High school football begins in one month, and Webster Parish Journal is proud to announce that we will once again be holding our weekly football contest, beginning the first week of September and equally proud to welcome back Under Dawgs as our contest’s title sponsor.

This always-popular contest is held weekly and lists all parish high schools, some college and a few pro games. Winners receive $100 in cash and have their photo taken with at Under Dawgs’ with owner Claudine Thomas.

In order to make this contest a success, we need help from advertisers. We are offering ads with spaces between the listed games, so your ad will always be seen from contest players. If you are interested in advertising, please contact Cynthia Sandidge at 318-510-2611, Paige Gurgainers at 318-382-2118 or in the Springhill area, Zoe Pickett at 318-455-1972.

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Baton Rouge – As students across Louisiana prepare to head back to school, Louisiana State Police reminds all motorists to prioritize safety in and around school zones, near school buses, and while transporting children. Vigilance and adherence to traffic laws are essential to protect the lives of our children and fellow drivers.

School Zone Safety:

With the return of school traffic, drivers are urged to stay alert and follow all posted signs and signals—especially during morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups when pedestrian and vehicle activity increases. Louisiana law grants school crossing guards the authority to direct traffic. Drivers must obey their instructions and reduce speed in marked school zones.

Motorists are reminded that Louisiana’s new hands-free law prohibits any driver—regardless of age—from using a handheld cell phone to call, text, or access social media while driving. This law applies to all public roadways across Louisiana, not just school zones. To review the full details of Louisiana’s updated cell phone law, visit: LACellLaw2025. Staying focused and minimizing distractions are vital steps to prevent crashes and keep students safe.

School Bus Safety:

All drivers must stop for school buses when red lights are flashing, and the stop arm is extended—regardless of the direction of travel. The law requires traffic to stop at least 30 feet away from the bus and remain stopped until the lights are off and the bus moves again.

If you’re unsure whether to stop, follow this general rule: always stop unless you are traveling on a four-lane roadway with a physical barrier, raised median, or continuous turn lane separating you from the bus. Children can be unpredictable, so slow down and stay alert any time you’re near a school bus. Refer to the attached graphic for clear guidance on when drivers are required to stop for a school bus—and when they are not.

Child Passenger Safety:

Louisiana law requires children under 13 to ride in the back seat whenever possible. For younger children:

·      Rear-facing car seats should be used until at least age two or until the child exceeds the height or weight limit of the seat.

·      Forward-facing seats with internal harnesses should be used as long as possible, typically up to 65 pounds.

If caregivers are unsure about how to properly install or use a car seat, certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians at local Louisiana State Police Troop offices are available to help—free of charge. For more information on child seat laws and fitting station locations, visit the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

As a community, we all share responsibility for protecting our children as they travel to school and other activities. Let’s recommit to driving safely, staying alert, and making smart decisions behind the wheel. The safety of Louisiana’s future depends on it.

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Thursday

Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 102. Calm wind.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Calm wind.

Friday

Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 74.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 94.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 74.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 94.

* Info provided by National Weather Service.

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

August 7

10 a.m. Minden Planning Commission meeting, Pelican Room, Minden City Hall. On the agenda is a request from Jim Huffman with Huffman Manor for a zoning variance on property owned by him located at 1114 Broadway Street. The property is zoned R-1 (Residential). The purpose of this zoning variance request is to use the property as an event venue. All interested parties will be given a chance to be heard.

August 9

7 p.m. Piney Woods Jamboree 4th anniversary show, CAC building, Springhill. Guest Star will be Georgette Jones daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Advance Tickets on sale at Springhill North Webster Chamber of Commerce and Express Tax Title & License in Springhill for $15 General Admission and $25 for reserved seating. Tickets purchased at the door will be $20 General Admission.

August 16

6 p.m. Murder Mystery, “Betrayal At The Block Party,” The Oak Cottage, 406 3rd St. NW, Springhill. Preregistration required. To register, text Michelle at 318-272-6093.

August 21

5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Bites and Beats, Miller Quarters Park, Minden, food trucks and live music. mindenmainstreet.com .

August 22 – 24

6:30 p.m. nightly, Revival with special music, powerful sermon and healing following services. Pine Grove Methodist Church.

August 23

5 p.m. Doors open at Springhill Civic Center for W.H.O. Matters, celebrating 10 years of Women Helping Others.  Ladies-only event featuring BINGO, raffles dinner, door prizes, shopping and a silent auction, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets: Kylee Ayers at 318-268-0027,

Info: Amber Cobb at 318-423-3710 or Kalee Adams at 318-578-1574,

Vendors: Elizabeth Simmons at 318-517-5207, Donations: Pam Jenkins at 310-453-3740.

Sept. 8

6 p.m., 2025 Gala for Dorcheat Museum, 116 Pearl St., Minden. Raffle, cake auction, fundraiser for operation and expansion.

Sept. 13

Legends on Wheels, Vintage Car Club’s 17th annual car and bike show, downtown Minden.

6 p.m. Elvis Game Night for LaMa Animal Rescue. Elvis impersonation and costume contests, concessions, prizes, games, BINGO. Springhill Civic Center.

Sept. 27

Webster Parish Fair Pageant.

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The following persons are scheduled to appear in 26th Judicial District Traffic Court on Friday, August 8:

ADAMS, KEAWONIA K

T058625 Speeding 16-24 MPH

ALLEN, ANTONIO CORNELL

T077425 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 88/70

ANDERSON, MELISSA

T038023 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 54/35

T038023A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

AVERITT, JR, RANDALL KERRY

T077525 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BARGER, TRACEY

T076325 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle – Single vehicle crash

BATTON, SHATARDRICK TYQUAN

T077625 Operating A Vehicle With Improper Fenders And/Or Mudguards

BEENE, CHRISTOPHER

T077725 Window Tint

BELL, CHRISTOPHER GLEN

T077825 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BENNETT, JOSEPH VINSON

T076824 Operating a Vehicle Without an Inspection Certificate

T076824A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

BENNETT, JOSEPH VINSON

T065225 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

T065225A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

T065225B Failure to Use Safety Belt

BILLETTE, MICHAEL JAMES

T077925 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 93/70

BLYTHE, JAMES HAYDEN

T078025 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

T078025A Operating a Vehicle with an Expired Motor Vehicle Inspection

T078025B Operating A Vehicle with an Expired License Plate

BOYETT, JOHN RUSSELL

T078125 Speeding 11-15 MPH, 69/55

BRANCH, NAKITA SHANTAIL

T078225 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 86/70

BRITTON, LAJOYE PATRICE

T124924 Failure to Use Safety Belt

T124924A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

BUTLER, JOHNNY RAY

T078325 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BUTLER, MATTHEW AUSTIN

T078425 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BYRD, PERRI LYNNE

T078525 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 71/55

CAIN, LUTHER JAMES

T078625 Speeding 11-15 MPH, 70/55

CARRUTH, SAMUEL

T078725 Procedure on Approach

CHATMAN, HENRY A

T078925 Speeding 11-15 MPH, 70/55

CLARK, LAGINA LEEANN

T043025 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

T043025A Improper Child Restraint

T043025B Failure to Use Safety Belt

T043025C No Insurance

COCKRELL, PRESTON L

T079025 Failure to Use Safety Belt

COLSTON, AMBER

T079125 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 88/70

COOPER, OLYMPIA WILLIAMS

T079225 Speeding 11-15 MPH, 70/55

COUCH, JAMARCUS

T079325 Failure to Use Safety Belt

DEATON, BRENDEN SCOTT

T079425 Failure to Use Safety Belt

DUDARENKO, MAKSYM

T066925 Improper Lane Usage

EAST, RICHARD GLEN

T076425 Operating A Vehicle with an Expired License Plate

EDWARDS, EMMANUEL

T079525 Failure to Stop and/or Yield

T079525 Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License

EDWARDS, JOHNNY E.

T079625 Speeding 25 & OVER

EGBON, NATHANIEL

T079725 Failure to Use Safety Belt

EVANS, CHAD M

T079825 Operating A Vehicle With Improper Fenders And/Or Mudguards

FRANKS, JAMES TRAVIS

T076525 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 74/45

FULLER, ZANE M

T079925 Failure to Use Safety Belt

T079925 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

GILBERT, DARRYL W

T080025 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

GILL, ARIANNA TYKIRA

T080325 Failure to Use Safety Belt

GILLESPIE, MICAH

T080425 Operating a Vehicle Without an Inspection Certificate

GORDON, ALEX WAYNE

T080525 Failure to Use Safety Belt

GRANT, DORIS HOLT

T080625 Failure to Use Safety Belt

GREEN, TYRONE

T080725 Speeding 11-15 MPH, 70/55

HALL, LASHUNDRA M

T080825 Failure to Use Safety Belt

T080825A Improper Child Restraint

HARVILLE, JOYCE ANNE

T068225 Leaving Scene Of Accident

T068225 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

HAWTHORNE, DANGELIO M

T076625 Improper Child Restraint

T076625A Improper Child Restraint

T076625B Improper Child Restraint

HENDRICKS, TAMEKA LAVETT

T076725 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 71/55

T076725A Improper Child Restraint

HERNANDEZ, ALBERTO

T080925 Operating A Vehicle Without Proof Of Insurance

HICKS, PATRICIA W

T081025 Failure To Secure Registration

HOWELL, JIMMY D

T049825 Improper Turn And/Or Failure To Give Required Signal – Crash

HUCKABAY AKA BEARD, AMBER LEANN

T021825 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

HUGHES, DEVIN R

T081125 Failure to Use Safety Belt

JOHNSON, LEE

T017425 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

JONES, KAREN Y

T081225 Operating a Vehicle with an Expired Motor Vehicle Inspection

KENNEDY, QUED F

T81325 Speeding 11-15 MPH, 69/55

T081325A Improper Equipment (License Plate)

Poor Attitude

KILLGORE, MICAH KASSIDY

T081425 Failure to Use Safety Belt

KIMBLE, RICHARD DEWAYNE

T076825 Speeding 11-15 MPH, 66/55

T076825A Operating A Motor Vehicle Without A Driver’s License

LAFITTE, COURTNEY P

T081525 Failure to Use Safety Belt

LENNARD, TAYLOR PAIGE

T076925 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 71/55

T076925A No Insurance

LEWIS, JARVOUS Q

T081625 Failure to Use Safety Belt

T081625A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

LOFTON, LACARLOS TYREKE

T081725 Operating a Vehicle with an Expired Motor Vehicle Inspection

LONG, ROY VERNON

T081825 Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License

MACK, SASHA MARIE

T043425 Improper Child Restraint

T043125A Improper Child Restraint

T043125B Improper Child Restraint

MCKINLEY, KYLE MICHAEL

T081925 Failure to Use Safety Belt

MENDENHALL, TYNIAH

T082025 Failure to Use Safety Belt

T082025A Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License

MERRITT, MALLORY BROOKE

T082125 Failure to Use Safety Belt

MILLER, STEVEN LANE

T082225 Operating An Unregistered Vehicle And/Or Vehicle Without Proper Number Plates

T082225A Failure To Secure Registration

MILLS, JAZMINE

T082325 Speeding 11-15 MPH, 68/55

MINNIFIELD, BRANDI S

T082425 Improper Child Restraint

MODISETTE, JOHNATHAN

T082525 Failure to Use Safety Belt

MOORE, MONKIA RENEE

T077823 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 74/55

MORGAN, ZI’KEDRICK

T043525 Failure To Dim Lights – Oncoming

T043525A Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License

T043525B Operating A Vehicle Without Proof Of Insurance

NORWOOD, JR, RONALD HAROLD

T082725 Failure to Use Safety Belt

PERRY, ALAN SHAWN

T082825 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

PICKENS, JEROME

T077025 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 56/35

T077025A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

RAMIREZ, JOSE JUAN

T082625 Failure to Use Safety Belt

T082625A Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License

RAYNER, JOSEPH ANDREW

T183519 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

REEVES, JR, RICHARD

T082925 Failure to Use Safety Belt

RIDDLE, JR., DONALD BRITT

T083025 Operating A Vehicle Without Current Number Plates

T083025A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

SANDERS, WENDY D.

T-4399-04 No Seat Belt

T-4400-04 Driving Under Suspension

SHOCKLEY, WILLIE A

T083125 Failure to Use Safety Belt

SHOWS, HAYDEN G

T077125 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 73/55

SMITH, BRADEN PARKER

T083225 Failure to Use Safety Belt

SOMERS, BRENTON MICHAEL

T083325 Improper Lane Usage

SPECKS, JIMMY RAY

T083525 Failure to Use Safety Belt

SPICER, BRITTANY R

T136420 Speeding 16-24 MPH

T136420A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

SPRANKLE, CLAIRE E

T083425 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 90/70

STEVENS, BROOKE ASHLEY

T083625 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 71/55

TELLIS, TATESHIA L

T083725 Failure to Use Safety Belt

THOMAS, RONNIE RAY

T129124 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

THOMPSON, STORMY BLAKE

T083825 Failure to Use Safety Belt

TOMPKINS, SAMUEL GRIFFIN

T083925 Failure to Use Safety Belt

WALLER, WILLIE

T077225 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 79/55

WARD, STACI DANIELLE

T084025 Failure to Use Safety Belt

WHEATON, LANAY NYETTE

T084125 Improper Driving On A One-Way Roadway

WHISEANT, PAUL

T084225 Failure to Use Safety Belt

WHITTINGTON, KARA LEIGH

T084325 Failure to Use Safety Belt

WILLIAMS, GERMERIAN ONEAL

T077325 Speeding 25 & OVER, 111/55

T077325A Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License

T077325B Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

WRIGHT, CHARLES E

T084425 Speeding 16-24 MPH, 71/55

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David Eugene Hicks

March 25, 1936 – August 5, 2025

Heflin, La.

Graveside service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 7, 2025, Mt. Zion Cemetery, Hall Summit, La., under the direction of Rockett Funeral Home, Ringgold, La.

James W. Bandy

January 20, 1947  –  August 4, 2025

Taylor, Ark.,/Springhill, La.

Funeral service: 2 p.m. Thursday, August 7, 2025, State Line Missionary Baptist Church, Taylor, Ark.

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

Sandra Butts Modisette

February 21, 1945  –  July 15, 2025

Shongaloo, La.

Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday, August 9, Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, La.

William Joe McDonald, Jr.

October 21, 1946 — August 3, 2025

Arcadia, La.

Graveside service: 10 a.m. Thursday, August 7, 2025, Alabama Baptist Church 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.)

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Members of the public will have the opportunity to voice their opinion on a special election scheduled to be held covering a pair of Webster Parish road districts.

Police Jury members voted during their regular session Tuesday to hold a public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 10:30 a.m. during the jury’s regular meeting to hear from residents on renewing ad valorem (property) taxes in Road District “A” (south Webster) and Road District “B” (north Webster).

Following the public hearing, jury members adopted a resolution calling for a November election date. Voters will be asked to approve a 10-year renewal.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, police jury members:

• Approved invoices for payment pending review by Juror LaTanya Grigsby.

• Accepted report of the jury’s Finance Committee.

• Gave approval to the 2024 audit of financials for the Police Jury, presented by Jennie Henry, CPA, of firm Allen, Green & Williamson.

• Approved certification of agreement with the local 2025 hospital assessment plan for the Jury.

• Approved the reappointment of Michael Corley and Todd Pickard to two-year term on Sarepta Fire District #5.

• Heard reports from department heads of various parish agencies, law enforcement and state and national legislators.

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By Pat Culverhouse

Several Webster Parish students received accolades from parish school board members for their outstanding achievements during Monday’s meeting.

Rylee Hudson, an eighth grade student at Webster Jr. High, placed first in the middle school public speaking at Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando, FL.

Educators Rising is a national organization dedicated to preparing middle school, high school and college students for careers in education. Hudson topped competitors from states including New Mexico, Texas and Alaska.

Ethan Gorum, an incoming sophomore at Minden High, was recognized for his perfect 850 score in Algebra I on the LEAP exam. LEAP tests measure proficiency for students between grades 3-12 in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, science and social studies subjects.

Statistics show only a small percentage of students achieve perfect scores on the LEAP tests.

Five Webster Parish students were elected to office at the recent Boys and Girls State gathering. At Boys and Girls State, students form mock cities, parishes and state government. Officials are elected at each level.

Hudson Smith, a senior at North Webster High, was elected to the program’s highest office, Governor of Boys State 2025. Smith is a senior at North Webster where he is captain of the football team and National Honor Society president.

Smith was elected by students representing the 64 parishes of the state.

Topher Wilson, a senior at Minden High, was elected Commissioner of Insurance.  Wilson is an honor student, President of the Student Council and is a member of the school’s soccer and baseball teams.

Wilson was named Boys State Commissioner by the Louisiana State Commissioner of Insurance, Tim Temple. Temple reportedly is planning a trip to MHS in September for a “meet and greet” with Wilson and representatives of the parish school system.

Three students were named as State Party Chairs during Boys and Girls State. Two Party Chairs are elected in both Boys and Girls State, and both Boys State winners were from Minden High.

Receiving the honors were Jacob Jefferson and I’Xamien Sullivan. Both are seniors at MHS.

At Girls State, another Minden High student was named State Party Chair. Ava Martin is a senior at MHS where she is an honor student and a Captain of the Louisi-Annes.

During Monday’s meeting, school board members also:

• Approved the 2025/26 Webster Parish Parent and Family Engagement Police.

• Approved 2025/26 Webster Parish Homeless Policies and Procedures.

• Heard a report from board attorney Jon Guice concerning paraprofessionals serving as bus drivers.

Invoice payments totaling $307,554.07 for school maintenance, repair and supplies from various school system funds also received approval. Those include:

• Consolidated District 3 Maintenance Fund: $79,521.99. Major expenditures are $19,362 to replace fire alarm panel at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $10,525 to replace compressor, inverter board and two thermistors on 5th grade wing at Central Elementary; $9,560 to purchase vinyl floor cover, rolling cart and cart cover for Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $8,911.47 to purchase three new laptops and three new desktops for Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $8,400 to purchase new air conditioning unit in Ag shop at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $7,414 to purchase six picnic tables for Lakeside Jr/Sr High$5,164.10 to purchase ice machine for Lakeside Jr/Sr High.

• Cotton Valley Maintenance Fund: $3,467 to saw cut brick, mount and calk 40 feet of metal to prevent water from entering building at North Webster Upper Elementary.

• Doyline Maintenance Fund: $45,096.12. Expenses include $13,240 to change compressors, inverter board, board and nitrogen rental at Doyline High; $8,654.74 to install remote door opening system to glass doors in entry hall at Doyline High; $8,257 to change out outside compressor and board at Doyline High; $6,800 to repair dryer, inducer motor and flame sensor at Doyline High; $4,288.38 to purchase volleyball net system for Doyline High.

• District 6 One-half Cent Sales Tax Fund: $103,418.83. Major items include $30,725.70 to purchase 90 round tables and 300 student chairs for Webster Jr. High; $26,057 to install digital sign at J.A. Phillips Elementary; $22,255 for one-year service agreement through July 31, 2026 for chillers at Minden High; $7919 to update audio/visual equipment in Strong Hall at Minden High; $6,218 to purchase five picnic tables for J.L. Jones Elementary; $5,780 for repairs, replace gas valves, inducer draft motors and thermostat at J.L. Jones Elementary.

• Springhill Maintenance Fund: $67,782.13. Major payments include $28,675 for new sidewalk, culverts and fencing at Brown Upper Elementary; $11,408 to purchase four horseshoe tables, 12 72x30x29 tables and 24 chairs for parent conference room at Browning Elementary; $5,595 to purchase 15 Chromebook parts for Brown Upper Elementary; $5,154 to purchase ice machine for Brown Upper Elementary; $4,429.43 to install new carpet for outside entrance at Browning Elementary; $4,117 to repair and replace Symcom motor saver three-phase, motor and rib at North Webster High.

• Shongaloo Building Fund: $8,268. Total includes $4,998 to have front doorway and doorway to lobby of gym wrapped in graphics at North Webster Lower Elementary; $2,200 to prep, prime and paint front doorway of school and doorway to gym lobby at North Webster Lower Elementary; $1,070 to cut down and remove damaged tree at North Webster Lower Elementary.

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By Pat Culverhouse

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker has been unanimously elected by his fellow Louisiana sheriffs to serve as Sergeant-at-Arms on the Executive Board of the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association (LSA).

His election marks the first time in the association’s history that a sheriff from Webster Parish has been selected to serve in a leadership capacity.

The Executive Board is composed of elected sheriffs from across the state and plays a vital role in shaping policy, advising on public safety challenges and advancing the mission of law enforcement across the state.

Traditionally, board members progress through each officer position on the board with the opportunity to serve as LSA President in four years.

“I thank my fellow sheriffs for their confidence and pledge to work along side each of them in addressing the ongoing needs and challenges that face our offices,” Parker said during his remarks at the association’s annual LSA Conference.

“Whether it’s staffing, equipment or the evolving nature of crime in our communities, I remain committed to being accessible and responsive to the concerns of sheriffs across Louisiana”

In his role, Sheriff Parker will assist in advising the LSA board on matters ranging from budgeting and equipment needs to operational and legislative concerns to ensure Louisiana’s 64 sheriff’s offices continue to serve their communities safely and effectively.

Sheriff Parker expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in this new statewide role, but affirmed that his top priority remains serving the citizens of Webster Parish.

“The citizens of Webster Parish will always come first. I continue to be the boots on the ground, and this leadership position will not take away from my day-to-day responsibilities here at home,” he said. “Our office will continue to operate as we always have, with transparency, service and safety as our guiding principles.”

Sheriff Parker also noted his state leadership role would be good for Webster Parish and the region.

“It’s an honor to serve this statewide organization, but it’s also a great opportunity for our parish,” he said. “This role brings greater recognition to Webster Parish and ensures that the voices of north Louisiana are heard when critical issues are being discussed in Baton Rouge.”

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

City of Minden officials honored three girls’ softball teams that played in the 2025 Diamond Youth Softball World Series in Tioga, La. recently, but those who are still playing in 2027 will be able to do so from their hometown of Minden.

Councilman Andy Pendergrass made the announcement in Monday’s city council meeting that City of Minden has won the bid to host the 2027 Diamond Youth World Series at Minden Recreation Department.

“It’s a big deal,” Pendergrass said. “We bid on the World Series for the girls in 2027, and we won. With our new Rec Department enhancement to go along with that, we will be playing host to the World Series. It will be a huge deal for our community to welcome quite a few people to 71055. We have a little under two years to get ready for it.”

Earlier in the meeting, Minden Mayor Nick Cox and the council highlighted the girls and their stats for the season.

The mayor told the crowd the 12U girls had a 12-7 win-loss season record.

“Over the course of 19 games, the Girls 12U All-Stars scored 145 total runs while allowing only 81 runs against them,” he said. “That’s very impressive.”

The 8U girls, according to Cox, had an 18-6 win-loss record and the team finished third place at the World Series. Over the course of the season, the team scored a total of 239 runs, while allowing only 81 runs, “which is a testament to the team’s strong offense and defense,” the mayor added.

10U girls were honored lastly, however, they were first in their division of the series.

“These are the 10U World Series Champions,” Cox announced to the crowd attending the meeting.

The 10U girls had a season of 19 wins, two losses and one tie, he said.

“They won the title by winning three consecutive games on the final day of the Diamond Youth Softball World Series,” Cox said.

Over the course of the season, the 10U All Stars outscored their opponents by 168 runs to 52.

“Little League softball not only promotes the physical well-being of the players but also instills in them the qualities of fairness, cooperation and discipline which contribute to the development of good citizenship,” Cox said.

“We are so proud of the girls and how they represented Minden,” Pendergrass said.  “Our coaches are wonderful. The reason why they achieve what they do – and this is not the first time our girls have achieved greatness – is that their coaches and parents are first class.”

“These girls have really represented our city well,” said Minden Mayor Nick Cox as he prepared to read proclamations honoring the girls, coaches, parents and sponsors.

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When it comes to food, do you like leftovers? For me, it depends on what it is. Some things are just not so great leftover. We toss our food away and move on to the next meal.

We also have leftovers in our lives from previous experiences and seasons. Some moments we would rather forget and move on. Some moments we carry with us the rest of our lives. I had a conversation recently with a friend and we were talking about the not so great seasons in our lives. I shared with my friend that I have been doing a lot of self-reflection with the Lord. I’ve been praying Psalm 139:23-24 and asking the Lord to search my heart. Be ready if you pray that prayer because it is hard and holy work, but necessary for us to grow in our relationship with God and others.

There is a story in the Gospels about Jesus feeding the 5000 and the 4000. The feeding of the 5000 takes place in the area of Bethsaida and was primarily Jews. There were five loaves and two fish with twelve baskets of leftovers collected. The feeding of the 4000 takes place in the region of the Decapolis and was primarily Gentiles. There were seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. There were seven baskets of leftovers. The numbers are symbolic and so interesting, but I am just focusing on leftovers.

John 6:12 (NLT) “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”

Nothing in our lives is wasted. We gather up the “leftovers” from our lives; those experiences, good and bad and God uses them to teach us about who He is and how much He cares about us. He uses them as we share with others and encourage them along their journeys. Our stories of love, loss, illness, or you name it are never wasted in the kingdom of God. God uses them in so many ways to bring love and hope to someone else; to bring comfort and peace; to bring joy and laughter; to bring the kingdom of heaven down to the ground.

I have times in my life that I would just rather forget; seasons of loss and heartbreak; the unexpected and the some I still can’t believe happened. But God, met me using them all to teach me and deepen His life in me. His kindness has led me to repentance and without those experiences I would have missed the lessons, words in the wilderness, and the joy of His presence through it all. Nothing is wasted.

What “leftovers” from your life do you need to bring to God? What have you been trying to deal with on your own? Share them with the Lord and watch what He can do. Nothing is wasted.

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BATON ROUGE, La.—Secretary of State Nancy Landry warns Louisiana business owners about fraudulent letters that were mailed to businesses concerning their annual reports. The letters appear to be from an entity called Business Filing powered by Firstep and threaten that a business may be administratively dissolved or revoked if they don’t file their annual report through the Firstep platform by a certain date. These letters are not from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Commercial Division and should be discarded.

Business owners are encouraged to view their annual report renewals and other filings on the geauxBIZ portal at http://www.geauxBIZ.com. They can also call the office’s Commercial Division at 225-925-4704 or email commercial@sos.la.gov. All official correspondence related to business filings will come through the geauxBIZ portal or on Secretary of State letterhead.

Secretary Landry also encourages business owners to subscribe to the agency’s commercial email notification system on the geauxBIZ portal at no cost. The notification system is intended to protect businesses from fraud and generates messages regarding business filings, office closures, and potential fraudulent activity.

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And it’s always summer at Patty’s Charcoal Drive-In —
carloads of blonde-and-tan girls
pull up next to red convertibles,
boys in black tee shirts and slick hair…
— from “Patty’s Charcoal Drive-In” by Barbara Crooker

The distance from my front door to the best milkshake in the South — or at least the best milkshake in My Boyhood World — was a 10-minute bike ride.

Hang a right out of the driveway onto the blacktop. Another right on Hwy. 9 at Mr. Meneffee’s gas station and then a straight-as-a-string two-mile shot to town, past Cathy Sims’ house, past Lee Ann Rozier’s house, past Gayle Elvington’s house — Gayle Elvington, a blonde-headed 17-year-old dream, a senior for God’s sake, untouchable by mortal people so why even think about it — and then past Hunter Griffin’s and Mr. Jimmy Smith’s. A coasting right onto South Main, away from Pages Millpond and toward Gene’s Barber Shop and Slate’s Cafe and Hayes Hardware and Western Auto on the right, Cook’s Dry Cleaners and Funeral Parlor on the left, just before Johnny Gaddy’s Texaco and First Baptist.  

Now you’re less than 200 yards, downhill to heaven. You can see it now. You can coast and see it. Downhill to Dairy Maid.

Sure, you could take the scenic route, and sometimes we did. That’s a left out of the driveway — look at the curve first toward Miss Maudine’s and make sure no tractor or pickup’s coming — and on to Rt. 41. Pedal a ways to a left on Rabbit Island Road, past Mrs. Lily’s Pond, all the way to Old Mullins Road; she’s a sharp left there. A few tobacco barns and corn fields and soybean patches later and another left and you’re on South Main again, past Lake View Middle School, under the shade trees and on the sidewalks now, and there she is again, and downhill again — YES!, downhill from either side! — and into the Valley of Goodness.

Downhill to Dairy Maid.

Downhill to all that is right and true and tasty. And bovine-based.

There were no chain restaurants in my hometown then, and there aren’t now. Slate’s Cafe was awesome — and you could also buy a dishwasher or dryer there. Sort of like across the street at Cook’s Dry Cleaners and Funeral Parlor, you could get your shirt starched — or buried, with you in it. It is a double-duty, let’s-make-do, whatever’s-best-for-the-team kind of town. To it, I owe a debt I can never repay.

So your only option for “fast food” was Dairy Maid, owned by Mr. Gene Carmichael, who also owned the Phillips 66 in the same parking lot. That was crucial because Phillips 66 had bathrooms; Dairy Maid didn’t even have indoor seating. So you see what I’m saying. Those bathrooms were bigtime.

You pulled up on your bike and Mrs. Sarah Joe (Mr. Carmichael’s wife) or Betty Sue Moody or Mrs. Eutha or, if it was your extra-lucky day, Mrs. Edna Barfield or Mrs. Albertine Sanderson, would pull a little screen up from an elbow-high window and ask, “What do yo want, honey?,” and you’d order, still on your bike, and then bike-walk to the shade of an umbrella in the center of one of the few outdoor round metal tables. There you’d wait, wait like it was Christmas Eve, for your milkshake, prepared with hands born to handle Dixie cups and dairy.

Remember those paper cups? On the outside they read “Milk Line” and “Syrup Line”? I guarantee you that, even at age 8, I knew that Mrs. Edna and Mrs. Albertine had forgotten more about making milkshakes behind a window screen by a Phillips 66, more than 40 miles from an interstate, than The Dixie Paper Goods Company would ever know.

We had it made at Dairy Maid.

Of course they made burgers too. Flat ones. Handed to you in that white kind of paper you never saw unless it was holding a burger. They served you fries in the red-and-white checked boats. They served Cobb salads on big beige porcelain plates with … they didn’t serve Cobb salads. But do you need another cheeseburger? As soon as you get back from the Phillips 66? No problem. It’ll be waiting on you.

Two summers ago, I stood across from that Dairy Maid. THE Dairy Maid. Mr. Carmichael had died not long before, and with him, so did the Phillips 66 where I used to get, off the counter that smelled like oil, free Major League Baseball schedules, “Sponsored by Phillips 66!,” every early spring.

And now, a month or so before, the Dairy Maid had died too. Nobody’s fault. These things happen. It lived a full life. It died. Thank goodness it was in its prime when I was in mine.

There is no need to try to be poetic and say I smelled the fries and burgers and I saw, in my mind and just as they were then, all my friends, in their GTOs and on their bicycles. I didn’t hear the semi-staticky AM-radio sounds of The Stylistics and The Supremes and The Osmonds in the heavy air. I didn’t taste the milkshakes. Telling you that would be a lie.

But, I did remember the feeling, and the sweat, and the afternoons and the evenings, and when in the summer air you can catch a grand childhood memory,  a milkshake memory, you stand there, and you soak it in, and you milk it.

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Fourteen years ago, my wife, 10-year-old son, 14-year-old daughter, and I packed up a few suitcases, flew to Sweden, picked up a Volvo at the factory, and set off across Europe. Just the four of us. Six months on the road. Different towns every week. Hotel rooms, VRBOs, ferry stations, and cobblestone streets. I had planned it for two years, but once we got moving, it still felt like we were making it up as we went. New places. New food. New ways of doing things.

It changed how I see the world.

I had already been writing this column every week since 1999—for those who are counting, that’s 1,352 columns and counting, without ever missing a week—and that didn’t change overseas. At the end of that first week abroad, I typed a word at the bottom of the column. Just one. 

Onward.

Didn’t think much of it at the time. Just hit send and moved on. But it felt right. We were always in motion. The next week, I typed it again. And again.

Fourteen years later, it’s still there. Every week.

Back then, it made sense because we were always moving. But looking back, I see now—I’d been living that word long before I ever wrote it.

That trip had its share of worn-out days. I remember one afternoon—bags in hand, everyone tired, nothing open, wandering a little lost. Eventually we found a small place and sat down to eat. The applesauce was excellent—maybe it was the relief, or maybe it was just good apples.

That night, I sent in the column with that same word at the bottom. At the time, it just meant “keep going.” But looking back, it meant: “We’re going to be okay.” Just keep moving. One more step.

That feeling has come back repeatedly—during my years in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, and especially during the harder seasons in the restaurant business. When nothing clicked. When I tried something and it flopped. Tried again and it still didn’t land. I opened places. Closed places. And kept going.

There wasn’t a blueprint. Just stubbornness.

It wasn’t brave or clever. I just didn’t know what else to do. And looking back, that’s where most of the meaningful things started.

Some years, the ideas didn’t catch. Bills still came. Staff still needed to be paid. The path forward wasn’t clear. But quitting never crossed my mind. Not once. That’s just not how I was raised.

So, I kept showing up. Kept adjusting. Kept working. Eventually, we figured it out. Then we figured it out again.

These days, I wear a cap most places I go. A dad hat. One word stitched across the front: Onward.

People ask. I just say, “It’s how I try to live.” If they persist, I’ll tell them more.

To me, onward means you don’t quit. When something doesn’t work, you try again. You don’t wait on perfect conditions—they rarely show up. You work with what you have. You do what you can. Then you do it again tomorrow.

I used to think forward motion meant pushing harder. These days, I know it can mean standing still long enough to learn the lesson. Sometimes it means shutting something down. Starting over. Saying, “I was wrong.”

I’ve hired the wrong people. Opened too soon. Closed too late. Said the wrong thing. Stayed quiet when I should’ve spoken up.

But I’ve also been lucky. I’ve had good people around me. A team that believed, even when I almost didn’t. Family that never left. Friends who showed up. And a whole lot of grace I didn’t deserve.

Outside of my family and friends, most of the meaningful things in my life came from showing up, doing the work, and grace that came through people who cared.

Most of what matters doesn’t wind up on a balance sheet. It happens in the little things. A server remembering a guest’s name. A cook pulling through a short-handed shift without complaining. A quiet “thank you” at the end of a long day.

That’s where the work is.

After 44 years in this business, I still don’t have it all figured out. Still learning. Still trying. Still messing things up and doing my best to make it right.

Now, I’m starting a new venture. It’s called Onward Hospitality.

The name isn’t a brand strategy. It’s just the truest thing I could call what we’re building.

We’re going to open restaurants that feel like home. Create travel experiences. Explore food retail. Maybe even hotels. Whatever makes sense—if it’s rooted in real hospitality. The kind that feels honest. Where the food’s good, the people care, and the culture runs deep.

We’ll train young people. We’ll continue to treat guests like neighbors. We’ll do it the right way, even if it takes longer. That’s the plan. No gimmicks. No shortcuts.

Most folks who walk through our doors—or buy something we made—may never ask what the name means. And that’s okay.

But the people who work with us? They’ll know. They’ll feel it.

The goal is to build something solid. Something rooted. A place where the values don’t shift with trends. Where the purpose runs deeper than the menu.

Most mornings, I put on that hat with Onward stitched across the front. Not for show. Just as a reminder.

Doesn’t matter how good or bad the day before was—there’s still work to do today. Still people to serve. Still a team to care for. Still something meaningful to build, even if it’s something small.

I think back to that trip through Europe. We covered a lot of ground. Some days were picture-perfect. Some were long and uncertain. But we kept moving, one step at a time. We learned as we went. We adjusted.

And even when it got hard, we made a choice—to live in the solution.

I didn’t know it then, but I was laying the groundwork—not just for this word, or this column, or this next chapter—but for how I want to live.

That word stuck with me. It followed me through long nights in restaurant kitchens, quiet mornings in empty dining rooms, the hard seasons when nothing seemed to work, and the sweet ones when everything finally did. It carried me through failure and grace and reminded me—repeatedly—to just take the next right step.

I’ve been given more second chances than I deserve. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: none of it happened alone.

The lasting things in my life—outside of family—have come from showing up, doing the work, and the steady kindness of people who believed in what we were building.

That hat I wear every day isn’t about toughness. It’s about gratitude. It’s about living in the solution.

Gratitude for the people who helped carry the load. Gratitude for the lessons that came, even when I didn’t want them. Gratitude for the work—because the work itself is the blessing.

So, I keep going. Slowly sometimes. Imperfectly, always. But forward.

One step at a time.

That’s enough.

Onward.

Banana Nut French Toast

Ingredients:

1 large loaf French bread, sliced on a diagonal into 1 ½ inch thick pieces.

Batter

6 Eggs

2 cups  Half and half

½ cup Sugar

2 tsp. Cinnamon

2 tsp. Orange zest, fresh

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 stick Butter

Topping

1 stick Butter

4 cups Bananas, sliced

¾ cup Pecan pieces

2 Tbl. Dark rum

1 ½ cups    Butter pecan or maple syrup

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Combine all of the ingredients for the batter and stir well. Soak the French bread slices for about 5 minutes. Heat the butter over a medium heat in a large skillet. Brown the soaked bread on each side and place them on a baking dish. When you have browned all of the pieces, place the French toast in the oven. To make the topping; use the same pan and add in the butter and bananas, Cook for 4-5 minutes and add in the rum. Allow the alcohol to burn off then stir in the pecans, and syrup. Remove the French toast from the oven and top. Serve immediately.

Yield:                  6-8 servings

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

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High school football kicks off in a month, and Webster Parish Journal is proud to announce that we will once again be holding our weekly football contest, beginning the first week of September and equally proud to welcome back Under Dawgs as our contest’s title sponsor.

This always-popular contest is held weekly and lists all parish high schools, some college and a few pro games. Winners receive $100 in cash and have their photo taken with at Under Dawgs’ with owner Claudine Thomas.

In order to make this contest a success, we need help from advertisers. We are offering ads with spaces between the listed games, so your ad will always be seen from contest players. If you are interested in advertising, please contact Cynthia Sandidge at 318-510-2611, Paige Gurgainers at 318-382-2118 or in the Springhill area, Zoe Pickett at 318-455-1972.

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Thanks to the recent passing of Act 321, honorably discharged military veteran residents may purchase a recreational hunting and fishing combination license for $20 beginning Aug. 1, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced.

The new license termed “Resident Honorably Discharged Hunt/Fish Combo”, offers an 80 percent discount from the $100 Sportsman’s Paradise license. As part of LDWF’s legislative package and championed by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, the bill was signed into law after receiving legislative passage during the 2025 session.

LDWF currently offers several discounts for active and former members of the U.S. Armed Services. These include resident rates for all active-duty military personnel, a discounted combination hunt/fish license for resident or native-born retired military personnel, and free licenses for disabled veterans. This new law expands these benefits.  All honorably discharged military veteran residents of Louisiana are now eligible for the discounted combination hunting and fishing license previously available only to residents or native born retired military personnel. 

The bill, authored by Sen. Brach Myers, was a keystone piece of LDWF’s 2025 legislative initiatives. It was the result of collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and The Boot, an organization seeking to incentivize military veterans to make Louisiana their home once their service has ended. It is intended to honor our Louisiana veterans for their service, encourage them to make Louisiana home, and promote the use of enjoyment of the Sportsman’s Paradise.

“As a military veteran, I consider it a tremendous honor to offer this discount to the brave men and women who proudly served our country,’’ LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth said. “We would like to thank Governor Landry, the Louisiana Legislature, the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, and The Boot for their support of this new law. ”

“At the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, it’s our mission to serve those who served, and that includes connecting veterans with the benefits they have earned through their service,” said LDVA Secretary Charlton Meginley. “It is our vision to make Louisiana the most veteran-friendly state in the nation, and legislation expanding benefits helps us move toward that goal. Offering additional discounts on hunting and fishing licenses gives us yet another reason why veterans should call Louisiana, the Sportsman’s Paradise, home.”

“Giving our veterans the ability to hunt and fish in Louisiana at a reduced cost is only a small token of our appreciation for their selfless service to our nation. We hope that once enacted, this legislation will not only ensure more veterans enjoy the bounty of the Sportsman’s Paradise, but also choose to make their home here in Louisiana,” said Senator Brach Myers.

Andrew Ward with Acadiana Veteran Alliance and The Boot added, “We pride ourselves in Louisiana at showing thanks to our servicemen and women, and by enacting this legislation, it sets us apart from every other state in the country.  While all other states tie their hunting and fishing discount to a disability rating, we went the other way and said we appreciate all those who served our country proudly and honorably, and want them to experience this Sportsman’s Paradise to the fullest.”

Any bona fide resident who is an honorably discharged member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Louisiana Army National Guard or the Louisiana Air National Guard, is eligible.

The applicant must provide identification and proof of eligibility via the application below. In addition to any other documentation accepted by the department as satisfactory proof of military service, government-issued separation and discharge documentation, such as a DD-214 or NGB-22, shall be considered satisfactory proof of eligibility.

Applications for honorably discharged veterans can be found at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Licenses_and_Permits/Files/military_license_app.pdf. The application with required documentation and payment of a check or money order can be sent to LDWF; Attention: Sports Licenses, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70898.

Once eligibility is approved for this license, it may be purchased in future years by visiting https://louisianaoutdoors.com/.

For more information, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/special-licenses-and-permits or contact LDWF licensing at 225-765-2898.

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By Brad Dison

On July 5, 1934, 26-year-old Violet Hilton and her 29-year-old fiancé Maurice Lambert, a widower, went to the Municipal License Bureau in Manhattan, New York to get a marriage license.  Violet’s sister, Daisy, went along too.  The sisters were inseparable.  Violet and Daisy were musicians and performers.  In 1911, Violet and Daisy began performing a sister act in Great Britain.  Their popularity grew and they performed throughout Europe.  In 1916, they started performing in the United States.  They sang in perfect harmony, tap-danced in synchronization, and played clarinets and saxophones in harmony.  People flocked to see them.  In 1926, Violet and Daisy were featured in an act called the “Dancemedians” with George Byrne and Les Hope.  In one notable part of the act, the sisters danced the fox-trot with George Byrne and Les Hope.  Les, Leslie Hope, changed his name shortly thereafter to Bob Hope.  In the 1930s, Maurice was a musician, orchestra leader, and the musical director for Violet and Daisy’s vaudeville act.        

As the trio waited for the clerk to return with the marriage license, crowds gathered around Violet and Daisy requesting autographs, giving marital advice, and showering them with well wishes.  They learned that Daisy was engaged to be married as well.  It was a joyous occasion, but what was supposed to be the happiest day for a bride-to-be was suddenly spoiled.  After careful consideration, Chief Clerk Julius Brosen of the marriage license bureau denied their request for a marriage license because “the very idea is quite immoral and indecent.”  Undeterred but irritated, Maurice said they would go elsewhere to get a marriage license.  Following their denial in New York, Maurice, Violet, and Daisy visited the City Hall in Newark, New Jersey, but the result was the same.  City Clerk Harry Reichenstein denied their request because of “moral reasons.”  The trio “departed in a huff.”  Violet’s attorney, Irvin Levy, filed a motion with the New York Supreme Court to compel the city to issue Violet and Maurice a marriage license.  After a week-long legal battle, Supreme Court Justice Kenneth P. O’Brien denied the motion.  The Court decided that Violet and Maurice “must not wed,” at least not in the state of New York.      

Violet was determined to marry Maurice.  “I’ve made up my mind to get married,” Violet said, “and that’s all there is to it.”  In all, Violet and Maurice tried to get married in 21 states but were denied each time on moral grounds.  Eventually, Violet and Maurice had no choice but to give up their dream of being husband and wife.       

The moral reason for which those clerks refused Violet and Maurice’s request for a marriage license was because Daisy was always with Violet.  It was well known that Violet and Daisy worked together, traveled together, ate every meal together, slept in the same bed, and bathed together. 

After the states of New York and New Jersey initially denied Violet and Maurice’s request for a marriage license, scientists were brought in but were unable to agree whether Violet and Daisy were individuals or the same person.  You see, Violet and Daisy Hilton really were inseparable.  They were joined at the hip.  They were conjoined twins.            

Sources:

1.     Evening Courier (Camden, New Jersey), February 22, 1927, p.16.

2.     Progress-Bulletin (Pomona, California), July 5, 1934, p.1.

3.     The Binghamton Press (Binghampton, New York), July 6, 1934, p.20.

4.     The Buffalo News, July 6, 1934, p.36.

5.     Daily News (New York, New York), July 6, 1934, p.3.

6.     Brooklyn Eagle, July 9, 1934, p.13.

7.     Daily News (New York, New York), July 17, 1934, p.13.

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Over my many years of fishing lakes all across this country, I’ve had a few bad encounters with dock owners, but never had I been told by a public official that I couldn’t fish in a particular area. Today, I’ll tell you about an incident that I experienced on a public body of water in Texas. 

With every passing day, anglers’ rights to fish and navigate certain bodies of water is being threatened by different activist groups like PETA (People for Ethical Treat of Animals). 

For some reason, people who live on a public lake and own a dock think they have the right to tell an angler that he can’t fish around their dock. But legally, anglers can fish there because the dock itself is on a public body of water. You can own the dock, but you don’t own the water underneath it. 

This is a concept so many homeowners who live on a public body of water seem to have trouble comprehending. Look, if you don’t want people to fish your dock, then don’t build your dream home on the lake! I too live on a lake and never have I told any angler that they can’t fish my dock, even though I have plenty of brush (that I put there) that holds fish. 

But on a hot summer day on Lake Palestine a few weeks ago, I was fishing a two-day tournament. On Day 1 I weighed in 15.80 pounds of bass and was sitting in fourth place overall.

Let’s not forget that on Day 1 I lost a fish that was well over seven pounds off one specific boat dock. When the fish came off, I thought to myself that I might be able to catch that fish again on Day 2 since I did not get a good hookset on that fish. 

As Day 2 rolled around, it was apparent that the fish just were not biting the way they were on Day 1. So, with three fish in the live well at 10 that morning, I decided to go back to the dock where I had lost the seven-pounder the day before.

Running across the lake and into the pocket where this certain dock was located, I shut down and jumped up on the front deck to drop the trolling motor into the water. It was at this time that two Texas Game Wardens approached me. At first, I thought they were pulling up to do a routine boat and license check.

But no, that was not the case, as they proceeded to tell me that the pocket I wanted to fish was off limits for the day. At first, I asked if they were kidding, but they begrudgingly told me that due to a party on the main lake point, the entire pocket (1/4 mile long) was off limits for the day and that I would not be allowed to fish there. 

Standing on the front deck of my boat and in shock that I was having to leave because of a party, this did not sit well with me. I expressed my displeasure with the wardens’ request. They fully understood as they reiterated that this pocket was off limits. 

I could tell from the very beginning of my encounter with the wardens that they did not want to tell me this. But once again, it became evident that whoever was hosting the party on the point had a lot of financial influence. If there’s one thing that still holds true today, it is if you have the money, you can rule the world — or shut down a lake! 

After returning home, I did a little research and found out that in order to eliminate any section of a public lake, you must have a permit signed by the local lake authority before it’s legal. Knowing this earlier, I could have requested to see the permit. 

But being the good guy that I am, I just cooperated and moved on to a different part of the lake, even though six of my best boat docks were in this pocket that I was not allowed to fish on Day 2.

Did this cost me a win? Probably not, but it did possibly cost me a few places in the final standings as I dropped from 4th to 9th while being unable to fish my best six docks.

These confrontations are becoming more common place on lakes and waterways all across the country. It’s up to us as anglers to stand up for our rights to fish. So, the next time you’re confronted or being told a part of the lake is off limits, make sure to ask and see the permit that was granted by the local lake authority. Or maybe asked to see the cash that was given in order to block off a part of the lake! 

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and enjoy your time on the water, while you still can!

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Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Calm wind.

Thursday

Sunny and hot, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 74.

Friday

Sunny and hot, with a high near 95.

* Info provided by National Weather Service.

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

August 5

5:30 until 8 p.m. LifeShare Blood Center community Blood Drive at your Webster Parish Libraries Minden Branch, 521 E and W St, Minden.

August 7

10 a.m. Minden Planning Commission meeting, Pelican Room, Minden City Hall. On the agenda is a request from Jim Huffman with Huffman Manor for a zoning variance on property owned by him located at 1114 Broadway Street. The property is zoned R-1 (Residential). The purpose of this zoning variance request is to use the property as an event venue. All interested parties will be given a chance to be heard.

August 9

7 p.m. Piney Woods Jamboree 4th anniversary show, CAC building, Springhill. Guest Star will be Georgette Jones daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Advance Tickets on sale at Springhill North Webster Chamber of Commerce and Express Tax Title & License in Springhill for $15 General Admission and $25 for reserved seating. Tickets purchased at the door will be $20 General Admission.

August 16

6 p.m. Murder Mystery, “Betrayal At The Block Party,” The Oak Cottage, 406 3rd St. NW, Springhill. Preregistration required. To register, text Michelle at 318-272-6093.

August 21

5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Bites and Beats, Miller Quarters Park, Minden, food trucks and live music. mindenmainstreet.com .

August 22 – 24

6:30 p.m. nightly, Revival with special music, powerful sermon and healing following services. Pine Grove Methodist Church.

August 23

5 p.m. Doors open at Springhill Civic Center for W.H.O. Matters, celebrating 10 years of Women Helping Others.  Ladies-only event featuring BINGO, raffles dinner, door prizes, shopping and a silent auction, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets: Kylee Ayers at 318-268-0027,

Info: Amber Cobb at 318-423-3710 or Kalee Adams at 318-578-1574,

Vendors: Elizabeth Simmons at 318-517-5207, Donations: Pam Jenkins at 310-453-3740.

Sept. 8

6 p.m., 2025 Gala for Dorcheat Museum, 116 Pearl St., Minden. Raffle, cake auction, fundraiser for operation and expansion.

Sept. 13

Legends on Wheels, Vintage Car Club’s 17th annual car and bike show, downtown Minden.

6 p.m. Elvis Game Night for LaMa Animal Rescue. Elvis impersonation and costume contests, concessions, prizes, games, BINGO. Springhill Civic Center.

Sept. 27

Webster Parish Fair Pageant.

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