By Tina Montgomery

Board of Aldermen for the Village of Dixie Inn will discuss police vehicles, bank signatory privileges and the removal of an old fire hydrant when they meet at 5 p.m. this evening (January 10).

Quotes to equip the new 2023 Tahoe police vehicle will be considered as well as quotes for repairing a door panel for their 2018 Tahoe.

Newly-elected alderman Opal “Nell” Finlay will be added as signer on the Village’s B1 Bank accounts and former mayor Kay Hallmark-Stratton will be removed.

The board will also consider the removal of an old fire hydrant at Cinnamon Creek.

In other business the board will hear Travis Morehart present the 2021-2022 audit as well as reports from water/maintenance, police, aldermen and mayor.

The meeting will be held at Village Hall located at 60 Shell Street and is open to the public.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Behind the Minden Civic Center is a new charging station for electric-powered vehicles.

“Mayor Gardner set this in motion and got grants to get a vehicle charging station,” said Minden Mayor Nick Cox at Tuesday’s council meeting. Cox was speaking of the late Minden Mayor Terry Gardner.  The station will supply service to electric vehicles through city-owned utilities.

“Now it’s up to the council to set the rates for someone charging their vehicle,” Cox said. “The rate is the same as the commercial electric rate (per kilowatt per hour for the first 50 kilowatts per hour) plus power. Cost adjustment rate is multiplied by 5, so the rate will fluctuate monthly.”

A 30-cent idling fee per minute (after a 10-minute grace period after charging is complete) will be added. The idling fee should not exceed $30.

At its most basic, an EV charger pulls an electrical current from either a 240 volt outlet or the grid it’s hardwired to and delivers that electricity to the vehicle, just like any other appliance or device charged by plugging into a wall.

Charging stations are powered by whatever the power grid runs on, which might include oil, coal and natural gas. To ensure a car is powered by renewable energy requires charging stations that are powered by wind or solar.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Minden City Council voted unanimously, with all members present, to pass into law Ordinance No. 1131 putting the rates into effect.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Since what goes up must come down, shooting into the air is illegal as one local man learned Friday.

Noah Heidelberg, 24, of the 100 block of Dewberry Ln., Minden, was arrested by Minden Police for illegal use of weapons.

Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said Sgt. Mitch Hackett was dispatched to the 800 block of Fincher Road around 8 a.m. in reference to shots fired.

“The officer obtained a description of a male wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans and boots and was shooting in the air,” McIver said.

Heidelberg was located and identified as the shooter.

“A search of Heidelberg revealed a Glock magazine in his pocket and a live 9MM round in his boot,” said the chief. “He also had a holster inside his waistband.”

During a search of the scene, officers reportedly located 14 live 9MM rounds scattered around on the ground, as well as one spent 9MM shell casing in the grass nearby. The firearm was located in the apartment of Heidelberg’s girlfriend.

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.

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I’ve said this before, and now I’m going to say it once more again.  Parents – get your children to take at least one Agriculture (Ag) class in school. It doesn’t matter what they want to do for a living. Get them to take Ag. One simple push from every parent in Louisiana could change the future of our state. And here’s how.

A few observations and facts:

– Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Not just America. The entire world.

– The median family income is about 49 grand a year. That is nearly half of the southern average.

– More than half of Louisiana households are operating either below federal poverty standards or in the realm of “working poor” families.

– More than half of our college grads live in debilitating student loan debt.

– The number of Louisiana households receiving food stamps is at its highest ever.

– There is a dearth of skilled workers. There isn’t a lot of industry anymore in our state, especially up here, but businesses are desperate to hire people. The workers aren’t there because they don’t have the skills needed.

– Back in my previous life, we had many long discussions as a Chamber of Commerce board about what South Webster needed. Jobs. Industry. Economic growth. That’s everywhere, but it takes something to get that – SKILLED WORKERS.

– Lack of skilled workers leads to a lack of industry and jobs. This in turn leads to poverty. This in turn leads to an uptick in drug abuse and crime.

Therein ends the facts and observations. Now a way to help.

Parents – get your kids to take at least one Ag class. All parents. All kids. Just one. Please.

I’ve floated this idea to people before. A lot of times I’m greeted with a blank stare. My wife wasn’t even that kind. “I wouldn’t want to take Ag,” she told me, harkening back to those days of yore when Boy Bands were a thing and Leo was in the movie about that girl who wouldn’t move over on that headboard. There was totally enough room for two on that board, Rose!

My wife’s comment goes for a lot of folk, I imagine. Ag, for whatever reason, has the connotation of being a class for the “boys not going to college.” A lot of kids and parents never would even think to take an Ag class because it’s not part of their plan for after high school. For decades the American idea of success has been predicated on going to a four year school, earning a degree, and taking over the world. Reality is different. College is still the goal. Taking over the world … not so much.

There is an excellent video on this subject from Dr. Kevin J. Fleming. Fleming is President/CEO of Grey Matters International, Inc., a unique neuroleadership and transformational behavior change consulting firm. He is a former neuropsychologist-turned-professional coach who has served as a “thinking advisor” to high profile clientele, including professional athletes, politicians, Fortune 500 CEOs, and those in the entertainment industry around what is next when advice, self-help, and therapy have failed to change behavior. His video highlights how America got to this place where four-year college is preached as an all or nothing proposition. Those who go to college – doesn’t matter what they major in or how little money they make after graduation – are the ones deemed a success. The truth is this mindset has led to over saturation in Americans with degrees in fields that aren’t necessarily needed compared to the drought of skilled workers. The stats don’t lie and the video is eye-opening. Watch it. Please.

So I say again:

Parents – get your kids to take Ag. Exposing young minds to new ideas may open up paths they would have never previously considered. This isn’t an anti-college post. This is just a “take all avenues into consideration” post.

One Ag class may spark a passion that could lead to a life of financial gain and stability rather than one riddled with low salary and a mountain of student debt. We push our kids to have new experiences, try new things, meet new people, and expand their horizons. What’s wrong with doing that for one class in high school?

Ag classes teach a basic understanding of what it means to work with your hands, be exposed to the idea of alternatives to four year colleges that produce workers who will probably struggle in the over saturation in the market and the changed world economy.

If you are not easily replaceable, if you have a specialized skill that others don’t, and if you bring your boss money because of that skill – you will make more money. It’s basic economics. But if you are one of many who has the same skill set and an expensive piece of paper from a four year school then you might not be as irreplaceable as you think.

Take me. I have a bachelors. A masters. I don’t make a lot of money. Breaking news – Teachers don’t make much money. I have a lot of expensive papers that say I’m educated. Great for me, but the market doesn’t place much monetary value on what I do. And while I think I’m good at what I do, if I were to die tomorrow or go be a mango farmer in Tahiti (my money is on that one), there would be another teacher in my room the next day. Would they be a better teacher than me? It doesn’t matter. That’s not the point. What I do is easily replaceable. Now, if a heart surgeon or an electrician or another skilled worker were to be visited by the Grim or launch a mango farming scheme, they wouldn’t be so easily replaceable. This doesn’t bother me. It’s the way of the world. It makes sense.

We need more parents and kids interested in these more lucrative career paths. There is no magic bullet or miracle elixir to solve Louisiana’s problems. Any politician who tells you otherwise is only interested in telling you what you want to hear. We have to have jobs, good paying jobs. But in order to have those jobs you have to have workers who can do what is needed in order to attract business and industry.

Ag isn’t a cure. But what we have been doing sure isn’t working. So try something new.

It starts at home.

So again: Parents – get your kids to take an Ag class. You might just be part of a revolution.

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

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Mary Lane Gray went to meet her Savior on January 7, 2023. Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 11 at 10:00 a.m. at Heflin Baptist Church, Heflin, Louisiana. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 10 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Rose Neath Funeral Home in Minden, Louisiana. 

Mary Lane was born January 1, 1932 in Bienville Parish, Louisiana and was the daughter of Gladys and Dick Bailiff. She was married to Billy Gray from 1953 until his death in 2010. Left to cherish her memory are her son Robert “Bob” Gray (Carla) of Heflin, Louisiana, daughter Nancy McMurrian (Howard) of Minden, Louisiana, sister Joann Lary of Montgomery, Louisiana, and grandchildren: Will Gray (Michelle), Mary Michael Fleniken (Jason), Wesley Gray, Brooks Gray, Jake Gray, Kirsten Pilgrim (John), and Ashley Sanders, along with three great grandchildren. 

Mary Lane graduated from Northwestern State College in 1955 and began a 31-year teaching career that took her to North Caddo High School, Doyline High School, and Sibley High School. Teaching was far more than a job. Mary Lane made lasting impact on her students. 

For many years, she was a familiar sight at Sibley High School and later Lakeside High School baseball games coached by son Bob and Grandson Will. She was a long time, devoted member and Sunday School teacher at Heflin Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to the Heflin Baptist Church Building Fund. 

 

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Black History Month begins February 1.

Will your church or non-profit organization be hosting an event? Email Webster Parish Journal at wpjnewsla@gmail.com, and we will post it in a list of Black History Month programs and events.

Events will run throughout February, but the sooner you send it, the longer and more often it will run and the better the chances of it being seen.

Thank you!

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Chicken soup and dumplings – the most comforting comfort food, hands down.

Soup:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1/2 cup baby carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 3 1/2 tablespoons flour
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey, chopped
• Seasoning salt & pepper to taste

Dumplings:

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon thinly sliced green onions
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2/3 cup milk

Directions

Make soup:  turn a large soup pot to medium-high heat and add butter.  Add onion, carrot, celery and sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add thyme and cook one more minute.  Sprinkle flour mixture over and stir until flour is absorbed and no dry spots remain.  Stir in broth and lower heat to medium.  Continue to stir until mixture thickens and becomes smooth. Stir in milk and add seasoning salt and pepper.  Simmer until soup is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.  Fold in chicken.

Make dumplings:  In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, green onion, thyme, baking powder, and salt.  Add butter and mix with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.  Stir in milk until mixture just comes together to a thick batter.  I used a large cookie scoop at this point but you can use a spoon:  drop large scoops (3 tablespoons approximately) onto the top of the soup.  Do not stir.  When all batter has been used cover the pot and simmer for 15 minutes until dumplings have puffed and cooked through. 

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A steady stream of well-wishers honored Minden Fire Chief Kip Mourad Thursday for his 50 years of service to fighting fires and saving lives in the City of Minden and surrounding area.

Mourad’s wife Jenny and children Jared and Emily, along with their families, held a retirement reception during which local, state and national dignitaries converged on Minden City Hall.

A representative from Congressman Mike Johnson’s office presented Mourad with a flag that flew over the nation’s capitol.

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United Christian Assistance Program has the following needs:

Food: Cereal, crackers, powdered milk, biscuit mix, cornbread mix

Clothing: Men’s pants (34 waist) and shoes (10 and larger)

Household goods: towels, sheets, pots and pans

Toiletries: toothpaste, deodorant

Thank you for supporting UCAP!

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

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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.

Jan. 4

Alexander Scott Hammontree, 24, of the 200 block of Berry Dr., Minden, was arrested by WPSO on two active warrants. He was also cited for driving under suspension and no license plate light.

Evert Schmidt, 61, of the 200 block of Wakk St., Shreveport, was arrested by MPD for disturbing the peace by intoxication.

Jan. 5

Ricky Allen, 58, of Apple St., Minden, was arrested by WPSO Narcotics on 3 active warrants for distribution of narcotics.

Cody Joseph Mellen, 26, of the 200 block of South Almond Lake Rd., Sibley, was arrested by WPSO on an active warrant for felony theft.

Hannah Marie Rocha, 29, of Tatum, Texas, was arrested by Minden Police for resisting by force/violence.

Jan. 6

Darren Scott Sparks, 53, of the 1000 block of Horton St., Minden, was arrested by WPSO on an active warrant through WPSO.

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.

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Over the years I‘ve had the honor and the privilege to fish with some great anglers. Even though I think of myself as a pretty good angler, there’s probably never been a single person that’s gotten into my boat that I did not learn something from. Bass fishing is a sport where you never stop learning. New baits and techniques are developed every single year. Someone is always pushing the limits and trying to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. But today, we’ll look at a connection I’ve made over the years and the impact he had on me as an angler and as a person.

My competitive fishing career started out with a former softball teammate of mine who asked me to fish a team tournament on Lake Bistineau in the Spring of 1990. Now, this was at a time when I was looking for something that would fill my competitive desires that I had during my playing days as a minor league baseball and football player. Like all athletes, the day comes when you realize that your playing days are over. I needed and was looking for something that would fill that void in my life. Lake Bistineau legend, Randy Farrar, is the guy responsible for the exorbitant amount of money I have invested in bass fishing! He’s the reason I’ve been a major donor with entry fees to fishing organizations all across the country.  He’s the reason I have a fishing man cave second to no one! His invitation to fish a team tournament back in March of 1990 was the match that lit the fuse. He’s the one to blame for my bass-fishing obsession!

All great anglers have had that one person who has taken them under their wing at some point and taught them the basics of how to catch bass. Not all great anglers are born with fishing instincts like Kevin Van Dam, bass fishing’s greatest professional angler of all time. Randy was that angler for me who taught me how to fish a jig, tweak a spinnerbait and understand the technique of pitching and flipping. To this day, he still possesses a wealth of knowledge and always thinks outside the box on why and how bass reacts to certain baits and techniques.

Even though we don’t fish as team partners much anymore, I still call on him from time to time to talk bass fishing. But there’s something even more important…he became one of my closest friends. We’ve shared some good times and some tough times together in both victory and defeat. Nothing brings people together more than spending a full day together in a bass boat. You learn who they are and what makes them tick while sharing stories of the past, some true and some totally made up…but who cares, it’s always great entertainment.  

This relationship started out as teammates on a men’s travel softball team sponsored by Home Depot. The ’80s and ’90s were a time when men’s travel softball was huge. We traveled all over the South winning championships that included two World Championships. Randy was considered one of the best Shreveport/Bossier third basemen to ever play. He was a tremendous defensive player, but could also spray the ball all over the field with his bat. He was a great team player who cared nothing about accolades but just wanted the team to win.

But it was during our time in a bass boat that we formed a tight bond that still exists today. Days and hours on in, we scouted preparing for our next event. Now some of these trips had a hiccup or two but that’s what happens when two competitive anglers get into the same boat. We’ve laughed to the point of almost falling overboard! Several times our agility in a bass boat, or the lack of it, was on full display, but no one ever really got hurt other than maybe their ego.

 It’s true, we did not always agree on where we should fish or what we should be doing to catch bass. Team fishing is like a marriage, you don’t always get along. But one thing was clear when the dust settled, we both had the same competitive goal….to win!!! While we won our share of events and fished well together, it wasn’t the wins or high finishes that made it fun. It was the connection we had as friends that made every trip special.

Time is a funny thing. The times you share with anyone doing something you both love are always special. Good fishing partners are hard to find and not all teammates end up being great friends. In some cases, it can lead to the opposite…enemies forever. Team partners can come and go, but true friendship will last a lifetime. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget your sunscreen and regular visits to your dermatologist because Melanoma does not discriminate.

Steve Graf              

Hook’N Up & Track’N Down

Show & Tackle Talk Live

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Send non-profit calendar events to wpjnewsla@gmail.com .

Jan. 10

11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Minden Presbyterian Church Bible Study with free lunch. The public is invited to attend.

Noon until 1 p.m. 40 years anniversary celebration for Webster Parish Assessor Denise Edwards. 103 S. Monroe St., Minden.

Jan. 14

Krewe of Nemesis Grand Bal, Springhill Civic Center.

Jan. 17

11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Minden Presbyterian Church Bible Study with free lunch. The public is invited to attend.

Jan. 21

8 a.m. until noon Dorcheat Soil and Water Conservation District annual seeding sale, 216B Broadway, Minden.

Jan. 24

11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Minden Presbyterian Church Bible Study with free lunch. The public is invited to attend.

Jan. 31

11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Minden Presbyterian Church Bible Study with free lunch. The public is invited to attend.

Feb. 11

6 p.m. ArkLaTex Mega Star Search. Poets, rappers, singers, instruments.  Sign up early. Call 318-562-3664.

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Kelsey Pickard

Oct. 19, 1964 – Jan. 4, 2023

Private family service: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill.

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.)

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Send non-profit calendar events to wpjnewsla@gmail.com .

Jan. 21

8 a.m. until noon Dorcheat Soil and Water Conservation District annual seeding sale, 216B Broadway, Minden.

Jan. 24

11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Minden Presbyterian Church Bible Study with free lunch. The public is invited to attend.

Jan. 26

5 until 7:15 p.m. Adult Paint Night, Minden Main Branch, Webster Parish Libraries. For more information, call 318-371-3080 ext. 123.

Jan. 31

11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Minden Presbyterian Church Bible Study with free lunch. The public is invited to attend.

Feb. 11

6 p.m. ArkLaTex Mega Star Search. Poets, rappers, singers, instruments.  Sign up early. Call 318-562-3664.

April 26

10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Scottish Tartan Festival, Miller Quarters, 198 Gleason St., Minden, La.

• Scottish Highland dancing

• Storytelling, living history exhibitions 

• Food and merchant vendors, including Great Raft beer 

• Traditional music and Celtic Rock 

• Scottish Highland cattle petting area 

• Broadsword demonstrations and Highland Games exhibitions 

• Clan tent exhibits and the March of the Clans 

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

One firefighter was injured in a blaze that demolished Dorcheat Seafood and Grill in Dixie Inn early today (Friday, Jan. 6).

“The man who was injured is a volunteer for Minden and Dixie Inn,” said Minden Fire Chief Kip Mourad. “Apparently it was a freak deal. A metal coupling snapped off of one of the hoses and hit him. It broke his leg in at least two places – maybe injured his foot.”

He was transported to a hospital in Shreveport.

Out of respect for privacy, Webster Parish Journal will await contact from the family before releasing his identity and more information on his injuries.

Brian Williams, Chief of Fire District 7 (Dixie Inn), said by 10:30 a.m., his men were putting out a few hot spots left by the flames.

The call came in at 4:15 a.m. and District 7’s first unit was on the scene within 5 minutes.

“There was a law enforcement officer there before anyone else, and when we got the call from him, we immediately requested the City of Minden respond with their ladder truck for an aerial device,” Williams said. “We also called Bossier Parish Fire District No. 1 for manpower to assist us.”

Williams described it as a “defensive attack” on the fire.

“At that point, we secured one water source from the Village of Dixie Inn water system, and one from a dry hydrant in a nearby pond,” he said. “Once we had that established, we started knocking down the fire.”

With enough personnel on the scene, Williams said Bossier’s fire district was released.

The state fire marshal’s office is handling the investigation.

Dorcheat Seafood and Grill was built as Bayou Inn in 1980 by E.B. Wall. It suffered a fire then. It was sold to Earl Uzzle, David Crews and most recently the Wesson family.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

For the first time in close to four years, members of the Minden City Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of last month’s meeting.

After setting the stage for the rest of their first meeting together, council members went on to approve all agenda items the same way.

District D Councilman Michael Roy, the only returning face to the group, was elected Mayor Pro Tempore for 2023. 

District A Councilman Carlton “Buddy” Myles made the motion, with a second by District B Councilman Levon “Charlie” Thomas. Again, the vote was unanimous with Roy abstaining.

Also unanimous were votes to appoint Michael Fluhr as City Clerk and Jimbo Yocom as City Attorney.

Other housekeeping items included granting credit card signatory power to Mayor Nick Cox and Administrative Assistant Ashlee Drake and removing Mahala Hutto as Main Street Program/Downtown Development Director from the same.

Cox was added to signatory power over checks, along with Michael Roy, Michael Fluhr and Assistant City Clerk Melaney Langford.

Beginning with next month’s council meeting, time will be changed from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Other items include the following:

• A resolution for municipal water pollution prevention;
• Budget/Financial report for November 2022;
• Police Report for November 2022; and
• Annual Fire Report for 2022.

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By Paige Nash

The Webster Parish Police Jury accepted nominations and elected new officers at Tuesday’s monthly meeting. Jim Bonsall was re-elected to serve as President of the jury for another year.  

“I am humbled to be elected by my peers. We have a very good jury to work with. They do their job, which makes mine easier,” said Bonsall. “As far as this next year goes, there’s a couple things continuing from last year and are a priority for the new year. We are working on building a new women’s prison. We are trying to get it off the ground. The other thing that has been on my mind for a long time is broadband for rural residents. I hope this is the year that falls into place.” 

Juror for District #11 Steve Ramsey was elected as Vice-President, a title previously held by Mayor Nick Cox who resigned from the jury effective January 1.  

Ramsey said, “I consider it an honor to be able to serve not only the people in my district, but all of Webster Parish. I have known Jim since high school. He is a good friend and good leader. I know if he calls on me, I will be there to lend some help. I really appreciate the support from the jury in this position. We have a good and hard-working jury.” 

District #12 Juror Ed Jordan, who previously announced his resignation at last month’s meeting, was in attendance for his last session. Jordan has taken a job in Washington Parish serving as a pastor. His resignation will be effective January 6.  

“During the last three years as the District #12 Police Juror I worked for what I believed served my district and the parish for the best. I learned much about how the government runs firsthand and did my best to make changes for the betterment of the parish and District #12,” said Jordan. “There were some things I wanted to get accomplished while in office that didn’t happen but there were things accomplished that I am proud to have been a part of.” 

President Jim Bonsall stated they would be holding a special meeting next week in hopes of filling the openings left by Cox and Jordan’s departure.  

He said, “We lost a couple of jurors this week. I am hoping their replacements will fall right in and continue the good work.” 

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Watched the inaugural city council gathering that kicked off the next four years of Minden’s new administration the other night to see how the five fresh faces sitting up front would mesh. It may seem a trivial thing, but congratulations to this group by reversing a previous years-long addiction and giving unanimous approval to the minutes of previous meeting. Scratch one pet peeve.

Of course that seemingly insignificant vote won’t mean much to the majority of onlookers, but it does seem to cut a slice outta one rumor that has been floating since election day. Some who claim to have ears to the ground were hinting that at least one of the new members would be dedicated (as in, dictated) to continue trends of the past, including voting “no” as often as possible for no apparent reason.

Even though nothing appeared on the agenda that required a tough decision, the mayor and council seemed to be comfortable in their chairs. Of course that might change in the wink of an issue, and it will be interesting to see how these councilfolks interact when there’s a difference of opinion. Here’s hoping all this campaign talk of unity was more than stringing a few words together to make a sentence. 

Remember what we’ve said in the past about the differences in promise makers and promise keepers. We believe there’s plenty of promise for Minden. Those who have been entrusted with leadership can help us meet and exceed our potential and move the train forward, or they can foster an atmosphere of complacency that leads nowhere. 

We’re looking forward, during the next four years, to plenty of positives about which to observe from our rocker. We don’t expect our city government folks to constantly present us a chorus of Kumbaya, but neither do we wish to see a repeat of the past when something as simple as a request to accept grant (free) money was refused. 

It pains a life-long Democrat to quote a member of the friendly opposition, but Ronald Reagan perhaps put it best when talking about accomplishing anything. “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit,” The Gipper said.  

Etch that in stone beside the city’s logo and forget about social media selfies. We, the governed, are willing to help.

— Pat Culverhouse

 

 

 

 

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For those of you that know me, you’re probably aware that I have music in my bones.  I fancy myself something of a “below-above average” banger of the drum kit and a true lover of all things rock & roll.  In Dave Grohl’s book “The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music,” he tells of his humble beginnings, growing up in a Virginia suburb outside Washington, D.C.  Dave would go on to be an international rock & roll superstar, with success and longevity of relevance that has and will continue to rival that of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. 

Dave learned the guitar from a Beatles songbook and from spinning various records in his childhood bedroom, and he learned to play drums from banging on pillows – arranged in a drum kit-like configuration.  From a Beatles song book and pillow drums, to being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame TWICE is no small feat, especially considering both inductions came during his lifetime.  Talk about a short list of peers.  Anyway… So how does Dave’s story relate to an article like Slicing the Pie?  Like Dave’s musical journey, everyone’s martial lifestyle has a humble beginning, and the only end to our path comes when we die, or when we choose to stop improving. 

You might think my martial journey began when I joined the police force in 2008, but you’d be mistaken.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve benefited greatly from lessons, experiences, and training that wouldn’t exist for me without my chosen career path.  However, my martial path began with a YouTube video titled “.40s Suck.”  It was my first exposure to James Yeager of Tactical Response, and I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when that video appeared on my screen.  I had been a cop for about five or six years at that point and I thought I knew a thing or two about guns.  I’ll have to re-visit the significance of that video and great caliber debate in a later article.  For now, just know that video encounter left an indelible mark on my life, and instantly set me on a course of enthusiastic, continued education – much the same way the band Naked Raygun changed the life of a young Dave Grohl.

Perhaps your path began by learning firearm safety from a parent or grandparent.  Maybe it started when you joined the military or when you took your first concealed carry class.  Maybe the proverbial “light bulb” was lit when you read a book or an article that really spoke to you.  Regardless, it started (or it needs to start) and it’s your responsibility to continue moving, learning, and growing.

In a 2010 interview with “PopMatters,” Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins said “I know I’m not Freddie Mercury or Ann Wilson, and that’s okay.  You don’t have to be a great singer to sing rock and roll.  That’s not what it’s about.”  Similarly, you don’t have to be the Spartan King Leonidas or a decorated Navy Seal to be successful in battle.  Comparing yourself to others who have progressed further along the martial path is counterproductive.  However, you can glean from their teachings and their bravery – as well as the lives of countless other notable warriors – things that will help you be successful in the most critical circumstances.  Nobody expects you to be a high-speed, low-drag, steely-eyed dealer of death – just like nobody expects me to be the 2^nd coming of John Bonham.  That said, you can achieve a survival level of proficiency, and you can continue to advance even after mastery is obtained.  

The decision to prioritize safety for yourself and others is entirely up to you, and how far you progress along the path is only limited by your willingness to put in the work.  You can make safety a priority in your life and appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of so many that have gone before you, by continually doing things to make yourself an asset to those around you, rather than a complacent liability.

Just as inroads for modern rockstars were paved by the deeds (and misdeeds) of the flamboyant stage-divers who came before them, your martial path has been paved for you by some figurative giants.  All you have to do is commit to walking it.  If you never move beyond that article you read, or the hunting skills you learned, the class you attended, or if I’d dismissed that YouTube video, we’d be no good to anyone when the chips are down.

Wes Bayliss, of the band “The Steel Woods” sings “Nothing makes you old like holding onto youth.”  If you remain an infant, standing at the precipice of your own journey, you will one day wake up as someone you don’t recognize.  You will have been living in the past, and on the day of your emergency, when you’re involuntarily thrust into the present – your body will have aged, but your mind will have remained the same.  So, get to work.  Get to training, get to reading – be better tomorrow than you are today, and help keep fresh pavement on the road for the next generation of warriors.

Avoid what you can.  Defeat what you can’t.

-Ryan  

Please submit your questions to Ryan via email at Ryan@9and1tactical.com

 (Ryan Barnette is not a licensed attorney or a medical provider, and no information provided in “Slicing the Pie,” or any other publication authored by Ryan Barnette should be construed, in any way, as official legal or medical advice.)

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You know how every child goes through stages where they are absolutely obsessed with certain things for a while. All my kids have done it on and off as they have gotten older with different things. When they were younger, they would become so engrossed with a certain movie. They would not watch anything else except this particular movie, over and over and over again.  

Kameron, my one-year-old, is at this point right now. We watch “Sing 2” literally 5 times a day. I tried to sneak in some “Trolls” last night, so that maybe we could move on to a new obsession, but I do not think it stuck.  

Emerson, my oldest, used to be the same way about Barney, but now that she has a phone, I guess you could say that is her current obsession. (As long as it is not boys!) 

Ashton, my four-year-old, is weirdly obsessed with age though. She asks me a billion questions a day about how old so-and-so is or how old she will be when she is in this grade or how old she must be before she can start doing something. 

Yesterday, it was about snacks. She said, “The best age is when I am old enough that I can decide for myself when I can eat a snack.” Girl, I feel you. One of the best aspects of adulthood is being able to decide for yourself when and what you eat. For example, if I want ice cream for supper, then ice cream for supper it is.  

I guess you could say I used to be obsessed with age, too. When I was Emerson’s age I could not wait until I was ten. Double digits, woohoo! Then, I could not wait until I was 13 so that I could say I was officially a teenager. After that it was 16, so I could finally drive. Of course, 18 after that because adulthood obviously. 21 followed that so I could have a legal drink if I so chose. Then, 25 so my insurance would not be so high.  

After 25, I stopped caring so much about my age for a little while. I remember thinking that I wish I could just stop there. Mid-twenties is not a bad place to be. At 25 I had just gotten married, I had one baby and another on the way, we were renting a house and I had a decent job at that time. So, yes 25 was great! 

Then came the dreaded 30 milestone. This was the first time in all my life that I actually felt like I was getting older. Although 31 may have been a little harsher just because it was clear I was now over that 30 threshold and not just at it, but here I am. 31.  

It is not so bad here honestly. After I accepted the fact that I was indeed getting older, I really just immersed myself in that fact. After feeling like a girl all my life, this year I have confidently been able to step into my womanhood era. I feel that I have enough life experiences under my belt now, have had my fair share of hardships, bad memories, heartache and a couple of life-altering moments. All of which I survived.  

I used to care so much about my appearance and what others thought of me. Now I will walk down that aisle in Wal-Mart with no make-up, hair a mess and my sweatpants on, like it is a catwalk, baby! I no longer flinch when someone calls me, “Mam,” or “Mrs. Paige.” I am definitely more confident in my parenting skills now compared to almost 10 years ago when I had my oldest. However, I still do not claim to be an expert in that field and highly doubt I will ever have that credential at the end of my name. 

So, even though I may sometimes wish for those carefree days of being in my early 20’s, with little to no responsibilities, 99 percent of the time, like Ashton, I am actually quite obsessed with my age, too (and being able to have ice cream for supper.)  

I am looking forward to what this decade will teach me and how I will continue to evolve and grow as a person.

(Paige Nash is a 31-year-old wife, mom and digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal.)

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Someone once said that “the best offense is a good defense.”  I naturally thought the origin of this saying was from some crusty football guru.  After checking the Google machine, I discovered there is no original author of this exact sentiment as it applies to much more than football specifically.  In whichever way one chooses to view it, the phrase rings true.  In football, a team will typically win if they keep the other team out of the endzone.  Over the past century-plus, Minden has had its share of good offenses in the form of good defenses.  

In my previous few articles, I lamented over the lack of reported statistics, especially in the very early days of Minden football.  However, there are far greater canyons of missing or unreported defensive statistics.  Very seldom were a team’s defensive performance highlighted when it came to the yardage allowed.  Sometimes if Minden was on the receiving end of a woodshed whoopin’, the opponent’s gaudy offensive numbers were reported.  Don’t worry, I’m not going there for this installment.  I found that the most consistently reported defensive stat was interceptions.  Most times those reports merely acted as a preamble for the reporter’s account of the newly gained Tide offensive possession.  I also learned not all interceptions were credited to a specific player but as a team game accomplishment.  In those instances, it was difficult to ascertain to whom the interception belonged for record keeping.

One defensive metric on which I can fully elaborate regarding defense is scoring; rather, keeping rivals from scoring that is.  The 1916 team pitched five consecutive shutouts before surrendering thirty-two points in a loss versus the freshman team of Northwestern State University in the final contest of the season.  During the 1920s, the Minden Greenbacks’ (or “Greenies” for short) defense held their opponents scoreless in forty-three out of seventy-seven matches.  Furthermore, the stingiest Tide/Greenies defense was the 1921 state runner-up team.  That group o’ Greenies reeled off consecutive shutouts in their first nine games.  Their season came down to the state championship game versus Warren Easton in New Orleans.  The final score: 0-7 – in favor of the opponent.  This was the only game the 1921 team was held scoreless.  Conversely, this was the only game Minden allowed a score.  They had outscored their opponents 284-7 that year.  

In the early days, the football season schedule was somewhat haphazard and not formulaic like today’s slate of games.  There were several seasons where the Tide played anywhere from four to seven games.  In the late 1920s it became more common to have at least eight or nine regular season games.  During the 1950s and 1960s, the schedule swelled to eleven regular season games.  Then around 1970, ten regular season games became the standard.  This is important when deciphering the best Tide defenses of all time.  It makes a big difference in total points allowed when comparing a team that only played five games as opposed to twelve games.  When viewed on a per game basis, only six of the best fifteen Tide defenses are “modern-ish”.  The “-ish” here is due to the top 15 in points allowed per game features no team after 1980.  The other nine teams in the top fifteen are pre-1950.  As to the more modern teams that played at least the standard ten-game season, the 1976 squad allowed only 5.2 points per game but failed to make the playoffs with their six wins – the most wins the Tide had collected since 1967.  That year, the defense scored three touchdowns and snagged fifteen interceptions.  

Speaking of team interceptions, the 1985 defense is the king of the skies with twenty-one interceptions on the season.  Close behind with twenty interceptions is the 1963 state championship team.  However, when it comes to total defensive takeaways, the 1963 team ripped off forty-three for the top position with the 1985 team not far behind in fourth place with thirty-two.  These teams also boast of having top ten offenses as well.  

The 1976 team is the exception when it comes to the correlation between strong defensive teams and playoff appearances.  Seven of the top ten teams in defensive takeaways for the Tide all made the playoffs.  In team interceptions that margin rises to nine out of the top ten made the playoffs.  By the way, three of those teams won state championships.  What was I saying about a good offense being a good defense? 

I’ve spent the better part of the last two articles preparing you for the copious amounts of missing defensive stats and how difficult it was compiling individual defensive records. Next week, I’ll attempt to cover the best individual defensive players in Minden history.  

Historical footnote:  Minden’s school mascot was the Greenbacks (a.k.a “Greenies”) from its inception until 1934.

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By Jessica Gorman

While researching an unrelated topic, I ran across a 1926 advertisement for Crystal Lake Swimming Pool. It was described as a “large pool fed by numerous springs of pure and everlasting water.” In 1926, Crystal Lake was operated by J. L. Ward. In 1927, it was operated by Mrs. W.D. Brown who, according to an advertisement from that year, had made improvements at Crystal Lake. Bath houses, showers, and refreshments were available on site with “plenty of room for picnics and tourist camps.” No other mentions of Crystal Lake have been found.

According to these ads, Crystal Lake was located just south of Dixie Overland Highway (Highway 80) at Nine Forks. But where exactly was it? So far, I have been unable to find a land record that sheds any light on the question. I’m hoping that someone knows something about Crystal Lake and could help us to answer the question of where it was located. 

This column is intended to share snippets of Webster Parish history. Please direct any questions or suggestions to dorcheatmuseum@yahoo.com or visit us at the museum. 

(Jessica Gorman is the Assistant Director and Archivist for the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum in Minden and is an avid genealogist.)

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The following civil suits were filed with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court the week of December 29:

Dec. 29

Republic Finance LLC vs. Grace A. Brinkman, monies due

Sean Jones vs. Sapphire Jones, protective order

Sara Sayers vs. Frank Cato Jr. and Wendy L. Cato, protective order

Jan. 3

Patricia Greer vs. Todd Greer, divorce

Saura Hanson Lyns vs. John Gabriel Lyons, divorce w/children

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Natasha Scott, monies due

American Express National Bank vs. Melba Vaughan, monies due

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