WPSB President Charles Strong (left) and Vice President Johnnye Kennon.
By Pat Culverhouse
Officers for 2024 to lead the Webster Parish School Board were elected Monday and there’s no change at the top.
Board members selected Charles Strong to his second stint as President and picked Johnnye Kennon as Vice President to continue the leadership team from last year.Strong represents District 3; Kennon is the District 10 representative. Both have served multiple terms on the board.
Board members agreed unanimously to adopt a resolution to call a special election in April to authorize renewal of ad valorem taxes in the Webster Parish School District and in Springhill School District 8. District 8 voters will also be asked to approve issuance of general obligation bonds.
If passed, bonds in Springhill School District 8 will fund renovations at three schools: Browning Elementary, Brown Upper Elementary and North Webster High School. Board members also voted to approve naming Yeager Watson and Associates as architectural firm of record in general obligation bond planning.
Also during Monday’s meeting, board members approved in globo just under $86,500 in maintenance and repair projects from various school system funds. Funding sources are:
• $32,010 from Consolidated Dist. 3 Maintenance Fund, including $14,689 to make full depth repairs to specified existing track surfaces at Lakeside Jr/Sr High School, and $8,300 to replace burned-out compressor and inverter board on HVAC system at Central Elementary.
• $27,282 from District 6 One-Half Cent Sales Tax Fund: included $19,000 for installation of locking restroom gates at Webster Jr. High School, and $4,416 to replace ignition/stepper board on a boiler at Minden High School.
• $21,726 from Springhill Maintenance Fund: top expenditure of $15,400 to provide and install approximately 600 feet of six-foot fencing and appropriate gates at Browning Elementary.
• $4,460 from Doyline Maintenance Fund to repair leading HVAC cassette in the library server room at Doyline High School.
* $1,000 from Sarepta Maintenance Fund for condenser fan motor, fan blade and shroud for HVAC system at football stadium at North Webster Junior High School.
Malea Geis, special education teacher at Central Elementary, receives a plaque naming her the school system’s Employee of the Month. Making the presentation during Monday’s school board meeting is Kevin Thompson on behalf of Taylor and Sons.
Webster Parish Police Jury President Jim Bonsall presents Cayla Cox (left) and Vera Davison with plaques and thanks for their service.
By Paige Nash
After serving nearly 20 years as a Webster Parish Police Juror, Mrs. Vera Davison sat in the District 10 seat for her last meeting Tuesday, December 5.
Davison decided after two decades of faithfully representing not only her district, but Webster Parish as a whole, that it was time for her to retire and pass the torch to a fresh face. This opened a seat in which LaTanya Grigsby won by 67 percent of the vote in the October 2023 election cycle.
Davison kept her farewell short and sweet by saying, “I love all of you and appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” She followed by formally introducing Grigsby, who was in attendance, to the jury and audience.
Grigsby said, “I am looking forward to the year 2024, working with the jury. I am anxious to get on board and start working.”
The jury and a few from the audience attended the monthly meeting to wish Davison well with her upcoming retirement and future endeavors.
Juror for District 7 Steve Lemmons said, “I appreciate everything you have done. You served your community well. I really look up to you.”
Davison was awarded a plaque on behalf of the jury.
“Vera is working on finishing her 20th year. You all talk about her in the meetings, when she is cutting up, but she has been a real supporter of mine,” said Webster Parish Police Jury (WPPJ) President Jim Bonsall. “I hope I have been as much support to her as she has to me. There’s really not enough time to talk about all she has done. She represented her district well and she represented Webster Parish better.”
Minden Mayor Nick Cox credited everything he learned when it comes to a properly functioning board to the WPPJ and more specifically to Davison. He said, “When I got sworn into the police jury, I was 32 years old, and two school teachers took me under their wings, Mrs. Vera and Mrs. (Jeri) Lee. I really appreciate you both.”
Cox also took the time to formally thank his wife who decided to step in and fill his unexpired term on the jury for District 8 following his run for mayor. His wife, Cayla Cox, who was diagnosed with breast cancer soon after his decision to run, still took on this responsibility and served almost a year in her seat.
Mayor Cox said, “When I thought about who could fill my unexpired term and not be lost, I knew I needed someone who would care and show up and do the best they can. I looked beside me, and I said, ‘Well that is Cayla.’ The year did not go quite how we thought it would, but you made it. I am so proud of you. You are my hero and I want to formally thank you for service to Webster Parish and to our district.”
Cayla also did not seek election in October. Her seat will be filled by Nancy Hines after the new year.
She was also awarded a plaque for her service by Bonsall on behalf of the jury. He said, “Cayla, we had a good year. It was hard on you, but I just want to let you know when I really needed you, you were here. You have a good lady to take your place, but we will miss you.”
“It definitely was not what we thought it was going to look like when he (Mayor Cox) decided to run for mayor and asked me to step in for him,” said Cayla. “I wish I could have done more.” She expressed her appreciation for the jury accepting and praying for her this year.
Wrapping up some unfinished business, Bonsall also awarded a plaque to Mayor Cox. “We never got around to doing this with you,” said Bonsall. “When you left, you left and didn’t come back. We appreciate what you did when you were here. We hope your new endeavor works as well as it did here.”
Bonsall also honors Nick Cox who was elected Minden Mayor while serving on the jury.
Carlsbad, New Mexico is in the middle of nowhere. It’s one of those places that, to borrow from a movie script, “is a geographical wonder, it’s two and a half days from everywhere”. Most go there with one destination in mind, Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It is a fascinating cave with a side show of thousands of bats that fly out to feed every sunset, so many that they can be mistaken for smoke from a distance. But what I remember most from my visit and tour of the cave, was deep down in the cavern, in a large room. We tourists were told by the park ranger that we were going to experience total darkness when he switched off the lights. Sure enough, the lights went out and you could not see your hand in front of your face. It was unsettling and gave the feeling of suffocation somehow. We were relieved and for a moment blinded when the switch was thrown and dazzling white light flooded the room.
Isaiah prophesied that “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-on them the light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2 NRSV). Many Christians believe that this is a prophecy about the coming of Christ into the world. We know a lot more about darkness in our world than about light. If darkness describes not being able to see our way forward, not being able to see others for who they truly are and not being able to see a true reflection of ourselves. We live in a land of deep darkness. Darkness is what many of our novels, music, movies, television shows, video games and social media are filled with for the most part. If a “reality show” does not include conflict, jealousy, revenge or anger, we are likely to change the channel. If a video game does not feature dark imagery and first-person violence, we are not likely to play it.
The birth of Christ was in the middle of a dark, Judean night in a village named Bethlehem. It was in a dark time of occupation and conflict; the conflict is still there today. Yet those night skies were filled with the dazzling light of the mighty army of God’s angels, proclaiming that God had arrived on earth in the form of a peasant child. The peace they spoke of was not the cessation of war, not yet, but rather the peace we can find and the light we can have when we believe that this child was and is the true Son of God. With the light of Christ shining in us and through us, we can begin to see where we need to go, see others as made in the very image of God and see ourselves as flawed but loved children of God.
So, the next time you see those beautiful lights on houses and streets, pushing back the darkness of these dark December nights, remember that the light of the world has come. He has come to be your light; he has come to show you the way!
(Steve Berger is pastor of First Methodist Church Minden, a Global Methodist Church. He is the husband of Dianne, his partner in ministry, they have two adult sons, a dachshund, and love living in Minden.)
A minor traffic violation in the early morning hours Tuesday turned into a major headache for a Minden man who now faces a variety of drug charges.
Chief of Police Jared McIver said 26-year-old Donald Wayne Sims, a Devereaux St. resident, is charged with possession of Sch. 1 (Ecstasy) with intent to distribute, Possession of Sch. IV (Xanax), possession of Sch.1 (Marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia, and traffic counts of failure to obey a stop sign and illegal window tint.
McIver said Officer Cadyn O’Connor stopped the suspect’s vehicle near the intersection of MLK Dr. and Chrysler St. just before 2 a.m. Tuesday for a traffic offense, but became suspicious after reportedly smelling “…an overwhelming odor of burned marijuana from inside the vehicle. While questioning the suspect, Officer O’Connor observed suspected marijuana in a small plastic bag near the console,” McIver said.
After viewing the marijuana inside, McIver said Officer O’Connor searched the vehicle and discovered several items of drug paraphernalia and more suspected illegal narcotics.
“A test kit confirmed there were two and a half, 10 milligram, Xanax pills. In addition, officers found 49 Ecstasy pills, 1.9 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia that included a marijuana grinder, pipe, torch and a marijuana container,” the Chief said.
Sims is currently being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
The Advent Season will soon be upon us. 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 10, at 10:55, come and experience the SMC unique BELL CHOIR, under the direction of Shirley Maynor, performing various Christmas music throughout the service.
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.
He was 6-8 and thin as a celery stick in the 1970s, a young athlete all afro and smiles and jump shots.
“The kids today, they see that afro I had back then — they love that,” says Aaron James. “I couldn’t grow one now.”
Retired in Ruston — “You better believe it!” says the ex-NBAer and college coach and administrator — James is still all smiles. It would be hard to know him and not like the easy-going, lanky dude who led the nation in scoring as a senior at Grambling in 1973 when he pumped in 32-plus a game.
The weekend after Thanksgiving, the Grambling Hall of Famer, Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Famer, and Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer was back on the court, minus the hops and the afro but still hanging with teammates and getting love from fans, just as he did in 1974 when the New Orleans Jazz was born and James was the franchise’s first draft pick.
In Salt Lake City since 1979, the Jazz hosted James and former teammates Truck Robinson — an All-Star forward and still the franchise’s all-time rebound leader — and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich for a weekend, part of a season-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Jazz. Similar events are planned through the spring, when the organization will release a documentary featuring former players, coaches and owners titled “Note Worthy: 50 Seasons of Jazz Basketball.”
“They really did it up nice,” said James of the weekend, one that included “lots of dinners,” a meet-and-greet with four dozen or so fans who’ve had season tickets since 1979, and, from a luxury suite in the Delta Center, watching the Jazz beat the New Orleans Pelicans.
“I love the Pelicans,” said James, whose All-America hoops career began at the Dryades Street YMCA in New Orleans. “But when they play the Jazz, well, I gotta pull for the Jazz.”
He still talks to several of his teammates three or four times a year, something he understands is unusual for former NBAers. E.C. Coleman. Nate Williams. Freddie Boyd. Paul Griffin. Several others. He’s spent time on vacation with Rich Kelley up in Sun Valley, Idaho, where the former 7-foot center lives, and Kelley and his family have attended the Bayou Classic and shared Thanksgiving with James’ family in New Orleans.
“We were close when we played together,” James said of those first Jazz teams. “We were just like family. Of course, that means we’d fight a little bit too. But we were all just really good friends. At least once a month I talk to one of the guys.”
Good times. Back then, if there was a basketball goal within 35 feet or so, James was taking aim, so much so that former NBA star and Jazz play-by-play announcer Hot Rod Hundley called him “AJ From the Parking Lot.”
“I still get that from time to time,” James said. “Somebody will come up to me and say, “Wait … AJ From the Parking Lot!”
When was the last time, I wondered, he shot a basketball?
“Last week when they had me and Truck and Gail on the court during the Pelicans game,” he said. “We each shot a free throw. They missed; I made mine.”
An Arkansas woman is in Webster Parish’s Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center following her arrest in Springhill.
Minden Police had a warrant for Nicole S. Bolt, 27, of the 2900 block of Columbia Rd., Stamps, for contractor’s misapplication of payments prohibited – fraud.
Bolt, owner of AJS Services, quoted a bathroom remodel for a Minden resident last May. The homeowner paid Bolt more than $3,000 upfront, but neither Bolt nor her crew ever showed up to do the work.
The Minden resident recently filed a complaint against Bolt. Springhill Police reportedly knew about the warrant and arrested Bolt when they discovered her in Springhill.
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.
They buried my cousin last week. He was sent to his reward with full military honors in one of the more unique funeral services I have attended, but we’ll cover those details further down the page. Let’s look at the man.
Jim Longino was a distant cousin. Neither of us ever knew exactly how we were related, but we assumed that my grandmother and his mother were cousins. Those two were close and I saw his mother often in my youth. My grandmother kept up with things like kinsfolk lineage details and, unfortunately, most of the information on that specific branch of the family tree died with her.
I only remember meeting Cousin Jim a few times during my childhood and early adulthood. But I always heard stories of his doings and whereabouts at my grandmother’s dinner table.
Cousin Jim was quite the character.
Jim Longino was born in 1928 and spent his youth in Hattiesburg and then his junior high and high school years in Jackson. He graduated high school, went to Ole Miss, and then served two years of active duty in the U.S. Army during the occupation of Italy. He came home from post-war Europe with a couple of medals and a bevy of stories he would tell over the next seven decades.
Cousin Jim was a storyteller. After the war he ventured to Hollywood to take a shot at the movie business and then moved back to Mississippi and worked as a salesman for several different companies. He was successful as he had the one true gift every salesperson should possess— an ability to connect.
Cousin Jim was a ladies’ man. He never met a member of the opposite sex— no matter how young or old— that he didn’t flirt with just a little. Not creepy old man flirting, but sweet, innocent, lighthearted natter. Typically, when he met a woman, whether at the grocery store or in the independent living facility in which he spent his final years, he would break out into a rousing rendition of the Oak Ridge Boys classic song, “Elvira.”
I’ve never been quite sure why he chose that slightly corny— almost novelty song— as his woo-to-impress-the-women number, as he had a good singing voice and knew most of the American Songbook and classics by Cole Porter and the like, but maybe it just fit his baritone style. Apparently, it worked.
In 2012, I took a large crew from two of my restaurants and hosted a weeklong fundraiser for the Mississippi Museum of Art and Extra Table. The pop-up was held in the museum for seven lunches and seven dinners. Our crew served Crescent City Grill food at lunch and Purple Parrot Café cuisine in the evenings. One day, early into that run, someone from the museum approached me during service and said, “Mr. St. John, you’ve got a call. He said he’s your cousin.”
“Robert, it’s your cousin Jim Longino. I’ve been reading you in the paper. I want to come and have dinner at the museum.” I invited him to dine with us that evening and a decade of fun kicked off the minute he walked through the museum door and back into my life. “I’m Robert’s cousin,” he would loudly proclaim to anyone within earshot— from the museum janitorial staff, to my servers, to the table of dining guests seated next to him.
That was in August. I invited him to drive down and spend that Thanksgiving with my family since he was alone. Cousin Jim arrived to our home that November a little late and seemed a little nervous. He asked for a glass of wine and my wife poured one. I can’t remember how the massive martini ended up in his hand— whether he asked for it or my father-in-law volunteered it— but that’s not the important detail.
My father-in-law, God love him, has always regaled us with stories of when he was a bartender in the Air Force. Feeling that his bartending services needed to be dusted off in that moment, after being mothballed since the Lyndon Johnson administration, he stepped up to the plate and offered to make Cousin Jim a martini. The officer’s club on the Air Force base obviously didn’t mind operating in the red because he poured Cousin Jim what amounted to a triple martini. Seriously, a triple. This made Cousin Jim very happy. He held the glass of wine in one hand, the triple martini in the other, and— with his sunglasses still on— drank alternately from each.
After he finished the wine and was well into his second martini (which was actually his sixth in strength) he stood up in the middle of the room and began to sing. My son leaned over and said, “We need to invite Cousin Jim every Thanksgiving.” Fifteen minutes later, Cousin Jim was down for the count and had passed out in a chair, a victim of my father-in-law’s Air-Force strength martinis and my wife’s Sauvignon blanc. At that point Cousin Jim was less than an hour into his visit.
He snored and coughed a little and I occasionally got up from the Thanksgiving dinner table to make sure he was breathing. Midway through lunch, Jim appeared in the dining room doorway and loudly announced, “Let’s eat! I’ll say the blessing.” So, we all held hands, closed our eyes, and blessed the food for the second time in 25 minutes.
Cousin Jim loved to dance. When he retired from his career in sales, he spent a decade or more as a dance host on cruise ships. He traveled the world dancing with single female travelers at night in the ship’s ballroom.
Cousin Jim loved tequila. In the past several years I would pick him up at his independent living facility in Ridgeland and take him to lunch or a movie. He was a fan of margaritas and action films. On our way to take him back home I would turn on the Frank Sinatra channel and he would sing along with every word, while telling stories of how he once saw Nat King Cole perform in a small club in Los Angeles. He was full of stories.
He was quick to tell anyone he met that his grandfather, Andrew Longino, was the Mississippi Governor who built the new state capital around the turn of the last century, if it was a lady, he would follow up with an acapella version of “Elvira.”
Cousin Jim’s health took a turn late this summer. He was in and out of the hospital. His condition worsened in the days before leaving for my October work schedule in Italy and he asked me to contact his attorney, McCall Stern, a smart, sharp, striking redhead who was exactly who I would have guessed Cousin Jim would hire as the person to handle his affairs. She was totally committed to him and his wellbeing and was his guardian angel in those final days.
My plan was to fly home from Italy and see him the following day. Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean I got word that Cousin Jim had passed and, in that moment, the world lost one of its true individualists.
The funeral was a small affair. The drawback of living long means outlasting most of your peers. The pastor from his retirement home gave a moving and appropriate message and then the organist played and sang a rousing version of “Elvira.” It was perfect. Those in attendance spontaneously joined in on the “Giddy-up uh um-poppa-um-poppa mow-mow” part and somewhere up there Jim Longino was singing along.
The world needs more Cousin Jims. It’s people like him, not the sheep and lemmings and cookie-cutter people who follow the typical norms, newest fads, and trendy things of the moment. It’s the unique people who march to the beat of their own drummer and add spice and flavor to our daily lives that make the world a more interesting place in which to live. That was Jim Longino.
The older I get the more I appreciate the uniqueness of people. They are who give life its character, its personality, and its voice.
Cousin Jim was a true original.
Onward.
Chicken Picatta
1 cup All-purpose flour 1 TB poultry Seasoning 8 each 4 oz. Chicken breasts, butterflied, cut in half and pounded thin 2 tsp Kosher salt 2 tsp Fresh ground black pepper ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil 6 TB Capers, drained and rough chopped 2 TB Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped 1 each Large lemon, zested (about 1 TB) and juiced (about 2 TB) 1 tsp Garlic, minced ½ cup Dry white wine ¼ cup Chicken stock 4 TB Unsalted butter, cut into cubes, chilled
In a bowl, combine the flour and house seasoning. Season the chicken with the salt and pepper. Lightly dust each breast in the seasoned flour and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the floured chicken, working in small batches, for about 2-3 minutes on each side and set aside on paper towels to drain. When all the chicken has been seared, add the capers, lemon zest and juice, parsley, and garlic to the same skillet and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Deglaze with the wine and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and reduce until about 2 TB of liquid remains. Reduce heat to low and incorporate chilled butter pats one at a time, stirring with a wire whip until fully incorporated. Once all butter has been incorporated, remove from heat.
Serve 2 pieces per person and top each with the caper, lemon and butter mixture.
(Robert St. John is a chef, restaurateur and published cookbook author who lives in Hattiesburg, Miss.)
Guest speaker for Thursday’s noon meeting of the Minden Lions Club will be Patrick Caraway, vice president and CFO of Fibrebond Corporation. Fibrebond is one of Webster Parish’s largest employers and the premier supplier of prefab electrical buildings to the U.S. data center industry.
Patrick will bring the Lions up to speed on Fibrebond’s current product offerings as well as its ongoing $40 million expansion project. Patrick will be introduced Thursday by Lion Kevin McCann.
Minden Lions meet at noon every Thursday in the American Legion Hall on Pine Street.
Webster Junior High Food Drive. Canned foods or non-perishable items. Drop off donations at front office.
Dec. 8
2 until 4 p.m., Cookies with Mrs. Santa, Germantown Colony Museum, 200 Museum Road, Minden. Bring your camera.
Christmas in Minden:
5:30 p.m. – Tree Lighting Ceremony, Minden Civic Center;
5:30 until 8 p.m. – Wine Walk, downtown Minden, $25/ticket. Purchase tickets here – https://bit.ly/3GkKwBe – Proceeds benefit new Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier.
6 p.m. Holiday Trail of Lights Hayride, Minden Civic Center.
Dec. 9
8 a.m. Community Prayer Breakfast, Pine Grove Methodist Church, 4549 La. Hwy. 159.
2 until 4 p.m., Cookies with Santa, Germantown Colony Museum, 200 Museum Road, Minden. Bring your camera.
4 until 6 p.m. Santa in Sibley
Christmas in Minden:
9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Christmas Brunch at Geaux Fresh;
Noon until 3 p.m. Kids Ornament Crafting, Dorcheat Museum, Pearl Street, Minden;
4 p.m. Christmas Parade;
5 p.m. Entertainment, downtown stage; and,
7:30 p.m. Fireworks, downtown Minden.
Dec. 10
2:30 p.m. Celebration Service for Pastor Gregory & Lady LaTina DeLoach at Blue Run Baptist Church, 1228 Blue Run Rd., Minden. Guest speaker: Pastor Herbert Rhone, St. John Divine Baptist Church, Sibley.
Dec. 13-14
3 until 4 p.m. Mini Sundancer Camp, Pre-K through 6th grade. Performance at Dec. 15 Glenbrook basketball game.
Dec. 15
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.
For much of the English-speaking world, the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree inside the home became popular in the Victorian era. For hundreds of years, people had decorated Christmas trees, but they were kept outside. Prior to 1840, when Queen Victoria married her German-born cousin Prince Albert, indoor Christmas trees were normally a tradition only held by the royal family. A few upper-class families adopted the tradition, but the popularity of indoor decorated Christmas trees quickly spread when commoners saw an etching of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children celebrating around a festively decorated tree. Other countries, including the United States, quickly adopted the tradition. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to celebrate in the same fashion as the royal family. Well, almost everyone.
In September of 1901, Junior, his second wife Edith, and four of their children, Kermit, Ethel, Archibald, and Quentin, moved into a new-to-them house. The house was over a hundred years old when they moved in. Junior and his family loved to celebrate Christmas, but they had never adopted the tradition of having a decorated Christmas tree in the home. Although his children would certainly have enjoyed a festively decorated Christmas tree with all the trimmings, Junior ultimately decided not to get a tree. Junior had nothing against Christmas trees in particular, there was just not enough room in the home for a tree. Can you imagine not having a Christmas tree as part of your holiday decor?
Late in the afternoon on Christmas day, Junior and his family gathered around the table for Christmas dinner. As Edith and the children looked on with watering mouths, Junior carved the 32-pound turkey. After they ate their fill of turkey and all the trimmings, they turned their attention to the mince and pumpkin pies. What a feast it was.
Not wanting his children to miss out on the Christmas tree tradition altogether, Junior found a solution. Following Christmas dinner, Junior made some excuse and conveniently disappeared. Edith and the children took a carriage to the nearby home of Junior’s sister and brother-in-law, Anna—they called her Bamie—and William Cowles. The two families, minus Junior, were enjoying a festive celebration around the cedar Christmas tree complete with red, white, and blue electric lights when they had a visit from Santa Claus. He had white hair, white beard, and belted out the unmistakable “Ho! Ho! Ho!” However, this Santa had no red suit and hat lined with white fur as we would expect. He wore the khaki uniform of a soldier and a sombrero pulled down low over his eyes. Santa passed out a large number of presents to the children, then they all joined in games and the telling of ghost stories over snacks. As the celebration was winding down, the unusually dressed Santa Claus said a final “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and made a hasty exit. Edith and the children said their goodbyes, wished each other “Merry Christmas,” and returned to their house. With a twinkle in his eye, Junior met them at the door and asked for details of their celebration at the Cowles’ home, which they were only too eager to share. Even without a Christmas tree in their new-to-them house, Junior, Edith, and the children had a most memorable Christmas together.
The home that Junior and his family moved into, which Junior deemed not large for a Christmas tree, now includes just under 100 Christmas trees as part of its annual holiday décor. The house had plenty of rooms to be sure, but Junior was so popular and received so many visitors on a daily basis that all the rooms were required for guests. The house is still popular with guests. Visitors wanting to get a glimpse inside the house must apply months in advance for the chance to take a tour. The Santa Claus that joined the celebration at the Cowles residence was wearing, not a traditional Santa suit, but the uniform of a Rough Rider. Junior, the 26th president of the United States, was Theodore Roosevelt. The house without room for a Christmas tree was the White House.
Sources:
1. The Baltimore Sun, December 22, 1901, p.2.
2. Morning Register (Eugene, Oregon), December 25, 1901, p.3.
3. St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 25, 1901, p.2.
Brace yourselves for a weekend of enchantment as Minden transforms into a winter wonderland for Christmas in Minden on December 8-9. This festive celebration promises a sleigh-full of holiday cheer, sparkling lights, and joyous activities that will make this event the highlight of the season.
Friday, December 8: A Night of Illumination
The magic kicks off on Friday with the dazzling Tree Lighting Ceremony at Minden City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Gather with family, friends and neighbors to witness the town’s Christmas tree illuminate the night sky, marking the beginning of the holiday festivities.
Following the tree lighting, lace up your running shoes for the mesmerizing Reindeer Run 5k through the beautifully adorned Ridgewood neighborhood. Starting at 6 p.m., participants are encouraged to wear their most festive attire and be part of this joyous night run.
The festivities continue with the Wine Walk in Historic Downtown Minden from 5:30 until 8 p.m. Stroll through the historic streets, sip on delightful wines, and revel in the magical atmosphere created by the twinkling lights and festive decorations.
Cap off the evening with a Free Hayride Tour through historic downtown, where you’ll be immersed in the glow of Christmas lights. The first 100 riders will receive a complimentary light-up Christmas in Minden Santa hat, adding an extra dash of holiday spirit.
Saturday, December 9: A Day of Festive Fun
Start your Saturday with the jolly sounds of laughter and merriment at Christmas Brunch at Geaux Fresh Bistro & Bakery. Delight in a special holiday menu from 9 a.m until 1 p.m., setting the perfect tone for a day filled with joy.
For the little ones, head to the Dorcheat Museum for Kids Crafts, where their creativity will be sparked with holiday-themed crafts. The crafting fun is available from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, ensuring smiles and festive creations all around.
The Courtyard becomes a hub of activity with Face Painting and the opportunity for kids of all ages to enjoy sweet treats with Photos with Santa. Capture the magic of the season and make memories that will last a lifetime from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Get ready for the highlight of the day—the Christmas Parade, featuring festive floats, marching bands, and community groups. The parade kicks off at 4 p.m., making its way through the heart of Minden, spreading holiday cheer.
As the day draws to a close, join us at the Minden Civic Center for live entertainment by Louisiana native and expert fiddler, Amanda Shaw. Known for her lively performances, Amanda Shaw will captivate audiences with her energetic tunes and holiday spirit.
The grand finale of Christmas in Minden is an awe-inspiring Fireworks Show lighting up the night sky with brilliant colors and bringing the weekend’s festivities to a close in spectacular fashion.
Christmas in Minden is more than an event; it’s a community coming together to celebrate the joy, wonder, and magic of the holiday season. Join us for a weekend of unforgettable experiences and create cherished memories with loved ones.
Funeral service: 1 p.m. immediately following visitation.
Burial: Forest Park Cemetery, 3700 St. Vincent Ave., Shreveport, La.
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.)
Two local heroes Monday were honored by the City of Minden, Minden Police Department and Minden Police Association for saving lives.
During the Minden City Council meeting, Colin Campbell received Presentation of Courage Award in recognition of his life-saving efforts at Louisiana Tech University around 3 weeks ago, when the 18-year-old freshman took two stabbing victims to the hospital.
“It happened over in Ruston, but Colin is still one of ours,” said Police Chief Jared McIver. One of the victims did not survive, however, the other did thanks to Campbell’s efforts. He is the son of Tracy and Jennifer Campbell.
Lt. Joel Kendrick, president of the Minden Police Association, presented Minden Police OFC. Logan Clingan with a Life Saving Award for preventing a man from committing suicide. Before the man could stab himself in the neck, Clingan deployed his taser and saved the man’s life.
In addition, Minden City Council agreed to two new hires for the police department. Hunter Buchanan and Bria Cooper were unanimously approved. The two bring the number of police officers to 32, a full roster.
One family member described the “miscommunication” that resulted in the recent shutdown of the Savannah Court Assisted Living Center in Minden as “understandable,” but the owners’ response was “late in coming.”
Over two years ago, the assisted living center on Germantown Road incurred roof damage from high winds and rain. Over time, leaks appeared and local management was forced to spread huge tarps over the affected areas.
Over the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday, Rebekah Bradley of Senior Living Management Corporation out of Florida, met with the families at Savannah Court. “She was very professional and explained everything. They (SLMC) took responsibility,” the family member said. “For us it has worked out okay (the resident is staying with the daughter in Minden until she can return to Savannah Court).”
“It’s going to be hard, but we didn’t want to move her (to another facility). The plan is to go back.” At the present time, the daughter has hired staff members who have been laid-off from SC Minden to sit with her mother. She said that her mom’s apartment had no issues (from water damage or mold).
“My mom was there at Savannah Court because she is feeble. She needs the help that they provide. We’re hopeful it will be Christmas when she can return. We just moved her this past Saturday, and today is the first day for her with no family around. Some people relocated (to assisted living centers in nearby Bossier). But I go by and see my mom every day…I can’t do that if she’s in Bossier…”
“You just do what you have to do. We’ll just be glad to go back (to Savannah Court Minden).”
AN EMPTY GLASS?
Another Savannah Court-Minden family member said, “It isn’t going well at all,” for his mother, who moved into his residence in Minden Saturday afternoon and hasn’t been able to sleep in the strange bed. “She’s lived at Savannah Court for the past 13 years!!” he exclaimed. It was home to his mother, who suffers slightly from dementia.
A sitter will be coming on Wednesday to help out with his mom. But is that the answer for someone in their 90’s who is emotionally devastated and “paces the floor all upset?!”
In the meantime, “I don’t think the State is gonna let it fly,” said the son, referring to the “patchwork” system of repairing the leaks and sheetrock that SLMC is demanding.
“There was a sheetrock contractor who left because he was afraid he would lose his license,” the son exclaimed. “I KNOW they could!!”
“The fire marshal warned them 8 or 9 times. Nobody blames local management. If SLMC had done something when they were first warned, all of this could have been avoided! My mom wouldn’t be losing sleep!”
“If I have to move her to another assisted living facility, it won’t be one of their’s!”
WORK IN PROGRESS
According to Rebekah Bradley, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for SLMC, the work at Savannah Court is “already in progress.”
“We have people there today,” she said Monday morning. “The reason the residents aren’t there is because the state (of Louisiana) won’t allow them to be there while work is ongoing.”
“We actually tried very hard to keep them in place. Our priority Is keeping them safe and providing quality care. Our top priority is our residents’ care,” Ms. Bradley said. “We communicated this to the families that we met with (in November). Keeping our residents safe and cared for is our No. 1 priority.”
As far as how long the residents will be away from Savannah Court, “That should be a very temporary situation,” she said.
A 39-year-old Haughton man allegedly went on a pepper-spray rampage last week at a Calvin Liner Rd. residence and is now housed at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center (BDCC) with seven counts of second degree aggravated battery and one unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling charge on his record.
James Anthony Reynolds was arrested shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28th after he allegedly entered the residence uninvited and began pepper spraying a male juvenile. Witnesses reportedly told investigating Webster Parish deputies that Reynolds then sprayed a group of people inside the residence, including one seven-year-old and an elderly person.
“An ambulance was dispatched and all the victims were treated at the scene for the chemical spray,” Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said. “Fortunately, no one had to be transported for additional treatment.”
Parker said Deputy Tony Miller, assisted by Sgt. Aaron Barnes and Lt. Chase Wimberly, placed Reynolds under arrest after he reportedly admitted spraying one of the juveniles. A can of chemical spray was recovered from the suspect at the scene.
Parker said Reynolds is related to the individuals who were at the residence. Investigators are looking into the circumstances that led to the incident.
Louisiana Tech University has announced the names of students on its Fall Quarter 2023 President’s and Dean’s honor lists.
Students whose names are followed by an asterisk earned recognition as members of the president’s honor list. That distinction signifies achievement of at least a 3.8 academic grade point average on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher), with no grade lower than a B.
To be eligible for the dean’s honor lists, a student is required to earn at least a 3.5 academic grade point average with no grade lower than a C on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher).
Courses yielding satisfactory/failure grades and courses audited do not count toward eligibility for either recognition. Only undergraduates with no incomplete grades are eligible to make either list.
Honor students are listed below by their hometowns, with all Louisiana students listed first by parish.
Webster
Doyline: Jacob M. Corke, Jack Andrew Edwards, Hayden A. Engel*, Chase Hunter Sadler*
Dubberly: Kara Virginia Bryce*, Mary Alexis Fish, Raven Parrish Kirk, Madeline Elizabeth Loy, Whitman B. McGee*
Heflin: Lloyd Jacob Chumley*, Sara K. Osborne*
Minden: Jazmin Marie Abreu*, Lauren E. Adams, James Carter Barnett*, Olivia Catherine Blackwelder*, Allison M. Brittian*, Ashtyn Brittian, Colin Campbell, Aaron Micheal Edwards*, Addison Marie Fields*, Carson Jack Fields, Molly Fowler, Walker Hagen Gray, Vivian Reese Hanson, Connor Jacob Heard*, Mary Evelyn King, Maddox Peyton Lee, Naomi Keyes Logan*, Alyssa Clair Martin*, Eli Christian McGraw, Zachary Allen McIntyre*, Jackson McKinney, Aidan Turner McLelland, Collin Murphy, David Phillip Nida*, Cooper Parks, Emma Claire Pitman*, Savannah Teresa Powell*, Haley Amber Raburn, Emily N. Ramie*, Kendrick Jermaine Robinson, Lily Grace Spillers, Lauren Still, Elizabeth B. Tuttle, Elisa Rayne West, Rebecca Lynn White
Sarepta: Grant Jeffrey Harper, Kody Grant Herrick*, Brianna J. Lewis*, Meagan Sydney Maxwell*, Abram Cohen Otwell*
Shongaloo: Luke Scott Vining*
Sibley: William Ryan Kendrick, Maya Faith Merritt, Jinny P. Schober*
Springhill: Brianna Sky Gahagan, Lyndie P. Green, James Arthur Hardaway*, Hannah Leann Huckabay*, Anna Eliot Orr*, Jordan Patrick Orr, William P. Smith*
Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls are my most favorite way to make cinnamon rolls.They are simply delicious, have the best texture, and require absolutely no rising!It does not get better!You can even color the dough as you will see in the picture to make them extra festive.These definitely deserve to be the star of your breakfast table at some point this holiday season.
Filling:
½ cup butter, melted
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Dough:
½ cup butter, cut into cubes
2 ½ cups self-rising flour
1 cup buttermilk
Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons heavy cream
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.Spray a 9” round cake pan with cooking spray.In a small bowl melt butter for the filling and mix in brown sugar and cinnamon.Set aside.(If using food coloring for the filling, add at this time).
In a large bowl combine cold chopped butter with flour using a pastry cutter until it resembles coarse sand.Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk. (If using food coloring, add at this point).Stir just until dough comes together.Place dough on heavily floured work surface.Knead dough 10 times until it is less sticky.Roll dough out into an approximate 12-15” rectangle that is 1/3” thick.This does not have to be exact.
Spread filling mixture on dough leaving a small border on the edges.Roll up the dough into a log.Slice into 12-14 1” slices.Place slices into cake pan and bake 13-15 minutes.When finished allow them to cool a few minutes before pouring on the glaze.To make glaze simply whisk all ingredients together and drizzle over baked rolls.
(Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.)
Ashley Miller, (left) and Haylie Humphries visit with Lions Club members following inspirational talks.
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. He 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.
It was easy to predict the widespread negative reaction.
With all deference to Sam Burns, Phillip Barbaree Jr. and David Toms – our active local pros — I’m not talking about the golf ball rollback. Even though that impending global decision could profoundly affect all of us hackers who make our rounds at Royal Querbes, Stonebridge, Southern Trace and the rest, today’s topic is a sport with a ball that never bounces predictably.
Thanks to Sunday morning’s College Football Playoffs announcement of the game’s Final Four, there are millions of madmen (and women, and children) up in arms about the omissions – unbeaten Florida State especially, but also two-time defending champ Georgia and once-barely-beaten Ohio State.
With only four slots to fill, there were always going to be teams left off the invitation list. In any limited field, the jilted ones don’t take it well.
Over in Dallas, the SMU Mustangs are stinging from undefeated but less-than-tested Liberty, a newly-minted Conference USA colleague of Louisiana Tech, getting the narrow nod as the Group of Five representative in the primetime bowl party, going to the Fiesta Bowl to face Bo Nix and the Oregon Ducks.
In fact, the first two questions on the CFP’s media zoom call Sunday with selection chairman Boo Corrigan focused on THAT hairsplitter before the Frustrated Seminoles United queries began.
Next year, the expansion to a 12-team CFP will resolve all these problems. Right. The 2024 Dynamic Dozen will include conference champs of the six highest-ranked champions, and the six next-highest ranked teams.
Bet your boots No. 13 will be upset. Maybe not as upset as Florida State AD Michael Alford.
“It renders the season up to yesterday irrelevant,” he said in a statement Sunday. “Wins matter. Losses matter …. Those on the committee who competed in the sport … have forgotten it. Today, they changed the way success is accessed in college football, from a tangible metric – winning on the field – to an intangible, subjective one.
“Evidently, predicting the future matters more.”
No, Mr. Alford – money does.
He’s right. Florida State did all it could to earn a spot. The Seminoles compare favorably to Alabama except in a few key aspects – conference affiliation, reputation, and healthy quarterbacks.
The prevalent belief is the Southeastern Conference is the big brother to all others, and certainly the Atlantic Coast Conference (let’s forget for a few moments that Clemson played in the ACC when it was winning and near-missing national titles not long ago, and that ACC members FSU and Miami are prime players in modern college football history).
The SEC isn’t all it’s cranked up to be. Not this year. Georgia has looked less than exceptional nearly all season. So has Bama, from its opening struggle past South Florida to its Iron Bowl miracle escape of Auburn. LSU fans can (some will) note that Florida State handled soon-to-be Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and the Tigers more convincingly, a not-that-close 45-24 final, than the Crimson Tide held off visiting LSU even after Daniels was knocked out of the game (but not the Heisman chase) early in the fourth quarter of a 14-point Bama win.
Impossible to have a CFP without an SEC team? With the higher-ups doing the picking, yes. The ADs look at bottom dollar considerations. They live in their own stratosphere. The SEC is indeed the North Star for college sports, and it’s unwise to sting the status quo.
“In the eyes of the committee, Florida State is a different team without (injured quarterback) Jordan Travis,” said Corrigan. “One of the things we do consider is player availability.”
Yep, FSU isn’t as scary nowadays. That defense still is, but watching the ACC title game Saturday night was less than impressive. However, a week ago, Travis was out and the committee moved the Seminoles back into the top four.‘
It’s a little easier to stomach if you’re a Georgia or Ohio State supporter. Those teams had games they knew they had to win, and came up painfully short. Those Buckeye boosters can rightfully gripe that a Michigan touchdown pass was actually an Ohio State interception, but the scoreboard doesn’t account for tough breaks.
FSU never stared down a losing scoreboard. Still hasn’t. Bama was beaten solidly on its own field by Texas, which was beaten on a last-minute comeback by Oklahoma, which almost was whining about being left out of the New Year’s Day Six set of bowl games. The Sooners, last in at 12th, could have been No. 13 on a dance card with a dozen slots. LSU got that bridesmaid spot.
Is what happened to the ‘Noles fair? As fair as a wind gust that jumped up just as a perfectly struck golf shot, a rare thing in my experience, was tracking toward the flagstick.
I knew I pured it. I also knew it might not work out. It landed in the water. I’ll bet Sam, PBJ and David have their share of those regrets.
Now, so do the Seminoles. And they could not have done any better.
The Advent Season is here. 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 10, at 10:55, come and experience the SMC unique BELL CHOIR, under the direction of Shirley Maynor, performing various Christmas music throughout the service.
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.
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.
