Upcoming Events

Oct. 27

4 until 6 p.m. Webster Parish Library Trunk or Treat, Springhill Branch.

4:15 Doyline Jamboree at James Roach Gymnasium. 4:15 p.m. Simsboro vs. Castor girls, 5 p.m. Simsboro vs. Castor boys; 5:45 p.m. Doyline vs. Castor girls; 6:30 p.m. Doyline vs. Castor boys; 7:15 p.m. Doyline vs. Simsboro girls; 8 p.m. Doyline vs. Simsboro boys. Entry fee: $7.

Oct. 28

7 p.m. Hotel Transylvania 3, hosted by Springhill Medical Center on the front lawn of the hospital. Bring family, blankets, lawn chairs. Free to the public. Popcorn provided. All children under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Oct. 30

4:30 until 6 p.m. Calvary Baptist Church Fall Festival. Games, candy, fun for everyone.

Oct. 31

4 until 6 p.m. Webster Parish Library Trunk or Treat, Minden Branch.

5 until 7 p.m. Trunk-or-Treat Fall Fest, Beech Springs Baptist Church, 15910 Hwy. 80, Minden. Games and food provided.

5:30 until 7:30 p.m. The Town of Cullen presents Fall Fest 2022 Trunk or Treat Location: Froggy Bottom

Current-Nov. 30

Motorcycle exhibit at Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl St., Minden. Motorcycles courtesy of 3 State Harley Davidson.

Nov. 4-5

Main to Main Trade Days

Nov. 12 

10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mission Adoption Makers Craft Fair, Silent Auction, Bake Sale and Lunch at First Baptist Church Family Life Center, Minden. ALL  proceeds go to CASA and a family that is beginning the adoption process. Homemade craft items, jellies & canned goods, Christmas items, candles, and much more, baked goods and frozen casseroles, silent auction items and hot dog lunch or jambalaya lunch, drinks and popcorn.

Nov. 19

9 a.m. Poker Run Registration. See http://www.dorcheatmuseum.com for info or call 318-377-3002.

Nov. 26

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Mistletoe Market in Springhill’s CAC Building hosted by Springhill Chamber of Commerce.  Kick off the Christmas Shopping season with craft vendors and boutiques.  Admission free. Visit with the Shreveport Santa (10-2) sponsored by Carter Credit Union.

5 p.m. Springhill Christmas Parade hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.  Springhill Main Street.

Dec. 6

6 until 7:30 p.m. Webster Parish Library. Meriwether Wealth and Planning will present a community education seminar “No, It’s a Scam!” Learn about the latest scams and schemes targeting Webster Parish residents. Presenters Jason Parker, Webster Parish Sheriff and Tracy L. Campbell, financial advisor for Meriwether W&P. No cost to attend but pre-registration is required. Seating limited to 35. RSVP 318-377-1803. Refreshments will be provided as well as important take-home information.


Arrest Reports

The following arrests were made by local law enforcement agencies. Minden Police Department (MPD), Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office (WPSO), Louisiana State Police (LSP) and others which are named.

Oct. 24

Bobby Young, 40, of the 400 block of Middle Rd., Minden, was arrested by MPD on an active bench warrant.

Oct. 25

Shontesia Moore, 28, of the 800 block of E. 4th St., Homer, was arrested by MPD on 2 active bench warrants.

Misty Price, 44, of the 100 block of Dowell Lane, Minden, was arrested by MPD for resisting an officer and failure to appear (in court).

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


Weekly Filings

The following civil suits were filed with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court the week of Oct. 24:

Oct. 24

M&M Oil Company LLC vs. Arledge Oil Company LLC, petition.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Lee Brown, monies due.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Tommy Eason, monies due.

Tempest D. Hamiltonn vs. Mirio L. Thompson, protective order.

Lakisa Perry vs. Houston Specialty Insurance Col., damages

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. vs. David Hendricks, monies due.

Oct. 25

Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC vs. Shelena R. Sellers, executory process.

Oct. 26

Deldemonti T. Glover vs. Cassie Tomlinson, establish paternity.

Carole Irene Ratzlaff and Donald Delbert Ratzlaff vs. Jacobe Scott Jackson, custody.


Notice of Death – Oct. 26, 2022

Stephen R. Risner

June 6, 1954 – Oct. 21, 2022

Visitation: noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 at First Baptist Church, 406 Main St., Homer, La.

Funeral service: 2 p.m. following visitation.

Curtis ‘Curt’ Nelson

Sept. 1, 1950 – Oct. 24, 2022

Memorial service: At a future date, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Homer, 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.)


City council, department heads work way through employee handbook

By Bonnie Culverhouse

Keeping a personnel committee for employee grievances topped the list of changes under consideration as members of the Minden City Council and city department heads continue to slog their way through the employee handbook.

“I don’t have an agenda with this,” interim Mayor Tommy Davis said during the workshop Tuesday. “These are big decisions, and there is not an answer for everything.”

In the past, the city has functioned with a personnel committee appointed by the mayor. It has seven members, two of whom were councilpersons.

“The way it works, the grievance goes from the department head to HR to the mayor,” said Human Resources Director April Aguilar. “Investigation can take place … that’s what you’re doing when you’re pulling files, you’re looking at records.”

If it’s decided a terminating offense has been committed, the mayor can make that decision.

However, after much discussion, it was determined the personnel committee, which would no longer have councilpersons on it, would be used in the employee’s appeal process.

“Personnel committee is supposed to be made up of the employee’s peers,” Davis pointed out. “If there are council persons on the committee, they aren’t considered their peers. If the appeal goes to the council, it isn’t fair to the employee because the council person will already know how they are going to vote, and so will the employee.”

Afterward, Davis said he felt like the workshop was successful.

“I believe we will be able to get this on the December council meeting agenda,” he said. “They’ve been working on it four years. It’s time.”


WPJ Political Poll – November 8, 2022

  • Election Day
    November 8, 2022


    Webster Parish Journal is giving our readers the opportunity to participate in an online poll for parish and city candidates.

    In order to get accurate results, please vote only for candidates in your district.

    The poll will run in all WPJ publications until 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 2 when the link will no longer be active. Results will be posted in Webster Parish Journal’s Thursday, November 3 publication.

    As always, we recommend you go to the polls November 8 and exercise your right to vote.

  • Should be Empty:

Each day tries to learn us something

If the school year were a dog and the first day of school was its head and the last day was its tail, you’d be picking it up right behind its front legs about now. You’ve got a good, safe grip on it, but there’s a lot of dog left hanging down. 

October, which rivals May (for different reasons) as the best month of the year, is soured by only two things: one is that winter and cold is coming, and the other is that, for the young student, there’s lots and lots of school year left. 

That is not a bad thing once you get older and develop an appreciation for how quickly time passes and how lucky you were to be able to go to school. But who cares for such drivel when you’re a teenager? 

Once you get out of school you learn that, secretly, you never really leave. You’re always learning something, whether you want to or not, which would be learning things the hard way. Examples: 

“Yes, your honor, I understand!”  

“Oh, so if my card is declined, that means there’s no money in the account?” 

“I don’t know, doctor. I guess it was that 12th pork chop. Or the third bowl of Blue Bell.” 

There’s a trick in just learning how to learn. My dad says that on the first day of school, they taught him that two plus two three equals four, and then on the next day they told him that one plus three equals four, and he decided right then that if they didn’t even know what equals four, how was HE supposed to ever know? 

But once teachers coach you up, show you there’s more than one way to skin a cat, you realize the world is your classroom. Some of the smartest people you’ll ever meet got that way without having many documents to frame and hang on the wall. 

Often a friend named Gene writes me, which I’m thankful for because he is old school, born in an oilfield company house near a wide spot in the highway in Depression era- Garfield County, Oklahoma. 

When he was in elementary school, his family rented the first floor of a house owned by a gentleman named Whitey Liddard. He lived upstairs and owned a nearby café where Gene’s father worked as a short-order cook. Whitey had barely a third-grade education, but he was a Rhodes Scholar when it came to running an oilfield-town café. 

One day a young customer came in to celebrate his high school education, the first diploma earned by a member of his family. 

“He proudly displayed the new diploma for Whitey’s inspection,” Gene said. “Whitey looked it over, front and back, then handed it back to the graduate. 

“Now that’s a fine thing to have,” Whitey said. “Just don’t let it keep you from learning something.” 

Hearing that from a wise man like Whitey Liddard kept Gene modest as he went through both high school and college, even on to some graduate work. “I still try to ‘learn something’ every day,” he said. 

True, some things will remain forever a mystery. Why, for instance, is the word panties plural and the word bra singular? Think about it. Or not.  

Why do we eat nuts out of socks in front of a dead tree in our dens in December? Why is “contraction” such a long word? 

The older I get, the more I understand that “I don’t know” when I really don’t know is a mighty handy answer. 

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu 

(Ran originally 10-21-2012)


Lee is Week 8 football contest winner

Claudine and Rick Thomas of title sponsor Under Dawgs have $100 for Week 8 winner Keith Lee (inset).

Congratulations, Keith Lee of Shreveport, our Week 8 winner of Webster Parish Journal’s High School Football Pick’em Contest.

The largest number of entrants to date went 10 of 10. Lee was chosen using the tie breaker. He is awarded $100 in cash from title sponsors Under Dawgs and Webster Parish Journal, a $50 gas card from Car Giant and the cap of his choice from Attorney Jimbo Yocom of Yocom Law Firm and Minden Athletic.

Celebrity winners are:

Sibley Mayor Jimmy Williams: 10 of 10

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker: 9 of 10

Pat Culverhouse: 8 of 10

Paige Nash: 8 of 10

Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper: 7 of 10

Josh Beavers: 6 of 10

Signing up for the contest only takes a couple of minutes. Log on to https://tinyurl.com/WPJPickem and follow the instructions.

Entries are now open for this week’s games and will remain open until 4 p.m. each Thursday before the listed games.

Car Giant’s Lisa Realini has a $50 gas card for Keith Lee.
Sponsors Chris Williams (left), with Minden Athletic and attorney Jimbo Yocom of Yocom Law Firm choose a LSU cap for winner Keith Lee.

Sometimes I feel like a magpie

By Robert St. John

PETROGNANO, TUSCANY— A few months after my wife and I started dating she wanted me to meet her grandmother. We set out on the road from Hattiesburg to north Louisiana, and I asked, “Where are we going?”

“Shreveport,” she said. Around the time we got to Jackson she said, “Actually it’s in Minden Louisiana.” After we crossed the Mississippi River she said, “It’s really closer to Ruston.” When we reached the outskirts of Ruston, she said “It’s just a little outside of Homer.” She wasn’t trying to be vague or hiding anything but the easiest, and more familiar, initial waypoint to give was Shreveport which was 50 miles away from the actual destination.

It’s no different than citizens of Germantown, TN, who— when out of town— respond to the question, “Where are you from?” by simply saying, “Memphis.” If you live in Marietta, GA and are speaking to someone in New York you say, “Atlanta.” The person from Metairie answers, “New Orleans.”

The question I am asked most when working overseas is, “Where will you stay?” When I’m doing this particular tour I just say, “Tuscany.” Though that is a very broad answer. That response covers any of 100 cities, towns, villages, and dots on the map. If I am speaking to someone in Tuscany, I use the name Tavarnelle. Though if someone in the Tavarnelle area asks where I am staying the answer is, “Outside of Barberino, near Petrognano.”

Petrognano isn’t even a town or village. It’s more of a small dot on a map— though not even on all maps— and nothing more than a one-mile stretch of road with a dozen farmhouses and a villa. It’s remote, and that is why I am here. I’ve been coming to this part of Tuscany since I discovered it in 2011. The villa we rent is very remote. It’s the last house at the end of a non-descript, bumpy gravel road that overlooks nothing but grapes and olives for 30 miles to the west. When I am hosting groups here, we are the only tourists the locals see.

At least Petrognano is still here. The city of Semifonte has been erased from the map completely.

Once a week I take my guests on a casual stroll through the Tuscan countryside. We start in Petrognano and walk a mile up the road to a small chapel in the middle of nowhere. It’s more than just a morning walk though. That one mile stretch of road covers from prehistory through World War II.

Millions of years ago this area was underwater as the Mediterranean stretched far inland. We have found dozens of fossils embedded in the roadside embankments, under the olive trees, and among the grapevines. Up from the villa, at the top of the hill, is an Etruscan tomb which dates back 700 years BC.

The Germans set up a small headquarters at the main villa in Petrognano during second world war. The cypress trees that line the road leading to the villa still bear scars from where the German soldiers partially cut them, planning to fell the trees when the allies advanced. Fortunately, the Allied advance was too swift, and the Germans had to retreat quickly. The cypress are still standing.

Up the road from that villa is spring dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena who once stopped there. Mothers nursing their babies still come and drink from that spring for good health. There’s a beautiful monument built there that’s over 500 years old.

At the top of the hill is the Chapel of Saint Michael, which is an exact 1:8 scale replica of Brunelleschi’s dome in Florence. It’s there to commemorate Semifonte. The town that once stood strong in this area.

Semifonte was a thriving city of 15,000 inhabitants located exactly halfway between the rival cities of Florence and Siena. Semifonte was growing quickly as it was situated along a very important trade route. Florence saw Semifonte as a threat and tried to take the city by force.

The citizens of Semifonte outlasted the Florentines for three years living inside their walls. Eventually, through some type of bribe from the inside, the Florentine army was able to gain access to the city and completely destroy the city. And when the historians mention, “completely destroy,” they mean it in a literal sense. They wiped it out to the point that nothing remaining from a city of 15,000— in an area that loves to protect its history— stands today.

All the bricks and stones were taken and used to build the town of medieval town of Barberino just a couple of miles away. The local legend says the Florentines salted the fields so nothing would ever grow here. There are no descendants known from Semifonte. To make sure nothing was ever built there again Florence erected several towers in the area to keep watch and make sure nothing returned. One of those towers is part of the villa in which we stay.

I love the morning walk we do with our guests, because it describes how a one mile stretch of road in this part of the world contains so much history. It reminds me that everywhere I drive in the Tuscan region has a story and history behind it.

The road that runs through the neighboring towns of Tavernelle and Barberino is the Via Roma. It’s the road that leads from Florence to Rome. There are many sections of that road that seem nondescript with nothing apparently spectacular. Though that is the road that Michelangelo traveled when heading to Rome to paint the Sistine Chapel. The road is so old that when Jesus was walking in Jerusalem, people were also walking on the Via Roma.

There are a lot of magpies in this area. Some cultures see magpies as bad luck. Others tell of magpies stealing jewelry and other trinkets as they are said to be attracted to shiny things and collect shiny things. Sometimes I feel like a magpie. Not in the bad luck since, but in the attracted-to-the-shiny-things sense. It’s easy to travel to Italy and want to see Michelangelo’s David or the Sistine Chapel. Those are most definitely “shiny things.” They are beautiful and historic and deserve to be admired. But in this part of the world there is so much more. I like to dig deep. I like to live where the locals live, eat where the locals eat, shop where the locals shop, and— at least for a few weeks out of the year— live as the locals live. I love taking a deep dive into Tuscan culture. Things are different here and that’s a good thing.

Over the years I have made many friends here. Some have come to see us in America. Others will visit in the coming years. In the meantime, I’ll keep introducing a couple of the shiny things to Americans as long as they want to keep travelling. But we will also be digging deep into the people, places, food, and culture of this wonderful, and history-filled, part of the world. That’s where the true life is, today.

Onward.

Pickled Zucchini

2 cups Zucchini, cut into 2” batons
1 cup White vinegar
½ cup Water
2 TB Sugar
1 TB Kosher salt
½ tsp Crushed red pepper
1 each Fresh garlic clove, thinly sliced

To sterilize, cover the jar and lid in water in a pot and boil for 5 minutes.

Pack the zucchini batons tightly into a sterilized 1-pint wide-mouth glass jar. 

In a small pot, combine the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Immediately pour over the jar full of zucchini, leaving about ½“ from the lip. Make sure you stir right before pouring so the crushed red pepper and garlic get into the jar. Discard any excess liquid.

While still hot, tighten the lid and let cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, refrigerate.

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


Main to Main Trade Days celebrates 23 years

Mark November 4 and 5 on your calendar and join the folks in Webster Parish for the 23rd Annual Main to Main Trade Days. Whether you are an art lover, a bargain hunter, an antique shopper, a flea market and garage sale enthusiast or you just love the art of shopping; you won’t want to miss the Main to Main Trade Days experience. 

The 50 mile route runs from Main Street in Springhill down highway 371 south through the Main Streets of the small Webster Parish towns of Cullen, Sarepta, Cotton Valley, Couchwood to Dixie Inn onto Highway 80 on the Shreveport Road, through Downtown Minden then back south on 371 to the Sibley Road Flea Market, south through Sibley. The food, fun and shopping begins at dawn each day and runs through dusk. 

The sidewalks of both Minden and Springhill Main Streets will be filled with vendors. The downtown shops also bring it “outside” and offer store specials and bargains galore. Vendors are many and varied. One street corner may have homemade gumbo for sale by a local church group, while another has original handmade jewelry. You’ll find homemade pickles at one end of the street and original oil paintings on display on the other.

“Downtown Minden will feature food, art, and crafts,” said Mahala Hutto, Main Street Director for Minden. “A giant flea market will be located on the Sibley Road as you head south from Main Street with plenty of parking.”

“Plan at least one full day with us and two if you want to see everything along the route, Springhill Main Street Director Linda McDaniel added. “The clock tower triangle in Springhill is a hot spot for a variety of treasures. Shoppers and vendors are welcome!” 

We must thank the sponsors and the folks who help make this event possible:
Louisiana Main Street, Webster Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau, Springhill Chamber of Commerce and the Minden South Webster Chamber of Commerce. 

For more information, call Mahala at 318-371-4258 (Minden) or Linda at 318-539-5699 (Springhill) or register online at https://www.mindenla.org/mainstreet- page/ . 

All participants setting up a booth and all shoppers are encouraged to follow state and local social distancing guidelines. Honor the 6-foot distance and if participants are sick please stay home. Please be safe and respectful and honor the local authorities if you are asked to move or not set up in an area.


Mt. Lebanon Fall Festival coming up

Queen size quilt for raffle.

Mt. Lebanon Stagecoach Trail Museum’s Fall Festival will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, November 5. Events include a silent auction, a live auction featuring a microwave/air fryer/ convection oven, a cakewalk and cake auction with homemade cakes, and a quilt raffle.

This year’s queen size quilt, made and donated by Emma Kidd, is a beautiful Tumbler Block pattern. Quilt raffle tickets are $1 each, and the drawing will be at 3 p.m. You do not need to be present to win. Tickets can be purchased from any board member or on site the day of the festival.

The Country Store will serve lunch from 11 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. Menu: gourmet hot dogs with all the trimmings, homemade chili, chips, desserts, and a drink (tea, soft drink, or water). Make plans to attend! If you are unable to attend, please consider making a donation to our museum. This is a fun day, and an important fundraiser for our museum.


One night with Bill Haley & the Comets

By Brad Dison

On Friday night, October 14, 1955, Lubbock, Texas would have been the place to be.  Rock and Roll was in its infancy, and Bill Haley & the Comets were there at the very beginning.  Bill Haley and his band were a hot commodity in the music industry after they released a song which went straight to the number 1 position and would forever link them with the early days of Rock and Roll, “Rock Around the Clock.”  Their next single rose in the charts and became forever linked to the era as well, “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”  Several hits were yet to come.

When Bill Haley’s management began preparing for the Lubbock, Texas show, they decided to search for a local band to open the show because it was cost effective.  They, Bill Haley’s team, would not have to pay for travel expenses, hotel, or meals, and they could hire a local band for a single night at a much lower price than if they hired someone with a hit record.  Somehow, Bill Haley’s team learned about a trio comprised of 19-year-old Charles Hardin, 18-year-old Bob Montgomery, and 16-year-old Larry Welborn.  The trio had not settled on a name so posters for the show just listed their names.  The trio normally performed country music on local radio and at school dances but wanted to branch out into Rock and Roll.

Prior to the show, Eddie Crandall, manager of Marty Robbins, a country singer who was on the cusp of his meteoric rise, heard the trio performing live on Lubbock’s local radio station.  Eddie recognized something special in the trio and decided to attend the live concert to see how the trio performed in front of a crowd.  The trio so impressed Eddie that he asked them to record four demo songs and forward them to his office in Nashville.  In a letter Eddie wrote to Charles, “I’m very surprised to know that nothing has happened before now.”  He was referring to the fact that no one had signed the trio to a contract. 

The trio recorded the four demos, forwarded them as instructed, and waited.  Over the next two years, the lineup in the trio changed as Bob and Larry were replaced by Jerry Allison and Joe Mauldin.  Niki Sullivan joined the band as lead guitar player, but only stayed for a few months.  The new group adopted a band name and began recording.  Oh boy, what recordings they were!  In 1957 and 1958, Charles and variations of his band recorded several hits, songs that are still played with reverence today.  

Had Bill Haley’s management team not hired the trio as an opening act in 1955, we may never have heard of Charles Hardin.  On the poster for the Bill Haley & the Comets show, the trio was listed not as Charles, Bob, and Larry, but “Lubbock’s Own Buddy, Bob, and Larry.”  You know Charles Hardin Holley as Buddy Holly.

 

Source: Paese, Meagan. “Buddy Holly, the History of Rock and Roll Radio Show.” Accessed October 18, 2022. https://thehistoryofrockandroll.net/buddy-holly/


Upcoming Events

Oct. 27

4 until 6 p.m. Webster Parish Library Trunk or Treat, Springhill Branch.

4:15 Doyline Jamboree at James Roach Gymnasium. 4:15 p.m. Simsboro vs. Castor girls, 5 p.m. Simsboro vs. Castor boys; 5:45 p.m. Doyline vs. Castor girls; 6:30 p.m. Doyline vs. Castor boys; 7:15 p.m. Doyline vs. Simsboro girls; 8 p.m. Doyline vs. Simsboro boys. Entry fee: $7.

Oct. 28

7 p.m. Hotel Transylvania 3, hosted by Springhill Medical Center on the front lawn of the hospital. Bring family, blankets, lawn chairs. Free to the public. Popcorn provided. All children under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Oct. 30

4:30 until 6 p.m. Calvary Baptist Church Fall Festival. Games, candy, fun for everyone.

Oct. 31

4 until 6 p.m. Webster Parish Library Trunk or Treat, Minden Branch.

5 until 7 p.m. Trunk-or-Treat Fall Fest, Beech Springs Baptist Church, 15910 Hwy. 80, Minden. Games and food provided.

5:30 until 7:30 p.m. The Town of Cullen presents Fall Fest 2022 Trunk or Treat Location: Froggy Bottom

Current-Nov. 30

Motorcycle exhibit at Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl St., Minden. Motorcycles courtesy of 3 State Harley Davidson.

Nov. 4-5

Main to Main Trade Days

Nov. 12 

10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mission Adoption Makers Craft Fair, Silent Auction, Bake Sale and Lunch at First Baptist Church Family Life Center, Minden. ALL  proceeds go to CASA and a family that is beginning the adoption process. Homemade craft items, jellies & canned goods, Christmas items, candles, and much more, baked goods and frozen casseroles, silent auction items and hot dog lunch or jambalaya lunch, drinks and popcorn.

Nov. 19

9 a.m. Poker Run Registration. See http://www.dorcheatmuseum.com for info or call 318-377-3002.

Nov. 26

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Mistletoe Market in Springhill’s CAC Building hosted by Springhill Chamber of Commerce.  Kick off the Christmas Shopping season with craft vendors and boutiques.  Admission free. Visit with the Shreveport Santa (10-2) sponsored by Carter Credit Union.

5 p.m. Springhill Christmas Parade hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.  Springhill Main Street.

Dec. 6

6 until 7:30 p.m. Webster Parish Library. Meriwether Wealth and Planning will present a community education seminar “No, It’s a Scam!” Learn about the latest scams and schemes targeting Webster Parish residents. Presenters Jason Parker, Webster Parish Sheriff and Tracy L. Campbell, financial advisor for Meriwether W&P. No cost to attend but pre-registration is required. Seating limited to 35. RSVP 318-377-1803. Refreshments will be provided as well as important take-home information.


Notice of Death – Oct. 25, 2022

Stephen R. Risner

June 6, 1954 – Oct. 21, 2022

Visitation: noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 at First Baptist Church, 406 Main St., Homer, La.

Funeral service: 2 p.m. following visitation.

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.)


Texas company promises to help local citizens participate in lawsuit

Cars and residents gather outside a tax service company to talk to a Texas-based company about a MDL lawsuit.

By Bonnie Culverhouse

For the second time in as many weeks, a Houston, Texas-based company has been in Minden to gather signatures for a Mass District Litigation (MDL) lawsuit allegedly against Southwestern Electric Power Company.

Temporarily headquartering in a Shreveport Road tax business, Texans Helping Texans Recovery Fund is asking anyone who possibly suffered some type of loss during the winter storm of February 2021, to sign over their right to sue for that loss.

“We don’t know how it works,” said one woman leaving the building. “It’s some kind of recovery thing. We just know we’re supposed to go to city hall and get a printout of our February 2021 electric bill.”

Persons in line waiting to get into the building were asked to pay $10 and complete a specific form to be considered for the lawsuit. The form reads: “We can’t guarantee a favorable outcome even though there is absolutely no out of pocket cost to you.”

There is also no guarantee the residents’ $10 will be refunded if they are not approved for the suit.

Listed on the form are loss of food in refrigerator or deep freeze, pipes burst that caused damages in specific rooms of the house, ceiling repairs, roof damage, days and wages lost at work and other losses.

The company’s website has the following description of what is expected of the signee.

“Assigning your claim means that you are selling Texans Helping Texans the right to sue for your loss. In exchange for 50 percent of the net proceeds, you agree not to pursue independent legal action on your claim and instead allow us to fight the legal battle,” the website declares.

“Assign your claim to CirclesX and we’ll work to help you recover up to half of your uninsured losses,” it continues. “CirclesX is a leading data firm with decades of expertise focused specifically on energy markets. Armed with mountains of high-grade data amassed through our patented technologies, we team with top legal experts to fight your claim. When you trust your claim to CirclesX, we pay all the legal costs on your behalf, and if a settlement is reached you get 50 percent of the net outcome. There is absolutely no risk to you, and you could get back a lot of the money that’s rightfully yours. There’s no out of pocket downside, only upside.”

A SWEPCO spokesperson said he has never heard of the company, and any potential lawsuits would be with the City of Minden rather than his company, since there is a contract between the two.

Minden Mayor Tommy Davis said he was made aware of the group around two weeks ago when they first came to the area.

“They were only here one day. Then, apparently they came back again Friday,” Davis said. “I don’t have any information on it, but we are trying to find out what we can.”

Webster Parish Journal attempted to contact Texans Helping Texans Recovery Fund by phone and email requesting more information. Our phone call was not returned, however, the following email was sent:

“This email address has been temporarily cancelled.  If you have sent any information to this email after September 16, 2022, it was deleted.  We will not be calling anyone from those applications. We are located at the following address for processing applications this week. Tammy’s Fast Tax Services, 640 Shreveport Rd, Minden, LA 71055, Thursday 9am -5pm, Friday 9am – noon. You must have an appointment or you may drop off your application. For appointment please call (318) 382-4464. – Texans Helping Texans Appointment.”

Then, we received a second email, which consisted of one unsigned sentence:

“I will send you the event dates as soon as we get them.”

(Editor’s note: This story will continue as more details become available.)


WPJ Political Poll – November 8, 2022

  • Election Day
    November 8, 2022


    Webster Parish Journal is giving our readers the opportunity to participate in an online poll for parish and city candidates.

    In order to get accurate results, please vote only for candidates in your district.

    The poll will run in all WPJ publications until 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 2 when the link will no longer be active. Results will be posted in Webster Parish Journal’s Thursday, November 3 publication.

    As always, we recommend you go to the polls November 8 and exercise your right to vote.

  • Should be Empty:

Local job fair goes smoothly for employers, perspective employees

By Paige Nash

The Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce partnered with Northwest Technical Community College, the City of Minden and Louisiana Workforce Commission to host the 2022 Job Fair and Career Expo this past Thursday, October 20.  

“We had almost 40 employers present from a wide range of industries,” said GMC President Stephanie Barnette. 

Potential employees came out to see what the job fair and career expo had to offer, fill out applications and participate in some on the spot interviews. 

“There was a steady flow of job seekers throughout the entire event. Interviews were taking place on the spot, and our employers left with a good pool of applicants to sort through. I don’t think it could have gone any better,” said Barnette. 

Employers had booths set up with job information, applications and a variety of promotional material. Some were local companies including the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Fibrebond, McInnis Brothers Construction, Dixie Overland Construction and Minden Medical Center to name a few.  

The City of Minden was also present eager to fill the 21 open positions they currently have ranging from City Clerk, Economic Development Director, Director of Parks and Recreation, custodians, police officers, dispatchers, linemen and laborers. 

April Aguilar, Human Resources Manager for the city was present and she said, ““I believe there were many great job opportunities with the 35 employers represented at the Fall 2022 NLTCC Job Fair. Although the turnout was lower than expected, we have received a few applications for employment.” 

Numerous other employers traveled from neighboring cities and parishes, including Claiborne Memorial Medical Center, Springhill Medical Center, Shreveport Police Department, Margaritaville Resort and Casino in Bossier City, and many others.  


Early voting begins today

Early voting begins today and runs through Nov. 1 (excluding Oct. 30) for the Nov. 8 election.

The ballot includes U.S. Senate, Constitutional Amendments (see bottom of article for website) and the following:

Minden Mayor:

“Nick” Cox, No Party

Billy Mills, Republican

Terika “Reek” Walker, Democrat

District A Minden City Council:

Wayne Edwards, Democrat

Darrell Morris, Republican

Carlton “Buddy” Myles, Independent

District B Minden City Council:

Joey Frye, Republican

Damien Kemp, No Party

Levon “Charlie” Thomas, Democrat

District C Minden City Council:

Vincen “Cheese” Bradford, Democrat

Maretta Gage, Democrat

Javelin Lashundria Hardy, Democrat

Latasha Anderson Mitchell, Democrat

District D Minden City Council:

Habacu Morales, Republican

Michael Roy, Independent

Lakeyla Jacob Williams, Democrat

District E Minden City Council:

Thomas Adams Jr., Republican

Michael Fluhr, Independent

“Andy” Pendergrass, No Party

Minden Police Chief:

Jared McIver, No Party

Larry Morris, No Party

Webster Parish School Board District 2:

Terrell Mendenhall, Democrat

Debbie W. Thomas, Democrat

Webster Parish School Board District 4:

Jonathan “Goose” Guthrie, Republican

Jeri “JJ” O’Neal, No Party

Webster Parish School Board District 6:

Fred Evans, Republican

Jana Watson, Republican

Webster Parish School Board District 8:

Glenda Sherrill Broughton, Other

Phillip Michael Smart, Democrat

Mayor of Springhill:

Courtney Allen, Democrat

“Ronnie” Hearnsberger, Independent

Ray Huddleston, No Party

Mayor, Village of Doyline:

Gary T. Carter, No Party

Crystal “Christie” Gates, No Party

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 1:

D Nicole Frazier, Democrat

Daniel Gipson, Independent

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 2:

“Johnny” Craig, No Party

Dennis Smith, Democrat

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 3:

Patsy Leonard,  Independent

Debra Rester, Other

Stacey Willard, No Party

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 4:

“Alex” Edwards, Republican

“Mike” Whitlock, Republican

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 5:

Derek Melancon, Republican

Brandy White, No Party


Week 9 coming up in Pick’em Contest

With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, time is running out to participate in Webster Parish Journal’s High School Pick’em Contest.

Each weekly winner over the life of the contest will be on the receiving end of $100 and will have their photo taken at our title sponsor Under Dawgs Sports Grill, the gathering place featuring a home-field atmosphere. In addition to the $100, weekly winners will receive a $50 gift gas card courtesy of Car Giant, serving Minden by providing quality cars. A photo will be taken there, too.

In addition to the money and gas card, Minden Attorney Jimbo Yocom of Yocom Law Firm will award each weekly winner a cap featuring the winner’s favorite team either high school, college or pro. Winners will pick their cap at Minden Athletic, suppliers of athletic gear since 1973.

Anyone is eligible to participate. All it takes is an email address and a combination of skill and a little luck. Each week, 10 local and area high school football games plus two tie-breakers based on total points of two selected teams will be posted on the Webster Parish Journal. And just like the Journal, there’s no cost to enter. 

Signing up for the contest only takes a couple of minutes. Log on to https://tinyurl.com/WPJPickem and follow the instructions.

Entries are now open for this week’s games and will remain open until 4 p.m. each Thursday before the listed games. Weekly winners will be notified and announced in the following Wednesday edition of the Journal.


DAR thanks first responders

Dorcheat-Bistineau DAR treated police, firemen and 911 dispatchers with cookies to say thank you for all they do to serve and protect our community.  This celebration is the second activity for the DAR Service to America committee.  Daughters of the American Revolution is a vibrant, growing, service organization which meets in Minden, Louisiana but has members in three bordering states, as well. 

Anyone interested in learning more about the DAR, contact Mrs. Cindy Madden, Regent of Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter at cindymaddendar@gmail.com.


Shrimp Pie

Every southerner’s recipe arsenal should have a few classic seafood recipes touched up with just the right Cajun flavor.  This Shrimp Pie is definitely one of those you’ll want to keep forever and pass down.  I ate this for leftovers until it was all gone.  

Ingredients

  • 1/2 stick butter
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 small bell pepper, diced
  • 3 celery ribs, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 pounds peeled shrimp, raw
  • 2 heaping tablespoons flour
  • 1 can of cream of mushroom soup (or cream of celery)
  • Tony’s to taste
  • Red pepper flakes to taste
  • 3 green onions chopped tip to tip
  • 2 unbaked pie shells

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a large skillet melt butter.  Sauté onion, bell pepper, and celery.  Once very soft add garlic and cook another minute.  

Cut shrimp into bite size pieces.  Add to skillet and cook until pink.  Add flour.  Mix well.  Add soup, Tony’s, red pepper flakes and green onions.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  

Place one pie crust in pie plate.  Pour shrimp mixture over.  Place other crust on top gently and press edges to seal (will be very full)!  Bake 25 minutes until crust is golden.

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