Tournament bass fishing is an emotional roller coaster to say the least! It’s very similar to golf in that it will humble you in a heartbeat. No matter how good you think you are, the fishing gods, as I refer to them, will bring you back down to earth in a matter of minutes. There are days that you will think you’re the greatest bass fisherman of all time, those days when you totally figure them out and no bass is safe while you’re in the zone! Every decision you make is the right one! Every decision you make results in catching not just a lot of fish, but quality as well! You are the king, the master of all bass in the lake! You might be the greatest angler of all time! Not even Kevin Van Dam, who is the GOAT, would stand a chance against you!
Then the day comes that you question why you even fish. Why am I out here on this body of water wasting my time and money? Your mind, which is the greatest tool an angler can have, starts to question what you’re doing. You begin to doubt yourself and your ability to catch those little green fish we call bass. I mean how can catching fish become such a difficult task? After all, I am the best to ever hold a rod!
Then we look for excuses…like maybe a cold front came through and shut down the fish. Maybe the full moon has them messed up. Maybe the rising water has made them hard to catch. Maybe the lake is falling and has put the fish in a funk or maybe there’re just too many anglers on the water and the fishing pressure has caused them to either move or just not bite. That’s it! Too many anglers on the water! I knew there was a reason… because it couldn’t be me!
Then you get to the weigh-in and realize other anglers figured them out and had a great day as they weigh-in their 20-pound sacks, while you are standing in the weigh-in line with your small 10-pound bag wondering what the heck was I doing wrong. You hope no one sees what you’re weighing in that day. The embarrassment and shame of it all…I mean those guys are not as good as me! How did they catch those big fish today and I did not?
This is the humbling part of the sport of tournament bass fishing. Just when you think you know everything about those little green fish, they let you know that you know nothing! Then two weeks later, you go out and snatch everything in the lake that bites. You are the king once again! It’s just like golf…the gods allow you to hit a great shot occasionally, just so you’ll come back and play again. You think you’re Tiger Woods, and no one is better. Bass fishing is no different, it will humble you and bring you back to reality. Till next time good luck, good fishing and make sure to say an occasional prayer to the fishing gods…maybe they’ll reward you or maybe they won’t.
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.
May 18
Michael Shane Eason, 51, of Plain Dealing, was arrested by WPSO on an outstanding warrant for contempt of court.
Jordan Howard Brown, 33, of the 100 block of Lit Benson Rd., Springhill, was arrested by Springhill Police for felony theft.
Steven Nipper, 41, of the 100 block of Robertson Dr., Minden, was arrested by MPD on an outstanding bench warrant.
May 19
Jamal Nouvelle Alexander, 32, of the 700 block of Sims St., Minden, was arrested by WPSO as a fugitive from Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
May 20
Jessica M. Morris, 21, of the 200 block of Jefferson Dr., Monroe, La., was arrested by MPD for possession of drug paraphernalia, marijuana and Fentanyl.
Jamarcus Cortez Carey, 34, of the 100 block of Country Ln., Minden, was arrested by WPSO for possession of Ecstasy with intent too distribute, improper child restraint and as a fugitive from MPD.
Tiarra Deshonta Randle, 33, of the 300 block of Malone,Rd., Arcadia, was arrested by WPSO, fro a license plate light violation and as a fugitive from Tarrant County, Texas with full extradition.
May 21
Timothy Weatherton, 23, of the 200 block of Randall and 800 block of Horton, Minden, was arrested by MPD for injuring public record and attempted simple criminal damage to property.
May 22
Jennifer Dickinson, 43, of the 900 block of Cline St., Minden, was arrested for possession methamphetamine and no turn signal.
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.
Visitation: 5 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2023, Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel, Minden.
No information on a funeral service was available.
Luke Partain
June 12, 2001 – May 19, 2023
Castor, La.
Funeral service: 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2023, New Ebenezer Baptist Church, Castor, La.
Burial: New Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden, La.
Barry Wayne Teague
Oct. 13, 1953 – May 2, 2023
Minden, La.
Memorial Service: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, June 2, 2023, First Baptist Church, Minden, La.
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.)
WPSO K-9 deputy Preacher and three suitcases of high-grade marijuana.
By Bonnie Culverhouse
Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies, in conjunction with Shreveport Police, arrested a Tennessee woman Friday around mid-morning on U.S. Hwy. 371 at Dixie Inn.
Candace Lunz-Reed, 49, of Memphis, is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute.
“We conducted an investigatory traffic stop of her U-Haul truck,” Sheriff Jason Parker said. “Deputies requested consent to search, which was denied.”
Webster Parish K-9 deputy Preacher alerted to the truck.
“A search of the U-Haul yielded 86 pounds of high grade marijuana in three suitcases,” Parker said. “At $100 a gram, we are thinking around $450,000 in street value.”
Parker said the investigation is ongoing, so the charges may change.
“Multiple agencies working together in our parishes is rewarding,” Parker said.
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.
Minden local, supporter and business owner, Joe Morgan, has recently been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. This type of cancer forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. The cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells.
The Pine Hills Country Club and Golf Course will be hosting a 50/50 raffle in an effort to raise funds to assist Joe and his wife, Liz, during this cancer journey.
“Joe and Liz have always been big supporters of anything in Minden. Any time I have needed them to help, they are always willing,” said President of the Tournament Committee and board member Jordy Fish.
Fish will be set up at Pine Hills this Saturday, May 20, selling tickets for the raffle. Tickets are 5 dollars each. You can also purchase tickets or make a donation from now until June 4 by sending payments to:
“Minden, I know we show out every year for St. Jude. Let’s show out this summer and help this family,” said Fish.
A special account has also been set up in Joe’s name at B1 Bank for those interested in donating that way.
The Pine Hills Country Club and Golf Course will be hosting a 2-man scramble golf tournament and auction at the course on August 12. More details will be released soon.
From left Shawn Baker, Hallie-Stella, K.C. Kilpatrick and Jayden.
By Bonnie Culverhouse
It happened 10 years ago … Webster Parish Narcotics Agent Lt. Shawn Baker was working a case near the Claiborne Parish line. Until recently, it was the last time Baker saw a family dealing in methamphetamine with two children ages 1 and 2. That first time Baker laid eyes on Hallie-Stella and Jayden, they were wearing dirty diapers – 10 years ago.
“When we went to the house to question the individuals, it was unbelievably filthy,” Baker said. “And I know of one occasion they (parents) took the kids with them (on a drug deal).
Baker called an agent with Child Protective Services, and she came immediately.
“He saved my babies from their biological family’s destructive choices and lifestyle – by doing his job,” said adoptive mother K.C. Kilpatrick.
Baker said he was doing his job, but he saw the children were in danger. “They were in terrible living conditions.”
Kilpatrick was a foster parent who experienced first-hand the trauma and tragedy children face when first taken into protective custody. A decade ago, she founded Geaux 4 Kids and Project Geaux Bags and adopted the children.
“This journey began when two children came to K.C. with only the clothes on their backs and a meth pipe in a Winn-Dixie bag,” her website geauxbags.org reads.
Through Geaux Bags, children receive a bag full of basic necessities and comfort items during that emergency transition. The company uses donations to purchase items for the kids.
During a recent 10th anniversary event, Baker received the Geaux 4 Kids’ Choice Award, presented by the very children he saved.
“I had no idea about the award,” Baker said. “Rachel Boucher who works with us texted me one day out of the blue and asked if I would go to a luncheon with her at East Ridge (Country Club).”
Needless to say, Baker was caught off guard with the award.
He had not seen the children over the past decade, so when they were on stage, each telling their story, he was a bit surprised.
“They were saying it was a blessing they were still alive from that day,” Baker said. “Then they called my name. I had no clue about that. It was a blessing to see them again. I had emotions I don’t show very often.”
“He is one of the people that needs to be recognized for doing the hard things for all the right reasons,” Kilpatrick said. “This is National Foster Care Awareness Month, too. The best interest of children should always be first.”
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker, who also attended the award ceremony, said he is proud of Baker.
“I’m proud of all of my deputies and investigators, but this was really a special deal,” Parker said. “I am glad there were several of us who could be there to see Shawn receive this honor.”
** GEAUX 4 KIDS Founder K.C. Kilpatrickbegan the organization as an independent, grassroots effort after becoming a foster parent in 2013 and discovering how stressful the initial 24 to 48 hours of receiving children into foster care were and how impossible it was to adequately prepare. She began purchasing supplies at her own expense and distributing supplies to the smallest victims of crime out of the trunk of her car. There is now a location in Bossier City, and the initiative officially launched statewide in 2020.
Cindy Richardson Madden (right) is presented the 2022 “Woman of the Year” Award for the City of Minden by the Young Women’s Service Club during the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet on March 28, 2023. (Chamber photo)
By Marilyn Miller
Somewhere in a recent conversation, Cindy Richardson Madden was overheard saying, “I’m just a small town piano teacher.”
This “piano teacher” has certainly run the gamut in the world of ebony & ivory, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to the backend of a delivery truck rigged out for students in south Webster Parish.
Throughout her 52 years of private piano teaching, her students competed at rallies, hymn competitions, recitals, auditions and more at universities in the four states area. These were sponsored by Area Music Teachers’ Associations, State Music Teachers’ Associations, the National Music Teachers’ Association, as well as National Piano Players Auditions and the National Federation of Music Clubs.
During her nearly 30 years as a chorus teacher at Minden High School, Cindy took her students to many student rallies and always returned home with “excellents” and “superiors.” In 2001, the MHS Crimson Chorus was selected from choirs across the nation to perform on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for an American Musical Salute Celebrating 225 Years of Independence. Recommendations from university music faculty members and their top scores in competitions earned their selection. The MHS Crimson Chorus also performed “Grease” for the Cultural Crossroads Spring Arts Festival and for the Artist Banquet, which featured Trace Adkins.
Cindy took many students to the Texas Renaissance Festival for many years and produced several Renaissance shows in the Minden area. She also started annual talent shows at Minden High School, Harper Elementary School, and E.S. Richardson Elementary School, which is named for her great uncle, Dr. E. S. Richardson. It gave many students the opportunity to showcase their talents locally. Many of her students have carried their musical talent into adulthood.
Suffice it to say, that no matter what Cindy was teaching, conducting, playing, accompanying, or producing, she gave more than 100 percent to the job.
Cindy is a 1969 graduate of Minden High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Louisiana Tech University and her Master of Arts in Music from Northwestern State University.
For many years, Cindy drove a modified delivery truck, tricked out with electrical wiring, air conditioning, studio lights, and a piano to area schools to teach her students during PE or recess time. She did this for 10 years before being recruited to teach music in the public schools.
She and her husband, Jerry Madden, spent many years as director of music and pianist for the First Baptist Church of Sibley before transferring to First Baptist Church of Minden. During that time Cindy frequently played for revivals, keyboard concerts, weddings, symphonies and more.
But throughout her life of music and service, which started on Nov. 21, 1956 at age five when she and her older sister, Sue Ann Richardson, were elected flag bearers for the Sanders Richardson Society of the Children of the American Revolution, the exploration of her family history was an untapped desire.
Since retiring from public school teaching, she has been fully involved and has joined many heritage organizations, including Magna Charta Dames and Barons. She is president and State Organizing Secretary for the Susan Constant Chapter in Shreveport.
If Cindy’s life was a musical composition, so much of it would be dark tragedy. How does she deal with the death of her son in Iraq at the age of 21, or the suicide of a granddaughter in 2020, or the murder of a grandson in 2021?
The Military Times carried this mention of Jerry and Cindy’s son, Sgt. Joshua B. Madden, in their “Honor The Fallen” news pages:
“Army Spc. Joshua B. Madden died December 6, 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, age 21, of Sibley, La.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; died Dec. 6 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on patrol in Hawijah, Iraq.”
Josh left behind a wife, Dani; and a son, nine-month-old, Jaxon, who just graduated from high school this year.
“First I was in denial,” Cindy said, dabbing at tears.Josh was on his second tour. At the end of his first tour, Josh got to meet tiny Jaxon and “be a daddy for two weeks.” Then he had to return from Hawaii back to Iraq, and both Cindy and Jerry had bad feelings about the coming months.
“When they came and told us, I was in shock,” Cindy said. “I felt like someone hit me (in the chest). It took 10 days to get his body back home. The telling of the Joshua B. Madden story is both chilling and uplifting. And it would take a book to tell it. Perhaps that day will come.
Perhaps the memories of her son, Josh, is why Cindy was instrumental in the acquisition of new signage at Mile Marker 40 on I-20 east, which will be named the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. The dedication will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, May 19 on Hwy. 80 at Fire District 7 station. There will be a luncheon honoring the Armed Forces on Saturday, May 20 at 11 a.m. in the Minden Civic Center. Special guests will be the Vietnam veterans.
“I want to have a chance to thank the Vietnam veterans, because they came and provided an escort for Josh to his grave. They need to be thanked for that,” Cindy said.
There is so much more that can be said of Cindy Richardson Madden. Their travels around the world. Their historic house, complete with “She Shed.” There are certainly more piano and music stories. And then there’s the Foreign Exchange Program. She and her husband were sponsors for six years, and they keep in contact with all of their former students. They assisted one foreign exchange student acquire her GED so she could go back to Poland and enter college. Cindy and Jerry recently traveled to Europe to attend the wedding of another former student.
Cindy is the DAR Chapter Regent and State Chairman for “Service to Veterans.” She is past State Registrar for UDC. She is a Gold Star Mother, involved with the Gold Star Mothers of America. She is “very involved” with the Blue Star Mothers of Monroe.
True, she is a piano teacher. She’s given private piano lessons to many children and adults for over 50 years.
Back in the days,you know, the days when we had to walk five miles to school uphill both ways and fight off T-Rex, we youngsters were required to take a junior high class called Home Living. Yep. Boys too.
We were taught manners, food preparation and other homey things including grooming. Grooming had to do with making one’s self acceptable (appearancely speaking) for polite society. That word now has a different connotation and along with another form the 2 Gs that seem to be replacing the 3 Rs in some curriculums.
Psychologically speaking,grooming now refers to actions of someone building a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so that youngster can be manipulated, exploited and/or abused. The related word, “gaslighting,” means psychological manipulation intended to make persons question feelings, instincts and moral judgement.
We don’t mean to be an agitator but reading about some recent happenings which impact somebody’s children made us wonder what the heck’s going on in the world beyond our rocker’s horizon. These come from inside this country’s public school classrooms.
In Florida, fifth-grade teacher Jenna Barbee is being investigated after showing a Disney movie that included a gay character to her class. Think whatever you will about the “gay” aspect of the animated movie. We think that’s a viewpoint matter for discussion between Disney the company and the ghost of Disney, the Walt.
What made us blink was Barbee’s comment during an interview after the issue came to light from a parent who happens to be a school board member. In response to the parent’s complaint about her rights, Barbee (not the doll) offered this gem.
Said Jenna, the parent is “…telling you I’m stripping her rights as a parent, those rights are gone when your child is in the public school system because there are students talking about these things.” Funny. We don’t remember any Constitutional prohibition to parental concern inside a schoolhouse.
A 12-year-old at John T. Nichols Jr. Middle School in Middleborough, Massachusetts says he was asked to go home for wearing an “only two genders” t-shirt. That garment, according to the boy’s school administrators, made other students feel “unsafe.” If a two gender t-shirt is frightening to those students, heaven forbid they ever run across a butterfly with an attitude.
We’re convinced the real problem with the two-gendered slogan is the omission of the others recognized by so-called experts. That number ranges anywhere from seven to hundreds, according to whatever expertian journal one may care to read. Trouble begins when these genders are officially recognized. Everything from school districts to private enterprise will bankrupt from adding gender-specific bathrooms.
Last but not laughless: Three middle schoolers in Wisconsin were charged with sexual harassment for mispronouncing pronouns. How does one mispronounce a pronoun, you ask? It depends on the pronoun and to whom it refers.
Yes, my neighbors. Pronouns have replaced names for many in our society. “Skinny” is now he/him; “Pokey” answers only to they/them. And these three face a terribly imbalanced charge after not honoring a student’s preferrals of “they” and “them.” Really? How silly would it sound to call across the playground, “Hey, They. Him wants to talk to you. Bring She with Thee.”
We wonder if the youngsters might not be lucky to being accused only of sexual harassment. They could be facing permanent expulsion, maybe even prison time, if indicted on the dreaded “I’m offended” rap. Offended. The newest, and most serious, felony.
How does this equate to the Two Gs? From our rocker, we see a generation being groomed in the essence of lessers. Gaslighting is an acceptable teaching tool. Politics and causes are required learning, so long as those are deemed “acceptable” by those with the power to influence. And those influencers are not a majority, but the tools they possess are formidable, i.e. bureaucracy, educational institutions and media.
A great philosopher, Pogo, said,“We have met the enemy and he is us.”And by whatever pronoun we may use, the enemies to balance we are seeing in our fair country are either us, or have been fostered by us.
PFC Kenneth Lee Thomas was born 17 Aug 1944 to Tom Harman Thomas and Helen Louise Hughes Thomas in Doyline, Louisiana.He was Protestant and married.He was an only child.
He was in the United States Marine Corps as a Private First-Class Rifleman.His Unit: C CO, 1ST BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF. His tour started on July 22, 1968, and he was killed a month and a half later on September 2, 1968.He was 24 years old at the time of his death.He died from hostile fire in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam from Small Arms Fire
His body was recovered, and he was buried at the Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Red Chute, Bossier Parish, Louisiana in Section 15.
He will be honored at our Armed Forced Day Celebration.Please remember his sacrifice and the freedom he gave us.
Cindy Madden
Regent – Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
The other day I made the girls clean up their playroom. Gasp, right? I actually made them clean up their own mess, but it was not without a fight and about 20 meltdowns over the course of the one hour it took them to get the job done.
Over that one-hour period, they discovered approximately 1983110 lost treasures AKA toys they talked me into buying and then forgot about 5 minutes later. Among those items were mounds upon mounds of what kids these days call “fidgets.” You can squeeze them, you can stretch them, you can spin them and you can get them to make noises that will surely drive anyone over the age of 20 up the wall.
When they brought in their treasure trove of these fidgets, I told them they needed to throw about half of them away. Most had missing pieces, were covered in dirt or had been squished past the point of returning to their original state. When I made the suggestion of tossing them, you would have thought I asked them to shave their heads or something. To say they were offended would be an understatement. Instead, they rummaged through my kitchen drawer and found a black sharpie and wrote in huge black letters on top of the box holding the fidgets, “USED FIDGETS FOR SALE $2/EACH.”
Uhm, okay…who do you think is going to buy these nasty old things?!
Five minutes later they were at the end of my driveway with their butts in lawn chairs, fidgets on display and cold drinks in hand. Oh, and a bowl full of strawberries that they hijacked from my fridge. I just laughed, shook my head and popped open the tailgate of the truck. I did not want to burst their bubble, but I was thinking there was absolutely no way that these kids were going to sell any of this junk.
About 10 minutes after that, they had finished off my strawberries and made almost TWENTY DOLLARS.
60 percent of their sales can be credited to the fact that the people in our neighborhood are just really awesome and generous folks who love to make the kids happy. The other 40 percent I will say is their sales tactics.
I think kids are natural born salespeople. For one, they do not take “no” for an answer. I can tell them “no” about a billion times and they think they may still have a shot. So, they go in for that one billion and one… and I hate to say it but by that point I may give in. They wore me down. They got me good.
To most kids when they hear the word “no” to them that means “not right now.” And you better believe they are not going to miss a follow up. It may be a couple of days later or an hour later, but they are going to make sure and touch base with you once again just to see if maybe you have changed your mind or what you may need from them to get you to change your mind. Another reason that kids make good salespeople is because they do not get hung up on just one prospect. They may hound one (me) really good and if they think I am not backing down and my answer is going to remain a hard “no.” Guess what? They move on to their next prospect (their daddy) and then their granny or their aunt or anyone else who has a couple dollar bills in their pocket.
Not to mention that kids have mastered the art of applying indirect pressure. For example, the other day after I picked Ashton up from school, she hit me with the line, “Mom, today is Friday and you told me on Monday that if I was good all week then you would get me a prize.” Before I even have time to process that sentence, much less remember if I actually did in fact say that, I am already heading in the direction of the store.
Kids are ruthless man. But hey… honestly, I am over here wishing I could be more like them. If I could approach a prospective sale the way they do maybe my going rate would be $20 every ten minutes too.
(Paige Nash is a wife, mother, publisher of Bienville Parish Journal and Claiborne Parish Journal and a digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal. She considered hiring her own kids in sales, but child labor laws prevent it.)
Ron Rucker, a Vietnam veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and Army Ranger Hall of Fame member, spoke to Mr. Logan Cammack’s American History class on Tuesday at Lakeside.
Rucker shared stories of his time in the war, his love for country and the sense of duty he felt to enlist during the 1960s. His stories included tough tales of long, rainy nights in Asian jungles and firefights on the ground and in the air.
Mr. Cammack asked Rucker, who lives locally, to speak to his class after reading about him in numerous books on the time period.
“It’s not everyday you get to have a true military legend and American hero come to your school and speak to its young people,” Cammack said. “We want to thank Mr. Rucker for his time with our students and his service to our nation.”
In the early morning hours of 9 November 1942, fire broke out in the DeLuxe hotel in Cotton Valley. The call came in to the Minden Fire Department at about 4:45 am. Fire Chief John David, Captain S.C. Gibson, and six firemen responded. It was reported by the Webster Tribune that this was the fifth fire in Cotton Valley within 18 years. With the exception of a few garden hoses, the only water available to fight the fire was 100-gallons carried by the fire truck. An unidentified resident of Cotton Valley “used his truck to keep the fire engine tank filled.” Water was sent for and expected to arrive via L&A Railway tank cars. This water never arrived. The fire department remained on scene until the flames were brought under control around 7:00 am.
The fire burned most of Block D of the Hayes addition destroying the H.R. Hayes Lumber Company. This block is today bounded by Egan, Resident, Church, and Humble Streets. Losses included “the lumber yard, three warehouses filled with building supplies and oil drilling equipment, the DeLuxe Hotel, Tom Norris’s service station, and four apartment buildings” as well as “C.K. Kosek’s combination restaurant, grocery store and bar, Spink’s cleaning and pressing shop, and M.L. Coyle’s hotel.” Two of the warehouses were located across the street from the lumber company. The post office and the Hayes gin were spared only by a change of the wind.
Mr. Grady Hayes owned the H.R. Hayes Lumber Company. He came to Cotton Valley from the company headquarters in Monroe to assess the damage and set up a temporary office. The Kosek lots were sold to the lumber company on 19 November and the Coyle lots to H.R. Hayes on 23 November.
It was nearly four years later that Cotton Valley formed a volunteer fire department. They held their first drill on 7 May 1946, just days before another fire that consumed three buildings. The following May, the town was able to purchase its first fire truck with the assistance of the Webster Parish Police Jury.
(Jessica Gorman is the Assistant Director and Archivist for the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum in Minden and is an avid genealogist.)
Try new protein options. Add one of these fun choices:
Hard-boiled egg, chopped
Beans: kidney, black, or pinto
Canned tuna fish (or make tuna cakes)
Cooked shrimp or fish
Pulled pork
Edamame
Color your plate.Add some color to your creation! Top your salad with these enticing ingredients:
Edible flowers
Orange slices
Dried cranberries
Pomegranate arils
Corn kernels
Red, yellow, or orange bell peppers
Strawberries
Shredded purple cabbage
Olives
Roasted red pepper
Kick up the Crunch. Every salad needs a little crunch! Try these additions:
Roasted sunflower seeds
Almonds
Pumpkin seeds
Wonton strips
Pita chips
Roasted chickpeas
Tortilla chips
Crackers
Dress the Salad. Try or make a new salad dressing that interests you or skip the dressing and use one of these choices instead:
Salsa
Squeeze a lime, lemon, or orange over your greens
Roasted cherry tomatoes (the juices will moisten the salad)
Guacamole
Hummus
Give it some green. Don’t limit yourself to iceberg lettuce. There are many options when it comes to salad greens. The darker the green, the more nutrients they contain. Build your salad with some of these greens:
• Kale
• Butter lettuce
• Romaine
• Arugula
• Spinach
• Red or green leaf lettuce
• Watercress
• Micro greens
The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.
(Shakera Williams, M.P.H. is Assistant Nutrition Extension Agent- FCS for Webster/Claiborne parishes. Contact her at (318) 371-1371.)
As the federal government once again speeds toward the fiscal cliff of its $32 trillion debt borrowing limit, concerned Americans witness the same old song and dance.
Political theater and bluster, dire warnings, the supposed “guarantee” of a “financial apocalypse” if America defaults on its debt obligations.
Then, as night follows day, the debt borrowing limit is raised again, the “crisis” is averted and D.C, goes back to what it was doing before and does constantly, spend, spend, spend—until the next debt ceiling fight.
As Thomas Jefferson predicted, “future American leaders would be tempted to borrow to enhance their short-term popularity, while burdening a future generation with debt.”
Enough!
This is completely unsustainable.
Let’s really consider this: how is a debt default ultimately worse than this ever-increasing ocean of debt?
Some respond “America’s standing in the world will be tarnished, its financial status and prestige will be damaged.”
Really?
Millions of Americans are equally—if not more worried—that all those things will happen when the federal government bankrupts our country. Maybe if the U.S. defaults on some of its financial obligations our federal officials will be forced to recognize we have way too many of them.
During this debate it’s important to note the deceitfulness of national Democrats on this issue:
“As for Social Security and Medicare, one of the more cynical strategies governments use to resist spending reductions is to pretend the most popular programs are the only ones it’s humanly possible to cut. Called the “Washington Monument Strategy” or “Firemen First Strategy,” they defund the parks, the firemen, the police, trash collection, school lunches, aid to the elderly. In other words, hand over the money, or grandma and the kids get it.” ((Heritage Foundation, Peter St. Onge and Richard Stern, May 10, 2023).
And why do national Democrats attempt to obscure in this fashion?
Because they want to hide from taxpayers “all the other trillions of government spending that doesn’t poll well: outrageous pensions where government workers make twice what the rest of us make and retire at 42 with benefits we’ll never dream of. Or the trillions spent on crony boondoggles …” (Heritage).
So, considering the precarious financial position America is in, is a partial default—and it won’t be allowed to last longer than a few days—really worse than the continued reckless and dangerous over-spending that has led to a 32 trillion-dollar national debt?
In FY 2022, American taxpayers spent $475 billion in interest payments on the national debt—a figure that is expected to rise to $640 billion in the current fiscal year, FY 2023. (Fox Business).
What, by the way, are Republicans demanding in their debt ceiling bill?
The Wall Street Journal: “The House GOP bill would raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion in exchange for returning spending levels to the days of yore known as fiscal 2022 and capping spending levels at 1% growth for a decade.” (WSJ, 5-12-23).
I’m focused on debt in this article but what else is in the Republican bill? “… sensible fixes to the country’s byzantine process for permitting projects, and to require that able-bodied, prime-age adults with no children work or volunteer part time in return for Medicaid or food stamps.” (WSJ).
Do we see how little Republicans are seeking in their bill, in return for raising the debt ceiling not a few hundred billion dollars but $1.5 trillion?
Democrats’ response is that the tax cuts that Republicans legislated under President Trump are to blame for all of these deficits, and it’s not fair to cut a single dime in spending after Republicans “drained all of that revenue from the Treasury.”
In fact, that is the opposite of the truth.
The Republican tax cuts boosted economic growth, which increases peoples’ income and therefore the taxes they owe. According to the Treasury itself, “total revenue has increased from $4.05 T in 2015 to $4.90 T in 2022.”
We have to stop this insanity.
As former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen has warned, “long-term debt is the single greatest threat to our national security. High debt not only crowds out resources that strengthen our security, but it also narrows our tools for dealing with unfriendly nations, leaves our economy more vulnerable to actions of other countries, and weakens our global standing and prestige.”
All concerned Americans should support the House Republicans’ attempt to begin to get America’s fiscal house in order.
(Royal Alexander was a staff member to the late U.S. Representative Clyde C.Holloway of Louisiana’s 8th congressional district, since disbanded, who also served as chairman of the Louisiana Public Service Commission. He was also a member of the Republican State Central Committee of Louisiana from 2008-2012. He is an attorney.)
A free “Your Soil and Your Garden Workshop” will be offered on May 23, 2023, at the Webster Parish Library in Minden, Louisiana. Horticulture specialist Mark Wilson from the LSU AgCenter will present information to help gardeners improve soil health in their gardens to improve production.
There is no charge to attend this workshop, but because food will be served, pre-registration is requested. To pre-register or for more information on the workshop, call or text (318) 237-8350 and provide your contact information and the name of the workshop at least three days prior to the event.
The Webster Parish Library is located at 521 East and West Street in Minden, Louisiana. On May 23, 2023, on-site registration/sign-in will begin at the library with refreshments at 5:15 p.m. The workshop presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. and conclude at 7:30 p.m. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing reasonable accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact Trailblazer RC&D at (318) 255-3554 or ceo@trailblazer.org prior to the meeting or event.
This presentation is hosted by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Trailblazer RC&D. Free registration for this presentation is made possible by the support of Drax; Mudd & Holland Consulting Foresters; Burnham Construction; the Webster Parish Library; the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; the LSU AgCenter, and Trailblazer RC&D. Contact Trailblazer RC&D regarding event sponsorship opportunities at (318) 237-8350.
Trailblazer RC&D is a nonprofit organization that provides leadership, coordination, partnership development, and technical assistance projects to encourage strong communities, sustainable agriculture, and a healthy environment.
Trailblazer RC&D and USDA are equal opportunity providers and employers.
Thanks to a very special grant, Minden Police Department and Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office will have more officers on the streets during the upcoming 2023 Click It Or Ticket campaign.
“Our officers will be enforcing this law,” said Minden Police Chief Jared McIver. “We will be stepping up enforcement beginning May 22, 2023.”
As part of the national Click It or Ticket campaign, MPD and WPSO, along with agencies around the country will be paying overtime for officers and deputies to watch for persons who are not wearing seat belts.
“Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer vacation season, and we want to make sure everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound,” McIver said. “If you are not wearing your seat belt, you will be ticketed.
Around 61 percent of drivers do not wear seat belts at night, which is when the majority of unbelted fatalities occur.
Law enforcement will write citations with zero tolerance day and night during the campaign, which concludes June 4.
“We are determined to bring those numbers down,” McIver said. “There are too many people that are dying on the roads and many of those deaths could have been prevented if people took the simple step of wearing seat belts.”
4 p.m. Special session of Village of Dixie Inn, 60 Shell St., Dixie Inn to introduce the annual budget. The public is invited to attend.
May 19
10 a.m. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Sign Dedication, Webster Fire District 7 Station 5 west of Dixie Inn on Hwy. 80, hosted by Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion Wiley-Pevy Post #74 and Hunter-Rickerson VFW Post 2885 and Auxiliary. For more information, contact Cindy Madden at darcindymadden@gmail.com or 318-401-5420.
2 p.m. Grand Opening and Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting for Ark-Ana’s Convenience Store, 208 Bradley Road (15th St. NW) Springhill. Crawfish boil from 4 until 6:30 p.m., food truck, bounce house, kids are welcome.
May 20
Trails & Trellises Garden Tour. Three breathtaking gardens. To purchase a ticket in advance for $10, call 318-371-1371 or send an email inquiry to phlmg..minden@gmail.com.
10 a.m. until noon Mental Health Awareness at Minden REC Center, 1001 Recreational Drive, Minden. Sponsored by the General Grand Masonic Congress, The Supreme Council and National Alliance on Mental Illness.
11 a.m. Lunch with program at noon, Armed Forces Day Celebration honoring all veterans, Minden Civic Center. Special guests: Vietnam Veterans. Hosted by Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion Wiley-Pevy Post #74 and Hunter Rickerson VFW Post 2885 and Auxiliary. For more information or to volunteer, contact Cindy Madden at darcindymadden@gmail.com or 318-401-5420.
May 21
Following 10:30 a.m. service, fellowship meal honoring Rev. David and Kay Dietzel, First United Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden.
May 25
9 a.m. Minden High School 9th through 11th grade awards.
May 26
7 p.m. Minden High School graduation.
Memorial Day Photo Project. Feature a photo of your fallen hero on a Memorial Day Wall, Webster Parish Libraries, Minden branch. Contact Valarie Killgore at 318-371-3080, ext. 123 for more information.
June 2
10 a.m. Ribbon Cutting at the Kayak Dock on Dorcheat Bayou.
June 4
2 until 4 p.m. Open House and Reception. Webster Parish Council on Aging, 1482 Sheppard St., Minden.
June 6
3 until 6 p.m. Webster Parish Libraries’ Springhill branch. Summer Reading Program Kickoff Party events with games, food, activities and fun.
June 8
4 until 7 p.m. Webster Parish Libraries’ Minden branch. Summer Reading Program Kickoff Party events with games, food, activities and fun.
June 9 & 10
Grilling on Main, 2023, BBQ Cookout Festival, downtown Minden. Call 318-371-4258 to reserve a sponsorship. Visit https://pulse.ly/tumml5nl27 to register a team.
June 24
8 a.m. Registration for North Webster Martial Arts “Battle for the Shield.” Sanctioned event at Minden Rec Center, 1001 Recreation Drive, Minden. Sponsors and donations needed. Search for North Webster Martial Arts on Facebook.
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.
May 15
Christopher Cruz Buendia, 39, of Wakeville, Texas, was arrested in Sarepta by WPSO for felony theft and simple criminal damage to property.
Michael James Foster, 34, of the 400 block of Eagan St., Cotton Valley, was arrested by Cotton Valley police on three warrants for failure to appear in court.
Evangela Cozette Green, 51, of the 500 block of East Rd., Cullen, was arrested by Cullen and Springhill police on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of distribution of marijuana.
May 16
Lawrence Kevin Kagler, 20, of the 100 block of Moore Street, Springhill, was arrested by WPS for speeding (65 in a 45 mph zone) and resisting an officer by flight.
Kenny Wayne Lee Jr., 32, of the 1100 block of Syrup Mill Rd., Minden, was arrested by WPSO on a warrant for failure to appear.
Carlos Antonio Cazarez, 27, of the 300 block of Gantt Dr.,Dubberly, wa arrested by WPSO for driving while intoxicated, hit and run, operating a vehicle without lawful presence and passing in a no passing zone.
Quadarrell Hartwell, 37, of the 100 block of Flournoy Dr., Minden, was arrested as a fugitive from Webster Parish and Caddo Parish sheriff’s offices.
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.
The following civil suits were filed with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court the week of May 11. All civil suits are public record.
May 11
Debra Smith Stanford vs. Daniel Alan Stanford, divorce w/children.
Joe Albert Chandler vs. Elizabeth Paige Chandler, divorce w/children.
May 12
Lisa Johnston vs. State Farm Ins., damages.
Emily Wallace vs. Billy Wallace, protective order.
May 15
Ellis R. Dick, Kaylin L. Chanler and Holly L. Holtzclaw individually and on behalf of Debrea K. Dick vs. William T. Taylor, Jim Bonsall and Steve Ramsey, damages.
Kayla Faulk Smith vs. James Dylan Smith, divorce w/children.
May 17
Department of Corrections Credit Union vs. Jasmine Charmaine Shelton, suit on note.
Two years ago today (May 18, 2021), Webster Parish Journal published online for the very first time.
If we were unsure how Webster Parish would take to a publication that was strictly on the internet, we are convinced now that launching one locally was a great move on the part of Journal Services LLC.
Let us say thank you first to our subscribers and readers. Over the past two years, you have grown beyond our wildest dreams. We will continue in the coming year to bring you the same quality news we have during the first two years. News is the heart of our publication.
Since our first publication, we have provided our subscribers and the public with more than 4,000 stories that cover all of Webster Parish, from Springhill to Dubberly. We have tried to give our readers a variety of stories – recipes, school news, sports, features, government and crime.
Our writing staff includes veteran journalists like Pat Culverhouse, Marilyn Miller, Paige Nash, Josh Beavers and me.I prefer not to add all our years together covering the news. We would surpass 100 easily. Ejay Colvin recently joined us to cover the northern part of the parish. While not covering governmental news, she will write about features and events.
We have a variety of wonderful columnists – Jake Chapman, LaTina DeLoach, Ashley Madden (Copper Whisk), chef and restaurateur Robert St. John, Teddy Allen, Chris Plants, Josh Beavers, Paige Nash, T-Bubba Edwards, Shakera Williams, Jessica Gorman and, until recently, Ryan Barnette. Of course, there is the ever-interesting Rocking Chair. I’m sure there are others, and I apologize if I missed your name.
Our goal is to show you different sides of each issue and sometimes make you think … and possibly change your mind.
Subscriptions to the Webster Parish Journal will ALWAYS be free, thanks to our advertisers. They are the backbone of our publication.
Curtis Mays, longtime advertising executive, recently joined our staff and works with Randy Ward and Paige Nash. If you are a business, please contact us at wpjnewsla@gmail.com and one of these persons will get in touch with you for your advertising needs.
Here’s to another great year! Webster Parish Journal, Simple and Free. Visit us at www.websterparishjournal.com .
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.)
Seeds Women’s Center’s Birdies Fore Babies Golf Tournament last weekend did not collect the $20,000 executive director Amber Bradford hoped it would. It exceeded her expectations.
“Our total was $20,910,” Bradford said. “We were very pleased with the outcome. We had 16 teams play in the tournament and I believe it was a huge success.”
Bradford gave special thanks to Jeremy Utphall, who played a vital part in running the golf tournament, organizing teams, gimmick holes and is a huge supporter of Seeds Women’s Center.
“This is my second year as the director of Seeds and each year I learn more and more about how amazing our small community is,” Bradford said. “Our center is run by donations by our community, churches, and individuals. Having a fundraiser like the golf tournament helps Seeds continue to be a resource for families in our community.”
The organization’s biggest fundraiser is Seeds Annual Fundraising Banquet which will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 12 at Minden Civic Center.
“Seeds is growing and has already seen more than 150 patients this year for pregnancy tests and ultrasounds,” she said. “We have begun fatherhood classes and our graduation celebration is at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 20 at Emmanuel Baptist Church. All are welcome to come and celebrate the dads and brotherhood they have established.
Please contact Amber at A.Bradford@nwlpcc.org or 318-639-0907 for more information or check out Friends of Seeds Facebook page to know how you can help volunteer and be the change Donate and partner with Seeds and help make a difference in the community for women and families they serve.
The Webster Parish Office of Community Services offers public transportation services for all residents, even those that live in the more rural portions of the parish.
Executive Director the Office of Community Services Melinda Davidson is hoping to see an increase in the number of riders. She said, “Encourage people in the parish to come ride with us, whether they have Medicaid, Medicare or want to pay the fare which I feel is very competitive.”
According to Davidson the current fare for a round-trip is less than 10 dollars. Residents who are wanting to travel within the city limits may be around 4 dollars per trip. Residents who live in surrounding towns will pay anywhere between 5 to 10 dollars per trip.
The transportation department prides themselves in providing a much needed service to those in the community that may require a reliable form of transportation to work, school and shopping for anything from clothing, groceries, prescriptions and everything in between. They provide this service for people with disabilities, low-income or those that just need assistance getting from Point A to B and back.
Since the pandemic the transportation department has suffered a decrease in riders.
“Our transportation department, every month, is getting better, but we need to do better,” said Davidson. “It never really increased from Covid, but it’s getting better.”
The department operates under the Section 5311- Rural Public Transportation Program. Currently, the maximum Federal share for operating assistance is 50 percent of the net operating costs. During the pandemic this program issued 100 percent reimbursements.
“Now that we are back to 50 percent we have to get the numbers of riders back up,” said Davidson.
The transportation department offers monthly bus passes for 80 dollars a month and is due within the first week of every month.
For more information on costs, schedules and coverage please contact their office at 318-377-7022 and dial extension #1.
