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

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.

6:30 p.m. Music Bingo, Under Dawgs on Main St.

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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Judy Sue Wynne House

July 28, 1949 – April 1, 2024

Springhill, La.

Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4, 2024, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill.

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

Barbara Ann McHalffey

August 29, 1936 – April 1, 2024

Bossier City, La.

Visitation: 1 p.m. Thursday, April 4, 2024, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.

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

Burial: Hill Crest Memorial Park, Haughton.

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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An update on the power outage from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning:

Crews were making repairs to the Sheppard Street substation beginning around 10 p.m. Tuesday.
The first outage lasted less than 20 minutes. However, during the repair process, the crews discovered that some of the parts did not fit properly. As a result, the crews had to make on-site modifications to the parts in order to make them work.
The second power outage occurred around 4:40 a.m. Fortunately, the repairs were successful, and power was fully restored by 5:15 a.m. We now have a permanent solution in place to help prevent future outages.
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of our City of Minden line crew. The crew worked tirelessly throughout the day yesterday, continued their efforts throughout the night and are now preparing for today’s shift. We are truly fortunate to have such skilled and dedicated individuals who are able to find innovative solutions to keep our city running smoothly.
Sincerely,
Mayor Nick Cox

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A promotion and several life-saving awards were highlights at the Minden City Council meeting Tuesday. Det. Sgt. Shane Griffith was promoted to lieutenant by a unanimous council vote during the meeting.

After all meeting items were approved, Sgt. Mitch Hackett and Off. Jordan Greer were presented with awards by the police department for saving the life of Ronnie Hemphill who was shot eight times during an incident in February. The alleged shooter, Jaryon Stephens, was arrested.

Receiving a department award was Sgt. Reece Tewell for his life-saving efforts of Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Aaron Barnes, who was struck by a vehicle in January.

Jerry Madden, president of the Galvez Chapter of Louisiana Society of Sons of the American Revolution presented a life-saving medal, certificate and cup to Sgt. Tewell, also for the Sgt. Barnes incident.

During the meeting, the council approved and awarded a bid for Street Improvement Projects to Benton & Brown for $1,247,200.

The council recently approved $1.2 million to set aside for roads.

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

District B councilman Lavon “Charlie” Thomas asked why Mignon Street was removed from the list.

“We just didn’t have enough money to do all of them,” said Mayor Nick Cox. “I know it has issues, but we will have to get it next time.”

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

• Condemned property – 604 Lee Street – Rosa Jackson;

• Condemned Property – 1105 Linden Street – Essie Lee Carter Newman;

• Appointment of Brian Meeker to fill the unexpired term of Tiffany Washington-Johnson on Minden Main Street/Downtown Development Commission;

• Adopt resolution to reschedule the Minden City Council May 2024 meeting from 6 p.m. Monday, May 6 to 5 p.m. the same day;

• Adopt Resolution authorizing city clerk to reserve certain funds in order to be prepared for any emergencies in electrical rates and expansions;

• Adopt resolution authorizing mayor to execute a cooperative purchasing agreement between the City of Minden and Town of Benton regarding water meters;

• Adopt resolution adopting the City of Minden working ARPA budget;

• Authority to advertise for bids for working ARPA budgeted items;

• Authority of mayor to enter into Cooperative Endeavor Agreements between the City of Minden and the Department of the Treasury of the State of Louisiana in reference to legislative funds in the about of $100,000 and $1M that City of Minden was awarded by Act 397 of the 2023 Legislative session.

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By Pat Culverhouse

A select group of administrators, teachers, students and support personnel received special recognition Monday when Webster Parish School Board handed out awards for “best of the year” in four categories.

Principals of the Year included Elementary: Cortney McCall of Brown Upper Elementary; Jr. High: Nathaniel Richardson from Webster Junior High; and High School: Denny Finley of Lakeside High School. 

Named Teachers of the Year were Jessica Green, Lakeside High School; Madalyn Wynn, Lakeside High School (Parish winner); Vickie Ramie, Central Elementary; Johnnie Ware, Brown Upper Elementary (Parish winner); Shelie Hanson, Browning Elementary; Callie Boyett, North Webster Jr. High; Annette Parrie, Richardson Elementary; Amy Jones, Webster Jr. High; and, Jamie Whatley, Doyline Elementary.

Also, Ja’Tavion Jackson, Doyline Jr. High (Parish winner); Don Watson, Doyline High School; Lessie Brown, Minden High School; Sasha Odom, North Webster Upper; Tikina Jones, Jones Elementary; Serena Martin, Phillips Elementary; Christin Hanson, North Webster Lower; and, Jeff Brown, North Webster High School. 

Honored as students of the year in Fifth Grade were Layla Holford, Richardson Elementary; Ada Murphy, Central Elementary (Parish winner); Parker Jo Howell, Doyline Elementary; Harleigh Humphrey, BUES; and, Maddox Taylor, North Webster Upper Elementary.

Eighth Grade students of the year are Lucas Owens, Webster Jr. High; Prudence Watson, Lakeside (Parish winner); Jsiyah Bell, North Webster Jr. High; and, Chloe McDowell, Doyline

Seniors receiving honors were Karlee Lange, Minden High (Parish winner); Kaileah Calloway, Doyline High; Kamryn Goodson, Lakeside High; and Isabella Sylvia, North Webster High.

Support personnel of the year included Darlene Couch, Lakeside High; Rachel Miller, Central Elementary; Shronda Taylor, Brown Upper Elementary; Calvin Gates, Browning; Lori Jester, North Webster Jr. High; Krystal Luellen, Richardson Elementary; and, Jasmine Cooksey, Webster Jr. High.

Also, Holly Watson, Doyline; Amy Barrett, Minden High; Tiffany Hanson, North Webster Upper Elementary; LaTiffany Burns, Jones Elementary; Tammy Guice, Phillips; AnnSexton, North Webster Lower; and, Donnie Coleman, North Webster High School (Parish winner).

Board members also unanimously approved a resolution expressing opposition to a bill in the state legislature that would establish Education Savings Accounts. The bill would create a LA GATOR Scholarship Program providing public dollars for private school tuition and educational expenses.

A portion of the resolution reads “…diverting public dollars to private schools and other programs through ESAs without fully funding public schools disadvantages students and schools, and, providing public dollars to ESAs without requiring the same state accountability testing imposed on public schools is irresponsible public policy.”

Maintenance fund expenditures totalling more than $440,000 were also approved in globo by the board Monday. A breakdown of individual funds shows:

• Consolidated Dist. 3 maintenance fund:  $271,679; Largest expenditure is $249,595 for 36,068 sq. ft. Dura-Last 50 ml PVC roofing system system at Central Elementary School.

• Cotton Valley maintenance fund: $895

• Doyline maintenance fund: $15,910

• District 6 one-half cent sales tax fund: $148,852; Top expenses include $93,550 to remove two layers of old roofing and install Dura-Last 50 ml PVC roofing system at Webster Jr. High, and $22,709 for sound system upgrades in the gymnasium and cafeteria at Phillips Elementary School.

• Sarepta maintenance fund: $545

• Shongaloo maintenance fund: $1,860

• Springhill maintenance fund: $700

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By Pat Culverhouse

A one-day golf tournament fundraiser for Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker helped raise money that will eventually find its way back into the parish by benefitting organizations and individuals in the parish.

“This is about having funds available for things that will be useful to the people of the parish in some way,’ Parker said. “We do this each year, and each year the money we raise has been put to good use.”

Money raised will be returned to the people of the parish through donations to worthwhile projects and assistance to civic organizations, schools and individuals.

“Through these funds, we’ve been able to help schools and clubs fund events that are beneficial to others in the parish,” Parker said. “We have helped feed the elderly and needy…anything that we can do to help. That’s why we do this fundraiser.”

Parker said this year’s event, held at Pine Hills Country Club, was well attended and raised just over $17,000.

“We had a lot of teams on the course, the weather cooperated and it was a very good event,” he said. “The players were very complimentary when we talked about what we were doing with the money raised by the tournament.”

Parker said the individuals who participate in the fundraisers are the ones who make it possible for him to give financial support where it’s needed.

“Those who give to us make all this possible,” he said. “We’re always looking for ways to help if we can. I don’t want to be the type of Sheriff who the people see only once every four years at election time. It’s about being there when we’re needed, and I appreciate those who support us.” 

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Springhill – Construction began on the 57^th home of Fuller Center of Webster with 18 college students from Valparaiso University in Indiana staying a week in Springhill at Trinity Worship Center to work on the house.  The new home is being built on Oak St in Springhill next to homes 55 and 56 which were dedicated to the late Charlie Park, former Executive Director, and Dr. Charles and Marietta Payne founders of the Webster Parish convent partner.  House number 57 will be dedicated in memory of Jeri Melancon. 

Jeri was a staunch supporter of the works of the Fuller Center of Webster and although she couldn’t hammer a nail in straight, she would help in other ways to see a build come to completion.  From donating to helping write mortgages and other legal documents, she did what she did best, caring about others in need.  

Having taught many children from low-income families, she would always talk about the difficulties children would have learning, living in conditions that were not the best environment to learn in.   A survey conducted of families with safe, stable, and affordable housing, showed fewer health problems, improved school performance, less psychological stress, and more self-assured parents. On the other hand, the survey showed that low-quality housing — often accompanied by pests, poor ventilation, lack of heat, and other detrimental factors — has been strongly linked to physical health problems for children.  A decent safe home makes a lot of difference in a child’s life. 

The dedication of this home is Fuller Center of Webster’s way of saying thank you for all she did for the Center.  She believed that “Faith Could Move Mountains.”  And her faith was strong.  

For this build, a finding committee of three people from diverse backgrounds has been brought together to choose the next homeowner.  They are tasked with interviewing the applicants and then visiting their current living conditions.  They will then make a recommendation to the board for final approval. The candidate selected must be willing to put in 500 hours of sweat equity, a $500 down payment, and pay a 20-year 0% mortgage on the cost to build the home as well as insurance and any taxes. To be eligible the candidate must be at or just below the poverty level.

Fuller Center of Webster is a 501(c)3 organization that has been in existence since 1991.  In addition to the home construction side, the center runs Main Street Thrift on main street Springhill.  If you would like to donate to the Fuller Center or this home all donations are tax deductible. Donations can be dropped off at Main Street Thrift, 233 S. Main Street, Springhill, or mailed to the Fuller Center of Webster, P.O. Box 155, Springhill, LA 71075. You will receive a receipt for your donation.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

A 27-year-old woman from Shreveport is in a Minden jail after police stopped her for running a stop sign.

Jenifer Nicole Thompson is charged with resisting an officer by lying, running a stop sign, no child restraint, no driver’s license on person, failure to display proper plate and 4 active bench warrants.

Chief Jared McIver said Thursday 9 p.m. Off. Cadyn O’Connor and Ofc. Ben Sparks were patrolling the area of East Street when they observed Thompson’s white Nissan Altima run a stop sign at the intersection of East and Industrial Drive.

“The driver – later identified as Thompson – stopped in a car dealership parking lot, where Off. O’Connor requested to see her license,” McIver said. “While she was looking for it, the officer noticed an improperly restrained young child in the back seat.”

O’Connor reportedly asked Ofc. Sparks to stay with the driver while he checked the vehicle identification number and the temporary tag which expired in May 2022. The tag reportedly belongs to a 2000 Grand Marquis, while the VIN showed the vehicle did not belong to Thompson. It also showed as uninsured.

“According to officers, the woman said her last name was Thomas, rather than Thompson,” said the chief. “Dispatch returned that her license was expired and she had four active arrest warrants.”

Sgt. Mitch Hackett reportedly made contact with a concerned adult to take custody of the child.

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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Doesn’t’ seem that long ago but in 2018, one of best guys we know gave another one of the best guys we know a gift certificate to Superior’s Steakhouse, and he used the card to treat the Shreveport-Bossier Journal staff to lunch with local sports icons Bobby Aillet and Leo Sanford.

We are easily led. Especially when free food is involved. And lunch with heroes.

In a comfy “meeting” room, we sat there for nearly three hours and overate and listened to these two Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Famers and, at the time, besties for 70 of their nearly 90 years as bona fide dudes.

There are worse ways to spend time and money.  

When Mr. Bobby died three years ago this week, age 93, it was J.J. Marshall who recalled that day and said to me, “I could have sat there and listened to them talk all afternoon.” 

We just about did.

And now Mr. Leo has passed this early spring at 94, two of the final members of The National Association for the Advancement of Grandstand Quarterbacks (NAAGQ), an exclusive “club” for more than 70 years, formed by Tech football teens going off to war in 1943, a group whose families grew up together and, through the years, grew old together.

They weren’t stingy about sharing stories — if they were asked. No chest-beating in this bunch. Thankfully, they shared enough of themselves that we’ll always have stuff to carry around.

Leo was a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the Ark-La-Tex Museum of Champions, a star at Shreveport’s Fair Park High, a Pro Bowler in the NFL, a league champ in 1958 with Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts, a humble bear of a man with oven-mitt-sized paws who, after this playing days, sold class rings and letter jackets to students all over the area; he sold that stuff but the smiles and understated jokes, he did those for free.

He loved to tell about him and another Tech recruit being driven from Shreveport to Ruston by legendary Tech football assistant Jimmy Mize, and Coach Mize asking Leo’s friend what he wanted to major in, and the kid said, “Engineering,” so then Coach Mize asked Leo the same thing, and Leo said he was thinking that if his buddy could learn to drive a train, so could he, so Leo said, “Engineering.”

Another one’s about Coach Joe Aillet with Leo and some other linemen in a crescent moon around Aillet and the coach hollers “I need a dummy!” and nothing happens for like five second so Leo jumped out toward coach and Aillet said, “Not you, Sanford. I need a BLOCKING dummy.” (Leo would tell the story and shrug his shoulders: “He said he needed a dummy so …”)

When Sanford established the largest endowed scholarship in Tech Athletics history in honor of his wife Myrna after her passing in 2018, Leo told his buddies at their Friday morning unofficial club meeting at Shreveport’s Southfield Grill that “I’d be happy to have given the second-largest endowed scholarship if one of you other guys would step up.”

It was an almost ordained sort of special, the times Leo and Bobby and their football friends and families got to share. Disheartening to think it’s over, but then again, these were times built on love, and love never dies. No good thing ever does.

Speaking of love, this is from Myrna’s obit: “On their first real date he told her he was going to marry her, and she told him he was crazy. While she spent the next 68 years admitting he was right, she’d also tell you he was still crazy.”

Curt Joiner, one of Leo’s sons-in-law, will tell you it’s always been a “good” kind of crazy. “I don’t know if there’s any guy in the world I enjoy spending an evening with more than my father-in-law,” Joiner said.

A lot of guys share that feeling.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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The Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston, Louisiana will again host the annual Joe Woods

Wildwood Express Show to benefit the Historic Dixie Theater in Downtown Ruston. This

17th annual Showcase will hit the stage at 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 6th. With foot-

stomping country music and entertainment! We celebrate the life and legacy of Joe

Woods as we bring back band members who played in his original band and singers

who often have a tie to Joe, and always a connection to the music he performed at the

Dixie Theater every Saturday night back in the day when the Wildwood Express was a

weekly cultural happening in Ruston. The tribute show began as a fundraiser for the

Dixie but it’s much more than that. The venue, music, and the people on the stage and

in the audience represent all that is good about times past in Ruston. The show will

feature a great music lineup, including Travis Woods, Jay Woods, Buddy Terzia, Rita Spillers, Rick Nelson, Alice Prophet, Don Pennington, Jeff Woods, Josie Hargis, Rhonda O’Neal, Gene Stewart, Andy Griffin, Brian and Lane Spurlock, and Scooter Howard. Tickets are available at http://www.dixiecenter.org.

The Dixie Theater has been the cornerstone of entertainment in the North Central

Lousiana community for 96 years, and because of fundraisers like the Joe Woods

Wildwood Express Show and the generosity of our patrons, we are able to keep up the

maintenance and repairs that come along with managing this historic and wonderful

building in the heart of our downtown.

The Dixie Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and restored historic

theater in Ruston, LA that also serves as a rental venue. Our mission is "To be the

home and heart of the arts in North Central Louisiana. For more information about the

Dixie Center please visit our website at http://www.dixiecenter.org .

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I have known my brother-in-law for 52 years. I introduced him to my sister back in high school. He is one of the most Christ-centered, loving and gracious men I have ever had the blessing to know. The Spirit of the resurrected Christ truly lives in him. He is not a pastor or clergy; he teaches Comparative Religion in a college, plays in the praise band and teaches the Bible at his church. 

Through the years we have been on several adventures together. One that comes to mind was in the Texas Hill Country on the Guadalupe River. We planned this trip down the river to Gruene, Texas. As a young minister and youth director, I had recently taken several groups of youth down Louisiana rivers like the Bogue Chitto and Tangipahoa in Southeast Louisiana. Those broad, deep rivers were good for canoeing. I considered myself a really good canoeist by the time we planned this trip. We found Jerry’s Rentals near Canyon Lake, and I noticed that most floaters were getting tubes, not canoes. But I was determined to show off my skills in paddling. They took us to a drop point for a three-hour float (“A Three-Hour Tour. . .”). 

We started well enough. The Guadalupe was deep and wide here and with the summer sun bearing down, we glided through the water. Then it got interesting. The river narrowed and we hit bottom. Meanwhile the tube floaters circled around us enjoying cold beverages and having fun. We were soon out of the aluminum canoe, dragging it over the sand bars and Texas gravel- for nearly two hours! Our feet sank up to our calves on the soft bottom as we tugged and carried that vessel. With sweat and salt in our eyes, my brother-in-law broke his glasses. And yet, being the Christ-like person he is, he never said to me what I very much deserved, “You knucklehead! It was your vanity that got us into this mess!”

We were beyond exhaustion when we made the landing in Gruene. My sister was waiting with the car and even though we had plans to go eat in town, we just went to the hotel, took showers, and crashed. I will never forget the kindness and grace shown to me by my brother-in-law that day. It has come to mind when I have had something to blame on someone. Please pray for him. He has been diagnosed with a very serious disease and is going through a difficult treatment to save his life. Pray for my sister, too, she is taking such good care of him.

My prayer for you is that you have someone in your life who is like that, day after day, year after year. Someone that lives the life of the resurrected Christ, who shows grace and mercy to everyone, every day. May that be said of us!

(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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Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 68. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night

Clear, with a low around 42. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night

Clear, with a low around 43.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 76.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

* Information courtesy of National Weather Service.

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Lily

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Last Seen: Wednesday, March 23, 2024, Collins Road Natchitoches, LA

Color: Red Merle and White

Eyes: Different Color Eyes

And Has a Tail

PLEASE CALL WITH ANY INFORMATION

(318) 357-0377

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After President Biden’s failure last week to veto a U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a visit by an Israeli delegation scheduled to meet with Biden in D.C. to discuss the planned invasion of the Hamas-infested city of Rafah in Gaza.  Biden’s cowardly decision to abstain from voting allowed the resolution, backed by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and many other dangerous enemies of both the U.S. and Israel, to pass. 

In response to Biden’s cowardice, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that this is “a clear departure from the consistent U.S. position” in the Security Council since the beginning of the war.  This withdrawal damages both the war effort and the effort to release the hostages because it “gives Hamas hope that international pressure will force Israel to accept a cease-fire without the release of our hostages.” (Wall Street Journal, 03-26-24).

As described by the Wall Street Journal, this past week “the U.S. withheld its veto and abstained as the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that demanded a cease-fire in Gaza but didn’t make the cease-fire contingent on Hamas releasing its 134 hostages. That condition, on which the U.S. had previously insisted, has been dropped.” (WSJ, 3-26-24).  In fact, the Biden Administration position has weakened so much that “Mr. Biden’s initial support for destroying Hamas has faded, such that Vice President Kamala Harris now refuses to rule out ‘consequences’ should Israel invade Hamas’s last stronghold of Rafah.”

This feckless move by Biden is not surprising because, since Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre of some 1,400 Israelis, we’ve seen President Biden equivocate about, and retreat from, his original robust support of Israel.  This change is in no small part due to pressure from the Lunatic Left of the national Democratic Party that screams for Israel, whom it vilifies as an “occupier,” to agree to a ceasefire and end the war while Hamas still controls Gaza.  It would be perilous for Israel to do so.

Let’s have some context:

We note that international calls for the annihilation of Israel, and generalized hatred of Jews, have increased exponentially.  Polling in the U.S. reflects that while Jews make up around 2 percent of the U.S. population, according to FBI data, reported antisemitic hate crime incidents accounted for 9.6 percent of all hate crimes. (Anti-Defamation League ((ADL)) 10-16-2023 citing FBI statistics).

Let’s also recall that in his State of the Union address Pres. Biden promised the families of U.S. hostages held by Hamas that “we will not rest until we bring their loved ones home.”  Well, that pledge has now been weakened at the United Nations.  

A brief comparison between President Trump’s defense of Israel and Biden’s attack on Israel through his support for Iran, Israel’s mortal enemy, is clear and dangerous. 

Trump ended U.S. support for the Iran nuclear deal that madly gave billions of U.S. dollars to the terrorist regime in Tehran— which our US State Department has concluded is the foremost worldwide sponsor of terrorism—funds which pay for Iran’s global campaign of terrorism and its development of nuclear bombs to threaten Israel, the entire Middle East, and ultimately, the U.S. mainland. 

Trump also honored a campaign pledge to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and to officially establish Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in the view of the U.S. government.  Trump’s diplomatic efforts also led to the Abraham Accords—the first peace treaties between Israel and its Arab neighbors since 1994—for which Trump was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Peace due to the enormous advance the Accords represent in isolating Iran and limiting its global campaign of terror—of which America is a prime target!

The danger here is really far greater than an intolerable neglect of Israel itself.  It’s that the whole world is watching America.  This includes our mortal enemies China, Iran, Russia, and N. Korea, as well as the numerous terrorist groups whose very charters call for the annihilation of Israel.  They scrutinize our every move and absence of movement when it is called for from which they will draw conclusions regarding the likely success of further attacks upon Israel as well as any other nation or people in the world about whom they harbor predatory intentions.

This is what weakness and ineptness look like.  America has no more loyal friend or ally in the region—or perhaps the world—than Israel and it cannot hesitate or waver in its cause.

(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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From 1948 until 1953, David was the president of Columbia University in New York City.  During his tenure as president of the university, David hired an artist, Thomas Stephens, to paint a portrait of his wife.  As the painter worked, David, who had no previous interest in painting, became spellbound.  He was fascinated that the artist could transform a blank canvas into something so beautiful.  Perhaps he was biased because the subject of the painting was his wife, but David was amazed at how each brush stroke transformed the canvas from nothingness into something beautiful.  David had never been interested in painting, but now he wondered if he could capture someone’s likeness on canvas as Thomas Stephens had. 

David stretched a white dust cloth on the bottom of a box for a canvas and attempted to copy his wife’s portrait.  When finished, David showed his painting to his wife and Thomas.  David described the painting as “weird and wonderful to behold,” and added, “we all laughed heartily.”  Thomas asked if he could keep David’s painting as a keepsake.  In exchange, Thomas sent David a painting kit which David thought was a “sheer waste of money.”  David’s true passion was playing golf, but when he was unable to play golf due to rain or other circumstances, he painted.   

In a 1950 letter to Winston Churchill, David wrote, “I have a lot of fun since I took it up, in my somewhat miserable way, your hobby of painting. I have had no instruction, have no talent, and certainly no justification for covering nice, white canvas with the kind of daubs that seem constantly to spring from my brushes. Nevertheless, I like it tremendously, and in fact, have produced two or three things that I like enough to keep.”  He described his portrait paintings as “magnificent audacity,” and burned most of them.  Unlike Churchill who enjoyed spending hours outside painting landscapes, if the weather was good enough for David to sit outside and paint, it was good enough for golf.

When David’s tenure with Columbia University was over, David continued to paint.  He had a small studio on the second floor of the house he lived in where he would paint for 10 minutes before lunch.  Rather than using his paintings as a way to express his inner self, David preferred to reproduce what he saw before him.  Normally, he would attach a photograph to one side of his canvas and attempt to paint what he saw. 

David had no false pride in his artistic abilities, but he enjoyed painting and never gave it up.  In the last 20 years of his life, he painted about 260 paintings.  In 1967, when some of David’s paintings were displayed at a show in a New York art museum, David told reporter Richard Cohen, “Let’s get something straight here, Cohen.  They would have burned this [expletive] a long time ago if I weren’t the President of the United States.”  The house where David had the small painting studio on the second floor was the White House.  In addition to being a painter, golfer, and the President of the United States, David was five-star Army general and Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe, Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower. 

Sources:

1.      Jonathan Alter, “Bush Nostalgia Is Overrated, but His Book of Paintings Is Not,” New York Times, April 17, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/17/books/review/george-w-bush-portraits-of-courage.html.

2.     “Eisenhower Paintings,” The White House Historical Association, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/galleries/eisenhower-paintings.

3.     “President Eisenhower: The Painter,” The White House Historical Association, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/president-eisenhower-the-painter.

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

April 3

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

11:30 a.m. Ribbon cutting for The Spaw Dog Grooming, 202 Machen Dr., Springhill.

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.

6:30 p.m. Music Bingo, Under Dawgs on Main St.

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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BARBERINO-TAVARNELLE, ITALY— As a kid almost every restaurant in my hometown was independently owned and local. Granted, there weren’t too many full-service restaurants in my hometown back then, but it’s all we knew. It wasn’t until the 1990s that we began to see the influx of chain restaurants as the city expanded westward. We are inundated with chains these days.

The beauty of locally owned independent restaurants and bars is that all the money stays in the community. Chain restaurants are run by large multinational corporations headquartered in places like Dallas, Orlando, and New York. The profits garnered in those businesses is all sent back to big cities where it lines the pockets of corporate suits in high rise office buildings.

Economists estimate that each dollar spent in a locally owned business turns over seven times in that community, and much of it goes to support the local schools, civic organizations, and local charitable causes. Money spent with corporate chain restaurants gets deposited into large banks in cities far away. It seems obvious when trying to explain why someone should choose an independent over a chain, yet— on any given day— drive by any town’s restaurant row and it will typically be filled with national chain restaurants whose parking lots are packed. 

Independent, locally owned restaurants tell more about a town than any local Chamber of Commerce brochure can. When I’m traveling in a new city I always go to the front desk or concierge at the hotel and ask, “Where is the closest independently owned breakfast joint? I want to go to the place where the old men sit at the same table every morning reading the newspaper and arguing over politics and sports.” That’s where I will truly learn about that city or town. 

Independent, locally owned restaurants have local character.

Chain restaurants might throw up a couple of photographs of local points of interest or iconic structures in that town, but don’t be fooled. Most have no soul. The chain restaurant you walk in just off the Interstate in my hometown looks exactly like the chain restaurant at the next interstate intersection two hours up the road. And it looks like the same cookie cutter restaurant two hours from there. It doesn’t matter if I’m in Peoria IL, Louisville KY, or Dubuque IA, the chain restaurant is the same. It tells me nothing about that town. It’s just a corporate chain that appeals to the lowest common denominator.

This column didn’t start out to be a rant on chain restaurants, but I feel strongly about them. The thought occurred to me yesterday while working over here in Italy. My wife and I were dining in our favorite little restaurant in Tavarnelle, and our friend Paolo— who runs the place— was scurrying around his dining room taking orders. His mother, Giuliana, who does all the cooking, passed by with a pan of tiramisu from the kitchen. It struck me in that moment that all the restaurants over here are local. That’s all they know.

Whether I am in Spain, Italy, or any other place I work overseas, almost all the restaurants are locally owned.

I’m not one of those people who thinks everything is better in Italy. It’s not. I love America. I love Mississippi. And I especially love my hometown of Hattiesburg. I wouldn’t trade any of them for any city in Europe. Although there are things that the Italians get right. The olive oil in Italy is better than any produced in the states. They nailed the culture piece from the 15th century through the 19th century. Though when it comes to music, literature, theater, movies, television, creative inventions, and technology I believe we have owned the 20th century and beyond.

Unfortunately, they have us beat on restaurant philosophy. They would never support as many chain restaurants as we do. It just wouldn’t make sense over here. Sure, there are some American fast food places that dot European cities. But that’s nothing we should wear like a badge of honor. The best restaurant in any European city is never going to be the American fast food concept.

Italians would never think of sitting in their car and driving through restaurant parking lot, ordering into a small speaker, and driving up to a window to get a bag full of food. It just doesn’t happen. They live much slower over here. The bakery I frequent every morning to sit, eat, prepare for the day, and check our restaurant’s previous days sales reports and manager logs from back home, is a very typical European breakfast spot. Customers come in and order a pastry and a cappuccino— or more likely espresso— and stand and visit with one another while they eat the pastry and drink the coffee. The entire process lasts about 10 minutes, and they are on their way. There are a few tables in there. I typically sit at one of the tables and enjoy watching the morning action in the bakery. I’ve had similar experiences in a few dozen other countries across Europe. The names, faces, and language changes but the practice is basically the same.

I believe in the concept of keeping everything local so much that I had the words, “EAT LOCAL” painted in 20-foot letters on the back of our flagship restaurant Crescent City Grill. I mounted an 12-year campaign in my hometown of Hattiesburg MS to encourage people to eat at independent, locally owned restaurants. 

For several years I wore a button on the chest of my clothing that stated, in black and white, “Eat Local.” Then one day I was in New Orleans eating at my favorite breakfast joint. I had on the Eat Local button, as always, and it struck me— this probably makes no sense down here. New Orleans is all about eating local, why wouldn’t they?

New Orleans is a city filled with independent restaurants. There are a few chains there, but not many. America’s big cities are mostly filled with independent, locally owned restaurants. Whether you’re taking about New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Atlanta, in the heart of the city, the best restaurants are local. When one ventures into the suburbs, that’s when the chains start popping up.

This isn’t some type of veiled plea to try and garner customers for my restaurants. It’s just how I feel. You can support mine, or not. If not, support other locally owned independent restaurants and bars. They are on the frontlines of a brutal business every day trying to make their community a more vibrant and authentic place to live.

Onward.

Butcher’s Pasta

1 lb. Dry penne pasta
1 gallon Water
¼ cup Kosher salt
1 TB Extra virgin olive oil
¼ lb. Pancetta, medium diced

1 lb. Italian sausage links, sliced into discs
¼ cup hallots, minced
1 TB Garlic, minced
1 cup Bolognese 
1 cup Alfredo sauce 
½ cup Milk
¼ cup Reserved pasta water
½ tsp Crushed red pepper
Grated Pecorino Romano as needed.

Cook the penne according to the directions on the package.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta, stirring frequently so as not to burn, until cooked, about 6-8 minutes. Midway through the cooking, add the sausage discs. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until soft, not browned, about 3-4 minutes. Add Bolognese, Alfredo, milk, pasta water and crushed red pepper, stirring frequently until hot. 

Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add hot penne pasta and combine thoroughly.

Divide among 6-8 serving bowls and finish each with grated cheese as desired.

(Robert St. John is a chef, restaurateur and published cookbook author who lives in Hattiesburg, Miss.)

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Today’s bass boats are nothing short of incredible and expensive! The accessories you can add to a bass boat are really cool and can make a huge difference in your ability to fish effectively. But which of these inventions has truly had the greatest impact on the sport of bass fishing?  Today, we’ll do a walk-thru from the front to the back of the boat and go over each of these features and their importance.

When you buy a bass boat today, it’s very similar to buying a new truck or car. There are all kinds of accessories that you can select to make your boat even better. There are some you might consider a luxury item while others are a necessity if you want to compete.

Let’s first look at the very front of the boat and talk about the trolling motor. Nothing, in my opinion, has had a greater impact on the sport of bass fishing than the trolling motor. In 1934, O.G Schmidt invented the first electric trolling motor in Fargo, North Dakota. This invention revolutionized bass fishing by allowing an angler to navigate a body of water with ease without having to run the big engine.  This device is used not as the primary means to propel the boat but makes navigation much easier especially in shallow water.  From its inception, the trolling motor has served one purpose….to move the boat around quietly without spooking fish and is a standard feature on today’s bass boats.

Today, these high-tech trolling motors can lock a boat down on one spot in open water. It will literally hold the boat in one position automatically with the push of a button, allowing the angler to fish an area or a spot more effectively. The days of using an anchor to hold a boat in place are gone with today’s new trolling motor technology.

Also located on the front deck of the boat are high-tech electronic fish locators. These units have made bass fishing so much easier, not just for professional anglers, but the novice angler as well. They allow anglers to see fish as far away as 100 feet on a screen the size of a small TV. They give great detail about the structure and contours of the lake bottom. They show water temperature, depth, GPS coordinates, timber, and grass and will tell you the composition of the bottom as to whether it’s hard or soft.

Why is this important? Hard spots are where bass like to set up, especially during the spawn. Today’s sonars show debris from lay down logs and rocks to brush piles along with clouds of baitfish. The detail is so good that an experienced angler can tell if the fish he’s looking at are bass, white perch, or catfish.

Moving further to the back of the boat, let’s look at the dashboard. Today’s top of the line bass boats are mostly digital. Your gauges, including the speedometer, RPM, and temperature gauges, are all digital. Some have gauges that monitor the gas, oil, and battery levels, while some boats have a water temperature gauge for the livewells, ensuring that you can maintain a good temperature level for your fish in order to keep fish alive for weigh-in.

Another advancement, that might be the best safety feature ever invented for a bass boat, is the hot foot. The hot foot is a gas pedal that allows the angler to drive the boat just like a car or truck, with both hands on the steering wheel. It also allows for better boat control when navigating rough water conditions.

There’s also another feature that has become one of the best accessories you can put on a boat…. a shallow water anchor system called Power Poles or Talons. Power poles are made by a company called Power Pole while the Talons are made by Minn Kota. Power Poles fold out from the back of the boat while Talons are mounted on the back of the boat and descend straight down. Both are really good: it’s like comparing Ford or Chevrolet; which one do you like the best?

Both are great tools and will do exactly what they are designed to do, anchor you down in one spot. The only drawback to these units is that they are only designed for shallow water of 12 feet or less. When they first came out, I was a skeptic and thought it was a waste of money until I added one to my boat and realized how useful it was to have these on your boat. They come in handy when you’re having to sit down and retie or cull fish. They also come in handy when you are launching your boat or docking up for a weigh-in.

As you can see, bass boats have come a long way since the days of stick- steering banana style boats. The features you can add are nothing short of incredible, but they do come with a cost. Major boat brands like Ranger, Skeeter, Caymas and Triton all have boats that fall into the $90,000 plus range.

To compare how far the price has jumped in the last 23 years dating back to the early 2000’s, a fully loaded bass boat back then cost around $30,000. But today, some boats are hitting the crazy $100,000 mark! Why? The cost of building materials and the high level of accessories it takes to build a bass boat today have increased.

So, if you’re in the market for a new bass boat, prepare yourself for sticker shock as companies continue to improve and upgrade these high-tech water rockets that can reach speeds of 80 MPH.  

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on You Tube. 

Steve Graf                                                                                                     

Angler’s Perspective 

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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 31

Jarrod John Stoute, 38, of the 800 block of Claiborne St., Minden, was arrested by MPD for domestic abuse battery.

April 1

Brian Cooper, 42, of the 400 block of Russell St., Minden, was arrested by MPD on active warrants for domestic abuse battery with child endangerment and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.

Reginald D. Ferguson, 51, of the 100 block of Skip Rd., Cotton Valley, was arrested by WPSO on five warrants for simple cruelty to animals and three warrants for aggravated felony cruelty to animals.

Arianna Brooke Rogers, 23, of the 200 block of Newton Rd., Sarepta, was arrested by WPSO for simple criminal damage to property and simple assault.

Johnny Ray Perkins, 30, of the 2900 block of Columbia Rd., Stamps, Ark., was arrested by MPD on a warrant for contractors misapplication f payments prohibited.

Ashely Cornelius, 36, of the 100 block of Southfield Trailer Park, Dixie Inn, La., was arrested by Dixie Inn Police on an active warrant through WPSO.

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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Mickey Vann Hodges Sr.

Sept. 11, 1956 – March 31, 2024

Shongaloo, La.

Visitation: Noon until 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, 2024, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill.

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

Private burial: Huckabee Cemetery, Hope, Ark.

Barbara Ann McHalffey

August 29, 1936 – April 1, 2024

Bossier City, La.

Visitation: 1 p.m. Thursday, April 4, 2024, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.

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

Burial: Hill Crest Memorial Park, Haughton.

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 Pat Culverhouse

A select group of administrators, teachers, students and support personnel received special recognition Monday when Webster Parish School Board handed out awards for “best of the year” in four categories.

Principals of the Year included Elementary: Cortney McCall of Brown Upper Elementary; Jr. High: Nathaniel Richardson from Webster Junior High; and High School: Denny Finley of Lakeside High School. 

Named Teachers of the Year were Jessica Green, Doyline High School; Madalyn Wynn, Doyline High School (Parish winner); Vickie Ramie, Central Elementary; Johnnie Ware, Brown Upper Elementary (Parish winner); Shelie Hanson, Browning Elementary; Callie Boyett, North Webster Jr. High; Annette Parrie, Richardson Elementary; Amy Jones, Webster Jr. High; and, Jamie Whatley, Doyline Elementary.

Also, Ja’Tavion Jackson, Doyline Jr. High (Parish winner); Don Watson, Doyline High School; Lessie Brown, Minden High School; Sasha Odom, North Webster Upper; Tikina Jones, Jones Elementary; Serena Martin, Phillips Elementary; Christin Hanson, North Webster Lower; and, Jeff Brown, North Webster High School. 

Honored as students of the year in Fifth Grade were Layla Holford, Richardson Elementary; Ada Murphy, Central Elementary (Parish winner); Parker Jo Howell, Doyline Elementary; Harleigh Humphrey, BUES; and, Maddox Taylor, North Webster Upper Elementary.

Eighth Grade students of the year are Lucas Owens, Webster Jr. High; Prudence Watson, Lakeside (Parish winner); Jsiyah Bell, North Webster Jr. High; and, Chloe McDowell, Doyline

Seniors receiving honors were Karlee Lange, Minden High (Parish winner); Kaileah Calloway, Doyline High; Kamryn Goodson, Lakeside High; and Isabella Sylvia, North Webster High.

Support personnel of the year included Darlene Couch, Lakeside High; Rachel Miller, Central Elementary; Shronda Taylor, Brown Upper Elementary; Calvin Gates, Browning; Lori Jester, North Webster Jr. High; Krystal Luellen, Richardson Elementary; and, Jasmine Cooksey, Webster Jr. High.

Also, Holly Watson, Doyline; Amy Barrett, Minden High; Tiffany Hanson, North Webster Upper Elementary; LaTiffany Burns, Jones Elementary; Tammy Guice, Phillips; AnnSexton, North Webster Lower; and, Donnie Coleman, North Webster High School (Parish winner).

Board members also unanimously approved a resolution expressing opposition to a bill in the state legislature that would establish Education Savings Accounts. The bill would create a LA GATOR Scholarship Program providing public dollars for private school tuition and educational expenses.

A portion of the resolution reads “…diverting public dollars to private schools and other programs through ESAs without fully funding public schools disadvantages students and schools, and, providing public dollars to ESAs without requiring the same state accountability testing imposed on public schools is irresponsible public policy.”

Maintenance fund expenditures totalling more than $440,000 were also approved in globo by the board Monday. A breakdown of individual funds shows:

• Consolidated Dist. 3 maintenance fund:  $271,679; Largest expenditure is $249,595 for 36,068 sq. ft. Dura-Last 50 ml PVC roofing system system at Central Elementary School.

• Cotton Valley maintenance fund: $895

• Doyline maintenance fund: $15,910

• District 6 one-half cent sales tax fund: $148,852; Top expenses include $93,550 to remove two layers of old roofing and install Dura-Last 50 ml PVC roofing system at Webster Jr. High, and $22,709 for sound system upgrades in the gymnasium and cafeteria at Phillips Elementary School.

• Sarepta maintenance fund: $545

• Shongaloo maintenance fund: $1,860

• Springhill maintenance fund: $700

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Attention residents and businesses of Minden,
There will be two scheduled power outages in the Northeast section of Minden tonight, April 2nd. The first outage will occur at approximately 10:00 p.m., followed by another outage around 1 am. The purpose of these outages is to repair a switch at the Sheppard Street substation. Each outage is expected to last approximately 45 minutes.
The affected areas include Homer Road, Sheppard Street, East Union, Fincher Road, Fort Street, Victory Park area, and Sibley Road. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
These outages are necessary due to damage that occurred to the switches last July. Temporary fixes were implemented until replacement parts could be received. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Mayor Nick Cox

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By Pat Culverhouse

Firefighters from Webster Fire District 7 and the Minden Fire Department managed to limit damage to a motorhome after responding to a fire around 9:15 a.m. Monday at Lakeside RV Park west of Minden.

District 7 Chief Austin Jones said units from the two departments were able to quickly bring the fire under control, containing damage to the rear of the motorhome. No other campers or homes reportedly were damaged it the fire.

Jones said the fire appeared to have started in the rear section of the motorhome, but an investigation into the cause is still under investigation.

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