By DOUG IRELAND and BONNIE CULVERHOUSE

If you were thinking about buying a L’Jarius Sneed Kansas City Chiefs jersey for you or a friend or a kid, consider this: as of Wednesday, the Minden High School graduate will no longer play for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

He’s headed to the Music City, to join the Tennessee Titans. The transaction, which emerged over the last few days, becomes official Wednesday when Sneed (Minden HS Class of 2016) is officially traded and signs his contract with the Titans.

The Webster Parish Journal’s source is impeccable: his mother, Jane Sneed, a Minden resident who is already mulling a move to Nashville at least to help her son and his family get settled there.

Rumors and reports about NFL business are often reality, but not always. This one is now irrefutable.

Playing in the NFL is a dream come true for young football players.

Being in the NFL is a business, a short-term opportunity. It’s said NFL stands for “Not For Long.”

The numbers boggle the mind. Not just the salaries, but the odds.

Only 1.6 percent of college players make it and earn a regular-season NFL paycheck. If you go back to the high school ranks, the chances are that 0.23 percent of boys playing on Friday night get to play on Sunday afternoons.

Once in the league, an average NFL career lasts 3.3 years.

While the glory of being a pro player is significant, the opportunity to earn extraordinary income sufficient for a lifetime is obviously fleeting. The chance to obtain generational wealth by playing in the NFL is even more rare.

Coming from Louisiana Tech in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Sneed has been playing on a four-year rookie contract worth $3.9 million that with incentives and postseason pay expanded to $5.5 million. It expired after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl early last month. It was his second Super Bowl triumph with Kansas City, in his third appearance in the NFL’s championship game in four seasons as a pro.

Sneed is 27 years old, the average age for an NFL player. There are 1,696 men playing for 32 teams in the NFL at the start of each season. Only a few dozen are elite. Sneed joins those ranks Wednesday.

The Chiefs recognized his current value when they applied a “franchise tag” on him last month, locking him in on a $19.8 million salary for 2024 with hopes to work out a long-term deal. However, much of Kansas City’s salary pool is already obligated to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, defensive tackle Chris Jones and tight end Travis Kelce. Contracts for Jones and Sneed expired after the Super Bowl, and Kansas City made keeping the building block of their interior defense their priority, signing Jones to a $158 million deal last month.

Sneed emerged as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks in the 2023 season, according to Pro Football Focus and other NFL media outlets, after a very impressive 2022 campaign. 

He’s about to sign a contract for four years, worth $76 million, with $55 million guaranteed, according to multiple NFL sources. The deal will make him the third-highest paid cornerback in the league, all-time, and the 53^rd-best paid player in the NFL – for now – according to Sportrac, a sports business news source.

The Chiefs were unwilling to match what some competitors were willing to pay Sneed, and he directed his agent to explore options. Along with Tennessee, Indianapolis was an ardent suitor for his talents. The devil was in the details – Kansas City rightfully wanted compensation in draft picks. 

The deal struck, to be executed Wednesday following a required physical exam, is for a 2024 seventh-rounder and a 2025 third-round pick, per ESPN NFL analyst Adam Schefter.

NFL analyst Jeff Howe of The Athletic gave Tennessee a grade of “A” and saddled Kansas City with an “F” for the deal, with a headline “Titans win big; what were Chiefs thinking?”

Proud Mama Sneed, who became a beloved personality among the “Chiefs Kingdom” fan base in Kansas City, filled in some blanks for the Webster Parish Journal Monday afternoon. 

“It will be official Wednesday. He’s just now doing a physical,” she said. “It was a surprise because in the beginning the Titans were going for him anyway, but they backed out due to the first or second-round  draft pick Kansas City wanted. No one wanted to do the first or the second, so they came back and said Kansas City could go for a third-round pick. The Titans came back in with that. The Colts were wanting to make a deal with him, too.

“Right now, it’s just talk, but he will sign Wednesday.”

Then will come some sweeping change for Sneed, his girlfriend and child, and his mother.

She will probably be moving to Tennessee, at least for a year to help L’Jarius get settled, and “If we decide we like it, we’ll stay,” said Jane Sneed.

Her mother still lives in Louisiana. She said she is going to try and convince her mother to move to Nashville with her.

As for Sneed’s soon-to-be former teammates, Jones probably summed up their perspective best with a brief message on X: “@jay__sneed blessings brotha” he Tweeted.

Indeed.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden City Council held a workshop Monday to discuss allocation of around $4.1 million of ARPA (American Rescue Plan) funds. The money is a one-time shot in the arm for municipalities hit hard by the Covid 19 pandemic era.

“A large portion (of the money) will go to the new public works building,” Mayor Nick Cox said. “It will be in two phases, and the first one will be about $800,000 – that’s commercial work, and everything is so expensive these days.”

Phase I will be the public works office complex and control center, which is around 3,200 square feet.

Phase II would include storage for trucks and equipment. That phase could be around $500,000.

“I anticipate spending roughly $1.5 million total on that project,” said the mayor. “That still leaves us around $2.5 million, so I feel like we should go ahead and do the animal shelter. When are we going to have another chance to have extra money to do this?”

Over the past couple of years, Minden City Council has talked about the condition of the city’s animal shelter. Late mayor Terry Gardner was met with some resistance as he tried to move the current shelter by building a new one on city property.

Then possible improvements on the current shelter were discussed and grant funds in the amount of $75,000 were acquired.

When the project was first discussed, cost appeared to be around $350,000 to $400,000. The mayor gauged an amount as closer to $500,000 but said he doesn’t feel it will be that high.

“The one we have designed is about the same size as the public works building,” he said. “It has sloped floors and drainage. I think I overshot the cost, but we are going to get accurate numbers on everything.”

The current shelter is located at 138 Dianne Street, and a new one would be built in that location, according to the plan.

Cox gave the council a list of several things where he feels the funds would be beneficial and asked for their input. However, the meeting was a workshop so none could be approved by a vote.

“This is just a draft,” Cox said of the list. “The list can change; the numbers can change. We just need a starting place, because that money has to be allocated by the end of the year.”

Other proposals include improvements to the Recreation Complex, audio/video equipment at Minden Civic Center, remodel of Minden Community House, replacement of the Shreveport Road water main, building of 10 airport hangars to lease to pilots and city cleanup and condemnations.

Cox said the only project on which he has firm numbers would be the water main replacement. Cost would be around $650,000.

“I really would like to see that done,” said District A councilman Buddy Myles.

“If something happens with that water main, we’re in trouble,” Cox said. “That would shut us down.”

Members agreed to place it on next Tuesday’s council agenda as a “working ARPA budget” subject to change.

“It’s all very good,” District E councilman Andy Pendergrass said of the list.

“I’m good with this list,” District D councilman Michael Roy agreed. “As long as we can work together to reapportion the money if needed.”

Cox said his goal for the workshop was to receive the council’s blessing on the list as a starting place.

“This could give this city a shot in the arm like it hasn’t had in a long time,” Cox said. “It’s going to be a good thing.”

Minden’s next council meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in Council Chambers, Minden City Hall.

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Tuesday Night

Clear, with a low around 40. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 70.

Thursday Night

Clear, with a low around 44.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 75.

* Information courtesy of National Weather Service.

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By Pat Culverhouse

A Dallas, Texas man is currently residing in a Louisiana lockup following his Saturday arrest in Minden’s downtown area on multiple drug charges.

De’Audrick Gill, 23, stopped his vehicle near the intersection of Pearl and Main streets for a traffic violation just after 7:30 p.m. He was taken into custody when officers found a number of illegal narcotics and weapons inside the vehicle he was driving, Chief of Police Jared McIver said.

“After the stop, Sgt. Chris Cayer and Officer Branthony Brown asked the passenger in the vehicle to open that side’s door and when it opened, a small plastic bag of marijuana fell out,” McIver said. “Mr. Gill told the officers that more narcotics plus two firearms were inside, and that everything belonged to him.”

Inside the vehicle, officers found a bag containing 4.73 ounces of individually bagged marijuana, two bottles of promethazine with codeine, two bottles of Xanax with 40 dosage units and scales. 

“Our officers also found two 9MM handguns under the driver’s seat,” McIver said. “The suspect was taken into custody without incident.”

Gill is currently being held in the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on charges of possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) with intent to distribute, possession of CDS Sch. II (Xanax) with intent to distribute, possession of CDS Sch. V (Promethazine) with intent to distribute, illegal possession of a firearm near CDS and possession of drug paraphernalia plus a traffic violation.

McIver said Gill is also the subject of two bench warrants.

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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These M&M Marshmallow Creme Sugar Cookie Bars are the sweetest and most colorful Easter treat!  I love a sugar cookie bar, and Easter M&M’s make these and many other desserts so pretty.  You can even sub the homemade dough with storebought dough if you like!

Ingredients:

§  2 2/3 cups flour

§  1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

§  1/2 teaspoon salt

§  1 cup butter, softened

§  1 cup sugar

§  1/3 cup brown sugar

§  2 eggs

§  1 egg yolk

§  2 teaspoons vanilla

§  Easter M&M’s

§  Sprinkles

§  1 jar marshmallow crème

 Directions

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 baking dish with crumpled parchment paper.  Lightly grease the paper.  Whisk the first 3 dry ingredients.  Set aside.

 Beat the butter and sugars.  Once combined mix in the eggs and vanilla.  Add the flour and stir until no white streaks remain.  Set aside 1 heaping cup of the dough and press the rest (I had to flour my hands to do this because the dough was sticky) into the pan.  Sprinkle with some of the M&M’s and press them lightly into the dough.  Drop large spoonfuls of the marshmallow crème over but do not spread.  Then drop chunks of the leftover dough around.

 Bake 25-30 minutes.  Let cool 5 minutes and then scatter more M&M’s around the top and lightly press into the crust.  Shake sprinkles over.  Let bars cool completely before removing the parchment and cutting into small squares.

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

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By Pat Culverhouse

Two Minden city police patrol officers had a busy evening tour of duty Thursday, making a pair of separate drug arrests less than an hour apart.

Officers Ben Sparks and Kendale Booker made their first arrest just after 9 p.m. when a suspect attempted to flee after he was stopped for questioning on Walnut St. Chief of Police Jared McIver said 52-year-old Reggie Wayne Eason was apprehended after a brief foot chase.

“Our officers observed the suspect throw something from his pocket during the chase. A search of the area uncovered a plastic item with suspected crack rock inside,” McIver said. “Although the ground was wet due to rain, the item was dry.”

Eason was booked on charges of possession of CDS Sch. II (crack cocaine) with intent to distribute, possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana), resisting an officer and a misdemeanor traffic offense.

He is currently being held in Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center under bonds totaling $4,502.

Illegal drugs found on pedestrian

A short time later, Sparks and Booker stopped a pedestrian on Joel St. for questioning and after receiving consent to conduct a search, found illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia on his person.

McIver said 50-year-old Samuel Earl Elkins, a resident of the 100 block of Martin Luther King Dr., is charged with possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia and a misdemeanor traffic offense.

“After getting consent, the officers found a glass pipe commonly used for narcotic consumption in the suspect’s backpack,” McIver said. “When they were searching his person, the suspect dropped a clear bag containing suspected methamphetamines.”

Elkins reportedly is being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center under a $3,502 bond on the three charges.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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By Pat Culverhouse

Two Minden women are currently in custody on illegal narcotic charges and outstanding warrants following a traffic stop by city police patrol officers.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said 27-year-old Jaleshia Matkal Sims of Lanning St. was booked for possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamine), possession of CDS in the presence of a child under 17, no child restraint and on an outstanding fugitive warrant from the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.

A passenger in the vehicle Sims reportedly was driving, Akeilah Malone (no age or address given), was also taken into custody after officers learned she was subject of three active bench warrants and one arrest warrant through MPD. Malone initially gave officers a false name during questioning at the scene, McIver said.

During a traffic stop shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday, officers Ben Sparks and Jessica Thompson reportedly noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from Sims’ vehicle.

“Sims told our officers the smell inside the vehicle was due to her smoking earlier in the day,” McIver said.

During an ensuing search of the vehicle, McIver said officers found 0.8 grams of methamphetamine located beneath a child in the back seat. Sims is being held in Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center in lieu of $8,500 bond.

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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Meriwether is partnering with Durrett Law & Title and the Greater Minden Chamber to offer a NO-COST estate planning seminar on April 12. And guess what??? We’re providing you with a great lunch too! Seating is limited to the first 25 to register, so don’t wait. You’ll leave with great information and hopefully some direction if you haven’t taken the steps to plan for your and your family’s future. Call 377-1803 to get on the list.

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United Christian Assistance Program has then following needs:

Food: Powdered milk, Vienna sausage, biscuit & cornbread mix

Household goods: king & queen sheets, towels & wash cloths

Toiletries: soap, deodorant, toothpaste, adult diapers and bed pads

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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Thurs., March 21

Doyline Panthers 5, Weston 6

A walk-off left Doyline Panthers on the wrong end of a 6-5 defeat to Weston Thursday. The game was tied at five in the bottom of the eighth when Colten Blunder singled, scoring one run.

Noah Spears drove in four runs in the loss. The left-handed hitter went 1-4 on the day. Dario Galvez walked, which helped Doyline tie the game at one in the top of the second.

Cayden Mingo took the loss for Doyline. The reliever went one and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits, striking out two and walking four. Austin Arbaugh started on the bump for Panthers. The righty gave up four hits and four runs over five and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking four.

Spears and Arbaugh each collected one hit for Doyline. Galvez paced the Panthers with four of the team’s six walks. Mingo stole two bases.

Glenbrook Apaches 1, Cedar Creek Cougars 5

Glenbrook Apaches could not keep up with Cedar Creek Cougars Thursday at Cedar Creek.

Apaches were the first to get on the board in the first when Dawson Day grounded out, scoring one run.

Easton Sanders took the loss for Glenbrook. The starter went four innings, giving up five runs (zero earned) on four hits, striking out four and walking three.

Day led the team with one run batted in. Preston Frye, Ryan Reagan, Sanders and Landry Powell each collected one hit for Glenbrook.

Lakeside Warriors 1, Loyola Flyers 12

Loyola Flyers scored seven runs in the second inning, which led to Lakeside’s downfall Thursday.

Hunter Sutton took the loss for Warriors. The righty went two innings, surrendering eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits, striking out two and walking two.

Jake Glass, Jordan Isbell, Brock Case and Gage Williams each collected one hit. Case led with one run batted in. The right fielder went 1-for-2 on the day.

Minden Crimson Tide 10, North Webster Knights 0

Minden Crimson Tide scored six runs in the fourth inning, which helped them defeat North Webster Knights Thursday.

Tyler Brown induced Zander Rowell to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored. Jaxon Smith singled, scoring a run, Landon Brewer singled, scoring a run, Brody Bower was struck by a pitch, driving in a run and Bryson Ranger drew a walk, scoring one run.

Tide got on the board in the second inning after an error scored a run.

Rowell earned the win for Minden. The starting pitcher allowed one hit and zero runs over six innings, striking out one and walking none. 

Chandler McKenzie took the loss for North Webster. He went three innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out none and walking one.

Nathan Bernard and Tyler Brown were a force together in the lineup as they each collected one hit for Knights.

Hudson Brown, Parker Salas, Smith, Brewer and Ranger each collected on hit for the Tide.

Hudson Brown, Rowell, Brewer and Bower each drove in a run. Ranger went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead MHS in hits.

Tyler Brown led North Webster with one hit in two at-bats.

Sat., March 23

Doyline Panthers 2, Minden Crimson Tide 5

Doyline Panthers got on the board in first inning after Dakota Stewart laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring one run.

Crimson Tide made the score 4-1 in the bottom of the third when Zander Rowell singled, scoring two runs, Jaxon Smith singled, scoring one run and an error scored a run.

Landon Brewer earned the win for Minden. The starter gave up three hits and two runs (one earned) over six and two-thirds innings, striking out nine and walking three.

Noah Spears took the loss for Panthers. The righty went six innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits, stroking out four and walking four.

Landyn Huddleston collected the save.

Benton Bates and Austin Arbaugh each collected one hit for Doyline. Stewart and Cayden Mingo each drove in one run for Panthers.

Rowell went 1-for-3 at the plate as the infielder led the team with two runs batted in. Brody Bower led Minden with two hits in four at-bats. Huddleston stole two bases.

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The case is Murthy v. Missouri, a suit brought in federal court in Monroe, Louisiana by a number of states, including Louisiana.  The basis of the suit involves states and individuals whose Covid posts were censored who then sued federal government officials for violating their free speech rights. Lower courts had ruled in favor of these plaintiffs, finding that certain government officials had pressured social media platforms to censor and suppress their posts.

The legal question is one regarding freedom of speech and how these enormous social media sites choose to “moderate”—in fact, censor—the content of speech and whether, either by their own doing or as a result of pressure from the federal government, or both, these tech giants are suppressing certain speech—which is virtually always conservative speech.

These “communications” reflect active coordination between Facebook and U.S. government officials, including high-ranking White House officials.  In one example, after Pres. Biden claimed that social media sites and “Covid misinformation” were resulting in “killing people,” a staffer at Meta (a Facebook spinoff) sent an email to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, which stated “it’s not great to be accused of killing people” but Meta was committed to finding “a way to de-escalate and work together collaboratively.”

Other such “communications” (i.e., threats) include former White House director of digital strategy Rob Flaherty and Covid adviser Andy Slavitt who “flagged posts for removal to social media employees and berated them if they didn’t follow orders.” (Wall Street Journal, 3-18-24).  Flaherty further stated that he “also blamed Facebook for the Jan 6, 2021 riot and said it would be blamed for Covid deaths if it didn’t increase censorship.” 

Wow. 

WSJ further noted that “officials reinforced these private lashings with public threats” including those of former White House press secretary Jen Psaki who stated that platforms could face “legal consequences” if they didn’t censor vaccine misinformation.  In keeping with the Psaki threats, more than one Biden official strongly suggested the possibility of antitrust litigation brought against the platforms by the Department of Justice as well as removing Section 230 liability protections.

This incestuous relationship between the federal government and Facebook/Big Tech creates a toxic coordination between government and huge social media sites to suppress critical information the public needs to make well-informed decisions.  That’s irrefutable censorship of free speech.

The Biden Administration claims these threats are simply “jawboning”—government speech intended to persuade and inform that is protected by the 1st Amendment.  That’s laughable.  The U.S. 5th Circuit didn’t buy it concluding that Biden officials “weren’t merely out to persuade” but had instead “crossed the line by using threats of legal action.” (WSJ, Id). 

The greatest virtue of free speech is that all kinds of ideas are thrust into the rough and tumble of the “marketplace of ideas” where the best idea prevails and leads the nation to wise policy results on challenging national issues.  That obviously cannot occur if certain speech is censored and suppressed.

Well, after arguments before the Supreme Court and the questions of several Justices, I am concerned.  Several justices reflected in their questions a view of free speech antithetical to that expressed by the Founding Fathers and reflected in the Constitution—that the 1st Amendment is a limit on the Government’s power to ‘abridge’ or censor free speech. 

This unconstitutional view was articulated most clearly by Justice Jackson in her questioning but the so-called conservative Justices, including Kavanaugh and Roberts, also seemed to be leaning in the direction of supporting government censorship of free speech.  Justice Jackson expressed concern that ‘the First Amendment will hamstring the government in significant ways in the most important time periods.”  She seems to have forgotten in her Constitutional Law class that “hamstringing” the federal government—beginning with that of the government of King George III—is exactly the reason why freedom of speech is the first Amendment in the Bill of Rights.  

One of our most important constitutional principles is that the government cannot force private parties to do what the government is prohibited from doing on its own.  Congress could not directly pass a law suppressing speech by American citizens about Covid.  The law would be struck down immediately as a violation of the 1st Amendment.  Well, neither can the government force Facebook and the other huge social media platforms to suppress speech.  I hope the Supreme Court powerfully reaffirms that principle in this case.

(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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Thurs., March 21

Doyline Lady Panthers 9, Loyola Prep Flyers 4

Lanie Gates collected three hits in four at-bats as Doyline Lady Panthers defeated Loyola Prep Flyers Thursday. Gates doubled in the second inning, singled in the fourth inning and singled in the sixth inning.

Lady Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the first after Sariyah Gill walked and Kanyion Bartlett singled, each scoring a run. They added a run in the second when Gates doubled, making the score 3-1.

An error extended the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third.

Gill led things off in the circle for Doyline. The righty gave up four hits and four runs (zero earned) over seven innings, striking out seven and walking three.

Gill stole two of the Panthers’ six stolen bases.

Glenbrook Lady Apaches 42, Arcadia 0

Vivian Still hit two home runs and drove in seven as Glenbrook Lady Apaches defeated Arcadia in a big way Thursday. Still homered twice in the second inning.

Lady Apaches jumped out to the lead in the top of the first after Still doubled, scoring two runs, Gabi Brown doubled, scoring one run, Savannah Mangrum drew a walk, scoring one run, Hadley Haynes drew a walk, scoring one run, Anna Grace Vining drew a walk, scoring one run, Chloe Gregg doubled, scoring three runs, Still drew a walk, scoring a run, Brown singled, scoring a run, Rebecca Mosley singled, scoring a run, Mangrum laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring a run, two errors scored one run each, Ellie Earnhardt laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring a run and Still tripled, scoring two runs.

Glenbrook added 20 more runs in the top of the second on 15 hits. Haynes singled, scoring three runs, Amelia Lott drew a walk, scoring one, Still hit an inside the park home run, scoring three runs, Emma Garner singled, scoring one, Mangrum drew a walk, scoring one, Gracie Heard singled, scoring two runs, Izzy McMillon doubled, scoring a run, Lott singled, scoring a run, Still hit another inside the park home run, scoring two, Kenzie Smith singled, scoring one run, Mangrum doubled, scoring two and Heard grounded out scoring a run.

Garner earned the win. The righty surrendered no hits and no runs over two innings, striking out four and walking none. Mosley started in the circle. She surrendered no hits and no runs over one inning, striking out two and walking none.

Glenbrook amassed 25 hits in the game. Mosley, Brown, Lea, Garner, Lott, Smith and Gregg each collected multiple hits. The team collected 12 walks. Still, Smith and Mangrum led with two free passes each. Brown, Lott, Smith, Addison Chanler, Earnhardt and Gregg each stole multiple bases with team totaling 18 in the game.

Fri., March 22

Minden High Lady Tiders 8, Family Community Christian 7

Despite trailing by as many as six runs, Minden High School Lady Tiders rallied to top Family Community Christian Friday.

Minden didn’t take the lead until later in the game. It was tied at seven in the bottom of the sixth when an error scored one run.

The game was tied in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a double by Lindsay Ryan, a double by Kylie Ryan, a single by Kaydree Kemp and a single by Annabelle Toland.

Family Community Christian took the lead in the bottom of the sixth 7-6.

MHS took the lead 8-7 in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to two errors.

Ryan earned the win. The starting pitcher surrendered five hits and seven runs (six earned) over seven innings, striking out seven and walking 11.

Ryan, Ryan and Kemp each collected two hits for the Lady Tiders. Ryan and Ryan each drove in two runs. Leigha Kennon-Gilbert led with three of the team’s seven walks, and the Tiders turned one double play.

Glenbrook Lady Apaches 8, Montgomery Lady Tigers 11

Even though Glenbrook Lady Apaches collected 12 hits to Montgomery Lady Tigers’ nine, they still fell in the game Friday. Chloe Gregg led Glenbrook with three hits.

Both teams exchanged the lead often during the game, but Lady Tigers eventually took it for good thanks to a home run in the sixth.

Glenbrook made the score 4-2 in the top of the third after Gregg tripled and Vivian Still homered to right field, scoring two runs.

An error put Lady Apaches on the board in the top of the first. They again took the lead in the top of the fourth after Emma Garner singled, Gregg singled, Still singled and Gabi Brown grounded out each scoring a run.

Savannah Mangrum took the loss for Glenbrook. The reliever went four innings, surrendering six runs (five earned) on eight hits, striking out none and walking five.

Rebecca Mosley started in the circle for Lady Apaches. She allowed one hit and five runs (four earned) over two innings, striking out three and walking five.

Glenbrook collected 12 hits. Still provided pop in the middle of the lineup and led the team with three runs batted in. The number three hitter went 2-for-4 on the day. Ellie Earnhardt and Anna Grace Vining each collected multiple hits.

Lakeside Lady Warriors 18, North Caddo Titans 4

Lexi Wood drove in four runs on one hit to lead Lakeside past North Caddo Friday. Wood hit an inside the park home run in the first inning, scoring three runs and walking in the first inning, scoring one.

Lady Warriors won thanks in part to 20 runs in the first inning. Raleah Harris homered to left field, scoring two runs, Izzy Vise drew a walk, scoring one run, Wood drew a walk, scoring one run, Laiklyn Squyres was struck by a pitch, driving in a run, Karrigan Davis singled, scoring two runs, an error scored a run, Harris singled, scoring one run, another error scored three runs, Teal Austin doubled, scoring one run, Wood hit the inside the park home run, scoring three, Davis singled, scoring one, Rhea Waller singled, scoring one, Vise drew a walk, scoring one and MaKensie Hamiter drew a walk, scoring one.

Lakeside scored eight runs on two hits in the bottom of the second inning. Meredith Robinson drew a walk, scoring a run, Maggie Mandino drew a walk, scoring a run, an error scored one, Austin drew a walk, scoring one, Vise singled, scoring one, Hamiter grounded out, scoring a run and Paiton Levesque singled, scoring two.

Harris started in the circle. She allowed one hit and two runs over one inning, striking out two and walking one. Waller appeared in relief.

Lady Warriors amassed 10 hits in the game. Harris and Davis each collected two hits. Vise led with three of the team’s 17 walks.

Levesque, Davis, Rainie Hughes and Waller stole multiple bases, with the team stealing a total of 14. They turned one double play in the game.

Sat., March 23

Minden High School Lady Tiders 7, Castor Lady Tigers 3

Kylie Ryan collected four hits in four at-bats, as Minden’s Lady Tiders defeated Castor Saturday. Ryan singled in the fourth inning, singled in the first inning, singled in the third inning and singled in the sixth.

Lady Tiders captured the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the first after Tatum Oliver grounded out, Ryan singled and Lady Tiders scored on a passed ball, each scoring one run.

In the bottom of the third, they broke up the tie when Ryan singled, scoring a run. Then a dropped third strike by Lady Tigers followed to extend the lead to 5-3.

Lindsay Ryan earned the win. The reliever gave up one hit and no runs over five innings, striking out four and walking three. Kai Williams stepped in the circle first for Minden. The starter gave up four hits and three runs (two earned) over two innings, striking out two and walking two.

Lady Tiders turned two double plays in the tame.

Minden High School Lady Tiders 10, Castor Lady Tigers 0

Lady Tiders easily dispatched Castor in the second game Saturday.

Minden got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Belle Douglass laid down a sacrifice bunt and Kylie Ryan grounded out, each scoring one run.

An error, a fielder’s choice by Douglass and a single by Ryan helped extend their early lead in the second.

Gracie Sparks earned the win for Minden. She surrendered one hit and zero runs over five innings, striking out five and walking three.

Ryan drove the middle of the lineup with three runs batted in. The cleanup hitters went 2-for-3 on the day. Ryan, Kaydree Kemp and Jacey Adams each collected two hits. Linda Ryan paced with two of the team’s five walks for the game, and Lady Tiders turned one double play.

Glenbrook Lady Apaches 4, St. Frederick Warriors 6

Vivian Still collected three hits in four at-bats, but Glenbrook still lost to St. Frederick Saturday. Still hit an inside the park home run in the third inning, singled in the first inning and singled in the fifth.

Lady Apaches out hit St. Frederick nine to six. Still led with three hits.

An error put Glenbrook on the board in the top of the first.

A single by Ellie Earnhardt extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the second.

Rebecca Mosley took the loss for Lady Apaches. The righty went one inning, surrendering three runs on three hits, striking out two and walking one. Savannah Mangrum stepped in the circle first. The starter gave up three hits and three runs over five innings, striking out four and walking five.

Lady Apaches stole five bases in the game.

Glenbrook Lady Apaches 0, Ouachita Christian Lady Eagles 10

Glenbrook Lady Apaches had trouble keeping up with Ouachita Christian Lady Eagles in their second game Saturday.

Savannah Mangrum took the loss. The starter went four innings, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 13 hits, striking out one and walking one.

Gracie Heard and Chloe Gregg each collected one hit.

Lakeside Lady Warriors 12, Florian Blackcats 3

Emily Jones collected three hits in four at-bats, as Lakeside Lady Warriors defeated Florian Blackcats 12-3 Saturday. Jones doubled in the seventh inning, singled in the second inning and singled in the fifth inning.

Hallie Sutton doubled, scoring two runs in the top of the first to put Lady Warriors on the board.

They added to their early lead in the top of the second inning after Rhea Waller singled and Florian Blackcats committed an error, each scoring two runs.

Lakeside scored five runs on three hits in the top of the seventh. Jones doubled, scoring a run, Mackenzie McCoy doubled, scoring two runs, Waller drew a walk, scoring a run and McCoy scored after tagging up.

Sutton opened the game. The righty allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) over seven innings, striking out six and walking six.

Lady Warriors collected 10 hits in the game. McCoy led with three runs batted in. The leadoff hitter went 2-for-5 on the day. Raleah Harris and Karrigan Davis each had two of the total six walks for the game. Lady Warriors had four stolen bases.

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

March 26

11 a.m. until 2 p.m. WIOA Youth LWDA 70 Region 7, Webster Parish Library: parents and young adults on a career path, find employment and, if eligible, qualify for free tuition, supportive services and paid work experience.

March 29

7 p.m. First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden. “Once Upon A Tree” directed by Dr. Dan Gibbs. First Methodist Minden Chancel Choir with Chamber Orchestra. Soloists: Mickey Love, Pat Culverhouse and Melanie Comb with Judge Parker Self as Luke the Physician.

March 30

3 until 5 p.m., Easter Egg Fest ’24. 15910 Hwy. 80, Minden. Free food, games, bounce house, furry guest and more. Egg hunt begins at 3:30 p.m.

Sibley Volunteer Fire Department’s 45th Annual Bass Tournament. Lake Bistineau. Weigh-in at Port O’ Bistineau.

April 3

10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Greater Minden Spring Job Fair & Resource Expo. Minden Civic Center.

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.

April 14

2 until 4 p.m. Oak Cottage Open House, 406 3rd St. NW, Springhill. Air B&B/Event venue. Refreshments will be served.

April 15

The founders’ vision for ACE Scholarship was powerful but simple: that all children have access to great schools. Glenbrook School has partnered with the ACE program for the 2024/2025 school year.  Applications for scholarships due date is April 15. For more information, go to:

 Welcome to Grant & Aid (factsmgt.com) or call Naomi Coyle at 318-377-2135.

6 p.m. Night at the Museum with Museum Director Jessica Gorman. Discussion: preserving local cemeteries. Admission is free; donations welcome. Refreshments: potluck snacks and desserts. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Seating is limited. Call 318-377-3002 for more information.

April 16

6 p.m. Springhill North Webster Chamber of Commerce 70th Annual Awards Banquet. Community Activity Center, 301 West Church St., Springhill. Entertainment by Piney Woods Jamboree. Table sponsorships available. Individual tickets $50.

April 18

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Senior Fun Day sponsored by Springhill Medical Center. Springhill CAC Building. Ages 50 and older. Free admission. Free meal sponsored by Bristol Hospice.

April 20

6 p.m. LaMa Animal Rescue hosts Murder on the Boardwalk, Oak Cottage, 406 3rd St. NW, Springhill. Tickets much be purchased in advance. Call 318-272-6093.

April 29

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Food Truck Night at Miller Quarters. Live entertainment by Braydon Watts. Sponsored by Main Street Minden and Minden Police Chief Jared McIver.

May 4

6 p.m. Follow the Yellow Brick Road to LaMa Bingo, Springhill Civic Center. $50 jackpot, $100 and $200 games, door prizes, silent auction, concessions, costume contest, split the pot.

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.

May 24, 25

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 24 and 25).  All activities will be held at the Shongaloo Civic Center, 119 LA 2 Alt Rd, in Shongaloo, La.

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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.

March 21

Jaleishia Matkal Sims, 27, of the 500 block of Lanning St., Minden, was arrested by MPD for possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor, no child restraint and outstanding warrants.

Reggie Wayne Eason, 52, of the 700 block of Rodeo Circle, Minden, was arrested by MPD for possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, resisting an officer and pedestrian on the  highway.

Samuel Earl Elkins, 50, of the 100 block of Martin Luther King Dr., Minden, was arrested by MPD as pedestrian on the highway, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kendrick Roshaud Harris, 41, of the 1300 block of Sheppard St., Minden, was arrested by MPD on four active warrants.

March 22

Derrick Porter Jr., 18, of the 500 block of Front St., Minden, was arrested by MPD on an active bench warrant.

William McClendon, 37, of the 100 block of Azalea St., Minden, was arrested on a warrant.

March 23

Taicarriane L. Eason, 27, of the 100 block of Washington St., Minden, was arrested by WPSO on an active warrant for simple battery.

Austin Payton Anderson, 27, of the 300 block of Stuckey Rd., Dubberly, was arrested by MPD on violation of protective order, possession of natural marijuana, expired driver’s license and parking 18 inches of curb.

Andres Pachuca, 28, of Bryan, Texas, was arrested by LSP-G at MM 40 in I-20 for driving while intoxicated and careless operation of a motor vehicle.

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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Lane Smith Woodard

March 19, 1950 – March 21, 2024

Visitation: Noon until 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Springhill Methodist Church, Springhill, La.

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

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

Virginia Dare Reese Kirkikis

Sept. 7, 1929 – March 20, 2024

Minden, La.

Graveside service: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 2024, Gardens of Memory Cemetery, Minden.

William Edward Cobb

Nov. 17, 1973 – March 25, 2024

Springhill, La.

Private memorial service at a later date.

Arrangements under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill.

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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According to NFL.com, Kansas City Chiefs are moving on from one of their key pieces on defense by trading Minden native and corner back L’Jarius Sneed to Tennessee Titans for a 2025 third-round pick and a swap of 2024 seventh-round picks, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Friday, per sources.

Sneed is expected to get a new contract with the Titans, Pelissero added.

It could be official as early as Wednesday.

Fresh off a Super Bowl LVIII victory in February, the Chiefs moving on from Sneed has been brewing as a possibility for several weeks. On Feb. 28, Kansas City permitted Sneed to seek a trade partner. Then on March 4, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Sneed to avoid losing him to free agency empty-handed.

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By Marilyn Miller

A six-year-old boy picks up the just-delivered stack of “newspapers,” rolls them up, and drops them into the basket on his bicycle. He sets out to deliver every copy of “Grit” to each household in the Simsboro area. After all, “America’s Greatest Family Newspaper” was free, so everybody got a copy.

In that year of 1953, first grader Jack E. Byrd, Jr., didn’t give a thought to a future that would include so many honors, like the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce’s “Lifetime Achievement Award,” given as the climax of the chamber’s annual gala on Feb. 27, 2024.

So, he’s from the Simsboro area??

“No, I’m from I-20,” Byrd replied, a small smile on his face. “I was the son of a Baptist minister. I went to seven different schools in 12 years…I was constantly starting over.”

After serving in the Ruston area, Jack E. Byrd, Sr. moved his family to the Antioch Baptist Church in Dixie Inn. Jack, Jr. attended schools in Minden his eighth, ninth and tenth-grade years. His Senior year found him in Garrison, Texas, where he earned his high school diploma.

“But I couldn’t wait to get back here (to north Louisiana),” Byrd commented. “I found out I couldn’t rope a calf, and I couldn’t chew Red Man.”

Jack made his way back to Ruston, where he enrolled in Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (today known as Louisiana Tech University). The Vietnam war was raging when Jack received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in May of 1968. He was told that In June, he would receive a letter from the United States Draft Board, informing him that he would receive another letter in July “inviting” him to come take his physical and report for Basic Training.

Not a man to give up control, “I checked my options out,” Jack said. After giving close scrutiny to several of the nation’s branches of the military, and more than a few physicals, Jack settled on the U.S. Air Force. After graduation, he would become a second Lieutenant at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. This would be the starting point on his journey to become a jet pilot.

However, two days after his 1968 graduation, Byrd was contacted by the Army National Guard. They wanted to form a Mortar Platoon. They were specifically wanting people who excelled at mathematics, who could analyze the trajectory of a mortar, using elements like wind speed and direction. Today these calculations are done by computer.

Byrd joined the Army National Guard and was told that he would have to live within a five-mile radius of guard headquarters. Jack drew a map of where he could live, and luckily, Minden, LA was in that circle. He applied for a job and was told he’d have to come back. Meanwhile, while leaving, he saw a notice in the elevator about another accounting firm in the same building. He went back and asked if they had an opening. They did, and by noon, he was working for Duane Cloud, Richard McCranie, and Buck Shaffer. “It just so happened that the Kennon Apartments had completed building and furnishing one unit,” Jack recalled. By the time he’d rented the apartment, and borrowed money from Buck Shaffer for the down payments, he was “in” to his new bosses for nearly $100. “But I moved in that night. And that’s how I ended up in Minden.”

“When I went to work for Duane Cloud, he told me he wanted ambitious people. He pointed towards his desk and said, ‘I don’t want anybody who doesn’t want my chair!’” Later, when I moved to another firm (Jamieson, Holland & Byrd), where I was a partner, Duane asked me why I left. I pointed to a chair and reminded him that he wanted ambitious people. Duane admitted I had him there.”

After a decade, in 1987, Byrd became president and director of Minden Building & Loan. Two years later, he was hired as president and director of Minden Bank & Trust. When MB&T merged with Regions Bank, Byrd served as North Louisiana President of Regions for the next eight years. In 2007, he became president, chairman of the board and CEO of MBL Bank. During his tenure, MBL Bank grew rapidly, with assets of more than $323 million. In 2018, MBL Bank was acquired by b1Bank. Today, Jack Byrd serves as Chairman, Northwest Region, for B1Bank.

“I told my boss that he could fire me with my blessings the day I’m no longer contributing and accountable in my work,” Byrd stated. At 77, the banker seems to be doing just fine.

Jack also serves his community. He has been a member and often chairman of the Minden Lions Club, Minden Jaycees, Minden Police and Fire Civil Service Board, United Givers Fund, Minden Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts Fund Drives, Minden Medical Center Foundation, Glenbrook School (30 years as a founding trustee), and First Baptist Church (everything but the choir). He was Minden’s “Man of the Year” in 2016.

He is most proud of his service to Louisiana Tech University, where he has served on various boards, associations, and committees for over 50 years. He has earned the “Alumnus of the Year” Award, the “Distinguished Service” Award, the “Tower Medallion” Award and the “Honorary Doctorate of Humanities.” Since its inception in 1894, Tech has awarded over 100,000 diplomas. Byrd is one of only three graduates to ever receive all four of these awards. He has served as president of the University Foundation and the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association. He is on the board of the LA Tech Applied Research Corporation, collaborating between LA Tech and Cyber Command Bossier.

Jack met his wife, Peggy, at a Louisiana Tech football game. They have two daughters, Natalie Byrd Jackson of Indianapolis, IN and April Byrd McDonald of Dallas. They have four grandchildren, and Jack has two sisters, Mary Beth McCullen of Simsboro and Patsy and husband, Carroll Bolton, of Dubberly. He has one brother, Chuck and wife Shirley Byrd, of Shreveport. His parents, Jack E. Byrd, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth “retired” to the Heflin-Fryeburg area, where he was an “interim” pastor. His dad passed away at age 91, while his mom died at age 100.

“Talking about Lifetime Achievement earlier, the greatest work I’ve ever done professionally is hiring good people,” Byrd said, pointing out that he has been working with some of the same people in the Minden banking industry for over 35 years. “As a leader, you get too much credit (or too much criticism). Equip your people, hold them accountable, and get out of their way,” he advised. “I’ve been extremely successful doing this.”

 

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Residents of Beaver Creek subdivision will soon see the light … and the road.

When night falls, the area off La. Hwy. 531 in Minden is extremely dark, but the City of Minden striped the road in the Fall and now has plans to install lights along Carey Lane, leading into the subdivision.

Power to Beaver Creek is through Entergy due to annexation, and Minden Mayor Nick Cox was first told the lighting project couldn’t be done.

“But if I were a homeowner out there, I could put in a security light … I’d just have to pay for it,” Cox said. “So what we are going to do is put security lights facing the road.”

The lights will be placed on poles already installed and running power to houses. Entergy has approved the project.

“These poles are not in the yards,” said the mayor. “Our line crew and public works director identified nine good spots.”

According to the mayor, the residents will not be charged anything for the lights nor continuing maintenance.

“The City will pay for everything – we’re just talking a few hundred dollars,” he said. “We are talking little money to help with safety.”

Gloria Clark and her husband James have lived in Beaver Creek for 23 years, and she is glad the City is taking an interest in the subdivision.

“This is a wonderful subdivision, and people are kind of ‘glued’ together,” she said. “The road is a little uncomfortable because of the curves and lack of lights.”

Then, there are deer that are often close to the road.

“We have speed limit signs on the street, and that has helped,” she pointed out. “Everybody tries to be cautious at night, but it is really neat the City is taking some interest to do this.”

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Friday

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m., then a chance of showers. High near 61. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.

Monday

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 69. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Monday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Tuesday

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.

• Information Courtesy of National Weather Service.

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It’s Eddie Robinson, Fred Hobdy, Wilbert Ellis, Collie J. Nicholson, and president and baseball coach Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones, the cornerstone personalities of an incomparable legacy, developed over many years in relative obscurity, in the red clay hills and piney woods of north Louisiana.

There’s Buck Buchanan, Willie Davis, Willie Brown, and Charlie Joiner, all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

It’s Doug Williams, Sammy White, Everson “Cubby” Walls, Ernie Ladd and James “Shack” Harris, all with their distinctive places in NFL history.

From the hardwood, along with Hobdy, it’s his greatest player, Willis Reed, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member. They combined to win a national championship, an NAIA title in 1961. Another Hobdy superstar: Bob Hopkins, who scored 3,759 points as Tiger from 1952-56, a total exceeding the NCAA Division I standard of 3,667 from Pistol Pete Maravich at LSU more than a decade later.

In the 1970s came future pro players Aaron James, Larry Wright and Kenny Simpson.

Just to drop a few names.

Grambling is no newcomer to the national stage. Robinson and Nicholson took the Grambling football show on the road to major cities in the 1960s and 1970s, including games in Yankee Stadium, and the combination of big crowds in big markets and prime-time players from Grambling in the NFL, AFL and NBA, coupled with the charm and brilliance of “Coach Rob,” made an impression on the American sports consciousness.

Add in the World Famed Band Tiger Marching Band, the featured halftime attraction at the first Super Bowl, as another factor as Grambling emerged among the iconic brands of college sports years before the creation of ESPN, and the proliferation of college sports on television.

It’s Grambling State University. The Mighty G. GramFam. A college that for the first six decades of is existence served students who could not attend most higher educational institutions close to them.

It’s where “Everybody is Somebody.”

And as of about 8 p.m. Central Daylight Time Wednesday night, Grambling became quite something once more.

For all of the glow of big-time college sports, the electricity of March Madness is incomparable, in no small part because of the small schools involved, and the opportunity they get to square off against the super powers on a neutral court, five-on-five, for 40 minutes.

Wednesday night was not that kind of matchup. Friday evening will be, when the 16th seeded Grambling Tigers tip off against No. 1 Purdue in the “first round” of this year’s NCAA Tournament.

That’s because Wednesday night in college basketball’s paradise, Dayton, Ohio, in UD Arena, at the NCAA’s First Four “opening round” event, Grambling did two things it had never achieved before.

1. Tipped off in the NCAA Division I Championship, for the first time in 46 years of eligibility. The Tigers had never before won the right to represent their league, the Southwestern Athletic Conference, in the Big Dance. They took care of that the previous week, and took the court Wednesday against NCAA Tournament veteran Montana State (six appearances, including a current streak of three straight).
2. They won an NCAA Tournament game. In overtime, overcoming a 14-point second-half deficit, making a heroic charge in the closing minutes and taking total control in the final two minutes of overtime.

It was nearly exactly a year ago to the day when Grambling’s greatest basketball star passed away. Willis Reed, whose Number 50 Tigers jersey was finally raised in the rafters of the Fred G. Hobdy Assembly Center just a year before, died last March 21.

“This is something I will remember and cherish the rest of my life,” he said that January night in 2022, proudly wearing a Grambling letter jacket.

His New York Knicks No. 19 jersey had been retired almost a half-century earlier, in 1976, commemorating a career that earned him a spot in the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in its first five decades. But his heart was always centered back along I-20.

“People would ask me, ‘Where would you like to go to a game at?’ Let’s go to Grambling to see them play football, let’s go see them play basketball. I feel like I’m at home here,” said Reed that night.

His smile said even more. The only thing about Wednesday night’s win that wasn’t just right, was that Reed wasn’t around to see it.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Easter! When I think about how Easter looks, I think about the blooming azaleas in my childhood home and hunting for Easter eggs in the newly green St. Augustine grass. Easter, unlike Christmas, is not bombarded by commercialism, expectations, excessive shopping, office parties, school obligations and tons of presents to buy and wrap. Easter is the celebration of hope and the stunning belief that Jesus actually rose from the dead, so that we may also rise. I hope you do celebrate Easter in your home with a good meal, after observing Holy Week, the week leading to the big day. 

Besides the hymns and classics in the church, there are very few Easter-related songs. “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” was sung when I was a child and played on a 45-rpm record player in our home. I don’t know if kids know and sing that one anymore, my sons did not learn it. The generation before me heard Bing Crosby sing, “In Your Easter Bonnet”. But bonnets went out of fashion before my time. The Easter songs of the church focus on the theme of victory and hope, and we need both in our lives today.

When I think of the meaning of Easter, outside what the Bible records, I think about the true story of the U.S.S. Squalus, a submarine. On May 23, 1939, the Squalus was just beginning a test dive in the Atlantic Ocean, not far from Portsmouth, N.H. The navy submarine carried a crew of 59, made up of five officers and fifty-one enlisted men. On that day, their test was to complete an emergency dive to avoid detection during war. The order was given to dive but just as she submerged, the engine room began to flood. Somehow the main induction valve, that brings air into the engines while surfaced, was left open. The U.S.S. Squalus sank like a rock, 243 feet below the surface, in water a few degrees above freezing. In the forward compartments, 33 men remained alive. Emergency rockets were fired from the sub from time to time. After four hours another sub spotted the flares and moved toward the sunken ship, along with two other ships. Divers were sent to the bottom and walked along the upper deck. They could hear tapping from inside the Squalus, it was morse code and it asked the question, “Is There Any Hope?” Never had survivors from such a wreck been rescued from this depth. But the divers had faith that something could be done, and so they tapped back in morse code. “Yes, There Is Hope!” In fact, 33 of the 59 sailors and officers were rescued. 

That story illustrates the fate of every person who has ever lived, including you who are reading this. We are trapped in this life with no escape from death outside of ourselves. Our fate is sealed, and our air is running out. Our only hope is to place our trust in our “rescuer” our “Savior”, Jesus Christ. He descended to us to give us a message from on high, “Yes, yes there is hope!” We must put our trust in him to save us. That is what the celebration of Easter is all about. If you have not found that hope in your life, it is not too late!

Happy 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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Court docket lists are public record. These below include names, charges, reasons for appearance and arresting agencies.

Courtroom A:

ARY, ANGELENE 

98821 C. 1 Disturbing The Peace

98821 Ct. 2 Resisting An Officer

Arraignment Bond Return Date 

Webster Parish Sheriff’s Department (WPSD)

BAILEY, ROBBY

96621-CT.1 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence

96621-CT.2 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence

96621-CT.3 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence

Status Hearing 

Minden Police Department (MPD)

Trial 7/15

BAILEY, ROBBY

96621A Resisting An Officer

Trial 

MPD

BROWN, MICHAEL JASON

97862 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

Sentencing Hearing 

WPSD

CANNON, PEYTON MATTHEW

98710 Ct. 1 Criminal Trespassing

98710 Ct. 2 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000

Arraignment 

WPSD

Restitution per the report for the damaged fence- $500.00, plus $75.00 fee = $575.00 total

Co-def: Dakota Feibel, Noah Gondran

COLEMAN, ADAM ROY

98750 Ct. 1 Violation Of Leash Law

98750 Ct. 2 Violation Of Leash Law

98750 Ct. 3 Violation Of Leash Law

98750 Ct. 4 Violation Of Leash Law

Arraignment Summons 

WPSD

COLLINS, SARAH D.

97551A Criminal Mischief

Probation Violation Hearing 

MPD

Co defendant: C. Studdard

CORCORAN, JAMIE SCOTT

98528 Failure To Comply With Class I Payment Requirements

Arraignment

Wildlife and Fisheries (WLF)

CRAINE, BERNADETTE

98823 Theft Under $1,000.00

Arraignment 

Springhill Police Department (SPD)

WPJ FFD 4/12 Co defendant C. Marry

FEIBEL, DAKOTA MARCUS

98710 Ct. 1 Criminal Trespassing

98710 Ct. 2 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000

98710B Ct. 1 Simple Littering

98710B Ct.2 Migratory Game Bird Violations

98710B Ct.3 Migratory Game Bird Violations

Arraignment 

WPSD

Co-def: Peyton Cannon, Noah Gondran

Restitution per the report for the damaged fence- $500.00 + $75.00 fee = $575.00

FENIMORE, ERIN NICHOLE

97912 Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense

For Further Disposition 

WPSD

GARCIE, TRICIA MICHELLE

96240 Theft Under $1,000

For Further Disposition 

WPSD

WPJ Arrested on a FTA BW issued on 1/19/24 Restitution owed to Sams Eatery $729.00 + $109.35 fee = $838.35

GARCIE, TRICIA MICHELLE

97650- Ct. 1 Theft Under $1,000.00

97650 CT.2 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000.00

For Further Disposition 

WPSD

WPJ Arrested on FTA BW issued 1/19/24 Restitution owed to Cypress Water System- $648.08 + $97.21 fee = $745.29

GONDRAN, NOAH MATTHEW

98710 Ct. 1 Criminal Trespassing

98710 Ct. 2 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000

98710 Gross Littering

98710A Ct. 1 Possession of Marijuana or Synthetic Cannabinoids

98710A Ct 2 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – First Offense

98710A Ct. 3 Gross Littering

Arraignment 

WPSD

Co-def: Peyton Cannon, Noah Gondran

Restitution per the report for the damaged fence- $500.00 + $75.00 fee = $575.00

GORDON, KEVIN MICHAEL

98743 Ct. 1 Simple Battery

98743 Ct. 2 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000

For Further Disposition 

MPD

Restitution owed to the victim for the damaged walker- $196.00 + $29.40 fee = $225.40

HAWK, ANTARIO D

INCOMING Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS

INCOMING Obstruction Of Justice

INCOMING Flight From An Officer

Arraignment 

Louisiana State Police (LSP)

JEFFERSON, DEKAVIOUS DAMON

98238 Cyberstalking

For Further Disposition WPSD

KNIPPERS, WAYNE DAVID

98436 Indecent Behavior With A Juvenile Under Thirteen

Status Hearing 

WPSD

Trial 7/15

MARRY, C.J.

98823 Theft Under $1,000

Arraignment

SPD

Co def B. Craine

MAXIE, JAMMIE

98530 Ct. 1 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000

98530 Ct. 2 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000.00

98530 Ct. 3 Criminal Trespassing

For Further Disposition 

WPSD

Restitution owed- $150.00 + $22.50 fee = $172.50

MYLES, DESTINEY NYCHOLE

T033924 Speeding 16-24 MPH

T033924A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

For Further Disposition 

WPSD

MYLES, DESTINEY NYCHOLE

T074721 Speeding 11-15 MPH

T074721A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

For Further Disposition 

WPSD

PARKER, JUSTIN MACKENZIE

98578 Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense

Sentencing Hearing 

WPSD

PERRYMAN, JUSTIN W.

98315 Hit & Run Driving Resulting In Death Or Serious Bodily Injury

Status Hearing 

WPSD

Trial 7/15

TARAVELLA, HANSON MCHALE

98684 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

Status Hearing 

MPD

Trial 7/15 Co defendant: R. Dunn

THOMAS, ANDRA

98265 False Communication with 911

For Further Disposition 

WPSD

TIMS, RANDALL L.

98295 Possession Of Firearm Or Carrying Concealed Weapon By Convicted Felon

Status Hearing 

MPD

Trial 7/15

WALTMAN, TONY

98580 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Two Grams or More But Less Than Twenty-Eight Grams)

Status Hearing 

WPSD

Trial 10/21

WHEELER, JR., FABIAN A.

98605 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence

Status Hearing 

MPD

Trial 7/15 Co-Def: S. Wheeler

WHEELER, SHANTANI

98605 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence

Status Hearing 

MPD

Trial 7/15 Co-Def F. Wheeler

Courtroom B:

BROWN, DONNA L.

98677A Sale/Distribution/Possession of Legend Drug Without Prescription

For Further Disposition

Minden Police Department (MPD)

Co-Def: J. DUCK

CARTER, CANTICE SHAVON

97694 Theft of $1,000 or More but Less than $5000

Status Hearing 

Restitution per the report owed to the city of Minden: $2,671.87, plus $400.78 fee = $3,072.65 

MPD

CHAMPION, BRYANT ALFONSO

96824 Possession Of Firearm Or Carrying Concealed Weapon By Convicted Felon

Status Hearing

MPD

DECALONGNE, MATTHEW

98692 Forgery

Status Hearing

Springhill Police Department (SPD)

Co defs : S. Cochran, T. Taylor, C. Waller

DECALONGNE, MATTHEW

98692 Forgery

Bond Reduction Hearing 

SPD

*BDCC Defendants pro se Motion to Reduce Bond Total Bond: $53,500

Co defs : S. Cochran, T. Taylor, C. Waller

EDWARDS, PHILLIP L.

97574 Obstruction Of Justice

Fine & Cost Review Hearing 

MPD

EDWARDS, TYQUAUN T.

95581 CT 1 Simple Robbery

95581 CT 2 Attempted Simple Robbery

95581 CT 3 Aggravated Assault With a Firearm

Probation Violation Hearing 

MPD

Restitution owed to the victim for shotgun $250 plus 37.50 fee = $287.50

EDWARDS, TYQUAUN T.

98009 Possession Of Firearm Or Carrying Concealed Weapon By Convicted Felon

Status Hearing 

MPD

*BDCC OC 3/18 Trial 7/15

Co-Def: N. Jones, A. McClendon

EVERETT, JR., TED

98013 Violation Of Leash Law

Probation Violation Hearing 

Webster Parish Sheriff’s Department (WPSD)

Restitution owed to the victim for the vet bill- $506.62 plus $76.00 fee = $582.62 total

Felicia Brown

Richard Mitchell

FIZER, RONNIE R.

93061 Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense

93061A-CT.1 Improper Lane Usage

Probation Violation Hearing 

WPSD

*BDCC

Felicia Brown

FIZER, RONNIE R.

98793 Theft Under $1,000

For Further Disposition 

MPD

*BDCC/OC 3/8

Restitution owed to the victim- $218.89, plus $32.83 = $251.72 total

GILL, BRITTANI

98422 Criminal Mischief

WPSD

Co-def Kyndall Hawkins and Charmaine Hawkins

HAWKINS, CHARMAINE C.

98422 Criminal Mischief

Trial 

WPSD

Co-def Brittani Gill and Kyndall Hawkins

Restitution owed to the victim- $365.92, plus $54.89 fee = $420.84 total

HAWKINS, KYNDALL D.

98422 Criminal Mischief

Trial 

WPSD

HERNANDEZ, EDUARDO

97479 Possession of a Schedule III CDS

97479A Aggravated Assault

Status Hearing 

WPSD

*BDCC Arrested 3/11 FTA warrant Trial 7/15

Interpreter to be present.

HOLLOWAY, KRISTIN DAWN

98622 CT. 1 Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated .3- First Offense

98622 CT. 2 Speeding 11-15 MPH

98622 CT. 3 Possession of CDS I Marijuana (Less Than Two Grams)

98622 CT. 4 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – First Offense

For Further Disposition 

Louisiana State Police (LSP)

HUBBARD, KEVIN BRIAN

98502 Domestic Abuse Battery – 2nd Offense

98502A False Imprisonment

Trial 

SPD

*BDCC (transport to Court) OC 2/16 Officers: P. Dunn, R. Hile, B. Roton

HUDSON, KEIAUNA L.

97232 Theft of $1,000 or More but Less than $5000

Status Hearing 

MPD

Assess restitution payment and balance

Restitution owed to the victim Burkes Outlet- $2,476.44, plus $371.47 fee = $2,847.91 total

JONES, NICHOLAS LEBOB

98010 Possession Of Firearm Or Carrying Concealed Weapon By Convicted Felon

Status Hearing 

MPD

5/6 Status Conference

Co-Def: T. Edwards, A. McClendon

LEE, SHERRY A

98798 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Two Grams or More But Less Than Twenty-Eight Grams)

Arraignment Bond Return Date 

MPD

LEWIS, LITTLE MILTON

98670 CT. 1 Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense

98670 CT. 2 Failure to Stop and/or Yield

98670 CT. 3 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

98670 CT. 4 Operating A Vehicle With An Expired Driver’s License

For Further Disposition 

LSP

LEWIS, SHEA VERNON

98149 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

Fine & Cost Review Hearing 

SPD

Co-Def: R. Wallace

MCLELLAND, JESSICA

97897 Illegal Use/Possession/Control of Weapons – Crime of Violence or Controlled Dangerous Substance

Status Hearing 

Wildlife and Fisheries (WLF)

Trial 7/15

Co-Def: M. Reeves 

MILLER, RUSSELL GLEN

97582 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

Fine & Cost Review Hearing 

MPD

NELSON, DERICK DESHON

98461 Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense

For Further Disposition 

WPSD

REEVES, JR, MICHAEL JOE

97897 Illegal Use/Possession/Control of Weapons – Crime of Violence or Controlled Dangerous Substance

Status Hearing 

WLF

To have proof of rehab completion

Co-Def: J. McLelland 

ROBINSON, APRIL

98596 CT. 1 Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense

98596 CT. 2 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

98596 CT. 3 Failure to Use Safety Belt

For Further Disposition 

LSP

ROBY, KEAMBRIA

INCOMIMG Battery of a Dating Partner

Arraignment 

Cotton Valley Police Department (CVPD)

*FFD 4/22 to follow co-def Darion Mendenhall

ROGERS, ARIANNA BROOKE

98708 Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense

For Further Disposition 

WPSD

SHEPHERD, JORDAN

98447 Second Degree Battery

Status Hearing MPD

Trial 7/15

Restitution owed to the victim- $4,500.00, plus $675.00 fee = $5,175.00 total

SIMS, KIARA

97935 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence

Fine & Cost Review Hearing 

MPD

TILLEY, CORBIN RAY

98803 CT 1 Simple Burglary of a Vehicle

98803 CT 2 Simple Burglary of a Vehicle

Status Hearing 

SPD

Trial 7/15

Co-Defs: J. Lewis, M. Stevens

WALLER, COLTON BRIAN

98693 Forgery

Status Hearing 

SPD

*BDCC 7/15

Co-Defs: S. Cochran, M. Decalongne, T. Taylor

WIGGINS, JEREMY L.

98813 Unauthorized Entry Of An Inhabited Dwelling

Arraignment 

MPD

Status Conference 4/22 Trial 7/15

WILLIAMS, RAYMOND TED

98454 Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense

98454 Improper Lane Usage

98454 Possession Of Alcoholic Beverages In Motor Vehicles

For Further Disposition LSP

WRIGHT, ERIC LAVELL

97820 Attempted Second Degree Murder

Status Hearing WPSD

*BDCC OC 3/18 Trial 7/15

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