United Christian Assistance Program has the following needs:

Food: Ramen noodles, canned fruit, green beans (we are completely out of green beans)

Clothing: Men’s jeans/pants (waist 32 and 34), men’s shoes (9 and up), men’s socks and underwear

Household goods: towels, twin sheets, silverware, pots, pans & skillets

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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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Mayor Nick Cox says he was pleased with the length of time on the city’s power outage last Thursday, but the fix is temporary and will require another outage.

“The outage was estimated for 4 to 6 hours, and took 3 hours and 10 minutes – I’m ecstatic about that,” Cox said. “It’s a temporary fix until the weather gets cooler, so we don’t have to shut off power again while it’s so hot.”

Cox said the damaged equipment is no longer “charged,” and Entergy workers will be able to replace and repair parts without fear of electrocution.

“They can also do it at their leisure and won’t be rushed,” he added. “They can assess the damage, get the parts they need, then turn off the power, switch it back over, and that’s it.”

He said it could be 4 to 6 weeks before another planned outage.

“We will give plenty of notice on that,” the mayor said. 

Not only did the power side of the outage go smoothly, but Police Chief Jared McIver said it was a quiet three hours for his department.

“It went really good,” McIver said. “City Marshal’s office, Webster Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, and our agency had it completely covered.”

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The first person you need in your life is a loving partner you trust and who trusts you. Let’s just get that out of the way. That’s numero uno, tops, end-all-be-all the person you need in your life.

So, with that out of the way, I’d just like to spend the next few weeks talking about those professional people every dude needs in his or her life.

The first is a good lawyer. Jokes aside. It’s easy to pick on our neighbors who took up the books of jurisprudence as a profession. Some of them deserve that scorn. But an honorable and trust-worthy lawyer is one of the most important people you need in your life.

Judge Sherb Sentell has been my advocate numerous times in life. I’ve had the misfortune of being on the end of a few shady businesspeople practices in the past. From local shysters to a huge corporation with hundreds of lawyers on retainer, I’ve had to go to court with the dishonest and greedy of all calibers. Judge Sentell has been, without a doubt, one of the most important people in my life.

I have only posted one Google review in my life. It was for this man and his law firm. I don’t think a lot of people realize that Judge Sherb Sentell still practices law and has regular clients. My wife and I are two. Here’s my review for Sentell Law Firm.

Sherb has helped me several times and is the only person I would trust to do so again. I have known Sherb for more than 20 years, and in that time, he has only ever struck me as professional, kind, and extremely attentive to detail. My wife and I have had to use his law firm a few times over the years during difficult times. We have had to file suit against a few businesses and even a large corporation. Sherb has doggedly worked on each of these cases and has won all of them.

He has also helped navigate the complicated process following the death of my father and dividing assets. All of these things would have left me lost and out of luck. The legal system is so complex and can leave you in trouble even if you are in the right. That’s why it is so important to have someone you can rely on to be your advocate. There is only one person I would ever trust to help me and my family in legal matters. And that is Sherb Sentell and Sentell Law Firm.

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

August 9

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

August 12

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 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. 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.

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

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.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

As far as thefts are concerned, the City of Minden fared pretty well during a city-wide outage last Thursday night.

Now that power has been restored, Minden Police Chief Jared McIver would like to see more businesses and citizens invest in security cameras inside and outside.

“I wish I could encourage all business owners in the city – if they have cameras if they would check them once monthly to make sure they are working correctly and recording,” he said. “If they don’t have it, could they please get camera systems.

McIver said usually when break-ins and burglaries occur, business owners will say their cameras don’t work.

“Or they say they have been talking about getting cameras, but they don’t have them yet,” he added.

Camera equipment can go a long way in helping law enforcement catch criminals and catch them quickly. McIver said the same goes for residences.

“Camera systems from other businesses, even down the road, may pick up a vehicle leaving a scene or a person walking by,” he said. “The more cameras, the more angles and the more eyes we have, the better our chances of catching the criminals.”

The chief’s dream is to be able to access all business cameras from the police department.

“That may be something in the future,” he said. “I talked to another chief the other day who’s able to monitor more than 90 cameras around the city, and it’s been a huge help with crime.”

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This recipe for Taco Angel Chicken dates back to the beginning of The Copper Whisk (4+ years ago now)!  We love this one as a go-to I know everyone will like, especially on evenings we are coming in later from ball but still want a hot meal that isn’t fast food. This is often cooked when we are in school.  It almost guarantees I will have no fussing come supper time.

The boys prefer this over angel hair pasta, and I have to agree that’s my favorite too!

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts, sliced in strips lengthwise
• 1 (8 ounce) container softened cream cheese spread
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 package taco seasoning
• 1 can Rotel
• 1 (4 ounce) can Hatch diced green chiles
• Serve over pasta, Mexican rice, or mashed potatoes

 Directions

Slice chicken and place in slow cooker.  Combine cream cheese spread, cream of chicken, chicken broth, taco seasoning, Rotel, and green chiles in sauce pan on stove.  Stir over low heat until well combined and cream cheese is melted.  Pour over chicken.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours.  Serve over pasta, Mexican rice, or mashed potatoes.

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

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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. 2

Natalia Lynn DeFilio, 20, from Bristol, Conn., was arrested on I-20 in Webster Parish by LSP-G for speeding (90/70), possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia.

Austin Anderson, 27, of the 200 block of Pecanview, Minden, was arrested by MPD for domestic abuse battery w/child endangerment.

Christian Luis Robles, 22, , was arrested on a warrant after being transported from Bossier City jail.

Ricardo Antonio Hollinquest, 43, of the 16000 block of U.S. Hwy. 80, was arrested by WPSO for disturbing the peace and criminal trespassing.

Kaylie J. Wolf, 27, of Hill Street, Springhill, was arrested by Springhill Police for no break lights, failure to yield, improper lane sue, careless operation, no insurance and aggravated flight from an officer.

Aug. 3

Andre Lavelle Poole, 57, of the 300 block of Lewis Loop, Cotton Valley, La., was arrested by Sarepta Police on a warrant for theft.

Aug. 4

Lacey Holleman, 30, of the 500 block of Oakland Bridge, Spearsville, La., was arrested by MPD for theft and four warrants.

Eugene Henderson, Jr., 31, of the 200 block of Webster Rd., Heflin, was arrested by MPD on warrants for theft and child support.

Garrett Cody Burkhalter, 32, of the 7100 block of Colombia Rd., Emerson, Ark., was arrested by LSP-G for improper lane usage, no taillights and driving while intoxicated, third offense.

Aug. 5

Wayne David Knippers, 38, of the 200 block of Hwy. 2 Shongaloo, was arrested by WPSO for indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of 13.

Aug. 6

Adam Tyler Kennedy, 25, of the 2900 block of Germantown Rd., Minden, was arrested by WPSO on a warrant for indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of 13. His bond is $50,000.

Savannah Perot Rupert, 29, of the 1700 block of Dykesville Rd., Haynesville, was arrested by LSP-G on La. 157 in Webster Parish for driving while intoxicated and failure to dim headlamps.

Leonard D. McCarter, 25, of the 1600 block of Sycamore Street, Minden, was arrested by LSP-G for driving while intoxicated, open container and having only one headlamp.

Aug. 7

Peyton L. Thomas, 32, of Pine St., Minden, was arrested by WPSO on an outstanding warrant.

Taylor D. Parrish, 23, no address available, was arrested by Springhill Police for simple escape (leaving the courtroom).

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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Joyce Lavondal Hudson

March 28, 1935 – August 6, 2023

Sarepta, La.

Visitation: 5 until 8 .m. Tuesday, August 8, 2023, Springhill United Pentecostal Church.

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, 1939 – 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.)

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

On the day when the City of Minden is scheduled for a city-wide outage, some citizens are out of power this morning and electrical crews are already on the job.

Minden Mayor Nick Cox said a “box truck” driver apparently took out light poles along College Street near Minden High School. The school’s custodians witnessed the accident.

“On a day where we are going to be working until 4 or 5 a.m., someone decided to knock down 5 light poles and all the electrical and telephone lines,” said Cox.

Minden linemen are out in what is already 85-degree heat with sledge hammers and chain saws.

“It will be over 100 degrees again today, so these guys are mvps,” Cox said. “Hands down. One hundred percent. People may not realize how hard they work.”

The city outage will take place at 10 p.m. tonight (Thursday, August 3) when crews from AEP/SWEPCO, Entergy and City of Minden will fix the Gilark substation following a fire Sunday.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A Webster Parish man is dead, and the woman who allegedly killed him is behind bars.

Chandrika C. Shehee, 23, of the 6100 block of Hwy. 531in Heflin, has been charged with 2nd degree murder in the shooting death of Tyrone Winzer.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said his office received the call just after midnight Wednesday.

“It was a domestic situation at that address, and one of the females who lives across the street came over and shot him with a 9 mm handgun,” Parker said. “She told investigators she was trying to protect her family. He (Winzer) was unarmed.”

Two witnesses identified Shehee as the shooter.

The sheriff said Winzer had a history of domestic violence, however, “Ms. Shehee had other options.” 

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

Thursday, around 10 p.m. The City of Minden’s switch will be thrown and darkness may be the law abiding citizen’s worst enemy.

Local law enforcement intends to have eyes on the streets to prevent theft throughout the night.

“We will have triple the number of officers we normally have out Thursday night,” said Minden Police Chief Jared McIver. Normally, there are around five officers on each shift. “I will have two other shifts – between 15 and 20 officers – canvassing businesses and residences for the duration of the outage.”

The City of Minden’s plug will be pulled from the mainline at the Gilark substation following a fire early Sunday morning. AEP/SWEPCO, Entergy and City line crews will be on hand to repair and replace the damaged parts. Power could be out for 4 to 6 hours.

“That means alarms will be off, camera systems will be down and that spells opportunity for some people,” said the chief.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said he will have deputies on standby inside the city limits.

“Whatever they (MPD) need us to do, we will be there to do it,” Parker said.

“We’ve got it covered,” McIver added.

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Reading the local news this past week has been one of those occasions where there’s good news and bad news and both cover the same subject. 

First the bad news: Looks like some of our hometown’s juveniles have decided the best way to get some exercise and prove they’re ready for adulthood is to pull triggers. And, to prove they are ready to be part of something bigger and better than themselves, these trigger pullers belong to a crude crew with the alias, “Cold Hearted Steppas.”

Two of these Steppas thought it manly to fire a few rounds toward what authorities believe may have been members of their own gang. Looks like gangstas are so gangish they can’t get along with themselves. Fortunately, this pair’s aim was as bad as their judgement. 

A third locally grown juvenile, who is alleged to be steppin’ to the rhythm of the other imprudents, managed to get his hands on a handgun that was stolen from another parish. Apparently this one thinks imported goods are better than those that can be heisted in his home town.

From this we glean that some of our young people 17 and younger (some as young as 12) are cutting themselves off from society with acts of violence. Already in our hometown we’ve seen death as the consequence of ganging up. And, while there’s evidence that some gang activity has moved west, it’s still evident that ittybitties are steppin’ up to take their place.

What could possibly be the good news, you may ask. These three kids, along with others from previous offenses, have been collared by our local constabulary. The pair of shooters were nabbed quickly by any investigative standard; number three was tracked down just one day later thanks to information uncovered while police looked into the two shootings. 

Chief of Police Jared McIver has said his patrol officers and detectives are working constantly to identify potential problems and troublemakers. But, as your humble observer has observed over many years of observational interaction, a police officer on every street corner 24/7 cannot prevent all crime. 

In our humble opinion, there’s not a cop alive who doesn’t prefer prevention to response when it comes to crime. And the key to prevention is cooperation. As your Rocker has said boocoodle times, the eyes and ears of the public are one of, if not the most, effective crime fighting tool on an officer’s belt.

Unfortunately, when it comes to street policing, there are far too many times when “I didn’t see nothing, I don’t know nothing” rolls off the tongue much more easily than “How may I help?”  In our town, there are fewer than 40 sets of police eyes and ears compared to the several thousand among the citizenry. 

Our wish is that average folks will understand how important it is to assist officers. We can assist with our information and, equally as important, our involvement in nurturing our youngsters rather than turning them loose and turning a blind eye.

Somewhere along the line, societal movers and shakers determined that even small children have the right to self-determination. Parental discipline, especially spanking, is deemed assault and moral standards are passe’. Schools now seem to be slightly more interested in teaching society’s most controversial issues than any of the three R’s. With all we see and read, it’s little wonder young people come to the fork in the road, and take it.

As Andy once said, children need direction and not left to their own devices when making choices. If they choose for themselves, they’ll grab the first shiny object they see and, sometimes, there’s a hook in it. For too many youngsters, gangs are the shiny object, and a bullet is the hook.

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Two local teachers have been selected by the state to mentor and support new educators across Louisiana.

Sara Chreene and Josh Beavers are two of two dozen teachers from across the state selected to be a part of the New Teacher Experience which is designed to assist new educators who may be overwhelmed by all that goes along with keeping up with the ever-changing state of education in America. 

Chreene teaches first grade at Central Elementary. Beavers teaches 10th, 11th, and 12^th grade English at Lakeside. This is Chreene’s first year with the program and Beavers’ second.

“Being chosen to participate in the program is exciting and an honor,” Chreene said. “I want to be a listening ear and encourager for them and help them through this year.”

Chreene said the first year in the classroom can be a challenge so being a part of the New Teacher Experience is a wonderful resource.

Both veteran teachers will work with a number of new educators each month. The group will hold virtual meetings, so they can all share their experiences and solutions to cope with challenges. 

Louisiana education leaders hope this program will help build the confidence in new teachers and improve their students’ achievements. The program is also designed to retain new teachers, so they do not leave after just a few years in the classroom.

Every Webster Parish new educator is participating in the program, and Chreene and Beavers will speak to new teachers Friday morning about what to expect. 

For more information on the state’s New Teacher Experience program, visit louisianabelieves.com/academics/new-teacher-experience.

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The other night I had to make a quick run to Wally World to grab a few things for supper. As I was walking in there were two men sitting outside with a bucket collecting money. They did not say anything or hassle me – pleading their case.  

I was in such a hurry, I barely glanced at the bucket. I just looked at one of the guys and told him that I did not have any cash, but I would bring some back out. He just nodded and in I went.  

I went in to grab a couple of things, so I just grabbed a basket. Of course, during my shopping I came across like 20 other things I decided that I needed and just forgot about. When I finally made it to the self-checkout, I was definitely regretting not getting a buggy.  

I ended up spending $100 dollars easily and had bags stacked up and down my arms wondering how in the world I was going to manage to get this out to my car without dropping anything.  

I remembered the guy outside and even though I spent way more than I initially planned, when the machine asked me if I wanted cash back, I clicked “yes.” 

It gave me five options: $20, $40, $60, $80 or $100.  

I was definitely thinking I would just get maybe $10 out, but since these were my only options, I clicked the $20. I had made a little extra that week and I told the guy I would bring cash out.  

I am not going to lie and say that the idea of clicking the no cash back option occurred to me. I would walk out and tell him that I forgot. I am sure that is what most people said anyways. Or maybe they just walked by with their heads down hoping they would not notice them. I also briefly considered walking out the exit on the other side and making a trek across the parking lot to get to my car.  

But like I said, I made a little extra this week and I made the decision to keep my word even though it was a little more than I planned to give.  

I walked out of my original entrance with my arms full of groceries and managed to stuff the $20 into the bucket. Again, the guy said nothing.  

As I finished loading my groceries into my car and got in, I saw one of the Wally World managers walk out and begin talking to the men. I rolled my window down and caught the end of the discussion. She was telling them that she had received some complaints and that they did not get permission to be out there collecting money in the first place.  

As I walked out, still I never took the time to read what the money was for.  

But they just nodded at the manager and began folding up their tables and chairs. Again, I never heard them say a word. 

Her reaction to them made me think that it may be something sketchy or maybe they did not speak English or maybe it was completely legit, and they just did not know they needed permission. Afterall, people do it all the time.  

I have heard numerous people tell me of stories where they gave a homeless person some money just to witness them go inside and spend it on a pack of cigarettes or a can of beer instead of food or clothes. I guess it upset them.  

As soon as that $20 left my hand I would have never given it a second thought if I had not overheard the conversation as I left. But this did make me think… but not about what the money would be used for (that is between them and God at this point), but how hardened and closed off the world has come to helping others.  

I completely get it. Especially when there are some people out there who lie about helping a child walking down a road at nighttime and then they disappear into thin air, making the whole country question whether or not it is even safe to pull over and help the most vulnerable of humankind.  

But I refuse to let the way of the world change who I am as a person.  

If I have some extra money and think I can help, I am going to. If I see a child wandering along a busy highway alone at night, I am going to stop. If I overhear or witness someone being taken advantage of or bullied, I am going to step in.  

I will not think of the negative outcomes or automatically assume the worst. And I hope that if I am ever in a situation where I need money or help, that someone would be willing to step in for me.  

I read this blog titled, “I Wrote This for You,” pretty often. The author Iain Thomas said this in one of his publications, “Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place” 

Don’t let the way of the world harden your heart. Be the outlier. Be soft.

(Paige Nash is a wife, mom, digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal and publisher of Bienville Parish Journal and Claiborne Parish Journal.)

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In fact everyone who wants to live a GODLY life in CHRIST JESUS will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12

I was having a rough time one night when I was a member of the U.S. Army. I was in the desert of Iraq and had gotten down on myself. I was depressed, home sick, hungry, cold, and very concerned about events going on around me out in the dark. As a Christian, of course, I reached out to my living GOD in prayer. I asked for strength, courage, boldness, a better mind set, and some food. Not long after my prayer, it began to rain, in a desert, and the temperature dropped even more. It rained half the night and was even more miserable than before my prayer. I almost froze to death and was wet to the bone. With that said, I was strong enough to make it through that night and complete my specific task. Then the sun came up and melted away the dark and warmed my soul. It felt so, so good! I was so thankful for it. It was a GOD teaching moment that I have never forgotten, nor will I ever forget.

Christians constantly ask our living GOD why is this trial in my life, why am I hurting, why am I broke, why did you let that happen to me, why is this thorn in my side, and many different types of this same question. During these last two years of my new life leading Men of Courage, I have had so many trials, obstacles, financial concerns, and been given many specific tasks from GOD that were very uncomfortable to complete. After I did complete these tasks and remove the obstacle and get over the financial concerns, just like after that horrible night in the army and the sun coming out to warm me, I felt GOD draw closer and I drew closer to HIM. That made it so worth the trial. How would I have known how good that sun felt the next morning if I hadn’t had to endure the hard night in the dark?

GOD also wants to see us go through those trials, walking in complete faith for Him. No matter the pain, hardship, what people think, financial cost, or anything, it makes Him smile. Anyone can go through the 70-degree dry night without any concerns or stresses in their life and praise GOD. Can you go through the 32-degree rain soaked bone chilling cold night with serious physical and emotional stresses and praise GOD?

Paul had a thorn in his side and asked GOD to remove it on three different occasions. Paul, who could cast out demons and performed miracles, was possibly the greatest evangelist for our JESUS ever. He wrote many books of the Bible. GOD told Paul, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” GOD also told Ananias that Paul would suffer very much for Him. How many times did Paul make GOD smile by completing his GOD given specific task even though it wasn’t easy and there were many trials and obstacles, even great physical pain, in his path to the completion of those tasks.

Think of all the awesome, bold, courageous men and women of the Bible and think about how many of them had it easy, laid back in their recliners, non-stressful lives. You may not can think of one. You can, however, fill a page full of the names that were stressed their whole lives for our GOD. Some were stressed even to the point of death such as John the Baptist, who JESUS said was the greatest man born of women. Think how easy his life was and how it ended.

Think about the thief on the cross who acknowledged JESUS as his LORD and SAVIOR. JESUS did not remove him from his pain and death on the cross, but he did say “today you will be with me in paradise.”

I challenge you my Christian brothers and sisters to accept these trials, tribulations, obstacles, and persecutions of life that in the scripture Paul says, “WILL COME” to us as Christians. Accept them with bold, courageous, miraculous faith of JESUS CHRIST in us. Show the non-Christians how we use our faith in GOD and his son, Jesus, to get through these times and then how those times in our life draw us closer to our GOD, not farther away.  I draw strength daily from Psalms 91!

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging GOD with wrongdoing. Job 1: 20-22.

(Chris Plants is a founding member of Webster Parish Men of Courage. Their mission is to encourage, equip, and empower the Men of God to become spiritual leaders in their home, local church, community, and workplace. Webster Parish is now home to a Women of Courage chapter as well as Families of Courage.)

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By Paige Nash

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker stopped by the Webster Parish Police Jury’s (WPPJ) meeting on Tuesday, August 1, to put their heads together regarding tweaking and refining the current Special Event Permit process. 

According to Parker, approximately two weeks ago deputies were dispatched to Harold Montgomery Road in Doyline, where an unpermitted “trail ride” was taking place.  

“We sent deputies down there and there were over 1,000 people. Major Hayden and Major Krouse had to respond because a 19-year-old female had passed out,” said Parker. “They described it as going in there with lights on and they wouldn’t even pay them any attention. They were just stepping over this girl.” 

Currently, if a special event is going to consist of 250 or less, a permit is not required. 

The Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office (WPSO) was informed of the event and told there would be no more than 250 in attendance. If a special event is going to have more than 250 in attendance, the host is required to complete the permit process, hire an ambulance service and security.  

“You had security out there who had police vests on, but there is no telling who the security was out there. They had no jurisdiction to wear ‘police’ in my parish,” said Parker. 

According to Parker, after entering the “trail ride” and monitoring the situation, there were only 12 horses on the premises. The WPSO shut down the event and Parker said that the gentlemen responsible for hosting the event will be held responsible. 

“That guy that put on this event, he is going to have to come up here and answer to me at some point. He may get a ticket for violating a permit or something,” said Parker. 

WPPJ Jim Bonsall asked Parker how they could improve the permit process in the future to guarantee this type of situation does not occur again and if it does, how they should be penalized.  

“When we issue this ticket, you are looking at 300-400 dollars,” said Parker. “We do not want to discourage anybody from having a good time, going out and celebrating. It is just that groups like the ones we had on Harold Montgomery Road two weeks ago are what ruins it for everybody. Public safety is very important to me.” 

Parker referenced a past event at Bayou Speedway where more than 40 guns were confiscated. This group plans to host another event in the upcoming weeks and have yet to apply for a permit taking them outside of the 45-day notice required to receive the permit.  

Most of these events are advertised through social media channels making it impossible to determine exactly how many people will be in attendance.  

“I am just going to have to assign a deputy with a counter and they will be there before they open the gates and as soon as 250 pass that line, we are shutting down the road,” said Parker.  

The WPSO and WPPJ are going to continue evaluating the current permit process and where there may be room for improvement.  

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By Jessica Gorman 

In the 1880s, local inventor, Samuel J. Webb invented the Webb Cotton Compress. Its purpose was to reduce the size of cotton bales for shipping purposes. At the time, the Webb Compress was considered “the largest and most powerful compress in the world.” It was sold all across the country.

The first compress was constructed in 1887 at the Pennsylvania Agricultural Works located in York, Pennsylvania. Construction took nine months. The compress underwent its first trial in December of that year. In that trial, a 42-inch bale of cotton was compressed to 18 inches and then, pressed again, further reducing its size to 10 inches. A subsequent trial, the following February, resulted in a bale that was reportedly compressed to six inches. 

In 2000, a Webb Compress was found in a warehouse in New Orleans. It was intended for this compress to be included as part of a new state museum. To my knowledge, it is still in storage and until last week, this was the only one I knew to exist.

In the summer of 1899, a Webb Compress was purchased by the Southern Railway Company as a replacement for the press at Charlotte, North Carolina after a fire that destroyed the compress facility. The old press served “as a partial payment on the new press.” In July, Samuel J. Webb visited Charlotte in preparation for the arrival of the new compress in August. Four train cars were required to transport the massive piece of machinery. The bottom piece alone weighed 23 tons. The work of moving the pieces into place was “done by means of ropes and pulleys and levers.” In total, the compress weighed 125 tons and stood over 30 feet tall. 

The compress remained in that warehouse in Charlotte until 1993 when it was threatened by expansion of Norfolk Southern Railway’s freight terminal.  It was reported to be the last known steam compress outside of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. By efforts of the Southeast Antique Machinery Society and Denton Farmpark, the compress was disassembled and moved to the park in Davidson County, North Carolina. There, it was restored and has been kept in working condition since 2006. 

The Charlotte Cotton Compress is considered an important part of North Carolina history. It is also an important part of our local history and one that I hope to have the opportunity to visit one day. 

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

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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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As you age, your body loses some of its abilities to properly regulate fluid levels and your sense of thirst may begin to diminish. This puts you at a higher risk for becoming dehydrated. It is important to stay hydrated throughout the day. Try to get at least 1.5 liters (6-8 cups) of water daily, which is advised for aging adults. Needs may vary depending on your medical history.

Why is it important to stay hydrated?

What most people do not realize is that your body depends on water to survive. Your body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste, and helps to keep your joints working.

How much water/fluid should you drink daily?

It is recommended that the average person consume 6-8, ounce cups of fluid daily. However, if you are doing rigorous physical activity or working outdoors in the heat, you may require more fluids. On the other hand, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Water intake must be individualized, and you should check with your doctor if you are not sure about the right amount for you. In addition to water, fruit and vegetable juices, milk and herbal teas can help you stay hydrated. 

Dehydration

If you do not consume enough water/fluid over time, you may become dehydrated. It is important to look out for the following signs:

• Little or no urine
• Urine is darker than normal
• Dry mouth
• Sleepiness or fatigue
• Extreme thirst

In extreme cases you could also experience headache, confusion, and dizziness or lightheadedness.

Tips to staying hydrated:

• Keep a bottle of water with you at all times.
• Drink water before, during, and after a workout or working outdoors.
• If your job is in an outdoor setting, keep a bottle of water near you and drink from it often.
• If you sweat a lot during workouts or on the job, sports drinks will help to not only help your body to absorb water, but also help to replace those electrolytes lost. 
• Snack on fruits and vegetables with a high-water content, including watermelon, citrus fruit, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, and salad greens.
• Drink water when you go to a restaurant. It will keep you hydrated, and it’s free.
• If you have trouble remembering to drink water, drink on a schedule. For example, drink water when you wake up, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and when you go to bed, or drink a small glass of water at the beginning of each hour.
• When you’re feeling hungry, drink water. Thirst is often confused with hunger. True hunger will not be satisfied by drinking water. Drinking water may also contribute to a healthy weight-loss plan. Some research suggests that drinking water can help you feel full.
• If you do not like the taste of plain water, try adding a slice of cucumber or lemon to your drink.

Infuse your water 

Cucumber and Mint Infused Water

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 1 cucumber
• 8 mint leaves
• Water pitcher

Directions:

1. Slice cucumbers in thin slices and put cucumber slices and mint in water.
2. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours overnight for optimal taste. 

The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.

(Shakera Williams, M.P.H. is Assistant Nutrition Extension Agent- FCS for Webster/Claiborne parishes. Contact her at (318) 371-1371.)

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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.

August 1

John Wayne Craig Jr., 63, of Dorcheat Rd., Minden, was arrested by WPSO for unauthorized use of a moveable (stealing a four-wheel ATV).

August 2

Roger Kennon Powell, 58, of Taylor, Ark., was arrested by LSP-G for driving while intoxicated, driving under suspension and improper lane usage in Springhill area.

Cherish J. Mosley, 36, of the 2600 block of Hwy. 528, was arrested by WPSO as a fugitive from Haughton Police.

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

August 2

Webster Parish New Teacher Breakfast, Harper Pathways to Excellence Center, 618 Germantown Rd., Minden.

August 4

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

August 4 and 5

8 p.m. Annual Pete Colvin Memorial  Rodeo, Minden Rodeo Arena.

August 5

9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Back to School Market at Springhill Farmers Market, 500 N. Giles, Springhill, La.

August 6

3 until 5 p.m. Minden High Back-to-School Registration Day

August 9

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

August 12

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 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. 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.

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

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.

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The following civil suits were filed with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court the week of July 28. All civil suits are public record.

July 28

Capital One vs. Trudy Freeman, suit on note.

Patricia Ware vs. Sherman Crawford, protective order.

Antwayneshia Brown vs. Anthony D. Blackmon, State Farm Mutual, damages.

Patricia Ware vs. Brittany Gill, protective order.

July 31

Patience Flow vs. Glenda Jones, Zachary Ainsworth, custody.

August 2

Hutton Chaffra Woods vs. Jordan Gray Woods, divorce w/children.

Republic Finance LLC vs. Monique Webb, judgment executory & garnishment.

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Jose Gutierrez

March 19, 1979 – July 31, 2023

Minden, La.

Visitation: 10 a.m. Thursday, August 3, 2023, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.

Funeral service: 1 p.m. Thursday, August 3, 2023, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.

Dayton T. Woodard

June 3, 1933 – July 31, 2023

Bossier City/Springhill, La.

Visitation: 1 p.m. Friday, August 4, 2023, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill.

Funeral service: 2 p.m. immediately following visitation.

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

Ernest Scott Woodard Jr.

July 7, 1941 – July 26, 2023

Ringgold, La.

Visitation: 6 until 8 p.m., Monday, August 7, 2023, First United Methodist Church, Ringgold.

Funeral service: 1 a.m. Tuesday, August 8. 2023, First United Methodist Church, Ringgold, under the direction of Rockett Funeral Home.

Barbara Ann Stewart

Dec. 18, 1963 – July 28, 2023

Campti, La.

Graveside service: 9 a.m. Saturday, August 5, 2023, Campbell Creek Cemetery, Sharp, La.

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

Ginger Gibbs Bigby

Feb. 27, 1960 – July 28, 2023

Bossier City, La.

Visitation: 9:30 a.m. until time of service, Saturday, August 5, 2023 Asbury United Methodist Church, 3200 Airline Dr., Bossier City, La.

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

Linda Marie Rounds

Sept. 9, 1961 – July 24, 2023

Bossier City, La.

Memorial service: 5 until 7 p.m., Friday, August 4, 2023, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City.

Private family graveside service, Rose-Neath Cemetery, Swan Lake Road, Saturday, August 5, 2023

Jewel Yvonne Ryals Fleming

June 27, 1926 – July 28, 2023

Mansfield, La.

Visitation: 12:30 p.m. Thursday, August 3, 2023, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Mansfield.

Funeral service:1:30 p.m., immediately following visitation.

Burial: private service at Oak Grove Cemetery.

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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