News LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY SUSPENDS FOOTBALL COACH ACCUSED OF DWI | PAGE 3
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Press-Herald WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
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Council On Aging Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Elvis
Former Webster fire chief “overpays” himself $24,000
STAFF REPORT Minden Press-Herald
WILL PHILLIPS Minden Press-Herald
The Webster Parish Council On Aging was feeling the love this Valentine’s Season. The Council held a Valentine’s banquet the week prior, and on Valentine’s Day itself, they saw a visit from “Elvis Presley” to liven up the atmosphere with song and dance. The Banquet was sponsored by the Regional Hospice, Town and Country Health and Rehab, and Council on Aging. The Glenbrook Book Club came to the event and assisted clients by helping to serve their meals, with some even going out and joining them on the dance floor. “Thanks to everyone who came out for another great Banquet,” said Cindy Watson, Site/Activities Manager of the Council on Aging. Elvis Presley, impersonated by Mike Spillers, visited the Council On Aging’s building on Valentine’s Day where he
WILL PHILLIPS/MINDEN PRESS-HERALD
The Council on Aging celebrated Valentine’s Day with a banquet held the week prior and a visit from Elvis Presley the day of.
and the Council celebrated the holiday through good old fashioned song and dance. Elvis came, he performed a couple of songs, and he even danced with some of the clients,” said Watson.
There were also boxes of chocolates given in recognition to the longest-married couple at the event, Eldon and Mary Howell, the oldest man, Bob Cutuer, and oldest woman, Mattie Ford.
The Council On Aging implores anyone interested to stop by their center in Minden at 1482 Sheppard Street, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to pick up a menu and February activities.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Robert Smalls: The man who sailed his way to freedom Editor’s Note: During the next few weeks, the Minden Press-Herald will be honoring Black History Month by spotlighting black historical figures who have impacted countless lives throughout the years. STAFF REPORT Minden Press-Herald
Robert Smalls is an American politician and businessman, but he is perhaps most well known for his story of taking over a Confederate supply boat and sailing it upriver towards freedom, right near the outbreak of the Civil War. Smalls was born to a house slave, and while the identity of the father remains officially un-
known, it is believed to be that of the plantation owner’s son Henry McKee. The family ended up moving down to Charleston and Robert along with them. He would do a variety of labor, but would eventually start laboring as a sailor. “In 1856, he married Hannah Jones, a slave hotel maid who worked in Charleston. Jones already had one daughter, and together she and Smalls had a daughter and a son. Smalls’s attempts to buy his wife and family out of slavery failed,” according to his biography from biography.com. “At the outbreak of the Civil War, in March 1861, Robert Smalls was hired as a deckhand on the Confederate supply ship the Planter, a converted cotton
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steamer that carried supplies between forts in Charleston Harbor.” During his time working there, Smalls learned what he could about the ship, how it navigated, how it got through checkpoints, everything he could while he waited for his opportunity to escape. That opportunity came in the early hours of May 12, 1862, when Smalls and a crew of eight men, five women, and three children, including his own wife and kids, slipped the Planter out of the harbor while the officers and crew were sleeping. “Smalls successfully navigated the ship through five checkpoints, offering the correct signal to pass each, and then headed out to open waters
Tomorrow’s
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A recent investigative audit has found that the former District Fire Chief of Dist. 11# Springhill, Billy Rasberry Jr., “paid himself $24,430 total in excess compensation between Jan 2017 and Mar. 2019,” according to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. Extra hours weren’t the only things that the auditors found Rasberry Jr. charging erroneously. In addition to what was stated above, they also said that Rasberry Jr. was also found to have spent RASBERRY “$1,769 of the Fires District’s money to buy auto parts for his personal use.” On top of that, he also failed to pay $185 in sales taxes given that he used the District’s tax-exempt status to facilitate them. It was also revealed through that Rasberry Jr. held two fulltime government positions at the same time. This is a violation of state law Louisiana Revised Statute 42:63(E), of which an abridged version reads, “No person holding full time employment in the government of this state shall at the same time hold another full-time employment in the government of the state of Louisiana.”
SpaceX aims to launch up to 4 tourists into super high orbit
and the Union blockade. It was daring and dangerous, and if caught, the crew was prepared
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX aims to launch up to four tourists into a super high orbit, possibly by the end of next year. The private company is working with Space Adventures Inc. for the flight, officials announced Tuesday. Ticket prices are not being divulged but expected to be in the millions.
See, SMALLS, Page 3
See, SPACE Page 3
FILE PHOTO
Robert Smalls is an American politician and businessman.
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3 Classifieds 10 4 Crossword 8 6 Comics 9
2 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
Second Front BUSINESS
LAWSUITS
Boy Scouts’ future uncertain after bankruptcy filing (AP) - Barraged by hundreds of sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday in hopes of working out a potentially mammoth victim compensation plan that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on. The Chapter 11 filing in federal bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware, sets in motion what could be one of the biggest, most complex bankruptcies ever seen. Scores of lawyers are seeking settlements on behalf of several thousand men who say they were molested as scouts by scoutmasters or other leaders decades ago but are only now eligible to sue because of recent changes in their states’ statute-of-limitations laws. By going to bankruptcy court, the Scouts can put those lawsuits on hold for now. But ultimately they could be forced to sell off some of their vast property holdings, including campgrounds and hiking trails, to raise money for a compensation trust fund that could surpass a billion dollars. The bankruptcy petition listed the Boy Scouts’ assets as between $1 billion and $10 billion, and its liabilities at $500 million to $1 billion. “Scouting programs will continue throughout this process and for many years to come,” the Boy Scouts said in a statement. “Local councils are not filing for bankruptcy because they are legally separate and distinct organizations.” The Boy Scouts are just the latest major American institution to face a heavy price over sexual abuse. Roman Catholic dioceses across the country and schools such as Penn State and Michigan State have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years. The bankruptcy represents a painful turn for an organization that has been a pillar of American civic life for generations and a training ground for future leaders. Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout has long been a proud accomplishment that politicians, business leaders, astronauts and others put on their resumes and in their official biographies. The Boy Scouts’ finances have been strained in recent years by declining membership and sexabuse settlements. The number of youths taking part in scouting has dropped below 2 million, down from more than 4 million in peak years of the 1970s. The organization has tried to counter the decline by admitting
girls, but its membership rolls took a big hit Jan. 1 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — for decades a major sponsor of Boy Scout units — cut ties and withdrew more than 400,000 scouts in favor of programs of its own. The financial outlook had worsened last year after New York, Arizona, New Jersey and California passed laws making it easier for victims of longago abuse to file claims. Teams of lawyers across the U.S. have been signing up clients by the hundreds to sue the Boy Scouts. Most of the newly surfacing cases date to the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s; the organization says there were only five known abuse victims in 2018. The Boy Scouts credit the change to an array of prevention policies adopted since the mid-1980s, including mandatory criminal background checks and abuse-prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders be present during all activities. In many ways, the crisis parallels the one facing the Catholic Church in the U.S. Both institutions boast of major progress over recent decades in combating abuse. whether by priests or scout leaders, but both face many lawsuits alleging negligence and cover-ups, mostly decades ago. “We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children,” said Roger Mosby, the BSA’s president and CEO. “While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process, with the proposed trust structure, will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSA’s important mission.” The BSA said it is encouraging all victims to come forward to file a claim in the case. A deadline for filing claims has not yet been set by the bankruptcy court, but the BSA said that would likely happen later this year. Among other matters to be addressed in bankruptcy court: the fate of the Boy Scouts’ assets; the extent to which the organization’s insurance will help cover compensation; and whether assets of the Scouts’ 261 local councils will be added to the fund. “There are a lot of very angry, resentful men out there who will not allow the Boy Scouts to get away without saying what all their assets are,” said lawyer Paul Mones, who rep-
resents numerous clients suing the BSA. “They want no stone unturned.” Amid the crush of lawsuits, the Scouts recently mortgaged the major properties owned by the national leadership, including the headquarters in Irving, Texas, and the 140,000-acre Philmont Ranch in New Mexico, to help secure a line of credit. Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts have kept confidential files since the 1920s listing staff and volunteers implicated in sexual abuse, for the avowed purpose of keeping predators away from youth. According to a court deposition, the files as of January listed 7,819 suspected abusers and 12,254 victims. Until last spring, the organization had insisted it never knowingly allowed a predator to work with youths. But in May, The Associated Press reported that attorneys for abuse victims had identified multiple cases in which known predators were allowed to return to leadership posts. The next day, Boy Scouts chief executive Mike Surbaugh wrote to a congressional committee, acknowledging the group’s previous claim was untrue. James Kretschmer of Houston, among the many men suing for alleged abuse, says he was molested by a Scout leader over several months in the mid-1970s in the Spokane, Washington, area. Regarding the bankruptcy, he said, “It is a shame because at its core and what it was supposed to be, the Boy Scouts is a beautiful organization.” “But you know, anything can be corrupted,” he added. “And if they’re not going to protect the people that they’ve entrusted with the children, then shut it down and move on.” Ahead of the Chapter 11 filing, lawyers said that because of the organization’s 50-state presence, as well as its ties to churches and civic groups that sponsor scout troops, a bankruptcy by the Boy Scouts would be unprecedented in its complexity. It would be national in scope, unlike the various Catholic Church bankruptcy cases, which have unfolded diocese by diocese. “A Boy Scout bankruptcy would be bigger in scale than any other child abuse bankruptcy we’ve ever seen,” said Seattle-based attorney Mike Pfau, whose firm is representing scores of men nationwide alleging they were abused as Boy Scouts.
Stocks fall as Apple warning raises China virus concerns (AP) - U.S. stocks fell inafternoon trading Tuesday after technology giant Apple became the most wellknown company to warn of a financial hit from the virus outbreak in China. The maker of iPhones said revenue will fall short of previous forecasts in the fiscal second quarter because production has been curtailed and consumer demand for iPhones has slowed in China. Apple’s stores there are are either closed or operating on reduced hours. Technology stocksaccounted for a big slice of the selling. Apple shed 2.7%.Somechipmakers, which also rely heavily on China for sales and supplies, fell. Intel shed 1.7%. Banks and energy stocks also fell. HSBC said it will cut 35,000 jobs and shed $100 billion in assets. Its shares dropped 5.6%. Wells Fargo slid 2.9% and Schlumberger dropped 3.3%. Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 1.55% from 1.58% late Friday. Crude oil prices fell 0.5%. Communication services stocks and utilities held up better than most of the market. Dish Network climbed 2.8% and Xcel Energy rose 1.6%. KEEPING SCORE:The
S&P 500 index fell 0.4% as of 1:41 p.m. Eastern time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 212 points, or 0.7%, to 29,185. The Nasdaq dropped 0.2%. The Russell 2000 index of smaller company stocks fell 0.4%. European and Asian markets fell. CHINA OUTBREAK: The viral outbreak that began in China has now infected more than 73,000 people and continues to hurt businesses worldwide. The majority of the cases and deaths remain centered in China. Businesses continue to feel the economic impact from the virus. The Beijing auto show, the industry’s biggest global event of the year, is being postponed indefinitely from its April date. Apple is the latest company to warn investors that the virus will hurt its financial performance. While the projected revenue miss took Wall Street by surprise, some analysts played down the longterm impact of the iPhone production delay on Apple. In a research note Tuesday, Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley said that Apple continues to perform strongly across all business lines, including iPhone 11 demand outside of China.
“Despite the lowered near-term iPhone sales estimates, we believe Apple remains on track to reach this target,” Walkley wrote. Technology and health care companies have been the most vocal about mentioning the new coronavirus in their earnings conference calls, according to FactSet. LOTS OF BENJAMINS: Financial services company Franklin Resources jumped 7% after saying it is buying competitor Legg Mason for $4.5 billion. The deal will create a financial company with a combined $1.5 trillion in assets under management. Legg Mason shares vaulted 23.9%. WEEK AHEAD: Investors face a shortened week because of Monday’s President’s Day holiday, but there are still several key earnings and economic reports on tap. More than three-quarters of the S&P 500 has already reported financial results, and 51 companies are scheduled to release results this week. Devon Energy and Concho Resources will report their results later Tuesday. Progressive will report results on Wednesday and ViacomCBS will report on Thursday.
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MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | 3
Webster & More
Smalls: After the war Smalls returned south to purchase his former owner’s house Continued from Page 1 to blow up the vessel,” read his biography. “The startled crew of the USS Onward, the first ship in the blockade to spot the Planter, almost fired on it before Smalls had the Confederate flag struck and raised a white bed sheet, signaling surrender.” The Union couldn’t have been happier to get this ship, seeing as it contained guns, ammunition, and a wealth of information pertaining to shipping routes and the times the Confederate ships docked and departed. After his daring escape, the tale became well known. So much so in fact that it, “was one of the factors encouraging President Abraham Lincoln to authorize free African Americans to serve in the Union military,” according to the biography. He went on to be a spokesperson for the Union Army
and encouraged African American men to enlist. He also achieved the rank of Navy Captain and commanded the very Planter that he had escaped to freedom on and the ironclad USS Keokuk, conducting a total of seventeen missions. “After the war, Smalls returned down south, and in a poetic gesture of showing how far he had come, purchased his former owner’s house in Beaufort, South Carolina. He even generously took in some of the McKee family, who were not in the best of shape after the war. Smalls started a general store, a school for African American children and a newspaper. In his later years, he had a career in politics, serving on the South Carolina House of Representatives, State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives. He later died on Feb. 23, 1915 due to natural causes at the age of 75.
ARREST
Louisiana university suspends football coach accused of DWI NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) — The head football coach of a Louisiana university was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. Brad Laird, the football coach at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, has been suspended without pay for one week, Northwestern Director of Athletics Greg Burke said in a statement Monday, news outlets reported. Laird was arrested Saturday night, according to his own statement. “I made a poor decision to get behind the wheel of a
vehicle after drinking alcohol,” Laird said. “This was a lapse in judgment, and I take 100 percent responsibility for my actions.” Laird was also given a letter of reprimand stating the consequences he could face if any future misconduct took place, Burke said. Laird was a quarterback who played his college career at Northwestern State, The News Star reported. He returned to the university in 2018 to take on the head coaching role. The football team went 3-9 in its 2019 season.
Space: Costs will be in line with previous tourists flight, around $35 Million Continued from Page 1
Space Adventures already has helped put tourists into orbit with trips to the International Space Station, working with the Russian space program. For this trip, paying customers will skip the space station and instead orbit two to three times higher, or roughly 500 miles to 750 miles (800 kilometers to 1,200 kilometers) above Earth. It’s a lofty goal that would approach the record 850-mile-high (1,370 kilometers) orbit achieved by Gemini 11’s Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon in 1966. The tourist flight “will forge a path to making spaceflight possible for all people who dream of it,” SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in a statement. Elon Musk’s California-based SpaceX already is dabbling in space tourism, signing on a Japanese billionaire to fly to the moon in three or so years. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic also plan tourist trips to space, but these will be brief upand-downs, not orbital. SpaceX will use the same kind of Dragon capsule that will launch NASA astronauts to the space station, possibly in another few months. The capsule has flown only once in space so far, making its debut last year in a successful test flight without a crew. Space Adventures spokeswoman Stacey Tearne said the tourist flight could occur in the last quarter of 2021. The company is in discussions with “several potential clients.”
No professional pilot or astronaut will be required, Tearne said, because the Dragon is fully autonomous. But passengers will be able to control the spacecraft if required, she said in an email. The cost will be in line with previous tourist flights, she said. Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil, paid $35 million for a 1 1/2-week space station flight in 2009. He said from orbit that it was “worth every penny and more.” Like all previous space tourists, he launched on a Russian rocket from Kazakhstan. This private Dragon flight from Cape Canaveral will be shorter, lasting up to five days, according to Tearne. Based in Vienna, Virginia, Space Adventures helped arrange the flight of the world’s first space tourist, Dennis Tito, founder and chairman of Wilshire Associates in California. He flew to the space station on a Russian capsule in 2001, igniting the wrath of top NASA officials who opposed visiting tourists. The company has arranged eight space missions, with one tourist going twice. Space Adventures’ goal is to create “unique and previously impossible opportunities for private citizens to experience space,” Eric Anderson, company chairman, said in a statement. NASA has softened its stance on space tourists, and is opening the station doors to paying customers once commercial crew flights by SpaceX and Boeing have been established.
4 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
Opinion Minden
Press-Herald 2 0 3 G LE AS O N STR E E T MIN DE N, LO U IS IAN A 7 1 0 5 5 318-37 7 - 1 8 6 6 w w w.pre ss- herald . co m U SPS N U M BE R 5 9 3 - 3 4 0
JOSHUA SPECHT Editor & Publisher WILL PHILLIPS Lead Reporter KELLY MAY Chief Financial Officer AMANDA ANDERS Circulation Manager JJ MARSHALL Sports Editor DENNIS PHILEBAR Production Director CURTIS MAYS Advertising Executive CHELSEA STARKEY-HENDERSON Advertising Executive COURTNEY PLUNKETT Classifieds/Public Notices
The Minden Press-Herald is published Tuesday through Saturday afternoon by Specht Newspapers, Inc. at 203 Gleason Street, Minden, Louisiana 71055. Telephone: (318) 377-1866. Entered as Periodicals at the Post Office as Minden PressHerald, P.O. Box 1339, Minden LA 71058-1339. Subscription rate: In-parish mail delivery $11 per month; $33 per three months; $66 per six months; $99 per nine months and $132 per year. Out-of-parish mail delivery is $14.50 per month; $43.50 per three months; $87 per six months; $130.50 per nine months and $174 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Minden PressHerald, P.O. Box 1339, Minden, LA 71058-1339.
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JOSHUA SPECHT, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER jspecht@press-herald.com
OTHER OPINION
Paving the road to safer Louisiana highways Louisiana’s definition of a distracted or inattentive driver is one who is actively engaged in any activity that diverts his/her attention away from the task of driving. The work of public agencies, stakeholder groups and victim-related organizations have done a tremendous job of providing awareness concerning the leading causes of distracted driving and its impacts. As secretary, I am convince d that there is more to be done to raise awareness concerning the often dangerous and life-risking jobs of the men and SHAWN D. women of WILSON DOTD. At DOTD, safety is our top priority. We continue to act to raise awareness of this issue. Each year, we participate in national and local safety initiatives working closely with our partners, such as Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, to remind motorists to avoid driving distracted or impaired. While we have improved our safety measures in work zones, we are appealing to citizens we serve to be an engaged partner
and do their part. On Monday, February 3, 2020, Dwayne Pitre, a dedicated DOTD employee performing his duties by picking up litter, was struck by a vehicle in a work zone. He was seriously injured when a distracted driver swerved to avoid slowing traffic on I-49, hitting Dwayne instead. This public servant now faces an extensive recovery process that is sure to place an undue financial and physical burden that he certainly didn’t expect when he left for work on Monday morning. Adhering to protocol, Dwayne was equipped with his safety vest, the emergency lights on his vehicle were activated and he and his co-worker were
a safe distance away from traffic. Thankfully, Dwayne is still with us, but for the DOTD family these accidents have seemed to end much grimmer recently. Since my appointment, I have had the unfortunate, but significant, responsibility to call and console the families of Mr. Johnny Cole and Mr. Paul Featherston after both of these men were killed in the line of duty. Both of these dedicated employees were along our highways installing signs and repairing pot holes, respectively, when they were unexpectedly killed by distracted drivers. These two deaths help account for the 46 employees who have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1976, DOTD’s inception.
In an effort to combat these terrible incidents, DOTD recently introduced several safety enhancements, which include additional personnel on work crews to monitor traffic, the extension of work zones and the addition of impact-absorbing trailers that provide warning lights and flashing arrows. Additionally, we are changing our safety color patterns to include a vivid green. This green will be displayed with yellow on our uniforms and be added to our emergency light regime. While the loss of our employees and nature of their jobs warrant these changes, as aforementioned, we can’t fight distracted driving alone. We need you! Join us in establishing policy solutions to keep Louisianans safe. It is incumbent upon each of us to protect one another. Avoidable deaths are sobering reminders that these men and women are our family, friends and neighbors. We need your support to not only work to eradicate distracted driving and its impacts, but to ensure that our workers stay safe and are afforded every protection and benefit that is equal to the sacrifice and risk they take daily!
Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D., is Secretary, LA Department of Transportation and Development
OTHER OPINION
Political bias and anti-Americanism on college campuses A recent Pew Research Center survey finds that only half of American adults think colleges and universities are having a positive effect on our nation. The leftward political bias, held by faculty members affiliated with the Democratic Party, at most institutions of higher education explains a lot of that disappointment. Professors Mitchell Langbert and Sean Stevens document this bias in “Partisan Registration and Contributions of Faculty in Flagship Colleges.” Langbert and Stevens conducted a new study of the political affiliation of 12,372 professors in the two leading private and two leading public colleges in 31 states. For party registration, they found a Democratic to Republican (D:R) ratio of 8.5:1, which varied by rank of institution and region. For donations to political candidates (using the Federal Election Commission database), they found a D:R ratio of 95:1, with only 22 Republican donors, compared with 2,081 Democratic donors. Several consistent findings have emerged from Langbert and Stevens’ study. The ratio of faculty who identify as or are registered as Democratic versus Republican almost always favors the Democratic Party. Democratic professors outnumber their Republican coun-
terparts most in the humanities and social sciences, compared with the natural sciences and engineering. The ratio is 42:1 in anthropology, 27:1 in sociology and 27:1 in English. In the social sciences, Democratic registered faculty outnumber their Republican counterparts the least in economics 3:1. The partisan political slant is most extreme at the most highly rated institutions. Ad Feedback The leftist bias at our colleges and universities WALTER E. has many WILLIAMS harmful effects. Let’s look at a few. At University of California, Davis, last month, a mathematics professor faced considerable backlash over her opposition to the requirement for faculty “diversity statements.” University of California, San Diego, requires job applicants to admit to the “barriers” preventing women and minorities from full participation in campus life. At American University, a history professor recently wrote a book in which he advocates repealing the Second Amendment.
A Rutgers University professor said, “Watching the Iowa Caucus is a sickening display of the over-representation of whiteness.” University of California, Berkeley, professor and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich chimed in to say: “Think about this: Iowa is 90.7% white. Iowa is now the only state with a lifetime voting ban for people with a felony conviction. Black people make up 4% of Iowa’s population but 26% of the prison population. How is this representative of our electorate?” A Williams College professor said he would advocate for social justice to be included in math textbooks. Students at Wayne State University no longer have to take a single math course to graduate; however, they may soon be required to take a diversity course. Then there’s a question about loyalty to our nation. Charles Lieber, former chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard, was arrested earlier this year on accusations that he made a materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statement about work he did for a program run by the Chinese government that seeks to lure American talent to China. He was paid $50,000 a month and up to $158,000 in living expenses for his work, which involved cultivating young teachers and students,
according to court documents. According to the Department of Justice, Lieber helped China “cultivate high-level scientific talent in furtherance of China’s scientific development, economic prosperity and national security.” It’s not just Harvard professors. Newly found court records reveal that Emory University neuroscientist Li Xiao-Jiang was fired in late 2019 after being charged with lying about his own ties to China. Li was part of the same Chinese program as Lieber. A jury found a University of California, Los Angeles, professor guilty of exporting stolen U.S. military technology to China. Newsweek reported that he was convicted June 26 on 18 federal charges. Meanwhile, NBC reported that federal prosecutors say that University of Texas professor Bo Mao attempted to steal U.S. technology by using his position as a professor to obtain access to protected circuitry and then handing it over to the Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei. The true tragedy is that so many Americans are blind to the fact that today’s colleges and universities pose a threat on several fronts to the well-being of our nation.
Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | 5
Life AROUND TOWN
UCAP needs for week of February 17: Food: chicken & dumplings, cereal, fruit, pasta Household goods: sheets (twin and regular), pots, pans, skillets Clothing: Men’s pants (waist 36), men’s boots/ tennis shoes and underwear
58th Annual Rainbow Tea The Mt. Zion CME Church will be hosting their 58th Annual Rainbow Tea on Sunday, Feb. 23. The guest for the evening will be Pastor Bobby Williams and the St. Rest Baptist Church.
Buds & Blooms Educational Seminar The Piney Hills LA Master Gardeners will host their annual Buds & Blooms educational seminars Feb. 29 at the First United Methodist Church, located at 903 Broadway Street. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and lectures will run from 9 a.m. until noon. Cost to attend is $15. For more information, please call 318-464-0594, 318371-1371, or visit www. phlmg.com.
Annual Ushers’ Day Annual Ushers’ Day to be held at Union Grove Baptist Church on Sunday, March 8. starting at 3 pm. The guest speaker will be Pastor Anthony Abney and White Oak Baptist Church of Homer, LA.
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LIFE AROUND THR WORLD
LION’S CLUB
Riders in the storm: Lion’s Club Speaker Dutch cyclists brave Storm Ciara NEELTJE JANS, Netherlands (AP) — Call them riders in the storm. While much of northern Europe hunkered down Sunday and hoped that Storm Ciara would blow over quickly with its hurricane-force winds, an intrepid band of cyclists made the most of the conditions to take part in the Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships. The ingredients were simple: A basic bicycle with no gears, no featherweight carbon race frame, no drop handlebars, strong legs, steely resolve, and wind. Lots of wind. Yet completing the 8.5-kilometer (5.3-mile) course along the coast of Zeeland province in the southern Netherlands and across a stormwater barrier as heavy winds blasted riders with sand from nearby beaches was anything but simple, even for experienced riders. Organizers provided vomit buckets at the end. “I survived, but it’s very tough,” said 56-year-old Hans Deting, his right hand dripping with blood after he was blown off his bike.
FROM THE BACK PORCH
Ultimately, the gale-force winds became too strong even for this punishing event. Organizers brought the race to an early end after 250 of the 300 riders had finished. While the idea of plowing headfirst into a major storm on a bicycle may sound like madness, it’s surprisingly popular in the Netherlands, where many people commute to work by bicycle despite wind or rain. Some 11,000 people expressed interest online in taking part but organizers only had a maximum of 300 places available. This was, organizers say, as close as you can get in the largely pancake-flat Netherlands to tackling an Alpine stage in a bike race. “We call this the Dutch mountain,” organizer Robrecht Stoekenbroek told The Associated Press. “It’s like climbing a 10% slope on the worst bike you can imagine.” With red-and-white wind socks snapping in the wind, riders hunched over their handlebars in a desperate attempt to remain as aerodynamic as possible. Many
competitors wore tight Lycra cycling clothes. One man made a bold fashion statement by wearing a onesie emblazoned with Brussels sprouts over his cycling gear. Crossing the Oosterscheldekering storm barrier, riders weaved across the cycle path as they struggled to maintain their balance. “There’s nowhere to hide,” Stoekenbroek said. Many participants, who rode one-by-one against the clock, weren’t too interested in their times. It was simply about completing the event. “This is a bucket list thing,” Edwin van Gaalen said, as he leaned, gasping for breath, on his handlebars after finishing. He paused to further explain. “When you’ve done it once, you want to do it twice. And more and more and more, because this is an experience you have to experience,” he said. “So I can talk a lot about this, but you have to take part of this to feel the wind, to feel the experience, to get it all.”
COURTESY PHOTO/WILL PHILLIPS
Savannah Jones was the guest speaker at the Lion’s Club las week. She used the opportunity to speak about the history of the Webster Parish library System as well as the variety of programs and resources that the library has to offer.
Touching hearts, one at a time
While meditating which I enjoyed. He on journalists who wrote as if he was just have been inspira- talking to a friend tions to me, or acquainwithout their tance. ever knowHe was ining it, I was vited to come reminded to the school recently of where I was some of those teaching and who made speak to a FANNIE MOORE great impresclass there sions. and it was at These three writ- that time I first met ers are very different, him. We had a good writing about dif- conversation and it ferent topics, but all was just like talking to touching my heart in an old friend. some manner. Several years later, I would put Orland he led a session at a Dodson at the top of Writers’ Conference that list. The first time which I was attendI was exposed to Dod- ing, and I got to visit son, he was appear- with him again. ing on a Shreveport But, in the meantelevision station. time, I was reading But later, when he his articles in the had joined the Times newspaper, so many newspaper was when of which I could idenI learned to appreci- tify with. Perhaps ate him more. the one I remember His writing style was most was called “The one that could touch Rings”, (or a similar tipeople, and was tle). It told the story of considered “folksy”, a young boy, which I
assumed was himself, who was very sick and confined to bed for a long time. His mother faithfully cared for him all that time, until he was well again. But during that time, which was all but lost from his memory, one thing remained- the image of the rings on the loving hands that ministered to him. The article was so touching that it was one I will always associate with Dodson. “Huckleberry Lane”, a regular column written by Liz Townes, was one of simplicity and beauty that could make the reader walk down that lane in his mind, picking plump, ripe huckleberries as he went. I never met Liz, but I pictured her as a gentle, countrywoman who cherished her heritage and her surroundings. Each column would
stir such beautiful thoughts in my mind as I envisioned doing as she was doing, penning thoughts that would touch hearts and make them feel different emotions. Probably the most well-known columnist of my list of favorites was nationally syndicated Jim Bishop. He wrote on a variety of topics, later writing books on politics, and also those that were Christian-related. There have been many others who have made impressions and influenced my own writing. While I will never achieve the prominence of Dodson or Bishop, it is my desire to write in a style and on topics that will touch hearts. Whether it is a chuckle, an ”Oh, I remember that”, a few tears, or just a, “That was interesting.”
My plans have always been to write simply and of topics that are of a non-confrontational matter. Just as we have been advised that while in the company of others, we shouldn’t discuss money, religion or politics, so I try to steer clear of these topics. Although I don’t mind referring to my Christian faith, it is not a topic I normally write about in detail in my columns. As you browse through the newspaper, I hope you take note of this little item each week and enjoy a short respite from your busy day. Then go forth and touch hearts, one at a time. Fannie Moore is a journalist who lives in Shongaloo where she enjoys writing on a variety of subjects.
6 MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
Sports
JJ Marshall, Sports Editor jjmarshall@press-herald.com
www.press-herald.com
PREP BASKETBALL
PLAYOFF TIME
Lady Tiders travel to NOLA Thursday for first round of playoffs
JJ MARSHALL/PRESS-HERALD PHOTO
Natalie Dubose (right) will help lead the Minden Lady Tiders into battle on Thursday at 5 p.m. as they take on Livingston Collegiate in New Orleans.
NCAA BASKETBALL
Top of AP poll steady as Baylor, Kansas set collision course Baylor and Kansas just keep winning, setting up a monumental showdown Saturday between the topranked Bears and No. 3 Jayhawks that could help decide not only the Big 12 title but the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament. The two teams were separated once again by Gonzaga in the latest college basketball poll from The Associated Press on Monday. The Bears (23-1) had 48 first-place votes from the 63-member media panel, while the Bulldogs (261) had 14 first-place nods and the Jayhawks (22-3) had the only remaining first-place vote. “The best we could be right now is being the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. We’re No. 2,” said Kansas coach Bill Self, whose team beat West Virginia and Oklahoma last week. “The reason we’re not No. 1 is Baylor beat us on our home floor. They deserve it. I’m not looking at it like we haven’t done as well as our record because we’re
in second place. I’m looking at it like we played pretty good that day and got beat by a better team, and now we have a chance to get them back.” The Bears and Jayhawks both have business to handle before they collide on Saturday, though. Kansas got a visit from Iowa State to Allen Fieldhouse on Monday night while Baylor will be visiting Oklahoma on Tuesday night. If both win, it would set up one of the biggest games in the history of the Ferrell Center. “I think it’s a tribute to the players, their belief,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “We’ve been operating under joy ... (and) focusing one game at a time and we’ll keep doing that.” San Diego State (26-0) remained the nation’s last unbeaten team and was No. 4 in the latest poll, while Dayton (23-2) climbed one spot to fifth after wins over Rhode Island and Massachusetts and
See, TOP 25, Page 7
LOCAL
REC CENTER ROUNDUP
JJ Marshall
jjmarshall@press-herald.com
There are big things coming Minden’s way this year as the Rec Center is ramping up efforts to get more citizens involved. Rocke Musgraves and Mike Aguilar are turning their attention first to the youngest in Minden. “We’re basically starting some new programs,” Musgraves said. “We want to get involved with more adult leagues as well.” “First, we’ve done a lot with our youth programs,” Aguilar said. “We started ‘Little Booters’ which is 3-4 year old soccer. Carrying that forward, we have our ‘Weeball’ baseball as well as ‘Little Ballers’ for those age groups in basketball.” Aguilar said it is part of an initiative to keep athletes in Minden down the line. “The point of these programs is keeping the three year olds here in Minden long-term,” Aguilar said. “As opposed to them going to Shreveport and Bossier.” In addition, the Rec Center is focused on getting adults involved. A big part of that is adult leagues at the Rec. “March Madness is when we are having our men’s and women’s adult league,” Agu-
ilar said. For the men’s adult league, it will be full-court with eight to ten players on each team. The league starts the first Monday in March. The cost is $45 per player, and a few teams have already inquired. “It will probably start small at the beginning,” Aguilar said. “Each team will have one timeout per half, with a running clock that stops regularly in the final two minutes of the game.” This leads into adult coed softball in June and July, with registration open in mid-April. Following that, the summer is getting some more activities with an ultimate frisbee league on the football field at the Rec, which will be coed. “There was a void,” Aguilar said. “We have all these programs for the kids. One way to keep kids involved is to get the parents involved.” Musgraves then highlighted a need for coaches at the Rec now. “We really need coaches for soccer, baseball and softball. Badly,” Musgraves emphasised. Outside of leagues, the Rec is partnering with other companies for events this year. Baseball is seeing some travel tournaments to be
hosted at the Rec. “We’re partnering with 2D Sports to bring travel tournaments to town,” Musgraves said. “April 18 we have a tournament that will involve travel teams for ages 9-12.
Then another on May 16. We’re just trying to get our travel ball people some opportunities as well.” On April 18, the Rec is hosting an AAU basketball tournament, “We’ve partnered with the
CYBL,” Musgraves said. “We are hosting the tournament at a few different sites: Minden High, Lakeside, Webster Junior High and the Rec Center. “We’re trying to branch out beyond regular rec
sports,” he said. “The future is the travel ball teams and trying to take care of our local people.” The Rec is also getting ready for soccer, baseball and softball coming up. “The big facility stuff is upgrading batting cages at Babb’s park, Ewell park and here at the Rec we’re getting new batting cages.” “We’re working on a partnership now, looking to introduce Camp Gladiator,” Aguilar said. “It’s an outside program fitness regimen for all, and it’s another way to get people to the Rec. “We have a couple of really popular programs: our silver sneaker programs, exercise programs,” Musgraves said. “In most cases, Humana Insurance pays for most of the people there. Then we have water aerobics for seniors.” Musgraves said these are very popular that people don’t talk about much. “Then of course we’re continuing to upgrade our weight lifting room.” Lastly, at Ewell Park, the Rec puts on bingo every other Wednesday. The next class is Feb. 19 from 10-12 at Ewell Park. “Were really trying to stay up with other places and modernize,” Musgraves said. “And I think we’re heading in a great direction.”
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | 7
NCAA BASKETBALL
NCAA BASKETBALL
TOP 25: BAYLOR REMAIN TOPS IN POLL Bonus Play set for
Bulldogs this week
Continued from Page 6 a rough week for then-No. 5 Louisville. “I told our team, ‘Let’s get greedy. Let’s play for perfection,’” Aztecs coach Brian Dutcher said. “If we’re this close, we might as well play for a perfect regular season. ... Let’s do something special.” That’s exactly what the Flyers are trying to do, too. “We’re trying to win a national championship,” Dayton guard Jalen Crutcher said. “We feel like that there’s no team in the country we can’t beat. We feel like we can go and win a national championship, and we talk about that a lot.” The Cardinals lost to Georgia Tech and Clemson to plummet all the way to No. 11, but they weren’t the only ranked team to lose to an unranked foe on Saturday. Auburn fell at Missouri, Seton Hall lost to Providence, Butler lost at Georgetown, Illinois lost at Rutgers, Houston fell at SMU, Texas Tech fell at Oklahoma State and LSU was beaten on the road by Alabama. Throw in then-No. 14 West Virginia’s loss to Baylor and nine ranked teams were beaten. Eight lost to unranked opponents, the most in a single day this season. “This week wasn’t a good week for us,” Louisville coach Chris Mack said. “The teams we’re playing are too together and we’re not right now. It’s
unfortunate, but it happens sometimes and my job is to keep our team on course and get better.” IN AND OUT BYU climbed into the poll at No. 23 after wins over Loyola Marymount and San Diego, and now faces Santa Clara on Thursday night before a showdown with the second-ranked Zags. The Cougars were followed by Arizona at No. 24 and Ohio State at No. 25, two teams that were in the poll earlier this season before dropping out. Illinois plummeted out of the poll after losing to Michigan State and Rutgers. Texas
Tech also dropped out along with LSU, which lost at Alabama during a brutal Saturday for the nation’s Top 25 teams. CLIMBING AND FALLING Creighton made the biggest leap this week, rising from No. 23 to 15th after beating thenNo. 10 Seton Hall and DePaul. Penn State moved up four spots to crack the top 10 at No. 9, while Oregon climbed from No. 17 to 14 and Kentucky moved up two spots to round out the top 10. Louisville’s weak week culminated in a drop of six places to No. 11, while Seton Hall also absorbed a pair of losses and
fell to No. 16. West Virginia lost to Baylor and Kansas but was only penalized three places and remained No. 17. MID-MAJOR WATCH There are some intriguing mid-major programs poised to enter the Top 25 if there’s another week of upsets. Stephen F. Austin quietly improved to 22-3 and is one of the first teams out, while Northern Iowa (22-4), Utah State (21-7) and Rhode Island (19-6) are getting plenty of love from voters as March begins to bear down on the college basketball season.
RUSTON – In an announcement made by the Conference USA office on Sunday, the opponents, dates and times have now been set for the final four games of the league slate as part of Bonus Play. After the conclusion of the 14 scheduled conference matchups, Louisiana Tech finished in the third slot and in the top pod of 1-5. As a result of a predetermined formula, the team will play at North Texas and WKU and face Charlotte and FIU at home. The first game for the Bulldogs will be against the topseed Mean Green in Denton, Texas on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tipoff time has not been officially set yet by Stadium who will be broadcasting the contest. That will be followed by a return trip to Bowling Green,
Kentucky to face the Hilltoppers on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. The game will be nationally-televised on CBS Sports Network. LA Tech will then return to the Thomas Assembly Center for its final two games, hosting FIU on Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. and then Charlotte on Saturday, March 7 at 6 p.m. Both games will be streamed on CUSA.tv. Tickets for the final two home games are on sale now and can be purchased at LATechSports.com/tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631. For all the latest in Bulldog Basketball, follow them on Twitter (@LATechHoops), Instagram (@LATechHoops) and Facebook (LATechMBB) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.
8 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
FUN & GAMES
On This Day In History 2008 - Fidel Castro steps down as Cuba’s president. Castro was 81 years old at the time and had been in power for 49 years. 1986 - The “Mir” Space Station is launched. The Soviet vehicle was the world’s first modular space station and remained in orbit for 15 years. 1985 - Iberia Airlines Flight 610 crashes. All 148 people on board died in the accident See, HISTORY, Page 9
CRYPTOQUIP
CROSSWORD
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
SUDOKU
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | 9
WORD SLEUTH
HISTORY
Continued from Page 8
that was blamed on pilot error.
1945 - U.S. troops land on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. The photo showing 4 marines erecting a U.S. flag on the island has become one of the best-known images of World War II. 1878 - Thomas Edison patents the phonograph. It was the first machine able to reproduce recorded sound. On this Day in History is brought to you by www.timeanddate.com
COMICS BABY BLUES | RICK KIRKMAN AND JERRY SCOTT
BLONDIE | DEAN YOUNG AND JOHN MARSHALL
BEETLE BAILEY | MORT & GREG WALKER
FUNKY WINKERBEAN | TOM BATIUK
HI AND LOIS | BRIAN WALKER, GREG WALKER AND CHANCE BROWNE
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE | CHRIS BROWNE
SAM AND SILO | JERRY DUMAS
MOTHER GOOSE & GRIMM | MIKE PETERS
10 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
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PROCEEDING OF THE VILLAGE OF HEFLIN, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN IN REGULAR MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 2, 2020 The Heflin Town Council met at Town Hall, Heflin, Louisiana beginning at 7:25 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Todd Leake council members Matt Austin, Hallie DeMoss, Ralph James, Chief of Police Paul Migues, Water System Operator Jesse Williamson, Village Clerk Sherry Limosnero, and members of the public. The meeting was opened with prayer offered by Matt Austin and Ralph James led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Todd Leake welcomed everyone to the meeting. Upon motion by Matt Austin and duly seconded by Hallie DeMoss, the council adopted the Minutes from December 5, 2019 at Council Regular Meeting held on January 2, 2020 as presented, the motion was approved unanimously. Hallie DeMoss moved to accept the December, 2019 Operating Financial Statements as presented; the motion was duly seconded by Ralph James. The motion was approved unanimously. Upon motion by Ralph James and duly seconded by Matt Austin, the council unanimously approved Water System Report for December, 2019. Matt Austin moved to accept the December, 2019 Police Department Report as presented; the motion was duly seconded by Hallie DeMoss. The motion was approved unanimously. Council comments were heard, public comments were heard. There being no further business to come before this Council, meeting adjourned by Council Member Ralph James.
Attest by: Sherry Limosnero Village Clerk, Respectfully posted: 1/9/2020 A d o p t e d : 2/6/2020 February 19, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
PROCEEDING OF THE VILLAGE OF HEFLIN, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN IN REGULAR MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 6, 2020 The Heflin Town Council met at Town Hall, Heflin, Louisiana beginning at 7:50 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Todd Leake council members Matt Austin, Hallie DeMoss, Ralph James, Chief of Police Paul Migues, Water System Operator Jesse Williamson, Village Clerk Sherry Limosnero, and members of the public. The meeting was opened with prayer offered by Hallie DeMoss and Matt Austin led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Todd Leake welcomed everyone to the meeting. Upon motion by Matt Austin and duly seconded by Hallie DeMoss, the council adopted the Minutes from January 2, 2020 at Council Regular Meeting held on February 6, 2020 as presented, the motion was approved unanimously. Hallie DeMoss moved to accept the January, 2020 Operating Financial Statements as presented; the motion was duly seconded by Ralph James. The motion was approved unanimously. Upon motion by Ralph James and duly seconded by Matt Austin, the council unanimously approved Water System Report for January, 2020. Matt Austin moved to accept the January, 2020 Police Department Report as presented; the motion was duly seconded by Hallie DeMoss. The motion was approved unanimously. Hallie DeMoss moved to accept The Law Office of Christopher Stahl as Village
Attorney for 2020. The motion was duly seconded by Ralph James as presented: the motion was approved unanimously. Ralph James moved to accept Wise, Martin, & Cole LLC, as the Village of Heflin’s Official Auditor for 2020. The motion was duly seconded by Matt Austin as presented; the motion was approved unanimously. Upon motion by Matt Austin and duly seconded by Hallie DeMoss, the council unanimously adopted Always Best Quality Maintenance LLC, as the Village of Heflin landscaper for 2020. Hallie DeMoss move to accept Minden Press Herald as the Village of Heflin’s Official Journal for 2020. The motion was duly seconded by Ralph James as presented; the motion was approved unanimously. Ralph James moved to accept Resolution 0012020 WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY FOR ROAD WORK, LEVEL, AND SEAL ON SMITHFIELD LANE AND MEMORIAL PARK DR. The motion was duly seconded by Matt Austin as presented: the motion was approved unanimously. Said Resolution 0012020 is attached to and made a part of these minutes. Council comments were heard, public comments were heard. There being no further business to come before this Council, meeting adjourned by Council Member Ralph James. Attest by: Sherry Limosnero Village Clerk, Respectfully posted: 2/13/2020 A d o p t e d : 2/6/2020 February 19, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
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MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA