Mary Anna Perryman

Sept. 9, 1943 – July 14, 2023

Dubberly, La.

Visitation: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 18, 2023, Brushwood Methodist Church, Dubberly

Funeral service: 11 a.m. immediately following visitation.

Burial: 12:15 p.m. Brushwood Cemetery, Dubberly.

Evelyn Strong

May 12, 1927 – July 13, 2023

Marthaville/Minden, La.

Private burial: Gardens of Memory Cemetery, Minden.

Linda Ruth Ware Bailey

Jan. 10, 1934 – July 14, 2023

Haynesville, La.

Funeral service: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, 2023, First Baptist Church, Haynesville.

Burial: Ware’s Chapel Cemetery, Emerson, Ark., under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Haynesville.

Webster Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are free of charge.)

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Police are actively seeking tips in an ongoing investigation, and it may come to any local business number in the form of an envelope like the one shown here.

“If anyone gets one of these letters with the address written in pencil like this, please don’t open it,” said Minden Police Chief Jared McIver. “There is nothing inside that is of danger to the recipient, but if we can get it before they open it, we may be able to pull DNA off of it where the sender licked it to close the envelope.”

The chief said they are aware of three letters that have been received today (Monday, July 17).

“They either have a Monroe zip code or a Bossier zip code,” he said. “No return address and written in pencil. Please don’t open it and contact Minden Police Department.”

McIver said the FBI and U.S. Postal Service have been contacted, and Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office is also working with these agencies.

Call 318-371-4226 with information.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A south Webster Parish resident is behind bars for alleged rape.

Muadh “Mark” Hozam, 48, of the 500 block of Fuller St., Doyline, was arrested by Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies for first degree rape of a juvenile under 13. Bond has been set at $350,000.

Sheriff Jason Parker said early February 2023 reports of a missing 12-year-old were made to the sheriffs office.

“The child’s father made the initial report of the child missing and during the investigation it was disclosed that the child ran away from his home in Doyline,” said the sheriff. “Through the investigation, detectives discovered the child reportedly had been sexually abused by the father. This information was reported by a family member in South Carolina who picked up the child after reports of abuse. The child was located in Monroe.”

On July 10, Hozam, an employee of Doyline Country Store, was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree rape of a juvenile under the age of 13.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Tickets are still available for a Women Helping Others (WHO) event for interested ladies.

Pretties & Pajamas will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 28 at Springhill Civic Center. Proceeds got to aid WHO projects that include serving people during times of hardship, illness or devastating loss.

There will be BINGO, dinner, silent auctions, raffles and door prizes. Attendees must be 18 years or older.

For more tickets, email chillon417@gmail.com..

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

Every Saturday in July

9 a.m. until noon, Minden Farmer’s Market, at The Farm, corner of Highway 80 and Talton Street.

July 17-21

5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Vacation Bible School, First Methodist Church, Minden, 903 Broadway. Ages PreK through 6th. Snack supper provided each night. For more information, contact Katheryn Webb, 318-299-0597.

July 26

11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Cotton Valley Community Health Day at CV City Hall. Sponsored by Springhill Medical Center and Louisiana HomeCare Springhill. Free event. Health information, hot dogs, snow cones and raffle.

July 27

1 p.m. Annual Membership Drive, Webster Parish Council on Aging, 1482 Sheppard St., Minden. Call 318-371-3056 or come by the address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

July 28

4 until 8 p.m., Webster Parish School Board’s Pack the Bus, Minden Walmart.

July 29

10 a.m. until noon, Young Women’s Service Club Back to School Bash, Victory Park.

August 2

1 until 9:30 a.m. Webster Parish New Teacher Breakfast, Harper Pathways to Excellence Center, 618 Germantown Rd., Minden.

August 4

8:30 a.m. Glenbrook School New Teacher Breakfast, Glenbrook School.

August 12

9 a.m. until noon. Springhill-North Webster Chamber of Commerce’s Back to School Water Wars, Springhill Recreation Complex. K-12th grades. Free water balloons, no outside balloons permitted, free water gun filling stations, concessions available. $10 admission fee benefits LaMa Animal Rescue.

5 until 9 p.m., Peace Out Summer Back to School Bash, Sarepta Community Park. Admission $2; games, food and raffle. Pack the Bus by bringing supplies. Sponsored by Women Helping Others. For more information: contact Ramanda Ketchum at 318-347-2612 or Rketchumwho@gmail.com,  Elizabeth Simmons at 318-517-5207 or emccuen92@gmail.com, Tammie Wynn 318-268-5535 or tammie.wynn@la.gov .

August 26

10 a.m. – 2p.m. Brunch. Minden Junior Service League “Mamma Mia” Girls Night Out, Minden Civic Center.

September 9

Vintage Car Club of Minden’s annual car show in downtown Minden. More information when available.

September 28 through 30, Oct. 1

 Minden High School 30th Class Reunion

Sept. 28 – 6 until 9 p.m. Meet and Greet, Under Dawgs Sports Grill, 605 Main St., Minden, La.

Sept. 29 – 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Meet and Greet, Under Dawgs Sports Grill, 605 Main St., Minden, La.

Sept. 29 – 9 p.m. until 1 a.m., Kickback, Camp Minden, 100 Louisiana Boulevard, Minden, La.

Homecoming Parade TBA

Sept. 30 – 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Family Fun Day, Hot Wheels Skating Rink, 3000 Old Minden Rd., Bossier City, La.

Sept. 30 – 7 p.m. until 1 a.m., Still Rollin 30 Years Later, Camp Minden, 100 Louisiana Boulevard, Minden, La.

Oct.1 – Church Fellowship TBA

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Ashley Nicole Hardy

Dec. 8, 1986 – July 4, 2023

Bossier City, La.

Visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 15, 2023, Rose Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City.

Funeral service: Noon, immediately following visitation.

Burial: Rose Neath Cemetery, Bossier City.

Wanda Sue Fields

March 2, 1945 – July 9, 2023

Mansfield, La.

Visitation: 11 a.m. Monday, July 17, 2023, Rose Neath Chapel, 943 Polk St., Mansfield.

Funeral service: 1 p.m. Monday, July 17, 2023, immediately following visitation.

Burial: Bethel Cemetery, Logansport, 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.)

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By Marilyn Miller

The Dixie Inn Board of Alderman unanimously approved the retirement of veteran Police Chief James Edwards during its monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 11. Chief Edwards thanked the board for “allowing me the resources to do what I needed to do” over the past 15 years. Altogether, Edwards has been a member of the Dixie Inn Police Dept. for 22 years. Mayor Donna Hoffoss and Aldermen Judy McKenzie, Nell Finlay, and Lance Milligan unanimously thanked the chief for his many years of service.

Sgt. Alan Davis will become the temporary chief effective Aug. 1, 2023. He has been with the DIPD since 2014.

Giving his last report, Chief Edwards said that he has been in touch with the Webster Parish School Board Tech Support Dept. and that they are willing to make a presentation at the next meeting regarding an Information Technology contract for the police department. Work would include setting up email, installing firewalls, etc. The village would likely compensate the WPSB on an hourly basis.

In other business Tuesday night, the board entered into a yearly agreement with Taylor Sudden Service Generators of Bossier City to service the village’s two natural gas generators at a cost of $1,724 (for both). The generators are located at the water plant and the Village Hall.

Mayor Hoffoss reported that the AARP has approved a $20,000 grant to install four “shade sails” in the City Park; that the Healthy Communities Program has approved an $8,000 grant for a trash trailer; and that the Webster Parish Police Jury will pay $8,000 towards the cost of a new $13,192 X-Mark mower. Maintenance supervisor Mike Chreene recommended that the Village sell its used mower.

The Board unanimously:

• Adopted a resolution that amends verbiage in the Community Development Block Grant Program’s “Citizen Participation Plan;”
• Adopted the Utility Fund Budget for July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024;
• Adopted the Minutes of the June 2023 Regular Session, and;
• Adopted the Financial Statements for the June 2023 Regular Session.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A project that will encourage more travelers to exit the interstate and stop in Minden is on go.

Monday, Minden City Council members voted unanimously to enter into an agreement with Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to replace lights on exit 47 of Interstate 20.

“Those lights have been out for at least 5 or 6 years,” said Minden Mayor Nick Cox. “Some aren’t working because they are just old, and some aren’t working because wiring was damaged by a subcontractor.  DOTD wants to replace all of them.”

Cox said DOTD predicts total cost of the replacements will be between $3.5 million and $5 million. The state will take care of 90 percent of the cost plus installation, while the City of Minden will be responsible for $10 percent and maintenance.

The state will build the lights but then they will turn them over to the city, which is responsible for paying the utility bills and change the light bulbs.

There are several up sides to the project, Cox said. 

“The new lights are LED, they are way cheaper and less expensive for the City to operate,” he pointed out. “They are high-mast – at least 100 feet tall. When it’s time to change light bulbs, you lower them like a flag and change them on the ground, which is a lot safer than having a 100-foot bucket truck in the air on the interstate.”

The mayor is unsure at this point how many lights will be needed.

“DOTD wouldn’t even draw out the plans until we said we were willing to do our part,” he said. “But it will be very well lit. LEDs light up a lot more area.”

It may be 2024 before DOTD can start the project, however, the City was strongly encouraged to get onboard with it immediately or the state’s portion of the funds would be spent on another project in the Atchafalaya Basin.

“The last day of June – which was my deadline – DOTD was in my office with no appointment,” Cox said. “I asked for them to give me until July 10 to get council approval. I told them I couldn’t do it without that.”

Cox says the urgency was to allow DOTD to complete the project while also replacing the bridge on La. Hwy. 531 over the interstate.

“It’s been pretty dark at the Minden/Sibley exit for years,” the mayor added. “This will make Minden look ‘very open for business.’”

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Monday’s meeting of our parish school board has set the stage for what might be a long-running stage play starring both school and elected officials, builders (of sorts) and persons in long black robes.

During its finance committee meeting, members of the board tossed around the whys and why nots for handing contractor ELA Group an additional near-one million bucks to help complete a multi-purpose building at Minden High. That project, by the way, has already topped roughly ten and a half million counting the original bid ((9.9 mil) plus nearly $700,000 in change orders. That’s a buncha change.

ELA’s Ed Angel Sr. and Jr. based their plea for the additional money on two basic problems: material prices went through the roof and often changed while goods were in transit, and water under the construction was a’plenty and caused “unforeseen” difficulties. A project that was already running behind schedule is now, according to officials, about a year behind. 

A friend tells your obedient observer that one question needing an answer is whether or not liquidated damages are now in play. Those, you surely know, are the dollar penalties assessed for each day a project runs past contractual completion date. It’s our understanding that ELA has requested extensions. Whether those (or a substantial amount of change order dollars) have been granted hasn’t been discussed. 

Following the finance meeting, the board voted unanimously to tell ELA there would be no additional money. During discussion on the motion to deny, we learned the board voted no under a potential threat of an unfinished building remaining so.

We heard Superintendent Johnny Rowland had received an email from ELA declaring failure to receive more money might lead to the project being “discontinued” and cause subcontractors to walk away. One board member called the email a threat; Rowland considered it an ultimatum.

We who occupy the back table at the coffee shop call it an invitation to court. Folks who study history say Angel Sr. is no stranger to litigation if he doesn’t get what he wants and we should expect some sort of legal action. Hopefully, the school board doesn’t blink.

Big decisions often carry big consequences, but when a line’s drawn one can either stop short or keep moving. The threat of standing before a judge isn’t the issue; it’s whether or not taxpayers who said yes to a bond obligation have to pony up more dollars to be gulped down a sinkhole of change orders.

 

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Police arrested a local man Tuesday after he allegedly struck a woman and showed some violent tendencies.

Deandre Lee Moore, 34, of the 400 block of Morrow St., Minden, is charged with domestic abuse battery with child endangerment and resisting an officer by force/violence.

Chief Jared McIver said officers Logan Clingan and Cadyn O’Connor were dispatched to the Morrow location around 4 p.m. in response to a disturbance.

“Officers saw Moore and the female complainant in the yard where she appeared to be backed into the corner of the outside fence and gate,” McIver said. “Off. Clingan tried to separate them by asking Moore to step to the front of his patrol unit, so they could talk. Moore refused the verbal command multiple times until the officer took him by the arm and escorted him to the front of the unit.”

While walking, Moore allegedly “jerked away” and turned toward the officer, closing the gap between them.

“The officer pushed Moore away to gain distance, and he again closed the gap quickly,” said the chief. “Off. O’Connor and Off. Clingan restrained Moore and placed him on the ground. Moore continued to struggle, trying to push the officers away and refusing to place his hands behind his back.”

Once Moore was restrained and placed in the patrol unit, officers reportedly talked with the complainant who said Moore awakened her from a nap and “demanded that she bring him to work.”

The complainant said she refused and he hit her in the mouth, kicked her in the stomach and dragged her around the house while 2 juveniles watched.

“There was a laceration on her upper lip,” McIver said. “Moore was transported to Minden Police Department for booking and was later taken to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.”

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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By Josh Beavers

On a scorching hot summer day, the heat radiated off the asphalt of the Wal-Mart parking lot. The air was thick and heavy, making each step a chore. I had been to the mega-store for various odds and ends,  and as I approached my truck, I noticed a man standing under the shade of a tree and strumming a guitar. A nearby speaker carried his voice across the concrete expanse. He had a weathered yet clean-shaven face. No wide-brimmed hat or ball cap shielded his eyes from the blazing sun. The combination gave him a rugged quality and the impression of being a man on a mission. One of dedication, compassion, and the utmost importance. In his hands, he held the instrument, its strings worn and faded.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself drawn to the sound that echoed through the parking lot. The man, Clayton Dyess, strummed the guitar with a delicate touch, his fingers dancing across the frets as he sang gospel songs with a voice that carried both strength and vulnerability.

I approached him, and he looked up, his eyes twinkling with warmth and kindness. He greeted me with a smile and a “yes sir.” When I asked him what he was doing out in the hottest part of the hottest day of the hottest summer in a long time, he simply told me “Lifting up Jesus through song.”  

I nodded, feeling the soulful melodies stir something deep within me. I told him who I was and asked if he wouldn’t mind me writing a story on his little concert. Clayton chuckled, his weathered hands continuing to strum the guitar.

“Sure,” he said. “I just play wherever I can, spreading the Lord’s message through these old songs. I felt led to sing here today.”

As the music filled the air, I couldn’t help but be captivated by Clayton’s passion. He shared stories of his life, how he had once been lost in the darkness, but found redemption through his faith and music. He told me of appearances on national television, of prison ministries, of lives irrevocably changed by the Word.

He has traveled far and wide, spreading the gospel through his songs, finding solace in the hearts and souls of those who listened. Clayton believes that music is a conduit for healing, that it can bring people together, bridging divides and offering hope in the most unlikely of places.

As the scorching sun beat down upon us, Clayton’s voice carried on, his fingers strumming the guitar with a fervor that defied the heat. People passing by stopped to listen, their weary expressions transforming into smiles as the music washed over them. He handed out complimentary CDs and some people donated to the cause. A few dollars here and there, but it’s not about nickels and dimes.

Clayton’s music is a balm for the soul, a gentle reminder that even in the most challenging times, there is beauty and hope to be found. His words resonated in my heart, lifting my spirits and filling me with a sense of peace.

As the day drew to a close, the sun began its descent, casting a warm glow across the parking lot. Clayton finished his last song, the final notes lingering in the air before slowly fading away.

He made his way to his beat-up car to continue his journey to the next town, where more hearts awaited his music. As we parted, the echoes of his gospel songs lingered in my mind, a reminder of the power of music and the indomitable spirit of those who share it with others.

His words were a promise that no matter how hot the journey gets, there’s always music to guide us. 

More information about Clayton Dyess’ “Music with a Message” and his ministry can be found via Google search. He may be reached via call or text message at 318-602-1596.

(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.)

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A fan drive is still underway to help those who need cooling off this summer.

Michael and Chequella Walker and the Walker Holding Group have already collected 100 fans, and they’re still coming in. This is their seventh year as fan fans, and the project has grown every summer.

“My wife and I started this because we wanted to help the elderly who couldn’t afford to run air conditioning,” Walker said. “Their utility bills were just too high and they couldn’t pay them.”

On the Fourth of July and since, the public has been dropping off fans at the Walker’s residence.

“I want to thank God for giving me and my wife a giving heart,” Walker said. “We love our Minden communities. They always show support to us. Like always, they came through with up to 100 fans and they’re still coming in.”

Walker said they distributed a lot of fans over the weekend. 

“We had people from Michigan and California to donate and send in fans,” he added. “We just can’t thank you guys enough. We are still taking them in and handing them out. As long as we have them, we will be getting them to the people who need them.”

Fans may be donated at the Walker residence, 112 W. Roosevelt Dr., Minden. Contact information for the Walkers is Michael: 318-210-1799, Chequella: 318-707-3532. To make a monetary donation using Cash App: $WarehouseMike or $ChequellaWalker.

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Italian cuisines edition

Please see the sodium reduction strategies listed below based on Italian cuisines. These strategies can be used the next time you make homemade pizza or pasta.  

• Use less cheese on pizzas and pasta. 
• Make pasta sauces from scratch, using no salt added or low sodium ingredients.  
• Add more vegetables to your pasta dishes.  
• Use less salt when making pizza dough. 
• Season with fresh or dried herbs and spices rather than salt.   
• Use lower sodium ingredients for pizza toppings, such as fresh mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, asparagus, garlic, pineapple, fresh jalapeno pepper, fresh bell peppers, spinach, onion, grilled chicken, and basil.  
• Try adding fresh sliced tomatoes, red onion, zucchini, summer squash, and fresh garlic to upgrade the traditional vegetarian pizza.  
• Limit high sodium ingredients, including anchovies, olives, capers, pepperoni, salami, bacon, sausage, ham, canned mushrooms, or artichokes.
• Purchase fresh vegetables at your local farmers market. Try adding fresh sliced tomatoes, red onion, zucchini, summer squash, and fresh garlic to upgrade the traditional vegetarian pizza.

Try this salt free Italian seasoning blend below that can be added to a tomato sauce or used in pasta dishes.

• 1 cup dried oregano
• 1 cup dried basil
• 1/2 cup onion powder 
• 1/2 cup dried thyme
• 1/2 cup garlic powder 
• 1/2 cup black pepper

Shakera Williams, M.P.H., Assistant Nutrition Extension Agent-General & SNAP-Ed Nutrition 

 Webster/Claiborne Parishes,  Office: (318) 371-1371

https://www.facebook.com/WebsterClaiborneNutrition

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By Nina Murray and Zoe Hebert

The Broussard Family Juré will be inducted into the Louisiana Folklife Center’s Hall of Master Folk Artists at this year’s Natchitoches-NSU Louisiana Folklife Festival. The festival will be held in the air-conditioned Prather Coliseum at 220 South Jefferson Street at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The festival’s curated showcase of Louisiana folk musicians, food vendors, and traditional crafts persons will open at 9 AM, with live entertainment scheduled for 10 AM to 9:30 PM. The family-oriented festival is fully wheelchair accessible. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets are $10 at the door for all events, or $6 for an evening pass to all events after 5 PM.

Juré is a type of call-and-response music performed in a cappella and is accompanied by hand clapping and dancing. Juré is a musical tradition dating back to the times of slavery, according to group member Millie Broussard. On the plantations, slaves were not allowed to own musical instruments. There were no televisions or telephones at the time, so entertainment and communication were both extremely limited. To make up for the lack of instruments, the Creole slaves used hand claps and foot stomps to create rhythms to sing to. At the time, juré served a dual purpose, keeping the slaves’ energy and spirits up, “a way for people to let loose… like a military cadence,” Millie explained, and as a way to pass along and preserve information.

 After the abolishment of slavery, juré became a way of making music during the Lenten season, when it was frowned upon to go to clubs or play instruments. Juré has strong religious roots and was acceptable during Lent. Today, the Broussard Family Juré continue to recognize and praise the presence of God in their lives and his gift of music to their family. Millie stated that “We always want to give back the glory to the Giver of the gift.” Their music is at once a celebration of their family’s history and praise to God.

The Broussard Sisters started doing juré as young children, picking up the songs and dances from their mother. As they grew older, they began to join in on the juré from the outside. Over time, the sisters became part of the juré circles. The oldest in the group was the leader of the call-and-response, and the others would join in. During Lent, the sisters would alternate whose house they visited. They would prepare a big family dinner and perform juré together, changing who they visited every time.

 Originally, Millie said, juré was a family tradition. They only started performing publicly six years ago. She explained that people became interested in the music and how it got started. It was beautiful music, so others became curious. The sisters decided to share their music to keep it and their ancestors’ memory alive. Millie compared the music to love, saying that “you don’t want to keep it inside, you want to share it.” It’s important to her and her sisters-in-law that they continue the traditions left behind by those who came before them.

Millie has been doing juré alongside her sisters-in-law since she was young, having been their neighbor from a young age. She served as their manager for six years but did not officially join the Broussard Family Juré group as a performer until a year ago, when one of the sisters became ill. She was already familiar with the music and dances, so she filled the role. She explained that it made her happy to do juré, especially in such a way that she and her sisters can share it with the world. She believes her ancestors would be proud to see how well-loved and popular their juré has become. Millie said “That was a pastime for them. Now, it’s a passion.” Millie and her sisters love to share the musical tradition which gave their ancestors moments of solace and freedom during times of oppression and slavery, and they are proud to keep the music alive.

The Broussard Family Juré will perform on the East Stage from 10:15-11:00 AM and 2:45-3:30 PM. They are excited to share their love of music and their family’s traditions with festival-goers. 

Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and the State of Louisiana.

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By Jessica Gorman

The original Webster Parish courthouse was built after the creation of the parish in 1871. By 1903, it had been “declared unsafe and unfit for repairs.” Conditions were such that some who had offices in the courthouse had begun to consider refusing to continue working there.

That same year, a petition was circulated and presented to the Webster Parish Police Jury led by J. Y. Burton. The petition asked the police jury to call an election for a five-mill tax for five years to fund the construction of a new courthouse. The election was held on 23 June 1904. The vote was 222 in favor of the tax with 106 opposed. 

With approval of the tax, a building committee was appointed by the new police jury now led by W. G. Stewart. The committee members were E. E. Fitzgerald (Minden Lumber Company), J. W. Martin (Globe Lumber Company), and J. M. Miller (Minden merchant). 

Construction began in November 1904. It was quickly realized that more extensive excavations would be needed to provide a deeper, broader foundation than originally thought necessary to provide stability for the building. The laying of the cornerstone was conducted 28 February 1905 by Minden Masonic Lodge No. 51. That cornerstone is now housed at the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum. 

Construction was completed in August 1905 at a cost of $48,859. The new courthouse was described as “a majestic monument to Webster Parish and the civic pride of her good citizens.” The building was two stories. On the first floor, in the center, was a rotunda. It was used for police jury meetings and was where town court was held. Also on the first floor were the offices of the circuit clerk, coroner, superintendent of education, sheriff, tax assessor, and an office shared by the mayor and town marshal. The vault housing the parish records and a separate room for the police jury records were also located on the first floor.

In the center of the second floor, was a circular courtroom with a large balcony. There were also offices for the judge, district attorney, constable, and justice of the peace, as well as rooms for the grand jury, petit jury, witnesses, and for jurors needing to stay overnight.

The dome of the courthouse, covered in sheet copper, contained a large clock with four faces. Some thought the clock was a waste of money and when the dome was replaced after the 1933 tornado, the clock was removed. 

After construction of the current Webster Parish Courthouse in 1953, the 1905 building served as Minden City Hall until construction of the Civic Center. 

(Jessica Gorman is the Executive Director for the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Webster Parish Historian, and an avid genealogist.)

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Minden Tarheels 8th grade boys won HoopPlayUSA basketball tournament in Benton last weekend. They went 4-0 to win the Championship. The team played with only 6 players the entire tournament. 

The 9th/10 graders also played. They lost in the semifinals. But also played very well.

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Women Helping Others (WHO) has scheduled a fund-raising event to close out summer.

From 5 until 9 p.m. Saturday, August 12 at Sarepta Community Park, “Peace Out Summer Back to School Bash” will be the place for fun while helping Pack the Bus with school supplies.

Ramanda Ketchum said everyone should bring lawn chairs and an appetite to enjoy eats from several on-site food trucks, including ice cream, boudin balls, snow cones, coffee, BBQ, cotton candy, loaded fries and more.

“We will also have a Cornhole tourney, LaMa BINGO, field day games, music, bounce house and Glow Fun Run,” Ketchum said. “Those who bring school supplies and uniforms to Pack the Bus will receive a raffle ticket.”

Admission is $2 per person. Visit whoofnorthwebster.org to register teams and runners.

For more information: contact Ramanda Ketchum at 318-347-2612 or Rketchumwho@gmail.com, Elizabeth Simmons at 318-517-5207 or emccuen92@gmail.com, Tammie Wynn 318-268-5535 or tammie.wynn@la.gov .

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

Every Saturday in July

9 a.m. until noon, Minden Farmer’s Market, at The Farm, corner of Highway 80 and Talton Street.

July 17-21

5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Vacation Bible School, First Methodist Church, Minden, 903 Broadway. Ages PreK through 6th. Snack supper provided each night. For more information, contact Katheryn Webb, 318-299-0597.

July 26

11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Cotton Valley Community Health Day at CV City Hall. Sponsored by Springhill Medical Center and Louisiana HomeCare Springhill. Free event. Health information, hot dogs, snow cones and raffle.

July 27

1 p.m. Annual Membership Drive, Webster Parish Council on Aging, 1482 Sheppard St., Minden. Call 318-371-3056 or come by the address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

July 28

4 until 8 p.m., Webster Parish School Board’s Pack the Bus, Minden Walmart.

July 29

10 a.m. until noon, Young Women’s Service Club Back to School Bash, Victory Park.

August 2

1 until 9:30 a.m. Webster Parish New Teacher Breakfast, Harper Pathways to Excellence Center, 618 Germantown Rd., Minden.

August 4

8:30 a.m. Glenbrook School New Teacher Breakfast, Glenbrook School.

August 12

9 a.m. until noon. Springhill-North Webster Chamber of Commerce’s Back to School Water Wars, Springhill Recreation Complex. K-12th grades. Free water balloons, no outside balloons permitted, free water gun filling stations, concessions available. $10 admission fee benefits LaMa Animal Rescue.

August 26

10 a.m. – 2p.m. Brunch. Minden Junior Service League “Mamma Mia” Girls Night Out, Minden Civic Center.

September 9

Vintage Car Club of Minden’s annual car show in downtown Minden. More information when available.

September 28 through 30, Oct. 1

 Minden High School 30th Class Reunion

Sept. 28 – 6 until 9 p.m. Meet and Greet, Under Dawgs Sports Grill, 605 Main St., Minden, La.

Sept. 29 – 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Meet and Greet, Under Dawgs Sports Grill, 605 Main St., Minden, La.

Sept. 29 – 9 p.m. until 1 a.m., Kickback, Camp Minden, 100 Louisiana Boulevard, Minden, La.

Homecoming Parade TBA

Sept. 30 – 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Family Fun Day, Hot Wheels Skating Rink, 3000 Old Minden Rd., Bossier City, La.

Sept. 30 – 7 p.m. until 1 a.m., Still Rollin 30 Years Later, Camp Minden, 100 Louisiana Boulevard, Minden, La.

Oct.1 – Church Fellowship TBA

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Over the years, every sport has been given a “black eye.” No matter what sport it is, people are always looking for some form of illegal or unethical issues that they can bring to light. Recently, professional basketball had the controversy over a referee who was betting on games he was calling. Baseball has the infamous Pete Rose controversy with his betting on baseball. Football and baseball over the years have both gotten black eyes over the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. But when it comes to tournament bass fishing, the sport continues to battle with the never-ending effects of bass dying after a tournament. 

Now this is not due to a lack of concern about keeping their catch alive, as there are times when no matter what you do, you will still have a fish die in your livewell. It’s actually very important to the anglers in general because dead fish can cost them a lot of money. A dead fish can also hurt an angler when it comes to Angler of the Year (AOY) standings which usually has a cash bonus for the winner at the end of the year. So, it’s important for tournament anglers who participate in this sport to be conscious of how they take care of their catch.

Admirably, 98% of all bass tournaments do a great job of implementing rules that penalize anglers for weighing dead fish. Some events deduct anywhere from a quarter to a half pound penalty for every dead fish weighed in. While this doesn’t sound like much, it can be the difference between finishing first or tenth. It’s the difference between getting paid or going home with nothing. 

Just like so many things in our world today, there are always people watching and looking for a reason to create controversy that will help their agenda. In the fishing world that would be PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). This organization continues to target tournament bass fishing and would like to see the sport discontinued. They show up at boat ramps all across the country wearing fish costumes and making their presence known while protesting bass tournaments. 

 

But what they refuse to see is how well and to what extent anglers go to keep fish alive. On the professional level or other high exposure events, fish care is critical. Nothing upsets an angler more than losing a fish in their livewell. I’ll give you an example of how much attention I give to fish care while they are in my possession. 

In the fall, winter, and early spring months, it’s unusual to have a fish die in your livewell due to the cooler water temperatures. Hot water is the enemy of tournament anglers and during the summer months this is hard to combat. This is why I hate summer tournaments! You spend so much time babysitting your catch and constantly checking on them to make sure they are in good shape as the day progresses; it’s a job! Here’s what I have found over the years that can make a huge difference in fish care and that has worked extremely well for me. 

 When an angler first launches his boat on tournament morning, he should immediately fill his livewells with fresh cool water. This is because the water is at its coolest point for the day. Next, put G-Juice or any other good additive into the water to help add slime back to the fish after they have been handled. It also reinvigorates bass and keeps them in stable condition before weigh-in.

After doing these two things, turn your livewell on recirculate. The next step is crucial to keeping the water cool and is where anglers often make their biggest mistake when trying to keep fish alive. When the livewell is recirculating,  add ice, or in my case, frozen water bottles. For me, I’ll mix G-Juice into bottles of water and freeze them so that I can drop one bottle in the livewell every hour. I remove the bottle cap which allows for the gradual addition of more G-Juice while simultaneously maintaining the water at a cooler temperature the entire day. DON’T ADD HOT FRESH WATER TO YOUR LIVEWELL DURING THE DAY! This is a recipe for disaster!

 If anglers want to continue to have bass tournaments, they have got to become more diligent about taking care of their catch. The problem is, when people show up at a boat ramp where there was a tournament the day before and see dead fish floating, photos are taken and posted on social media for all to see! This is nothing but ammunition for organizations like PETA who want to eliminate tournaments all together.

To sum this up, tournament anglers and tournament trail organizations need to do a better job when it comes to fish care if they don’t want the sport to get another black eye. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and be conscious of taking care of your skin by using plenty of sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.

Steve Graf                                                                                                                                            

Angler’s Perspective

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The following civil suits were filed with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court the week of July 6:

July 6

Tatega Lewis Jones vs. Earnest T. Jones Jr., protective order.

Andre Thomas vs. Thomas Michelle Broussard, protective order.

Daniel Garrett vs. Mena Garrett, divorce.

July 7

BBK Partners LLC vs. Jerry Thomas, monies due.

Ty Hanson vs. Tara Fields Hanson, divorce/no children.

July 10

Donald Robinson vs. Murphy Oil USA Inc. and Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., damages.

Discover Bank vs. Eric Marcantel, monies due.

July 11

Danielle McCann Gordon vs. Kevin Michael Gordon, divorce.

July 12

First Tower Loan, LLC vs. Jailena G. Carter, monies due.

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Wanda Gale Hudson Lout

June 22, 1946 – July 10, 2023

Homer, La.

Visitation: 9 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2023, Rose Neath Funeral Home, Homer.

Graveside service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2023, Arlington Cemetery, Homer

Betty Bethany Gannon

August 4, 1930 – July 11, 2023

Taylor, Ark./Springhill/Sarepta, La.

Graveside service: 10 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2023, State Line Cemetery, Taylor, Ark.

Burial to follow under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill

Martha D. Murphy

April 16, 1942 – July 7, 2023

Mansfield, La.

Visitation: 9 a.m. Thursday, July 13, 2023, Rose Neath Funeral Home, Mansfield

Funeral service: 10 a.m. immediately following visitation.

Burial: 3 p.m., Mt. Zion Cemetery

Cleo Chreene McMellon

Sept. 9, 1929 – July 9, 2023

Many/Mansfield/Logansport, La.

Visitation: 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday, July 13, 2023, Rose Neath Funeral Home, Many.

Funeral service: 10 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2023, Rose Neath Funeral Home, Many.

Burial: Wallace Cemetery, Pelican, La.

Robert “Bobby” Morris

April 5, 1946 – July 7, 2023

Bossier City, La.

Visitation: 5:30 until 8 p.m. Thursday, July 13, 2023, Rose Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City.

Funeral service: 10 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2023, Rose Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City.

Burial: Forest Park West Cemetery, Shreveport.

Ashley Nicole Hardy

Dec. 8, 1986 – July 4, 2023

Bossier City, La.

Visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 15, 2023, Rose Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City.

Funeral service: Noon, immediately following visitation.

Burial: Rose Neath Cemetery, Bossier City.

Wanda Sue Fields

March 2, 1945 – July 9, 2023

Mansfield, La.

Visitation: 11 a.m. Monday, July 17, 2023, Rose Neath Chapel, 943 Polk St., Mansfield.

Funeral service: 1 p.m. Monday, July 17, 2023, immediately following visitation.

Burial: Bethel Cemetery, Logansport, 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.)

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