PUBLIC NOTICE
This is to certify that the City of Minden has complied with Louisiana Revised Statute 39:1307 relative to public participation in the budget process for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Notice of availability for public inspection and public hearing was held in compliance with the applicable statute.
Melaney Langford
City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Minden
By Bonnie Culverhouse
It doesn’t feel like fall yet, but with August comes football season … or at least a jamboree or two before September kick off time.
If you’re a football fan – high school, college and pro – we have a deal for you. It’s popular, it’s fun and it’s back for the third straight season. It’s kick-off time for Webster Parish Journal’s Football Pick’em Contest.
Every week, local high school football games, four college teams and four pro teams will be on a ballot link, which will include tie-breakers based on total points of two selected teams..
It’s easy … follow the link, pick the winners. Each weekly winner over the life of the contest will be on the receiving end of $100 and will have their photo taken at our title sponsor Under Dawgs Sports Grill, the gathering place featuring a home-field atmosphere.
Anyone 18 and older is eligible to participate. All it takes is an email address and a combination of skill and a little luck.
When the regular season starts, the contest will open on Tuesdays and remain open until 4 p.m. each Friday before the listed games. Weekly winners will be notified and announced in the following Wednesday edition of the Journal.
Just like a subscription to the Journal, there’s no cost to enter, however, if you are not a Webster Parish Journal subscriber, you run the risk of missing out. Visit www.websterparishjournal.com and select “Join” to begin receiving your Webster Parish Journal in your inbox Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and – during football season – there is a special Saturday edition.
We are thrilled to welcome back Under Dawgs Sports Grill as our title sponsor for the third straight year.
We also welcome a new advertiser as our Anchor sponsor – Debbie Callender with LaState Realty, LLC. You will see her ad at the bottom of the form every time, right before you press SUBMIT.
But there are plenty more advertising spots available if you or your business would like to participate. We guarantee good visibility!
To advertise, call Curtis Mays, 225-266-1900 or email curtiswpj@gmail.com, Paige Gurgainers at 318-382-2118 or email paigewpj@gmail.com, Randy Ward at 318-393-7309 or email trward50@yahoo.com or Bonnie Culverhouse, 318-773-0750 or email wpjnewsla@gmail.com .
Then fire up your phones, notebooks or computers and get ready to pick’em.
Dear Editor:
There is an invisible line between City Hall and City Council that establishes responsibility for both sides. When either of the entities cross that line with the intent to control a situation the cronyism has taken away the peoples representation. This line is not meant to create a division but to encourage the importance of middle ground in which to solve community issues & plan a future path. What viewers saw in a video of the Springhill City Council Workshop was a very well researched presentation given by Alderman Melancon, 5th district, regarding the benefits of GPS’s in city vehicles. The Alderman was doing what his constituents asked of him. I do believe that is his job. What transpired from his presentation is exactly what has accelerated Springhill’s demise. Unfortunately, like so many other issues the citizens of Springhill feel need addressed, but never make it out of a workshop and never see a vote for the record by council members. Council can only make policy when the Mayor allows items on the agenda. The Mayor has shown in the past that silencing citizens voices & removing agenda items never to be seen again is his right of passage. If this is true than why do we have 5 Aldermen? What is the purpose of a council if the Mayor renders their ability to represent/lead nonessential? Temper tantrums by appointed, not elected officials, have no place in a leadership position. Alderman Melancon repeatedly expressed to the Public Works Director that GPS installation was about cost savings, safety, & accountability. Here in lies the root of our problem in this community. Entrenched appointed employees appear to have a self inflated opinion of their level of importance in a community they do not live in. Twenty years of allowing the deterioration of this community is coming home to roost. Many are to blame & many to blame have prospered on the backs of whomever is still left in Springhill. Allowing a vote by the City Council is exactly what needs to happen. The “hostage” situation with the GPS’S should not be permitted. Allowing an appointed employee & the Mayor to dismiss the will of the people should be not allowed. The citizens of Springhill put your elected backsides in those seats and we can remove them as well. We elected a Mayor…not a dictator & his henchman. The video can be seen at: https://youtube.com/@louisiananews?feature=shared (video credit Jerry Strahan)
Reva Rice 2nd District, Springhill
Guest speaker for Thursday’s noon club meeting will be Lion Neal Stapleton. Lion Neal serves as the district executive for Norwela Council Boy Scouts of America. He has worked for Boy Scouts for nine years in the Yatasi District, which covers Webster, Claiborne, Bienville, and Bossier parishes – and volunteered for many years prior to his hire. Before joining Scouting executive leadership, he spent more than 20 years working in the financial service industry.
Lion Neal has four sons, one granddaughter, and one grandson on the way. He plans on retiring from Scouting and enjoys the work he does. Lion Neal’s passion is to help youth grow to their fullest potential, and he believes that Scouting is the best youth-serving program available.
The Minden Lions Club meets Thursdays at noon at the American Legion Memorial Home, located at 119 W. Pine in downtown Minden.
United Christian Assistance Program has the following needs:
Food: green beans, powdered milk, cereal, canned meats, pasta (we are low on everything but beans (dried and canned) and pasta sauce)
Household goods: sheets, towels & wash cloths, pots, pans & skillets
Monetary donations
Thank you for supporting UCAP!
UCAP is open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at 204 Miller Street, Minden, for food, utility and rent assistance. Clothing is dispersed on Wednesdays only.
I read an interesting article this past week entitled “America Isn’t Sacred, Only God Is.” The article was written by Brian A. Graebe, a Catholic priest. The article makes the point that the frequent use by our elected leaders of godly language in civil or governmental matters is misplaced.
For example, Fr. Graebe states that President Biden used the word “sacred” four times in a recent speech, referring to the “sacred” task of “perfecting our nation,” the equally “sacred,” in Biden’s view, “cause of our country” and the “sacred” ideals of our founding documents. Graebe responded that while “the aforementioned may be important, praiseworthy and deserving of respect. None are sacred.” (Wall Street Journal, 08-02-24).
The article offers an additional, similarly erroneous example. After Jan 6th, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to the U.S Capitol as a “temple of democracy.” Fr. Graebe points out that “a temple is a place to worship God … and while the U.S. Capitol is famous, iconic and worthy of protection and respect, it isn’t a temple and democracy isn’t a religion.” (WSJ).
The gist of his article is that “an increasingly irreligious culture seeks to appropriate the words of faith” and that is what I found interesting.
Pres. Reagan’s famous “Shining City on a Hill” remains a powerful illustration of what he believed America was, is, and could be. But the reason the illustration is such an inspiring and enduring image is not because the lofty and beautiful city was “shining … or tall, proud and built on rocks stronger than oceans,” but because God had ordained it. That is what imbued it with hope and promise.
We used to know that. We used to designate as sacred only those rarities in life that truly are.
I think of the language of George Washington’s Farewell Address to the nation:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. … And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
I think of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence: he states that America takes its separate and equal station in the world, to which it is entitled by “the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.” He also emphasized our being endowed “by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” He powerfully closes the Declaration by “appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our intentions” and does so “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.”
I think of John Adams, in his explication of public and private virtue, stating that “our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
I think of Benjamin Franklin who stated: “I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
Throughout American history, these principles have resonated with us because we know the source from which they flow, God Almighty. If that has changed because we have drifted from these principles—and replaced them with secularism and atheism—we should recognize that drift and return to them. In fact, we must. America is unique, not sacred but we remain blessed, strong, and prosperous when we remember that God is.
As our increasingly irreligious—even anti-religious—culture mis-appropriates the symbols and the vocabulary of religion in an effort to demonstrate an alliance with a God of their own construction, which is then used to “sanctify” their political agenda by suggesting that ‘God is on their side,’ I think it’s worth remembering President Reagan’s admonition that ‘the question isn’t whether or not God is on our side. The question is whether or not we are on God’s side?
(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.)
Send non-profit calendar events to wpjnewsla@gmail.com .
August 17
9 a.m. Minden’s Academy Park, Ninth Annual Prayer in the Park.
August 19
6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Food Truck Night at Miller Quarters Park.
August 24
W.H.O. annual three-man scramble at Springhill Country Club. Check whoofnorthwebster.org for more information.
September 9
6 until 8 p.m. Dorcheat Historic Association Museum Annual Fundraiser Gala, 116 Pearl Street, Minden.
September 14
Cruisin’ and Groovin’ Downtown Minden, Vintage Car Club of Minden
6:30 until 11 p.m., Krewe of Nemesis, Coronation in the Courtyard, Easley Studios Courtyard, 105 Pearl Street, Minden.
Tony N. McIntyre, 33, Doyline; arrested Aug. 9 by WPSO for domestic abuse.
Dana Michelle Moore, 48, Hwy. 371S, Taylor, AR; arrested Aug. 8 by Sarepta PD and WPSO on active warrants for theft, access device fraud, on fugitive warrant from Columbia County, AR.
Brandon Michael Sukey, 33, Cave St., Sarepta; arrested Aug. 8 by WPSO on active warrant for unlawful communications. Bond set $10,000.
Christopher Martin Matlock, 41, 500 block Constable St., Minden; arrested Aug. 8 by MPD on fugitive warrant from Topeka County, Kansas.
LaPatrick Lister, 45, 100 block N. Talton St., Minden; arrested Aug. 8 by MPD for resisting an officer by false information.
Fredrick Pouncy, 50, 400 block Carter Rd., Doyline; arrested Aug. 8 by Doyline PD for possession of CDS Sch. IV (Clonazepam).
Jonathon Paul Booth, 43k, 4700 block Boothville Rd., Doyline; arrested Aug. 12 by WPSO for battery of a dating partner.
DeCarlos LeValdmire Thomas, 29, 800 block Constable St., Minden; arrested Aug. 10 by MPD for disturbing the peace, as fugitive from outside agency.
DaMeionia Fashun Gilbert, 38, 600 block Chestnut St., Minden; arrested Aug. 11 by MPD on 18 bench warrants, warrants for theft and remaining after being forbidden. Bond set $5,000 cash or $15,000 surety.
Wesley Barnes, 39, 300 block Roosevelt, Minden; arrested Aug. 11 by MPD on warrant for criminal damage to property. Bond set $15,000.
Lisa Gipson, 61, 500 block Richardson St., Minden; arrested Aug. 9 by MPD for domestic abuse battery with child endangerment.
Chameteria Jones, 40, 700 block Peach St., Minden; arrested Aug. 8 by MPD for aggravated assault with a firearm, illegal use of a weapon.
Zi’kedrick Jerrod Morgan, 20, 300 block S. Talton St., Minden; arrested Aug. 9 by MPD for disturbing the peace by profanity, resisting an officer.
T’Neshia Sherrell Malone, 27, 100 block Lewis Way, Homer; arrested Aug. 9 by MPD for criminal trespass.
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.
Charlotte Ann Flynn
March 1, 1940 – August 10, 2024
Visitation: 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Living Word Worship Center
Funeral service: 11 a.m., immediately following visitation.
Burial: 11:30 a.m. Gardens of Memory.
Phillip “Pete” Brunson
June 24, 1943 – August 11, 2024
Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Funeral service: 10 a.m. Thursday, August 15, 2024, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Burial: 11:15 a.m. Bistineau Cemetery.
Joy Storey
March 21, 1934 – August 10, 2024
Arcadia, La.
Visitation: 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Arcadia, La.
Funeral service: 2 p.m., immediately following visitation.
Burial: 3 p.m. Oak Grove Cemetery.
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.)
FORT CAMPBELL, KY – Beginning on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 13, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) will conduct a major training event spanning various locations in Mississippi and Louisiana.
This exercise is designed to assess the division’s ability to conduct large-scale, long-range air assault operations in conjunction with training scenarios that will test their communication, logistical resupply and tactical abilities. All military training will take place on military installations or local airfields, but residents may see or hear an increased helicopter presence.
Our Combat Aviation Brigade and supporting sustainment elements will establish variousForward Arming and Refueling Points for aircraft flying between Fort Campbell, KY, and Fort Johnson, LA. Military helicopters will be refueled and resupplied at these FARPs before returning to Fort Campbell.
Residents living in and around the below areas may hear, see and experience increased aircraft traffic and noise during this time:
The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is a part of the Army’s effort to pioneer the evolution of vertical envelopment with modern equipment and well-trained soldiers, and to prepare the nation to win in any future military combat environment or conflict.
By Paige Gurgainers
Plans for construction of the new women’s prison to be located on Penal Farm Road in Minden are currently “locked up.”
According to Webster Parish Police Jury President Jim Bonsall, this job went out for bid with a budget of $4.6M in mind. The jury received three bids with the lowest coming from a Monroe company at $7.2M.
The other two bids were submitted at $7.3M and $8.6M.
“Other than to tell you that the bids were not successful, there really is not anything else to say,” confessed Bonsall.
Brad Graff with Cothren, Graff & Smoak Engineering said, “We have talked to the low bidder, and we are working to get a schedule of values to tell us what each thing is going to cost.”
The jury is currently in a stalemate to decide on next steps. “We have to figure out what we are going to do,” Bonsall said. “We have $2M of that Covid money that has to be spent. We are running out of time.”
Jury members explored options that might cut costs and entertained the idea of possibly applying the money budgeted for the new prison to improve where the women prisoners are currently located – the top level of the courthouse.
Juror for District 3 Daniel Thomas asked, “If you applied that money to the jail we have now, is there any way we could get that one up to code upstairs with that kind of money? I know nobody wants that, I don’t think, but we are way out of budget.”
According to Bonsall the problem would not necessarily be getting it up to code, but other issues that stem from the prison being located on the top floor.
“There are a lot of problems with it being up there. The prisoners sabotage the showers and all kinds of stuff up there that causes problems from the top floor down,” he explained. “If the jail was on the bottom floor, it would be ten times better. There is not a week that goes by that there is not some sort of problem. It is just not a good deal to have them up there because of all the problems it causes with other agencies.”
Currently there are 60-65 women from Webster and surrounding parishes being held at the courthouse.
The jury will continue to examine the cost analysis and begin adjusting see if expenses can be reduced to an amount that is affordable, but also keeping safety as the number one priority.
“We have to make sure our deputies and correction deputies are safe,” said Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker. “We are certainly not going to put them in an environment to take a lesser deal where they have more opportunity to get hurt.”
By Pat Culverhouse
A pair of Colorado men are looking at the inside of a Louisiana jail after a Louisiana Stat Police trooper bagged a large quantity of illegal narcotics following a traffic stop on Interstate 20 near the Minden exit Thursday morning.
Reports show William Alvarez, 30, and 34-year-old Islay Morales, who both list an address in Thornton, CO, are each being held on a charge of possession of CDS Sch I (marijuana) with intent to distribute.
After stopping the van occupied by the two men, Trooper First Class Floyd Evans reportedly noticed loose marijuana on the driver’s shorts and received permission to search the vehicle. His search reportedly uncovered six large duffle bags in the rear cargo area containing marijuana.
Both men reportedly are being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. Bond has not been set.
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.
By Bonnie Culverhouse
Minden has a thing about fireworks … kind of like parades … nobody does it better. But like anything else, fireworks need to be regulated, and the city has no ordinances for ordnances.
During a city council workshop Monday, Mayor Nick Cox asked members about fireworks complaints, many of whom had none.
Currently, fireworks are sold between Christmas and New Year’s, as well a few days leading up to Independence Day.
“Juneteenth is now recognized as a national holiday, and we have no provisions to sell during Juneteenth celebrations,” Cox said. “It would make sense to back it up from July 4 to take in June 19 and sell them during that time.”
Fireworks retailer and specialist Ron Hathorne warned against allowing fireworks to be detonated throughout that entire time period.
“They should be able to purchase and shoot them that one day,” he said.
The only regulation on Minden’s books is a “noise” ordinance that is difficult to enforce when applied to fireworks.
“A cutoff time, maybe with the exception of New Year’s, would be good,” Cox said.
Deputy Chief Chris Cheatham agreed, saying “anything after midnight shouldn’t be popped. It’s hard to get kids in bed when your neighbors are popping off utility shells.”
Cox also brought weddings, private parties and other special events into the discussion for a more “formalized process.”
“It’s one thing to shoot a Roman candle in your yard by yourself and another thing to have a huge, neighborhood-wide display where people are not aware of what’s happening,” Cox said. “For a big, private show, maybe we have it where they apply for a permit that lets the fire and police departments know.”
Hathorne said not only is a permit needed, but also a fire department site inspection.
“I’m not talking about sparklers at a wedding, but at a party, a permit to do a special show needs to be put in place,” said the owner of Hathorne Fireworks in Minden. “As the ordinances are written, (some downtown events) broke the law. You can’t shoot them except during the times where we can sell. Any show shot downtown outside the retail times – they’re breaking the law.”
Hathorne added that a public fireworks display requires the presence of a fire marshal and a state permit 15 days in advance of the event.
Cox asked the council for input and said, with Hathorne’s help, he would like to have an ordinance in place soon.
It is back to school week! Thanks be to God!!!!!
I cannot say that my kids share the same excited-ness though.
With school starting, that means that my Facebook newsfeed has been full of back-to-school photos of little ones in uniforms and new shoes, holding their signs stating what grade they are entering and whatever else those crafty moms add on there. Most of them have a huge, but forced smile spread across their faces.
But I have also seen my feed flooded with hilarious photos of moms as they send their kids off to load up on the school bus. Some of them show the kids in the background as the mother is literally jumping for joy in front of them. Another was a mom sitting in a pool on a float having a beverage as she waved goodbye. And one shows a mother hopping back into bed and tuning in to a show that I am sure she’s been meaning to watch all summer.
I will miss the girls, but I am super excited to get back into somewhat of a routine. This summer has been very chill. I know the start of school means that the chaos begins with early mornings, homework, after school activities, sports and a crap ton of forms to be filled out. The kids are surely going to be exhausted (and I will be right there with them) after a couple months of going to sleep late and staying in bed as long as we wanted almost every day.
I have made a short list of simple things we as parents can do in order to TRY and ensure a seamless transition from summertime to school time.
1. Establish a routine. Set a time for wake-ups and a goal for leaving the house to get to school on time. I have noticed throughout the years that if I have a morning of rushing around that pretty much sets the tone for the rest of my day. Set a specific time to get homework done. It has worked best for me personally, if I do not require the girls to get their homework finished immediately after getting home. Just like adults, they need some time to unwind. So, I usually allow them an hour or so to relax. Set a time for meals and most importantly bedtime. I know this cannot always be accomplished with some kids having practice, games and other activities, but I try to stick to it as much and as closely as possible.
2. Managing my time. I am a working mother so, back to school means that I have a stricter schedule and less time to get things accomplished between drop-offs and pick-ups. I literally carry my planner everywhere I go because I know that making a mental note that I have to be somewhere at 2 p.m. next Tuesday is not going to be remembered. I am also making it a goal of mine to keep realistic expectations of what I can get accomplished in one day. I have a bad habit of overloading myself and then wondering why I am so stressed and worn out. (It is self-inflicted!)
3. Prepare in advance. This has helped me tremendously. Instead of trying to gather school supplies and pick outfits in the mornings. I do all of this before bed. I know at the end of a long day; you just want to lay down and get a few extra minutes of sleep but trust me, your future self will thank you for getting this taken care of the night before. Also, making sure I do not have to stop for gas on the way to school!
4. Most Importantly, be gentle with your kids…and yourself! Making the adjustment to go back to school can be a rough one for EVERYBODY! Kids have bad days just like adults do. We get in moods, we have attitudes, we lose our temper and are emotional for no reason whatsoever. I feel like we as parents often forget that our kids are human. So, if they come home and they are not in the best headspace, just listen to them and offer advice if needed or let them take a nap. A good nap fixes almost everything. (I may be getting that mixed up with wine, but for the kiddos a nap will have to do.)
5. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe school year!
(Paige Gurgainers is a mom of three girls, digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal and publisher of Bienville Parish Journal and Claiborne Parish Journal.)
Buying a sprayer every year is what a lot of people do. Sprayers come in lots of sizes. 1 gallon, 2 gallon, 3 gallon, and and 4 or 5 gallon backpack type. These are the most common used in the lawn or garden. I suggest that you first pickup the sprayer to see that you can handle the weight. A 2 gallon sprayer usually is to heavy when it is filled for women.
Years ago I was asked by my husband to bring his sprayer to Shongaloo for him to use since he forgot it. It was a 4 gallon backpack sprayer that was too heavy for me to pickup, so I dumped it out so that I could put it in my car. Well that was wrong and you can imagine what Randy said about it being empty. Lesson learned and never forgotten. Most people do like a 1 gallon sprayer for the convenience in mixing chemicals and for the weight. Most chemicals tell you how much to mix in a gallon water on the directions.
You can get these sprayers in so many different qualities as well. A $20 sprayer will not be nearly as good as a $50 one of course. Look for the differences. They have different wands and seals. I like a plastic wand the best but many prefer the metal handle. It’s good to have a tip that is adjustable so you can use as a stream or fan spray. Industrial sprayers are made to spray degreasers and sometime acid. They are plastic and and have viton seals that don’t deteriorate.
There are lots of brands you can get. We sell mostly Chapin and Solo Sprayers. Both are well known and are easy to get replacement parts. We do sell cheaper sprayers that are sometimes called throwaways. They would last longer with rinsing after each use.
Cleaning after every use is a must. You need to flush the chemical and use some kind of tank cleaner or vinegar mix to clean and rinse with.
Let’s don’t forget the sprayers that are made to fit on ATVs. The most important thing to remember when purchasing these are the pumps. You need to notice the gallon per minute that the pumps put out. If the pump is at the bottom of the sprayer, it won’t be strong enough to put out the chemical. A 12 volt is a good one that will usually do a good job for a homeowner. 6 or 8 gallons per minute is the size that works well. Remember also that the weight counts on these sprayers also. A 15 gallon sprayer is the best size for a 4 wheeler as a 25 gallon would be too heavy once both you and the filled sprayer are riding. These sprayer sometimes are equiped with a boom. The booms make for better coverage and faster to get through with the job. Don’t forget to rinse them after every use.
(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal.)
While social media today is extremely popular, it can be unsteady and unpredictable. Readers may never know if they missed a breaking news event or the chance to win money with our annual football contest.
How do you make sure you are informed about today’s news, current events and breaking news in Webster Parish if you can’t rely on social media?
Subscribe to the Webster Parish Journal. It’s simple, easy and FREE. Visit www.websterparishjournal.com and click JOIN. You will begin receiving emails that lead you to our website and stories. You’ll never miss another story because of AI.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 71.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 93.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Tuesday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.
* Information provided by National Weather Service.
By Bonnie Culverhouse
It doesn’t feel like fall yet, but with August comes football season … or at least a jamboree or two before September kick off time.
If you’re a football fan – high school, college and pro – we have a deal for you. It’s popular, it’s fun and it’s back for the third straight season. It’s kick-off time for Webster Parish Journal’s Football Pick’em Contest.
Every week, local high school football games, four college teams and four pro teams will be on a ballot link, which will include tie-breakers based on total points of two selected teams..
It’s easy … follow the link, pick the winners. Each weekly winner over the life of the contest will be on the receiving end of $100 and will have their photo taken at our title sponsor Under Dawgs Sports Grill, the gathering place featuring a home-field atmosphere.
Anyone 18 and older is eligible to participate. All it takes is an email address and a combination of skill and a little luck.
When the regular season starts, the contest will open on Tuesdays and remain open until 4 p.m. each Friday before the listed games. Weekly winners will be notified and announced in the following Wednesday edition of the Journal.
Just like a subscription to the Journal, there’s no cost to enter, however, if you are not a Webster Parish Journal subscriber, you run the risk of missing out. Visit www.websterparishjournal.com and select “Join” to begin receiving your Webster Parish Journal in your inbox Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and – during football season – there is a special Saturday edition.
We are thrilled to welcome back Under Dawgs Sports Grill as our title sponsor for the third straight year. But there are plenty more advertising spots available if you or your business would like to participate. We guarantee good visibility!
To advertise, call Curtis Mays, 225-266-1900 or email curtiswpj@gmail.com, Paige Gurgainers at 318-382-2118 or email paigewpj@gmail.com, Randy Ward at 318-393-7309 or email trward50@yahoo.com or Bonnie Culverhouse, 318-773-0750 or email wpjnewsla@gmail.com .
Then fire up your phones, notebooks or computers and get ready to pick’em.
Document: Minutes of the City of Minden
Location: Minden City Hall
Address: 520 Broadway, Minden, La. 71055
Date/Time: August 5, 2024, 6 p.m.
The following are the minutes of the Minden City Council minutes as recorded by Ashlee Drake, Administrative Assistant to Mayor Nick Cox of Minden. If you have any questions, please contact Minden City Hall at 318-377-2144.
By Paige Gurgainers
An Emergency Declaration was filed following the aftermath left behind by Hurricane Beryl that hit Webster Parish on July 8 and 9.
According to Webster Parish Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Brian Williams, a representative from the National Weather Service out of Jackson, Mississippi was able to confirm five tornadoes with winds up to 110 MPH touched down in the parish – three in Shongaloo and 2 around Highway 79.
Webster along with Bossier and Desoto parishes filed for state assistance.
“The three parishes were approved by the state for state funding,” said Williams. “We have signed a CEA (Cooperative Endeavor Agreement) with the state for a 75-25 match.”
This means the parish will be reimbursed 75 percent of the expenses that were spent on storm damage clean-up efforts.
He said, “This is a new process with the Homeland Security Director through the new governor’s office. They are fast-tracking the state side. It has nothing to do with FEMA.”
According to Williams, once everything is approved by the state it will take approximately 30 days to receive these funds.
By Pat Culverhouse
A Sarepta man has been charged with second degree sexual battery in an incident involving a two-year old child.
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said David Lee Stowe, 43, a resident of Avera St. in Sarepta was arrested just after 9 p.m. Tuesday. He is currently being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center in lieu of a $500,000 bond.
Parker said Sheriff’s investigators learned the incident allegedly occurred inside a Sarepta residence occupied by Stowe, the victim and other family members.
“The victim’s mother took the child to Minden Medical for evaluation, and results of that exam are pending,” Parker said. “Our investigation is continuing.”
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.
Document: Ordinance of the City of Minden
Location: Minden City Hall
Address: 520 Broadway, Minden, La. 71055
Date/Time: August 5, 2024, 6 p.m.
The following is an ordinance adopted by Minden City Council as recorded by Ashlee Drake, Administrative Assistant to Mayor Nick Cox of Minden. If you have any questions, please contact Minden City Hall at 318-377-2144.
By Paige Gurgainers
The Webster Parish Police Jury (WPPJ) convened for their regular meeting yesterday, Aug. 6, where they approved their Audit of Financials for 2023. Ms. Jennie Henry, CPA with Allen, Green and Williamson presented their report.
According to Henry, the WPPJ received a clean opinion.
Overhead liability increased to $7.2 million. Last year it was $24.2 with the sale of the landfill.
“I don’t think anything this year would have measured up to that because it was a one-time event,” said Henry.
The ad valorem tax increased to $402,000 with the sales tax increasing to $219,000.
The report shows an un-earned revenue of $2.5 for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. This is grant money that hasn’t been spent by the WPPJ as of December. According to Henry it must be obligated by the end of the year and spent by 2026.
Henry also mentioned the ongoing opioid settlement with numerous pharmaceutical companies. The police jury signed a memorandum of understanding to sue these companies along with many other entities across the state. “Once legal and administrative expenses are taken out, that money is dispersed to governmental agencies,” she said. “Right now, the schedule is over 18 years that it will be dispersed. It is the understanding that Webster Parish will get .72 percent of any that is dispersed.”
The rest of the agenda was unanimously approved which included the adoption of minutes from July 2, approval of appointing April Shaw as Chairman and Emmett Jones as member for the Evergreen Fire Protection District, approval of precinct survey forms of Webster Parish voting precincts having less than 300 registered voters and approval of the donation of immovable property to St. James Water System.
The WPPJ also publicly announced an upcoming meeting to be held on Sept. 3, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in the Police Jury Meeting Room to consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling for an election to authorize and levy an ad valorem tax.
According to WPPJ President Jim Bonsall this tax is renewed every ten years and is to be used for courthouse and building maintenance.