Intake # 26014 “Sky” is an approximately 2-year-old tiny female pitty mix. Sky is heart worm positive and will need a treatment plan in place for adoption. Sky came in in very bad shape – very emaciated and weighing only 17 lbs. Since she has been with us at Minden Animal Shelter, she has gained up to 28 lbs. and is doing well.   

Sky is the sweetest soul you will meet. Even upon pickup when she was so emaciated she could barely walk, she was so happy and loving. She absolutely adores people, is good with other dogs and seems to like cats. She walks well on a leash, will sit for treats and is becoming quite playful.

Available for rescue through 501c3 group or approved adoption (MUST fill out application for adoption)

Adoption fee $150 (includes spay. Microchip, all age appropriate vaccines

Adoption application-forms.gle/TfS5pe939gbP4t2i6

The rural town of Cotton Valley showcased its Christmas spirit with a downtown parade on Saturday, Dec. 20. Participants and onlookers celebrated the upcoming holiday with cheer, featuring floats highlighting Jesus, red tractors, Santa hats, and plenty of smiles and waves.

For the second year in a row, Walmart in Minden has sponsored and hosted Shop with Heroes. Last Saturday, area kids greeted first responders at the front door of the store, where they were given $100 gift cards by Walmart manager Rory Fleury and then paired with a Minden police officer, firefighter or emergency medical responder to shop for Christmas gifts.

Background music: Jingle Bells by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100187

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Jesus is the reason for the season.  

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. 

~Christ Our Savior Is Born~

Christ our savior is born into a world full of sin.  God had a plan for his precious baby boy, Even before he was born.  Jesus was born to save a world full of sin.  Everything that happened to Jesus was all in the plan of God.  

Did you know God had a plan for your life, even before you were born? You are special and unique,  never doubt who God made you to be.  

It doesn’t matter what side of the track you came from or who you came from. When God has  a purpose for your life it shall come to pass.  

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for his glory.  

Jesus’  mother Mary, was a virgin who was chosen by God to conceive a son by the Holy Spirit.  

Jesus Christ is the true meaning of Christmas. Without Christ there’s no Christmas.   Jesus’  birth was miraculous, because he was the only one born without sin.    

As we approach Christmas let’s not get so wrapped up in the gifts that we forget about the greatest gift of all and his name is Jesus.   

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus to make a way for lost souls to be saved.  John Was Not the Light, but a Witness to the Light! Jesus is the light of the world and  his light shines through every born again believer.  

John prepared hearts for the messages Jesus would soon be preaching.  (See Mark 1:1-9)

Prayer: Lord we thank you for your grace and mercy. Help us to focus on the greatest gift of all. Forgive us of our sins known and unknown.  Help us to be a blessing to others and share the good news of Jesus.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Be Encouraged. 

To God Be The Glory! 

(LaTina DeLoach, is a devoted wife and mother who shares these words in hopes of uplifting those who read what God writes through her.)

The holidays are all about joy, family, and delicious meals, but for those limiting sodium, traditional Christmas favorites can pose a challenge. The great news? You don’t have to sacrifice flavor to stay heart healthy. Lowering sodium opens the door to fresh herbs, vibrant spices, and cooking techniques that highlight the natural goodness of your favorite dishes. Whether you’re planning a festive feast or a cozy dinner for two, these tips will help you craft a holiday menu that’s both wholesome and full of cheer. Here are some creative ways to prepare low-sodium staples that will keep your table merry and bright.

1. Mashed Potatoes with a Twist

• Instead of loading mashed potatoes with salted butter and gravy, try:
• Flavor Boosters: Use unsalted butter or olive oil, roasted garlic, and a splash of low-sodium vegetable broth.
• Herbs & Spices: Fresh rosemary, thyme, and black pepper add depth without sodium.

2. Roasted Vegetables

• Colorful roasted veggies make a beautiful side dish:
• Seasoning Tips: Toss carrots, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes in olive oil, cracked pepper, and a sprinkle of smoked paprika.
• Citrus Finish: A squeeze of lemon or orange juice brightens the flavors naturally.

3. Herb-Rubbed Turkey

• Skip the pre-seasoned bird and make your own rub:
• Ingredients: Fresh herbs like sage, thyme, and parsley, combined with garlic and a hint of olive oil.
• Cooking Tip: Roast with onions and apples for moisture and sweetness.

4. Low-Sodium Stuffing

• Traditional stuffing can be sodium heavy.

Try:

• Whole-Grain Bread: Use unsalted whole-grain bread cubes.
• Flavor Enhancers: Add sautéed celery, onions, mushrooms, and fresh herbs. Moisten with low-sodium broth.

5. Cranberry Sauce

• Homemade cranberry sauce is naturally low in sodium:
• Simple Recipe: Fresh cranberries, orange zest, and a touch of honey or maple syrup for sweetness.

6. Homemade Bread or Rolls

• Bake your own bread using unsalted butter and herbs like rosemary or thyme.
• Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds for crunch.

7. Pasta Dishes

• Use fresh tomato sauce with garlic, basil, and oregano instead of jarred sauces.
• Add roasted vegetables or lean protein for a hearty meal.

8. Rice or Grain Dishes

• Cook rice, quinoa, or barley in low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth for extra flavor.
• Mix in sautéed vegetables, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil.

9. Creative Seasoning Blends

Make your own salt-free blends using:

• Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika
• Dried herbs like thyme, oregano, and basil
• Citrus zest for a fresh kick

10. Dessert: Fruit-Based Treats

• End on a sweet note without added salt:
• Ideas: Baked apples with cinnamon or a fresh fruit salad with pomegranate seeds for holiday color.(Shakera Williams, M.P.H. is Assistant Nutrition Extension Agent- FCS for Webster/Claiborne parishes. Contact her at (318) 371-1371.)

Quail Forever, the LDWF (Louisiana Department of Wildlife and fisheries), the USDA-NRCS and many more partners in the AR-LA WGCP CDN are offering an exciting opportunity for private landowners with the Open Pine Program for Quail, Turkey and other wildlife!

We can help you transform dense forests into healthy, open woodlands, savannas, and native prairies that support quail, turkey, deer, and songbirds.

Through the AR-LA Open Pine Landscape Restoration RCPP, landowners in 20 parishes across northern and central Louisiana can help improve and restore habitat for wildlife like turkey and quail!

Funding is available to help with:

oForest Stand Improvement: Thinning dense woods to create open habitat.

oPrescribed Fire: A key tool for maintaining healthy ecosystems.

oBird Monitoring: See the results of your hard work.

FAQ’s: 

1. How do I start? NRCS and associated conservation partners will deliver this program collaboratively. You can begin by going to openpine.org to let a partner biologist know you are interested!

2. What does it cost me and what cost share is available? Funding is available for reimbursement through this program to reduce forest density and allow sunlight to reach the ground at differing rates based on management activities.

READY TO GET STARTED? CLICK BELOW!

openpine.org

For over three decades, Christmas never really meant a day off.

That lesson came early. I was sixteen years old in 1977 when I landed my first tax-paying job at a local radio station. Sunday afternoons were spent sitting in a small booth while the New Orleans Saints played. When the broadcast cut to local commercials, my job was to play the spots that had been bought and paid for. Once an hour, I was given five seconds for station identification, and those five seconds felt like forever.

“You are listening to WHSY AM, Hattiesburg.”

That was my debut.

Eventually, I moved into weekend shifts, and I was ecstatic. I later learned that none of the other DJs wanted to work weekends, which probably explains how I got the job, but at the time it felt like a promotion earned the hard way. Then came the shift no one wanted—six o’clock Christmas Eve night until six o’clock Christmas morning, followed a week later by six p.m. New Year’s Eve until six a.m. New Year’s Day.

In those days, radio shifts were four hours long, and a twelve-hour shift was unheard of. But I was sixteen and hungry for airtime, so I took whatever they would give me. I worked those overnight shifts two years in a row—my junior year and senior year of high school—and I loved every minute of it.

Those long, quiet hours shaped how working Christmases felt to me. The holiday wasn’t about time off; it was about showing up. That outlook stuck.

Work has been steady since those late-seventies days, with one rough patch in the early eighties when jobs came and went. Finding work wasn’t the problem; keeping it was. Getting clean and sober in 1983 changed everything. Since then, there hasn’t been a stretch without work, and my gratitude for that has never faded.

After flunking out of college, I fell backward into the restaurant business and fell in love with it at the same time. Bills needed paying, so any shift was fair game. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were no different. If the doors were open, I was working.

When the first restaurants opened—the Purple Parrot Café and the Purple Parrot Grill—we were open on Christmas Eve. Those early years meant ninety-hour weeks in the kitchen. We were closed on Christmas Day, and that day belonged to family. There weren’t many days off back then, but Christmas Day felt familiar, and it reminded me of those radio years.

Eventually, I made the decision to close on Christmas Eve. By then, I had pulled out of the kitchen and cut my schedule down to something closer to seventy hours a week, and I started taking Christmas Eve off while the team worked. After a couple of years of that, it didn’t sit right. I felt like Scrooge. We’ve been closed on Christmas Eve ever since. This year, only the bakery will be open, and even then, it will be a short day.

Christmas in the restaurant business carries a different kind of energy. Like retail, we’re busier than normal. December doesn’t make our year the way it does for some industries, but it’s still a strong month. These days, it also means private parties—friends, families, and companies filling our rooms and wanting things to feel special. It’s a good kind of tired.

Christmas parties for our team have always mattered to me. Before owning restaurants, most of the holiday parties I experienced were pretty lame. As a newbie in the workforce, I remember thinking that now that I had a real job and a professional position, a high-dollar Christmas bonus like the ones executives got on television shows was surely coming.

I got a fruitcake.

It didn’t make it home. It went straight out the window into the Leaf River as I crossed the bridge. Sixteen-year-olds don’t want fruitcake, and I’ve held a grudge against that foodstuff ever since.

The Purple Parrot Café opened on December 27, 1987, and we were far too busy to think about hosting a Christmas party. We made up for it with Christmas in July instead—a barbecue at a water park with live music and ribs. That day also happened to be when I met my wife. We’ve been together ever since. From that point forward, Christmas parties became non-negotiable.

It has taken me far too long to realize something obvious. Next year, for the first time ever, all of the New South Restaurant Group concepts will celebrate Christmas together. More than 450 teammates will gather in one room for one party. The concepts have always operated well, but mostly independently, and that’s changing. It’s overdue.

Christmas shows up differently in each restaurant, and that’s part of the fun.

For thirty-two years, the Purple Parrot Café handled the holidays with restraint, using tasteful touches like jingle bells tied with logo-branded ribbon and placed gently around guests’ necks. That restaurant didn’t survive COVID. In its place now stands the Maple Bar, where the Christmas décor is elegant, understated, and intentional. It remains one of my favorite rooms I’ve ever created, and it’s rare that I sit there without saying—out loud or quietly to myself—“I love this room.”

Crescent City Grill looks like Mardi Gras happened at the North Pole, festive without losing its footing, and ready to roll straight into Carnival on January 6. Mahogany Bar, along with Crescent City Grill, is one of our oldest continually operating concepts, and it is also the undisputed king of Christmas. Justin Jordan, who decorates all of our spaces, was given one directive: “I want it to look like Christmas threw up in here.” He delivered, enthusiastically and in the best possible way.

Loblolly Bakery leans into Christmas with a bakery-themed tree decorated in bread, butter, and whimsy. Ed’s Burger Joint goes all-in on retro, tacky Christmas, which somehow fits that room perfectly. Tabella keeps things quiet and understated. The Midtowner, which was designed to feel like it’s been there since 1948, features the only tinsel tree in my life these days. I grew up with tinsel everywhere, and Justin took pity on me and went all in.

None of this is accidental. Décor matters because feeling matters. Restaurants don’t just sell food; they sell moments and memories, and Christmas just turns the volume up.

As the season rolls along, gratitude sits front and center—for work, for teammates who show up, for guests who choose to spend meaningful moments in our rooms, and for the chance to help those who need it most. Extra Table exists to feed Mississippians facing food insecurity, and Christmas is the right time to lean into that mission. More information can be found at extratable.org.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, filled with warmth, shared tables, and grateful hearts.

Onward into the New Year.

Honey Bundt Cake

There’s something about the deep, rich flavor of honey that feels right at home during the Christmas season. This bundt cake brings back memories of family gatherings on Bellewood Drive where sweets were as much a part of the celebration as the presents under the tree. The warm notes of cinnamon and honey make it a natural fit for holiday mornings or as the perfect finish to a Christmas feast. The pomegranate glaze adds a bright, tart finish that keeps things interesting.

Make sure to grease every nook and cranny of your bundt pan thoroughly. Use butter and dust with flour for a clean release. Also, letting the cake cool for a solid twenty minutes before flipping is key to avoiding a sticky mess.

Serves 8 to 10

Preheat oven to 325°F

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups honey
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup buttermilk

Pomegranate Glaze (for serving)
3 cups confectioner’s sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons pomegranate juice

If using a stand mixer, beat the butter on high with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. If not, place the butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl and beat on high until light and fluffy.

Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to the butter and beat for one more minute.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

Add the honey to the butter mixture and mix well.

With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk until fully incorporated.

Lightly butter and flour a bundt pan, making sure to cover all the crevices.

Allow the batter to rest for ten minutes before pouring into the pan. This helps the flour hydrate fully, leading to a more tender crumb. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake on the center rack for 55 to 60 minutes. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the cake—it should come out clean.

Place the bundt pan on a wire cooling rack for twenty minutes before carefully flipping it onto a serving dish.

While the cake cools, prepare the glaze by mixing the confectioner’s sugar with the pomegranate juice, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.

Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bundt cake and garnish with pomegranate seeds if desired.

Serve with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream flavored with honey and vanilla for an extra touch of luxury.

Store any unused portion of the cake in an airtight container.

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

At unquestionably the biggest nighttime church service of the year, with proud moms and great aunts and uncles tucked in tight to see cute children take part in the symbolic Christmas ceremony, a granddad fumbled the mistletoe ball.

Literally in front of God and everybody.

“The fan mail continues to come in,” he said in mid-week after that traumatic Sunday night. “It’s nice to be noticed again. I’m surprised it wasn’t ‘Play of the Day’ on ESPN.”

He’s accepted the electronic waves of mail and the face-to-face snickers with the guarded good cheer of a man who stepped over the edge — and lived to be ridiculed about it.

“This is the gift that will keep on giving,” he said, “right on through the new year.”

It happened during the Hanging of the Greens, a traditional service in which every branch and bough hung has seasonal meaning. Cedar represents royalty, fir and pine represent everlasting life, holly for resurrection, mistletoe for … sin? I’m not sure. But this is what happened.

The children go all over the church putting up wreaths and boughs at predetermined times. The organist plays. The congregation or choir or soloist sings. At some point, a fashioned orb of mistletoe the size of two basketballs and with a hook attached is lifted by a human holding a hooked stick and placed on a high hook in the sanctuary.

When you’re dealing with that many hooks and a human and a stick and a somber audience, you’re dealing with liturgical dynamite.

Dressed in his holiday finest, my guy (to use his name would be indiscreet; we’ll just call him Pat) had practiced before the gig. Hung it right up. But as he sat in the congregation preparing for The Hanging, the hook appeared smaller. And higher. And the stick looked to weigh roughly the same as your average load of pulpwood.

But the show must go on.

And it was time.

He secured the mistletoe ball on the stick. Heaved it skyward. Arms began trembling. He zeroed in on the hook. It bobbed and weaved. He glanced over his shoulder toward his precious wife of 50 years, who seemed to say with her eyes, “Please! While we’re young!”

He got it! The hooks hooked! But only a bit. And as he brought the stick down, well, the mistletoe ball … she fell. To Pat (not his real name, probably), it happened in slow motion. The ball seemed to fall in sections. Took a calendar day for the thing to hit the ground, which it did with a soft splat. Of course to Pat, it sounded a clothes washing machine, while running, had just been dropped out a fifth-story window.

It was all about pride at this point. Again he went in, with the stick, and hooked the ball. (What I’ve imagined is a guy trying to land a marlin, only in reverse.) He pointed the stick and the unruly mistletoe ball skyward, took aim, and after a few more agonizing eternities, she hooked. She hooked! Lord have mercy, securely, she hooked.

The children, lined in back and paying more attention in church than at any time previous in their entire lives, paused, eyes on the ball, just to make sure. And when she’d held for five seconds and then 10, and the end of the torment was assured, they actually burst into cheer. They cheered in church!

Pat sat. He did what he always does in times of distress: he looked upward. The center held. It was finished.

But not without a price. “The only other greens I’ll ever hang again,” he said, “will be turnips.”

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

The following persons are scheduled to appear in 26th Judicial District Court Monday, December 29:

ANDERSON, DMITRI
INCOMING Felony Carnal Knowledge Of A Juvenile

ANDERSON, ELROY
100007 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

ANDERSON, ELROY
T036325 Operating A Vehicle Without Proper Required Equipment
T036325A Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License

BAXTER, AMANDA SUE DODDS
96804 Gross Littering

BAXTER, AMANDA SUE DODDS
96860 Insurance Fraud

BAXTER, AMANDA SUE DODDS
99497 Gross Littering

BAXTER, AMANDA SUE DODDS
97707 Gross Littering

BEALE, JUSTIN CLAY
INCOMING Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule II CDS

BRITTON, LAJOYE PATRICE
T124924 Failure to Use Safety Belt
T124924A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled
Has a new DUS and no seatbelt charge

BROWN, ROBERT TYRONE
99907 Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule I CDS (Two and One Half Pounds or More)

BRUNSON, NATHANIEL CADE

BURDITT, DAVID TROY
100039 Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule II CDS

BUSH, JUAN JAMES
100077 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

CANTU, STEVEN
98814 Home Improvement Fraud
Restitution per report- $4,125, plus $618.75 fee = $4,743.75 total

CASS, KYLE
INCOMING Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule I CDS
INCOMING Conspiracy Conspiracy Distribution of a Schedule I CDS
INCOMING Improper Lane Usage

COLEMAN, DAMION
99679 Illegal Possession Of Stolen Firearms

CORNELIUS, ASHIA GWENETTA
100061 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

CORNELIUS, ASHIA GWENETTA
96007 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

COX, LAPATRICK
99459 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

CRAVENS, ALLTON B.
98115B Second Degree Murder

EASON, KEUNDRELL
99871 Possession of a Schedule I CDS

EDMOND, KANESHIA LENEE
99769 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000

EDWARDS, DALLAS MAJOR
99959 Illegal Use/Possession/Control of Weapons – Crime of Violence or
Controlled Dangerous Substance

EDWARDS, DALLAS MAJOR
99708 Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense
99708A Criminal Mischief

ERVING, DEDRICK CORTEZ
99407-CT.1 Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule II CDS
99407-CT.2 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

ERVING, DEDRICK CORTEZ
99407-CT.1 Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule II CDS
99407-CT.2 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

FIZER, VINCENT
99814 Theft of $1,000 or More but Less than $5000
Restitution- $1,199, plus $179.85 fee = $1,378.85 total

FIZER, VINCENT
T014523A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

FLOURNOY, DAMETRICK
99478-CT.1 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS
99478-CT.2 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS
99478-CT.3 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS

FLOURNOY, DAMETRICK
99478-CT.1 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS
99478-CT.2 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS
99478-CT.3 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS

FORT, DONAVAN XAVIER
INCOMING Criminal Street Gangs and Patterns of Criminal Street Gang Activity

GIBSON, JR., CLYDE DOUGLAS
100029A Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

GILL, DEAUDRICK
98905-CT.1 Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule I CDS
98905-CT.2 Illegal Use/Possession/Control of Weapons – Crime of Violence or Controlled Dangerous Substance

GRANT, SHAKAYLA LASHUN
98598 Aggravated Criminal Damage To Property
Possible restitution owed to in the amount of $2,956.41 plus fee $443.46 = $3,399.87.

GREEN, QUINCEY T.
INCOMING Domestic Abuse Battery – Strangulation – 1st Offense

HAMMONTREE, CHRISTOPHER
99809 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000

HARRIS, COLLIN
INCOMING Criminal Street Gangs and Patterns of Criminal Street Gang Activity

HARRIS, KELLION
98494 Ct. 1 Simple Criminal Damage To Property Under $1,000
98494 Ct. 2 Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense
98494 Ct. 3 Theft Under $1,000
Restitution per the report $500, plus $75 fee = $575

HARRIS, KENDRICK R.
100009-CT.1 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence
100009-CT.2 Obstruction Of Justice

HARRIS, TYCHRISTOPHER
INCOMING Criminal Street Gangs and Patterns of Criminal Street Gang Activity

HARRISON, JARED MALCOLM
99398 Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule I CDS (Two and One Half Pounds or More)

HAUPTMAN, LARRY DEJUAN
INCOMING Possession of Schedule II CDS
INCOMING Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled
INCOMING Operating A Vehicle In An Unsafe Condition

HAYDEN, BRIAN C
99641-CT.1 Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense
99641-CT.2 Speeding 11-15 MPH
99641-CT.3 Improper Lane Usage

HENDERSON, KIMBERLY J.
99958 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

HOOD, GRACE LOUISE
98843 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Two Grams or More But Less Than Twenty-Eight Grams)

HOOD, GRACE LOUISE
99835 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

JACKSON, JR., CURTIS FITZGERALD
INCOMING Possession of Schedule II CDS
INCOMING Possession of a Schedule I CDS
INCOMING Sale/Distribution/Possession of Legend Drug Without Prescription
INCOMING Operating a Vehicle with an Unlit License Plate

JOHNSON, JEREMIAH JMONTEZ
99926 Attempted Second Degree Murder

JOHNSON, JOSHUA MEREDITH
99382 Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule I CDS (Two and One Half Pounds or More)

KELLEY, GINGER L.
98846 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

KLICK, DONALD JAMES
95924A-CT.1 Possession of a Schedule I CDS
95924A-CT.2 A Probation Violation Possession with Intent to Distribute a
Schedule I CDS, to wit: Marijuana or Synthetic Cannabinoids
Restitution owed to the victim Robert Wilson $17,041.02, plus $2,556.15, = $19,597.17 total

KLICK, DONALD JAMES
99752 Hit and Run Driving
99752A CT 1 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
99752A CT 2 Failure to Use Safety Belt

LOFTON, LACARLOS TYREKE
INCOMING Criminal Street Gangs and Patterns of Criminal Street Gang Activity

LOFTON, LACARLOS TYREKE
T081725 Operating a Vehicle with an Expired Motor Vehicle Inspection

LOFTON, LACARLOS TYREKE
99947 Illegal Use/Possession/Control of Controlled Dangerous Substance
Please make sure forfeiture of $5,240 in US Currency and 2003 Honda Accord is part of any plea/sentencing agreement.

MARTIN, TREMAINE
INCOMING Conspiracy 14:27/Conspiracy Distribution of a Schedule I CDS

MAXWELL, JOSHUA DONALD
100076 Possession Of Firearm Or Carrying Concealed Weapon By Convicted Felon

MCCUEN, BROOKSY JAKE
100039 Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule II CDS

MCGEE, LEEANNA RICHELLE
99655 Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense

MCKINNEY, DRAKE EDWARD
INCOMING Aggravated Flight From An Officer Where Human Life Is Endangered
INCOMING Illegal Carrying of Weapons
INCOMING Possession Of Alcoholic Beverages In Motor Vehicles
INCOMING No Insurance
INCOMING Speeding 1-10 MPH

MILLER, DAWN MICHELLE
100037 Unauthorized use of a Movable more than $1,000

MILLS, JAYDEN RICHARD
97611-CT.1 Principal To Illegal Use Of Weapons Or Dangerous Instrumentalities
97611-CT.2 Aggravated Second Degree Battery

MONTGOMERY, TINA
100006 Illegal Use Of Weapons Or Dangerous Instrumentalities

MOORE, DEANDRE LEE
98330-CT.1 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence
98330-CT.2 Domestic Abuse Child Endangerment
98330-CT.3 Aggravated Battery

MOORE, KALION
99803 Resisting An Officer With Force Or
Violence
99803A Battery Of A Correctional Facility Employee

NEAL, LAQUALIN A.
99902-CT.1 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS
99902-CT.2 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS
99902-CT.3 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS
99902-CT.4 Distribution of a Schedule II CDS

NEW, SHELBY
96171 Aggravated Burglary

OUTLAW, JOHN DAVID
99781-CT.1 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)
99781-CT.2 Home Invasion
*BDCC Trial 2/9

PALMER, CHRISTOPHER ADAM
97406 Simple Burglary
Restitution owed to the victim-$6,426.99, plus $964.05 fee = $7,391.04 total

PALMER, CHRISTOPHER ADAM
99449 Simple Burglary
Restitution owed to the victim- $870, plus $130.50 fee = $1,000.50 total

PARKER, CAMERON
INCOMING Criminal Street Gangs and Patterns of Criminal Street Gang Activity

PARKS, BOBBY LEE
100078 Resisting An Officer

PRICE, KAYLIEB RUSSELL
99511 Second Degree Battery
Restitution owed to the victim- $2,647.03, plus $397.05 fee = $3,044.08 total

RANKIN, JACOBE
INCOMING Manufacture/Transfer/Possess Machine Guns

RASCO, LADADREN
99633A Illegal Discharge Of A Firearm – Crime Of Violence / Uniform Cds Law

REESE, DER’EON D’JAICEON CHRISTOPHER
99633 Manslaughter

RHODES, DERRICK LORENZO
99999 Possession of CDS I Marijuana (More Than Fourteen Grams)

ROBERTS, TYRAANN
T103323 Speeding 25 & OVER
T103323A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

ROBINSON, SAMARIA
99840 Domestic Abuse Battery – 1st Offense

RODGERS, JOSEPH R
INCOMING Aggravated Burglary

ROE, CARSHANENA LATRICA
98189-CT.1 Issuing Worthless Checks
98189-CT.2 Issuing Worthless Checks
Restitution 846.99 with fees. As of September 23, 2025, has paid $130, balance is $716.99.

RUSHING, NIKKI COURTNEY
98735 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Two Grams or More But Less Than Twenty-Eight Grams)

RUSHING, ZACHAREY TODD
99643A Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Two Grams or More But Less Than Twenty-Eight Grams)

SEAMSTER, LATAVION K
99480 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Two Grams or More But Less Than Twenty-Eight Grams)
99480A Domestic Abuse Child Endangerment

SHYNE, LAVERTO
INCOMING Criminal Street Gangs and Patterns of Criminal Street Gang Activity

SIMS, AUSTIN J.
INCOMING Criminal Street Gangs and Patterns of Criminal Street Gang Activity

SIMS, AUSTIN J.
99819 Illegal Use/Possession/Control of Weapons – Crime of Violence or
Controlled Dangerous Substance

SPURLIN, LARRY
99989 Possession With Intent to Distribute a Schedule II CDS

STERLING, JASMINE
100075 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

STREETMAN, CANDY NICOLE
INCOMING Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)
INCOMING Possession of a CDS I Marijuana (Fourteen Grams or Less)
INCOMING Operating A Vehicle With Improper Tail Lights

TAYLOR, JASON ARTHUR
T161416 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled
T161316 Operating a Vehicle with an Unlit License Plate

TAYLOR, JASON ARTHUR
99560 Possession Of Firearm Or Carrying Concealed Weapon By Convicted Felon

TINDELL, KATHRYN ELIZABETH
99955 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

TOBIN, CLARA ELIZABETH
99987 CT. 1 Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – First Offense
99987 CT. 2 Speeding 16-24 MPH
99987 CT. 3 Improper Lane Usage
99987 CT. 4 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

WELLS, JR., CHARLES EUGENE
99526 Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated – Fourth or Subsequent

WHITE, III, NATHANIEL
99273 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence

WHITE, III, NATHANIEL
INCOMING Criminal Street Gangs and Patterns of Criminal Street Gang Activity

WHITE, SPENCER
99806 Malfeasance in Office
99806A CT 1 Forgery
99806A CT 2 Forgery
99806A CT 3 Forgery
99806B Filing or Maintaining False Public Records
INCOMING Malfeasance in Office
INCOMING Trespassing Against State Computers
INCOMING Offenses Against Computer Users

WRIGHT, JAVAR
99779-CT.1 Possession of CDS I Marijuana (More Than Fourteen Grams)
99779-CT.2 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled
99779-CT.3 Improper Lane Usage
99779-CT.4 Operating A Vehicle with an Expired License Plate
99779-CT.5 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – First Offense

YATES, HANNAH MARIE
99201 Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Less than Two Grams)

YOUNGBLOOD, DONOVAN J.
100008 Resisting An Officer With Force Or Violence

By Brad Dison

Sending text messages has become an integral part of life for most of us.  It has become such a common activity that we instinctively reach for our phones and begin tapping out a message rather than placing a voice call.  The most common text messages today are, “I love you,” “when will you be home,” and “where are you,” respectively.  The birth of our modern text messaging system can be traced back to December 3, 1992.

In 1992, 22-year-old Neil Papworth was working as a software engineer for the now-defunct Anglo-French information technology company Sema Group Telecoms.  For about a year and a half, Neil was part of a team that was searching for a way to transmit short text messages for Vodafone, a British telecommunications company.  At the time, the only function cell phones could perform consisted of making and receiving telephone calls.  Telecommunication companies knew that cell phones had the potential to do more, and they knew adding functions would lead to huge profits.  Vodafone wanted to add a pager feature (remember pagers?) into cell phones.  Neil and his team spent months testing and troubleshooting the one-way messaging system.  The main problem was that they had to create a text messaging system that would interact flawlessly with any cell phone on the market.    

Vodafone had invested a lot of money in the system and wanted to show the world that it worked.  On December 3, 1992, Neil sat in his office in Newbury, England, hoping that the text messaging system he and his team created would function as expected.  After checking and rechecking the team’s programming, Neil typed in the cell number of Richard Jarvis, the director of Vodafone, who was hosting a Christmas party on the other side of town at the time.  He typed in a short message and, as he later explained, had two thoughts: “God, I hope this works,” and “what am I going to have for dinner?”  Neil explained, “for me, it was just another day at work.”  This was far from a random test; Vodafone had planned to reveal their technology to the world at this party if it worked.  Vodafone had numerous members of the press present to be sure the word got out.  The company had planned every detail of the reveal except for what the text message would say.  Without much thought, Neil typed a two-word message and sent it.  Because it was a one-way text messaging system and Richard could not send a reply, Neil had to call Richard to ensure that the test was successful.  Neil said, “there was a lot of relief when it worked.”  By the end of 2000, cell phone users sent an average of 35 text messages per month.  Today, users send an average of 52 text messages per day.  Neil had no idea that text messaging would make such an impact on our daily lives. 

Neil Papworth, the 22-year-old software engineer who helped change the way the world sends and receives information, who is credited with sending the first commercial text message, did not own a cell phone.  He bought his first cell phone three or four years later.  Although it’s been said many times, many ways, I want to share the same message with you that Neil sent the director of Vodafone.  The first commercial text message in history consisted of just two words, “Merry Christmas.”

Sources:

1.     The Daily Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa), June 30, 2006, p.57.

2.     Ivan Blagojevic, “23+ Texting Statistics on Modern Messaging Habits,” 99firms, August 11, 2025, https://99firms.com/research/texting-statistics/#gref.

3.     “The History of SMS – Neil Papworth w/ Bonin Bough | Messaging Summit 2019,” Bonin Bough, YouTube.com, July 9, 2019, https://youtu.be/odvj7CDGHys?si=cApKpHu6tnQyuTd9.

4.     “Meet the Legend Behind the first ‘Merry Christmas’ SMS,” MoreThan160, YouTube.com, December 4, 2023, https://youtu.be/1EQffh6-Y2Y?si=DpndYabbyoLNtHhl.

The following civil suits were filed with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court the week of December 19 through 23. Civil suits are public record.

Dec. 19
Arline Turner, succession over $125K.
Webster Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission vs. Howards Automotive, Lucas C. Howard, monies due.
Crown Asset Management LLC vs. Lane Guice, contract.
Tangela Peterson vs. Group Steel Erectors Inc., Hunter Duane Pettis, personal injury.
Shirley Kemp vs. Hercules Service Parts LLC, Kenneth Campbell, damages.
Capital One successor by merger to Discover Bank vs. John Waters, monies due.

Dec. 22
Marietta Mirike Smith, succession over $125K.
Mary Pauline Dickens Farrell, succession over $125K.
Sun West Mortgage Company Inc. vs. Johnathon David Nash, Paige Deann Nash, executory process.
Jason Marcantel vs. Amy Renee Marcantel, divorce.
Larry Armour Jr., John Olen Armour vs. Gloria Armour, petition.

Dec. 23
Citibank vs. Priscilla Terrell, monies due.
Beide Alemu vs. Timothy M. Trammel, Soaring Dreams Logistics LLC, damages.
Capital One vs. Jamie Slaton, monies due.
Jami Baxter, Patrick Lovely, individually and on behalf of minor child vs. Lane Gregor Baxter, Sherry L. Baxter, damages.
Belinda Jewel Owens vs. City of Minden, personal injury.

Rochaun Rochard Thomas, 59, 600 block Eason St., Monroe: arrested Dec.23 by Minden PD for possession of CDS Sch.II (crack cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest by failure to identify, felony obstruction. No bond set.

Cedric Neal Adams, 30, 400 block Stone St., Minden: arrested Dec. 23 by Minden PD for remaining after being forbidden. Bond set $750.

Deana M. Pyle, 26, 2900 block Hwy. 514 Coushatta: arrested

Dec. 20 by Minden PD for disturbing the peace. Bond set $500. 

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.

Nellie Sapp Burge
February 20, 1936 — December 21, 2025
Doyline
Visitation: 9 a.m. Saturday, December 27, 2025, West Lake Baptist Church, Doyline.
Funeral service: 11 a.m., immediately following visitation.
Burial: Point Chapel Cemetery, Doyline, under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 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

Two men reportedly were treated for stab wounds received during a physical altercation Friday afternoon, and one is currently in the parish lockup as a result.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said 39-year-old Haughton resident Justin D. Bamburg is being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on a charge of aggravated second degree battery. His bond has been set at $20,000.

Deputies Justin Spillers and Jeff Hood reportedly responded to a call of a fight in progress at a residence in the 500 block of Horseshoe Loop just before 3 p.m. During initial interviews with the two men involved, deputies learned the residence occupant returned to the residence from work and allegedly was attacked by Bamburg.

According to statements, Bamburg allegedly began hitting the man in the face and head with his fists. The victim reportedly retreated to his room and retrieved a mini-survival shovel to defend himself.

Deputies were told Bamburg followed the man into the room, continued the attack and the pair began to wrestle over the shovel. Deputies learned the shovel was equipped with a built-in knife and during the struggle, both men reportedly suffered stab wounds.

Both men reportedly were transported to Minden Medical Center’s emergency room for evaluation and treatment. Following his release from medical care, Bamburg was placed under arrest.

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 Tiffany Flournoy

Thursday  a Webster Parish court upheld a temporary restraining order sought by a Cotton Valley resident against Cotton Valley Police Chief William “Bill” Ingersoll, extending it until additional testimony is heard on Jan. 22. 

During a civil hearing Thursday, Jessica Sublett told the court that Ingersoll sexually assaulted and stalked her and retaliated against a renter in her home.

Roughly two hours of testimony and questioning were heard in the civil proceeding. 

Ingersoll remained mostly silent, speaking only in whispers to his attorney, Eric Johnson. Sublett is representing herself. Ingersoll, through his attorney, invoked his Fifth Amendment right shortly after Sublett mentioned during her testimony that she had contacted Louisiana State Police regarding his alleged behavior. Sublett said Louisiana State Police has opened an investigation into the matter. She also said she contacted the state ethics board, which has scheduled a hearing for January.

“The allegations against Chief Ingersoll are false. He looks forward to answering these charges while protecting and serving the citizens of Cotton Valley as their elected chief of police,” Johnson told the Webster Parish Journal. 

At the conclusion of the hearing, the court’s hearing officer, Melissa Fox also amended the initial temporary order, restoring Ingersoll’s right to carry a firearm in his official capacity as police chief. She also noted that he would not  be in violation of the order while performing his official duties as an elected police chief by attending town hall or council meetings or responding to emergencies, even if he is within 100 yards of Sublett.

Sublett told the Webster Parish Journal that Ingersoll violated the initial  Dec. 4 order that prohibited him from carrying a firearm.

“He never stopped carrying his weapon. So the order never affected him because he didn’t adhere to its lawfulness…,” Sublett said. 

The order stems from a petition filed by Sublett on Dec. 4 in Webster District Court, alleging sexual assault and stalking. Sublett alleges Ingersoll made inappropriate comments and engaged in unwanted touching of her upper body. She also alleges Ingersoll refused her attempts to file incident reports related to safety concerns near her home.

Sublett further alleges that Ingersoll entered her home without consent through a closed but unlocked door. Testifying Thursday, she said that, in her view, Ingersoll retaliated against a renter living in her home after she raised complaints. The renter, a Cotton Valley police officer and Webster Parish sheriff’s deputy, is facing termination from Cotton Valley Police Department , according to Sublett. 

She said Ingersoll initiated the move. The town has since tabled the termination matter, she said. 

In a world that often feels overwhelming, it’s easy to wonder whether one person can truly make a difference. Justin Thomas is living proof that they can.

Despite facing health issues, the weekend following Thanksgiving, Justin took on an challenge: walking five miles from downtown Springhill all the way to LaMa Animal Rescue on the outskirts of Sarepta. It wasn’t for personal recognition or praise—it was for the animals who don’t have a voice, but desperately need advocates.

Justin’s heart for animals is not new. In 2011, he founded Lumberjack Rescue, a grassroots effort born from compassion, determination, and a refusal to look away from animals in need. That humble beginning eventually grew into what is now LaMa Animal Rescue, a safe haven for countless dogs and cats who have faced abandonment, neglect, and hardship.

Through pledges gathered for his walk, Justin raised $1,040, funds that will go directly toward covering critical veterinary expenses for the animals currently in LaMa’s care. Every dollar represents medical treatment, comfort, healing, and a second chance at life.

What makes Justin’s journey even more remarkable is that it came at a personal cost. Walking five miles is no small feat for anyone—doing so while managing health challenges takes courage, grit, and an unshakable commitment to a cause greater than oneself. Justin pushed forward because he believes deeply that animals are worth the effort, the sacrifice, and the fight.

His walk is a powerful reminder that you don’t need perfect health, unlimited resources, or a large platform to create change. You just need a caring heart and the willingness to act. Whether it’s walking, donating, volunteering, fostering, sharing a post, or simply speaking up, everyone has something they can give.

Justin Thomas showed us that one person’s compassion can ripple outward, touching lives far beyond their own. Because of him, animals will receive the care they need. Because of him, others are inspired to help. And because of people like Justin, hope continues to walk forward—one step, one mile, one rescued life at a time. 

In the spring of 2026, Justin plans to do this walk again, this time he wants to challenge others to walk with him. Just imagine if ten or even twenty people followed in his steps and walked in support of LaMa Animal Rescue.

To volunteer, foster, donate or to find out more about LaMa Animal Rescue please visit our website LaMaAnimalRescue.org .

As of this writing, December 21st is the official start of winter. Today is also the shortest day. 

This past week has been uneventful weather wise. The temperatures are be very mild but cool at night. 

Lows will be in the 50s and highs will reach upper 70s. 

What are the chances of white Christmas? Non existent. Christmas day should be a high of 76 degrees F  There is a slight chance of showers each day. 

Springhill and Minden there was very little rainfall with Springhill 0.02 and Minden 0.04 inches.

(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.)

By Bonnie Culverhouse

Saturday night more than 2,000 people experienced life of the first Christmas during O Come All Ye Faithful, the second annual Community Wide Live Nativity in Minden.

Three churches were on Minden’s Downtown Historic District walking route – St. John’s Episcopal Church, Minden Presbyterian Church and First Methodist Church.

Pearls of Purpose member and Minden Main Street Director Sarah Overall said this event will definitely become an annual tradition.

“I couldn’t get over the amount of people,” she said.

The marketplace at St. John’s was dedicated to the memory of Howard McMurrian, a member who died shortly after last year’s Live Nativity.

Minden Presbyterian Church had live animals that would have been part of the first nativity.

First Methodist Church, Minden hosted a community choir that sang songs representing The Three Wise

Men traveling to bring gifts to Baby Jesus. The choir was directed by Dr. Dan Gibbs and accompanied by Helen Nelson and Aaron Wilson.

Other participants included
Minden Mayor Nick Cox
Minden Police Chief Jared McIver
Emmanuel Baptist Church
First Methodist Church
Friends of Minden Main Street
Lakeview Methodist Church
Liberty Christian Ministries International
Living Word, Minden
Minden High School Choir
Minden Presbyterian Church
Pearls of Purpose, Inc.
St. John’s Episcopal Church
St. Paul Catholic Church
Visit Webster Parish
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker
Webster Parish Tax Assessor

(Special thanks to Kathy Dumas, Marilyn Miller and Mary Copeland for photos.)

2025 MHS HOLIDAY CLASSIC
BROWN SERVICE CENTER

Results of games Thursday, Dec. 18

 Gibsland-Coleman 28 vs Loyola 25 (Girls)
Gibs.-Coleman         9   3   8    8   28   
Loyola                      10  6   3   6    25
Gibs. Coleman- Allen 9, Rushing 8, Jenkins 5, Tillman 3
Loyola- Gibson 8, Beach 8, Garcin 3, Smith 2, Melendez 2, Weeks2

Green Oaks 66 vs Loyola 46 (Boys)
Green Oaks   17    22    15   12    66
Loyola             10   12     8     16   46
Green Oaks- Dandford 22, Benjamin 13, Dean 10, Tellis 10, Wilson 5, Hooper 2, Williams 2, Sonnier 2
Loyola- Hargon 8, Moore 8, Metoyer 8, Taylor 5, Brown 4, Horton 4, Woodard 3, Ward 2, Walker 2, Lafitte 2
 
Gibsland-Coleman 61 vs Haughton (Boys)
Haughton             9    10    10    14    43
Gibs.-Coleman   12    13     19   17    61
Haughton- Alexander 14, Lippollis 9, Attaway 5, Marshall 4, Gladney 3, Pyle 3, Morgan 3, McHenry 2

North Caddo 38 vs Lakeside 32 (Girls)

Camden, Ar 65 vs Lakeside 28 (Boys)
Camden    16   20    17    12    65
Lakeside    14   3      5      6      28
Camden- Randall 12, Thompson 12, Duhart 9, Ware 8, Evans 8, Jackson 7, Morris 4, Clontz 3, Leak 2, Collins 2
Lakeside- Humphreys 11, West 9, Jackson 9, Roberson 1, Sheets 1

Arcadia 42 vs Camden, Ar 39 (Girls)
Arcadia   6   8    11    17    42
Camden  9   0     20   10    39
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Lincoln Prep 59 vs Arcadia 50 (Boys)

North Desoto 39 vs Woodlawn 34 (Girls)

Results of games played Saturday, Dec. 20.

Arcadia 52, Red River 51 (Girls)
Arcadia      8    9    17    18    52       
Red River  12  10   22     7     51
Arcadia-Williams 20, Abney 14
Red River- Housley 9, Smith 6, Gary 5

Parkway 73, Gibsland-Coleman 70
Gibs.-Coleman    12    16    20    22   70
Parkway               18    15    21    19   73
Gibs.-Coleman- Demarquis Durham 20, Xavier Gray 16, Deavery Durham 11, Justin Woodford 10, Dea. Moore, 9
Parkway- Caleb Evans 27, Kaleb Williams 23, Burney 11,

Gibsland-Coleman 58, Minden 55 (Girls)

Green Oaks 58, Minden 54–2OT (Boys)
Green Oaks   11   12    11   14   12   58
Minden            9    16   15    6     8    54
Green Oaks- Jandford 19,  Wilson 11, Tellis 10
Minden- Cameron Parker 14, Kameron Harris 12, Lassien 8

Homer 44, North Caddo 39 (Girls)

Woodlawn 58, Camden, Ar 57 (Boys)

Green Oaks, 46, North Desoto 26 (Girls)

Lincoln Prep 48, Homer 27 (Boys)

We are likely in the crush of the Christmas season.  Perhaps things are just as, if not more, busy and hectic than they’ve been all year.  We feel pressed into a dizzying pace to address the countless things to be done for work, for our families, and the additional requirement of gifts and activities for Christmas Day itself.  It is easy to become wrapped up in the commercial side of Christmas.  On the heels of what may have already been a demanding year, it is easy to feel stressed out and maxed out. 

Here’s to hoping we won’t!  Here’s to hoping that we find a sense of peace, even if it’s only in our own hearts and minds. 

We are all aware of the profound reason for Christmas—the celebration of the birth of Christ.  Billions across the world cling to the belief that the birth of Christ marked the introduction into the world of forgiveness, salvation, love, and hope.  And, while there are many traditions attached to Christmas, at its core it is about Christ’s birth—the promised Messiah, born to redeem humanity from sin, with the promise of everlasting life. As President Trump declared, ‘the birth of Jesus turned human history from night to day.”

For this reason, Christianity at large traditionally observes the Christmas season with spiritual reflection, great gratitude, charity, and the intentional spreading of kindness.  All of this is critically important and necessary in a fallen world. 

But I think there is another equally important aspect of His birth.  The peace of Christ.  His message of peace was and remains one of the foundational aspects of His ministry on this earth.  

Christ defined peace not just as the absence of civil or military conflict but as a deep sense of calm, wholeness, and renewal that can only derive from a real relationship with Him.  It is this relationship that deeply restores us because we know that flowing from the right relationship with Him are reconciliation and eternal life.  That is the knowledge that produces in us the calm and sense of peace we so fervently seek.  His promise to His disciples of the “peace I leave you” is one of the clearest examples of the renewal He intended his personal suffering and sacrifice on earth to provide us.

Philippians speaks of a peace that surpasses all understanding—”And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  This is interpreted as a deep, supernatural calm found in faith, even during chaos, which shields us from worry and anxiety. It’s a divine peace, beyond logic or human comprehension, offering spiritual protection through a relationship with Jesus. 

However, this requires some introspection, prayer, and meditation on our part.  That requires a bit of quiet, undistracted time which is often hard for us to find.  When we do, though, I think we can unload our greatest stresses and burdens because we, through our prayer and reflection, are acknowledging that we, in fact, are not ultimately in control of most aspects of our lives and neither are we supposed to individually bear all of its difficulties.  I find that thought powerfully encouraging and reassuring.     

Let me close with this.

There are many hardships that we face in our lives and in our country and I don’t know what will be necessary for us to begin to heal, but I am certain that it is going to require a power much greater than our own.  I hope that for a time we can all slow our hectic paces and reflect on the most profound birth, and gift, the world has ever known.  From there may we, relying on what Lincoln referred to as the “better angels” of our nature, prayerfully and hopefully find a way to that peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Merry Christmas!

(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 .)

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