Springhill Medical Center is seeking a Louisiana Certified Pharmacy Technician.

Apply at http://www.smccare.com.

I knew a guy. Good guy. Tall. Thin. A mane of white hair and an impressive always well-kept beard. He wore suits to work every day, and even though I was his employee he always told me I should call him by his first name. That wasn’t going to happen of course. He was thirty years older and had forgotten more about the business than I would ever know. He would go by “Mister” and “sir” until the day the Earth stopped spinning. 

He was a Good Guy. 

He was one of only three men I’ve ever met that I truly respected. I knew at my core that when he  told me something that not only was it true but it was correct. 

He was a Good Guy. 

Not that I didn’t have some problems with him. Those of you who know to whom I referring know he had a bit of a temper. He did some things I didn’t agree with, but I’ve come to realize in time that he never did what he did out of malice or pettiness like some men in power I’ve known. He was never a politician in his dealings. He didn’t pander. He didn’t glad-hand. He didn’t manipulate. He didn’t crawfish when the public was offended. He was honest. And I respected him. 

Perhaps I respected him most for one bit of advice he gave me back when I was about 23 years of age. 

I published an engagement photo. Problem was the guy had his arms around the soon-to-be bride, and his hands were placed awkwardly at the top of her chest. I took the photo, which was snapped by a professional photographer and submitted by a sweet young couple of Minden twenty-somethings. Not a second glance or a thought more was given. Little did I know the tempest that was to come. What came next was what the Good Guy came to refer to as 2003’s great Boob-Gate scandal of Minden. 

Oh, the phone calls that surrounded this innocuous photo. The weeping and gnashing of teeth was severe as was the accosting in the supermarket. 

“How dare you,” a little old lady told me when I was just trying to buy Frosted Flakes on a Saturday morning. I was staring at Tony the Tiger when she came up to me. The encounter was not GREEEEEEAT. 

I had never met her. Never seen her. That’s the problem with having your face in the public eye. Everyone knows who you are but you don’t know who everyone else is. She proceeded to tell me that her grandson saw that picture and she was so embarrassed. I’m surprised she wasn’t clutching a set of phantom pearls around her wrinkled and tanning bed stained neck.  She used that old “I’m going to cancel my subscription” go to that was standard when someone found something offensive. I can’t tell you how many times I heard that over the years. No one ever did cancel though. 

I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to ask her if her grandson watched movies with bullets flying and people being killed in all manner of ways or if he played Mortal Kombat or whatever video game was popular at the time. Simulated violence is no problem. A guy with his hands near the middle of a woman’s chest was a different story. But I didn’t ask that because I was a coward. So I just said “I’m sorry” and groveled a bit. I was different back then. Afraid of my own shadow. Thinking I was never good enough. Constantly worried about losing my job. Truthfully that was a fear I had up until recently. Always feeling like an imposter no matter what I did or how many times I proved failures were the exception rather than the rule. I’ve grown as a person since then and am still struggling to do so today. 

The phone calls were worse. We all got it. The reporters. The ad sales team. The circulation department. The poor receptionist was on the front line. Everyone fielded the verbal assault. Much ado. 

I was losing hair and developing an ulcer over Boob-Gate. I was even afraid to go to church because some Christians are the most vicious among us. As Gandhi said when asked about my religion, “I like your Christ but not your Christianity.” I am a very introverted person. People coming up to me and chewing me out over a picture was tough, and I knew at that point that my thin skin could never handle public office. If I had received the same at church, I never would have gone back. 

So this Good Guy asks me to bring him the picture. He looks at it and then hands it back to me and asks if I see anything wrong with it. I hesitated and eventually said meekly “not really…maybe.” He scoffed and said mine was a politician’s answer. 

“There’s something wrong with it or there isn’t.” 

He asked again if I saw anything wrong with the picture. I told him no, I didn’t see anything wrong with the picture. He nodded and told me that he didn’t either. 

And then he said that I was always going to have to deal with “stupid people.” His words. And the perpetually offended. My words.  If I did nothing wrong then I should just say the hell with them and keep doing what needs to be done. 

He told me to put Boob-Gate behind me and move on. It would be forgotten about soon. And it was. 

A week later, after the sky didn’t fall and I wasn’t fired and I was no longer ambushed while buying breakfast treats, I laughed about it with him. He then told me a story about his younger days. Back in the era of segregation. Integration came along and so too did a delicate situation for newspapers. You can go back and read newspaper editorials from around the nation at that time. A lot of them were racist and pro-segregation. The papers and their writers are judged for their ignorance by history. 

This Good Guy said integration was a good thing. Overdue. After all, we worship the same no matter the skin color. It doesn’t matter if you invite God in or you don’t. He’s there all the same. But this Good Guy wasn’t just one of these passive people who say “as long as it doesn’t affect me” or the worst kind – those who say one thing privately but never would say that same thing in the public for fear of being whipped with the world’s displeasure. 

All of it came to a head for this Good Guy, ironically enough when you compare my tale to his, in the pages of the matrimony section. 

He published wedding stories and engagement stories and the pictures that went with them all together. Black and white weddings were together. You see, what used to be the practice was to have pages for white weddings and then back in the back next to the ads for cleaning services and dog sales there would be the black weddings. 

Good Guy changed that in Minden. And then he told me something I still repeat to this day when I speak of actually standing up for what is right even though you may suffer because of man’s ignorance. 

“You don’t have black weddings and white weddings,” he said. That crisp navy suit making a stunning contrast to his white hair and white beard. “You just have weddings.”

This is simple and pretty well-known in today’s world. But back then, this move brought so much outrage from Minden that this Good Guy had to start carrying a handgun. And this wasn’t one of those guys carrying a gun nowadays in a show of defiance to the encroaching big government that’s stifling us. Nothing wrong with that by the way. I do the same thing. Ain’t nobody taking my guns, and the congregation said amen. 

Good Guy carried a gun because he was getting death threats. And people were throwing bricks through windows at home and at work. It was a big deal in Minden. Much bigger than Boob-Gate.  I never was worried about someone killing me. All I had to deal with were little old ladies griping at me in front of the Malt-O-Meals. 

“Were you scared?” I asked him. 

“Sure,” he said. “But it was the right thing to do.”

I’ve never forgotten that. 

Doing what is right isn’t easy sometimes. It’s painful. It’s scary. It can make you not want to go out in the public eye. It can make you skip church.  It can make you carry a gun. Doing what’s right isn’t easy. But someone must do it. Such is the price of a conscience. 

Mark Twain said, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to either reform, pause or reflect.” We all need to ask ourselves if we do what we do because it is right or because it is easy. 

History remembers fondly the people who do what is right. History judges those who do what is easy. 

I miss that Good Guy. 

(Josh Beavers is a teacher and a writer. He has been recognized five times by the Louisiana Press Association for excellence in opinion writing.)

 With election day slated for November 8 and early voting set to begin Tuesday, October 25, candidates are looking for every opportunity to try and convince undecided citizens to vote for them. 

This opportunity will happen at the Meet the Candidates event which will be held at Victory Praise and Worship Center at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 20. This annual event is sponsored by three local organizations, Iota Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omicron Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Minden Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

This collaboration has been one that many in the community look forward to attending during election season as the event is non-partisan and non-intimidating. The sole purpose is to present information to the citizens of Webster Parish and encourage all to vote.

More than 60 letters and emails were sent to federal, state, parish, and local candidates. So far commitments to attend have been received by candidates vying for positions of U. S. Senator, mayor, police chief, school board members, and city council from all areas of Webster Parish.

Organizers of the event encourage all voters to come out to meet candidates and have an opportunity to informally speak to all candidates in attendance. In addition to meeting candidates, there will be information shared about amendments that will appear on the Nov. 8th ballot.

The leaders of these organizations would like to thank all candidates in advance who have agreed to attend and participate. All citizens of Webster Parish are encouraged to attend at 6 p.m. October 20 as we prepare to exercise our right to vote by making informed and educated decisions. For more information about this event, please contact any member of these organizations.

Please Note: The sponsoring organizations are all non-profit organizations. All candidates, Republicans, Democrats or Independents, running for office were invited to participate. The organizations are non-partisan and do not endorse candidates. 

Baton Rouge – October 16-22, 2022 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are encouraging parents to take the opportunity this week to talk with their teens about safe driving habits before handing over the keys.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States. Nationwide there were 2,276 people killed in crashes involving teen drivers (15-18 years old) in 2020. In 2021, 82 Louisiana teen drivers (15-19 years old) were involved in fatal crashes while 7,296 were involved in injury crashes.

Parents play a critical role in teen driver safety by communicating important driving safety information. New teen drivers are still gaining experience behind the wheel. This can increase the chances of the teen driver being in dangerous situations with other roadway users around them. It’s important for parents to have these discussions to avoid deadly driving behaviors such as alcohol and other drug use, lack of seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, or driving with passengers. Use these tips below to get the conversation started:

1.     Impaired Driving: All teens are too young to legally buy, possess, or consume alcohol. In 2021, nine teen drivers involved in fatal crashes and 113 involved in injury crashes in Louisiana had alcohol in their system. Alcohol isn’t the only substance that can keep teens from driving safely: marijuana and other drugs affect a driver’s ability to react to their surroundings. Driving is a complex task and drugs slow your reaction time. Remind teens that driving under the influence of any impairing substance, including illicit or prescription drugs, can have deadly consequences. If you feel different, you drive differently.               

2.     Seat Belt Safety: Wearing a seat belt is another way teens can stay safer in a vehicle. Unfortunately, too many teens aren’t buckling up. In 2021, over 70% of teen occupants involved in fatal crashes in Louisiana were unbuckled. Teen drivers and passengers are more likely to die in a crash if they are unbuckled. Encourage teens to stand strong and confirm everyone is buckled up, including front seat and back seat passengers no matter the time of day or distance of the journey, before the vehicle moves.

3.     Distracted Driving: Cell phone use while driving is more than just risky, it can be deadly. Texting while driving is against the law in Louisiana. Remind teens about the dangers of using a phone while driving and clarify that any phone use (texting, talking, or using any social media apps) is unacceptable. Even if stopped at a light, remind teens that texting or posting on social media while behind the wheel is illegal.

4.     Speed Limits: Speeding can increase your chances of being severely injured or killed in a crash, increase your chances of losing control, reduce your ability to react to or avoid a roadway hazard, and extend the distance necessary to stop a vehicle. Nationwide in 2020, almost one-third (31%) of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash. Remind teens to always drive within the speed limit.

5.     Passengers: Passengers in a teen’s vehicle can lead to disastrous consequences. Research has shown the risk of a fatal crash dramatically increases as the number of passengers in a vehicle also increases. The likelihood that a teen driver will engage in risky behavior triples when multiple passengers are in the same vehicle. As part of Louisiana’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) law, a 16-year-old driver may not transport more than one passenger under the age of 21 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless the passenger is an immediate family member.

By having these conversations, parents can help teen drivers avoid risky driving behaviors. Teens also need to understand the rules and know the restrictions outlined in Louisiana’s GDL law (https://lern.la.gov/wp-content/uploads/GDL-Chart.pdf). 

While many teens will learn much of this content in driver education, it’s through parent conversations that the lessons are driven home and rules are enforced. Parents should set rules before handing over the car keys and start the conversation about safe driving during National Teen Driver Safety Week.

For more information about National Teen Driver Safety, visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving.

Dear Citizens:

On behalf of myself and my fellow council members, please let me thank each and every participant in the 2022 National Night Out Block Parties.  My compliments to the Minden Press Herald, KASO Radio and The Webster Journal for their excellent coverage of this event.  I would especially like to thank the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden, Inc. for their support.

The hosts are to be commended for their hard work and diligence in the fight against crime and drugs.   We must continue to work together in order to “give crime a going away party” in Minden, Louisiana.

All Block Party Hosts will be recognized at the November 7^th Council meeting, which will be held in Council Chambers at Minden City Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Block Party Hosts and their themes for 2022 were:

District A

1. St. Rest Baptist Church – “This Church Loves & Supports Christ and Community”
2. Kay and Jerald McGuire – 362 Carey Lane – No Theme

District B

1. Greater Blessing Church of God in Christ – “Love Thy Neighbor – Matthew 22:39”

District C

No parties.

District D

No parties.

District E

No parties.

United Christian Assistance Program is in need of the following items:

Food: Cereal, cooking oil

Clothing: men’s shoes

Household Goods: cookware, twin sheets

Toiletries:  toothpaste, deodorant

Thank you for supporting UCAP!

UCAP is open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays at 204 Miller Street, Minden, for food, utility and rent assistance. Clothing is dispersed on Wednesdays only.

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. 12

Nancy Louise Goggin, 34, of Lawrence, Ark., was arrested by Cotton Valley Police for aggravated assault with a motor vehicle upon a peace officer and aggravated flight.

Mary Sue Smith, 53, of the 400 block of Bud Lee Rd., Shongaloo, was arrested by Springhill Police on 3 counts of distribution of methamphetamine.

Oct. 13

John Ferrando Montgomery, 57, of Doyline, was arrested by WPSO for domestic abuse battery.

Rickey D. Williams, 64, of the 1300 block ofSheppard St., Minden, was arrested by MPD for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Anthony Ary Jr., 57, of the 200 block of Roosevelt St., Minden, was arrested bye MPD on 5 bench warrants.

Oct. 14

Monreaka Beatrice Barkins, 25, of Camelot Dr., Springhill, was arrested by WPSO on an active warrant.

Charles M. Bradley, 25, of the 400 block of Camp Bistineau Rd., Doyline, was arrested by Probation & Parole for a probation violation.

Oct. 15

Torry Capers, 30, of the 300 block of Weston St., Minden, was arrested by MPD on an active bench warrant and for resisting by force or violence.

Oct. 16

Johnny Cato, 56, of the 700 block of N. Arkansas, Springhill, was arrested by WPSO on an active warrant.

Oct. 17

Cynthia Gail Wiggins, 46, of the 15000 block of Got, 80 E., Minden, was arrested by WPSO for criminal negligence of family.

Mallory Brooke Merritt, 24, of the 100 block of Melton St., Minden, was arrested by WPSO at the Webster Parish Courthouse for failing a drug test.

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.

Oct. 18-21

5 p.m. 2022 Mini Cheer Camp, hosted by Doyline High School Cheerleaders. Grades Pre-K-5th. Contact Kelsey Morris at 318-5647324 or Whitney Vollmer at 318-525-2173.

Oct. 20

10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Greater Minden Chamber Job Fair & Career Expo, Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College.

6 p.m. Meet the Candidates, Victory Praise and Worship Center.

Oct. 21

9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Health Fair at First Baptist Church gym, 301 Pennsylvania Ave., Minden. Sponsored by Webster Parish Council on Aging, Regional Hospice and Walgreens. Flu shots (bring Medicare card), Blood pressure checks, Bingo, door prizes, games and lunch. Call 371-3056 for more information.

7 p.m. Hocus Pocus Movie Night 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 baby an adult.

Oct. 25

10 a.m. Storytime Space Series – Saturn. Springhill branch Webster Parish Libraries.

Oct. 27

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

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 baby 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.

Bobbie Iris Canterbury

May 8, 1931 – Oct. 15, 2022

Visitation: 10-10:45 a.m.Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, La.

Funeral service: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, La.

Burial: Springhill Cemetery, Springhill, 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.)

A south Webster Parish man died Saturday night in a one-vehicle crash on La. Hwy. 527 at Junior Edwards Road.

The crash claimed the life of 41-year-old Marvin Champlain of Doyline.

According to Louisiana State Police Public Information Officer Jonathan Odom, LSP Troop G was dispatched to investigate the crash just after 11 p.m.

According to Odom’s report, the initial investigation revealed that a 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, operated by Champlain, was traveling south on La. Hwy. 527 at a high rate of speed.  For reasons still under investigation, Champlain exited the road and was ejected from the motorcycle. 

Champlain, who was not wearing a DOT-approved helmet, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Webster Parish Coroner. 

It is unknown if impairment is a contributing factor in this crash.  Routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis.  The crash remains under investigation, and charges are pending, say state police.

Troopers encourage all riders to take an approved motorcycle safety course. These courses teach safe riding practices and help you apply safe riding strategies that can help reduce your chance of injury should a crash occur. Anyone interested in attending motorcycle safety courses can go to http://lsp.org/motorcycle.html for more information. Making good choices while riding a motorcycle, such as never driving while impaired and obeying all traffic laws, can often mean the difference between life and death.

In 2022, Troop G has investigated 29 fatal crashes, which has resulted in 32 deaths.

By Landrie Still

Glenbrook Apaches traveled to Ringgold Friday to take on the Ringgold High School Redskins and kept their win streak alive 48-15. Each Apache football player, ranging from eighth graders to seniors, played with all his might so that Glenbrook could increase their season status to 7-0. The Glenbrook Apaches have recently been announced as having the longest consecutive winning streak of all Louisiana High School Athletic Association Schools and as a result of the game tonight, the Apaches extended their consecutive wins to 13. 

The Apache, Redskin matchup began as Maddox Mandino, Hayden Harmon, Cason Clemons, and Luke Vining led the Apaches in the coin toss. The Redskins began the night kicking off as Apache, Jackson Waller received the ball, leading to DJ Carter completing the pass from Ty Feaster to score the first touchdown of the night, only 0:20 into the game. The extra point, made by Feaster, put 7 points on the board for the Apaches. 

Following the forced Redskin punt as a result of defensive tackles by Harmon and Rhett Johnson, several passes were made to Seth Mangrum and Toby Haulmark for a first down.  Feaster connected a long pass to Mangrum for another Apache touchdown. The successful point by Feaster adjusted the score to 14-0 with the Apaches in the lead.

The Apaches took over the football and scored yet another touchdown with 2:55 left in the first quarter. Haulmark brought the ball to the end zone, which put the Apaches in a 20 point lead over Ringgold. Coach Feaster included in a post-game interview that, “The Apaches were able to throw the ball a lot, while allowing many different guys to handle the ball.”

Following the touchdown, Connor Williams made a hard stop, which ultimately forced the Redskins to punt. The Apaches recovered the football, leading to Feaster clearing the pass to Clemons, who scored a touchdown to conclude the first quarter. The final score at the end of the quarter was 27-0.

To start the second quarter, Trey Yetman recovered a Redskin fumble, leading to the Apaches taking over at the Redskin 6 yard line. Feaster found an opening to Chase Sentell who scored the first touchdown of the quarter only less than 1:30 into the section. The successful extra point increased the Apaches’ score to 34-0.

The Apache defense took the field with multiple strong defensive stops by Johnson, Mangrum, Yetman, and a quarterback sack by Preston Pope. Waller intercepted a Redskin pass and scored a touchdown to conclude the first half. The score going into halftime was increased to 41-0 as a result of the strong Apache efforts.

To begin the second half, the sub-varsity teams, which Coach Feaster complemented for their perseverance and strength, took the field. After Ringgold scored a touchdown and 2-point conversion, the Redskins attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by Apache, Hunter Bell. The recovery resulted in Mandino stepping into the quarterback position, where he made several good passes, but ultimately the pass to Williams was most successful and resulted in the Apaches scoring a touchdown and extra point with 0:18 left in the third quarter.

At the beginning of the final quarter, Hudson Glasscock, Aiden Rose, Naci Morales, Noah Cox, and Tristan Maus made strong tackles to hold off the Redskin offense. Coach Feaster strongly complemented the defensive players of all ages, stating, “They fought hard and pulled through to gain the yardage the Apaches needed.” Despite the Apache efforts, Ringgold broke through and scored one last time, leaving the final score as 48-15.

The Apaches fought consistently through all four quarters of the game, which contributed to their ultimate success. 

Next week, the Apaches plan to take on the Plain Dealing High School Lions at Plain Dealing at 7 p.m. Friday, October 21 for the Week 8 matchup. 

By Bonnie Culverhouse

A joint effort between Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office and Minden Police Department ended in 2 arrests and confiscation of a large amount of drugs.

Anthony Damon Souice, 62, of the 800 block of Mignon St., Minden, was arrested and charged with possession of Ecstasy with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana.

Lashonda Thornton, 43, of the 100 block of George St., Minden, is charged with 2 counts of resisting an officer.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said investigators and detectives conducted a search warrant at the Mignon St. address as the result of a long-term investigation.

“Around mid-morning Thursday, we got with Minden PD and conducted the search,” Parker said. “We seized 770 Ecstasy tablets, which is pretty significant in our area, and we seized about 9 grams of marijuana.”

Total street value is estimated at around $8,000.

Parker said Souice was arrested without incident, however, Thornton refused to comply with officers and after a brief struggle, was placed into custody.

“The search of the residence yielded the Ecstasy pills in a plastic container in the sitting room,” said the sheriff. “Both subjects denied knowledge of narcotics in the residence and refused to answer questions without an attorney.”

When Sgt. Josh McCormick attempted to handcuff Thornton at the sheriff’s office, she reportedly resisted again, telling deputies she was injured. She was transported to Minden Medical Center Emergency Room, treated and released into custody.

Thornton and Souice were booked into Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.

WPSO investigators on the case were Bobby Igo III, Phillip Krouse, Shawn Jenkins and Marvin Garrett. MPD detectives included Shane Griffith and Kenneth James. Parker said the investigation had been on-going for months.

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.

A stubborn Minden Crimson Tide squad saw its second half comeback fall short Friday and the Northwood Falcons held on with a fourth quarter score to take a 21-12 win in District 1-4A action at Jerry Burton Stadium in north Shreveport.

Trailing 14-0 at the half, Minden cut into the Falcons’ lead by taking the third quarter kickoff 56 yards in nine plays to make it 14-6 after a failed PAT attempt with 7:53 remaining. 

On the strength of runs by Daylen Robinson, Jakobe Jackson, Cameron Mitchell and Jaylin Williams, the Tide marched downfield but faced a fourth down at the Falcon 32-yard line. Jackson lofted a pass into the endzone where Williams outjumped a pair of defenders to haul in the scoring toss and get the Tide on the board.

Minden’s defense held on the next series and got the ball at its 31-yard line following the Falcon punt. Ten plays and 65 yards later, Robinson bulled into the endzone from four yards out with only seconds remaining in the third quarter and the Tide moved to within 14-12 when a two-point conversion attempt failed.

Robinson had set the Tide up for the score with a 34-yard run, breaking tackles along the way as he worked to the Northwood four.

Northwood began a 63-yard drive of its own, and 10 running plays later put the finishing touch on the win when Quintavion White shoved his way into paydirt from one yard out. White carried eight times on the drive and finished as the game’s leading rusher with 142 yards on 24 carries. He scored a pair of touchdowns.

A pair of failed scoring opportunities in the first half for the Crimson Tide could have changed the outcome of the hard-fought game. A promising drive late in the first quarter ended at the Falcon eight-yard line when a Jackson pass fell incomplete in the endzone on fourth down.

Northwood took over and promptly marched 92 yards, capped by quarterback Mason Welch’s two-yard TD run. That score, added to a White 17-yard touchdown burst to cap a Falcon 66-yard drive with the opening kickoff, put the hosts ahead 14-0 with 8:38 remaining in the half.

Minden’s second missed chance came following that second touchdown. A pair of runs by Robinson and Mitchell, plus a 15-yard facemask penalty put the Tide at Northwood’s 15. But the Falcon defense recovered a Tide fumble and ended that threat.

 Northwood moved downfield following the fumble and appeared to be headed to a larger lead, but Minden’s defense rose to the occasion. Brian Turner intercepted a Welch pass in the endzone and got Minden into halftime trailing by just two scores.

With just over a minute remaining in the game and the Tide backed up at its own three-yard line and trailing by nine points, Northwood’s Camron McCullough intercepted a desperate Jackson pass and returned it to the Minden two. In a display of sportsmanship, the Falcon coaching staff signaled Welch to kneel and let the clock expire rather than add points.

Minden’s Robinson added another triple-digit rushing night, picking up 108 yards on 17 carries and scored one touchdown. Mitchell had 88 yards on six rushes. Jackson completed six-of-13 pass attempts for 52 yards and one score, and had one interception. Williams caught two passes for 36 yards and a score while Mitchell had three catches worth 12 yards. Robinson caught one pass for four yards.

While Northwood was totaling 200 yards on the ground, led by White, Welch was throwing for 181 yards on a 12-for-26 night with one interception. Welch also picked up 42 rushing yards on eight attempts. Minden’s defense held Welch to zero passing yards in the second half. 

Minden now stands at 2-5 for the season; 1-3 in District 1-4A play with a Friday home district game against Evangel Christian Academy next on the schedule. Northwood (5-2, 3-1) will visit BT Washington in a league contest.

By Josh Beavers

Lakeside scored 25 points in the first half of Friday night’s game against North Caddo. That’s a pretty good score for a full game much less for a pair of quarters. Still, the Warriors found themselves down by 21 when halftime rolled around. 

That’s just how impressive the Titan offense was in Sibley last night. North Caddo kept up the scoring in the second half as they improved to 5-2 on the year following a 68-25 win over the Warriors. 

The loss was the second in a row for Lakeside following four straight Warrior wins. They now have a 4-3 record. 

Despite the loss, several Warrior performers need to be recognized. 

Jordan Case excelled in the first half both running and catching the ball. He scored twice. 

Josh Sebald hauled in a 51 yard pass from Cooper Chase for a second quarter touchdown. 

And perhaps the play of the night on either side belonged to Tamarjah Ferrell who zigged and zagged all over the field on a 60 yard interception return with less than a minute left before half. He scored. 

I want to thank Jesse Lowe and our media partners KASO/KBEF radio for keeping me straight for this game. It takes a village to bring you the news and the Journal couldn’t have a better friend when it comes to community partnerships.

North Webster took another one on the chin Friday, falling on the road to undefeated district foe Carroll, 49-7. 

Hey y’all, me again. 

This is my third different column for the Webster Parish Journal. I’m separating thoughts into this trio because they each deal with important aspects of the human condition. 

“Men of Courage,” with my buddy Chris Plants, allows the former FBI agent to share stories of his time in law enforcement and the way God used him to help victims and turn around the lives of some who violently ran afoul against the laws of man and the laws of the Lord. We share what Jesus means to us. “Men of Courage” publishes once a month – the last Wednesday.  

“Page 210” is my regular weekly work. I share my thoughts and what I feel needs to be shared and why. A lot of times I’m writing for me. It’s cheaper than paying someone to listen. 

But there was something missing. “Men of Courage” is for sharing the Word. “Page 210” is for my word (whatever that’s worth – 2 cents maybe? Three at least). And this new one – “What You See” – will focus on old writings – from dudes like Thoreau and Emerson – and dudettes like Emily Dickinson – as well as ancient works from guys in comfortable clothes like Socrates and Epictetus and fat cat philosopher Seneca and the man above them all – Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. 

The guy in the pic, the statue beside me and my youngest, is Henry David Thoreau – my favorite writer and a fella who penned some of the most important ideas in American history. The concept of asking questions, even when the questions make some uncomfortable, was popularized in America by Thoreau. The term civil disobedience comes from HDT. Appreciating nature and telling others to basically stop and smell the roses largely came into the American zeitgeist through his writing. 

Last week I had the fortune of traveling far north with my family. One of the highlights- to me at least because my kids said “we came out here just to look at old house?” – was traveling to Walden Pond in Massachusetts to see … well, an old house. But it is a cool old house and one where Thoreau spent two years living on his own and reading and writing and thinking on the nature of man and how we can transcend beyond human nature and truly walk in the footsteps of a higher power. It’s about finding purpose as defined by God. 

That’s where the title comes from. Thoreau said it’s not about looking but actually seeing. That phrase has been borrowed and altered over the years by various folk but it always means that it is vital to think if you want to grow as a person. To ask questions. To use the brain God gave you. One guy asks God why He allows war and crime and pain and suffering and then God asks him the same question. Looking at life leads down dark roads. Seeing life leads to light. 

Seeing the world around us isn’t just literal. It’s not about just appreciating the sunrise over a far green field. And it’s not just about our faith. Like Jung said when he was asked about God. Invited or not, God is present. It’s about how we see our own lives. Everyday in every way we can use the words of Thoreau and Emerson and Dickinson and Socrates and Epictetus and fat cat philosopher Seneca and the man above them all – Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius – to help us with our daily struggles. Because even though their words are hundreds of years old – thousands in some cases – they are just as applicable today as they were when they were written. 

Thoreau wrote, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” We may not be living a Spartan life in the woods, but we can examine our own worlds every day to see if we are simply existing or really living. Are we just looking at life or seeing it? 

Some words are worth repeating over and over again until the end of the age. I’ll try to do that with “What You See.”

(Josh Beavers is a teacher and a writer. He has been recognized five times by the Louisiana Press Association for excellence in opinion writing.)

Anna Elizabeth Fish walked bravely and boldly into the house of the Lord on Saturday October 1, 2022 after an incredibly courageous lifetime battle with muscular dystrophy at the tender age of 17.

Anna was born in Minden on December 26, 2004 to John Michael and Laurie Marie Jones Fish.  She attended Minden schools from grades K-12, and was set to graduate Minden High School in the spring of next year as an honors and dual enrollment student.  Her teachers and fellow students will all remember her for her sweetness, her perseverance, and her ever present smile.  She was a luminous young lady who endured much in her short lifetime but never sought sympathy or uttered even a mumbling word of complaint.

Anna always looked for joy and happiness, and she loved spending time with family and friends.  Anyone who shared her company will remember her infectious laugh and terrific sense of humor.  She was exceptionally creative, leaving a voluminous collection of short stories and drawings behind for us to remember her and celebrate her life.  She loved animated programming, and she would often create beautiful drawings of characters from the shows she loved.  Her physical disability was such that the painstaking detail she put into these creations was simply awe inspiring.  Her limitless imagination and brilliant creative expression showed the rest of us that a physical disability does not take away the extraordinary power of our hearts and minds. 

Although everyone who knew Anna loved her and cherished her, the person who knew her best and shared the closest bond is her sister Madelyn Grace.  Anna and Maddy were inseparable sisters, friends, and co-conspirators who could turn any situation into something fun and enjoyable.  From secret codes to karaoke to private moments only the two of them will understand, they were a glorious pair to behold, laughing, crying, and even occasionally arguing as only two people with that kind of bond can.

Anna was preceded in death by her great grandfather, John Willie Smithey and her great grandmother Mary Waldron Smithey Ruffin, her special papaw William  Clifford Ruffin, her beloved grandmother Marilyn Smithey Lee, her grandfather William G. Jones, Jr. and her uncles Allan and Andrew Jones of Anchorage, Alaska and her loving aunt Annette Smithey Cole.  Left to cherish the memories of her wonderful life are her mother Laurie Marie Jones Fish and her sister Madelyn Grace Fish of Minden, her father John Michael and wife Lauren Fish and stepsisters Braleigh and Kynlee Dale of Minden, her grandfather William Calvin Fish, her grandmother Alice Jones of Selawik, Alaska, and her pappy Bruce Lee of Dubberly.

She will be dearly missed as well by her uncle Billy Fish and wife Becky and cousins Sidney Anna and Mary Alexis Fish of Dubberly, her aunt Angie and husband Todd Ferris and cousins Lily and Logan Ferris of Wasila, Alaska, her uncle Martin Cole of Minden and her Aunt Jamie Jones of Wasila.  

Honorary Pallbearers include Anna’s cherished group of friends, including Maddison Conly, Qwalysia Eason, Aaron Edwards, Lane Engles, Taryn Joyce, Gracelyn Pepper, Leilah Wallace, Connor Woods and so many more.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations to the Cure for Congenital Muscular Dystrophy research site: www.curecmd.org. 

Celebration of Life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 at Living Word Worship Center, Minden, La.

In the tournament bass fishing world, there are certain bodies of water that anglers both hate and love. It’s kind of like the Dallas Cowboys, you either love them or hate them, and there’s not much in between. The mighty Red River falls into the hate category for a lot of anglers, but from my perspective, I love it!

Here’s why… if there’s one thing the Red River does for a bass tournament, it levels the playing field. It’s truly a body of water that can really frustrate anglers due to its unpredictability. Bass on the Red is like a magic act, they can literally disappear. The fish you find today cannot be counted on for tomorrow since the bait fish have a tendency to move. When the bait fish relocate, the bass go with them.  Another issue with the river is its reputation for burning anglers who try to go back to the same fish two days in a row. Professional angler, Chris Lane, proved this theory to be correct when he was asked what pattern he used to win the 42^nd Annual Bassmaster Classic on the Red River in 2012. Chris said the key to his victory was to not fish the same areas two days in a row. He discovered this during his practice time preparing for this event. 

When anglers are asked the best way to catch bass on the Red, they’ll make reference to what bass fishermen call “junk fishing.” This means that anglers will use a plethora of baits from spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and topwater to soft plastics all in one day just to fill their limit for weigh-in. This is what makes the Red such a unique body of water and tends to level the playing field for all anglers.         

So why do so many tournament anglers hate the mighty Red River? For starters, it has been known to be very hard on a boat. Too many lower units on outboard engines have been destroyed due to guys running in areas they should have been idling through. Rock jetties and sand bars, which at times can hide just under the water’s surface can create a navigation nightmare. The river is a constant changing entity as the water can fluctuate several feet depending on the time of year. This will create and rearrange sandbars all up and down the river system. But the number one problem is when boaters cut corners too close to the ends of rock jetties. It’s just like any other body of water that you’re not familiar with… if you’re not sure what lies beneath the surface….idle! So many anglers have boat damage because they don’t take the time to learn where you can and cannot run. The golden rule for boaters coming to the Red River…stay between the buoys on the main river and when entering the backwater cuts off the main river, idle through the first time so you can see how deep or shallow the cut really is. 

With back-to-back historic floods in 2015 & 2016, the Red River underwent complete flushing of its ecosystem. This flood devastated the river and destroyed all vegetation that bass need to thrive. Before the floods, it was common to see five fish limits tipping the scales in the 16-to-20-pound range. But since the flood, the weights have really dropped off with anglers weighing anywhere from 10 to 13 pounds as evident with the recent B.A.S.S. Central Open event. The recovery has taken longer than anyone expected, but it appears better days are ahead as bass habitat is returning to the backwater areas that held so many bass. 

As of October 1, 2021, thanks to the Red River Waterway Commission, the river is on the rebound as they have implemented a $100,000 bass restocking program for all pools 1 – 5. Pools one and two get 10%, pool 3 gets 20%, pool 4 gets 25% and pool 5 gets 35%. Each pool delivery will consist of 20% F1 hybrids and 80% pure Florida bass. That’s 72,000 pure Florida’s and 18,000 F1 hybrid largemouth bass being stocked all up and down the Red River. 

Over the years, Red River has been very good to me with a few wins, a couple of runner-ups and Top 10 finishes. For me, it really is like the Dallas Cowboys….I love the river! Every angler has what they call their “home water,” and for me, it’s the Red River! I hope you’ve enjoyed this angler’s perspective on the love-hate relationship that anglers have for this awesome body of water. Understand this, fishing the Red or any river system is a different animal and requires a different approach than fishing a lake. But the best advice for anyone fishing the Red River, keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to try different baits. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!  

Steve Graf                                                                                                                                                

Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show &                                                                                                   

Tackle Talk Live

Oct. 15

10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Louisiana’s Jet Rally Airshow, Minden Airport.

Oct. 15

11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Minden Makers Fair

4th annual Minden Makers Fair will take place at The Farm of Cultural Crossroads. A fun-filled day packed with local artists and makers, hands-on demonstrations, activities for children, food vendors, and more! Guests will also be able to view submissions made to our halloween-themed art competition, Moonlight Madness. More information about this event can be found at: https://www.mindenmakersfair.com/

5:30 until 11 p.m. After the gates close on Minden Makers Fair, The Farm will reopen at 5:30 for our 3rd annual Moonlight Madness halloween art competition and haunted house. The gallery reception will begin at 5:30 with awards being announced and refreshments served. Once the sun goes down, we will open our kid-friendly haunted house located under the pavilion and pass out candy. Guests are encouraged to wear a costume. For more information, or to receive an application to submit artwork into the competition, please call (318) 268-8153 or email CulturalCrossroadsOfMinden@gmail.com.

Oct. 17 

5 p.m. LYFE Series Meeting #1, Springhill Library.

6 p.m. 2022 Political Forum – Minden Chief of Police and City Council candidates. Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College.

Oct. 17-21

5 p.m. 2022 Mini Cheer Camp, hosted by Doyline High School Cheerleaders. Grades Pre-K-5th. Contact Kelsey Morris at 318-5647324 or Whitney Vollmer at 318-525-2173.

Oct. 20

10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Greater Minden Chamber Job Fair & Career Expo, Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College.

6 p.m. Meet the Candidates, Victory Praise and Worship Center.

Oct. 21

9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Health Fair at First Baptist Church gym, 301 Pennsylvania Ave., Minden. Sponsored by Webster Parish Council on Aging, Regional Hospice and Walgreens. Flu shots (bring Medicare card), Blood pressure checks, Bingo, door prizes, games and lunch. Call 371-3056 for more information.

7 p.m. Hocus Pocus Movie Night 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 baby an adult.

Oct. 25

10 a.m. Storytime Space Series – Saturn. Springhill branch Webster Parish Libraries.

Oct. 27

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

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 baby 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.

Barbara Jane Kimmer Robertson

Feb. 27, 1941 – Oct. 12, 2022

Funeral service: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 at First Baptist Church, Minden, La.

Burial: Gardens of Memory Cemetery

Jesse Randall Miller

May 22, 1956 – Oct. 11, 2022

Graveside service: 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, Minden Cemetery, Minden, La.

Delores Dooly

Marcy 8, 1953 – Oct. 13, 2022

Visitation: 4 until 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden, La.

Funeral service: 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, Eastside Missionary Baptist Church, Minden.

Burial: Pine Grove Cemetery, Minden.

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.)

By Paige Nash

Webster Parish School Board candidates had the opportunity to share their vision for education in the parish Monday.

While they had differentiating opinions on most that was addressed, they all agreed having a school system that is competitive with neighboring parishes is imperative and that a sense of pride in the education the students are receiving is crucial in invigorating the local economy and guaranteeing a high quality of life in the future for our parish.  

Candidates with opposition seeking to fill a seat on the Webster Parish School Board attended the 2022 Political Forum presented by the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce Monday evening (October 10). 

Jonathan “Goose” Guthrie and incumbent Jeri “JJ” O’Neal were there for District 4 along with current board member for District 6, Fred Evans and political hopeful, Jana Watson. Phillip Smart was in attendance seeking to take the District 8 seat from the reigning Glenda Broughton, who was not present. 

The forum began with a meaty three-part question, which in part included asking the candidates, “What makes them the best candidate?” 

District 4 hopeful Guthrie said, “Helping people has always been my passion. I believe it is a calling. I believe I have the energy, the motivation, and the desire to work hard.” 

Incumbent O’Neal said, “The fact that I felt like the board wasn’t hearing the people’s voice, they weren’t hearing the students, the teachers, and the parents. I had two girls in the system, so I felt like I had investment in it. I was in tune with what the outside needed, and I wanted to be able to communicate that with the board itself.” 

Representing District 6 Fred Evens said, “I have the experience. A lot of the time I can draw some things up with the policies that others can’t.” 

Candidate for District 6 Watson said, “I taught 21 years in our schools, and I don’t want our students going to other parishes, I don’t want our very talented teachers going to other parishes either.” 

District 8 candidate Smart said,” Experience means nothing if you only have experience in doing nothing. I’m not scared to go out there and make changes, I’m not scared to create waves, I’m not scared to ask questions and I’m not scared to fight for our children.” 

Another question allowed the candidates to voice their varying opinions of what they believed was the biggest problem currently in the K-12 education system. 

District 6 incumbent, Fred Evans said, “I think that one of the biggest problems we have is overcoming Covid-19, especially the younger children. It’s not anyone’s fault other than Covid-19. Covid is something that has really set schools back.” 

Watson said, “We have had some problems recently with aggressive behavior and the leaders are limited on what they can do and how they can react. I think we need to work with the teachers and give them other options.” 

District 8 candidate Smart said, “The average salary for a public teacher is $42,000 for the state of Louisiana, the national average is $65,000. So, we definitely have to increase our teacher’s salary to make them want to be here. You have some teachers who do it just because they have it in their heart and they want to help out, but they need help, as well.” 

District 4 candidate Guthrie said, “When I worked as a juvenile officer between 1995-2001, I saw that we started losing a lot of our children about the 7th or 8th grade and a lot of the times it wasn’t because of bad parents, sometimes it was a single parent home, and they were having to work, and the children were being left unattended. They got into situations to where they got themselves into criminal trouble. They ended up in the criminal justice system because unfortunately there were not a lot of things that were offered at that particular time for after school programs.” 

Incumbent for District 4 O’Neal said, “I think depending on where you live, there are different pockets. There may be a different problem in the north part of the parish than the southAq part of the parish, so I think we really need to individualize our schools. What does each individual school need in order to overcome the problems those kids are facing?” 

Each candidate for every represented district agreed on what their roles and responsibilities are as a school board member. Every candidate mentioned being a voice, ears and a liaison between the teachers, parents, children and the board with education being top priority. 

If you are interested in learning more about the candidates’ platforms and plans and were not able to attend this forum or watch the live stream, you can still find it on the Greater Minden Chamber Facebook page 

The Greater Minden Chamber will be holding their final round of questions for the candidates running for Minden City Council and Chief of Police on next Monday, October 17 at the Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College at 6 p.m. 

By Tina Montgomery

When Louisiana voters go to the polls on November 8 they will be asked to vote on 8 constitutional amendments for our state. These amendments will affect voters in various areas from taxes, water bills, and disabled veterans. The amendments as they appear on the ballot are often wordy and complicated, sometimes confusing voters about what they are voting on.

The Webster Parish Journal will publish a series of articles breaking down the amendments using the PAR Guide (Public Affairs Council) to the amendments and contacting legislators for their opinions. The articles will explain what a yes or no vote means to voters.

These articles are not intended to influence your vote, only to create awareness and inform voters on the issues they will vote on. Voters are encouraged to look at several sources of information to form their own opinions.

You can read and download the full guide to the 2022 constitutional amendments at http://www.parlouisiana.org.

By Tina Montgomery 

The Board of Aldermen for the Village of Dixie Inn hired a new City Clerk and agreed to move forward in hiring a new police officer during their regular meeting held Tuesday, October 11.

Mayor Donna Hoffoss said Alicia Ware was hired for the position of City Clerk and she is already working in the office at Village Hall. Ware replaces Dana James whose resignation was accepted October 7.

The Board is moving forward to hire a new police officer for the Village. Hoffoss said they discussed whether or not they want to hire potential candidates who had been through the academy. “We are leaning to hire someone not from the academy so we can train them how we want [to perform the job]. Unless someone exemplary shows up, we will go that way,” Hoffoss said. She said the Board is still in discussion regarding pay and benefits. She further stated they are interviewing candidates.

The new hire will be an additional officer since Chief Edwards will be part-time.

In other business regarding the police department, the Board agreed to approve the one year warranty for the watchguard car and body cam video equipment. Hoffoss said the warranty has to be renewed yearly. “It’s something we really have to have,” she said. Hoffoss said they also approved the purchase of the new radar unit for the department’s Tahoe.

In new business the Board decided to opt in to the temporary housing and shelter assistance program and waiver of land use. Per GOHSEP, this program will allow a landowner to place temporary housing on their property in the event of a Presidential declared disaster.

Hoffoss also said the Board heard department reports as part of regular business matters:

• The Police Department will participate in the next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 29, 2022. Residents can drop off expired and unused prescription medicines from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Village Hall. 
• Hoffoss announced businesses in the Village will participate in the Fall Highway 80 Sale, October 21-23 as well as the Main to Main Sale the first week of November. She said she expects a good turnout for both events.