“Because I’m an old Southern woman and we’re supposed to wear funny looking hats and ugly clothes and grow vegetables in the dirt. Don’t ask me those questions. I don’t know why, I don’t make the rules!”

-Ouiser Boudreaux, Steel Magnolias

 Well, with that being said, Lets talk about growing tomatoes.  The tomato is probably the most popular grown vegetable in the garden.  My daddy grew the best crop of tomatoes I’ve ever seen.  He planted about a hundred plants, mostly the better boy variety, and shared them all over the community.  He had that green thumb for them.  My brother got that same skill from him.  I enjoy the vegetables and tomatoes he brings me every year. 

Tomatoes are classified as determent or indeterminate.  Determent means a bush type that require support but only get 3 or 4 foot tall.  They produce heavy yields. Don’t prune too much.  Some varieties are Celebrity, Roma, Rutgers, and Black Prince.  Indeterminate means that it is a vine type that will grow tall and continue to produce until frost.  Some indeterminate  varieties include Better Boy, Creole, Big Beef, Pineapple, and Cherokee Purple. 

When you plant tomatoes, place them deeper than they were in the pots they came in.  Plant tall tomatoes on their sides 4 inches deep rather than holes.  Roots will develop  better.  Stake them when they start getting taller and tie them with soft ties.  Some use a cage instead of a stake.  Fertilize weekly with a complete fertilizer, 8-8-8 or 13-13-13, you also use a product that is water soluble like Miracle Gro.  Another important product to incorporate in the soil is calcium nitrate.  This is to help prevent blossom end rot which is a very common disease. 

Pest that hit the tomatoes with are Aphids, whiteflies, and stinkbugs.  Cynaria is a new insecticide that is good for these bugs on tomatoes and other garden plants.  Worms and caterpillars can be treated with BT, bacillus, and spinsosad(also a new chemical)

One of the go to varieties of tomatoes is the Pineapple tomato.  It is indeterminate.  A sweet flavor and a bright red peel with blush stripping.  It is a slicing tomato and a gourmet heirloom variety.  Also beefsteak is good tomato, its beefy and big,  a deep rose color with excellent flavor. 

Whichever variety you plant, I’m sure you will enjoy  between the bacon and lettuce.  So put on your ugly hat and work in the dirt.  It’s what we are supposed to do. 

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal.)

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Two-day estate sale at well-known house on Elm Street. Furniture, Appliances, Dishes, Silverware, Pictures, and a lot more.

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Join the City of Minden, Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce, and Webster Parish Tourism as we join forces to clean up our community! WE NEED YOUR HELP! This is a great way to give back to this beautiful community we call home.

Use the form below to choose how you and/or your business/organization would like to get involved. We are offering two days to partner with us – Saturday, April 20 after the Scottish Tartan Festival (5 p.m. – 8 p.m.) or on Thursday, April 25 (8 a.m. – 1 p.m.).

Everyone who participates will be invited to join us for an after-party and awards ceremony on at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 25 at Miller Quarters Park. We will have music, games, food, and FUN! Let us celebrate your hard work!

Awards will be given for:

·    Most Spirited Team

·    Largest Team

·    Most Litter collected

If your business or organization has a project that you’ve been needing completed but are lacking the manpower to make it happen, president@mindenchamber.com with a description of the project you need help with. Your business would be responsible for purchasing/providing materials for the project….we can help provide the labor!

Examples: painting, litter pickup, shrub/flowers planted, power washing, etc.

Don’t wait – SIGN UP TODAY!

Participating in Love the Boot Week is a great way to bring awareness to our state’s litter problem and promote litter prevention. So, let’s join hands this April and make Louisiana a cleaner and more beautiful place to live, work, and play!

If you cannot participate but would like to donate or partner with us in sponsorship to cover the costs of cleanup materials, after party expenses, etc., please contact the chamber office. Thank you in advance for your support.

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In the hushed and tender years of our childhood, long before the world asked us to define ourselves by our labors and our ledgers, there existed a realm of boundless imagination, where stories were the sacred text. These were the days when dusk came slow and the night was a soft blanket, woven with the yarns of the day’s adventures and the tales told by those who walked before us. In my youth, the voice that spun these tales was that of my father, a humble weaver of words who conjured up a world where the extraordinary danced with the ordinary.

Under the spell of his voice, I traveled through his creations and alongside John McClocklin, an adventurer of such daring that even the undead shook with fear at his name. Twice he battled the nocturnal bloodsuckers, once on a haunted isle where the mist clung to your skin like a cold sweat, and once amidst the steel and stone canyons of New York. It was there he found Levi, a loyal hound whose bark was as fierce as his bite. Together, they cut through the darkness with the light of their courage.

And who could forget the time they rescued Michael Jordan, the basketball legend himself, from the clutches of Saddam Hussein, right on the eve of the seventh game of the NBA Finals? These stories, outlandish as they might seem, were the seeds of dreams sown into the synapses of my young mind. My father had an imagination that rivaled any child. Some of it was a natural gift, but the rest came from his love of reading and stories. Of fiction. Of worlds better than our own. Worlds and tales which can inspire us to reach above our place and strive to make this world just a little bit better as we journey through our own stories.

It was in the sixth grade when my own imagination began to flourish. I became the storyteller, sharing the torch with my friend Curtis. Stories ebbed and flowed as I spun my own yarns. It was an exchange of wonder, grand tales told against the backrop of hot days on the playgrounds of Haynesville Junior High. Like many childhood companions, Curtis and I lost touch. He moved away, but the memories remained.

Why, then, must we tell stories? Why is it so important for our young people? Because within their telling lies the power to shape hearts and minds, to build bridges between the real and the imagined, to find common ground in our shared humanity. They encourage creativity, a sacred flame that must be tended and passed on lest it sputters out. Fiction, poetry, and the arts are not mere diversions; they are the very essence of our culture and our history.

We’ve always told stories. They are essential to society. Those who came before, those silent watchers who knew the power of the spoken word and the story’s spell, would attest, to forsake our stories is to forsake a part of our souls. For stories are more than mere entertainment; they are the connective tissue of our collective consciousness, a guiding star in the murky skies of human existence.

Let us not forget that before there were job descriptions, before there were resumes and ROI, there were stories. They were the first to teach us about ourselves and the world, to explore the boundaries of the possible and to inspire us to leap beyond them. Let us hold fast to our tales of adventurers like John McClocklin and remember that in every story lies the heartbeat of the eternal, the rhythm of a world that refuses to be constrained by the narrow expectations of utility alone.

So let us tell our stories, encourage our children to read fiction, to create, and weave tales that will carry us through the darkness and into the light. For in the end, it is not just about preparing for a job; it is about preparing for life, in all its messy, beautiful, and transcendent glory.

(Josh Beavers is a teacher and a writer. He was named as a semi-finalist for Louisiana Teacher of the Year in 2020. He has been recognized five times for excellence in opinion writing by the Louisiana Press Association.)

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Springhill Medical Center welcomes Joseph Nicholas, Physician’s Assistant specializing in Orthopedics. Orthopedics focuses on treating the musculoskeletal system. This system comprises muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. To make an appointment, call 318-539-1701.

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Mon., April 1

Doyline Lady Panthers 14, Plain Dealing Lions 0

Doyline Lady Panthers scored eight runs in the second inning which helped them defeat Plain Dealing Monday. Arianna Crump singled, Karmadie Bartlett tripled, Lanie Gates doubled and Sariyah Gill grounded out, all scoring one run each. Two errors scored a run each and one error scored two.

Lady Panthers got on the board in the first inning after Keily Sumlin homered to left field, scoring two runs.

They added to their early lead in the bottom of the third after Nadia Lara grounded out, Savannah Stanley hit into a fielder’s choice, Jasmine Torres walked and Crump hit into a fielder’s choice, each scoring one run.

Sumlin began the game. The starter surrendered no hits or runs over four innings, striking out eight and walking four.

Gates, Crump, Bartlett and Sumlin each collected one hit. Crump and Sumlin each drove in two runs. Sumlin led with two of the team’s five walks for the game. Sumlin and Torres each stole multiple bases of the eight total stolen by the team.

Lakeside Lady Warriors 7, Choudrant Lady Aggies 8

Lakeside Lady Warriors’ effort to come back from down four runs in the sixth inning came up just short as they fell to Choudrant Monday. Lakeside closed the gap by scoring on an error, a home run and a solo home run.

Teal Austin doubled, which helped Lakeside tie the game at two in the bottom of the third.

They took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Hallie Sutton doubled, scoring one run to give Lakeside the edge 3-2.

Choudrant scored five runs on four hits in the top of the fourth to make the score 7-3. Lakeside made the score 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Emily Jones homered to center field, scoring two runs and Sutton hit a solo home run to left field.

Sutton started in the circle for Lakeside. She surrendered eight hits and seven runs over five innings, striking out four and walking six.

Lady Warriors tallied 10 hits in the game. Sutton, Mackenzie McCoy and Jones each collected two hits. Sutton and Jones were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in two runs. Kaitlyn Squyres led with two of the team’s five walks.

North Webster Knights 15, Wossman 0

Anna Ray collected four hits in four at-bats, as North Webster Knights defeated Wossman Monday. Ray hit an inside the park home run in the fourth inning, doubled in the first inning, singled in the second and singled in the third.

Knights got on the board in the bottom of the first after Anekah Coleman doubled, Adryana White doubled, Kensy Brown singled, Kerianne Allen hit into a fielder’s choice and Madison Morgan singled, each scoring one run.

Knights added five more runs in the bottom of the second on three hits. Coleman hit an inside the park home run, scoring two, Allen grounded out, scoring one and an error scored two runs.

North Webster extended their early lead with two runs in the bottom of third, thanks to RBI singles by Brown and Kendall Temple.

Three more Knights’ runs crossed the plate in the fourth to extend the lead to 15-0. Morgan singled, scoring one and Ray hit an inside the park home run, scoring two.

Emma Newsom earned the win. She allowed no hits or runs over four innings, striking out eight and walking one.

Knights amassed 14 hits in the game. Coleman led with three runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-2 on the day. White, Morgan and Brown each collected multiple hits.

Newsom threw an immaculate inning in the second, striking out the side on nine pitches.

Ray stole two of the Knights’ six stolen bases.

North Webster Knights 17, North Caddo Titans 4

Anekah Coleman drove in four runs on two hits to lead the Knights past the Titans Monday. Coleman hit an inside the park home run in the second inning, scoring three runs and singled in the third inning, scoring one.

Emma Newsom struck out 12 batters on the day. The righty also surrendered five hits and four runs over five innings while walking six.

Titans scored in the second inning, but Knights flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the inning, scoring seven runs on four hits to take a 7-1 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was an inside the park home run by Coleman that drove in three.

In the bottom of the third, Anna Ray and Coleman singled, each scoring one run and Adryana White doubled, scoring two.

Knights scored six runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Madison Morgan singled, scoring two runs, Zoe Oremovic singled, scoring a run and White doubled, scoring three runs.

North Webster collected 15 hits in the game. White provided pop in the middle of the lineup and led with five runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-4 on the day. Ray and Ella Campbell each collected three hits. Coleman, Oremovic and Morgan each collected multiple hits. Kensy Brown stole two of the team’s four stolen bases.

Tues., April 2

Doyline Lady Panthers 18, Byrd Lady Jackets 17

Doyline Lady Panthers got out to a 6-run lead in the first inning and held on for a close victory over Byrd Lady Jackets Tuesday.

Bats blistered as Doyline collected 13 hits and Byrd tallied 11 in a high-scoring game.

Lady Panthers jumped out to the lead in the top of the first after Ava Sepulvado induced Kanyion Bartlett to hit into a fielder’s choice where one run scored. An error scored two runs, Arianna Crump singled, scoring one run and another error scored two runs. Doyline added one run in the second. Savannah Stanley grounded out, making the score 7-2.

Lady Panthers added to their early lead in the top of the third after Lady Jackets committed an error and Lanie Gates singled, scoring one run.

Lady Jackets flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the fifth, scoring seven runs on four hits to take a 14-12 lead.

Lady Panthers recaptured the lead 15-14 in the top of the sixth after Karmadie Bartlett singled and Lady Jackets committed an error, each scoring a run.

Sariyah Gill stepped in the circle first for Doyline. The righty allowed 11 hits and 14 runs (four earned) over five and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking three. Keily Sumlin appeared in relief.

Lady Panthers accumulated 13 hits in the game. Crump and Bartlett were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected three hits while hitting back-to-back. Gates went 2-for-6 at the plate as the shortstop led the team with three runs batted in. Hannah Dryden and Sumlin each collected multiple hits. Crump, Gill and ShaDavion Martin each stole multiple bases of the 11 accumulated by the team.

Glenbrook Lady Apaches 8, Capt. Shreve Gators 17

Capt. Shreve Gators scored nine runs in the sixth inning, which helped them defeat Glenbrook Lady Apaches Tuesday.

Glenbrook got on the board in the top of the first inning after Chloe Gregg singled and Gabi Brown doubled, each scoring a run. Gators jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the second and added to it in the bottom of the third.

Lady Apaches tied the game in the top of the sixth, thanks to an error, a double by Vivian Still and a sacrifice fly by Brown.

Savannah Mangrum took the loss for Glenbrook. She went two-thirds of an inning, surrendering five runs on one hit, striking out two and walking four. Rebecca Mosley stepped in the circle first. The starter surrendered 11 hits and 12 runs (nine earned) over five and one-third innings, striking out five and walking six.

Brown and Anna Grace Vining each collected two hits. Gregg went 1-for-4 at the plate as they led the team with three runs batted in.

Hallie Sutton struck out 10 batters as the starting pitcher led Lakeside past Northwood Tuesday. Sutton gave up four hits and no runs over seven innings while walking two.

Lady Warriors won thanks in part to four runs in the third inning; two errors occurred, one scored one run and one scored three.

Mackenzie McCoy led Lakeside with three hits in four at-bats from the leadoff position. The team worked the count all day, collecting five walks.

Wed., April 3

Glenbrook Lady Apaches 17, Haynesville 0

Glenbrook Lady Apaches jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning after Vivian Still was struck by a pitch, driving in a run, Colby Hollis doubled, scoring three runs, Savannah Mangrum singled, scoring a run and Hadley Haynes singled, scoring one run.

Six more Apache runs crossed the plate in the second inning to extend the lead to 12-0. Still hit a solo inside the park home run, Mangrum singled, scoring one run, Rebecca Mosley doubled, scoring two runs, Haynes singled, scoring one run and Ellie Earnhardt singled, scoring a run.

Lady Apaches scored five runs on three hits in the top of the third inning. Anna Grace Vining tripled, scoring two runs, Emma Garner doubled, scoring one run, an error scored a run and Chloe Gregg tripled, scoring one run.

Mosley earned the win for Glenbrook. The starting pitcher gave up no hits and no runs over one and two-thirds innings, striking out five and walking none. Garner threw one and one-third innings of zero-run ball in relief. She allowed no hits, striking out three and walking none.

Lady Apaches tallied 15 hits in the game. Haynes, Earnhardt, Vining, Gregg and Mangrum each collected two hits. Hollis, Mosley and Vining each drove in two runs. Earnhardt and Gregg each stole multiple bases of the eight tallied for the team.

Minden High School Lady Tiders 1, North DeSoto Griffins 16

Minden High School Lady Tiders had trouble keeping up with North DeSoto Griffins Wednesday.

Tiders got on the board in the first inning after Kylie Ryan singled, scoring one run.

North DeSoto took the lead in the bottom of the first and then scored five runs on one hit in the bottom of the second. 

Gracie Sparks took the loss for Lady Tiders. She went two and two-thirds innings, allowing nine runs (four earned) on five hits, striking out none and walking four. Lindsay Ryan began the game. The starting pitcher gave up five hits and seven runs (six earned) over one inning, striking out none and walking two.

Leadoff hitter Leigha Kennon-Gilbert had two hits in two at-bats. Ryan led with one run batted in. The infielder went 1-for-2 on the day. Lady Riders turned one double play in the game.

(“Powered by Narrative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.” Any reuse or republication of this story must include the preceding attribution.)

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April 2

Cometria Richardson, 40, of 4th St., SE, Springhill, was arrested by Springhill Police on a warrant for possession of Ecstasy.

April 3

Timothy Dickey, 33, of the 1200 block of Springhill Airport Rd., Springhill, was arrested by Cotton Valley Police on warrants for home invasion, aggravated battery, simple criminal damage to property, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and criminal trespassing.

Sarah Nicole Allen, 35, of the 1200 block of Springhill Airport Rd., Springhill, was arrested by Cotton Valley Police for trespassing and criminal conspiracy.

Demichael Lavell Pleas, 26, of Tulsa, Okla., was arrested by LSP-G on I-20 EB, MM 47 for possession of 13.8 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute.

Garrett David Oney, 21, of Tulsa, Okla., was arrested by LSP-G on I-20 EB, MM 47 for following too close, possession of 13.8 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute.

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

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

April 6

11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tartan Day proclamation and fun in downtown Minden.

April 11

6 p.m. “Third Culture Kids: An Informative Seminar” will be hosted by the Minden Presbyterian Church. Who needs to attend?? Educators, School Administrators, Counselors and Therapists, Pastors, College Professors…anyone who comes into contact with a child/adult who spent a large part of their life in a culture other than their parents. Refreshments will be served. We’re at the corner of Broadway and Lewisville Road!!

April 12

11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.Estate Planning 101 Lunch & Learn, Greater Minden Chamber.

April 13

9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Annual Plant Sale. Lakeview Methodist Church, 303 Lakeshore Drive in Minden, Garden plants, flowering plants, houseplants, garden items, bird houses, and other yard art and items will be offered for sale, as well as hot dogs, desserts soft drinks and lemonade.  Screaming Owl (Methodist Children’s Home) salsas and jellies will also be available for purchase.

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

4 until 7:30 p.m. Spring Market at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College on Industrial Drive.

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 19 & 20

Hwy. 80 Spring Sales

April 20

10 a.m. Scottish Tartan Festival at Miller Quarters

9 until 11 a.m. Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry monthly food distribution.

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 20 through 28

Love the Boot week, Community Clean Up.

April 27

9 until 3 p.m. Trails and Trellises Garden Tours Rain or Shine.

10 a.m. Simply Southern Saturday.

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

9 a.m. through 3 p.m. Piney Needles Quilt Guild is presenting “Splendor in the Scraps,” South Main Mall, Springhill. Joyce O’Neil is featured quilter. There will be vendors, many quilts on display, and FREE admission!

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 civil suits were filed with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court the week of March 29. All civil suits are a matter of public record.

March 28

Deborah J. Schillings vs. Steven W. Schillings, divorce, no children.

April 1

Succession under $125K, Boyter Travis Taylor, probate.

Succession under $125K, Diana Fay Marcotte Roath, probate.

Taylor Monzingo Reed vs. Christopher Lynn Reed, divorce w/children.

Chanler Homes and Construction LLC vs. Christopher Jarvis, Ericha Jarvis, contract.

Carter Federal Credit Union vs. Jonathan E. Budwah, monies due.

Southern Arkansas University vs. Emmagrace Kohl, monies due.

Discover Bank vs. Bambie M. McEachern, monies due.

Discover Bank vs. Timterrica Jackson, monies due.

21st Mortgage Corp. vs. Adam Richard Taylor, executory process.

First Tower Loan LLC vs. Suzanne Thurman, monies due.

April 2

Succession under $125K, McCluskey Gregory Eugene, probate.

Shaterika Melancon vs. Phuoc Bui, Minden Medical Center, damages.

Payton Garland vs. Kerry Garland, divorce w/children.

April 3

Marty Jarrett Ray vs. Brandy Jackson Ray, divorce.

Bank of America vs. William L. Woods, monies due.

Bank of America vs. Pamela Mahaffey, monies due.

PNC Bank National Assoc., vs. Celeste Elaine Alexander estate, executory process.

Forest Park Hudson vs. Leslie Naomi Hudson, protective order.

April 4

Lakisha Danyale Lewis vs. Alan Marvelle Lewis Jr., divorce w/children.

First Tower Loan LLC vs. Bruce Mixon, monies due.

First Tower Loan LLC vs. Levi Newsom, monies due

First Tower Loan LLC vs. Shari B. Jackson, monies due.

Capital One vs. Mason G. Maxwell, monies due.

First Tower Loan LLC vs. Brandon Shehee, monies due.

First Tower Loan LLC vs. Chris Saab, monies due.

First Tower Loan LLC vs. Douglas A. Rissman, monies due.

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Judy Sue Wynne House

July 28, 1949 – April 1, 2024

Springhill, La.

Graveside: 2 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2024, Welcome Cemetery, Taylor, Ark.

Howard “Rusty” Pendelton

Sept. 15, 1942 – March 24, 2024

Bossier City, La.

Visitation: 9 a.m. Saturday, April 6, 2024, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.

Memoria service: 10 a.m., immediately following visitation.

Webster Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are no charge.)

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A family feud over a child ended Sunday when the mother allegedly stabbed the father’s friend.

Jarai Jkira Green, 22, of the 100 block of Fort Street, Minden, was arrested Wednesday by Minden Police and charged with attempted second degree murder.

Police Chief Jared McIver said on Sunday, March 31 around 7 p.m., 20-year-old Jordan Lott was “hanging out” with KJ (no last name given) on E. Union Street.

“KJ and the child’s mother (identified as Green) were texting back and forth, and KJ told Jordan that his child’s mother was going to call the police on him about their child,” McIver said. 

At the time, KJ had their child with him, and they were sitting in KJ’s truck when a white vehicle, reportedly containing Green, her sister and their father, pulled up to the location.

A fight reportedly ensued among those present and Lott was stabbed during the incident.

“Det. Matthew Hicks made contact with the stabbing victim, Lott, through his mother Monday evening at the hospital,” said the chief. “Lott sustained a collapsed left lung and a shattered left knee as a result of the attack.”

A video of the incident reportedly shows Green armed with a knife as she stabbed Lott multiple times in the back.

“Det. Hicks showed Lott a DMV photo of Jarai Green provided by Thinkstream ,” McIver said. “Jordan confirmed it was her.”

Police arrested Green around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

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

Four juveniles have been charged with a pair of residential burglaries involving the theft of at least one firearm that occurred within the space of minutes during daylight hours last week.

Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver said officers had responded to a burglary in the 200 block of Clerk St. Thursday, March 28 where a firearm was reported stolen. While officers were at the Clerk St. scene, reports were received of individuals breaking into a residence just a few streets away in the 500 block of Lanning St.

“We were already close, and responded to the Lanning Street call very quickly,” McIver said. “Our officers spotted the suspects running from the rear of the residence and we were able to catch them after a short foot chase.”

McIver said officers recovered a 9MM handgun reported stolen from the Clerk St. residence in an area behind the Lanning St. residence where the juveniles were apprehended. In addition to the handgun, officers also recovered several different caliber magazines of ammunition.

Following interviews, three juveniles were arrested for simple burglary, aggravated burglary and simple criminal damage to property. All three were released to the custody of their parents. The fourth juvenile was cited for the same charges and transported to Ware Youth Center in Coushatta.

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 Bonnie Culverhouse

Eighteen wheelers that use Country Club Circle in Minden, soon may be taking a different route to travel between U.S. Hwy. 79 (Homer Road) and Germantown and Lewisville roads.

“This is not a truck route; it never has been,” said Mayor Nick Cox during a city council workshop Tuesday. “It’s not a complicated thing; we’ve discussed it before.”

There are small “No Thru Traffic” signs already posted on Country Club Circle, but the mayor’s ideas include much larger ones with a fine also posted.

District E Councilman Andy Pendergrass said he believes larger signs should be placed in three locations – near Walmart and at the intersections of Country Club, Germantown and Lewisville.

Country Club resident Kathy Dumas told the council that trucks “fly down the road,” and some of her neighbors have young children who catch a school bus on Whispering Pines Boulevard.

“Those kids have to walk across the street to catch that bus, and it’s dark in the morning,” Dumas said. “If a truck tops that hill, it’s not going to be good.”

She also made the council aware of a small bridge near Germantown Road and Country Club Circle intersection.

“I don’t think it’s rated for those trucks,” she said. “And I don’t want a car to fall through.”

The main thing, Dumas pointed out, is that Country Club is currently “like a new road, and I don’t want it torn up.”

“We’ve spent an awful lot of money on Country Club over the years,” Cox agreed.

An ordinance is required, not to post the signs, but so police and deputies will be able to enforce a penalty for traffic stops.

Cox distributed a sample ordinance used by Webster Parish Police Jury. He said it has been very successful on lessening truck traffic on Goodwill Road, beginning at the Service Road off I-20 north to Fuller Road.

“This is an example, but we can amend it to make it fit us,” said Cox who was on the police jury when the ordinance was passed. “Trucks were just tearing up that road. We put up the signs – we are talking about large signs – and residents out there will tell you it has reduced the number of trucks greatly.”

The police jury’s ordinance says the sign will read “No Thru Traffic,” have reflectors and penalties for the violations, which include imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or by fine of not more than $500 or both at the discretion of the court.

Purpose of the ordinance reads that it applies to a commercial vehicle having more than two axles or a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds and thru truck traffic traversing parish streets without commercial reason to stop.

Exemptions include emergency vehicles, moving vans, livestock trucks and trailers, farm equipment, school buses and trucks belonging to the parish.

In the case of the City, exemptions would include trash trucks.

The ordinance will be studied and rewritten to apply to the City of Minden. It will be on the May 2024 council agenda for a vote.

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By Pat Culverhouse

A shooting allegedly arising from a domestic incident on April Fool’s Day has put a Haynesville man in the hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg. Investigators say the wound is not believed to be life-threatening.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said 30-year-old Gabriel Elginby, Haynesville, was shot once as he reportedly moved aggressively toward his uncle, 51-year-old James Patrick Lumpkin of Homer, while brandishing a knife.

WPSO investigators said Lumpkin had gone to the Pistol Thomas Rd. residence to check on his sister after being informed of an altercation between Elginby and his sister’s boyfriend. Lumpkin reportedly stepped outside the residence after Elginby allegedly threatened him.

“Our investigators, Major Phillip Krouse and Detective Spenser White, were told Mr. Elginby came from inside the residence carrying a knife and was threatening to stab Mr. Lumpkin,” Parker said. “Witnesses verified he was aggressively coming toward Mr. Lumpkin, screaming threats.”

Parker said Lumpkin told investigators he retreated to his vehicle, retrieved a 9MM handgun and asked Thomas to stop advancing toward him.

“According to Mr. Lumpkin’s statement to investigators, which was verified by witnesses, he continued to back away several steps as Mr. Elginby advanced and asked him to put the knife down many times,” Parker said. “When Mr. Elginby quickened his steps toward Mr. Lumpkin, he fired one shot and hit him in the leg.”

Parker said investigators are continuing to  conduct witness interviews and review the crime scene. 

“We will turn the results of our investigation over to the District Attorney’s office and they will determine what, if any, charges will be filed,” Parker said.

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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Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night

Clear, with a low around 45. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 80.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

* Information courtesy of National Weather Service.

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By Paige Gurgainers

Beginning the week of April 15 Entergy will have a helicopter with a large saw attached to it that will be used to trim their main transmission line in Webster Parish.  

According to Director of Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Brian Williams, they will begin working near the large substation in Sarepta along Highway 371 and move toward the substation in Haynesville. It will take approximately 1.5 weeks to complete.  

“The last time I remember this happening in Webster was about 5-10 years ago out on Dorcheat Road and it resulted in a lot of calls from concerned citizens,” said Williams.  

Entergy has been instructed to dial 911 in the event of an emergency to get the resources needed.  

Webster Parish E-911 Communications along with the Webster Parish Police Jury is aware of the project and prepared to answer questions if they arise.

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Minden Civic Center was almost overflowing with employment hunters and personnel seekers Thursday for the annual Job Fair. The event was sponsored by Greater Minden Chamber, in partnership with City of Minden, Webster Parish Schools, The Coordinating & Development Corporation, Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College and Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Greater Minden Chamber CEO Stephanie Barnette was pleased not only with the number of vendors but with the turnout.

“Last year, Minden High School sent some students, but this year, all of the parish high schools have students here,” Barnette said. “A lot of these seniors will be going to work instead of school. This is a good opportunity for them.”

Businesses or service providers included:

Foodbank of Northwest Louisiana

Morris & Dickson

Intensive Specialty Hospital

Louisiana Workforce Commission

Office of Public Health

Claiborne Memorial Medical Center

Fibrebond

Shreveport Police Department Recruiting Division

Minden Medical Center

Johns Manville

KRA

Always Best Care

Webster Parish School Board

Bienville Lumber Company, L.L.C.

Bally’s Casino Shreveport

David Wade Correctional Center

Weyerhaeuser

LDX Solutions | Western Pneumatics

City of Minden

Gordon, Inc

Springhill Medical Center

Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College

Manpower

USPS

City of Ruston Police Department

CommCare Corporation

The Coordinating & Development Corporation

Wendy’s

Brick Street Coffee

ABX Innovative Packaging Solutions

Unlimited Alternatives to Change, LLC

Southern Ingenuity, Inc.

LDH/ Community HealthWays

Manpower- Bossier

Clement Industries

EI Williams Ind. LLC

Coastal Truck Driving

Elite Health Solutions, LLC.

M and T Property

Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office

Willis-Knighton Health

Brookshire’s

Stepping Stones Early Learning Center

United Way of Northwest LA

Wiley University

Northwest LA Human Service District

Caddo Sheriff’s Department

Goodwill Industries

Hugg & Hall Equipment Company

Adecco Staffing

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A day-long celebration this weekend will herald the coming of the Scottish Tartan Festival later this month.

To kick it off, at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 6 in front of Under Dawgs Sports Grill, 611 Main Street, Minden Mayor Nick Cox will declare Tartan Day in a ceremony.

The proclamation comes as a celebration of Scottish heritage and culture, honoring the contributions of Scottish-Americans to the community.

According to Shelia Hoh of the Scottish Society of the Louisiana Highlands, Tartan Day, celebrated annually on April 6, commemorates the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland’s sovereignty over its own affairs.

“It is a day for Scots and those of Scottish descent around the world to celebrate their heritage and contributions to society,” Hoh said.

April 6 will be a celebration marked by the sound of bagpipes, hourly Scottish Tartan Festival tickets and merchandise giveaways and opportunities for the public to learn more about Scottish culture and traditions. It will end at 5 p.m.

The Scottish Tartan Festival takes place Saturday, April 20 at Miller Quarters, Gleason Street, Minden.

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The Apache Princess Pageant will be held on Saturday, April 6 at the Minden Civic Center at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the civic center when doors open at 6:30.

Contestants are as follows:

front row (from left)

Maggie Whitaker

Amelia Lott

Valeria Avila

Adriana Vandenoord

Hadley Haynes

back row (from left)

Kynzie Smith

Lela Margaret Miller

Mackenzie Hooper

Gwenyth Lott

Sophie Downer

Vivian Still

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Springhill Medical Center welcomes Joseph Nicholas, Physician’s Assistant specializing in Orthopedics. Orthopedics focuses on treating the musculoskeletal system. This system comprises muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. To make an appointment, call 318-539-1701.

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It is high drama mutiny at my house when I make any cookie other than traditional chocolate chip, but I managed to make these delicious little bites last week.  This recipe is a great one for satisfying a chocolate/peanut butter/crunchy/cookie craving.  It will cure any desire!  And I love anything with Heath toffee bits in it.  I use a small scoop for these so there are lots and lots to enjoy! 

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cup flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup toffee bits

Directions

Preheat oven or grill to 350 degrees.  Whisk flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.  Set aside.  Using a mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla.  Mix in peanut butter.  Reduce mixer speed to low.  Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until just combined.  Fold in chocolate chips and toffee bits.  Use a small scoop to drop onto baking sheet.  Bake 10 minutes.

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

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By Jeanni Ritchie

Our Lady of the Oaks Jesuit Retreat House in Grand Coteau is offering its 3rd annual Veterans Retreat, a three-day retreat for men and women of all faiths, to the public at no charge. This year’s theme is Stand Down. 

Designed specifically for veterans, the May 23-26 weekend experience is designed as a place of healing, peace, and relaxation for the men and women who selflessly served our country. 

This Louisiana gem has a simple mission: draw men and women closer to Jesus Christ and His Church through retreats following the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. 

Ignatian spirituality, first approved by Pope Paul III in 1548, helps us find God in all things and was initially given to guide lay people in their everyday life. It is the cornerstone of Our Lady of the Oaks and it is here that I recently found myself recentered after a particularly difficult time. 

The grounds were immaculate, its sacred places creating the solace our souls crave. The food was delicious, their taste even better when lovingly prepared and served to you as honored guests. While the veterans’ retreat is not silent, mine was, and I both enjoyed and struggled with the silence. I am a talker. 

Prayers were recited, however, the pleas and praises to God reverberating throughout the chapel. There was one line in the prayer Anima Christi that especially caught my attention:

From the malignant enemy defend me…

I knew who the enemy was. The devil had been working overtime to destroy my relationships, my reputation, and my mind. But I’d never heard the word malignant as an adjective to describe him. 

I have had many friends and family members with malignant cancer. Once it spreads throughout your body it can be difficult to eradicate, almost impossible without aggressive treatment. How had I missed the malignancy of allowing Satan in my life? One little vice, one bout of self-righteous anger, one worm of unforgiveness, and his power spreads within. 

An Our Lady of the Oaks retreat can be a treatment center for the cancer of our mind. The patron-sponsored Veterans Retreat is designed to help those who suffered with such internal struggles, some of it through no fault of their own. 

“Come all who have served and allow God to continue to create you in His image and likeness!” Retreat Director Albert S. Cain III (U.S.M.C.) shares. 

I’ve never served in the military but I have experienced trauma-based PTSD that affected my sleep for decades. Learning to slumber without sleep aids has been a lifelong battle. Yet in the sanctity of the Oaks, I was lulled to sleep with a gentle breeze and sounds of the courtyard fountain wafting through the unlocked screen door. The decision to leave my bedroom door opened to the corridor was not made lightly but the rewards were heavily. I had the soundest sleep of my life. 

The freedom in my soul upon awakening is indescribable. You must experience it for yourself!

The weekend retreat for veteran men and women has a $50 refundable upon arrival deposit to hold your spot. Vacancies remain. 

Additional retreats are held throughout the year for men, ladies, and married couples. Retreat offerings vary; scholarships are available. All in need of spiritual recharging are welcome, regardless of ability to pay because of the generosity of others. 

To register for a retreat or support their mission, visit ourladyoftheoaks.com or email executiveassistant@ourladyoftheoaks.org. 

(Jeanni Ritchie is a Louisiana journalist who finds spiritual retreats to be a great resource for effectively managing mental health.)

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