The following civil suits were filed with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court the week of 07/14 – 07/20:

July 14

Kenric Jenkins vs. Charles W. Cruse, damages.

Robyn Ransbottom vs. Randall Tims, custody.

July 15

Ben White vs. Chens Garden Buffet, Crum Forster Indemnity Co., damages.

Jonathan Wayne McDonald vs. Whitney Ann Golden, custody.

Pennymac Loan Services LLC vs. Adam Joseph Poirier, executory process.

Reverse Mortgage Funding LLC vs. Petra Krickel, monies due.

July 18

Safeway Insurance Company of Louisiana vs. Michael Pappa Jr., subrogation.

Cory Hudson vs. Kiara Hudson, divorce.

July 19

Newer LLC dba Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing vs. Reese Procell, Shirley Jean Wren Procell, executory process.

Brian Levi Ratcliff vs. Jordan Fields Ratcliff, divorce.

July 20

Joseph Reno vs. Jacob Howell, Cullen Fire District #6, Chief Kyle Mosley, damages.

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Andy Williams

Oct. 16, 1980 – July 19, 2022

Visitation: 10 a.m. Friday, July 22, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden, La.

Funeral service: 12:30 p.m. Friday, July, 22, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery in Bastrop, La.

 

Warren Slade Holtzclaw

Nov. 27-1991 – July 19, 2022

Visitation: 1 p.m. Friday, July 22, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden, La.

Funeral service: 2 p.m. Friday, July 22, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden, La.

Burial: Lane Memorial Cemetery, Sibley, La.

 

Eleanor Jean Powell

Jan. 1, 1938 – June 23, 2022

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday, July 21, 2002, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.

Memorial service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 22, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.

Burial: Gardens of Memory in Minden, La.

 

Rita Warren Hapgood Giddens

Dec. 7, 1929 – June 27, 2022

Visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022, Rose-Neath Chapel, Minden, La.

Memorial service: 11 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022, Rose-Neath Chapel, Minden, La.

Inurnment: Springhill Cemetery, Ringgold, La.

 

Webster Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are free of charge.)

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By Paige Nash 

Leaaf Environmental, LLC was back in Minden yesterday (Tuesday) morning. They have been in the neighborhood of Gleason and Murrell streets, as well as Pennsylvania Ave. on and off conducting air quality tests over the last month, but no new reports have been released at this time. 

Leaaf is the company contracted by Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to investigate the toxin levels surrounding the inoperative Imperial Cleaners building located at 211 Pennsylvania Ave in Minden. They have previously taken samples of soil, groundwater and indoor/ambient air from the vicinity of the building, surrounding businesses and residents.  

Results from samples taken showed large concentrations of toxins inside the building and surrounding the cleaners. With the highest detected levels in the alleyway, immediately west of the warehouse.  This led them to believe that there was off-site contamination, as well. This was proven to be true.  

Multiple businesses including Pink Magnolia, Bobbies Hobbies, Wise Dancenter, First Baptist Church, Webster Parish Community Services, Webster Parish Headstart, Minden’s Finest Storage, Minden Press-Herald and a few nearby residences had samples of soil gas and groundwater taken. Leaff’s report noted the presence of at least 25 different contaminants. 

Many events have taken place between now and then. A letter from LDEQ posted on the front door of these businesses, a public health notice released by Louisiana Department of Health, many concerns voiced by owners and employees of the surrounding businesses, and disgruntled parents of children in nearby daycare centers. Leaff was finally back on-site conducting air quality testing in the area surrounding the cleaners.  

It was stated in LDH’s public health notice that the contaminants present in the soil and groundwater have the potential to produce vapors that can enter a building through cracks in the foundation, around pipes or through a drain system. If this process of vapor intrusion has occurred in the nearby buildings, it could present health concerns.  

We will remain on standby until the air quality testing is complete and reports are released by LDEQ.  

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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 coupled with the extreme temperatures,” said Homeland Security Director Brian Williams. “This ban does not apply to prescribed burns by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.”

According to a declaration by the Webster Parish Police Jury, “the ban shall remain in force until such time the Webster Parish Fire Chiefs Association determines that the weather conditions are safe enough to cancel the burn ban.”

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Because of his refusal to be anything less than a servant, Bill Stokes drew people to him, especially the college students he gave his heart to as director of Louisiana Tech’s Wesley Foundation from 1957 until his retirement in 1988.  

When he passed away in the spring of 2020 at age 95, he left behind thousands of handshakes and smiles and friends forever loyal to his heart and memory. 

Saturday at the corner of Railroad Avenue and College Street on Tech’s campus, in an unassuming brick building he turned into a second home for so many of us when we were struggling with acne and advanced math and advanced life, a couple hundred of us met, finally, to share memories and to dedicate the Bill Stokes Room at Wesley.  

The delay was due to circumstances but the feeling, being in that building with people who knew and loved Bill, was familiar. 

This was a man who never met a stranger, but a lot of strangers met him, whether they wanted to or not. And then, forever in his world, they would never be strangers again. Not if Bill had anything to do with it. 

And he made it his mission to have everything to do with it. You could not be on campus very long without meeting Bill. He made it his mission to be Jesus’ hands and feet, to reach out to kids trying to find their way, and to give them a home in his heart. 

“A Southern gentleman,” said Vicki McGuire, whose father Doug pioneered Wesley Foundation work in 1937 during his college years, became a minister, and was a best friend to Bill when the 32-year-old young preacher from Mississippi showed up in Ruston to follow his calling of working with students. Vicki can’t remember a time she didn’t know Bill. 

A lot of us felt that way. 

“His outgoing, friendly personality made him irresistible,” she said. “I think that he reached out to everyone describes him as much as anything. When someone reaches out to you, that intentionally, you have to respond. You like people who like you and care about you. That’s how he made you feel. 

“I was amazed that he could come up with everyone’s name and hometown,” she said. “He was a master at that.” 

He was. Because he cared.  

His memory and genuine concern must have been something God gifted him with to increase Bill’s impact on so many of us. We weren’t just students. We were Bill’s students, Bill’s kids, each of us one of his projects. Because of him, lots of lives were changed in what is now the Bill Stokes Room. I witnessed it more than once.  

What Bill did as much as anything was bring people together. Sometimes, that was romantically. (A couple dozen people at Wesley Saturday were introduced to each other by Bill, then married by him.)  But mostly, he got students from all sorts of backgrounds together and, somehow, he got us to believe we needed each other, that we were better and fuller, more ourselves in the moment, together. 

He was a friend and a friend maker, a deeply missed man of truth and goodness, a man who leaves behind not only a room, but also a heart that always had room for us. 

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu 

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Vice President of Webster Parish Police Jury Nick Cox has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Minden in the upcoming November 2022 election.

Cox has spent most of his adult life serving the Minden community in a multitude of ways. He hopes to continue doing his part to serve Minden and the citizens who call this city “home”. His mission as Mayor of Minden will begin by repairing the gap that divides the city by ways of mutual respect, clear goals and responsible leadership. He hopes to begin working with the city council right away on building a solar farm that will help relieve citizens burdened by the high utility costs and develop an aggressive street pavement plan. Cox also intends to be directly involved with the city’s economic development.

Cox stated, “My goal as mayor is to move Minden forward, together. The City of Minden is a great place to raise a family and start a business. We are positioned well on Interstate 20 between several growing communities. We need to leverage what makes us great and grow our population. My family has called Minden home for many generations and it’s my conviction to do my part as mayor to make sure my children and your children are proud to call Minden home for many more generations to come. I want to serve as your mayor, and I humbly ask for your support.”

Nick Cox and his wife, Cayla, own and operate Webster Door & Millwork, a custom woodworking company. Together they have three children, Alleigh, Garrett, and Noah and are active members of Calvary Baptist Church. Along with serving as Vice President of the Webster Parish Police Jury, he was elected to the Executive Board of the Louisiana Police Jury Association in 2020 to represent Region IV. He serves on many different boards within our parish, including the Webster Parish Library Board, Louisiana Watershed Initiative and the Webster Parish Tourism Board. He is Vice Chairman for Webster Parish Economic Development Board and Chairman of both the Webster Parish Finance Committee and the Sparta Groundwater Commission.

Press release issued and paid for by: The Committee to elect Nick Cox for Minden Mayor.

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By Robert St. John

It’s always interesting to me how we enjoy some foods only during certain times of the year or on certain occasions. We love the dishes and meals, yet we reserve them for a specific time, place, or holiday. My grandmother didn’t believe in that rule. Sunday lunches at her house were always an event. It’s also where my love of food and for dining began. There was a particular rotation that she followed. One Sunday a month we would have leg of lamb. The next Sunday we would have roast beef. The third Sunday we would basically have a Thanksgiving meal whether it was November, January, or June.

I love Turkey, dressing, gravy, and all the trimmings that go with the typical Thanksgiving meal. We ate that as our Christmas Eve formal dinner as well. But there were ten other months during the year when we ate turkey and dressing. Her philosophy was if it’s good enough for important occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve why not do that more often during the year?

As a side note for the first eight years of my life, they told me that leg of lamb was roast beef. Which always made me think we were having roast beef two Sundays in a row, which didn’t bother me because I loved roast beef. I just thought it tasted a little different one week. To this day I love leg of lamb and I have never eaten a lamb dish better than the one my grandmother prepared once a month during my childhood.

There are other foods that my family reserved for certain occasions. We didn’t take a lot of family vacations to the beach, though when we did there were two items that were always present— marinated eye of round and freezer sandwiches.

I’ve written often about freezer sandwiches and there are currently a couple of dozen in the freezer at our lake house. When I’m motivated, I make a batch to keep at the house. They are my favorite casual Saturday afternoon lunch at home, and the perfect vacation lunch when I am away. The recipe is easy. Nothing fancy, just sliced ham, Swiss cheese, and basic hamburger buns. They have to be the cheap kind of bun. Fancy ones don’t work. The buns are brushed on top and bottom, and on both insides with a mixture of Dijon mustard, melted butter, horseradish, and poppy seeds. Then wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in the freezer until ready to bake. When it’s time to eat, I just pop a frozen one in a 400-degree oven. It takes about 45 minutes. It is an oven-only sandwich. It can’t be cooked in the microwave because the crispiness of the outside of the bread comes from the contact with the hot aluminum foil.

The other vacation staple from when I was a child was marinated eye of round. I think my mother got the recipe she used from her friend Patty Hall. Eye of round is an inexpensive cut of beef that looks— on first inspection— like a small beef tenderloin, although, other than it is a cut of beef, it has nothing in common with a beef tenderloin. It is a very lean, tougher cut of beef that comes from the back leg of the steer and is more akin to roast beef, as the top round makes an excellent roast. The eye of round, when heavily marinated and baked, makes good sandwiches.

My mother used either Italian dressing or Lipton onion soup mix to marinate the eye of round. I’m not quite sure, but both of those items were always ever-present in our pantry and had multiple uses beyond their original intent. Whichever she used she would marinated heavily, season with salt and pepper, bake in the oven, let cool, and then wrap it and place it in the ice chest with the other food items we were bringing on vacation.

When making sandwiches all one had to do was slice the eye of round against the grain and slap a couple of pieces between two pieces of white bread that had been slathered with mayonnaise, and add salt, and pepper. In later years I began adding lettuce, but as a child it was basic meat cheese meat and bread. It’s a good cold sandwich but we only ate it on vacation. I’m not sure why we wouldn’t keep one in the refrigerator year-round for quick sandwiches or snacks. It was a cheap cut of beef and so price couldn’t have been the reason, but I think we all get it in our heads that there are certain foods that are eaten on vacation that can’t be eaten at home.

A couple of decades ago I changed the offerings for family vacations. We still make freezer sandwiches and bring them along, but I started using a whole beef tenderloin for sandwiches when we are out of town. It started because we had catered an event a couple of days before a vacation back in the 1990s. One of my go-tos for catering events is a whole smoked beef tenderloin. We put them out— buffet style— and serve them alongside rolls freshly baked rolls and a horseradish-mustard I developed. One day we had an entire beef tenderloin leftover after a party, so I wrapped it tightly and packed it into an ice chest to take to Florida. It was a huge hit.

Since then, I have traded marinated eye of round sandwiches for smoked beef tenderloin sandwiches. The process is easy. I trim a whole beef tenderloin and season it liberally with steak seasoning, put it on an almost-cold smoker until it reaches rare (125 degrees). Next, I pop it in the oven and take it to medium rare (135 degrees). At that point I have two options— if I want to serve it warm as an entrée, I serve it immediately. But if I want to serve it on a buffet for cold sandwiches or take it on vacation, I let it cool and then put it in the refrigerator. This is perfect vacation food. Granted, it’s expensive, especially these days, but no more expensive than many of the tourist restaurants one finds when traveling out of town.

My friend Jesse Marin is visiting from Rome. We brought him over for a two-week visit in the United States. We are currently in the Florida Panhandle where he is enjoying the sun and beaches with my family on our annual jaunt down to this part of the world. Two nights before we left, we threw him a big party and invited a lot of the people who have traveled with us on Italian tours with us, and a and assortment of our local friends who had never met him. At the party we served smoked beef tenderloin. There were two full tenderloins left over, so I wrapped them, stuck them in the ice chest, and brought them down along with freezer sandwiches.

My son has two of his friends here. Between the three of them, and Jesse, the tenderloin is going fast. My wife brought enough groceries to feed a summer camp an entire week, but the go-to is the beef tenderloin.

The sandwiches are pretty much like what I always have eaten whether it was eye of round or beef tenderloin. These days I use whole wheat bread, spread mayonnaise on both sides, put two slices of smoked beef tenderloin on the bread, then add lettuce, salt, and pepper. It’s the perfect sandwich with a side of Wickles and Fritos. Jesse, being the healthy one in the bunch spread his bread with avocado and then placed the beef tenderloin on it before topping it with chopped tomatoes, salt, and pepper.

Tonight, we’ll eat freezer sandwiches and I’ll think of vacations past while enjoying the moment with these wonderful people.

Onward.

INGREDIENTS

1 stick Butter, melted
3 Tbsp Prepared Horseradish
3 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
2 Tbsp Poppy Seeds
1 pound Ham, thinly shaved
8 slices Swiss cheese
8 Hamburger Buns

DIRECTIONS

Combine horseradish and mustard and stir well. Slowly wisk in the melted butter until it is fully incorporated and emulsified. Add poppy seeds.

Open hamburger buns and brush both sides of the inside with the poppy seed dressing. Place two ounces of ham and one slice of cheese on bottom part of bun. Repeat with the remainder of the buns. Close the tops of the buns and brush more of the poppy seed dressing on the outside tops and bottoms of buns. Tightly wrap each sandwich in aluminum foil and freeze.

To cook, preheat oven to 400-degrees. Place sandwich, still tightly wrapped in foil, directly on the center rack for approximately 30-45 minutes until center is hot and cheese is melted.

Yield: eight sandwiches

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

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AS A TEAM LEADER, YOU WILL: 

• Supervise utilizing strong interpersonal skills 
• Use technical knowledge of manufacturing processes, as applies to such supervision 
• Utilize computer skills to facilitate processes and software used 
• Pursue objectives with organizational skills to meet goals 
• Work with personnel at all levels of the organization 

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS: 

• Two (2) year Associates Degree, plus one year of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience 
• Excellent communication skills; both oral and written 
• Great computer skills (Excel and Word 

Benefits 

We offer medical insurance plans, dental and vision coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more. We also provide flexible time-off plans, including parental leave, vacation, and holiday leave.  

Shift is 4:30 p.m. until 3:00 a.m.  Overtime requirements are based on customer needs to meet business objectives. 

If qualified and interested, please apply online at www.emerson.com 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

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AS A PRODUCTION ENGINEER, YOU WILL: 

• Conceptualize, develop, and initiate process improvements and cost reductions 
• Use Lean principles to reduce cycle times and reduce waste  
• Manage problem solving teams from inception to corrective actions.  Will often involve leading a team through the process. 
• Self-initiate improvement and / or corrective actions for safety, quality, cost and productivity concerns using formal six sigma problem solving tools 
• Develop documentation for operators and maintenance on proper equipment operation and care 
• Effectively communicate changes to all levels of the organization and at all stages of implementation 

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS: 

• BS degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent engineering technology degree 
• Excellent interpersonal skills  
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Excel and Word) 
• Self-starter able to work independently 

If qualified and interested, please apply online at www.emerson.com 

Benefits 

We offer medical insurance plans, dental and vision coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more. We also provide you flexible time-off plans, including parental leave, vacation, and holiday leave.  

Equal Opportunity Employer 

Emerson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.  

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Susan Constant Chapter Colonial Dames 17th Century celebrated its 55^th anniversary at Ernest’s Orleans Restaurant in Shreveport. The restaurant was decorated with beautiful arrangements of yellow roses and blue ribbon, which were donated to local veterans’ homes after the luncheon. Cindy Madden, President of Susan Constant Chapter, created corsage nametags of the same flower and ribbon for each luncheon guest.  Mrs. Madden also gave the guests favor boxes of Lemon Delight cookies that she brought back from her recent trip to Prague.  

We were honored to have in attendance President General Dorothy Thompson, and Honorary Louisiana Past Presidents Leslie Breaux, Patricia Gallagher, and Lora McDaniel. Louisiana State Officers in attendance were State President Carol Steinmuller, State Treasurer Dianne Lawrence, State Historian Cindy Madden, and Pocahontas Project Chair Leona Connell. Louisiana Chapter Presidents in attendance were Leslie Breaux of Robert Ruffin Chapter and Dianne Lawrence of Sir John Payne chapter.

Susan Constant Chapter members in attendance were Kathryn Abney, Peggy Caraway, Barbara Chaffin, Leona Connell, Linnye Daily, Sue Jackson, Margaret Pou, Donna Sutton, Diane Temple, Martha Thompson, Mary Wark, and Emily Wofford. Many of these members are chapter officers and chapter committee chairs.

During the presentation, we learned that Susan Constant Chapter won 21 state awards this year.  The award certificates were presented by State President Carol Steinmuller. Sue Jackson presented a Proclamation designating May 2022 as Susan Constant Chapter Colonial Dames 17th Century Month from Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins. We also welcomed Margaret Bird as a new member to our chapter.

Colonial Dames is a women’s historical preservation society. Any woman of at least 18 years of age who is a lineal bloodline descendant of an ancestor who lived or served prior to 1701 in one of the original colonies of the present United States is eligible to apply for membership. For more information, contact Cindy Madden at cmaddenmusic@yahoo.com.

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Lakeside wants to welcome Turner Madden to the family. Turner is from Castor. He earned his B.S. in Kinesiology at Louisiana Tech University in August of 2017. He has been a teacher and coach for the past 5 years.

Turner currently resides in Castor with his wife Mallory and their dog, Hallie. Turner enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his family and friends. 

“I believe in hard work and playing at the highest level possible.” Turner said. Turner will coach the Lakeside boys basketball team.

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Minden Lions will hear about the war on drugs this Thursday, as their guest speaker will be Agent William Green with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Agent Green has been in law enforcement since 1993 and has been with the DEA since 1999. He is currently the acting resident agent in charge of the Shreveport Resident Office of the DEA. Agent Green’s past law enforcement experience includes working as a Smith County deputy constable in Tyler, Texas, from 1993 until 1996. In 1996, he began working as a Texas State Trooper with the Texas DPS until 1999.

Agent Green was invited to speak by Lion Sheriff Jason Parker, who will introduce him on Thursday.

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By Brad Dison

Lieutenant Frank Wead was one of the best-known “fliers” in the early years of the United States naval aviation service.  In 1912, Frank, then sixteen years old, entered the U.S. Naval Academy.  Two years later, much of the world was engaged in “the war to end all wars,” World War I.  United States President Woodrow Wilson’s policy was for strict and impartial neutrality, and most of the country supported his policy.  The American military made preparations for war just in case.

In 1916, Frank graduated from the naval academy as America continued to build up its military strength.  In early 1917, Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare on all ships including American ships, and on April 6, 1917, the United States was forced into World War I.  Frank spent the remainder of the war as an ensign aboard the USS Shawmut from which he aided in the laying of mines in the North Sea.  On November 11, 1918, Germany surrendered, and the war was over. 

Following the war, Frank requested and was accepted into naval aviation flight training at the Naval Aeronautic Station Pensacola in Florida.  After flight school, Frank promoted naval aviation through air racing competitions.  On September 28, 1923, Frank commanded a team of American Navy pilots who competed in and won the Schneider cup seaplane race near Cowes, England.  In June 1924, Frank and copilot John C. Price set an endurance record when they piloted a giant Curtiss CS-2 seaplane for 13 hours 23 minutes 15 seconds and travelled 963.12 miles.  In the following month, Frank and his copilot beat their world record in the same plane when they stayed aloft over the Potomac River for 15 hours 19 minutes and covered a distance of 1050 miles.  The distance would have been greater had a heavy fog not forced Wead to land the plane with five hours of fuel remaining.   In June 1924, Frank and Prince broke four world records in the same day.  Newspapers reported on his daring feats in airplanes and Frank became something of a national hero. 

On Tuesday night, April 13, 1926, Frank had an accident which broke his neck.  Surgeons at the Balboa Park naval hospital in San Diego, California, feared his injury would prove fatal.  On Friday, April 16, surgeons operated on Frank in what they called “one of the most delicate ever performed at the medical institution.”  For several days, Frank remained in critical condition.  His chances of survival, according to his doctors, rose to about fifty percent.    

Frank had a habit of beating the odds.  Three months after his accident, despite his poor condition, Frank was promoted to lieutenant commander.  His health gradually improved over the course of two years, but he remained paralyzed from the waist down.  Frank eventually learned how to sit up and stand with the aid of steel braces.

Frank needed a new career.  At the suggestion of a friend, Frank tried his hand at writing.  Initially, Frank wrote non-fiction books pertaining to aviation.  In between books, he wrote short historic fiction articles for magazines, which garnered the attention of Hollywood movie producers.  He began creating aviation-themed scripts for movies, three dozen of which were turned into films.  In 1938, Frank was nominated for two Academy Awards for Test Pilot starring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy, and The Citadel starring Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell.  Frank wrote about what he loved but could no longer do, which was flying.                

Frank’s accident was not the result of an ill-fated flight in an aircraft, but a flight of a different sort.  Frank Wead, the famous aviator who broke numerous world records before he broke his neck, ended his flying career when he tripped down a flight of stairs in his own home.     

Sources:
1.     Los Angeles Evening Post-Record, April 16, 1926, p.11.
2.    The Austin American, April 16, 1926, p.1.
3.    The Fresno Morning Republican, April 18, 1926, p.15.
4.    The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey), September 7, 1923, p.14.
5.    Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Honolulu, Hawaii), June 23, 1924, p.15.
6.    The Modesto Bee (Modesto, California), July 12, 1924, p.2.
7.    Pisano, Dominick. “Hollywood’s Representation of Naval Aviation: Frank W. ‘Spig’ Wead and John Ford’s ‘The Wings of Eagles’ (1957).” National Air and Space Museum. Last modified January 5, 2012. Accessed July 11, 2022. airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/hollywoods-representation-naval-aviation-frank-w-%E2%80%9Cspig%E2%80%9D-wead-and-john-fords.

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When I started this article, my intent was to share information and give advice on protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Over the years on my radio program called Hook’N Up & Track’N Down, I’ve always made suggestions on how to dress and protect yourself. I’ve always encouraged people to wear long sleeve shirts with sun hoodies built-in and with fabrics that have SPF 70 protection or better. I’ve always suggested you wear a wide brim hat in order to protect your head, neck, ears and face better, not to mention that I stressed how important sunscreen is. But little did I know after years of making sure everyone else did the right thing, that I would be the main subject of this article.

Yes, I have been diagnosed with Melanoma skin cancer, the worst kind of skin cancer you can get. But at the time I wrote this article, I had just had a biopsy performed on my upper left ear. This spot has been treated off and on for over a year. It was a spot that started as a scratch while I was trimming trees one day. Then over several months, the spot just never really healed. After a visit to my dermatologist, she prescribed a cream regiment over a 6-day period that had a profound effect on the spot as it disappeared.

Then one day in March while getting a haircut by my sister-in-law, she asked me if I had ever had this spot looked at. I was not aware at the time that it was back due to the location of it on the backside of my ear. But this time it was a black spot that did not look good. That’s when my dermatologist decided to try to the cream regiment one more time. One month later the spot was getting worse and at the time of the biopsy had turned a dark purple color.

Once it was sent off to Birmingham, Alabama, for testing, the results came back positive for Melanoma. The wheels are then set in motion for surgical removal of the spot and testing to make sure it has not spread to my lymph-nodes or other parts of my body. Hopefully, by the time you’re reading this article, I will have better news and will have had the surgery needed to take care of this issue.

So, in the future, take as many preventative measures as possible to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Wear the long sleeve, built-in sunscreen protective shirts with the hoodie. There are several to choose from such as Columbia, HUK and Under Armour. Make sure to wear the wide brim hat like the ones made by Stetson, which also have built-in bug repellent and sunscreen. I now have three of these and love all of them! In the future, I’ll keep you up to date with my progress on trying to gain control over this dreaded skin cancer. Till next time good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf – Owner/Co-host
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down
Show & Tackle Talk Live

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July 20

10 a.m. Steve’s Snaketuary at Minden Branch of Webster Parish Library. Registration required.

2 p.m. Steve’s Snaketuary at Springhill Branch of Webster Parish Library. Registration required.

3:30 p.m. Ocean in a Bottle, Heflin branch of the Webster Parish Library.

4 p.m. Scary Shark Art for kids, Cotton Valley branch of the Webster Parish Library.

July 21

9 a.m. Minden City Council Workshop on City Employee Manual. Pelican Conference Room, Minden City Hall. The Public is invited to attend.

1 p.m. Genealogy Workshop at Minden Main Branch of Webster Parish Library.

July 23

6:30 p.m. Lama Animal Rescue Annual Bingo Fundraiser. 101 Machen Dr., Springhill

July 25

Noon until 2 p.m. Yoga Workshop for teens and adults with Javelin Hardy. Minden library. No experience required. Please bring a yoga mat and towel. Contact Aubrie at 318-371-3080 ext. 135.

July 26

4 until 8 p.m. Pack the Bus school supplies, Walmart parking lot, Minden.

July 27

8 a.m. until noon Pack the Bus school supplies, Walmart parking lot, Minden.

3:30 p.m. Steve’s Snaketuary at Cotton Valley Branch of Webster Parish Library. Registration required.

3:30 p.m. CD & Button Turtle Craft, Heflin branch of the Webster Parish Library.

4 p.m. Special Performer: Steve’s Snaketuary, Cotton Valley branch of the Webster Parish Library.

July 29

3:30 p.m. Steve’s Snaketuary at Heflin Branch of Webster Parish Library. Registration required.

July 30

4 until 7 p.m. Pack the Bus, parking lot of Walmart, Springhill, La.

4 until 7 p.m. Pack the Bus, parking lot of Walmart, Minden, La.

July 31

8 until 11 a.m. Pack the Bus, parking lot of Walmart, Springhill, La.

8 until 11 a.m. p.m. Pack the Bus, parking lot of Walmart, Minden, La.

2 until 5 p.m. Webster Parish School Board’s Drive-Thru Back-to-School-Bash. Harper Pathway to Excellence, 618 Germantown Rd., Minden. Grades PK-12 will be provided a portion of their school supply list.

August 1

Noon until 2 p.m. Yoga Workshop for teens and adults with Javelin Hardy. Minden library. No experience required. Please bring a yoga mat and towel. Contact Aubrie at 318-371-3080 ext. 135.

6 p.m. Glenbrook Elementary Football Practice. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday until school starts. Grades 3-6. Contact coaches if a second grader is interested. Shorts and T-shirt fine for first couple of practices.

August 4

Webster Parish Schools Preschool/PreK and Kindergarten Registration Day.

August 5

Webster Parish Schools Preschool/PreK teachers will contact families to share Orientation Day/Parent Meeting Information.

August 5 and 6

8 a.m. each day. Minden Evening Lions will hold a rummage sale. To donate, call Sherrie McMurray at 318-294-6346.

8 p.m. nightly. Pete Colvin Memorial Rodeo presented by Car-Giant of Minden. Jack Batton Arena, Minden, La.

August 5-10

9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Webster Parish Schools Kindergarten Orientation Days. Parents must transport students to school.

August 8

Noon until 2 p.m. Yoga Workshop for teens and adults with Javelin Hardy. Minden library. No experience required. Please bring a yoga mat and towel. Contact Aubrie at 318-371-3080 ext. 135.

5 until 7 p.m. Chicken Spaghetti fundraiser benefitting Kristen & Bubba Fish and baby Bryer. $10 includes green beans, roll and dessert. Pickup only. Sarepta Community Building. Sponsored by Women Helping Others of North Webster. Tickets must be purchased in advance from any W.H.O. member.

August 8-11

9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Webster Parish Schools Preschool/PreK Orientation Days. Parents must transport students to school.

August 9

6:30 p.m. New Student Orientation at Glenbrook Multipurpose Building.

August 10

6:30 p.m. Grades 7-12,”Hot Dog We’re Back at School,” schedules to be distributed at this meeting. Glenbrook Multipurpose Building.

August 11

9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Webster Parish Schools’ Boys’ Day. Parents must transport students to school. Parent meeting at 1:30 p.m.

August 12

9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Boys’ Day Webster Parish Schools Preschool/PreK program.

9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Webster Parish Schools’ Girls’ Day. Parents must transport students to school. Parent meeting at 1:30 p.m.

August 15

9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Girls’Day Webster Parish Schools Preschool/PreK program.

First full day for all Kindergarten students in Webster Parish Schools.

August 15-17

3-4:30 p.m. Mini cheer camp sponsored by Glenbrook Booster Fan Club. Registration form must be returned by August 12. Performance will be August 18 during Back to School Night.

August 16

First full day for all Preschool/PreK students in Webster Parish Schools’ program.

August 18

10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Children’s Book Club for ages 4-7. Springhill Branch of Webster Parish Libraries.

If you have a non-profit event: church, school or community, please email it to wpjnewsla@gmail.com. * Webster Parish Journal reserves the right to determine if a calendar item is a paid advertisement.

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Andy Williams
Oct. 16, 1980 – July 19, 2022
Visitation: 10 a.m. Friday, July 22, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden, La.
Funeral service: 12:30 p.m. Friday, July, 22, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery in Bastrop, La.

Eleanor Jean Powell
Jan. 1, 1938 – June 23, 2022
Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday, July 21, 2002, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Memorial service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 22, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Burial: Gardens of Memory in Minden, La.

Rita Warren Hapgood Giddens
Dec. 7, 1929 – June 27, 2022
Visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022, Rose-Neath Chapel, Minden, La.
Memorial service: 11 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022, Rose-Neath Chapel, Minden, La.
Inurnment: Springhill Cemetery, Ringgold, La.

Webster Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are free of charge.)

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Police are investigating a shooting which occurred late Sunday night, that sent a juvenile to the hospital with a critical injury.

Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper said Monday his detectives are chasing leads.

“We had some shots fire (last) night around 10:30 or 11 p.m.,” Cropper said. “Capt. Kirk Morgan was already en route – we had a lot of calls about a large group of kids on MLK Drive. He actually heard the shots going off and saw the people running toward him, trying to get away.”

When Morgan first arrived, the chief said he did not see anyone injured.

“But one young man was struck by a bullet as he was trying to run away from the scene,” said the chief. “He was put into a private vehicle and taken to the (Minden) emergency room.”

Cropper said the medical center contacted his office reporting the injury.

“It was a 17-year-old juvenile, and he was struck in the back very close to his spine,” Cropper said. “It was so close to the spine, they made the decision to leave the bullet there. They were concerned that if they went in and tried to remove the bullet, it could injure him even more.”

The victim was transferred to Ocshner LSU Health in Shreveport.

“He is in ICU now,” said the chief. “His mother said he is in stable condition.”

According to Cropper around 14 bullet casings from at least two weapons were found at the scene. He was unsure how many of the persons were present or how many were juveniles.

The investigation is ongoing. If you have information for the police, please call 371-4226.

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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has scheduled a drawdown of Lake Bistineau in Webster, Bossier and Bienville parishes for the purpose of reducing the further expansion of giant salvinia. The drawdown will additionally benefit fisheries production by improving aquatic habitat and reducing the amount of organic matter on the lake bottom.

LDWF has requested the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) open the water control structure July 25. Once the water control structure is open, the lake should dewater at a rate of 4 to 6 inches per day until it reaches a potential maximum drawdown level of 8 feet below pool stage. This dewater rate could be impacted, however, by local rainfall in the surrounding watershed. During the drawdown, the department will monitor aquatic habitat conditions to determine the best time to conclude the drawdown and allow the lake to refill for early spring recreational activities.

Frequently asked questions and related information:

Why are drawdowns used to manage giant salvinia on Lake Bistineau?

During the warmest parts of the summer, giant salvinia on Lake Bistineau can double its coverage in less than three days. As the accessible parts of the lake are sprayed and the dying salvinia sinks, the ever-growing salvinia mats in the forested areas of the lake continue to push out new plant material. Due to the rate of plant growth, it is extremely difficult to keep the plant coverage at manageable levels with only herbicide applications.

Drawdowns strand and kill the plant material that is actively growing and reproducing in the shallow areas of the lake, allowing the spray efforts to make greater strides in reducing salvinia coverage in areas that are accessible to boats.

Relying on herbicides alone during the peak summer growing season would also carry a very large price tag. It is more cost-effective to combine the benefits of a drawdown with herbicide applications to make better use of available public funds.

What factors do you consider when making a decision on a drawdown start date?

LDWF considers multiple factors such as the amount of acreage covered by salvinia, the amount of funding available to spray problematic areas and the amount of public use occurring on the lake. They attempt to balance the need to control salvinia expansion through drawdowns with the desire by the public to use open areas of the lake during the summer. An early summer drawdown would provide the best salvinia control, but that would greatly impact use of the lake when the public desires it most. Therefore, attempts are made to delay the drawdown as long as possible.

Will boaters still be able to access the lake during the drawdown?

Yes. During the drawdown, more than 7,500 acres of water will remain in the lake. Boaters can still access the lake during drawdown from Port of Bistineau Launch, Bossier Public Launch, Grices and Bayou Dorcheat Public Launch. Boaters are advised to use caution during the low water period, as boat lanes will not provide normal clearance of underwater obstructions.

Why does the drawdown need to be in the summer rather than the winter?

One of the ways a drawdown works to control salvinia is to dry out the plant and water bottom. Giant salvinia is much more susceptible to drying during the summer than it is to freezing during the winter. Additionally, exposed water bottoms do not dry out nearly as well during the colder months (also some of the wetter months) of the year. If there is any moisture left in the soil, the giant salvinia will be able to survive. The extreme ho and dry conditions that we typically experience from June to September provide amply drying to the water bottom and desiccation of the plant material. Also, the is the fastest growing time of year for giant salvinia. To have the lake at drawdown stage during this time provides less water surface for the remaining salvinia to reproduce and thrive. Lake Bistineau also has a very large watershed – draining nearly 1 million acres of land – which makes it difficult to remove water from the lake or keep the lake lower during the wet winter season.

I live on the southern part of the lake, where giant salvinia doesn’t look too bad. Do we really need to have a drawdown if the lake is still usable here?

Yes. The southern end of the lake contains more open-water habitat, which is less conducive to the growth of floating aquatic vegetation such as giant salvinia. Therefore, this portion of the lake will typically be the last area to experience problems. However, with an exponential growth rate of salvinia in July and August, plant material will soon begin to impact this open arts down the lake as well.

Are drawdowns designed to improve the condition of the lake now, or to prevent worse conditions next year?

Both. A drawdown provides immediate benefits by reducing the amount of giant salvinia coverage that currently exists on the lake. It is also a proactive management strategy used to ensure a better situation on the lake the following year.

Data from past years show a direct correlation between the number of acres of giant salvinia on the lake before a drawdown is initiated, and the amount that will be present as we approach the spring and summer of the next year. The longer we allow salvinia to grow on the lake prior to initiating a drawdown this summer, the more salvinia will be present next spring, and subsequently next summer. Herbicide application efforts and timing have been consistent over the years. Therefore, the reduction in giant salvinia annually can be mostly attributed to drawdown actions and their timing. We feel that it is critical to prevent salvinia from greatly expanding one year to prevent a worse situation next year.

 Are there other benefits from a drawdown?

Yes. Drawdowns are beneficial to the fish population in flooded swamp lakes such as Lake Bistineau. Drawdowns expose the bottom of the lake to drying action, which helps to reduce the organic build-up such as dying salvinia, other vegetation and cypress tree leaf litter. Without drawdowns, this material continues to build up on the bottom, reducing and even preventing fish from spawning. Drawdowns offer opportunities to observe many unique species of wading birds that are attracted to the lake, result in increased fish catches during a time of year when fishing gets tougher on other area lakes,  and gives shoreline property owners a chance to make repairs to docks and seawalls. 

 Is Lake Bistineau the only lake with the salvinia challenge?

No. LDWF Aquatic Plant Control Program is battling giant salvinia in more than 50 waterbodies around the state. Each waterbody is different, and all present a unique challenge in managing the nuisance aquatic weed.

 With LDWF’s recent revenue increase, will Lake Bistineau be sprayed more often?

Possibly. The increase in revenue through the recently-enacted license fee restructure will provide more funding for control efforts on public water bodies statewide. However, there are several factors that we use to determine how much herbicide spraying is conducted on each – including the amount of plant material, its location on the lake and the availability of herbicide application contractors and equipment.

 For additional information regarding the drawdown, contact Jeff Sibley, LDWF Biologist Manager, at jsibley@wlf.la.gov or 318- 371-5294.

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By Paige Nash

Ranger Martin stopped by both Webster Parish Minden and Springhill branch libraries Wednesday, with a couple of his dinosaur buddies in tow. More than 100 children were able to meet three-month-old, Rexie and 3-year-old, Nash. The dinosaurs may not have been real, but the experience definitely was.  

This Dinosaur Experience was one of the special events offered to children in Webster Parish, free of charge, as a part of the libraries’ Summer Reading Program. 

Ranger Martin, Rexie and Nash were able to provide a fun, but informative show allowing participants to answer questions, get a glimpse at real fossils, and fill in as a dinosaur ranger for the hour. At the end of the event, participants were able to get up close to take photos with the dinosaurs, too. 

This was just one of many experiences being provided in a jam-packed summer lineup. All seven library branches in the parish have something going on almost every day of the week, including movie nights, crafts, story times and more. 

“Our summer reading program so far has been very successful. We are seeing huge turnout numbers, more than even before Covid. A large number of teens this year, as well as kids have registered,” said Savannah Jones, Director of the Webster Parish Library System. 

Steve’s Snaketuary will be the next event featuring a guest speaker and a few live snakes, too. They will be stopping by the Minden and Springhill branches on July 20, and the Cotton Valley branch on July 27. You can call any of these branches for more information or to register your children.

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Italian Wedding Risotto with Garlicky Meatballs.  Homemade meatballs are infinitely better than storebought, and with a cookie scoop, the easiest to make!  I love to make a double batch of whatever meatball recipe I am making to freeze for later.  It’s really too easy not to!  

I absolutely love risotto (a type of rice found in most grocery stores).  This combination of risotto, cheese, sauce, and meatballs is so divine!  It is mostly a one-dish meal also other than baking the meatballs in the oven.  

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground pork
• 1/2 cup Panko
• Parmigiana-Reggiano cheese, grated from a block, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (I did not use)
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, plus more to taste
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup butter, divided
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked Arborio rice (risotto)
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• 3 cups baby spinach, torn (I did not use)

Directions

Preheat oven to high broil with rack 9 inches from heat. Combine pork, Panko, 1/2 cup cheese, parsley, egg, half of the garlic, half of the salt and half of the pepper in a stand mixer. Mix on low until combined. Do not over mix. (You can also do this by hand). Roll into 20 meatballs (about 2 tablespoons each). Place on broiler-safe baking sheet or stone. Broil until browned and cooked through, approximately 9 minutes. Set aside.

Combine chicken broth and water in medium sauce pan and heat to simmer. 

In a heavy skillet heat oil and 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and remaining garlic. Cook, stirring constantly until onion is translucent. Add rice and stir for 1 minute. Add wine and cook, stirring often, until almost completely reduced, approximately 2 minutes. 

Add 1 cup of the warm broth to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Add remaining stock, 1 cup at a time, stirring until liquid has been absorbed after each addition. Stir often for 20 minutes. I covered the pot in between this 20 minute time interval, lifting to stir.

Remove from heat. Stir in remaining cheese and remaining butter. Stir in spinach if using. Add meatballs on top.

Link to recipe: https://thecopperwhisk.com/blogs/recipes/italian-wedding-risotto-with-garlicky-meatballs

(Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and cookbook author.)

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By Paige Nash

Car Giant in Minden recently held a fundraiser which included a bounce house, games, hamburger plates and a silent auction. By doing so they were able to raise an astounding $15,000 to benefit the Aeropres explosion victims and their families.  

Many local businesses, restaurants and individuals donated items and gift cards to be used for the silent auction. 

“It is an honor to be a part of both our community and a company that rallies together to help others,” said Car Giant Office Manager Lisa Realini.  

The explosion and flash fire occurred on an Aeropres site located off old Highway 7, just south of Cotton Valley, back in May. Webster Parish locals, Daniel Payne, Reagan Hardaway and Chancey Hawk were severely injured leaving both Hardaway and Hawk in critical condition. 

Hawk unfortunately passed away on June 30 from injuries he sustained in the accident, but the proceeds will be given to his fiancée to assist her, their children and family in any way needed at this time. 

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The annual Mt. Lebanon Flag Ceremony took place on July 4, at Mt. Lebanon Museum. Fifty people were in attendance from Shreveport, Benton, Minden, Dubberly, Arcadia, Ruston, Gibsland and Mt. Lebanon. Guest speaker was Rev. Kevin Smith, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church of Ruston.

The flag was raised by Tate Towns and Clayton Towns, assisted by their father Steve Towns.  The flag was unfolded and displayed during the Pledge of Allegiance. Guests sang “The Star Spangled Banner” after the flag was placed. Military songs of each branch of service were played, and veterans stood as their branch of service so was played.  The crowd applauded these veterans for their service to our country. Guests sang American the Beautiful at the conclusion of the service.

Veterans in the photo are: Pat Stinson (Army), Terry Clason (Marines), Charles Butler (Air Force), Mike Stephenson (Army), Jack Land (Army), Tommy Youngblood (Army), Wallace Reed (Army), Lestar Martin (Army) and Orin Flanigan (Army). Mr. Flanigan, age 94, was the oldest veteran in attendance.

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