I’m not scared of failing. I’m scared of living a life that didn’t matter.

I’ve fallen down a lot. I’ve come up short more times than I can count. I’m still here. That stuff doesn’t scare me. Here’s what does. One day I’ll stand before God, and I’ll know I played it safe when I was supposed to live all the way.

That’s my fear. Not the big, loud kind of failure that everybody sees. The quiet kind. The kind you don’t even notice happening to you.

For forty years I’ve worked like something was chasing me. There was no big plan. Half the time there was no real reason. I just kept going. Build the next thing. Open the next place. Write the next story. One day my mom asked me when I was going to retire. I told her the truth. “Mom, I’m never going to retire.” Funny she asked, as she taught school until she was 80.

I’ve always had this fear. I just didn’t have a name for it. Then a few years ago I was listening to a podcast. Someone asked the guest what scared him the most. He didn’t say dying. He didn’t say failing. He said, “an unlived life.” I sat there and it hit me. That was it. That was the thing I’d been running from for forty years. Now I had a name for it.

The unlived life haunts me because it’s built one small compromise at a time, one day at a time, until one day becomes a lifetime.

Used right, your days build a good life. Used wrong, those same days build an empty one. Same hours. Same chances. The only question is whether you use them or save them. And you can’t save a life for later. This isn’t a rehearsal for some other life that kicks in one day. This is it. Right now. You only get back what you put in. I almost didn’t live long enough to learn that. By the grace of God and not much else, I did, and I’ve spent every year since trying to put more in than I take out.

An unlived life starts small. You say no to a trip. No to a table full of people you don’t know. No to the stranger across the room who could have been your friend for the next thirty years, if you had just walked over and said hello. Every “no” feels smart at the time. Safe. Sensible. But say enough of them and you’ve built a wall around yourself. Pretty soon your world becomes six square miles and ten meals you could cook in your sleep. 

Traveling is the opposite. Traveling is one big “yes.”

Yes to the early alarm. Yes to the cramped airplane seat. Yes to a language you can’t speak, a town you can’t find on a map, and food you can’t even say out loud.

I once watched a group of grown men and women from Mississippi go totally quiet in Sicily. They were eating pasta alla Norma. A woman had been cooking it by hand since before the sun came up. No menu. No English. Just her, some wine her son made, and four hours we will never forget. You don’t get that on a regular Tuesday back home. A normal Tuesday lets you go through the motions. Italy doesn’t let you.

A new place makes you pay attention. Both eyes open. That kind of attention is the first thing an unlived life takes away from you. And it’s the first thing a good trip gives back.

One good week on a trip gives you more memories than three whole months at home. On the last night of a trip, I’ve watched people tell me about one single afternoon, little by little. The light on the hills. The warm bread. The old man who they struck up a conversation with. But those same people can’t remember one thing they did the entire month before they left.

That’s not by accident. An unlived life feels thin and empty. A full life feels deep.

There was a woman on a trip this past spring who almost didn’t come. She talked herself out of it three times. The money. The timing. The dog. The same excuses we all keep ready. But she came anyway. On the last night, she told me it was the first thing she had done just for herself in over ten years. Then she cried. I may have too. That wasn’t just a vacation. That was a person getting her own life back.

I write all this as the most blessed man I know, not from up on some horse looking down. I get to do this for a living, and I haven’t taken one day of it for granted. Everything I have came to me the same way my sobriety did. Not through merit. Through grace. And not everybody can buy a ticket to Italy. I couldn’t until I was 50 years old. There were years where I was counting-change-in-the-sofa-cushions broke just trying to keep the lights on and make payroll. So, if a plane isn’t in your cards right now, hear the part that matters. 

This was never really about a trip.

Every “yes” I say out there is me looking fear in the eye and saying no to it. Not today. Not this year. Not while I still have my health, my passport, and people who want to come along.

When my next birthday rolls around I’ll turn what most people consider retirement age. I don’t know how many more trips I have left. Nobody does. But I’d rather wear myself out crossing oceans and sitting at long tables with new friends than play it safe and slowly shrink. I’ve tried safe. Safe almost killed me. Safe is the slow road to an unlived life, and I already gave that road too many of my years.

So, I keep going. I don’t want to leave gifts buried, words unsaid, work undone. I don’t want comfort to choke out calling. I want to wring everything out of this life while I still have breath.

The real loss isn’t losing. It’s never living the life I was meant to live.

I’m not here to take it easy. I’m here to go all the way.

And every spring and fall, that other guy, the one who would have stayed home and said no and let his world shrink down to a few miles and ten tired meals, gets a little smaller behind me.

I know that guy well. For a lot of years, he was me.

I’m not going to let him take the wheel again.

Onward.

Sicilian Tuna Salad

My friend David Trigiani ate a version of this on a trip to Sicily and prepared it for lunch one day in his home. I fell in love with it and adapted my version for use on a regional Italian menu at Tabella. It’s perfect for hot summer days. I use fresh, seared yellowfin tuna here (it can be grilled, too), but high quality imported Italian canned tuna works as well.

Many don’t’ mix cheese and seafood. If that offends you then just omit the cheese and carry on.

2 lbs. Red B-size potatoes, quartered
2 quarts Chicken stock, cold
¼ cup + ¾ tsp Kosher salt
1 lb. Yellowfin tuna steak, highest quality
1 tsp Italian seasoning blend 
2 TB + 1 TB Extra virgin olive oil 
½ cup Red onion, thinly sliced
1 pint Grape tomatoes, halved
3 TB Capers
¾ cup Green Castelvetrano olives, pitted and sliced
¾ tsp Fresh ground black pepper                 
½ cup White vinegar
2 each 5 oz. bags mixed greens
6 TB Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
½ cup House dressing 
4 each Roma tomatoes, quartered (2 per person)
1 each Large lemon, quartered and each quarter halved (1 per person)

Bring the cold stock, ¼ cup salt and red potatoes to a boil in a large pot. As soon as it comes to a boil, drain immediately and spread out on a baking pan. Allow to cool completely in the refrigerator.

Heat 1 TB of oil in a 10” skillet over medium heat. Season the tuna with the house seasoning. Once oil is heated, sear the tuna for 2-3 minutes on each side, being careful not to burn. The tuna should still have a warm pink center. Do not cook past that point. If you prefer, you may cook the tuna less. Remove from the skillet and let rest at room temperature until cooled. Once cooled, shred the tuna into large pieces by hand and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded tuna, remaining oil and salt, onion, chilled potatoes, tomatoes, capers, olives, pepper and vinegar and combine thoroughly. 

In a separate large mixing bowl, toss the mixed greens, shredded cheese and house dressing thoroughly. 

Divide the salad green mixture among 6-8 plates. Divide the composed tuna salad mixture on top of each plate of greens. Garnish each with 2 quartered tomatoes, lemon wedge and additional grated cheese if desired.
House Salad Dressing

¾ cup Tarragon vinegar
6 TB Apple cider vinegar
6 TB Grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 TB Minced garlic
1 TB Fresh ground black pepper
2 tsp Kosher salt
1 ½ cups Pure olive oil

Blend first 6 ingredients in a mixing bowl using a wire whip. Whisk in olive oil.

Stir well before each use.

It can also be divided into Mason jars and shaken before application.

Yield: 3 cups

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

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Hall of Fame’s Round Table Luncheon will provide up-close, memorable moments

The “youngest” event during this month’s Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration is the most exclusive, yet casual, opportunity for the public to enjoy hearing from the Class of 2026 inductees.

It’s the Round Table Luncheon Saturday, June 27, at noon at Riverside Reserve, 104 Mill Street, in Natchitoches. There are still seats available for the eighth annual Round Table Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation.

Registration is available for the luncheon can be made by visiting LaSportsHall.com, or by calling 318-238-4255. It is a ticketed event.

Festivities begin Thursday evening, June 25 with the free of charge Welcome Reception from 5-7 open to all, no registration necessary, at the Hall of Fame museum facing the traffic circle at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches.

The BOM Celebrity Bowling Bash is at midday Friday, June 26 at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. Friday evening brings the free Rockin’ River Fest concert on Cane River Lake in downtown Natchitoches, from 6-10:30, with the Class of 2026 introduced at 9:15 right before a sports-themed fireworks show over the water.

Events Saturday, June 27 include the free Saints and Pelicans Junior Training Camp for kids, the Round Table Luncheon, and the Induction Reception and Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center.

The Round Table Luncheon starts with tremendous Louisiana cuisine and quickly kicks into gear with Fox Sports announcer (and 2020 LSHOF inductee) Tim Brando interviewing small groups of inductees on stage in a very informal and fast-moving setting.

A poignant scene at the 2019 luncheon unfolded before the program when Peyton Manning, being inducted later that day, stopped by to greet LSU legend Johnny Robinson, who was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame two months later.

Scenes like that, up-close access and the fun-filled dialog between Brando and the 2026 inductees combine to provide a memorable 90 minutes.

The Class of ‘26 is headlined by a star-studded group:  Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 inductee Sylvia Fowles, NFL stars Joe Horn, Todd McClure and Pat Williams, Major League Baseball All-Star Jonathan Lucroy and legendary basketball coaches John Brady, Mike McConathy and Dewain Strother.

Alexandria native and LSU baseball hero Warren Morris will receive the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award, earning enshrinement into the LSHOF. His walk-off home run won the 1996 College World Series for LSU and resulted in the Bolton High School product becoming a lifelong spokesman for college baseball, the CWS and LSU.

LSU graduate and New Orleans native Gil LeBreton and multi-faceted Shreveporter John James Marshall are going into the Hall as the 2026 winners of the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism. Former Tioga girls basketball coach and nationally-acclaimed high school sports administrator Kathy Holloway is being inducted as the recipient of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.

The Hall of Fame Round Table Luncheon shapes up as a highly entertaining opportunity for guests to have a up-close-and-personal experience and be entertained and well fed in a casual setting, with a touch of elegance at the Riverside Reserve on the banks of Cane River Lake just a mile from downtown Natchitoches.

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My parents had the one thing money can’t buy.

Poverty.

Well, that’s a stretch. We weren’t ever going to be confused with the Vanderbilts, but we weren’t The Beverly Hillbillies pre-oil either. We had all we needed.

I can never remember going without or being hungry or not having clothes to wear. A small-town preacher’s family always would be supplied. Bushels of corn and peas and beans showed up at our side door, fresh cucumbers, tomatoes. We had a garden like everyone else, but we didn’t really need one; we got the surplus from others. Our deep-freeze was always full.

But cash money, we didn’t have a lot of that. I didn’t know that at the time, but I do now.

Ignorance was bliss — but it wasn’t as grateful as it should have been. I didn’t understand how much my parents and their friends did for us kids. None of us knew. 

When summer rolls around every year, I think of our vacations back then and wonder how they did it, how my parents came up with the money. We’d drive from South Carolina to see my grandparents in Louisiana. Not always, but sometimes, we stayed at a hotel . . . almost always ate at a Howard Johnsons, so we could have pancakes. Or “pigs in a blanket.” Spaghetti. No restaurants in my hometown. This was a huge deal, eating out.

And not every summer, but three times, we stopped on the way home at “Six Flags Over Georgia” in Atlanta.

Bigtime. Just saying. Two words: log ride.

It is not easy these days to scrape up money for a few days at the beach or “Six Flags Over Anywhere.” Even “One Flag” can be tough. But it was even harder for my parents, and probably for yours. Somehow, they managed it, and memories of those times are priceless, even though travel with five in a two-door Impala was far from luxury.

Ignorance is thinking the window rolled down and your sister’s elbow in your ribs was bliss. And it was. 

My parents did practical day-to-day things to get us over the hump, plus some more. It is another reason to honor a couple who did things for me I couldn’t do for myself. There is an illustration of selflessness in their actions and purpose that I need always to remember.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right,” Paul writes in Ephesians. “‘Honor your father and mother’”—the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you…”

They did so much to make it “go well” with us. Summer vacation? Probably wasn’t much of a vacation for them, corralling kids and scraping some dollar bills together. Just a small reason, of many, to honor them, more than a half-century of summers later.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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United Christian Assistance Program has the following needs:

Food: powdered milk, canned meats, biscuit mix, Ramen noodles

Household Goods: wash cloths & hand towels

Clothing: men’s XL short-sleeved shirts, men’s pants/jeans 34/34, men’s shoes 11 &12

Thanks to all for supporting UCAP!!

UCAP is open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at 204 Miller Street, Minden, for food, utility and rent assistance. Clothing is dispersed on Wednesdays only.

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By Brad Dison

On Christmas Eve in 1870, a group of people, including about 16 prominent citizens of Hamilton, Ohio, gathered in a gambling room on the second floor of “the American Saloon,” an “aristocratic” drinking saloon on High Street directly opposite the Butler County courthouse.  Some of the men were playing casino at one table and others, including Thomas “Tom” Myers, were playing a game called faro at another table.  Suddenly, a gunshot rang out.  With the exception of E.D. Banister and Peter Schwab who were in the fervor of the game of casino and Tom who was seated at the faro table, the men began running from the room.  Tom stood up, leaned against the wall, and fired his pistol.  The bullet from Tom’s pistol struck the ceiling just above the faro table.  Mr. Bannister fled from the room and Mr. Schwab slunk to the floor for his own protection.  Tom fired another shot which struck the opposite wall.  Once sure that Tom was unable to fire his pistol again, Peter approached him and realized Tom had been shot in the abdomen.  Peter tried only briefly to get Tom to tell him who had shot him before he ran to get help.  Peter soon returned with Dr. Huber, who had been in the room but had fled when he heard gunshots.  Dr. Huber also tried to get Tom to explain who had shot him, but Tom was unable to speak.  Dr. Huber located a gunshot wound on Tom’s upper abdomen which had severed a main artery.  Within moments, 29-year-old Tom died. 

Immediately following the affray, all of the witnesses said that Tom “must have either did it himself or had it done.”  Based on the testimony of a young boy, Tom’s brother Joseph swore out a warrant for five men including Deputy Marshal Ich Sheely and Thomas McGehan.  Before the coroner’s jury, none of the witnesses could identify who shot Tom, but all said that Thomas McGehan had not been in the room before the shooting began.  When the accused men learned of the warrant, they turned themselves in.  In January 1871, the five men were indicted on the charge of first-degree murder.  Clement Vallandigham was one of the four defense attorneys in the trial which began on June 6, 1871.  The trial was long because over 120 witnesses had been called to testify.      

At about 9 p.m. on June 15, 1871, Clement Vallandigham and fellow defense attorney Andrew McBurney were in their hotel room discussing the case.  Clement was sure that Tom had shot himself and decided to show Andrew how Tom could have done it.  Clement pulled a pistol from his pocket, turned it towards himself, and pulled the trigger.  To his surprise, the pistol discharged.  The bullet struck Clement in almost exactly the same place Tom’s bullet had struck him.  The wound was fatal.  In trying to defend Thomas McGehan by explaining how Tom Myers had killed himself, Clement Vallandigham accidently killed himself too.  Based at least in part on Clement’s unfortunate accident, the jury found Thomas McGehan not guilty.    

Sources:

1.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, December 27, 1870, p.8.

2.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, January 31, 1871, p.8.

3.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, February 15, 1871, p.8.

4.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 6, 1871, p.8.

5.     The Evening Post (Cleveland, Ohio), June 17, 1871, p.2.

6.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 19, 1871, p.1.

7.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, December 28, 1871, p.8.

8.     “Thomas S. Myers,” Find A Grave, accessed May 25, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106977757/thomas-s-myers.

9.     “Clement Laird Vallandigham,” Find A Grave, accessed May 25, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2526/clement-laird-vallandigham.

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Vacation Bible School is beginning all over Webster Parish. Read here to find one (or more) just right for your children.

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 this special calendar. Thank you!

June 14 – 18

5:30 until 8 p.m., Central Baptist Church, Springhill, ages three through 6th grade.

June 15 – 19

6 until 8:30 p.m. First Baptist Church, Cotton Valley, Pre-K through 6th grade.

June 22 – 26

6 until 8:30 p.m., North Acres Baptist Church. Register at https://onrealm.org/NorthAcresBapti31149/Registrations/Registrants/e37ca670-d1e0-4d26-8e23-b409010037cd?congregantView=true&connect=true&viewIndividualId=cd5677d8-e681-479f-af07-b3fc012389f5 .

July 13 – 17

5:30 until 8:30 p.m., 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 26 – 31

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

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Wednesday

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

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 77. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

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

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 77.

Friday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

Friday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.

Saturday

A 30 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 .

June 8 and 9

Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries to be at Webster Parish Libraries. Children can hold a baby alligator.

Monday: 10 a.m. Minden Library Branch

3 p.m. Sibley Library Branch

Tuesday: 10 a.m. Springhill Library Branch

3 p.m. Cotton Valley Library Branch.

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 17

11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Giving is Groovy blood drive featuring City of Minden Police and Fire departments’ CUFFS & HOSES Drive, 520 Broadway, Minden. Give blood and tell which department to help one of them win the competition, while doing something to benefit others. Donate and receive a special edition LifeShare Groovy tee shirt while supplies last.

June 19

5 until 9 p.m., Juneteenth celebration, MLK Drive, Minden. Food, live music, games and activities for all ages, fellowship, community unity, local vendors. For more information, call Michael Walker at 318-210-1799.

June 20 – 21

Minden St. Jude Diamond Open in memory of Stanton Haynes. Minden Recreation Complex. Call 318-465-1938 or visit http://www.mindendiamondmemorial.com .

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 25

10 a.m. Elder Fraud Awareness Session, presented by Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. Sibley Town Hall, Sibley, La. Call 318-377-0345 to RSVP.

June 27

Annual Ride for WHO Poker Run. Pre-register to ride at http://bit.ly/3PG71ZH .

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.

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, t-shirt, and a light lunch provided by Hugh Wood Catering. Childcare is provided. Registration is open through July 5. Register at https://onrealm.org/NorthAcresBapti31149/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=ZTc4OTQ2Y2EtZmM3Ny00MWM2LWE2NmUtYjQzMzAwZmUyZDgx .

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Word of the day: Desultory

Phonetic: /des· ul· to· ry/
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition

marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose
a dragged-out ordeal of … desultory shopping.
—Herman Wouk

not connected with the main subject
desultory comments

disappointing in progress, performance, or quality
a desultory fifth place finish

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Loading crossword puzzle. One moment please.

Play Sudoku online!

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Veronica Taylor, 60, 100 block Mims Grocery Rd., Dubberly: arrested June 3 by Minden PD for theft. Bond set $500.

Kimberly Louise Powell, 48, 200 block Nursery Rd., Sibley: arrested June 3 by Minden PD for theft, on multiple bench warrants. Bond set $20,500 surety or $850 cash. 

Peyton Leon Thomas, 34, 500 block Pine St., Minden: arrested June 5 by WPSO on warrants for unauthorized entry of inhabited dwelling, violation of protective orders. Bond set $40,000.

Jeffery Earl Duck, 50, 1100 block Syrup Mill Rd., Minden: arrested June 6 by WPSO on warrant for theft. No bond set.

Bryanna Cheyenne Mason, 27, 300 block Porterville Rd., Sarepta: arrested June 4 by Louisiana State Police for DWI first offense, no drivers license, expired registration, open container. No bond set.

Justin Shawn Sumner, 45, 6900 block Hwy. 2, Sarepta: arrested June 4 by Louisiana State Police for DWI first offense, careless operation, fugitive from another jurisdiction. No bond set. 

Augustin Ramirez, Jr., 35, 4900 block Brady St., Houston, Texas: arrested June 5 by Minden PD for operating a vehicle while impaired. Bond set $1,500.

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

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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.

Robert Strong
February 13, 1936 — June 6, 2026
Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.

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.)

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By Pat Culverhouse

Financial woes at Minden Medical Center will be the topic of discussion when the Webster Parish Police Jury convenes a special meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m.

MMC Chief Executive Office (CEO) Keith Cox is on the one-item agenda for the meeting in the jury committee room at the Webster Parish Courthouse Annex at 401 Main St.

At its June 2 meeting, jury members unanimously passed a resolution asking the Louisiana Dept. of Health to review several factors regarding the local hospital’s reported “difficult financial situations” including vendor and federal tax liens.

Additionally, the resolution asked the Dept. of Health to look into other matters including staffing levels, equipment reliability and availability of essential medications and supplies.

Police Jury President Jim Bonsall said Cox contacted him and requested the opportunity to discuss concerns raised by the jury.

“He asked that we meet and I told him we would be happy to hear him, but it would need to be before the whole jury in a public meeting,” Bonsall said. “We want the entire police jury, and any interested persons, to hear his explanations.”

Bonsall said he and other jury members had heard of situations at the hospital involving a number of circumstances which could affect healthcare services provided the people of Webster Parish and the surrounding area.

“We know how important it is to have a hospital that is properly equipped, supplied and staffed,” Bonsall said. “We are concerned for the dedicated people who work at Minden Medical Center as well as those they serve. Hopefully, we can get some answers.”

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By Pat Culverhouse

A 21-year-old Texas man is being held in the parish prison after he allegedly pointed a firearm at a local woman and threatened to kill her.

Alvin Ladanta White has been booked into Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. No bond has been set.

Minden police officers responded to a call of a male threatening a female with a firearm shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday. When officers arrived at the address in the 100 block of Emerald Dr., White was observed leaning against a vehicle.

During questioning, the victim claimed White had pointed the firearm at her face and claimed he would pistol whip her then shoot her in the head.

As White was being taken into custody, officers discovered a handgun similar to the one described by the victim beneath the vehicle against which he had been standing. 

A bag of suspected marijuana was spotted in plain view inside the same vehicle, and officers conducted a search. Inside, another firearm was located between the passenger seat and door.

Police said one of the firearms had an extended clip, which increases the firing capacity of the weapon.

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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Photos and information by Jerry Strahan

Springhill Fire Department was paged for a 2-vehicle crash at around 12:45 p.m. Friday on Hwy. 371 near Taylor Street in Springhill. Units on scene reported one non-life-threatening injury.

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

Some Minden residents have a only one way to get from Point A to Point B … walking. And many local sidewalks around the city need help.

Mayor Nick Cox said laws around sidewalk improvement are something he believes can be worked around.

“A lot of our people walk, and a lot of people rely on our sidewalks,” Cox said.  “That’s one thing I feel like we need to focus on more as a city.”

The sidewalk ordinance states that sidewalks belong to the property owner. (SEC. 78-3 of Minden’s municipal codes, adopted 1987.)

Under the current ordinance, it is unlawful for the city to fix sidewalks that run in front of private property.

“If we have a safety issue within the city, it’s hard to put that on the property owner,” Cox continued. “I’ve walked the city of Minden, and I was shocked at how hard it is to navigate the sidewalks. There are places where you are walking and the sidewalk just stops. Then there are places where you think about pushing a stroller or having some kind of handicap accessibility, and there are stairs.”

The mayor is asking council members to study the ordinance language and adding the ability for the city to improve sidewalks “at least to a minimum, where we feel like if it’s a safety issue, we can go in there and fix it.”

Cox said funding for sidewalks is a competitive process.

“We’ve tried to get money to help with sidewalks, but it’s almost impossible,” he said.

Cox said he is not proposing the city maintain the sidewalks, “but we can do some things to make our city better for every body,” by possibly adding ramps and slopes.”

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Together we honor. Together we celebrate. Together we rise!

Annual 2026 Juneteenth Celebration organizer Michael Walker wants the Minden area community to know those words mean “everyone.”

“Every time we have this celebration, we want any and everyone in our local community to know they are welcome,” Walker said. “It’s a day to honor our past, celebrate our present and build our future.”

All information is on the above flyer, including date, times and contact information.

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Elder Fraud will be the awareness session topic at the town of Sibley’s first Community Outreach Program scheduled Thursday, June 25 at 10 a.m. at town hall, 345 North Main St.

Gina Martinez from the state Attorney General’s Office will conduct the interactive session which will feature experiences, information and advice. The session is free to the public, and is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Martinez will be delivering information on how to recognize, prevent and report scams targeting older adults. Organizers say sessions are usually an hour, depending on questions which may come from attendants.

During the session, attendants will given information on recognizing phone scams, identity theft, online and email fraud and financial exploitation, plus medicare and insurance scams.

All senior citizens, caregivers, family members, friends and neighbors and anyone interested in protecting loved ones should attend.

Refreshments will be served and town officials are asking those interested in attending to please RSVP to (318) 377-0345.

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A look back 

Springhill
June 1 low was 73F high was 92F
June 2 low was 75F high was 90F
June 3 low was 72F high was 91F
June 4 low was 72F high was 88F
June 5 low was 72F high was 86F
June 6 low was 72F high was 84F
June 7 low was 72F high was 85F 

Minden
June 1 low was 74F high was 93F
June 2 low was 75F high was 89F 
June 3 low was 72F high was 91F
June 4 low was 72F high was 85F 
June 5 low was 72F high was 86F
June 6 low was 75F high was 84F
June 7 low was 73F high was 86F 

Rain fall 

Springhill
June 3  .49 100s of an inch 
June 4. 01  100s of an inch 
June 5. 64 100s of an inch 
June 7 . 92 100s of an inch 

Minden
June 3 49 100s of an inch 
June 4 .11 100s of an inch 
June 5 .25 100s of an inch 
June 6 .22 100s of an inch 

June 7 . 02 100s of an inch 

On June 2, severe thunderstorm warning for entire Webster Parish area produced strong winds up to 47mph with a large tree down and power lines on Highway 160 west in Cotton Valley.

On June 6, there was a tornado warning issued for the southern half of Webster Parish. There was strong rotation southwest of Cotton Valley almost on the Bossier and Webster parish line.  There might have been a small spin up tornado on the line.  That warning was allowed to expire and a new warning covered the northern part of Webster Parish. There were no reports of any tornado touchdown or damage.

Extended forecast calls for a chance of thunderstorms each day. Lows in the upper 70s and highs near 90.

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

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By Paige Gurgainers

Concerned parents, alumni and community members gathered Thursday evening, June 4, to discuss the future of J.L. Jones Elementary School following the Webster Parish School Board’s decision to repurpose the campus beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

The meeting, organized by the Minden chapter of the NAACP, provided residents an opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns about the transition, which will result in students being reassigned to other campuses across Minden.

Under the current plan, second-grade students who attend J.L. Jones will move to J.A. Phillips Elementary, while third-grade students will be reassigned to E.S. Richardson Elementary. School officials say the change is designed to better align grade levels and improve student performance under Louisiana’s revised school accountability system.

The decision has sparked strong reactions throughout the community, particularly because of the school’s historic significance.

J.L. Jones traces its roots to the era of segregated education and has long been recognized as one of Webster Parish’s historically Black schools. For generations of Minden families, the campus represents more than just a school building. It stands as a symbol of educational opportunity, community pride and local history.

During Thursday’s meeting, many residents expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of community involvement before the decision was made. Several attendees questioned whether enough opportunities were provided for parents and stakeholders to offer input before the school board moved forward with its plans.

School officials have maintained that the move is intended to benefit students academically. Webster Parish Superintendent Johnny Rowland has said recent changes to Louisiana’s accountability model place schools with limited grade configurations at a disadvantage because they no longer receive the same growth measurements that previously contributed to school performance scores. According to district leaders, restructuring grade levels across Minden schools will allow students to be grouped in a way that better fits the state’s evaluation system.

District leaders have also outlined potential future uses for the J.L. Jones facility. Preliminary plans include housing arts and theater programs, early childhood services, instructional support staff and community activity space, though final details remain subject to school board approval.

Despite those plans, many community members remain concerned about preserving the school’s legacy and ensuring students continue to receive the support they need during the transition. Questions regarding transportation, academic outcomes and the long-term future of the campus were among the topics discussed during Thursday’s gathering.

NAACP leaders encouraged residents to remain engaged in the process by attending future school board meetings and continuing to ask questions as plans move forward.

While opinions remain divided, one thing was clear from Thursday night’s discussion: J.L. Jones Elementary occupies a special place in the history of Minden, and many residents want to ensure that legacy is honored as the district moves into its next chapter.

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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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Photos and story by Jerry Strahan

Springhill Farmers Market offered a Taste of the Market to patrons last Saturday.

On June 6, Springhill-North Webster Chamber of Commerce and Springhill Main Street joined forces to give local vendors a chance to showcase their home grown garden food and their baked goods.

The vendors gave samples, but larger quantities could be purchased.

The event was coordinated by the Springhill Main Street Manager, Tanya Capps and Springhill Chamber of Commerce Manager, Amber Cobb. 

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There has been, and will be, much commentary as we approach July 4th.  However, it will never be enough to capture or express the significance of that date. 

July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence.  Other than the Bible itself, no document has had a more profound effect on the country and the world.  As a young boy, I vaguely recall in 1976 the 200th anniversary and the warmth and sense of patriotism that surrounded that day.

This July 4th feels different.  That is likely because as an adult I am much more aware of how fraught and fragile our form of government, and life itself, are.  That awareness only underscores the magnitude of the Declaration.

As I have written before, Progressivism holds that our rights flow from an “enlightened” and “benevolent” government which serves as a replacement for God who, in the secular view of Progressivism, does not exist.  

The Declaration directly contradicts that premise, declaring that our natural, unalienable rights flow not from man or government but from God.  That is why the values enshrined in the Declaration are directly antithetical to Progressivism and reflect a diametrically opposed world view and concept of ‘Nature and Nature’s God,’ to employ Thomas Jefferson’s eternal phrase.

There has simply never been a founding document like our Declaration of Independence, enshrining as it does one of the most profound principles in history:

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness…”

Jefferson was a brilliant man and, as he sat there in the candlelight, dipped his quill pen in ink, and began his beautiful cursive, he fully understood that this principle of God-given equality he was laying down certainly did not exist in the colonies at the time he authored the document, or likely would during his lifetime. We know that this principle of equality would, in fact, not be fully realized for another 150 years in this country. 

But that is what makes so astounding his inclusion of such a principle in the founding document of our fledgling nation, a principle that was later embedded in our Constitution, and our Supreme Court jurisprudence.  

That Jefferson would have the wisdom, foresight, and courage to boldly include the principle that—no matter when it may be fully achieved—equality was the fundamental and surpassing ideal.   No nation in world history had ever included as part of the very blueprint of its government the belief that all its citizens were created by God and all of them were created equal.  

Jefferson also wrote that “we hold these truths to be self evident…” which means he intended to place the truths forming the foundation of this principle of equality beyond debate. They were settled; Were so clear anyone could recognize and understand them.

The Declaration also declares that governments “are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”

WOW. Those two sentences say alot!

It means that government is only legitimate when it functions with the “consent of the governed” (do we feel that government today operates with our “consent”?) and that when government fails to do so it may be “altered or abolished.” 

Jefferson knew full well what the words “alter” and “abolish” meant.  He understood that he was justifying rebellion and revolution against an illegitimate and oppressive government.  (Much as Americans would rise up against the tyrannical government of King George).

Nevertheless, all of these efforts would have amounted to nothing without the 1.2 million Americans who sacrificed their lives since the Revolutionary War up until Operation Epic Fury, and the millions of service members who suffered terrible injuries in all of America’s military engagements, to give value, meaning and life to Jefferson’s beautiful words. 

There has never been a document like the American Declaration of Independence.  I still marvel at its strength and simplicity.  The intrinsic God-given rights and equality it recognizes and protects, and the demand that government only exists to serve the people, are unprecedented.  I hope we will reflect upon that, this glorious 4th!

Happy 250th America! Here is hoping and praying for 250 more!

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

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