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Minden
Press-Herald TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020
District Attorney to file suit against Councilman of Dist. A, Hebert Taylor III STAFF REPORT Minden Press-Herald
On Friday, March 13th, the District Attorney of the 26th Judicial District, Schuyler Marvin, provided his opinion in regard to complaints his office has received about Councilman Herbert Taylor of Dist. A allegedly moving TAYLOR out of the district he represents. “The District Attorney’s office has recently received several complaints with the latest complaint being dated March 11, 2020. The complaints are that Minden Councilman Herbert Taylor, III has moved out of District A, and no longer meets the qualifications required to hold that office,” Marvin stated. “Louisiana law generally requires that if a legitimate complaint is filed with the District Attorney, then the District Attorney must conduct an investigation and provide his opinion within 20 days of the receipt of that complaint.” The specifics of the investigation, as well as other relevant information to Marvin’s statement, can be found in the classified section of tomorrow’s paper. Referring to the information mentioned above, Marvin stated, “After reviewing the above documents, I have concluded that Herbert Taylor, III, has moved from the place where he resided at the time he filed and qualified for the office of councilman, District A, and that, in compliance with the requirements of law as set forth above, I must file suit in the 26th Judicial District Court in order that the office may be declared vacant.” The Press-Herald contacted Councilman Taylor in regard to the suit who stated he had no comment at this time.
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MINDEN, LOUISIANA
75 CENTS
Webster Parish’s response to COVID-19
WILL PHILLIPS Minden Press-Herald
Even small rural Minden isn’t escaping from the widespread precautions being taken by governments, businesses, and municipalities to try and prevent the spread of the now-infamous virus COVID-19. Minden’s very own Walmart, Brookshire’s, and various dollar stores are strapped for toilet paper, water, germ-x, hand soap, and other things people are trying to stock up on to brace the oncoming pandemic. Furthermore, schools, sports events, and nearly all public events have now been canceled and time will only tell when all of these will be back up and running. Just last week, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced measures being taken in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the most extreme of which being closing down Louisiana schools for a month until Apr. 13. Just this week he also mentioned additional measures being taken including restaurants no longer being able to serve patrons on-site, only through drive-thru, take-out, and delivery, gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people, casinos and bars will be closed, and movie theaters will be closed. Mayor Terry Gardner has also presented some precautions to be taken by the citizens of the Minden “I’m asking people through-
out the community to limit their gathering to ten or fewer people. I’m also asking that when people go shopping, wear rubber gloves on the buggies to prevent spreading the virus. I’m asking everyone 60 and older, especially those with pre-existing health problems to please stay home. Everyone should regularly wash their hands constantly and keep their hands away from their face. We just want to keep all of our citizens as safe as possible.”,” said Gardner. “We have no confirmed cases in Webster parish as of yet. I’m going to ask that people limit traveling outside of the parish and to try to do everything they can within the parish, because they could potentially contract the virus in the Shreveport/ Bossier area or Ruston area and bring it back here. COURTESY PHOTO I feel that we should stay close A map depicting the number of confirmed cases currently in Louisiana and to home, and not potentially where they are located. spread the virus further. So I’m canceling activities where I’m supposed to be that would have ten or more people, because I myself could potentially bring that virus to my employees. I’m staying close to home myself, and travel plans I had are done.” In reference to the Governor closing down schools, a statement released Friday by the Webster Parish School Board read, “This is an important message to all parents/guardians from the Webster Parish School WILL PHILLIPS/MINDEN PRESS-HERALD Board. As you know, Governor The shelves of Walmart which once held a bounty of toilet paper are now See, OUTBREAK, Page 3
laid barren as a consequence of people stockpiling for the oncoming pandemic.
Gov. Edwards restricts restaurants from serving patrons on site: other measures in response Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 STAFF REPORT Minden Press-Herald
The Gov. John Bel Edwards has recently released an update to his public health emergency proclamation. Most of these updates were pretty in line with what we’ve seen around the country, but the one that might affect citizens of Webster parish more directly is that restaurants are no longer allowed to serve patrons on site. “Restaurants will be closed to patrons eating on site. Takeout, drive-through and delivery
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orders are allowed,” the press release read. Other additions to the emergency proclamation include: gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people, casinos and bars will be closed, and movie theaters will be closed. These changes are effective statewide at midnight. Operations may be able to resume on April 13, however, the situation will be reevaluated seven days prior. “More aggressive steps are necessary to fight the spread of COVID-19 across Louisiana. Following additional guidance
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from the CDC, gatherings of more than 50 people are no longer permitted, bars and casinos must close and restaurants will only be able to offer take out or delivery,” Gov. Edwards said. “These limitations were difficult to make, but they are necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, protect the health of Louisianans and flatten the curve,” the press release read. “What we’re learning is that it can take two weeks for symptoms to appear. We believe we are still unearthing community spread that’s been around for the past several weeks, which
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means it is a statewide problem that requires statewide solutions,” Gov. Edwards said. “In addition to meeting with Sen. Bill Cassidy this morning who is supportive of our efforts, I was also on a call with President Trump and Vice President Pence that lasted more than an hour and they were very clear that we must significantly expand our mitigation efforts to slow the progress of COVID-19 before there is more community spread. Action must be taken now, even in areas where there are no confirmed cases yet.”
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2 | TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
Second Front LEGISLATURE
TRAVEL
Amid criticism, Louisiana Legislature expects to postpone session (The Center Square) – Though an official announcement has not been made, the legislature is expected to disband until the end of the month. While other state legislatures are suspending their work amid coronavirus concerns, Louisiana lawmakers were sticking with the current schedule Monday morning as they began the second week of the state’s legislative session. Two deaths from COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, have been reported in Louisiana so far. State officials say 114 cases in 10 parishes, mostly in the southeastern part of the state, have been reported. The state lab has administered 284 tests. Legislative leaders have enacted safety protocols in hopes of minimizing
the risk of spreading the disease. People who have recently traveled abroad, feel sick, or have recently been in contact with someone who may be infected are asked to consider staying home. Personnel stationed at State Capitol entrances are checking the temperature of anyone seeking to enter; those with a temperature over 100.4 degrees will not be allowed in, officials say. People allowed into the building are being given a sticker for that day to indicate that they were checked and are asked to wear the sticker in plain view. Fewer people are in committee rooms, where audience members are prevented by yellow caution tape from sitting next to each other. “Because of the fluidity of the situation, we are
asking all legislators and the public to be flexible and understanding as we make decisions that we believe are best for this state,” state House Speaker Clay Schexnayder said. “Our primary goal is to best serve the people of Louisiana.” A number of state organizations and prominent individuals have called on the legislature to suspend its work. “For goodness sake – legislative session should be suspended so we can all focus on our health and the health of our communities,” said Rebekah Gee, the former state health secretary recently hired to lead the LSU Health Care Services Division, via Twitter. “Continuing to make folks travel and congregate is sending mixed messages to the public.” State Sen. Karen Carter
Peterson of New Orleans, who chairs the state Democratic Party, criticized legislative leaders for “not following the guidance we want the public to follow.” The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending canceling or postponing gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks. Schexnayder and State Senate President Page Cortez last week announced plans to create a “contingency package” of spending bills that could be moved quickly to satisfy constitutional requirements to pass a balanced budget before the end of the fiscal year, in case virus concerns upend the session. The details of the bills and the plan for moving them is unclear as of Monday morning.
US airlines seek billions in aid as outbreak cripples travel (AP) - U.S. airlines are asking the federal government for grants, loans and tax relief that could easily top $50 billion to help them recover from a sharp downturn in travel due to the new coronavirus. Airlines for America, the trade group representing the carriers, disclosed its request for financial help on Monday, just as more airlines around the world were announcing ever-deeper cuts in service and, in some cases, layoffs. The trade group is asking for $29 billion in federal grants, with $25 billion for passenger airlines and $4 billion for cargo carriers. The airlines are also seeking up to $29 billion in low-interest loans or loan guarantees, and they want federal excise taxes on fuel, cargo and airline tickets to be suspended through the end of next year. That package would easily surpass the $5 billion in grants and up to $10 billion in loan guarantees that Congress approved after the terror attacks of September 2001, which temporarily grounded all U.S. flights and led to a long slump in domestic travel. U.S. airlines are coming
off a decade marked by record profits. Since January, however, they have been reducing flights, starting with the suspension of flights to mainland China, where the virus outbreak began. The downward spiral in travel has picked up speed in recent days, prompting airlines to announce a succession of increasingly dramatic measures. Since Friday, United, American and Delta have all announced deeper cuts in flying than they were contemplating just a few days earlier. Some airlines including United have borrowed recently to shore up their available funds while they are taking in less revenue. Airlines for America said that in its worst-case scenario, the airlines could run out of money in the second half of this year — even sooner if credit card companies withhold cash from sales of airline tickets. The trade group’s members include the six largest U.S. passenger airlines: Delta, American, United, Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue. Cargo carriers FedEx and UPS are also members.
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | 3
Webster & More
Outbreak: Minden Press-Herald will monitor the situation and work to provide the citizens of Webster Parish with updates as the situation develops Continued from Page 1 John Bel Edwards has declared that all K-12 public schools in Louisiana will be closed beginning Monday, March 16 through April 13. This is in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to keep the health and safety of our students and employees as a top priority. In Webster Parish, there will be no extra-curricular activities, athletic events, practices, try-outs, field trips, etc. until school resumes
normally.
Only
designated personnel are to be on our campuses during this time. We understand that this is a difficult and confusing time for all of us and we sincerely appreciate your cooperation and patience as we navigate through this crisis situation. As we learn additional or new information, we will certainly keep you informed! Please stay healthy and safe!” Furthermore,
they
stated that the only employees that are to report
to work, for now, are supervisors and principals. They will be meeting to discuss how the district will proceed. The City of Minden also made some closures regarding the coronavirus, stating that, “the Minden REC Center, Ewell Park, and all public restrooms are hereby closed until Apr. 18. Also, sports events are canceled as well until further notice. In regards to people coming to City Hall to pay bills, the Mayor encourages people to pay their bills online if possible or by going through the drivethrough as they are trying to limit as much contact as possible. If someone needs to do business with the city, they are encouraged to contact them by email or by phone.” In line with what many hospitals and medical centers are doing across the nation and the world, Minden Medical Center has enacted visitor restrictions in order to protect their patients and staff.
“As recommended by the Louisiana State Health Department, Minden Medical Center has implemented visitor restrictions. This is being done to protect our patients, employees, and community. By entering the facility, anyone can be at risk of acquiring a transmissible illness.” The guidelines for Minden Medical Center’s restrictions are below. 1 caregiver per patient per day, No children under the age of 18, all caregivers will be screened upon entrance to the facility for fever and respiratory symptoms, caregivers will be required to sign out the same entrance as they did upon arrival during the hours of 6:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m., after 5:00 p.m., the only entry/exit point will be located at the rear hospital entrance, caregivers will be given a visitor pass that must be visibly worn at all times, caregivers are asked to stay in the room with the patient, and mobility shall be limited to the specified
unit, meals will be provided to one caregiver, and the cafeteria is closed to all caregivers as well as the public until further notice. “Thank you for your cooperation as the safety of our patients, staff members, and community is our highest priority,” the statement read. “As
this
situation
changes, we will continue to evolve our testing procedures. It’s important to keep in mind that the majority of COVID-19 cases are mild and only a small percentage of patients will require
hospitalization.
The majority of patients should be able to recover at home. Currently care for COVID-19 patients is supportive and there are no vaccines available to treat this disease.” The Minden Press-Herald will be closely monitoring the situation in the coming days and will work to provide the citizens of Webster Parish with updates as the situation develops.
4 | TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 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 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.
JOSHUA SPECHT, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER jspecht@press-herald.com
LOUISIANA SPOTLIGHT
Coronavirus may upend Louisiana lawmaking session Louisiana lawmakers entered a three-month legislative session that seemed like it might be a pretty routine affair without the budget problems of years past and with fewer bills than are often introduced. But just as in other states and other countries, the new coronavirus is upending those plans, injecting uncertainty into the state’s finances, into the session calendar and into the operations of the Louisiana Capitol building where lawmakers work. In a letter to legislators Friday, Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder said they have no plans to cancel or suspend the regular session even after Gov. John Bel Edwards shuttered K-12 public schools, delayed the state’s presidential primary election and banned large events over 250 people. As the House and Senate plan to trudge along with their work, however, the session will look vastly different as lawmakers start their second week of the gathering Monday. They’ll be speeding up consideration of certain mustpass bills in case they need to end early. The governor is asking lawmakers to suspend legal requirements involving how many House and Senate members must be on hand to take votes and pass measures, in case of low attendance. The
large parties thrown by organizations and lobbying groups after the session ends each day are disappearing. Perhaps most importantly, public access to the building where the laws are made will be limited. Fewer people will be allowed into committee rooms and the House and Senate chamber galleries for proceedings, with new spacing req u i r e d between seating. MELINDA DESLATTE Even getting into the Louisiana Capitol for the more limited space will come with new rules. Temperatures will be taken at entrances from every person trying to get in the building. If people are deemed to have a fever, they won’t be allowed inside. People who pass the temperature test will receive a specific sticker for that day to show they are authorized to be inside the building. For most people, the coronavirus disease called COVID-19 causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can
cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Most people recover within weeks. But the number of positive tests for the virus is expected to rise in Louisiana, and officials are desperately trying to lessen its spread, particularly to vulnerable populations. Edwards has declared a public health emergency for the state. Prisons in Louisiana have suspended visitation for 30 days, and hospitals and nursing homes are limiting visitor access. K-12 schools and universities around the state are sending students home, trying to work out online, distance learning plans for classes. Cortez and Schexnayder said they based their access plans on the public health guidance about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “After consultation with medical professionals, we are taking the necessary CDC recommended precautions to allow the Legislature to continue functioning, ensuring we meet our constitutional responsibilities,” the Republican legislative leaders wrote to their colleagues. They said all legislative desks, podiums, committee rooms and other flat surfaces will be disinfected each day. Once lawmakers get inside the building, they’ll face decisions about which bills to
prioritize and which ones they might want to reconsider pushing back because of the risk of time constraints. Meanwhile, the ripple effects of a national economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus — combined with a downturn in oil prices — on Louisiana’s finances remain unclear. The Democratic governor and the GOP legislative leaders have all urged calm, both in the public reaction and in the legislative reaction to the coronavirus. The three men said they have worked on contingency plans to pass a budget and other constitutionally mandated items that Edwards said “would be used only in the event that the risk of COVID-19 necessitates a significant change in the ongoing legislative session.” The legislative leaders said in a statement that the package of bills will be filed this week. Schexnayder said it “would allow us to expedite the process in a responsible, efficient manner, if necessary.” For now, the House and Senate leaders said they intend to proceed normally — or as normal as they can in a pandemic.
Melinda Deslatte has covered Louisiana politics for The Associated Press since 2000. Follow her at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte
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.
THE MINDEN PRESS-HERALD WELCOMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence. Letters are not to exceed 500 words. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, Minden Press-Herald, P.O. Box 1339, Minden, LA 71055, or email to: newsroom@press-herald.com.
EDITORIAL ROUNDUP
New York Times: Paid sick leave in wake of virus is prudent Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, set a standard for the rest of the private sector on Tuesday by announcing that, in addition to its existing paid sick leave policy, it would provide up to two weeks of paid leave for employees who fall ill or are quarantined because of a confirmed exposure to the coronavirus. It’s now incumbent upon other American employers to match that example. Companies that do not provide paid sick leave to all employees, particularly those in the retail and restaurant industries, are endangering their workers and customers. Studies show that paying for sick employees to stay home significantly reduces the spread of the seasonal flu. There’s every reason to think it would help to check the spread of the new coronavirus, too. But many of the nation’s big restaurant chains, in particular, do not provide paid sick leave. Nationwide, only 45% of workers in the hotel and food service industries get paid sick days, compared with 97% in the financial industry, according to the latest federal data. The list of restaurants that don’t pay sick workers to stay home is a roll call of familiar brands, including Burger King, Chickfil-A, Jack in the Box, Wendy’s and Panera. One consequence: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2014
that “one in five food service workers have reported working at least once in the previous year while sick with vomiting or diarrhea.” Other developed nations, and a number of American states and cities, already mandate some form of paid sick leave, and some congressional Democrats have seized the coronavirus moment to push for a change in federal law. Such a change is long overdue, and would be welcome news. But it is not sufficient, by itself, to meet the demands of the moment. Public health officials recommend that people exposed to the coronavirus remain in isolation for 14 days. Even companies that provide sick leave are rarely that generous. Accordingly, the proposed legislation would also require up to 14 days of paid sick leave during public health emergencies. One flaw in the proposal is that it would require employers to foot the bill, even as many companies are facing a drop in revenue. The government should absorb the cost of the emergency sick leave provisions by giving companies a tax credit. Americans needn’t wait on Washington — particularly because any change in federal law depends on President Trump’s willingness to act in the public interest. People looking for a place
to eat can protect their own health, and encourage restaurant chains to do the right thing, by patronizing places that offer paid sick leave. Darden Restaurants, which owns chains including Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, has long opposed paid sick leave for its roughly 170,000 hourly workers. Indeed, the company has campaigned against sick leave laws. But on Monday, following publication of an exposé by the journalist Judd Legum, Darden said it was offering sick leave effective immediately. (The company, however, has not committed to pay workers in quarantine.) McDonald’s confirmed in an email to The Times Tuesday that it will pay for up to 14 days in quarantine — although the change does not apply to workers at the roughly 80% of McDonald’s owned by franchisees, and the company still does not guarantee paid sick leave to all workers. Other major restaurant chains that do not offer sick leave to all employees did not respond to emails on Tuesday asking whether they would change their policies. One idea that might help: In 2016, a Colorado state senator proposed unsuccessfully that restaurants that do not provide paid sick leave be required to post a notice on the front door. Eleven states, beginning with Connecticut in 2012, already have passed laws requiring
large employers to offer paid sick leave. The list now includes New York and California, as well as a number of large cities, including Washington, D.C. But companies can sidestep those regulations by categorizing workers as contractors, and laws require enforcement. Last month, the Service Employees International Union released a report alleging Chipotle stores in New York routinely violated the city’s sick leave laws. It quoted workers who said they had been told to work while sick. The company, which offers paid sick leave at all of its locations even in jurisdictions that do not require the benefit, has said that it is committed to following the law and that employees who are sick should stay home. The city has taken some actions against Chipotle, including suing the company last year for violating worker protections at five locations in Brooklyn. Last month, New York fined Chipotle for firing a worker who took three sick days. But the union, which has led a series of walkouts at New York Chipotle restaurants, said workers need better protection. “If we work sick, then you get sick,” workers chanted during a recent protest. They’re right — and companies have a duty to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Online: https://www.nytimes.com/
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | 5
Life
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LIFE IN A PANDEMIC
Until further notice, the Around Town section of the Minden Press-Herald will be put on hold due to events being cancelled as a percaution to the spread of COVID-19
Cheap fares luring travelers to fly despite pandemic With the coronavirus pandemic escalating in the U.S. and overseas, Dylcia McBlackwell couldn’t justify taking a single spring vacation. Airfares were so cheap, she decided to book three. Now the 39-year-old food service worker from Chicago has tickets to fly to Denver to visit friends next month followed by a May trip to Charleston, South Carolina. After that, she’s booked a flight to Costa Rica. All for a combined total of $435 for trips that might normally cost $700 or more. “You have just one life to live,” said McBlackwell, who plans to bring wipes to disinfect the tray tables in front of her airplane seats, and perhaps her own snacks. “Are you going to spend it sitting in your house scared? I’d rather be out enjoying it.” For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover. Regardless, airlines are seeing bookings plummet and cancellations soar as fear of infection causes many Americans to avoid flying. Travel to the U.S. has been barred from most of Europe, China, and Iran. Domestically, business confer-
ences, sporting events, music festivals, and other large public gatherings have been scrapped or postponed. Airlines have been slashing flight schedules, especially on international routes, to cope with downward-spiraling demand from fearful leisure customers and a slowdown in business travel. One industry trade group has warned the pandemic could cost airlines worldwide up to $113 billion in revenue. The proliferation of empty airline seats has some travelers making spur-of-the-moment ticket purchases to take advantage of steeply discounted prices. “Travel is one of my favorite things to do and I’m always looking at flights to different places,” said Nick Williams of Muncie, Indiana. “I have never seen flights this cheap before.” During his recent spring break, the 22-year-old Ball State University student paid $110 round trip to visit friends in Orlando, Florida. As soon as he returned to Indiana, he spotted a weekend fare back to Orlando for just $65. “I was in Muncie for less than 48 hours,” said Williams, who hopped right back onto a plane to Florida. “I felt a little crazy doing it. But those opportunities don’t always arise.” Williams isn’t oblivious to the coronavirus. Since his Florida
trips, Ball State has canceled in-person classes for the rest of the spring semester. Courses will still be held online, but Williams said the campus seems eerily quiet. Unafraid to fly domestically, he’s ruled out overseas trips for now. And cheap fares aren’t expected to overcome many travelers’ fears. “If you are scared of flying, you are probably scared at any price,” Delta President Glen Hauenstein said recently. Asked about younger travelers taking advantage of cheap airfares, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams told reporters Thursday that those visiting countries where coronavirus is spreading should avoid contact with older relatives and family with chronic medical conditions for 14 days after returning. “Don’t come home and then visit grandma in the nursing home,” Adams told a news conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “Don’t go hang out around grandpa at Easter dinner and tell him all about the great trip that you just had to Europe.” Yago Ferreira didn’t think much about the virus when he booked two trips earlier this month. The 27-year-old tech salesman from Belmont, California, is set to fly to Brazil in August for $800 — a little more than half what he’s used to paying for his annual trip to see family. He also picked up
a $250 ticket for an Easter trip to surprise his mother in New Jersey. About two days after Ferreira booked his flights, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus’ spread a pandemic. And there was news that three Transportation Security Administration officers at a California airport had tested positive for COVID-19. “I noticed that it’s starting to get a little bit worse,” said Ferreira, adding he intends to stick to his travel plans. “It’s starting, not to worry me, but it’s keeping me wary.” For Adriano Mirchou of Orem, Utah, a $250 plane ticket provided an unexpected chance to make an upcoming trip to tour the University of Miami, which recently accepted him into its film school. Now coronavirus worries have shut down classes at the university, also upending 25-year-old Mirchou’s plans to visit the campus. He still intends to make the Miami trip and spend it hanging out with a friend. Changing course because of the virus isn’t on his itinerary. “I don’t think I’d be in harm’s way just by traveling,” Mirchou said. “It could happen to anybody. But at the same time, I don’t think it’ll happen to me.”
www.apnews.com
LIFE IN A PANDEMIC
Schools scramble to feed students after coronavirus closures
ELK GROVE, Calif. (AP) — Kiyana Esco needs free school lunches and breakfasts to feed her six children. But with schools shutting down over coronavirus concerns, she’s scrambling to pick up the meals, care for her kids and keep her job. Esco, a single mother who was just promoted to manager at a Dollar Tree, fears she’ll be fired because she can’t work following school closures in Elk Grove, the fifth-largest district in California. She’s among the parents who are relying on school leaders as they look for ways to keep millions of America’s poorest children from going hungry. While schools across the U.S. close their doors to try to prevent the spread of the new virus, they’re cobbling together arrangements for grab-and-go lunch bags or setting up delivery routes. Congress is considering making it easier for school meals to be passed out at places like food banks as schools shut down in a growing list of states that included Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Virginia, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and South Dakota. Major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., also announced school closures. Even though most patients infected with the virus have only mild or moderate symptoms such as a fever or cold, school closures are widely ac-
cepted as a key way to slow the spread. Some large districts, including New York City, were staying open for now, with concerns over their mission to provide free or reduced-cost meals to hundreds of thousands of students from lower-income families. But others, like Los Angeles and San Diego, which had held out on shutting down for the same reasons, on Friday announced they would close. “There is evidence the virus is already present in the communities we serve, and our efforts now must be aimed at preventing its spread,” Los Angeles Superintendent Austin Beutner and San Diego Superintendent Cindy Marten said in a joint statement. The urgent decisions have left schools and cities scrambling to figure out how to make sure students don’t go hungry. Local officials have been publishing lists of sites where meals will be distributed within their counties and cities. In the U.S., more than twothirds of the 31 million students who regularly eat school lunches, or 22 million, depend on a free or reduced-price school lunch as a main source of their daily nutrition, according to the School Nutrition Association. The U.S. Agriculture Department oversees food programs in schools, but it has restrictions on how students can get their subsidized meals, and currently can offer only limit-
ed waivers to states that allow schools to offer grab-and-go options. Advocates and states are pressing the agency to ease some rules, but USDA leaders say it’s up to lawmakers to loosen eligibility. Several measures now pending in Congress would offer a nationwide waiver so school meals can be offered in a wide variety of settings, such as food banks, and allow the USDA to grant waiver requests expanding eligibility even if they resulted in added costs to the government. Late Friday, the House overwhelmingly passed a coronavirus aid package that authorizes the USDA to allow states to provide food stamps to families whose children miss out on free or reduced-price meals when schools are closed because of the outbreak. Under the deal negotiated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Trump administration, families will be eligible for the assistance if a child’s school is closed for at least five consecutive days. The measure now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved early next week. Meanwhile, states and school districts pushed forward with their own plans. Seattle Public Schools set up tents to provide food outside the first two schools it closed earlier this week. But after canceling classes at all 104 campuses Wednesday, the 55,000-student district won’t be able to set up dozens of sites
for sack lunches for all schools until Monday, spokesman Tim Robinson said. New Mexico, which has the nation’s second-highest rate of childhood poverty, decided it would close all schools but leave most of their cafeterias open. It’s preparing to deliver meals to children who can’t get to them, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “Kids are going to school today; Monday they’re closed. That’s hard,” she said. “But I will make the decisions that protect the entire state and (arrange) the wrap-around services and supports that make families and businesses as whole as we can.” States including Oregon and Ohio, meanwhile, obtained waivers to allow districts to give out grab-and-go meals or provide other assistance, such as grocery store gift cards, to lower-income students. And in Phoenix, where multiple districts announced they would close for at least two weeks, local food banks that stepped up when “Red for Ed” protests shuttered schools in 2018 prepared to fill the void again. United Food Bank, in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, handed out emergency food bags Friday morning at its weekly “help yourself” distribution event. Spokesman Tyson Nansel said he saw a noticeable uptick in demand for the bags of milk, frozen meat, green peppers, fruit, canned soup and ramen.
The event normally takes place in a warehouse, but gloved volunteers instead gathered outside and loaded the food into recipients’ cars. “We just had a lot of people who were very grateful we were doing it today,” Nansel said. Despite the efforts, many parents still worried and wondered how long the situation would last. “This doesn’t calm down until May, right?” Sophia Saelee said of the outbreak. On Tuesday, she was among dozens of parents who picked up meals for their kids from Valley High School south of Sacramento in Elk Grove, where the school district was one of the first in the nation to close Monday because a student’s family tested positive for the virus. A day later, schools there began offering drive-thru breakfast and lunch giveaways at a dozen campuses, handing out more than 2,100 meals. Saelee said her schedule wasn’t interrupted because she works in the evenings, but when she starts an office job next month, it could be trickier. For Esco, it hasn’t been easy to juggle. She drove to Valley High School this week to pick up free meals, uncertain if she would lose her job because she was looking after her children. “Let’s just say I didn’t expect it to turn my whole schedule upside down,” she said. www.apnews.com
6 MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020
Sports
JJ Marshall, Sports Editor jjmarshall@press-herald.com
www.press-herald.com
OUTDOORS
‘Tales of the Gobbler’
Glynn Harris
Special to the Press-Herald This is the time of year when guys and gals of my ilk crawl out of warm beds early mornings to head for the woods. Granted, no hunting season is open now and we’re not out there to circumvent the law; we’re going out to “listen”, as you’ll overhear us talking about what we did on early pre-spring mornings. We’re going out to “listen” for a gobbler. Season is still a few weeks away but there’s something about getting to hear a gobbler sound off from his roost tree that gets the juices flowing and serves to fire us up for what we hope to hear opening morning. Not only is it possible to locate where gobblers are roosting, you can also find tracks, droppings, strut marks and such to find where birds are hanging out. Such was the case for me on March 19, 2008 when I stumbled upon the mother lode of turkeys. After an early morning of listening for a gobbler when the woods were silent, I drove up to a well site back in the woods on my hunting club. I didn’t need to hear a gobbler that morning; when I rounded the curve leading to the well site, I saw turkeys – a whole bunch of turkeys including several strutting gobblers. When they saw me, they took off but no problem, I knew where I’d be set up on opening morning. The next afternoon, I set up my ground blind in a thicket next to the well site, cleared brush so I could see the area where the turkeys had gathered the day before. Granted, it was hard to sleep that night as my mind kept running the tapes back of the sight I had seen two days prior. March 21 was opening day and I arrived at my blind well before daylight, I decided to sweeten the pot by placing “Pretty Boy”, my strutting tom decoy on the well site with a submissive hen crouching in front of the tom. Then I waited for daylight with high expectations of what I hoped would happen. Once the eastern sky began to illuminate the woods and the cardinals and barredowls began their morning chorus, I heard a gobble from the woods directly in front of where I sat. Waiting a couple of minutes, I stroked a few sweet yelps on my slate call and was greeted with an immediate gobble. Then I just sat back and waited to see what would soon happen.
In less then ten minutes, I saw a white head pop up on the far edge of the well site 100 yards away. Then another head and then a third head as three gobblers began looking for the “hen” they thought they’d heard. What happened next was what turkey hunters dream about; all three gobblers spied Pretty Boy and the little hen and it became a foot race to see who could get there first to chase away what they envisioned to be a gobbler that had invaded their territory. One gobbler won the race and immediately attacked the fake gobbler, sending him careening off the stake where I had placed him. All three proceeded to give the fake a thrashing like I’d never seen with a chorus of clinks and rattles as their beaks and spurs pummeled the hard plastic. One of the gobblers separated from the other two, I got a bead on him and dropped him. I expected the other two to hightail it when I shot but no; they jumped on the flopping bird I had shot and began pecking and spurring their fallen cohort unmercifully. I could have easily taken both the other gobblers but I had my limit for the day and all I could do was sit back and enjoy the show until a vehicle approached and they scattered. Spring turkey hunting can be disappointing but it can provide thrills and excitement, the likes of which I never experienced before or since that special morning in the turkey woods.
PREP BASKETBALL
STATE CHAMPS
It’s also a testament to the greatness of senior forward Decari Markray, who put up an astounding 25 point, 26-rebound performance that has to go down as one of the best state finals performance in Louisiana history. “Decari had 55 points and 41 rebounds in two games down here,” Normand said. Markray won MVP of the tournament and will surely have more than a few universities vying for his services. Jamaria Clark finished with 16 points and four assists in the finals, while Javeon Nelson had 12 points and Marcus Young had ten points and sev-
DOYLINE WINS FIRST STATE BASKETBALL TITLE SINCE 1967 JJ Marshall
jjmarshall@press-herald.com Simsboro seemed unbeatable. They had won back-toback state titles and cruised through the Class-B playoffs without so much as a test from any opponent. They weren’t expecting Doyline, or Decari Markray, to put on the performance they did. Doyline forward Jamari Markray stole a cross-court pass and ran the the length of the floor, scooped in a reverse layup with seven seconds left in overtime to put the Panthers up 85-83 in the Class-B state finals on Saturday at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, La.
Decari Markray Simsboro guard Kalep Crane rushed down the floor, got off a good look at a 20-footer, but it rimmed out. Just like that, Doyline snatchd their first state title since 1967. “These guys were on cloud nine,” Doyline head coach Michael Normand said. “The fact that they brought this home is a testament to our kids and their grit.”
en rebounds. Jamari Markray finished with nine points, none more important than the game-winner. “We showed a lot of grit tonight against a very good Simsboro team,” Normand said. Doyline finished the season on a 30-game win streak. The game was played in front of only essential staff after the LHSAA shut down fans from entering due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Seemingly the entire town of Doyline greeted the Panthers upon arrival near midnight after the game.
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
FUN & GAMES
On This Day In History 1992 - Apartheid in South Africa comes to an end. In a referendum, 68.7% of white South Africans voted for an abolishment of racial segregation in the country. 1973 - The photograph known as Burst of joy is taken. Photographer Slava Veder was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the image depicting a former U.S. prisoner of war being reunited with his family. 1969 - Golda Meir becomes Israel’s first female Prime Minister. In her country, Meir was known as the “Iron Lady” long before British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher rose See, HISTORY, Page 8
CRYPTOQUIP
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | 7
CROSSWORD
8 | TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020
SUDOKU
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
WORD SLEUTH
HISTORY
Continued from Page 7
to power.
1959 - The Dalai Lama flees Tibet for India. Followers and advisers of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, feared for his life after a revolt had erupted in Lhasa against the Chinese. 1941 - The National Gallery of Art opens in Washington. D.C. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the gallery, which today houses one of the world’s finest art collections.
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
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | 9
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Fire Protection District No. 10 of the Parish of Webster, State of Louisiana (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of Fire Protection District No. 10 of the Parish of Webster, State of Louisiana (the “District”), on December 12, 2019, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the District on SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the District qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition, to-wit: PROPOSITION (MILLAGE CONTINUATION) Shall Fire Protection District No. 10 of the Parish of Webster, State of Louisiana (the “District”), be authorized to continue to levy a five (5) mills tax on all the property subject to taxation in the District (an estimated $123,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2020 and ending with the year 2029, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating fire protection facilities and equipment in the District, including the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, and all other purposes incidental thereto? The said special election will be held at the polling places for the following precincts, which polls will open at seven o’clock (7:00) a.m. and close at eight o’clock (8:00) p.m., in
accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, to-wit: PRECINCTS 14(PART) (NO VOTERS) 1 6 ( P A R T ) 1 7 ( P A R T ) 17A(PART) 1 8 ( P A R T ) 2 5 ( P A R T ) 2 6 ( P A R T ) 29(PART) 31 33(PART) 34(PART) The polling places for the precincts set forth above are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law. The estimated cost of this election as determined by the Secretary of State based upon the provisions of Chapter 8-A of Title 18 and actual costs of similar elections is $13,000. A-1 Notice is further given that a portion ofthe monies collected from the tax described in the Proposition shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law. The said special election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5 and Chapter 6-A of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the said election, as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, the Dogwood Trail Station, 1875 Dogwood Trail, Minden, Louisiana, on THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020, at SIX O’CLOCK (6:00) P.M., and shall then and there in open and public
session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. Allregistered voters of the District are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used, THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Minden, Louisiana, on this, the 12th day of December, 2019. ATTEST: Fred Stewart Chairman Daniel Davidson Secretary A-2 February 25, 2020 March 3, 2020 March 10, 2020 March 17, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY SEALED BID FOR WP Parcel #129277 AND WP Parcel #123208 The Webster Parish Police Jury will receive sealed bids for Webster Parish Parcel #129277 LOTS#6, 7 & 8 BLK. “3”, PINE WOODS LUMBER CO. SUBDIV. IN SW/4 OF NW/4 SEC. 12-23-11 Physical Address: 217 North Main, Springhill, LA, 71075 and Parcel #123208 LOT #5 & NORTH 22 FEET 8 ½ INCHES OF LOT #4 BLK. “3”, PINE WOODS LUMBER CO. SUBDIV. IN SW/4 OF NW/4 SEC. 12-23-11 Physical Addresses Listed: 211 North Main, Springhill, LA, 71075 and 213 South Main, Springhill, LA, 71075. Interested parties may contact the office of the Webster Parish Library Director for a Bid Packet with a detailed description of the parcel and other bid information. Sealed bids will be received in the office of the Webster Parish Library Director, Stewart Center, 521 East & West Street, Minden, Louisiana 71055 until 10:00 A.M. Monday, March 23th, 2020. Savannah Jones Webster Parish Library Director (318) 371-3080 x140 February 18, 2020 February 25, 2020
March 10, 2020 March 17, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed proposals will be received by the Webster Parish School Board, Attn: Johnny Rowland, Jr., by hand-delivery, at 1442 Sheppard Street, Minden, Louisiana, by mail to the Webster Parish School Board, AT T N : J o h n n y R o w l a n d , , P. O . Box 520, Minden, Louisiana 71058, Or electronically at www.centralbidding.com until 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020 for the sale of the following property: 215 N. Middle Landing Minden, LA 71055 (Old Stewart Elementary Site) Precisely at the above time and place, all proposals in hand will be publicly opened and read aloud and any proposals received subsequent to the opening will be returned unopened. General Conditions and Instructions to Bidders, a plat and description of the property, and Bid Form may be acquired from Webster Parish School Board, 1442 Sheppard Street, Minden, Louisiana or by contacting Jackie Rice, telephone number (318) 377-7052. Arrangements to inspect the property may be made with Jeff Franklin, by telephone at (318) 377-7052. Minimum acceptable bid for the site is $85,000.00 Award of the purchase will be made to the highest bidder at or over the minimum acceptable bid subject to acceptance and approval by the Webster Parish School Board. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. WEBSTER PARISH SCHOOL BOARD JOHNNY ROWLAND, JR. SUPERINTENDENT March 3, 2020 March 10, 2020 March 17, 2020 March 24, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
SMALL ADS DO SELL!
Invitation to Request for Proposals The City of Minden (“City”) is requesting proposals for the furnishing of all staffing, equipment and supplies necessary to provide food and drink (Alcoholic beverages prohibited in all city parks) in concession units at the Minden Recreation Center Park at Recreation Center Drive, Minden, La with electrical power and water available. The purpose of offering a concession program within the ballpark is to provide convenience and enhance the enjoyment of park patrons. Submittals received by the due date will be publicly opened on March 27, 2020, at 9:30 am in the Cypress Room located at City Hall, 520 Broadway, Minden, LA, 71055. The results will be publicly read aloud. The City reserves the right to waive informalities in the bids and reject any or all bids for any reason whatsoever at the sole discretion of the City. The successful bidder will be notified in writing. Please contact the City Clerk/ Treasurer, Minden City Hall, 520 Broadway, P. O, Box 580, Minden, LA 71058-0580 Phone: (318) 377-2144; E-mail: mfluhr@mindenusa.com with any questions or to receive a proposal specification package. RFP packages are also available at www.mindenusa. com or www.bidexpress.com. Michael Fluhr, City Clerk/Treasurer March 10, 2020 March 17, 2020 March 24, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF PRECINCTS AND POLLING LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE ELECTION TO BE HELD APRIL 4, 2020. 1 SPRINGHILL CIVIC CENTER 101 MACHEN DR SPRINGHILL 2 SPRINGHILL
CIVIC CENTER SCHOOL 101 MACHEN 618 GERMANDR TOWN RD SPRINGHILL MINDEN 2B 18 SPRINGHILL W E B S T E R CIVIC CENTER C O U RT H O U S E 101 MACHEN ANNEX (WEST DR ENTRANCE) SPRINGHILL 401 MAIN ST 3 MINDEN S P R I N G H I L L 22 MINDEN CIVCIVIC CENTER IC CENTER 101 MACHEN 520 BROADWAY DR ST SPRINGHILL MINDEN 4 24 S P R I N G H I L L MINDEN CIVIC CIVIC CENTER CENTER 101 MACHEN 520 BROADWAY DR ST SPRINGHILL MINDEN 5 25 S P R I N G H I L L PHILLIPS ELCIVIC CENTER E M E N T A R Y 101 MACHEN SCHOOL DR 811 DURWOOD SPRINGHILL DR MIN6 DEN CULLEN MUNIC- 25A IPAL BUILDING PHILLIPS EL405 COYLE AVE E M E N T A R Y CULLEN SCHOOL 8 811 DURWOOD SAREPTA COM- DR MINMUNITY BUILD- DEN ING 26 210 VINES ST MINDEN CIVIC SAREPTA CENTER 9 520 BROADWAY NEW SHONGA- ST LOO CIVIC CEN- MINDEN TER 27 119 HWY ALT 2 MINDEN CIVIC SHONGALOO CENTER 10 520 BROADWAY NEW SHONGA- ST LOO CIVIC CEN- MINDEN TER 28 119 HWY ALT 2 MINDEN COMSHONGALOO MUNITY HOUSE 11 711 GLADNEY SAREPTA COM- ST MUNITY BUILD- MINDEN ING 29 210 VINES ST J E HARPER SAREPTA PATHWAY TO 12 EXCELLENCE NORTH WEB- SCHOOL STER UPPER 618 GERMANELEMENTARY TOWN RD 6245 HIGHWAY MINDEN 160 31 COTTON VAL- MINDEN COMLEY MUNITY HOUSE 13 711 GLADNEY NORTH WEB- ST STER UPPER MINDEN ELEMENTARY 32 6245 HIGHWAY DUBBERLY FIRE 160 STATION COTTON VAL- 838 HIGHWAY LEY 532 14 DUBBERLY E V E R G R E E N 33 V O L U N T E E R MINDEN CIVIC FIRE DEPT CENTER 1853 EVER- 520 BROADWAY GREEN RD ST MINDEN MINDEN 15 34 PLEASANT VAL- MINDEN CIVIC LEY UMC ACTIV- CENTER ITIES BLDG 520 BROADWAY 16835 HWY 371 ST MINDEN MINDEN 16 35 MINDEN COM- SIBLEY CIVIC MUNITY HOUSE CENTER 711 GLADNEY 127 SE FOURTH ST AVE MINDEN SIBLEY 17 36 J E HARPER DUBBERLY FIRE PATHWAY TO STATION E X C E L L E N C E 838 HIGWAY 532 SCHOOL DUBBERLY 618 GERMAN- 38 TOWN RD HEFLIN CIVIC MINDEN CENTER 17A 116 N MAIN ST J E HARPER HEFLIN PATHWAY TO 39 E X C E L L E N C E HEFLIN CIVIC
10 | TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020
CENTER 116 N MAIN ST HEFLIN 40 SIBLEY CIVIC CENTER 127 SE FOURTH AVE SIBLEY 41 DOYLINE HIGH SCHOOL 376 COLLEGE ST DOYLINE 42 DOYLINE HIGH SCHOOL 376 COLLEGE ST DOYLINE 43 FIRE DISTRICT #7, FIRE STATION #5 11217 HIGHWAY 80 MINDEN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ELECTION PARISH OF WEBSTER Holli Vining, President Melanie Smith, Registrar of Voters March 17, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
Health & Disability Coordinator Webster Parish Head Start is accepting applications for the positions of Health Coordinator and Disability Coordinator. Three reference letters, Diplomas, Degree and/or Certificates, & Resume must be submitted with the application. Agency will assist with Drug/ Physical/TB test requirements. Salary, paid holidays, retirement. Apply in person at Head Start Administration Office 111 Murrell St., Minden. Applications & job descriptions will not be mailed. NO phone inquiries. Closing date will be April 1, 2020 by close of business. March 17, 2020 March 19, 2020 March 24, 2020 March 26, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
This Opinion is provided in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 18:671 et. Seq: Complaint The District Attorney’s office has recently received several complaints with the latest complaint being dated March 11,2020. The complaints are that Minden Councilman Herbert Taylor, III has moved out of District A, and no longer meets the qualifications required to hold that office. Investigation Louisiana law generally requires that if a
legitimate complaint is filed with the District Attorney, then the District Attorney must conduct an investigation and provide his opinion within 20 days of the receipt of that complaint. It is also a requirement that the opinion be published in the official journal of Webster Parish. LRS 18:673 et seq. After receiving the stated complaints, this office took the following action: 1. The controlling state statutes previously referred to hereinabove were thoroughly reviewed. 2. My staff obtained the State of Louisiana Notice of Candidacy (Qualification Form) dated July 19, 2018, completed and filed by Herbert Taylor III, in order to qualify as a candidate for the office of “Councilman, District A, City of Minden.” The address is listed 130 Church Street, Minden, Louisiana 71055. 3. Examined the Cash Sale Deed whereby Herbert Taylor, III, and Anesia Domique Taylor acquired Lot Number Twelve (12) Resubdivision of Hackett Subdivision, in Minden, Louisiana. The Municipal Address is 112 Hackett Drive, Minden, LA 71055. 4. Examined the Mortgage document dated August 6, 2019, under Register Number 579225 in the Mortgage Records of the Webster Parish Clerk of Court, which Mr. Taylor executed. 5. Examined the Webster Parish Assessor 2019 Parcel Listing document in the name of Herbert Taylor, III, dated August 27, 2019, for Lot #12, Resubdiv. of Hackett Subdiv. In SW/4 of SE/4 of Sec. 1519-9 wherein Mr. Taylor applied for and received a homestead exemption for the 112 Hackett Drive property. 6. Examined the Webster Parish Assessor 2019 Parcel Listing document in the name of Anesia Dominique Taylor, dated September 20, 2019, for Lot #12, Resubdiv. of Hackett Subdiv. In SW/4 of SE/4 of Sec. 15-199, wherein Mrs.
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
Taylor applied for and received a homestead exemption for the 112 Hackett Drive property. 7. Examined utility records of both properties. Applicable Law 1. LRS 18:671 generally provides that an office shall be considered vacant when there is a judgment declaring the office vacant. It further defines designated domicile as the residence or domicile stated in the notice of candidacy. Finally, this statute states that the proper official is the district attorney of the officer holder’s designated domicile. 2. LRS 18:672 generally states than any lawfully registered voter in the district of the office holder, if he believes the office holder no longer meets the residence or domicile requirements, may file a written complaint to the proper official. 3. LRS 18:673 says that within 20 days of receipt of the complaint, the proper official shall investigate same and issue a written opinion, with reasons, as to whether the office holder meets the residence or domicile requirements. The opinion is to be furnished to the complainant and shall be published in the official journal of the parish. 4. LRS 18:674 mandates if the proper official concludes the officeholder no longer meets the residence or domicile requires, to file suit in the district court within 10 days after the issuance of his opinion. The statute goes on to provide for the time delays and appeal process. 5. LRS 33:384 sets forth the qualifications of mayor and requires a candidate to have been domiciled and actually to have resided in the municipality for the 1 year prior to filing. 6. LRS 33:385 provides that a candidate for alderman are the same as for mayor, and in addition, the candidate must be residents of their respective wards. Opinion After reviewing the above documents, I have
concluded that Herbert Taylor, III, has moved from the place where he resided at the time he filed and qualified for the office of councilman, District A, and that, in compliance with the requirements of law as set forth above, I must file suit in the 26lh Judicial District Court in order that the office may be declared vacant. District Attorney 26th Judicial District Schuyler Marvin March 17, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
RENTAL
3BR 1BA ALL ELECTRIC $500/ mo $250/ dep. NO PETS! 2BR 1BA $450/ mo. $250/ dep. Call Jim 2687937. BLUE RUN ROAD $600/ mo. Stove included. 318377-9268. EMPLOYMENT
CNA NEEDED FOR HAND IN HAND HOSPICE CARE in Minden. Must be compassionate and have reliable transportation. Prior hospice experience is preferred.
Background check and drug screen performed upon hire. Please bring resume and apply in person to: Hand in Hand Hospice Care 111 Ryans Way Minden, LA 71055 The office is open Mon-Fri. 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. PRESBYTERIAN VILLAGE OF HOMER is accepting applications for CNA’s Full Time and Part-Time available Day and Graveyard shift. Contact CNA Supervisor Cathy Franklin @ 318-927-6133. PRESBYTERIAN VILLAGE OF HOMER is accepting applications for LPN’s Full Time Day and Night shift available. Contact Sandra Cotton Director of Nursing @ 318-927-6133 RESPONSIBLE PERSON doctor visit, errands, grocery store, $10/ hr. references required with interview. 3772676
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