Webster Parish school system employees will see a nearly decade-long salary freeze lifted after school board members voted Monday to restore pay increase steps to eligible employees. Increases will be reflected in October paychecks.

Board members voted 10-1 to go ahead with the plan despite a negative review from Business Director Crevonne Odom. Odom questioned the strain an anticipated $1.5 million in additional cost the system-wide increases would put on an already tight budget.

“On the record, I cannot recommend (step increases) based on sound financial advice,” Odom told board members prior to the vote. Odom had outlined her views on the cost of the increase during a finance committee meeting prior to the board’s session.

Superintendent of Schools Johnny Rowland said Odom shouldn’t be criticized for her negative opinion based on budget considerations, saying she was “…only speaking professionally. She has personal feelings just like anyone else,” he added. “It’s the job she’s in.”

Board member Jerry Lott said while it’s never a good idea to not heed the advice of the finance director, it is important to take care of those employees who remained loyal during the freeze and stayed in Webster Parish.

“It puts us in a precarious position…but if we adopt an ultra-conservative attitude in the central office about how we spend and the issues that require the funds, we can make it work even though it will be tight,” he said.

 School Board members had been studying the feasibility of step increases for months, delaying votes pending a salary analysis conducted by Allen, Green & Williamson, LLP and further study by Odom and her staff.  

Salaries will roll forward for more than 260 eligible system employees, 182 of whom are teachers.

During Monday’s meeting, board members also approved a number of school projects funded from various maintenance and sales tax funds including:

• $9,400 to paint hallways and doors at Brown Upper Elementary School.

• $8,200 for repairs from storm damage at Lakeside Jr/Sr High School.

• $4,800 to remove underbrush around the campus at Shongaloo School.

• $4,002 to purchase 100 student chairs for Brown Upper Elementary School.

• $3,200 to repair water damaged sheetrock in hallway and ceilings at North Webster High School.

By Bonnie Culverhouse

Families of some prisoners at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center have been complaining there is lack of air conditioning at the facility.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker says air conditioning units in the four dorms at BDCC have been struggling to keep up with the hot weather this summer, but that’s not the only reason some of the units are down.

“We have four dorms at BDCC – A, B, C and D – that hold up to 100 prisoners per dorm,” Parker said. “Then we have two lockdown blocks that can hold up to three per cell.”

Total number of prisoners that can be held at BDCC is 444, however, as of August 6, there were 413 incarcerated there.

The facility was opened under Sheriff Ted Riser, who was in office from 1996 until 2004. Each dorm has a 20-ton air conditioner.

“C and D dorms are completely repaired and operational,” Parker said, of the a/c units. “A and B dorms … we have capacitors in to replace the ones that were damaged, and by the end of the week, we should have those fully functional.”

When the units are down, Parker said each dorm has multiple large “shop” fans circulating the air.

“Louisiana is not required by law to air condition prisons,” said the sheriff. “We do have to administer circulating air, and we have those big fans. Each dorm had ice coolers with ice and water, anything they needed to keep them cool.”

There are laundry units at BDCC, however, one of the issues causing a/c units to fail is connected to laundry.

“The inmates wash their clothes in the sink and then hang them over the return air vents to dry, and that causes damage to the capacitors,” Parker said. “We have let them know that if they are caught hanging anything on those return air vents, they could possibly receive charges for criminal damage to property and be liable for the cost of the damaged capacitor. Those are $8,000 a pop.”

Parker said his department wants the offenders to be comfortable and said he feels like the other inmates will police each other to ensure the units continue to run.

One year ago, it was reported that Louisiana Legislators haven’t appropriated the money to air condition all prison living areas – a project that could cost from $28 million to $60 million. A first step was taken in the 2022 legislative session with a $550,000 Capital Outlay appropriation that can be used to borrow around $2 million.

Day One of Qualifying for the October 14 Gubernatorial Primary Election concluded with a number of candidates signing up to run.

Locally, State Representative District 10 has one candidate, incumbent Wayne McMahen, and Adam Bass is running for State Senate District 36.

Locally, current Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker has qualified to run for re-election. By closing Tuesday, he had no competition.

Webster Parish Clerk of Court and Assessor incumbents have qualified – Holli Vining and Denise Edwards respectively. They have no challengers by the end of Day One.

Qualifying for Webster Parish Coroner is Allen Mosley.

So far, Webster Parish Police Jury candidates are as follows;

District 1: Incumbent Bruce Blanton.

District 2: No one.

District 3: No one.

District 4: Incumbent Randy Thomas.

District 5: Mike Griffith who is currently filling that seat following the death of Bernard Hudson. He is challenged by George Rice.

District 6: Incumbent Jim Bonsall.

District 7: Incumbent Steve Lemmons.

District 8: No one.

District 9: Beverly Kennon.

District 10: Johnnye Kennon and Darrell Morris have qualified for that seat.

District 11: Incumbent Steve Ramsey.

District 12: Adam Lee.

No one has qualified for Justice of the Peace District 3 (one to be elected), Constable Justice of the Peace District 3 (one to be elected) or Town of Cullen Alderman (one to be elected).

To see qualifiers for state-wide elections, visit https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/candidateinquiry .

Filing closes at end of day Thursday, August 10. Information is unofficial until then.

James D. Madden, 85, of Minden, Louisiana was born January 13, 1938, in Heflin, Louisiana and left this earthly life for his heavenly home August 7, 2023, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was an active member of First Methodist Church in Minden and owner of Madden Contracting Company.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Grady and Johnye Mae Madden, daughter Sarah Margaret Madden Willis, and great grandson Huck Hurley.

He is survived by his wife, Lyda Madden of Minden; sons, Doug Madden, David Madden and John Madden all of Minden; grandchildren, Ashley Rowton, Erin Ramsey, Matthew Madden, Will Madden, Caroline Rodrigues, Levi Madden, Jake Madden, Bailee Hurley, Savannah Aday, and Catherine Simonton, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Services celebrating the life of James will be held Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at First Methodist Church in Minden, Louisiana with Rev. Steve Berger and Rev. Brian Mercer officiating. Interment will follow at Gardens of Memory in Minden, Louisiana. The family will receive friends Friday, August 11, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at First Methodist Church in Minden.

A few weeks ago, I wrote that 2023 will go down as the summer of watermelon. I mentioned how I like to put salt on watermelon. I put salt on a lot of atypical things. Many times, it’s on sweet things. There have been a lot of sweet things in my life lately as we just opened a bakery last week. One of the daily offerings is a pecan sticky bun. Most know that delicious pastry as brioche dough, wrapped in cinnamon, and cooked in a muffin tin with caramel and pecans in the bottom of the tin. Once removed from the oven it is flipped and the caramel topping drips down the sides of the sweet roll along with a few of the pecans. This particular pastry needs no further adornment. But I like the pairing of salty and sweet. I sprinkle a little bit of salt as I believe it enhances the flavor substantially.

I grew up eating a grocery store product from the refrigerator case called Caramel Danish Sweet Rolls. The Pillsbury company made these things, and they came in a whop-them-on-the-counter container with a crumbly mix of brown sugar and pecans tucked inside. After you whopped the sweet rolls on the counter you spread the bottom of a cake pan or muffin tins with butter, crumbled the sugar and pecans on top of the butter in the muffin tins, and then placed the sweet rolls on top of that mixture. After baking, it required the same practice we do at the bakery— flipping the pan over and watching all the gooey caramel drip down the sides. As a kid I added more butter and a little bit of salt to those store-bought sweet rolls. It’s obviously practices such as those that explain my current girth, but that’s a story for another day.

There are several odd combinations of foodstuffs that I like. I dip Pringles potato chips into applesauce. That freaks a lot of people out because applesauce was never meant as a dip for chips. But don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. It’s good. I know Pringles aren’t legit potato chips so save the e-mails. But in this application, they are the best chip for the job.

I also sprinkle a little bit of salt on my buttered pancakes. Again, it enhances the flavor substantially.

At the movie theater I like to take a couple of kernels of popcorn and add a Milk Dud in my mouth at the same time. That is one of the ultimate salty and sweet combinations. Those two items pair perfectly. Probably the longest running odd pairing in my life are mashed potatoes and English peas. There’s nothing strange about those two very common vegetable side dishes when they are next to each other on a plate. But I make a nest out of the mashed potatoes and place my English peas in the center.

My father died when I was very young, and I don’t remember much about him. But I know that he ate his mashed potatoes and English peas that way. His mother, my grandmother, prepared them for him like that. It must have been something I saw him do when I was a very small child. The problem these days is that no one in my family likes English peas. If I’m going to have that combination— in which I love so dearly— I’m going to be the only one in my family who eats it. My wife, daughter, and son are all devout mashed potato eaters, but they don’t want to have anything to do with English peas.

This past spring peas were plentiful in Tuscany. I was working over there and 2023 was a banner year for peas in the region. A favorite Tuscan restaurant is owned by my friend Paulo, who always serves mashed potatoes for lunch. It’s not common food one typically finds over there but he has them almost every day to be served alongside his peposo. This year he also had a surplus of peas. Fresh peas. On my days off, my wife and I would go to lunch and my typical order of a simple pasta and calamari changed to nothing more than mashed potatoes and English peas. No protein. No pasta. No other side item. No dessert. Just potatoes and peas.

A new reader to this column would scoff at the fact that someone is over in Italy and wasting a meal on potatoes and peas. Actually, several meal periods over the course of the spring. But I spend around 90 days a year working over there and eat Italian food almost exclusively. I’m fine with deviating from the pasta thing occasionally.

I’m not one of these guys who puts ketchup on his eggs or mayonnaise on my bananas. But I do put ketchup butter beans. It’s another thing I’ve done since I was a kid. I’m sure someone else in my family started it and I followed. I think I’ll blame my brother for that one.

Speaking of my brother, he is a fanatic about eating peanut butter crackers with gumbo. I don’t think I have ever seen him eat gumbo without having several peanut butter crackers on the side. Our mother made great gumbo, but I don’t think he would eat it unless there were some saltines and a jar of Jif nearby.

He and I drank milk at every meal. When I say, “every meal,” I’m not saying we did it occasionally. We literally drank milk at every meal. It didn’t matter if we were eating pizza, meatloaf, or steak. We drank milk. He and I went through a gallon a day. A half-gallon at breakfast and a half-gallon at supper. If school was out for the summer, we went through a half-gallon at lunch as well. I didn’t drink my first glass of iced tea until I was 18 years old.

Food is subjective. Everyone has specific likes and dislikes. What appeals to one might not appeal to another. I am of the mind that I want people to be happy. If putting salt on your sweet roll makes you happy, go for it. Who am I to judge.

You be you, especially at the dinner table.

Onward.

Mashed Potatoes

3 lbs  Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters

2 Tbl. Salt

1 gallon Water

1 /2 cup Butter, cold

8 ounces Cream cheese, softened

1 cup Half and half, hot

1 1 /2 tsp. Salt

1 tsp Black pepper

In a large saucepot add potatoes and salted water. Cook at a low simmer to avoid potatoes breaking apart. When the potatoes are tender, carefully drain. Return potatoes to dry pot and place over heat for one to two minutes to remove all moisture.

Place potatoes a mixing bowl. Using a hand-held potato masher, mash the potatoes. Add cold butter as you begin to mash. Next, add cream cheese and mix until melted. Stir in the half and half, salt and pepper. Potatoes may be covered tightly and held in warm place for one hour before serving. Yield: 10 servings

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

Sandra Marie Crockett Brown was born in Minden, LA on January 12, 1942, and passed away peacefully on August 6, 2023, surrounded by family.

Sandra, “Sansy” to many dear to her, was a beacon of beauty and artistry. She had a talent for creation and took great pleasure in art, color, and nature’s verdancy. As a born storyteller, she had a tale to fit any circumstance and saw humor in everyday events.

Sandra had an impeccable sense of style, always pairing the perfect outfit to the occasion, wherever in the world she might be. She loved to dance, especially with Edward, and they really could cut a rug. While she was petite, her fierce passion, especially when it came to her family, was evident. She could be deeply contemplative and had a wonderful capacity to curl up in just about any soft corner of the house, to read or reflect. She could often be found on a chaise on her glassed-in porch, overlooking the backyard and surrounded by art she had collected or created.

Books were ever-present in her life, as were memories about past events and family members gone yet ever close to her in heart and thought. Her father Howard, her sister Judy, her firstborn Marie Celeste—all taken so young—along with her mother Marie, accompanied her always. She spoke of them in ways that kept them close for others too.

During her school years, Sandra showcased her musical talents by playing the oboe and clarinet in the MHS band, in which she marched and then led as head majorette.

Upon graduation, she headed to LSU where she pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority before responding to the call of family to return to north Louisiana to pursue a degree in Art Education at Louisiana Tech.

In 1967, Sandra and Edward married and began their life together in south Louisiana, first in Thibodaux and then Breaux Bridge, before again being called home to Minden, where she and Edward raised their boys and cared for their nieces.

Sandra’s beauty was recognized early on when she was crowned Junior Miss Physical Culture, Minden High School Darling, and Miss Minden, a title that led her to represent Minden in the Miss Louisiana pageant. Later in life, her elegance graced the big screen with appearances in the Hollywood films “W.” and “The Guardian,” experiences she enjoyed giggling about.

Although Sandra relished her time on stage, her most significant contributions were shared outside the spotlight. She taught in the public school system, nurturing the creativity of countless students. Her artistic talent was also evident in her work with the First United Methodist Church Altar Guild, where her flower arrangements added beauty to bereavement services, meals, and activities. She was a proud member of the Book Club of Minden, and actively served in the Garden Club. Her creativity shone in her ability to craft sets and background art for the Junior Service League school productions.

Above all, Sandra’s generosity knew no bounds. She gave selflessly to loved ones, always putting others’ needs over her own.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard Perry Crockett and Marie Lites Crockett; her sister, Judy Crockett David; and her daughter, Marie Celeste Brown.

Sandra is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Dr. Edward Dewitt Brown, Jr.; sons, Benjamin Howard Brown, his wife Naran, and their son Reuben Edward of Chengdu, China, and Dr. David Alan Brown and his wife Kerry Micheal of Baton Rouge; nieces Lisa David Wright and her husband Crowley of Shreveport, Lori David Warren and her husband Jack of Heflin, Amy David Jones of Minden, and Polly David White and her husband Keith of Atlanta, GA.

She also leaves behind her sister-in-law Cora Lou Robinson and her children Jeff, Jon, and Courtney, as well as sister-in-law Mary Celeste Powers, her husband David, and their children Mark, David, Heather, and Jonathan. Additionally, she loved and was loved by many great-nieces and -nephews.

A celebration of Sandra’s life will be held on Friday, August 11, at 2:00 PM, at the First Methodist Church on Broadway in Minden. All who knew and loved her are invited to attend.

By Bonnie Culverhouse

K-9 Tigo and Minden Police arrested a local man last weekend on drug charges.

Jason Goodwin, 45, of the 1300 block of Elm Street, Minden, is charged with possession of crystal meth with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer.

Police Chief Jared McIver said Sgt. Chris Cayer was patrolling the area of Elm Street near Homer Road around 4 p.m. Sunday, when he noticed a blue Chevrolet Silverado operating with defective brake lights.

“Sgt. Cayer initiated a traffic stop with lights and siren, but the vehicle continued down Elm Street through the intersection of East Todd and Elm,” McIver said. “When it pulled into the private drive in the 1300 block of Elm Street, the driver immediately exited the vehicle and walked toward Sgt. Cayer’s patrol vehicle.”

McIver said Cayer conducted a frisk and removed a knife from his person.

“The driver, identified as Goodwin, was acting extremely nervous and told the officer he could not hear the sirens because his air conditioning was too loud,” said the chief.

Lt. Chris Hammontree and K-9 Tigo reportedly arrived on the scene and conducted an open air sniff.

“K-9 Tigo alerted on the vehicle, and when Sgt. Cayer went to conduct a vehicle search, Goodwin attempted to flee on foot,” said the chief. “He was unsuccessful and taken into custody.”

In a glasses’ case, officers located 6 grams of suspected methamphetamine in three individual baggies with a glass pipe.

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.

By Bonnie Culverhouse

A north Webster Parish man surrendered to Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies for indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of 13.

Saturday afternoon, Wayne David Knippers, 38, of the 200 block of Hwy. 2, Shongaloo, reportedly walked into the WPSO Criminal Investigative Division and asked to speak to an investigator concerning a Department of Child and Family Services’ report of sexual assault.

“Knipper confessed to touching his foster daughter inappropriately since 2017 when she was 11 years old,” said Sheriff Jason Parker. “He admitted the last time he touched her was August 2, 2023 while she was sleeping. He confessed to touching her in an inappropriate area and always over clothes.”

The sheriff said all incidents occurred inside Webster Parish. Knippers was charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of 13 and transported 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.

By Marilyn Miller

The Dorcheat Museum will celebrate its 16^th year of preserving Webster Parish history on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 from 6 to 8 p.m. “Lights, Camera, Action….and Auction” is the theme of this year’s fundraiser, which will take place at the museum complex at 116 Pearl Street in Downtown Minden.

“The theme of the evening will be movies and TV shows with characters we all have come to love,” said Jessica Stewart Gorman, museum director and archivist. “This will be a fun night to see some of your favorite character alter ego characters.”

“Let your imagination flow! Find that perfect outfit and come support the museum,” Gorman continued. “But be warned, if you come as a Louisiana character, all alligators will be checked at the door!

The highlight of the evening will be an auction of baked goods, which can be donated at the door or by calling 318-377-3002 for pick-up.

Two Minden “characters” – Richard “Dr. Feelgood” Campbell and Tracy “TLC Picker” Campbell – will serve as auctioneers for the event.

The cost of the event will be $25 in advance (response cards and checks are due Sept. 1) and $30 at the door on Sept. 11. Checks can also be dropped off at the museum until Friday, Sept. 8. Call 318-377-3002 to donate baked goods or for more information.

All event patrons will be entered for a chance to win a door prize. Refreshments will be served.

“To make an online donation, visit our website, www.dorcheatmuseum.com,” said Schelley Brown Francis,” museum director.

Officers and directors currently serving Dorcheat Museum are Mike Harper, President; Marcel Vandenoord, Vice-President; Janet LaBruyere, Treasurer; Lola Morgan Kidd, Recording Secretary; Schelley Brown Francis, Museum Director; Jessica Stewart Gorman as Museum Assistant Director and Archivist; directors Charlotte Martin, Richard Campbell, Becky Marvin, Kay Elzen, Jo McCullough, Mary Ann Hamilton, Lucy Adkins, Rachel Miller, Ki Williams, Sandy Wilkie, Bob Wilkie, Gary Haynes, Ronald Swafford, Scott McCullough, Melanie McCullough, Melissa Marvin Brown and Robert Denmon; Emeritus Board Members Louise Baird Snook, past President 2008 – 2022; Charlotte Jones 2015 – 2022, Ann Harlan, Past Recording Secretary 2007 – 2003, Cora Lou Robinson 2008 – 2022, Dianne McGuire 2015 – 2019; Carleton Prothro 2008 – 2017.

It’s ain’t easy being me these days. My little plastic phone has been ringing off the hook lately with interview requests because of the Barbie movie.

Being a Big Star takes its toll, even when you have plastic hair. Well … plastic EVERY thing.

Most of you know my story. Kenneth Sean “Ken” Carson, better known as The Ken Doll. “Created” in 1961 and still look like I could get a date to the prom, no prob. Sidekick of the inspirational, wonderful, and fetching Barbie. And yes, since you’re wondering and since I’m asked 847 times a day, in real life she’s exactly as she is in real fake life.

She’s a peach. A pink peach.

Lately, you can’t swing a cat or go by a water cooler without hearing talk of Barbie. Yes, I co-starred. Yes, they paid me a bunch of money. Yes, I wear a “I Am Ken(ough)” T-shirt sometimes — and I wear it well. Told I’m a scene-stealer — DUH! — but of course it’s Barbie, the blue-eyed stunner, who everyone is talking about. She’s the REAL Blonde Bomber. (Take a seat, Terry Bradshaw.)

The movie’s good — so I hear. Haven’t seen it. Don’t like looking at myself on screen. Don’t like people coming in late and talking on their cell phones like they’re in their den. Don’t like paying 35 bucks for popcorn.

Whatever happened to a good ol’ night at the movies?, now upended by the one or two oddballs who act as if they’re sitting on their couch in their underwear, entitled to be as loud and unsettling as they please with no regard to the other people around them who’ve dropped a 20 to enjoy a show in peace and cinematic quiet.

Looo-sers! Ken(ough) has had enough.

BUT, as someone who is actually in the movie, I can report that Barbie is a meaningful and unique piece of art that spends plenty of time poking fun at itself. Barbie and her friends offer up plenty of situations to spark meaningful conversations among modern moviegoers, both Barbies and Kens, and that the “feel” you get is that, while pink is her signature color, Barbie is not above learning that there’s enough pink to go around for everybody.

If you go to enjoy a stylistically modern movie that takes a worldly view of female empowerment and offers a pink convertible-full of nostalgia, you’ll enjoy it. If you go expecting The Ten Commandments or a fiery stance on toxic masculinity, you’ll likely be disappointed.

I’m a Ken wise enough to know already that women retired The Strongest Sex trophy decades ago. Don’t need a movie to tell me that. But who’s asking me, right?

So please, for fun, go see it. (I get a cut of ticket sales, after all.) Enjoy it for you and enjoy it for me. In the unique situation of being All-Kenned-Out, I’ll wait here, and next week I’ll tell you why in The True-Blue Confessions of a Redneck Ken Doll.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

By Josh Beavers

School is back in session later this week for Webster Parish schools. In order to celebrate bells ringing once again, the district held its annual Back to School Bash on Monday. 

This was the 15^th year the district has held the event, and it continues to grow with each edition. 

The event was held simultaneously in Minden and Springhill so all the parish had a chance to come out and get free school supplies and participate in raffles and other events to celebrate the new year. Webster Junior High and the Community Activities Center hosted the events. 

“As you can imagine, the cost of required school supplies and uniforms can be overwhelming, and many of our families depend on our assistance in preparing their children for the up-coming school year,” said Ursula Hullaby, coordinator of the annual event. “Our goal is to ensure that every student has what they need in order to focus on their academic success as they begin the 2023-24 school year.”

The Bash was preceded by the “Pack the Bus” event held last week. As part of “Pack the Bus” the community was able to donate school supplies or make donations to help parents offset the cost of starting the new year. 

“We sincerely appreciate your continued support in this much needed campaign to assist our students,” Hullaby said. “Our organization has been able to provide support to thousands of students over the past fourteen years and we could not do it without YOUR help!”

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

August 9

15 under 40 Nominations due at Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce.

1:30 p.m. City of Minden council workshop in the Pelican Conference Room, Minden City Hall. Items to be discussed include City of Minden 2023-2024 budget.

August 12

Football registration at Minden Rec Center ends.

9 a.m. Eighth Annual Prayer in the Park, Academy Park, Minden. Prayers offered for students and teachers, law enforcement, city government and the city as a whole.

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 .

6 p.m. Doors open for Piney Woods Jamboree, Second Anniversary Show, which begins at 7 p.m. with headliner Dawn Glass. CAC (Community Activity Center), 301 W. Church St., Springhill.

August 15

7:30 a.m., Ministers’ Breakfast, hosted by City of Minden. Discussing issues facing the city. Minden Community House, 711 Gladney St.

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.

6 p.m. Dorcheat Museum Annual Fundraiser Gala, 116 Pearl St., Minden.

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/ perversion.

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. 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 Truck or Treat, Mack Memorial Library, Springhill, La.

Oct. 28

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

By Brad Dison

In what we know as the technology age, many of us use slang and shortened version of words called acronyms on social media and in text messages.  Some claim that the abbreviations save time, while others, myself included, have to spend time searching online for possible meanings of acronyms such as BTAIM, ELI5, FOMO, and TBBH.  We almost have to be codebreakers to decipher the messages. Here are some of the more popular acronyms:

BRB – Be Right Back

BTW – By the Way

DYK – Do You Know or Did You Know

HBD – Happy Birthday

IDC – I Don’t Care

IDK – I Don’t Know

IMO – In My Opinion

JK – Just Kidding

LTB – Looking to Buy

LOL – Laugh Out Loud

OMG – Oh My God! or Oh My Gosh!

Using only acronyms, one person wrote the following:

“GAS 2U!

DQMOT, BSF IDK WCA 2TXT W/LOA. IYO, ITS EZ &PDQ… IDTS. IMHO, ARE =ADIH. TBH, FUBAR &2M2H. GIAR, PLZ! KISS.

.02

RX

If you received this message, would you be able to determine its meaning?  Here is a translation:

Greetings and Salutations to you!

Don’t quote me on this, but seriously folks I don’t know who cares anyway to text with lists of acronyms.  In your opinion, it’s easy and pretty darn quick… I don’t think so. In my humble opinion, an acronym-rich environment is another day in hell. To be honest. It’s *fouled* up beyond all recognition and too much to handle. Give it a rest, please! Keep it simple, stupid.

Just my two cents.

Regards,

Many acronyms were created for use with social media and texting in mind.  One of the most popular acronyms is OMG.  So popular is this acronym that it has entered the English and foreign languages as its own independent word.  It has entered our popular culture.  Television programs and films occasionally show youngish kids in the coolest clothes of the era saying something shocking followed by OMG!  When more emphasis is needed, they say Ooooooo Mmmmmmm Ggggggg!

Here is another letter which includes just one acronym:

“My Dear Friend,

I am here for a few days longer before rejoining my “Wise men” at Victory House— “The World forgetting, By the World Forgot!” but some Headlines in the newspapers have utterly upset me!  Terrible!!  The German Fleet to assist the Land operations in the Baltic.  Landing the German Army South of Reval.  We are five times stronger at Sea than our enemies and here is a small Fleet that we could gobble up in a few minutes playing the great vital Sea part of landing an Army in the enemies’ rear and probably capturing the Russian Capital by Sea!  This is “Holding the ring” with a vengeance!  Are we really incapable of a big Enterprise?  I heard that a new order of Knighthood is on the tapis—O.M.G. (Oh! My God!)—Shower it on the Admiralty!!

Yours,

Fisher

9/9/17.”

 The writer felt that the reader would probably not understand the acronym, so he defined it in parenthesis.  It was in this letter, dated September 9, 1917, that the first known usage of the acronym OMG appeared, well before what we know as the technological age, several decades before the invention of the internet, social media, and text messages.  The first person to receive an OMG was future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Source: “OMG! The First Time Someone Used the Phrase “OMG”!” HuffPost, 6 Aug. 2012,
www.huffpost.com/entry/first-known-use-of-omg-winston-churchill_n_1748042. Accessed 6 Aug. 2023.

By Laynie Arceneaux Smith

Webster Parish 4-H is gearing up for a brand new program year with Webster 4-H’ers. The calendar has been set, and there is plenty to get involved in, including four project clubs, various workshops, many contests, and regional and state events and camps.

Project clubs in Webster include Livestock, Shooting Sports, Celebrate Girls, and Junior Leaders. The livestock program is an educational program in which any 4-H member in grades 4-12 can participate. 4-H members will have an opportunity to exhibit beef, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, and dairy animals at four major shows and several small shows throughout Louisiana. 

The 4-H Shooting Sports program is aimed at teaching youth the safe handling of

firearms and good hunting ethics. We offer disciplines in archery, BB gun, hotgun, air pistol, hunting skills, and rifle. All youth wanting to compete will have to attend a minimum of 8 hours of training by our certified coaches and have successfully completed the Hunters Education course. The program is open to all 4-H youth, from beginners to the very experienced.

Celebrate Girls is for 4-H girls in grades 5-7 and is intended to give Webster parish girls a place to meet new friends, engage in hands on activities, and learn all about various topics from arts and crafts to cooking to agriculture. The 4-H Junior Leader Club is open to Webster 4-Hers in the 7th-12th grades. This project club is meant to provide members with an opportunity to learn the skills needed to become a leader while giving to the community and spending time with friends. Junior Leaders provide assistance with 4-H events and assume more challenging leadership roles at the local, parish, and state 4-H levels.

Webster 4-H will also be introducing a parish-wide Cloverbuds group this year that will meet once a month at The Farm of Cultural Crossroads beginning in November. Cloverbuds is intended for our 3 rd graders in the community that just can’t wait fast enough to get in on the 4-H fun! Cloverbud meetings will focus on art and are open to ANY 3 rd grader in Webster parish.

Other events and contests this year include the traditional holiday-themed contests, a pet show, a cooking camp, fashion and interior design workshop, floral and gardening workshop, summer camp for 4 th -6 th graders, Challenge and LOST camps for 7th and 8th graders, 4-H University for teens, and much more!

4-H is open to all Webster parish youth in grades 4 through12. 4-H students meet monthly at club meetings at their school. Home-schooled or virtual students may enroll directly through the office. Enrollment for the 2022-2023 program year opens on September 1, and school club meetings will kick off in September. Please contact the LSU AgCenter Extension office in Minden at 318-371-1371 with any questions about the 4-H program.

James D. Madden

Jan. 13, 1938 – Augusts 7, 2023

Minden, La.

Visitation: 5:30 until 8 p.m. Friday, August 11, 2023, First Methodist Church, Minden.

Funeral service: 10 a.m. Saturday, August 12, 2023, First Methodist Church, Minden.

Burial: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, August 12, 2023, Gardens of Memory, Minden.

Sandra Marie Crockett Brown

Jan. 12, 1942 – August 6, 2023

Minden, La.

Celebration of Life: 2 p.m. Friday, August 11, 2023, First Methodist Church, Minden.

Edna Earle Barlow

Oct. 4, 1940 – August 7, 2023

Minden, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 9, 2023, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden, La.

Funeral service: 11:15 a.m. Thursday, August 10, 2023, First Baptist Church of Minden.

Burial: 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Cotton Valley Cemetery

Joyce Lavondal Hudson

March 28, 1935 – August 6, 2023

Sarepta, La.

Funeral service: 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 9, 2023, Springhill United Pentecostal Church.

Burial: Blockers Chapel Cemetery, Sarepta, under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Springhill.

Thomas “Tommy” C. Stokes Jr.

Oct. 26, 1039 – July 20, 2023

Sibley, La.

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

Peggy Alice Teague

Jan. 23, 1941 – August 6, 2023

Haynesville, La.

Graveside service: 10 a.m. Thursday, August 10, 2023, Old Town Cemetery, Haynesville, under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Haynesville.

Albert Frank Lewis

April 29, 1939 – August 4, 2023

Haynesville, La.

Visitation: 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 8, 2023, Bailey Funeral Home, Haynesville.

Funeral service: 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 9, 2023, First Assembly of God Church, Haynesville.

Burial: Jolley Cemetery 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.)

By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Dixie Darlings were recognized as the Softball World Series Champions at the end of the Minden City Council meeting Monday. The 8U girls softball team represented Louisiana at the World Series in Fairview, Tenn. and brought home the Championship trophy.

“This night just needs to be about our World Series Champs, and I’m so proud of them,” said District E councilman Andy Pendergrass. “The mayor asked me to raise a little bit of money for them so we could have a nice celebration tonight after the meeting. I made eight calls in 30 minutes and had all the money raised.

“That’s a testament to the people in this town who pour out their hearts, souls and wallets all the time for the kids in this town,” he continued. 

Pendergrass said a “drive-by” parade will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Minden’s Academy Park.

“We will have a line-up at Lakeview Methodist Church at 6 and then head over with a police escort and drive by the park where the girls will be celebrating. The public can honk and wave at them as we drive by,” he said. “They will be having a special championship dinner following that.”

In other business, the council voted in favor of the following items:

• Final plat approval – lot split of property on the corner of Lewisville Road and Country Club Circle owned by Thomas J. McFarland;

• Appointment of Braley Raborn to Minden Planning Commission, replacing Sarah Haynes;

• A resolution authorizing the mayor to accept grant funds from the Federal Aviation Administration to construct a parallel taxiway and other future improvements to the Minden Airport;

• A resolution declaring certain City of Minden Property – a Ward I City Marshal’s Office Tahoe – as surplus and fixing terms of sale;

• An ordinance levying tax mills for 2023;

• Authority for Mayor Nick Cox to enter into an agreement for professional services between City of Minden and Atlas Community Studios for a Minden Strategic Economic Development Plan;

• Authority of Cox to enter into a professional services agreement and task order (for grant funding) between City of Minden and Manchac Consulting Group, Inc.;

• Authority for Mayor Cox to execute and and all documents pertaining to the purchase of property by fee title, as required by FAA and DOTD for a Wildlife Perimeter Facing Project at Minden Airport;

• Budget and Financial report for June 2023; and,

• Police report for June 2023.

Qualifying for the October 14 Gubernatorial Primary Election starts today (Tuesday, August 8) and lasts through Thursday, August 10. Local candidates qualify from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Webster Parish Clerk of Court’s office on the second floor of the parish courthouse on Main Street.

All candidates for state office will qualify at the Louisiana State Archives located at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. Hours of operation for the Secretary of State Office are 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily.

The ballot this October will be full with state, legislative, and local offices up for election. The statewide ballot will include candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commissioner of Insurance.

All members of the state legislature are up for election, including the Dist. 10 representative’s seat. Wayne McMahen is currently serving in that spot. State Sen. Dist. 36, who is Robert Mills is also up for election. On the local level, sheriff, clerk of court, assessor, coroner, one alderman for the Town of Cullen and all seats on the Webster Parish Police Jury will be on the ballot.

By Paige Nash

With a second impending power outage on the horizon in the City of Minden, residents may find themselves traveling outside of the city for food, gas, shopping and cooler surroundings. Not unlike this past June when two back-to-back storms hit the areas surrounding Minden causing weeklong blackouts in multiple cities.  

People traveled in droves to Minden looking for relief and the June sales tax dollars reflect that.  

According to the Webster Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission’s monthly report for June, almost all of the reporting tax bodies in the parish experienced an increase in numbers.  

The City of Minden saw a 15.36 percent increase compared to the previous year. In June of 2022, the city collected $639,796.74 in sales tax with $738,051.01 being the number for 2023.  

Other taxing bodies who experienced a large increase were the Town of Cotton Valley with a 39.33 percent increase, Minden Economic Development Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 saw an increase of 44.42 percent, Village of Doyline had an increase of 33.73 percent and the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Commission had a 49.34 percent increase.  

The only taxing bodies to land in the red were the Town of Sibley, Village of Dixie Inn and Town of Cullen, but even those decreases were minor.  

Overall for Webster Parish, the totals for June 2022 increased from $3,209,724.77 to $3,729,989.78. These numbers improved by 16.21 percent.  

By Marilyn Miller

Cost of Living pay adjustments for the employees of the Village of Dixie Inn were doubled by the Board of Aldermen in a Special Session on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. The last COL increase of two percent was established in 2009 under Ordinance 71i. As of last Friday, employees will receive a four percent COL rate on their anniversary dates, the Board of Aldermen unanimously decided. This comes as an amendment to Ordinance 99D.

“This will be a good way to off-set inflation,” board member Lance Milligan said.

In other business, the board unanimously voted to raise the salary of the chief of police from $23.60 an hour to $25.00 an hour. Right now, the chief’s position pays $43,030.00 a year. “I looked up some places around this area, and Ringgold pays their chief $47,000.00,” alderman Judy McKenzie said.

“I think $25 an hour is fair,” Milligan offered. This would bring the salary of the position to $52,000 a year.

Acting Chief Alan Davis is expected to become fulltime chief when the board of aldermen meets in regular session on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 5 p.m.  Davis, who was named acting chief in July, has been associated with the Dixie Inn Police Dept. since 2014 and has military experience with the Marine Corp.

“Experience makes all the difference in the world,” McKenzie stated, referring to Davis.

Milligan, and alderman Nell Finlay, agreed that the PD was looking “really good,” and had “a lot more presence” on patrols.

“People are starting to pay more attention,” Milligan said, “We are a crucial hub (of highways and roads)” that must be policed. “Just keep doing what you are doing.”

The board also unanimously approved a temporary hiring freeze in the police department at the request of Chief Davis to allow him time to look at resume’s that have already been submitted and to get his office in order.

Lastly, the board unanimously agreed to allow Mayor Donna Hoffoss to “enter into an agreement with Healthy Communities Grants in the amount of $8,000.00 for the acquisition of a garbage trailer.” The grants are part of the Keep Louisiana Beautiful program.

The public is invited to attend the regular meeting of the Dixie Inn Board of Aldermen at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

By Paige Nash

For those interested in making Minden home or building in a brand-new subdivision, Millwood Landing will have lots available for purchase soon following acceptance by the Webster Parish Police Jury (WPPJ). 

Owner of Timberland Services Chad Still and Senior Vice-President of B1 Bank Micah Hanson are responsible for bringing this new subdivision to fruition. Hanson attended the August police jury meeting to inform the jury and those in attendance on the progress of the project and their future plans. 

“I am a big fan of Webster Parish and I want to invest my money in it. This is an 80-acre project,” said Hanson. “We have people lined up. We are ready to go and ready to get started. We have got some builders we have been talking to that are going to build some spec houses and individuals that are looking to get in there and build some custom homes.” 

The inspections have been met and approved. The only thing they are waiting for is the completion of a 30-day lien period that was filed at the Clerk of Court’s Office on July 27. Following receipt of a clear lien, the WPPJ will grant approval for the execution of lot sales.  

“It looks good. We are happy you did this. It is good for Webster Parish. I am happy to help you anyway we can,” said WPPJ Jim Bonsall.  

A couple of perks of this new subdivision’s location include the proximity to the city without the expensive city utilities and its ease of access to Interstate 20. Being located along Highway 532 between both I-20 and Highway 80 allows new homeowners who may work either to the east or west of the parish a quick commute each day.  

The plan includes 52 lots ranging in size from 1 to 2 acres with green space, a beautiful entrance, asphalt roads throughout and underground utilities. Electricity will be provided by Entergy. Centerpoint will be providing natural gas and Dixie Overland Water System will be the available water system.  

According to Hanson the lots are going for approximately $60,000 an acre. 

The road is now complete and open for those interested in checking out Millwood Landing. To keep up with updates follow the Millwood Landing Facebook page and reach out there with any questions.  

The Webster Parish Fire Chiefs Association has requested a burn ban for all of Webster Parish to prohibit all outdoor burning and open fires (including fire pits).

Brian Williams, director of Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, as well as City of Minden Fire Chief, says the ban is in effect immediately.

Webster Parish Police Jury and Webster Parish Fire Chiefs Association agreed by proclamation that a very definite threat exists to life and property.

“This request is due to the lack of adequate rainfall the parish has received lately and also the extreme temperatures with excessive heat warnings from the National Weather Service,” Williams said. “This ban does not apply to prescribed burns by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.”

The ban will remain in force until such time the Webster Parish Fire Chiefs Association determines that the weather conditions are safe enough to cancel the burn ban.

By Josh Beavers

It was a great summer for the Webster Junior High PepSteppers as the girls practiced for many weeks before their annual camp.

“It’s the 100th anniversary of Webster School, and I believe these girls are going to help represent Webster in a positive light,” said Katherine Mixon who is a Webster teacher and the PepStepper sponsor.

She said the PepSteppers came into camp nervous and having to learn three dances.

“We partnered with Marie Wise, owner of Wise Dancenter,” Mixon said. “She comes in and is tough while also encouraging to all the girls.”

She said the dances were complex, “however, these girls showed up day after day, and pushed through to learn all three!  They are such an incredible group of young ladies who persevere over difficult situations.”

Mixon said there are many plans for this school year including normal activities like football and basketball games but also community outreach and volunteer days. Recently, many of the PepSteppers showed up and showed out packing five pallets worth of free books for Webster Parish students.  These books will be passed out at the Back-to-School Bash on August 7.^. On August 17, the PepSteppers will be a part of Meet the Tide and Wolves.  

The 2023-2024 Webster Junior High PepSteppers include: Abigail Amu, Kaylee Anderson, Abigail Ashley, Haleigh Bailey, Abigail Barnette, Amelia Beavers, Kyndee Bridges, Riley Brown, Syia Crow, Jordyn Drew, Zi’on Elkins, Raelyn Goodwin, Harleigh Hart, Neveah Ivy, Te’Onia Jackson, Caleah Jenkins, Jorian Kingsby, Aubrey Lonidier, Teviana Love, Kimari Mitchell, S’Veah Moore, Zanterica Moore, Rylan Thomas, Sariyah West, Ladariuna Williams.