No one in real life ever wears what models in big city fashion shows wear.
You’ve seen clips of these things on television or, in a weak moment, clicked to see the newest styles, all the rave, “the newest line” by (Made Up Designer Names Alert!) Melik Boovoir or Salome deNeuve or Pepe Duboir.
The model looks like he or she is wearing either a pastel Hefty bag — how to you take a bathroom break with this thing on? — or something they stole off a scarecrow. Everything is really tight or really slouchy. Sometimes they have hats on their heads that look like things we used to make in Vacation Bible School.
Who wears this stuff?
Even at awards shows, most of the Who Looked Best On The Red Carpet gang appear to have lost a bet. Tip of the cap for the man or woman who bought something off the rack pulled the standard tux out of the back of the closet, shined their shoes, and showed up looking like a person you wouldn’t be scared to share either a cab ride or a hymn book with.
For the past 10 days or so, between thunderstorms and power outages and picking up limbs, most of us north Louisiana common folk were too busy looking for air conditioning and cable to watch LSU scrap its way to a seventh College World Series championship to notice that the Berlin Fashion Show was underway in Germany which, conveniently, is where Berlin still is.
Dapper dressers were all up in the Neue Natoinalgalerie to become one with the highlight of the week, the Saint Laurent show, quite a spectacle with fans taking phone videos of, as GQ reported, “the latest evolution of Anthony Vaccarello’s seductive menswear collection.”
The fashion writer continued, something along the lines of how “all eyes” would be on “nonstop action on and off runways elsewhere, too.” Yes: after the “hyper-exclusive” affair in Berlin, we are off to places like Florence and Milan, which precedes a “whirlwind blitz through a jam-packed Paris Fashion Week.”
Again, the only real people you ever see in these runway clothes are the people on the runways. And as soon as they’re off the runways, they put on jeans and T-shirts and look much, much sharper than they did wearing clothes that look like balloons.
Granted, when I was growing up my dad told me my idea of being “dressed up” was having my shoes tied. And God love him, he was right. I can tie a tie now and keep my oxfords shined, but the only sense I have of fashion I have is, “Does this look normal? Would this embarrass my grandmother?” It’s about one step ahead of Granimals.
My personal mechanic, old-school country music supplier, and fashion assistant is Shine Broussard, who is from Morgan City. (He goes by “Francois” during Fashion Season; his signature color is brown.) He has assured me that although he can’t “travel abroad” to the Big Shows this summer and fall, he is making the local circuit, which includes stops in Dubach (August 7-11, Denim Week), Greater Sibley (September 18-22, Burlap), Gibsland (October 2-6, Gingham), and Lower Summerfield (November 27-December 1, Dealer’s Choice).
“My main fashion advice,” said Shine, “is to remember that no one pays nearly as much attention to you as you think they do. Save your money and be comfortable and presentable and non-offensive. Good taste never goes out of style.”
Shine, who is a fashionista only during the fall shows, told me this on a break from changing out the transmission on a GTO his uncle willed him. This is a man you can trust.
So …
If you’re like Shine and grease is a common opponent, consider a Dickies jumpsuit. Otherwise, an iron, a white button down, shined shoes, an A-line, a Godet or flare dress, a business suit, jeans that fit, and a clean T-shirt, those are always in style. It doesn’t have to match: it just has to “go.”
Brendy came in our foster system as a feral momma dog found in an abandoned barn with her puppies. Her puppies were rescued but she was difficult to catch and had to be trapped to get her the care she needed. She was HW+ and would need some long-term treatment and a lot of TLC to help her learn that humans were not all bad people. It was obvious that she had been severely abused and was very scared of all people. Her soul had been beaten down and her hope was all but gone. It took several weeks before she would let me touch her without hunkering down and not running into her crate to hide. Little by little she began to trust me but it would take almost 4 months for her to feel safe enough to take a treat from my hand.(She feels safest eating her food inside her crate with the door open.)
As fearful of humans as Brendy is, she has so many great qualities!!! She loves playing with other dogs, especially chase if there is a ball involved. She loves playing with the other rescue puppies and will wrestle for hours with them and play “steal the toys.” She does very well with my cat, they have mutual respect for each other and have even been known to sit together on the sofa. Brendy loves to ride in the car! She is not fearful of the vacuum cleaner or other household noises, its just people that give her the most fear. I am sure there are some bad memories in her head of something terrible that was done to her in the past. It will take the right family to be patient with her to earn her trust. She is very non-aggressive but will bark at the door if she hears something outside. She is crate trained and makes it all through the night without going potty. If kept on a regular schedule she is great about not having accidents in the house. She will walk on a leash but if other people are around will get scared and try to run. She feels safe in her crate and in the beginning, I am sure that is where she will be until she is safe enough to come out and sit on the sofa. She needs and wants love so much! She now comes up to my chair to ask for pets and love. She is also trained to come back with a beep collar.
As her foster mom, I will have a place in my heart for her always, but I know she deserves to have her own family and if I can get this far with her I know someone else that loves her can too.She will do best in a house without young or loud children but would do great if there is another dog to give her courage.
In the mornings when it’s time to go outside Brendy springs up and down like a bunny, she has a smile on her face when she gets relaxed and feels safe.I know there are good humans out there that will build on all the progress she has made, just be patient and show her love and kindness, she will love you back and be a forever family member.
If you are interested in Brendy, please email lamaanimalrescue@gmail.com .
“No one who walks the El Camino de Santiago is not changed.”
Rev. Keith Mariott, pastor of Minden Presbyterian Church, recently traveled 4,779 miles to Spain to prove those words to himself. Why Spain? Why a walking pilgrimage when you are physically challenged? What did you expect to learn from this demanding “retreat?”
“As a peripatetic (moving, wandering) person, I could be there (in Spain), and I’m home,” Mariott said, explaining that his parents were first stationed in the European nation in 1966, and that after coming back home to the United States, he returned there practically every other year until 1990. He even worked there at one time.
In 2010, he returned to Spain, and a passenger across the aisle from him on the plane had a book open with information on the El Camino de Santiago (the road to the way of St. James). The idea buried itself in his head, and stayed there until he experienced it for himself less than a month ago.
“It is a pilgrimage, not a hike,” Mariott said. “Pilgrimages are more about stopping than going. You stop your own life, and you step out of the familiar world so that you can look and listen, reflect and change. You strip away all that is unnecessary so you can hear the voice of God in your life.”
“Everybody walks their own Camino,” he said. And although there are several routes that can be walked, originating from various points in Europe, most routes start in Spain. But they all finish at the Cathedral of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain – at “the ends of the earth.”
The cathedral holds the bones of James the Greater, one of the original 12 Apostles. It is said that James took Christ’s gospel “to the ends of the earth” (the coast of northern Spain) before returning to Jerusalem, where he was put to death by decapitation (Acts 12:2). His headless body was returned to Spain by his followers.
Mariott took the original route (Camino Primitivo) which starts at Ovideo, the capitol of Christian Spain in the 9th century. This route is 205.5 miles over the Cantibrian Mountains, and is “beautifully difficult.” Only about four percent of those who walk use this route. It was the history, the primitive nature of this route, that drew him.
“No two experiences are the same along the El Camino,” Mariott explained. There are, however, common themes. “You will be challenged physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
“I had all three challenges,” Mariott recalled. “The first day was all physical. I walked 16 miles, with an 850-foot climb upward. It was brutal!” Over the 14 to 15 days of the pilgrimage, he endured walking a total elevation of 32,306-feet (spread out over 200 miles). “After the first day, I asked myself ‘What kind of idiot are you?’ Then it got better. I got stronger and paced myself better.”
Yes, it’s hard for a totally healthy individual. But it is “brutal” for a man who lived in leg braces until his pre-teens because he was born with deformed knees and hips. “I have to give my parents credit…they let me go” to experience what every other child got to go through. They were not, in today’s terminology, helicopter parents. Today, after four knee surgeries and having no ACL, Mariott has high pain tolerance.
“Many people don’t finish the Camino,” he said. Besides the physical pain, he admitted to being “psychologically overwhelmed at times.” But at the end, the Holy Spirit entered in and Mariott felt “an unusual happiness, an incredible ‘lightness of being.’ At times, crippled up as I was, I danced down the country roads alone.” It was not unusual to go six hours without seeing another person.
But the people he met were from all ages, religions, nations, careers… One Korean man was overheard translating from a book, “I didn’t come here looking for Jesus, but He found me.” And many times, Mariott saw people who were from countries where Christ is looked down upon, walk into a church, kneel down, and pray…
There were many churches along the Camino, one which was originally built in the 10th century, the “Hermitage of San La’Zaro.” It was rebuilt in 1689 and has been continuously used since that time. When Mariott visited the small church, there were fresh flowers on the altar.
People related and offered encouragement in different ways. “On a 30K day (19 miles), I was struggling, and a young man passed me. When I didn’t show up (at the 19-mile mark), he back-tracked to make sure I was coming. It probably added three to four miles to his day. Then when we finally got to Santiago, he hugged me.”
“It was an invigorating, exhausting journey, and I’ll probably do it again next year if I can afford it,” Mariott declared. “Just think, I walked on bridges built in 50 AD. At the summit of one (large hill) there were ruins of a pilgrim’s rest stop built in the 13th century and from there you could see ‘standing stones’ from the neolithic period.”
“There are records of kings, popes…actors walking the Camino. But everybody is the same when you are walking. You are stripped of all pretense.”
Another thing he learned from his experience? It is a small world. On the second day, Mariott was having lunch and a man from Denmark joined him.
“He told me that he loved Bluegrass and was in a Bluegrass band in Denmark. He said he had a favorite band in America who often sings with Alison Krauss. They may be struggling now since they lost their patriarch recently. They are called ‘The Cox Family.’”
Mariott smiled and told him he not only knew OF the Cox family, but the Worship Leader at his church, Jason Thurman, was a relative of Willard Cox.
The Webster Parish Journal (WPJ) will publish paid engagement and wedding announcements, as well as anniversaries, for couples who reside in the parish, who have relatives in the parish or who are getting married in the parish. (Fees apply.)
This move by the Journal allows couples to showcase their announcement.
Information for engagement announcements include:
Digital photograph of the couple
The couple’s names
The couple’s hometowns
High school and/or college of the couple
Parents’ names and/or grandparents’ names
Ties to the parish
Wedding time, date, and place
An interesting fact about the couple
Information for the wedding announcements include:
Digital photograph of the couple
The couple’s names
The couple’s hometowns
High school and/or college of the couple
Parents’ names and/or grandparents’ names
Officiant
Attendants
Ties to the parish
Wedding time, date, and place
For engagement and wedding announcement fees and/or to submit information for publication, please email wpjnewsla@gmail.com.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
We have to wait on the Lord and rest in him by allowing God to take total control of our lives and circumstances-believing that He is all power!
When I think about an eagle. It brings to my mind an extraordinary wise bird with the strength to endure the storms. When we trust God and follow him, he will allow us to do and accomplish some extraordinary things!! God will renew our strength and give us endurance and power to deal with the storms of life.
Wow.., During a storm, the eagle is the only bird that can soar above it. The storm doesn’t catch the eagle by surprise. The Eagle is an extraordinary bird. Eagles fly with eagles, not crows nor buzzards, but eagles!!!
Eagles fly alone at high altitudes, with other eagles….No other bird can go to the height of the eagle.
Eagles have strong vision and they can focus on something up to five kilometers away.
God promises to give strength to the weary. We have been facing a lot of storms this month, what is God trying to tell us…..no matter what it looks like we still have to thank God and trust him.
When we trust God and have faith in him, he will give us the strength to endure and weather the storms of life!
Endure the storms of life, they are not designed to destroy you, but to develop, teach and grow you Spiritually. God will allow you to soar through the storms of life like an eagle!
Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Be Encouraged!
To God Be The Glory!
(LaTina DeLoach, a native of Minden, is a Christian,a devoted wife and mother and Lady Deloach As the wife of Pastor Gregory DeLoach, Blue Run Baptist Church.)
Guest speaker for Thursday’s noon meeting of the Minden Lions Club will be Trey Giglio, president of the Barksdale Military Affairs Council. Trey will discuss how the MAC works to build and maintain relationships between the local community and Barksdale AFB.
Trey is a Shreveport native and is vice president of Universal Plumbing and Mechanical Co. He has served on several area boards including the Independence Bowl (2018 chairman), Catholic Charities of North Louisiana, Junior Achievement, and Caddo Career and Technology Center Foundation. Trey is a member of numerous civic organizations including the Committee of 100, Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors and Cotillion Club, and as honorary commander of the U.S. Air Force 2nd Mission Support Group at BAFB.
In his spare time, Trey is a NCAA Division I football official and serves as president of the Shreveport Football Officials Association. He is married to Sarah Giglio, a local attorney, and they reside in Shreveport.
The Minden Lions Club meets Thursdays at noon at the American Legion Memorial Home, located at 119 Pine St. in downtown Minden.
Texans are often recognized for the pride that they have in their home state. I get that. Not because I think Texas is that much better than other states in our country, but because I take great pride in my home state of Mississippi. Six years ago, I wrote an introduction to the book, “A Mississippi Palate.” In it I relayed a story of an epiphany I had a dozen or so years ago. It’s always struck me as odd that I had to travel halfway around the world to truly appreciate the entirety of my home state.
The state of Mississippi adopted the motto, “The birthplace of America’s music,” several years ago. It is catchy and clever. The PR department must have been working overtime when they came up with that phrase, I thought. Maybe it will help paint a positive light on our state in the eyes of the 21st Century the world. I get it.
It wasn’t until I was thousands of miles away from home that my love and appreciation for my home state grew into what it has become today. It happened one night in Italy working on An Italian Palate. Our Tuscan friends Annagloria and Enzo had just introduced us to a couple from Milan— Barbara and Alberto— who would eventually become great friends of ours, too. We were all having dinner in a small bed and breakfast in the Italian countryside. This was a special night because the B&B hired a live band. Live music is not as commonplace in the Italian countryside as it is in Mississippi.
You haven’t lived until you’ve heard a British cover band sing American rock and roll in Italian. I was seated across from my new friend Barbara. She was warm, sophisticated, and inquisitive. “Tell us about Mississippi,” she said, shouting over a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover.
“Well I come from a town called Hattiesburg,” I said. “It’s about an hour north of the Gulf of Mexico.” Her eyes lit up. She might not have been able to point out Mississippi on a map— The Weather Channel once referred to us as that “Land mass” between Louisiana and Alabama— but she knew where the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico were located. I began searching for more familiar landmarks to help her pinpoint my home state’s location.
“My hometown is just an hour and a half northeast of New Orleans,” I continued.
A brief glint of recognition hit her eyes. “Jazz!” she said.
“That’s right New Orleans is where jazz was invented. And in Mississippi, if you travel up Highway 49 which passes two blocks from my house, you’ll hit Highway 61 in the Delta, where blues music was invented.
“Ah the blues,” she said. “B.B. King.”
“Yep, he’s from Mississippi. And so is Muddy Waters, and if you believe Muddy Waters who said, ‘the blues had a baby and they named the baby rock and roll,’ and I do, then just an hour or two to the east of the Delta is Tupelo, Mississippi the birthplace of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll.”
“Elvis Presley!” Barbara— a child of the Elvis era— squealed, as if I was talking about some far off, exotic land.
“And just two hours south of Tupelo is Meridian, Mississippi…” I was just about to go into my pitch for Jimmie Rogers, The Singing Brakeman, and “the inventor of country music,” when it hit me like a shot from a cannon— Mississippi, my home state, is truly the birthplace of America’s music, and ground zero for the most influential and popular art form of the 20th Century. It’s not just a PR slogan or marketing phrase, it’s true. Mississippi is the birthplace of the music that has changed the world for over 100 years. This IS an exotic land.
There is no question that we have scars and bruises from a rough, cruel, and many times inexcusable and unexplainable past, but those are the burdens of the entire country, too. All nations have scars. What defines us as a culture is how we move past those tragedies.
We are often cursed by the sins of our ancestors. It is unfortunate that almost every civilization in history was founded on the pain and conquest of others. Though what distinguishes civilizations, nations, and states within those nations, are the ones who rise above it. I believe Mississippi has risen above our past.
I believe I am a son of the new Mississippi.
When compiling the book “A Mississippi Palate,” I asked several friends and notable Mississippians to text me their feelings on our home state. I’ll let their words do the talking.
“In Mississippi, Friday and Saturday nights are filled with football. Sunday mornings are reserved for church. Though, no matter what time of the day, day of the week, or activity on the schedule, life in Mississippi is always centered around family.” — Archie Manning
There is something about our Southern palette. Maybe it’s the fresh produce, the long growing season, the cross cultural influences, or the abundance of seasoning on everything that equips someone from down here to travel with a sense of curiosity. To be curious not only about people or place but the food of other cultures. We will eat anything and can, more often than not figure out what they are doing, and incorporate it into what we do.” – Bill Dunlap
No other state in the union has contributed more to American culture than Mississippi, specifically in the areas of music, literature, art, history, food, architecture, and sports – you’re welcome! – Malcolm White
“One of the things that I’ve noticed when I cross paths with a Mississippian out in the world, after you shake hands and ask each other, ‘Which town are you from?’ you just start visiting. Most Mississippi people are at home anywhere on the planet. Wherever they are it’s basically the same as being on the front porch of somebody’s cabin at the Neshoba County Fair— everyone’s welcome.” – Marty Stuart
“I grew up on field peas and corn bread, and still consider it a necessity at least once a week. Of course, Mom’s coconut cake perched on the dessert table is mandatory to complete the meal.” – Gary Grubbs
“Whenever I get questions about Mississippi from those who haven’t had the good fortune to visit us, I’m reminded that it’s…complicated. Though financially we may be the poorest state, we are undeniably rich in culture, and while tensions remain in politics and race relations the generosity and graciousness that are our shared heritage shines through in our daily interactions with each other.” – Cary Hudson
“People ask me all the time how Mississippi has produced so many of the world’s greatest writers. It’s because we tell stories. That’s what Mississippians have done – and have done well – for as long as there has been a Mississippi. Per capita, Mississippi produces more writers, musicians, chefs, and athletes than any other place on earth. We entertain, it’s what we do.” – Rick Cleveland
“In one short drive down US Hwy 49 South out of Jackson, Mississippi, one can get barbecue, homegrown tomatoes, fried pies, catfish, Elvis clocks, and a metal chicken bigger than a Volkswagen. You can get baptized at least 38 times at different churches before you get past Florence, you can have your fortune told and see a neon yellow statue of a raging bull in a handstand, with “JESUS SAVES” inexplicably written on its flanks. Talk to me about ‘diversity.’” – Jill Conner Browne
“I carry Mississippi all over the world, and that’s the least I can do. It has blessed and charmed and informed all my days. With a fire that can only be fueled by the sum of what is right and what is and has been wrong I go forward with a mission. I hope to see you somewhere on the high road. Cause that would mean we’re both on it.” – Mac McAnally
Morgan Freeman once said, “The big question was, ‘My Lord, you can live anywhere in the world you want, why did you choose Mississippi?’ My glib answer was, because I CAN live anywhere. But the true answer is that of any place I’ve ever been, this feels most like home. When I come here, when I hit Mississippi, everything is right.”
Amen.
I love my home state.
Onward.
Banana Pudding
1 cup Sugar
6 Tbl. Flour
pinch of salt
4 Egg yolks (reserve whites for meringue)
2 cups Milk
2 tsp. Vanilla
6 Tbl. Butter
4 Bananas, ripe, peeled and sliced
Vanilla wafers
4 Egg whites
1 /2 cup Sugar
1 /2 tsp. Cream of tartar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine sugar, flour, salt, eggs, milk and vanilla in a small non-reactive saucepot. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the pudding thickens. Remove from heat and slowly add butter until incorporated.
Butter a two-quart baking dish. Arrange the vanilla wafers around the outside and across the bottom of the baking dish. Spread a layer of custard over the wafers. Place sliced bananas on top of custard and spoon the remaining custard over bananas, spreading evenly.
Using an electric mixer beat the egg whites until they are increase in volume. Add sugar and cream of tartar. Beat to stiff peaks. Spread meringue over pudding and bake 8-10 minutes. Yield: 8-10 servings
(Robert St. John is a chef, restaurateur and published cookbook author who lives in Hattiesburg, Miss.)
Lakeside joined teams from across the region last week for the UCA Cheer camp at Louisiana Tech.
Fifteen squads attended, and participants learned cheers, chants, dances, stunts, and pep rally ideas for next school year. There was instruction and guidance for improving technique for all skills.
They received private coaching time with professional staff members. Also, they learned by watching older, more experienced squads.
“Camp is vital,” said Leslie Utley, who is in her first cheer coaching the Warriors. “It can set the tone for your school year. Most importantly, it brought them closer as a team. Spending that amount of time together and overcoming challenges as a team helped to build their friendships and made them more unified.”
Utley said many of the team members are new to cheer, and most of them are new to this squad.
“We have only one senior and a handful of veterans, so we are inexperienced but very eager,” she said. “We spent a lot of time bonding as a team, sharing personal stories, and just getting to know one another since we have so many new team members and a new coach. Having the girls see that many of their teammates have had similar tough life experiences helped to form connections between girls who may not otherwise be friends if they weren’t on a team together.”
When asked what she liked about coaching cheer, Utley said, “I think what I like about coaching cheer is similar to what I like about teaching. I love getting to know kids, being a positive influence on them, and being someone they can depend on.”
She said not all children are blessed with stability at home, and as a teacher/coach, “I hope I can be an adult in their life that they can trust and come to if they need help. I want them to think back on their experience years later and be glad that they did it, so I try to foster an environment that has lots of positivity and no unnecessary stress or drama.”
She said the girls are on board with that. They have been kind and supportive of one another so far.
“The best part is to watch them accomplish something they never thought they could,” she said. “They are already doing impressive things that seemed impossible a month ago when we began practicing, so I’m just excited to see how much more they can accomplish.”
John and his wife, Mary, were expecting a child. Like his father, also named John, John was a clergyman in the 13 colonies. He was the pastor of the United First Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts. Finally, on January 23, 1737, the child was born. As you might expect, John and Mary named the boy John. This made him John III.
When John III was just seven years old, his father died and Mary sent John III to live with his aunt Lydia and uncle Thomas, who had no children of their own. Thomas owned a successful shipping company that imported manufactured goods from England and exported goods such as rum and whale oil. After graduating from Boston Latin School, John III enrolled in Harvard College, his father’s alma mater. In 1754, John III earned a bachelor’s degree and began working for his uncle Thomas.
In the same year John III graduated from Harvard, the North American colonies, then part of the British Empire entered into a conflict against the French in what is known as the French and Indian War. Thomas’s business thrived during the war as he was able to secure numerous government contracts for shipping supplies to support the war effort. All the while, Thomas was training John III to become a partner in the business, but in 1762, Thomas’s health began to fail. In the following year, John III became a full partner in the shipping company. In August 1764, Thomas died. John III inherited his uncle’s business and became one of the wealthiest men in the colonies.
The British Empire won the French and Indian War, but the victory put the country deep in debt. The British Empire enacted several acts or taxes, such as the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp of 1765, to raise much-needed revenue. John III ignored the Stamp Act. In May 1766, John III’s ship Boston Packet “was the first ship that cleared out at this port [Boston], without stamped papers… and we hear was entered at the custom house in London without any the least difficulty.” Once officials in London began giving John III’s ships difficulty, he boycotted their goods altogether. Word spread quickly of John III’s snubbing the mother country and he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
In the following year, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts which was another tax on various imported goods and John III became a target for customs officials. In 1768, customs officials boarded a ship owned by John III without a search warrant. John III refused to allow the customs officials below decks to search the ship. Customs officials wanted to file charges against John III for smuggling, but the case was dropped for lack of evidence. John III’s supporters contended that John III’s refusal was the first act of resistance against Parliament and was the act which initiated the American Revolution.
In May 1775, John III was unanimously elected President of the Continental Congress. He was presiding when a fellow Massachusetts delegate nominated George Washington as commander-in-chief of the continental army. In the following year, the colonies declared independence and John III was one of the main financiers of the American Revolution. If the series of events had not taken place which enabled John III to inherit his uncle’s fortune and shipping company, the American Revolution might never have taken place and we might have remained British subjects.
John III also snubbed the mother country when he signed the Declaration of Independence. By signing this document, all 56 signers knew that they would certainly be executed if America lost the war. Of all the 56 signatures, John III’s is the largest, the most flamboyant, and the most prominent on the page. John III’s signature became a part of popular culture. Even today, nearly two and a half centuries later, when someone asks for a signature, they sometimes ask for John III’s signature. They ask you for your John Hancock.
Sources:
1. The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 8, 1766, p.2.
2. The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 29, 1766, p.2.
3. Maryland Gazette, June 12, 1766, p.1.
4. Thomas Jefferson, et al, July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence.
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.
June 26
Lisa Jackson Drew, 49, of the 7900 block of Hwy.371, Sibley, La., was arrested by WPSO for driving under the influence, stop signs’ violations and possession of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.
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.
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.)
Webster Parish Sheriff’s narcotics division has arrested a north Webster Parish man for drugs and stolen firearms.
Damien Rasco, 44, of the 1300 block of Henrietta White Boulevard, Cullen, was arrested when WPSO executed a search warrant at his home around 1:30 p.m. Monday. He is charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, all with intent to distribute. Other charges include possession of a firearm in the presence of controlled dangerous substances, a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.
“We seized a little over a half pound of methamphetamine, about a half pound of synthetic marijuana, three stolen guns – one was confirmed stolen from Bossier City,” said Sheriff Jason Parker. “We also seized more than $5,200 in cash.”
Parker said the department received complaints about Rasco. The investigation was lengthy. Sgt. Josh McCormick, Capt. Bobby Igo III and Sgt. Shawn Jenkins were the investigators. K9 deputy Preacher was deployed into the residence and alerted on a Louis Vuitton bag on the floor in a bedroom.
In addition to Rasco, Norman Evans, 46, of Springhill was arrested at the Cullen residence for possession of methamphetamine.
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.
This powdery blue substance (left) contains four high-powered narcotics. Other drugs confiscated during the search and arrest are at right.
By Bonnie Culverhouse
Results from the Northwest Louisiana Crime Lab are in, and Minden Police have taken a lethal combination of drugs off the streets.
During a search last month for an alleged killer, Minden Police made an arrest of another man with a substantial amount of drugs packaged to distribute.
At a Chandler Street residence, officers reportedly located one large bag of marijuana, 2 large bags of ecstasy tablets (estimated to be around 3,000 tablets), a large bag of methamphetamines, 4 small baggies of natural marijuana, Kool plastic with synthetic marijuana, a box of sandwich baggies, marijuana grinder, digital scales, 2 small baggies with suspected fentanyl, a large amount of adderall tablets, a prescription bottle with an unknown white powder and multiple hydrocodone tablets.
Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said there were two containers of a blue powdery substance in the backpack with the other drugs.
“The crime lab reports says that substance was positive for a combination of fentanyl, methamphetamine, morphine and heroin,” McIver said. “Talk about a lethal concoction.”
On May 12, Catorio Dirante Shelton, 41, of the 100 block of Chandler Street, Minden, was arrested for possession with intent to distribute natural marijuana, ecstasy, methamphetamine, adderall, hydrocodone and synthetic marijuana.
McIver said Shelton remains in prison where new warrants have been served for possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, morphine and heroin – four separate warrants totaling $220,000.
“That blue powder contained all four,” McIver stressed. “You’ve got three downers and one upper in that one concoction. That’s toxic. We were very fortunate to get that off the streets.”
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A North Webster Parish man is dead following a single-vehicle fatal crash Saturday on LA Hwy 157 north of LA Hwy 528. This crash claimed the life of 80-year-old Terry Roath of Springhill.
The preliminary investigation by Louisiana State Police revealed that a 2018 Nissan Maxima, driven by Roath, was traveling south on LA Hwy 157. For reasons still under investigation, the Maxima exited the roadway and struck an embankment before overturning and striking a tree. Roath, who was unrestrained, was partially ejected from the vehicle.
Roath was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Bossier Parish Coroner’s Office. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Five people died at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean last week. You’ve heard the story. There’s no need to rehash the sad tale. But there is a need for a lengthy, contemplative look in the mirror.
There were a lot of jokes. There was a lot of hate. Quite simply: there is something wrong with a lot people.
I saw neighbors take to social media to gleefully show cold hearts. I’ve never laid witness to a more bitter sign of humanity’s complete dehumanization of its fellow man. The internet has either turned some of our neighbors into something horrid or simply let loose the beast that was always there.
In times of great sorrow and heartbreaking events, it is the solemn duty of humanity to come together in empathy and compassion. Yet these I write of sought to shroud their lack of sensitivity and basic decency in the guise of humor. Such individuals, who make light of tragedies with jokes and snide remarks, are like vultures preying on the misery of others for their own amusement. Their actions reveal a profound lack of empathy and humanity, a callous disregard for the suffering of others.
We must stand united against such individuals, calling out their behavior and refusing to give them the attention and validation they crave. We must show them that there is no place for their brand of humor in a society that values human life and dignity above all else.
Let us not forget the lessons of history, where the echoes of laughter over tragedy have led to the most unspeakable horrors. Let us instead honor the memory of the fallen and the suffering of the living with our empathy and support. For it is in the darkest moments of our lives that we must come together as one, to rise above the cruelty and heartlessness that seeks to tear us apart.
(Josh Beavers is an award winning writer and author. He has earned more than 40 individual writing awards and is syndicated in 12 North Louisiana news journals. The Louisiana Press Association has recognized him five times for excellence in opinion writing, and he has earned numerous Best Investigative Reporting Awards and Freedom of Information Awards for exposure of governmental corruption in Webster Parish.)
In light of Gov. Edwards proclaiming Monday, July 3, 2023 a legal state holiday, Minden Mayor Nick Cox has moved the regular Minden City Council session from July 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, July 10. The workshop has also been moved to 4:30 p.m. July 10.
A long time ago I wrote a romance story about an American soldier and a young Cherokee girl set against the backdrop of the Trail of Tears. The opening line was “the sky glowed amber in the west.” It was evening and the day was done. It was dusk, and the world was settling after labors under the sun. Nature was voicing its presence as little creatures of all kinds came out from under their daytime hiding spots to stretch their legs and get some grub.
I love the evening. I love dusk because it’s a magical time when the sky is painted with hues of orange, pink, and purple. It’s a stunning natural phenomenon that deserves our admiration. As the day fades into night, the world seems to slow, and a sense of calmness and tranquility sets in. One poet says: The sable veil of the night is drawn, and the stars rush out in their myriads.
The beauty of dusk lies not only in the way it transforms the world around us but also in the way it brings a sense of calm and completion. Of finality. As the day comes to a close, I feel the transition from the weariness and negotiations of the day to the oneness of the night. It’s hard to hear my Father’s call when the braying of man is in your ear. Dusk is a time when we can slow down, take a deep breath, and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.
In our grim world, it’s easy to overlook the beauty. We’re often too busy rushing from one thing to the next to take the time to appreciate the world the Son gave us. Mr. McGraw said: Six lanes. Taillights. Red ants marchin’ into the night. They disappear to the left and right again. Another supper from a sack. A ninety-nine cent heart attack. I got a poundin’ head and an achin’ back. And the camel’s buried in a big straw stack.
Meanly like ants our life it frittered away. The poet William Wordsworth wrote, “the world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” But if we can slow down and take a moment to enjoy the magnificence of dusk, we’ll be rewarded with a sense of peace and tranquility that we can carry with us into the night and beyond.
And I write:
As the sun sets, and the sky turns to dusk
The world around us slows, no longer a rush
The sable veil of night is drawn, stars shine bright
As the day is done, and darkness takes flight
The sky is painted, with hues so divine
A sight to behold, it’s truly divine
The heavens declare God’s glory, the sky proclaims
And the beauty of dusk, is nature’s sweet refrain
In this moment, we can slow down and breathe
Appreciate the beauty, our hearts to relieve
Nature’s balm, for our weary souls
As dusk sets in, and the day unfolds
So let us take a moment, to cherish dusk’s beauty
To reflect, and renew our sense of duty
For in this moment, we can find peace
And let the worries of the day, finally cease
(Josh Beavers is an award winning writer and author. He has earned more than 40 individual writing awards and is syndicated in 12 North Louisiana news journals. The Louisiana Press Association has recognized him five times for excellence in opinion writing, and he has earned numerous Best Investigative Reporting Awards and Freedom of Information Awards for exposure of governmental corruption in Webster Parish.)
If you just can’t get enough fireworks in downtown Minden on July 3, travel to Bossier Parish for their second annual event at the South Bossier Parish park, where food truck vendors that include some from Webster Parish, will set up for an evening of celebration.
South Bossier will again play host to the annual KTBS Freedom Fest celebrating God and country, a massive Fourth of July fireworks display that has become a northwest Louisiana staple for family entertainment.
It will mark the second year for the event to be held at the park, located on Caplis Sligo Rd. approximately one mile south of Sligo Rd. Sponsors of the fireworks display are KTBS and the Bossier Parish Police Jury.
Similar displays will be presented simultaneously on the Red River in Bossier City and three other locations, including two in Texas. Fireworks will ignite at 9:30 at all locations.
“Last year’s event was a tremendous success. We had a huge crowd made up mostly of families and it was obvious everyone was enjoying the event,” said Warren Saucier, supervisor of the Bossier Parish Police Jury’s parks and recreation department.
Saucier said there will be more for visitors at this year’s event, including activities focusing on youngsters.
“We’re planning to have something for everyone while they’re waiting for the main event,” Saucier said. “There were a lot of young people in attendance last year so we’re adding some playground-type equipment like bouncy houses. This is going to be another great day and night of entertainment.”
Representatives of Bossier Parish agencies have been meeting at the south Bossier Park with KTBS officials and service providers to go over plans for the event, including safety and security issues. The South Bossier Park grounds cover roughly 100 acres, including a new group of playing fields that have recently been completed.
Bossier Parish Administrator Butch Ford said the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office and the parish police jury’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement unit would provide security, safety and traffic control. No alcohol will be permitted at the park and open fires, such as grills, will be discouraged.
“We plan to do everything we can to make sure everyone can enjoy this event in a safe environment,” Ford said. “This focuses on family and we want everyone to feel comfortable. We’re also want to remind everyone that it’s okay to bring lawn chairs and small tents or coverings for protection from the sun and heat.”
Safety measures will include the presence of equipment and personnel from South Bossier Fire District #2 and the parish EMS. A restroom facility is available at the park and a number of portable units will be provided.
Food trucks were a popular attraction at last year’s event and those will again be taking part in the festivities. Saucier said the trucks drew such crowds last year that he has added a couple more to give additional food choices.
“Last year we had a good variety and the lines were consistently long at each truck,” he said. “This year, there will be a couple of additions and we believe folks will love the choices they’ll have.”
Access to the park will begin at 5 p.m. on the Fourth and traffic will be directed to designated parking areas.
You can definitely never go wrong with the combo of brown sugar and cinnamon in my book.I have so many variations for “honey bun” recipes that I could probably make a mini cookbook of them!These cookies are scooped, pressed with a tablespoon and filled to overflowing with honey bun goodness.Then drizzle with extra icing to send them right over the top!Enjoy.
Cookies:
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.In a mixing bowl cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar.Add egg and vanilla.In a separate bowl whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.Pour dry ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix until combined.Use a medium or large cookie scoop to place on baking sheets.
Make the topping by whisking the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon.Add in melted butter and mix until combined.It will be crumbly.
Use a tablespoon to press a well into the center of each cookie.Fill the well with the crumbly topping.Overflowing is ok!Bake for 12 minutes.
(Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.)
Lakeside nabs win over North Webster despite early 4-run inning
Lakeside Warriors claimed a 10-6 victory Thursday, despite a big push by North Webster in the second inning. The big inning for North Webster came thanks to a walk and a groundout.
The base paths were crowded in this high-scoring game. The Warriors collected eight hits and North Webster had five.
Lakeside captured the lead in the first inning when Drake Chreene grounded out, scoring one run.
They took the lead for good with four runs in the third inning when Brock Case singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run, Peyton Gray grounded out, scoring one run, Hayden Williams singled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run, and North Webster induced Bryson Finley to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored.
Gray earned the victory on the pitcher’s mound for Lakeside. He surrendered one run on three hits over one and two-thirds innings, walking one. Eli Santelices and Noah Redding entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
North Webster’s pitcher went three and two-thirds innings, allowing ten runs on eight hits, striking out one and walking one.
Chreene started the game for Lakeside. The righthander went one inning, allowing two runs on one hit and striking out one
Santelices went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead in hits.
North Webster players ran wild on the base paths with five stolen bases.
Lake side blows out North Webster in second game
Lakeside easily did away with North Webster 12-2 in the second game Thursday.
The Warriors opened up scoring in the first inning, when Jon Jon Dick singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run.
Lakeside scored five runs in the third inning. The rally was led by groundouts by Eli Campbell and Matthew Aguilera and a double by Peyton Gray.
Hunter Sutton was the winning pitcher for Lakeside. The righty lasted three innings, allowing one hit and two runs while striking out five. Dick, Aguilera, and Campbell all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.
North Webster’s pitcher surrendered 12 runs on 11 hits over six innings, striking out two.
LakesideWarriors had 11 hits in the game. Sutton, Eli Santelices, and Aguilera each collected multiple hits. Aguilera, Santelices, and Sutton all had two hits. Dick led Lakeside with three stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with 11 stolen bases.
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.
