Second in a series

By WP Journal Staff

Financial difficulties surrounding one of its hospital properties apparently isn’t unique to Allegiance Health Management, the Bossier City-based company headed by Rock Bordelon which has owned Minden Medical Center since 2018.

Allegiance owns 11 hospitals in Louisiana, mostly in smaller market areas like Minden. Some reportedly have problems with vendors, and even Uncle Sam.

According to past media accounts, tax liens filed by the Internal Revenue Service against Allegiance properties through 2025 totaled almost $50 million. Those liens involve alleged failure to remit quarterly payroll taxes.

An October, 2025 article in the Ruston Daily Leader identified Ruston’s Northern Louisiana Medical Center (NLMC), Acadian Medical Center (Eunice) and Mercy Regional Medical Center in Ville Platt as Allegiance-owned properties that had been targets of IRS liens.

Also, Allegiance-owned properties in Leesville, Oakdale and Marksville reportedly have been subjects of IRS liens.

To date, some liens, which records show were filed as early as 2019, reportedly have been satisfied. A records search at the Webster Parish Courthouse showed no IRS liens have been filed against Minden Medical Center.

Allegiance Health Management reportedly has also been hit with  several major lawsuits over the years, including a $1.7 million False Claims Act settlement in 2018 for improper Medicare billing for therapy services. The Dept. of Justice alleged Allegiance billed Medicare for unnecessary or unreasonable intensive outpatient psychotherapy services from 2005 through 2013.

That lawsuit and eventual settlement involved four hospitals: two in Texas, one in Arkansas and one in Louisiana (Many).

In 2010, a state appellate court upheld a lower court decision which forced Allegiance to pay $575,696.68 (plus interest, attorney fees and court costs) to settle a lawsuit filed by Louisiana Health Care Group (LHC). That suit involved Bienville Medical Center in Arcadia.

According to the suit, the 2008 sale of Bienville Medical to Allegiance included a provision for LHC to retain certain account-receivable assets. Those assets were allegedly collected but never paid to JHC.

Allegiance is also the subject of a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

According to a January, 2025 EEOC news release, Allegiance “… violated federal law by requiring applicants and employees to provide personal disability-related information and by maintaining an inflexible leave policy that did not allow for reasonable accommodation.”

EEOC filed suit based on a charge of discrimination filed by an environmental technician employed at Byrd Regional Hospital, located in Leesville, Louisiana, and operated by Allegiance. The EEOC said Byrd Hospital subjected the employee to the medical inquiries and fired her while she recovered from a heart attack because she did not qualify for further leave. 

In addition to Minden, Allegiance manages hospitals located in Arcadia, Ruston, Winnfield, Leesville, Many, Marksville, Oakdale, Ville Platte, Eunice and Dequincy.

According to the company’s web site, other properties include Allegiance Health Center of Monroe, Allegiance Specialty Hospital in Greenville, MS and Allegiance Behavioral Center of Plainview, TX.

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By Marilyn Miller

“It’s crazy…there’s a part of me that feels like I have a bigger responsibility now…that I should do even more to represent my city,” said Jodie Waller Martin, recipient of Minden’s “Woman of the Year” Award for 2026, which is sponsored by the Young Women’s Service Club.

Like Graham Walker, Jodie was almost a no-show (Walker was flying through the night to be home for his son’s birthday the next day). The owner of Geaux Fresh Bistro was catering the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce Gala VIP Reception. She was actually at the Minden Civic Center that morning setting up for the event when she got a call from her mom. Her stepdad had collapsed and was on his way to the emergency room in Tyler, TX.

“So I said, okay mom, I’ve just got to get this job ready and I’ll come over. And so I went back (to the restaurant). And they all knew. EVERYONE KNEW BUT ME. So I said, ‘Hey ya’ll, I may have to get you set up and then high-tail it to Texas, depending on what’s going on with my stepdad.’ And everybody was just flippin’ out.”

Jodie still didn’t know anything about winning the award, but as it turned out, her stepdad was fine, so she was present when they called her name later that evening and she was “really glad I washed my hair.”

“I had no idea what was happening, and they tell me I have go give a speech. So, I was up there looking around and I said, “God, do you want to help me here?”  He obviously did.

About 30 years ago, while she was walking downtown (she worked for the late David Specht, Sr. and the newspaper was located nearby,) She often left work and walked, and this time she got to thinking about Fibrebond Corporation and Claud Walker and how the family owners “poured into their employees.”

Jodie was truly happy that Claud Walker accepted the award of Minden’s “Man of the Year” 2026 on behalf of his son, Graham, right after she received her award.

“Isn’t it amazing how the Lord weaves threads…and back then I had said, man, if I could do something in any capacity like they set up (at Fibrebond) to impact and pour into their employees. I considered it a huge honor and interesting that the Lord would give me an opportunity beside the very people that don’t even know that part of what they did 30 years ago was a foundation for me.”

The only negative part of the night was the absence of Jodie’s father, Mike Waller, who passed away in July of 2025. Jodie’s late father, sisters and brother are the reason Jodie elected to go into business in the Minden area. “They are all entrepreneurs in this area,” she said. Jodie wasn’t born in Minden, but she considers that she’s lived here all of her life.

Nearly 12 years ago, she became an entrepreneur herself, establishing Geaux Fresh, operating out of her own house, catering and making meals to go, using labor from her church. In 2015, she purchased the location of Geaux Fresh Bistro, which formally opened in Nov. 2016. Aside from Fibrebond, 1^stKings 17 and 2^ndKings 4 inspired her idea for Geaux Fresh. The Lord had already told her that Minden would be her community. A few years later, her restaurant became the “Business” earmarked for a remodel on an episode of HGTV’S “Hometown Kickstart,” which brought a lot of attention to Minden.

In 2018, when one of Jodie’s dear friends, Jordan Gray, came out of Teen Challenge, she wanted to pioneer a transition home for the girls coming out of Teen Challenge. That would become the Generation House, founded by Jordan’s parents, Paul & Ginger Gray, pastors of the Christian Church at Minden.

“As soon as Jordan said that, something went off in me,” Jodie said. The House was walking distance from Geaux Fresh, so she offered any young lady finishing Teen Challenge a job. It was their choice, and most of them took her up on it. It remains staffed like that today. Twenty-four have worked there since 2018. Jordan served as the first director of Generation House, which is directed by Angela Wallace today.

Jodie thought in 2026, she’d be able to step back from some stuff, to put more focus on her family. Her husband, Devin Martin, has a thriving business, Security Pro and 318 High Speed. They’ve been married 26 years, having met when they were both attending Rhema Bible Training College in Oklahoma in the early 2000’s. Jodie is a 1989 graduate of Minden High School.

The couple’s son, Alex, is a Junior at Mississippi State University, double majoring in Political Science & Religious Philosophy. He and his fiancé, Anna Grace Harris, will marry soon. Ava, a Senior at Minden High School, is the youngest. She is captain of the Louisi-Annes, 2025 Homecoming queen, 2025 MHS “Darling,” a Student Council member, and is getting ready to compete in the 2026 Miss Louisiana Teen Pageant in two weeks.

“Work will always be there…boards will always be there, but I only have this small window left for this season,” Jodie said of getting her son married and her daughter graduated and moved into college. “I’ll take a nap in September,” she joked.

Jodie and her family are members of the Christian Church at Minden. She and Devin are both elders. She leads the Sunday morning corporate prayer and helps with hospitality. She works with the Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry project and is on the Board of the Generation House.

Her husband’s interest in cycling soon got Jodie involved, and today one of her favorite things is cycling Caney Lake. Obviously, her family is a major favorite thing. In fact, they spent last weekend replanting all of the flowers from her dad’s funeral service.

Another favorite? She still enjoys walking in downtown Minden.

“I get my inspiration from the Lord on my walks,” she smiles. “He’s the restorer. Love God. Help others. Do our part.” That could absolutely be the motto of the Martin family.

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Funeral services celebrating the life of Jean McGlothlin Doerge will be held Thursday, April 2, 2026, at First Methodist Church in Minden.  Visitation will be held at the church from 11 AM until 1 PM with the service immediately following with Rev. Steve Berger and Rev. Rodney Wood officiating.  Burial will be at Gardens of Memory in Minden, Louisiana under the direction of Rose Neath Funeral home and a reception will be held at the church following the burial. 

Jean was born June 4, 1937, in Galbraith, Louisiana and left this earthly life on March 30, 2026, in Minden, Louisiana.  She was a retired educator with the Webster Parish School Board and a retired legislator for the state of Louisiana. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Cora McGlothlin, sisters Neva Nida, Avena Rachal, Jannie Rachal, Gen McGlothlin-Bienvenu, husband Everett Doerge and son-in-law Kevin Lester.

She is survived by her daughter, Sherie Lester, grandsons, Justin Lester (Allison), Jacob Lester (Lainie), two great granddaughters, Avery Lester and Callie Jean Lester and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Jean graduated from Northwestern State University in 1958 and began her career in education. She and her husband taught in several different school before finally returning to Minden and Minden High School where she taught for 28 years becoming the head of the business department and was the advisor for FBLA.  During that time, she and her students earned many awards on both the state and national level.

She retired in 1992 after 34 years of teaching to support her husband as the state representative of District 10.  After his death, she was elected in 1998 to fulfill his unexpired term.  She continued to hold this position until 2012.  During her term as a legislator she worked tirelessly for Webster parish creating a fire and emergency training facility and secured state support to fund the relocation of the Northwest Louisiana Technical College to its current site.  She also secured foundation for the operation of the Germantown Colony Museum and authored a bill to create the museum’s governing board and secured funding for a visitor’s center at the colony.  After her legislative career ended, she became the director of the Gemantown Colony Museum.

Although she had a wonderfully accomplished career and life, her greatest joy was her family.  She was close with her sisters and her daughter, grandsons, and great granddaughters. They were truly the light of her life and as she said many times, her greatest accomplishment.

Donations can be made in her name to First Methodist Church, Minden; The Webster Parish Council on Aging; or St. Jude.

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By Jessica Gorman

A couple weeks ago, Yocom Law Firm held its annual 318 Day Treasure Hunt. Clue #7 read, “The Angels cried “red rover red rover let Joshua come over!” Then right near the horseshoe, down went the flue.” I knew when I gave the information for the clue, it would be a tough one. I only knew of one other person who was familiar with the story. It’s not a story that, to my knowledge, has been published other than genealogical and primary sources.

Joshua Alden was the nephew of Isaac Alden, the first permanent settler of Webster Parish. Isaac is believed to have settled in the area as early as 1811. He is said to have first lived east of Minden and as navigation opened on Lake Bistineau and Bayou Dorcheat, he moved nearer to the lake. Several members of the Alden family joined Isaac in Louisiana including his brother Enoch.

Enoch and his wife, Mary, came to Louisiana from New York sometime after their marriage in 1819. Here, their lives were cut short. The deaths of Enoch and Mary are recorded in the family bible as having occurred only days apart in June 1833. Their children were left in the care of Isaac.

Joshua Alden is said to have been born about 1822. Whether his birth occurred in New York or Louisiana is uncertain. He grew up near Lake Bistineau and married Laurella Stevenson. The couple had two known sons, Enoch, born about 1844, and Richard, born 20 March 1848.

Not much is known about Joshua’s life. Records of the Alden family mention his death as caused by a steamboat accident. Newspaper reports from June 1848 confirm this and provide only the most basic details.

On 7 June 1848, Joshua Alden was working aboard the steamboat Rover as the engineer. As engineer, he was responsible for keeping the boat running. He kept the machinery in good condition and oversaw operation of the engine and boiler. While on Bayou Dorcheat, near Howard’s Landing, a flue collapsed. A collapsed flue would cause the boiler to explode and release high-pressure steam and scalding water. Three crew members were known to have been onboard and received scalding injuries. They were G. B. Sligh, owner, a Mr. Borin, fireman, and Joshua Alden, engineer.

G. B. Sligh survived his injuries. He was a resident of Bossier Parish and is identified by census records as a master mechanic. While I feel certain I have seen the name Borin/Boren before, Mr. Borin’s fate is undetermined at the time of publication. Joshua Alden’s injuries resulted in his death. He was only around 26 years old. He left behind a wife and two small children. His youngest son, Richard, was only about two and a half months old. His wife, Laurella, remarried. First to William Fuller and, after his death, to Jeremiah Culverhouse.

The burial places of so many early residents of our area are unknown, lost to time, as is the case with the Aldens. It is suspected and likely that they were buried on the Alden property, but no markers are known to exist.

(Jessica Gorman is Executive Director of the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Webster Parish Historian, President of the Minden Cemetery Association, and an avid genealogist.)

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What is your role with the LSU AgCenter, and how long have you been in Extension?

I am the Program Assistant for Webster Parish, where I help support and coordinate programs and events across the parish. I’ve been with Extension for one year, and it has already been an incredibly rewarding experience.

What inspired you to pursue a career in Extension?

I’ve always loved working with the community and making a positive impact in people’s lives. Helping others learn, grow, and feel supported is what motivates me every day, and Extension gives me the perfect opportunity to do that.

What programs or areas do you specialize in?

My primary focus is nutrition, but I assist with all programs as needed. I enjoy being involved in a variety of activities and supporting our team wherever I can.

What do you enjoy most about serving your community?

I enjoy the opportunity to educate others about nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Helping people build the knowledge and confidence they need to reach their goals is incredibly fulfilling.

The part that truly lights me up is getting kids involved. Watching them try new skills, discover what they’re capable of, and make new friends through different programs is such a joy. Seeing their growth reminds me why this work matters.

What is one goal you’re excited to work on this year?

This year, I’m excited to continue working alongside everyone in our office and helping our programs grow to their full potential. I look forward to supporting new ideas, strengthening community connections, and contributing to the success of Webster Parish.

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By Paige Gurgainers

The Minden Farmers Market is set to return to downtown this weekend, bringing fresh, local flavor and handmade goods to the heart of the city.

The market will take place Saturday, April 4, from 8 a.m. to noon in the alley next to Brick Street Coffee, marking the start of the 2026 season in Minden’s historic downtown district.

Event organizer Emma Rafenello says 13 vendors are scheduled to participate in this weekend’s market, all representing local businesses with a focus on handmade and farm-grown products.

“Shoppers can expect a variety of offerings, including fresh produce, sourdough breads, homemade sodas and lemonades, artisan soaps, and even a floral pop-up shop,” she said.

The market is designed to support local farmers, bakers and makers while creating a welcoming community gathering space. 

In addition to vendors, the City of Minden and the LSU Ag Office will also have informational tables set up, giving visitors a chance to connect with local resources and learn more about agriculture and community initiatives.

Organizers say they are hopeful for clear skies this weekend, as weather plays a key role in turnout for the open-air event.

The Minden Farmers Market will continue throughout the season on Saturdays in downtown, offering residents and visitors a chance to shop local and support small businesses in Webster Parish.

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First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden will host “Drive Thru & Curbside Prayer” Good Friday, April 3, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

All are welcome to come be prayed for while remaining in your vehicle.

Enter the church’s covered drive through from Broadway onto Second Street or just park in a parking space in front of the church on Broadway and a “Prayer Warrior” will come pray for your prayer request.

In the event of rain everyone is asked to use the drive through option.

FMCM is looking forward to the blessing of praying for You.

God Bless!

This is a community outreach hosted by the FMCM Prayer Ministry.

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Do you enjoy meeting new people and greeting old friends? Are you familiar with north Webster Parish?

If you said yes, then you may be perfect for an account executive’s position with the Webster Parish Journal in the Springhill to Cotton Valley areas. You don’t have to fit a particular profile, you just need to be as passionate about spreading the news as those with whom you will be working.

This position is commission-based, which means you can set your own pace and hours.

WPJ subscriptions are – and always will be – free. We depend on businesses and advertising to help us meet our goals and keep the public informed. That’s where you may be able to help. We need an outgoing individual to sell advertising for WPJ – the fastest growing publication in Webster Parish.

Contact us at wpjnewsla@gmail.com, if this describes you.

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Four beautiful gardens worthy of praise are on the list for Trails & Trellises this year.

The Piney Hills Master Gardeners say they are rolling out the green carpet from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. (rain or shine) Saturday, April 18. Four gorgeous Minden gardens, one beautiful spring day, and endless inspiration waiting around every corner.

Gardens include Jeanne Wiggins, 1486 Almond Circle; Renee McCollum White, 244 Chrislo Dr.; Toni Hooper, 1503 Eames; and Syble McCleskey, 210 Sugar Creek Loop, all in Minden or close to it.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $10 from any Master Gardener or by contacting the Webster Parish or Claiborne Parish Extension offices.

Grab your advance ticket for $10 and come join the garden tour – Tickets are $15 the day of at any gardener. Visit www.phlmg.com or Facebook.com/PHLMG

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will hold its annual Father-Child Families Understanding Nature (FUN) Camp May 1-2 at the Woodworth Education Center, 661 Robinson Bridge Road, Woodworth, LA 71485. The camp is open to fathers with children from 9-13 years old.

The camp offers fathers and children an opportunity to spend a weekend in the outdoors, re-establishing bonds and honing outdoor skills.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Registration is $50 for each family (a father and child). Each additional child is $25 (limit two children per adult). The fee covers meals, lodging and supplies, including tents, used during the weekend. Bed linens and sleeping bags are not provided.

Click here to register online. https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/fun-camp For more information, contact Mitch Hukins at mhukins@wlf.la.gov or Amber Beaux at abreaux@wlf.la.gov.

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By all accounts, LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson is the baseball version of Nick Saban. With two College World Series championships in the past three years, he has the Tigers positioned as the sport’s gold standard.

Despite LSU’s stumbles and wobbles over the past month, does anyone really doubt Johnson’s 2026 club will make at least a deep postseason run? Have Tiger fans cancelled their hotel rooms in Omaha? Has Rocco’s lowered its Jell-O order?

Johnson has displayed a Midas touch that has college baseball’s modern-era goat, Skip Bertman, beaming with pride as he watches the program he built doing the things he made possible.

Except Sunday’s cloud-parting bat flip by home run hero Seth Dardar.

The moment was electric. The bat flip itself, predictable. From the big leagues to biddy league, bat flips have become as frequent as President Trump’s posts on Truth Social.

There was, as there has been since before Ty Cobb pulled up stirrups and sharpened his spikes, plenty of bench banter between the clubs. Sunday’s game decided the series. Kentucky wanted a statement win. LSU needed, for at least its own self-respect, to defend Skip Bertman Field, Alex Box Stadium.

Dardar’s tape-measure, three-run sixth-inning bomb put LSU ahead to stay. He justifiably bounded around the bases, feeding off the crowd energy and the joy of his teammates.  Goosebump stuff.

But that bat flip. To call it exuberant doesn’t do it justice. I’ll say excessive, at least. Of all the bats ever flipped, this may have been the most majestic/mortifying, depending on your perspective.

“Put it in the Bat Flip Hall of Fame,” said my pal Matt Moscona, the tone-setting Baton Rouge sports talk show host. “And if there isn’t a Bat Flip Hall of Fame, create one for this.”

Nobody in the LSU math faculty or department of science has calculated just how high the bat went. I expect more from the school that had a seismograph reading within hours after Eddie Fuller’s game-winning touchdown in the 1988 “Earthquake Game” win over Auburn at Tiger Stadium.

The stick could be seen tumbling, downward, to the level of the top of the outfield bleachers, as ESPN’s home plate camera panned to track the homer sailing toward the huge Intimidator sign listing the program’s eight CWS crowns, above and behind the right field stands.

Like most other NCAA regulations, the recent (2023) rule on bat flips has been unevenly, and recently, rarely enforced. It’s designed to avoid bench-clearing incidents. But the same rule, 5-17 Unsportsmanlike Conduct, also claims a standard preventing “negative comments directed at an opponent, umpire or spectator” and we all know that’s as valid as a Congressional investigation.

There is, however, common sense. Dardar was beyond excited. It was a spectacular moment, at an intense time. Few players could resist a bat flip. Fewer still could flip their sticks to threaten birds flying overhead. He tossed it FarFar.

The SEC umpiring crew briefly conferred and inexplicably didn’t eject him, presumably because the bat didn’t land near a Kentucky player. The Wildcats dugout was on the third base side. Nobody’s safety was threatened, partly because of Dardar’s accidental accuracy. Kentucky raged, and the Wildcats’ pitching coach apparently challenged Johnson to a scrap in a briefly heated dugout-to-dugout exchange, as the crowd cheered on.

If a player pulled a comparable act in a football or basketball game, at the very least there would be flags or technical fouls. In baseball, there at least should have been warnings issued.

Postgame, an understandably elated Tiger coach said, smiling, “I told him to flip it a little lower next time.” Johnson didn’t want to be the buzz kill.

Backstage, based on who he’s been and what he’s stood for, have to believe Johnson probably found a moment Monday to share with his players that Dardar’s heave – which appeared to be delivered with the same thrust used by an Olympic hammer thrower – was more than a bit much.

Hope so. I’ll give Dardar his due, but not to the height that bat flew.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) today announced the closure of its contract with UnitedHealthcare. As part of this transition, Medicaid members previously enrolled with UnitedHealthcare were reassigned to other participating managed care organizations (MCOs) to ensure uninterrupted access to care. 

Over the past three months, LDH staff have worked tirelessly to ensure UnitedHealthcare members were successfully transitioned to new receiving plans with unfettered continuity of care. The Department established a Special Enrollment Period from January 15 to February 15, during which UnitedHealthcare members could select a plan with a new MCO. Of the nearly 280,000 members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare, over 36,000 selected a new plan. After February 15, members who did not select a new plan were assigned to new plans using an algorithm that prioritized placements that kept family members together and aimed to ensure members remained with their in-network providers. 

“We appreciate the partnership of providers and health plans as we worked on a seamless experience for those we serve,” said Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein. “Throughout this transition, LDH remained focused on protecting continuity of care and minimizing any disruption to the services members rely on.”

To execute these changes, LDH held daily calls with UnitedHealthcare and the remaining MCOs to facilitate a smooth transition. These calls were instrumental to implementation and helped confirm that all parties had the appropriate data and authorizations for each UnitedHealthcare member, enabling the receiving MCOs to maintain continuity of care. MCOs will be required to honor all current authorizations of care for these new members for the next 60 days. 

UnitedHealthcare members have received their new insurance cards. Members who are not satisfied with their new plan may change plans without cause. LDH will continue to monitor the transition over the coming weeks to support members and address any issues that arise. 

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Thursday

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Saturday

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 74. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Saturday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

*Information provided by National Weather Service.

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

April 3

8 a.m. until 3 p.m., Drive Through Prayer, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden.

7 p.m. Pine Grove Methodist Church, “A Picture of Calvary” play.

April 4

10 a.m. until 5 p.m. M.O.V.E. Easter Egg Hunt, 1102/1103 Henrietta White Blvd., Springhill.

Minden Farmers Market, downtown Minden. Vendors needed.  https://app.seemylegacy.com/community/2484/campaign/8448 .

3 until 5 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt at Beech Springs Baptist Church, 15910 HWY. 80, Minden. There will be food, fun and fellowship. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, call 318-344-4919.

April 9

5 until 7 p.m., Bites & Beats, Miller Quarters Park, Minden, live music with Cynthia Sandidge, food trucks, family friendly fun.

6 p.m. UCAP Hungerfest, Dessert Auction Fundraiser, soup and crackers for meal. Minden First Methodist, 903 Broadway. All proceeds benefit United Christian Assistance Program. Buy tickets at door or from UCAP.

6 p.m. Springhill North Webster Chamber of Commerce annual banquet, Springhill Civic Center.

April 14

5:30 p.m. Initial meeting of the 4-H Rabbit Club, Webster Parish Extension Office, 1202 Homer Rd., Minden.

April 16

10:30 a.m. 2026 Light of Hope, Volunteers for Youth Justice CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program. Minden Civic Center.

April 18

9 a.m. until noon, Arms Around Autism, Autism Acceptance Walk, Miller Quarters Park, Minden. Vendors, bounce house, resources, sensory-friendly kid zone.

9 a.m. until 3 p.m. (rain or shine) Trails and Trellises garden tour. Tickets purchased in advance for $10, $15 at any garden. Visit www.phlmg.com or facebook.com/PHLMG for gardens on tour and ticket purchase.

April 23

2 p.m., Alzheimer’s Support Group, Minden Medical Center cafeteria, first floor.

April 25

Phillip’s Cottage 5K Run, 217 W. Union St., Minden. Get race details and register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/LA/Minden/PhillipSCottageK .

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Word of the Day: Futz

Phonetic: /fəts/
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition
waste time; idle or busy oneself aimlessly.
“she futzed around in the kitchen”
deal with (something) in a trifling way; fiddle with.
“Mick was futzing around with his camera equipment”

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Loading crossword puzzle. One moment please.

Play Sudoku online!

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Michael Bryant, 74, 100 block Brushy Creek Rd., Sibley: arrested March 30 by WPSO on warrant for theft, fugitive from Louisiana State Police, fugitive from Ringgold PD. Bond set $11,003.

Lori A. Johnson, 49, 200 block Bellevue Rd., Cotton Valley: arrested March 30 by Cotton Valley PD for two counts cruelty to animals, possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamines). No bond set.

Javion Artameus Johnson, 22, 200 block Bellevue Rd., Cotton Valley: arrested March 30 by Cotton Valley PD on two counts cruelty to animals. No bond set.

Michael Ray Johnson, 51, 1300 block Sheppard St., Minden: arrested March 31 by Minden PD on warrants for two counts criminal damage to property, obscenity, remaining after forbidden. Bond set $20,002.

Timothy D. Clark, 38, 100 block NE 3rd St., Sibley: arrested March 31 by Sibley PD for disturbing the peace. No bond 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.

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Jean Doerge
Minden
Visitation: 11 a.m. Thursday, April 2, 2026, First Methodist Church, Minden.
Funeral service: 1 p.m., immediately following visitation.
Graveside: Gardens of Memory, Minden.

Olivia Rae Greene Thornton
September 29, 1943 — March 29, 2026
Minden
Visitation: 4 until 7 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Funeral service: 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2026, Rose-Neath
Burial: Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Minden.

Norman L. Cossey
October 8, 1949 — March 27, 2026
Minden
Funeral service: 3 p.m. Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Billy Mack Troquille
October 2, 1934  –  March 29, 2026
Springhill
Visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 4, 2026, Walnut Road Baptist Church, Springhill.
Funeral service: 11 a.m., immediately following visitation.
Burial: Springhill Cemetery.

Carolyn Ruth Knox
November 6, 1941  –  March 26, 2026
Springhill
Private memorial service at a later date.

Paul Leroy Scott
November 17, 1936 — March 25, 2026
Minden
Memorial service: 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026, Living Word Minden.

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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Minden police investigators are asking the public for assistance in identifying a pair of suspects who are wanted in connection with theft of items from a local retail outlet.

Det. Matthew Hicks said patrol officers were dispatched to Walmart on Thursday, March 26 around 5:45 p.m. where they learned two male suspects walked out of the store with multiple items without paying. Officers learned the pair drove away in a black SUV-like vehicle.

Detectives acquired surveillance video from the store showing the suspects and their vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding the two individuals is asked to please contact MPD Det. Matthew Hicks (318-639-7776). Any information received will be confidential.

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Police investigators have used a less than one-year-old state law to arrest a Minden woman on a charge of indecent behavior with juveniles.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said 31-year-old Destiny Keyona Mitchell was arrested Monday by Minden detectives. She is currently being held at the parish jail on a $150,000 bond.

Detectives began investigating after a complaint was filed on March 11 by the father of a 15-year-old juvenile who reportedly claimed he caught Mitchell in bed with his son. Investigators scheduled a Gingerbread House interview for the teen.

Based on information gathered, detectives determined the systematic behavior exhibited by Mitchell toward the juvenile violated the new child “Grooming” law which went into effect on Aug. 1, 2025.

According to the statute, “Grooming” shall mean “the pursuit of an intimate relationship with a child under the age of 17 by means of seduction, emotional manipulation, threats, promises, coercion, enticement, isolation or extortion with the specific intent to commit a sex offense against the minor, whether aggravated or not.”

Investigators reportedly secured an arrest warrant and Mitchell was arrested Monday around 1:15 p.m. She was booked on the indecent behavior charge following a recorded interview at police headquarters.

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

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(First of a series)

By WP Journal staff

A civil suit has been filed against Minden Medical Center claiming non payment of more than $170,000 in invoices for equipment and services.

Shreveport based Storer Services, Ltd. filed the suit in 26th Judicial District Court Friday claiming the hospital has not paid for a new HVAC 40-ton replacement chiller and related services.

According to the suit, Stoner completed installation of the equipment Sept. 18, 2025 and issued an invoice for $79,739 on Sept. 23. Since installation, the suit alleges Storer has performed maintenance and mechanical services on the chiller, “…as well as services on other associated and miscellaneous equipment and various plumbing services…throughout the MMC facility…”

Storer is seeking a total of $170,876.53 in what the suit describes as “detailed in various invoices,” plus “reasonable attorney’s fees, plus all costs of these proceedings as well as judicial interest at legal rates and service charges upon the principal judgment from the dates due…”

Minden Medical Center is owned by Allegiance Health Management, a Bossier City-based company which owns 11 smaller market hospitals in Louisiana. Allegiance officially acquired MMC from LifePoint Health August 1, 2018.

Other filings

Friday’s filing isn’t the only report that Allegiance-owned MMC has faced financial difficulties in the past. Records from the Webster Parish Clerk of Court show liens/suits filed against MMC include:

• $336,899.32 filed Jan. 5, 2026 by Custom Healthcare Solutions, LLC against Minden Medical Center. Custom Healthcare is a clinical and non-clinical staffing agency specializing in travel nursing, temporary staffing, and direct hire placements.
• $381,941.13 filed Jan. 12, 2026 by Prime Time Healthcare LLC against Minden Medical Center, Inc., Minden Medical Center and all other capacities DBA CHLG Minden LLC. Prime Time, an Omaha, NE company, specializes in the placement of RNs, LPNs, CNAs and allied health and therapy professionals.
• $49,256.61 filed June 24, 2024 by Advanced EMS.

Minden Medical Center also recently paid the city of Minden, in full, a number utility-related bills which reportedly had been 90 days in arrears. Total cost reportedly was $120,000.

Keith Cox, CEO of Minden Medical Center acknowledged the hospital’s financial situation in a statement which can be read in full in this issue of the Webster Parish Journal. 

Also, the MMC Board of Governors issued a statement concerning the hospital operation. That statement may also be read in this issue.

Employees of the hospital who reportedly may have had more information on operations and financial difficulties declined to be interviewed on the record.

(In the story below, please read statements by MMC’s CEO and Board of Governors.)

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Following are statements from Minden Medical Center’s CEO, Keith Cox, and from the MMC Board of Governors.

Keith Cox

Dear Members of Our Community,

I am writing to share an important update about the financial challenges Minden Medical Center (MMC) is currently facing.

Like many healthcare institutions across the country, we have experienced rising operational costs, workforce shortages, and reduced reimbursement rates. These pressures have created significant strain on our ability to sustain the level of care and services you expect and deserve.

Despite these challenges, our commitment to providing safe, high-quality care to every patient remains unwavering. With the support our Management Company (AHM), we have been successful in procuring significant changes in reimbursement in two programs.  First, we were able to access payments through Louisiana’s Directed Payment Program (DPP).  This program requires the payment of periodic assessments to participate, but in the long term it will be positive for MMC. 

We became delinquent on the assessment part of this program but have addressed the arrearage.  This put us behind on many of our supply vendors causing our leaders to negotiate plans to address this shortage going forward. 

The second improvement in reimbursement was a legislative change which created a new classification of hospitals in the State called Rural Look-a-Like facilities.  We share this designation with six other facilities across the State.  These changes significantly improved the rate of pay we receive for taking care of the Medicaid population.  Before, we were paid about 75 percent of our cost, leaving a loss on every patient we cared for. These legislative changes moved the rates to a level where we will be financially solvent going forward.

We are actively engaged in continued strategic changes to our operations, pursuing cost-saving measures, and seeking additional funding sources to ensure the long-term stability of our hospital. Our leadership team is working closely with staff, partners, and local stakeholders to identify responsible solutions that protect essential services.

Transparency is important to us. We believe our community deserves to understand both the realities we face and the steps we are taking to address them. Your continued trust and support mean more to us than ever.

We will continue to keep you informed as we move forward. Thank you for standing with us and for being an essential part of our hospital family.

Sincerely,

Keith Cox

CEO

Minden Medical Center

MMC Board of Governors, Melissa Madden, Chairman

Minden Medical Center Board of Governors cares about our patients and the Minden community. We support our strong group of employees including doctors nurses technicians maintenance cafeteria workers and the administration. We’re thankful for their hard work and dedication.

However as a board, we are extremely disappointed with ownership, Allegiance Health Care. Minden Medical Center is one of 11 rural hospitals owned by Allegiance and we are not alone in our current position.

We simply ask for Allegiance to be transparent and financially accountable. We have made requests in the past for routine financial information and have been denied access. We sincerely hope that changes immediately.

The MMC Board of Governors is dedicated to serve the people in the Minden community who deserve the absolute best in healthcare. In so doing we call upon our local state politicians, Governor Landry our federal politicians including our Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and even President Trump to lean in to support our efforts in demanding financial transparency and accountability from our ownership.

Our priority remains quality patient care and a sustainable future for Minden Medical Center.

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By WP Journal staff

In about 1925, the people of Minden started organizing an effort to construct a “sanitarium” to serve the Minden and south Webster Parish areas. A sanitarium was defined as “an establishment for the medical treatment of people who are convalescing or have a chronic illness, or an establishment for the care and treatment especially of people recovering from illness or having a disease likely to last a long time.”

In May of 1926, an organization was formed to take the steps necessary to design and finance the sanitarium. Contractor F. C. McClanahan of Homer soon began the construction of a four-story facility that still stands today. The 9,600-square-foot health center was valued at $60,000. It would accommodate 35 patients in 18 rooms (four wards). In the event of an emergency, the new sanitarium could accommodate 50 patients.

Construction was completed in November 1926, and the citizens were proud to acknowledge that Minden provided the only sanitarium between Monroe and Shreveport…the only one along the L&A Railroad between Stamps, AR and Alexandria, LA.

The new Minden Sanitarium formerly opened on December 9, 1926, offering the community an x-ray department, one operating room, a room for tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies, one delivery room, 80 hospital beds, and “a strong commitment to quality healthcare.”

Serving on the first Board of Directors were Dr. S.F. Martin, Dr. J. B. Benton, Mr. W. McDade, Mr. J.D. Kilgore, and Dr. C.M. Baker. Miss Ola Sawyer was appointed superintendent. The company contacts in 1926 were J. L. McInnis, vice president; John W. Montgomery, secretary-treasurer; and Dr. R. M. Bridges, president.

Those responsible for operating the sanitarium made it clear that their “sole motive” was the “alleviation of human suffering,” and that “any money that may be made will be put back into the plant” to create a better facility.

The sanitarium grew to accommodate the needs of the community over the years. It was never torn down, instead it was expanded through renovations and still exists today as a part of Minden Medical Center.

May of 2026 – only two months away – will mark the one hundredth anniversary of the planning committee’s organization; and December 2026 will mark the one hundredth anniversary of Minden Sanitarium/Minden Medical Center.

Minden Sanitarium, Inc. was filed as a Louisiana business corporation on June 14, 1926. The first registered agent for the company was John W. Montgomery.

GROWTH & QUALITY

Through the years, Minden Sanitarium did more than change its name. It is now an acute-care hospital with 161 beds, serving a population of more than 70,000 people. Minden Medical Center is aware of its goal of “delivering the best healthcare available in Webster, Claiborne and Bienville parishes.”

In excess of 1,600 people seek emergency care at MMC’s Emergency Department each month. Doing this and other jobs takes over 500 employees, with an annual payroll of approximately $8.5M.

The Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit is solely dedicated to recovery. The team includes a physiatrist, consulting physician, rehab registered nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Therapists, Clinical Care Managers, dietitians, pharmacists, counselors, and respiratory therapists. There is also the Outpatient Therapy Department.

A wide range of other services are offered, including ambulatory surgery, pediatrics, OB\GYN, laboratory, cardiopulmonary, nuclear medicine, bloodless medicine & surgery program, CT scanning, MRI, mobile lithotripsy, six-bed ICU, oncology and neurology, breast care center, mammography, Behavioral Health Unit, Nephrology, Pediatric Services, podiatry, psychiatry services, and the heart and vascular center.

A recent quote about the hospital proclaims that “Our single most important priority is delivering quality healthcare right here in Minden, so you never have to travel far to see a doctor. We have it all – from primary care to orthopedics, to podiatry. Everything you need is right here at home.”

In March of 2018, Allegiance Health Management took over the reins of Minden Medical Center. The acute-care hospital has also been managed by Humana and LifePoint Health.

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