Intersection of Homer Road and Fincher includes Walgreens parking lot.
By Bonnie Culverhouse
For those traveling north and looking to turn left at Homer and Fincher roads or Homer Road and Brookshire’s, your prayers have been answered in the form of new turn arrows at those intersections.
According to Minden police reports, those intersections are high accident areas. From January 1, 2020 until Sept. 20, 2023, there were 61 accident calls near Homer and Fincher roads and 52 calls near Brookshire’s.
Louisiana DOTD Region 04 director David North said his department conducted traffic counts for both areas before they agreed to install the arrows.
DOTD’s website reads average through-traffic daily on Homer Road (U.S. Hwy. 79) is more than 9,900 vehicles. Average through-traffic count daily for Fincher Road is more than 5,200, while average for the parking lot of Walgreens is more than 1,200 daily.
In addition, average traffic for Fort Street, which intersects with Homer Road and Brookshire’s is around 2,500 daily.
Arrows were installed by DOTD at those two intersections Wednesday.
Intersection of Homer Road and Fort Street, including Brookshire’s parking lot.
If a person weren’t a student of history, that person might not be aware that a landmark historical event came and went a week ago. December 7, “A date that will live in infamy,” apparently has become a date that could be in danger of falling into the abyss of societal indifference as we, the great unwashed, are repeatedly told how we should remember our past.
It’s more than a little puzzling. History doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. Not in our schools from youngermost to uppermost and, especially, not in our media. One might think our outlets of information are inculcation centers. One would be correct.
One might consider those who are misshaping our past to reflect their mores as the Cheshire Cat generation. They offer muddling philosophies as gospel and vanish amid the created turmoil leaving us only an enigmatic smile and the Wonderlandish mantra, “Most everyone’s mad here.”
At one time, grade schoolers could recite chapter and verse on the subject of how this country was founded; the men and women who played key roles. Today, walking the streets with Jay Leno is a trip down clueless lane as more and more persons can’t answer the simplest questions about our past.
Yeah, your humble observer is very well aware that growth and expansion often result in mistakes and regrets. It would do us well to never forget those. There is, however, a limit for everything and that make-us-feel-guilty glass has overflowed like flooded rivers.
To hear the “leaders” of today, we are a giant mistake that must be corrected. Those alterations come in the form of rejection and ejection. Don’t like the past? It can’t be changed, but it can be malformed if a political/societal accepted alternative is regurgitated ad nauseam. Enter media and minions.
Rocker believes one answer to understanding the truth about ourselves from beginning to present is in the printed word. Read. But, you ask, is what’s on the page reflective of reality or the product of those who would disrupt, denigrate and destroy? You, student, have the brain power to differentiate. Believe in yourself. Read various sources. Facts are findable.
Knowledge is power. But, as displayed by spongebrains spewing hate speech in the name of activism, little or no knowledge is a dangerous thing. As somebody once said, they don’t know, but they don’t know that they don’t know.
Point of personal privilege: Which came first, fingers or the fork? Your humble servant recently went out to eat where etiquette allows use of the fingers to serve oneself from platter to piehole.
Astonishment. A non-companion, nearby diner was eating pizza with a fork. Fork to cut sliced slice, fork to fork up smaller slice, fork to lift to mouth.
Does Rocker need to revisit his utensil utilization? Have seen forks in such restaurants, but always at salad bar. Didn’t realize until that moment there might be multiple use for fork. Fingers have always worked well for this person, even retrieving those bits that fall from slice onto plate; you know, black olives, sausage bits, that last jalapeño.
Fork would seem useful as a scraping tool. Some might like the toppings more than the crust and to slide those onto plate and fork’em seems reasonable. But fork and pizza seems a lot like fork and fried chicken, fork and rack of ribs, fork and fries. Unnecessary.
Forgive me, but fingers are for more than scratching, pointing and simple addition. You can have the fork. Give me the fingers…politely, of course.
When a team of “quasi-missionaries” from the First Baptist Church of Minden traveled to Gallup, New Mexico in early October 2023 to minister to the Navajo Indians, one member of “Team NOEL” confessed to having slightly deeper feelings for the Navajo people.
Jean Calvit Chatman “probably wouldn’t be here if not for the Navajos” who enlisted in the military during World War II and developed a secret code using their language…a code that was never broken during wartime. That code almost certainly saved the life of her father, George Calvit, who was wounded while fighting as a Marine on the island of Iwo Jima in February of 1945.
Like the Navajo code talkers, whose fame climbed even higher after the release of the movie “Windtalkers” starring Nicholas Cage back in 2002, Calvit had the best and the worst happen to him during those days before and after he shipped out to Iwo Jima.
According to his grandson, Chris Kirkley of Shreveport, George Calvit enlisted in the Marines in August of 1942. “He had a great job at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant,” Kirkley said, “And they (the military) didn’t want him to enlist.” However, Calvit wanted to serve where he could make the most difference – in the field. He joined the Marines and headed for training in California, where he was assigned to the anti-tank unit. When his unit was ordered overseas, once again, the rank and file didn’t want Calvit to go. His fellow soldiers smuggled him onto the ship headed to New Zealand for more training. Calvit, of course, arrived without gear, so he had to pay for his next issuance of arms, uniform, and pack. After training, the unit headed for New Calidonia. Calvit served two tours of duty in the Pacific theater.
However, it was on the island of Iwo Jima in the south Pacific that Corporal George A. Calvit, Jr. distinguished himself. On February 19, 1945, he was aboard ship among the “reserves” when the Marines pointed the first wave of landing craft toward Iwo Jima. However, just an hour-and-a-half later, they were called out.
They hit the beach and sank nearly a foot into thick black sand that covered the island. “You can imagine…it would be like a video game…the Japanese are hiding ‘under the sand’ in tunnels and ‘pill boxes’ (a type of blockhouse, or concrete dug-in guard-post, often camouflaged, normally equipped with holes through which weapons can be fired)…just popping up every now and then to try to kill you,” Kirkley said.
Calvit was wounded four times on Iwo Jima, twice from shrapnel and twice from arms fire, the final being a shot to a shoulder, which badly damaged a lung. He was in command now, and he had been kneeling alongside a tank and directing it where to fire (using an exterior telephone) toward a machine gun nest atop a “pill box.” Machine gun fire caught him in the right shoulder. He crawled to the back of the tank, where medics found him and transported him to a field hospital on the island. They gave him morphine and let him sleep. In his dreams he was floating in water. He awakened and realized that he was “exhaling” blood from his lung. He was immediately flown to Guam for better treatment. It was this fourth injury, and his bravery, that earned him the Silver Star.
But Calvit’s “fighting” wasn’t finished. His wounded right arm started to swell while he was waiting in Guam for transfer to Hawaii. The doctors recommended amputation at the shoulder. He said he’d die first. So, the staff constructed a trough and filled it with ice. After a while, the swelling started to subside. He returned to the United States. He was on medical leave in Minden when the atomic bomb was dropped. He was on active duty headed for Philadelphia when Japan surrendered. He spent VJ Day there. It took Calvit 45 years to begin talking about his experiences…
CODE TALKERS ON FRONT LINES
Code talkers are “local heroes” around Gallup, NM and Window Rock, AZ, places that were visited by team members from the First Baptist Church of Minden in early October 2023. Jean Chatman was among the visitors, spending time at the Code Talkers’ Memorial at Window Rock and the Navajo Nation Museum nearby. Code talkers are the focus of many exhibits at the museum, and 96-year-old area native Thomas H. Begay is one of the only remaining code talkers.
One writer said that “Soon after turning 18, Begay found himself on the front lines in the midst of apocalyptic combat on Iwo Jima. He had been sent to the 27th Marines as a replacement for another code talker who had been killed in action. He remembers that two other code talkers were killed and three more wounded on the first day of the battle.”
New Mexico writer Martha Hutchens said that “While the Code Talkers were already appreciated (for writing an unbreakable military code) for their unique abilities, at Iwo Jima they completely proved their worth. They handled all communications between the command post at sea and the forward stations, sending more than 800 messages during the first 48 hours. They sent the message that Mount Suribachi was secured (the place with the famous photo of four men raising the US flag). They sent the final message that the island was secured. And they sent thousands of messages in between – none of which could be understood by the enemy. Major Howard M. Conner, signal officer for the 5th Marine Division (Calvit’s division) said, ‘Were it not for the Navajos, the marines would have never taken Iwo Jima and won the war.’”
And Corporal George A. Calvit, Jr. would have never made it off the island alive…
Will your church be hosting special Advent and Christmas services and events?
Email to wpjnewsla@gmail.com and we will include them in Webster Parish Journal, where we proudly say “Merry Christmas.”
Sundays in December
The public is invited to the Springhill Methodist Church, located at 104 4th Street Northwest in Springhill, each Sunday to help prepare for the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
10:55 a.m., December 17 Lindy Dixon will direct the Chancel Choir as they present their Christmas Cantata “HOPE” composed and arranged by Joel Raney.
Dec. 20
6:30 p.m. Shreveport Regional Chorale Christmas Concert, Sanctuary, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden. Free and open to the public.
The Springhill City Council made quick work of their December regular meeting held Monday, December 11, wrapping things up in a little over 10 minutes.
Springhill Main Street Manager Amie Poladian gave a short report on the success of the “Christmas on Main” events held earlier this month.
“I want to thank everyone for coming out to Christmas on Main,” she said. “It went really well. We estimate we had about 3,000 people throughout the day kicking off Christmas Downtown.”
The Springhill Chamber of Commerce hosted a Hot Cocoa Crawl along with an Elf Hunt. According to feedback from a handful of local businesses, Christmas on Main brought them record-breaking sales in the history of their store openings.
“That’s the goal of the program,” said Poladian. “I want to thank all the businesses for decorating. It is really awesome to see the town getting into the spirit of Christmas.”
In upcoming news, Poladian mentioned the North Webster High School Talented Arts Program has been working on a mural restoration project sponsored by Coca-Cola. It has been postponed but is expected to be complete by the end of the year. Springhill Main Street is looking to hold a dedication for the mural during the first week of January. More details will be released in the coming weeks.
Another major event happening on January 26 is “Mardi Gras on Main Street.” They are switching things up a little bit this year and holding the parade in the evening at 6:30 p.m. There will also be food trucks, face painting and entertainment. The theme this year is “A Trip Back in Time.”
All the items on the agenda passed unanimously, which included:
Consideration of 2024 Alcohol License Renewals, consideration of a new Alcohol License for Venus Trading, LLC., a change order in the amount of $14,513.00 for the Highway 371 drainage work, adoption of a resolution for the LCDBG 2024 Language Access Plan and payment of the Nov. 2023 monthly vendor bills totaling $107,142.
If you answered yes to the above questions, then we would love to talk with you.
Webster Parish Journal is looking for a writer to help cover the northern part of Webster Parish. We want someone who loves to write features about the people who make this community great.
We also need someone who can take on some assignments and cover local government.
Mornings at the Nash household can sometimes be a little rough. I say sometimes, but it would probably be more appropriate to say they are rough 99 percent of the time.
This morning Ashton received a very quick lesson on the difference between “CAN’T” and “DON’T WANT TO. “
For my first example, she was still dozing on and off in her cozy little bed after I told her to get up more than ten times. The eleventh time I had to tell her… let’s just say… got her attention. She says, (while still in the bed I might add), “I CAN’T open my eyes.”
I reply, “Yes, you can. You just DON’T WANT TO.”
She eventually rolls out of bed to get dressed, very slowly I might also add. A few minutes later, while I was busy helping the other two find socks, fix hair and gather enough change to make a few dollars for something that is due today and they just so happened to remember right before we were about to head out the door, Ashton starts crying.
I ask her what her problem is, and she says, “I CAN’T put my pants on.” I reply, “Yes, you can. You just DON’T WANT TO.”
We eventually get everything sorted out and by this time we are running late. We begin making our way to the car. I buckle up the baby and Emerson hops in the front seat. I glance in my rearview mirror, to make sure Ashton is set and ready to go. She is nowhere to be seen.
I find her in tortoise mode making her way out of the front door. I roll my window down and tell her to put some pep in her step. She yells, “I CAN’T walk that fast. My legs are still asleep.” So, I yell… (can you guess it?) “Yes, you can. You just DON’T WANT TO.”
Everyone is finally in the car and ready to go and we are running extremely late. I am annoyed. They are annoyed. We are all annoyed. But alas… it’s time for a life lesson and once again, it turns out it’s not for them, but for me.
I knew well enough to leave things alone on the car ride to school, but after I dropped them off and headed to work, I started thinking about all of the times I have probably said that I CAN’T do something really when I just didn’t want to.
I have used that excuse when a friend has asked me to go out for dinner, when I am attempting to stop a bad habit, when my boss has asked me to stay late after work and many other occasions. The truth is I probably could have, but I just did not want to. I may have been afraid to try something new or it may have sounded hard. I would just reply, “Oh, I can’t.”
That is an excuse and a means of getting myself off the hook for the time being – a cop out, if you will.
When you say that you CAN’T it implies there is some sort of reasoning, when really sometimes there is no reason. Sometimes, you simply just DON’T WANT TO.
Ever heard the saying that the word no is a complete sentence?
Yes, being honest with others (and yourself) is hard sometimes. It is definitely easier to tell your boss you CAN’T stay and work late than saying that you just DON’T WANT TO, but I think it’s good practice.
I wouldn’t feel right preaching to my kids and telling them to be upfront and honest (even when that means they tell me my hair looks a hot mess, which also happened this morning), when I am not doing it myself.
I have learned one of the largest distinguishing factors between successful people and the people who claim that they want to be successful is that the word “CAN’T” is not in their vocabulary. When you think about it hard enough, there’s really not a whole lot that you CAN’T do if you want to bad enough.
I guess technically, I CAN’T be the next Queen of England, but you get my point.
(Paige Nash is a wife, mother, publisher of Bienville Parish Journal and Claiborne Parish Journal and a digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal. And the Queen of ….)
A 20-year-old Heflin man is behind bars at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center looking at a variety of charges stemming from a domestic incident that began at an area residence and ended outside a Dixie Inn restaurant.
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said Cade Blaine Johnson has been charged with battery of a dating partner with strangulation, aggravated battery with a firearm and false imprisonment after deputies intervened around 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Parker said Dep. Derrick Phelps, Dep. Damian Christian and Lt. Coby Barton responded to an alleged domestic incident complaint in a vehicle involving Johnson and a former girlfriend. After making contact and conducting initial interviews, deputies transported the pair to the Sheriff’s office for further questioning.
During interviews, deputies learned Johnson had driven the female from her home to a family member’s residence, then forced her back into his vehicle following an argument. After allegedly forcing the woman to the floorboard by her neck and taking her cell phone, Johnson reportedly drove away despite pleas from the woman to stop.
Deputies were told that during the ride, the suspect grabbed a handgun, pointed it at himself and the woman and threatened to shoot. While being interrogated, Johnson reportedly admitted he pushed the gun into the side of the woman’s head during the argument and made the threats.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A Bienville man is in a Webster Parish jail following his arrest December 12.
According to Louisiana State Police reports, 22-year-old Jason Daryl Mathews, of the 300 block of Back Forty Road, Arcadia, is charged with driving while intoxicated, improper lane usage and window tint.
Mathews was reportedly stopped by a Minden Police officer on Interstate 20 near milepost 48 around 9 p.m. Tuesday.
LSP-G Trooper John Wynn assisted MPD officer Cadyn O’Connor with the arrest. O’Connor reportedly told the trooper he observed Mathews’ vehicle – a black Dodge pick-up truck – swerve while eastbound on I-20.
The trooper said he made contact with the driver and noticed that his speech was “slurred and his eyes were red and glassy.”
Mathews allegedly admitted to drinking a beer and taking medication. He also allegedly performed poorly on a field sobriety test. He was transported to Minden Police Department where he provided a breath sample which, around one hour after his arrest, showed *0.045g percent blood alcohol content. Mathews provided a urine sample to be sent for testing.
He has been booked into Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
* Legal limit for driving under the influence is .08.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This week’s article reflects an intersection of genealogy and local history. I hope that everyone will come to realize that their family history also records local history. The letters they wrote, the photographs they took, the stories they told, the programs they kept from school plays, graduations, church programs, etc., all these things document some small part of the history of a place. Sometimes, they contain the tiniest detail that by itself may seem inconsequential but may have the potential to answer a question or solve a mystery.
My husband’s family has just such an item. It is a letter written by John A. Sylvester to his wife, Kitty. This letter was written 6 December 1864 from “Camps near Mindon Louisiana.” You may be familiar with Camp Magruder, the Confederate camps located in the vicinity of Minden in the winter of 1864 – 1865. You may also be familiar with the question of just exactly where Camp Magruder was located. Most accounts and evidence place it east of Minden. At least one known account says that it was west. Personally, I agree with the theory that there were probably multiple camps that may have been known collectively as Camp Magruder. Besides trying to reconcile some differences in the accounts that provide any hint of the location, the shear number of troops who were to have been stationed in the area lends itself to the likelihood that these men would not have been in a single camp without some lasting knowledge of the precise location. The number of men in this camp would have been upwards of ten times the population of the town itself. It would seem likely they were dispersed across the larger area.
As mentioned, there is an account that names the camp as Magruder and places it west of Minden. This account is from David Thaddeus Manry who served in the 22nd Texas Infantry. In his diary, he states, “from Minden we went 9 miles South West and camped. On the 2nd of December we moved 3 miles South and camped at Camp Magruder.” Even though Manry’s account was recorded as it happened, it has been previously written off as though he must have been confused simply because his description did not match other accounts. I argue that he was not confused. John Sylvester’s letter corroborates Manry’s account.
John A. Sylvester, my husband’s third great-grandfather, was thirty years old when he enlisted in the Confederate army in 1862. He was a resident of Trinity County, Texas and a member of Gould’s 6th Battalion, Texas Cavalry. He arrived at the “Camps near Mindon” in early December 1864. In his letter, he tells of that night’s supper of stewed chicken, fried pork, potatoes, and biscuits. He mentions being “very scarce of clothing” but that they had not yet had much cold weather. He also says that they were building their houses and that “the health of the company is verry good at the present.” Mostly he concerns himself with matters at home. Among other things, he asks Kitty, “what did you do for money What did you do for shoes.” She had moved from Trinity County after his enlistment and he instructs her not to go back until after he comes home. It seems that his reasons were personal, but Trinity County was also place of turmoil during and after the war.
While his letter focuses on personal matters and makes very little mention of the camps where he was stationed, he does reveal a small piece of information that is a significant piece of evidence in relation to our local history. He provides a general location of the camps. “We are took up winter quarters in about 25 of Shreveporte in about 9 of Mindon La.” He, too, gives a location west of Minden, a location that he describes as 9 miles from Minden just as Manry mentioned a location 9 miles from Minden.
After the war, John Sylvester returned to Texas. He eventually moved with his family to Falls County where many of his descendants still live today and where we gather nearby, every other summer, for a family reunion. Around 1950, John Sylvester’s great-grandson, W.L. Maxey, moved from Texas to Dixie Inn where he worked for Gifford-Hill.
This letter, written in 1864, has managed to survive and be handed down to descendants who came to live so near that place where he camped all those years ago. This letter, written near Minden and sent to a wife in Texas only to be brought from Texas back to Minden, with no knowledge of the part it could play in our local history, found its way to the museum.
Wherever you may live, please consider the importance of the items your family has held on to. Seek out the most appropriate place to share these items (or copies.) It may be a library, a historical society, a genealogical society, an archive, a museum. Be an active participant in preserving history. If you are in Webster Parish, please contact the museum. So often, people will say, “I have something, but I’m not sure you’d be interested.” If it is relevant to Webster Parish, I assure you that I am interested. I also assure you that my priority is to document our history, tell a more complete story, and share that history with anyone who has an interest whether a local resident, someone researching their family history, or just a visitor to the area.Preserving the history of a community requires the participation of the community. I hope that you will join me in this mission.
(Jessica Gorman is the Executive Director for the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Webster Parish Historian, and an avid genealogist.)
Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter DAR met on November 30 at the home of Chapter Past Regent Kathy Johnson. Guest speaker was Sue Lee who portrayed Deborah Sampson, a Revolutionary War patriot. Deborah disguised herself as a man and joined the Patriot forces. Before joining, she frequently wore her disguise to a local pub to learn her voice, mannerisms, and walk. During her service, she was teased by the other soldiers because she looked like a boy who was too young to shave. She was the only woman to earn a full military pension for participation in the Revolutionary army.
We are excited to welcome 4 new members to our chapter! Maggie Salter is a descendant of Revolutionary War patriot Robert Corey who was born in 1752 in Belfast, Ireland. Robert moved to Ninety-Six District in SC, where he served as a Private in Col. Thomas Sumpter’s Brigade. Thomas Sumpter was living a life of retirement until the British burned down his home. He immediately organized the local militiamen into an army. In the summer of 1780, Sumter’s Brigade was the only organized opposition to the British in South Carolina.
Lydia Pruitt, daughter of our member Kay Pruitt, is a descendant of John Chambliss who was born before 1730 in Virginia. In 1773, he received a land grant of 250 acres in Craven County, South Carolina. Because he was too old to serve in the military, John provided beef and ammunition to the local troops.
Cindy Walker and her daughter Cara Buie are descendants of John Richardson, born 1753 in SC. He served as an Ensign in Gregory’s Company, 10th Regiment. The 10th Regiment became part of the Continental Army in 1777, and after participating in several battles the remaining members disbanded at Valley Forge.
Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter has enjoyed an eventful year. We began the year with 30 members. Since then we have gained 9 new members, 2 more member applications are being processed at National, and 4 prospective members are completing their applications. Our chapter members have donated to Minden St. Jude, placed flags on veterans’ graves for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, sent birthday and holiday cards each month to residents of three VA homes, and assembled Literacy Bags filled with children’s books, workbooks, and small toys. Chapter Regent Cindy Madden and her husband Jerry Madden (President of Galvez Chapter SAR) have donated Bibles to veterans in nursing homes and donated a new flag to the Webster Parish Library. Cindy also created a monthly magazine for our chapter, which won a DAR State Award for Outstanding Publication. Our chapter Registar, Donna Sutton, received a DAR South Central Regional Award for Outstanding Lineage Research. Our chapter enjoyed an educational trip hosted by our member Mary Claire Kettler, who is also a Mt. Lebanon Historical Society board member. She treated our chapter to lunch at Gibsland Grill, then invited members to join her at the Mt. Lebanon Museum for a PowerPoint presentation about the history of Mt. Lebanon.
Our future meetings will include a presentation of awards to our local American History Essay Contest winners (grades 5-8), an educational trip to the restored Moreland House in Homer with guest speaker Sara McDaniel, and our annual Spring Luncheon with guest speaker Chreyl Gott, who is our State Regent.
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.
Dec. 13
Kendrick Dudley, 37, of the 100 block of Kennedy Lane, Minden, was arrested by LSP-G for driving while intoxicated (second offense), no license plate light and driving under suspension.
Cynthia Denise Gibson, 36, of the 7400 block of Gold Meadow, Greenwood, La., was arrested in Webster Parish by LSP-G for driving while intoxicated, open container and possession of marijuana, 2 counts amphetamine salts, klonopin and drug paraphernalia, no headlights and improper lane usage.
Jason Daryl Mathews, 22, of the 300 block of Back Forty Road, Arcadia, was arrested in Webster Parish by LSP-G for driving while intoxicated, improper lane usage and window tint.
Cameron Tyler Hay, 30, of the 100 block of Wallace Circle, Minden, was arrested by WPSO on 2 active warrants for distribution of methamphetamine.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Graveside: Social Springs Cemetery following visitation.
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 no charge.)
(Editor’s note: a recent coyote attack on a small dog within Minden city limits prompted a Webster Parish Journal Facebook post that resulted in more than 80 comments from all over Webster Parish and leading to this story.)
Coyotes are like deer in one way, they have become almost accustomed to living in the city limits of towns all over the state – including cities such as New Orleans. Like deer, they are born into city, and their fear of humans is almost nonexistent. However, that’s where the similarity ends.
According to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Zane LeBlanc, coyotes in populated areas will become even more prominent as the weather gets colder.
“It’s a matter of prey availability,” LeBlanc said. “They are looking for small animals, rodents and trash that’s been left outside.”
Many of the Facebook comments were from owners of missing or injured cats and small dogs.
“It’s a good idea to feed your animals inside,” he said. “Bigger dogs, like Labrador Retrievers and such can usually handle themselves. But when you feed your animals outside, that often attracts rodents, which in turn attracts coyotes.”
LeBlanc said coyotes are no longer isolated to rural areas of the state and are now very common in urban and suburban areas as well as city storm drains.
“Major changes in our landscape, habitat loss and fragmentation due to human expansion and development, increased food availability, easily accessible food sources, such as garbage, gardens, loss of predators and available shelter have led to an increase in coyote-human sightings and interactions,” he said.
Coyotes are a species with a complex social structure involving both resident and transient individuals which makes control measures particularly difficult, he added.
However, there are ways to “attempt” to control the numbers.
“They are not an endangered species,” LeBlanc said of coyotes. “That means, if you are not under a city ordinance prohibiting firearms, you can legally shoot them.”
In the case of municipalities, most – including Minden and Springhill – have laws prohibiting the shooting of firearms within the city limits.
“In those cases, coyotes can be trapped by persons with a trapping license for nuisance animals,” he said. “Several highly-experienced individuals are available in the Webster Parish area to assist homeowners in dealing with nuisance wildlife.”
The best long-term solution for residents, said LeBlanc, will be to utilize nuisance wildlife prevention techniques around their homes which include measures such as:
1) Not leaving any pet food, bird feeders, or unsecured trash outdoors during the nighttime hours as this practice will often attract coyotes, rodents, opossums, raccoon, and other wildlife.
2) Remove any unnecessary structures, shrubbery, brush piles, and or other items near homes that could serve as a place for coyotes and/or their prey to seek shelter.
3) Keep outdoor pets such as cats or dogs within a protective kennel or indoors during early morning, late evening and nighttime hours when coyotes are most active.
Once the neighborhood is free of these items that can potentially serve as food and sheltering areas for nuisance animals, coyotes will naturally begin to spend less time near the home sites and will revert back to areas of natural cover and resources.
Town Clerk Sherry McCann reads an agenda item for members of the Sibley Town Council Monday.
By Pat Culverhouse
Sibley residents will have the opportunity to voice opinions on their power source when the town’s council conducts a public hearing at its January 8 meeting to determine who will be supplying electricity to the south Webster community.
During Monday’s meeting, Mayor Jimmy Williams said the town’s 25-year contract with current supplier Entergy expires in January and presents an opportunity to explore options.
“For the past several months I’ve been putting figures together to see if it’s best to go with Entergy or Claiborne Electric,” Williams told town council members. “We’ll make the decision at the next meeting following the public hearing.”
Williams said he’s spoken with the town’s attorney about a new state law that could have a bearing on the length of the new power contract. “We should have answers in time for the hearing, and we can determine what’s in the best interests of our people,” he said.
Town council members also voted unanimously to spend $9,000 purchase a .36 acre tract of land at the future Lane Meadows subdivision near the northern town limits on U.S. Hwy. 371. Williams said the purchase is necessary to provide proper drainage for the eight-plus acre development.
Lane Meadows, which is owned by the town of Sibley, will feature 21 lots in Unit 1.
“We’re hoping dirt work on this will begin within the next couple of weeks,” Williams said. “We’ve spent a little over two years working on this. It’s something we believe will help Sibley grow and will be beneficial to this area.”
Visit Webster Parish, in collaboration with Too Cool Adventure Racing, is delighted to announce the Caney Puzzler Adventure Race, an adventure set against the backdrop of Caney Lake in Minden March 2. Adventure racing enthusiasts and outdoor lovers are invited to experience a unique blend of physical challenges and mental puzzles in a partnership that promises an extraordinary event.
About Adventure Racing: Adventure Racing is a multisport endurance race that typically involves a combination of disciplines such as trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, and navigation. What sets adventure racing apart is its emphasis on teamwork, strategy and problem-solving. Participants navigate through a challenging course, overcoming natural obstacles and completing various tasks, making it a true test of both physical and mental endurance.
The Caney Puzzler Adventure Race will push participants beyond their limits, combining the beauty of the natural landscape with the thrill of adventure racing. Teams will navigate diverse terrains, paddle across the serene lake and tackle mind-bending puzzles strategically placed throughout the course.
Registration Details:
Date: March 2, 2024
Location: 194 Caney Lake Park Rd. Minden, Louisiana
“We are thrilled to partner with Keith Pitman and Too Cool Adventure Racing to host the Caney Puzzler Adventure Race at Caney Lake,” said Serena Gray, executive director of Visit Webster Parish. “This event perfectly embodies the spirit of Webster Parish, offering participants a unique blend of outdoor exploration and intellectual challenges. We welcome adventure seekers from near and far to experience the beauty and thrill that our region has to offer.”
Race director Keith Pitman Adventure Racing said this is more than a physical challenge.
“It’s a journey that combines endurance, strategy and camaraderie. The Caney Puzzler Adventure Race is designed to push participants beyond their limits, providing an immersive experience in the stunning natural surroundings of Caney Lake,” he said. “With the expertise of Too Cool Adventure Racing, we are confident that this partnership will elevate the event and offer participants a truly exceptional adventure.”
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of the Caney Puzzler Adventure Race and discover the hidden gems of Minden.
Visit Webster Parish is dedicated to promoting the beauty, culture, and unique attractions of Webster Parish, Louisiana. With a focus on community engagement and sustainable tourism, Visit Webster Parish strives to showcase the region as a premier destination for visitors seeking unforgettable experiences.
About Keith Pitman
Keith Pitman is an educator and sports enthusiast. With a passion for outdoor adventures, Pitman has attended successful events that attract participants from around the country. His personal training ground is found on the trails and hills of Kisatchie National Forest, which provides a perfect location for an unforgettable experience in stunning natural settings.
About Too Cool Adventure Racing
Too Cool Adventure Racing is a leading organization specializing in adventure racing events. With a commitment to delivering top-notch experiences, Too Cool Adventure Racing brings expertise and innovation to each event, ensuring participants have thrilling and memorable adventures.
The Dixie Inn Board of Aldermen unanimously passed a new ordinance Tuesday night pertaining to hours worked, starting pay for new hires, and updating longevity pay to four percent for members of the village’s police department.
The unanimous vote came after Mayor Donna Hoffoss closed the monthly meeting, reopened into special session for receipt of comment, closed the special session, then reopened the regular session when there was no comment offered by the audience.
“The police department’s standard hourly straight time in a pay period is 84 hours long,” Mayor Hoffoss explained, prior to introducing the new pay scale for police hires. The new pay scale, which will take effect Jan. 4, 2024, is as follows:
Recruit, PO-0, $1,176.00 every two weeks;
One-year post-certified eight percent increase over the previous pay scale, PO-1, $1,270.08 every two weeks;
Two-year post-certified eight percent increase over the previous pay scale, PO-2, $1,371.68 every two weeks;
Three-year post-certified four percent increase over the previous pay scale, PO-3, $1,426.54 every two weeks;
Four-year post-certified four percent increase over the previous pay scale, PO-4, $1,483.60 every two weeks;
Five-year; Four percent longevity pay increase per year on the first day of the first full pay period following the anniversary date of employment.
All other parts of the pay section in the ordinance remain the same and can be viewed in the office of the administrative assistant at the Village Hall between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
In other business during the final meeting of 2023, the board:
unanimously approved a resolution re-appointing James Edwards to the Board of Commissioners for Fire Protection District #7, effective from Jan. 2024 through 2026;
learned that Jill Callendar won the ham that was given away by the Village;
learned from the mayor that sales taxes are up from where they were one year ago today;
learned that the Village offices will be closed December 25 & 26 and January 1 & 2.
Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
We must learn to boast and brag on God and not on self. It was GOD who allowed us to wake up this morning.
It was GOD who protected us from evil.It was God who allowed us to accomplish great things.It was God who made away out of no way.
All glory belongs to God, he will not give nor share his glory with anyone.
He is “the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, he is the most high God.
It was God who blessed us with a roof over our heads. It was God who blessed us with food to eat.
It was God who kept us in our right mind when we didn’t know what to do.
“Let me just brag on God”
It was God who saved my soul. It was God who gave his only begotten son JESUS to die on the cross for our sins.(See John 3:16)
Let’s brag and boast on God
God did it for you….God did it for me! If it wasn’t for the Lord who was on my side, I would have given up a long time ago, but GOD gave me strength to get going and I’m grateful.He didn’t only do it for me, but for you to.
It’s God who gives us all strength to keep going and running the race called life.
Psalms 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
It was God who allowed us to accomplish great things, It was God who touched hearts, it was God who opened and closed doors.
God deserves all the PRAISE and GLORY!!!!It was God who called me out of darkness into his light to be a vessel for him in such a times as this.
Let’s Brag On God
He’s awesome, He’s Amazing, He’s Infinite, He’s The Great I AM, He’s Alpha and Omega, He’s The Great Physician, He’s The Way Maker!
Prayer:
Lord we thank you for being so great, there’s nothing or no one who’s greater than you. Help us to humble ourselves and give you all the glory.
In Jesus name. Amen
Be Encouraged!!
Let’s Brag On God And Give Him The Glory
All Glory Goes To God.
(LaTina DeLoach, a native of Minden, is a Christian,a devoted wife and mother and Lady Deloach As the wife of Pastor Gregory DeLoach, Blue Run Baptist Church.)
The more things change, the more they remain the same.
Cries and moans about perceived poor officiating in the NFL this season seem to be louder and more often than usual. Maybe it’s because the season is a game longer now, or maybe it’s because more fans have more TV access to more games than ever before, or maybe it’s because there are more commentators on more platforms than ever and because fans have more ways than ever to express their views.
And who knows? — maybe the officiating isn’t as good this season as it’s been in the past. Only the chief of NFL officials would know that. And he’s not saying.
But a lot of us are. You can slam officials on everything from Facebook to “Insta” to TikTok — if you know how to work all those things. (Some of us don’t.)
Unlike fans, the players and coaches are wise to temper their comments about officiating or face getting fined. That threat didn’t stop Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett Sunday for calling the officiating in Sunday’s game against Jacksonville a “travesty” and “honestly awful.”
And his team WON.
Much more publicized and dramatic was what happened in Kansas City, where the homestanding Chiefs had a touchdown (that included a lateral pass) called back because a KC receiver had lined up offsides. The score and extra point would have given Kansas City a four-point lead with a minute to play; instead, three Patrick Mahomes incompletions later, the Chiefs were 20-17 losers to Buffalo.
After that game, Kansas City players and even some broadcasters complained that such a “little” penalty shouldn’t decide the game. The quarterback blamed it on the ref. The coach said “it’s a bit embarrassing for the National Football League” for a dramatic play and score so late in the game to be wiped out by an offsides penalty.
Which is all fine except the professional wide receiver lined up offsides. He has been playing since he was 6 and has been practicing for this season since July. It was the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 13th game of the year.
And it’s the first rule in most sports: you have to be on one side of a line or another at some point. Think of all the lines drawn on fields and courts and tracks. You can’t have a sport without a line like you can’t have a trial with a manila folder.
Yet it’s the fault of the official. It’s not dropped passes or turnovers or blown assignments that have the defending Super Bowl champs at 8-5. Neg. It’s somebody else’s fault. Like the official’s. For calling the receiver offsides. For being offsides. For dropping the flag as soon as the ball was snapped.
What a joke. The officials were right and some people are still mad.
It’s just a game and not life or death and the world will continue to spin. Still it’s funny when even professionals, obviously in error, blame someone or something else when things are going badly.
Like playing any sport at a high level, officiating is demanding and an inexact science. It’s my pleasure to know officials at every level of sports, and the ones I know love it and train for it and take it seriously, just as the players do. The imperfections of players and officials and even the journalists who cover them will never go away.
None of this is new, even though there have been several stories this fall questioning officiating. I’ve kept a few dozen Sports Illustrated covers through the years. The one I’m looking at today pictures Terry Bradshaw — then Pittsburgh’s quarterback and probably why I kept the cover — pleading with an official. This is the headline:
If you answered yes to the above questions, then we would love to talk with you.
Webster Parish Journal is looking for a writer to help cover the northern part of Webster Parish. We want someone who loves to write features about the people who make this community great.
We also need someone who can take on some assignments and cover local government.
