The Krewe des Ambassadeurs will debut their new float at the annual Minden Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. Members of the krewe have been working since April of 2023, when they tore the old float “down to the bone,” according to float chairman Terry Walker. At that point, Walker and his crew began working with Superior Graphics of Haughton to design the new float. “In the early years, we redesigned our float every year,” Walker said. “But this last design job, which was painted on, lasted for seven years.” Pictured above one of the many signs on the float are (from left) Terry Walker, Jon David Liles, Jason Kirkland, Kane Wallace, Carol Kirkland, and Tammy Walker. The parade will originate at the intersection of Elm Street & Todd and will wind through downtown Minden before it returns to Elm Street for a second pass. (Photo by Marilyn Miller)

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This prestigious award is sponsored by the Young Women’s Service Club (YWSC) of Minden and presented annually at the Greater Minden Chamber’s Annual Awards Gala.  

“We accept nominations from community members and then present those to a board created by the Greater Minden Chamber, who hosts the Annual Gala,” said YWSC President Elizabeth Campbell. “In selecting the next Woman of the Year, we are looking for someone who loves Minden and continuously works to make it a better place. They engage both professionally and socially in the well-being of others and the town. They are selfless in their actions and words and truly represent Minden in the brightest light.” 

The 82nd Annual Minden Chamber Gala is set to take place this year on February 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Minden Civic Center, where the 2024 Woman of the Year will be announced among other honorees. Nominations will be open until 11:50 p.m. on January 31^t. To nominate your personal Woman of the Year, click the link below and fill out all the required fields.  

https://form.jotform.com/ywscofminden/2024WomanoftheYear 

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United Christian Assistance Program has the following needs:

Food: Canned meats, crackers

Clothing: Men’s pants (32 – 34 waist), men’s shoes (9 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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We’ve been in this financial planning series for several weeks now, so let’s take a moment and recap our journey in creating a sound financial plan.

1. Start with an Emergency Fund: Begin with an emergency fund equal to 3-6 months’ worth of expenses.
2. Insure Your Most Valuable Asset: Ensure your ability to make money by insuring against disability and loss of life. Care for your loved ones with cost-effective term insurance.
3. Start Saving for Retirement: Take advantage of your company match and start early to enjoy the benefits of compound growth.
4. Get Rid of Bad Debt: Stop habits that allow debt to grow and create a plan to pay it down, starting with the highest interest rate cards/loans or the smallest ones.
5. Set Up a Budget: Plan for other goals by having a good budget in place. This is a good article to start with.
6. Methods to Creating a Financial Plan: This article lays the groundwork for the complex planning discussed going forward.
7. Detailed Look at Retirement Planning: Discussing rules of thumb to determine if you are on track.

Now, let’s be honest here. If you’ve completed all the steps mentioned above and still have room in your budget to fund additional goals, you’re doing exceptionally well. With over 20 years of experience as a financial planner, I want to assure you that feeling overwhelmed at this point is not uncommon.

Courtney Montgomery delved into New Year’s resolutions and health in a recent article, Empowering Wellness, for the journal. She emphasized the importance of celebrating small wins and not giving up. The same principle applies to financial planning. If your focus right now is on building your emergency fund, that’s a significant accomplishment—celebrate that win. If you’re in the process of creating a budget as a crucial step toward achieving your goals, that’s commendable too. Celebrate each step in the right direction and gradually build on your progress one step at a time.

Assuming you have the basics in place, what about other goals like a house, marriage, college, vacations, or season LSU Tickets with a motor home to go with it (that is one of mine)? The approach remains the same—start with the end in mind, calculate the cost, and start saving. However, for short-term goals, your investment strategy will differ. If you’ll need the money within a year, consider short-term options like money market, US Treasury securities, or CDs. For longer-term goals, adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

For example, consider college savings with 529 plans. These plans offer tax benefits, and in Louisiana, there’s an added state income tax deduction with the START Saving plan. Prioritize your goals, look at your budget, and start saving for the highest priority item, then move down the list.

Celebrate small wins and keep working towards your goals!

Next week, we’ll delve into estate planning, covering basics initially and getting more complex later. In future articles, we’ll explore the investment side of wealth management, providing education on diversification, asset allocation, expenses, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and more. We’ll take it one week at a time.

(Matt Bankston, CFP®, Co-Publisher of the Shreveport Bossier Journal, also serves as a Managing Director at Choreo Advisors, an independent firm focused on redefining the RIA’s role in the wealth advisory industry. Choreo, LLC is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training of the adviser or its representatives.)

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

Current

Registration open for Upwards Soccer, hosted by North Acres Baptist Church. Discounts available for multiple children. Scholarships also available. K5-5th grade boys and girls. Games will be Saturday mornings at North Acres Baptist Church, beginning March 16 through April 27. Contact church office at 377-4315 for more information. https://regisgtration.upward.org UPW85195 .

Jan. 25

10 a.m. Grand opening, The Back Porch, inside Exacta Inn.

Jan. 26

5 until 8 p.m. Springhill Main St. Mardi Gras Parade. Click the link to sign up for the parade:  https://form.jotform.com/240015970227046 .

Jan. 27

Mardi Gras Fasching Parade 2024, downtown Minden. More details coming soon. Click the link to sign up for the parade: https://www.mindenla.org/mainstreet-page/ .

10 a.m. until 2 p.m. LifeShare Blood Drive and Springhill Fire Department, Brookshires – Springhill location, 400 Butler Street.

Jan. 28

Deadline to register for the 8th Annual Caddo Classic for Webster 4-H Shooting Sports.

Jan. 31

11:50 p.m. nominations due for Woman of the Year. https://form.jotform.com/ywscofminden/2024WomanoftheYear 

11:59 p.m., nominations due for Man of the Year. https://docs.google.com/…/1ebb7DFsd-TIb…/edit…

11:59 p.m. deadline for business awards’ nominates at https://greatermindenchamber.com/awardsgala/ 

Feb. 8-11

Minden St. Jude Auction.

Feb. 10

1 p.m. North Webster 13th Annual Black History Parade. Line up starts on Church Street. Deadline to sign up is Feb. 5. Grand Marshal: Edward Bankhead.

Feb. 27

6:30 p.m. Doors open for the 82nd Annual Greater Minden Chamber Awards Gala at Minden Civic Center. Program begins at 7 p.m.

March 2

Caney Puzzler Adventure Race, Caney Lakes

March 3

6:30 p.m. True Girl Crazy Hair Tour at First Baptist Minden for mothers and daughters ages 7-12. This live event will be full of games, worship, fashion show, solid biblical truth and will deepen the relationship between mothers and their daughters. Visit www.mytruegirl.com for tickets. For more information, call the church office at 318-377-4434.

March 16

9 a.m. until noon, District 2 Star of Hope O.E.S. 30th Annual Gala, “Star Struck” Welcome to Old Hollywood. 630 Factory Outlet Dr., Arcadia, La. Attire: Sunday’s best with “fascinators and fedoras. Entertainment, food, drawings. Public is welcome. $5 donation at the door.

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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.

Jan. 8

Quanterrick Montgomery of Dubberly was arrested by the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office for distribution of adderall (felony) and armed robbery with a firearm.

Jan. 9

Gregory Dade of Minden was arrested by the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office for operating a vehicle with a suspended license; no license issued.

Jan. 17

Robert Wayne White, 38, of the 1400 block of Lewisville Rd., Minden, was arrested by LSP-G at Milemarker 38, I-20 for driving while intoxicated, speeding (75 mph in unsafe conditions), careless operation and improper lane usage.

Jan. 18

Calvin Flores, 47, of the 300 block of Lakeview Dr., Doylinbe, was arrested by Sibley Police on active WPSO warrants for no insurance and switched tags.

Seth James Matte, 29, of Morgan City, La., was arrested by LSP-G on I-20 eastbound in Webster Parish for possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and as a fugitive from Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Sarah Cloutier Willis, 44, of Houma, La., was arrested by LSP-G on I-20 eastbound for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jan. 19

Steven Cantu, 42, of Bossier City, was arrested by WPSO for home improvement fraud.

Austin W. Perkins, 27, was arrested by WPSO for 3 Failure to Appear warrants.

Jan. 20

Charles A. Williams, 39, of the 900 block of Hwy. 802, Sarepta, was arrested by WPSO for simple battery.

Jamal A. Vaughn, 46, of Monroe, La. Was arrested by LSP-G on I-20 in Webster Parish for driving while intoxicated.

Richard Kevin Talbert, 53, of Haughton, La., was arrested by LSP-G in I-20 in Webster Parish for driving while intoxicated, improper lane usage and driving under suspension.

Terry Jones, 64, of the 100 block of St. Rest St., Minden, was arrested by MPD as a fugitive from WPSO, driving with suspended license, possession of drug paraphernalia, running a stop sign, failure to use turn signal and switched license plate.

Kawasaki Allen, 43, of the 600 block of Nela St., Minden, was arrested by MPD for possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, resisting an officer, obstruction of justice and possession of methamphetamine.

Demond Deshay Kincaid, 26, of Monroe, was arrested by MPD for illegal possession of a stolen firearm and as a felon in possession of a firearm.

Malik Armond Mason, 25, of Ruston, La., was arrested by MPD for possession of oxycodone, hydrocodone drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer.

Robert Dunshay Williams, 24, of the Monroe, La., was arrested by MPD for driving under suspension and resisting an officer.

Jan. 21

Damien Rasco, 44, of the 1300 block of Henrietta White, Cullen, was arrested by WPSO for possession of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and synthetic marijuana, all with intent to distribute.

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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Pearl Perkins

July 29, 1919 – Jan. 18, 2024

Minden, La.

Visitation: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, First Baptist Church of Minden.

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

Burial: 2 p.m. Mulhearn Memorial Park.

Dorthey Booth Hogg

July 19, 1934 – Jan. 20, 2024

Minden, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.

Funeral service: 10 until 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, West Lake Baptist Church.

Burial: 11:3 a.m. Saturday, Point Chapel Cemetery.

Archie Wade O’Neal

August 1, 1938 – Jan. 18, 2024

Graveside service: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024

Old Shongaloo Cemetery, under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, La.

Ruby Nell Hathorn

Jan. 6, 1945 – Jan. 19, 2024

Sarepta, La.

Visitation: noon until 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, La.

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

Burial: Cotton Valley Cemetery.

Mary Rockett Tomlin Williamson

Oct. 24, 1936 – Dec. 27, 2023

Minden, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, First Baptist Church of Minden.

Graveside service: 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, Springhill Cemetery, Springhill, 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.)

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By Pat Culverhouse

Mother Nature’s one-two punch of sleet and snow across the region earlier this week caused major headaches for motorists and first responders, but the Minden Police Department’s newest addition to its rolling stock helped solve many problems in the city.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said the department purchased a Polaris Ranger utility vehicle just a couple of days ahead of the winter blast and it immediately proved to be a valuable piece of equipment.

“It really came in handy,” the Chief said. “It’s heavy enough that we were able to use its front-end winch to pull out cars and half-ton trucks that had slipped off streets. We also were able to pick up people who got to a spot and could go no further and deliver them to a destination.”

McIver said he and Lt. Joel Kendrick took the UTV to places other vehicles were unable to access after the winter precipitation hit the city.

“We were busy, and cold, all day Monday. We were able to go to places quickly and get where other vehicles couldn’t go,” he said.

McIver said the purchase was made with the approaching bad weather in mind, but the department had been considering adding the unit to its moving arsenal for some time.

“We’ve had our eye on this for a while for several reasons,” he said. “We have just about a parade every month, and this will benefit us to be able to move around during these parades much easier than with a patrol unit. We can maneuver in and out of crowds.”

It’s a tool that will also used for criminal investigations and in off-road pursuits.

“If something’s off road or out in woods somewhere, we can get our investigators and equipment to those scenes without having to walk long distances carrying what they need,” McIver said. “When we’re tracking with a K9, we can pick up the suspect, put our K9 in the bed on back and bring them out.”

McIver said the unit will soon be undergoing a facelift to make it identifiable as a Minden city police unit.

“We’re going to be adding blue lights and police logos to make it recognizable as one of our units,” he said.

McIver handed out special thanks to Jimmy Gould of Louisiana Power Sports in Bossier City for sponsorship and assistance in purchasing the unit.

“This is going to be a very valuable asset for us,” McIver said.

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Funeral mass celebrating the life of Preston Smith Wise will be held Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 12:00 noon at St. Paul Catholic Church in Minden, Louisiana, with Rev. Nicholas Duncan officiating.  Interment will follow at Gardens of Memory in Minden under the direction of Rose Neath Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends at Rose Neath Chapel on Friday, January 19^th at 4:00 PM. 

Preston was born on September 4, 1991, in Shreveport, and tragically passed away on January 16, 2024, as a result of an ATV accident while hunting. He was raised in Minden, Louisiana, and graduated valedictorian of Glenbrook School in 2010.  Preston also excelled in football and baseball at Glenbrook achieving MPSA All-Star in each sport.  In 2015, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University and was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at LSU. 

For the past eight years, he worked as Technician and Account Manager in sales of water treatment chemicals for Athlon Solutions – Halliburton and ChemTreat. Preston’s legacy is marked by his ambition, dedication to customers, and unwavering work ethic. He shared a loving home with his fiancée, Celest Wilson, in their new residence in Hammond, Louisiana. Together, they envisioned a future filled with dreams and endless possibilities. 

An avid outdoorsman, Preston found joy in fishing and hunting, and had a special bond with his duck hunting dog, Minnie.  He shared his passion with Celest and others at his camp in Dulac, Louisiana.  His family and many of his friends were able to share his “Blast and Cast” weekends with “Wise Waters Charters” – that he and Celest affectionally named his boat trips for speckled trout and redfish.  He practiced his fish and game cooking specialties as a chef with his family and friends who were lucky enough to enjoy his delicious meals. 

Preston had such a passion for making people feel special whenever he was around them.  A devoted LSU fan, Preston’s excitement during football season was shown during tailgating and cheering from the stands of Tiger Stadium. Folks seated in his section always enjoyed his passionate spirit when he arrived. 

His love for Celest was immeasurable, and he eagerly anticipated creating lasting memories with his future wife and family. 

Preston Wise, who lit up every room, will be dearly missed, but forever remembered for the brightness he brought to others. 

Preston is survived by his fiancée, Celest and their unborn son; as well as, his parents Michael and Judilyn Wise of Minden, Louisiana, sister Allison Wise and her husband Chadwick Klutts of Rogers, Arkansas, and brother Shelby and his wife Katelyn Wise of Austin, Texas, and nephew Jackson. He leaves behind cherished memories with aunts, uncles, cousins, and loved ones. 

Pallbearers will be Shelby Wise, Chad Klutts, Marshall Holt, Hunter Duke, Steven Aertker, and Connor Shaw. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to charitable organizations of their choice. 

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Travel is still an issue in the northern part of Webster Parish, but we should see sunshine today (Friday).

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 40. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 18.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 37.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Sunday

Partly sunny, with a high near 41.

Sunday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Monday

A 90 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 52.

Monday Night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Tuesday

Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

• Information provided by National Weather Service.

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The Dorcheat Soil and Water Conservation District will hold their annual seedling sale on Saturday, January 27, 2024 from 8 a.m. until noon at the USDA-NRCS Service Center, 216B Broadway Street, Minden, La.
Seedlings will be available on a first come, first serve basis. No pre-orders. All seedlings are bare root. Payment accepted will be cash or check.

Available seedlings:
$3 each – Baldcypress, sawtooth oak, persimmon, native sweet pecan, red maple, river birch, white dogwood, black walnut, tulip tree, weeping willow, red mulberry, mayhaw, live oak, and Southern Magnolia.
$4 each – Double red althea, double white althea, blue hydrangea, red crape myrtle, white crape myrtle and white fringetree
$5 each – Muscadine Grape
$8 each – Premier blueberry, powder blue blueberry, pink dogwood, Fredonia grape, Niagara grape, blackberry, and red raspberry.
$10 each – Red delicious apple, Granny Smith apple, Burbank plum, Santa Rosa plum, Loring peach, RedSkin peach, Orient pear, and Moonglow pear.

Proceeds from this sale go to our Dorcheat SWCD Scholarship Fund. Should you have questions, please call our office at 318-377-3950 Ext. 3.

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Christopher Lee Coliston was recently sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 48 years following his conviction for the crimes of Third Degree Rape, Sexual Battery (two counts), Attempted Sexual Battery, and Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile (three counts). The sentence, given by 2nd Judicial District Court Judge Walter E. May Jr., will be served without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence in accordance with law. 

Following a jury trial in September, it took a Claiborne Parish jury less than 20 minutes to convict Coliston of each of the aforementioned crimes.  

Testimony at trial revealed that following his release from prison for a previous Forcible Rape conviction in Webster Parish, Coliston began a relationship with a local woman who had three young girls. Over the course of several years, and while in a relationship with their mother, Coliston committed various sex offenses upon each of the young siblings ranging in age from 8 to 15 years old.

Despite the defendant’s request to keep the matter a secret, the children reported the crimes to their mother and local authorities.

“I am extremely proud of each of the victims in this case and the courage they demonstrated by coming forward and reporting the abuse that they had suffered at the hands of the defendant, said Claiborne District Attorney Daniel W. Newell .  “This conviction and sentence would not have been possible without their cooperation.”

The case was investigated by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cary T. Brown. 

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Don’t let service and dedication to our community go unrecognized. Nominate an outstanding man for the Man of the Year Award, sponsored by the Minden Lions Club. The winner will be announced during the Chamber Awards Gala on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

Click the link below to nominate someone for this award.

Deadline for nominations is January 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

https://docs.google.com/…/1ebb7DFsd-TIb…/edit…

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

Current

Registration open for Upwards Soccer, hosted by North Acres Baptist Church. Discounts available for multiple children. Scholarships also available. K5-5th grade boys and girls. Games will be Saturday mornings at North Acres Baptist Church, beginning March 16 through April 27. Contact church office at 377-4315 for more information. https://regisgtration.upward.org UPW85195 .

Jan. 22 

5 until 7 p.m. Burger, chips and cake fund raiser for LaMa Animal Rescue. Frank Anthony RV Building, Springhill.

Jan. 26

5 until l8 p.m. Springhill Main St. Mardi Gras Parade. Click the link to sign up for the parade:  https://form.jotform.com/240015970227046 .

Jan. 27

Mardi Gras Fasching Parade 2024, downtown Minden. More details coming soon. Click the link to sign up for the parade: https://www.mindenla.org/mainstreet-page/ .

10 a.m. until 2 p.m. LifeShare Blood Drive and Springhill Fire Department, Brookshires – Springhill location, 400 Butler Street.

Jan. 28

Deadline to register for the 8th Annual Caddo Classic for Webster 4-H Shooting Sports.

Jan. 31

11:50 p.m. nominations due for Woman of the Year. https://form.jotform.com/ywscofminden/2024WomanoftheYear 

11:59 p.m., nominations due for Man of the Year. https://docs.google.com/…/1ebb7DFsd-TIb…/edit…

11:59 p.m. deadline for business awards’ nominates at https://greatermindenchamber.com/awardsgala/ 

Feb. 8-11

Minden St. Jude Auction.

Feb. 10

1 p.m. North Webster 13th Annual Black History Parade. Line up starts on Church Street. Deadline to sign up is Feb. 5. Grand Marshal: Edward Bankhead.

Feb. 27

6:30 p.m. Doors open for the 82nd Annual Greater Minden Chamber Awards Gala at Minden Civic Center. Program begins at 7 p.m.

March 2

Caney Puzzler Adventure Race, Caney Lakes

March 3

6:30 p.m. True Girl Crazy Hair Tour at First Baptist Minden for mothers and daughters ages 7-12. This live event will be full of games, worship, fashion show, solid biblical truth and will deepen the relationship between mothers and their daughters. Visit www.mytruegirl.com for tickets. For more information, call the church office at 318-377-4434.

March 16

9 a.m. until noon, District 2 Star of Hope O.E.S. 30th Annual Gala, “Star Struck” Welcome to Old Hollywood. 630 Factory Outlet Dr., Arcadia, La. Attire: Sunday’s best with “fascinators and fedoras. Entertainment, food, drawings. Public is welcome. $5 donation at the door.

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Robert Ray Charles

Dec. 9, 1934 – Jan. 12, 2024

Taylor, Ark.,/Springhill, La.

Visitation: 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill.

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

Reception: immediately following funeral service, Midway Baptist Church, Sarepta, La.

Rickey Lee Toms

Nov. 19, 1955 – Jan. 9, 2024

Taylor, Ark.,/Springhill, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill.

Funeral service: 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, Spring Branch Baptist Church, Taylor Ark.

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

Varnita Merrie Bartholmae Witcher

March 16, 1939 – Dec. 27, 2023

Minden, La.

Celebration of Life Memorial Service: 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, North Acres Baptist Church, Minden.

Mary Rockett Tomlin Williamson

Oct. 24, 1936 – Dec. 27, 2023

Minden, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, First Baptist Church of Minden.

Graveside service: 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, Springhill Cemetery, Springhill, 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.)

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Glenbrook School and all Webster Parish Public Schools will remain closed Friday.

Webster Parish Superintendent of Schools Johnny Rowland said roads in the southern part of the parish still have icy patches, while north parish roads are worse.

“Due to an overcast day with limited sunshine, the melting of these roadways has not occurred at a significant rate,” said Brian Williams, director of Homeland Security. “With nearly all of the school campuses still having ice/snow buildup on their sidewalks, ramps and stairs, I don’t feel they can safely resume school tomorrow.”

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By Paige Nash

According to Brian Williams, Director of Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP), his office will possibly be receiving a brand-new drone soon.  

A demonstration was held last Friday at the Fire District 7 location with 25 to 30 in attendance from multiple agencies including Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, Monroe Police Department, Webster Parish Police Jury, Webster Fire District 7 and Louisiana Tech Aviation representatives. 

Williams said it would take about 3 months for the drone to come in and be available for use. “It will be for my office to use for disaster management stuff, and we will still share it with other law enforcement agencies and fire departments.”  

The drone is a Skydio product.   

“It is built NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) compliant, so it is not transmitting to China,” said Williams. “It meets a lot of military specs as far as cyber security. There are some features that we can download as far as data into a system and maintain the encryption on it.”  

According to the Skydio website, their products are “secure by design, safeguarding each layer of the UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) stack against external threats.”  

Their hardware security is designed, assembled and supported within the United States.   

According to Williams the company recently sold 5 drones to the City of New Orleans.   

“This is bigger than the one I have been flying for District 7 that they own,” said Williams. “It is a step up from that. It has cool features that law enforcement can utilize and neat things that we can do to recreate if we have a major incident, whether it is law enforcement or disaster related. We can create 3-D images of it and have it available for the state if needed.”

The drone can also be used for roads by measuring earthwork and soil, surveying, tracking progress and ensuring efficient material staging and oilfield industry purposes. Drone usage is also being used more in the oilfield industry by monitoring unstable terrains and assessing potential gas leaks or toxic emissions.   

“This will be another tool in our toolbox for the parish to assist any agency in their time of need,” said Williams. 

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Glenbrook School and Webster Parish public schools remain closed today (Thursday). Webster Parish Journal will post an update concerning Friday.

Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College

All NLTCC campuses will remain closed Thursday. Virtual classes will continue online.

Louisiana Tech University: Classes remote, administrative operations normal after 1 p.m. today (Thursday)

While major roadways are mostly navigable, dangerous driving conditions remain on rural and local streets as well as throughout campus sidewalks and parking lots. As a result, classes will be remote all day Thursday. The remainder of campus operations will return to normal at 1 p.m. Thursday, and we expect normal operations Friday.

Faculty are encouraged to use remote learning tools for class instruction during the inclement weather event. Classes are not to be considered canceled. Faculty will remain flexible with students due to weather conditions each student may encounter during this time.

University offices will open at 1 p.m. Employees unable to report to work should contact their supervisor. The Payroll Office will provide revised guidance for those unable to return tomorrow.

Food Services will open Tech Table at 10 a.m., and the remaining food service options will begin normal operations at noon Thursday.

The Lambright will open at 10 a.m. Thursday and will return to normal operating hours for the rest of the day.

Bossier Parish Community College

After reviewing the current state of the roads and with anticipated freezing temperatures expected this evening, Bossier Parish Community College campuses in Bossier, Natchitoches, and Many will remain closed on Thursday, January 18. Employees will be working remotely.  Virtual classes will still meet and student services will still be available virtually. Visit http://www.bpcc.edu for more information.

BPCC campuses will reopen Friday, January 19. Administrators will continue to monitor the weather throughout the week and will send updates as needed. Information will be posted on the BPCC website, social media and communicated through BPCC email and CAVSalert System.

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Wednesday was another banner day for accidents on parish and city roads. City and parish first responders were called from one incident to another, and officials are requesting people stay off the roads. Places of business are slowing reopening, but not all governmental agencies are ready to open their doors.

Minden City Hall will be open with some changes. Opening time: 10 a.m.
Minden Recreation Center – Opening time: 1 p.m.

“This will give us time to de-ice the parking lots, ensuring the safety of our visitors and staff,” said Mayor Nick Cox.

Some other public facilities and businesses are still closed.

The Webster Parish Courthouse and Courthouse Annex will remain closed Thursday due to hazardous road conditions. 

As of Wednesday night, there were no parish roadways closed, but travel should be avoided if possible. Drivers should not be on the roadway during hazardous driving conditions. Areas of black ice are possible through Thursday morning, especially on elevated road surfaces. 

Temperatures dropping below freezing could lead to a flash freeze with wet surfaces quickly becoming icy and dangerous for walking and motor vehicles.

Monitor 511 for all state DOTD closures and local media for additional closures and updated weather information. DOTD staff continue to apply salt and de-icing agents to bridges across the state. However, the roadway conditions are hazardous and driving conditions are poor across the state. 

People who are unnecessarily on the roadway pose a risk to workers, emergency personnel, and to themselves. Because of the deteriorating conditions, it is advised that no one drives unless absolutely necessary.

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Even though the low temperature Wednesday was higher than recent days – 26 degrees – everything that thawed on the roads yesterday refroze overnight. If travel is necessary, please use caution, or better yet, stay home one more day to ensure safety for yourself and others.

Thursday

Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 55. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 28. North wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 40. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 18.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 35.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Sunday

Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Monday

A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 52.

Monday Night

Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Tuesday

Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

• Information provided by National Weather Service.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

More and more persons are living in the United States that may require some language interpretation.

Minden City Council voted last week to take steps to become LEP (Limited English Proficient) compliant.

“We are required to adopt a plan for LEP persons in order to receive LCDBG (Louisiana Community Development Block Grant) and any other state and federal funding,” said Minden Mayor Nick Cox. “The resolution says we will accommodate other languages. By passing this, it keeps us eligible.”

According to Title VI federal law, many individual federal programs, states and localities also have provisions requiring language services for LEP individuals. When applying for funding, written materials routinely provided in English also must be provided in regularly encountered languages other than English.

Federal law describes LEP ordinances the following way:

“It is important to ensure that written materials routinely provided in English also are provided in regularly encountered languages other than English. It is particularly important to ensure that vital documents are translated into the non-English language of each regularly encountered LEP group eligible to be served or likely to be affected by the program or activity. A document will be considered vital if it contains information that is critical for obtaining federal services and/or benefits, or is required by law. Vital documents include, for example: applications, consent and complaint forms; notices of rights and disciplinary action; notices advising LEP persons of the availability of free language assistance; prison rulebooks; written tests that do not assess English language competency, but rather competency for a particular license, job, or skill for which English competency is not required; and letters or notices that require a response from the beneficiary or client.”

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There’s been snow on the peak, ice on the seriously downhill slanted driveway and a nice frozen mix on the rocker, and that’s a pretty good recipe for a major case of cabin fever. 

Not been much to do over the past couple of days except exercise the thousand yard stare out the windows and place bets on which of the seven pets would grab the warm spot in front of the fireplace. Hint: put your money on the newest addition Greta, a.k.a., cat from hell.

There’s been plenty of time to read the slantings from various news sources and one offering in particular caught our attention. This has to do with another odious exclusion as committed by one of our media bastions, the National Broadcasting Company.  

After leading the Houston Texans to a good ol’ fashioned country whuppin’  of Cleveland in the team’s AFC playoff win last weekend, and having a stellar game hisownself, quarterback C.J. Stroud was sideline interviewed by NBC’s Kathryn Tappen.

In the opinion of NBC, the rookie superstar still has some things to learn about what should and shouldn’t be spontaneously shared during the heat of a winning moment. “First and foremost, I just want to give all glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Stroud said to the whole wide watching world.

Following his praise to Him, Stroud then talked about the city of Houston and how he’s been accepted and supported by Texans fans during his first year.

Shock. Awww. Step on that nerve. Ruffle that fractious feather. Apparently, the honchos with the honch at NBC opted to remove the Jesus praise in favor of the Houston kudos when the post-game interview went to its “Sunday Night Football on NBC” X (formerly Twitter) posting.

With a snip of the editing tool, NBC continued what has become a media campaign to ensure that no offensive content provokes the perpetually offended in our society. Among many dispensers of information, it’s their crusade to protect us from the zealots. 

In online comments, some critics of the move by the Comcast umbrellaed, MSNBC cojoined network, equated the edit job to censoring. Other criticism targeted “major media” and its effort to remove Christ and Christianity from this nation’s lexicon.

That might not be much of a stretch. We, like some of those critics, wonder if the first phrase would have been clipped if Stroud had thanked a more socially/politically acceptable deity. 

During his comments, Stroud indicated he was privileged (blessed) to be a part of this Texan team that has exceeded expectations. Though he never uttered it, he might want to avoid ever using that objectionable “P” word. Many hyper-sensitive ears will burn right down to the jawbone.

Why, you ask? Your humble observer found this gem from the Chief Diversity Officer at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or DEI in popular acronymese. 

Written as part of a JH “monthly diversity digest,” CDO Sherita Hill Golden listed several groups/classes that fall into the category of privileged. That is a really dirty word these days and is defined as unearned access or advantages granted to specific groups of people because of their membership in a social group.

Included in her privileged list are Christians, males and English-speaking persons. Looking and listening, C.J. Stroud is a three-way match. NBC, backed by the estimable Johns Hopkins and the power of the airways, might edit C.J. right out of the playoffs. 

Passing thought: To deny a man the right to his beliefs is to deny him his humanity.

– Pat Culverhouse

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By Paige Nash

This past Friday, January 12, Minden High School (MHS) Senior Jacey Adams, joined by her family, softball coaches, classmates and friends, signed her National Letter of Intent with Baton Rouge Community College.  

“Jacey is a leader on and off the field. She has the ability to be one of the best catchers in the state,” said MHS Head softball coach Shelby Leach. “She makes our pitchers better every game. Without her leadership behind the plate, we are nowhere near the team we are with her. She makes games more fun because of her charisma, energy, and enthusiasm.” 

Jacey’s Freshman year she was named 2^nd Team All-District. Both her Sophomore and Junior year she made 1^st Team All-District and 1^st Team All-State.  

Leach describes Jacey as a “Ferrari with training wheels.” 

“She is always revving up and ready to go every play. I have to make sure when those training wheels come off that every single player on the field can keep up with her,” she said. “When those moments happen, it is incredibly fun to watch. She knows the game more than most so it is like having another coach on the field.” 

Jacey will be wrapping up her high school career this season but is looking forward to continuing playing the game she loves at Baton Rouge Community College. 

Leach said, “She’s going to have an incredible career at BRCC and beyond. I’m just so glad I’ve been the one who got to coach her the last two years at Minden High and will get to see her finish her career here.” 

The Lady Tiders softball season kicked off February 10 with a Rise of the Tide Jamboree at Home.

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