Word of the Day: Trepidation
Phonetic: /trep· i· da· tion/
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition
a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation : apprehension
trepidation about starting a new job
Travers sent the book to press with some trepidation, fearing that a children’s book might undermine her hard-won literary cachet.
—Caitlin Flanagan
a tremulous motion : tremor
Peyton Leon Thomas, 33, of McCain Rd., Shreveport, was arrested Wednesday by Minden Marshal Office on an active bench warrant for violating a protective order. His bond was set at $500 cash.
Christopher D. Washington, 42, of the 6400 block of Sassafras, Shreveport, was arrested Thursday by Minden Police on four active bench warrants. Washington was booked into BDCC. No bond has been set.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Doris Sue Camp Polston
December 30, 1937 – September 26, 2026
Shongaloo
No final services planned; family and friends will celebrate her life at at later time.
Linda Jo Turman
September 20, 1951 – September 26, 2026
Doyline
Visitation: Saturday, October 3, 2026, West Lake Baptist Church, Doyline.
Funeral service: noon, immediately following visitation.
Burial: Point Chapel Cemetery, Doyline, under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
James Thomas Bearden
January 12, 1971 – September 17, 2026
Minden/Sarepta
Memorial service: 2 p.m. Sunday, October 4, 2026, New Sarepta Baptist Church, Sarepta.
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.)
An 11-year-old child called 911 and may have saved his mother and siblings because of his actions.
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said the young man witnessed DeMarcus Heard, 38, of the 400 block of Meadow Drive, Homer striking his mother with a belt.
“He tried to tackle the man and was pushed to the ground, causing a scrape on his leg,” Parker said. “Two other children, ages 5 and 6, were inside the residence and witnessed it as well.”
The victim reportedly told deputies the subject punched her several times, pushed her into a vehicle and onto the ground where he struck her multiple times.
Heard was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic abuse battery with child endangerment (times 3), simple battery and on an active DCFS warrant from Claiborne Parish. No bond was set.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
By Amanda Woods (Harper-Collins) & Marilyn Miller
W Publishing, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, announces the release of The Bright Side of the Other Side: Notes from a Soul Restored by Sara McDaniel, founder of the nationally recognized lifestyle and hospitality brand, Simply Southern Cottage.
Known for her historic preservation projects, television appearances, and passion for community revitalization, Sara invites readers into her remarkable journey from devastating loss and uncertainty to healing, purpose and unexpected joy.
“Sometimes the places we think are beyond repair are the very places where restoration begins,” said Sara. “What started as a renovation project became a journey of healing, teaching me that God often builds something more beautiful from the pieces we thought were lost forever.”
After a painful divorce left her questioning everything she thought she knew about faith, marriage and her future, Sara felt an unexpected call to return to her Louisiana roots. There she became captivated by a dilapidated cottage that many considered beyond saving. As she pursued the home in Minden and embarked on an ambitious restoration project, she began uncovering deeper truths about grace, identity, resilience, and God’s ability to redeem even the most broken places.
Part memoir, part testimony, and part invitation to hope and dream, The Bright Side of the Other Side chronicles Sara’s path through her divorce, disappointment, career ambition, entrepreneurship, and ultimately restoration. Through the story of rescuing the neglected 1926 cottage in Minden, Louisiana, Sara discovered that the home she was rebuilding mirrored the work that was happening within her own heart.
The book will be released on October 13, 2026, almost six years from the day that Sara was contacted by literary agent John Blase of The Bindery Agency in Colorado. John and Sara were both graduates of Ouachita Baptist University. The agency represents authors, working with them to get book deals. He had found Sara via social media, and he loved the way she wrote…loved her story…and told her, “I think we could write a book.” Sara actually had a “good start” on a book, initially telling herself she could self-publish. But she and John put together a proposal and sent it to many publishers. She got back all “No’s” because publishers were looking for a “Home Décor” book from Sara, not a Memoir.
“But I was like, ‘I don’t want to write a Home Décor book, I want to tell my story.”’
A very discouraged Sara “pressed pause” on the book process. And that is when everything started happening for her. “My life ramped up,” she recalled. “HGTV was happening, and the Villas, and Hector, and Magnolia Network.”
Four busy years later, a very patient agent said “Let’s try again.” They rewrote the proposal, sent it back out to publishers, and Sara got multiple offers. “It was very hard choosing who to go with” but Sara chose “W Publishing,” a subsidiary of Harper-Collins Christian. “That’s how I got a book deal, long story, short.” A memoir book deal!
”With warmth, honesty and Southern charm, Sara explores themes that resonate with readers navigating their own seasons of transition and heartbreak. From the pressures of perfection and the pain of unmet expectations to the courage required to begin again, she offers an authentic portrait of what it means to trust God when life unfolds differently than planned.
W Publishing Editor Lisa Jo Baker was the one who suggested that Sara begin her book with her cottage. “Start the book with something happy and then basically backtrack, and then bring everybody forward,” Baker advised. And that’s what she did, carving out every Sunday afternoon to curl up in front of the fire or stretch out on her back porch, writing. Unfortunately, she had to have the book turned in by November 2025. AND, she had to keep it to 55,000 words. Her first submission was 80,000 words. Her publisher conceded and allowed 65,000. “Harper was so good to work with,” Sara beamed.
Because of timing and word limitations, a lot has been left out. Like her marriage to Hector M. Sanchez, a professional photographer whose work she had admired since 2016 when he was shooting for Southern Living. Then in 2019, he asked if he could come and shoot her cottage in Minden. They were married on Sept. 7, 2026.
As founder of Simply Southern Cottage and Minden Stays, Sara has become one of the most recognizable voices in historic preservation and Southern hospitality. What began with the restoration of a single abandoned cottage evolved into a nationally recognized brand, multiple hospitality ventures, television appearances on Magnolia Network’s In With the Old and HGTV’s Home Town Kickstart, CNBC’s Make It, and features in publications including Southern Living, Forbes Home, U.S. News & World Report, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Lady, Cottages & Bungalows, American Farmhouse Style and more. Yet behind the thriving business and national acclaim lies the deeply personal story that inspired it all.
“My book is targeted toward two types of ladies,” Sara said. “The first are those who have walked through heartbreak or health problems…any kind of major life transition that they think there is no way they will come out on the other side of this happy, healthy and joyful. I want my story to inspire them, because, yes, they can! Once they have read this book and they see everything I went through that should have derailed me…and I chose not to let it…and I chose to make purposeful and intentional decisions to get where I am today, they can be inspired to do the same.”
“But then maybe there are the ladies who have never had an issue, who have slipped smoothly through life, who don’t have heartache. In that case, my book will inspire them to live their best lives.
There will be a book signing at Purvey Minden on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10-2. Sara will display her memoir, “The Bright Side of the Other Side,” and Hector will be offering his book, “Past Forward.” The public is invited. “The Bright Side of the Other Side” will be available at all walk-in and online bookstores on Oct. 13, 2026.
A routine traffic stop and expired vehicle registration led to the arrest of a Simsboro woman on more serious charges.
Peggy S. Williams, 68, was traveling on East Union in Minden when Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies reportedly stopped her for having only one headlight.
Sheriff Jason Parker said one of the deputies noted her registration was expired while the other observed a shotgun on the backseat of her vehicle.
“Deputies noticed the shotgun had a sawed off barrel and it was shorter than 18 inches,” Parker said.
Search of the vehicle reportedly yielded a glass smoking device with crystal-like substance inside, two small containers with crystal residue, a marijuana one-hitter and a used hypodermic needles.
She was booked into BDCC on charges of felon in possession of a firearm, modified firearm and drug paraphernalia. No bond was set.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
By Paige Gurgainers –
One of Minden’s longtime annual traditions will take a year off in 2027 as organizers prepare to celebrate a major milestone.
The Scottish Tartan Festival will take a planned hiatus next year before returning to Miller Quarters Park in April 2028 for its 25th anniversary celebration.
Organizer Shelia Hoh said the break will provide time to prepare for the milestone event while Miller Quarters Park undergoes upgrades aimed at improving the festival experience for visitors, clans, artisans, athletes and performers.
The annual festival has become a unique part of Minden’s event calendar, bringing Scottish culture and traditions to the community through music, food, demonstrations, competitions, vendors and other activities every Spring.
Although festivalgoers will have to wait an extra year for its return, Hoh said preparations for 2028 are already underway.
“We’re already hard at work behind the scenes, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back in 2028 for a bigger, bolder, and truly unforgettable Scottish Tartan Festival,” she said.
The group also thanked the community and longtime festival supporters for their continued enthusiasm.
More information about the April 2028 festival and its 25th anniversary celebration will be announced as plans are finalized. To keep up with other Scottish/Celtic related events, follow “Scottish Tartan Festival, Minden, Louisiana” on Facebook.
The following persons are scheduled to appear in 26th Judicial District Court Friday, October 2:
ADCOX, CHRISTOPHER
100536 A Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams) 100606 A Improper Lane Usage
BEARD, JESSICA DAWN
100592 A Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense
BLACKMON, JUWAN M.
99144 A Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule I CDS (Two and One Half Pounds or More)
CARRILLO, BALTAZAR
INCOMING A Possession of Schedule II CDS
INCOMING Possession of Schedule II CDS
INCOMING Possession of a Schedule I CDS
INCOMING Possession of Marijuana or Synthetic Cannabinoids
CASTILLO, STACEY MARIE
100626 CT 1 A Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense
100626 CT 2 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle *FFD 10/30
CERVANTES, GERARDO
INCOMING A Possession of Schedule II CDS
INCOMING Possession of Schedule II CDS
INCOMING Possession of a Schedule I CDS
INCOMING Possession of Marijuana or Synthetic Cannabinoids
INCOMING Following Too Closely
COOKE, JARVIS JUJUAN
99892 A Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense
CREW, BOBBY DEWAYNE
100587 CT 1 A Simple Battery
100587 CT 2 Simple Battery
100587 CT 3 Simple Battery
DESERA, JOHNATHAN
100607-CT.1 A Hit and Run Driving
100607-CT.2 Hit and Run Driving
DUCK, JEFFERY EARL 100441 A Theft Under $1,000 Restitution- $800, plus $120 fee = $920 total
ELSHOUT, SYDNEY BLAIR
INCOMING A Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense
INCOMING Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle *ARR 11/6
FANTINI, JENNIFER REKO
100536A A Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)
FRAZIER, HOPE LASHAY 100630 A Simple Assault *FFD 10/30
GUILLORY, AMBER M
100321 A Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense
HARGES, CARLOS A.
100256 A Resisting An Officer By Flight
100256A-CT.1 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled
100256A-CT.2 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
100256A-CT.3 Improper Turn And/Or Failure To Give Required Signal
HARRIS, JAMIE G
99820 CT. 1 A Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense
99820 CT. 2 Failure To Dim Lights – Oncoming *OC 9/18
HENDON, DESHUN R.
98967 CT 1 A Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule I CDS
98967 CT 2 Public Bribery *OC 8/14 Co-Def: L. Allen
HENDON, DESHUN R. 98200 A Aggravated Flight From An Officer Where Human Life Is Endangered
JEFFERSON, MEOSHA SANTRICE
100639 A Attempted Cruelty To Juveniles *Notice Sent
JETER, BRANDON LAMAR 100430 A Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense
MARKRAY, LAKECHIA SHONET
100622 A Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense *
MARTIN, CARLTON LEE
INCOMING A Aggravated Criminal Damage To Property
INCOMING Simple Obstruction of a Highway
INCOMING Failure to Obtain Special Permit
INCOMING Operating A Vehicle Of Improper Size, Width, Height, Length, Weight
INCOMING Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled
MOYA, SAMUEL PAUL 99409 A Aggravated Criminal Damage To Property Restitution owed to the victim per the report- $1,629, plus $244.35 fee = $1,873.35 total
NUGENT, ROCHELLE ALLEN 100618 A Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)
PORTER, JR., DERRICK
100587 CT 1 A Simple Battery
100587 CT 2 Simple Battery
100587 CT 3 Simple Battery
PORTER, DEVON LAROBERT
100587 CT 1 A Simple Battery
100587 CT 2 Simple Battery
100587 CT 3 Simple Battery
PRICE, MARIAH
100394 CT 1 A Simple Battery
100394 CT 2 Simple Battery
PURDY, LELIA 100632 A Aggravated Assault *Notice sent FFD 10/30
RAWLS, TREY NICHOLAS 100621 A Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense *
SMITH, CARMEN
100587 CT 1 A Simple Battery
100587 CT 2 Simple Battery
100587 CT 3 Simple Battery
SNEED, CHARLES CONWAY 100019 A Simple Burglary
SUKEY, BRANDON MICHAEL
100612-CT.1 A Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense
100612-CT.2 Simple Battery
100612-CT.3 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000
Arraignment
VESSELS, TRENT DUANE
100212 Second Degree Battery
Restitution owed- $5,685.34, + $852.80 fee = $6,538.14 total
WALKER, TAREZ MARCEE’ 100427 A Aggravated Flight From An Officer Where Human Life Is Endangered *OC 8/14
WILLIS, ARTAVIA S. 100486 A Cruelty To Juveniles
WOLLSCHLAEGER, COLTON LAMAR
99849 A Theft Under $1,000
Restitution : $2,772.88 + $415.93 fee = $3,188.81 total
Webster Parish Journal is in Week 5 of our 2026 Pick’em Contest.
You can click below for this week’s games, pick the winning teams and get in the running to win $100. The game closes out at 6 p.m. Friday, and a new game starts Monday.
Our four parish high school teams will be featured in the contest, as well as some college and pro teams and two tie breakers.
Each week, the contest closes at 6 p.m. before Friday’s high school games, unless there is a Thursday game, then it closes at 5 p.m. that day.
Weekly winners will be notified and announced in the following Wednesday edition of the Journal. If you win, your photo will be taken with the owner of our Title Sponsor Under Dawgs. Remember, you must 18 or older to play.
Thank you to all our sponsors this year. In addition to Title Sponsor Under Dawgs, Broken Bean will be our anchor sponsor. Others include Holcomb’s Body Shop, A.J. Price Tire, Brown Chrysler, Shelter Insurance, KASO/KBEF and Mike’s Hometown Spirits with Hugh Woods Specialty Meats and Catering. Please patronize these local businesses.
So, fire up your phones, tablets or computers to pick ‘em, click the button below and get started.
Opens in a new tab.
By Josh Beavers
Twenty-five years ago I was the editor of the Press-Herald, and I spent a lot of time at Minden Medical Center. George French, Sarah Haynes, and Mrs. Dawn would show me whatever the hospital had going on, and I’d write it up for the paper. One time I scrubbed in and stood in the operating room while Dr. Timothy Talbert performed a back surgery that was cutting edge at the time. The stories were glowing, and I don’t remember having to stretch the truth to write them.
MMC was named one of the nation’’s 100 Top Hospitals in 2003, 2009 and 2011. It had good people and the money to take care of patients the right way.
None of us knew how good we had it. I grew up in the 80s and 90s, when it seemed like the economy only went one direction and every year would be a little better than the last. I assumed good jobs and a decent life would always be around here, and the hospital was part of that. I said as much in more than one story. I never asked who owned the place or what would happen if somebody else bought it.
In 2018, Allegiance Health Management bought MMC from LifePoint. The announcement promised employees would keep their jobs and every service would stay. I read about it and moved on. I doubt I was the only one, but I’d spent enough years in newspapers to know better than to take a press release at face value.
This spring, the Journal reported that a Shreveport contractor had sued the hospital for more than $170,000, including the bill for an air conditioning chiller installed in September 2025. Two nurse staffing agencies filed claims in January totaling more than $700,000. The hospital also had to pay off about $120,000 in city utility bills that had reportedly gone 90 days unpaid. The Board of Governors said it had asked Allegiance for routine financial information and been refused.
On Sept. 25, six board members resigned, including chairman Dr. Melissa Madden. They said staying on could be seen as a stamp of approval for decisions made at Allegiance’s corporate office. Their statement praised the hospital’s employees and local management and put the problem at the corporate level.
Then the Journal published a text message from someone who works there. According to that message, the hospital had run out of toilet paper and cleaning wipes. The ER’s sharps containers, where used needles go, had been overflowing, and the writer had heard there were no more replacements. They said they could do without some things but had to speak up when safety was involved.
KLFY reported last year that at least six of Allegiance’s eleven hospitals had liens for unpaid payroll taxes, totaling at least $50 million statewide. MMC’s CEO has pointed to rising costs and Medicaid rates that for years paid less than it cost to treat patients. None of that explains why the hospital’s own board was refused routine financial information.
In my opinion, what’s been reported points to greed. A company that won’t open its books to its own board while the staff runs short on supplies is putting money ahead of patients.
MMC says it employs 580 people, 223 of whom live in Minden, with a payroll of around $29 million a year.
When factories shut down across the country in the 2000s, economists expected laid-off workers to move to wherever the jobs were, but most of them stayed put. A lot of them ended up in lower-paying jobs or quit looking for work, and their towns were still dealing with lower home values and higher poverty years later. Another study tracked workers who lost jobs in mass layoffs and found their death rates were 15 to 20 percent higher over the next 20 years.
My wife and I could leave if it came to that. I’m nearly 50, and we’ve been careful with our money for a long time. We both have retirement put back. One of our daughters is soon starting her career, and the other will graduate in a blink. If Minden lost its hospital, we’d have options. I hope we never use them.
Plenty of people in this parish don’t have those options. They’ve got mortgages and kids in school, or they’re on a fixed income and can’t make the drive to Shreveport for every appointment, and they’re the people that research describes. People can leave, but what happens to what they leave behind?
North Louisiana has watched mills and plants shut down before. Losing a hospital hurts differently because nobody gets to decide whether they’ll need one. You don’t pick the ER you end up in after a wreck on I-20 or when your child can’t breathe in the middle of the night. One national analysis puts about a third of the country’s rural hospitals at risk of closing right now. As of last year, Louisiana hadn’t lost one.
Before I started teaching, I published two newspapers and ran a print shop. I’m not a businessman anymore. I’m an idealist, and I don’t know what it would take to save a hospital. I don’t know what it would cost or whether Allegiance would even sell.
This town has doctors who built their careers here and families who have given to every cause Minden ever asked them to. If there’s any way to bring the hospital back under local ownership, whether that’s our physicians buying in or the community raising money, I hope somebody who understands that kind of deal will try. I’d buy in with whatever I could afford.
The people working at MMC right now are doing the same work I used to write about, with fewer supplies and less support from the company that owns the building. I want to save Minden Medical Center. If anybody out there knows how, I’d like to hear it.
Josh Beavers is an award-winning columnist who earned four Best Columnist awards from the Louisiana Press Association. He traded the newsroom for the classroom in 2013, convinced that teaching young people to write, to think, and to become productive members of their community was the more important work.
By Paige Gurgainers –
The Columns Assisted Living and Memory Care is looking to partner with local churches to offer free educational seminars focused on creating dementia-friendly church communities.
The Dementia-Friendly Church educational seminars will be offered at no cost and are designed for pastors, church leaders, ministry volunteers, congregation members and others who want to better understand dementia and learn practical ways to support individuals experiencing memory loss and the family members caring for them.
For many older adults, their church is an important part of their lives, providing faith, friendship, routine and a sense of belonging. When Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia enters the picture, however, changes in memory, communication and behavior can sometimes make remaining involved in church more difficult.
The Columns hopes the seminars will help local congregations better understand those challenges and provide simple tools that can make their churches more welcoming and supportive.
During the educational seminar, participants will learn more about dementia and memory loss, including common signs and behaviors they may encounter. The discussion will cover ways to communicate with someone experiencing memory loss, how to respond to confusion or changes in behavior, and practical steps churches can take to create a more comfortable environment.
The seminar will also focus on the family caregiver. Participants will discuss ways churches can recognize caregiver strain and provide meaningful support to families navigating dementia.
The goal is not to make church members experts in dementia care. Instead, the seminar is intended to increase awareness, encourage understanding and give congregations practical information they can use when a member of their church family begins experiencing memory loss.
Time will also be available for questions and discussion, allowing participants to talk about situations they may already be encountering within their own congregations.
The Columns is offering the free seminars as part of its effort to serve as an educational resource for seniors, caregivers and families throughout the communities it serves.
There is no cost for churches to participate or host a seminar. Churches interested in scheduling a Dementia-Friendly Church educational seminar are encouraged to contact Paige Gurgainers, Director of Digital Growth & Strategy for Valiant Communities, at paige@valiantcommunities.com.
The Columns will work directly with interested churches to coordinate a date and format that works best for their congregation.
Through the program, The Columns hopes to help start conversations that allow individuals living with dementia and the people who care for them to remain connected to their churches and continue experiencing the fellowship, support and sense of belonging that their faith communities provide.
Logansport man arrested on child sexual abuse material charges
DESOTO PARISH, La. — A Logansport man was arrested following an investigation into the alleged online possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, according to the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office. Detectives identified Augustus Westbrook, 26, of Logansport, as the individual allegedly responsible for possessing and distributing the material, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators obtained a warrant that was executed at Westbrook’s residence on Sept. 22. During the search, authorities seized a cellular device as evidence.
Tre’veon Jackson appears in federal court; remains behind bars on $4 million in bonds
Escaped Caddo Correctional Center inmate Tre’veon Jackson, 24, appeared in federal court Tuesday and will remain in federal custody. Jackson faces a federal carjacking charge in connection with his escape from Caddo Parish deputy custody on Sept. 14 — when he allegedly violently assaulted a hotel worker at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City and stole his vehicle before leading police on a high-speed chase. Combined bonds across Jackson’s pending cases total more than $4 million. He is currently being held at the Bossier Maximum Security Jail in Plain Dealing. His federal arraignment is set for October. Jackson is also pending sentencing in Caddo District Court as a habitual offender following a 2025 armed robbery conviction and faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in separate open cases.
Dorm disturbance call leads to marijuana distribution arrest
A Grambling State University police response to a dormitory disturbance ended with a student facing a marijuana distribution charge early Thursday, according to an arrest affidavit. Dwayne Ross Jr., 19, of Los Angeles, was arrested by Grambling State police at 1 a.m. Sept. 24 at Holland Hall. After being read his Miranda rights, Ross admitted smoking marijuana in the room before officers arrived. Under his bed, officers found a black box with a strong odor of marijuana coming from it. Inside were several silicone bags of suspected marijuana and cash in $20, $10, $5 and $1 bills. Clear Ziploc bags were also found in the room.
Ross claimed the marijuana was his but said it was for personal use. Based on the suspected marijuana being separated into individual bags of about 3.5 grams each, along with the Ziploc bags and the mix of cash, the officer believed Ross was involved in distribution.
Dolly Parton Bingo fundraiser set for Oct. 9
Friends of Louisiana Sports and History
Friends of Louisiana Sports and History will host Dolly Parton Bingo on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, 800 Front St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and bingo starts at 6 p.m. The evening features games built around Dolly Parton’s songs and style, along with prizes, light refreshments, beer and wine. Guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite version of Dolly. Admission is $25 at the door and $15 for FLASH members, and organizers suggest bringing extra cash for the evening. Proceeds support FLASH, which funds museum exhibitions, educational programs and special events.
Thursday
A 20 percent chance of showers after 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Friday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 p.m., then a chance of showers between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Saturday
A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Saturday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Sunday
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
*Information provided by National Weather Service.
Send non-profit calendar events to wpjnewsla@gmail.com .
October 1
6 p.m. Lakeside Homecoming Parade. Line up at 5:15 p.m., Sibley Town Hall.
October 3
9 a.m. until … Sarepta High School “Celebration of Friends,” 210 Vines Street, Sarepta. Contact Information: Betty Coile Shows, 318-678-3900 or bcoile66.shsfriends@yahoo.com or Janet Gray Reeves, 318-847-4270 or text to 318-578-3053.
9:30 a.m. The Webster Parish Veterans Safety Net invites all veterans to join us for coffee and fellowship at Huffman Manor, 1114 Broadway in Minden. These gatherings are held on the first Saturday of every month. Every veteran is encouraged to attend when possible, as you may be the listening ear, source of encouragement, or friendly conversation that a fellow veteran needs.
October 10
8:30 until 10 a.m. 2nd Annual Angel Baby Fun Run
Halo Fest: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (free to the public) Halo Fest,Miller Quarters Park 198 Gleason Street Minden, hosted by Hearts & Halos: Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness. Fun Run Registration: https://runsignup.com/Race/LA/Minden/AngelBaby2KRunWalkAndFundraisingEvent
October 13
5:30 until 7:30 p.m., Sibley Night Out and Grand Opening for the Town Hall Playground at Sibley Town Hall. Any business, church, organization or group who wish to reserve a spot to set up and hand out information, have giveaways, and/or provide activities for the kids may do so by calling Town Hall at 318-377-0345. Anyone wishing to volunteer may do so by calling Town Hall at 318-377-0345.
November 7
10 a.m. until 1 p.m., Mission Adoption Bazaar, Craft, Makers Fair, Bake and Casserole Sale, Silent Auction and Lunch
First Baptist Church, Family and Community Life Center, Minden.
All proceeds go to participating families adopting and/or fostering.
Word of the Day: Bellwether
Phonetic: /BEL-WEH-ther/
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition
Bellwether usually refers to something that serves as an indicator of trends. It can also refer to someone or something that leads others.
Event organizers say the concert series is a bellwether, demonstrating that good shows can bring visitors to the town.
Brittany D. Cox, 35, of the 100 block of Jack St., Haughton, was arrested September 28 by Minden Police for driving while intoxicated third offense. Her bond was set at $50,000, as well as $500 for failure to appear in court on a speeding offense.
Ronnie Lee Dison, 70, of the 100 block of Benson Rd., Sarepta, was arrested September 29 by Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies on an active warrant for simple battery. No bond listed.
James Allen Culverhouse, 61, of the 1300 block of Sheppard St., was arrested September 29 by Minden Police for no seatbelt, expired registration and suspended license. Total bonds are $1,350.
Jalen Keener, 29, of the 1200. Block of Shreveport Rd., Minden, was arrested Tuesday by Minden Police, for Distribution of CDS Sch. 2 Methamphetamine, Distribution of synthetic marijuana and distribution of natural marijuana. He is held at BDCC on bonds totaling $50,000.
Carey TyJuan Eason, 29, of the 2700 block of Ivory Street, Arcadia, was arrested by Minden Police on six active warrants. No bond was 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.
Doris Sue Camp Polston
December 30, 1937 – September 26, 2026
Shongaloo
No final services planned; family and friends will celebrate her life at at later time.
Linda Jo Turman
September 20, 1951 – September 26, 2026
Doyline
Visitation: Saturday, October 3, 2026, West Lake Baptist Church, Doyline.
Funeral service: noon, immediately following visitation.
Burial: Point Chapel Cemetery, Doyline, under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
James Thomas Bearden
January 12, 1971 – September 17, 2026
Minden/Sarepta
Memorial service: 2 p.m. Sunday, October 4, 2026, New Sarepta Baptist Church, Sarepta.
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.)
Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing independent reporting series that started in late 2025 examining municipal operations, public accountability and transparency in the Town of Cullen. The reporting and original work in this series were independently produced.
By Tiffany Flournoy
CULLEN, La. — Cullen, under a rolling boil advisory, owes more than $6,100 to the chemical supplier it relies on for chlorine and lacks roughly $1,000 needed for another supply, leaving the town unable to obtain additional chlorine as its water system remains under state health scrutiny.
The disclosure came during the Sept. 28 Town Council meeting, where Mayor Pro Tem Floydean White acknowledged that the town had failed to meet corrective deadlines previously imposed by the Louisiana Department of Health. The meeting also exposed mounting financial and leadership problems following the July resignation of Mayor Terry Hoof.
Water system caught in financial crisis
The chlorine shortage is not new. Cullen has struggled for months to maintain an adequate supply, while residents have faced repeated boil advisories as problems with the town’s water system have persisted.
Chlorine is a critical part of municipal water treatment, used to disinfect drinking water and maintain protection as treated water moves through the distribution system.
Cullen owes more than $6,100 to Hawkins, its primary chemical supplier. The account is in collections, and Hawkins is refusing to provide additional chlorine until the past-due balance is addressed.
Town officials said another supply would cost approximately $1,000, but the town does not have the additional funds.
White said she is negotiating with Hawkins in an effort to obtain chlorine.
White also said LDH visited Cullen earlier in September.
“They have written us up once or twice before. They gave us a certain amount of time. We did not fulfill that time,” White said.
It was unclear from the meeting what specific deficiencies LDH cited or which corrective deadlines the town failed to meet.
Town Attorney Josh Chevallier has previously said deteriorating water and utility systems were among the circumstances contributing to recommendations for fiscal administration.
On Aug. 27, the Baton Rouge Fiscal Review Committee approved the appointment of a fiscal administrator for Cullen. The Louisiana attorney general’s office is expected to seek the appointment through the 26th Judicial District Court.
As of Tuesday, no filing seeking the appointment was found in records available for review through the Webster Parish Clerk of Court.
Two agendas, different business
The Sept. 28 meeting also revealed differences between the agenda posted publicly Sept. 25 and the agenda distributed at the workers meeting and again at the 6 p.m. council meeting.
The posted notice identified a 6 p.m. regular council meeting and a 5 p.m. workers meeting but did not provide a physical meeting location, listing only the town’s post office box. The agenda distributed at the meeting identified the Council Room at the Municipal Building, 405 Coyle Avenue, as the meeting location and was dated Sept. 25.
The agendas also differed in the business listed for consideration.
The publicly posted agenda included a recommendation to approve Floydean White as mayor to replace former Mayor Terry Hoof, who resigned July 31. The item did not appear on the agenda distributed at the meeting.
While working from the posted agenda, White reached the item concerning her appointment. White said Barbara Green had reminded her earlier that the matter had already been taken care of.
“I’m going to scratch through that,” White said.
Shortly after, White acknowledged she was using the wrong agenda. Apparently White had been using the publicly-posted version rather than the one distributed at the meeting.
The posted agenda also listed approval of the August meeting minutes, while the distributed version specifically identified the Aug. 26, 2026, minutes and included a separate item for approval of the Aug. 26 meeting agenda.
The publicly posted version contained no agenda approval item, and the council proceeded without formally adopting or amending an agenda at the outset.
Because an agenda serves as public notice of the business a governmental body intends to consider, differences between a publicly posted agenda and the one used by the council can raise questions under Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law.
Public comment followed council action
The Sept. 28 agenda placed public comments at the end of the meeting, after the council had already acted on agenda items.
Among those actions was approval of the Aug. 26 meeting minutes. The minutes were approved 3-0 by Alderwomen Barbara Green and Denise Epps-Hoof, along with Mayor Pro Tem Floydean White.
White remains an elected alderwoman while serving as mayor pro tem and retains her voting rights on the council.
The Aug. 26 meeting itself involved a separate notice issue.
A notice posted at Town Hall at noon Tuesday listed a 5 p.m. Aug. 26 meeting but incorrectly identified the date as Monday rather than Wednesday. Hours before the meeting, volunteer town clerk Cyerra Prevo posted an updated notice moving it to 4 p.m. after officials learned a council member could not attend at 5 p.m.
White acknowledged during the meeting that the change could draw scrutiny. Prevo maintained that the original notice had been posted more than 24 hours earlier.
Some residents arrived expecting a 5 p.m. meeting and objected after discovering it had been moved.
The council’s Aug. 17 meeting also drew questions about the timing of its agenda posting and the lack of an opportunity for public comment before council members began voting on matters listed on the agenda.
A meeting difficult to hear
The Sept. 28 meeting was at times difficult to follow as individuals spoke over one another and side conversations continued.
Cullen conducts council meetings without a public-address system or microphones. The lack of amplification made portions of the meeting difficult to hear from the audience. One resident with a hearing impairment said she was unable to follow portions of the proceedings.
The meeting was preceded by a 5 p.m. workers meeting, with both meetings appearing under the same public posting.
Leadership remains unsettled
Hoof resigned July 31, leaving White to perform the mayor’s duties as mayor pro tem.
The town is also dealing with incomplete financial records and unpaid obligations as it moves toward fiscal administration.
The Sept. 28 meeting showed how the town’s financial condition, water-system problems and questions surrounding its public meetings are increasingly intertwined.
As of Tuesday, the state fiscal administration appointment had not yet been filed in the Webster Parish Clerk of Court records available for review.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana has posted the largest increase of any state since 2019 in the share of Advanced Placement (AP®) Exams earning a qualifying score, according to new statewide data released by the College Board. Louisiana’s AP score rate has improved at more than twice the national rate of growth in that timespan and now sits just two points off the national average.
An AP Exam score of 3, 4, or 5 can qualify high school students for college credit at many colleges and universities.
“Louisiana is setting a higher bar for what it means to be ready after high school,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “This growth in performance shows that students can meet college-level expectations and begin their next steps before graduation. I’m grateful for the work of Louisiana high school students, teachers, counselors, and principals.”
The share of Louisiana AP Exams earning a qualifying score rose from 37.4 percent in 2019 to 69.1 percent in 2026, a gain of 31.7 percentage points. Louisiana continues to close in on the national average. In 2019, the share of Louisiana AP Exams earning a qualifying score trailed the national average by 20.5 percentage points. In 2026, the gap is only 2.2 points.
In 2019, students earned 11,118 qualifying scores. Louisiana public school students earned 21,383 qualifying scores on AP Exams in 2026.
“Louisiana teachers have sharpened their craft year after year, and these gains are a result of that dedicated focus,” said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jenna Chiasson. “Every qualifying score is an opportunity for a student to earn college credit while in high school and graduate ready for what comes next.”
Louisiana’s 2026 Advanced Placement results
Because students can take more than one AP Exam, results are reported both as the total number of qualifying scores and as the number of students who earned at least one qualifying score.
The College Board released 2026 AP data at the national and state levels. The Louisiana Department of Education will release AP results for each school system and school later this year.
About Advanced Placement
The Advanced Placement Program, administered by the College Board, gives high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses and exams before graduation. AP courses are offered in subjects including mathematics, science, English, social studies, world languages and the arts.
Webster Parish Journal is in Week 5 of our 2026 Pick’em Contest.
Congratulations Marvin Jones, winner of Week 4’s contest. Joes had 9 of 10 correct and won with the tie breakers. He is shown above receive his $100 prize from Title Sponsor Under Dawgs’ owner Claudine Adams-Thomas.
You can click below for this week’s games, pick the winning teams and get in the running to win $100. The game closes out at 6 p.m. Fridayy, and a new game starts Monday.
Our four parish high school teams will be featured in the contest, as well as some college and pro teams and two tie breakers.
Each week, the contest closes at 6 p.m. before Friday’s high school games, unless there is a Thursday game, then it closes at 5 p.m. that day.
Weekly winners will be notified and announced in the following Wednesday edition of the Journal. If you win, your photo will be taken with the owner of our Title Sponsor Under Dawgs. Remember, you must 18 or older to play.
Thank you to all our sponsors this year. In addition to Title Sponsor Under Dawgs, Broken Bean will be our anchor sponsor. Others include Holcomb’s Body Shop, A.J. Price Tire, Brown Chrysler, Shelter Insurance, KASO/KBEF and Mike’s Hometown Spirits with Hugh Woods Specialty Meats and Catering. Please patronize these local businesses.
So, fire up your phones, tablets or computers to pick ‘em, click the button below and get started.
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I was talking with a friend last week, and he made the comment that with today’s high cost of living it’s almost impossible for him to save money and build up an emergency fund. I explained my view that saving money doesn’t always require huge lifestyle changes. Many times, small adjustments to everyday spending can add up to significant savings over time.
For some, it’s time to take intense measures. When debt becomes overpowering, things may need to get uncomfortable so real progress can occur. Downsizing a home, selling the truck that has a high monthly note, or even cutting up the credit cards. But we’re not talking about navigating debt today – the focus is saving money so that if an emergency expense does occur, there are funds set aside to cover it.
Here are a few suggestions on what you can do to keep more money in your pocket without making your life unnecessarily difficult.
Eat out less. One might argue that it’s cheaper to eat out than to buy groceries. My belief is that you can “cook smart” and prepare enough food to last several meals so you really get your money’s worth. Put that slow cooker or Insta-pot to work. If you’re going to eat out, use the discounts and deals found in restaurant apps to maximize your savings. You may be able to turn a $15 meal into a $7 or $8 purchase simply by using a coupon.
Stick to the list. Impulse purchases can quickly turn a small shopping trip into a much larger expense. Before going to the grocery store or shopping online, make a list of what you actually need. Avoid buying something simply because it’s on sale. A sale is not a savings if you wouldn’t have purchased the item otherwise. My wife frowns at me when I say, “You can save 100% by not buying it.”
Consider off-brands. Store-brand groceries, household supplies, and over-the-counter products are often less expensive than name-brand alternatives. I realize there are some products where the “value brand” version just won’t do. In our house, it’s Coca-Cola (sorry, Sam’s Cola) and Kraft Shells and Cheese. But overall, there are items where you can choose an alternative brand and you won’t really know the difference. Don’t overpay for a product’s packaging!
Price shop. For expensive items such as appliances, electronics, furniture, or tires, take a few minutes to compare prices from multiple stores. Look for sales, price-matching policies, rebates, and coupons. Online reviews can also help you determine whether a cheaper product offers similar quality to a more expensive alternative.
Negotiate your monthly bills. I’ve talked about this in one of my previous “Common Cents” columns. Many people accept their internet, cell phone, cable, and other service bills without asking whether a better price is available. Call the provider and ask about current promotions, loyalty discounts, lower-cost plans, or other ways to reduce your monthly payment. You can also compare competitors’ prices and use that information when negotiating. Even saving $20 a month on a bill adds up to $240 a year.
Cut the fluff. Streaming services, apps, memberships, and other subscriptions can quietly drain your bank account. Review your recurring charges every few months and ask yourself whether you’re actually using each service. Cancel anything that’s no longer valuable. If you want a service temporarily, consider subscribing only during the months when you plan to use it. These savings can add up fast.
Use cash-back and rewards programs. Take advantage of legitimate cash-back programs and rewards offered by stores and credit cards for purchases you were already planning to make. The important thing is to avoid buying extra items just to earn rewards. Don’t fall for it! The goal is to receive money back on necessary spending, not increase your spending. Examples of legitimate cash-back apps are Ibotta, Upside, and Fetch.
Automate your savings. Rather than trying to tuck away whatever money happens to be left at the end of the month, treat savings like another monthly bill. Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account each payday. Even $25 or $50 per paycheck can gradually build an emergency fund. Once the automatic transfer becomes part of your routine, you’re less likely to spend that money accidentally.
In the end, saving money is about being intentional with your spending. You don’t have to eliminate every convenience or stop enjoying the things you like. By looking for discounts, avoiding unnecessary purchases, negotiating bills, and consistently setting money aside, you can make meaningful progress toward stronger finances – one small decision at a time.
Tracy L. Campbell is a partner and financial advisor at Meriwether Wealth and Planning, an independent Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) firm headquartered in downtown Minden, La. E-mail Tracy at tracy@meriwether.com. Disclaimer: This content is for general knowledge and education, not a substitute for professional advice.
