Over the past three years, tournament participation has fallen off dramatically mainly due to forward-facing sonar (FFS). Organizations have made rule changes with the hope of bringing tournament anglers back. Some have eliminated FFS all together, while the Major League Fishing trails like the BFL’s and the Toyota Series have put a time limit (three hours) on how long FFS can be used on tournament day.

While there’s no pleasing all the anglers, some tournament trails are hoping that the changes they have made will encourage anglers to come back and fish. They’ve made compromises for both sides, those who are in favor of FFS and those who want it eliminated from the sport all together. 

Some anglers feel this new technology has no place in pro tournament fishing. It’s a great tool for the weekend warrior and an awesome tool for scouting. But for tournament use, others feel it is damaging the integrity of the sport. It’s made touring pros out of average to below average anglers. 

Where organizations believe they have lost co-anglers, it turns out the boater/pros are also walking away. Early registration for the upcoming BFL (Cowboy Division) on Sam Rayburn indicates that they have more co-anglers signed up than boater/pros. This is a big problem for the parent company, Major League Fishing.

So many factors are at play when it comes to getting anglers back. Economy, price of boats and too many tournament trails are creating problems, not to mention the FFS issues. 

To use a political hot word for 2026, “affordability” is a big concern for a lot of anglers. One tournament director of a major fishing organization made the comment that anglers are not having “fun” anymore. This is very much a true statement!

I agree with this comment. The fun days of showing up at a particular body of water and competing with guys you respect and have good relationships with are gone. 

We, as anglers, never really thought about anyone cheating. But with so many issues last year with rules violations and failed polygraph tests, it’s now the first thing that pops into our heads when we back our boats down the ramp. 

COVID, I believe, has also played a hand in the drop-off of angler participation. Back during the pandemic, the structure of tournaments changed. Anglers who fished during this period know that tournament directors focused on making sure we kept our distance from each other due to COVID restrictions. 

The rules for a weigh-in changed as you had to stay in your boat and bring your fish to the scales one at a time. No more gathering of anglers at the weigh tanks. 

Once you weighed in, you were expected to leave immediately, and winning checks were often mailed. This took all the fun out of tournament fishing and eliminated the connection anglers had developed over the years. 

But during this difficult time, it was truly a lifesaver and a boost to anglers’ morale because they were excited just to have bass tournaments. Anglers appreciated the efforts organizations and directors put forth just so anglers could compete. Connections and comradery are very important to bass anglers. That’s what makes it fun!

Hopefully 2026 will bring a new beginning and a resurgence of anglers coming back to fishing tournaments. My hat is off to all tournament organizations as they try and navigate the new technology with FFS while trying to please as many anglers as possible. 

I’ve always said the worst job in the world would be trying to make bass fishermen happy.

Best wishes and tight lines to all anglers for the upcoming tournament season!

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By Brad Dison

When Joe was born in July of 1915, his grandfather announced, “This child is the future president of the nation.”  At the time, Joe’s grandfather was the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, and Joe’s father was the president of the Columbia Trust Bank in Boston.  From a young age, Joe’s father groomed him for a career in politics with the presidency as his ultimate goal for his son.  Joe’s eight siblings were all held to high standards, but Joe was the favorite child.  If Joe had his own goals in life, he never acted on them. 

In 1933, Joe graduated from the prestigious Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, and won the Harvard trophy, one of the most coveted of athletic prizes which was awarded annually to the member of the football team who best combined scholarship and sportsmanship.  Although Joe was not the first person to win the trophy, his was the first name engraved upon it.  Rather than going straight into college, Joe was one of 20 youths selected from over 900 applicants “for a year’s trip around the world on a four-masted schooner.”  Joe and his group visited every continent and almost every European country on their tour.  While in Germany, Joe praised Adolph Hitler and his forced sterilization program in a letter to his father.  He said Hitler’s program was doing “away with many of the disgusting specimens of men which inhabit this earth.”

In the fall of 1934, Joe entered Harvard College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree four years later.  Joe then enrolled at Harvard Law School, the next logical step on his way to the presidency.  With World War II looming on the horizon for Americans, Joe was among a group of Harvard students who formed the Harvard Committee Against Military Intervention in Europe and proclaimed, “Since, contrary to the assertions of the Committee for Militant Aid to Britain, there is every reason to believe that America is not now at war, it is incumbent upon us to consider the possibility of remaining at peace.” 

War often brings opportunity.  Despite his initial opposition to the war, Joe put his law studies on hold and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in June of 1944.  Becoming a war hero would certainly help his political ambitions.  The United States officially entered the war on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  As a pilot, Joe flew more than enough combat missions to allow him to return home.  Fellow pilot Louis Papas said, “There was never an occasion for a mission that meant extra hazard that Joe did not volunteer.  He had everybody’s unlimited admiration and respect for his courage, zeal, and willingness to undertake the most dangerous missions.”  In August 1944, Joe volunteered to take part in Operation Aphrodite in which war-weary bombers were converted into radio-controlled missiles.  The plan was that Joe and his co-pilot Wilford Willy would fly the “drone” bomber with over 21,000 pounds of explosives to an altitude of 2,000 feet at which point another airplane would gain complete radio control.  Joe and Wilford would then arm the explosives and parachute out of the airplane over England.  The crew in the second airplane would fly the radio-controlled bomber to its target.  At 6:18 p.m. on August 12, Joe radioed, “Spade Flush,” the code phrase for the second airplane to take radio control of the drone.  At 6:20, while Joe and Wilford awaited the signal to bail out, the bombs detonated prematurely. 

Joe’s father’s dreams of his son becoming president ended with Joe’s death.  Well, only for a short time.  You see, had Joe not been killed during World War II, it is unlikely that his brother would have become president of the United States.  Joe, Joseph Kennedy Jr., was the older brother of John F. Kennedy.

Sources:

1.      Meriden Record, May 30, 1933, p.8.

2.     Meriden Record, June 23, 1933, p.8.

3.     The Boston Globe, July 20, 1934, p.3.

4.     The Atlanta Constitution, December 18, 1940, p.28.

5.     The Kansas City Times, August 15, 1944, p.3.

6.     Meilan Solly, “The Top-Secret World War II Mission That Killed Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the Heir Apparent to the Political Dynasty,” Smithsonian Magazine, August 12, 2024, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-top-secret-world-war-ii-mission-that-killed-joseph-pkennedy-heir-apparent-political-dynasty-180984857/#:~:text=Joe%20Jr.’s%20time%20in,Kennedy%2C%20who%20had%20intellectual%20disabilities.

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Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the evening.

Thursday

A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday

A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

Friday Night

A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

*Information provided by National Weather Service.

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

Jan. 10

7 p.m. Piney Woods Jamboree, CAC building in Springhill. Special guests will be Brady Rhodes, Ava Burford 

Jan. 24

5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. LaMa Animal Rescue’s Mardi Paws Game Night. Springhill Civic Center, 101 Machen Dr., Springhill. Special Pre-game performance by Mike Spillers as Elvis, BINGO, games, Mardi Gras, Costume Contest, door prizes and raffles.

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Jenaya Stewart Arceneaux, 36, 600 block Hill St., Springhill: arrested Dec. 31 by Springhill PD for attempt to enter inhabited dwelling. No bond set.

Pamela Renette Autry, 43, 200 block Miller St., Minden: arrested Jan. 2 by Minden PD on fugitive warrant. No bond set.

Woronski Roshune Autry, 42, 100 block N. Country, Minden: arrested Jan. 1 by Minden PD on outstanding bench warrant, on fugitive warrant from Shreveport PD. Bond set $20,000 surety or $800 cash.

Natoshia Angelica Bell, 36, 300 block College St., Shreveport: arrested Jan. 2 by Minden PD for misdemeanor theft. Bond set $500.

Christopher Shannon Clay, 32, 400 block Pershing St., Minden: arrested Dec. 4 by WPSO for no turn signal, no drivers license, no vehicle insurance, outstanding warrants. Bond set $503.

Max D. Boyd, 36, 1300 block State Line Rd., Heflin: arrested Dec. 3 by WPSO on warrant for telephone harassment. No bond set.

Angela Nicole Dison, 43, 100 block Gregory Circle, Minden: arrested Jan. 1 by Minden PD for misdemeanor theft, on fugitive warrant from Caddo Parish SO. 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.

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Dr. Melani Wheeler Moore
August 14, 1968 — January 5, 2026
Dubberly
Memorial service at later date.

Patrick Edgar Lasseigne
March 14, 1953 — January 3, 2026
Pleasant Valley
Celebration of Life: Noon January 24, 2026, Pleasant Valley Methodist Church.

Charles Deck “Charlie” Odom
January 16, 1951 – January 3, 2026
Visitation: 1 until 3 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2026, St. John’’s Episcopal Church Minden.
Funeral service immediately following at 3 p.m.

Mattie Youngblood Turner
July 26, 1928 — January 2, 2026
Visitation: 8:30 until 10 a.m. Saturday, January 10, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Funeral service: 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., immediately following visitation.
Burial: 11:15 a.m. Gardens of Memory Cemetery, Minden.

Lance R. LeMay
March 18, 1972 — December 31, 2025
Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday January 9, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Funeral service: 1 p.m. Saturday, January 10, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Burial: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, January 10, Springhill Cemetery, Springhill.

Samuel Dewayne Slayter
July 17, 1961 — January 1, 2026
Memorial service at a later date.

Webster Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are no charge.)

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By Pat Culverhouse

A search is underway for a Shongaloo woman who was reported missing from her 1300 block of LA. Alt. Hwy. 2 residence around 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Major Bobby Igo III said an all-out effort is currently being conducted in attempts to find 33-year-old Lacey Mann who apparently wandered away from her residence. Information indicates Ms. Mann’s disappearance could be related to medical issues.

Igo said K-9 units, four-wheelers and drones are being utilized in the search which includes heavily wooded areas.

Ms. Mann is described as five-feet tall, weighing 95 pounds. She has green eyes and brown hair.

Officials have asked that anyone who may have seen Ms. Mann to please contact the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“Often, the public plays a big part in helping locate a missing person,” Igo said. “We will continue to search for this lady and any information we receive will be appreciated.”

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By Pat Culverhouse

A Minden man apparently ushered in the New Year with a physical assault on his son and is now facing a charge of domestic abuse battery as a result.

Eric McClean Gullett, 51, was arrested shortly before 1 a.m. Jan. 1 at his residence in the 200 block of Ellis Dr. after Minden police officers responded to a disturbance call placed just after midnight.

When officers arrived at the scene, Gullett reportedly was heard screaming at his son who had locked himself in a bedroom of the residence and called police. After gaining entry, officers placed Gullett in custody and interviewed the son.

According to the victim’s statement, Gullett had come home intoxicated around midnight. Following a brief argument, a physical confrontation ensued and the victim reportedly was struck in the head causing a contusion on his forehead.

Officers reported the fight apparently continued from the bedroom, through the hallway and into the hallway. Holes reportedly were observed in the bedroom door and in sheetrock adjacent to the bathroom door.

Information in the official report indicates Gullett has a criminal history of domestic abuse battery and violence against law enforcement officers.

He reportedly was booked at the Minden police department under a $750 bond.

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

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A telephone scam has resurfaced in Webster Parish with callers claiming to represent local law enforcement officers seeking individuals who they claim have missed jury duty and must pay “fees” to avoid arrest.

Sheriff’s Office Major Dustin Reynolds said the callers are using the names of officers and phone caller identifications often show local numbers.

“Some of the people who were contacted said the caller used my name, and the names of others in our department,” Reynolds said. “These callers have also apparently ‘spoofed’ phone numbers to make it look like the calls are local.”

Reynolds said residents should know the Sheriff’s Office never calls someone demanding any type of payment.

“We do not call someone asking for fees or any type of payment,” Reynolds said.

Unfortunately, Reynolds said, there’s little investigators can do to track down the individuals who are making the calls.

“With all the technology available to these scammers, it is almost impossible to find them,” he said. “The best defense against this type of scam is for the public to be informed. If anyone receives this type of call, just remember no law enforcement agency is going  call and ask a person to send money anywhere.”

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The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (SFM) is investigating a fatal residential fire that claimed the life of a Coushatta woman.

At approximately 9:18 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, the Red River Parish Fire District responded to a reported house fire in the 1800 block of Abney Street in Coushatta. A 75-year-old woman died in the fire. Her 43-year-old son was treated for smoke inhalation and survived.

SFM investigators determined the residence did not have a working smoke alarm at the time of the fire. The cause and origin remain under active investigation.

The SFM is using this tragic incident to remind residents across Louisiana of the life-saving importance of working smoke alarms.

“Fire-related deaths are always devastating, and many are preventable,” said DPS Principal Assistant, Chief Bryan J. Adams. “Working smoke alarms provide families with the critical early warning needed to escape safely. Through our Operation Save-A-Life program, we offer free smoke alarms and installation to help ensure every household has this essential protection.”

For more information about fire safety or to request a free smoke alarm installation, visit lasfm.org or contact your local fire department.

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By Zoë Pickett

North Webster High School students are helping support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through a series of school-wide fundraising efforts. According to the school’s vice principal, students have been allowed to wear jeans or joggers every Wednesday in exchange for a $2 donation. The weekly fundraiser will continue through the upcoming St. Jude’s auction.

In addition, NWHS will host a carnival on January 30 to raise additional funds for St. Jude. Details for the event will be shared once the official flyer is released.

School officials have approved media coverage of the carnival, allowing photos to be taken during the event. Coverage will highlight student involvement and the school’s commitment to supporting a cause that impacts families nationwide.

These efforts reflect the continued generosity of NWHS students and staff and their dedication to giving back to the community.

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It’s Mardi Paws Game Night, beginning Saturday, January 24.

LaMa Rescue is sponsoring this event with a special pre-game performance at 5:30 p.m. by Mike Spillers as Elvis ($5). At 6:30 p.m., gear up for BINGO, games, Mardi Gras Costume Contest, door prizes and raffles ($20).

Event fun takes place at 101 Machen Drive, Springhill.

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Recap: we had a few really cold mornings with low temperatures on December, 29; Springhill low was 29 degrees F. Minden low was 33 degrees F, 1 degree above freezing.

December 30 low in Springhill was 22 F, low in Minden was 26 F
The highs reached the 40s each day and each city

Extended outlook. 
January 9th we could see some storms. Too far out to make an accurate forecast but,  if I see any chance of severe weather, I will try to make sure that you are advised of the possibility of severe weather. 

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Coach Jacob Brown’s Minden Crimson Tide roared to a huge halftime lead and coasted to a 77-51 win over the Ebarb Rebels in their second game of the St. Mary’s Tournament last week.

Minden built a 55-27 lead heading into intermission and finished off the Rebels to even their season record at 5-5.

Cameron Parker poured in 25 points to lead the Tide in scoring followed by Gerald Richardson with 13, Kameron Harris had 12 and Steven Lassien scored 10.

Ebarb put three players in double figures, led by Leore with 22, Moore with 12 and Certinez’ 11.

Next action comes Tuesday when the Loyola Flyers visit the Tide gym for a pair of varsity games. Girls tipoff is set for 6 p.m. followed by the boys contest at 7:30.

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BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Health today released the most popular baby names in the state for babies born in 2025, with Noah and Amelia taking the top spots.

A total of 214 boys were named Noah, making it Louisiana’s most popular boy name this year, while 191 girls were named Amelia, earning it the top girl name.

The rankings are based on provisional birth certificate data collected by the Center for Vital Records and Statistics.

“Every name counts for a new life brought into this world with a bright future. We’re proud to celebrate Louisiana’s growing families and the next generation for the state of Louisiana,” said Governor Jeff Landry.

“Birth records aren’t just paperwork. They reflect the care and support that go into a healthy pregnancy and healthy birth,” said Secretary Bruce Greenstein. “LDH is committed to supporting families throughout pregnancy and celebrating every birth by ensuring parents have the support they need.”

“The Center for Vital Records and Statistics works incredibly hard every day, and this brings an element of fun to our day-to-day work,” said Darlene Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Center for Vital Records and Statistics. “It’s an honor to maintain the official record for new births.”

“Technology is essential to preserving life’s milestones,” said Chief Information Officer for the Office of Technology Services Evelina Broussard. “Our work supports the accurate and timely recording of births, marriages, and deaths, helping families move forward during their most important life events.”

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Charles Deck “Charlie” Odom passed away on January 3, 2026, in Alexander City AL, following a lengthy illness. Born on January 16, 1951, he was 74 years old. Charlie was a 1969 graduate of Minden High School and went on to attend Northwestern State. Professionally, he was a fixture in the local business community as the owner and operator of Minden Fire and Safety, a company he led from 1970 until his retirement in 2016.

A man of faith, Charlie was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, where he served faithfully on the vestry and as Junior Warden. He was a dedicated servant to the wider Minden community for over four decades. His commitment was evident through his service in the Jaycees, his role as State Fundraising Chair for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, his support of the St. Jude Auction, and his tenure as a Webster Parish Police Juror. Above all, Charlie was known for his loyalty and heart. He was a friend who you could call at 3:00 a.m., and he would simply show up. He would do anything for his friends and family, regardless of the circumstances. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a steadfast friend to many.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Pattie Cook Odom of Alexander City; and his two sons, Chris Odom of Minden, LA, and Chad Odom (and wife Angie) of Auburn, AL. He was the devoted “Pappy” to his two granddaughters, Isabella (“Izzy”) and Eleonora (“Ellie”) of Auburn, AL. He is also survived by his brother, Troy Odom (and wife Suzanne) of Minden; and sisters-in-law, Diane Inabnett of Mobile and Cindy Price of Little Rock. In-laws Nubia and Eduardo Rativa. He was known and loved as “Uncle Charlie” by his nieces: Joel Salley of Homer, Holly Woodard of Shreveport, Rachel Delafield of Stonewall, Ryan and Stephanie Odom Phillips of Baton Rouge, and Kristen Hulse Castillion of Little Rock; and his nephews: Melanie and Bo Odom of Stonewall, LA, Kristi and J.R. Inabnett of Sebring, FL, and Boe Inabnett of Mobile, AL.

His legacy as Uncle Charlie continues with his great-nieces: Elizabeth, Emma Calle, Addison, Aly, Joni, Brenna, and Camila; and his great-nephews: Sam, Luke, Buddy, Haidyn, Christian, and Evan. He is also survived by his great-great-nieces: Avery, Molly, and Jenna; and his great-great nephews: Jett, Coleman, Myles, and Jones. He also leaves behind a host of special cousins and lifelong friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elvyn Coyle and Troy Odom of Minden; his brother and sister-in-law, Sammy and Cheryl Odom of Mansfield; his father and mother-in-law, Lou and Boe Cook of Minden; his brother-in-law, John Inabnett; his brother and sister-in-law, Cleo and Jack Cook; and his niece, Misha Hulse Boyne of Little Rock.

Service Information

Family visitation will be held Saturday January 17 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minden, Louisiana. The memorial service will immediately follow at 3:00 p.m.

Memorial Contributions

In honor of Charlie’s long-standing support of the cause, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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Trump has had Venezuela in his crosshairs for a while, and late Friday night he conducted a huge military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicholás Maduro, and his wife.

Most people agree that Maduro is a bad person and should not be in charge of anything. A simple look at his Wikipedia page is pretty condemning. However, did the US have proper justification to get involved with this? Why did we send our own troops on the ground and in the field of danger to unseat him?

Let’s start at the beginning, with the misinformation around fentanyl. All of the intelligence we have claims that fentanyl primarily comes from cartels in Mexico using ingredients supplied by China and India. If Trump wanted to go through the proper legal route of asking Congress to declare war on the cartels in Mexico, I wouldn’t bat an eye. Please, yes, get it off our streets.

Instead, we have decided with no public evidence that the cartels transporting fentanyl are now Venezuelan and we have begun dropping bombs on tiny fishing boats that would have had to stop between 6-20 times in unsafe areas to refuel before they could even reach the US, if they were even actually transporting drugs.

“Trust the government because they likely have evidence we haven’t seen of this large-scale drug trafficking”. Absolutely not. Our government has not been shown to have a track record worth trusting. I’d need to see proof of something this big before giving any support. Did we learn nothing from the weapons of mass destruction (aka the lack thereof) in Iraq?

Also about the boat strikes, they are extremely illegal under international law and considered to be a war crime because it’s considered an extrajudicial killing, which means that there was no due process of law. We didn’t search the boat for drugs and then arrest the offenders and give them a lawyer and a courtroom. We just destroyed their boat and killed most of the people aboard without any of that.

This could be overlooked if we were in a war with Venezuela because wartime rules are different, but it’s Congress who declares war, NOT the Executive Branch, which includes the president and Secretary of War. As of now, Congress has not declared war against Venezuela. Which also makes everything the Trump administration has done in Venezuela extremely illegal.

A few weeks ago, Trump signed an executive order declaring fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. I was initially extremely supportive of this and thought that this would be his way of getting more funding to local police departments to deal with the opioid epidemic, but then I looked at the wording of the executive order and realized that it was just authorizing the Department of War to use more force against foreign countries accused of trafficking fentanyl.

If our government considered fentanyl to be a weapon of mass destruction, and we positioned the public to believe that Venezuela is in possession of these weapons of mass destruction and used that as justification to invade, then we would be recreating the Iraq War only twenty years later.

But this, again, is out of the Executive branch’s jurisdiction and is something that should have been passed by Congress. No president is supposed to have this much power. A lot of the Executive Orders passed during this term actually overreach the power that presidents should have, but our Congress has, for the most part, looked away.

My main point with Venezuela is that if this was really about drugs, we would have done something to Colombia or Mexico. If this was really about replacing an oppressive dictator, we would have done something in North Korea by now. So what is it really about?

Last month, the US began seizing Venezuelan oil tankers, claiming they were full of “stolen oil” and were being used to fund the “narcoterrorist Maduro regime”. We invaded the tankers and took control of them, rerouting them to the gulf coast and sending the oil to our own refineries to use. I won’t comment on the “stolen” part of the accusation because it doesn’t make any sense, but our government bragging about committing piracy is not a great look.

In case you didn’t know, Venezuela is home of the world’s largest supply of proven oil reserves. They have over six times the oil reserves that we do and 100% of their oil is owned by their government. In addition, their military was not very good and their people were deeply unhappy with the Maduro regime. All of this makes them an extremely easy target for a country who wishes to exploit their resources and place their own person in charge.

Thankfully, the Venezuelan people are currently celebrating being freed from Maduro. Time will tell if this is truly cause to celebrate, or if this will be a repeat of the vacuum left in Iraq after we toppled Saddam Hussein, which left the Iraqi citizens in an even worse position than before.

I, for one, would like to see our government put as much effort into helping our own people as they do liberating foreign ones. We do not need to spend our money and energy on starting new wars when the majority of our people can’t afford to go to the doctor anymore. Surely there is a healthy balance somewhere of helping both citizens and foreigners that our government can find.

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

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It is always helpful to look back over the previous year, both as a sense of accomplishment and as an indication of how the new year may go. 

2025 was quite a year in many respects, much of it positive.  

The U.S. economy is growing solidly, energy costs are dramatically lower than a year ago, employment is up, inflation is at 3 percent, our southern border is secure, and the national murder rate is anticipated to drop significantly.  In addition, America is not at war—in fact, President Trump has deftly ended 8 wars—and I predict Russia-Ukraine will be next.  (I will address Venezuela next week).

We destroyed Iran’s nuclear threat which had been the cause of debilitating fear and unrest across the Middle East.  We have also inflicted great damage on traditional terrorists and targeted damage on narco-terrorists and their boats carrying the American-killing poisons they bring to the U.S.  These kinds of decisive actions by our Commander in Chief have broadly put the world’s bad actors on notice that their evil acts won’t be tolerated.

As a nation, we are now firmly behind the advance of AI as the way of the future as data centers begin to spring up across Louisiana and the country.  Artificial Intelligence can be fabulous and life-changing but also be used for malicious purposes. I hope we are able, from a legal and public policy standpoint, to prudently maximize the positive aspects of AI—in much the same way we have attempted with the internet generally and social media specifically—while minimizing the bad.  I want AI to help find a cure for cancer but not in some way be used for human and child trafficking.  In connection with AI, I am grateful for Elon Musk who may have the best, most facile mind on earth right now and he deploys it for the good of America and mankind.  

The U.S. Supreme Court continues to erase racial inequality by striking down affirmative action, racial quotas and Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DIE) programs.  This includes the unanimous ruling wherein the Court held that Title VII specifically (and the Equal Protection Clause, generally) deems reverse discrimination to be just as odious and intolerable as traditional discrimination.  This decision by the Supreme Court is not only important because it again enshrines equality in our law, but it also prevents similar future cases of reverse discrimination from having to be proven based upon a higher legal standard simply because the claimant is a member of a so-called “majority” group (i.e. white or heterosexual).  The legal standard applied will now be the same in any alleged discrimination case. 

For his part, President Trump has attacked the transgender delusion by blocking males from competing against women in sports as well as so-called Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DIE) initiatives across the federal government and in any American institution that receives federal funds. 

He has also dismantled the Department of Education which has done less to teach—and more to indoctrinate—students than can be imagined.  Those education funds will now be—in a fashion that is both efficient and smart—block-granted to the states who know far more about their specific education needs than the federal bureaucracy in D.C.  Trump has also directly attacked antisemitism on college campuses by demanding that if college campuses don’t reform their blatant bigotry and viewpoint discrimination, they won’t receive federal funds and may lose their tax-exempt status. 

Trump has also vastly improved the morale of our military men and women, as reflected in the dramatic increase in military enlistments and individuals wanting to serve in border enforcement.  He has also returned our military to its one core and critical mission: lethality.

I am sincerely hopeful that one of the good things that flows from the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk is that elected officials and national leaders of every kind will “cool down” their heated partisan rhetoric in recognition of the grave danger to which it gives rise. 

While America will continue to grapple with and solve many challenges that it faces, I am encouraged at the thought of the tremendous talent and ingenuity of the American entrepreneur and the stunning ability of the free market and free people to adapt to tough times, as we have so many times in American history.  On that note, our Declaration of Independence is 250 years old this year! 

There are many reasons to be excited about 2026!   Happy New Year!

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

Jan. 24

5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. LaMa Animal Rescue’s Mardi Paws Game Night. Springhill Civic Center, 101 Machen Dr., Springhill. Special Pre-game performance by Mike Spillers as Elvis, BINGO, games, Mardi Gras, Costume Contest, door prizes and raffles.

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Tuesday

Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Calm wind.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Thursday

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

*Information provided by National Weather Service.

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Jimmy Vidal Charcun V. Fisher, 38, 1000 block Fort St., Minden: arrested Jan. 3 by Minden PD for possession of CDS Sch. I (synthetic marijuana), obstruction of justice, on outstanding warrants. Total bond set $3,250.

Daniel Adam Hart, 40, 300 block Frye Rd., Springhill: arrested Jan. 2 by Springhill/Cullen PD on warrants for felony theft, theft over $10,000. Bond set $35,000.

David L. Thomas, 59, 3400 block Pleasant Dr., Shreveport: arrested Jan. 3 by WPSO on fugitive warrant. No bond set.

Demario M. Walker, 39, 500 block Sullivan St., Minden: arrested Jan. 2 by WPSO on warrants. Bond set $6,500.

Miranda Lawin Raab, 47, 400 block GreenTree St., Doyline: arrested Dec. 30 by WPSO on warrant. No bond set.

Quamaine Quauoshi Johnson, 28, 600 block Evans St., Minden: arrested Dec. 31 by WPSO on warrant. Bond set $311.50.

Donna Lynn Brown, 46, 1600 block Dorcheat Rd., Minden: arrested Dec. 31 by WPSO on warrants. Bond set $242.50.

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

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Patrick Edgar Lasseigne
March 14, 1953 — January 3, 2026
Pleasant Valley
Celebration of Life: Noon January 24, 2026, Pleasant Valley Methodist Church.

Charles Deck “Charlie” Odom
January 16, 1951 – January 3, 2026
Visitation: 1 until 3 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2026, St. John’’s Episcopal Church Minden.
Funeral service immediately following at 3 p.m.

Mattie Youngblood Turner
July 26, 1928 — January 2, 2026
Visitation: 8:30 until 10 a.m. Saturday, January 10, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Funeral service: 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., immediately following visitation.
Burial: 11:15 a.m. Gardens of Memory Cemetery, Minden.

Lance R. LeMay
March 18, 1972 — December 31, 2025
Visitation: 5 until 7 p.m. Friday January 9, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Funeral service: 1 p.m. Saturday, January 10, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Burial: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, January 10, Springhill Cemetery, Springhill.

Samuel Dewayne Slayter
July 17, 1961 — January 1, 2026
Memorial service at a later date.

Webster Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are no charge.)

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As 2025 winds down and Webster Parish Journal staff prepares to take off another couple of days to be with family, we thought our readers and advertisers might like to see which of our stories made the Top 10 list over the past year.

We are very proud to inform our readers that we experienced 3 million views over 2025, which reflects a steady rise over the past four years and more than 500,000 since 2024.

So, in typical David Letterman fashion, please enjoy this Top 10 list of stories, beginning with the least read (No. 10) to the most read (No. 1), and we will see you next year.

10. October 4, 2025

UPDATE: Injured Lakeside player walks out of hospital

A Lakeside High School football player, Peyton Campbell, was airlifted from a football game following an injury. This final update was written and posted on Facebook by his family.

Praise report. He was flown on by helicopter on a stretcher and is walking out (of the hospital) on his own this evening. Thank you for all the prayers, calls and texts. We have a few follow ups but he has regained full feeling and full movement. God is so good!!!

Original story: The family of Lakeside sophomore Peyton Campbell is requesting prayers after he was injured during Friday night’s football game against Montgomery.

Campbell was airlifted to LSU Ochsner Medical Center in Shreveport with injuries affecting his extremities. According to a source, by Saturday morning, Peyton has limited movement and is lying flat in a neck brace.

Tests are being conducted. No other information is available at this time.

9. October 3, 2025

Woman charged with abuse of infirmed child

A Sibley woman is currently in the Webster Parish jail charged with cruelty to a person with infirmities after investigators found evidence that she kept her Down Syndrome child in a urine and feces filled environment. 

Dawn Sherman Calhoun, 51, a resident of the 500 block Miller Briarwood Rd., reportedly is being held on a $10,000 bond following her arrest last week.

According to a complaint received at the Sheriff’s Office, the young child (gender/age unreported) was allegedly placed in a filthy bed daily at around 4 p.m. and kept there until around 11 a.m. the following day. Additionally, the complainant claimed the child was fed only once a day.

8. July 16, 2025

Special Edition: MPD officer’s arrest stirs major controversy

A Minden police officer’s arrest has ignited controversy within city leadership and drawn strong criticism from the statewide law enforcement union, as Mayor Nick Cox and the Louisiana Law Enforcement Association (LLEA) question the judgment and leadership of Minden Police Chief Jared McIver. 

Lieutenant Christopher Hammontree, a 16-year veteran of the Minden Police Department, was arrested almost exactly a month ago on June 18 and charged with simple criminal damage to property. He has since been placed on administrative leave with pay, according to Chief McIver.

The charge, which can be classified as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on the value of the property allegedly damaged, stems from an incident investigated by the MPD’s Internal Affairs. Hammontree was reportedly released on his own recognizance by the District Attorney’s office. 

7. October 30, 2025

Two arrested in connection with shooting

Two Springhill men have been arrested in connection with a shooting at an apartment complex earlier this month where three individuals reportedly were wounded.

Chief of Police Will Lynd said the men, 21-year-old Tytravion Jauntez Mendenhall and 29-year-old Alex Ja’kar Johnson, were arrested Monday on warrants in connection with the incident at the Camelot Apartments.

Lynd said Mendenhall has been charged with illegal use of a firearm during a crime of violence. He reportedly is being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center under a $50,000 bond. Lynd said he was arrested without incident.

6. October 17, 2025

Two persons, including MPD officer, injured in two-vehicle accident

Two persons, including a Minden police officer, were injured Thursday afternoon in a two-vehicle accident on the Shreveport Rd.

According to reports, the Minden officer was traveling west on the roadway while responding to an emergency call for service when a vehicle pulled into his path from the parking lot of a business near the railroad tracks.

Reports from Louisiana State Police troopers investigating the crash show the police officer received minor injuries and has been treated and released from Minden Medical Center.

5. June 18, 2025

BREAKING NEWS: Minden police officer charged, facing disciplinary hearing

A Minden city police officer has been arrested and is facing a disciplinary hearing based on a charge filed Wednesday.

Lt. Christopher Hammontree, a 16-year veteran of the MPD, is charged with simple criminal damage to property and is currently on administrative leave with pay, Chief of Police Jared McIver said. He reportedly was released by the District Attorney on his own recognizance.

Value of property allegedly damaged determines whether simple criminal damage to property is a misdemeanor or a felony.

4. September 23, 2025

Body found dat Minden apartment complex

Minden police officers responding to a welfare concern check at a local apartment complex Monday discovered the body of a man who investigators believe had been deceased for several weeks.

And, Chief of Police Jared McIver said, the man’s wife had apparently been living in the apartment with the body since the man’s death. The body has been sent to Little Rock, Arkansas for autopsy to determine the cause of death, the chief said.

Lead investigator on the case, Lt. Shane Griffith, head of the MPD Major Crimes Unit, said officers discovered the body lying on the floor of the apartment’s living room.

“Responding patrol officers found the man’s body, and learned his wife had been living there with the body,” Griffith said “One of the questions we have in our investigation is why she did not report the death.”

3. October 25, 2025

City of Minden, Minden Police officer named in wrongful death lawsuit

A wrongful death lawsuit naming the City of Minden and Minden police Capt. Keith King has been filed on behalf of the widow of a 70-year-old man who died from injuries received in an Oct. 16 two-vehicle accident.

Attorney Trey Morris of Shreveport law firm Morris & DeWett filed the suit Thursday (Oct. 23) with the Webster Clerk of Court on behalf of Sherri Stoneking, wife of Robert Stoneking.

Robert Stoneking died six days later (Oct. 22) at a Shreveport hospital from injuries sustained in the wreck.

2. August 24, 2025

Sibley man killed in fiery single-vehicle Webster Parish crash

A Sibley man is dead following an early morning crash on U.S. Highway 371 near Yellow Pine Road.

At approximately 2:45 a.m. Sunday, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to the single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of 40-year-old Joey Washington of Sibley.

1. May 9, 2025

A local businessman and his wife were found dead in their Webster Parish Home. Their joint obituary was the number 1 story in Webster Parish Journal for 2025.

Kenny Smith

April 15, 1967 — May 7, 2025

Funeral services for Kenny Smith will be held Tuesday May 13, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Rose Neath Funeral Home Chapel in Minden, Louisiana. Officiating will be Pastor Murray Twyman. Interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Minden, Louisiana.

Kenny was born April 15, 1967, in Shreveport, Louisiana and went to be with the Lord on May 7, 2025, in Minden, Louisiana. Kenny was a successful business owner and loved by many in the community. He was a loving father, husband, and Papa. Kenny was an avid outdoors man who could always be found hunting and fishing with friends and family. He never met a stranger and always had a smile on his face. He leaves behind a beautiful legacy.

Melanie Jackson Smith

March 2, 1962 — May 7, 2025

Funeral services for Melanie Jackson Smith will be held Tuesday May 13, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Rose Neath Funeral Home in Minden, Louisiana. Officiating will be Pastor Murray Twyman. Interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Minden, Louisiana.

Melanie was born March 2, 1962, in Shreveport, Louisiana and went to be with the Lord on May 7, 2025, in Minden, Louisiana. Melanie was a loving mother, Nana, and wife with one of the kindest souls imaginable. Her smile could brighten the darkest of days. The love she showed her family was unparalleled. As the Webster Parish Registrar of voters for over 20 years, she undoubtedly touched many hearts in the community. Her memory will live on in the kindness we share and the love we give.

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