By Bonnie Culverhouse

Alford Davis was a quiet man who just liked to grow things.

Little did his friends know, while he was growing his vegetables, he was also growing his money.

“He was as tight as the paint on your house,” said Homer Humphreys. “I would go fill up his truck for him, and he would ‘forget’ to pay me back.”

But when Davis left this life as quietly as he lived it, he left with a bang in the form of the largest single donation ever made to the Minden St. Jude Auction.

“We were blown away,” said auction co-chairman Melissa Brown. “We knew we were getting a check, but we had no idea it would be this much. I was in total shock. He must’ve saved 50 cents on the dollar.”

Laura Hollingsworth, who went with Brown to accept the check, said she did not know Davis, but they are all very grateful.

“That check is already in Memphis,” Hollingsworth said. “The hospital already has it. We didn’t want to be responsible for something that sizable.”

The annual auction begins at 9 a.m. Thursday, and Brown hopes to have Humphreys on air around 6 p.m. to reveal the exact amount.

Humphreys took care of Davis the last 20 years of his life.

“His son David lived close to us, and he asked me, if anything ever happened to him, if I’d watch after his daddy,” Humphreys said. “Well, David died of a heart attack in his thirties. And I’ve been taking care of his dad ever since.”

Davis passed away July 30 at the age of 97, a widower with no other children or heirs.

“He would call me if his bank statement was off by 46 cents or 35 cents,” Humphreys said. “We would be on the phone for hours, just trying to get it straightened out.”

Davis lived frugally and was happy as long as he had vegetables to eat, Humphreys said.

So, he was a bit surprised when Davis drew up his will, leaving everything to St. Jude. He was even more surprised to learn he was the executor of Davis’ estate.

“Mr. Al told me one time he wanted to leave something to St. Jude,” Humphreys said. “He told me, ‘I love them little rascals.’”

Davis also loved animals and his dog, Rowdy, is pictured with him on a sign outside the Minden Civic Center.

“That was just the kind of man he was,” Humphreys said. “He would crack pecans for the birds and throw them out on his driveway. But It was all about the kids for him.”

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By Theresa Gardner

The Minden St.Jude Playhouse team hope you will “Step right up and purchase a $10 raffle ticket for this year’s Minden St. Jude Fun House on Wheels!”

For the past 11 years the Minden Fire Department has worked to build the playhouse, which has become an important tradition in the annual St. Jude fundraiser.  For the past seven years, Laura Spillers and Haley Robinson have used their talents to design the playhouse.

“We just love doing this,” Spillers said. “Every year we say, ‘this is our favorite one, and we really mean it this year!” Spillers went on to say, “ you will marvel over carnival style games, popcorn machine, photo booth, bay window seating and table top with a window view! This trailer is decked out with all the bells and whistles, and we really think the winner is going to love it!”

Spillers pointed out that each year she and Robinson make a point of adding the names of each of the local patients, past and present, who have been treated at St. Jude.

“This year we added the names to the little lion decals,” she said. “We feel like it’s a good way to honor these children.”

Spillers said in addition to the firemen, there are many who make donations toward the creation of the playhouse. 

“We start planning next year’s playhouse a few hours after the current auction and fundraiser are over,” she said. “When we have the theme and it’s made public, people want to be a part and want to contribute specifically to the playhouse in honor of or in memory of their loved ones who have gone to St. Jude.”

Raffle tickets are $10 each.

Contributors to this year’s playhouse are:

• The Firemen Construction Team: Guy Mandino, Tyler Mandino, David Lewis, Andrew Miles, Tony Hall, Matt Wilson, Hank Ashley
• Design Team: Laura Spillers and Haley Robinson
• Tommy John Hughes carpenter
• James Harrington electrician
• Perryman welding- windows, shocks and metal reinforcements
• Kemp Design- Wrap Design on the outside
• Topps-Cargo Hauler
• Interstate Building Materials- Lumber and Materials
• Jodi Prince- counter top
• Lyndee Roberson- Fridge, toys, decor in Memory of her Mom Sharon Maness
• Wade Maness-Popcorn Machine in memory of his wife Sharon Maness
• Kara Lindsay- metal brackets for bar top
• Misty Swilley at Velvet Home and Clothing-Rug
• Rene and Terry Tate- Circus Drum
• The Tucker Family- wallpaper cheetahs in memory or Catherine Tucker
• Ashley Benson and The Busby’s- stuffed tiger and giraffe and other decor in honor of Son and Grandson Cole Benson
• Lily Spillers- wall paper installation
• Glen and Kelly Warren stuffed elephant, dart board and animal crackers
• Joe and Delores Robinson- Polaroid Camera
• Andrea Patterson- window Treatments
• Kim Mandino- painted details
• Carla Hubbard-wish maker donated in memory of Freda Albritton
• Jennifer and Tracy Campbell- cross stitch and children’s books
• Whitney Howell- contracts

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Nothin’ like a little trip to energize the senses and make a person appreciate what’s out in the real world, but it’s always nice to get back onto the porch and into the ol’ rocker. It’s also nice to see that while the world continues to turn, some things just don’t seem to move with it.

We timed our return to the rocker to coincide with one of this part of the country’s most (in)famous entertainment venues, a Minden city council meeting. As mentioned previously, some things don’t seem to change. Same song, hundredth verse.

As has been their habit since the first days of this administration, seat occupiers Williams-Walker and Bradford said no on approval of minutes from the previous council meeting. We and the curious world continue to wonder what’s the deal with this practice. It has become an expected, and irritating, introduction to each meeting ritual. Heckfire, it ain’t even cool. 

As we mentioned some time ago, there’s nothing in this city’s charter that requires a council person to explain such a vote. There is ethical precedence, however, to expect a “leader” in the community to explain why an innocuous item brings consistent negativity. But, as we heard from a “leader” once upon a time, some persons don’t have to explain anything. Not even to their constituents, and especially not to their mayor.

Speaking of consistency, we noticed at Monday’s show that Ms. Williams-Walker is still having trouble raising that right hand. Maybe it sounds a little silly, but each time Hizzonner asked for a council vote by raising the right hand, W-W’s arm never moved. That practice seems to have been going on practically since day one of the current administration.

Please forgive us, but it’s very much like trying to get a pouting kindergartener to cooperate about anything. Pretty hard to have confidence in a representative of the people who consistently displays this “I don’t want to, I don’t have to and you can’t make me” attitude.  Something as simple as a hand-raising shouldn’t be that difficult. Apparently personal overrides public in community concerns for some “leaders.”  

We are extremely happy to see Hanlon’s Razor is still sharp as ever, and that the puppet strings have remained well waxed in our absence. 

Speaking of puppet strings and those who pull them, there was a time when, from our porch, we couldn’t see the forest for the trees along that section of Sheppard Street beside the fire station and across the street. Thick woods sorta kept secret what was on the other side. Now, friends, there’s a new view. Lots of tree and brush clearing has opened up spaces previously known only to critters and creepies.

That give us a serious case of the curiosities. We were told some time ago that a local church had purchased property on both sides of the street down there, but lips went mum when asked about future plans for the property. Hopefully one of our little birdies can learn something and drop off something other than droppings. You know, like the stuff that comes from city hall.

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There are so many things I love about this city. I’ve called Minden home for more than 43 years, and in all that time I have never ceased to be amazed at how we can all rally for the common good and love of things that bring us together. 

One such event begins this week. 

It’s time for Minden to gather for a common cause, one that everyone can agree on no matter your opinion on topics that can divide us. It’s Auction time, time for our community to rally behind the vulnerable – our children – who are burdened with debilitating forms of cancer and seek treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. 

Our city and surrounding communities contribute more money per capita to St. Jude than any other city in the United States. During a pandemic, we brought in more than $1.6 million in 2021. That may be considered unbelievable by some standards, but it’s just the way it is in Minden. We expect to go all out for St. Jude, and we never fail to do so.

There is no more noble cause than supporting St. Jude. It is one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. The center is only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute.  Children from all 50 states and from around the world have come through the doors of St. Jude for treatment, and thousands more around the world have benefited from the research conducted at St. Jude – research that is shared freely with the global medical community.  St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatments that are not covered by insurance.

The Minden St. Jude auction began on KASO 1240 AM radio four decades ago and has grown to become a four-day telethon and raffle that is simultaneously broadcast on the local radio and cable station. Since its inception, the Auction has raised more than $20 Million for children’s research benefitting St. Jude. That is astounding and just proves that when Minden comes together nothing is impossible.

Be a part of the Minden St. Jude Auction either by attending in person at the Civic Center or listening/viewing on KASO AM/KBEF FM and Suddenlink Cable.

(Content paid for by Terry Gardner for Mayor)

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

A year ago this week, Webster Parish was in Super Bowl ecstasy. Two native sons, Minden High’s L’Jarius  Sneed and North Webster High’s Devin White, were preparing to square off for the NFL championship in Super Bowl LV.

White led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 12 tackles in their shocking 31-9 demolition of Sneed’s Kansas City Chiefs, the defending champion.

The two-week buildup to the game was filled with local pride and joy. Webster Parish couldn’t ask for two finer representatives on the National Football League’s biggest stage – both key defensive starters for their conference championship teams.

Neither the Bucs or the Chiefs are back in this year’s Super Bowl. Sneed and White will join the rest of us watching Sunday evening’s showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers.

But there’s still local rooting interests for the upcoming matchup of surprise teams.

And it’s not just waiting to see if you’ve drawn the lucky squares, or if you’ve placed winning wagers on one of Louisiana’s recently-launched sports betting platforms.

There’s reason to cheer for both sides Sunday.

Cincinnati has become the Bayou Bengals this season, led by second-year sensation Joe Burrow and rookie Ja’marr Chase. That passing combination was pivotal to the 2019 LSU Tigers steamrolling the competition on the way to a perfect, record-shattering season culminating in the BCS National Championship.

Burrow, who grew up in Ohio not far from Cincy, earned the eternal adoration of Tiger fans and just anyone Louisiana-proud with his Heisman Trophy senior season. When he walked out through the goalposts onto the field at Tiger Stadium on Senior Night wearing a custom “Burreaux” Number 9 jersey, he got a virtual statewide standing ovation.

In his injury-shortened rookie season, there was an undercurrent of Bayou State support for him and the NFL Bengals. When Cincinnati used its top 2021 draft pick on Chase, and the Bengals began collecting wins while Joe and Ja’marr piled up passing yardage, statewide fan interest increased in the Queen City’s NFL team.

As Cincinnati surged through the AFC playoffs, the Saints never made it in, and the Cowboys didn’t stay very long. That added to the Bengals’ appeal in these parts.

So, too, does the story of Trent Taylor, a Cincinnati receiver and returner who played at Shreveport’s Evangel High School and east of here at Louisiana Tech. Calvary Baptist product Brandon Wilson, a safety and kick returner, is on the Bengals roster but won’t play Sunday due to a season-ending injury.

There’s reason to root for the Rams, too. A pair of LA players hail from I-20. Shreveport-Fair Park’s Robert Rochell got hurt in December but the defensive back has a slight chance to return to action Sunday. West Monroe’s Andrew Whitworth is the NFL’s oldest remaining player (40), a four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle. In a neat twist, the former LSU Tiger played 11 seasons in Cincinnati before heading to the West Coast in 2017.

If that don’t impress you much, well, there’s the high dollar commercials, and the high-octane halftime show, the first rap-based Super Bowl showcase.

But the Louisiana flavor in the game makes this one spicy for state sports fans.

 

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The Webster Parish Fire Chiefs Association has requested a burn ban for all of Webster Parish to prohibit all outdoor burning and open fires (including fire pits). 

“This request is due to the lack of adequate rainfall the parish has received lately, placing it in an extreme drought condition,” said Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness director Brian Williams. “This ban does not apply to prescribed burns by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.”

Webster Parish Police Jury president Jim Bonsall issued a Declaration of Emergency effective immediately.

 The ban will remain in force until the Webster Parish Fire Chiefs Association determines that the weather conditions are safe enough to cancel the burn ban.

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The Minden Lions installed its new eyeglasses recycle bin today across from Roma Italian Restaurant on Main Street. This bin will make it more convenient than ever to drop off new and used eyeglasses/prescription sunglasses so that they can be recycled and distributed to those in need.

The following individuals and businesses helped make this project possible:

Bennie Wood – bin donation

Perryman Welding – powder coating services

Sherri Gilley – vinyl decals

Germantown Storage – temporary storage of bin

Lion Sam Bethea – concrete base

Lion President Tracy Campbell – project coordinator and lock donation

Don’t forget to gather up your glasses and drop them off soon!

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The 2022 MLK/Black History Parade & Youth Rally – postponed last month – will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 19 in downtown Minden. As of Monday, there were 25 floats signed up for the parade.

Minden High School and Louisiana Tech graduate and current defensive player for the Kansas City Chiefs J.J. Sneed will serve as Grand Marshal of the parade.

There will be a Battle of the Bands, are vendors, scholarship winners and a day of service motivating the youth of Minden.

Everyone is invited to attend.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Stealing from a local mill and selling to a local scrap yard owner got a local man in trouble earlier this week.

James R. Gibson, 43, of the 200 block of Rice Rd., Minden, was arrested Monday by Webster Parish Sheriff’s investigators T.D. Kemp Jr. and Marvin Garrett and charged with felony theft.

Sheriff Jason Parker said the two investigators took a report from a local businessman in reference to the theft of several loads of scrap iron from his mill location on Hwy. 528.

“The owner of another scrap business contacted investigators after the victim positively identified items at the scrap yard that were hauled away from his property on Hwy. 528,” Parker said. “The scrap business owner identified Gibson as the one who sold him this particular scrap iron on numerous occasions recently.”

While investigators were at the scrap yard, Gibson returned with another load of the victim’s scrap iron.

“After the transaction was completed, Gibson was taken into custody,” said the sheriff. “He confessed he had been on the property six to eight times and had stolen iron from the mill. The scrap yard owner said he paid Gibson in excess of a thousand dollars over the last two or three weeks.”

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February 7

Jeremy Shaver, 40, of Cotton Valley, was arrested by Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies on a cruelty to juvenile warrant.

Shondace A. Kemp, 29, of Ringgold was arrested by WPSO on warrants for forgery and obtaining a controlled dangerous substance by fraud.

James R. Gibson, 43, of the 200 block of Rice Rd., Minden, was arrested by WPSO for felony theft.

Jeremy Clark, 28, of the 600 block of Constable St., Minden, was arrested by WPSO on an outstanding felony warrant.

February 9

James L. Barrower, 51, of Sherwood Lane, Springhill, was arrested by WPSO on an active warrant for criminal neglect of family.

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Thomas Jerald Barnett Sr.

September 28, 1942 – February 6, 2022

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, February 11, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport

Graveside service: 10 a.m. Saturday, February 12 at Evergreen Cemetery, 8101 Dorcheat Rd., Minden

 

William T. Welch Sr.

March 12, 1938 – February 7, 2022

Visitation: 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday, February 10, 2022 at The Pentecostals of Haughton Church, 7594 Hwy. 157, Haughton

Funeral service: 11 a.m. Friday, February 11, 2022 at The Pentecostals of Haughton Church, 7594 Hwy. 157, Haughton

Graveside service: 3 p.m. at Epps Cemetery, Hwy. 17, Epps, La.

 

Dr. Bernard Neil Walker

May 1, 1937 –  February 8, 2022

Visitation: 5 until 8 p.m., Thursday, February 10, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport

Graveside service: 10 a.m. Friday, February 11, 2022 at Forest Park West

 

Betty Sue Sneed Wetzel

March 19, 1951 – February 6, 2022

Memorial service: 4 until 6 p.m. Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 373 Keatchie, La. 

 

Michael Patton

January 20, 1950 – February 5, 2022

Visitation: noon until time of service Thursday, February 10, 2022 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 4700 Palmetto Rd., Benton

Memorial service: 1 p.m. Thursday, February 10, 2022 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

Inurnment: Rose-Neath cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Spur, Bossier City

 

John Boggs

May 27, 1964 – January 5, 2022

Graveside service: February 12 at Hill Crest Memorial Park, Haughton

 

Randall ‘Randy’ Lamar Carter

May 23, 1951 – January 20, 2022

Memorial Service: 2 p.m. March 19, 2022 at St. Mark United Methodist Church, El Dorado, Ark.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

An ordinance that would define Bed & Breakfast facilities was put on hold at Monday’s meeting the Minden City Council.

“I just need more clarification and would like this to go back to a workshop,” said District B councilwoman Terika Williams-Walker. Her motion to table the agenda item passed 3-2, with District A councilman Wayne Edwards and District C councilman Vincen Bradford voting with her.

District D councilman Michael Roy and District E councilwoman Pam Bloxom voted against the delay.

In an agenda workshop last week, Building Official Brent Cooley explained the difference in a Bed & Breakfast business and lodging.

“Our home occupations ordinances don’t even say anything about a Bed & Breakfast,” Cooley pointed out. “The ones (B&Bs) we have now have gone through the planning commission as special exceptions.”

Cooley said if it is a house used for lodging (as a Bed & Breakfast), it can be rented by the room and does not require rezoning to commercial.

A boarding house is when no one lives in a house and the bedrooms are rented separately, hotel style.

“That is a commercial venture, regulated under commercial construction and development,” Cooley said.

Another category falls under Air B&B, which Cooley explained is nothing more than a website where Bed & Breakfasts, lodging houses and hotels  are advertised.

“It’s a good time to talk about all of this because it’s coming to us,” Mayor Terry Gardner said at the first workshop.

In other business Monday, the Minden City Council voted unanimously to approve the following items:

• Amendments to the 2020/2021 budget;
• A lease purchase agreement for a backyard bucket truck;
• A lease purchase agreement for a cab tractor and mowing implements;
• Adoption of the 2021 Webster Parish multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Adoption of a Louisiana compliance questionnaire for the audit period 10/01/2020 through 09/30/2021;
• Authorization for the mayor to enter into a contract for 2022 redistricting project;
• Award surplus bids  for two vehicles;
• Budget/financial report; and
• Police report for December 2021.

Adoption of the minutes of the January 2022 meeting and a special session held on January 13 passed by a vote of 3-2, with Walker and Bradford casting the no votes.

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Ice and a sprinkling of snow may have shut down Webster Parish schools last week, but the winter weather didn’t stop students from attending classes.

Parish school board members heard Monday that plans already in place were activated for virtual classes and students did not miss a day as a result of the weather. Parish Supervisor of Elementary Education Oreata Banks and Supervisor of Secondary Education Linda Hudson reported the parish’s plan was “…already prepared and carried through.”

Banks said she and Hudson conducted a survey to get input on the plan from teachers, administrators, parents and students and the results were favorable. Grading on a scale of one to five (with five the highest), 58 percent of 324 responses graded the success of the plan from four to five, Banks and Hudson reported.

“Only 32 percent of those responding gave a grade of three or below,” Banks told board members. “We will use the results of this survey for the future as a basis for improvement.”

Superintendent Johnny Rowland emphasized the plan helped the district save a day of school.

“This was a better alternative than doing nothing,” he said. 

In other business, board members approved a bid of just over $1.260 million to Precision Construction and Contracting (PCC Sports) for a synthetic turf football field for Lakeside Jr./Sr. High School. 

Another bid of $943,000 was awarded to Thrash Construction Services for renovations to North Webster Junior High School’s football stadium in Sarepta. 

Board members also approved invoices for payment from various school district maintenance funds. 

Also at Monday’s meeting, school district Educational Diagnostician Todd Ketchum was named employee of the month. Ketchum received a plaque for his accomplishment from Scott Walker representing Taylor and Sons.

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By Theresa Gardner

A Minden boy celebrated his birthday recently thanks in part to St. Jude.

Happy birthday was sung, candles were blown out and 8-year-old Leaton ORear was all smiles as he celebrated a birthday after being diagnosed with cancer only a few short years ago.

“He was diagnosed with B-Cell ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) in May 2018,” said Leaton’s mother Christian Gardner.  “He was real sick and we were just praying for a miracle.”

Gardner said the miracle came in the form of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

“We had always participated in the St. Jude fund raiser that’s held here in Minden each year,” she said, “And now we were faced with going to Memphis and having our own child there. We were terrified.”

Gardner said after Leaton’s diagnosis he began an aggressive form of chemotherapy, and the hospital that had seemed like a million miles away quickly became something altogether different.

“Everyone was so nice and caring,” Gardner said. “Everyone went out of their way to make us feel at home. We even saw some people we knew from Minden, so we really felt at home.”

Gardner and Leaton’s dad, Hunter O’Rear, credit St. Jude with saving their son’s life.

“St. Jude truly is a God send, for people like us whose children are diagnosed with childhood cancer,” Gardner said. “Without them we might not be celebrating Leaton’s birthday today. We are truly grateful for everything they did for us and continue to do.”

Leaton completed chemo treatments in January 2021 and recently his first full year being off chemo.

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By Shanda Gann

Carla Gray’s family has been involved in the St. Jude auction for generations. Carla’s mom, Annette McDaniel, began her journey with the St. Jude auction 45 years ago never thinking that her family would one day have a child as a patient there. 

Annette said, “About 45 years ago, Pete Treat approached the Lioness Club, that I was a member of, to ask if we would be interested in helping him have a fundraiser through the radio station for a hospital we had never heard of.” 

Pete’s daughter had been treated there, so this was a fundraiser that was near and dear to his heart. The club approved this endeavor and Annette has been involved ever since. They began the 3 day auction in a cramped KASO radio station but made it work. Annette’s first job was collecting money and keeping a record of what was donated. They raised just a little more than $25,000 that first year. A dear friend of Annette, Charlotte Reynolds, was also dedicated to the auction and has worked every one since the second year.

As mentioned above, Annette never dreamed her family would have a patient at St. Jude, but her grandson, Brock, was diagnosed with ALL (a type of Leukemia) at 20 months old. In April of 2010, Brock and his mom, Mandy, flew to the hospital and treatments began. They only spent one night alone as her sister, Brandy and mom, Carla alternated weeks staying with them. There were times that Annette would also travel with them. Another sister, Courtney, would stay when others could not. There was always someone by Mandy and Brock’s side supporting them. 

Brock’s Aunt Brandy had a two-year-old son named Case who was Brock’s best buddy. Brandy would sometimes take Case with her to the hospital. 

“Case would sometimes be the only one who could help Brock cooperate with the doctors and nurses,” she said. “He would help him eat and drink and calm down.” 

Case was just the thing Brock needed during this time. It seemed to bring a sense of normalcy to him.

Brandy also said that holidays were magical at St. Jude’s with “stores” set up for families to shop for free, superheros for halloween, Santa at Christmas, etc. There were always activities for kids to do and they were never just left to be bored in their hospital bed. They pulled wagons, rode IV poles and made crafts and edible arrangements. She said that all of it is real and not just what you see in the commercials.

Mandy and her sisters were raised volunteering at the auction. 

“Before all of the technology, I remember sitting on the back row of the phone bank hand writing pledges,” Brandy said. “The auction has really come a long way.”

Annette also remembers using pen and paper those first years. When they moved to the Civic Center and computers were brought in, Annette and Charlotte worked late into the night putting data into the computers. They did this for a few years until the auction became so big, more help had to be brought in. 

“I turned 80 years old this year,” Annette said. “I may not be able to put in as many hours, but my girls will be definitely be there.”

Brock is now 13 years old and cancer free. He does return to St. Jude to participate in research studies for patients after treatment. Carla’s family will never be the same and you will always see a member of her family at the auction. You might even want to check out the chili that Brock’s dad, Nick, will be cooking at the fundraiser. 

This is a special family and any volunteers helping them with the auction this year will be greatly appreciated.

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Married at 17, three babies by 24. But in her early 40’s she found herself divorced against her will, her house empty of a husband and children, nothing left of value but memories.

She moved to a West Monroe trailer park, bought it, kept teaching school, started over, a good soldier.

Her college-aged son called her practically every day. A male voice to hear, a familiar face to recall, a thread back to good times, maybe a hope for more.

Then one day, the son couldn’t find her. Nothing but dial tones.  

There was a reason: she was on the move again.

Seems one day she’d heard a knock on her trailer door. A high school friend she hadn’t seen in, what, 30 years? He, too, wore the outfit of a dude on the move, a man meaning business: blue jeans, windbreaker, Detroit Tigers ballcap. A West Monroe version of Tom Selleck. (Such were the ’80s: dial tones and Magnum P.I.)

They brewed a pot of coffee, started catching up. And apparently, started hanging out far from any landline.

I could not have been happier for our mother. Or for her guy in the ballcap.

That knock on the door led to 30-plus years of marriage and friendship, of travels all over the country and then some. From the press box in Omaha at the College World Series, I called her and Don in Carmel, California to wish them a happy wedding day. Through the years, my sisters and I got postcards from Montana and Maine and Canada, where momma was once ticketed for fishing without a license.

She’d gone international outlaw.

Don’s mother traveled with them often until she passed away. So did an ornery little Chihuahua named TJ, luckiest dog ever born. He passed too, God bless his loved-to-travel heart.

Mom and Don kept going.

It was a bum liver that slowed them, one Don had no part in damaging. Never smoked. Never drank. Ballplayer. A Marine and then a mail carrier for 33 years, he drew a bad card is all. No reason for it really. Nobody’s fault. They made the most of it, and that was a lot.

He adjusted. They adjusted. And most of the past 16 years were normal until they weren’t, until he died in August.

So proud of his grandsons and my nephews at his celebration service in November. They made us laugh, talking about Don and his camcorder at the grandkids’ ballgames, his photography and ham operator hobbies, Captain Drone, the weird flutes he played back in his room (these things were longer than bed slats), his fascination with the New England Patriots, his love of West Monroe’s Rebs and his love for Sweeter, the family’s affectionate name for our mom.

I appreciate the sentiment of Valentine’s Day, but when those Hallmark cards grow up and hit 80-plus, here’s what they want to be:

Part of a couple sitting in matching rocking recliners, splitting a chicken salad sandwich and Fritos, glasses of sweet tea on a shared end table, a ballgame or old movies on the big screen. Companionship forged by time and trust. Deep water.

The short story: the guy loved our mom.

For that and for many other things, a tip of the ballcap to a faithful old Tiger.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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The Minden Lions are excited about Thursday’s guest speaker. 

Laura Hollingsworth with the Minden St. Jude Auction will talk to the Lions about this year’s event, which will kick off live from the Minden Civic Center Thursday morning. The 46th Annual Auction’s theme is “Cure One, Cure All!” and will feature a circus vibe.

Laura has been a core volunteer and coordinator for the Minden St. Jude Auction for decades.

“I first got involved with the auction in 1996 when Judge Campbell sentenced me and Melissa Brown to community service working the phones,” she quipped. “We were told to be there on a Saturday…and to bring our OWN phones!”

Laura says the auction has changed so much since that first year she volunteered, with numerous advances in technology, social media, and community support.

“Even though a lot has changed, our mission has not – and that’s to put an end to childhood cancer,” she said. “It has literally been one of the greatest honors of my life to be associated with this remarkable, nationally-recognized fundraiser, this incredibly generous community, and the very special volunteers who make it happen every year.”

After having to shut down the normal festival atmosphere because of pandemic protocols in 2021, Laura said auction volunteers are excited about opening the Minden Civic Center back up to those who want to join in the “big top fun” Feb. 10-13 with food, fun, the chili cookoff, children’s activities, raffles and boards. Out-of-towners can also watch the auction via live stream at mindenstjude.com and bid/pledge online.

Laura is an Arkansas native but has called Minden home for the past 35 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from the University of Arkansas. Laura is a past recipient of Minden’s Woman of the Year Award. She and her husband, Gary, have two adult children – Logan and Ashley – and four grandchildren. Laura and Gary are members of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Laura will be introduced Thursday by Lion Chris McGarity, another dedicated St. Jude Auction volunteer.

The Minden Lions Club meets Thursdays at noon at the American Legion Memorial Home, located at 119 W. Pine St. in Minden.

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By Robert St. John

 I really don’t know when it started, or who came up with the idea. It could have been me. Or it may have been one of our chefs. All I know is that when we roll out King Cake Bread Pudding around this time of year, it’s all we can do to keep up with the demand.

When we opened our New Orleans-themed restaurant, Crescent City Grill, more than 31 years ago, we opened with a classic New Orleans-style bread budding with raisins and cinnamon and a bourbon glaze on the dessert menu.

Around that time, I was eating at Dickie Brennan’s Palace Café on Canal in New Orleans— our two concepts opened within weeks of each other— and was served White Chocolate Bread Pudding. I loved it. I spoke to the chefs at Palace Café, and they covered the ingredients and procedure. I immediately came back to our restaurant and started working on our version.

Typically, I am not a fan of bread pudding. My problem with bread pudding is that restaurants use stale, day-old bread. We never had any stale day-old bread laying around that could be used in bread pudding. Another problem I have is that all bread pudding recipes tell you to weigh down the bread and press it into the custard mixture. But that almost always causes problems in that a stray piece of bread or two will pop up and get burned as the corner of a piece of bread is sticking out during baking.

When I got back to our kitchen and we started working on our version of White Chocolate Bread Pudding, we cut the crusts off a bunch of loaves of sourdough bread and put it in a cake mixer along with the custard mix. We used the paddle attachment and slowly pulverized the bread and custard. When we baked the final product, it came out with a consistency that was a cross between custard and bread pudding. Perfect.

To be honest I typically don’t care for custard either. But the result of this white chocolate bread pudding was amazing. Silky smooth and the sauce was simple— just white chocolate and heavy cream melted in a double boiler. It was a hit from day one, thanks Dickie.

White Chocolate Bread Pudding became one of the main recipes I demo’d as I was touring around the South in those days. I still demo it on occasion. I have served it at weddings, formal dinners, picnics and to groups as large as 2,000 from Midtown Manhattan to the Redwoods of California.

In the restaurant business recipes beget recipes.

King Cake Bread Pudding is the bastard child of White Chocolate Bread Pudding and king cake. Again, I don’t know what year we started serving it, or which chef came up with it. I don’t think it was me, but it might have been. I do know that we rolled it out during Mardi Gras sometime in the late 1990s and, from the moment we started serving it, we had trouble keeping up with the demand.

The recipe has been showcased in several publications, and a couple of my cookbooks. One of the last conversations my late friend Julia Reed and I ever had was an email chain that went back and forth as she wanted our recipe for King Cake Bread Pudding. I never followed up as to where, or if, she published it, but she— like so many others who have eaten it over the years— was a big fan.

By the time Julia got around to requesting the recipe we had stopped using king cake as the base bread for the recipe and were using unglazed yeast donuts which worked out better all the way around. I sent her the recipe using king cake. We still make it both ways depending on how big of a batch we are serving.

The internal marketing of a menu and feature offerings in a restaurant is occasionally mystifying. People go crazy for King Cake Bread Pudding when we run it as a feature this time of year. All throughout the year people talk about it and ask, “When are you bringing back the King Cake Bread Pudding?”

Last year I finally caved, and told my crew, “They keep asking for it, let’s put it on the dessert menu full time.” It was July. We could have put Limburger cheesecake on the dessert menu, and it would have sold better. It was baffling. Though it’s not the first time that has happened. Menu items have a place and time. Even though we can get Key limes year ‘round. We don’t sell Key lime pie in December. And even though there are some imported varieties of peaches available this time of year, we never put them on the menu. June is for peaches. The same goes for King Cake Bread Pudding. People want it this time of year and it’s flying out the door right now.

Laissez le bon temps rouler!

En avant.

KING CAKE BREAD PUDDING

2 cups milk

2 cups heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup sugar, divided

4 egg yolks

8 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 8-10” round cream cheese filled King Cake

Place the milk, cream and half of the sugar in a small sauce pot and place over medium heat. Bring this mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent the sugar from burning. While the milk mixture is heating, place the remaining sugar, egg yolks, whole eggs, vanilla and salt into a stainless steel mixing bowl. Using a wire whisk, beat the egg mixture until it become light yellow in color. Slowly begin adding the hot milk to the beaten eggs, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from cooking. 

Scrape the excess sugar off of the top and cut the King Cake into two inch thick slices.

Pour half of the custard into a two-quart round Pyrex baking dish (nine-inch diameter).

Submerge the King cake slices into the custard. Pour the remaining custard over the top and cover the baking dish. Cover and refrigerate over night.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Remove the covering from the refrigerated bread pudding and gently press down the King Cake so that the custard completely covers the surface. Cover the bread pudding with a piece of parchment paper, and then cover the paper with a piece of aluminum foil.

In a roasting pan large enough to hold the Pyrex dish, place two inches of hot water. Place the Pyrex dish in the water and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and parchment paper and bake for 10 additional minutes.

Remove from the oven and allow the pudding to rest for one hour before serving.

Garnish with sugar that has been colored with purple, green, and gold food coloring and serve with Brandy Crème Anglaise

Yields 8-10 servings

Brandy Crème Anglaise

1 cup cream

1/2 cup half and half

1/4 cup brandy

3/4 cup sugar, divided

4 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla extract

In a stainless steel pot bring the cream, half and half, brandy, half of the sugar and to vanilla a simmer. While it is heating, combine the yolks and remaining sugar in a mixing bowl and whip until pale yellow in color.

Slowly begin adding the cream mixture into to yolks, stirring constantly until all the milk has cream mixture has been added. Pour the mixture back into the sauce pot and cook over a low-medium flame stirring constantly. Cook until the mixture becomes thick enough to coat a spoon or spatula.

Remove from the heat and cool down in an ice bath.

This sauce may be made two-three days in advance.

Yields : 8-10 servings

(Robert St. John is a chef, restaurateur and cookbook author who lives in Hattiesburg, Miss.)

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Did you know February is American Heart Month? Heart health is very important, and there are many ways to keep your heart healthy. 

Join our nutrition agent Shakera Williams, MPH at noon Friday, February 18, as she discusses the basics of the Mediterranean diet. 

The deadline to register is 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 16. 

Please contact the nutrition agent for more information below

Shakera Williams, MPH

Assistant Nutrition Extension Agent

Webster Parish Extension Office

318 – 371 – 1371

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the LSU AgCenter will make reasonable accommodations to enable persons with disabilities to engage in programs offered. Should you need an ADA accommodation, please contact Shakera Williams at 318 – 371- 1371 no later than 1 week before your accommodation is needed.

The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A Texas woman was arrested by Minden Police Sunday after wandering a local truck stop for more than two hours.

Erica Angelica Marquez, 37, of the 400 block of NW 19th St., Grand Prairie, Texas, is charged with possession of Methamphetamine, Xanax, Clonazepam and drug paraphernalia.

Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper said Lt. Chris Hammontree, K9 Officer Tigo and OFC. Miller responded to a truck stop on Hwy. 531 at I-20.

“Staff reported Marquez had been walking around the store for two hours and had not purchased anything,” Cropper said. “Officers made contact with Marquez, and she exhibited signs of drug usage.”

Lt. Hammontree reportedly located Marquez’s vehicle in the parking lot and utilized Tigo to perform an open air sniff of the vehicle.

“K9 Tigo alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle,” said the chief. “During a search of the vehicle, Lt. Hammontree located two used needles, one Clonazepam pill, three Xanax pills, one shard of Methamphetamine, which is less than a gram, and an unknown capsule with white powder inside.”

Marquez reportedly admitted knowledge of the Xanax but claimed no knowledge of the other items, however, officers observed alleged track marks on her left arm. She was taken into custody and her vehicle towed.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Police have arrested a local man on drug charges after a phone call from his brother.

Michael O. Peters, 62, of the 600 block of Midland St., Minden, is charged with possession of crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police Chief Steve Cropper said Lt. Chris Hammontree and Off. Benjamin Sparks were called to the Midland Street address by Peters’ brother, who claimed Peters was smoking crack in the house they share.

“The brother said he wanted Michael and his drugs removed from his house,” Cropper said. “Peters denied drug usage, but officers could smell the odor of burnt Marijuana.”

Peters gave consent to search his room. Officers reportedly found a pill bottle with the label removed, a green leafy substance believed to be natural Marijuana on a desk in plain view, a crack pipe, Meth pipe and four rocks of crack cocaine. It later reportedly field tested positive for cocaine that weighed .2g.

“Michael knew the items were there and confirmed the rocks were cocaine,” said the chief.

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Thomas Jerald Barnett Sr.

September 28, 1942 – February 6, 2022

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, February 11, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport

Graveside service: 10 a.m. Saturday, February 12 at Evergreen Cemetery, 8101 Dorcheat Rd., Minden

 

Betty Sue Sneed Wetzel

March 19, 1951 – February 6, 2022

Memorial service: 4 until 6 p.m. Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 373 Keatchie, La. 

 

Michael Patton

January 20, 1950 – February 5, 2022

Visitation: noon until time of service Thursday, February 10, 2022 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 4700 Palmetto Rd., Benton

Memorial service: 1 p.m. Thursday, February 10, 2022 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

Inurnment: Rose-Neath cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Spur, Bossier City

 

John Boggs

May 27, 1964 – January 5, 2022

Graveside service: February 12 at Hill Crest Memorial Park, Haughton

 

Randall ‘Randy’ Lamar Carter

May 23, 1951 – January 20, 2022

Memorial Service: 2 p.m. March 19, 2022 at St. Mark United Methodist Church, El Dorado, Ark.

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