Celebration of an historic and impressive opening football victory is short lived at Glenbrook as the Apaches turn their attention to the defending LHSAA Division IV state champion Calvary Cavaliers.

A week removed from their first-ever LHSAA football game, the Apaches now focus on the No. 1 team in Class 1A. The Calvary Cavaliers will host a fiery, but outnumbered Apaches squad Friday night.

Although the Cavalier roster is double the size of the Apaches, Glenbrook head coach David Feaster hopes that last year’s game against Greenville Christian has provided his team with the experience and courage needed to stand up to the challenge.

“We are hoping our guys are not intimidated by those guys and go over there and put forth a great effort.”

Calvary will enter the game with one of the state’s top-ranked quarterbacks in Louisiana Tech commit, Landry Lyddy, running their offense. Last week Lyddy carved up the Logansport defense en route to a 477-yard, five-touchdown performance.

Lyddy’s favorite target last week was sophomore receiver, Aubrey Hermes, who hauled in 11 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns.

The Apache defense will need a strong effort from Hayden Harmon, Maddox Mandino, and Tre Kent in order to slow down the explosive Cavalier offense.

The Apache offense will once again look to spread the wealth and get the ball in the hands of their plethora of weapons in order to keep pace with the Cavaliers. Glenbrook rolled up 45 first-half points in a 59-28 romp over former MAIS rival River Oaks last Friday night.

Kickoff is at 7 o’clock Friday night at Jerry Barker Stadium on the campus of Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, in the first District 1-1A contest for both teams.

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By Josh Beavers

The Lakeside Warriors were slated to host the Block Bears Friday night in a non-district high school football game, but the COVID pandemic reared its ugly head once again and changed those plans.

Friday’s game against Block has been canceled due to Covid protocols for the Jonesville-based school, but LHS may not take the weekend off.

Per new LHSAA guidelines, Block’s predicament will result in an automatic forfeit win for Lakeside.

The Journal spoke to Lakeside coach Mike Santelices Wednesday night, and the head man said he was seeking an opponent to fill the gap left due to the Covid cancellation.

Heading into this morning, no opponent had been found. Lakeside is 1-0 on the season after defeating Magnolia 39-0.

The Journal will provide updates if they arise.

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By Josh Beavers

The Lakeside Cross Country team travelled to Choudrant over the weekend to compete in the first meet of the season.

Coach Eric Smith took eight runners on the trip. There were 16 schools represented with more than 170 total runners.

“Everyone did awesome,” Smith told The Journal. “The first race is always the hardest because everyone’s excited and nervous all at the same time.”

Kendrayvious Dubose (39th overall out of 102) and Jairo Aguinaga (50th overall) finished in the top half of the boys race. Luke Mandino, Peyton Gray, and Brandon Bell all set a personal record. This was also the first cross country race for Gray and Bell.

“The girls did amazing,” Smith continued. “This was the first-ever cross country race for all three, and all three are only in seventh grade.”

Kelly Basinger finished 24th overall out of 70. She was the third-fastest seventh grader at the race. Maggie Mandino finished 61st overall and Elizabeth Burson finished 67th overall. All three girls set a personal record and competed in the varsity race running against high school athletes.

The team has meets on just about every weekend from now until the LHSAA state meet on Nov. 15 in Natchitoches.

This weekend high school runners will be at Parkway’s race in South Bossier, followed by Cedar Creek’s race in Ruston at Lincoln Parish Park. “Then we are off to Holy Savior Menard in Alexandria, and then we head to Texarkana for the first time to compete in the Dragon Country Invitational,” Smith said. “We have a couple of weeks with no races, but we will be preparing for our own Lakeside race, and finally there is the state meet at NSU.”

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By Whitman McGee

Rarely does the coach of a team that lost its season opener by three touchdowns have to temper expectations for its second game, but that’s one of the challenges facing Minden High School football coach Spencer Heard.

The Crimson Tide, which fell at home 45-14 last Friday to a potent Parkway team, is back at W.W. Williams Stadium in Minden Friday night to host Green Oaks.

The Giants took it on the chin even worse last Friday, blown out on the road in Monroe by Carroll’s Bulldogs, 45-0.

Don’t take the Giants lightly, though, warns Heard. Last season they mimicked Minden’s outstanding 2020 campaign, making a state playoff quarterfinal appearance while finishing with a 7-3 record.

“They’re a good team, ” Heard said. “They’ve got some explosive players, especially at the receiver position. “We’re gonna try to do a good job in the secondary to contain those guys.”

Although things didn’t pan out in the opening game, Heard was proud of his group’s effort, if not the performance.

“We fought until the end, played hard, and showed resiliency.”

Heard has preached efficiency to the Tide and says that if Minden can improve on the basics, “I feel good about our chances.”

The last matchup between these two teams dates all the way back to the 2004 season. Minden, coached at the time by now Glenbrook Head Coach David Feaster, was looking for its fourth win in a row after beginning the season with a loss to Haughton. The Tide posted a 15-point win at home, when seniors on this year’s squad were in diapers.

Now, 17 years later, these two unfamiliar opponents square off again with both teams looking to get back on the right track.

Coach Heard feels that the first game jitters have come and gone, telling the Journal, “As the game wore on you saw them calm down a little bit and I think a lot of that (anxiousness) is going to be gone after last week. I think they’ll just go out there and let their talent shine through.”

Local fans are encouraged to make it to “The Pit” — W.W Williams Stadium at MHS – for Friday’s 7 o’clock kickoff. Radio coverage of the Crimson Tide is available at 104.5 KBEF.

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The North Webster Knights will face a much different test than the one they aced last week.

After a convincing 34-7 victory over Haynesville to open the 2021 campaign, North Webster welcomes the North Caddo Titans to Springhill Friday at 7 p.m. The Titans (1-0) survived a thriller last week against the Homer Pelicans, pulling out a 26-25 victory thanks to a last-second touchdown pass.

While it had to feel good for head coach John Ware’s team to nearly keep the Golden Tornado Wing-T offense off the scoreboard in week one, North Webster knows a powerful spread attack is visiting from Vivian.

The Knights defense will be tasked with containing the explosive North Caddo duo of LSU wide receiver commitment Omarion Miller and rising running back Kelvin Black. The pair proved too much for Homer, with Black totaling three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) and Miller finding paydirt from 50 yards out on a great run after the catch.

While much of the noise is surrounding the visitors’ offense, North Caddo’s defense shouldn’t be relaxed. North Webster showed last week they have multiple ways to dissect defenses.

Senior running back Jamarcus Stephens finished the Haynesville game with nine carries for 134 yards and two scores, adding two catches for 43 yards and a receiving touchdown. Junior running back Cooper Sanders went over the century mark in total yards, rushing for 94 and adding one catch for 10 yards. Junior quarterback Colin McKenzie got in on the action with a rushing touchdown of his own, in addition to tossing a pair of touchdowns (one to Stephens and the other to senior Seth Dehart).

It’s a battle of early unbeaten teams at Baucum-Farrar Stadium, with both schools’ sights set on starting 2-0.

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Carter J. Moreau
October 27, 1931 – July 30, 2021
Visitation:  9:00 am until time of service
Services:  September 18, 2021 at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church in Plaucheville, Louisiana
Rosary and Mass will begin at 11:00 am

David Sanders
September 19, 1947 – September 1, 2021
Service: 12:00 p.m. Friday, September 10, 2021, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana 71111.
Visitation: 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. 

Kin Michael Fulton
July 18, 1964 – September 6, 2021
Services: Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. 

John Kinney Lawrence
March 7, 1939 – September 5, 2021
Services: Monday, September 13, 2021at 10:00a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana.
Visitation:  4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday, September 12, 2021.
Burial: Hill Crest Memorial Park, 601 Highway 80 East Haughton, Louisiana. 

Scott James Willmes
July 19, 1971 – September 4, 2021
Services:  Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 522 E. Flournoy Lucas Rd., Shreveport, Louisiana.
Private ceremony: at Rose-Neath Cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Rd. in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Joseph “Joey” Anthony Cannatella, Jr.
November 4, 1952 – September 3, 2021
Services: Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana.
Visitation: Friday, September 10, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Burial: Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City, Louisiana. 

Adam J Desoto
May 18, 1990 – September 7, 2021
Services: Saturday, September 11, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marksville, Louisiana.
Burial: will be held in St. Joseph’s Mausoleum #2. 

James Harry Babineaux
November 26, 1946 – September 5, 2021
Services:  Friday, September 10, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana.
Visitation:  Friday, September 10, 2021 beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time.
Burial: Forest Park East Cemetery, 3700 St. Vincent Ave., Shreveport, Louisiana.  

Ada Mae McFayden
June 1, 1924 – September 5, 2021
Graveside Services:  Friday, September 10, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Rd., Shreveport, Louisiana.

Thomas Jefferson Cox
October 24, 1929 – September 5, 2021
Service:  Friday, September 10, 2021 at 10:00 AM, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Coushatta chapel
Visitation: 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM, Thursday, September 9, 2021, at the funeral home.
Interment: Bethany Cemetery in Fairview community. 

Velma Lorene Lemley Berry Lightfoot
January 9, 1922 – September 6, 2021
Graveside Services:  Friday, September 10, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. at Stonewall Cemetery in Stonewall, Louisiana.
Visitation:  Friday, September 10, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Isiah L. “Sonny” Reno
December 6, 1941 – September 5, 2021
Graveside Services: Thursday, September 9, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at Lane Memorial Cemetery in Sibley, Louisiana.

Daniel Rodriguez Roque
October 11, 1977 – September 6, 2021
Service: 4:00 p.m., Thursday, September 9, 2021 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Linda Pearl Lewis Lee
February 17, 1952 – September 2, 2021
Services:  Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana.
Visitation: Wednesday, September 8, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial: Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Rd., in Shreveport.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden City Council members once again failed to adopt a budget Tuesday night, putting the city in danger of coming to a standstill if money runs out before they settle their differences.
With all city councilpersons attending, the vote was 3-2 against passing the budget. District A Councilman Wayne Edwards, District B Councilwoman Terika Williams-Walker and District C Councilman Vincen Bradford cast the dissenting votes.

Promised raises for Economic Development Director Phillip Smart and Human Resources Director April Aguilar appear to be at the core of the disagreement.

“There’s some things in there (budget) that need to be ironed out,” Walker said, as her reason for voting against the budget. “And the mayor’s aware of it. There are some employees that have not been here for a long period of time that are getting raises. That’s an issue.”

Another problem was raises for Minden Police and Firefighters.

District D Councilman Michael Roy made the motion to adopt the budget, adding a twist at the end.
“I move to adopt a resolution adopting the City of Minden 2021/2022 budget with the recommendation that a council workshop be held to discuss fire and police raises to determine the source of funding for a future budget amendment within 60 days,” Roy said.

If a budget is not passed before the end of a fiscal year, there may be consequences.
Louisiana Municipal Association handbook reads if a municipality fails to pass a budget:

“At the end of any fiscal year, if the appropriations necessary for the support of the
municipality for the ensuing fiscal year have not been made, 50 percent of the amount
appropriated in the appropriation ordinance for the last completed fiscal year shall be
deemed reappropriated for the objects and purposes specified therein.”

City attorney Jimbo Yocum said once that 50 percent of the budget is gone, there is no more money to disperse.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean everyone gets half a paycheck,” Yocum said. “Once we meet that half-way mark, there’s no more money to be dispersed. If it’s (one cent more) nobody gets paid, so it’s a sudden stop.”
At that point, at the discretion of the state, “we will draw a legislative audit, which no one wants because that presents a whole host of problems.”

The back wall of council chambers was lined with Minden Police officers, some of whom gave impassioned speeches to council members in order to convince them of the need for first responder raises which can only happen with an adopted budget.

Jason Smith, president of the Minden Police Association, described the lack of police officers as a problem with pay, a crisis and a life and death situation.

“This is an officer safety and community safety issue,” Smith told the council. “We are down one-third of our officers, all from patrol. This means that at any given time, there are one to three officers on the street.”

In addition to Smith, Lt. Joel Kendrick described to the council the horror of telling a mother her child is dead due to violence in the city. Then, several local residents begged the council to put their differences behind them and pass a budget that would include the raises.

Resident Brian McLaughlin told the council that he knows everyone feels their job is important and difficult, however, “These guys (police) put their lives on the line every day. They took an oath; they don’t get to say ‘no.’ When you call, when I call, they have got to show up. If you can’t pay them, why do you get paid? You (aren’t) doing your job.”

Webster Parish Journal reporter Josh Beavers live-streamed the council meeting, which included all police and community comments, as well as comments from council members after the meeting. Please see his Facebook page for the extended story.

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