By Paige Gurgainers

In Tuesday’s monthly meeting the Webster Parish Police Jury approved a resolution to declare a health emergency for Saltworks Water System in Sibley, La.  

With the recent consolidation of Saltworks Water System and the Town of Sibley Water System through the Water Sector Program, the Town of Sibley has been taking on a lot of new customers with not a lot of water.  

“That application called for the Saltworks plant to be done away with,” said project engineer Brad Graff. 

The police jury also recently sponsored a Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) project for the system.  

Graff continued, “We had this grant and were going to build two wells. We were awarded a contract for the well. We drilled two test holes on the sites we acquired for that project. Both of them did not pan out, they wouldn’t produce enough water and the other appeared really salty and the amount of water was questionable on that one.” 

Saltworks Water System has been operating with one well and due to the lease expiring on the land that the well was located on this past December, and through this program, they have been receiving their water through a treated water line from Sibley.  

According to Graff, both systems almost ran out of their water supply during the most recent freeze last month.  

With the plan for the two well sites failing, they began looking for a third site closer to Sibley since all the water supply will be coming from that location.  

“We couldn’t find anybody in the environmentally cleared area to work with us on granting us a site. In the meantime, Sibley ran a treated water line from their system down to Saltworks plant to give them water,” said Graff.  

Not having much luck getting permission to drill a third site in the cleared area, the Town of Sibley offered to let them drill a well near the ballfield located near the fire station, on property that the town presently owns.  

The town has let the jury know prior to their March meeting that they are in a dire situation.  

“In order for us to use this block grant money and to do it quickly we had to declare a health emergency,” explained Graff. “There is no way to go find a different site and do the environmental clearing that is required and beat the summer months. We are trying to get a new well in before the water usage goes up during the summer months.” 

The block grant will still be in place and usable on the condition that they receive this resolution declaring the emergency.  

WPPJ President Jim Bonsall was in agreement that this should be approved. He said, “If Sibley had a well go down, they would be in trouble in the morning. They possibly wouldn’t have enough water to serve their customers.” 

Senator Adam Bass was in attendance and informed the jury and Graff that he was assigned to the Water Sector Committee. “If there is anything I can do to move that along; a letter of support or anything, if you get with me, I will do whatever is needed,” said Bass. 

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Thursday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. High near 71. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 61.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

* Information courtesy of National Weather Service.

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With the rising sun beaming off scenic Caney Lake Saturday morning, teams scattered along woodland trails seeking answers to clues that would ultimately crown them winners of the first annual Caney Puzzler Adventure Race.

“This race offered something for everyone,” said Keith Pitman, race director. “Both the three to six-hour sprint and the 12-hour adventure course had mountain biking, trail running, and paddling.”

“As always, we gave racers choices for race routes and strategy,” Keith continued. “Sprint Race teams ran, biked, paddled and faced team challenges and decisions along the way. This course was designed for the beginner in mind. But challengers faced one to three miles of paddling, eight to 12 miles of biking, and three to five miles of trail running, plus some surprises. Teams received pre-plotted maps. “This was a real adventure race!”

The 12-hour adventure teams had to be able to navigate with a pre-plotted map and compass. This year’s course included paddling, mountain biking, O leg section and special challenges. It included six to eight miles of paddling, 30 to 60 miles of biking, and 15-20 miles of trekking.

Team Vignette emerged as the overall winner in the 12-hour race, completing the course in an impressive 10 hours, 31 minutes, and 50 seconds. “Their strategic approach and unwavering determination earned them the top spot, showcasing the true spirit of adventure racing,” Keith said. Members of the team are.

In the Sprint Race, the team of Geaux Endurance claimed victory by completing the course in a remarkable two hours, 44 minutes, and 28 seconds. “Their agility and quick thinking were evident as they navigated the shorter, yet equally demanding course,” Keith remarked, sending kudos to team members.

“The Caney Puzzler Adventure Race attracted participants from various states, with a total of 29 teams consisting of 36 entries from Texas, 20 from Louisiana, four from Arkansas, one from Minnesota, and one from California,” said Serena Gray, Executive Director of Visit Webster Parish. “The competition was fierce, and the camaraderie among participants created an electrifying atmosphere.”

Serena commended the participants and highlighted the positive impact of such events on the local community.

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Springhill Medical Center has a number of job opening opportunities – both nursing and non-nursing positions. Apply at http://www.smccare.com.

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The Young Women’s Service Club (YWSC) of Minden will be holding their annual Easter Egg Bash at a new location this year – Babb Park, 708 Watterman Street in Minden.  

The Easter Egg Hunt will take place this Sunday, March 10. Multiple hunts will be held for infants to 3-year-olds, 4 to 6-year-olds, 7 to 9-year-olds, and 10 to 12-year-olds. 

“Thanks to local support in our community, we are able to provide over 2,000 candy filled eggs to children and Easter bags to collect the eggs at no cost to attendees,” said YWSC President Jessica Haymon. 

There will also be hot dogs, drinks, snow cones, bounce houses and face painting. 

“So come out this Sunday and enjoy a family friendly event that’s sure to bring huge smiles and wear out some energy in your children and grandchildren,” said Haymon. 

The event will begin at 2 p.m.

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By Josh Beavers

Carrie Jones brought archery to Minden High School in 2016, launching the school’s first archery team. Jones had initially learned about the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) years earlier when her daughter competed for Benton Middle School’s team in 2009-2010. At the time, Jones thought an archery program would benefit Minden students, but assumed a P.E. teacher had to oversee it. In 2016-2017, Jones discovered that anyone trained as a Basic Archery Instructor could coach a team. With archery growing quickly across the state, Jones decided to start a team at Minden High. 

Though archery ran deep in her family, Jones had never shot a bow herself. “I never shot a bow until I agreed to assist with archery even though archery has been a big part of my family,” she explained. “My husband is an instructor as well as a bow hunter, my daughter competed in NASP. My son competed as well, and he is also a bow hunter. However, I did not shoot because I was a left handed shooter, and they were all right-handed shooters which would require a different bow.”

In the archery team’s first two years, their main goal was fundraising to purchase their own equipment. They initially borrowed from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. In Spring 2018, the team began competing in NASP tournaments. “That spring we competed in three tournaments,” Jones said. “As archery has grown in the state the number of tournaments offered has increased.” 

This year, the team has already competed in several local and regional bullseye tournaments. Jones shared that her goals for the team center less on competition and more on growth. “My goal is to not only expose them to another sport, but to strive to improve to beat their previous score as well as have fun,” she said. 

Jones highlighted that archery provides unique opportunities for all types of students to succeed. “Archery is a safe sport that can be done for a lifetime. It is a sport that does not require you to be extremely strong and athletic just dedicated and focused,” she explained. “It is a team sport, but it is also an individual sport.” She added that top performers at state tournaments can win college scholarship money, providing extra incentive for athletes.

With Jones’ leadership and passion, the Minden High School archery team continues to offer students a supportive environment to learn a lifetime sport. Though initially unfamiliar with archery herself, Jones has built a successful program engaging students and helping them develop focus, persistence, and self-confidence.

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Persons 45 and older should schedule a colonoscopy today.

According to the American Cancer Society, excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.

Call 318-539-1078 and schedule one today.

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Every student at E. S. Richardson received a new coat today. We were the recipient of a grant from Operation Warm written by Mrs. Finley earlier this year. Students were able to pick from a variety of colors and were very excited about getting a new jacket. We know this is late in the season, but we hope they will have some room in them to wear next year too. We expect a few more cold days this spring as well. The students were so thankful for this special gift from Operation Warm.

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By Jessica Gorman

In the past week, since discovering my own personal connection to the early history of Minden and Webster Parish, I have learned so much. Now, I have connections to steamboats on Dorcheat, the yellow fever epidemic of 1873, and the Arizona Ash tree that stands at the center of town. I have learned about Samuel Garrison’s difficult life from a letter he wrote to his sister in 1879. And, I’ve been able to pair that letter with old newspapers to learn the circumstances that led to those difficulties. All this because of a message saying, “I have more things for you.” 

There are those who would have simply tossed it all in the trash. People will say, “Oh, surely not,” but I assure you it happens every day. Someone dies, the family is overwhelmed or just doesn’t want to deal with all the “stuff.” They have an estate sale or hire someone to clean out the house or just throw it away and history disappears. Every. Single. Day. 

There are items stored away in attics, closets, and barns. People will share photos for fun, and yet they don’t seem to understand the need and the value of preservation. I try to explain to people why the things they have may be important. They tell the stories of people, of places, of events. They breathe life into history. They tell us things that we may have never been able to learn otherwise. The surprise family connections that I have discovered, because of a location noted on a letter, are the perfect example of the significance of a tiny detail. 

One thing that I try to stress is the importance of documenting our history. I don’t know if everyone just thinks that it’s already been done or if they just don’t understand what I mean. We have huge, gaping holes in the record of our parish history, holes in the history of communities, churches, schools, and especially the African American community.  One of my goals is to compile as much information as possible to fill those holes, document that history, tell those stories, and make it available to the public. 

I am motivated by all the time that I have spent on the other side of things trying to piece together my family history with more than just names and dates and places. I have personally experienced the excitement of walking into a tiny little library hundreds of miles away and finding the information that I was looking for, information that can’t be found anywhere else. I am now in a position to make that possible for others. 

Periodically people will call or come by asking if I have information about someone or something, whether I might have a photograph or know about a cemetery. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to tell them I have what they are looking for. The only reason that I am able to do that is because there have been those who have shared photos, artifacts, letters, diaries, documents, yearbooks, programs, books, ledgers, etc., all items that document the past in one way or another. They  knew and understood that these items needed to be in a place where they are preserved and available to others. 

Making information available is why I feel that digitization is so important. The museum now has a Flickr page that serves as a digital archive of sorts. Its entire purpose is to make our holdings easily available to others. It is a work in progress and there is much more to be added. Digitization also allows us to create a digital copy of items while the owner retains possession. 

Having these items is not about us possessing them. It is about preservation and access. It is about documenting our collective history. It is about answering questions and helping others and being able to tell someone, “Yes, we have what you’re looking for. I’ll send you a copy.”

Please remember that history is never done, and it is up to all of us to ensure that we preserve as much as possible. I hope you will consider your role in preserving our local history. Don’t let us lose these precious items that may hold significance of which you may not even be aware.  

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

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

March 10

2 until 4 p.m. Young Women’s Service Club Easter Egg Bash, Babb Park, 708 Watterman St., Minden. Free hot dogs, chips and drink. Age groups: infant -3 years old, 4-6 years old, 7-9 years old and 10-12 years old.

2:30 p.m., “Something Extraordinary,” Annual Youth Explosion, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, Minister James E. Smith Pastor/Teacher, 595 Central School Rd., Dubberly. Contact Alysia Mason (318) 458-1916 or Mechelle Hall (318) 573-7171.

March 11

6 p.m., Night at the Museum with Mary Claire Kettler. History of Mount Lebanon. Admission is free; donations welcome. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; seating is limited. Refreshments are potluck snacks and desserts.

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.

A committee of former Thomas & Rhone Elementary School students have planned a reunion for all former students, faculty and staff.  This reunion is schedule for Memorial Day Weekend, Friday and Saturday, (May 24th and 25th).  All activities will be held at the Shongaloo Civic Center, 119 LA 2 Alt Rd, in Shongaloo, LA.  Listed below is the schedule of events:

March 24

Noon until 5 p.m. Thomas & Rhone Elementary Reunion. Registration, Meet & Greet, Ole Fashion Fish Fry.

March 25

10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thomas & Rhone Elementary Reunion. Games, Hamburgers & Hot Dogs, Visit to School Site,Shongaloo Civic Center. For more information, call  (318) 847-4436 or (501) 347-4856

April 3

Greater Minden Spring Job Fair & Resource Expo.

April 4

6 p.m. 2024 UCAP Hunger Fest and Dessert Auction. First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden. Tickets are $5 each; table sponsorships are $100.

May 18

9 a.m. Registration, 10 a.m. Freedom Walk 2024 at Broken Bean. Sponsorships available. Registration $25 per person. All proceeds go to Minden Adult and Team Challenge. Live music, food, fun, games and more … ends at 4 p.m. Register online at www.laatc.com/freedomwalk or at Broken Bean. Call 318-382-0203 or 318-469-5393 with questions.

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Dear editor,

Louisiana lawmakers should use the budget negotiations in Congress to push for critical reforms of the many practices that insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) use to rake in the profits while threatening access, driving up costs, and generally just making life harder for patients. 

As someone who relies on prescriptions, I’m frustrated that PBMs have been able to get away with some of the things they do for this long. That includes literally moving patients away from their local pharmacies and toward the larger, chain pharmacies they own or are contracted with, as well as using prior authorization and so-called step therapy to cut costs while restricting and delaying access to the medications, treatments, and therapies that patients have been prescribed.

PBM policies aren’t intended to help patients, but to maximize profits as much as possible. Even the AARP, with all their insurance ties, have voiced their support for PBM reform to protect seniors. As lawmakers hammer out a budget deal, Senators Kennedy and Cassidy should work to integrate long-overdue PBM reforms, like the ones included in the bipartisan DRUG Act into the final budget bill legislators must pass by March 8^th.

If Congress can’t finish the job on PBM reform to protect patients like me, then this is going to be something I remember at the polls in the upcoming elections. Given how many patients this issue impacts in Louisiana and nationwide, I don’t think I’ll be alone, either.

Lu Jones, RN

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Louisiana Tech University conferred 358 degrees during the Winter 2024 Commencement ceremony, expanding the Tech Family to 113,816 strong on a picture-perfect and pleasant Saturday at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Returning to the latest of many ceremonies he attended over the years but his first as president emeritus was Dr. Les Guice, a ’76 and ’78 graduate of Louisiana Tech and the University’s 14^th president who retired at the end of 2023.

In the opening of his commencement address, Guice was quick to point out that while he had originally planned to offer his advice to the graduates on themes like responding to challenges and overcoming adversity, the students in attendance had experienced much of that already through campus-wide hardships like the April 2019 tornado and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, Guice chose to commend the graduates for their successes in the face of those challenges.

“You’ll achieve much in your life, and you’ll look fondly back at your time at Tech as the most transformative time,” Guice said. “I’m highly confident that you’ll make a difference in our world and have life-changing impacts on many others.”

The ceremony was also the first as Louisiana Tech president for Dr. Jim Henderson, who stressed to the Thomas Assembly Center crowd that inviting Guice to deliver the commencement address was an easy decision.

“When I think of the words ‘Ever Loyal Be,’ the first person that comes to mind is a person who has given 45 years of his life to this institution,” Henderson said of Guice during the ceremony. “And when I think of leaders of character, the first person I think of is that same man.”

Also during the ceremony, Justin and Jeanette Hinckley were recognized with the University’s highest honor, the Tower Medallion. The Tower Medallion signifies membership in the Hall of Distinguished Alumni and is awarded to Tech alumni who have made a difference with their exceptional achievement, community service, and humanitarian activities.

The pair graduated from Tech in 1978. Justin, a graduate in Computer Science, was named Tech’s Alumnus of the Year in 2010. Wife Jeanette Jarrell Hinckley, an English education graduate, was the University’s Distinguished Alumna for the College of Education in 2016.

Graduates who were members of the Student Nurses’ Association, Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society, or Men in Nursing were recognized with the presentation of cords.

The graduates are as follows:

Alyssa Farrington of Sibley

Charleigh Jo Hall of Minden

Associate of Science Nursing

Alyssa Makayla Farrington, Sibley

Bachelor of Science

Alyssa Makayla Farrington, Sibley

College of Business

Bachelor of Science

Lauren Elisabeth Adams, Minden

Aaron Scott Rhodes, Minden

College of Education and Human Sciences

Bachelor of Science

Mary Alexis Fish, Dubberly

Marquis Antoinette McClendon, Minden

College of Engineering and Science

Bachelor of Science

Carson Jack Fields, Minden

Christian Lee Marsh, Minden

College of Liberal Arts

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Timothy Cade Clemons, Minden

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I had hoped the Supreme Court would hear this case, and on an expedited basis.  That’s because the issues presented in the case lie at the very core of our Constitutional separation of powers.

 The Supreme Court has stated that the question before it in this case is “whether and if so to what extent does a former President enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.”  As we know, the allegations of wrongdoing against President Trump stem from his alleged conduct on Jan. 6, 2021.

 As the Wall Street Journal has observed “… in Nixon v. Fitzgerald, the high court held that a president enjoys absolute immunity from civil suits predicated on his ‘official acts,’ even if they fall foul of ‘federal laws of general applicability.”  Justice Lewis Powell wrote that such immunity is a “functionally mandated incident of the President’s unique office, rooted in the constitutional tradition of the separation of powers and supported by our history.”  Such lawsuits “could distract a President from his public duties, to the detriment of not only the President and his office but also the Nation that the Presidency was designed to serve.” (WSJ, Rivkin @ Foley. 3-1-24).

 In fact, the Nixon Court specifically noted that “the greatest public interest isn’t in enforcing ordinary statutes against the president.”  Rather, immunity is necessary to ensure he has “the maximum ability to deal fearlessly and impartially with the duties of his office.” (WSJ).

 We recall President Trump has vigorously and repeatedly contended that the 202o presidential election was a fraudulent election and that all of his actions on Jan 6, 2021, were fully appropriate in light of the constitutional requirement that a president “take care that the laws are faithfully executed.”  This obviously includes election laws.

 While Nixon was a civil case involving a lawsuit, the Supreme Court has decided it will now address whether these constitutional considerations require immunity from criminal prosecution as well.  The Nixon Court ruled that a president has “absolute immunity” for lawsuits for civil acts, even those at the “outer perimeter” of his official duties.  Otherwise, such liability could cause a president to pause and/or chill certain of his actions as president if he could be civilly liable for them.

 Well, this analysis would also obviously apply to criminal prosecution and with arguably greater force.  

 Things are highly partisan in these times and President Trump’s enemies have resorted to lawfare against him because they don’t believe they can defeat him on election day.  They will literally do anything to stop him from being reelected including abusing both the civil and criminal law.

So, the question really becomes this: if civil lawsuits—which usually involve a resolution based upon money paid to the aggrieved party for damages—could materially alter the way a president conducts the duties of his office, wouldn’t the threat of criminal prosecution have an even greater chilling effect on him? 

 The precedent for criminally prosecuting a former president has now been set by highly biased special counsel, Jack Smith.  Do we really believe that Republican prosecutors will not turn on the next Democratic president in exactly the same way?  They will.  As President Trump has stated regarding the absence of immunity from criminal prosecution as it pertains to President Biden, “Joe would be ripe for indictment.”  Indeed, Pres. Biden should be praying fervently for presidential immunity from criminal indictment. 

 Special Counsel Robert Hur recently concluded Biden ‘willfully retained and disclosed classified military and national security information’—making out the elements of a crime—but concluded Biden wouldn’t be criminally charged even after he leaves office because his memory is so poor and his mind so blown that, essentially, he couldn’t effectively work with counsel to assist in his own defense.  (But he’s fit to be president?!).

 This question of presidential immunity is important far beyond President Trump.

Again, Jack Smith, the partisan who spent 3 years and millions of dollars attempting to charge Trump with insurrection on January 6th, was unable to find evidence to even charge him with incitement, never mind insurrection. 

 Every one of these highly strained, legally unprecedented attacks on Trump’s candidacy are not only a threat to him but, more importantly, to the American people and our democratic form of government—and the sacred and inviolable right we citizens have to choose our leaders.   

 This is election interference at its worst and must be stopped.

(Shreveport attorney, Royal Alexander, worked in D.C. in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 8 years for two different Members of Congress from Louisiana.  He has witnessed up close several Speaker races.)

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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.

February 26

Randy Barbo, 34, of Doyline, was arrested by the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office and charged as a fugitive.

February 28

Joshua Fuller, 24, of Doyline, was arrested by the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for failure to appear (misdemeanor).

February 29

Tyler Rodgers, 33, of Doyline, was arrested by the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office and charged with driver must be licensed.

March 5

Stacey Micheal Theodos, 35, of the 200 block of Woodland, Simsboro, was arrested by WPSO on an active warrant for distribution of CDS Sch. II.

March 6

Zane E. Miller, 42, no address given, was arrested for a probation violation.

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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Nancy Kay Myers

Oct. 10, 1952 – Feb. 26, 2024

Springhill, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2024, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, La.

Funeral service: 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10, 2024, Western Baptist Church, Emerson, Ark.

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

Edgar Wayne “Bubba” Richardson Jr.

July 28, 1972 – Feb. 19, 2024

Plain Dealing, La.

Memorial service: Noon Saturday, March 9, 2024, Plain Dealing Cemetery, Plain Dealing, La. Under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home.

Gretchen Lea (Jones) Stephens

Dec. 27, 1928 – Feb. 29, 2024

Beaumont, Texas.

Graveside service: 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2024, Prospect Cemetery, Florien, 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

Webster Parish School Board members reviewed several options to dispense roughly $179,000 (gross) in stipends to parish teachers with funds coming from the Louisiana Dept. of Education (LDOE).

Crevonne Odom, the school system’s Director of Business and Finance, told board members during a finance committee meeting Monday that the money was given to school districts for the purpose of pay stipends. Among other criteria, the amount of money coming to Webster Parish was determined by the number of teachers in the district.

“The district can decide how the money is to be spent within the options the LDOE has come up with,” Odom said.

Four options have been outlined by the state education department and the board can select any one or a combination. But, Odom said, the board must choose from those outlined by the state. Options include:

• Option 1: Teachers in critical shortage areas per Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Those areas are secondary mathematics (grades 6-12), secondary science (grades 6-12) and special education (grades K-12).

Option 2: Highly effective teachers as defined in R.S. 17:381 through 3095 and Bulletin 130—regulations for the evaluation and assessment of school personnel. Odom said Webster Parish would use fiscal year 2-22-23 results.

Option 3: Teachers working in high need schools defined as those with an economically disadvantaged rate of 85 percent or greater. Only Brown Upper Elementary meets the outlined criteria.

Option 4: Teachers in leadership positions. Classroom teachers who are appointed to lead weekly teacher collaborations or those who serve as academic/instructional coaches tormentors. 

In order to be eligible for the LDOE differentiated pay stipends, employee must be a full-time teacher, including Temporary Authority to Teach (TAT) teachers. Teachers who retired during the current fiscal year are eligible and will receive 100 percent of the stipend.

Also, Teachers whose hire date is less than their contract year will receive a prorated amount of the stipend. Teachers who resign or are terminated before April 1, 2024 are not eligible for any portion. Teachers on leave without pay are not eligible.

Proposed pay date for the stipends is April 30, with the distribution deadline set for May 1. Board members were told to expect a March 18 special meeting to determine which option would be adopted. 

“Ms. Odom’s presentation to you tonight is for informational purposes,” Superintendent of Schools Johnny Rowland told members. “We would not ask you to consider voting on options until you’ve had time to study them.”

Transportation and Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Franklin gave a summary on several construction projects in the district, noting most are proceeding on time. One project, however, is running well behind schedule.

“There was another water problem at the multi purpose building at Minden High School and the contractor is dealing with that,” Franklin said. “They have a new project manager there who seems to really know what he’s doing, so that’s a good thing. But I cannot tell you when it will be finished.”

During their Monday meeting, school board members also:

• Recognized Jonathan Washington, Dean of Students at Richardson Elementary School, as Employee of the Month, an award presented by Kevin Thompson of Taylor and Sons.

• Heard Shakera Williams from the Webster Parish Extension Office introduce new 4-H Agent K’Lanie Gordon.

• Adopted a resolution identifying completion of Continuing Learning Units by parish school board members Jonathan Guthrie and Debbie Thomas for 2023.

• Approved trips for students from North Webster Upper Elementary, Lakeside Jr/Sr High and Minden High School, and for Content Coaches attending the NIET (National Institute for Excellence in Teaching) National Conference.

Board members approved, in globo, spending $151,524 from parish maintenance and sales tax funds for school repairs, equipment and projects. Those included: 

• Consolidated Dist. 3 Maintenance Fund: $44,176 including $21,316.51 for football equipment at Lakeside Jr/Sr High School and $11,110 on HVAC repairs at Central Elementary.

• Cotton Valley Maintenance Fund: $1,310 for boiler repairs at North Webster Upper Elementary. 

• District 6 One-Half Cent Sales Tax Fund: $102,948 includes $95,000 to install 2,240 linear feet commercial grade security fencing and appropriate gates to the southern perimeter at Webster Jr. High School.

• Shongaloo Building Fund: $3,090 for boiler repairs at North Webster Lower Elementary School.

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By Paige Gurgainers

The Webster Parish Police Jury (WPPJ) will be revisiting and possibly redoing their Webster Parish Priority Road List. This is not a static list and is updated periodically, but according to Engineer Brad Graff, it has been about 8-9 years since they have evaluated all the parish-owned roads.  

“It’s not going to be inexpensive to re-rate all the roads. You have to ride them once to get a feel for it, then ride it again and make notes on the condition,” said Graff. “With all the miles of road that we have and to give every one of them the same evaluation, it takes time.”  

The parish-wide system includes a list of all the roads in the parish that need repairs or improvements. A third-party company came in and prioritized these roads by a certain criterion. They look at the roads that have the highest traffic volume, serve the highest demand for travel, and provide movement to major business districts, hospitals, schools, etc. They take into consideration the number of residents that live on the road and the current condition of the surface of the road.   

As the jury has money, they will begin working from the top of the list and making repairs.  

“We need to make our money go as far as we can. To that and save some money and get more work done than we usually do,” said WPPJ Vice President Steve Ramsey. 

According to Ramsey, the WPPJ has approximately $500-600K designated for roads per year. To rebase a road with 2” of hot mix, it costs around $200K per mile, which only allows the jury to repair about 2-3 roads on the priority list per year.  

“As tight as money is and to be paving a road that is in good shape just because it is on that list, that doesn’t make sense,” said Juror for District 3 Daniel Thomas.  

Goodwill Road, which is in Mike Griffith’s district – District 5, and falls around #100 on the priority list, was mentioned.  

Griffith said, “If you look at Goodwill Road From 1-20 to 528, it is dangerously bad, but from 528 to Fuller, it is not bad.” 

According to Ramsey, Goodwill Road should be number one on the list. He said, “It doesn’t need to be a piece here and a piece there, it needs to be completely redone. We are going to have to do something there. If you ride down it, you will see what I am talking about.”  

Graff mentioned a company that may be able to evaluate the roads in a more efficient manner.  

“They can ride a road at 40-miles-per-hour. It has equipment in it that senses things and it has sensors outside the vehicle,” said Graff. “It is a lot more accurate. Human error doesn’t come into it or opinion. Even if it is a little more expensive, it would probably be a lot quicker.” 

Graff will be working to receive a quote to have the company come in and re-evaluate the parish roads and will present it to the jury during the April meeting when they plan to further discuss the priority list. 

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden City Council members voted Monday to award bids for construction of a new public utilities/control center office that will be located on city property off Shreveport Road.

Testament Construction Services LLC of Shreveport was chosen with a bid of $797,500. The other bid was McInnis Brothers Construction at $885,000. The city plans to use $650,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act, which is up from the original $500,000.

Mayor Nick Cox said he talked with Public Works Director Tyler Wallace, and they felt there must be a way to consolidate several departments and make them more efficient.

While Light and Water billing will remain at City Hall, all other departments under Public Works, as well as Wallace and his assistant Kathy Newer, will be moved to the 3,200 square-foot building with a control center, conference room and offices for department superintendents.

“At this time, we have one person at the Steam Plant 24-7,” Wallace said. “He is on the third floor of that old building, that costs us $5,000 a month in utilities.”

The Steam Plant will be completely closed and Superintendent Russell Poole and other workers will be moved to the new building.

“Our plan is to cross train these people,” Cox said. “That way, everything is always covered – water, electricity, everything.”

The control center is considered Phase I, which includes eventually moving other departments – like water and streets – to the new location. Phase II may come soon after when an area is constructed to park trucks and keep other equipment and parts.

The city council tabled the resolution that would’ve awarded a bid for street improvement projects.

“Bids came in higher than we expected,” said Cox. “The lowest bid is over budget.”

Fort Street from East Union to Homer Road, Germantown Road from Kennon Street to city limits, Mignon Street from Talton to East Union streets, Talton Street from East to East Union streets and West Street from Shreveport Road to dead end and Chandler Street from Lewisville Road to Elm Street. 

In other business, the city council unanimously approved the following items:

• Condemned properties on Main, Linda, Plateau and Lee streets;

• Declaring certain City of Minden property as surplus and fixing terms of sale (water meters);

• A resolution rescheduling Minden City Council’s April meeting from April 1, 2024 to April 2, 2024;

• Authority to execute an engagement agreement to retain Katherine W. King of Kean Miller LLP to serve as outside counsel for the City of Minden under the supervision of city attorney Jimbo Yocom;

• Authority for Mayor Cox to execute an exchange deed between City of Minden and Webster Parish School Board for property on Clerk Street;

• Decommissioning and leveling of Clerk Street Water Plant;

• Minden Police Department of new hire Branthony Brown;

• Budget/financial report for January 2024;

• Fire report for February 2024; and,

• Police report for January 2024.

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Late Sibley Mayor Jimmy Williams has been honored by the Louisiana Municipal Advisory and Technical Services Bureau (LaMATS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Louisiana Municipal Association, with a new scholarship program in his name that supports small town parks and recreation staff.

LaMATS board of directors approved funding for the program during its February 28 meeting. Williams was a long-time LaMATS board member and past president of the LMA.

Louisiana Recreation and Park Association (LRPA) President Amie Hebert said the annual scholarships will support up to 10 small town and village municipal parks and recreation staffers to receive specialized training from the LRPA.

“This scholarship will make certification accessible for smaller towns that wouldn’t have the funding to send one of their own,” Hebert said. “Now we’ll be able to meet people where they are and give them training to better their community.”

Scholarships will allow qualifying personnel to be certified as Playground Safety Inspectors, a National Recreation and Parks Association training program formerly available only outside the state.

Dedicated funding through LaMATS will support the scholarships, which will be effective immediately for upcoming training opportunities announced by LRPA. Scholarships will be allocated to communities at the request of local mayors.

Mayor Michael Chauffe of Gross Tete, LaMATS Secretary/Treasurer, introduced the new Jimmy Williams Scholarship as a way to honor his friend of many years and praised him for his integrity and character.

“There could be no more fitting honor for our good friend,” said Woodworth Mayor David Butler, WLaMATS President. Butler called the honor well-deserved, pointing to Williams’ love of sports and his dedication to public parks and recreation. 

Sibley’s interim mayor Robert Smart said he knew Williams would be delighted with the program and the assistance it would be giving smaller Louisiana towns.

“I think this was a thoughtful gesture from LaMATS. It represented Jimmy in every aspect and I know he is looking down and smiling,” Smart said. “He took great pride in representing the LMA and was involved in every part of the organization. I am honored to be the one chosen to try and fulfill his dreams for Sibley. He was a God-fearing, fun-loving man that loved his town and the people in it.” 

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Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Friday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

* Information courtesy of National Weather Service.

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Persons 45 and older should schedule a colonoscopy today.

According to the American Cancer Society, excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.

Call 318-539-1078 and schedule one today.

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This coming weekend presents pastors like me with a special challenge. We must make sure that our congregation remembers to set that clock forward one hour before going to bed on Saturday evening. We must further convince them to get up and come to church even though they have lost an hour of normal sleep. In the past, I have served in churches that used special morning breakfasts, free donuts, a band and bouncy houses for the kids. In one church I served in seminary, a guy in a gorilla suit came to pass out ballons (he already had the suit), to try to entice people to remember to “spring forward”. Daylight savings time begin in Germany during World War I but was the idea of a Scottish builder, who in true Scottish frugality, thought the world was “wasting daylight” or so they say. 

There are many opponents to the practice of Daylight Savings Time. However, without it we will still have the change of seasons with Spring approaching on March 19. The days will get longer and as the book of Ecclesiastes and the old song by “The Byrds” says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” King Solomon or “The Teacher” lists a litany of stages of human life and activities that we repeat in life and begins with the repetitive “a time to . . .” It is almost like saying that life is something like “lather, rise, repeat” until we die. Pretty bleak. What follows are words of hope and life. “He (God) has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, He has put a sense of past and future into their minds . . .I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live . . .”

Of course, as a Christian, I believe that it is my faith and hope in Jesus Christ that truly breaks this cycle and brings new and abundant life to us. We celebrate the seasons as God brings new growth to the earth from the bleakness of winter into the glory of spring. This reminds us of the new life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. How appropriate it is that both the Passover and Easter are so close to the rebirth of life on earth known as spring.

So, spring forward, find a place to worship, celebrate the return of life and growth and thank God for the change of seasons as we move forward to Easter! 

(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.)

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Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Mike Johnson, was in Minden Monday to meet with community leaders and discuss local and national issues.

Speaker Johnson talked about his journey to his current position as number three in line to the presidency, the issue facing the nation at its borders and the national debt. He also fielded questions from elected officials.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker and WPSO Patrol Commander Maj. Robbie Hayden were on hand to visit with the Speaker.

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