With the exception of last month’s meeting minutes, Minden City Council members voted unanimously Monday to make improvements to streets, Minden Airport and funding for Historic districts.
One of the items approved was to amend and re-enact Chapter 54 – which affects preservation of the Historic Residential District and Historic Downtown.
“This is the third time we have done this,” Mayor Tommy Davis said. “Every so often we have to do this. We made a correction in the funding portion.”
The Minden Airport is one step closer to improvements. The council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
“This is in addition to an agreement we’ve already signed,” Davis said. “It adds another $60,640 to it for obstruction removal. They are out there removing trees at the end of the runway.”
City streets have been a priority over the last few months and more should be seeing improvements with the adopted resolution stating Minden agrees to fund administrative and engineering services for a 2023 Louisiana Community Development Block Grant.
“These grants are all done on a point system,” the mayor said. “If we pay the engineering funds ourselves, we get more points, which means it’s more likely we will get this grant.”
Acting City Clerk Michael Fluhr reported in the month of September $623,610 in sales taxes were collected.
“They were a little bit disappointing,” Fluhr said. “In the prior year, it was $647,563.”
Fluhr said there were $5,580 in delinquent payments for the month.
Sales tax figures collected for the entire year totaled $7.4 million.
“Budgeted – $6.6 million,” Fluhr said. “Sales tax collected the previous year – $7.1 million. So we have seen an increase of $300,000.”
Webster Parish 911 Director Angie Chapman is preparing for an uptick in calls with the upcoming holiday season.
“This time of the year, mental health is a big issue. We will see an increase in calls of service for EMS and law enforcement because it’s the holidays. Sometimes people have a great time, but for the elderly and people who suffer with mental health it’s a big issue,” said Chapman.
Looking at last year’s numbers, 911 processed 2,120 calls for services involving mental health challenges with numbers peaking in the second and fourth quarters. The numbers in the fourth quarter doubled the calls received in the first quarter.
“We generally see a spike in the summer months and again during the holiday season at the end of the year. 2022 statistics are following the same pattern in that we have processed a total of 1,762 calls of this nature with the same fluctuations,” she said.
The current mental health crisis crosses people of all age groups, geographical regions, ethnic groups, religious backgrounds, and socioeconomic status for differentiating reasons.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 64 percent of people with mental health issues say that the holiday season makes their condition worse.
NAMI Medical Director Ken Duckworth said, “For many people the holiday season is not always the most wonderful time of the year. For individuals and families coping with mental health challenges, the holiday season can be a lonely or stressful time, filled with anxiety and/or depression.”
Everyone can play a role in raising awareness and maintaining good mental health for yourself and those around you who may be struggling.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides tons of helpful information on their website including a list of possible risk factors and warning signs loved ones can look for to determine if someone they know may be struggling with mental illness.
“I believe the more we educate ourselves about mental health issues, the better equipped we become in recognizing when someone is struggling,” said Chapman. “I think it’s very important to sincerely check in with people. So, I encourage you to check on your neighbors, check on your shut ins, check on people who you know don’t have a lot of family this time of year because we will see an increase in those types of calls for 911.”
Claudine and Rick Thomas, Under Dawgs’ owners, have $100 for John Tucker (inset), final contest winner.
Webster Parish Journal congratulates John Tucker for winning Week 10’s High School Pick’em contest. Tucker was 10 of 10 for our final week.
Tucker will receive $100 from WPJ and title sponsor Under Dawg’s, a $50 gas card and a cap of his choice from Minden Athletic and Jimbo Yocom of Yocom Law Firm.
Our celebrity winners were:
Sibley Mayor Jimmy Williams: 7 of 10
Pat Culverhouse: 7 of 10
Josh Beavers: 7 of 10
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker: 7 of 10
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper: 7 of 10
Paige Nash: 5 of 5.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest, as well as our contest advertisers. Hope you had fun!
Car Giant’s manager Lisa Realini has a $50 gas card for Tucker.
Tucker will go to Minden Athletic to choose a cap for his favorite team, donated by Jimbo Yocom.
From left, Larry Gipson, Schelley Francis, Jessica Gorman, Ronald Swafford
Members of the Vintage Car Club of Minden recently voted to donate $500 to the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum.A presentation of a check was made Tuesday, November 8 at the museum. Antoinnette Quarles, President of the club, and other members made the decision after the 14th Annual Vintage Car Club Show and Shine that was held in Minden on September 3.
Club members, consisting of about 15 local car enthusiasts, decided to add another non-profit to what the show money benefits and the KICKSTART History Dorcheat Museum fit the bill for a new 501(c)3 to benefit from what the club raises money for. Larry Gipson and Ronald Swafford, club members, were on hand to present Schelley Francis and Jessica Gorman of the museum a check for $500.
Between September 15 and October 15, 2022, an Aloha Party Barge was removed from a storage area located off Highway 71/84 in south Red River Parish. The barge has a second-floor structure supported by a visual post. The back of the barge has a unique yellow slide – all of which can be seen in the photo above.
The entrance was gained by cutting the chain to a locked gate. The matter is being investigated by the Red River Parish Sheriff’s office.
A $5,000.00 reward is being offered to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the theft.
This Party Barge may be seen on any of the area lakes or listed for sale on any of the Facebook “swap-shop” or “For Sale” pages.
REWARD OFFER: $5,000.00
CONTACT: The office of Red River Parish Sheriff Glen Edwards
We had already sort of figured this was the way it was going to go, but in 1979 it was official when he released Rockin’ My Life Away.
The life of showman extraordinaire Jerry Lee Lewis — rockin’ was a good way to put it, but there was more, lots more — came to an end last week, Friday, Oct. 28, when he passed away, age 87, at his home in DeSoto County, Miss.
Services were this past Saturday afternoon at the Hernando Funeral Home in his hometown of Ferriday. Cousin and fellow singer/piano player Jimmy Swaggart spoke, and a boots-on-the-ground old friend in Ferriday told me that at one point during the 40-minute service, with Swaggart speaking, there was laughter after one story and not a dry eye in the house after the next.
“Swaggart’s still got it,” my friend said. Cousins Jerry Lee and Mickey Gilley, who passed away in May, had it too.
Of course, my Grandmama Ruth had all Swaggart’s gospel records, which I loved and listened to on a record player setup the size of a deep freezer in her West Monroe living room.
She didn’t listen to any Jerry Lee — but I did. (At least I don’t think she did. I’m told she took a swig of Pabst Blue Ribbon now and then, and I never saw that either. She had ‘it’ too.)
Jerry Lee Lewis, the last living member of the Million Dollar Quartet — add Carl Perkins, Elvis, and some guy named Johnny Cash — a member of both the Rock and Roll and Country Music Halls of Fame, he was the supreme showman and, according to another guy named Elton John, the best rock ’n’ roll piano player. “I can’t play that fast,” he told Rolling Stone in 2007.
His heyday shows in the 1950s-’80s were before all the lights and pyrotechnics, yet every friend I’ve talked to who saw him live — I sadly did not, have seen only the mind-bending recordings — said he was world-class as a performer. Just Jerry Lee back by Kenny Lovelace and the Memphis Beats. All you needed.
With a tip of the cap to a man who has brought many of us so much joy, we offer The Top 10 Jerry Lee Lewis Songs, According To Me, and you’re welcome to disagree because he was very good and there is a lot of fields to plow here:
10. Pink Cadillac, with Bruce Springsteen: Even though it’s not a Jerry Lee Original, it makes the Top 10 because it’s an older Killer and he’s still got it.
9. Whole Lotta Shakin’: A standard. He had to have gotten tired of playing this.
8 Who’s Gonna Play This Ol’ Piano: “… after the Killer’s gone …” I guess nobody. Hurts me.
7. She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye: “…Baby’s packed up all her things and she’s left me …”
6. What Made Milwaukee Famous, Has Made A Loser Out Of Me: “It’s late and she is waiting/and I know I should go home/but every time I start to leave/they play another song…” Schlitz Problems.
5. Another Place, Another Time: “One by one, they’re turning out the lights/I been feedin’ that ol’ jukebox, just to hold you tight …” I wonder if I was the only pre-teen spinning all these albums back in the day? Not sure I even know what the lyrics meant then …
4. One More Time With Feelin’: “Something good got lost along the way …” Kris Kristofferson wrote it so, this was a case of game recognizing game.
3. Who Will The Next Fool Be: “After all is said and done, you wouldn’t be satisfied with anyone …” Hard to even imagine anyone trying to cover these and coming close to Jerry Lee’s performance.
2. Great Balls of Fire: “… you rattle my brain …” I think this was No. 96 on Rolling Stone’s all-time rock songs.
1. Think About It Darlin’: I like the Jerry Lee ballads better than the fast ones and this one’s the best. It’s on the Who’s Gonna Play This Old Piano album from 1972 and was produced by Shreveport music wizard Jerry Kennedy, as so many of these were. Every one of the Jerry Kennedy/Jerry Lee Lewis ballads is a masterpiece, expressive and dynamic, just like the Killer. Hope to meet him one day, another place, another time.
The Minden Lions wish to thank Kelli Morgan for telling us all about pickleball at Thursday’s club meeting. Pickleball is a sport at the intersection of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It’s played with a modified tennis net on a badminton court, and gameplay lightly resembles tennis. This fast-growing sport has become a big hit at Pine Hills Country Club.
Kelli talked about how old, worn-out tennis courts at the country club were revamped into six beautiful pickleball courts. She presented drone footage from Parish Design Co. which chronicled the progress, and she thanked the local sponsors who helped make the dream a reality.
Minden Lions also appreciate Stacey Burt, Jamie Lewis, Janet Crawford and Andy Pendergrass for providing a live pickleball demo for the club.
Kelli was invited and introduced Thursday by Lion John Collins.
The Grinch will be in Springhill to raise funds for a local animal rescue and collect toys to help make Christmas brighter for children in need.
LaMa Animal Rescue is a local non-profit, community volunteer, no-kill animal rescue. They’re holding a fun Grinch themed bingo fundraiser on Saturday, December 2 to help support their mission. LaMa is an advocate for the many homeless, abused, and neglected animals in northwest Louisiana. They work to promote and subsidize spay/neuter education as well as coordinate the transportation of adoptable pets to no-kill partner shelters in the northeastern states.
Rescue founder Michelle Lewis says the bingo events are major fundraisers for their organization.
“This is our second bingo event this year, it’s a major fundraiser for us,” Lewis said. “We applied to the [Louisiana] Office of Charitable Gaming to get approved with licensure and training to hold bingo, raffles and other events. We decided to hold two bingo events a year,” Lewis said.
LaMa Animal Rescue volunteers, in coordination with no-kill shelters in the northeast, have given many animals a second chance for better lives. A Facebook post by one of the rescue’s foster volunteers, Justin Thomas, shows the impact LaMa has made in the community. In the last few years LaMa has saved:
In 2020, 508 dogs and 104 cats
In 2021, 547 dogs and 54 cats
In 2022 January – September, 409 dogs and 37 cats
The rescue organization depends on donations and events like Grinch Bingo to provide food, shelter, vetting with spay/neuter and transportation to give these adoptable animals a second chance to be placed into forever homes.
Lewis said the bingo event is made possible through donations and sponsorships from local businesses and individuals. This event will also collect toys to give to local children for Christmas.
There will be many activities besides bingo for this “Grinchy” event. Participants can take part in a cake walk, blackout bingo, split the pot and an ugly sweater contest.
“I’m really looking forward to the ugly sweater contest,” Lewis said. Concession stands will be there to feed hungry bingo players.
Grinch Bingo is scheduled at 7 p.m. December 2 in the CAC Building in Springhill. You can purchase 10 games for $25 and blackout cards for $5. Anyone who brings a toy valued at $5 or more will receive an extra blackout card.
Lewis said, “The Grinch will be there causing mischief and there will be a lot of surprises that evening. There will be a lot of fun for everyone there.”
Minden resident Kayla Chandler hopes the community will join her Friday morning to bring awareness to the suffering of our soldiers.
“Every day in the United States, 22 veterans succumb to suicide — losing their personal battle to invisible wounds of war,” she said.
Chandler is inviting the community to walk to honor our veterans. She wants everyone to meet Friday morning at 8 a.m. in the parking lot across from Roma in downtown Minden.
“I will walk 2.2 miles through the streets of downtown,” she said. “Please come If you want to join just for a block or the whole thing. Or just for the prayer before we start.”
Two Bienville Parish residents are behind Webster Parish bars after attempting to acquire controlled dangerous substances (CDS) by fraud.
La’Taja Jones, 18, of the 1100 block of Military Rd., Ringgold, is charged with prohibited acts fraudulent to obtain CDS and criminal conspiracy, both felonies.
Tyrese C. Adams, 18, of the 2700 block of Hill St., Ringgold is charged with possession of Promethazine, prohibited acts (possession of CDS by fraud) and criminal conspiracy, also felonies.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper said Lt. Brandon Curry, Lt. Kenneth James and Off. Kayla Little were dispatched to a Homer Road pharmacy Friday around mid-afternoon.
“We had learned there were 2 individuals there trying to fill a fraudulent prescription,” Cropper said. “The pharmacy technician gave a description of the persons. When officers pulled into the parking lot, they observed a black Lincoln leaving and initiated a traffic stop.”
Adams was reportedly removed from the vehicle after officers noted the odor of marijuana emitting from the passenger compartment.
“Post Miranda, Adams told officers that Jones and he saw a viral video in which people were obtaining prescription medications with a fraudulent prescription,” Cropper said. “They reached out to an unknown source via telegram and were instructed how to get the written prescription and get it filled. He said they had a prescription filled the day before (Nov. 3).”
Adams refused consent to search his vehicle and K9 Off. Brams was deployed to conduct an open-air sniff, which resulted in Brams alerting to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle reportedly yielded a bottle of Promethazine prescribed to a third individual. It was dated Nov. 3.
Ofc. Chris Cayer detained Jones, who reportedly was trying to fill a prescription written by a local physician.
“Jones was waiting inside the pharmacy to have the prescription filled,” Cropper said. “The pharmacist made contact with the officer at the front door of the pharmacy. She said a male subject called from a number that was not recognized by the pharmacy as one of the physician’s numbers.”
Cropper said the prescription was for Phenergan syrup 300 ml., and written for yet a fourth individual.
Jones and Adams were taken to Minden PD after it was determined the two were together. They were transferred to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
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.
Toby Bagnoli and Pappatacio at Bagnoli Pasticceria, Tavarnelle
By Robert St. John
Barberino-Tavarnelle, Tuscany— For the past 11 years I have spent considerable time in this region. Specifically in the two towns of Barberino and Tavarnelle in the Tuscan countryside exactly halfway between Florence and Siena.
Over the past six years I have led over 600 people, in groups of 25 each, through European cites in Spain and Italy. And even though I have hosted tours through Rome, Amalfi, Venice, Bologna, and Milan, much of my tour time has been spent in Tuscany. If one takes out the two Covid years when we couldn’t travel overseas, it’s really been 600 guests in four years. It’s hard work, but if one must work somewhere, this isn’t a bad place.
A large part of what I do on these tours is introduce my guests to the friends I have made over here and turn people on to local behind-the-scenes places— especially restaurants— I have discovered. I am not a group travel-type person. Never have been, never will be. But this isn’t group travel, or it doesn’t feel like it, at least. There’s something in the DNA of these trips that makes everyone feel as if they are traveling with friends. And I guess, when I break it down, that’s what’s happening.
One of the greatest aspects of these tours I lead is— as far as restaurants go— it’s all hits and no misses. That’s huge to most people. When travelling, for work or pleasure, I always plan trips around restaurant reservations. As much as I live, eat, sleep, and breathe restaurants, I still miss my mark occasionally, when I venture into new territory. When that happens, I have wasted one of only a few slots for dining.
These trips have no misses. In the words of John Irving’s character, T. S. Garp, the restaurant choices have been “pre-disastered.” There are no misses. Every meal delivers, and they are all different as I like to cover all the bases over the course of the week. It’s my goal to have my guests sitting in their seat on the flight home knowing that we checked all the boxes.
The following are my top 10 dishes in Tuscany 2022:
Honorable Mention—The fried sage stuffed with anchovies at Ristorante La Fattoria, Tavarnelle.
10.) Porcini and Eggplant Flan, Locanda Pietracupa, San Donato— like most of the restaurants on this list, I have been eating here for over 11 years. Pietracupa is a refined country inn run by two couples. It’s always the first meal, in the first hour, on the first day for my guests, and is the perfect beginning to set the mood and example for what lies ahead.
9.) Spaghetti with Veraci Clams, La Trattoria del Pesce, Bargino— A large section of Tuscany is on the Mediterranean seaside. Seafood is big over here, and it’s very good. When I was travelling here in the early days, I ignored seafood, as I live one hour from the Gulf of Mexico, home to some of the finest seafood in the world, and I own a couple of seafood restaurants and have constant availability. That was my loss.
The more I dig into Tuscan seafood, the more I love what they eat. It’s fresh. It’s simple, and it’s outstanding. This dish, served in a small, very refined restaurant run by four cousins, is like most great Italian dishes, simply prepared with minimal ingredients, and perfect in its execution and taste.
8.) Regina, Picò, Barberino Val d’Elsa— A Regina is a small piece of pizza dough that has been fried in olive oil and topped with a light amount of tomato sauce, a small sprinkling of parmesan cheese, and a basil leaf. It’s been called, “The fried gold of Naples.” My friend Marco says it’s the original pizza. I just say “it’s excellent,” and worthy of a top-10 spot on this list.
Picò is in the historic medieval section of Barberino and is run by Giovanni and David. Their cocktail list is impressive, and they believe— as many Italians do— that pizza and beer are not a good combination as one is eating yeast on yeast.
7.) Calamari, Caffé Degli Amici, Tavarnelle— I should probably pick Giuliana’s peposo here, as I’ve been eating it for 11 years, and it is wonderful. But lately I’ve been ordering the fried calamari here on my days off and have been making a meal out of it. They go straight into seasoned flour (no egg wash or double breading) and fry it in olive oil.
6.) Margherita Pizza, La Vecchia Piazza, Tavarnelle— I love thin, crisp pizza, and the pizza here is the thinnest, ever. If it got any thinner, there would be no crust. The pizza comes out very crisp and the toppings are minimal. I’m not sure what these people would think of deep-dish pizza, but whatever that is, the Margherita at Vecchia Piazza (the old square) is the exact opposite.
5.) Mussels, La Trattoria del Pesce, Bargino— Again, simply prepared, excellent. Nothing more than olive oil, pepper, a small amount of garlic (they use way less garlic than we think), and salt. Perfection. I use the Mengelberg method when eating mussels by using one hinged mussel as a small clamp to remove the next.
4.) Pappatacio, Pasticceria Bagnoli— Martha Foose calls it “Schnecken.” I always referred to it— likely incorrectly— as a custard-raisin croissant. My favorite family-run Italian bakery calls it pappatacio. Whatever the moniker, it’s a perfect pastry and checks all the boxes for what I look for in a pasticceria breakfast item. I eat one (or two) every morning I am here.
3.) Chianti Tuna and Vegetable Crudité, Antica Macelleria Cecchini, Panzano— Dario Cecchini— the man who Anthony Bourdain tagged as “The most famous butcher in the world” is certainly a talented butcher, but he’s also a brilliant restaurateur, and just an all-around great guy with an unmatched zest for living and making people happy.
Chianti tuna has nothing to do with seafood. It’s pulled pork with capers, vinegar, and onions, served alongside his house mustard. It’s singular, and unique, and very tasty.
The raw vegetables that arrive in a bowl at the beginning of the meal— carrots, daikon, celery and red onion— are perfectly paired with a side of extra virgin olive oil spiked with a sprinkling of Cecchini’s seasoned salt.
2.) Lasagna, Trattoria Mario, Florence— I always thought that lasagna was more of an American-Italian dish than a local one. But it is served in a few restaurants over here. Authentic Italian lasagna is nothing like its American-Italian counterpart. I grew up eating lasagna that was covered in copious amounts of cheese and drowned in tomato sauce. The Italian version uses bechamel, Bolognese, and a minimal amount of parmesan cheese.
The two best examples I have ever eaten are at Trattoria Leonida in Bologna, and Trattoria Mario in Florence. It’s not on the menu, but they prepare it especially for our group. It is always one of the highlights of the week.
1.) Penne alla Bettola, Alla Vecchia Bettola, Florence— I am told that this is the birthplace of Penne alla Vodka. It’s my favorite pasta in this region, so who am I to argue? It’s pasta perfection and never disappoints. Unlike the American version of this dish, there is hardly any cream added. The combination of tomatoes, olive oil, and onion— pureed— create more than enough creaminess and silky texture for a sauce that is perfectly paired with penne pasta. I drive 40 minutes into town on my day off to eat this one pasta dish and count the remaining days on my trip by how many opportunities I have left to eat it.
Onward
Bucatini al Amatriciana
1 lb. Dry bucatini pasta 1 gallon Water ¼ cup Kosher salt 2 TB Extra virgin olive oil ¼ lb. Guanciale (cured pork cheek) or pancetta, medium diced 2 cups Marinara ¾ cups Yellow onion, small diced 1 TB Garlic, minced ½ tsp Crushed red pepper Grated Pecorino Romano as needed
Cook the bucatini following the directions on the package.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta, stirring frequently so as not to burn, until cooked, about 6-8 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and continue until the onions are soft, not browned, about 5 minutes. Add marinara and crushed red pepper and stir until sauce is hot. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add the hot bucatini pasta and combine thoroughly.
Divide among six serving bowls. Finish each with the grated cheese as needed.
(Robert St. John is a chef, restaurateur and cookbook author from Hattiesburg, Miss.)
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. 15
6 until 8 p.m. Junior High Fall Social, Lakeside Jr./Sr. High School.
Nov. 16
9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Webster Council on Aging is sponsoring another On-on-One Medicare meeting. Call for an appointment. 318-371-3056.
9 a.m. until noon. Webster Parish Head Start/Early Head Start Program is hosting a Job Fair at Mother Gooseland Head Start Center, 618 Weston St., Minden, La.
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.
Current-Nov. 30
Motorcycle exhibit at Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl St., Minden. Motorcycles courtesy of 3 State Harley Davidson.
Dec. 2 & 3
6 p.m. “From Humbug to Hallelujah,” A musical comedy that presents the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge – with a twist. Eastside Missionary Baptist Church, Minden, La. For information, call 318-286-1259 or 318-377-2528.
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.
At about 7 p.m., on Sunday evening, December 18, 1921, Harry, who was the secretary to the Tulsa, Oklahoma Police Commissioner and purchasing agent for the police and fire departments, drove his car to the home of Ike Wilkerson, a police detective who lived just a few blocks away. The pair planned to spend the evening shooting rabbits along the road to Jenks, a town just south of Tulsa. As they rode along the highway, Ike held a .44 caliber shotgun on his lap just in case they jumped up a rabbit.
Up in the distance, Harry and Ike saw a large Buick touring car parked on the side of the road. Harry slowed his car as they approached. They, being policemen, peered at the car to see if there was any hint that the occupants needed assistance. Suddenly, three men jumped out of the touring car with guns drawn. Harry raised his hands to show that he was unarmed. Ike raised his shotgun. Ike quickly squeezed the trigger and heard a sound that would send chills down the spine of even the most hardened of men. Click! His shotgun misfired. Had the shotgun fired, Ike would have “blown the top of his head off.” Ike reached for his automatic pistol.
The bandit who should have been on the receiving end of Ike’s shotgun began firing at Ike. Bullets hit both of Ike’s legs just above his knees. The bandit then turned the gun on Harry, who still had his hands up in a surrendering position. The bandit fired two or three times as he ran back toward the touring car. The bandit’s bullets struck Harry in the chest and one of his legs. The bandits jumped into the touring car as Ike fired his pistol at them. Ike heard his bullets hitting the touring car as the bandits sped off. Ike was certain he had wounded at least one of the men.
In less than ten seconds, Harry and Ike’s rabbit-hunting trip turned into the fight for their lives. Both were seriously wounded and bleeding profusely. Despite his injuries, Harry sped his car over a mile to the nearest farmhouse. Harry, bleeding from his chest and leg, ran with a limp up the front porch. There he collapsed. Ike was unable to get out of the car. The farmer’s family tended to the wounded men as good as they could and sent word for an ambulance and police.
As with any shooting in which a law enforcement officer is wounded, throngs of policemen descended upon the farm. Even before the two men had arrived at the hospital in Tulsa, possess of county officers aided by deputized police officers were busy searching the roads in the area for the culprits. Ike had provided them with descriptions of the bandits and their touring car.
At the hospital, physicians began operating on Harry and Ike. Doctors were able to save Ike’s life, but he would never walk again. Harry’s condition was very precarious, his physicians said. A bullet from the bandit’s gun had pierced his lung. Doctors gave him little chance for survival.
On the following day, police arrested three men who were positively identified by Ike as the culprits. They were eventually sentenced to life in prison for the murder. Two days after the shooting, Harry H. Aurandt, loving husband and father, died from his wounds. He was 48 years old. Harry left behind a widow, Anna Aurandt, and two small children: a daughter, Frances H. Aurandt, and a son, Paul H. Aurandt. Paul Harvey Aurandt. You and I know him as Paul Harvey.
Sources:
1. The Morning Tulsa Daily World, December 19, 1921, p.1.
2. The Morning Tulsa Daily World, December 20, 1921, p.1.
Webster Parish Journal publishes paid complete 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.)
Over the past several months, at the request of the Minden City Council, Chief Steve Cropper has begun breaking down crime into city districts during his monthly report.
Cropper told the council in regular session Monday that his department logged more than 800 calls for service in September.
“Calls for service can include but not be limited to crimes, traffic control calls and stops, animal control,” said the chief. “But calls for service reports are not generated every time there is a call to the police department – only when an officer interacts with the public.”
Broken down into districts, the calls for service numbers look like this:
District A – 132, B – 209, C – 120, D – 50 and E – 118. There were 6 prisoner transports outside of jurisdiction.
Total incidents during the month totaled 148.
District A – 29, B – 39, C – 39, D – 10 and E – 28. There were 3 out of jurisdiction.
There were a total of 81 arrests.
District A – 7, B – 22, C – 14, D – 2 and E – 19, with 1 out of jurisdiction.
“We also had 6 arrests at the PD, where people turned themselves in for warrants,” Cropper said.
Possibly the most interesting numbers center around juvenile crime.
Of the 81 September arrests, Cropper said 19 were juveniles. That’s around 23 percent.
“Several of those juveniles were charged with multiple crimes,” he said. “They were breaking into vehicles.”
Of those 19, the chief said 7 were arrested after 11 p.m.
Officials say the new parish women’s prison will be located on Penal Farm Road in this area but will be constructed much farther back from the roadway.
By Paige Nash
A brand-new women’s jail facility has been in the talks for a while now, but it looks like it may finally be happening. The Webster Parish Police Jury is hoping to enter into a contract with an architect to get the prison built soon. The prison will be located on about 5 acres of property on Penal Farm Road. So far, the plans include a 100 x 100 building with parking and an exercise area. It is expected to cost $214,000 to complete the build for the new facility.
This amount will be included in the new budget. The budget has not been approved yet, but the jury will be holding a public hearing seeking approval on December 6.
In the meantime, pending the contract with the architect, the jury decided to go ahead and make a motion to move forward with the clearing of the land.
District 3 juror Daniel Thomas agreed with the jury to have the land prepared now.
“Winter is coming on. Is there any way to get it speeded up as far as the clearing? It’s a lot cheaper and a lot easier to do it now versus 30-40 days,” said Thomas. “It’s a lot different to fill stump holes with dirt, than filling them with mud. I mean it’s going to haunt you from now on if you don’t.”
Public Works Department Superintendent Teddy Holloway agreed and will be overseeing clearing the timber, stump removal and preparing the land for the build.
Standard procedures including a land survey and a geotechnical survey will take place following the completion of the clearing.
Parish attorney Patrick Jackson said, “There’s a little bit of work we have to do, but all of that can come after you get it cleared off.”
The current jail is located on the fourth floor of the Webster Parish Courthouse which is owned and maintained by the WPPJ. The upper floor has served as housing for inmates for over 25 years. Substantial amounts of money have been contributed towards much needed repairs and updates over the years, but it is now beyond fixing.
With an extensive list of issues, including plumbing, air-conditioning, pests, paint, and space, it is going to cost more to fix those problems versus beginning from nothing and building a new facility.
Originally the idea was to move the jail to the Camp Minden grounds, near Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Facility, where the men’s prison is located. After that plan fell through the jury and Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker began working together to consider other options, which ultimately led to the location on Penal Farm Road.
A shooting Saturday night has resulted in the death of a man staying one of Minden’s local motels.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper said his officers were dispatched to the Shreveport Road location around 9:30 p.m.
“The victim – who is around 32 or 33 years old – had been shot in the head standing in the door of his motel room,” Cropper said.
The male was transported to Minden Medical Center and then transferred to Ocshner’s LSU in Shreveport where he died from his injury early Sunday afternoon.
“We have some leads,” said the chief. “There was evidence at the scene – some .22 caliber casings.”
Cropper said it’s possible the victim knew his shooter. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call the Minden Police Department (318-371-4226) or their local law enforcement agency to report any tips (anonymous or otherwise) in reference to this case.
A few weeks ago, a Houston, Texas-based company was in Minden talking with residents about joining in a Mass District Litigation lawsuit for damages incurred during the winter storm of February 2021.
An independent contractor with the company handed out forms that seemed questionable and pointed to a possible scam.
Marketing Director Paul Moore said he has seen the form, which was filled with incomplete and nonsensical sentences.
“I can tell you right now (the contractor) is no longer with us,” he said. “I took it to the appropriate channels that the form read like a scam, and we took swift and appropriate action. That is not what we want as the face of our company.”
Now, representatives with Texans Helping Texans want people to know thatperson is no longer with their company, and they sincerely want to help those who need it.
Moore said rather than collecting $10 from those interested in participating in the lawsuit, the company pays “$10 for consideration for the assignment of their claim.”
“If we receive any monies, we divide it 50-50,” Moore said.
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.”
Persons will need a copy of their city utility bill for February 2021 and must have experienced a power outage during that time.
“That’s all it takes,” Moore said. “There are no guarantees, but we feel confident in our approach.”
Minden Mayor Tommy Davis said there were no power outages reported in the City of Minden during the February 2021 winter storm.
“There were a lot of frozen pipes on the customers’ side of the water meter, but that’s it,” he said.
The Houston company got its start trying to help Texans because such a large portion was affected.
“Then we realized western Louisiana was affected, too,” Moore said.
Moore said he hopes the company will be coming back to Minden, but he is unsure when that will happen. Until then, those who believe they may be eligible to take part, can sign up online at thtrtf.com.
The Village of Dixie Inn will add a new officer to their police department if the Board of Aldermen approve when they meet at 5 p.m. today (November 8).
Hiring a new police officer has been a topic of discussion in previous meetings. The Board of Aldermen will vote during this regular session to approve hiring Officer Zane Crittenden.
Ordering a new police unit will also be considered during this meeting.
Additional new items to be discussed by the Board include approving Mayor Donna Hoffoss’s application for a grant for a waste container for the parks as well as a grant to get a welcome sign for the Village.
The Board of Aldermen will also:
Adopt the minutes of the October 11, 2022 regular session and the minutes of the October 26, 2022 special session.
Adopt the financial statements for October 11, 2022.
Hear department reports from water/maintenance, police, aldermen, and mayor.
The Board will meet at Village Hall located at 60 Shell Street in Dixie Inn. The public is invited to attend.
Sheryl Sims, left, along with her seventh cousin Charlotte Brown. Sims is just one of about two dozen women of color who are members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Brown was the family member who invited Sims to her first DAR meeting.
By Josh Beavers
A woman with Webster Parish roots is not only a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR/DAR) but has also been awarded a prestigious honor.
Sheryl E. Sims received both the Community Service Award and the Women in the Arts Award from the Nelly Custis Chapter of the DAR. She has a permanent virtual exhibition at Woodlawn Plantation. She has also been appointed to a term as Commissioner for the Arts in Alexandria, VA.
Such honors are no surprise to anyone who knows Sims or is at least familiar with her work as a quilt artist. After all, she has a fine arts degree and impressive quilt collection. She has also participated in Woodlawn’s efforts to preserve its history and supports enhancement of the arts throughout Alexandria.
What may be surprising to some is that Sheryl Sims is a woman of color. This may not sound curious at first glance; after all there have been nearly one million women of all ages and backgrounds admitted to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution since its founding. Therefore, one might think that there must also be many women of color among its ranks.
While there are not as many as one might hope, the organization strives to increase their numbers. Sheryl is the first DAR member of color in the Nelly Custis Chapter and her chapter members are thrilled and supportive. She credits them, especially her 7th cousin, Charlotte Brown, for keeping her encouraged during her 7-year long efforts to be admitted. Ironically, that was the length of the Revolutionary War. DAR members, along with Quaker friends, such as historian, Martha Catlin, from the Alexandria Quaker Meeting, and distant cousins, also helped her with her research. Her maternal line, which carries her Revolutionary War patriot, Andrew Cox, reaches as far back as her Early Quaker 10th great grandfather, who sailed to America from Ireland with William Penn. He is a signer of the Great Charter.
According to researcher Reisha Raney, there are only about two dozen women of color in the organization. Raney, who herself is a woman of color, says that number is a tiny fraction of the DAR’s 180,000-plus current membership.
Raney said in a previously published story that black Americans “weren’t just brought here as enslaved Africans [who] never had a choice until they were liberated by Abraham Lincoln. That’s not the whole story.”
The story and feelings are complicated. Sheryl holds dear the knowledge that her 4th great grandmother, Mariah, was incredibly strong during unimaginable and difficult times. “Had it not been for her strength and endurance, I would not be here. I am truly the dream and the hope of the slave.”
The official DAR website says the organization was founded 1890 with the simple mission of promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. They say these timeless, overarching principles keep the DAR strong and vitally relevant in this ever-changing world. There are 3,000 chapters world-wide.
As for the local connection, Sims’ four times great grandfather, Calvin Leary, owned Shadow House. She said her enslaved four times great grandmother lived there with the children Leary fathered by her during the 12-year period he was a widower.
“We were able to provide a written document explaining that he indeed fathered the children, who were mulatto, as he was the only white male on the premises/plantation,” she said. “The document further explained that my enslaved 4th great grandmother, Mariah, would not have been free to roam freely during that time, and she worked in the house cooking and caring for his children.”
She said the enslaved generation gave her the greatest difficulty in that what seemed obvious in terms of the consequences and reality of slavery had to be proven.
“I visited the plantation/Shadow House about 6-7 years ago and was given a tour of the property by current owner Denton Culpepper,” she said. “He’s renamed it, and it’s now his private home.”
Born in Germany and raised as a military dependent, Sims has lived in the Alexandria, Virginia area for many years.
“My parents came from northern and southern Louisiana, where I’ve been able to make some of the connections expressed in my quilt stories, especially to enslaved family members,” she told the Journal.
As one of five children to an army officer and military wife, she moved all over the United States and lived in parts of Asia.
“Over the years I’ve had numerous hobbies such as mineralogy, painting, photography, writing, and genealogy,” she said. “In 2017, I discovered a love of quilting. It was a long time from first learning to sew in the 4th grade while living in Bangkok, Thailand. Later, in high school, I fell back on sewing as my talent when competing in school talent shows, debutant balls, etc.”
Sharing a fabric-based, artistic record that she created and continues to create, is important to her.
“It tells my family’s story: past, present, and particularly about my faith,” she said.
With a degree in environmental design from the University of Houston, she said her creative journey reflects not only a journey into the past, but a parallel journey in the present.
“I’ve actively reached out to the present-day descendants and incarnations of the people, places, and organizations of my past,” she said.
Sims said it is her hope that her quilts will remind her daughter, her family members, and others of their family stories.
“Seeing the threads of my family’s lives come to life in the simple, colorful, quilts that I create, is my legacy to my daughter and future descendants,” she said. “I wish that my parents were alive to bear witness to this accomplishment.”
In case you’ve forgotten (we aren’t sure how that’s possible), but if you did, today’s the day to cast your ballot for all local elections, one U.S. Senator and 8 propositions.
By the time you receive this, polls are open. They will close at 8 p.m.
Please exercise this right of freedom granted by God above and those who have fought, are fighting and will fight for it.
Stories fascinate me. I love investigations into our past because rediscovering forgotten lore is precious. These are the truths behind so much of our fiction and our superstitions. The tales that sometimes seem too fantastic to be true.
For instance:
There was a feline friend to German and British sailors at the height of World War II. Named Sam, the black and white patched cat was a passenger and survived not one but three strikes from the enemy, first the Brits and then the Nazis. All three vessels sank, and Sam survived. He tried very hard to die, but luck was on his side. Following his third and final run in with the weapons of war, Sam took on a new name. He became known as Unsinkable Sam, and it was old age that eventually took him. Many years later, Unsinkable Sam did eventually pass away, from natural causes it seems, after spending his last years living comfortably at a home for retired sailors.
I learned of Sam this week on my drive home from work. A guy named Aaron Mahnke was telling the story as part of his podcast “Lore.” If you’re not familiar with “Lore,” it is an award-winning, critically acclaimed podcast about true life odd and sometimes scary stories. Mahnke says “Lore exposes the darker side of history, exploring the creatures, people, and places of our wildest nightmares. Because sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction.”
I discovered “Lore” a couple years ago after more than two hundred episodes had been recorded. In that time, I’ve learned the stories behind some of the world’s most powerful superstitions and symbols. Cracked mirrors, the rabbit’s foot, the Easter egg, the Christmas tree, the jack-o-lantern, curses, the Bermuda Triangle, and on and on.
And while so many of these myths and superstitions have supernatural elements, and are still believed by many today, all of them have a simple and basic truth – in the end, they all come down to humans doing things they shouldn’t do.
We’ve been harming one another since the beginning. The Bible story of Cain and Abel tells us that at one point in our history that 25 percent of the human population committed the crime of murder. I’m not getting into theology versus science, but the point remains there have always been stories of darkness. It’s who we are as a people. We hurt each other, and when events happen that we do not have the ability to comprehend, we invent stories that help us make sense of the world around us.
That’s our history. Stories are history. And it is vital to society for stories and storytelling to continue. We must keep sharing our tales, passing them down to those who follow. When stories die, so too does our history.
As Mahnke said in a recent episode, stories can help us handle our dark and twisted history. Stories can help us transform ill deeds into lessons about recognizing our wrong actions. The purpose of “Lore” is to show that history is valuable, but it’s also full of mistakes. And it’s our job as citizens of the modern world to hold both truths and tension, respecting the past, while also demanding better for our future, a lesson we could all stand to learn from.
Our lore is our history. We all need to remember and share. “Lore” is a fabulous way to keep history alive. I recommend listening today.
(Josh Beavers is a teacher and a writer. He has been honored five times for excellence in opinion writing by the Louisiana Press Association.)
Minden Medical Center, the baby place, held a ribbon cutting of The Cradle Cot last week. The new Perinatal Unit, on the fourth floor of MMC, was presented with hospital officials, medical staff and the parents of Holly Hoogland, in her memory.
