Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 84.

*Information provided by National Weather Service.

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

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 11

7 p.m. Piney Woods Jamboree at the CAC building in Springhill  Special Guest will be Brady Rhodes and Lacey Dodson.

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 .

Word of the Day: Verdant

Phonetic: /ver·dant/
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition
(of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation.
“verdant valleys”

Similar: green, leafy, grassy, grass-covered

Jeffrey Boyd Holley, 64, 5700 block Hwy. 2, Sarepta: arrested April 3 by WPSO for DWI, open container. Bond set $1,502.

Ceciley Kelly Bailey, 35, 100 block Grider Rd., Minden: arrested April 5 by WPSO for unauthorized entry of inhabited dwelling, simple battery, disturbing the peace. Bond set $20,501.

George Edward Jones, 57, 200 block Shreve Dr., Minden: arrested April 6 by WPSO for possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamines), possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond set $3,501.

Braedyn Tate Webb, 19, 300 block Miller Briarwood, Sibley: arrested April 1 by Minden PD on warrant. Bond set $500.

Jeffrey Michael Valentine, 50, 3100 block LA 518, Homer: arrested April 4 by Louisiana State Police as in-state fugitive. No bond set.

Joshua Patrick Rollins, 34, 39000 block Suter St., Gautier, Mississippi: arrested April 4 by Louisiana State Police for DWI first offense, open container, speeding (95/70), improper lane usage. 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.

Dorothy Lee
March 15, 1933 — April 3, 2026
Minden/Haughton
Visitation: 5 until 6 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Graveside service: 11 a.m. Friday, April 10, 2026, Hill Crest Cemetery, Haughton.

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.)

By Pat Culverhouse

Riding in a vehicle with faulty equipment has landed a Minden man in the parish prison after a Webster Parish found him in possession off a quantity of illegal narcotics.

Victor Darnell Gipson, a 20-year-old College St. resident, is looking at charges of possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in presence of CDS following his arrest Friday.

Gipson is currently being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. No bond has been set.

Sheriff Jason Parker said Deputy Brian Miller stopped a vehicle just before 9 p.m. in which Gipson was a passenger for having only one tail light. When the deputy reportedly smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside, he asked and received permission to conduct a search.

During the search, the deputy reportedly loaded four grams of marijuana in the vehicle’s center console. He reportedly was also told a weapon was inside and located it on the floor between the front seat and door.

A mason jar containing approximately 22 grams of marijuana and a quantity of cash inside a backpack on the rear seat. During questioning, Gipson reportedly admitted ownership of the marijuana, firearm, money and backpack.

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

By Bonnie Culverhouse

Court will soon be in session at the City of Minden – Administrative Court, that is.

Monday night, Minden City Council approved unanimously an ordinance to amend and reenact a previous ordinance and to establish the Minden Administrative Court.

“The purpose of this Article is to establish an efficient, non-criminal, administrative process for the adjudication and correction of violations of blighted properties and abandoned properties (La. R.S. 13:2575.D.(2), referred to in this Article as “D(2) cases”), other violations of Minden ordinances pertaining to the public health, housing, fire code, environment (including junk, rubbish, and litter), junked or abandoned vehicles, and historic district regulation, and such other property conditions constituting a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare as may be designated by the Mayor (La. R.S. 13:2575.D.(1), referred to in this Article as “D(1) cases”). This process is intended to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Minden, promote neighborhood integrity, and preserve property values by providing a fair and expeditious method of enforcement, correction, and abatement.”

Other business unanimously approved include the following:

• Adopt Resolution – Amending the City of Minden 2025-2026 Budget

– Amend Budget to Recognize an Increase in Revenues and Reallocation of Expenses.

– Amend Budget to Recognize an Increase of Grant Revenues and  Expenses related to Airport Hangars.

– Amend Budget to Recognize the Completion of the Animal Control Facility that was Expected to be Completed in 2024 – 2025 Budget.

– Amend Budget to Recognize the Creation of Department 24 Recreation Enhancement. This Department Shall be Under the Discretion of the Recreation Enhancement Coordinator Zachary Harrison.

– Amend Budget to Recognize the Estimated Recreation Enhancement Revenues and Expenses.

– Amend Budget to Amend the Workers Compensation Expenses after Correction of Coverage was Completed.

– Amend Budget to Reallocate Vehicle Lease Payments According to the Corrected Inventory was Completed.

– Amend Budget to Recognize an Increase in Revenues and Reallocation of Expenses.

– Amend Budget to Recognize an Increase in Grant Revenues and Water Main Improvement Expenses for the Web Court Water Improvement Project.

– Amend Budget to Reallocate Workers Compensation Expenses after Correction of Coverage was Completed.

– Amend Budget to Reallocate Vehicle Lease Payments According to the Corrected Inventory was Completed.

– Amend Budget to Create a Budget and New Fund for the Recreation Enhancement Project. Amend Budget to Recognize the Repayment of Expenses to General Fund for the Recreation Enhancement Project.

• Adopt Resolution – Authorizing Credit Card Signatory Power for Certain City of Minden Personnel

• Adopt Resolution – A Resolution to Participate in the LaMATS Administered Cooperative Purchasing Joint Commission (LACPC) and to Appoint Representative Ordinances

• Adopt Ordinance No. 1168 – An Ordinance to Amend and Reenact Ordinance No. 1165, Establishing the Minden Administrative Court Pursuant to LA R.S. 13:2575 and 13:2576, Adopting Technical Amendments to Authorize the Non-Mandatory Discretionary Assessment of Fines, Civil Penalties, and Costs, Including Hearing Costs (the Maximum of Which Shall Not Exceed Those Established by the Minden CIty Court); and to Provide for Any Related Matters Thereto

• Authority for Mayor Cox to Enter into a Sports Tourism Services Agreement Between the City of Minden and Airstream Ventures

• Authority for Mayor Cox to Execute a Deed for Donation to City of Minden of Two (2) Tracts of Land for Lift Station Improvements and Retainage of an Access & Utility Servitude

• Condemned Property – 704 Cherry Street (District A) – Nicole Stewart

• Condemned Property – 716 East Street (District A) – Rodell Bailey Estate(11) Condemned Property – 319 Pershing Street (District A) – Fannie Morris/Webster Parish Police Jury

• Condemned Property – 114, 116 & 118 N. Talton Street (District B) – Alice Day Jones

• Final Plat Approval – Lot Split of Property Owned by Abby and Daniel Monday Located at 612 Germantown Road

• Final Plat Approval – Lot Split of Property Owned by Myles-N-Myles Enterprises of Minden, LLC Located at 906 Devereaux Street

• Budget/Financial Report for February 2026

• Fire Report for March 2026

• Police Report for February 2026

Presentation of Proclamations/Awards

• Presentation of Proclamation to Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA)

A two-vehicle crash took place in the 500 block of Coyle Ave. Cullen. Friday night. One of the vehicles was alleged to be traveling around 100 miles per hour when it “T-boned” another vehicle. No reported injuries. Photos and information courtesy of Jerry Strahan.

By Marilyn Miller

“Hungerfest 2026,” a dessert auction fundraiser for the United Christian Assistance Program (UCAP), will take place this coming Thursday, April 9 at 6 p.m. at the Minden First Methodist Church.

For a mere $5.00, attendees can bid on every type of dessert available, made by some of the best bakers in the community. The evening will include a Vegetable Beef Soup and crackers supper, music by Tim Kennedy & Leah Lummus, and the entertaining antics of auctioneer “cousins” Dr. Richard Campbell and Tracy Campbell.

This will be the 40^th year of UCAP’s serving Minden and south Webster Parish. The program was organized in 1985 and was chartered in 1986 by Gladys and Oscar Hair, who remained active until their deaths.

Rev. Steve Raulerson made the first donation to UCAP in February of 1985. The $300 gift was made on behalf of his congregation at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The first elected officers and board were Jane Sistrunk, chairman of the board, St. John’s; Marsha Countis, secretary, St. Paul’s Catholic Church; Rev. Augie Aamodt, vice chairman, Lakeview United Methodist Church; and Muriel Elkins, treasurer, Seventh Day Adventist Church.

UCAP’S mission is to provide area residents with emergency assistance services, including clothing, household items, food, and utility or rent assistance. Help to stranded transients is also available.

“One hundred percent of the volunteers for UCAP (including the director), are unpaid,” said current director Charlotte Jones. And 99 percent of the money that goes to support the program is raised through donations.

Current officers are Tommy Davis, president; Mary Seney, secretary; Kevin McCann, treasurer; John Earnhardt, Judy Holloway and Dan Shikiskis, board members; and director Charlotte Jones.

Volunteering for everything from data entry to food deliveries are Norma Bullock, Robert Clark, Lois Crochet, Judy Holloway, Linda Rogers, Mary Seney, Linda Simmons, Charlotte Jones, Larry Brown, Mark Carver, Steve Cooper, Tommy Davis, George French, Judy Holloway, Jerry Ketchell, Kevin McCann, Bro. Jim and Margie Wallace, Parilee Anderson, Bobbye Hawkins, Shelly Quayhagen, James Quayhagen.

Table sponsors for this year’s “Hungerfest” are Hoyt Bellamy, Coca Cola Bottling Co. of Minden, Inc.; Friends of UCAP, Lakeview Methodist Church (Janet Ash), McInnis Insurance, Robert Moorehead, Shaffer, Cloud, Branch & McDaniel; Jim & Margie Wallace, and Woods Tank, Inc.

“Hungerfest 2026” workers will include Janet Ash, Norma Bullock, Jerry Jetchell, Linda Simmons, Mary Seney, Linda Rogers, Margie Wallace, Marsha Watts, Karen Kelly Yates, Sandra Moorehead, Melanie Parks, Charlotte Edwards, and Madison Fread.

UCAP is located off Miller Street near downtown Minden. Donations may be dropped by or mailed to P.O. Box 314, Minden, LA 71058-0314. For more information, call 318-377-6804. The office and pantry are open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

By Jerry Strahan

March 31: Springhill low was 59F; Minden was 61F 

April 1: Springhill low was 65F; Minden also recorded a low of 65F

April 2: Springhill low was 67F and Minden low was 68F

April 3: Springhill low was 69F and Minden low was also 69F

Rain recorded ending at 7 a.m.
Springhill: .25 100ths of an inch.  Minden recorded. 24 100s of an inch. 

April 4: Springhill low was 69F and Minden low was 70F

Rain recorded in Springhill: 38 100s of an inch.  Minden recorded. 31 100s of an inch 

April 5: Springhill had a low of 46F and Minden low was 48F

Most of the rain fell on the 4th of April. See the attached radar shot.  A weak cold front came through Webster Parish around 2 pm and caused the temperatures to start falling. 
The coming week lows will be in the upper 40s and low 50s and highs will be in the 70s and close to 80F.   The next chance for severe weather will be possible by this coming Friday.

(Jerry Strahan was a first responder in fire and emergency services for almost 45 years. He lives in north Webster Parish and has written weather articles for other publications.)

Every other year, Minden’s Pet Mayor must give up his seat, and it’s time for the 2026 election.

“In 2024, we raised $21,600 to help Minden Animal Control’s new building,” Human Mayor Nick Cox said.

Furry and Feathered friends can run for the title. District D Councilman Michael Roy said dates include May 8 as deadline for sponsorships.

“Voting is May 15 through 29 and June 13 will be the official collaring celebration,” Roy said.

Sponsorships and Pet Registration are now open at https://app.seemylegacy.com/community/2484/campaign/8549/overview .

Matthew Hough, Regional Director & Impact Team Coordinator, Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana will be the featured speaker at Thursday’s meeting of Minden Lions Club.

Matt Hough was born in Shreveport and raised in the small town of Mooringsport by a hardworking single mother who instilled in him the values of work ethic, humility, and taking pride in doing things the right way. As a teenager, Matt’s family relocated to the Baton Rouge area, where he would eventually begin building the career path that shaped much of his professional life.

Matt began his journey with Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers as a crewmember—learning the business from the fryer up. Through hard work, leadership, and a relentless focus on people and culture, he quickly climbed the ranks and eventually became the youngest General Manager in the company’s history. He later advanced to become a Restaurant Partner, a role reserved for top-performing leaders trusted to run restaurants like owners and drive the brand’s culture and results. 

After years in the fast-paced restaurant world, Matt was presented with an opportunity that aligned even more closely with his personal passions—family, conservation, and community involvement. He transitioned into his current role as Regional Director for Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana, where he works to protect Louisiana’s coastal fisheries while connecting communities, anglers, and businesses through conservation initiatives and fundraising events. Now, he has strengthened that passion for our coast even more developing a new role as the CCA Louisiana Impact Team Coordinator. This role stretches the entire state organizing volunteer events in the communities that align with the CCA Louisiana Mission.

Today, Matt helps lead outreach, partnerships, and events that support coastal conservation efforts across the state—while still applying the same leadership philosophy that guided his career: build great teams, serve your community, and leave things better than you found them.

When he’s not working, Matt is a devoted Christian, a husband, a dad to two boys, and someone who loves everything Louisiana has to offer—from fishing our coastlines to investing time back into the communities that shaped him.

Minden Lions Club meets at noon every Thursday at the American Legion Hall on Pine Street.

SHREVEPORT, La. – North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP) has selected Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition, LLC (Nabors) for the remediation and demolition of the former Libbey Glass manufacturing complex at 4302 Jewella Avenue in Shreveport, a ~54-acre, rail-served industrial site. The property was acquired by NLEP in September 2025 to generate economic development at a site that has been dormant for years. Clearing and remediating the site accelerates reinvestment into one of the region’s most visible legacy industrial campuses and prepares the property to attract modern manufacturing jobs.
 
The purchase, completed with major support from the state and the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority, advances a shared strategy to remediate, reposition, and market the site for new private-sector investment. As the lead economic development organization for the region, NLEP is spearheading transformation of the property to a shovel-ready opportunity for future employers. This effort reflects years of partnership-building and the organization’s focus on quality jobs and investment.
 
“The redevelopment of the former Libbey Glass plant transforms a dormant, non-productive industrial property into a high‑value economic catalyst,” said NLEP CEO Justyn Dixon. “By leveraging the site’s inherent strengths—rail access, interstate visibility, high‑capacity infrastructure, industrial zoning, and skilled regional workforce — the project converts our region’s loss into opportunity. This revitalized industrial site will be positioned to attract modern, high‑quality jobs and support advanced manufacturing and logistics operations that align with today’s industrial demands.”
 
Libbey’s Shreveport operations ceased at the end of 2020, closing a significant chapter in the community’s industrial history. With NLEP’s acquisition, the site received a structured evaluation to determine the preparation needed to maximize speed-to-market for new employers.
 
Management of the site’s redevelopment will be overseen by construction management firm, WIELAND Corp. Oversight of the remediation of the limited contamination at the site will be performed by Jones Environmental Inc. Remediation work will follow guidelines issued by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s Voluntary Remediation Program, to which NLEP submitted an application. NLEP has also been awarded a subgrant from the City of Shreveport’s Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund from the Environmental Protection Agency to support the site’s remediation. NLEP will be working with the Parish of Caddo for additional support to complete the redevelopment.
 
NLEP selected Nabors after a competitive public bid process was undertaken, based on project cost, Nabors’ recent experience with large demolition projects in Northwest Louisiana, and the expectation that over 90% of demolished materials will be recycled. Demolition is scheduled to begin in April 2026 and is expected to last approximately twelve months.

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.

The Northwest Louisiana District DAR Chapters were honored to host a reception following a Naturalization Ceremony in Shreveport on Tuesday, March 10. They had the privilege of witnessing 32 individuals from 30 different countries take the Oath of Allegiance and officially become citizens of the United States. Our chapter Volunteer for Veterans Pam Mattox represented Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter at the reception.

Chapter Regent Donna Sutton, Honorary Chapter Regent Cindy Madden, and Chapter Volunteer for Veterans Chair Pam Mattox attended the Northwest Louisiana District DAR Patriotic Luncheon at Superior’s Steak House on February 19th. Guest speaker was Sally Hamer who gave a PowerPoint presentation called “Hidden Lines of Liberty.” She talked about lesser-known heroes of the American Revolution: African Americans, indigenous people, and women. She also discussed Louisiana and Spain’s involvement in the war. She provided a handout of links to her references and further information, which our chapter regent distributed to our chapter members at our genealogy workshop last month. Sally Hamer has a Master’s Degree in History and has worked in the LSUS Continuing Education department for over 20 years. She is a multi-award winning author and a national speaker.

Louisiana DAR held its annual State Conference in Alexandra on March 19-21. Honorary Chapter Regent Cindy Madden and our chapter Volunteer for Veterans Chair Pam Mattox represented Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter. A “Paper Party” genealogy workshop was held the first afternoon of the conference, and a memorial service was held to honor each DAR member we lost statewide in 2025. Dozens of state-level awards were presented at Opening Night and the Awards Luncheon, including the DAR Medal of Honor, DAR Good Citizen Award for teens, Distinguished Citizen Award, and Outstanding Teacher of American History.  Two of our American History Essay Contest winners received awards at the state level:  Miles McCollough and Grayson Avery of Glenbrook School.  Our essay contest chair Margaret Salter will present the winners with certificates, medals, and cash prizes at their school. Their essays have been forwarded to National for further judging

Our chapter donated a box of hygiene items to the DAR State Chair of Project Patriot to send to Camp Atterbury, a training facility for all branches of the military that are being deployed. Over 2,000 hygiene items were donated statewide, and packages of dehydrated food items are still being counted. We also donated 35 packets of vegetable seeds to the DAR Schools State Chair to send to Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, Kentucky.  This school is one of several public schools located in remote Appalachian areas that is supported by DAR. The vegetable seeds will be used for the school’s Grow Appalachia program, which seeks to solve persistent food insecurity issues by helping families grow and preserve as much food as possible. Our state donated 1,838 vegetable seed packets.

DAR is a volunteer organization dedicated to education, patriotism, and historic preservation. Any woman age 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) is eligible to join DAR. For more information, contact us at dorcheatbistineau@yahoo.com

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By John Monzingo, Assistant County Agent

As daylight hours increase and temperatures begin to rise, many people are inspired to spend more time outdoors. Vegetable gardeners are no exception. This time of year, they begin preparing for the season by collecting soil samples, determining nutrient needs, and monitoring weather conditions to identify the optimal planting window for their crops.

Below are examples of warm-season vegetables commonly grown in Louisiana during the spring and summer months:

If you are concerned about not having enough room for a traditional in-ground garden, there are easy alternatives. Raised beds, window boxes, and even 5gallon buckets offer excellent options for growing many of the warm-season crops listed above. Numerous vegetable varieties perform well in container systems, making gardening accessible even in limited spaces.

This list is not exhaustive—these are simply a few of my personal favorites to grow each year. For additional recommendations on warm-season vegetables or variety selection, please contact John Monzingo at 3189273110 or 3183711371.

Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service Disclaimer

It is the policy of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that no person shall be subject to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability.

I write this as we enter Holy Week.  Good Friday is on the horizon and the Resurrection, the most profound gift in human history, follows three days later.  Many of us, and billions of others the world over, treasure Easter as the highest, holy day of the year.  

The explosion of Spring foliage serves as a triumphant announcement of Easter.  From the beautiful flowers at the Norton Art Gallery, the stunning roses of the coming Kentucky Derby, as well as the Cherry Blossoms to bloom in the Tidal Basin in D.C where I lived and worked for years, the change of seasons is unmistakable. 

It is this beautiful pageantry of Spring growth in contrast to the, at times, gray and forlorn winter season that encourages us and renews us.  At the heart of that renewal is Easter. 

This stunning seasonal transformation serves as a rebuke to the strife, struggle and darkness that exist in our nation and world.  And, as contradictory and paradoxical as it may seem, it is in our awareness and recognition of that rebuke that our hope lies.  

How can that be? How can we find peace and renewal by recognizing that we live in a harsh and fallen world?

Because, without the awareness that we actually have very little control over this life, we would likely never turn our attention and focus to God.  To Christ. 

Rather, we would continue to attempt to “gut it out” by trying to walk through life laboring to solve the often-overwhelming problems in our individual lives, by ourselves.  In our own power. Which will never work.

We have finite minds and very limited ability to direct life’s events. God possesses an infinite mind and has unlimited ability to direct life’s events. 

That recognition is what Easter represents to me and multitudes across our planet and that is one of the most reassuring and encouraging beliefs we could ever hold.  It’s NOT all on us. It couldn’t possibly be. The burdens of this life are not intended to be carried by us alone.  We shouldn’t try.

That is the central but simple message of Christ: He died for our inevitable sins, and we are freed of them. Our only obligation is to, through our devoted prayers and faithful adherence, accept him as our Savior and call upon him.  That is all. 

It is only in the acknowledgement of Christ’s promise that we may be truly renewed. It is the only way to be genuinely hopeful and encouraged about this life.  In this way we are truly free to begin, again.

I hope we are all blessed this Easter season by and through that renewal.  Happy Easter!

(Shreveport attorney, Royal Alexander, worked in D.C. in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 8 years for two different Members of Congress from Louisiana.  He has witnessed up close several Speaker races. He can be reached at RoyalAlexanderlawfirm@gmail.com .)

I’ve been struggling to find a suitable topic for this week’s article, but every topic feels bleak right now. I’ve been having to limit the news I consume for the first time in years because it feels like every article I read is worse than the last. Even that isn’t a fix, because I’m reminded of the state of the world when I go to the gas station and see the astronomical prices.

Nobody new has been prosecuted for their involvement with the Epstein Files. The new acting Attorney General claimed on Friday that the Files “should not be a part of anything going forward.” So Americans were just expected to read the references to these people harming and eating children, and then go on about our daily business as if we can forget about that.

We still have children in ICE detention camps, experiencing prison instead of school. Over 900 children have been held in these camps for longer than the legal 20 day limit, which is heartbreaking. Regardless of our feelings on their parents’ immigration status, children should not pay for the sins of their parents like this.

Israel is getting more bold in their quest for conquest. It wasn’t enough for them to force our hand in starting a war against Iran, but they’re now invading Lebanon. Lebanese Christians are having to shelter their Muslim brothers and sisters in their houses and churches to hide them from Israel’s wrath, which feels vaguely reminiscent of another time in history.

This on the same page about how to stop this, either. The second anyone speaks up about how ridiculous it all is, they are reprimanded immediately by Trump on Twitter. So, for Republicans, it’s extortion to either go along with everything mindlessly or risk being ousted immediately by their party.

For Democrats, it’s playing the middleman and claiming to want better for the American people, while taking money from corporations. It’s building a platform arguing for peace and love, while taking money from AIPAC and refusing to condemn Israel and our country’s actions in this war.

Then, we have people like our Secretary of War having mandatory cult-like Pentagon worship services asking God for “overwhelming violence” against our enemies and instructing commanders to tell their troops that the US is anointed by God to cause Armageddon. Then, Trump is comparing himself to Jesus and being called a Prophet by his spiritual advisors.

They’re using the Christian faith as a manipulation tactic to make people feel bad for criticizing their actions. If they can make us believe that God approves of their actions, then we will agree with anything else they do without questioning it.

Can’t we all look at this whole picture and admit things are getting a little too weird right now?

The worst part is that those who disagree with this administration are told to go have a little protest festival with their little “No Kings” signs and then go home and go to sleep, feeling self-fulfilled that they’ve done their part and things will all work out.

Apologies for my cynicism, but I feel like protests are outdated in the age of social media. They were originally used to bring awareness to the general public about issues, which is why they worked. But now? Everyone knows Trump has betrayed his country and is massively overstepping his legal limits. This isn’t news to anyone on the streets. I’m doing the only thing I know how to do, which is to speak up where I can on social media, which is where the general public tends to gather now.

Regardless of everything, I still have hope for our country because I have faith that others love it as much as I do and genuinely want to see us succeed again. This faith extends past party lines and I believe voting is the only sensible way to get our country back on track. My standards for a candidate have changed drastically after witnessing the effects of this last election.

I do not care if a candidate is a Republican or Democrat anymore. I am drawn to candidates that do not take money from any foreign PACs, regardless if those PACs are registered as foreign agents or not. I like the candidates that shake up the status quo and cross party lines to fight for their values. I pay attention more to the ones who get a lot of bad press because they don’t fit into the box they should or they aren’t loyal enough to the right people. Bad press is usually a green flag when the media has turned into a propaganda machine to keep people in line.

I love candidates like Democrat James Talarico in Texas and Republican James Fishback in Florida, and would love to see people like them rise up in our own state. I’m willing to overlook the differences in opinion I have on party matters because we have more important things to be concerned with. The debate of trans people playing sports just seems dumb compared to watching the administration we voted for bomb elementary schools.

I’ve realized that having a candidate that is loyal to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the people of the United States above any others is a higher bar than I thought it was.

It’s so easy to look at everything and get discouraged, but what our country needs now is for us to pray and vote. Hopefully in the coming years, we can get things back to normal and this will all just feel like a bad dream.

Taryn Ogletree is a local small business owner and author with previous experience of several years in finance.

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

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 .

Word of the Day: Adroit

Phonetic: /uh-DROYT/
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition
Adroit describes someone or something that has or shows skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations.
// We marveled at how adroit the puppeteers were, the marionettes responding to each precise shift of their hands, each flick of their wrists.