The following persons are scheduled to appear in 26th Judicial District Traffic Court Friday, June 10:

ADAMS, JACK HAYDEN
T085326 Failure to Use Safety Belt

ALEXANDER, JALON D
T085426 Failure to Use Safety Belt

ALEXANDER, STEMARRION KDERRICKUS
T085526 Failure to Use Safety Belt

ALLEGRINI, EMILY NICOLE
T085626 Failure to Use Safety Belt

ALSTON JR, FRED L
T085726 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BATISTE, CHRIS E
T085926 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BECK, JOEY P
T086026 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BENDER, SHAQUEEN RENEE
T065125 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
T065125A Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License
*Single vehicle crash

BENNETT, JOHN RANDALL
T035425 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

BODDIE, HADIN BLAKE
T086126 Fail to Report Accident
T086126A Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
*Single vehicle crash

BONDS, BARRY W
T086226 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BREWER, CLAYTON DEVAUGHN
T086326 Operating A Vehicle With Obstructed Windshield And/Or Window View

BRIDGES, REGGONIAL W
T086426 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

BROWN, JACORA S
T086526 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BUDD, REMINGTON NOEL
T086626 Failure to Use Safety Belt

BURSON, THELMA L
T086726 Failure to Use Safety Belt

CALOME, JAYLON
T086826 Operating A Vehicle With Obstructed Windshield And/Or Window View

CARR, BARBARA J
T085826 Failure to Use Safety Belt

CARSON, CODY S
T084126 Speeding 11-15 MPH
*40/25

CHARLES, BRIAN E
T077826 Operating A Vehicle Without Current Number Plates
T077826A No Insurance

CHARLES, CHELSEA M
T086926 Failure to Use Safety Belt

COX, MCKAYLA ELIZABETH
T087026 Failure to Use Safety Belt

CRAWFORD, JAMAUL D
T087126 Improper Equipment (License Plate)

DAVIS, ALEC WILLIAM
T084226 Speeding 16-24 MPH
*54/35
T084226A Modification of Exhaust Systems

DAVIS, LAKISHA
T084326 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

DREW, TYDARRION
T087226 Failure to Use Safety Belt

DUDLEY, ROBERT LEE
T087326 Failure to Use Safety Belt

DUNN, BRANDON ANTWOINE
T087426 Failure to Use Safety Belt

ESTRELLA, JORGE MARTINEZ
T087626 Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License
T087626A Speeding 16-24 MPH
*93/70

FISH, BILLIE DUCK
T087726 Failure to Use Safety Belt

FLORES, SAMANTHA MICHELLE
T087826 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

GALLEGOS, LUDIVINA REYES
T084426 Window Tint

GARDNER, DANIEL K
T087926 Failure to Use Safety Belt

GARSEE, BRANDON W
T017122A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

GAYNOR, JODIE
T088026 Failure to Use Safety Belt

GILLINS, DEVONTA
T088126 Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License
T088126A Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign

GLADNEY, RYAN
T078526 Speeding 25 & OVER

GRAY, DALE L
T088226 Failure to Use Safety Belt

HARRIS, BRENDA FAYE
T088326 Speeding 11-15 MPH
*69/55

HAUSER, KAMBIE RENEA
T088426 Failure to Use Safety Belt

HOLDER, REBECCA PRUITT
T088526 Failure to Use Safety Belt

HOLLIER, DONNA M
T088626 Failure to Use Safety Belt

HOOF, SHIRLEY MARIE
T088726 Failure to Use Safety Belt

HUDSON, DIAMOND
T026126 Speeding 11-15 MPH
T026126A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

HUGES, ELIZABETH
T084526 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

JOHNSON, AMBRIA LASHAY
T088826 Speeding 16-24 MPH
*91/70

JOHNSON, LYDIA E
T088926 Failure to Use Safety Belt

JONES, KENDOL DUANE
T089026 Failure to Use Safety Belt

JONES, MARTY ALLEN
T120625 Failure to Use Safety Belt
T120625A Operating a Vehicle with an Expired Motor Vehicle Inspection
T120625B Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

JONES, MARTY ALLEN
T109025 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled
T109025A No Motorcycle Endorsement
T109025B Improper Equipment (License Plate)

KEMP, DAMIEN
T010126 Failure to Use Safety Belt
T010126A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

KIMBLE, LA’CAMERON
T089326 Failure to Use Safety Belt

LAMARTINIERE, EMILY J
T089426 Failure to Use Safety Belt

LEYSE, SHAWN
T051926 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

LOUD, JR, CHRISTOPHER A
T089526 Operating a Vehicle Without a Driver’s License

MALDONADO, ASHLEY ELZABETH
T082526 Speeding 16-24 MPH

MARROW, LANDON
T084626 Failure To Secure Registration
T084626A No Insurance

MAXIE, JAMES
T084726 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
*Single vehicle crash

MCCURTY, JACKENDRICK
T034424 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled
T034424A No Insurance

MILLER, KIMBERLY TOYA
T089626 Failure to Use Safety Belt

MILLER, MISTY
T089726 Failure to Use Safety Belt

MINIX, LATRAVION DEUNTREK
T049726 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

MINNEWEATHER, LLL, RUFUS
T089826 Failure to Use Safety Belt

MOORE, CHAQUINTA MARIE
T089926 Window Tint

MORRIS, TYNESHA RUSHING
T084826 Failure To Dim Lights – Oncoming
T084826A Improper Child Restraint

OGLEE, NICOLE STATON
T084926 Failure To Obey Traffic-Control Signal
T084926A Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle

PARSONS, PAIGE LEE
T050126 Careless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
T050126A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled
*Single vehicle crash

PATE, RYLEY ANTHONY
T090026 Operating A Vehicle with an Expired License Plate

PITTMAN, BARBARA HENSON
T090126 Failure to Use Safety Belt

POWELL, EDDIE RAY
T069925 Failure to Use Safety Belt
T069925A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

RENO, TAYLOR
T083026 Failure to Use Safety Belt

RHODES, CYNTHIA MARIE
T090226 Improper Child Restraint

ROBERTS, EDITH DAPHNE
T090326 Failure to Use Safety Belt

ROLLINS, JOSHUA PATRICK
T054826 Speeding 25 & OVER
T054826A Improper Lane Usage
T054826B Possession Of Alcoholic Beverages In Motor Vehicles

SHANEYFELT, MEGAN ANN
T052426 Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

SHINE, MARLON DEWAYNE
T052526 Following Too Closely
T052526A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

SMITH, DANNY MARTISE
T090426 Failure to Use Safety Belt
AT For Further Disposition LSP

STEWART, KENNETH MICHAEL
T090526 Window Tint

STYLES, VIRGIE LEE
T090626 Speeding 11-15 MPH
*70/55

TAYLOR, DENISE MARIE
T090726 Speeding 16-24 MPH

TOBIN, TONY LAMAR
T090826 Window Tint

TURNER, III, W O
T090926 Failure to Use Safety Belt

UMPHRIES, SHAINE C
T085026 Speeding 16-24 MPH
*65/45

WALKER, JOSHUA JEROME
T069718 Speeding 11-15 MPH
T069718A Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

WHITE, FLOYDEAN M.
T091126 Failure to Use Safety Belt

WHITE, JAMEHD RODRIGUEZ
T085126 Speeding 25 & OVER
*80/55
T085126A Failure To Secure Registration
T085126B Operating a Vehicle While License Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled

WILLIAMS, DANIEL NILES
T091026 Failure to Use Safety Belt

WYNNE, ASHTON BROOKE
T085226 Speeding 16-24 MPH
*71/55
T085226A Operating A Vehicle With An Expired Driver’s License

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WHAT IS FENNEL SEED?

Fennel seeds are derived from the fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare). These small, ridged, green seeds are used as a spice that turns gray as they age. They are aromatic with a sweet, licorice-like flavor due to the compound anethole. Fennel is native to southern Europe along the Mediterranean Sea and widely grown as an herb or a vegetable. Fennel seeds are the dried fruit of this plant and are commonly used as a spice in various global dishes.

HOW CAN YOU USE FENNEL SEED?

Fennel seeds are used in spice blends, soups, sauces, breads, pickling, and sausages. They are common in Mediterranean, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Due to their natural sweetness, fennel seeds can also be used for desserts including cakes and puddings. When toasted, they release nutty and caramelized aromas that enhance baked goods. Fennel seeds can also be used in tea, which shows just how versatile they can be.

HOW TO GROW FENNEL?

To grow fennel, the seeds should be sown in early spring after danger of frost or midsummer for fall harvest. It should be grown in full sun, well-drained, fertile soil enriched with organic matter. Seeds should be planted ¼ – ½ inch deep and spaced 4-5 inches apart in rows 10-12 inches apart. The seedlings will emerge within 7-30 days, depending on soil temperature and moisture. Once the fennel plant flowers and the flower heads turn brown, the seeds will be ready.

RECIPE

Roasted Carrots with Fennel Seeds

Recipe adapted from 

Simply Family Recipes

Makes 6 servings 

Serving size: ½ cup

73 Calories per serving 

53 mg of Sodium per serving

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. fresh carrots, peeled and halved lengthwise

• 2 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp fennel seeds

• Splash of lemon juice

• Salt to taste (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash carrots.

2. Preheat oven to 425°F.

3. Toss the carrots with olive oil, fennel seeds, and salt on a baking sheet.

4. Roast for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. You’ll know they’re ready when they’re fork-tender and slightly charred.

5. Drizzle with lemon juice right before serving.

Visit our website for more information!

Program adapted by: Shakera Williams, DHSc, MPH, Associate Nutrition & Community Health Agent,  LSU AgCenter Northwest Region

Document created by: Hallie Ardoin, MS Nutrition & Community Health Agent,  LSU AgCenter Southwest Region 

The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.

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Well, well, well, you just never know what life will throw at you until it does. In early June of this year, after going through a few cardio tests like an EKG, ultrasound and a stress test, we (Dr. Chris Ingram and I) felt like everything was going to be okay. 

Nothing really showed up during the tests that was alarming. Then a few days later, Dr. Ingram looked at my imaging and saw a shadow that got his attention. During my consultation, I could tell by his reaction while going over the imaging with my wife and I that he was very concerned.

Now my first reaction, like anyone else who thinks there’s nothing wrong, was that it can’t be that bad. I mean I’m only 65 years old and fit as a racing horse that’s been put out to pasture.

But then reality set in and after a heart Cath two days later, doctors discovered that there were seven blockages! That’s right, seven! Two in the back that had almost 100% blockage and 5 frontal arteries with partial blockage. 

Finally, they had my attention and no longer could I deny that there was an issue. I then knew that this was something that would require extensive surgery to fix. My summer plans were now going to be altered dramatically. 

It also explained why I was having the issues I had been experiencing during my last two bass tournaments. During and after both event’s, exhaustion does not describe how bad I felt. 

I had major muscle fatigue and tightness across the shoulders. Leaning over to pick up a rod on the deck of the boat resulted in almost total black out, especially once the heat of the day set in from noon till 3:00. At first, I chalked it up to maybe being dehydrated or just getting too hot. 

But at the end of my last tournament on the Red River with thirty minutes left before weigh-in, the rod I was holding in my left hand felt like it weighed 20 pounds. No chest pain, no arm pain, just extreme muscle fatigue. 

But the worst part was when I had to beach my boat at the weigh-in and walk up the long 50 yard boat ramp to retrieve my truck and boat trailer. It felt like the walk of shame as I glanced around hoping no one was watching me. It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. 

As I got in my truck, I just sat there for ten minutes trying to recover. Then once I got my boat on trailer, I had to climb into the back of my boat and get my fish out of the live well and into my weigh-bag. Then tote the bag of fish to the scales, which really pulled my energy level down to zero. 

Once again, I got back in the truck to head home but sat there for at least fifteen minutes trying to catch my breath and recover. I knew something was wrong as I’ve never experienced this kind of fatigue even during my worst two-a-day football workouts from my high school or college days. 

It got worse, as I arrived back home and parked the boat, I basically rolled out of the truck and walked into the house where I literally collapsed on the floor. My wife walked in and asked if I was ok to which I responded, “No!” 

She then realized I was not good and got me a cold towel for my face. I laid on the floor for about forty minutes just so I could get enough energy to take a shower.   

My thoughts and reasoning were, “It’s just hot (95 degrees). Maybe I didn’t drink enough water and just got too hot.” But as it turned out, there were some major issues going on internally. Problems that could not be fixed with medication or more exercise. 

I owe a huge thank you to Dr. Chris Ingram and my personal physician Dr. Anil Matta for their persistence and due diligence in putting me through tests that, at the time, I thought were unnecessary.

After all, based on MY many years of medical experience and watching You Tube videos on heart related issues, I just knew nothing was wrong! Yeah right! Ha, a typical man who thinks he knows more than any doctor. 

So, here’s the moral of this story. First, listen and pay attention to what your body is telling you. Understand your symptoms and what they mean. Second, trust your doctor and follow the directions he or she gives you on what needs to be done because it will probably save your life. 

Update: It’s been over a week (June 29th) since my quadruple bypass surgery and I’m doing much better. Still a long way to go but making progress every day. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers during this tough time.  

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 76. South wind around 5 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 93. South wind around 5 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 76.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 76.

Sunday

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.

*Information provided by National Weather Service.

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

July – Every Tuesday

2 until 4 p.m. K-4th grade, Lakeview Methodist Church, Minden, crafts, games, and snacks.  July 28 we will have a movie and popcorn. Come join us for a month of summer fun – we can’t wait to see you!  Please wear clothing that you can paint or get messy in.

Register at: LakeviewMinden.com .

July 9

5:30 p.m. Gather and Grow – Gardening for Pollinators, Webster Parish Extension Office, 1202 Homer Road, Minden. For more information, call 318-371-1371 or 318-927-3110.

July 11

7 p.m., Piney Woods Jamboree, CAC Building, Springhill. Special guests will be Rhonda Neal and Mackenzie Branton.

July 13 – 17

5:30 until 8:30 p.m., Vacation Bible School, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden, ages pre-K through 6th grade. Supper provided. Call 318-377-1483 or visit https://www.facebook.com/100064614286593/posts/1321421020021695/?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=wKEx4hN4p2w03lR0# for more information.

July 24-26

6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday, 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Vacation Bible School, Pine Grove, Methodist Church, 4549 Lewisville Rd., Minden. 

July 26 – 31

6 until 8:10 p.m. Vacation Bible School, Calvary Baptist Church, 1400 Homer Road, Minden. For more information: calvaryminden.com/vbs .

August 2

1 p.m. Backpack Give Away, Beech Springs Baptist Church, 15910 US-80 Minden, pre-K through 5th grades. First come, first served. A parent must be with the child in order for them to receive a backpack. For more information, email jennyogle83@gmail.com or call 318-344-4919.

August 14

Nomination deadline for 15 Under 40 Top Young Professionals. greatermindenchamber.com/15under40.

August 15

9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Rooted Women’s Conference, North Acres Baptist Church, 1852 Lewisville Road, Minden. This is a day for women who strive to be rooted in The Word. Hear from our keynote speaker, Stephanie Smithson, as she focuses on spiritual understanding and biblical literacy along with our multi-generational panel of ladies, who will describe what being rooted in Christ means to them. Come for a day of acoustic worship, fellowship, teaching and food! Your $30 ticket includes the conference and a light lunch provided by Hugh Wood Catering. Childcare is provided. Registration is open through July 31. Register at https://onrealm.org/NorthAcresBapti31149/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=ZTc4OTQ2Y2EtZmM3Ny00MWM2LWE2NmUtYjQzMzAwZmUyZDgx .

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Word of the Day: Reprobate

Phonetic: /rep· ro· bate/
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition

an unprincipled or depraved person : scoundrel, rogue

a person who behaves in a morally wrong way

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Loading crossword puzzle. One moment please.

Play Sudoku online!

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Clydonavon Jamaro Benton, 48, 700 block Carolina St., Minden: arrested July 6 by Minden PD for resisting an officer, obstruction of justice, possession of drug paraphernalia, pedestrian on highway. Bond set $3,250. 

Shederrick Shine, 38, 900 block Tillman Dr., Minden: arrested July 6 on warrants for simple burglary, attempted carjacking. Bond set $60,000.

Johnny Ray Perkins, 33, 400 block Williams St., Springhill: arrested July 6 by Springhill PD on warrants for two counts possession of CDS Sch. II with intent to distribute, two counts possession of CDS Sch. IV with intent to distribute. Bond set $80,000.

Kenneth Cash Miller, 22, 700 block Pero Church Rd., Sibley: arrested by WPSO for possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana), careless operation. Bond set $5,000.

Cody Gene Baird, 31, 500 block Constable St., Minden: arrested June 7 by WPSO on warrants. Bond set $2,250. 

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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David Acklen
December 26, 1947 — July 4, 2026
Minden
Visitation: 4 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Funeral service: 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial: Gardens of Memory Cemetery, Minden.

Jo Rogers
January 15, 1936 — July 2, 2026
Minden
Visitation: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2026, First Baptist Church West Chapel, Minden.
Memorial service: 11 a.m., immediately following visitation.

Martha Kirkpatrick
September 2, 1949 — June 27, 2026
Minden
Visitation: 2 until 4 p.m. Saturday, July 11, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.
Burial: Gardens of Memory at a later date.

Patsy Ann Greene Cahoon
August 2, 1943  –  May 26, 2026
Springhill/Shreveport
Graveside service: 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11, 2026, Old Sarepta Cemetery, Sarepta, La., under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill.

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

Approximately $39,000 in change orders for construction of a new women’s parish penal facility on the grounds of the old parish penal farm received approval Tuesday from the Webster Parish Police Jury.

Approval of the changes came as a recommendation from the jury’s finance committee meeting prior to Tuesday’s regular session.

Members were told the change orders came in two requests: one totaling just over $23,000 would target a number of miscellaneous items including additional electrical outlets and a reposition of a doorway. The changes were requested following recommendations from the Sheriff’s Office.

A second change order of just under $16,000 relates to the fire rating in the property room at the new facility.

Each change reportedly would add an additional 10 days to the completion date of the $5.12 million project. Testament Construction Services of Shreveport, contractor of the facility, still anticipates the project will be completed by the end of September. Contract for the prisoner was awarded in December, 2024.

Primary funding for the prison came from two sources. Roughly $2.5 million was awarded the police jury under the American Rescue Act of 2021, and another $2.4 million was given by the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Once completed, the new facility will house up to 66 female prisoners. Female inmates are currently housed on the fourth floor of the Webster Parish Courthouse.

During its road committee meeting Tuesday, jury members learned the state Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will be replacing a bridge on LA Hwy. 159 north of Minden. That project is scheduled to begin Aug. 27 and be completed within four to five months.

A detour route along LA 160 to U.S. 79 is proposed, but that route raised concerns from some jury members.

“That detour adds another 20 miles or more for people coming to Minden, and what we most likely will see is traffic using Caney Lake Rd. or Dogwood Trail,” said juror Randy Thomas. “Heavy trucks will tear up those roads. They can’t take the heavy traffic and we’ll have to fix them.”

Jury President Jim Bonsall said he would speak to local DOTD officials to see if another solution could be found.

“The creek that bridge crosses isn’t very big and I wonder if they might be able to drop a box culvert in there and build a drive-around,” he suggested. “It would save a lot of miles for people who have to make that drive.”

State Senator Adam Bass, who attended the committee meetings,  agreed to assist the police jury by relaying the concerns of the police jury to DOTD officials.

During Tuesday’s meeting, jury members also:

• Approved the annual off-system bridge system requirements for 2026.
• Approved a contract between the jury and Carlisle Thompson, LLC effective June 22, 2022 with a June 22, 2027 expiration date.
• Heard reports from various parish agencies.

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Power has been reportedly restored to all of Minden, following Monday’s outage.

The city-wide power outage was the result of a transmission line issue along Bayou Avenue.

Weather conditions were the biggest challenge, with lightning, thunder and rain preventing a quick resolution due to line crew safety.

“While they were focused on restoring service, the storm created additional challenges across Minden, including downed trees and limbs that required attention throughout the night,” Mayor Nick Cox said.

There were downed trees and power lines all over the city.

“This was truly a team effort,” he continued. “In addition to our electric department, our police officers, firefighters, public works crews, city administration and members of the city council all responded to help keep our community safe and support the restoration effort.”

Police officers, including Chief Jared McIver, were at the heavily-traveled intersections, directing traffic, while firefighters aided with downed trees and other emergencies.

The mayor thanked Entergy for their assistance so crews could safely complete the repairs and Hugh Wood for cooking meals for all involved.

“Most importantly, I want to thank the citizens of Minden for their patience and understanding. We know a city-wide outage is disruptive, and we appreciate the cooperation shown by our community while our teams worked to restore power and respond to the additional storm damage,” he said.

See slideshow below.

Regular meeting of the Minden City Council was rescheduled for 9:30 a.m. today (Wednesday) in the Pelican Conference Room, Minden City Hall. It will be followed by a budget workshop.

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No injuries were reported in this two-vehicle accident Sunday in Springhill.

According to Police Chief Will Lynd, the motorcycle pulled in front of the car. The motorcycle driver was booked on misdemeanor charges. Photo and information by Jerry Strahan.

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School systems will begin sharing 2026 state assessment student reports with families

As Louisiana school systems begin sharing student assessment reports with families, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is providing a collection of parent resources to help families better understand their child’s results and support learning at home.

School systems have received individual student reports for the 2025-2026 school year and will distribute them to families in the coming days.

To support those conversations, the LDOE offers two sets of parent resources for the state’s major assessments:

Student Report Parent Guides, which explain each section of a student’s score report and what the results mean.

Assessment Parent Guides, which provide an overview of each assessment, including what students are tested on and how results are used.

Parent guides are available for:

LEAP: Student Reports | Assessment Guide

LEAP Connect: Student Reports | Assessment Guide

English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT): Student Reports | Assessment Guide

Additional state testing resources and translated version of the parent guides are available on our Family State Testing Resources page.  

Understanding Grow. Achieve. Thrive.

This year’s LEAP results are the first that will contribute to Grow. Achieve. Thrive., Louisiana’s revised accountability system. While LEAP measures an individual student’s academic performance, Grow. Achieve. Thrive. uses multiple measures to evaluate how well schools are helping students grow academically, achieve proficiency, and graduate ready for college, careers, or military service.

The first School Performance Scores under the revised accountability system will be released later this year. Families can learn more about Grow. Achieve. Thrive. on the LDOE accountability webpage.

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Notice is hereby given that the City of Minden will receive sealed bids as follows:
2 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2026 for perimeter fencing for the Minden Airport.
Bids will be accepted until the dates and times specified and will be publicly opened and read aloud at City of Minden City Hall Conference Room, 520 Broadway, Minden, Louisiana 71055. Please find bid-related documents and place electronic bids at http://www.BidExpress.com.
Bids received after the date and times of opening will not be considered. The City of Minden reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
Please See Attached/Download below.
/s/ Melaney Slack
City Clerk
/s/ Nick Cox
Mayor of Minden
05/20/26
05/27/26
06/03/26

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“Is $500,000 enough to retire?”

“What about $750,000?”

“Or do I need at least $1 million?”

These are some of the most common questions financial advisors – myself included – hear from clients. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong way to approach the subject.

The better question isn’t, “How much money do I need?” It’s, “How much income will I need?”

Think of retirement like planning a road trip. It doesn’t matter how much gas you have in the tank if you don’t know how far you’re traveling. Likewise, two people can retire with exactly the same amount of savings and have completely different outcomes depending on how much they spend each month.

Let’s imagine two retirees, each with $700,000 invested. One lives debt-free in a modest home, has low monthly expenses, and enjoys simple hobbies. The other still has a mortgage, multiple vehicle payments, expensive travel plans, and a lifestyle that requires significantly more income each month. Although they have the same nest egg, they are in very different financial situations.

Your retirement isn’t determined solely by the size of your portfolio. It’s determined by the relationship between your savings, your spending, and how long those savings must last.

One of the first steps in retirement planning is understanding your expected expenses. Some costs may decrease after you stop working. You may no longer commute, buy work clothes, or contribute to retirement accounts. On the other hand, other expenses often increase. Healthcare and insurance costs tend to rise with age, and many retirees find they spend more on travel, hobbies, or helping children and grandchildren.

Debt also plays a significant role. Entering retirement with a paid-for home and little or no consumer debt provides tremendous flexibility. Every dollar that doesn’t have to go toward loan payments is another dollar available for living expenses or enjoying retirement. Reducing debt before retirement can often improve financial security just as much as increasing your investment account.

Another important factor is your sources of income outside of your investments. Social Security benefits, pensions, rental income, or part-time work can reduce the amount you need to withdraw from your retirement savings each year. Someone receiving substantial guaranteed income may need a much smaller investment portfolio than someone relying almost entirely on personal savings.

Perhaps the most overlooked factor is your withdrawal rate. Many retirees focus on the size of their account balance without even thinking about how much they plan to withdraw each year. Even a large portfolio can be depleted if withdrawals are consistently too high, particularly during periods of market volatility early in retirement.

This is why retirement planning should be personalized rather than based on headlines or rules of thumb. A number that works well for your neighbor may not work for you. Every household has unique goals, spending habits, tax considerations, and family circumstances.

One of the most valuable tools available today is a Monte Carlo simulation, such as the retirement planning software we utilize at my firm, Meriwether. A Monte Carlo analysis runs hundreds or even thousands of possible financial scenarios using varying rates of return, inflation, and market conditions. It estimates the probability that your retirement plan can support your desired lifestyle throughout retirement.

While no analysis can predict the future with certainty, a Monte Carlo simulation provides an excellent foundation for developing a retirement budget and spending plan. It allows you to test different retirement ages, spending levels, investment allocations, and unexpected expenses before making life-changing decisions. If the analysis indicates your plan has a low probability of success, adjustments can often be made years in advance by saving more, delaying retirement, reducing expenses, or modifying investment strategies.

Ultimately, retirement planning isn’t about reaching a magic number. It’s more about creating a sustainable income plan that supports the life you want to live while managing the risks that could affect your financial future.

So the next time someone asks, “Is (blank money) enough to retire?” remember that the answer is almost always the same: “It depends.” It depends on your spending, your debt, your income sources, your taxes, your investment strategy, your health, and your goals.

Instead of chasing a specific dollar amount, focus on building a retirement plan that is tailored to you. A well-thought-out strategy, realistic budget, and ongoing guidance can often be more valuable than simply reaching an arbitrary savings goal. After all, retirement isn’t about how much money you have – it’s about making your money work for the life you want to live.

Tracy L. Campbell is a partner and financial advisor at Meriwether Wealth and Planning, an independent Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) firm headquartered in downtown Minden, La. E-mail Tracy at tracy@meriwether.com. Disclaimer: This content is for general knowledge and education, not a substitute for professional advice.

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I’m typing this the week of the birthdate of my Grandmomma Inez, who passed away in the ’80s (1989) and in her ’80s (88). She was only 4-10 but all by herself (not counting God), she raised four boys and one girl; the girl was gratefully and gracefully in the middle, divinely placed to help raise the two younger guys, who eventually became my dad and “the baby,” my Uncle Artie. 

Since grandmomma passed away — she lived two weeks after a summertime stroke — the family has had a reunion each year around her birthday in early July. The only year we were shut out was 2020 (and yes, we wish we could forget that too). I’m missing the one coming up this weekend, back in Carolina where most all of the riff-raff I am related to hang out, work honestly, cheat on their golf scores, and punch each other in the arm.

I will miss the “golf tournament,” the tea drinking, the storytelling, the remembering. Sadly, we have lost some of the irreplaceable crew who were there for the first reunion. So now, when we talk about grandmomma, we talk about them too.

We listen to the same old stories — always a treat — and some new ones. You know how it goes: my family’s stories, you wouldn’t “get” and I wouldn’t understand yours, but somehow, we are all tied together and they’d make some kind of sense. 

It’d be fun to be a fly on the potato salad at your family reunion this summer, just to listen in. “Oh yeah,” I’d think to myself. “That story reminds me of my crazy family…”

Sometimes people say a deceased loved one is “looking down on you from heaven and smiling” after you’ve done something they’d be proud of, and maybe that’s true but it’s probably not. I’m not sure how that precisely works but if they could see the good stuff, they’d see you do not-so-good stuff too and that might make them sad and that wouldn’t be heaven.

But … if you believe Paul in his letter to the church at Thessalonica — (“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope…)— andif you believe Jesus, who says in John’s Gospel that he’s going to prepare a place that we can be with him, and if you believe Revelation 21 and the promise of a redeemed world and a defeated Satan, then how reassuring it is to know that you will see your God-loving grandmother again, or whoever it is you miss terribly. No more tears and worries. A family reunion forever, one where no one’s feelings are hurt, one where the chicken is fried just right and there are no flies and the temperature is less than 95, even in ‘heavenly’ July.

Inez stayed close to her Bible and to the Lord, and everyone in her little town new it, and she walked to church until she couldn’t anymore and she loved fiercely and protected her own and doled out the righteous punishment when it was needed. She was a pistol, as divine a judge as you can be and still be human. 

It’ll be a glorious day to see her again, and so many others. It’ll be … it’ll be heaven.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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I was married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas.

His name was Norm.

Both of those sentences are true. We’ll get back to them shortly.

For years, I had Las Vegas all wrong. I thought it was tacky showgirls, mobster-run casinos, bad buffets, cheesy lounge acts, and acres of flashing lights designed to separate a man from his money before he realized the free drink wasn’t really free.

And for a long time, that’s what it was.

The wedding story starts in 1988, when I met my future wife. Neither of us wanted to get married. My first marriage had lasted eleven months and left me with a sour impression of the institution. On an early date, I told her that if I ever got married again—which I wouldn’t—it would be by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas. She said that was fine, because she never wanted to get married anyway.

Five years later, we were married by Norm the Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas. My wife would want me to clarify that we were really married the day before by my uncle, an Episcopal priest, at our church in Hattiesburg. The Vegas ceremony was a matter of honor. Keeping my word cost extra, too — the chapel charged me for a witness. I paid it. A man keeps his word.

We spent one night at the Excalibur—nearly new then, and cheaper than the wedding—then flew to Aspen for a proper honeymoon.

In the 1990s, Vegas started importing celebrity chefs, to the degree celebrity chefs existed then. Wolfgang Puck was early. Spago in the Forum Shops at Caesars felt like a big deal. Then came a wave of famous restaurants from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles that had the name on the door and the look of the original but didn’t execute on food or service. They were tribute acts. Norm in a jumpsuit.

That has changed. Completely.

The restaurants in Las Vegas today—at least the ones whose originals I’ve eaten in back in New York or Chicago—are, almost every one of them, as good as the mothership. The cooking and the service in that town right now are as good as anywhere in America.

Here’s the funny part: the casinos couldn’t care less that I’m in the building. I don’t drink, and I don’t gamble. Somewhere in a sub-basement on the Strip, a computer has probably reviewed my file — no slots, no blackjack, no cocktails, eleven restaurants in three days — and flagged me as the least valuable customer in Nevada. No comps are coming my way. The pit bosses will never learn my name. The computer wouldn’t be wrong. But I’ve spent 45 years in the restaurant business, and I’m a student of it. Give me a free afternoon and I’ll spend it walking through concepts, studying the menus, the systems, the way a server moves through a dining room. To have that many restaurants inside such a small footprint—the Venetian, Caesars, the MGM concepts—is a gift for someone wired the way I am. Vegas is the greatest field trip in American food.

The Cosmopolitan has been my Las Vegas home away from home for the past decade. That started when David Chang brought Momofuku to the property. My thinking was simple: any hotel that could land the hottest name in New York at the time was serious about restaurants. I was right. The Cosmopolitan has the kind of restaurant collection that keeps a non-gambling, non-drinking customer like me coming back.

This particular trip had a purpose. My wife’s father passed away last week, and getting her out of town for a few days seemed like the right medicine. Not to avoid grief. That never works. Grief packs its own suitcase and travels with you. But a change of scenery can help. Laughter can help. A good meal can help. A little wonder can help.

So I booked 72 hours wall to wall—lunch and dinner every day, an afternoon show, an evening show. Some nights we walked into a theater as the lights went down, walked out straight to a dinner reservation, and walked from the table to another show with minutes to spare. It was busy. That was the point.

For three days, we laughed. We ate well. We watched people who had spent their entire lives perfecting their craft. And for a little while, the heaviness back home didn’t feel quite as heavy.

That’s hospitality at its best.

It doesn’t erase pain. It gives people a place to set it down for a few hours. I’ve spent my whole career on the giving end of that trade. It took a hard week, in a town I once wrote off, to remind me what it feels like to be on the receiving end.

The shows: Mac King’s comedy magic at the Excalibur got us started—my first time back in that building since the honeymoon. Thirty-three years later, I walked back through those doors holding the same hand, in a heavier week, and the joke we started there felt like the most serious promise I ever made. Day two: Frederic Da Silva’s “Paranormal” mind-reading show, which I’ve now seen five times, and he impresses me every time. Piff the Magic Dragon at the Flamingo was my wife’s favorite show of the trip—with July 4th fireworks as the encore. Somewhere in the middle of that show I heard my wife laugh — really laugh — for the first time in two weeks, and that was worth more than anything else on the itinerary. Day three: Marc Savard’s comedy hypnosis. Hypnotists have had my number since one played my freshman dorm in college.

The food: Amaya at the Cosmopolitan is one of my favorite modern Mexican restaurants in the country, running maybe a half-step behind Frontera Grill in Chicago. Red Plate, also in the Cosmopolitan, might be the finest Chinese restaurant I’ve ever eaten in. Dinner at CUT, Wolfgang Puck’s steakhouse at the Venetian, was excellent—full circle, back to the man who started this whole migration. The last dinner was Zuma, back home at the Cosmopolitan, a Japanese concept that’s as good to look at as it is to eat in.

Which brings me to the lesson of the weekend. Las Vegas was built on gaming. It runs on entertainment now—the kind on a stage and the kind on a plate. By the Gaming Control Board’s own count, Nevada casinos took in $30.8 billion last fiscal year, and only about a third of it came from gaming — which means the least valuable customer in Nevada, and everyone like him, is covering most of the bill. The showgirls gave way to magicians and hypnotists. The buffets gave way to some of the best kitchens in the country. The tribute-act restaurants became headliners.

Thirty-three years ago, a man in a rhinestone jumpsuit stood in a Las Vegas wedding chapel and pronounced us husband and wife. I figured the ceremony was a joke, the city was a gimmick, and neither one would ever be taken too seriously.

I was wrong.

The marriage endured.

The city evolved.

And both turned out to be far more meaningful than I ever expected.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Onward.

Amalfi Lemon Cake

1 ¼ cup + ½ cup Sugar
½ lb. Unsalted butter
4 each Whole large eggs
½ tsp Kosher salt
1 1/3 cup Cake flour
1 ½ TB Baking powder
½ cup Whole milk
½ cup Hazelnuts, toasted and chopped fine
1 cup  Warm water
Zest and juice of 3 lemons

Preheat oven to 300.

Combine the butter and 1 1/4 cup sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high speed until a soft cream is formed, about 4-5 minutes.

Reduce to medium speed and add eggs one at a time just long enough to incorporate each. Be careful not to over mix the eggs

Separately, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, lemon zest and hazelnuts. Return the mixer to medium speed and alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk. Continue mixing until the batter is light and airy, about 3-4 minutes.

Grease the surface of a fluted cake pan (Bundt pan) and lightly dust with flour. Shake off any excess flour before adding the cake batter. Cook for 25-30 minutes.

While the cake is baking, combine the fresh lemon juice, warm water and 1/2 cup sugar in a mixing bowl and whisk until sugar is dissolved. When the cake is finished baking, allow it to rest at room temperature for 2 hours. After 2 hours, pour a quarter of the lemonade mixture over the cake every 10 minutes. After the third time, remove the cake from the pan and pour the remaining lemonade mixture over the top of the cake.

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

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By Brad Dison

Demetria Gene Guynes was born in 1962 in Roswell, New Mexico.  Hers was a troubled childhood.  Demetria’s parents, Dan and Virginia Guynes, were alcoholics and the family moved often to avoid debt collectors.  Dan and Virginia fought often, and they married and divorced twice.  When Dan left for the last time, in contrast to the natural order of things, Demetria had to take care of her unstable mother.  Virginia found occasional work as a model in Los Angeles, California, but her alcoholism worsened.  When Demetria was 12 years old, her mother tried to commit suicide the first time by taking pills.  Demetria saved her mother’s life by digging the pills out of her unconscious mother’s mouth and calling an ambulance.  Shortly thereafter, she learned that the man she called dad was not her biological father.  Her real name was not Demetria Gene Guynes, but Demetria Gene Harmon.  Her family had withheld the fact that her biological father was Charles Foster Harmon, an airman with the Air Force who had abandoned Virginia while she was pregnant with Demetria.

Virginia’s lack of steady employment and abuse of alcohol led to constant money problems.  The money problems led to more alcohol abuse, which led to more money problems.  It was a vicious cycle.  When Demetria was a young teenager, her mother started taking her to bars to get attention.  Late one night, Demetria and her mother returned to their apartment from a bar.  Demetria was surprised to find a man they knew waiting for them inside their apartment.  Virginia was not surprised.  The man had a key to their apartment.  The man took Demetria into her bedroom and raped her.  Demetria was 15 years old.  Before the man left, he asked her how it felt to be sold by her mother for $500.  In addition to the awfulness of being raped, Demetria felt betrayed by her mother, the one person who should have protected her.    

At 16, Demetria became a high school dropout and a runaway.  Like her mother, Demetria began working sporadically as a model.  At just 5 feet, 5 ½ inches, she was considered too short for most modeling jobs.  Like her parents, Demetria tried to drown her troubles with alcohol.  With nothing to lose and with no experience, she began auditioning for acting jobs.  As with modeling, her acting jobs came sporadically.  Alcohol abuse led to drug abuse.  Demetria was headed for certain self-destruction when her boss and coworkers forced her to go to rehab.  While Demetria’s mother’s life spiraled out of control with numerous arrests including burglary, arson, and multiple charges of drunken driving, Demetria led a life of sobriety.  Because of her troubled childhood, Demetria now works with a foundation whose goal is to eliminate child sex slavery and human trafficking called Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children.  You may not have known about Demetria Gene Guynes’s troubled childhood or her work with Thorn, but you certainly know her from films such as “Striptease,” “G.I. Jane,” and “Ghost.”  You know Demetria Gene Guynes as Demi Moore. 

Sources:

1.     Concord Transcript (Concord, California), March 31, 1970, p.18.

2.     Citizen (Solana Beach, California), December 11, 1987, p.58.

3.     “Demi Moore reveals the devastating childhood that shaped her – ABC News – Part 1/3,” ABC News, Youtube.com, September 23, 2019, accessed June 21, 2026, https://youtu.be/MlFl5WiMzBI?si=7f03o7LeOZqfYj3-.

4.     The Fresno Bee, October 7, 1994, p.2.

5.     The Signal (Santa Clarita, California), October 5, 1995, p.2.

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Looking for a new employee or to advertise a garage sale? Or even to sell a house or car? Recently, Donna Hoffoss, mayor of Dixie Inn ran a classified ad with Webster Parish Journal for a new part-time employee.

Here is her response after the first day the ad ran: “Hey Bonnie already had 15 resumes! You definitely have good readership! Thanks” – Donna Hoffoss

Classified ads are $70 per run with a minimum of three runs. Unlimited words and a photo.

According to Hoffoss, she received even more resumes after her three runs, and her council hired one of the applicants.

If you would like to have good results like Dixie Inn, email wpjclassifieds@gmail.com or wpjnewsla@gmail.com .

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Wednesday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 76.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 93.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 76.

*Information provided by National Weather Service.

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

July – Every Tuesday

2 until 4 p.m. K-4th grade, Lakeview Methodist Church, Minden, crafts, games, and snacks.  July 28 we will have a movie and popcorn. Come join us for a month of summer fun – we can’t wait to see you!  Please wear clothing that you can paint or get messy in.

Register at: LakeviewMinden.com .

July 9

5:30 p.m. Gather and Grow – Gardening for Pollinators, Webster Parish Extension Office, 1202 Homer Road, Minden. For more information, call 318-371-1371 or 318-927-3110.

July 11

7 p.m., Piney Woods Jamboree, CAC Building, Springhill. Special guests will be Rhonda Neal and Mackenzie Branton.

July 13 – 17

5:30 until 8:30 p.m., Vacation Bible School, First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden, ages pre-K through 6th grade. Supper provided. Call 318-377-1483 or visit https://www.facebook.com/100064614286593/posts/1321421020021695/?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=wKEx4hN4p2w03lR0# for more information.

July 24-26

6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday, 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Vacation Bible School, Pine Grove, Methodist Church, 4549 Lewisville Rd., Minden. 

July 26 – 31

6 until 8:10 p.m. Vacation Bible School, Calvary Baptist Church, 1400 Homer Road, Minden. For more information: calvaryminden.com/vbs .

August 2

1 p.m. Backpack Give Away, Beech Springs Baptist Church, 15910 US-80 Minden, pre-K through 5th grades. First come, first served. A parent must be with the child in order for them to receive a backpack. For more information, email jennyogle83@gmail.com or call 318-344-4919.

August 14

Nomination deadline for 15 Under 40 Top Young Professionals. greatermindenchamber.com/15under40.

August 15

9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Rooted Women’s Conference, North Acres Baptist Church, 1852 Lewisville Road, Minden. This is a day for women who strive to be rooted in The Word. Hear from our keynote speaker, Stephanie Smithson, as she focuses on spiritual understanding and biblical literacy along with our multi-generational panel of ladies, who will describe what being rooted in Christ means to them. Come for a day of acoustic worship, fellowship, teaching and food! Your $30 ticket includes the conference and a light lunch provided by Hugh Wood Catering. Childcare is provided. Registration is open through July 31. Register at https://onrealm.org/NorthAcresBapti31149/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=ZTc4OTQ2Y2EtZmM3Ny00MWM2LWE2NmUtYjQzMzAwZmUyZDgx .

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Word of the Day: Remonstrate

Phonetic: /re· mon· strate/
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition

to disagree and argue or complain about something

He got angry when I politely remonstrated with him about littering.

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