Let’s talk about failures. The holiday season may seem like a peculiar time to air personal disappointments, but stick with me.

My father died when I was a small child. An even more unorthodox way to begin an inspirational pre-Christmas column, but that event still holds as the worst thing that ever happened to me. I’m putting that aside for the sake of this narrative and focusing on three of the worst things that happened to me in within a short, six-year period in my twenties.

Worst thing #1: I flunked out of college. 1981.

Worst thing #2: I got a DUI and ended up in alcohol and drug rehab. May 25, 1983

Worst thing #3: We fired our chef on opening night of my first restaurant. 1987.

In college I’d been majoring in communications because that’s all I knew from my work experience as a disc jockey in high school. I wasn’t interested in communications; I was interested in partying. Embarrassed and ashamed after flunking out, I moved back home to my hometown of Hattiesburg, Miss., looking for a job. There were two ladies who were opening a delicatessen. They didn’t know much about the restaurant business, which is evident, because they hired me as the manager. I fell in love with the restaurant business instantly and set a new course for my future: To open a restaurant of my own one day. Had I not flunked out of college I would have never gotten into what I believe is the career that I was born to do — the restaurant business.

The DUI saved my life. Seriously. I’ve been clean and sober ever since. I am 100 percent convinced that, at that point, I wouldn’t have lived much longer. At 21 years old I had resigned myself that I wasn’t going to live to see 30, and sadly, I was OK with that. The truth is — the way I was living, and the amount of alcohol and drugs I was consuming daily — I probably wouldn’t have made 25.

In 1987, I sold the only thing of value I owned: a landlocked piece of land in rural Perry County that my grandfather left me in his will. That $25,000 was my stake in opening the first restaurant. My mother begged me not to open a restaurant. “You’ll ruin the family name,” she said. At that point I couldn’t have done much more harm the family name than I had already done in my misspent youth.

We hired a chef from the Florida Panhandle. He was a legend. He was a legend for two reasons: 1.) His food was excellent, and 2.) He was a binge drinker who could start drinking on Wednesday and not be seen again until Sunday. We hired him on the promise that he would not drink. On the opening night of the first restaurant, I learned my first business lesson: Lock the beer cooler. The chef drank a case of beer out of the walk-in cooler and a bottle of Dr. Tischner’s from across the street at the gas station. We fired our chef opening night which forced me back into the kitchen. The extent of my cooking experience at that point was that I had asked for, and received, an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas when I was six years old. Had we not fired our chef that night I wouldn’t have spent the next four years working 90 hours a week in the kitchen which gave me the valuable foundation to succeed going forward.

It is said that missing a bus could change one’s entire life going forward. My story doesn’t start with a bus. It starts with The Beatles and their 45 rpm single of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” It was one of the first records I ever owned. It had been out several years by the time my babysitter gave me her copy. That scratched up, worn out record opened up whole new world as I not only fell in love with The Beatles, I fell in love with all music.

Music became my friend and constant companion from that day forward.

I was raised by a single mom who raised my brother and me on a public school art teacher’s salary. My brother and I had no choice but to work as soon as we could. At 15, after a couple of years of mowing yards and working as a janitor in my school, I needed a full time job. My mother approached the owner of a local radio station and told him that her son loved music and would love a job at his radio station. I was hired.

For expediency’s sake I will put this narrative on the fast track going forward. If my babysitter hadn’t given me that Beatles record, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with music as hard as I did, and never would have gotten a job at the radio station which led me to major in communications in college, which led me to flunk out of college because I wasn’t interested in communications.

After I flunked out of college, I ended up getting the only job I could find which was in a restaurant. Had I not gotten that job I would have never fallen in love with the restaurant business. Had I not gotten into the restaurant business I never would have employed more than 10,000 people over the past 37 years, and never would have founded Extra Table which is feeding hungry Mississippians more than 6,000,000 free meals a year. The restaurant business also led me to writing this column which led me to authoring books and producing and hosting television shows, which led me to taking my family on an extended six month trip to Europe.

From that Europe trip came a new career of hosting tours. But without hosting tours Anthony Thaxton and I never would have spent time with John Anderson at the Walter Anderson Museum one night which led to the idea of a documentary on Walter Anderson, and had that documentary not been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people, for more than 1,100 airings on more than 325 public broadcasting stations, and won two Southeastern Emmy Awards, we wouldn’t have been approached by Mississippi College to open the Institute for Southern Storytelling.

In the end, things that seem like the worst things that could happen in the moment can turn out to be great blessings given time. A large portion of the 670,000 Mississippians who suffer from food insecurity are eating today, and the positive stories of Mississippians are being spread across the country. All because of a silly pop song that was released in 1964.

So, the Christmas message here is that one never knows what influence one is going to have on another. Take time with young people. Be caring. Be giving. Be patient in those youthful days. Give them second and third chances. You never know when you’re giving a little kid their version of a spark that could be as simple as a Beatles’ record.

That Easy Bake Oven is now on display in the culinary wing of the Max Museum in Meridian, the Beatles’ record is on my office bookshelf. It keeps me ever grateful and is a constant reminder that I am blessed way beyond what I deserve.

I still fail, almost daily. But I do my best to keep moving forward and try to get just a little bit better each day.

I’m not a winner, far from it. I’m just a loser who refuses to give up.

Onward.

Italian Cream Cake

1 cup Butter, softened
2 cups Sugar
5 large Eggs, separated
2  1 /2 cups All-purpose flour
1 tsp Baking soda
1 cup Buttermilk
2 /3 cup pecans, finely chopped
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 can Flaked coconut (3 1 /2 oz.)
1 /2 tsp Cream of Tartar
3 Tbl  Grand Marnier
1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting

Grease and flour three nine-inch round cake pans.  Line pans with wax paper;
grease paper, and set aside. 

Beat butter at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well.  Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition.  Combine flour and baking soda.  Add buttermilk and flour alternately, beginning and ending with flour mixture.  Stir in pecans, vanilla, and coconut. 

Beat egg whites at high speed in a large bowl until foamy.  Add cream of tartar; beat until
stiff peaks form. Gently fold beaten egg whites into batter. Pour batter into prepared pans. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 or 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Let cool in pans 10 minutes, remove from pans; peel off wax paper; and let cool completely on wire racks.  Brush each cake layer with 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Spread cream cheese frosting between layers and on sides and top of cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8 oz.) pkg Cream cheese, softened
1 (3 oz.) pkg Cream cheese, softened
3 /4 cup Butter, softened
1  1 /2 Powdered sugar, sifted
1 1 /2 cups Pecans, chopped
1 Tbl Vanilla extract

Beat first three ingredients at medium speed of electric mixer until smooth.
Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy; stir in pecans
and vanilla.

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

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Springhill Medical Center has an opening for a full-time Insurance Credentialer. 

Insurance credentialing refers to the process of applying to health insurance networks for inclusion in their provider panels. 

SMC offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits for this full-time position. Apply at http://www.smccare.com.

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Director Dr. Dan Gibbs will be presenting a free concert, A Candlelight Chorale Christmas by Shreveport Regional Chorale at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday December 20, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden. Accompanist is Aaron D. Wilson. The concert is open to the public.

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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 4^th 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.

Dec. 24

5 p.m. Second Street Contemporary service, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden.

5:30 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service and Communion, Minden Presbyterian Church, 1001 Broadway, Minden. All are welcome.

5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve “Candlelight Service” Springhill Methodist Church.

5:30 p.m. The Eve of Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ; The Holy Eucharist with Carols, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1107 Broadway, Minden.

7 p.m. Traditional Sanctuary service, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden.

10:30 p.m. Candlelight service; Christmas preludes, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1107 Broadway, Minden.

11 p.m. The Holy Eucharist at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1107 Broadway, Minden.

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(Editor’s note: Due to technical difficulties, not all our email subscribers read the following story. Webster Parish Journal believes the testimonies of these two ladies requires a second look.)

By Pat Culverhouse

From the depths of despair to the heights of hope can be a tortuous journey, but with God as the guide all obstacles can be overcome. 

A pair of living examples of how prayer and determination, combined with the Louisiana Adult and Teen Challenge program and a local business, gave members of the Minden Lions Club an insight into what is possible when faith becomes the fulcrum for controlling life’s problems.

Ashley Miller is manager of The Broken Bean, a Minden coffee shop/diner with a goal of giving its workers a second chance to improve their lives. Miller’s testimony to the civic club was one of a near-tragic journey from the pitfalls of drug addiction to restoration and salvation.

“I grew up with the perfect, the ideal life; the poster child for what life should look like,” Miller said. “My husband and I began experimenting with drugs in college. We thought it was a rite of passage…thought we would eventually outgrow this and have some funny stories to tell our kids.”

But, she said, the drugs soon dominated their lives, escalating from marijuana to crystal meth and finally, heroin. To her friends and coworkers, Miller, her husband and their four children lived the perfect life. But the facade only masked a dependency that laid undisclosed for years.

“It was important for me for people to see what I wanted them to see and they did,” she said. “We had an addiction for 15 years before anyone knew anything about it.”

In Miller’s words, everything came “tumbling down” in February, 2017 when she was discovered stealing drugs from the emergency room where she had worked as a nurse for 11 years with people who loved and trusted her.

“I got to the point where I wasn’t just a drug addict, I was hopeless and desperate…in a constant state of withdrawal,” she said. “But God brings everything to light and He did it to save my life. In that moment, God saw his daughter was hurting.”

A series of events changed her heart when God gave her hope for something different. At her mother-in-law’s suggestion, a trip to Adult and Teen Challenge in August, 2019, put Miller into a program that would mark a new beginning. Even though she arrived at the facility while still high on heroin, she knew something was different and sensed an immediate change.

“There’s nothing medically to explain why I felt better 24 hours later. There was no withdrawal. Only God could have done this,” she said. “And as I got to know God, things began to change quickly. I got saved, I got to know Jesus and everything changed in my life.”

That change produced a new relationship with her husband and her children. It also developed into a strong relationship with new acquaintances and their community.

“I got a job at The Broken Bean as a cashier and started to get to know you (residents) and got to know Minden,” Miller said. “I fell in love with Minden. There’s something really special and sweet about this town because you loved me and you didn’t even know me. I knew this was going to be my home.”

Following her internship at Broken Bean, Miller said she was blessed to be offered the opportunity to become manager where there’s more than just coffee and eats on the menu.

“It’s not just a coffee shop; we pray for people all day long. We talk about how an ugly past has nothing to do with what we are now,” she said. “We’re about saving lives. We’re more than a coffee shop and more than rehab. I don’t walk around in shame anymore and I’m happy to share my story. It hurts and it’s hard, but if I can save one person or give hope to one…”

Miller’s story of finding hope is shared by Haylie Humphries, a Winnfield native who realized she needed to make dramatic changes in her life. That need led her to the Adult and Teen Challenge program where she also found God.

“My parents divorced when I was young, but nothing traumatic happened to me,” she said. “But, I grew up rebellious and in the summer before my senior year I became pregnant and dropped out of high school. After my son was born, I began using meth and he eventually was taken away from me. I felt guilt, shame and condemnation.”

When she became pregnant again, abortion seemed to be the only solution “…because I didn’t believe I’d ever be a good mother.” Now she knows that idea wasn’t part of God’s plan for her life.

“My appointment date for the abortion fell two days before I was to visit with my son, and the arrangement was to meet at church,” she remembered. “Inside, with my son literally holding my finger, the preacher began to talk about abortion. I knew God was speaking to me.”

After giving birth to a healthy baby girl, Humphries said she slipped back into old habits. But God was setting things in motion that would change the direction in which her life was spiraling. A terrifying drug induced psychosis brought her to her knees in prayer.

“I called on the Lord to save me from what I was doing to myself, and He led me to Teen Challenge. Three days after going there, I dedicated my life to Jesus. He delivered me from the confusion. H showed me how to truly know and love my daughter,” she said.

Today, Humphries, who interns with her daughter Laney, works with the Adult and Teen Challenge daycare. It’s the only program in the state, and one of only eight in the nation, that allows pregnant women or women with their children to participate. 

“God put me in daycare where each and every day I get to walk in and show children the love of God. He made me a loving and Godly mother…the mother I never thought I would ever be. I am no longer a slave to guilt, shame or the condemnation of an earlier life,” she said.

Humphries said she cherishes the peace and security that has put her in Minden and the Teen Challenge program.

“It is the rock solid foundation on which to build the rest of my life,” she said.

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Each year on Christmas Eve, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Cologne, Germany hosted a Living Crèche, what you and I know as a nativity scene or manger scene.  Church members dressed as shepherds, angels, wise men, Mary, and Joseph, stood as motionless as possible to show their reverence for such an important and sacred event.  If one was available, a newborn child played the part of baby Jesus.  The recreated nativity scene often included various animals.  In some years, a parishioner read the story of the birth of Christ to be sure that everyone, regardless of age, understood the occasion.  A well-rehearsed choir of children broke the silence by singing a religious hymn, followed by a period of silence, then another hymn. 

In the years leading up to the Living Crèche of 1670, the children in the choir became bored between songs.  The choirmaster instructed them not to move from their assigned spots and not to talk.  The period between songs was reserved for absolute silence.  The children followed the first instruction and remained in their spots, but as they became bored, their natural inclinations slowly took over.  One would give another a look.  Another would whisper.  The progression continued as long as they went unnoticed by the choirmaster.  Before long, the children were talking.  A stern look from the choirmaster quelled their conversations, but only for a few moments and the progression began again. 

The choirmaster was determined that the Living Crèche of 1670 would be different.  In previous years, the choirmaster had threatened and meted out different types of punishments, but they had little effect.  Nothing seemed to keep the children quiet.  He planned to find another way to keep the children quiet.  After much consideration of various ideas, all of which he quickly discounted for one reason or another, he decided that the only way to keep the children quiet was to put something into their mouths, but what?  Handkerchiefs?  Pieces of wood?  Surgeons used items such as these for their patients to bite down on during operations, but the parishioners would never have allowed that to happen.  Finally, the choirmaster settled on something more positive, food.  If he gave the children something good to eat, something all the children liked, they would not be able to talk.  The choirmaster knew the parishioners would not allow children to eat during such a solemn occasion.  He searched for a loophole and, after a visit to the local confectioner, the choirmaster came up with a solution.  He ordered enough white “sugar sticks” specially designed to resemble a holy symbol related to the story of the birth of the savior. 

The archbishop raised an eyebrow in disapproval when the choirmaster explained that he would give the choir children sugar sticks during the Living Crèche.  When the choirmaster explained how the sugar sticks tied into the nativity scene, the archbishop relented.  On Christmas Eve of 1670, the choirmaster passed out his specially designed sugar sticks to the children.  During the service, the children were silent between songs as they enjoyed their sugar sticks.  His plan had worked.  In the following years, in addition to the children in the choir, the congregation enjoyed the sugar sticks as well.  The ritual eventually spread around the Christian world and became a part of our Christmas tradition which continues to this day.

We buy more of these sugar sticks during the Christmas season than any other time of year.  In addition to their great taste, we often decorate with them.  They still have the same shape as designed by the Cologne choirmaster, but they now come in a variety of flavors and colors.  The most popular, by far, is the peppermint flavored red and white sugar stick.  Back in 1670, the choirmaster had the confectioner bend the sugar sticks in the shape of a shepherd’s crook or hook.  We know these sugar sticks as candy canes.

Sources:

1.      “Candy Cane History & Legends, Spangler Candy.” Www.spanglercandy.com, www.spanglercandy.com/our-brands/candy-canes/legends.

2.     Kennedy, Lesley. “The Twisted History of Candy Canes.” History, 7 Dec. 2018, www.history.com/news/candy-canes-invented-germany.

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Have you ever wondered why some people are so successful no matter what they do? With some people it seems that everything they touch turns to gold. We all know folks who fall into this category and who seem to have something special that you just can’t put your finger on. You can’t measure it, but it’s something average people just don’t have. We call it the “It” factor!

Of course, there are some physical skills you can develop in a person that will help them to achieve great things. With help from the right mentor or coach, you can develop certain skills that may put you on the path to success by making you faster or stronger. But the “It” factor is something you’re born with. Let’s face it, the good Lord blesses certain people with abilities and skills others will never have.

Now, it’s doesn’t mean you can’t be successful, but those born with “it” just take success to another level. The “it” is the gift that allows people to do things you can’t explain. They do things instinctively while the rest of us wonder why and how they did it. We question what makes them so good? Let’s look at an angler who falls into the “it” category.

 In the bass fishing world, it’s the man from Kalamazoo Michigan…. Kevin Van Dam (KVD), the man who many call the greatest bass angler to ever wet a hook. One day while having a conversation with Kevin’s brother, Randy, we talked about Kevin’s instincts and what makes him so good.  Randy told me that even as a young kid, Kevin did things that defied explanation.

Kevin, Randy, and their dad fished often when the bites were few and far between. For reasons unknown, Kevin would switch to another bait and start catching fish immediately. This was something, according to Randy, Kevin did frequently. For no apparent reason he would pick up a different rod and just start whacking them while Randy and his dad just stood there in amazement shaking their heads and wondering why. Over his entire career, Kevin would zig when others would zag. These are instincts not all anglers have and is what separates the great anglers from the average ones.

In the bass tournament world, there are certain anglers who seem to always make the right decisions at the right time. It’s because, like Kevin Van Dam, they have the “it” factor on their side. In tournament fishing, this is the difference between those that win tournaments and those that don’t. If you’ll notice and look at tournament standings over the years, there are certain guys who seem to always be at the top.

Obviously they are good anglers, but they also have something special that allows them to win more often than others…. they have ”it!” You can’t teach it or learn it, you must be blessed with it. I’m not sure why God only hands “it” out to a select few. If you’re one of those who has this gift, be thankful. Because if you use it correctly, it will serve you well.

There’s a radio show that’s been on air for over 16 years. The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show that also has the “it’ factor as they cover all things related to the great outdoors. Rated as the #1 outdoor radio show in the Ark-La-Tex, you can catch this program every Wednesday from 11:00 till 1:00 CST on AM 1130 The Tiger or FM 103.3. You can also catch these guys on Facebook live or their web site at www.hutdshow.com.  Till next time, good luck, good fishing and even though it’s cooler now, you still need to wear your sunscreen. Melanoma does not discriminate! 

Steve Graf                                                                                      

Angler’s Perspective

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

Current through Dec. 18

Webster Junior High Food Drive. Canned foods or non-perishable items. Drop off donations at front office.

Dec. 13-14

3 until 4 p.m. Mini Sundancer Camp, Pre-K through 6th grade. Performance at Dec. 15 Glenbrook basketball game.

Dec. 14

6 p.m., Parent/Student softball meeting, Glenbrook School Library.

Dec. 15

3 until 5 p.m. Commodity Distribution, First Baptist Church, 208 N. Arkansas Street, Springhill. Bring photo ID and proof of residence.

6 p.m. Fireworks Celebration at Sibley Town Hall.

Dec. 16

8 until 11 a.m. Run Caney, Caney Lake Rd., 5 mile and 10 mile loop runs. Visit Webster Parish Tourism Facebook page for info.

Noon until 3 p.m. Victory Park, Bike Crusade hosted by Living Word Church.

Dec. 19

5:30 p.m. Webster Families of Courage, Minden Civic Center.

Dec. 20

6:30 p.m. Shreveport Regional Chorale Christmas Concert, Sanctuary, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden. Free and open to the public.

Jan. 27

Mardi Gras Fasching Parade 2024, downtown Minden. More details coming soon.

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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.

Dec. 11

Harley Coile, 21, of the 5300 block of Hwy. 2, Sarepta, was arrested by Probation and Parole on a probation violation.

Kristine Mayfield, 58, of the 700 block of Hwy. 802, Sarepta, was arrested by Springhill police on a warrant for drug law violations.

Dec. 12

Cynthia Gail Wiggins, 48, of the 100 block of Austins Rd., Minden, was arrested by WPSO on warrants for simple theft, simple burglary and criminal trespassing.

Shacourtney Jenes Grant, 25, of the 700 block of Plum St., Minden, was arrested by Dixie Inn Police for battery of a dating partner with child endangerment.

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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Clarence Allen Graham

Dec. 30, 1941 – Dec. 9, 2023

Shongaloo, La.

Graveside service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, Sharman Cemetery, Taylor, Ark., under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill.

Paula Jean Onishea

Sept. 13, 1963 – Dec. 7, 2023

Visitation: 10 a.m. until noon Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Coushatta Chapel.

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.)

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By Pat Culverhouse

“As your mayor, I want you to know we are not going to let anyone steal our Christmas spirit this year,” Minden’s Nick Cox said during a Monday news conference.

“As an agency, we have been receiving intelligence from local and neighboring agencies about a subject that may possibly be coming to our town. This subject is not dangerous to people, but he is dangerous to the Christmas spirit. He is here to steal the Christmas spirit and if he does come here this is what he is going to do,” Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver added.

Both city officials stressed during the news conference the danger that could be facing the local population as Christmas approaches. That danger is described as green and hairy, with perhaps a splash of red and white on its garments. The suspect could be traveling in the company of a dog with horns strapped to its head.

Cox said Christmas in Minden, which officially kicked off with activities over the weekend, was so successful that it’s caught the attention of many out-of-towners. 

“But with the good comes the bad, and we’ve also caught the attention of some people, in particular one certain situation that has started noticing our city,” the mayor said. “During the holiday season, I’d like you to be on the lookout for any green, hairy individuals. We need to work closely with law enforcement.”

McIver displayed two sketches from reported eye witnesses, one of which was from a youngster. Although slight differences were noted in the complexion, the chief noted, “Definitely these are the same two people.”

Anticipating the approach of the mean greenie, a 24-hour hotline has been established to receive information from the public. McIver said individuals are encouraged to call 318-510-4701 to report sightings of the creature.

“People should call if they see anything resembling this description. If you get a recording, please leave a message telling where you saw it and what it was doing, and maybe a date and time. This will help us as a law enforcement unit to find and apprehend him to keep him from stealing the spirt of Christmas,” the chief said.

Cox and McIver said updates on the progress of the hunt for the suspect will be given on the city of Minden’s Facebook page and through local media outlets KASO Radio, Minden Press Herald and  Webster Parish Journal.

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.

(Editor’s note: please see the entire news conference on Webster Parish Journal Facebook page.)

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By Paige Nash

Downtown Minden was the place to be this past weekend for everything merry and bright. A handful of entities put their heads together including the Greater Minden Chamber, Webster Tourism, Dorcheat Museum, City of Minden and the Minden Historic District, to bring the Christmas spirit to all who visited the brick street during this three-day event.  

Although “Christmas in Minden” was originally planned to span Friday and Saturday only, the threat of severe weather postponed the annual Christmas parade and fireworks to Sunday, but that did not stop the crowds from showing up ready to celebrate.  

“This weekend ended up being a true representation of Louisiana weather,” said Greater Minden Chamber President Stephanie Barnette. “Even with having to change the parade and fireworks plans, I would say it was one of the most fun Christmas in Minden weekends, yet.” 

Along with the usual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa Claus visits, a new addition this year featured a Holiday Wine Walk sponsored by Minden Family Dental and the Minden Foundation. Participants strolled Downtown Minden shopping, snacking, and striking up conversations with friends and acquaintances, while sipping their preferred wine choice.  

Barnette said, “It was amazing to see so many people walking the downtown streets, laughing and shopping along the way. Our shoppers had so many positive things to say about the experience. We would like to thank all the businesses who participated and stayed open late.” 

All the proceeds raised from this event will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Shreveport-Bossier. 

Coinciding with the events happening Downtown, Minden Medical hosted a Rehab Reindeer Run 5K through the Ridgewood neighborhood.  

Another popular event Friday evening was the Holiday Trail of Lights Hayride through the Historic District where riders got to enjoy beautiful Christmas lights and caroling while learning about historic homes and landmarks.  

On Saturday, families had the opportunity to visit with Santa at Easley’s Courtyard, shop with vendors and make crafts at the Dorcheat Museum. The night’s entertainment was provided by Amanda Shaw and her exquisite fiddle playing skills.  

Sunday afternoon, dozens of churches, organizations, schools and businesses mobilized their decorated floats to throw candy to children lining Main Street and Broadway. A fireworks display organized by Pyromania Fireworks, LLC made for a loud and colorful ending to an eventful weekend.  

According to Webster Parish Tourism Executive Director Serena Gray, the success of this weekend could not have worked so flawlessly without the collaboration of so many within the parish.  

“Our community is stronger when we work together and that’s the approach that has been taken in regard to Christmas in Minden,” said Gray. “Working alongside the City of Minden, the Greater Minden Chamber, Minden Main Street, the Dorcheat Museum, Webster Parish Libraries, Minden Medical Center and numerous small business owners, has led to an amazing weekend filled with fun, family-friendly activities that create memorable experiences for locals and visitors.”

Gray is in high hopes to see continuous collaboration in the upcoming years as they continue to grow this annual event.

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By Paige Nash

The Webster Parish Police Jury (WPPJ) unanimously approved their budget for the year 2024 following a public hearing last Tuesday, December 5, that resulted in zero concerns, questions or objections.  

The jury will enter the new year with a $21.7M budget which is nearly $950,000 more in comparison to their previous $20.7M budget for 2023.  

One significant increase in expenditure includes a recently adjusted amount to be distributed to the 11 municipalities in the parish. There are 11 municipalities in total. Sibley, Heflin, Doyline, Dubberly, Sarepta, Cotton Valley, Cullen, Shongaloo and Dixie Inn make up the 9 smaller ones, with Minden and Springhill being the two larger cities within the parish.  

“On behalf of the City of Minden, I want to thank you for increasing your municipality funding,” said Minden Mayor Nick Cox, who attended the meeting. “We really appreciate that.” 

The 9 smaller towns and villages previously received municipal funds in the amount of $8,000, they will now receive $16,000 each. Minden and Springhill received $16,000 in previous years and will now receive $32,000 each. These funds can be used for roads, bridges, drainage and right-of-way cleaning inside the municipality. 

After numerous budget workshops and a request made by the Webster Parish Coroner Allen Mosely, FNP, the jury also agreed to give them an additional $15,000 annually for their office expenses.  

In regard to revenue, License and Permits is projected to see an increase, along with fines and forfeitures, use of money and library revenue. The total revenue including operating transfers in and the beginning fund balance in the amount of $3,807,072 totals to a proposed $21,719,251.00.  

Expenditures show increases to health and welfare, public works as well as the library. Total expenses in the amount of $16,682,973 in addition to a reserve amount of $5,536,278 balance the budget.

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By Pat Culverhouse

Three individuals who now face a variety of drug and drug-related charges have learned the hard way that giving police officers false information can lead to serious charges.

Constance Jameka Black, a 36-year-old Homer resident, was booked for resisting an officer by failure to be identified, misrepresentation during booking and possession of drug paraphernalia. Black reportedly continued to refuse to give her correct name during the booking process.

Black was taken into custody after officers discovered a small baggie with suspected MDMA (Ecstasy) residue in her pocket. Police had been called to a reported disturbance in the 1300 block of Shreveport Rd. 

In the same incident, 30-year-old Demarcus M. Henderson of Minden was arrested and charged with resisting an officer by failure to identify, resisting an officer with force or violence and possession of Sch. II MDMA (Ecstasy).  

According to Chief of Police Jared McIver, Officer Ben Sparks responded to the Shreveport Rd. disturbance and had to chase down Henderson who resisted by fighting and attempted to flee. After he was placed into custody, one Ecstasy tablet reportedly was found in the suspect’s pocket.

A separate incident has landed 58-year-old Edward Charles Judgeware in hot water after he refused to reveal his identification during questioning by patrol officers. After confirming his identity, officers learned Judgeware was also the subject of an active MPD warrant.

During a search of the suspect, officers reportedly found a glass pipe with black and white residue, and a rock of crack cocaine. 

Judgeware was booked on charges of resisting and officer with misinformation, possession of Sch. II (crack cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia and disturbing the peace by intoxication.

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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(Editor’s note: Police are still seeking these men. Please contact them with any information you have.)

A pair of would-be robbers got an unexpected hot reception that resulted in a brief exchange of gunfire during an unsuccessful attempt to hold up a local convenience store Saturday evening. 

Chief of Police Jared McIver said two black males entered a Pine Street store sometime between 8:30 and 9 p.m. and pulled weapons on the clerk. They didn’t know the store clerk also had a weapon at hand.

McIver said the clerk took advantage of an opportunity and retrieved a 9MM handgun and fired a shot at the suspects. One of the men reportedly immediately ran from the scene while the other exchanged shots before fleeing. No one was hit during the shooting, McIver said. Both suspects remain at large.

“The two suspects were masked, one with a Halloween Scream-type mask and the other with his face covered and wearing a hoodie. They were armed with an AR pistol and a .22 pistol,” McIver said. “They didn’t know the clerk was armed.”

According to the chief, the suspects may have had a game plan when they entered the store, but everything changed quickly.

“They went in with a plan, but not suspecting the clerk to be armed. That altered their plans, which made them make a lot of mistakes,” the chief said. “We’ve retrieved a lot of evidence from the scene that could lead to an arrest pretty soon.”

McIver said the public could be helpful in finding the individuals who attempted to rob the store.

Anyone with information may call 371-4226 or 377-1212. All callers will remain anonymous and information will be confidential.

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 Pat Culverhouse

Minden city police officers literally put the bite on a 38-year-old Peach St. resident who now faces drug and resisting arrest charges following a brief chase that ended beneath a neighborhood residence late Friday. 

Chief of Police Jared McIver said Kenyaskey W. Moore is being held for possession of Sch. II (methamphetamine), possession of Sch. II (crack cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer. Moore was also booked on a bench warrant and a charge of pedestrian on highway.

McIver said Moore was walking in the middle of a city street around 11 p.m. Dec. 8 when patrol officers asked to talk to him. When instructed to stop, the suspect reportedly ran through neighborhood yards before attempting to hide beneath a mobile home on Chestnut St. with officers L. Clingan and K. Booker in pursuit.

“Lt. Chris Hammontree and our K9 Tigo arrived on the scene and after several verbal warnings to the suspect were ignored, Tigo was released,” McIver said. “He finally was pulled from beneath the residence after he was bitten by our K9 while continuing to resist arrest.”

Officers retraced the route of Moore’s attempted flight and located suspected methamphetamine and crack cocaine in a small bag he had allegedly tossed during the chase, McIver said. A used meth pipe and one digital scale reportedly was also found on the suspect.

E.M.S. was called to the scene to provide medical aid for Moore, and he was transported to Minden Medical Center for further treatment. He was later released into custody.

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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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents have cited three men for alleged deer hunting violations in Webster Parish.

On December 6, Matthew Ramos, 40, of Magnolia, Ark., and Jacob White, 28, and Taylor McKissack, 27, both of Minden, were cited for hunting deer during illegal hours and violating the Airborne Hunting Act. McKissack and White were also cited for deer tagging violations.

LDWF agents reportedly began an investigation on November 28 about a deer that was illegally harvested in Minden on November 22. During the investigation, agents learned the subjects utilized a drone at night to locate an eight-point buck and then used a shotgun to harvest the deer.

Agents also discovered that McKissack used his tag on the deer even though White was the person that harvested it.

Agents seized the deer, drone and shotgun. Violated of the Airborne Hunting Act will be filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution in Federal Court. Hunting deer during illegal hours brings a $00-$950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Deer tagging violations carry up to a $350 fine.

The men may also face civil restitution totaling more than $2,000 for replacement value of the illegally-taken deer. Agents participating in the care are Sgt. William Holomon, Agent Trace Francis, Corporal Justin Greer and Lt. Kenny Balkom.

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.

(The Airborne Hunting Act (“Act”), approved in 1971, added a new section, ie (section 13; 16 USCS § 742j-1), to the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956.  The Airborne Hunting Act is also known as the Shooting from Aircraft Act.  The Act prohibits harassing, capturing or killing birds, fish and other animals from aircraft with certain limited exceptions.)

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By Pat Culverhouse

An orange glow in a September, 1998 night sky could have signaled the end of a local manufacturing company, but it only ignited the resolve and created a culture that erased the words “can’t do” and “won’t do” from the vocabulary of its owners and employees.

Today, 25 years after a devastating fire leveled the production facility at Minden’s Fibrebond Corp., an on-going $43 million expansion project at the 41-year-old company marks the continued growth at Webster Parish’s largest private employer and number one property tax payer. 

All this, according to Fibrebond Chief Financial Officer Patrick Caraway, is a tribute to ownership and to employees who possess a special trait.

“Nowhere else in the country do we see the work ethic of northwest Louisiana,” Caraway told members of the Minden Lions Club. “People here grow up accustomed to manual labor…it’s already ingrained in them. It’s the people in the plant that makes this happen. I wouldn’t trade our people for anyone in the world.”

A video presentation showed devastation that would have ruined many companies, but 1998 Fibrebond President/CEO Claud Walker assured employees and their families that while there might not be business as usual, there would still be business. 

During the 11 months the newer, better production facility was being constructed, employees never missed a day of work nor a paycheck. Things were different, but production continued.

“Insurance did cover the rebuild,” Caraway said. “Mr. Walker said Fibrebond wasn’t gone. They could have taken the money and gone to the house but they didn’t.”

Fibrebond employees 530 at the Minden plant with an average tenure of 10 years, a figure Caraway says is unique in industry. Among those employees are 296 Webster Parish residents and 156 from three surrounding parishes, figures that make up 85 percent of the company’s workforce. Just under $28 million in wages are paid with nearly $14 and a half million of those going to Webster Parish residents.

Local businesses are also on the receiving end of Fibrebond revenue with $10 million in vendor spending going to Minden suppliers. Returning money to the local economy is an important economic factor, especially when a large portion of that revenue is coming from other areas.

“About 92 percent of the money brought in is coming from outside Louisiana, invested in Louisiana through payroll, utilities and taxes,” Caraway said. “When we talk to the state about economic incentives, they like to see outside money coming in.”

In its beginning, Fibrebond dealt primarily with the communications industry. There has been a major shift in the company’s business focus as new technology has emerged. Where AT&T and Verizon once topped the customer list, worldwide leaders like Apple and Google are now major clients.

“Data center is a primary industry and that makes up about 79 percent of our total revenue,” Caraway said. “The company has gone from relying primarily on two customers. It is rare to see a company pivot from one one industry to another so quickly and be able to survive. Our CEO Graham Walker had the vision to get into another industry and we have the people who are not afraid. They will keep going and running through brick walls if they have to.”

Data center, Caraway explained, includes information storage such as iCloud where servers in remote locations pull information from anywhere in the world. “We’re seeing no slowdown…it’s incredible to be in right now. With what we hear about artificial intelligence it’s just the beginning. With AI there is ore need for data and processing and the only holdup is power availability,” he said.

Other Fibrebond industry customers include fiber (9 percent), industrial (9 percent), utilities (three percent) and wireless (2 percent). 

Another video featured current President/CEO Graham Walker explaining the current expansion project that began in 2022 and connects local workers with worldwide customers. An additional 74 acres has been purchased, an additional 90,000 sq. ft. of parking is available, warehouse space has been expanded for clients’ equipment supplies and technological upgrades have been made for the manufacturing process.

When the new facility is fully operational, 240,000 sq. ft. will be dedicated for structural assemblies to fill client needs, Walker said.

“We are a shock absorber for a long supply chain across the United States,” he said in the video. “We are a small business in north Louisiana building to a world class standard.”

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Springhill Medical Center has an opening for a full-time Insurance Credentialer. 

Insurance credentialing refers to the process of applying to health insurance networks for inclusion in their provider panels. 

SMC offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits for this full-time position. Apply at http://www.smccare.com.

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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 4^th 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.

Dec. 24

5 p.m. Second Street Contemporary service, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden.

5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve “Candlelight Service” Springhill Methodist Church.

5:30 p.m. The Eve of Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ; The Holy Eucharist with Carols, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1107 Broadway, Minden.

7 p.m. Traditional Sanctuary service, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden.

10:30 p.m. Candlelight service; Christmas preludes, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1107 Broadway, Minden.

11 p.m. The Holy Eucharist at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1107 Broadway, Minden.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Fire Chief Brian Williams last week gave council members his first annual report since taking over the department reins.

“This report is intended to be a look into the daily activities of the firefighters protecting the citizens of Minden,” Williams said. “These are items tracked for record keeping, but there are many other tasks these men perform on a daily basis that are not included.”

Some of those items include station cleaning, apparatus checks, grass cutting and minor station maintenance.

“The report also contains the attendance of our call men firefights to calls for service and training drills,” Williams said.

Williams said he has 15 paid firefighters and 18 volunteers.

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Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies are my new favorite Christmas cookie for 2023! They are festive with their pale color and made bright with sprinkles. Using a cake mix makes this easy peasy. I hope you enjoy them!

Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tablespoons flour
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ¾ cup chocolate chips (plus extra for pressing on top of cookies)
• Christmas sprinkles

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In mixing bowl combine cake mix, egg whites, flour and oil.  Mix well then fold in chocolate chips.

Use cookie scoop to scoop onto baking sheets.  Top with extra chocolate chips and sprinkles.  Bake 8-10 minutes.

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

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United Christian Assistance Program has the following needs:

Food: Canned meats, cereal

Clothing: Men’s shoes (9 and up)

Household goods: towels, king and queen sheets, pots, pans, skillets

Monetary donations

Thank you for supporting UCAP!

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

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