Minden Press-Herald E-Edition 06-30-2020

Page 1

Minden

Press-Herald TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

PRESS-HERALD.COM

MINDEN, LOUISIANA

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN

Jason Parker sworn in as Webster Parish Sheriff WILL PHILLIPS Minden Press-Herald

The swearing in of Jason Parker as the new Webster Parish Sheriff took place Sunday afternoon at First Baptist Church. The room was filled with his friends, family, and his fellow law enforcement who were all there to support their new Sheriff. Introducing the ceremony was Pastor Leland Crawford of FBC. “Jason Parker is a member of our church, I’ve been privileged to be his pastor for a number of years now. He’s a man I greatly respect and I’m excited about what he will bring to our Parish. We’ve been blessed with the past Sheriff that has served here and served here honorably, and now we’re going to be doubly blessed with Jason. Parker at the helm of the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Department,” said Leland. The invocation prayer was held by Rev. Dr. Lonnie Moore Jr. of Harrison Chapel Baptist Church in Springhill, Louisiana. Judge Jeff Cox Carried out the swearing in of both Parker

WILL PHILLIPS/MINDEN PRESS-HERALD

New Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker officially sworn in on Sunday.

and his Chief Deputy Oscar Henry Hanes IV. Soon after Parker’s daughter Kirsten Parker took to the podium to congratulate her dad and express her feelings of being able to share this moment with him. “On behalf of the family I just want to thank everyone for being here today and for your continued support through-

out this entire process. This is something that’s been in the works for a really long time and it’s something that I remember my dad saying that he’s wanted to do for as long as I can remember. So it’s so special to be here today and share this experience with him, being sworn into the office that he’s always wanted,” said Kirsten Parker.

His family then presented Parker with a plaque featuring the Thin Blue Line American Flag which symbolizes support for the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day. When it was his time to speak, Parker started off by thanking Pastor Leland for allowing him to use his home church as the location for the ceremony. “I want to thank Brother Leland and First Baptist, my home church, for allowing me to be here today. It’s such a special place to me. I believe that everyone here would agree with me when I say that I think that we need God now more than ever. In our hearts, we need him in our communities, we need him in our schools, and we certainly need him to be part of the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office. So what better place to start this than right here under the roof of my home church, so thank you so much for allowing me to be here for that,” said Parker. “I also thank all of the folks that helped me out today. PasSee, SHERIFF, Page 2

Citizens of justice march returns

WILL PHILLIPS Minden Press-Herald

The return of the Citizens for Justice march and rally took place Sunday afternoon where local citizens gathered in order to take a stand and speak out against issues of racial injustice that are taking place in Minden. The rally was used to educate and register people to vote, stand together, and finally, to swear in the Governor appointed Councilman for District A, Wayne Edwards. Shaquarius Williams was there to speak and inform those present about voting. “We’re starting today’s rally

by addressing something that is pivotal in everyone’s lives and in our community as was just stated, voting,” said Williams. “We all know that voting is important on a country wide level. But often city wide voting is overlooked, or not taken as serious. It is just as important, if not more so, to be knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, and laws that govern the place you have to live in. These laws affect you.” She then explained three different ways for people to register to vote. The first was online through the Geaux Vote OnlineRegistration System, which people only need a driver’s li-

Volume 51 Number 219

©2019 Specht Newspapers, Inc.

cense or ID for, as long as it’s done 20 days before the election. She also mentioned that people can register in person at the DMV, Department of Children and Family Services, etc., as long as it’s done 30 days before the election. Finally, she stated that people can register by mail by downloading the Louisiana Voter Registration application, completing it, and mailing it to the local Registrar of Voters office. “Before I leave, let me speak on the people and organizations that’ll be coming to some of you and telling you who to vote for. Where are they now? Where were they when our

Tomorrow’s

High Temp

93°

black council members were being disrespected in their term. Where were they when the police officers who made racial posts for everyone to see were rehired and put back out there on the streets with y’all? Where were they when the councilwoman just made racially motivated posts on Facebook two weeks ago?” asked Williams. “Home. They were at home. Where are they for this fight for justice and inequality in our community? They are at home, comfortably spending thousands, yes, thousands of dollars that they were paid to sell your

Tomorrow’s

Low Temp

75 CENTS

Confederate Memorial removed from Jacequeline Park

STAFF REPORT Minden Press-Herald

Friday evening the Confederate Memorial that resided in Minden’s Jacqueline Park on South Broadway was quietly taken down by a group of historic preservationists and a local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. The statue that had occupied the space in the park since it was erected on Robert. E. Lee’s birthday in January 1933 where there was a reported crowd of 2000 present people for its unveiling. For several years plans to remove it had been discussed and according to members of the United Daughters of Confederacy, the owners of the statue, the time for removal was now. However, they didn’t decide to remove the statue due to it potentially being offensive to over half of Minden’s local population. Rather, it was to prevent the possibility of malicious vandalism to the monument. They stated the statue will be held in safekeeping until it can be located to a final safe resting place. In a recent statement addressing the growing concerns across the country over confederate monuments, The United Daughters of the Confederacy stated that they “appreciate these feelings,” understand that the statues can be seen as “divisive,” and are “grieved that certain hate groups have taken the Confederate flag and other symbols as their own.” But they are also saddened that some people find anything connected with the Confederacy to be offensive, and wish for these monuments to be able to stay in place. An abridged version of the statement reads, “To some, these memorial statues and markers are viewed as divisive and thus unworthy of being allowed to remain in public places. To others, they simply represent a memorial to our forefathers who fought bravely during four years of war. The (UDC) totally denounces any individual or group that promotes racial divisiveness or

See, MARCH , Page 2

76°

Sign up for daily news updates at

www.press-herald.com

See, STATUE, Page 3

INDEX Obituaries Editorials Sports

3 Classifieds 10 4 Crossword 7 6 Comics 8


2 | TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA

Second Front SOCIAL

MARCH: Citizens for Justice returns with rally

Continued from Page 1

vote. That is why you can’t get in contact with your politicians. They won’t answer your calls or be held accountable for what they said they were gonna do for you when you were campaigning. It’s because the people that you trusted are reaping all the benefits. It’s because you sold your vote, so you sold your voice, and it has since been silenced.” “Tell them, let them know that your vote is not for sale. If they cannot stand with you and for you in a time of need and adversity when we need them, they should not be able to tell you who to vote for. It doesn’t matter how sweet it sounds. Vote like your life depends on it y’all, because it does, it really does.”” Pastor Rodney Williams was the next speaker who used the opportunity to express the importance of the community sticking together with one another in order to enact the changes that they want to see in Minden. “I want to say that one of my favorite cartoons is Scooby-Doo. Whenever they caught the monster, it was somebody that they always knew that had a mask on. We came today to take the mask off the monster, so we can really see what’s behind the mask,” said Williams. “We know the cards have been stacked at the City Council. We understand that the role has been laid out, but we thank God that we understand that when we come together, we can do some things.” “Snowflakes are the most fragile things in nature, but look at what they can do when they stick together. They can shut down a whole city if they stick together, they can stop traffic if they stick together.”

He also used the time to echo Shaquarius Williams’ sentiments about the importance of voting. “Today we have the right to vote. We have the right because our vote has been bought with the blood of our forefathers, and we’re not gonna sell it for a barbecue. We’re not gonna sell it for fish frys,” said Williams. “We need to understand that the only sin we’ve caused is the skin we’re in. That we were born black. We were born with some melatonin in our skin. So today we came to stand as a unit, we came to stand as a group. So that we could tell everybody, all of the officers, everybody in city hall that we ain’t going nowhere.” The next to speak was Pastor T. Alexander Knapp, whose career in law enforcement provides an internal perspective from someone who has worked in the force firsthand. He also expressed the grievances he faces every day being an African-American in the United States and Minden. “I want to start by saying here today I’m not anti-police, but I’m anti-bad police. In my native hometown of Flint, Michigan, as a child, we looked up to the police. While in grade school I was a Police Cadet. In high school I was a Cadet Teacher. In my college years in the summer, I served as a police community service officer for the Flint Police Dept. And today, I am a ICP certified Police Captain for Shreveport PD. On May 25, 2020, lest we forget, mister George Floyd with a knee on his neck cried out ‘I cant breath.’ I believe that day, by divine providence, Mr. Floyd uttered those words but was expressing the sentiment of every American,” said Knapp.

Minden citizens march in the Citizens for Justice rally. “I stand here today to say I can’t breathe, when we as black men leave home and don’t know if we will return to our families alive or safe. I can’t breathe, when police officers have stopped community policing and building relationships with their citizens and have to come home to patrol bullies with guns and badges. I can’t breath, when our vote is being disenfranchised by not allowing council members to put our community concerns on their council agenda. I can’t breath, when at election time our black communities are being flooded with political money , buying our votes for less than a backyard picnic. I can’t breathe, but I stand here today representing black, white, hispainic, asain, or whatever color you may be, and say we gon’ breathe.” “We’re gonna breathe when there is diversity training in the Minden Police Department starting with the Chief down to the last police hire. We’re going to breath when each council vote is respected and act-

ed upon. We’re going to breath when our community tax dollars and grants for infrastructure flows through all the communities of this city equally. “I said we gonna breathe, when being pulled over by the police officer, we’ll be informed what we’re being stopped for, and not just asked for our driver’s license and registration and profiling us first. We’re going to breathe,when we can have a citizen review board for the Minden Police Department that reflects the makeup of our city where our citizens can express their concerns when their rights have been violated. I’m going to breath.” It was also revealed at the rally that the attorney Citizens for Justice retained is Dr. Charles Jones. To list some notable highlights from his career, when Jones was in the Louisiana Senate, as chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, he was “the lead negotiator in the settlement resulting in the desegregation of the Louisiana Judiciary’s District Courts, Appeal Courts and the Supreme

WILL PHILLIPS/MINDEN PRESS-HERALD

Court of Louisiana,” according to his biography. Jones was also an attorney who served as counsel for co-defendant in a high profile case of the State of Nevada versus O. J. Simpson and C. J. Stewart.” Near the end of the rally, Jones was the one to swear in District A’s returning Councilman, Wayne Edwards. “Today I’m not campaigning, but what I want to do is thank the group of people that worked extremely hard, and when I say extremely hard, I mean extremely hard, and making it possible for the Governor of the State of Louisiana to appoint me to this position. And there are a couple of things that I can assure you. Your trust has not been misplaced, not at all. I’m here to do a job, and rest assured that’s going to happen. We’re gonna do the right thing,” said Edwards. “I got to say, that because of politics, you know this as well as I do, puts a strain on the family. I appreciate my wife and my family. I’m looking to do a good job and

if you need me I got your back. Don’t ever worry about that. And I thank those of you who know me. I’m not sitting up here just talking, we’re going to the right thing 100% of the time. I thank you.” At the end of the rally, Rev. Dr. Robbie D. Williams asked those present to join together on Tuesday morning outside the Minden Courthouse as a show of support for Councilman Terika Williams-Walker. On Tuesday morning at 9:30, our Councilwoman goes to court, and we’ve already answered the lawsuit. This is what we need you to do. We need you to show up at the courthouse over here at 9 o’clock on Tuesday morning,” said Williams. “We need the courthouse to know that we stand behind our elected Council Member. Flood the street. Block the traffic if you have to. But we need to show up.” “When they can’t take your rights away at the ballot box, they’ll take it away at the courthouse. You need to show up at the courthouse since now they’ve determined they ca’;t beat us at the ballot box. Stand up for justice on Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock. That’s how you get it done, that’s how you change Minden. We gotta stand together.” Councilman Vincen Bradford of District C asked for the citizens’ support as well.“I’d like to thank everyone for coming out to this joyous occasion. We’re here to fight for you, so please help us to fight for us. Let’s do the right thing. I’m not much on words right now, but would you please come out and support Mrs. Walker on Tuesday morning, and hope that you won’t have to come out on the seventh and support me,” said Bradford.

LOCAL

SHERIFF: Parker sworn in as new sheriff in Webster Continued from Page 1 tor Lonnie Moore, a very good friend of mine. Got to know him over the last year or so, and he’s going to be spearheading my Pastor and Patrol program that I talked about during my campaign. He’s going to be an asset in that location.” “I want to say a special thank you to Sheriff Sexton. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for all that you’ve done for me over the last several months. I have certainly gained a few grey hairs during that time, but it’s been a great deal for me. I learned a lot about budget, personnel,

and stuff like that, and without his help I could not have done it. I just don’t know where I would be right now if I had to go into office Wednesday and start from scratch. But we’re going to be able to hit the ground running and put our best foot forward and make our citizens proud. Last but not least I want to thank my family. Thank you for being there for me through everything, and I love you.” “My whole life, my entire law enforcement career, has been centered on helping and serving others. That’s what’s in my heart and that’s the only

way I know how to live. I think that we should all have love for one another and have love in our hearts. Every citizen of this parish will be treated with the utmost respect, dignity, and courtesy of the Webster Parish Sheriff Office deputies, employees and myself.” Parker then emphasized that his office would have an open door policy, allowing anyone to come and voice their concerns directly to him or his senior staff, as well as a focus on having his deputies more engaged within the communities that they serve. “I want the folks to

know the deputies who drive up and down their roads, and have a sense of comfort knowing that we’re there to protect, serve, and help the anytime they need,” said Parker. “We will reach out and build partnerships with neighborhood leaders and rural area leaders so we can work together to prevent and deter crime. I am proud to be a member of the Webster Parish Sheriff’s office, and as your Sheriff I will promote and instill this pride in every action that I take.” Parker then used the end of his speech to

speak directly to all of the department’s deputies for the first time as their official Sheriff. “You have the important and awesome responsibility to enforce the laws of this parish. You know in your heart that the pay that you receive each month is not for the work that you perform, but for the uncertain duty that you may be called on to perform. Therefore I challenge you to continue to respond to the call. As you stand before me and raise your right hand you are assuming this great responsibility once again. Today I challenge you to maintain your pro-

fessional standards and integrity, to remain prepared for the unexpected, and to always remember that we are in the business of serving and protecting our citizens,” said Parker. “In these next four years, I’m going to continue to demand that you excel and deliver, and to go far beyond what most think is satisfactory to achieve our goals, our standards, and our expectations. I have complete faith in your abilities and I am proud that you are my partners in serving the people of Webster Parish. Thank you, and let’s get to work.”


MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 | 3

Webster & More OBITUARIES

Frederick C. “Freddy” Jernigan Fredrick C. “Freddy” Jernigan was born on August 13,1952 in

Murrell C. Brown Marshall, TX - Mr. Murell C. Brown of Marshall, TX peacefully went to be with Jesus on Friday morning June 26, 2020, passing away at home, at the age of 82. He was born at home to Loyd Brown and Leola Cason Brown in Coushatta, LA on December 15, 1937.Growing up on the family farm south of Coushatta, Murell developed a strong work ethic.Murell graduated from Martin High School in Martin, LA in the Class of 1955. He grew up with a love for playing basketball and played on his high school basketball team for four years.After graduation, he moved to Shreveport to attend Centenary College. While at Centenary, he worked for his cousins at Brown Brothers Hardware while also working at Bob’s Esso gas station. From there, he entered the wholesale electronics parts business working for several local companies and working his way up to an outside sales position .In February of 1963 at the age of 25, Murell established B & S Electronics with business partner Leon Southern. Within a few years, the business became one of the leading wholesale electronics partshouses in the Ark-La-Tex, selling all types of television parts, outdoor television antennas, etc .In 1972, he started American Electronics becoming one of the leading wholesale distributors in the nation for Sylvania color televisions and

Monroe,Louisiana and passed away June 15,2020 in Minden,Louisiana. He was proceeded in death by his parents. Survived by wife Patsy,daughters Katrina Maxwell (James),Angela Oglesby (Alan),Belinda Cross (Paul),Melissa Bass (Robbie),and son Michael Simpson (Christy),7 sisters,18 grandchildren,20 great grandchildren,and numerous nieces and nephews. He loved hunting,fishing,LSU sports and spending time with his family. He will be missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know him. We already miss you,’Fred Bob’.

Craig car stereos. In 1974, he bought out his business partner and combined the two business under the American Electronics name. In 1976, he purchased Dunkleman Distributing which was his entry into the wholesale appliance distribution business. He renamed the business Brown Distributing Company and it became one of the leading Kevinator, Tappan and Sharp microwave oven wholesale appliance distribution operations in the nation.Also in 1976, Murell established a branch of American Electronics in Longview, TX, selling a wide variety of television parts and associated accessories throughout Eastern Texas. In 1979, he established a branch of Brown Distributing in Jackson, Mississippi. In1982, he formed Brown Sales Company (with his son Randy) representing a multitude of appliance and electronics manufacturers in several states.In 1986, he entered the wholesale distribution business again by establishing BSM Distributing as a subsidiary of Brown Sales Company. In 1989, Murell and his wife Bonnie moved to Marshall, TX to be in between business operations in Shreveport and Longview. And in 1992, he entered the furniture manufacturing business establishing Gray Court Furniture Manufacturing as a subsidiary of BSM Distributing.Retiring in 2000, Murell entered the real estate business in 2006. He enjoyed over 12 years of fun andsuccess in real estate sales in the Marshall, TX area. No matter his business accomplishments and positions, Murell never lost his love for sales. He was apeople person .He loved his family, he loved his friends

and he loved his customers. And, all of them loved him. It was oftensaid by so many of his customers that “he could sell ice to the eskimos.” Because he had so many people give him a chance in the business world, he made it his mission to help countless young people get startedin their business careers. And, so many of these individuals have gone on to successful careers and to start businesses of their own.Murell’s business career and sales performance awards took he and his family on trips around the world. Murell met his sweetheart/soulmate for life (Bonnie White) in 1959 while on a sales call in Minden,LA. This beautiful love affair lasted for over 60 years. They shared a special bond that many people do not get to experience in life, as they were madly in love for over 60 years. A lifetime is not long enough for true love. They loved their son Randy with all of their hearts and have given him a wonderful life .Murell loved his church (First Methodist - Marshall) serving on the Board of Trustees and for many years as an usher. Over the last 10 years, he dedicated himself to reading his Bible each and every day, reading it all the way through at least 15 times during this period of time. He had too many favorite Bible verses to list. He so often told his family and friends that he knew where he was going when he left this earth and he would be waiting on them to get there .Murell loved the LSU Tigers. He intently followed anything LSU in all sports, especially football. He was also an avid New Orleans Saints fan. Murell was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Lawrence Wayne Brown; infant daughter, CynthiaLynn Brown;

mother-in-law and father-in-law, Audrey and Beulah White and sisters-in-law: Freda Sikes, Dianne McFarland and Judy Warren.He is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie White Brown;son, Randall E. “Randy” Brown; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ron and Dr. Helen Sikes and also many beloved nieces, nephews and very close cousins .Honorary pallbearers are: “The Lucky Charm Gang” Friday lunch group (Richard Ellis, Mike Richard, Jon Richard ,Bill Sullivan, Bill Palmer and Harold Raines), Greg Sikes, Richie Arnold, Jimmy Snead, Tom Lewis, Bobby Moorehead, Jarvis Poche, Aaron Cross, Rick Smart, Allen Cariker, Ed Perkins, Jude Prest, Tim Robinson, Mark Robinson, Glenn Thames, David Dodson, Chuck Haberthur and all former employees.Burial will be at Union Hall Baptist Church Cemetery inCoushatta, LA. A memorial service led by Dr. Pat Day (First United Methodist - Shreveport, LA) and Pastor Mike Richard (First Assembly of God - Marshall, TX) willbe held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at Rocket-Nettles Funeral Home in Coushatta, LA. A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on Friday, July 3, 2020 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Sullivan Funeral Home in Marshall, TX. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,the family requests that masks be worn and precautions followed by those who are at risk .In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to: Union Hall Baptist Church (Coushatta, LA), First Assembly of God (Marshall, TX) or Society of St. Stephens at First United Methodist Church (Marshall, TX)

LOCAL

STATUE: Confederate memorial removed from park Continued from Page 1 abhorrent and reprehensible purposes. We are saddened that some people find anything connected with the Confederacy to be offensive. It is our sincere wish that our great nation and its citizens will continue to let its fellow Americans, the descendants of Confederate soldiers, honor the memory of their ancestors.” The entire statement can be found on the United Daughters of the Confederacy’s website. Since the UDC and oth-

ers may be confused as to why people might deem Confederate monuments to be offensive, local community leader and former pastor of St. Rest Baptist Church Rev. Benjamin J. Martin offered his perspective on why monuments like these were put up and what it meant as a African-American to have seen the statue standing until now. “Many of the monuments were put in in the 60’s because of the Civil Rights Movement. There were some that were put in earlier on, but all of them had to do with re-

minding black folk that they were not equal. That was the whole purpose,” said Martin. “The whole purpose of their erection was, in a sense, an intimidation of black folk. To say no, you’re not going to get equality, no you’re not going to integrate, no this is not going to happen.” “And all the white washing that has been done, saying that the war wasn’t about slavery. The war was about salvery.” Noted was the “Cornerstone Speech” given by Vice-President of the

Confederacy, Alexander Stephens,weeks before the start of the Civil War, where he states, “Our new Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and moral condition.” Martin then referenced a quote from Robert E. Lee, who when invited to a meeting of Union and Confederate officers to mark the placing of a memorial honoring those

who took part in the battle of Gettysburg, returned a letter declining the invitation, stating, “I think it wiser not to keep open the sores of war but to follow the examples of those nations who endeavored to obliterate the marks of civil strife, to commit to oblivion the feelings engendered.” “To me, it’s not a heritage thing when you’re glorifying what you did to me and my ancestors, or glorifying the people who did it. You’re telling me I should forget about it, but you want monuments to memorialize it. That’s a

contradiction,” said Martin. “If you’re so proud of your history, tell the truth about it. If you have to lie about it, then you aren’t proud of it, plain and simple.” When asked about what it meant to know that the memorial is now gone, Martin said, “It’s a step forward. It says that at least some folk are ready to turn loose of some of this. I’m told get over it, turn it loose, but you won’t turn it loose. So it’s a symbol that at least some folk are ready to turn some of this loose.”


4 | TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 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 LOUIS MITCHELL 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. 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.

JOSHUA SPECHT, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER jspecht@press-herald.com

OPINION

Masks may have prevented virus spread in protests Underpinning protests against racial injustice in New Orleans earlier this month was a fear that the demonstrations, however necessary to raise public consciousness, would endanger public health in a city and state that had been hot spots for the new coronavirus. Cases of COVID-19 have been on the rise in Louisiana and other states as restrictions on public gatherings and businesses have eased. But fears that the New Orleans protests — launched after the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis — would contribute significantly to major coronavirus clusters have proven unfounded so far. Dr. Joseph Kanter, director of the state health department region that includes New Orleans, said Thursday that of the recent positive cases in the area, only a few were among people who attended the protests. “We’re now a couple of weeks out,” Kanter said of protests that began in late May and extended into early June. “We have not seen a spike in cases for New Orleans. ... We’ve not yet seen any indication that the protests have contributed significantly to COVID cases.” There are some caveats here. Testing continues, as does dai-

ly analysis of data. The picture may change. Still, for now, it is a bit of good news — first touted by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the city health director, Dr. Jennifer Avegno — as cases rise and hospitalizations, once on a steady downward trend, appeared to be ticking up again. If the numbers KEVIN hold up unMCGILL der further analyses, the New Orleans protests will be cited as examples of what health officials in Louisiana and nationwide have been saying: outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor gatherings, and wearing masks — face coverings were in full evidence during the demonstrations — helps prevent the spread of the coronavirus. “Any crowd is a risk. There is no question about that,” Kanter said. “But, you’re safer when you’re outdoors, and you’re safer when you wear a mask.” If protesters in New Orleans in early June were being mindful of masking, it also appears

that many young people with less weighty matters on their minds have not been. Roughly 100 cases have recently been traced to college bars in Baton Rouge, and roughly 25 to 30 cases, Kanter said, have been traced to graduation parties in the New Orleans area. “There seems to be either a lack of understanding or a lack of responsibility among many of our young people and in some cases their parents who are aware of their actions,” Avegno said Wednesday. Gov. John Bel Edwards noted at a news conference in Baton Rouge that significant percentages of young people are among the more than 53,000 confirmed cases recorded since March. State health department figures show there have been more than 2,500 confirmed cases in Louisiana in people under 18; more than 9,500 among those 18-29 and more than 8,600 in the 30-39 age range. Those between from 40 to 49 accounted for more than 8,400; 50-59, more than 8,600; 60-69, more than 7,100; 70 and older, more than 8,100. The vast majority of people who get infected with the new coronavirus recover. For most people, it causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two

to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. It has been a factor in more than 3,000 deaths in Louisiana since March, according to the state health department. That the vast majority of deaths have been among those over 70, with very few among those under 30, may contribute to young people being less heedful of social distancing and mask-wearing advice. Still, the disease is highly contagious. The fear among state health officials — especially if hospitalizations continue to tick up while mask-wearing fatigue grows — is twofold. First, as Edwards said Wednesday, while young people appear to be least vulnerable to the disease, they aren’t invincible. Some, especially those with unknown underlying health conditions, could suffer. Second, as Dr. Jimmy Guidry, the state health officer, said, “It’s going to start in young people and it’s going to get over to the vulnerable population.

Kevin McGill is an Associated Press reporter in New Orleans.

OPINION

Trump at West Point: The right speech at the right time THOMAS SPOEHR Special to the Press-Herald

Most people won’t take the time to read President Trump’s June 13 address to West Point’s graduating class of 1,107 new Army officers. That’s unfortunate. They may instead be tempted to believe reviews, such as the one by Robin Wright in The New Yorker, who termed the address “vacuous,” finding fault with the lack of mention of racial injustice, or the omission of any discussion of a perceived growing civil-military divide, or any discussion of ongoing military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. Nor, Wright notes, did the president note the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, or other world events. No, instead the speech focused on the responsibilities of being an Army officer, and how the men and women on the field will likely be called upon to protect and defend their nation, to thank them for answering the nation’s call, and for the support of their parents and the faculty for getting the graduates to this distinguished point in their lives. The president noted the great history of West Point graduates — leaders like McArthur, Patton, Eisenhower and Bradley,

officers who helped defeat Nazi Germany and Tojo’s imperial Japan. He noted how General Matthew Ridgway helped end the “terrible injustice of segregation” present in the Army. Trump charged the graduates to be as visionary as Patton, as bold and determined as McArthur, and as relentless as Grant. He closed by reminding the graduates that their most noble task is the one to “preserve American liberty.” The speech is notable for its lack of partisanship and for its patriotic tone. Speaking as a parent who has endured college commencement speakers who felt compelled to inject politics into what should have been a celebratory event, that was refreshing. In his remarks, the president also mentioned how the U.S. military in the last few years has undergone a “colossal rebuilding,” after years of “devastating budget cuts.” Even though The New York Times “fact-checker” stated that President Trump was “wrong” when he said the military he inherited was depleted, and the previously mentioned New Yorker article quoted Andrew Bacevich as saying such claims are “nonsense,” on this point the record is crystal clear. In 2017 Defense Secretary

James Mattis, at his first hearing before Congress as Secretary, testified that on his return to the Pentagon, he was “shocked” at the poor state of the U.S. military’s readiness. The Army, which I was a member of in 2016, had “historically low levels” of readiness, and its end strength was being rapidly cut to accommodate a plummeting budget. In 2015 the Army Chief of Staff, General Ray Odierno testified that “today, only 33 percent of our brigades are ready, when our sustained readiness levels should be closer to 70 percent,” he said. “We have fewer soldiers, the majority of whom are in units that are not ready, and they are manning aging equipment at a time when the demand for Army forces is much higher than anticipated. Other services faced similar challenges. The Navy was experiencing a serious readiness crisis. When the commander of the Japan-based 7th Fleet took over in 2015, he found “the fleet was short of sailors, and those it had were often poorly trained and worked to exhaustion. Its warships were falling apart, and a bruising, ceaseless pace of operations meant there was little chance to get necessary repairs done.”

In 2016, due to budget shortages, Marine were forced to scavenge spare parts for aircraft from museums and had to buy necessary supplies, like pens and paper towels, out of their own pockets. Today, the military, while not completely rebuilt, is in a much better place. The Army has met its internal readiness goals. Then Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley testified in 2019 that the Army has begun to “restore its competitive advantage.” The Navy “has made strides in arresting its readiness decline,” while in the Air Force maintenance shortfalls and supplies of munitions have improved considerably. Pointing out to the graduates that the military they are about to join is improving and that they will be a part of a noble profession may not make the headlines. As these graduates now move to take their places in the Army all over the globe, maybe — and I’m going out on a limb here — it’s enough to remind them of their institution’s proud 245-year old history, to charge them to uphold the highest standards, and to thank them for their service.

Thomas Spoehr is the Director of the Center for National Defense at The Heritage Foundation (heritage.org).


MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 | 5

Life INSPIRATION

SEND US YOUR NEWS newsroom@press-herald.com

My Father lives on in a legacy money can’t buy

According to the United States Department of Health and Census 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes, which is five times the average which is only one statistics to indicate of active fathers in the home but I couldn’t help but notice the absence of Father’s Day in both the news or the newspaper which indicates how bad news takes centerfold. I would like to honor my Father, Roy Earnest Hudson, a native of Bethany, Illinois, an only child, born in 1895, the son of George Washington McClellan Hudson, a circuit riding minister who met and married my namesake, Sarah Alice Ritz, while on a revival in Licking, Missouri. I knew so little about our daddy because he was so sick during my childhood up until he died, from congestive heart failure, at home in bed in what

was then called the front room to the Governor Lewis Morris, on March 19, 1958. an ancestor from Monmouth Also he was afflicted with County, New Jersey, tracing me chronic appendicitis for years. back fourteen generations to I felt rootless and Monmouthshire, Wales. drawn to delve into With each connection the old family trunk I was enriched because I because I sensed have connected to more that there was much living long lost relatives to be learned about than anyone I know. our genetic lineage. But now I know that I was very producour greatest legacy tive after the age of came from what my thirty, in 1978, while daddy gave to my sister, I located living long Alice, and myself just lost relatives with SARAH days before he died. the aid of directo- HUDSON-PIERCE He chose to speak ry assistance and separately to us because our old family trunk he knew that what he which was full of old family pic- was telling us would lead us to tures, letters and other memo- a brighter day. His last words rabilia. to my sister, Alice, and myself, Each call turned up a clue just days before he died, gave leading me to another line of us a foundation and the securiour family, including the Mor- ty that we needed to face years ris line on my maternal side of suffering when we went to an of the family tracing me back orphanage after he died.

Our minister, Wayne Earnest, visited with our father at least once a week up until he died. Their conversations continue to play such an important part in our future. Even though I knew little about my father until I began a family tree tracing jaunt at the age of thirty in 1978, I know he gave me what money cannot buy. Shortly before he died he told us that he wanted us to become Christians just as soon as we were old enough to know what we were doing. Neither one of us told the other about his final request until years later even though we both heeded his advice. Having the courage to step out and be baptized as a shy undersized girl of fourteen I needed all of the courage I could muster going into the cruel abuse that we would suffer in

this church run orphanage. I never questioned my faith because I knew that “all things work together for good to them that love the Lord.” Though I cried myself to sleep every nights for months on end I sensed that pain was a shaping device that God was using to bring me out stronger to a brighter day! If I could live my life over and avoid the pain but lose the joy I feel today I would not change anything in my life. It’s what we go through that makes us stronger. The lines from Steel Magnolias are so true: “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” but being human we try to avoid pain. It is only natural.

Contact Sarah at sarahp9957@aol. com

LIFE IN A PANDEMIC

Gilead’s $2,340 price for coronavirus drug draws criticism

The maker of a drug shown to shorten recovery time for severely ill COVID-19 patients says it will charge $2,340 for a typical treatment course for people covered by government health programs in the United States and other developed countries. Gilead Sciences announced the price Monday for remdesivir, and said the price would be $3,120 for patients with private insurance. The amount that patients pay out of pocket depends on insurance, income and other factors. “We’re in uncharted territory with pricing a new medicine, a novel medicine, in a pandemic,” Gilead’s chief executive, Dan O’Day, told The Associated Press. “We believe that we had to really deviate from the normal circumstances” and price the drug to ensure wide access rather than based solely on value to patients, he said. However, the price was swiftly criticized; a consumer group called it “an outrage” because of the amount taxpayers invested toward the drug’s development. The treatment courses that

the company has donated to the U.S. and other countries will run out in about a week, and the prices will apply to the drug after that, O’Day said. In the U.S., federal health officials have allocated the limited supply to states, but that agreement with Gilead will end after September. They said Monday that the government has secured more than 500,000 additional courses that Gilead will produce starting in July to supply to hospitals through September. “We should have sufficient supply ... but we have to make sure it’s in the right place at the right time,” O’Day said In 127 poor or middle-income countries, Gilead is allowing generic makers to supply the drug; two countries are doing that for around $600 per treatment course. Remdesivir’s price has been highly anticipated since it became the first medicine to show benefit in the pandemic, which has killed more than half a million people globally in six months. The drug interferes with the coronavirus’s ability to copy its genetic material. In a U.S. gov-

ernment-led study, remdesivir shortened recovery time by 31% — 11 days on average versus 15 days for those given just usual care. It had not improved survival according to preliminary results after two weeks of followup; results after four weeks are expected soon. The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, a nonprofit group that analyzes drug prices, said remdesivir would be cost-effective in a range of $4,580 to $5,080 if it saved lives. But recent news that a cheap steroid called dexamethasone improves survival means remdesivir should be priced between $2,520 and $2,800, the group said. “This is a high price for a drug that has not been shown to reduce mortality,” Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic said in an email. “Given the serious nature of the pandemic, I would prefer that the government take over production and distribute the drug for free. It was developed using significant taxpayer funding.” Peter Maybarduk, a lawyer at the consumer group Public

Citizen, called the price “an outrage.” “Remdesivir should be in the public domain” because the drug received at least $70 million in public funding toward its development, he said. “The price puts to rest any notion that drug companies

will ‘do the right thing’ because it is a pandemic,” Dr. Peter Bach, a health policy expert at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York said in an email. “The price might have been fine if the company had demonstrated that the treatment saved lives.

It didn’t.” Gilead says it will have spent $1 billion on developing and making the drug by the end of this year. The drug is has emergency use authorization in the U.S. and Gilead has applied for full approval.


Sports 6 MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

JJ Marshall, Sports Editor jjmarshall@press-herald.com

www.press-herald.com

PREP FOOTBALL

SHUT IT DOWN

Positive COVID-19 test results spur summer football shutdown

OPINION

Great outdoors REMOTE FERAL HOG TRAPPING OFFERS POSSIBLILTIES

COURTESY PHOTO

Trapping feral hogs by using remote controlled devices has caught 145 pigs in Union Parish since deer season ended.

Glynn Harris

Special to the Press-Herald PRESS-HERALD PHOTO

Minden High football coach Spencer Heard

JJ Marshall

jjmarshall@press-herald.com

First it was North Webster. Like the virus, it soon spread to other areas. We’re back to a Webster-wide shutdown after superintendent Johnny Rowland told all student-athletes involved in extracurricular activity to not return to practice until July 6, at the earliest. A positive COVID-19 test at North Webster last week caused head coach John Ware to suspend workouts. Since then, Minden High has seen positive tests from at least one stu-

dent, causing Rowland to shut down activities for the time being. “All decisions we make are centered around the best interest and the health and safety of our students, as well as our employees. I cannot state that strongly enough,” Rowland said. “We had in-depth discussions with administrators from all schools. The health and safety of our students is at the forefront of all of our discussions right now.” Glenbrook, still a MAIS school for another year, has not reported positive tests and student-athletes are continuing workouts as scheduled.

The frightening commentary about feral hogs around much of the country today is this – if you don’t have hogs on your property now, just wait; they’re coming. So, what is the problem with having feral hogs on your property? Aren’t they just another species of wildlife that have a right to compete for living spaces? Not exactly – wild pigs not only can but do horrific damage to the landscape, rooting up food plots and fouling water sources. They’re worse than that. Feral pigs also are disease carriers of up to 37 parasites with at least 30 diseases that can be transmitted to people, pets or wildlife. The case is thusly made that wild pigs need to be eradicated or their numbers reduced, but how do you go about that? You can

try to shoot them but when harassed just a bit, they become as wary as deer and start doing their damage under the cover of darkness. Trapping efforts thus far have only a margin of success as when some are caught, the others become wary of traps. In wide open spaces like south Texas where they present a serious problem, hiring a team of shooters firing from helicopters has been somewhat successful. The use of poisoned bait will take out hogs but more species than pigs are attracted to the bait. Surely there must some method that has promise of working. According to Union Parish resident Peyton, McKinnie, there is a way that can put a damper on feral hogs but it only works in one area at a time, unless the general public gets behind the effort and coughs up the dollars necessary to get it done. “Feral pigs began showing up on our hunting club over the past few years. We did some research and learned that there are an estimated 700,000 feral hogs in Louisiana. We felt we had to try and do something about those in our area,” said McKinnie. Contacting a company headquartered in Sterlington, he and some of his hunting club members invested in a product manufactured by Hog Boss, a system that utilizes a pen and gate that can be triggered remotely when hogs enter the pen. “You can purchase the whole package for around $4000 but if you build your own pen with panels that can be purchased at several area businesses along with t-posts, you can purchase the gate from Hog Boss that includes a control system

that includes a remote camera that can be activated by a cellular phone. We built our own pens and purchased the gate and control system for about $1300,” McKinnie added. Does it work? Consider that since deer season ended this year, McKinnie and his friends have trapped and disposed of 145 feral pigs and they trapped these on just two hunting clubs in Union Parish plus another area they had permission to trap.

In a statement on the Hog Boss web site (hogbossgates. com) the owners said “In just a few nights, feral swine can decimate lawns, native habitats and pasture lands. Common feral swine damage includes rooting, wallowing and trampling of sensitive vegetation totaling an estimated $1.5 billion in damage annually. “Hog Boss gates are the most effective cellular controlled hog trapping system on the market. The gate includes a cellular control unit, long range antenna and solar panel. It requires cellular activation that can be operated for about $100 a year. The gate requires a 12-volt battery and cellular trail camera and our system will work with any cellular trail camera.” We inquired of McKinnie as to what happens to the pigs that are trapped? “All the meat is donated and we have had no problem finding individuals or groups who are happy to make use of the meat,” he said. “We have been pleased with the way it has worked for us and encourage any group to invest in the system to help in reducing the numbers of these destructive animals.” For more information, contact Hog Boss Gates at 800-726-9930 or email to hogbossgates@gmail.com .


MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 | 7

NFL

Patriots sign QB Cam Newton to replace Tom Brady

BOSTON (AP) — The New England Patriots have reached an agreement with free-agent quarterback Cam Newton, bringing in the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player to help the team move on from three-time MVP Tom Brady, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.The one-year deal is worth up to $7.5 million with incentives, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it publicly. A Patriots spokesman said the team had nothing to announce Sunday night. The signing was first reported by ESPN. “I’m as excited as I don’t what right now!!” Newton posted on Instagram “All praise to God!! Dropping content tomorrow!! I hope you’re ready!! Let’sgoPats.” The Patriots had been heading to training camp with 2019 fourthround draft choice Jarrett Stidham as the heir apparent to Brady, who led the team to six Super Bowl championships since 2001 but signed with Tampa Bay this offseason. Stidham appeared in three games last season, completing two passes for 14 yards with one interception. The only other experienced quarterback on the defending AFC East champions’ roster was 34-year-old Brian Hoyer, who has started 38 games

in an 11-year career with seven NFL teams, including the Patriots twice. A three-time Pro Bowl selection who was the league’s top player in 2015, Newton remains the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdowns rushing by a quarterback. He had one year remaining on a five-year, $103.8 million contract, but the Panthers saved $19.1 million under the salary cap by releasing

him on March 24. The 31-year-old Newton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft after leading Auburn to a national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy. He helped the Panthers reach the playoffs four times, including the Super Bowl in 2015. The Panthers finished 15-1 that season and Newton won league MVP honors after throwing for 3,837 and 35 touchdowns and rushing for 636 yards and 10 TDs. But he was criticized after Carolina’s 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl for not jumping on a loose ball late in the game and cutting his postgame news conference short. After missing the postseason in 2016, the Panthers returned after going 11-5 the next year, losing to the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round. More problematic, a shoulder injury severely hampered his throwing in 2018; after starting 6-2, the Panthers lost their next seven games. Newton had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff before the 2019 season. But he injured his foot in a brief appearance in the third preseason game against New England; he played only two games last season before being placed on injured reserve with a Lis Franc fracture. Newton has been rehabbing ever since, posting several workout videos on Instagram. But because of the coronavirus, he hasn’t had a chance to meet with other teams to show he’s healthy. In nine seasons, he has completed 2,371 passes for 29,041 yards and 182 touchdowns with 108 interceptions. He has also run for 4,806 yards and 58 scores.


8 | TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

FUN & GAMES

On This Day In History 1972 - The first leap second is added to UTC. Leap seconds are added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) from time to time to account for the Earth’s slowing rotation. UTC is the basis for the calculation of local times worldwide. 1971 - The crew of Soviet spacecraft “Soyuz 11” dies after the loss of air supply. The cause of the tragedy was a faulty valve. The three cosmonauts had previously achieved the first docking of a spacecraft to a space station in history. 1936 - The novel “Gone with the Wind” is published. Margaret Mitchell’s story set in the American South during the American Civil War became one of the United States’ biggest best-sellers. The 1939 movie See, HISTORY, Page 9

CRYPTOQUIP

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA

CROSSWORD


MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA

SUDOKU

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 | 9

WORD SLEUTH

HISTORY

Continued from Page 8

version starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable was similarly successful. 1908 - The Tunguska event leaves 2000 square km of Siberian forest flattened and scorched. The devastation is believed to have been caused by the explosion of an asteroid or comet. It is the largest impact event in recorded history. 1905 - Albert Einstein submits a paper outlining his theory of special relativity. The text “Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper” comprises the currently accepted theory about the relationship between space and time. The theory of special relativity is the basis for his theory of general relativity, which he published in 1916.

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 | TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA

Classifieds

PLACE YOUR AD TODAY classifieds@press-herald.com

Classified line ads are published Tuesday through Saturday in the Minden Press-Herald, Bossier Press-Tribune and online at www.press-herald.com

Classified Rates Pricing is easy!

$7.75

Per Day - Up to 20 words! Additional words are only 30¢ cents more!

Garage Sales No word limit.

$11

One Day

$16.

50

Two Days

Receive a FREE Garage Sale Kit with your two day ad! *Garage Sale ads must be prepaid.

Deadlines Ads

Line ads must be submitted by noon the day before publication. Display ads two days prior to publication.

Public Notices

Public notices must be submitted two days prior to publication date depending on the length. Notices may be emailed to classifieds@ press-herald.com

Payments

Cash, Checks, Billing Real Estate Notice

“All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Grow Your Business

Call Courtney to place your ad!

PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! 377-1866

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS SEALED BIDS to Replace the Main Roof of the Webster Parish Library, 521 East & West St., Minden, LA 71055 will be received by Savannah Jones, Director of the Webster Parish Library, Stewart Center Meeting Room, 521 East and West St., Minden, LA 71055, until 2:00PM CST on Tuesday, 28 July, 2020. Bids will then be publicly opened and read aloud at that time. Bids received after the 2:00PM deadline will be returned to the bidder unopened via certified mail. Received bids will be referred to the Webster Parish Library Board for action and award. A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Tuesday, 7 July, 2020 at 10:00AM in the Stewart Center Meeting Room, Webster Parish Main Library, 521 East and West Street, Minden, LA 71055. Representatives from the Owner and Architect will be present to discuss the project. A walk-around and viewing of the project site can be available immediately thereafter. Attendance at the Pre-Bid Conference by an officer, estimator, or other individual knowledgeable with preparing the bid, is mandatory and will be considered a pre-condition for bidder eligibility. Bidding Documents for the project including bid forms, instructions, drawings, and specifications prepared by Gerald A. Schirmer Architect, 10019 Trailridge Dr., Shreveport, LA 71106 may be viewed and downloaded free of charge at www. bidsync.com. Cost of reproduction of hard copies is the responsibility of each bidder. Addenda will be posted at www. bidsync.com. Parties will be notified of addenda automatically, through email, only if they have registered to view or download the documents

via www.bidsync. com. Bidders requiring clarification or interpretation of the Bid Documents must submit their questions no later than 7days prior to bid opening through www.bidsync.com in the Q&A portal. Bids shall be received only on the Louisiana Uniform Public Work Bid Form furnished in the Project Manual. Bidders may elect to submit bids electronically via the internet. Submission of electronic bids for this project is available at www. bidsync.com. Bidders desiring to submit electronic bids must register with BidSync. All bids submitted electronically shall include a digital signature as required by Louisiana State law. Bidders submitting bids electronically are not required to submit paper forms. Bids, amendments to bids, or requests for withdrawal of bids, which are received after the time specified for bid opening, shall not be considered for any cause whatsoever. An acceptable bid bond, cashier’s check or certified check payable to the Webster Parish Library Board, in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the bid price, shall be submitted with each bid. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish and pay for satisfactory performance and payment bonds. Bidders are advised that a Performance, Payment, and Maintenance Bond, in the amount of 100 percent (100%) of the contract price, will be required. On any bid submitted in the amount of $50,000 or more, the Contractor shall certify that he is licensed under Louisiana Revised Statute 37:2150-2164 and show his license number on the bid and on the envelope. Bidders must be licensed in the following category: Roofing and Sheet Metal. The licensee shall not be permitted to bid or perform any type or types

of work not included in the classification under which his license was issued. Bids may be held by the Webster Parish Library Board for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days after the date and hour set for the opening or as extended by mutually written consent in accordance with Louisiana Public Bid Law. The Webster Parish Library Board reserves the right to reject any or all Bids for just cause in accordance with Louisiana Public Bid Law. Savannah B. Jones Secretary / Director Webster Parish Library Telephone: (318) 371-3080

or before September 30th of this year. Our Head Start Centers have been recognized by the State of Louisiana for providing high quality services for all children, including children with disabilities. For more information, you may call: Mother Goose Land Head Start Center 618 Weston Street Minden, LA 318-371-1101 Jack and Jill Head Start Center 105 Murria St. Cullen, LA 318-9942313 Humpty Dumpty Head Start Center 479 Bellevue Rd. Cotton Valley, June 23, 2020 LA 318-832June 30, 2020 July 14, 2020 4730 ABC Head July 21, 2020 Start Center Minden Press-Herald 1042 Pearl Street Homer, LA 318927-6230 123 APARTMENTS Head Start Center FOR RENT 2050 Mason Street Haynesville, LA 318624-2157 Head Start Administrative Office 111 Murrell Street Minden, LA 318377-7022. EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2020 DIAMONDJACKS CASINO ñ BOSSIER CITY will be discontinuing all casino chips. Per LA Gaming Regulation - Title 42 Part III, Section 4315, chips with cash value that were obtained at DiamondJacks Casino ñ Bossier City, LA, and that have not been discontinued previously, may be redeemed by the rightful patron thru September 28, 2020. Chips may be exchanged at Boomtown Casino located at NOTICES 300 Riverside GIVE YOUR Dr., Bossier PRE-SCHOOLCity, LA 71111 ER A HEAD Monday through START!!! Head Sunday during Start Center normal busiin your area is ness hours from accepting applicaJune 1 thru tions for enrollSeptember 28, ment of children 2020. Effective who will be 3 or September 29, 4 years of age on 2020 all Di-

amondJacks Casino ñ Bossier City casino chips will have no value. EMPLOYMENT

A written examination will be given in approximately ninety (90) days, on a competitive basis to approved applicants for the purpose of placing names on the competitive employment list for the class of Fire Prevention Education Officer in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Law and the rules of the East Central Bossier Parish Fire District 1 Civil Service Board. Application forms and a list of the qualification requirements that must be met for admission to this examination may be obtained from Robert Roe, Fire Chief, at the East Central Bossier Parish Fire District 1 Central Station located at 4494 Hwy 80, Haughton, LA 71037. Completed applications must be received by Robert Roe, Fire Chief at the address given above by 4:00 PM on July 10 2020 † Approved applicants will be notified of the exact date, time, and place of the examination at least five days prior to the examination date. PRESBYTERIAN VILLAGE OF HOMER is accepting applications for CNA’s Full-Time Evening Shifts and Graveyard Shifts available. Contact: CNA Supervisor Cathy Franklin @ 318-9276133

SMALL ADS DO SELL!

The Arc Caddo-Bossier is seeking a dedicated, innovative and experienced leader to become its next Executive Director. For more information please visit our website at: thearccaddobossier.org and click on GET INVOLVED. RENTAL HOMES

HOUSE FOR RENT 2 Bed/2 Bath; 1041 Beverly St. Bossier City; $700 Rent; (318)453-5535 HOMES FOR SALE

3BR 3BA 2 STORY 2575 heated sq ft. 4.25 acres, 172 Boyscout Road. $265,000. 318426-1638 or 377-8529.

Attorneys Applying for Social Security Disability or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, 1-844883-2045 FREE Consultations. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. (TX/NM Bar)] (LA-SCAN)

Education Flexible Healthcare Career Training, Medical Billing and Coding Program. Call Now For Information: 1-866-7464143 (LA-SCAN)

manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for your FREE Author’s Guide 1-866-593-1492 or visit http://dorranceinfo.com/lapress (LA-SCAN)

Premier Offshore Catering We are now accepting applications for experienced Offshore Day Cooks, Night Cooks, Bakers, Camp Boss, Galley and BR Hands. We offer a 28 & 14 rotating work schedule, and an excellent benefits package which includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & AD&D Insurance. Starting salaries depending on level of offshore experience. Apply at www.premieroffshorecatering. com (LA-SCAN)

Financial vices

Ser-

Have 10K in Debt? Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Personal Loans. Be Debt Free in 24-48 Months. Call NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF! Know Your Options. Get a FREE debt relief quote; Call 1-844-290-9978 (LA-SCAN)

Over $10K in Debt? Be debt free in 24-48 months. No upfront fees to enroll. A+ BBB rated. Call National Debt Relief 1-877-3275302 (LA-SCAN)

P R O B L E M CREDIT REPORT? Lexington TRAIN Online To Law helps works DO MEDICAL to challenge inBILLING. Become accurate negative a Medical Office items including: Professional on- identity theft, colline at CTI! Get lections. late payTrained, Certified ments, liens and & ready to work more from your in months. Call credit report. Call 1-866-350-4447. for a free credit (M-F 8am-6pm repair consultation: 1-877-804ET) (LA-SCAN) 2354. John C. Heath, Attorney at Law, PLLC, dba Lexington Law Employment Firm (LA-SCAN) Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book

SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORT-


MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA

GAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Threatened with FORECLOSURE? Call the Homeowner ’s Relief Line now for HELP! 1-866470-1641 (LASCAN)

Struggling With Your Private Student Loan Payment? New relief programs can reduce your payments. Learn your options. Good credit not necessary. Call the Helpline 844989-2443 (MonFri 9am-5pm Eastern) (LA-

SCAN)

For Sale $59.99/month Directv Special. 155+ Channels, HBO for 12 months and 3 months of Premium Movie Channels! Whole Home GENIE HD DVR! Call Now! 1-888-498-431 (LA-SCAN)

HughesNet Satellite Internet 25mbps starting at $49.99 per month! Get More Data FREE

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 | 11

Off-Peak Data. FAST download speeds. Wi-Fi built in! FREE Standard Installation for lease customers! Limited Time, Call 1-844-253-8788 (LA-SCAN)

MRCOOL DIY Ductless Heat Pump. Energy efficient heating & cooling! The only ductless system designed for amateur installation. Simple setup. Install anywhere. 100% sealed system. No special tools or training needed. Wi-

Fi controls. Call for more info! 1-844-712-7127 (LA-SCAN)

SAVE BIG ON HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-Rated insurance companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year! Call 1-877-533-3917 (Monday-Friday 8am-8pm Central) (LA-SCAN)

Timeshare Cancellation Experts Wesley Financial Group, LLC Over

$50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 1-855-473-0818 (LA-SCAN)

Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the new iPhone 11 or Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e ON US with AT&T’s Buy one, Give One offer.

While supplies last! CALL 1-866393-0713 (LASCAN)

Viasat Satellite Internet Up to 12 mbps Plans Starting at $30 per month. Our Fastest Speeds (up to 50mbps) & Unlimited Data Plans start at $100 per month. Call Viasat today! 1-855-801-0860 (LA-SCAN)

WE SHOP, YOU SAVE on your Medicare Supplement Insur-

ance! Call 844885-9650 today to compare Medicare benefits and costs from up to 20 top-rated carriers. Receive the best option for you. (LA-SCAN)

Health and Wellness ATTENTION DIABETICS! Save money on your diabetic supplies! Convenient home shipping for monitors, test strips, insulin pumps, catheters and more! To learn more, call now! 888-723-

9462 (LA-SCAN)

AT T E N T I O N : OXYGEN USERS! The NEW Inogen One G5. 1-6 flow settings. Designed for 24-hour oxygen use. Compact and Lightweight. Get a FREE Info kit today. 1-855874-9438 (LASCAN)

Attention: Oxygen Users! Gain freedom with a Portable Oxygen Concentrator! No more heavy tanks and refills!

Guaranteed Lowest Prices! Call Oxygen Concentrator Store: 1-855-382-4168 (LA-SCAN)

Attention: VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - $99 + FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-855-403-6345 (LA-SCAN)


12 | FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.