By Pat Culverhouse

With the new year, one of the same old crimes seems to have taken on a burst of energy and it has Minden police detectives looking for ways to both find answers and send an important message to the public.

Multiple scams have been reported since the first of the year, including one in which a local resident has been hit for a total of nearly $340,000.

“It was the classic ‘You’ve won the lottery and we’ve been holding the funds for years trying to locate you’ thing, and they claimed this person would get the money but would need to pay lawyer’s fees or a maintenance fee or something else,” said MPD Det. Lt. Jason Smith.

Smith said over a period of months, the victim continued to pay ever-increasing sums of money, through the purchase of cards, in hopes of retrieving what was claimed to be hundreds of millions of dollars in winnings. The payments continued until the tally ran into six figures.

“This was an elderly person, and it was an ever evolving story.They keep coming back as long as you give money,” he said. “It was a foreign person. I was there when they called and I answered. When I identified myself, there was a ‘click’ and they were gone.”

And also gone was a large amount of money with little chance of recovery.

Smith’s message is a simple one: always be wary of phone calls that require some sort of payment or fee, for any reason, that suggests payment by gift card.

“I can’t reiterate strongly enough that under no circumstances will any government agency, small business or multi-national corporation conduct any business using store-bought cards,” he said. “No bank, the IRS, no lawyer will accept what is not a traceable source.”

Still, Americans fall for stories of potential wealth, threats of financial punishment if a payment or fee is not made, even pleas for partnership.

“Romantic scams have started another comeback,” Smith said. “These target primarily elderly females with someone saying they’ve seen a photo somewhere and want to get together. Then there’s the request for money for some reason like they just need money for passport fees or they’ve been detained at the airport and need money to get out.”

Scams that tug at the heartstrings can often begin as some other type of fraud, Smith said.

“These people can pivot from one thing to something else like the romance scam,” he said. “They play on emotions, share personal stories, even quote the Bible. It’s a mess.”

Multiple reports of scams have been received, and Smith said there’s a common thread to many schemes that separate people from their money.

“Most involve the elderly and most callers are foreign. We’re sending millions of dollars a day to China…we’re adversaries, we’re in a Cold War and this is one of the ways they attack our most vulnerable, the elderly,” he said.

While people should always be protective of personal information such as social security numbers, bank and savings accounts and investment portfolios, scammers can learn much to help identify those who may easily become targets, Smith said.

“With one click of a button on this computer, I can generate 250 pages of information on a person, and so can scammers either for free or through agencies that provide it,” he said. “They can learn things about you that will make you vulnerable to their frauds.”

Smith said he’s currently working on about 10 cases and the number could be going higher if the trend continues. His success rate in helping individuals get their money back, through fraud assistance interaction with various financial outlets, is around 80 percent.

“Institutions are pretty good about helping replace the money, but getting to the people who took it is another thing. I can tell you where your money went but if it’s in cash transfers or an equivalent, it’s gone. If it’s turned into Crypto, it’s gone,” he said.

Smith said he’s concerned that many who have been scammed will not report the incident to anyone, especially their friends and family.

“They’re so embarrassed by what they’ve done they just won’t tell anyone,” he said. “They are afraid of what their family will think, what people in their community will think. I can’t encourage people strongly enough to check on their elderly family members and neighbors. We want people to call us if they even think there’s a scam.”

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By Pat Culverhouse

A Minden man reportedly wanted on fugitive warrants in two states is currently sitting in the parish prison awaiting possible extradition on charges of fraudulently obtaining a vehicle following his arrest Monday.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said Rickenski V. Cosby, who gave an address in the 500 block of Winford St., was arrested by officers following a brief foot chase through a local neighborhood just before 4:30 p.m.

According to reports, Minden police were called earlier Monday concerning a vehicle purchased in Arkansas with fraudulent checks, and Cosby reportedly was identified as the person of interest. Police indicated he has been known to commit similar financial crimes using a ministry account.

While patrolling, Lt. Joel Kendrick reportedly found the vehicle in question at Cosby’s Winford St. address, and followed when the suspect drove away. Additional patrol units reportedly were summoned when the suspect’s vehicle began driving evasively, apparently to avoid being followed.

When the vehicle finally stopped at a Morrow St. address, Cosby reportedly exited and walked away. After the officer ordered the suspect to stop, he reportedly fled, running out of his shoes in the process.

MPD Officers Zane Crittenden and Hunter Buchanan, who had arrived in support, gave chase on foot and eventually apprehended the suspect on Morrow St. Despite his reported resistance, officers placed Cosby under arrest.

Police reportedly learned Cosby was wanted by three other agencies in connection with events similar to the Arkansas incident. He is currently being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on fugitive warrants from Texas and Arkansas. No bond has been set.

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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By Pat Culverhouse

Chow time at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on the last day of January had begun as usual. Corrections officer Deputy David Dick had taken his post at the entrance, watching as inmates settled in for their meals.

But, when he changed positions to better scan the room, he noticed one inmate quickly come to his feet, apparently in distress.

“He just suddenly stood up and I went over to see if there was a problem,” Dick remembered. “As I came closer, it was obvious he was choking on something. His lips were beginning to turn blue.”

Dick immediately went to the inmate, turned him and began to perform the Heimlich maneuver. It’s a series of rapid compressions applied above the belly button and below the ribcage, putting force on the diaphragm to expel air out of the lungs and remove the blockage.

“On the second push, the obstruction popped right out and he started breathing regularly,” Dick said. “We were having hot dogs, and a piece of it got stuck.”

Dick said he learned the basics of the Heimlich on a previous job and had received additional CPR instruction from the Sheriff’s Office. He is also scheduled to begin EMR classes through the Office for advanced instruction.

For his quick action in a potential life-threatening situation, Dick was honored Monday with a Life Saving Award plaque from Sheriff Jason Parker.

On the plaque, Dick is honored for “…outstanding performance in the saving of a human life, and the display of conspicuous initiative, capability and attention to duty, thereby earning respect and admiration for himself and the Office.”

Parker said the deputy’s actions also represent the mission of the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“We take an oath to serve the people of Webster Parish and to do our best to ensure their safety. That extends also to the people in our custody,” Parker said when presenting the award.

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By Shannon Wright

In Sibley’s regular town council meeting Monday, alderman Keith Merritt raised concern for entering a 25-year franchise contract with Entergy.

“If something were to happen, I don’t want to be in the situation that Minden has been in for so long,” Merritt stated.

Proposed ordinance No. 161 was on the agenda to be considered by the council. This ordinance is essentially a renewal of the current franchise contract between the Town of Sibley and Entergy Louisiana, Inc. However, council members and citizens alike expressed their concerns about the length of the contract.

One resident in attendance asked what the proposal entails. Cindy Gordon with Entergy was able to give a brief explanation.

“It gives us, Entergy Louisiana, the permission to operate within the town limits – we can maintain, we can construct and whatever needs to be [done] in order to provide electrical service within the town,” Gordon said.

There are no terms or conditions that will change, the contract is simply up for renewal and the council states that Entergy is still the best option for the Town of Sibley and the citizens.

The town is paid a certain percentage of the total sales receipts from the franchise so continuing with the franchise agreement is beneficial to the town. However, there are no perks to entering into a longer contract.

“I don’t see the value of doing a 25-year contract when there’s no benefit to it,” said Merritt.

Although a 25-year contract is standard for Entergy, the council proposed a 15-year contract instead, giving the town a way out sooner if the need were to arise.

Proposed ordinance No. 161 will be revised and considered in the next meeting, March 10.

The council meeting is held on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Sibley Town Hall and residents are encouraged to attend. 

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By Marilyn Miller

Sometimes they hooked…sometimes they bounced almost to the ceiling. But under the direction of professional golfer, Blake Thomas, about 98 percent of the golf balls that were driven this past weekend went into a giant net.

That’s right. In its first year, “Swing for a Cure” netted a lot of money for the annual Minden St. Jude Auction. Lessons were $75 for half an hour and $150 per hour. Prior to the start of the fund-raiser, co-sponsored by the Minden Foundation, every lesson in the three-day block was booked. Apparently, there are a lot of golfers in the Minden area in need of lessons.

And Thomas, director of Instruction at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, California, is more than qualified to give them.

“In the PGA world, Blake has been recognized as a top instructor,” said Andy Pendergrass, Minden Foundation board member.

The lessons took place in the Minden Presbyterian Church gymnasium, which suffered no ill effects.

Thomas is a native of Minden and a certified member of the PGA. He is the son of Tim and Jennifer Shuler Thomas of Minden.

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Notice is hereby given that the City of Minden will receive sealed bids as follows:

Tuesday, February 26, 2025 at 2 p.m.

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 Langford

City Clerk

/s/ Nick Cox

Mayor of Minden

01/29/25, 02/05/25, 02/12/25

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We start off teething at seven months and it hurts like all get out and thank goodness we don’t remember.

We were born cold and naked and upside down — and it all goes downhill from there: such often seems the case when it comes to The Teeth Department.

No fault of dentists. God bless them for helping. The dentists I’ve met have all been nice people, good folk who wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Then again, do flies have teeth? Neg.

The nice hygienist who held my hand and tried to help me as I wept like a small wet child in the dentist chair and called her ugly names said that she’d been taught in Teeth School that a major Tooth Ache Pain Situation — or “TAPS,” a fitting acronym for it — rates the same on the pain scale as labor.

Anyone who ever eats or smiles can see why people would need teeth, would even enjoy teeth. Teeth are good.

But if labor pains are on the same level as a bona fide toothache, no one who’s ever had a rebel tooth will be able to figure out why women continue to have babies.

Who even HAS a toothache in the 21^st Century? Nobody, is what I thought. Those went out with scurvy, beri beri, polio and George Washington, famous for his teeth made of wood. And for being on the one dollar bill. (When he paid his dentist for his fake teeth, did he pay in all $1 bills? And sort of wink? That zany George! …)

But modern toothaches are, “for reals,” a “thing.” It was a recent Sunday afternoon when it started hurting. Sore in the gum. Ended up being – again, appropriately – tooth number 13. If you go to your front top teeth and, counting to your left three or four back, that’s it. It’s one of your main teeth. If you eat.

So I’m telling you this in case a loved one says to you they have a toothache. Even though you don’t see a bone sticking out or blood, believe them. One day, it could be you. So don’t ask for who the tooth hurts: it hurts for thee.

It will pass, you think, except it doesn’t. It gets more sore. The numbing medicine Anbesol is good for a bit, but after a couple of hours, your tooth laughs at Anbesol. Warm salt water helps a little. It helped me. An open dentist office would have helped even more, but it was Sunday.

So I prayed too.

Have you ever had something hurt and you suspect it will quit hurting – most things quit hurting – but it doesn’t? That was the deal with this tooth. On Sunday. That’s where the panic began. No one to help. My family was gone. It was just me and my dog, who has healthy teeth. She was zero help. I needed Lassie. Or Flipper.

I actually called and texted the dentist’s emergency number. Hours passed. No call back. I’d have to make it through the night. Unless …

Desperate times call for needle nose pliers. Had to do it. Because you figure if you make it to the dentist’s office, which is a fat chance, they’ll have to pull it anyway.

So with a paper towel and the needle nose and in front of the mirror, I “went in.” Grip issues stymied me. And tears. My screams scared me a little bit. Man desperate. Man hurting. Wait: man thinking he’ll try the flathead pliers!

That didn’t work either. Grip problems. Courage problems. Shaky hand issue. Man panicky. Man defeated.

The hours were long after that. At 8 a.m., the receptionist over the phone, probably before she’d sat down good, said they could see me at 10:30. Man weeping.

But there was the eventual visit, The Altercation With The Nice Hygenist, then some calming medicines for a solid week until the Heavy Duty Dentist could see me and “fix” what was ‘dead pulp,” which causes pressure, which makes you curse and cry and not eat or sleep. But when it’s fixed, well, Glory, and Hallelujah. 

The moral? I don’t want to waste your time. I’m just saying swallow your pride if your tooth hurts and get to the dentist. It won’t heal itself. If you try to walk the lonely enamel-bricked road alone, you’ll end up bloodying your tool box, pulling out all your teeth, and probably most of your hair.

Contact Teddy’s teeth at teddy@latech.edu

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Wednesday

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 66. east wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with a high near 50. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Friday Night

A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Saturday

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 71. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

* Information provided by the National Weather Service.

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In the 1990s, I was at a statewide board meeting for the Mississippi Restaurant Association, and during a discussion about tourism, I mentioned the Hattiesburg Zoo in my hometown. That got some laughs. “Hattiesburg has a zoo?” they scoffed. Some of them chuckled like I’d just suggested we start promoting Hattiesburg as the next great beach destination.

But here’s the thing—I stood up and told them what they were dealing with was contempt prior to investigation. They had no idea what kind of small, world-class zoo a modest town like Hattiesburg had.

I’ve seen that kind of reaction before—people dismissing something just because they assume it couldn’t possibly be great in a place like this. They think world-class experiences only happen in New York or Miami. But sometimes, you find something unexpected, exotic, and completely out of the ordinary right in your own backyard.

Like Little Creek Landing.

There’s something about destination restaurants that connects with me on a deeper level. At some point, everyone gets a little tired of the same old choices in town. When that happens, you either fire up the grill in the backyard, or hop in the car and go find something different. Sometimes, that means a drive down to the Mississippi Coast. Other times, it’s a long haul to New Orleans for a meal that makes the drive worthwhile. But every now and then, a place pops up out in the remote countryside that is worth the trip.

I used to own one of those spots. 589 Family Fish House was about 20 miles outside of town, and it was one of the most fun concepts I ever created. People would load up the family and make the drive for a fried catfish meal that felt like an event. I had plans to expand it into multiple locations, but 9/11 happened, and like a lot of folks, I hit pause, thinking I’d reopen once things settled down. Never got around to it. Maybe one day. But even if I do, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to compete with a place that serves steak and happens to have a white bison, a fennec fox, and a bird that dances to Bruno Mars.

That’s what I found at Little Creek Landing.

I’d heard about this place near our lake house, but I didn’t realize exactly what I was getting into. Somebody told me it had a safari component. That sounded like marketing fluff, a roadside attraction with a couple of goats and a peacock out back. I underestimated the safari component.

My wife and I pulled up on a Friday night, deep in the middle of nowhere, expecting a quiet meal. The parking lot was packed. Not long after we made it to the front door, we were greeted by zebras, kangaroos, ostriches, and camels. Not pictures of them. Actual, live, breathing animals standing around as if they, too, were there for dinner.

We walked in, and it only got wilder. Keel-billed toucans, a wallaby, antelopes, swans, and even a white emu. And that was before we even sat down. The owner, Chris Thurman, has been an animal lover since he was a kid, spending time with his grandmother, who had all sorts of exotic creatures. It must’ve stuck because today, he runs one of the most unusual restaurants I’ve ever been to.

My wife, who loves animals more than most, was in heaven. I barely got her to sit down and eat because she was too busy holding a fennec fox. Later, when a parrot started dancing to Bruno Mars— and trust me, I’ve been sober since 1983, so it wasn’t a flashback— I just sat there wondering if I’d somehow wandered into an alternate reality.

Once we finally settled in, we got to the food.

The menu at Little Creek Landing is exactly what you’d expect at a place like this— fried cheese sticks, jalapeno poppers, burgers, pasta, steaks. Simple, straightforward, and satisfying. My wife had a solid burger, and I went with the ribeye. Had a good grilled and smoked flavor and came with a baked sweet potato, which I appreciated.

But no one goes there just for the food. It’s good, but that’s not why you’re making the drive. You go there because it’s the only place in Mississippi where you can eat a ribeye, watch a crowned crane strut around like it owns the place, and then wander outside to feed a blond water buffalo.

The gift shop alone is worth a visit. Chris’ mother seems to run just about everything, from the restaurant to the retail, and that gift shop is first-rate looks like something out of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She also makes the desserts, and the peach cobbler was a solid finish to the meal—warm, comforting, and just the right amount of sweet. You could tell it was made with care, and that always makes a difference.

When you happen upon a place like Little Creek Landing, you can’t go just go once. We went back the next night. The entire physical plant is well built, clean, organized, and expertly maintained. It’s definitely a family place, but our kids are grown, we were flying solo and had a blast.

Next trip, I’m going all in. They offer daytime excursions where guests can ride through the property, feed the animals, and take in the full safari experience. Those run on the hour starting at noon, with the last one leaving at 4 PM. My future plan is to catch the 4 PM tour, meet a few more zebras and camels, maybe shake hands with a kangaroo, and then sit down for dinner at 5.

I’ve been to some interesting restaurants in my 63 years. I’ve seen destination spots that were over-the-top in all the right ways. But I’ve never had a meal in a place where I could pet a lemur, watch a bird dance, and look out the window to see a white bison standing next to a water buffalo.

I thought I’d seen it all. Turns out, I hadn’t. Not even close.

If you’re looking for a dining experience that’s truly exotic and out of the ordinary, Little Creek Landing is worth the drive.

Onward.

Roasted New Potatoes

This is a supper staple at the St. John house. On steak night I cook these potatoes.

3 lbs. Red B-size potatoes, quartered
½ cup Extra virgin olive oil
1 TB Kosher salt
½ tsp Fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp Fresh rosemary, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Make sure all the potatoes are coated evenly. Transfer to a baking sheet and place in the oven for 1 hour, carefully turning the potatoes with a spatula every 15 minutes.
Serve immediately.

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

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Big first inning leads Captain Shreve past Glenbrook Apaches

By GameChanger Media

Captain Shreve defeated Glenbrook Apaches 11-1 Monday thanks in part to six runs in the first inning.

Glenbrook got on the board in the first inning after Seth Mangrum singled, scoring one run.

Captain Shreve flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the first, scoring six runs on five hits to take the lead, 6-1. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Brex Lopez that drove in three. Shelton Harville stepped on the bump first for Captain Shreve. The starting pitcher gave up two hits and one run over two innings, striking out one and walking two.

Dawson Day, Mangrum, and Ryan Reagan each collected one hit for Glenbrook Apaches. Mangrum went 1-for-2 at the plate and led the team with one run batted in. Captain Shreve tallied nine hits in the game. Reed Turner went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Captain Shreve in hits. Lopez and Turner each drove in two runs. Denton Hester stole two bases. Captain Shreve stole five bases in the game.

Late score costs Lakeside Warriors after late charge from Doyline Panthers

By GameChanger Media

Lakeside Warriors stayed in it until the end, but Doyline Panthers pulled away late in a 6-5 victory on Monday. Doyline Panthers were down 5-4 in the top of the seventh inning when Gage Williams induced Noah Spears to hit into a fielder’s choice, but two runs scored.

A solo home run to right field by Spears following a 6-pitch at-bat put Doyline Panthers on the board in the top of the first.

Jon Jon Dick singled down the right field line, which helped Lakeside  Warriors tie the game at one in the bottom of the first. In the bottom of the third, Lakeside broke up the tie when Peyton Gray singled, scoring one run. Then a sacrifice fly by Williams followed to extend the lead to 4-1. The Panthers jumped into the lead in the top of the seventh when Ayden Moreno-Taule was struck by a pitch, driving in a run, and Williams induced Spears to hit into a fielder’s choice, but two runs scored. Spears earned the win for Doyline Panthers. The righty allowed five hits and five runs (two earned) over seven innings, striking out eight and walking six.

Williams took the loss for Lakeside Warriors. The reliever went two innings, allowing three runs on zero hits, striking out four and walking one.

Eli Campbell began the game for Lakeside  Warriors. The righty surrendered six hits and three runs over five innings, striking out eight and walking one. Gray and Drake Chreene each collected two hits for Lakeside  Warriors. Williams, Dick, and Gray each drove in one run for Lakeside. Dick led the Warriors with three walks.

Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, amassing six walks for the game. Dick stole two bases. Lakeside stole four bases in the game. Spears drove the middle of the lineup, leading Doyline with three runs batted in. The left-handed hitter went 2-for-4 on the day. Doyline  Panthers turned one double play in the game.

Runs hard to come by in Minden Crimson Tide win versus North Caddo Titans

By GameChanger Media

Both teams were strong on the bump Monday, but Minden Crimson Tide  defeated North Caddo Titans 3-0.

Jaxon Smith started the game for Minden Crimson Tide  and recorded 21 outs. A single by Bryson Ranger put the Tide on the board in the top of the third. Smith earned the win. The starter surrendered three hits and zero runs over seven innings, striking out nine and walking two.

Kadyn Moore took the loss for North Caddo Titans. The starter went seven innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out 12 and walking two. Bray Winston, Ranger, and Landyn Huddleston each collected two hits for Minden. Ranger and Huddleston were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in one run for Minden Crimson Tide.

Jacob Thomas, Jackson Bynum, and Michael Stevens each collected one hit for North Caddo Titans.

Copyright ©  GameChanger Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Any reuse or republication of this story must include the preceding attribution and is subject to the Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. Terms of Use, License Agreement, and Privacy Policy.

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Louisiana students show gains at a time when many states continue to fall behind

(BATON ROUGE, LA) – Less than two weeks after Louisiana students achieved their highest rankings on The Nation’s Report Card, a prominent national study from Harvard and Stanford shows Louisiana is leading the nation for academic recovery. The Education Recovery Scorecard ranks Louisiana first in the nation for reading and second for math. Louisiana is the only state where the average student has completed their recovery.

In its third year of reporting on the pace of academic recovery measures in districts nationwide, the Education Recovery Scorecard is an annual report on school system-level student growth in reading and math. The Education Recovery Scorecard’s full release is available online. Below are some items of note for Louisiana.

Louisiana ranked first among the states in terms of recovery in reading and 2nd in math between 2019 and 2024.

Between 2019 and 2024, students in Louisiana earned gains in reading and math at a time when many states continued to fall further behind.

Louisiana is the only state where the average student has completed their recovery.

An analysis suggests Louisiana’s investment of pandemic funding did contribute to the academic recovery, especially when targeted at academic efforts such as summer learning and tutoring.

Growth in chronic absenteeism (students missing more than 10 percent of a school year) is slowing the recovery in many districts in Louisiana. 

“Louisiana’s academic progress reflects a focus on fundamental skills and strong educator support,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “There is a lot to be proud of in this latest report, and our work continues. There are still too many Louisiana students who can’t read on grade level, can’t do basic math, and who don’t attend school on a regular basis.”

The Education Recovery Scorecard is a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. The latest report provides the first high resolution picture of where Louisiana students’ academic recovery stood in spring 2024. While The Nation’s Report Card described changes in average achievement by state, the Education Recovery Scorecard combines those scores with school system scores on state assessments to describe the change in local communities throughout Louisiana.

Louisiana also earned positive marks on the 2023 Education Recovery Scorecard. That report found that Louisiana was one of three states where average reading achievement in 2023 was above 2019 levels. Louisiana students recovered nearly half of their original loss in math, which was referred to in the study as “a remarkable achievement” given that students nationally had only made up one third of the original loss.

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Like anyone who roots for or bet on the Kansas City Chiefs, I’m trying to understand what just happened in New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Milton Williams is about to cash in on it.

Williams is that plugger who became a primetime player Sunday night. The unheralded Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle had the game of his life in the game of his life, menacing Patrick Mahomes and dragging him down for two of Philly’s six sacks in the Super Bowl LIX surprise. The second was a strip sack that Williams recovered that I believe set up the game’s final field goal and a staggering 40-6 fourth-quarter lead. At that point I wasn’t paying close attention.

That blowout was a three-hour-plus Philly Special. Not one play. Almost every play.

Give former LSU star and ESPN analyst Booger McFarland credit. While the betting line hovered around break even last week, he nailed it – predicting Philadelphia’s defensive front would have its way with the Chiefs’ offense, resulting in a rout.

Williams played his college football at Louisiana Tech, departing Ruston after his junior season as a team captain and first-team All-Conference USA selection. He was the last pick on the second day of the 2021 NFL Draft, going 73rd overall to the Eagles, to the delight of GM Howie Roseman and the frustration of senior scout Tom Donohoe, who wanted another player with the pick.

Score one for GMs everywhere. This season, Williams low-key had Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 grade among pass rushers, behind only Chiefs’ All-Pro tackle Chris Jones, yet was not even generally regarded as the bell cow of Vic Fangio’s defensive front – that is 2023 first-rounder Jalen Carter.

Now Williams is bathed in green – not his uniform, but his future. This was his contract year, and he can become a free agent. Before Sunday he was projected for a three-year, $36 million deal. Now speculation has that number soaring to $20 mil per for the soon-to-be 26-year-old from Crowley, Texas, where kids used to grow up dreaming of making it in the NFL like native son Gary Reasons, the two-time Super Bowl champion starting linebacker for the New York Giants who developed into an NFL prospect at Northwestern State.

Williams’ rocketing stock isn’t hard to understand. So much else about Sunday defies explanation.

I’ll go there – that halftime show. I have no problem with Kendrick Lamar, or his performance. I got a kick out of Samuel Jackson in a pseudo Uncle Sam suit, and tennis legend Serena Williams dancing to a number written to slam her ex-boyfriend Drake.

Due respect to Lamar’s undeniable talent, the first solo hip-hop artist to star in the biggest entertainment showcase of every year. The man has won a Pulitzer Prize, I’ve learned.  I know he won song of the year at the Grammys a couple weeks ago. Just like he said he would, he staged a 13-minute spectacle, packed with visual treats no matter what you think of rap music.

But I don’t want to have to interpret Super Bowl halftime shows.  I’m an old cat who was all about the pregame production fronted by Harry Connick Jr. and featuring Southern University’s Human Jukebox, the jazzy “America the Beautiful” rendition by Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty, Lady Gaga’s elegant and emotional tribute to the first responders at the Jan. 1 Bourbon Street tragedy, Jon Batiste’s national anthem, and among other treats, the soliloquies by Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt.

Lamar’s 13 minutes was self-described storytelling on multiple levels, I’m told. It was over my head like a Jalen Hurts bomb to south Louisiana native DeVonta Smith, along with most of Saturday Night Live’s schtick in its ballyhooed 50th season.

I didn’t get it. I didn’t hate it. I watched it like I watched most of those $8 million commercials – only occasionally. Difference is, I’ll get online and check out some of those. I won’t revisit Lamar’s masterpiece. I’ll just savor memories of Prince, U2, The Stones, Beyonce’, Rhianna, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and more Super Bowl halftime classics.

Maybe if I read all about it, I’ll get all the layers of context in Lamar’s show. But I’ll spend my time wondering if after Monday, streets in the French Quarter will be sprayed with lemon-infused water to stifle the stench of those bricks. Yes, that really happened last week, too.

I can certainly understand that.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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

February 15

11 a.m. MLK Black History Parade/Youth Rally, Downtown Minden.

5 p.m. Minden Mardi Gras parade rolls. Face painting begins at 3:30 p.m.

February 22

8:30 a.m. Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners, Buds & Blooms registration. Speakers begin at 9. First Methodist Church, 903 Broadway, Minden. Proceeds used for 4-H Youth Gardening and 4-H Scholarships.

March 1

Noon, Chili Cook-off Fundraiser benefitting The Grace Closet and LaMa Animal Rescue, Sharpe’s Department Store, Springhill.

March 22

Noon  until 3:30 p.m. MVP Room Minden Rec Center, 1000 Recreation Drive, Minden, Hearts & Halos, a heartfelt and creative event honoring families who have experienced infant or pregnancy loss. This free event is designed to offer healing through creativity, support, and connection. Spaces are limited to 30 attendees (plus 1 optional guest per registrant). RSVP is required to secure your spot. Register here: https://forms.gle/qwm5TLhhbNN5Ujbx9 

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/share/19MTtduPTF/

March 31

DEADLINE FOR THE FOLLOWING:

Meriwether Wealth and Planning is proud to support local students by offering four (4) $1,000 scholarships to eligible graduating high school seniors. They are able to double their scholarship offerings this year thanks to the generosity of their clients.

Applications are available at https://www.meriwether.com/resources and must be received by Monday, March 31, 2025 at 5 p.m.

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By Brad Dison

In the winter of 1907-1908, Prefect of Police Louis Lépine employed dog auxiliaries to patrol the lonely beats in and around Paris, France.  Having the dogs patrol the lonely beats would free up human police officers to concentrate their efforts in areas with higher crime rates.   

On one lonely beat along the Seine River just outside Paris, a young boy fell into the river.  Unable to swim, the boy flailed in the water in panic.  He was barely able to let out a yelp.  Suddenly, one of the police dogs who lived nearby, a large Newfoundland dog, leaped over the hedge, plunged into the Seine, and pulled the struggling boy to safety.  Everyone, especially the young boy’s father, was jubilant that the dog had saved the young boy from drowning.  The crowd gathered to take turns caressing the Newfoundland hero.  The boy’s father rewarded the dog with a large, juicy beefsteak.   Two days later, another young boy fell into the Seine a short distance away and struggled to tread water.  Again, the Newfoundland hero jumped the hedge, plunged into the Seine, and pulled the child to safety.  The people rewarded the dog as they had earlier, with caresses and another large, juicy beefsteak. 

The following day, another child fell into the water and the Newfoundland came to the rescue again.  After this third time, police began to look more closely at the incidents.  They questioned the three children separately.  The first child to be rescued said he slipped and fell into the river, but the second and third child said they were pushed into the Seine.  Police worried that a disturbed criminal was stalking the neighborhood and pushing children into the river so that they would drown.  This same scenario happened several more times.  Hardly a day went by that a child was not pushed into the river.  Luckily, all were within earshot of the Newfoundland hero. 

Catching this individual proved to be a difficult task.  None of the children had seen who had pushed them into the river.  It was normal for people to casually walked along the banks of the Seine.  A uniformed policeman began patrolling the area in an attempt to catch the serial “pusher” in the act.  It was obvious that the serial “pusher” was aware of the police presence because no children were pushed when he was around.  Children were still being pushed in the river and rescued by the dog, but it always happened when the policeman was not looking.  There were no witnesses either.  The policeman dressed in plain clothes, but children were still being pushed into the river and rescued by the Newfoundland hero, who by this time had become somewhat of a local celebrity.  Still, the policeman was unable to witness the crime.  The policeman began watching from a concealed location.  He watched as children played by the river’s edge but the serial “pusher” only pushed children who were alone presumably so there would be no witnesses.  Then, the hidden policeman noticed a child alone by the edge of the river.  Moments later, he saw the serial “pusher” calmly walk up and push a child into the river.  His mouth dropped as he saw the Newfoundland hero spring into action and pull the child to safety.  The policeman knew the serial “pusher” well.  He had seen him nearly every day since his investigation began, but he never suspected that the serial “pusher” was… the Newfoundland hero whose only motivation was the reward of caresses and beefsteak.                 

 Source: New York Times, February 2, 1908, p.14.

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The boil advisory, issued by the City of Minden Saturday for the 100 block of Ewell Street, all of George, Plum, Peach, Hill, Dianne and Harris streets has been lifted.

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Barbara Sue Clayton Kimble

March 23, 1936 — January 30, 2025

Graveside memorial at a later date.

Kathleen Johnson Strickland

October 17, 1958 — January 25, 2025

Inurnment: 2 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2025, Gardens of Memory.

Carolyn Marie Burdine Smith

January 27, 1943 — February 3, 2025

Graveside service: 11 a.m. Thursday, February 13, 2025, Williamson Cemetery, Gibsland, La., under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Minden.

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

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By Bonnie Culverhouse

For the third consecutive year, Minden will be sending more than $2 million to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital on behalf of the children treated there.

As the auction came to a close Sunday, the total collected from the four-day long event was $2,320,036.

“Everybody thinks you have a goal to beat the year before,” said co-chair Laura Hollingsworth, “but our goal is to never do another auction again because St. Jude has done its job and the doors are closed. There’s no more cancer … there are no more sick children.”

Melissa Brown agreed.

“We just appreciate everything the community does for us every year … and the community has really grown and encompassed other areas of the country, as well as the world,” she said.

To prove that point, Mark Brown, a resident of Missouri won the grand prize for 2025.

It wasn’t really a 50th anniversary … it wasn’t really 50 years they were celebrating. It was 50 auctions for the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. But why split hairs? The most important thing in the end was the final total from bids, raffles, racers and chili cooks from all over the world showing their support for the families of St. Jude. Watch Webster Parish Journal for more on the Chili Cook-off.

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By Pat Culverhouse

A Sibley man is in custody charged with discharging a firearm during a verbal altercation at a reported bonfire on Horseshoe Loop Saturday, according to reports from the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Timothy Hall, a 23-year-old resident of the 500 block of Main St. in Sibley, is being held under $50,000 bond facing charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, illegal use of a weapon and four counts of simple assault.

Hall allegedly fired a shot into the ground near an individual after an argument broke out at the gathering Saturday in the 500 block of Horseshoe Loop.  Although several individuals were present, no one reportedly was injured in the incident.

WPSO deputies Michael Dickey, J.C. Brown and Sgt. Lance Chanler reportedly were dispatched to the scene just after 8 p.m. where they learned the suspect had left the area.

During interviews, deputies learned Hall fired the shot, then returned the weapon to his vehicle. When he returned to continue the confrontation, one of the witnesses reportedly removed the firearm from the vehicle without his knowledge.

Hall reportedly later got into his vehicle, drove a short distance, stopped and exited the car. He allegedly made a statement threatening to harm individuals at the scene, but left when he could not find the firearm.

After parish dispatchers reportedly broadcast a description of the vehicle occupied by Hall, he was stopped by Sibley police officer Clint Meshell and held until deputies arrived to place him under arrest.

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

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By Pat Culverhouse

Students at E.S. Richardson Elementary received recognition Friday for completing their D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instruction, and the parish’s top law enforcement officer said their accomplishment could help shape their future.

“This program will help you make the right decisions as you grow older,” Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker told a large group of students and parents. “By completing this course, you now know the dangers of drugs and the harm they can cause all of us.”

Parker said future leaders of our city, parish and country are among those receiving their D.A.R.E. graduation certificates.

“You are our future, and I am so very proud of you and what you’ve accomplished,” he said. “Among you could be tomorrow’s doctors, lawyers, politicians and maybe even a future Sheriff of Webster Parish. We love you all and we support you.”

Graduates and guests were greeted by Webster Deputy Brandy Powell, D.A.R.E. officer and School Resource Officer at E.S. Richardson.

D.A.R.E. was launched by former Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates and the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1983.

According to the program’s history statement, the innovative substance abuse prevention education program has been a successful educational tool “…thanks to the hard work of tens of thousands of officers and educators throughout America and around the globe.”

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By Pat Culverhouse

Driving a vehicle with license plates that had been expired nearly eight months has resulted in a legal headache for two men who have been tagged on drug distribution charges.

Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver said 34-year-old Ramon C. Henderson of Homer has been arrested for possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) with intent to distribute and three traffic charges.

His companion, 28-year-old Antonio Dejuan Thornton, is charged with possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) with intent to distribute. Thornton gave an address in the 200 block of Roy St. in Minden.

Both reportedly are being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center where Henderson faces a total bond of $25,500 while Thornton’s bond is set at $25,000.

MPD officer Branthony Brown reportedly stopped Henderson’s vehicle around 3:45 p.m. Friday at the intersection of East and Talton streets when he observed the vehicle’s expired tags.

After approaching the vehicle, officer Brown reportedly noticed a strong odor of suspected marijuana inside. Thornton, a passenger in the vehicle, was questioned about the possible presence of marijuana, and reportedly retrieved a bag containing marijuana from his right boot which he handed to Brown and officer Cody James.

Officers said Thornton also pulled a jar containing marijuana from a space beside the passenger seat. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered approximately two pounds of marijuana in a bag located in the trunk.

An additional roughly 2.8 grams of marijuana reportedly was removed from Henderson’s shoe after he was taken to Minden police headquarters.

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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Tuesday

Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 50. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday Night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Wednesday

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 62. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with a high near 50.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.

* Information provided by the National Weather Service.

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Minden’s Crimson Tiders hit a cold spell in the second half of Friday night’s District 1-4A showdown with Bossier, coming out on the short end by 66-52 in the conference contest.

Bossier now leads 1-4A with a 5-0 mark (13-11 for the season) while Minden drops to 4-1 in league play and 18-3 overall.

Bossier’s Kerel Dean led all scorers with 25 while David Thomas added 13 and Kam Davenport tossed in 12.

For the Tide, Cameron Parker scored 14 and Darnell Morris had 11 to lead the way. Jaiden Franklin and Kameron Harris each added seven points, Christian Lofton had six, Carmelo Smith notched four and Hudson Brown had three.

Minden will try to rebound Tuesday night when Northwood comes to the Tide gym for a district game. Minden will than travel to Southwood to take on the Cowboys in a Friday contest.

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My name is Ashley Morgan, And I am a local coordinator for Greenheart Exchange program. I wanted to introduce myself and give you a little information about my experience not only as a local coordinator, but as a host mom myself.

Back In March, 2024 I was introduced to the idea of hosting our own foreign exchange student. Gambling with the idea of having another child in our house honestly gave me anxiety. This would mean adding another family member to our home, taking the time to learn and introduce new habits, new rules and rearranging our whole family dynamic. However, I thought back to when my parents hosted their first exchange student from Germany, and to this very day my brother and we are still in contact so I started to get a little excited. When the mention of having a student was brought up again, I thought about it and talked to my husband and kids. At first, my husband wasn’t on board with this crazy idea but we decided what the heck! Let’s try something new. We were given the opportunity to read about so many students, but couldn’t pick just one. It was a process, We were let down a couple times due to no faults of our own but we knew those students that denied us just weren’t meant to be with our family. Finally, we came upon a sweet faced German girl! Her name was Anna. The moment we read her profile that was sent to us from our coordinator we knew she was meant to be a part of our family. After we chose her to join our family for a year, we began face timing and phone calls with her. We just couldn’t wait for her to be here. After choosing our student, I was asked if I wanted to become a local coordinator, because there was only one other in our area. I decided that I too wanted to make a difference in these students’ lives and other families as well.

After I became a coordinator, I met so many new people. From my host families to the most amazing and fun kids. Throughout this program, I have gotten to watch these kids grow and listen to their English become better. North Webster High school has the majority of the exchange students at our school. I have watched these exchange students form close bonds with students and teachers and make so many friends. I have watched each student of mine and others play sports and learn many new things and grow in so many ways. It has been a humbling experience so far.

I would love the opportunity to tell you about our wonderful program, in hopes that you will want the opportunity to host a student or two of your own. Greenheart offers so many amazing experiences.

What is it like to host an international exchange student?

Families in the Greenheart program who host international exchange students often share their personal stories about their experiences with another culture, all while sharing their American homes. A cultural exchange experience can be a life-changing experience for the high schooler and the host family. Those who host, form a forever bond with their foreign exchange student who becomes their new family member. Opening your hearts and homes to an international exchange student, you may find yourself halfway around the world celebrating the new friendships with your students and their families in years to come.

Who can host?

Host families come in all different roles. You can be an empty nester, a new young family, or have a high schooler yourself. If you are 26 years of age, then you are eligible to host. Greenheart does not discriminate against any race, religion, or sexual background. You can choose to host for a full school year or half a semester. You have the choice to choose the country your student comes from and choose a student that shares similar interests to you and your family.

Some people have asked why they choose Greenheart to host with?

Greenheart is experienced and has placed over 25,000 international exchange students in the USA since 1985. Greenheart also offers a wide range of diversity and backgrounds with more than 60 countries to choose from. Greenheart encourages opportunities to volunteer and give back to their host communities.

What are the expectations for families that host?

Our host families must provide communication skills, motivation and encouragement to their students. A bed of their own which may be in a shared room with a host sibling within 5 years of age and the gender of the student as well as a quiet place for them to study. You must provide three meals a day, transportation as our students are not allowed to drive or operate any motorized vehicles and treat the student as a family member.

How long do the students stay? 

We have a range of student opportunities. Some may choose to stay for the entire school year, which is 10 months. They arrive in late August and stay until the end of May or June. Some may only come for half semesters, which is either fall or winter and only 5 months. We also have a few students who come short terms, for 2 weeks to 8 weeks but that is primarily in the Summer.

Do we have to pay for the students to be here?

The answer is No. Greenheart students come with their own spending money. They are responsible for any extra expenses that may arise. They must pay for their own school events (prom, homecoming, sporting events, extracurricular activities, or sports.)

What about insurance?

Our students have their own accident and health coverage. You do not add them to your health plans. If a student is playing a sport, they may be required to pay out of pocket for any physical, as they are not covered under their insurances.

Do you get paid to host a foreign exchange student?

No, you are not paid to host a student, however you may claim a student as a charitable contribution deduction on your taxes for $50 a month on your itemized tax return.

Are you ready to host?

Just complete our inquiry online at www.hostwithgreenheart.org you will then be sent an email with login information to our online portal to begin our application. Your local coordinator will then reach out to you from your area to answer any questions you may have and share further information. Your coordinator will also be able to start sharing student profiles with you to ensure you find the perfect matched student with your family. You will also be permitted to pass a criminal background check. If you are unable to host, you may refer a family to Greenheart, but they must be new to Greenheart and never hosted with or worked for Greenheart to be eligible. After the referral goes through, and the family you referred is accepted and they host, you will be issued a $300 virtual visa reward card. This referral payment will only be applicable if the family moves forward with the placement. After the student arrives, you will receive your referral payment.

Can I become a local coordinator?

Absolutely! Greenheart is always looking for a new coordinator to help expand our areas. If you would like to help place students in your community, you must be able to work part time from home, be at least 26 years of age, attend training workshops and grow your skills and knowledge for foreign exchange students. You can also earn the opportunity to attend conferences abroad! Complete the inquiry form on the site for coordinators to get started.

To host please contact your local coordinator.

Ashley Morgan 318-505-8149

ashlemorgangreenheartexchange@gmail.com or simply visit our website, http://www.hostwithgreenheart.org  and put Ashley Morgan as your contact.

To refer a family visit http://www.referwithgreenheart.org

We look forward to meeting our new families and students and can’t wait to share this new year with you and the amazing experiences this will bring you and your family.

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