(This is the second and final guest column by Kenneth Sean “Ken” Carson, better known as The Ken Doll, who co-stars in the Barbie movie along with—duh! — Barbie.)

Yes, yes, for all that’s pink and blonde, go see the movie. Everyone else has.

Everyone but me.

I’m done.

No hard feelings. I’m just tired of being arm candy. Since I was born/created in 1961, the toy makers have put me in more goofy outfits than you’d see on a runway at any New York City/Tokyo/Milan fashion show.

Sure, I’m plastic. I’m a doll. But I have feelings too.

At heart, I’m a redneck. A lunch pail guy. The common clay. I’m not Fashionista Ken or Travel Ken or Tennis Ken or any of the other silly things Mattel has made me out to be over the past 60 lonely years. And I’m definitely not Dreamcamper Ken; the most primitive I like to get is a Motel 6.

I’m been enough idiotic things for Mattel the past 60 years to last several pretend lifetimes.

I mean, it’s a job. I get it. I do. And I appreciate it. And it’s been fun hanging with Barb, an absolute peach.

And yes, the plastic money’s been good.

But I’m retiring. Tired of living a lie.

Why didn’t they create me like Oppenheimer, the star of that other movie, maybe let me split the atom instead of being created as a gigolo for capitalism? Even if Barbie, my female bestie, is quite fetching, well … there’s more to me than just molded-to-perfection plastic alloys!

Oh, the humanity!

So there you have it. I tried to be Ken. And failed. Tried to go to the galas and keep up the crunches so I wouldn’t look like a Whale Doll at pool parties. Tried the surfing and the hairdos and even got a face scrape (Mattel paid for it).

Years ago I asked to be a farmer and what’d they do? They put me in a checked shirt and an apron. An APRON! And check this sales pitch for Farmer Ken from what Mattel calls Sweet Orchard Farm: “Ken doll has an adorable piglet that kids can help him tend for role-play and storytelling fun.”

What? They gave me a piglet? I’ve been on the farm on castration day more times than I’d like to remember and that’s no fun for ANYbody, especially the pigs.

You want role play? Let me be a real farmer with a hayloft and some corn and a pony. I can be a farmer/rancher. Ditch the piglet. At least give me a tractor.

Oh, and here’s the ultimate indignity for Farmer Ken, according to the box I come in: “Doll cannot stand alone.”

You see what I put up with? What am I supposed to do, sit and milk all day? That’s gonna be a hard pass for me, dog.

And the asking price? A salty $34.95. I wouldn’t pay that for me and I AM me!

Mattel said “Fine. We’ll make you a … (get this, gang) … writer. You know, with a little snapbrim hat and a trench coat and a typewriter.”

Said they’d even “throw in a piglet, like with the Farmer Ken deal.”

What’s with these people and piglets, for heavens sake?

Good grief. Please, just … no. Writers are either rail thin and alcoholic or have a pot belly and smoke a pipe and think they invented the vowels and use big words like pubescent and eschew and ebullient. I learned to write in second grade and moved on. Please just … no.

Think I’d rather be a piglet.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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By Josh Beavers

The school year kicked off Thursday in Webster Parish, and the Minden High Louisi-Annes are ready for kickoff to the football season. 

“They are off to a good start,” sponsor Mandy Patterson said. “They went to ULM for summer camp and are excited to showcase the new dances for the football season.”

The Louisi-Annes play a crucial role in boosting school spirit and pride. They perform at pep rallies, halftime shows, and other school events, energizing the crowd and instilling a sense of unity and enthusiasm among students, faculty, and the community.

There are four seniors on this year’s team led by captain Becca Balkom. 

“Becca has been dancing for over fifteen years and has the expertise and motivation to lead the squad for the 2023-24 school year,” Patterson said. “Other seniors are fully committed and excited to support their peers as they embark on the new season.”

Other seniors include Raegan Qualls-Davis, Aliysha Butler, and Sharity Crawford. 

The Louisi-Annes will participate in Meet the Tide, Wolves, and Roadrunners at Minden High on August 24. 

The first football game of the season is September 1 at home against Parkway. Homecoming is September 29 against Huntington. 

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WATERCOLOR, FLORIDA— Once a year I bring my wife, our kids, and their friends to the Panhandle of Florida to “vacation” for a week. A longtime reader of this space already knows that I don’t vacation well. I provide food and lodging for the family and enjoy spending long periods of mostly uninterrupted time visiting with them. But I don’t do well at sitting still and relaxing. Never have. Never will. Never wanted to, for that matter.

My time at the beach is— first and foremost— spent with the family and their friends. But it’s a beach. As stated, I don’t vacation well, and I certainly don’t “beach” well. A 6 a.m. quiet walk on the edge of the surf? I’m your guy. Walking down to the beach to admire the sunset then sitting and watching while critiquing the clothing choices of families who are dressed alike for a photo session? Sign me up. But lying on the sand under the blistering sun in 98-degree heat? Not since I was in my twenties.

While the kids and friends are basking in the sun, I spend my days visiting area restaurants, reliving old memories of the days when I lived down here, and catching up on work in a silent and peaceful empty house, free of people tugging me in all different directions as in my typical workday. It’s “catch up time” for me. And with the opening of the bakery having been an all-consuming proposition for the past eight weeks, there’s a lot of catching up to do.

Someone once asked, “Why do you go on vacation and work?” It’s not work. My work is my hobby. It’s my fun. It’s what I love to do. Next to my family and friends it’s my happiness. Why would I spend all this money to come down here and not do what makes me happy?

“Don’t worry about me,” I said. I’m a happy guy doing exactly what I love.

I make an annual trek down here and try to check all the boxes during my week in the old stomping grounds. My first stop is always at my friend— and former employer— Charles Morgan’s restaurant, Harbor Docks. Charles and I usually catch up over breakfast during the week, but he and his son Eddie were in the restaurant when I arrived, so we sat and visited. After several minutes of catching up on old war stories, digging up kin, and locating common acquaintances, our conversation drifted to where it typically lands: The restaurant biz (I think it’s his hobby, too).

I have written about Harbor Docks smoked tuna dip for over a decade. To me, it is the gold standard of all smoked tuna dips, and there are a lot of smoked tuna dips out there these days. But there is something that separates the Harbor Docks smoked tuna dip from all others. It’s not the complexity of the recipe. It’s simple. I asked Morgan (probably for the 935^th time), “What makes yours better than all of the others?”

“It’s the freshness of the tuna,” he said. I knew that, but I kept thinking that maybe one day he’ll let slip another small detail I’ve been missing. That conversation led to a fascinating discussion into the origin of yellowfin tuna in the panhandle.

I mentioned to Morgan that the only tuna I knew as a kid came out of a can— and I grew up an hour from the Gulf of Mexico and spent my childhood summers fishing those waters. “I can tell you exactly when tuna started getting fished in this area,” Morgan said. If anyone knows the origin of tuna hitting local markets, it’s Morgan. He has been operating a business here for over 40 years, but has been fishing it all his life. He owns two commercial fishing boats and— through his wholesale seafood company— does business with over 125 commercial fishing vessels. Also, all the best local captains hang out at Harbor Docks. He knows the scoop. I was riveted.

According to Morgan, bill fishing started in Destin in 1970 when Bruce Marler caught a blue marlin while fishing for king mackerel near the beach. After that, a local industry was born. But in those days, they were using mullet, croaker or ballyhoo for bait. Trolling had to be kept under four knots so the bait wouldn’t fall apart.

“Destin hasn’t really exported anything over the years except G&S Boats, which were the best fishing boats ever built, and captains and deck hands who were hired out and taken all over the world because they are such excellent fishermen,” Morgan said.

One of those captains came back from the Pacific with large plastic lures that allowed fishermen to troll at eight knots— twice as fast— without the bait falling apart like the croaker, mullet, and ballyhoo had done. It also allowed the captains to cover twice as much water, and deeper water. But most importantly, the tuna, which had obviously been out there the whole time, would strike the fast-moving plastic lures.

Now that the fishing boats were faster and could go farther out, they started catching tuna. There was one big problem— no one knew what to do with them. The looked like big bonito because the meat was red. But bonito is inedible. The captains didn’t know what to do with the tuna, so they went to the bar where they hung out and ate and gave them to Morgan at Harbor Docks. Morgan had no clue what to do with them either. His crew also assumed it was a trash fish, so they brined it overnight and smoked it like they had been doing with mullet. Then they rough-chopped it, added mayonnaise, seafood seasoning, and black pepper and served it with crackers. It’s safe to assume that the first smoked tuna dip ever served in the South— and possibly the country— was at Harbor Docks in Destin, Florida.

And, to my taste, it still reigns supreme.

It’s hard to believe that tuna had always been swimming in these waters but went virtually untouched. By the mid 1980s tuna was established as a legit edible species. I opened my first restaurant in 1987 and tuna steaks were still a “new thing.” Harbor Docks had been serving them for years at that point.

You’ve got to put yourself in a time to where sushi restaurants were non-existent in most of the nation— the first sushi restaurant was Kawafuku in Los Angeles which opened in 1966, but it was a sole practitioner for years. Sushi didn’t start spreading across the country until the late 1980s. The first sushi restaurant in the south opened in Atlanta in 1972, but no one on the Gulf Coast, from Tallahassee to Texas was serving sushi. Harbor Docks served their first nigiri in 1989, eight years after they started smoking tuna.

I’s like the man always said, “The only thing we overlook is the Harbor.”

Onward.

Smoked Yellowfin Tuna Dip

1 lb Smoked Yellowfin tuna loin, finely chopped

2 Tbl Creole Seasoning 

2 tsp Black Pepper

3/4 cup Hellman’s Mayonnaise 

Mix thoroughly and serve with saltines (and a few dashes of hot sauce)

(Robert St. John is a chef, restaurateur and published cookbook author who lives in Hattiesburg, Miss.)

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If you are a candidate running for political office, you can get out your word in Webster Parish Journal.

All candidates running for office in the upcoming October 14 election will receive one free announcement with photo.

Email your announcement and photo to wpjnewsla@gmail.com . We also having political advertising available, and one of our advertising staff will be in touch with you. Let us give you a hand at websterparishjournal.com .

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

August 17

4 until 7 p.m. Minden Medical Center Job Fair, MMC HR Education Building, 729 Main St., Minden.

August 21

Competitive Soccer League begins at Minden Rec Center. Includes 3 practices a week, 2 tournaments and regular league games.

August 26

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

Sept. 1

Webster 4-H enrollment begins.

Response cards and checks to be mailed to Dorcheat Museum for annual fundraiser to be held Sept. 11.

Sept. 2

Last day for fall soccer registration at the Minden Rec Center.

Sept. 8

Last day to drop off checks at Dorcheat Historical Museum for annual fundraiser to be held Sept. 11.

Sept. 9

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

Football season at Minden Rec Center begins and runs through November 4.

Sept. 11

6 until 8 p.m. Dorcheat Historical Museum annual fundraiser. Dress like your favorite movie or TV character. $25/ per person.

Sept. 15

Webster High School Homecoming

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

Youth Basketball registration begins and runs through December 1 at Minden Rec Center.

Oct. 7

8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. “Day of Worship for Women, North Acres Baptist Church, 1852 Lewisville Rd., Minden. Cost is $25 and space is limited.

Kathy Nelson with Speak It Ministries will be the speaker and Serena Gray will be leading worship. Register by contacting Janice Nelson at or 318-393-1990

or calling the church 318-377-4315. Childcare provided, lunch included.

Oct. 12

6 p.m. Seeds Women’s Center annual Fundraising Banquet. Dinner at program. Minden Civic Center. For tickets, call 318-639-0907.

Oct. 14

11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Minden Makers Fair. Accepting vendor applications, demonstrations and volunteers. https://www.mindenmakersfair.com/vendorregistration.

Oct. 24

6:30 p.m. 15 Under 40 Awards Gala, Minden Civic Center.

Oct. 26

4:30 p.m. Ghostly Gathering Trunk or Treat, Mack Memorial Library, Springhill, La.

Oct. 28

6 until 9 p.m. Minden Rec Annual Fall Festival.

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Jenny was a book worm who craved an education.  Jenny’s father sent her and her sister, Cassandra, to school in Oxford, England, but both girls returned home after being diagnosed with typhus.  Several times throughout her sickness, Jenny was on the cusp of death.  Following their slow recovery, Jenny and Cassandra attended a boarding school for only a few months, after which the fees became too expensive for Jenny’s father to continue to afford.  Thus ended Jenny’s formal education, but not her self-education.

Jenny had access to a large variety of books in her father’s personal library.  Jenny also began reading books from the extensive personal library of a family friend.  Jenny and her other siblings staged plays for family and friends based on the books Jenny had read.  Her ever-supportive father provided Jenny and her sister with expensive paper and other materials for writing and drawing.  By the time she was 12, Jenny was writing poems, short stories, and plays to amuse her family and friends.  In seven years, Jenny had produced twenty-nine works made up of over 90,000 words she kept in three bound notebooks called “Volume the First,” “Volume the Second,” and “Volume the Third.”  Contained in those pages was a satirical novel Jenny titled “Love and Freindship.”  Whether 12-year-old Jenny intentionally misspelled friendship remains a mystery. 

Around the time she wrote “Love and Freindship,” Jenny decided that she wanted to become a published author and earn money from her writing.  She continued to write voraciously and, when she was 20 years old, Jenny began to write a novel she called “First Impressions.”  She wrote a few pages, then read them aloud to her family.  She had done this with other works, but they were more receptive to “First Impressions” than with any of her other work.  Everyone in the room was silent when she read.  They wanted to hear every syllable.  At the end of every reading, they pressed Jenny to find out what was going to happen next.  “First Impressions” became a family favorite.  Jenny’s father wrote to Thomas Cadell, a publisher in London, to see if he would publish the book, but Cadell declined.

Jenny continued to write, and a publisher finally agreed to publish one of her books “on commission.”  In this case, the publisher paid for the cost of printing the books along with advertisements.  The author earned money only after the publisher was repaid for the cost of printing the books, then the publisher withheld a 10% commission on every book sold.  If the books failed to sell enough copies to cover the cost of printing, the author was responsible for the remainder.  Luckily for Jenny, the book quickly sold out.  The publisher printed more, and they sold out as well. 

Jenny tried again to publish “First Impressions.”  Publishers were still cautious about publishing Jenny’s work, and Jenny was hesitant to publish another book on commission.  Everyone wondered if the success of her first book was just a fluke.  Finally, Jenny sold the copyright to “First Impressions” for what amounted to a little less than $10,000 in today’s money.  The book was an instant hit and the first printing quickly sold out.  A second edition sold out within six months.  A third edition sold out as well.   

“First Impressions” still sells well.  It has been published in numerous languages, and has been adapted for television, and films.  To date, the book has sold more than 20 million copies, and has become one of the most beloved novels in English literature.  Of course, it took time for “First Impressions” to sell that many copies.  It took more than 200 years.  This novel by Jenny was first published in 1811.  Jenny was the childhood nickname of Jane Austen.  “First Impressions” was the original title of “Pride and Prejudice.”

Sources:

1.      “Jane Austen’s House | the Most Treasured Austen Site in the World.” Janeaustens.house. https://janeaustens.house/.

2.     “First Impressions | Digital Austen.” Digitalausten.org, digitalausten.org/node/34.

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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. 

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Now that I’m in my early 60’s, I’ve often wondered what kind of person I would have become without the people who mentored me, the people who influenced my thoughts and the things I believe in. I am a believer that each of us has a destiny that only the Big Man above knows who we will become. Everyday growing up we were exposed to people around us like teachers, coaches, preachers, aunts, uncles, family friends and more importantly, our parents. 

 For me personally, each of the above had a big impact on me in so many ways, but my coaches probably had the biggest impact because I was around them more than anyone else. During my generation, coaches were tough and, in most cases, feared. You respected them because they demanded respect. They taught you what it meant to commit to a task and complete that task. They taught mental toughness and how to overcome what the mind was telling the body when the going got tough.

 They taught the concept of being a team player and how to work together to conquer an opponent. Team building, as they called it, was a crucial ingredient in the recipe for team success. No one was bigger or better than the team itself. If you thought you were special, my coaches had a way of bringing you back down to earth. How did they do it you ask? Well, a few examples would be 100 yard bear crawls or barrel rolls, up downs for what seemed like hours but was only for a few minutes, or maybe they just ran you until you either threw up or just couldn’t go any further. They pushed you to limits you thought you could not achieve. Today, the ways my coaches got your full attention would be called child abuse and would not be tolerated. More than likely, you’d end up in court dealing with a lawsuit.

 Even though my days of competing on the football and baseball fields are long gone, fishing bass tournaments has replaced that competitive fire that I still have. Over the years and now into my early 60’s, my mindset has changed. No longer do I pre-fish from daylight till dark five days straight before an event. I’m just not that mad at the fish anymore and my competitive fire is not as strong as it used to be.

Today, you have to fish smarter not harder and utilize your time on the water more effectively. With today’s high-tech electronics that bass boats possess, it has made searching for bass a lot easier. We used to spend all day casting to find fish, but now all we must do is idle around looking at a screen in order to mark and locate schools of bass.

There a few other things you can do to help prepare for an event like having good line on each reel and making sure your hooks are sharp. Another thing that can help give you a slight advantage, adding your favorite scent to every bag of worms can sometimes make a difference in the number of bites you get in a day. Does it really work? As any professional angler would tell you…if YOU believe it works and gives you more confidence, use it!  

 To wrap this up, don’t mistake my lower level of commitment to a form of weakness. My desire to win still burns and it hurts just as bad today to lose as it did twenty years ago. All anglers play armchair quarterback on the drive home and question what they could have done differently that might have resulted in a higher place of finish. No one plays devils advocate more than bass fishermen!

Tournament bass fishing is not so much about what bait or color you’re throwing, it’s about the decisions you make on tournament day. Making the right move to a different location at the right time is the difference in catching fish or not. TIMING IN BASS FISHING IS EVERYTHING! The anglers that make the right moves at the right time, are usually cashing a check.

 Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure you wear sun protective clothing and sunscreen. Melanoma is the number one killer of all the cancers and it’s one that can be prevented.

Steve Graf

Angler’s Perspective

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The following arrests were made by local law enforcement agencies. Minden Police Department (MPD), Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office (WPSO), Louisiana State Police (LSP) and others which are named.

Aug. 5

Brian Sims of Minden was arrested by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office for disturbing the peace. 

Aug. 13

Claiborne Andrew Pannell, 63, of Gilmer, Texas, was arrested by WPSO for unauthorized entry of a place of business and resisting an officer.

Aug. 14

Manee J. Ahner, 37, of the 400 block of S. Railroad Ave., Sibley, was arrested because of probation revocation.

Lemario D. Harris, 34, of the 1800 block of Memphis St., Homer, was sentenced to  one year at hard labor, Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center for violating a prior possession of Schedule II charge.

Jerry Miller, 65, of the 300 block of Lee St., Minden, was arrested by MPD on possession of 2 crack pipes and on 3 active warrants.

Bobby Joe Allen, 62, of Sarepta, was arrested by Springhill police on active warrants for expired driver’s license and failure to signal.

Marvin Troy Muhammad, 53, of Shreveport, was arrested by Cotton Valley Police for 2 warrants out of Caddo Parish, suspension and speeding.

Timothy E. Arrington, 37, of the 400 block of Fort St., Minden, was arrested in Bienville Parish on an outstanding warrant through Dixie Inn Police Department for felony theft. He was transported from Bienville Parish Jail to BDCC.

Aug. 15

Jamie Sayers, 44, of the 100 block of Harrison Rd., Sarepta, was arrested for a probation violation.

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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Margaret Bullard Kratzer

Sept. 9, 1948 – August 14, 2023

Minden, La.

Visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden.

Funeral service: Noon until 1:15  p.m. following visitation.

Burial: Gardens of Memory

Alice Peckham Thomason

Sept. 8, 1927 – August 4, 2023

Minden, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, August 25, 2023, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.

Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday, August 26, 2023, Calvary Church, Mangham, La.

Burial: 11:15 Saturday, Calvary (Hewitt) Church Cemetery, Mangham, La.

Patsy Ruth Scarborough Young

April 4, 1938 – August 14, 2023

Homer, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday, August 17, 2023, rose-Neath Funeral Home, Homer, La.

Funeral services: 10 a.m. Friday, August 18, 2023, Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Homer.

Burial: Hurricane Cemetery in Hurricane Community.

Gregory Eugene McCluskey

July 16, 1963 – August 7, 2023

Sarepta, La.

Graveside service: 2 p.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, Old Sarepta Cemetery, Sarepta.

Thomas “Tommy” C. Stokes Jr.

Oct. 26, 1939 – July 20, 2023

Sibley, La.

Celebration of Life: 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, Stokes Residence, 484 Leachman Rd., Sibley, La. 71073

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

City of Minden Animal Shelter is still on track for a facelift.

In a workshop last week, Mayor Nick Cox and Building Official Brent Cooley told councilpersons that Minden still has a portion of a $75,000 state grant received during late mayor Terry Gardner’s administration.

“We’ve spent about half of that,” said Cooley. “The grant was supposed to be used by June of last year, but we got it extended. We have roughly $38,000 sitting there to be spent for development at the animal shelter.”

Cooley said the first portion of the grant was spent for clearing and major repairs to the incinerator.

“We built new gates in the front and new gates coming on the back side,” he said.

Cox said the city has requested certain things from the state that include more than $30,000 additional for the animal shelter.

“So we have about $70,000 to go toward a $350,000 project,” Cox said. “We also have our ARPA funds (American Rescue Plan Act), that we have to allocate by the end of 2024.”

City of Minden received a total of $4.2 million of ARPA over two payments.

The mayor said he has designated a certain amount of that money for the shelter renovation.

“We are doing good going toward our goal; we’ve got about 20 percent of it,” the mayor said. “I think the best chance we have of getting donations to meet that goal is to move forward on the project.”

“The development and design work have been done,” Cooley said. “That was $10,000 to the architects to design the project. They’re on the hook to meet with us through the project, getting all the approvals.”

The $350,000 estimate is based on the square footage of the project, however, construction costs are unstable at best and the estimate is from 2022. Cox said the plans were ready in early 2023, and that amount accompanied the plans.

“But we really don’t have a clue what it’s going to cost,” Cooley said.

The original plan was to build a new shelter on other city property. The former council did not approve that idea, but instead, the money was to be used to renovate the shelter on Dianne Street. Drainage and storage have been huge problems at that location.

“The animal shelter isn’t going to get any better on its own, and if you’ve ever been down there, it’s pretty rough,” Cox said. “It’s time to do something.”

Ashley McVey, a professor at LSUS and often fosters dogs from Minden’s animal shelter, was present at a council workshop last year.

“I have connections that can help them raise donations,” McVey said at that meeting. “All the rescue people I know locally – Shreveport, Bossier, Minden, DeSoto – all have ties to this huge, incredible national network that helps fund projects like this one.”

District D Councilman Michael Roy said there is a lot of support for the shelter.

“She (McVey) talks very highly, but she’s not going to do anything until we can send her some finalized plans that we are set with,” said Roy. “She’s done a lot of projects, and I talked to some of the others like the humane association. They’re willing to help with drumming up donations.

“We just have to take it to the public and say this is what we are planning to do,” he continued. “I think the shelter has been neglected far too long.”

Cooley added. “Nobody is going to donate to the project until they see the project is happening.”

Send donations to City of Minden, 520 Broadway, Minden, LA 71055 or City of Minden, P. O. Box 580, Minden, LA 71058-0580.

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By Paige Nash

The water quality in Springhill has been a hot topic for many residents for quite some time. Many have expressed concern with the color, smell and pressure of the water over many months. However, the main concern for Ken Terry, the Compliance Manager for the Louisiana Rural Water Association, was not necessarily the quality but the sustainability of the entire system.  

Terry met with the Springhill City Council last Wednesday, August 9, to discuss those concerns.  

According to the Louisiana Department of Health’s latest water grade, Springhill Water System received a “C.” 

“With the grading system, it’s not so much about water quality,” said Terry. “It’s about sustainability. It’s more about whether we are going to be able to keep this thing going.” 

According to Terry the city is lacking funds on top of already “extremely high” debt. 

“One thing you have to keep in mind is that the state is not going to allow you to keep working in the red. You do not want to know the repercussions of that,” said Terry. “All the money you have in water and sewer has to start staying in water and sewer.” 

As far as current statistics go, the City of Springhill has approximately 2,300 water paying customers. Residential customers are paying a $23.46 flat rate for up to 2,000 gallons. After customer hits that 2,000 mark, they are charged 5.50 per 1,000 gallons after the minimum is reached. Commercial consumers pay a flat rate of $30.60 at a minimum of 2,000 gallons and are charged $6.50 for every 1,000 gallons after that. For out of city customers the flat rate is currently $40.80 at a minimum of 2,000 and 6.50 per 1,000 gallons after that.  

Of all water paying customers, the Louisiana Rural Water Association estimates that the city is experiencing a 37 percent loss in gallons of water due to flushes, leaks and water protection but mostly due to faulty and out-dated meters. 

According to Terry, the City of Springhill is producing $1 million at their current rate with $1.3 million in expenses.  

“To put in real simple terms, for every dollar you are putting out in your water system, you are bringing in .79 cents,” said Terry. “To apply and be eligible for grants, for every dollar you put out, you need to bring in $1.15.” 

One recommendation made by Terry was to raise the residential flat rate to $30 per 1,000 gallons and charge 7.25 for every 1,000 gallons after that. For commercial consumers, raise the flat rate to $60 per 1,000 gallons and charge $10 per 1,000 gallons after the first 1,000. For residents outside of the city limits, the flat rate decreased to $40 per 1,000 gallons and charged $8 per 1,000 gallons after that.  

Another recommendation made was to begin enforcing a consumer price index (CPI) increase every year. CPI is the average change in prices over time in prices paid for urban consumers for goods and services. This usually equals a 2.5 to 3 percent raise per year.  

City of Springhill Mayor Ray Huddleston suggested introducing an ordinance to enforce the CPI increase in the future at Monday’s City Council meeting.  

No other decisions regarding the rate increases have been made at this time.  

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By Chris Plants

It’s time for Families of Courage once more. It’s tonight, so spread the word. We did two of these last year, once in August and then in December. Last August we had more than 500 people and many men were saved. 

It’s going to be at the Minden Civic Center starting at 5:30. Trey and Keli Waller from Living Word in Minden will be the guest speakers. 

So, please remind everyone at your churches about FAMILIES OF COURAGE THIS TUESDAY NIGHT! FREE CHICKEN DINNER, FREE SNOW CONES, FREE COTTON CANDY, FREE BIBLES, FREE DOOR PRIZES, FREE CHRISTIAN MUSIC AND FELLOWSHIP AND WORSHIP WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY!

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By Josh Beavers

Academy Park played host to the 8^th annual Prayer in the Park Saturday morning in Minden. 

The tree canopy kept the scene cool as prayers were said for the new school year and spectators were greeted by a message from Mrs. Oreata Banks of the Webster Parish school system. 

Mrs. Banks spoke to the crowd about ways teachers are working to educate the whole child and encourage students to reach their full potential in loving and nurturing school houses.  

The event is a gathering for the community to pray for the city, law enforcement, school system, and more. Representatives from the City, Minden Police Department, as well as the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office and Webster Parish school system were present.

The event is organized annually by Michael and Quella Walker.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A Taylor, Ark. man is in a Webster Parish Jail on multiple charges, including cruelty to a juvenile.

Joseph Umphries, 39, from Hwy. 53, Taylor, was arrested by Springhill police for open container, resisting by flight and cruelty to juveniles.

Springhill Police Chief Will Lynd said around 8 p.m. Saturday Sgt. Dilorenzo was dispatched to Cash Magic Casino for a call concerning a juvenile.

“When he arrived at Cash Magic Casino, he located a 5-year-old child with a Cash Magic employee,” said Lynd. “The employee stated the father left his child inside of the car and went inside to gamble.”

When the father, later identified as Umphries, exited the casino he allegedly drove away without checking to see if the child was still in the vehicle.

“The employee also stated she saw the child walking up to random vehicles and appeared to be frightened,” said the chief. “When she approached the child, he told her ‘my daddy left me here.’”

Emergency Medical Services was called to check out the juvenile, and while awaiting EMS, the sergeant said he noticed Umphries’ vehicle driving south on Hwy. 371.

“Sgt. Dilorenzo followed the suspect’s vehicle and attempted a stop,” Lynd said. “The driver refused to stop and made a left-hand turn on Forrest Street where he continued to slow roll through an intersection.”

Once the vehicle came to a stop, Dilorenzo and Off. H. Boyle took the suspect into custody without incident.

“A thorough search of the vehicle was conducted,” said the chief. “They located a large foam cup filled with an alcoholic beverage.”

Umphries was booked at the Springhill Police Department and transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. There was no additional information concerning the child.

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 Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Police have arrested a local man for fighting and stabbing a victim.

Shavenskie Demond Ferrell, 42, of the 600 block of Horton St., Minden, is charged with aggravated second degree battery.

Police Chief Jared McIver said the victim allegedly arrived at the Horton Street address to return a key and a fight ensued.

“Ferrell threw the victim out of the home, but the victim used his key to try and unlock the door,” McIver said. “Ferrell opened the door brandishing a kitchen knife.”

The chief said during the ensuing fight, Ferrell stabbed the victim 3 times with 2 separate knives.

“It is believed Ferrell retrieved the second knife, a silver pocket knife from his waistband while on the ground,” McIver said. “Ferrell made no attempt to disengage or call for authorities prior to arming himself before opening the door.”

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 Bonnie Culverhouse

A local pair is behind bars after entering a residence without the owner’s permission.

Alanna Nichole Stiles, 20, of the 100 block of NE 2 Ave., Sibley and Hayden Gregory Williams, 24, of the 100 block of Trails Road, Minden, were arrested by Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies and charged with criminal trespass, theft and resisting an officer.

Williams has an additional charge of aggravated assault.

Sheriff Jason Parker said his deputies Sgt. Allen, Lt. Wimberly and Chief Deputy Hank Haynes were dispatched around 10 a.m. Wednesday when a Haynes Road property owner observed the pair entering the residence and stealing multiple items.

“When the homeowner attempted to stop Stiles and Williams, both subjects got into a Chevy pick-up truck and attempted to leave the residence,” Parker said. “While leaving, Williams, who was driving the truck, attempted to run over the female homeowner.”

Both subjects reportedly attempted to conceal themselves from law enforcement but were taken into custody.

“While in custody, Stiles struck her head on a patrol unit window multiple times,” said the sheriff. “A charge to Stiles for that was added once both were at BDCC (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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I sent my oldest daughter to school Friday. Senior year. Last time of first times. 

I’ve been saying that I am feeling emotions I didn’t know even existed. That’s true. 

I didn’t realize what was going on. Not really. She’s my first born and even knowing senior year was soon, I just didn’t really “get it” until now. Parenting is a journey that unfolds in the blink of an eye. From the moment I held her tiny hand when she was born, soothing her cries after she was thrust into this cold and bright world, I’ve watch her grow and change. She left behind a trail of memories, not always beautiful, and helped me grow as a human being. 

Now I come to this bittersweet symphony of senior year. Throughout their high school years, my Lorelai and her friends have grown into remarkable young individuals. They have faced tough times head-on: teacher turnover in junior high, COVID, bickering and reaching resolutions among them. They have forged lasting friendships and discovered their passions.  

I now realize I have had the privilege of witnessing their growth and evolution. This year will undoubtedly be a rollercoaster of emotions, a celebration of achievements, and the inevitable trepidation of the challenges soon to arise. 

I just have to have faith in the foundation we have laid and trust that she is equipped with the skills and resilience to embrace the future with confidence.

And when the day comes for her to graduate, to walk the field and into the next chapter of her life, I want to remind her, as I’m sure all of you in the same boat as me do with your own kids, that she will always have a place to call home, a safe haven to return to whenever the seas grow too rough and she needs our love to forever be a guiding light.

(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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Special thanks to Tracy Campbell for sharing this recipe. Like he says “This recipe is TCW volume 2 worthy!

Ingredients:

• Thin spaghetti
• Olive oil
• Your favorite link sausage (I used Conecuh)
• Dale’s Seasoning
• Tiger Sauce
• Shrimp, peeled
• Cavender’s Greek seasoning
• Minced garlic
• Butter
• Black pepper

Tracy’s directions:

Boil thin spaghetti in a MAGNALITE pot (a Louisiana cook’s best friend).  Add a splash of olive oil to the water.  When done, drain noodles and set aside.

In a CAST IRON SKILLET (nothing else will do!) slice, season and sauté your favorite link sausage (we love Bellevue, Wild Thingz, Down Home or Conecuh).  Add a little Dale’s Seasoning and Tiger Sauce before it’s ready.  Set sausage aside.

Sauté peeled shrimp in butter/olive oil.  I like to season my shrimp with Rick’s Salt or Cavender’s Greek Seasoning.  Add a little minced garlic.  Add a little Dale’s and Tiger Sauce before shrimp is ready.  Stir.  Set shrimp aside.

Keep cast iron skillet hot and add a little more butter and olive oil.  Dump noodles in skillet and stir.  Add more Dale’s and Tiger Sauce and keep stirring.  I’m a pepper fan so I usually add black pepper.  Stir for about 2 minutes until noodles are light brown and look good.

Add sausage and shrimp back to top of noodles, stir and serve straight from the skillet.

Serve with bread of choice.

(Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.)

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

August 17

4 until 7 p.m. Minden Medical Center Job Fair, MMC HR Education Building, 729 Main St., Minden.

August 21

Competitive Soccer League begins at Minden Rec Center. Includes 3 practices a week, 2 tournaments and regular league games.

August 26

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

Sept. 1

Webster 4-H enrollment begins.

Response cards and checks to be mailed to Dorcheat Museum for annual fundraiser to be held Sept. 11.

Sept. 2

Last day for fall soccer registration at the Minden Rec Center.

Sept. 8

Last day to drop off checks at Dorcheat Historical Museum for annual fundraiser to be held Sept. 11.

Sept. 9

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

Football season at Minden Rec Center begins and runs through November 4.

Sept. 11

6 until 8 p.m. Dorcheat Historical Museum annual fundraiser. Dress like your favorite movie or TV character. $25/ per person.

Sept. 15

Webster High School Homecoming

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

Youth Basketball registration begins and runs through December 1 at Minden Rec Center.

Oct. 7

8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. “Day of Worship for Women, North Acres Baptist Church, 1852 Lewisville Rd., Minden. Cost is $25 and space is limited.

Kathy Nelson with Speak It Ministries will be the speaker and Serena Gray will be leading worship. Register by contacting Janice Nelson at or 318-393-1990

or calling the church 318-377-4315. Childcare provided, lunch included.

Oct. 12

6 p.m. Seeds Women’s Center annual Fundraising Banquet. Dinner at program. Minden Civic Center. For tickets, call 318-639-0907.

Oct. 14

11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Minden Makers Fair. Accepting vendor applications, demonstrations and volunteers. https://www.mindenmakersfair.com/vendorregistration.

Oct. 24

6:30 p.m. 15 Under 40 Awards Gala, Minden Civic Center.

Oct. 26

4:30 p.m. Ghostly Gathering Trunk or Treat, Mack Memorial Library, Springhill, La.

Oct. 28

6 until 9 p.m. Minden Rec Annual Fall Festival.

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United Christian Assistance Program has the following needs:
Food: Cereal, green beans, biscuit mix, rice
Clothing: Men’s shoes (9 and up), men’s socks and underwear
Household goods: towels, pots, pans & skillets

Monetary donations

Thank you for supporting UCAP!

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

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The following arrests were made by local law enforcement agencies. Minden Police Department (MPD), Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office (WPSO), Louisiana State Police (LSP) and others which are named.

Aug. 9

Jeremiah J. Richardson, 24, of Eason Lane, Dubberly, was arrested by WPSO for remaining after being forbidden.

Jamie Sayers, 44, of the 100 block of Harrison Rd., Sarepta, was arrested by Springhill Police for possession of Alprazolam.

Joshua T. McKay, 31, of the 400 block of East Rd., Cullen, was arrested by WPSO on three contempt of court charges.

Aug. 10

Victoria Lynn Wright, 61, Percy Burns Rd., Springhill, was arrested by WPSO on an active warrant for failure to appear in court.

Arkeciyah Ward, 21, of Marsalis Dr., Arcadia,  was arrested by WPSO on probation violation.

Brandy Kiera Jones, 25, of the 100 block of Sawmill Rd., Dubberly, was arrested by WPSO as a fugitive from Rusk County Sheriff’s Office.

Devon Rascoe, 19, no address given, ws arrested by MPD for remaining after forbidden and resisting an officer.

Andrew Gibbs, 42, of Audleman Rd., Doyline, was arrested for a probation violation.

Aug. 11

Hannah Nipper, 20, of Robertson Dr., Minden, was arrested by WPSO for resisting with force (kicking and attempting to bite deputy), felony criminal damage to property and the stolen vehicle she was driving when arrested.

Brittani N. Gill, 35, of Shell St., Minden, was arrested by WPSO for violating a protective order.

Aug. 12

Sten P. Weringer, 27, of the 100 block of Robertson Dr., Minden, was arrested by WPSO for speeding and a warrant for failure to appear in court.

Lisa M. Wiles, 49, of the 600 block of B. Hanson Dr., Doyline, was arrested by WPSO for domestic abuse battery.

Darren D. Grigsby, 52, of the 800 block of Park Hwy., Minden, was arrested by MPD for domestic abuse battery of a dating partner.

Aug. 13

Breauna L. White, 28, of the 1500 block of 7th ST. SE, Springhill, was arrested by Springhill police for possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Britiney Bird Whitaker, 33, of SE Railroad, Sibley, was arrested by Sibley police and WPSO for domestic abuse battery.

Bobby Ty Cooper, 62, of the 900 block of Durham Rhone, Cullen, was arrested by Cullen police for possession of synthetic marijuana with intent to distribute, no registration, no insurance and driving under the influence (of marijuana).

Schanice D. Luevavno, 31, of the 400 block of SE Railroad, Sibley, was arrested by Sibley police for domestic abuse battery, resisting arrest, driving while intoxicated (third offense) and open container.

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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Alice Peckham Thomason

Sept. 8, 1927 – August 4, 2023

Minden, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, August 25, 2023, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.

Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday, August 26, 2023, Calvary Church, Mangham, La.

Burial: 11:15 Saturday, Calvary (Hewitt) Church Cemetery, Mangham, La.

Gregory Eugene McCluskey

July 16, 1963 – August 7, 2023

Sarepta, La.

Graveside service: 2 p.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, Old Sarepta Cemetery, Sarepta.

Thomas “Tommy” C. Stokes Jr.

Oct. 26, 1939 – July 20, 2023

Sibley, La.

Celebration of Life: 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, Stokes Residence, 484 Leachman Rd., Sibley, La. 71073

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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