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MASK HYSTERIA FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
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Louisiana’s $275 million COVID-19 grant program New statewide mandate for masks, other Restrictions: Everything you need to know for businesses STAFF REPORT date applies to all 64 parishes expected to run Minden Press-Herald in Louisiana. However, parishes with a COVID-19 incidence out quickly Gov. John Bel Edwards anof fewer than 100 cases per nounced a mandatory mask requirement for Louisiana and ordered bars in the state closed to on-premises consumption, as the state experiences increasing spread of COVID-19. The Governor also limited indoor social gatherings like wedding receptions, class reunions and parties to 50 total people. With these additional restrictions, Louisiana remains in Phase Two of the Roadmap for a Resilient Louisiana. The new order is set to expire July 24, 2020, but could be extended. “Cases in Louisiana continue to increase, including setting a record-high number of new cases reported in one day, today and yesterday. More than two thousand new COVID infections reported each of these days and increased hospitalizations are signs that we continue to go in the wrong direction in our work to control COVID-19 in our state. While I had hoped to avoid going backwards on restrictions, it is obvious that it is necessary to slow the spread
Louisiana Department of Health Louisiana Coronavirus map.
of infection in our state, as COVID-19 has spread to every corner, at a level higher than we have previously seen. This is why I am now mandating face coverings statewide and also
FILE PHOTO
closing all bars in Louisiana to on-premises consumption, in addition to putting in limits on the size of indoor gatherings,” Gov. Edwards said. The statewide mask man-
100,000 people for the most recent two-week period for which data is available could choose to opt out of the mandate. Parish presidents do not have to opt out and may choose to keep a mask mandate in place. Currently, only three parishes in Louisiana do not exceed this standard, which will be updated every other week by the Louisiana Department of Health: Grant, Red River and West Feliciana. The order requires face coverings for everyone ages 8 and older except for the following: Anyone who has a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering Anyone who is consuming a drink or food Anyone who is trying to communicate with a person who is hearing impaired Anyone who is giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience Anyone temporarily removing his or her face covering for
See, MASKS, Page 2
2020 Back to School Bash canceled due to COVID-19 WILL PHILLIPS Minden Press-Herald
Due to the recent uptick of COVID-19 cases, the Webster Parish School Board has decided to cancel their annual Back to School Bash. Ursula Hullaby states that this isn’t the decision they wanted to make, but the one they made in order to protect the health of volunteers, students, and their families. “Out of an abundance of caution, the Webster Parish School
Board will not host the Annual Back to School Bash this year. The health and safety of our students, their families, hundreds of donors and volunteers are of the utmost importance during these times,” said Hullaby. “This year would have been the 12th year for the annual event. The bash has served as an exciting end to summer for hundreds of our students. The Webster Parish businesses and community have played a huge role in supporting our students
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and school system and for that, we are truly humbled. We are hopeful that we will be able to provide a bigger and better event in 2021 as we will be celebrating the 13th year for the bash. We want to take this time to ensure our families that school supply needs for their students will be met through the Webster Parish School Board. Supplies will be provided for all students and will be made available at their respective schools. We would also like to take this time to
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publicly thank the many donors, businesses, and volunteers for helping make the bash the awesome event that it has become over the years.” The School Board is not soliciting donations this year; however, if anyone would like to contribute in any way to the School Board’s goal of providing all necessary school supplies or uniforms, you may contact Ursula Hullaby at 318377-7052.
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(The Center Square) – Louisiana’s $275 million grant program to reimburse small businesses for COVID-19-related expenses likely will run out of money before it runs out of applicants, State Treasurer John Schroder said Tuesday. “Two hundred and seventy five million dollars spread out to 350,000 businesses is not a lot of money,” he said. The money comes out of $811 million in federal CARES Act pandemic aid. The program mostly will operate on a “first come, first served” basis, with a couple exceptions. For the first 21 days, only companies that have not received help from the federal government or an insurance company are eligible. Schroder said $40 million will be set aside for the first 60 days for businesses owned by women, minorities and/or veterans. Grants are reserved for companies with 50 or fewer employees and are capped at $15,000. Schroder, whose office is managing the program with help from outside consultants, said if an applicant is eligible for the full $15,000, they will get it. The Legislative Auditor will verify the expenses, the treasurer said. The program is for expenses directly related to the pandemic and is not meant to replace lost revenue. Eligible costs could include buying masks and personal protective equipment or expenses incurred to ensure physical distance between customers. The legislation allows for administrative expenses up to 5 percent of the program’s value, or $13.75 million. Consultants said Tuesday that administration will cost $12.4 million. During Tuesday’s meeting
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See, GRANTS , Page 2
INDEX Obituaries Editorials Sports
2 Classifieds 13 4 Crossword 10 8 Comics 11
2 | FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
Second Front STATE
MASKS: Statewide mandate requires mask usage at businesses
Continued from Page 1
identification purposes Anyone who is a resident of a parish without a high COVID incidence that has opted out of the masking mandate Masks are strongly recommended for children ages 2 to 7. All bars, including those with food permits from the Louisiana Department of Health, will be closed to on-premises consumption. They can operate for curbside takeout or delivery service only. Since the start of the crisis, Louisiana has identified at least 36 outbreaks, impacting at least 405 people, involving bars, which were actually closed under the Governor’s original Stay at
Home order. Public health officials believe going to bars is a higher public health risk than visiting other types of businesses because people are socializing and cannot wear masks when they drink. In addition, young people under the age of 30 make up the largest percentage of new COVID cases in Louisiana. The new order also limits the size of social gatherings to 50 people indoors. Outdoor social gatherings are also limited to 50 people if individuals cannot avoid being within six feet of one another. This crowd size limitation shall not apply to those businesses deemed essential as defined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agen-
cy or any businesses and organizations operating at 50% capacity pursuant to Paragraphs (1) through (6) of Subsection (G) of Section 2 of 83 JBE 2020, including churches and other faith-based organizations. The 50-person limit will apply to indoor gatherings, like receptions, weddings and others. The changes are based on the advice of public health officials. While the statewide mandate is now in place, Gov. Edwards made it clear that it would not be enforced by law enforcement agencies. Further clarifying, the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office made a statement reading, “Sheriff Parker wants you to know that this is a State Mandate, not a law.
During the announcement, Governor Edwards stated clearly that this mandate will not be enforceable by law enforcement agencies. Therefore, the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office will not be enforcing this mandate.” While each individual may not be forced to wear a mask when they go out, businesses are now required by the state to insist that customers wear masks unless they have one of the aforementioned excuses. “Business owners have been required by the state to insist that it’s customers wear a mask upon entry. If you should have a medical condition that exempts the wearing of a mask we ask that you discuss this politely with the business when or if you
are approached. If you are asked by a business in Webster Parish to wear a mask upon entry, your compliance is expected as it is their business and they have a right to refuse service if they should so choose. This is common practice in many businesses’ decisions that require shirts, shoes, and/ or other requirements in order to patron their establishment. If a customer is asked to leave by the business due to non-compliance, and refuses to do so, the customer could face charges of trespassing. It is at this time only, that the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office will step to uphold the law on trespassing after being asked to leave,” the WPSO statement reads. They also clarified that
this mandate is also not enforceable at religious institutions. In a message with the goal of conveying to Louisiana residents to do their part in preventing the spread of the virus, Gov. Edwards said, “Right now, all Louisianans need to work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by wearing their face masks, keeping social distance, washing their hands frequently and staying at home when they are feeling sick. These are reasonable expectations while we fight to reduce the spread of the illness in our state. This approach also gives us the best possible chance to again flatten the curve without moving back to Phase One.”
ECONOMY
GRANTS: Small business program to run out soon
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of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, Schroder pledged to reach out to rural parishes, including business owners who might not have the internet or be savvy about how to apply. OBITUARIES
Senate President Page Cortez recommended members not let their legislative assistants fill out the applications for the applicants. Cortez said he doesn’t want legislators to be blamed if someone doesn’t get a grant. He also suggested legisla-
Linda J. Mahon
Linda J. Mahon, age 70, of Bossier City, Louisiana, daughter of Colonel Joseph M. Strickland and Sarah E. Brantley, went peacefully into the arms of God surrounded by her loved ones in her home on Sunday, July 12, 2020. She was born on February 8, 1950 in
John B. Slattery Jr. Heaven acquired another angel on July 7, 2020 when John Bernard Slattery, Jr. lost his battle from cancer. Funeral services for Judge John Slattery will be held at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Benton, Louisiana on Friday, July 10, 2020 at 4 p.m.. A gravesite service and masonic burial will be held on July 11, 2020 at 10 am at the Springhill Cemetery. John dedicated his life to his family, the citizens of Springhill, Louisiana, and surrounding areas of Webster Parish and the State of Louisiana. He was a shining example of the legal profession and a fair, hardworking and ethical judge. Some of his favorite hobbies were traveling with his family, playing hearts and monopoly, and sideline coaching the LSU Tigers to victory. Most impor-
tive involvement would violate the separation of power principle, noting that executive agencies such as the treasurer’s office are tasked with executing laws. The Main Street Recovery program will begin taking applications July
28. More information is available at LouisianaMainStreet.com. State officials so far have authorized more than $120 million in pandemic reimbursement for local governments and “checks are literally going out today and to-
morrow,” Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne said, adding that 24 parishes have not yet applied. That money also comes from the federal CARES Act. Also on Tuesday, the Joint Budget committee agreed to allow leader-
ship to negotiate a salary for new Legislative Fiscal Officer Chris Keaton. The salary is expected to be in the range of $180,000 to $220,000; Cortez plans to look into what other states pay for similar positions, he said.
Roswell, New Mexico. Being in a military family, she spent her childhood living in various cities around America. She went to Colorado State University and received a degree in explosives safety from UC Berkley. Her experience and knowledge in explosive safety was unparalleled. She was recruited by British Aerospace Explosives to serve as the explosive safety manager moving her from Escalon, CA to Camden, AR in 1999. Her family was always her highest priority regardless of her professional life. In 2003 she relocated to Haughton, LA to assist her aging mother. On July 5th, 2019 she retired after 12 years of service in the
Louisiana State Military Department as the Explosive Safety Coordinator for Camp Minden, National Guard Base. She liked to bowl, travel, and play her slots at Louisiana Downs. She was a trivial pursuit enthusiast and scrabble specialist. Cooking shows were her guilty pleasure. She was an avid risk taker with a passion for roller coasters, adventure-driven travel, and taking her daughter Sara on movie-hopping trips. She had earned such great accolades as national choir competitor, ‘most-improved’ softball player, and ‘most-kissable lips’ She was known for her ability to im-
prove the lives of those around her with just a few simple words, her seemingly unlimited capacity for love, and her beautiful smile that could light up a room. Her memory and legacy will live on through her husband, William Mahon of Bossier City, her sister Janette Stehr of Fairplay, Maryland, her adopted daughter Ashley Stuteville of Baton Rouge, her son Brian “Chance” Mahon of Bossier City and daughter Sara Swift of Escalon, California, as well as her grandchildren Kaleb and Kole Swift. A memorial service will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2020 in the reception center at Camp Minden.
tantly, he was a man of faith and a devout Christian. John was born on July 5, 1955 in Shreveport, Louisiana to the late J.B. and Billie Slattery. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Houston in 1977, and attained his law degree from the L.S.U. Law School in 1982. After graduation, he clerked for Judge Lindsey and Judge Ballard at the 1 st Judicial District Court. He was hired by Charles E. McConnell and became the President of the general civil law firm of McConnell & Slattery, APLC. Prior to becoming a Judge, he served as the City Attorney for Springhill, Cullen, Sarepta, Shongaloo and Cotton Valley. He was also an Assistant District Attorney for the 26th Judicial District Court for Bossier and Webster Parishes. Since his election in February of 2000, John Slattery served as the Judge of Springhill City Court, Ward 2 of Webster Parish, Louisiana in February of 2000. Judge Slattery also served as a 26 th Judicial District Court Juvenile Drug Court Judge. Until the program’s termination, he was proud to boast of each, success-
ful juvenile drug court graduate. Judge Slattery was a member of the Webster, Bossier and Louisiana State Bar Associations and a Member of the House of Delegates. Throughout his professional career, he served as Legal Counsel for Citizens Bank & Trust and the North Webster Parish Industrial District, President of the Webster Parish Bar Association, President of the Louisiana City Attorneys’ Association, and President of the Louisiana City Judges’ Association. He also served on the Board of Governors, Louisiana Judicial College, and was a Panel Chairman for the Louisiana State Bar Association Client Assistance Fund Committee wherein he actively worked towards the betterment of the legal profession. John was previously the President of the Springhill-Cullen Chamber of Commerce, Sacred Heart Parish Council, and Springhill Rotary Club. John has also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Slattery Co., Inc., and was on the Board of Directors for the AMI Red River. John Slattery was also a member of the Springhill Lodge #348 F. & A.M.
On August 7, 1982, he married the love of his life, Laurie Rarick Slattery, and they created a large family that he was proud of and frequently bragged about to anyone who would listen. John was survived by: his wife, Laurie Rarick Slattery, sons, Doyle Magee Slattery, John Bernard Slattery III (Jessica), Patrick Rarick Slattery (Caroline); daughter, Marguerite Colleen Slattery (fiancé, Jason Wade); granddaughters, Noelle and Presley Slattery; brothers, Bill Slattery (Mary), Joe Slattery (Kay); sister, Lou Sullivan (Steve Hooper); sister-inlaw, Cherie Brumfield (Bill); brother-inlaw, Johnny Rarick (Kay), 12 nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins, all whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Bernard and Billie Stephens Slattery; sister, Margaret Claire Allen; and son, Marc Christian Slattery. There is little doubt that when he drew his final breath that he heard the heavenly voice of Jesus say to him, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Mathew 25:23
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 | 3
Webster & More OBITUARIES
Sheryl Lynn Comeaux-PowellBurch Sheryl Lynn Comeaux-Powell-Burch, age 51 born on December 18, 1968 in Jennings, Louisiana. She had been residing in Minden for almost 2 months now. She passed away peacefully on Friday July 12, 2020 in her sleep comfortably in her bed . She had been ill for quite some time. She did attempt to get medical help and was released due to the choice of lifestyle. She left behind two adult kids with families. Daughter Sara Powell-McDonald and her husband Lucas McDonald, Her son Christopher S. Powell and his wife Kari Powell. She has 5 grandchildren from Sara, Ash-
Parnez Ethel Greene McKenzie Parnez Ethel Greene McKenzie,
Robert Hoyle Chanler Funeral services for Robert Hoyle Chanler will be held Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 2 p.m. at First United Pentecos-
Benny Delane Hicks Funeral service for Mr. Benny Delane Hicks, age 80, will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, July 16, 2020, at the Unity Baptist Church, Cotton Valley, LA, with Rev. Gary Taylor, Bro. Dave Acklin officiating. Graveside services will follow in Cotton Valley Cemetery with Bro. Jim Bell officiating. Services are under the direction of Bai-
Patsy Ruth Friday Dees Graveside services for Ms. Patsy Ruth Friday Dees, age 63, will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at
Richard Dale McComic Richard Dale McComic, age 60, passed away suddenly on February 21, 2020 at home in Glendale, Arizona. Richard (Rick) grew up mostly in Minden, Louisiana. He was born in West Monroe, LA on September 4, 1959
ton L. Roe, Nicholas K. Powell, Landon S. Hall, Jadence L. McDonald, Sophia L. McDonald and two from Chris, Emma M. Powell and Marie E. Powell. Not only does she leave behind her kids and grandkids but two living brothers and sister in-laws Robert Allen Jr. or “Bubba” and Cyndi Comeaux and James Allen and Marvalee Comeaux. She had 14 total nieces and nephews including some great ones! She will now get to join her parents “Nanny” Shirley A. King from Hot Springs, Ark and Robert Allen Comeaux Sr. Sheryl Lynn Comeaux Burch will always be REMEMBERED and NEVER FORGOTTEN! We will set a memorial for her and let people know. FLY HIGH OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL! This was written by her daughter Sara A. McDonald, I found her when I went to bring her food and check on her after not hearing from her in a couple days. Our family needs your prayers!
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known around Minden as Peg McKenzie, recently passed away at her home on July 13, 2020 at the age of 98. Peg McKenzie was born March 16, 1922 in Arcadia, Louisiana and was one of thirteen children to Ethel and Dee Greene. She is preceded in death by her husband, James W. McKenzie and her son, James Michael McKenzie. She is survived by her children, Becky “McKenzie” Leopold and Richard “Tim” McKen-
zie and wife Mary McKenzie, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Peg McKenzie worked for years at the Tax Assessors office in Minden and retired from there in 1977, She then worked for the Clerk of Courts office until 1986. Peg was voted one of the 10 Friendliest People in Minden back in the 60s. Her warm and outgoing personality was one reason Minden won The Friendliest City in the South that same year. A family
memorial is planned for the near future. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.
tal Church, City On The Hill in Minden, Louisiana with Rev.Jared Miller, Rev. Jimbo Yocom, and Rev. Jeff Ramsey officiating. Interment will follow at Gardens of Memory Cemetery under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2020 at the church. Hoyle was born April 4, 1937 in Minden, Louisiana and entered into rest July 14, 2020 in Minden, Louisiana. Hoyle was preceded in death by his
parents, Isaac and Lillie Chanler, sisters, Lillie Mae Govina, Grace Patterson, Doris Martin, and Justine McCoy, brothers, Bill, Vernon and Doyle Chanler. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Obilene Chanler of Minden, daughter, Melinda Ann Davidson and husband Billy of Minden, sisters, Mary Frances Roberts and Geraldine Peevy both of Minden, grandchildren, Rev. Jared Miller (Ashley), Marc Davidson (Vianey), Leslie Coyle, and Marissa Davisdon (Kristina), and great-grandchildren,
JayLynn Miller, Jazzy Davidson, Everly Coyle, Jaxon Miller, Harley Davidson, and Adalynn Miller. Pallbearers will be Burt Chanler, Billy Chanler, Jeff Chanler, Stephen Chanler, Clint Fondren, and Craig Fondren. Services will be streamed live on the City On The Hill Facebook page.
ley Funeral Home, Springhill, LA. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 15, 2020, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Unity Baptist Church, Cotton Valley, LA. Mr. Hicks was born on October 3, 1939 to Alfred Burton and Coy Virginia Pannell Hicks in Parkin, AR and passed away on Monday, July 13, 2020 in Springhill, LA. He married his high school sweetheart and one true love, Jolene Miles in March 1959. Delane was raised in the farming country of Missouri and Arkansas but spent his life working as an iron worker and boiler maker for more than 20 years in Missouri and was a master logger for nearly 40 years in Sarepta, LA. He was a hobby entrepreneur at an early age buying and selling cars with his brother, Bertie. It was there he devel-
oped a “lead” foot and learned to love racing. Later, he would enjoy the sport of stock car racing with his brothers, Miles and Leroy. A family opportunity in the ownership of Bayou Speedway was one of his greatest joys in life. Delane believed in hard work and passed his beliefs as well as his faith to his children. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jolene Miles Hicks of Sarepta; two daughters, Angela Campos and husband, Jose of The Woodlands, TX, Tammy Cook of Sarepta, LA; son, Kevin Hicks and wife, Kay of Sarepta; six grandchildren, Tasha Kleinhans and husband, Brady, Rusty Hicks, and wife, JoAnna, Dalton Cook, Sam Cook, Delayna Hicks, Shelby Hicks; great-granddaughter, Violet Kleinhans; two sisters, Paulette Lee and husband,
Don of Bossier City, LA, Judy Hicks Maxwell of Cotton Valley; and a host of nieces and nephews. Mr. Hicks was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, A. B. Hicks, Jr, Bertie Hicks, Harold Hicks, Leroy Hicks, Miles Hicks; and sister, Brenda Grelle. Pallbearers will be Brian Bell, Joe Beaty, Rusty Hicks, Dalton Cook, Sam Cook, and Trey Maxwell. Honorary pallbearers will be Greg Hicks, Courtney Miles, Justin Miles, and Trent Maxwell. Sign our online guest book at www. baileyfuneralhome.net
the Weaver Cemetery, near Saline, LA with Rev. Chris Beshea officiating. Interment will follow under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, LA. Visitation will be held thirty minutes prior to the service at the cemetery. Ms. Dees was born on September 22, 1956 to Robert and Joyce Friday in Natchitoches, LA and passed away on Saturday, July 11, 2020 in Springhill, LA. She was the director for the Webster Parish Council on Aging for the last 25 years and was very devoted to the people she
served. She enjoyed reading and spoiling her great-nieces. Above all, she loved her family with all her heart. She is survived by her mother, Joyce Friday Shirley of Springhill, LA; sister, Debbie and husband, Bruce Haynes of Springhill, LA; niece, Ashlee and husband, Dustin Harvey and nephew, Brad and wife, Ranee Haynes all of Haughton, LA; and two great-nieces, Ellie Harvey and Charley Haynes. Ms. Dees was preceded in death by her father, Robert Friday.
Honorary pallbearers will be Webster Parish Council on Aging Board of Directors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Webster Parish Council on Aging Home Delivery Meals. Sign our online guest book at www. baileyfuneralhome.net
to Richard Henry McComic and JoAnn Baggett McComic. He attended school from 1st grade through 11th grades in Minden. He attended 12th grade and graduated from West Monroe, Louisiana in 1977. After high school he worked for Louisiana Teacher Supply, then later as a forklift operator. He trained as an auto mechanic. Rick loved auto racing and was an avid NASCAR fan. He raced his own midget race car in Arizona. Rick
loved his family. He was a Republican. Rick was very kind hearted and a good man. He never married. In death Rick joined his grandparents, Lucille Baggett, Tommy Baggett, Marshall Henry McComic and Dona Mae McComic as well as his niece, Kristen Renee Campbell. Rick is survived by his parents, Richard Henry McComic and JoAnn Baggett McComic, of Glendale, Arizona; sister, Cynthia Ann Campbell (John
Steven Campbell), of Marshalltown, lowa; nieces: Kimberly Ann Campbell, of Marshalltown, lowa; Kelly Marie Dunbar (Stacey), of Cedar Falls, lowa; Kourtney Erin Murphy (Ryan), of Council Bluffs, lowa; great niece, Lakelyn Harper Dunbar, of Cedar Falls, lowa; great nephew, Luka Gene Dunbar, of Cedar Falls, lowa; and great nephew, Tripp Kiernan Murphy, of Council Bluffs, lowa.
Rose-Neath Funeral Home 211 Murrell Street Minden, Louisiana 71055 (318) 377-3412
Rose-Neath Funeral Home 211 Murrell Street Minden, Louisiana 71055 (318) 377-3412
Bailey Funeral Home Springhill, LA 318-539-3555
Bailey Funeral Home Springhill, LA 318-539-3555
4 | FRIDAY, JULY 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 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
OTHER OPINION
Despicable behavior of today’s academicians
The Michigan State University administration pressured professor Stephen Hsu to resign from his position as vice president of research and innovation because he touted research that found police are not more likely to shoot black Americans. The study found: “The race of a police officer did not predict the race of the citizen shot. In other words, black officers were just as likely to shoot black citizens as white officers were.” For political reasons, the authors of the study sought its retraction. The U.S. Department of Education warned UCLA that it may impose fines for improperly and abusively targeting white professor Lt. Col. W. Ajax Peris for disciplinary action over his use of the n-word while reading to his class Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” that contained the expressions “when your first name becomes “n——r,” your middle name becomes “boy” (however old you are). Referring to white civil rights activists King wrote, “They have languished in filthy, roach-infested jails, suffering the abuse and brutality of policemen who view them as ‘dirty n——r-lovers.’” Boston University is considering changing the name of its
mascot Rhett because of his link to “Gone with the Wind.” Almost 4,000 Rutgers University students signed a petition to rename campus buildings Hardenbergh Hall, Frelinghuysen Hall and Milledoler Hall because these men were slave owners. University of Arkansas students petitioned to remove a statue of J. William Fulbright because he was a segregationist WALTER E. who opWILLIAMS posed the Brown v. Board of Education that ruled against school segregation. The suppression of free speech and ideas by the elite is nothing new. It has a long ugly history. Galileo Galilei was a 17th-century Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes called “father of modern physics.” The Catholic Church and other scientists of his day believed that the Earth was the center of the universe. Galileo offered evidence that the Earth traveled around the sun — heliocentrism. That made him “vehemently sus-
pect of heresy” and was forced to recant and sentenced to formal imprisonment at the pleasure of the Inquisition and was later commuted to house arrest for the rest of his life. Much of today’s totalitarianism, promotion of hate and not to mention outright stupidity, has its roots on college campuses. Sources that report on some of the more egregious forms of the abandonment of free inquiry, hate and stupidity at our colleges are: College Reform and College Fix. Prof. William S. Penn, who was a Distinguished Faculty Award recipient at Michigan State University in 2003, and a two-time winner of the prestigious Stephen Crane Prize for Fiction, explained to his students, “This country still is full of closet racists.” He said: “Republicans are not a majority in this country anymore. They are a bunch of dead white people. Or dying white people.” The public has recently been treated to the term — white privilege. Colleges have long held courses and seminars on “whiteness.” One college even has a course titled “Abolition of Whiteness.” According to some academic intellectuals, whites enjoy advantages that nonwhites do not. They earn higher income and reside in better
housing, and their children go to better schools and achieve more. Based on that idea, Asian Americans have more white privilege than white people. And, on a personal note, my daughter has more white privilege than probably 95% of white Americans. Evidence of how stupid college ideas find their way into the public arena can be seen on our daily news. Don Lemon, a CNN anchorman, said, “We have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest terror threat in this country is white men, most of them radicalized to the right, and we have to start doing something about them.” Steven Clifford, former King Broadcasting CEO, said, “I will be leading a great movement to prohibit straight white males, who I believe supported Donald Trump by about 85 percent, from exercising the franchise (to vote), and I think that will save our democracy.” As George Orwell said, “Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them.” If the stupid ideas of academic intellectuals remained on college campuses and did not infect the rest of society, they might be a source of entertainment — much like a circus.
Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.
OTHER OPINION
Pat Buchanan: Can Trump pull a Truman?
On July 22, 1988, after the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, the party nominee, Gov. Michael Dukakis, enjoyed a 17-point lead over Vice President George W. Bush. Five weeks later, on Labor Day, Dukakis was down eight points, the same margin by which he would lose the election. He had lost 25 points in one month. What had happened? During August, Republican attack groups elevated and relentlessly pounded what might be called Dukakis’ Bay State radical liberalism. He had proudly called himself a card-carrying member of the ACLU. He had vetoed a bill requiring the Pledge of Allegiance in Massachusetts’ schools. He was against imposing the death penalty. He had issued weekend passes to convicted killers such as the infamous Willie Horton, who had used his get-out-of-jailfree card to go to Maryland and rape and murder. Vice President Bush ended up winning 40 states. Is this possible today? Because a turnaround of that magnitude appears to be needed by Donald J. Trump. Over the weekend, the bad news on the virus front turned awful, for the country and Trump. The U.S. dead from the coronavirus hit 135,000. COVID-19 deaths, whose weekly average had been falling since April, began to rise again. New cases of the infection began appearing in previous-
ly unseen numbers across the Sun Belt. Florida set a U.S. record with more than 15,000 new cases in one day. This surge in infections is occurring as the nation debates whether to send its young back to schools. Children, teachers and students could arrive in classrooms in the millions in late summer only to be sent home in a new shutdown as a second wave of COVID-19 hits this fall. Were that not enough to concentrate the mind, an economy that was as strong as any in modPATRICK ern history BUCHANAN last winter now looks to be in a depression. The good news of the May-June revival could be canceled out by shutdowns mandated by the new infections. Beyond this, America’s racial divide has reopened. The attacks on cops and their demonization in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, has led to demoralization, resignations and retirements, and, from there, to an explosion of shootings and killings in major cities. And we have witnessed the outbreak of a cultural revolution, which holds that as America has, from birth, been a slave-owning society whose policies toward the native-born
amounted to cultural and ethnic genocide, the statues of those generations of men who produced such a history should all be pulled down and smashed. A medical crisis, an economic crisis, and a cultural and social crisis, have hit us all at once, raising some fundamental questions. Does America retain the unity, strength and sense of purpose to lead the world? Is American democracy still the model for mankind? Trump is not responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. And the shutdowns that induced today’s depression were as much the decisions of governors and mayors as of the president. Yet, he is the one whose fate is tied to the state of the economy in November 2020. And, politically, Trump is the one paying the price. Several national polls have Joe Biden up by 10 points or more, and polls in swing states, as well as must-carry states for Trump such as Florida, have Biden leading. In the money primary, Biden and the Democrats turned May and June into winning months. Their Senate candidates are awash in cash in states where they had been seen as sacrificial lambs. The pundits, following the polls, are giddily predicting a Biden win, a recapture of the Senate and the retention of Democratic control of the House. What can Trump do? What should Trump do? In 1948, Harry Truman
looked like a certain loser to Gov. Tom Dewey. So he sent a raft of liberal legislation to the Hill and challenged the Republican Congress to enact it. When Congress airily dismissed his proposals, Truman barnstormed the country, calling on America to help him rid the nation of this “no-good, do-nothing 80th Congress.” Which the country proceeded to do, as it elected Truman and threw out the first Republican Congress to sit since before the Depression. What the Trump folks must do now is to zero in on Biden’s vulnerabilities, personal and political. First among these is Biden’s transparently diminished verbal and mental capacity. He is no longer the man who bested Paul Ryan in the vice presidential debate of 2012. Even during controlled appearances where he reads from a teleprompter, Biden emits a sense of unease that he will lose control of his ghostwritten script. Second, the Biden campaign has embraced an agenda that is, in part, Bernie SandersAOC-Black Lives Matter. The Trump folks need to force Biden to come out of his basement and either embrace or renounce the radical elements of his agenda. They need to do for Biden what Lee Atwater & Co. did for Dukakis.
Patrick J. Buchanan is the author of “Nixon’s White House Wars: The Battles That Made and Broke a President and Divided America Forever.”
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 | 5
Life
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LIFE IN A PANDEMIC
Let the good times ... hold. Virus recloses New Orleans bars
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It’s a fresh taste of bitter medicine for New Orleans: A sharp increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is forcing bars in the good-timeloving, tourist-dependent city to shut down again just a month after they were allowed to partially reopen. Louisiana had been an international hot spot for the new coronavirus in March, and New Orleans was its focal point. But hospitalizations began dropping after an April peak and it appeared that the closure of a wide array of businesses, including dine-in restaurants, gyms, tattoo parlors and bars, had flattened the curve. A gradual easing of restrictions began in May, culminating with Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s decision to let New Orleans bars reopen, albeit at only 25% capacity, on June 13. Last call came a lot sooner than anyone wanted. On Saturday, in a move
supported by Cantrell, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued new restrictions. Edwards’ order doesn’t close bars completely. But it restricts them to takeout service or delivery. Bar operators contacted Monday were treating it as a shutdown order, however. Mark Schettler, bartender and general manager of Bar Tonique, a “craft cocktail dive” on Rampart Street at the edge of the French Quarter, said the new restrictions, coupled with state law, appear to limit his sales to packaged liquor and beer and frozen daiquiris. “A bar like mine, that doesn’t help us,” he said. “Who the hell’s going to come buy a sixpack of beer from Tonique?” It would make little sense to offer only takeout and delivery from Bruno’s Tavern, a neighborhood bar and grill in New Orleans’ Carrollton area that has been operating since the 1930s, said general manager Will
Wilson. “We could stay open but we’d be bleeding money,” Wilson said. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, a bar in an 18th century building on Bourbon Street, also is closing. “Anytime they changed a compliance rule, we were right there changing with it,” said Cherie Boos, the bar’s manager. “This one, it’s a blow.” State officials said they saw no other way. “Since the start of the crisis, Louisiana has identified at least 36 outbreaks, affecting at least 405 people, involving bars,” Edwards’ office said in a Saturday news release. “Public health officials believe going to bars is a higher public health risk than visiting other types of businesses because people are socializing and cannot wear masks when they drink.” COVID-19 hospitalizations in the New Orleans region had fallen from more than 1,000 in April to fewer than 70 by
FROM THE BACK PORCH
Junkin’
Visiting and prowling to make into clocks. through Flea Markets is Well, the kits are probone of my favorite pas- ably still hanging on times.That’s the first thing the wall in the shop, the I want to do when I go to boards were never cut and Hot Springs or Branson. finished, and I ran across You just never know what the pictures a few days ago you will find. while looking for Not too long another picture. ago I became Another idea addicted to was a Christmas some TV proproject which I grams where saw in a magathe people inzine. When I saw volved have the it, there went the same love, only usual thought, more so. “I can do that.” JUNK GYPI took a picture SIES, FLEA FANNIE MOORE and kept it on my MARKET FLIP, cell phone for inand SALVAGE DAWGS spiration. The only thing were now on my “must different was I planned see” list. Sounds like some to use a red bird instead really sophisticated view- of the blue one pictured. ing, doesn’t it? The item was a large bowl I’m always amazed at containing artificial snow, how they can take a piece some evergreen branches of “junk” and make some- and two birds. I purchased thing entirely new and dif- the container and hit a ferent with it. And I know dead end. Where was I people in real-life who can supposed to find exactly do the same. But, there’s what I needed and could where the line is drawn be- I assemble it when I got it? tween the expert, artistic You guessed correctly. I junkers and the wannabes, finally called a friend who like me. was expert in these projSeveral years ago I ects as he was a profesplanned to try a relatively sional. Could he help? The easy craft. Notice the op- answer was yes and I took erative word “planned”. him my bowl and he easiMy noble intentions were ly made a beautiful piece to make clocks for both with it. sons, using the little kits Still, I had not learned purchased at a craft store. I my lesson. A few weeks had two beautiful pictures ago, I purchased a sixof an elk taken while on paned window with plans vacation in Canada. I had to frame pictures of our enlargements made and parents and grandparents. was going to use them, af- Not knowing exactly how fixed to a shellacked board to start, I questioned a
young lady who had done a similar one. Now I felt confident I could do it. The next step was to locate the pictures I needed. No trouble with Hubby’s side of the family as I found them pretty quickly. My side of the family was a different story. I located my maternal grandparents, finally located my parents, but could not find my paternal grandfather. This picture is a small shot of just him as my grandmother died when the children were young. But, I planned how I would display this one, when I found it. Those of you who know me realize I have thousands of pictures and also I’m not an organized person. Therefore, I’m still searching for that small photograph. It was while scrambling through files, folders and pictures that I came across the pictures of the elk. Love the pictures and I put them aside where I could easily find them should I ever decide to return to the clock project. Now, my quest is to locate my Grandpa so I can hang him, along with my other ancestors. Ever felt like hanging your ancestors? Maybe that’s what junkin’ does to a person. Fannie Moore is a journalist who lives in Shongaloo where she enjoys writing on a variety of subjects.
June 20, said Dr. Joseph Kanter, director of the state health department region that includes the metropolitan area. Statewide, hospitalizations that peaked around 2,000 in early April had fallen well below 600 by early June. When restrictions on business were eased, it wasn’t just the number of cases that increased — something to be expected as the state ramped up testing. The percentage of positive tests statewide went from around 7% in early June to as high as 18% at one point last week. During that same time period, the positivity rate in New Orleans rose from under 5% to more than 10%. Hospitalizations in New Orleans were back up to 120 last week and rising. Statewide hospitalizations were at 1,300 and trending sharply upward, according to figures the state health department released Monday. “We have lost all the gains made in June and
are seeing some numbers that rival our peak back in April,” Edwards said at a recent news conference. No sector of the state’s economy has been untouched by the coronavirus-related restrictions, but it’s been keenly felt in New Orleans. The city’s tourism and hospitality industry employed 94,000 people — until April, when nearly half those jobs went away, according to figures posted by the independent Data Center of New Orleans on its website. Schettler likens the economic devastation to the woes the city suffered after levee breaches led to devastating floods during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In some ways, he said, dealing with the virus makes recovery more complex. After the storm, he said, the water eventually receded and a recovery plan could begin. “The flood waters don’t recede with COVID,” he remarked. The new restrictions
also dash any hope of live music venues returning soon. The Maple Leaf Bar is padlocked, and the doors at Tipitina’s are closed. Singer John Boutte’s usual gig at the DBA bar is gone for now — as are the performances he had planned in Denmark, Switzerland and Scotland. And indoor gatherings are now limited to 25 people in New Orleans under restrictions adopted last week, squelching any hope for paid private events. “French Quarter Fest. Jazz Fest. The private parties. That fell apart,” said Boutte, listing events big and small that have been lost to the virus. And there’s no telling when the gigs will return. “Historically, pandemics last three years, four years,” Boutte mused. “And then people just get back and forget about it for another hundred years.” www.apnews.com
6 | FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
Life
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LOCAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
9th Annual Birdies For Babies Tournament “The 9th Annual Birdies Fore
nancy Care Center. We would
Junior Service League ladies,
offering complimentary med-
Babies Tournament proceeds
like to thank all of our players,
Pine Hills Country Club and
ical ultrasounds to our clients
brought in approximately
door prize donors, business
Fairway Carts for making this a
in September under our new
$5,100.00 after expenses for
sponsors, underwriters,
successful event in spite of the
name, Seeds Women’s Center!
You are loved!” said NWLPCC
Northwest Louisiana Preg-
center volunteers, Minden
COVID-19 crisis. We will be
Special thanks to our tourna-
Staff & Board of Directors.
COURTESY PHOTO/LISA GOULD
1st Place - 1st Flight - Team - Swain’s Auto - Pictured L to R - Rob Chase, Casey Corley Barry Hammons, Richard Randle
getting the job done every year.
COURTESY PHOTO/LISA GOULD
2nd Place - 2nd Flight - Team - Dr. “Bubba” Russell - Dr. Russell, Peyton Johnson
COURTESY PHOTO/LISA GOULD
1st Place - 2nd Flight - Team - Brian Flynn - Pictured L to R - Ryan Garcia and Matt Flynn - (not pictured - Brian Flynn and Michael Schaff )
ment setup crew for always
COURTESY PHOTO/LISA GOULD
2nd Place - 2nd Flight - Team - Jason Gould - Pictured L to R - Dawson Johns, Jason Gould, Jalen Gould (not pictured - Paul Lacobee)
Welcome to the midpoint of Summer
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I can’t believe it is already the middle of July. The middle of July!! Wow, this is crazy. This year has been a bit crazy. As we go into the next six months, we have a bunch of uncertainties. Are the kids really going back to school? Are we going to have SEC football, high school football, or even professional football? I know living in the south they all breathe football and look forward to the gatherings during this time. I hope and pray we do, but it will be much different. How are the teams going to make any money? How are the schools going to make any money? It is all about the fans. It is going to be a tough year for sure. This year is going to be different, not only in sports but in everything. I believe life will not go back to the way it was. We will have a new normal.
What does that look like? No one knows. There are so many uncertainties. So many what are we going to do? What ifs. How is this going to work! What about that? I know one thing for sure, I am not scared. I am keeping my faith and trusting God in all things. Life is hard no matter what is going on. Now you put COVID-19 in the mix and everyone is scared and going TINA crazy. SPECHT I am not saying it is not serious stuff. I am saying be smart about and wash your hands and keep your hands away from your face. Shouldn’t we have been doing this all along? This stuff has been a bit stronger because people won’t abide by the rules. I don’t like wearing
the mask any more than you do but it is for your own and others’ protection. Maybe if we would quit rebelling at everything we are asked to do, things would be different. We need to stop acting like kids and grow up and all work together. I am talking to me as much and I am talking to you. We are in this together. Stop fighting against each other. I know one thing for sure is that no matter what happens I have and will keep my faith in God. He is in control and will see us through this. Through all this craziness, my business looks different. In fact, everyone’s job looks different. I work from home, but we have had to change our
whole routine. Most people do not like change. I feel if we are not changing we are not growing. My goal in life is to better myself each and every day — to challenge myself to be a better person — to love more and forgive much. What are you going to do in all this craziness? Sit in be miserable or jump all in and do what it takes to make it through? Pasta Crab Salad Ingredients • 8 ounces imitation crab meat chunks, flaked style, or sticks cut into pieces • 2 ounces dry small pasta shells, cooked per package directions • 1/4 cup celery finely chopped • 1-2 tablespoons green
onion sliced • 1/8 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning • Squeeze of lemon juice • salt and pepper to taste • 1/4 cup mayonnaise • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh basil, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish. You can substitute fresh dill. • 1/3 cup Feta cheese • Pinch of Crushed pepper flakes • 1/8 tsp celery seeds Instructions • Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl. Stir gently to combine. • Serve immediately, or cover and chill for up to 2 days.
Tina Specht is co-owner of the Minden Press-Herald. She shares her thoughts and recipes each Thursday.
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 | 7
Life
SEND US YOUR NEWS newsroom@press-herald.com
My First Visit to Louisiana
STRANGER FROM A STRANGE LAND
I first met my wife Lisa during KAU-fee!” My girlfriend’s dad my first trip to the Pelican State had visited New Orleans on 30 years ago. We were married a business trip and he would 15 years later. I worked produc- pantomime scissors cutting the ing videos for the Reorganized flow of coffee. Then he’d laugh Church of Jesus Christ of Latter and say, “Say when.” I laughed Day Saints (the denomination too. Not to impress my girlchanged its name to the Com- friend’s dad but because I was munity of Christ a few years lat- young and hadn’t heard that er to try and end their history of joke before. confusion with their The Louisiana larger Mormon cousCamp Quality was ins) and we were doheld at Chemining a story on Camp A-Haut State Park Quality. Camp Qualin Bastrop in the ity is a series of camps northeast corner of around the world for the state. We prokids with cancer. Lisa ceeded to Monroe organized and paired DIRK ELLINGSON for lodging at the companions with Holiday Inn and a campers at the north spot for supper afLouisiana Camp Quality. The ter the long drive from central companions helped the chil- Arkansas. We were lost in some dren experience a week away rather dodgy looking neighfrom hospitals and gave their borhoods and sought a return parents a break from home to the world of Monroe comcare. The campers felt what it merce and eateries. It’s kind of was like to be a so-called nor- a big town. We couldn’t be that mal kid for a week. We were far from I-20. featuring camps in Missouri, Then we stumbled upon the Arkansas, and Louisiana. Warehouse No. 1 restaurant on Our field crew of Tom, Dave, the banks of the Ouachita River and I collected footage and in- and I couldn’t remember when terviews moving north to south I’d eaten a finer meal. Thirty in the summer of 1990. We fig- years later, I still say this is the ured we had crossed into the best place to eat in northern south somewhere around the Louisiana. Shreveport, change Arkansas border with Missouri my mind. because the camp curriculum The next day we began in the Natural State featured shooting at Camp Quality. First firearms. The companions an entertainer hurling boomerwere firing rifles while the angs (that was interesting) and campers were shooting bows then a guy skinning a snake and arrows. They were yards (Tom grew queasy). Besides apart, far enough away to per- the requisite camp activities haps suggest the campers were of swimming, softball, crafts, unchaperoned. We rolled tape and a talent show, the Bastrop and tried to stay out of harm’s Camp Quality week featured way. a radio-controlled airplane The Bald Knob, Arkansas show. Pretty cool. camp featured hot air balloon I interviewed campers and rides, the trademark symbol of staff during the following days Camp Quality. The craft stayed including Lisa describing her safely tethered to the ground duties enlisting companions but up we went, shooting aeri- to volunteer a week where all al video at the highest altitude their attention goes to a young I’d ever rolled camera until I camper who has cancer or is went up in a helicopter a cou- in remission. I remembered ple years later. This was years her from the Bastrop interview before drones made aerial even 14 years later after she footage affordable and com- had moved to Missouri and we monplace. started dating. It would be a I saw my first cotton fields in better story if she remembered south Arkansas. And my first me, but she only recalls being crop dusting planes outside of interviewed and nothing about a television screen. We were the guy sitting in the chair entering the strange new world across from her. of Louisiana. I knew nothing of Shooting the footage isn’t the state other than the New our last encounter with the Orleans Saints football team interview subjects. There are and amusing anecdotal reports hours later spent searching and about strong coffee. A friend’s editing the videos. You see and girlfriend had relatives in Lou- hear the people over and over isiana and one was ridiculing back home in the studio. Even the Missouri brew with the ex- though another producer cobclamation, “Now down in Lou- bled together the final show, I isiana, they be drinkin’ some remembered Lisa. Plus, I’ve a
good memory. In 2004, I volunteered as a Camp Quality companion in Missouri and Lisa was again the Companion Coordinator, now two states north. She matched me up with a young fellow named Nathan who suffered a Wilms tumor as a baby. Although completely cured, he met the criteria for Camp Quality campers and his mom let him out most of the summer to different cancer camps. Excelsior Springs, Missouri was only one of many cities on Nathan’s summer tour itinerary. He was a robust athletic funny kid. We had a great week. A few weeks before I began dating Lisa, I interviewed her daughter Lindsay at her college
Graceland University in southern Iowa (I think Graceland College had become Graceland University about the time Lindsay enrolled). She was and is a delightful young woman and I’d no idea this was my future stepdaughter. Just as I’d no idea I’d one day reside in Louisiana. Lisa and I married in 2005. I proposed at the Bastrop campground where we first met at Camp Quality in 1990. Romantic but tricky logistically. I’d purchased a ring from Lisa’s ex-husband’s jewelry shop in Monroe long distance through my other future stepdaughter Amanda. The shipped ring was to arrive the day before our visit to Louisiana. There was no margin for error. I was sweating
bullets in my Independence, Missouri apartment watching for the FedEx delivery truck. It arrived. We were going to West Monroe to visit Lisa’s family. I had to convince Lisa to depart earlier than she intended to ensure it was still daylight when we hit Bastrop, ostensibly to show my daughter Claire where we first met. Claire witnessed and photographed the proposal at Chemin-A-Haut State Park. The trip choreography worked and Lisa said, “Yes.” And you know, as Paul Harvey would say, “The rest of the story.” Dirk Ellingson is a minden, la resident and is currently a pharmacy technician at the local walgreens.
Sports 8 MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
www.press-herald.com
OPINION
LOSE TO WIN: What we lose in a world without sports
JJ Marshall
jjmarshall@press-herald.com
Early this morning, scrolling through my usual array of apps with my morning coffee, I stumbled upon the official FIFA World Cup 2018 movie. Shot mostly from the perspective of the fans, the story of the last World Cup before COVID-19 has me missing sports more than ever. Obviously, we take events like this for granted. Upon closer inspection, this well-shot, masterfully-designed film must be viewed through the pandemic-lens. That is to say, like everything these days, I watched mostly in comparison. Every scene is a short film of what feels like something we have lost. What stands out most is the culture. Colombians next to Senegalese in the middle of Sochi… English people cheering on Egyptian fans after a gut-wrenching loss… We think of soccer fans as hooligans, but the World Cup shows them in their best light. They are supporters, empathetic to the last; each group of
fans possessing a deep understanding of what it means to lose. How it feels to travel across the world only to see your favorite team crash out. Every goal that is scored, every time the group of fans lose their minds in celebration, I immediately think of how things may never be the same again. Will we ever return to 100,000 fans in an arena cheering on a World Cup? Will we ever get that clash of culture the same way again? Things have to return to normal eventually, right? I’m exhausted with writing about the pandemic. I’m exhausted living it. Our shared trauma, at one time, I assumed would bring us together. I assumed it would make us more empathetic and compassionate, able to understand loss and grief and support each other, the way the fans do in this World Cup film. Maybe that is on the horizon. At present, this is not the case. I spent much of my life overwhelmed at the concept of bringing change to the world. As an adult,
I see my potential to do good. Without the power to implement sweeping changes on a national, state or even local level, I must do what I can in my own world. That is my power. Looking beyond that is a copout. I can do the best within my own atmosphere every day and go to sleep each night with the knowledge that I did my part. When I interact with others, I respect what my actions mean for the larger community. It’s heroic that just by following instructions laid out by people who know more than I, that I can save lives and help stem the spread of this wretched disease. I’ve been waiting my entire life for the opportunity to do something this meaningful. My empathy will help save people. It’s been instilled in me by years of losing. I haven’t made it to the end of the World Cup film because it’s too hard to watch. It’s too difficult to imagine a world without these types of events. Then I remember, we’re already living in it.
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 | 9
YOUTH BASEBALL
PREP FOOTBALL
Minden, Heard still hard at work prepping for season
PLAYOFF TIME
REC CENTER YOUTH SCORES
JJ Marshall
jjmarshall@press-herald.com
So much continues to stand in the way for Webster Parish football teams trying to prepare for the upcoming season. First, a positive COVID-19 test shut down North Webster’s summer sessions. Then, all Webster schools stopped workouts per the school superintendent. This week, LHSAA announced that fall sports would not be allowed to start until Louisiana reaches Phase 4 of its reopening plan. Still, Minden head coach Spencer Heard said the team can only focus on what they can control. “The players and coaches are hard at work in preparation for this
season,” Heard said. “We are taking all the necessary precautions while at the same time having fun and improving daily.” After a tough season in 2018, Minden bounced back with authority last year after arriving in a stacked new district including Neville and Bastrop. “Right now, we are laser focused on what we believe can be our best team since 2016,” Heard said. “We have seven returning starters on offense.” Even so, for Minden to reach the heights laid out by Heard, a season has to be played. At this point, nobody is in control of that. “We are charging forward to an unchanged start date.”
NCAA FOOTBALL
Henderson named to Doak Walker Award Watch List
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech running back Justin Henderson was named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, the PwC Athletic Forum announced on Wednesday. The award is presented annually to the nation’s top running back. Henderson is one of five running backs in Conference USA selected as preseason candidates and the first Bulldog named to the watch list since Kenneth Dixon in 2015. The redshirt senior is looking to build upon a stellar season in 2019 when he earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors after leading the ‘Dogs on the ground with 188 carries for 1,062 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. He became the 13th Bulldog in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. The 15 rushing touchdowns led C-USA and tied for the seventh most in a single season in school history.
The Lake Wales, Florida native also recorded 20 receptions for 200 receiving yards, helping amass a team-high 1,278 all-purpose yards. In the last game of the season, he carried the ball a career-high 22 times for 95 yards to help LA Tech shutout Miami (Fla.), 14-0, in the Walk On’s Independence Bowl for the program’s sixth straight bowl victory. As a result, he was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player. The PxC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker.
GINGER SWANSON/COURTESY PHOTO
Hayden Williams beats the throw to first as Landon Humphreys jumps to catch the throw.
JJ Marshall
Mudcats 12
jjmarshall@press-herald.com
Jacob Jefferson’s triple
strikeouts on the mound
Southern Flair 15
led the way as the Pros-
in just two innings to lead
Diamonds Tussle 0
Dixie Youth
pects scored one run in
the Wonder Boys defen-
Lindsey
Timberwolves 12
the fifth to seal the win.
sively.
Dakota Harber hhad six
Outlaws 5
AAA
Royals 12
Ethan turner had one
Wonder Boys 21
Tomahawks 7
triple and Hunter Bell
Webster Machine 5
Lucas owens had three
picked up three hits as
Landon
Championship
Ryan
led
Southern Flair with two hits and two RBI as Lizzie Balkom picked up one hit in the championship win
Humphreys
RBI and Darron Holling-
the Timberwolves scored
had three hits including
sworth had two singles
nine runs in the third and
one triple as Carson Pow-
as the Royals picked up a
Ryan got the win on the
fourth innings to take the
ell helped with three sin-
crucial win over the Tom-
mound as well, going two
win.
gles in the Wonder Boys’
ahawks.
innings with five strike-
Prospects 13
win.
Ponytails
for Southern Flair.
outs.
10 | FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
FUN & GAMES
On This Day In History 1998 - The Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC) is adopted. The ICC is the first international judicial body that has the power to try individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. 1989 - The Stealth Bomber makes its debut. The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit made its first public flight from Palmdale, California. 1976 - Indonesia annexes East Timor and declares it its 27th province. This was the culmination of an 8-month long Indonesian invasion See, HISTORY, Page 11
CRYPTOQUIP
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
CROSSWORD
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
SUDOKU
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 | 11
WORD SLEUTH
HISTORY
Continued from Page 10
and occupation of the Southeast Asian country that began just after East Timor declared its independence from Portugal in November, 1975. 1955 - Disneyland opens its doors for the first time. The popular theme park (“The Happiest Place on Earth”) was opened by Walt Disney in Anaheim, California. 1945 - The Potsdam Conference begins. The heads of the US, the UK, and USSR met in Potsdam to discuss the terms of the German and Japanese surrenders, and to make postwar plans.
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
12 | FRIDAY,JULY 17, 2020
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
Good News
SEND US YOUR NEWS newsroom@press-herald.com
OUR PRICELESS POSSESSIONS
INSPIRATION
Have you watched the
it possible the old comic
al old books, a few first
priceless possessions you
and wonderfully made’
you be worth more than
popular television show
books would be worth $2
editions, a set of William
have been saving? Who is
(Psalm 119). We are ‘tem-
the gold in your teeth or
where
each? The boyhood toy
Barclay New Testament
going to price them when
ples of God’s presence’
expert
antique
silver in your hair? Think
dealers examine “price-
might net $5 (if
Commentaries,
you are gone? They prob-
and should realize what
less possessions” of folks
in good con-
a few wheat pen-
ably won’t be as valuable
a priceless possession we
about it! Submit yourself
and give approximate val-
dition)?
And
nies, a basketball
to our heirs as they have
are to Him. (1 Cor 3:16).
to the Lord and allow Him
ue of each item? It makes
what about the
trophy from high
been to us. And when they
Once we commit our lives
us all wonder ‘now what
set
bowls
school days, and
are passed to the next gen-
to the Lordship of Jesus
do I have that might be of
collected from
a few arrow heads
eration, don’t you think
Christ, we become “chil-
great value?’ Is it grand-
Quakers’
oat-
I have picked up
their value perhaps will
dren of God and joint heirs
the dross and make you
pa’s old watch? The wood-
meal in the 50’s Bill Crider
along the way.
decrease?
with Jesus’. (Rom 8:17).
more pure and holy (Prov
en dough bowl grandma
? Why, surely
Not much else
used to mix biscuits in?
they are worth $10 now (if
It may be that green vase
of
Talk about being priceless
to brag about! Several of
stressed we are God’s
and special! That’s what
not chipped)! Now this is
my Bibles are very special
prized
We
we are – when we belong
found in the old barn
sounding more like fun as
with my notes in the mar-
were bought with a price
to the Lord…priceless and
in the country. On and
we go! What else can you
gins, scriptures marked
beyond all else. It cost
special!
on we might go until we
find? What would you say,
and notated. Some were
Him ‘His only begotten
If you were placed on
can build ourselves a lit-
above all else, is your most
gifts, making them even
Son-Jesus’. (John 3:16 &
the ‘market block’ for sale
tle next egg selling our
priceless possession?
more special to me. What
1 Cor 6:20). The Psalm-
today, what would your
Bill Crider is Chaplain of
about you? What are some
ist writes ‘I am fearfully
selling price be? Would
Minden Medical Center
Well, I do have sever-
THE UPWARD LOOK
Lavished Grace
“In Him we have re-
do not de-
God graciously and abun-
demption through His
serve them.
dantly gives redemption, for-
blood, the forgiveness of
Though
giveness, and eternal life.
our trespasses, accord-
are
ing to the riches of His
thy, we re-
grace which He lavished
ceive
the
Your rich grace that lavish-
on us.” Ephesians 1:7-8a
goodness of
ly floods my life. Therefore
NASB
God. God is
with all my life, all I am and
we
unwor-
rich in grace The believer has been redeemed and forgiven,
and lavishly
Max Hutto
pours out His
not because he deserves it,
grace. The gift of grace is not
but because of God’s mar-
limited to just a single drop
velous grace. Grace is un-
or two of grace, but grace is
merited favor. It is God giv-
overflowing, profusely and
ing good things to those who
extravagantly poured out.
INSPIRATION
Lord Jesus, I marvel at
do, I will praise and glorify You.
Max Hutto is a Baptist Minister and a resident of Minden. More information can be found at www.upwardlook.org.
From East to West
The story of Noah is about
destroyed the earth. How-
demn Noah for his failure,
a man so righteous God
ever, Noah was safe inside
he forgave him. In closing,
chose him to re-
the ark and stayed
I would like to encourage
start the world.
there
the
anyone suffering in sin to
Noah was given
waters had com-
call upon the Lord and seek
what most of us
pletely subsided.
his peace and forgiveness.
would have seen
Afterwards he and
“Psalms 103:12-13 NLT He
as an impossible
his family finally
has removed our sins as far
task. He was told it
exited the ark he
from us as the east is from
was going to rain
made a covenant
in a time when Bernard Harris III
the west. The Lord is like a
with God. So far
father to his children, tender
no one had yet seen rain. He
we have seen this as a story
and compassionate to those
was also told to build a boat
of success and obedience
who fear him.”
big enough to hold two of
but did you know it’s also
every animal and his family.
about failure? Later in this
He dealt with mocking from
story, Noah gets drunk on
everyone around him and
wine from his own vine-
Bernard Harris III is a
still stayed the course. Then
yard and passes out naked.
Haughton firemAN AND A LOCAL
the floodwaters came and
However God didn’t con-
RESIDENT OF MINDEN
until
Apostle
and forge to remove all
Paul
‘priceless possessions’. Is
The
to take you to His anvil
possession.
25:4). If you do, your eternal value will just keep increasing.
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 | 13
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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.
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PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! 377-1866
PUBLIC NOTICE Minden Planning Commission Meeting August 6, 2020 – 10:00 a.m. Pelican Room Minden City Hall On the agenda is a request from Mr. & Mrs. Granville Brooks for a front yard setback variance on property owned by them located at 601 Durwood Drive. This property is zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential). The purpose of this front yard setback variance is to place a 12’ x 24’ metal carport cover in the front yard area of their property. In an R-2 District, the required front yard setback is 25 feet. Legal Description: LOT #21, RESUBDIV. OF EAST HTS. SUBDIV. All interested parties will be given a chance to be heard. July 17, 2020 July 24, 2020 July 31, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
SHERIFF’S SALE FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION VS. SHERRICA L. MOODY A/K/A SHERRICA LADAWN MOODY In the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court of Webster Parish, Louisiana, No. 77627. By virtue of a WRIT OF SEIZURE AND SALE issued out of the Tw e n t y - S i x t h Judicial District Court of Webster Parish, Louisiana, in the above styled and numbered suit and to me directed, I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale at public auction to the last and highest bidder for cash WITH the benefit of appraisement and according to law at the principal front door of the Courthouse in the City of Minden, Webster Parish, Louisiana on W E D N E S D AY, August 19, 2020, During the legal sale hours, the following property, to wit:
Begin at the Northwest Corner of the Southwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (NW/Cor of SW/4 of SE/4), Section 21, Township 18 North, Range 9 West, Sibley, Webster Parish, Louisiana; thence run South 900 feet; thence run East 1,682.5 feet to the point of beginning; thence continue East 200 feet; thence run North 200 feet; thence run West 200 feet; thence run South 200 feet to the point of beginning, together with all improvements thereon and all rights thereto belonging, also known as LOT F ORTY-TH R E E (43) of SEVEN PINES ESTATE SUBDIVISION, Sibley, Webster Parish, Louisiana; subject to restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property. SOLD SUBJECT TO ANY SUPERIOR LIENS, MORTGAGES OR PRIVILEGES THERETO. Said property seized is that of the defendant and will be sold to satisfy a judgment rendered in our Honorable Court. GARY S. SEXTON Sheriff & Ex-Officio Auctioneer Webster Parish, Louisiana Linda Vaughan Deputy
appraisement at the principle front door of the Courthouse of Webster Parish, Louisiana, during the legal hours of sale on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 the following described property to wit: A tract or parcel of land located in the Southeast Quarter (SE/4) of the Southwest Quarter (SW/4), of Section 35, Township 21 North, Range 10 West, Webster Parish, Louisiana, containing 40 acres, together with all improvements located together thereon and all rights belonging. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the mineral rights to the hereinabove described property are not to be partitioned and are to remain owned indivision. The entire proceeds of said sale without deduction of costs, shall be turned over by me to the CLERK OF THE TWENTY SIXTH JUDICIAL COURT for WEBSTER PARISH, LOUISIANA, for partition and division according to terms of judgment in said cause. Thus done and signed officially this 22 day of June, 2020. GARY S. SEXTON Sheriff & Ex-Officio Auctioneer Linda Vaughan Deputy
SHERIFF’S SALE CIVIL DOCKET NO. CV77326 IN THE TWENTY-SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT IN AND FOR WEBSTER PARISH, LOUISIANA JSEH INVESTMENTS, L.L.C.. AND TJA PROPERTIES, L.L.C. VS. JAMES D. DAVIS , ET AL
SHERIFF’S SALE FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION VS. FRANKIE D. WRIGHT A/K/A FRANKIE DEWAYNE WRIGHT AND CYNTHIA L. WRIGHT A/K/A CYNTHIA LEE JONES WRIGHT
July 17, 2020 August 14, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
July 17, 2020 August 14, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
will offer for sale at public auction to the last and highest bidder for cash WITHOUT the benefit of appraisement and according to law at the principal front door of the Courthouse in the City of Minden, Webster Parish, Louisiana on W E D N E S D AY, August 19, 2020, During the legal sale hours, the following property, to wit: Lots 14 and 15, Block 1, Webster Investments, Inc. Subdivision, a subdivision of Webster Parish, Louisiana, as per plat recorded in Map Book 2, Page 13 of the Conveyance Records of Webster Parish, Louisiana, together with all buildings and improvements located thereon; subject to restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property. SOLD SUBJECT TO ANY SUPERIOR LIENS, MORTGAGES OR PRIVILEGES THERETO. Said property seized is that of the defendant and will be sold to satisfy a judgment rendered in our Honorable Court. GARY S. SEXTON Sheriff & Ex-Officio Auctioneer Webster Parish, Louisiana Linda Vaughan Deputy July 17, 2020 August 14, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
Notice of Demolition Minden Downtown Historic District
Demolition has been requested for existing building at 121 Pearl Street, Minden, LA 71055 In keeping with Minden Ord No. In the Twen- 784 and Ord No. ty-Sixth Judicial 942, Sec.54-32, District Court of notice is hereby Webster Parish, given and shall be NOTICE: Louisiana, No. published 3 times By virtue of a 78417. within 30 days. C O M M I S S I O N By virtue of a Contact Minden TO SELL to me WRIT OF SEI- Main Street directed from the ZURE AND SALE With any quesHonorable Twen- issued out of the tions. ty-Sixth Judicial T w e n t y - S i x t h June 26, 2020 District Court of Judicial District July 3, 2020 10, 2020 Webster Par- Court of Webster July July 17, 2020 ish, Louisiana, in Parish, Louisi- Minden Press-Herald the above num- ana, in the above bered and entitled styled and numADVERTISEcause, I will sell bered suit and MENT FOR BIDS at Public Auction to me directed, I WEBSTER for Cash accord- have seized and PARISH POLICE ing to law, WITH- taken into my JURY OUT benefit of possession and Owner
P. O. Box 389 Address Minden, Louisiana 71058 City, State, Zip Separate sealed BIDS for the construction of FRANKLIN AND ART CAMP ROAD REPAIRS AND OVERLAY will be received by the WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY at 401 Main Street, West Entrance, Minden LA 71055 (Bids will be received in the Lobby) until 9 : 0 0 A.M., TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020 and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud as permitted by public bid law. This is in accordance with La R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the provisions of La R.S. 38:2212. The CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be examined at the following location(s): Cothren Graff Smoak Engineering, Inc., 6305 Westport Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71129 . Copies of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be obtained at the office of COTHREN, GRAFF, SMOAK ENGINEERING, INC. upon payment of $ 35.00 for each set, which is refundable to prime bidders within 10 days after receipt of bids. Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause.
in attendance. The meeting was opened with prayer offered by Hallie DeMoss and Matt Austin led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Todd Leake welcomed everyone to the meeting. Upon motion by Matt Austin and duly seconded by Hallie DeMoss, the council adopted the Minutes from June, 2020 at Council Regular Meeting held on July 2, 2020 as presented; the motion was approved unanimously. Hallie DeMoss moved to accept the June, 2020 Operating Financial Statements as presented; the motion was duly seconded by Ralph James. The motion was approved unanimously. Upon motion by Ralph James and duly seconded by Matt Austin, the council unanimously approved Water System Report for June, 2020. Matt Austin moved to accept the June, 2020 Police Department Report as presented; the motion was duly seconded by Hallie DeMoss. The motion was approved unanimously. Hallie DeMoss moved to accept Speer Roofing & Construction, LLC for insurance repairs for roofs on three MunicJuly 10, 2020 ipal buildings. July 17, 2020 The motion was July 24, 2020 duly seconded Minden Press-Herald by Ralph James PROCEEDas presented; ING OF THE the motion was VILLAGE OF approved unaniHEFLIN, STATE mously. OF LOUISIANA, Council comTAKEN IN REG- ments were ULAR MEETING heard, public HELD ON JULY comments were 2, 2020 heard. There being no further The Heflin Town business to come Council met at before this CounTown Hall, Heflin, cil, meeting adLouisiana begin- journed by Counning at 8:07 p.m. cil Member Ralph with the following James. members pres- Attest by: ent: Mayor Todd Sherry Limosnero Leake council Village Clerk, members Matt Respectfully postAustin, Hallie ed: 7/9/2020 DeMoss, Ralph July 17, 2020 James, Chief Minden Press-Herald of Police Paul MINUTES OF Migues, Water THE REGULAR System Clerk MEETING Kimberly WilliamWEBSTER son, Village Clerk PARISH POLICE Sherry LimosneJURY ro, and members July 7, 2020 of the public. Water System Op- M E M B E R S erator Jesse Wil- PRESENT: Jim liamson was not Bonsall, Presi-
dent; Vera Davison, Vice President; Beverly Kennon, Steve Lemmons, Steve Ramsey, Nick Cox, Randy Thomas, Bernard Hudson, Bruce Blanton, Ed Jordan, Allen Gilbert and Daniel Thomas TELECONFERENCE AVAILABLE Mr. Jim Bonsall called the meeting to order and asked Mr. Nick cox to open the meeting with prayer. Mr. Bernard Hudson led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Bonsall then asked for additions to the agenda. Mr. Allen Gilbert moved, seconded by Mr. Randy Thomas to approve the following additions to the agenda: Recreation Funding for Town of Cotton Valley and Recreation Funding for OEP/Homeland Security. Motion carried unanimously. There were no comments from the audience concerning the agenda. Mr. Bernard Hudson moved, seconded by Mr. Ed Jordan to approve invoices for payment pending review by Juror Bernard Hudson. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Ed Jordan moved, seconded by Ms. Beverly Kennon to adopt the minutes of the June 2, 2020 Regular Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Jim Bonsall moved, seconded by Mr. Nick Cox to Ratify the Action-Resolution 007-2020. Resolution in Opposition of all Proposed Legislation that transfers the Administration and Collection of Local Sales and Use Taxes to the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Bruce Blanton moved, seconded by Mr. Randy Thomas to approve Recreational Funding: District #2 $515 City of Springhill-doors, paint and shelves for the city park. District #11 $200 Town of Sibley Annual Clean Up Day. District #1 $250,
14 | FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
District #2 $250, District #3 $200. District #4 $250, District #6 $200, District #9 $300, District # 10 $250, District #12 $300 to purchase a metal rack and roof for the side by side and a back pack blower for OEP/ Homeland Security, total cost $2000. Motion carried unanimously. COMMENTS: Carl Thompson W.P. Assessor, Morris Guin Lee Faulk LSU Ag Center John Barr Senator John Kennedy Jason Parker Webster Parish Sheriff Christie Cox WP Coroner’s Office-sent in a report Brian Williams WPPJ OEP/ Homeland Security Director COMMITTEE REPORTS: Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to approve the action taken at the Road Committee Meeting held earlier today. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Vera Davison moved, seconded by Mr. Nick Cox to approve the action taken at the Administrative Committee Meeting held earlier today. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Vera Davison moved, seconded by Mr. Randy Thomas to approve the action taken at the Finance Committee Meeting held earlier today. Motion carried unanimously. There being no further business to bring before the Jury, the meeting adjourned. Lisa C. Balkom Jim Bonsall Secretary-Treasurer President July 17, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
PUBLIC NOTICE Minden Planning Commission Meeting August 6, 2020 – 10:00 a.m. Pelican Room Minden City Hall On the agenda is a request from Ricky and Diana Sanders (owner/agent) for a parking space variance on property owned by SMI Properties LLC located at 609 Sibley Road. This property is zoned B-4 (Hwy. Commercial). This property and all of its im-
provements have been donated to Mercy’s Closet, which is a nonprofit that helps to provide clothes to people that are in need. The current building is 3,000 square feet and there is parking available for 15 vehicles. 5 of the parking spaces are cement and 10 are gray rock. The owners have plans to add 3,300 square feet to the existing building, for a total of 6,300 square feet. 900 square feet of this is used by employees only to process clothes. They will be doing this to better serve their current clients, not necessarily to serve more clients. The City of Minden parking space requirement for shops and stores is 1 parking space per 200 square feet. The owners are requesting a variance to have 1 parking space for every 400 square feet, allowing them to maintain the 15 parking spaces that they currently have. They are also requesting that they be able to continue to use gray rock for 10 of the parking spaces in lieu of pavement, with the intention of paving the lot in the future. Legal Description: LOT #13, BLK. C, MILLER’S SHOP SUBDIV. & A STRIP 10 X 214.28 FT. ADJ. ON THE SOUTH ( F O R M E R LY AN ALLEY) IN NE/4 OF SE/4 SEC. 28-19-9; LOT #11, BLK. C, MILLER’S SHOP SUBDIV. & STRIP 10 X 227.07 FT. ADJ. ON THE SOUTH SIDE (FORMERLY AN ALLEY) IN NE/4 OF SE/4 SEC. 28-19-9, LOT #12, BLK. C, MILLER’S SHOP SUBDIV., STRIP 10 X 215.87 FT. ADJ. ON NORTH ( F O R M E R LY AN ALLEY) & STRIP 15 X 76 FT. ADJ. (FORMERLY A PORTION OF RAILROAD STREET) IN NE/4 OF SE/4 SEC. 28-19-9; LOT #14, BLK C, MILLER’S SHOP SUBDIV., & S/2 OF 20 FT. ALLEY LYING BETWEEN LOTS #14 & 15, BLK. C IN SE/4 OF NE/4 SEC. 28-19-9 All interested parties will be given a chance to be heard. July 17, 2020 July 24, 2020
MINDEN PRESS-HERALD | MINDEN, LA July 31, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
PUBLIC NOTICE Minden Planning Commission Meeting August 6, 2020 – 10:00 a.m. Pelican Room Minden City Hall On the agenda is a request from Annette Davis Igo for preliminary approval of a lot split on property owned by her located at the south end of Jackson Street. Legal Description: A 1.08 ACRE, MORE OR LESS, TRACT OF LAND LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST Q U A R T E R (NW/4 OF NW/4), SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 19 NORTH, RANGE 9 WEST, MINDEN, WEBSTER PARISH, LOUISIANA, MORE PA RT I C U L A R LY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGIN AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER, SAID SECTION 34, AND RUN WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 591.00 FEET TO A SET ½ INCH IRON ROD, FOR THE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE RUN SOUTH 00 DEGREES 02 MINUTES 11 SECONDS WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 190.00 FEET TO A FOUND ½ INCH IRON PIPE; THENCE RUN WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 140.06 FEET TO A FOUND 3/8 INCH IRON PIPE; THENCE RUN SOUTH 00 DEGREES 29 MINUTES 53 SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 44.81 FEET TO A FOUND 3/8 INCH IRON PIPE; THENCE RUN SOUTH 89 DEGREES 55 MINUTES 14 SECONDS WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 105.12 FEET TO A FOUND 1 INCH IRON PIPE; THENCE RUN SOUTH 00 DEGREES 21 MINUTES 10 SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 104.93 FEET TO A FOUND ¾ INCH IRON PIPE ON THE NORTH RIGHT OF WAY OF MARION STREET; THENCE RUN
SOUTH 89 DEGREES 58 MINUTES 26 S E C O N D S WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 36.48 FEET TO A FOUND 1 INCH IRON PIPE AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE NORTH RIGHT OF WAY OF MARION STREET AND THE EAST RIGHT OF WAY OF LEE STREET, AND RUN ALONG SAID EAST RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE NEXT TWO (2) CALLS; THENCE RUN NORTH 54 DEGREES 47 MINUTES 58 S E C O N D S WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 44.85 FEET TO A FOUND 1 INCH IRON PIPE; THENCE RUN NORTH 04 DEGREES 25 MINUTES 34 SECONDS WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 89.03 FEET TO A FOUND ½ INCH IRON PIPE; THENCE RUN NORTH 89 DEGREES 54 MINUTES 14 SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 124.89 FEET TO A FOUND 5/8 INCH IRON ROD; THENCE RUN NORTH 05 DEGREES 06 MINUTES 27 SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 200.86 FEET TO A SET ½ INCH IRON ROD; THENCE RUN NORTH 04 DEGREES 48 MINUTES 00 SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 25.10 FEET TO A SET ½ INCH IRON ROD; THENCE RUN EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 179.40 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. All interested parties will be given a chance to be heard. July 17, 2020 July 24, 2020 July 31, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
PUBLIC NOTICE Minden Planning Commission Meeting August 6, 2020 – 10:00 a.m. Pelican Room Minden City Hall On the agenda is a request from Best Price Heating & Air Conditioning for preliminary approval of a lot split on property owned by them located at 14895 Hwy. 80. Legal Description: LOT #39, DEERFIELD SUBDIV., UNIT #2
All interested parties will be given a chance to be heard.
July 17, 2020 July 24, 2020 July 31, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF GRANT FUNDS STEWART STREET (MARTIN COURT) TRACTS A, B &C Edselle K. Cunningham, Executive Director Louisiana Housing Corporation (“LHC”) 2415 Quail Drive Baton Rouge Louisiana 70808 (225) 763-8700 Notice Issued: July 17, 2020 This notice shall satisfy two separate but related procedural notification requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Louisiana Housing Corporation, as well as satisfy two comment periods between LHC and HUD. REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS. On or about August 5, 2020, the LHC will submit a request to HUD for the release of funds under the Allocations, Waivers and Alternative Requirements for Grantees Receiving Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Funds in Response to Disasters Occurring in 2016, The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017, The Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017, and The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114-223, 114254 and 115-31) Federal Register Docket No. FR5989-N-01, FR– 6012–N–01 and FR-6039-N-01, for the new construction of five (5) three (3) bedroom modular units on three tracts of land located at 100A, 101A, 102A, 103A, 104A, 200B, 201B, 202B, 203B, 204B, 300C, 301C, 302C, 303C, and 303C Stewart Street, Cullen, Louisiana 71021. The proposed project name will be named Martin Court. Project Issues: Construction may affect habitat of an en-
dangered species, the Northern Long-eared Bat (NLEB). Mitigation: Construction will occur outside of the NLEB active season and maintain maternity habitat. The total amount requested for funding is $1,500,000.00 CDBG-DR funds towards a total project cost of $2,294,998.00. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT: LHC has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at LHC, 2415 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge LA 70808, (225) 763-8700 and may be examined or copied weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination, or wishing to comment on the project may submit written comments to this office. All comments received by August 3, 2020, will be considered by this office prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Commenters should specify which part of this Notice they are addressing. RELEASE OF FUNDS: This Office certifies to HUD that Edselle K. Cunningham, in his capacity as Executive Director, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the LHC to use HUD Program Funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS. HUD will consider objections to its release of
funds and LHC’s certification received for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of LHC approved by HUD; (b) LHC has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the project have committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR part 58, sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to: Tennille Parker, Director Disaster Recovery & Special Issues, Office of Community Planning and Development Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7-272 Washington DC 20410 Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Edselle K. Cunningham, Executive Director Louisiana Housing Corporation July 17, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
The Village of Dubberly will hold a public hearing from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at the Dubberly Town Hall. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss a proposed ordinance amending the water rates for the Village of Dubberly Water System. Special council meeting to immediately follow at 7:00 P.M. July 17, 2020 Minden Press-Herald
SMALL ADS DO SELL!
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
G A R A G E SALE Friday & Saturday July 17 & 18. 8amtill. Clothed an antique booth! Everything is selling at Garage Sale Prices! Household items, Futon, Clothes & More. 1964 Chevy C10 Antique Truck & 2008 Alumacraft 17ft boat. 800 Fuller Rd, Minden. HOMES FOR SALE
3BR 3BA 2 STORY 2575 heated sqft. 4.25 acres, 172 Boyscout Road (parish side). Single owner/ contractor. lots of extras. 2 car garage + 1 car awning + 20x10 shop with 2 car carport. 318426-1638 or 377-8529.
MISC.
HELP WANTE D / C O N STRUCTION 318-349-7162. SERVICES
DO YOU NEED AN ALL AROUND HANDYMAN? CALL OR TEXT 318-268-9567! NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL! EMPLOYMENT
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