Ruston – Louisiana Tech University has announced graduates from its Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies held May 23. Webster Parish graduates are listed below.
Cotton Valley Stephanie Adkins – Master of Education
Doyline Cale Hollis – Bachelor of Science Chase Hunter Sadler – Bachelor of Science Forestry
Dubberly Madeline Elizabeth Loy – Bachelor of Arts Julie Anna Ortega – Master of Arts
Heflin Lloyd Jacob Chumley – Bachelor of Science
Minden Colton S Allen – Bachelor of Science Forestry James Carter Barnett – Bachelor of Science Secondary Education and Teaching Grades 6-12 Mallory Pesnell Barnett – Bachelor of Science Alyssa Martin Fields – Master of Arts in Teaching Molly Fowler – Master of Business Administration Walker Hagen Gray – Bachelor of Science Connor Jacob Heard – Bachelor of Science Hannah Heidelberg – Bachelor of Science Elementary Education Grades 1-5 Mary Evelyn King – Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Brandon Alexander Klimkiewicz – Bachelor of Science Collin Murphy – Bachelor of Science Caleb Noel Rhodes – Bachelor of Science Forestry Kailey M Sparks – Bachelor of Interior Design Lauren Still – Bachelor of Science Elisa Rayne West – Bachelor of Arts
Sarepta Casey James Markham – Bachelor of Science
Springhill Lyndie P Green – Master of Business Administration
The Bodcaw Lumber Company, headquartered at Stamps, Arkansas, was formed in the late 1880s. While we are more familiar with the spelling Bodcau, the Arkansas spelling is Bodcaw. Under the leadership of William Buchanan, the company began pushing south, building mills at Springhill and Minden.
Land for the Minden mill was purchased from Captain Alfred Goodwill. The mill property extended from Bayou Avenue, along the tracks of the Louisiana & Arkansas Railway, northward for about three-fourths of a mile. What is now the “new section” of the Minden Cemetery was part of the mill property. Here, between fifteen and twenty houses were built for workers. That land was later donated to the cemetery.
The mill, known as Minden Lumber Company, began operation in 1901. It became a major contributor to the local economy and employed about 300 workers. The financial success of the company can be seen in two of Minden’s historic residences. Joseph G. Ferguson was a timber buyer, board member, and was president of the company in its final decade. The home he built in the early 1920s now serves as the Stewart Center of the Webster Parish Library. E. E. Fitzgerald was vice-president and general manager. His home, built in 1905, is located on McDonald Street next to Academy Park.
On 25 May 1918, fire broke out at the mill. Primary sources only record part of the story. The fire was discovered around 9:30pm and originated in the sawmill building. Hundreds of citizens aided firefighting efforts. They primarily focused on moving what lumber they could out of harm’s way. In an attempt to prevent spread of the fire to the planer and lumber yard, they cut the tramway. With the fire to the north, they were aided by winds blowing from the south. Ten men, a wagon, & pumping apparatus were sent by the Shreveport Fire Department. It took about two hours to bring the fire under control, but ultimately, there was no choice but to let the flames burn out. The sawmill building, dry kilns, both boiler and engine houses, commissary, loading docks, the corral for the mules, and a large quantity of lumber were destroyed.
Fortunately, Mrs. Thomas Lorraine Campbell, past Webster Parish Historian, compiled information about the mill from people who could remember both the mill and the fire. This information was published in 1987, in two parts. Part I appears in the Spring-Summer issue of the Journal of the North Louisiana Historical Association, and Part II in the Fall edition. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Campbell and all those who have contributed articles over the years to ensure that the history of this area is preserved. Many articles on the history of Webster Parish are included in the Journal and we are fortunate to have a substantial collection included in our resource library at the museum.
Back to the fire, according to Mrs. Campbell’s article, residents remembered that it could be seen for miles. Wylie Luck was working that night. As he was completing his round as nightwatchman, the cry of “Fire!” was heard. To Luck’s surprise, the upper floor of the sawmill building was in flames, the very part of the mill he had just checked.
Reportedly, in the event of fire, three pistol shots were to be fired to alert the boilerman. It was then his job to blow the steam whistle to bring workers and others to fight the fire. Luck fired the shots. Some thought shots were being fired at an arsonist. Between the seemingly instant ignition of the fire, its location, the presence of a suspicious man who had reportedly come to work as a machinist at the mill, and war contracts held by the mill, sabotage was suspected by some. Newspapers from the time reported nothing of the sort. However, I did find evidence to support the story of a “suspicious character” in Minden at the time. The Tuesday following the fire, a man was arrested for sedition. Interestingly enough, he was witnessed speaking against the government in the lumber company housing. He was arrested and placed in the Caddo Parish jail on federal charges.
Sabotage or not, the fire was devasting. Losses were estimated in excess of $300,000 and had the flames not been stopped, the Webster Signal predicted a loss approaching $1,000,000. The board of directors met just days later and the decision was made not to rebuild the mill. Minden’s economy took a major hit.
A side effect of the fire was the loss of electricity to the town. When the mill was built, the Minden Electric Light and Power Company was formed. Their power plant was located at the mill and provided the first electricity to Minden. It was several months before power was restored.
(Jessica Gorman is Executive Director of the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Webster Parish Historian, President of the Minden Cemetery Association, and an avid genealogist.)
Before the first bomb of Epic Fury had been dropped, Iranian officials defiantly informed President Trump’s negotiators—who have diligently tried to avoid war—that the Islamic Republic possessed enough enriched fuel to build eleven nuclear bombs. And, according to lead U.S. negotiator, Steve Witkoff, “that was the beginning of their negotiating stance.”
That is why President Trump’s three-month effort to rid the world of this nuclear menace is both justified and profoundly necessary. In fact, since those first 38 days of bombing, the U.S. has been in a ceasefire, engaging militarily in only defensive strikes when we are either under attack or see an attack being planned, such as with the planting of mines in the Strait of Hormuz. We haven’t undertaken offensive military action in a number of weeks.
Rather, we have engaged in a targeted blockade after having degraded or destroyed virtually all of Iran’s military assets. Iran may nominally think it is in control of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, facilitating as it does 20% of the world’s crude oil transport, but we are monitoring everything that happens there. And, based upon news reports, the Trump negotiators have gotten 90-95% of what they want, the holdover being the nuclear issue.
Yet, there is apparently much consternation here and across the world about how all of this will end up. There is no doubt in my mind how this will end.
Iran has been at war with the world, certainly including the Middle East, since 1979. What more dire warning does the world need than that the madmen in the Iranian regime—on the cusp of a nuclear bomb—would not hesitate to use a nuclear weapon to annihilate its Middle Eastern neighbors, including Israel—and then the rest of the world?
Americans must never forget that since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, “the Iranian government and Iran-backed forces have murdered 995 Americans, injured and kidnapped 133 U.S. service members and civilians, and hatched 9 assassination plots directed toward high-ranking U.S. government officials, including President Trump.”
However, Trump has now pushed the ayatollahs to the brink of extinction. He won’t stop now. He, perhaps more than any president in our lifetimes, recognizes the danger posed by the dark and evil ideology espoused by the Iranian regime and its proxies. I believe he fully grasps that he is not negotiating with a typical adversary. Rather, he is trying to strike a deal with a barbaric and murderous group of fanatics who view, and cherish, death more favorably than they prize life; whose foundational ideology of terrorism places a great theological emphasis upon “martyrdom.”
Well, I’ve never seen Trump “stop short” of a goal. On the contrary, his critics constantly attack him for going too far! Where the withering criticism he receives every moment of his life would likely give pause to other presidents, he walks past it. He is simply not going to be dissuaded or out negotiated. We have no idea of the nature of the advice and intelligence he is receiving. And despite the often-idiotic press coverage, what we are reading about as “likely” options in Iran may very well have no relation to what Trump ultimately decides to do.
He is the only person who sees all the pieces on the chessboard. We’ve seen him engage in strategic misdirection a number of times. I think he is giving diplomacy EVERY conceivable chance to work. If, and when, he finally concludes that it cannot he will unleash the hounds of war, for real. All of this is to say nothing of Israel, to whose very existence Iran poses a constant and eternal threat, which has largely restrained itself at Pres. Trump’s insistence. If Israel restarts its war machine, I think there is a possibility that Israeli forces will invade Iran and decisively end the nuclear threat if not eliminate the regime itself.
President Trump has said for years that Iran may never possess a nuclear weapon which that regime would, again, not hesitate to use to do great harm including, ultimately, to the U.S. He will not yield on that demand. I simply cannot see him ending the intense, comprehensive U.S. pressure under which that government currently finds itself before its nuclear program is dismantled.
We should continue to offer our prayers for our country and for President Trump because he is the vital key to not only the security of America but also to that of the entire world.
(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 .)
As school ends, Vacation Bible Schools all over the parish begin. If your church is hosting one of these events this summer, please email your information to wpjnewsla@gmail.com and we will publish it in a special calendar. Thank you!
6 until 8:30 p.m., Unity Baptist Church, Cotton Valley, K through 5th grade.
June 8 – 13
6 until 8:45 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1919 S. Main Springhill, Kindergarten through 5th grade. For more information, call 870-949-3680.
June 8 – 11
5:30 until 8 p.m., preschool through 5th grade, Lakeview Methodist Church 301 Lakeshore Drive, Minden. A light meal will be served at 5:30. We invite families to join us Thursday the 11th at 7:30 for a VBS program followed by an ice cream social. We welcome all to “Magnified” VBS, discovering the brightness of God in the smallest of things.
Roar & Explore: Discovery Camp 2026, Webster Parish Libraries Discovery Camp 2026. STEM-themed weeks that explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through fun, educational, and engaging activities with a lineup of special performers who combine entertainment and education in the most fun ways.
June 4
10 a.m., Turners Pond, the second and final GOF catfish stocking of the spring by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
June 11-13
Celebrate America 250 & Minden 190
Bites & Beats kicks off weekend celebration.
Kids Patriotic Parade
5K Run on Main
Cornhole Tournament
Grilling on Main
Little Grillers
Kids Play area
Duck Derby
Fireworks Finale
June 13
7 p.m. Gospel Night at aPiney Woods Jamboree, CAC Building, Springhill. Special guests will be Don Zimmerman, Glenda Whisnant, Cynthia Cater, Jeff Spring.
June 15-19
Building Bridges of Opportunity Summer Day Camp, males entering grades 6-9 in Minden and surrounding areas. Webster Jr. High School, 700 E. Union St., Minden. For more information, call 318-470-2031.
June 20
8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Men’s Wellness Fair, presented by Healing from the Heart LLC. Minden Recreation Center. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at eventbrite or at the door.
June 21
8 a.m. until a p.m., service at 10:45 a.m., Men’s Wellness Fair weekend continues, New Light Baptist Church, Minden.
June 22 – 26
9 a.m. until noon, Earth Camp 2026 at The Farm of Cultural Crossroads, Minden, ages 6 through 9.
1 p.m. until 3 p.m., ages 10 through 16.
June 27
9 until 10 a.m. Check in at Cash Magic Springhill for W.H.O. Poker Run. Pre-register at http://bit.ly/3PG71ZH . Benefits Women Helping Others.
2 until 6 p.m., Miller Quarters Park, Minden, Daddies With Angels Cookout. Hearts & Halos event to support grieving fathers.
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.
Jimmy R. (J.R.) Johnson June 16, 1935 — May 29, 2026 Minden Visitation: 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel, Minden. Funeral service: 11 a.m. immediately following visitation. Burial: Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Gibsland, La.
Richard K. Sanders April 17, 1952 — May 28, 2026 Minden Memorial service: 1 until 5 p.m. Saturday, June 13, 2026, Hock Activity Building, 1383 Hwy. 531, Minden.
Webster Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are no charge.)
Vehicle from which the suspected shooter fired Minden man is towed from scene of stop south of Sibley.
By Pat Culverhouse
A suspect is in custody in connection to a Friday night shooting which put a Minden man in the hospital with a non-life threatening wound.
Chief of Police Jared McIver said the suspect, whose name is being withheld pending further investigation, was arrested in the early morning hours Saturday at a residence in the 200 block of Virginia Ave. He reportedly was taken into custody without incident.
McIver said the shooting occurred around 8 p.m. Friday and apparently was the result of an earlier altercation at a local
store. A vehicle, reportedly occupied by several individuals, followed the victim to an area near the intersection of Talton and Murdock streets.
According to investigators, as many as five shots were fired into the victim’s vehicle, with one striking him in the shoulder. The victim reportedly exited his vehicle and ran to the front porch of a residence and collapsed into a chair.
Investigators said the suspected shooter followed and apparently was about to fire more shots when the homeowner intervened, causing the suspect to flee in a gray Honda Civic.
McIver said the victim was taken to the Minden Medical Center emergency room where he reportedly is in stable condition.
Around midnight, through the use of traffic cam license readers and information from an earlier incident gathered by Minden PD Patrol Commander Shane Griffith, the suspect vehicle was spotted headed westbound on Interstate 20 near Traffic St. in Bossier City.
After entering the plate into the system, investigators learned the vehicle was headed back toward Minden around 4 a.m.
A Webster Parish deputy sheriff reportedly spotted the vehicle heading south on U.S. Hwy. 371 and conducted a traffic stop near Lakeside Jr/Sr High School. The occupants were brought to police headquarters for questioning. During interviews, the suspected shooter’s location was revealed.
McIver said a firearm consistent with one from which the shots were fired has been recovered from the vehicle. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and conduct interviews, the chief said. A charge of attempted second degree murder could be filed, he added.
“Our guys worked around the clock,” McIver said. “They just kept working and putting the puzzle pieces together. We’re thankful for the Sheriff’s Office helping us locate the vehicle and helping us get the suspect into custody.”
In another incident related to the shooting investigation, a Minden man reportedly was arrested after he drove through the crime scene and nearly struck two officers.
“He drove through the crime scene, around police cars, and nearly hit me and Chief McIver,” Griffith said. “He is being charged with DWI second offense.”
A profanity-laced outburst in Minden City Court Wednesday, which included threatening the life of the judge, could mean a serious change of address for a local man.
Ira Lee Miller, 51, was being processed in city court on a criminal trespass charge when he reportedly suddenly erupted in a string of vulgarities directed toward Judge Sherb Sentell III.
As he was being led from the courtroom in handcuffs by city marshals following the outburst, Miller reportedly shouted at Judge Sentell, “I’ll kill you, b****.”
When he was later returned to court, Sentell reportedly sentenced Miller to six months in jail for contempt of court, the maximum allowed by law. The sentence was ordered served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and without benefit of good time.
But that’s not all the prison time Miller could be facing.
Minden City Attorney Jimbo Yocom, who also serves as a 26th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney, said the incident will be reviewed by the DA’s office for potential felony charges.
In Louisiana, threatening a judge is primarily governed by two statutes: R.S. 14:122 (Public Intimidation and Retaliation) and R.S. 14:122.2 (Threatening a Public Official.) Both are felonies.
If tried and convicted under R.S. 14:122, penalties include a fine of up to $1,000 and up to five years in prison with or without hard labor, or both. R.S.14:122.2 includes a penalty of up to a $500 fine and up to six months in prison, or both.
Miller reportedly has a lengthy criminal history dating back to the 1990s.
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.
(Photos courtesy of the Joiner family) The children of Billy Jack Joiner Jr stand outside the Webster Parish Courthouse Wednesday after the sentencing of their half-brother Jonconnor Joiner for the slaying of their father. From left: Amie Joiner Sittner, Billy Joiner III and Teresa Joiner Hicks.
By Tiffany Flournoy
MINDEN, La. — A Sibley man convicted in April of beating his father to death with a baseball bat nearly a decade ago was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison at hard labor without benefits of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.
Jonconnor Joiner, 32, was convicted last month after a Webster Parish jury deliberated less than 10 minutes before unanimously finding him guilty of second-degree murder in the May 2016 killing of his father, 57-year-old Billy Jack Joiner Jr.
The case was delayed for several years after a court-appointed sanity commission determined Joiner was not competent to stand trial or assist in his defense. He was committed to the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System in Jackson until he was later found competent to proceed.
Judge Parker Self imposed the mandatory sentence following a trial marked by graphic testimony, forensic evidence and an audio confession.
Family members of Billy Joiner Jr. said Joiner continually smirked and smiled during Wednesday’s sentencing proceedings.
In a victim impact statement, Teresa Joiner Hicks told the court, “This statement is not really about me. It is about my father… Our family has carried this loss every day.”
Amie Joiner Sittner recalled first fearing for Joiner’s safety before learning what had happened. “I considered you my brother in every way,” she said, later adding she forgave him but said the pain remains.
“JonConner, I hope you live every day with the memory of what you did to our father. I hope it haunts you, that it follows you, that it reminds you of the rage and hatred that led to his death. That is your life sentence- — the burden of knowing the full weight of your actions.
She said forgiveness does not erase the pain, the trauma, or the loss.
“Billy and I should be sitting on the porch in rocking chairs talking about our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” said Connie Francis Rummage, sister of Billy Joiner Jr. She said Jonconnor Joiner repeatedly claimed he had no family despite relatives present in the courtroom. Francis added that after visiting him early on, he told her not to return if she could not forgive him, and said she now believes he shows no remorse.
Billy Joiner III also addressed the court directly, speaking through faith and the Lord’s Prayer. “Jonconnor… I stand here today as your brother and as the son of the man you took from us,” he said, telling him that by taking their father’s life he also lost the life he could have had. He said forgiveness was a decision rooted in faith, not an excuse for the crime.
He closed by reciting the Lord’s Prayer, with some in the courtroom gallery heard quietly whispering along.
Officials involved in the case described it as among the most gruesome they had encountered.
At trial, Assistant District Attorney Hugo Holland told jurors that Billy Joiner Jr. was “beaten viciously” inside the family’s Frazier Road home in Sibley.
According to testimony, former Sibley police officer Cody James discovered the scene after noticing the victim’s donkey, JoJo, loose while patrolling the area. He checked the residence, found the front door kicked in, and called for backup. Deputies later discovered the victim’s body inside.
Jurors heard an audio confession in which Joiner admitted arguing with his father after being told he would have to move out of the home.
“We argued… he was trying to kick me out,” Joiner said in the recording.
He told investigators he initially struck his father with his fists before retrieving a baseball bat and continuing the attack, later taking his wallet believing it contained money.
Jurors were shown crime scene photographs and physical evidence, including a blood-stained baseball bat, clothing, shoes, a cap and a gaming controller prosecutors said was used during the attack.
Investigators testified the controller contained visible blood after the assault began.
Both Tucker and forensic pathologist Dr. Frank Perretti testified there were no signs of a struggle. Perretti said the victim suffered more than 10 blunt-force injuries to the head and extensive skull fractures.
“The entire skull was fractured… there was massive hemorrhaging of the brain,” Perretti testified. “I think he died pretty rapidly — a few minutes at most.”
Investigators later found the victim’s white GMC SUV outside Room 131 of a Bossier City motel where Joiner had been staying. Inside, they recovered the victim’s wallet, identification and cellphone.
Defense attorney Mary Ellen Halterman argued the case should be manslaughter, citing escalating conflict after Billy Joiner Jr. told his son he would need to move out. She noted Joiner had lived with his father since childhood and told authorities he had nowhere else to go.
Jonconnor Joiner did not testify at trial. He also did not speak during the sentencing phase.
The Joiner family also thanked those involved throughout the 10-year process.
Ashley Burns is wanted for offenses that occurred on July 30, 2024. Patrol officers secured an arrest warrant following the incident.
Following are the charge(s) and bond amount(s) associated with Ashley Burns:
One count simple criminal damage to property (felony) with a bond amount of $10,000 surety.
One count entry of an inhabited dwelling (felony) with bond amount of $10,000 surety.
One count failure to appear with cash bond amount of $625.
Please get in touch with Detective Matthew Hicks (318-639-7776) of the Minden Police Department if you have information regarding the whereabouts of Ashley Burns.
All information will remain confidential.
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.
The Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry is continuing to expand its outreach efforts as demand for food assistance programs continues to grow across the community. Recently, the pantry celebrated the expansion of its facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that highlighted its ongoing mission to serve families in need and strengthen local hunger relief efforts.
For years, the pantry has worked to provide groceries, emergency food assistance and seasonal support programs for residents throughout the area. Volunteers and supporters have played a major role in helping the organization grow into an important resource for families experiencing hardship. The newly expanded facility is expected to improve storage, organization and distribution capabilities as the pantry works to meet increasing needs.
One of the pantry’s largest outreach efforts this summer has been its Summer Feeding Program, which provides food assistance for children while school is out of session. Executive Director Jessica Walker Lewis says response to the program has been overwhelming, with requests continuing to pour in following the first food distribution.
Due to the high volume of applications and messages, pantry leaders announced they are temporarily pausing enrollment for new households in the Summer Feeding Program while they regroup and evaluate what the organization can realistically manage. Families who have already contacted the pantry have been placed on a waiting list and will be contacted as staff and volunteers work through requests.
Organizers also said changes to authorized pickup information or the number of children enrolled cannot currently be processed because participant information has already been submitted to the food bank. Pantry volunteers ask for patience and understanding as they work through adjustments following the program’s first distribution.
Despite the challenges that come with rapid growth, community support continues to fuel the pantry’s efforts. Leaders say the continued response shows how important food assistance programs have become for local families and reflects the strong spirit of neighbors helping neighbors throughout the region.
The pantry is also encouraging local businesses, churches, civic organizations, and community groups to get involved through donations or volunteer efforts. Support from the community helps keep programs operating and allows the pantry to continue serving families in need. Anyone interested in donating food, supplies, funding, or volunteer time is encouraged to contact the Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry for more information on how to help support its mission.
The north Louisiana chapter of the National Football Foundation makes difficult choices each winter to narrow a field of roughly two dozen high school senior scholar-athlete nominees to a select group of nine $1,000 scholarship winners.
Then it really gets tough. The Shreveport-based S.M. McNaughton Chapter’s board of directors reconsiders the nine chosen from schools covering the north half of the state, and splits hairs to pick just one as its Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Tuesday, this year’s winner, Hudson Smith of North Webster High School in Springhill, received national recognition.
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame included Smith as it unveiled 63 members of the 2026 NFF Team of Distinction, honoring the nation’s top high school scholar-athletes who have excelled at the very highest levels in the classroom, on the field and by making an impact in their communities. They represent 29 states.
“These remarkable young men have pushed themselves to succeed in every arena imaginable: in the classroom, on the field, and in service to their communities,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Together, they have compiled an extraordinary record that includes valedictorians, all-state selections, Eagle Scouts, team captains and community leaders.”
Selected from a nationwide pool of 3,500 outstanding candidates identified through the NFF Chapter Network, the members of the team all played their final high school football season last fall. Each NFF chapter is permitted to nominate only one player annually, making inclusion on the Team of Distinction one of the highest honors awarded at the grassroots level of amateur football. Criteria to make the team include (but are not limited to) academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement.
Smith, a two-time all-district center for the Knights, was nominated by his coach, Christopher Wilson.
Nicknamed “the Governor,” Smith was in fact elected as governor of 2025 Louisiana Boys State. He was North Webster’s student council vice president, and earned salutatorian honors with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Smith was named Springhill’s Mr. Main Street for 2026. He was National Honor Society president and vice president of the student council at North Webster, and was a state tournament qualifier in tennis. Smith was in BETA and the Christian Youth Club.
He credited his teaches, coaches, and most of all, his parents for his success.
“They’ve been a huge motivation for me. I’ve wanted to strive to be like them, because they’ve pushed me forward so much,” Smith said in a KTBS TV interview last fall.
He was among 43 National Honor Society members recognized by the NFF, and 42 multi-sport athletes.
NFF officials said this year marks the ninth year of the NFF Team of Distinction, continuing a 73-year tradition of the NFF Chapter Network honoring the nation’s top scholar-athletes at the grassroots level. Since 1954, NFF chapters have served as the driving force behind the Foundation’s mission to build leaders through football, recognizing excellence while strengthening communities across the country.
The NFF Chapter Network includes more than 12,000 members and positively impacts more than 500,000 student-athletes at 5,000 high schools annually. At the center of that mission are the chapters’ annual scholar-athlete awards banquets, which collectively honor more than 3,500 outstanding high school football players each year while providing more than $1 million in scholarships to support their academic futures.
Community members gathered at Mercy’s Closet in Minden Saturday, May 23, to celebrate the dedication of the new Free Library for Kids supported by the North Shreveport Lions Club.
Plans are underway for a Cub Club in Minden. This initiative would be sponsored locally by the Minden Evening Lions Club as a way to encourage children ages 0–12 to get involved in community service, leadership and helping others.
Organizers expressed appreciation to Diana, owner of Mercy’s Closet, for allowing the library to be placed at the location, helping make books more accessible to children in the community.
Parents interested in registering their child for the Cub Club can contact Lion Mike Trainor at 318-268-6772 for more information.
Intake # 26084 ” Coconut “ is approximately 3 years old – 46-pound female Staffordshire bull terrier mix at Minden Animal Control. Coconut is very friendly and will sit well for treats. She is light heart worm positive and will need treatment. She does not like cats. She’s done very well with other dogs at the shelter. She’s very playful and active.
Available for rescue through 501c3 group or approved adoption (MUST fill out application for adoption)
Adoption fee- $150 (covers spay, age appropriate vaccines, worming, and microchip)
To find a previously featured dog, simply go to the “Search” box at the top right corner of websterparishjournal.com, type in “Pet Project,” and click on “Search.”
As school ends, Vacation Bible Schools all over the parish begin. If your church is hosting one of these events this summer, please email your information to wpjnewsla@gmail.com and we will publish it in a special calendar. Thank you!
6 until 8:30 p.m., Unity Baptist Church, Cotton Valley, K through 5th grade.
June 8 – 13
6 until 8:45 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1919 S. Main Springhill, Kindergarten through 5th grade. For more information, call 870-949-3680.
June 8 – 11
5:30 until 8 p.m., preschool through 5th grade, Lakeview Methodist Church 301 Lakeshore Drive, Minden. A light meal will be served at 5:30. We invite families to join us Thursday the 11th at 7:30 for a VBS program followed by an ice cream social. We welcome all to “Magnified” VBS, discovering the brightness of God in the smallest of things.
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. If you would like to have good results like Dixie Inn, email wpjclassifieds@gmail.com or wpjnewsla@gmail.com .
There’s something both hilarious and mildly humbling about becoming the parent who says, “Back in my day…” And yet here I am.
Because apparently we’ve entered an era where tiny foam blobs named NeeDohs, squishy dumplings with faces, and mystery-packed Squishies have become the equivalent of gold bars in elementary school economics.
If you don’t know what a NeeDoh is, congratulations on either having grown children or being blissfully disconnected from the toy aisle at Target. They’re basically stress balls… but somehow not? They come in different textures, colors, sizes and apparently emotional significance. Kids trade them like stockbrokers. They have favorites. They have rare ones. Some are “too nice to play with.” Which, as a mother spending actual money on them, feels offensive.
And the dumplings? Why are we emotionally attached to squishy dumplings with tiny smiles? I don’t know. But if one goes missing in this house, it triggers a full-scale FBI investigation.
The funniest part is realizing every generation has their version of this.
Because if we’re being honest, the kids of the ’90s weren’t exactly making sound financial or emotional decisions either (or at least our parents weren’t.)
We begged our parents for Beanie Babies like they were retirement investments. I am still waiting on these things to be worth something by the way! We nearly broke our ankles bouncing on Pogo Sticks. We carried Tamagotchis around with the stress level of young single mothers trying to keep a digital blob alive during math class. We had Furby fever. We collected slap bracelets despite schools practically treating them like contraband. We thought mood rings held scientific truth.
And don’t even get me started on Lisa Frank everything.
The girls had inflatable furniture and butterfly hair clips. The boys had Tech Decks and Yo-Yos that somehow came back into style every six months. If your parents bought you Skip-It, congratulations on surviving childhood shin injuries.
Every generation has “the thing.” The must-have item that somehow dominates playground conversations and drains parents’ wallets one $6 squishy at a time.
And honestly? I kind of love it.
Because while I may not fully understand the emotional attachment to a smiling dumpling keychain, I do understand what it feels like to be little and obsessed with something magical and ridiculous. I remember the excitement of finally getting the toy everyone else had.
But somewhere along the way, we became the adults confused by the toys instead of the kids obsessed with them.
And honestly?
That might be the weirdest trend of all.
(Paige Gurgainers is a mom of three girls, digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal.)
There is a new product available for gardeners. It is called Coco Coir. It’s a growing medium and premium starting mix. You can use Coco Coir with flowers, shrubs, trees, berries, fruit, vegetables, root crops and hydropoics.
The benefits include a slow breakdown with excellent nutrient and water holding capacity. It produces stronger plants with a vigorous root system. Coco Coir is easy to wet without dry spots and provides excellent structure and aeration in root zone. It has a high water holding capacity with a neutral PH for optimal plant growth.
Coco Coir is weed free and attracts earth worms, also promotes rapid dense root growth with yielding gardens. Coco Coir can be re-used after to improve soil structure.
To use, lay block down flat somewhere with good drainage. Slowly pour warm water over block allowing water to absorb without runoff. Break apart with hands until light and spongy. The warmer the water, the faster and easier the expansion is.
Coco Coir looks to be a good product. I’m certainly going to try it.
(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal. Email Mitzi questions at mitzithomas40@yahoo.com.)
Lakeside High School Baseball is stepping up to the plate this summer with a new initiative aimed at bringing the community together and building excitement around Warrior baseball through the month of June.
The program, titled “Summer Games at Warrior Field,” will feature a series of themed home game nights throughout the month designed to celebrate students, teachers, alumni, youth athletes and community members while creating a family-friendly atmosphere at the ballpark.
The summer lineup includes special events like student night, youth baseball recognition night, teacher appreciation night, alumni night and even a luau-themed senior celebration to close out the month.
The new high school baseball coach Chase Spatafora says the goal is bigger than baseball. “This is as much for the community as it is for the players,” he said. “Of course our players love seeing the stands filled with support from family, friends and community members, but we also want to recognize all the people in the community who make what we do possible. We hope to see you at the ballpark cheering on the Warriors all season long.”
The themed nights will include raffles, recognition ceremonies, fan activities, autograph opportunities with players and special admission promotions for different groups throughout the month.
School supporters hope the initiative helps strengthen community pride while also building momentum and support for the baseball program entering a new era under its new leadership.
All recognition participants are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to game time.
The first themed night, “Pack the Park,” is scheduled for June 3 at 5 p.m. at Warrior Field. Lakeside students wearing school gear and presenting a school ID can attend for just $1.
The full schedule of events can be found on the Lakeside Warrior Baseball social media pages.
A slight chance of showers before 10 a.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind.
Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
*Information provided by National Weather Service.
