Minden Press-Herald - Profile 2018 by David Specht

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Visit Webster Parish has something to offer all

Sportsman’s Paradise is at the heart of Webster Parish

Minden Medical Center is meeting patients’ needs

Base home to La. National Guard, Youth Challenge, businesses

High Quality Care

Camp Minden

DAVID SPECHT JR.

JOSHUA SPECHT

CALEB DANIEL

TINA SPECHT

BLAKE BRANCH

DENNIS PHILEBAR

TELINA WORLEY

CAROL ANDREWS

Editor & Publisher Reporter Reporter

Advertising Manager

Production Coordinator Circulation Manager Production Chief

Chief Financial Ofﬁcer

CURTIS MAYS Advertising Executive

Great Stays Webster Parish is home to multiple bed and breakfasts

©Copyright 2018by Specht Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. Profile is published each year in February by Specht Newspapers, Inc. at 203 Gleason St., Minden, LA 71055. Telephone (318) 377-1866. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed.

Special thanks to the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau for providing photographs of Webster Parish.

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STATE OF MINDEN

Operation of the City of Minden is a team effort The successful operations of the City of Minden are a team effort between the Mayor and Council and all other elected officials. And of course, nothing could be accomplished without good and loyal employees; we are here to serve the public. I have the distinct pleasure of working with a very competent and progressive-thinking City Council comprised of: Wayne Edwards, Fayrine A. Kennon-Gilbert, Vincen Bradford, Mike Toland and Benny Gray. Revenues for the city have begun to increase over the past few months. We anticipate this trend to continue. Through sound fiscal management, the City is in overall solid financial shape. Quality economic growth is a strategic goal of the city as reflected in a very aggressive economic development program under the leadership of Mr. James Graham. Mr. Graham has implemented the Economic Development Strategy and is targeting commu-

nity groups, private nonproﬁts, for-proﬁt businesses, and the media. His focus is on business retention and expansion; workforce development; economic development incentive, purpose and program; developing Minden’s product; branding, marketing and promotion strategies; and partnership development. Aviation enthusiasts TOMMY DAVIS continue to see improvements at the Minden Airport, which includes thirty (30) new T-Hangars, new fuel facility, and a new terminal building. There are currently over 30 planes housed at the Minden Airport. Overseeing the daily operations is Airport Manger Steven Burdeaux. Steven is a graduate of the Louisiana Tech

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School of Aviation and brings several years of experience in airport management. The Minden Airport is a valuable tool for economic growth, and the city has aggressively sought grants to further its development and expansion. Under the direction of Chief Steve Cropper, the Minden Police Department is enjoying growth in both the technology realm, as well as advanced training for the officers. When you couple outstanding leadership with outstanding officers, the end result is an outstanding police department devoted to the safety of our citizens. Along the line of public safety, the Minden Fire Department, under the direction of Chief Kip Mourad, is now better equipped to serve the citizens with the addition of a new aerial pumper. The truck has a 77-foot aerial ladder which will reach the top of any building in our city. The fire department is both well-equipped and well-

trained with an outstanding roster of employees. Currently, the ﬁre rating in the City of Minden is a Class 2. Under the capable leadership of Main Street Manager, Becky White, our downtown area is one of the most successful and beautiful in the state. Our Main Street program is one of the oldest in the state and has also been recognized as one of the best in the state. Becky and the Downtown Development Board are dedicated to growing our downtown businesses and assisting the existing businesses. Our downtown plays host to many events, including the annual Main to Main event, Grilling on Main, Wrap it Up Downtown Christmas project and the annual Mardi Gras parade. We are also a partner in the Holiday Trail of Lights as evidenced by thousands of lights and displays during the Christmas season. In the realm of public works, the city has taken a giant techno-

logical leap forward with the lease purchase of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure System. All of the electric and water meters in the city have been replaced with new meters with readings electronically transmitted through radio signal to the city’s computer bank. The customer readings are accurate and concise which will allow city employees greater abilities when discussing utility bills with customers. Overall, the City of Minden is a great place to live, work and raise a family. Old-fashioned family values and a quieter, more relaxed way of life are still enjoyed here. We have successfully preserved our historical qualities, but at the same time are dedicated to modern advancements and an aggressive economic development growth program. Tommy Davis is Mayor of Minden.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Making it work

■ A roadmap to economic development When one compares their-self against others, it is natural to focus on what one

The City has recently created a very

does not have as opposed to what one

special and unique approach to supporting

already possesses. The City of Minden is

its existing and startup small businesses

fortunate to have so many comparative

called, “The Collaboration.” It is a partner-

advantages relative to other communities.

ship of organizations that are public and

LOCATION: The Community of Minden is 31 minutes east of Shreveport and 40 miles west of Ruston.

and private/public nonproﬁt community

ward moving growth

entities leveraging their respective resourc-

pattern along the

es to assist entrepreneurs to start or expand

I-20 Corridor fueled

their for-proﬁt enterprises within the City.

by several economic Barksdale Air Force

ate on a federal, state, municipal, and comment organizations, ﬁnancial institutions,

middle of an east-

facilitators such as the

private, nonproﬁt and for-proﬁt; that opermunity level. They are economic develop-

Minden is right in the

because I can

ed and nurtured.

JAMES GRAHAM

Base, CSRA Integrated Technology Center, The National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Establishing a way to ensure a ready-towork labor force is essential to attracting and retaining industry within Minden. The

(“NICERC”), Louisiana State University at

Webster Parish School System, the North-

Shreveport, and Northwest Louisiana Tech-

west Louisiana Technical College and the

nical College in Shreveport and in Minden,

North Louisiana Economic Partnership are

just to name a few. It will not be long before

working with local and new industries to

the eﬀects of these and other economic

establish a systemic approach to ensuring a

facilitators bleed into Minden, adding jobs

skilled labor force within Minden.

and broadening the community’s tax base.

SAFETY In previous years, Minden was listed as the 4th safest city in Louisiana. Now, it has moved up to the 2nd spot on the list by Safe Home, an organization dedicated to making communities safer. Safe Home conducts

because diet coke is delicious and delicious deserves a try.

studies all over the country to help identify at-risk communities. Minden is well known as the friendliest city in the South and we strive to keep it that way. We invite

naturally flavored

you to visit Safe Home’s website to see for yourself: https://www.safehome.org/safest-cities/la/

ENTREPRENEURISM Owning a business is a journey of endurance, not a get rich sprint. All of Minden’s

DEVELOPABLE LAND Unlike in previous years, the community now has plenty of available and developable properties for sale or lease than at any other period in the community’s history. Small tracts of land for smaller enterprises or larger tracts of property for industrial businesses are now available and coupled with economic development incentive designed to help with the bottom line. To learn more about the community’s economic development initiatives and programs, we encourage you to visit our economic development website, www. developminden.com. See us and “like us” on Facebook at Minden Economic Development to keep up with current develop-

older businesses, now larger companies,

ments. We are Making It Work in Minden.

are homegrown. It is a source of commu-

Talk to us before you make your ﬁrst move,

nity pride. The City of Minden’s Economic

so that you do not have to repeat it.

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sure that small business growth is support-

James Graham is the Economic Development Director for the City of Minden.

The Economy of Minden The cost of doing business, what the workforce looks like, salary information and more.

Cost of Living

12,887 Population of the City of Minden

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

#2 National Average = 100

Minden

Shreveport

Ruston Ranked second safest place in Louisiana

Median Age Per capita income

Average household income

SOURCE: www.developminden.com

$20k

$48k

4,833 Working Population

Cost of New Construction Largest Industry by employment transportation at 2% next is health technicians at 1.8%

Highest Earning Occupation engineers ($40.80 per hour) health diagnosing & treating practitioners is second ($36.53)

Industry with highest annual income mining/oil and gas production ($90,000+ per year)

industrial = $70-75 per sq ft medical = $300-325 per sq ft retail = $150-225 sq ft

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD — Proﬁle 2018 — 7

GREATER MINDEN CHAMBER

Rebranding but one of many positive changes ■ New year brings new opportunities for Greater Minden Chamber members We are almost through winter, and in just a few weeks the birds will be singing once again. Although it has been a particularly cold, if not freezing winter, the Chamber has been wide open and ending 2017 strong and starting 2018 oﬀ even stronger. I would like to share with you a few of the highlights of the past year and future happenings within the Greater Minden Chamber. Did you catch that? If you haven’t heard, your local Chamber voted to rebrand itself this past year. The rebrand brought a new name, new mission, and a new website. If you haven’t checked out the new website, www.greatermindenchamber.com, I highly recommend it. Along with information beneﬁcial to current and prospective members, the updated website now includes a community calendar where YOU are able to post any upcoming events you would like the public to be aware of. We would like to thank Pat-

rick and Rachel Miller with Milo Interactive for their ideas, vision and patience in helping us create an identity that embraces the community’s historic signiﬁcance and illustrates the forward-thinking vision of area residents, businesses and community leaders. I would like to personally thank Jennifer Spurlock STEPHANIE for her dedBARNETTE ication and leadership as Chairwoman for 2017. Under her leadership, we rebranded, created a young professionals network, partnered with our local Tourism oﬃce and Minden Main Street to host a Christmas Festival and Parade, and ended the year with over 50 new Chamber members. She did

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a great job leading the way. 2018 is going to be a fantastic year. We are excited about Matt Wimberly, with Wimberly Agency, coming on as our Board Chair and the visions and ideas a great group of energetic board members are bringing to the table. With a new look, new name, and new ideas and visions, we are looking forward to GREAT things happening in the GREATER Minden area. If you’re a business owner or a manager of an establishment within the Greater Minden or surrounding area, I implore you to join up with the Greater Minden Chamber. Just give us a call at 318-3774240 and I as President will personally visit and sit with you at your office and discuss with you the unlimited benefits of aligning yourself with the chamber. Chances are if you are reading this, you’re already interested in making a difference, not only in your community but also in your business. In the coming year the Chamber will continue to focus on strengthening the economy of our community. The Chamber is committed to be the voice of our members in the

2018 Board of Directors

Jennifer Spurlock, Minden Medical Center – Immediate Past Chair Matt Wimberly, Wimberly Agency – Chairman Trey Waller, Living Word Minden – Vice Chair Greg Pearson, Minden Medical Center – Finance Chair David Specht, Minden Press-Herald – Secretary Pam Bloxom, Patio Homes of Minden Nancy Hines, Savannah Court of Minden Logan McConathy, Logan McConathy State Farm Jessica Lewis, Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry Teresa Little, MBL Bank Ursula Hullaby, Webster Parish School Board Jason Parker, Krewe des Ambassadeurs Jake Chapman, Gibsland Bank & Trust Tony Jones, Ivan Smith Furniture Steven Lingenfelter, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Minden Carl Thompson, Webster Parish Assessor’s Ofﬁce Greater Minden area. We continue to work with organizations and elected oﬃcials at the local, regional and state levels to promote a business-friendly environment that will assist continued growth and prosperity. We also plan to expand our educational and networking opportunities. The Chamber will be hosting many exciting workshops and events focused on increasing member engagement and provid-

ing new network-building opportunities. In 2018 we will continue to promote, inform, educate and advocate for our members and help grow their businesses and in turn grow our regional economy. We urge you to join us today! Taking Your Business Personally. Stephanie Barnette is President/CEO of the Greater Minden Chamber.

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A MESSAGE FROM MISS MINDEN 2018

From traveling to Minden, to representing Minden

DAVID SPECHT/MINDEN PRESS-HERALD

Hannah Harper is crowned Miss Minden Jan. 6 at the Minden Civic Center.

Growing up in Webster Parish, visiting the captivating city of Minden was a delight, and I looked forward to any reason to travel to the Parish seat. Dentist appointments, ball games, and art camps gave me the opportunity to ride down the charming brick roads of Main Street, listening to the unique sound the tires made as we drove over them and drinking in the view of historic, magniﬁcent homes that provided inspiration for house plans for my grown-up dream homes. I loved going to the “big” Walmart, enjoying a scrumptious Mexican lunch after a shopping trip, and gazing in the windows of the dress shops, imagining attending events that would necessitate those splendid outﬁts. Little did I know that one day this amazing town would lovingly embrace me as part of its wonderful community. Many things have changed in Minden in my lifetime-the wonderful sports complex,

the state-of-the-art technical school, the new football stadium at MHS — but the people of Minden have not changed. The people of Minden are the crowning jewels of this treasure called the city of Minden. If I had to choose only one word to deﬁne the experience I’ve enjoyed as Miss Minden these last few weeks, it would have to be HANNAH GENEROSHARPER ITY. The Little Town that Could is an example that monumental accomplishments are possible when resolute, hard-working, compassionate people mobilize to share their love for others. One must look no further than the $1.5 million raised for St. Jude last week for proof.

Much to my surprise, when I was crowned last month I was given a basket to take home. I took it home and opened it up in the ﬂoor of my living room and was absolutely overwhelmed by the number of gift cards from local businesses, the gifts from people I hadn’t even met, the wishes for success at the next stage of competition for Miss Louisiana, and the encouragement from the 2017 Miss Minden, Abby Reynolds. This town of a little more than 12,000 has the heart of a megacity, and it is a priceless privilege for me to be able to represent Minden at Miss Louisiana. Thank you for allowing me a little piece of the tremendous heart of Minden. I will do my best to represent you with honor, character, and integrity, because that is the reﬂection of this city that is most true to life. Hannah Caroline Harper is Miss Minden 2018.

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Webster and Minden officials work to keep crime low CALEB DANIEL Minden Press-Herald

In a list using FBI data compiled by Safe Home, Minden ranked as the second-safest city in Louisiana in 2017. Webster Parish as a whole carries a relatively low violent crime rate. Webster Parish Sheriﬀ Gary Sexton credits the working relationships with local law enforcement agencies, such as in Minden and Springhill, as well as state and federal agencies, for keeping the crime rates low and the percentage of cases solved high. SEXTON “It’s a lot of things that come together,” he said. “It beneﬁts everybody in Webster Parish. We have the best working relationships that I’ve ever seen in the 30 years I’ve been in law enforcement. Everybody just works together; it’s just a good, close-knit working relationship. When it works like that, it’s the epitome of how law enforcement

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is supposed to work.” Sexton said crime statistics ﬂuctuate but education is key to keeping the parish safe. “Through our DARE program, we not only teach kids about the dangers of substance abuse, but we teach them about the eﬀects of bullying,” he said. “And to be honest, we have a pretty good rate right now. People see the cases we solve and they say, ‘Hey, you better not do it in Webster Parish.’” According to neighborhoodscout.com, an individual in Louisiana has a 1 in 177 chance of becoming a victim of a violent CROPPER crime. In Minden, that chance is 1 in 484. Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper said the city had just one homicide in 2017. That case is still awaiting lab test results. “Other than that it was a relatively calm year,” Cropper said. “Minden is a good place to live. There’s not a whole lot of major crime. We have our fair share of shoplifters and car burglaries,

but not a lot major. I think it’s just a good town to live in, which helps a lot with crime.” Cropper said much of the minor crime comes from out of town, and the police department tries to send a message that such crime is not a safe bet in Minden. “We have a lot of people coming from larger cities over here to our Wal-Mart to steal, and we do everything we can to catch them and put them in jail, even if we have to chase them all the way back to Shreveport,” he said. “We’re going to do that, and I think that sends a message. A lot of agencies have nochase policies on shoplifters, but we don’t. If someone commits a crime, I got some detectives back there who don’t sleep until they’re locked up.” Cropper said visibility is key for law enforcement. “It’s being seen, being out on the streets,” he said. “Our manpower has gotten a little bit better. We’ve been able to hire some police oﬃcers, so police presence is better than it was six or seven months ago. I think that’s a big part of it, being out there and being active and people seeing us.”

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EDUCATION IN WEBSTER PARISH: SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

System creates vision, action plan for continual improvement I was happy to have been asked to share with the public all of the exciting and innovative initiatives that are taking place within the Webster Parish School System. It has been a busy and exciting school year with much to accomplish. One of our greatest areas that needed immediate attention was the improvement of our school performance scores at each school within our district. Through much discussion, research, and guidance from our state network team, our instructional leadership team developed a system-wide vision statement for the 2017-18 school year. Our vision statement for the Webster Parish School Board states that we are dedicated to providing a world-class education which prepares our students to positively contribute to the ever-changing global economy. It further states that our system will nurture creativity, collaboration, communication, problem solving, and critical thinking in all our students to help them become college and career ready. In order to meet the standard of excellence of our mission, the team developed clear, speciﬁc, and measurable goals that were implemented immediately. These goals have been our focus

each time we address teachers, principals, parents, and other stakeholders to make sure we are aligning all activities, professional development, and assessments in a concerted eﬀort to positively impact student achievement. The WPSB District Goals are as follows: 100% of teachers in grades K-10 will use only the Eureka Math Curriculum following the guidance from the Louisiana Department of Education; 100% of teachers in grades 3-11 JOHNNY will used the ROWLAND Guidebook 2.0 Curriculum provided by the Louisiana Department of Education through LearnZillion; 100% of teachers in K-2 will implement Project Read according to the Webster Parish guidelines; Major discipline referrals and out of school suspensions will decrease by 20%. While these goals may sound simple, it is critical that all teachers in all classrooms are on the same page when it comes to the

FILE PHOTO

Webster Parish School Superintendent Johnny Rowland has been working with educators to implement the vision for schools. instruction being delivered on a daily basis to our students. In an eﬀort to make sure that these goals are being implemented with ﬁdelity, daily walk-throughs and instructional audits are being conducted on a regular basis. Instructional feedback is being

given so that teachers know areas of weakness to address immediately. Support is being provided to our teachers in a variety of ways to make sure they are comfortable with the curriculum changes and expectations from the district. We are excited to see how these

initiatives will have an overall positive impact on our district’s growth and cannot wait to share with everyone our success that we know will come in the near future! Johnny Rowland is Superintendent of the Webster Parish School System.

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EDUCATION IN WEBSTER PARISH

Paths to the Future

■ Webster Parish schools are looking to improve student workforce opportunities CALEB DANIEL Minden Press-Herald

With frequently changing curriculum requirements, the Webster Parish school system is tirelessly working to always remain aware of area industries and their real-world workforce needs. In 2017, a massive collaboration began between Webster Parish schools, Northwest Louisiana Technical College, the City of Minden economic development, and several area businesses. Johnny Rowland, who became superintendent of Webster Parish schools in the summer of 2017, said the main goal of the collaboration is for the school system to learn what parish industries need in their workforce and then make sure students have every chance to supply those needs. “We readily accept our role in the entire structure of economic development,” Rowland said. “We know ROWLAND that businesses interested in this area, one of the first things they ask is ‘Tell us about your school system.’ Businesses want to know, what is that workforce product looking like in Webster Parish? We not only acknowledge that this is real, but we accept the challenge.” One purpose of this collaboration is to address the cultural myth that all children must attend a four-year university if they want to be successful. Becky Wilson, who is in her first year as principal of Minden High School, said schools must take a more individualistic approach to student success. “No longer are we saying, ‘everyone has to go to college, everyone has to go to college,’” she said. “Instead, everyone should be successful, and success looks different for every kid. We’re going to support them whatever that success looks like.” This goal is well-timed to align with the statewide implementation of the Jump Start pathway, which provides students with multiple graduation opportunities. This will be the first year Minden High will graduate students on the Jump Start pathway. Wilson said Jump Start gives students the chance to take unique courses and earn useful Industry-Based Credentials. She highlighted the main pathways MHS currently offers. “At Minden High, students can go in a public service route, where they earn a FEMA credential and do a lot of different things with JROTC,” she said. “They can

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go in a business management route, where they earn credentials in microenterprise and become experts at different Microsoft applications. They can be on a pathway for workplace safety, in which our students will graduate with NCCER Core credentials as well as OSHA 10 and first aid credentials. We also have hospitality and tourism, where our students graduate with food and service credentials like ServSafe.” Wilson said MHS is also in the process of adding a CNA/Nursing pathway. Greg Leong, president of Clement Industries, stressed the importance of changing how alternate career pathways are viewed in Webster Parish and beyond. “I’m glad we have high schools and technical schools here in the area,” he said. “People have this perception that everyone needs to go get a bachelor’s degree to be considered successful. The reality is there are growing, great jobs in this country for high school graduates and WILSON technical school graduates. I think we’ve done a disservice to students by not letting them know that there are great skilled trades that we need in this country for businesses to flourish, and they’re good jobs.” The past year was the start of a momentous time of growth for Webster Parish schools and the workforce they produce. “I cannot thank the area industries in Minden enough for the collaboration that’s happening,” Wilson said. “There’s a great push for all of us to work together to do something bigger here.” Preparation for real-world work environments extends beyond just conversations and new classes. “Not only are we talking about this, but we’re taking students on field trips to industries, we’re going over to different companies and doing walkthroughs, and we’re going to the technical college,” Wilson said. Wilson said TOPS money is available for students both on the university track and the Jump Start track. No matter what a student’s career goals may be, the city of Minden, Webster Parish, and the state of Louisiana are working to make those goals a reality right here at home. “We’re helping them to see that the world is wide open,” Wilson said. “Let’s do what you’re passionate about and be successful in that.”

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EDUCATION IN WEBSTER PARISH

The 2017 Glenbrook Homecoming Court.

FILE PHOTO

‘A complete education’

■ Glenbrook School is a k-12 institution boasting a low student-teacher ratio Special to the Minden Press-Herald The vision of Glenbrook School is to provide students with a complete education and to prepare them for college and life. The Glenbrook administration, faculty, and staﬀ promote the development of the total child: academically through a balanced college-preparatory program; socially through leadership opportunities, extracurricular activities, and community services; and physically through complete physical education and athletic programs. Moreover, the school recognizes the responsibility it shares with the home in development of ethical and moral values. Glenbrook School is a kindergarten through twelfth grade private school that embodies a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. Glenbrook’s teachers are certiﬁed by the State of Louisiana and the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools. Glenbrook School holds accreditation through three accrediting agencies: Louisiana State Department of Education, Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/ Advanced-ED). The college preparatory curriculum of Glenbrook School provides each student with the content area courses required for the Louisiana State Department’s Core 4 and the TOPS curriculums. Students at Glenbrook School are taught self-reliance through critical thinking--not

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merely through the accumulation of facts. College credit (dual enrollment) is offered to students through partnerships with Bossier Parish Community College and Northwestern State University. Through membership in clubs and organizations, Glenbrook School encourages community service and volunteerism opportunities with organizations such as Special Olympics, Minden St. Jude Telethon and Auction, Veterans Day Program, UCAP, and local food banks. Enrichment opportunities are provided to each student in grades kindergarten through sixth. Students attend structural music classes and art classes. All students receive instruction in computer technology and the Spanish language. Glenbrook School teachers provide a variety of opportunities for the students to learn “outside the classroom” through day field trips and overnight field trips. Glenbrook’s outstanding athletic program includes sports activities ranging from football to tennis to weight training to baseball and softball. The athletic program has culminated in several state championships. In addition, the elementary physical education program provides structural activities that prepare students to participate in varsity sports. If you would like to take a tour of Glenbrook School, please call 318-377-2135 to make a request. Column submitted by the administration of Glenbrook School.

HIGHER EDUCATION/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Collaboration is key to technical college, students’ success Collaboration, Collaboration, Collaboration. When asked about our college and vision of the future for our college and community, it can be summed into one word: Collaboration. Not just collaboration in one area, but all areas. Northwest Louisiana Technical College is based in Minden, Louisiana, but that is only part of the story. We are one college with three equally important campuses located in Minden, North Shreveport and Mansﬁeld. Our students are from communities across our region. Each comes to our campuses seeking a skill that will provide a career in a high-wage and high-demand occupation. Because our college is focused on Technical Education, and the longest of our career paths is only two years, we measure success in terms of employment. Not just any employment, but successful employment in the ﬁeld that the student trained to pursue. When our students are asked why they came to NWLTC, rarely, if ever, will they say they came to obtain a diploma. The answer always relates to the future that diploma will provide. It may be “to buy a house,” “to feed my family” or “to buy a new car,” but it always relates to the future the education provides. Collaboration with our

student’s communities and the families they represent. We believe that collaboration is the only way our community and regions economy will continue to grow. Economic and community development starts one high wage job at a time. When a NWLTC student completes their studies and moves on to pursue their career, that job changes not only the former student’s life, but also the EARL MEADOR increased income helps everyone in the household. The example of one person’s success creates a model for others to follow. So the success of one person can ultimately lead to changing communities. It is through the support and collaboration of a student’s family and community that a student will succeed. Collaboration between the college and our parish school systems. Our residents need a clear pathway from our K-12 system to college life into the areas of academic or workforce skills.

If we do not collaborate and work together with our parish school system to show our young people the opportunities here at home, they will leave for more opportunities. Almost from day one after the appointment of Webster Parish School Superintendent Johnny Rowland and my appointment as the Director of NWLTC, we began meeting. We began with one foundational point - Status Quo is not acceptable. We can do better! Our initial conversations have led us to bring our academic planners into the discussion and now our parish high school leaders. Recently, NWLTC hosted a group of the Webster Parish High School Principals, Guidance Counselors, and Superintendent Rowland and his team at the college. Again, the only rule was that status quo is not acceptable. We must ﬁnd ways to collaborate on a whole new level. Oh, and collaborate they did - beyond our highest expectation! When you place that many smart people in the same room with one goal, good things will happen. The group is exploring additional Jump Start pathways for Webster Parish students, summer classes, and even an adjustment of the college’s schedule to allow easy scheduling of students into their high school classes while at

the same time taking classes at the college. By the beginning of the fall term, students from our high schools and our current students will see new options for part time enrollment in the afternoons/ evenings and career pathways that were impossible to achieve in years past. Collaboration works! Collaboration of NWLTC with our neighboring colleges, Regional Economic Development Organizations and Chambers of Commerce will ultimately lead to the success of our region. NWLTC is actively working with Delta Community College from Monroe and Bossier Parish Community College to develop an I-20 west to east corridor of Advanced Manufacturing training. NWLTC will play a major role in the instrumentation and CNC Machining training. BPCC will utilize their advanced welding facilities, and Delta has many of the same facilities. The goal is to eliminate competition between the colleges that will provide better sharing of resources as needed by the region. This project is moving forward quickly. This collaboration already includes the sharing of equipment. Over the next few weeks, Delta Community College will loan to our Minden Campus three new CNC Lathes

and three CNC Mills. This will make our Minden lab the best equipped CNC training lab on the I-20 corridor. Our curriculum is being revised to allow a student to start their training at BPCC or Delta, then move to the Minden Campus for Advanced Manufacturing training focused on CNC machining. Again, status quo is not an option. There will be collaboration between our colleges to the benefit of our communities. We have all seen economic development opportunities come to our region, look around, but decide not to stay. Far too often the lack of a sufficiently trained workforce is given as the reason for choosing another location. Webster Parish and Minden can be part of the answer to this issue. When a developer understands they can draw a workforce from east and west across the state, the numbers of available workers greatly increases. NWLTC is alive and well in your community! We have a vision and goal of not just growing our college, but growing our community. When we all collaborate and share our goals and vision for the future, it will benefit our community. Dr. Earl Meador is director of Northwest Louisiana Technical College.

Thank you, Greater Minden Chamber, for the honor of being named 2017 Business of the Year!

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HIGHER EDUCATION

The cutting edge

■ NWLTC training the workforce for today and tomorrow BLAKE BRANCH Minden Press-Herald

Northwest Louisiana Technical College (NWLTC) is on the cutting edge of training the workforce of today and tomorrow. The new main campus opened its doors in June 2013 and came equipped with 100,000 square feet of training space. NWLTC offers a wide variety of programs including Associate Degrees in Business Office Administration and Industrial Instrumentation Technology, Diplomas in Business Office Technology, Industrial Electrician, Industrial Instrumentation, Industrial Maintenance, Industrial Manufacturing, Practical Nursing and Welding. Certificates of Technical Study are available in the fields of Patient Care Technicians and Heavy Construction Vehicle Operation, while Adult Education classes include High School Equivalency, College Prep and Pathways and scholarships for entrance into programs. Across the various degree programs, NWLTC has graduated 222 students spanning from Spring - Fall 2017. Adult Education classes have served approximately 400 people.

On campus, all of NWLTC’s laboratories have corresponding classrooms. The Industrial Instrumentation program features a state-of-the-art training facility and equipment, especially in programmable logic controllers. Robotics was recently incorporated into the program as well, and will continue to expand into other advanced manufacturing areas. Through recent collaboration with Delta Community College, NWLTC’s Minden campus will increase the number of CNC lathes and mills to help support advanced manufacturing along the I-20 corridor. The practical nursing program features a modern nursing ward with all areas of simulated circumstances experienced by medical staﬀ, including ICU. All age groups are represented by simulated patients, making the hands-on training at NWLTC top notch. The college’s welding program is expanding to specialized alloys used by employers throughout the state. NWLTC is always striving to meet the needs of students, most recently by expanding their night oﬀerings in industrial instrumentation and welding, with plans to do the same for other existing programs.

Northwest Louisiana Technical College is located on Industrial Drive in Minden.

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HEALTHCARE IN WEBSTER PARISH

Springhill Medical Center.

Meeting the healthcare needs of north Webster ■ Springhill Medical Center location, quality of care vital to area CALEB DANIEL Minden Press-Herald

Springhill Medical Center is vital to the surrounding community, not just for its hometown atmosphere and close-knit environment, but also simply for its location. The nearest hospital is roughly 30 miles away, CEO Vince Sedminik said. “When someone is having an emergency event, having this hospital saves lives, and we’ve done it countless times,” he said. “Besides the life-saving capabilities of this hospital, we have a 24/7 emergency room, an ICU, and we do some surgery.” SMC offers a 58-bed facility with an inpatient and outpatient surgical ward, a full service emergency room, hyperbaric chamber in its wound care unit, physical therapy and a state-of-the-art intensive care unit, among the many other services it offers, such as CT scans, X-Ray, ultrasound and nuclear medicine. All these services aside, Sedminik said the most important component at SMC is the personnel. “The best thing going here is the people,” he said. “The hometown feeling of local people taking care of their friends and neighbors, you can’t get any more personal care than that. In addition to the high-quality work we do, if you’re taking care of someone you go to church with, or you’re taking care of someone you talk to in the grocery store, it adds a little more personal touch to it. We continuously get high ratings when it comes to satisfaction.” SMC also offers two clinics, Doctors Clinic, at the medical center with approximately 10 doctors on hand at any given time, and North Webster Medical Clinic in Sarepta. These facilities offer acute care and wellness prevention, he said. In 2016, the SMC clinics had 33,000 visits, doctors treated 10,000 patients in the emergency room, and they have had 1,100 patients treated in the hospital.

It is a certified diabetic education site partnered with Willis-Knighton Health Systems and the Martin Luther King Health Center for diabetic education. The medical center is a nonprofit hospital, partnered with Willis-Knighton Health Systems, which serves Springhill and the surrounding areas of Bradley, Taylor and Magnolia, Arkansas, Plain Dealing, Shongaloo, Sarepta, Cullen and Cotton Valley. It is governed by 13-member board of directors made up of local community members. Sedminik said SMC is vital to the community because the nearest hospital is roughly 30 miles, and with SMC in the community, it cuts down on response time and distance in medical emergencies. It is considered a topnotch facility in its care for heart and stroke patients in that it offers an array of services to serve those patients, he said. SMC offers telemedicine, which allows the hospital to link to physicians in south Louisiana to treat stroke and heart patients. Depending on the need, Sedminik said they would fly the patient to south Louisiana for treatment or to Shreveport. “It’s a medical decision, but most go to Shreveport,” he said. Derek Melancon, human resources director, said SMC has been recognized several times by Willis-Knighton for its quick response time in stabilizing a heart patient. “That’s the key, getting them stabilized and getting them the right medications,” he said. Because SMC is not parish or city owned or owned by a major corporation, it allows them to do a great deal of charity work and giving back to the community. The hospital provides the Senior Friends Center, a nonprofit organization for people ages 50 and older. The SFC provides educational programs, exercise programs as well as many other benefits. Springhill Medical Center was once the Springhill Community Hospital, which opened in 1959. In 2000, Springhill Medical Center came to be through the creation of Springhill Medical Services, Inc., a nonprofit corporation created by Greg Simmons. Through SMS, all profits are kept within the community, and SMC is allowed access to some of the most modern equipment and resources available

Northwestern State University also offers a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) in Business Analytics. The purpose of the PBC in Business Analytics is to provide training on basic business analytics to help bridge the gap between the skills of the current workforce and the needs of industry.

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD — Proﬁle 2018 — 21

Leading you to better health.

At Minden Medical Center, we understand that your healthcare journey is unique. That’s why we’re dedicated to being experts in YOUR HEALTH. From personalized orthopaedic solutions to patient centered cardiac care, we’re here for you every step of the way. Find a doctor today. 1-800-424-3627 Cardiology Phillip Rozeman, MD Brint Fegley, ACNP 102 Monroe Street, Suite A Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-3425 Wenwu Zhang, MD, PhD 102 Monroe Street, Suite A Minden, LA 71055 (318) 631-6400 (800) 856-1100 Ear, Nose and Throat Head & Neck Surgery Chuka V. Ifeanyi, MD MMC Clinic (Third Floor) #1 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 798-4440 Keitha R. Smith, MD 101 Murrell Street, Suite 3 Minden, LA 71055 (318) 382-4777 Family Medicine Michael Chanler, MD Allen Mosley, FNP Brian Sparks, PA Stephanie Williams, FNPC 102 Office Park Drive Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-2885 Leigh Davis, FNP-C #2 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-8400 Christopher Earnhardt, MD #3 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-7134 Carl H. Hines, MD 1114 Homer Road Minden, LA 71055 (318) 371-1395

Jennifer C. Lee, MD #3 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-7134 Joseph Nida, MD Raine Martin, FNP-C Lynn Rhodes, NP Tia Thomas, NP 208 Morris Drive Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-8260 G. Scott Phillips, MD 382 North Main Street Sibley, LA 71073 (318) 382-9401 Brenda Hawkins, NP 1111 Homer Road Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-7500 Health First Walk -In Clinic Lori Cummings, CPNP Kathryn Landreneau, FNP-C 101 Murrell Street, Suite 2 Minden, LA 71055 Monday-Friday 8am-8pm Saturday 9am-2pm (318) 377-3111 Internal Medicine Sheila Mariano, MD Martina Tamakloe, MD #2 Medical Plaza (318) 371-4334 General Surgery Kishore Malireddy, MD 812 Broadway Street Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-4534 Erin Soleto, MD 608 Fleming Lane Minden, LA 71055 (318) 382-9020

Hematology/Oncology Manish Dhawan, MD Kirtan Koticha, MD Ben H. Quinney, MD Kelly Warren, NP 10600 Industrial Drive Minden, LA 71055 (318) 798-4616 Joyce Feagin, MD MMC Clinic (Third Floor) Minden, LA 71055 (318) 212-8620 Nephrology Pallavi Shirsat, MD 102 Monroe Street, Suite B Minden, LA 71055 (318) 382-7290 Interventional Pain/Spine William Whyte, II, MD #1 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 861-7246

Optometry Ray Spurlock, OD 421 Homer Road Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-4246 Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Mark Wilson, MD Cordarius Wayne, ATC Meredith Thibodeaux, PA-C Jeremy Causey, PA-C 216 West Union Suite A Minden, LA 71055 (318) 299-6334 Pediatrics Cristal Kirby, MD 164 Country Club Circle Minden, LA 71055 (318) 639-9422 Elizabeth Phillips, MD 607 Fleming Lane Minden, LA 71055 (318) 371-2229

OB/GYN Robert C. Russell, MD Amanda Williams, MD Jennifer Long, WHNP Misti Morgan, WHNP 431 Homer Road Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-8855 (877) 244-3851

Kim Reagan, MD Michael Ulich, MD LeKeidra Brown, CPNP Amber Yount, CPNP 1232 Sheppard Street Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-7116 (800) 523-5708

Ophthalmology Bruce Henderson, MD #2 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 795-4770

Melinda Willis, MD Cedric Willis, PA 1175 Pine Street, Suite 100 Arcadia, LA 71001 (318) 263-7970

James E. Lusk, MD #3 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 371-9512

Physiatry Jenness Courtney, MD #1 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 424-4224

#1 Medical Plaza ● Minden, LA ● 71055 ● 318-377-2321 www.mindenmedicalcenter.com www.facebook.com/MindenMedicalCenter

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Podiatry Foot & Ankle Surgery Stefan Lorincz, DPM 101 Murrell Street Suite 1 Minden, LA 71055 (318) 377-5000 Psychiatry Gary Booker, MD #1 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 371-5646 Pulmonology Neerja Gulati, MD 101 Office Park Drive Minden, LA 71055 (318) 371-4041 Rheumatology Kyla Lokitz, MD MMC Clinic (Third Floor) Minden, LA 71055 (318) 219-7704 Urology W. Stewart Bundrick Jr., MD #2 Medical Plaza Minden, LA 71055 (318) 841-4004 Jim Noble, MD Stanley Smith, MD MMC Clinic (Third Floor) Minden, LA 71055 (318) 683-0411 MMC Hospitalists Joe Bolger, MD Ramee Dickerson, NP Ed Mariano, MD Scott Phillips, MD Carlton Rojas, NP Sedo Tamakloe, MD (318) 382-4090

HEALTHCARE IN WEBSTER PARISH

High Quality Care

Minden Medical Center is meeting patient’s needs One of Minden Medical Center’s guiding principles is to provide high quality patient care to residents of all ages in the area it serves. MMC has undergone several changes within its physician network, but CEO Greg Pearson said the medical center continues to meet the needs of its patients. “Thirty-three providers offer primary care services, such as family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics,” he said. Pearson explained the classification of each, saying family medicine treats children and adults. Internal medicine treats only adults, and pediatricians treat children from birth to age 18. He said 32 additional specialists offer services such as cardiology, ear nose and throat (head and neck surgery), general surgery, hematology and oncology, interventional pain/spine, obstetrics and gynecology, nephrology, ophthalmology, optometry, orthopedics and sports medi-

cine, physiatry, podiatry, psychiatry, pulmonology, rheumatology and urology. Pearson said with doctors retiring and others moving from a clinic to a hospital setting, some patients have had to find new physicians. “If a patient is sick and cannot get in to see their regular doctor, MMC offers the Health First After-Hours Clinic,” he said. “Physicians with private practices come after hours to the clinic to see patients.” Pearson said at Health First, doctors can see patients for a variety of conditions, such as colds, flu or flu-like symptoms, allergies and asthma, ear and eye infections, skin rashes and infections, minor burns or sunburns, nausea or diarrhea, muscle aches and pains, animal or insect bites and minor injuries. For life-threatening conditions, MMC offers a 24-hour emergency room which offers one of the lowest ER wait times in the nation. MMC’s ER is also a certified chest pain center; patients who come in with chest pains or chest pressure are

seen immediately. The ER is equipped to handle many other conditions such as stroke, abdominal pain, head, neck or back injuries, loss of limb, severe or persistent vomiting, severe pain, poisoning, major burns, persistent high temperatures and spinal injuries. Pearson said its important patients choose “the right place at the right time.” If someone is sick and cannot get into the doctor’s oﬃce that day, they can choose to come to Health First, he said. If it is a life-threatening situation, then they need to go to the emergency room, he added. “We want to make sure we have clinics

to serve everyone at the right time,” he said. “We want to make sure people have access to health care all the time.” MMC now has a doctor on staff on the floor of the hospital all the time aside from the emergency room. Known as hospitalists, these doctors are able to treat a patient who has been admitted. The hospitalist treats the patient and refers that patient to their family doctor for follow-up care upon discharge. The ultimate goal is to make the community healthier, he said and by offering a well-rounded network of health care options, it truly is “excellence in health care close to home.”

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD — Proﬁle 2018 — 23

WEBSTER PARISH MAYORS

Community mayors share visions, accomplishments Editor’s Note: The Minden Press-Herald invited mayors throughout Webster Parish to share their thoughts on their community for this Proﬁle.

MAYOR CARROLL BREAUX Springhill

Springhill has been home to me since July 2, 1982. I left a successful plumbing company, which I owned and operated for five years. In Springhill, I started a plumbing business, which I operated for 25 years before being elected mayor. I had previously served as alderman for 16 years. So, my first thought of Springhill is how receptive the people of this community are to others. Along with being self-employed and an elected official, I’ve had numerous opportunities to serve on boards, committees, and civic organizations. I’ve coached peewee football and Dixie Youth Baseball/Softball as well. Springhill is a place where someone willing to grow is given the opportunity. I appreciate the fact that in Springhill, religion – specifically Christianity — is still important. People are sometimes associated by what church they attend. Within my church, I’ve had the opportunity to grow in my faith. Springhill is adaptive to change. I’m glad to say I strongly supported the school consolidation program. My theory is – “Children excel because of the support, teachings, and assistance they get at home,

not school.This happens in every arena – sports, academics, arts, etc.” In Springhill, we continue to provide quality education and schools for our children. As I travel about this state, I see people playing various roles in the communities they now serve, who grew up in this great little city. I’m thankful to have lived in this community I call home – SPRINGHILL!

MAYOR JIMMY WILLIAMS Sibley

If you could say only one positive thing about Sibley, it would also be the one negative thing you could say: there isn’t enough residential property for all the people who want to live there. “I get calls almost every day from people who want to know where they can find land to build a home here,” Sibley Mayor Jimmy Williams said. “There is a pressing need for a new subdivision in Sibley because people know there are good schools and a low crime rate, and we fit the bill.” But luckily, there are a number of other positive things about the third largest town in Webster Parish. With an estimated population of 1,286, Sibley is constantly upgrading its infrastructure with the use of grants. “Over the last 18 months, we rehabbed two water towers,” Williams said. “We took some smaller grants and matched them up so it didn’t cost the town anything.” Williams said crews are in the process of running main water lines in areas to aid fire protection. “We are running those, replacing old pipes, from the main on Highway 371 into Sherwood Akins Subdivision now,” he said. Funding for that project comes

24 — Proﬁle 2018 —MINDEN PRESS-HERALD

from a state CWEF (Community Water Enrichment Fund) grant. “The maximum we can get is $35,000 a year,” Williams said. “With this, we have piggybacked two projects. The one we are working on right now is around $70,000.” The town is in the process of obtaining some grants that should total between $600,000 and $700,000 to rehabilitate the sewer system. “We have a (state) capital outlay grant,” Williams said. “We are getting a federal grant through Delta Regional Authority, which runs through the state. We will put those two together, and we’re hopeful it will be installed in the upcoming year.” Safety is important in the Town of Sibley. Fire District No. 2, which covers the outskirts of Sibley just north and then south down to Yellow Pine Road, passed a property tax which purchased a new fire truck and equipment. “All of our fire trucks are no more than 10 years old,” Williams said. “The Sibley Fire Department has a Number 3 rating and for a department our size, I think that’s as good as you can get.” Sibley Police Department consists of a chief and two officers. A quarter-cent sales tax, passed several years ago, defrayed the cost of that second officer in order to keep a low crime rate in the town limits of Sibley. Sibley is a very family-oriented town. In 2011, the town built a walking track and in the near

future, Williams said, the council hopes to add a water park. “Hopefully, we will have it ready this summer … if not, next summer, for sure,” he said. “It will go in behind Sibley Town Hall, adjacent to the lighted walking track.” Funding for the park will come partially from the town’s general budget, however, Williams hopes donations will play a large part in completing the project. Sibley is one of the cleanest towns around. “We have an annual clean-up day in April,” Williams said. “People comment a lot on how much we’ve cleaned up Sibley. There are some things we want to do that will add to the beauty of the town.” Recently, the town replaced an old chain link fence with a black, wrought iron fence on the south side of the railroad bridge, and Williams would like to add lights. “This is down the road, but I want to put a ‘Welcome to Sibley’ sign by the bridge, one with brick, concrete and lights” he said. Williams predicts the Sibley/ Minden area will continue to ﬂourish in the next few years. “People moved from Shreveport to Bossier, then from Bossier to Haughton, trying to get away from the crime,” he said. “Those places will continue to grow and people will want to move into more rural areas. I have no doubt we will keep growing.”

MAYOR JOSEPH ALEXANDER Cotton Valley

Starting my term in oﬃce back in 2017, I had very little to work with. By the grace of God, we have made a tremendous breakhrough! We started applying for grants

from the state to improve situations around the area. We have received a $1.6 million grant to fix the long existing sewer system problems. Also, we were granted an extra $135,000 for this project. We have also renewed close to $500,000 for street improvements. The town has started to place new street and stop signs that have been purchased. Many of the streets never had a sign or they were torn down and never replaced. Also, we are in the process of working with a local trash company for city-wide trash pickup. This will be a great asset for those that cannot take their trash off and hopefully we can keep the random dumping of trash to a minimum. New water meters will also be provided for our citizens. Its time we moved forward by replacing the outdated meters. We are in the process of starting all the steps needed to make this community better and try to bring in more revenue for the area. We welcomed in our first Family Dollar store also in the year 2017. This store is very convenient for our area. Especially for the ones that are not able to travel outside of Cotton Valley. There will be a new convenience store in our town coming soon. This will hopefully bring more jobs to our citizens, Cotton Valley is a small town with a big heart and we are looking forward to making many more needed changes soon.

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD — Proﬁle 2018 — 25

WEBSTER PARISH TOURISM

So much to

■ Webster Parish tourism has something to offer everyone CALEB DANIEL Minden Press-Herald

Northwest Louisiana may not be the first place in the world people think of when considering tourism, but Webster Parish is stepping up its game to make sure everyone gets the chance to see what the area has to offer. Everything from the opening of the Germantown Colony and Museum to the Louisiana Film Trail has led to an explosion of tourism in Webster Parish. The scenic Boom or Bust Byway on Highway 2, which winds its way through several parishes, offers travelers an interesting tour of natural and economic cycles that played a prominent role in shaping the history and economy of Caddo, Bossier, Webster and Claiborne parishes. The byway begins in Vivian and loops back around in Claiborne Parish, giving travelers an opportunity to visit kiosks which tell the stories of econom-

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ic booms and busts along the way. Visitors can download an app to their phone to scan a QR code at each kiosk which allows them to learn about each area. GPS tours are also available, with the GPS handheld device to allow visitors to take a visitors tour. Tourism includes all types of activities for anyone to enjoy in Webster Parish. Visitors can take a trip to the Germantown Colony and Museum to learn about the parish’s German roots, or they can visit any number of bed and breakfasts. Grace Estate oﬀers a restaurant with gourmet meals and a bed and breakfast. Frances Irving, a descendant of one of the writers of Gone With the Wind, oﬀers a tour of her Victorian-era home and the history of Gone With the Wind and family stories. Johnnye Kennon, interim director of tourism, said several tours have already been booked for the 2018 holiday season. Other venues and events include the Fasching Festival and related events in No-

see and do

The Germantown Colony Museum is located just outside of Minden. vember through the Mardi Gras season, the Holiday Trail of Lights during the Christmas season and outdoor sports, including plentiful ﬁshing and hunting. Other goals include further development

of historic tours including the new Gone with the Wind Tour and associated brochure, and attract more group tour groups by continuing to market Webster Parish as an outstanding group tour destination.

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD — Proﬁle 2018 — 27

WEBSTER PARISH TOURISM

Museum reaches milestone

■ Dorcheat celebrating 10 years in 2018 BLAKE BRANCH Minden Press-Herald

A gem of our Webster Parish community is celebrating 10 years of open doors in 2018. The Dorcheat Historical Association Museum has been a work in progress for 40plus years, according to museum director Schelley Francis, who adds that the museum is one of the top tourist attractions in Minden and Webster Parish. “We have conducted countless tours for locals, as well as regional groups,” Francis said. “School classes, scouting, Sunday school, retirement homes and many traveling guests have learned a little bit of history about Webster Parish through our museum.” The Dorcheat Historical Association was formed in the 1970s, with some of the earliest members being Beth Drew White, George

28 — Proﬁle 2018 —MINDEN PRESS-HERALD

Turner, Richard Carey, Marcus Wren, Major de Pingre and Charlotte Martin. It was de Pingre who contributed greatly to the purchase of the museum’s current building location on Pearl Street. “Through Major’s generosity, they were able to purchase the Pearl Street building to one day become the museum,” Francis said. Francis said funding for the museum comes mainly from private donations, however the museum also asks for funding throughout the year for building maintenance and other things the museum might need. However, the main fundraiser happens every September at the annual Museum Gala Silent Auction event. For more information or to schedule a tour of the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, contact Francis at 377-3002 or join the Dorcheat Museum Facebook Page.

Proud To CELEBRATE Our Minden Heritage For

MORE THAN 30 YEARS For more than 30 years, Fibrebond Corporation has called Minden home. The spirit of the Minden community - steadfast and strong - inspires the employees of Fibrebond to build innovative and reliable structures upon which our customers rely to protect their people and mission-critical equipment. We take great pride in our Minden heritage, and we are grateful to have created an honest, rewarding and fun culture in this remarkable city.

www.fibrebond.com

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD — Proﬁle 2018 — 29

WEBSTER PARISH TOURISM

Enjoying the great oudoors

■ Webster Parish one of the main reasons state is known as ‘Sportsman’s Paradise’ BLAKE BRANCH Minden Press-Herald

There’s nothing like the great outdoors, and Webster Parish is home to some of the most fertile and lively forests and bodies of water this country has to offer. Webster Parish’s woodlands are riddled with big and small game such as whitetail deer, turkeys and squirrels, and the deer population is doing fine as bigger bucks have started to appear in recent years thanks to proper land management, according to Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agent Will Holomon, a Minden native. “People are starting to do a better job of leaving the smaller bucks alone and letting them grow, which is good,” Holomon said in a 2017 interview with the Press-Herald. “The population has stayed about the same, but people are keeping up with what they shoot better and a bunch of leases are coming up with antler restrictions.” Webster Parish hunters also do their part to promote goodwill through programs like Hunters for the Hungry that give excess meat and game to underprivileged families and people in need. Hunting is only one side of the coin, as our parish is home to some of the South’s best fishing as well. Minden native and professional angler Homer Humphreys recently took time out of his busy schedule of preparation for the pro tour to talk with the Press-Herald about the parish fishing report. Humphreys reports that low water

levels on Lake Bistieau have proven beneficial to fishermen, with less area for fish to swim in, the fishing has been hot as the fish have thrived in 4-5 feet of water. “This year was probably the best year we’ve seen on Bistineau for Crappie fishing in 2-3 years,” Humphreys said. “The numbers, the big fish, it was unreal. Everyone is moaning and groaning about the water being down, but the draw down has been good. It puts everything in the channel. Everything from Bluegills, to Redears, to Crappie, to Bass; they just flourish on it. I did several guided trips this year and all were good sizes.” On Lake Ivan, Humphreys said the fishing was on and off, but noted several big catches. “Overall, it was a good fall and good year,” Humphreys said. “On Bass, there were at least four fish over 10 pounds and one that must have been 11.5.” The always pressing issue surrounding our area’s waters is the situation with the invasive Giant Salvinia. Humphreys said long periods of freezing temperatures this winter have helped kill plenty of the Salvinia, adding that this should help those working to rid our waters of it control the population, if only for a little while. “We’re never going to be rid of it, in my opinion,” Humphreys said. “You just have to learn to fish around it on tops, and you can no problem. But the cold snap and freeze was fantastic for us this year to control it. You might even get to see people skiing on Bistineau this year.”

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MINDEN PRESS-HERALD — Proﬁle 2018 — 31

WEBSTER PARISH TOURISM

Grace Estate

Great stays

Four Bed and Breakfasts

BLAKE BRANCH Minden Press-Herald

If you are looking for a picturesque place to stay while traveling down the I-20 corridor without the hassle of a hotel, look no further than one of South Webster Parish’s premier Bed and Breakfasts. The four locations, Grace Estate, Huﬃngton House, Calloway Corners and Fitzgerald House, each oﬀer their own unique spin on a great night’s stay.

Grace Estate

Grace Estate, located in Minden’s downtown historic district, features a downstairs dining area that has become one of Minden’s meal-time treasures. Serving delicious dishes like Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna, Smoked brisket and smoked chicken salad

Calloway Corners

32 — Proﬁle 2018 —MINDEN PRESS-HERALD

sandwiches, Shrimp and Grits and a variety of soups, salads and deserts, such as their popular white chocolate bread pudding. Grace Estate, owned and operated by Party Express Catering’s Jimmy Hall, features three newly-renovated upstairs bedrooms and two bathrooms, complete with hygiene products, closet space and television for overnight stay. Each room has it’s own style ranging from vibrant and modern to elegant simplicity.

Huffman House

Huffman House, also located on Broadway Street in Minden’s historic downtown area, is a unique luxury micro inn, offering a mixture of old and new. With three rooms available to rent, Huffman House features oversized high-definition televisions with expanded cable including premium chan-

Huffman House

in Webster call Webster Parish home nels. Each bed is Egyptian Cotton with thread count between 1500-2000, according to inn owner/operator James Huffman, Vice President of Sunrise Hospitality based in Shreveport. Huffman House is also the lone B&B in Webster Parish to feature an outdoor pool. Huffman and his wife Kimberly, also a hotelier by trade, bought the home in 2015 after a trip to Minden during the Holiday season. “We found the house for sale online and we drove to Minden to take a look at it,” James Huffman said. “It was around dusk as we walked the property, and the holiday lights came on downtown. We absolutely fell in love with Minden and bought the home. Having a bed and breakfast was always my wife’s dream, so we decided to make it come true.”

Calloway Corners

Calloway Corners in Sibley sits on Highway 371 South between Minden and Sibley, oﬀering an escape from the hustle and bustle of urban living. With a beautiful view of rural Webster Parish, the recently-renovated home is the place to be for those in search of solitude.

Fitzgerald House

The Fitzgerald House is located in the heart of Minden, only a stone’s throw from Minden High School, Minden’s beautiful brick-road Main Street and plenty of shopping. This two-story home is one of Minden’s most beautiful, featuring a comfortable tea room, dining room, elegant kitchen and wood-ﬂooring. The view from the front porch is perfect for waking up to a cup of coﬀee and taking in the beauty of the “Friendliest City in the South.”

Fitzgerald House

MINDEN PRESS-HERALD — Proﬁle 2018 — 33

First Lady of Louisiana

Donna Edwards

LOUISIANA EDUCATORS

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WEBSTER PARISH TOURISM

Grilling On Main will take place June 8-9 in downtown Minden.

FILE PHOTO

The Place to Be ■ Downtown Minden has become the

center of culture, business, and fun times CALEB DANIEL Minden Press-Herald

Minden Main Street brings the community together downtown with several big events throughout the year. Terry Gardner, Main Street president, summarized downtown’s three largest events in 2017 and how they will look in the year to come. A relatively new festival called Grilling on Main has become Minden’s premiere gathering time for food, fun, and friendship as local chefs line the street to serve their creations to hundreds of attendees. “Grilling On Main in 2017 had 32 contestants with a $5,000 payout,” Gardner said. “We also had a corn hole tournament with a cash payout as well. There were bands, vendors, and a beer garden.” “In 2018, it is going to be bigger and better were we will cap it at 50 participants. We will have a $10,000 cash payout. We will still have 2 bands Friday night and Saturday night, the beer garden and a spectacular ﬁrework display. We are also partnering with Geaux Fresh and they will be open for business at 5 AM with breakfast and coﬀee for participants.” A rousing Christmas Festival lit up Main Street over the holiday season.

“We partnered with Tourism and the [Greater Minden] Chamber to create a spectacular enchanting Christmas event,” Gardner said. “There was a Christmas parade with a carnival atmosphere all the way down to a petting zoo. All the shops were open and carolers were up and down the street. This also took place on the same day as the Historic Residential Tour of Homes. The same type of event is planned for 2018.” Around Mardi Gras, Main Street sees activity once again as the Fasching/Mardi Gras parade rolls through downtown. “We had 62 entries this past month, and despite the weather, the parade was well attended,” Gardner said. “This year the plans are to organize in the fair grounds and to start the parade on Clerk Street. We will still have food truck vendors, face painting, mask making, and a carnival in historic downtown Minden.” These are just the festivals that come out of Main Street, Gardner said. “We work daily promoting our downtown businesses and our board projects such as the restoration of the Gazebo and the fencer around the Ash Tree. Anyone who would like to assist in volunteer time for some of our many events, contact myself or Becky White with the City of Minden.” Gardner can be reached at 318-453-9440, and White can be reached at 318-377-2144.

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WEBSTER INDUSTRY

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Camp Minden, located on U.S. Hwy 80 near Goodwill Road is home to the Regional Training Institute, a top-of-the-line training center for National Guard soldiers throughout the United States.

Webster Parish’s own military base ■ Camp Minden is home to National Guard, Youth Challenge, businesses CALEB DANIEL Minden Press-Herald

Occupying roughly 15,000 acres oﬀ Highway 80, Camp Minden is home to the Regional Training Institute, a top-of-the-line training center for the Louisiana National Guard. Phase 1 of the training center was implemented in 2016, including a central plant, an education/

administration building, a billeting building, and a dining hall expansion. These facilities have the capacity to train 172 soldiers at a time, and when the RTI is complete that number will rise to 538 soldiers per class cycle. The RTI training is provided by the 199th Leadership Regiment stationed at the camp. The regiment oﬀers leadership training, military occupational training and skill qualiﬁcation courses. These

courses include senior leaders, Army basic instructor, advanced leaders, carpentry and masonry specialist, oﬃcer candidate school, heavy equipment operator, military police, motor transport operator and warrior leader courses. Camp Minden is also home to the National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program, a voluntary program where at-risk teens aged 1618 receive an opportunity to obtain their HiSet and learn the eight core components of citizenship, academics, life-coping skills, community service, health and hygiene,

skills training, leadership/followership and physical training. Camp Minden is a quasi-military program that prepares cadets to ﬁnd gainful employment or continue their education. Participants begin with a ﬁve-month residential phase living at the camp, followed by a 12- month post-residential phase, where they are paired with counselors who keep track of them to make sure they are meeting their goals. About 1,200 acres of Camp Minden is available for commercial lease.

It is also home to the LSU Fire Training Academy where ﬁreﬁghters from around the area train. Camp Minden, the former Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, is located in both Webster and Bossier parishes. In 2013, it opened a $26 million facility to house three military units in more modern accomodations. The Armed Forces Reserve Center provides housing for the 1083rd Transportation Company, the 39th Military Police Company and the 122nd Air Support Operations Squadron.

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WEBSTER INDUSTRY

On the cutting edge ■ Fibrebond a key player in communications BLAKE BRANCH Minden Press-Herald

Fibrebond Corporation, located in Minden at the heart of Webster Parish, is a local beacon of business in our community, signaling to others what is possible when family values and industry innovation come together. Their slogan, “A better way to build” isn’t just lip service, as their track record of three-plus decades of business in the telecommunications industry speaks for itself. Fibrebond has grown from a 12-man team in its earliest days into a thriving corporation with more than 500 employees who service the telecom, power and data center industries with mission-critical structures. Fibrebond’s President, Graham Walker, learned the business from Claud Walker, his father and one of the company’s three original founders.“The company was started in 1982, and it was a business that had been established in west Shreveport,” Graham Walker said. “That business then moved, in 1983, to Bossier, and then later in ’83 they bought what had been a joint-venture sawmill in Minden that had been shut down previously. We bought that facility and that’s where we currently still are in Minden over on Davenport. “In those early years, the business thrived around the emergent wireless cellular telephone industry. “Concrete enclosures for wireless telecom,” Walker said. “That was almost 95 percent of our work.” Operations boomed as the business enjoyed a period of growth, that is until 1998 when a plant ﬁre destroyed the entire facility. However, executives rallied the troops, shifting production outdoors and to other facilities. It took only 11 months to build a new facility, complete with advanced European concrete processing equipment, and Fibrebond be-

gan producing innovative precast concrete buildings. “We rebuilt, everybody maintained their paychecks and nobody missed a day of work,” Walker said. “Today we are in a bunch of diﬀerent industries, but telecom is certainly still a piece of it.” The business went through what Walker calls a “transitional time” after the last of his father’s partners left the business in 1996. One of Walker’s brothers joined Fibrebond in 1998; Graham followed suit in 2004, keeping the business free of outside investors and making the business more family-oriented than ever. When International Paper closed its Minden plant following a merger with Temple-Inland in 2012, the community lost what Walker estimates was 200 jobs. Fibrebond bought that facility in 2014 to begin their power operations, providing jobs to help replace losses from the paper plant. “The power side involves a very diﬀerent technology,” Walker said. “The enclosures get much larger, so you may see something that’s 70×20 going through downtown Minden. We have to build that out of steel because of weight, so that facility has a fabrication shop to it. Really, for us, we’re focused on anything that’s adding electrical and mechanical trade value.” Fibrebond has been a good steward of the Minden community, jumping at opportunities to donate to causes such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, various churches and Christian-run organizations and sponsoring Dixie baseball and softball teams. “You can’t lose sight of the human side of the business,” Walker said. “That is the key to managing the growth, to have a very established identity from a culture standpoint and to have really good people that buy into what you’re trying to do.” FILE PHOTO

Fibrebond currently employs 495 people in Webster Parish, making them the fourth-largest employer in the parish. Fibrebond specializes in manufacturing mission-critical structures for the telecom, power and data center industries.

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CHAMBER AWARDS

Chamber honors locals for excellence Editor’s Note: The following are the business award winners from the 2018 Greater Minden Chamber Membership Banquet. Information has been taken from the award announcements.

Business of the Year McInnis Brothers Construction, Inc. was founded in 1947 by Harry McInnis, Sr. and John McInnis, Jr. Harry Sr. and John Jr. returned to Minden after World War II and continued operating the insurance firm their father had started in 1924. Their first project was to construct a new vocational-technical school in Minden for the State of Louisiana with a budget of $25,000.00. McInnis Brothers Construction has evolved into one of Louisiana’s leading construction companies. The company’s reputation for integrity, construction expertise, and honesty in their relationships with owners, subcontractors, suppliers and team members has fueled their success with annual volumes in excess of $70 million. Over the last seven decades, McInnis Brothers has steadily expanded their capabilities into hospitality, retail, industrial/ municipal, governmental, healthcare, religious and educational construction. In addition to their corporate office located here in Minden, LA, MBC currently has offices in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Longview, Texas and is licensed to perform work in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The local corporate structure now includes Executive Vice Presidents Ben Baldwin and Richard Harris, who together add over 40 years in construction estimating and project

management experience. McInnis Brothers’ work can be found all over Webster Parish and NW Louisiana, but some of the more notable projects are: Camp Minden RTI, Camp Minden Water Treatment Plant, Minden Medical Center, Minden High School, Bon Temps, Muddy Bottoms, almost all of the churches in Minden, almost all of the banks in Minden, almost all of the schools in Minden, almost all of the government buildings in Minden and a number of homes, sheds, shanties and dog houses! Congratulations, McInnis Brothers Construction!

people, make Happy food!” They regularly have “Give Back” days where they will give a portion of their proceeds from that day to a local non-proﬁt or local charity. “When I started this, and the Lord gave me this business and put it on my heart, I wanted to be kingdom business-builder for the kingdom of God,” Martin said. “Out of my house I was only able to do a little bit… As an individual I can’t write as much as I can through a business. This way brings awareness to non-proﬁts in the community, and I’m only here through community support.”

Small Business of the Year

Business Person of the Year

Who says healthy foods can’t be delicious? On Broadway Street in Minden, Geaux Fresh Bistro has turned health-conscious ingredients into mouth-watering dishes, helping the fledgling business become a staple of the Minden community in barely over one year. Geaux Fresh was a living, breathing entity before the opening of the Bistro, as owner-operator Jodie Martin began this journey out of her own kitchen in 2014 by sending out five text messages to friends asking if they would buy meals from scratch. Ever the entrepreneur, Martin hustled up 17 orders, which took her 17 hours to make, but she got the job done. Over the coming months, word began to spread and the business eventually outgrew her kitchen. In December 2016, Geaux Fresh Bistro opened their doors, and the results have been nothing short of delicious. Geaux Fresh makes 99% of their food from scratch using the finest of ingredients. Their motto is “eat good, feel good! & Happy

Paul is married to Terri Brantley and they have one son, Spencer who is 11. He began working in the flower business when he was 17 yrs old. His mom, Bettie Gauntney, was a florist at Minden Floral, so he started working as a wholesale salesman for the previous owners. Paul loved meeting new people and most customers became extended family and to this day they network. Paul and Terri bought the business (wholesale and retail) in 1996. Within the past five years, the business has grown to include 4 other retail locations in Homer, Natchitoches, Many & Mansfield. Paul does so much for our local community and expects no recognition in return, which is why we are pleased to present him with this award. Congratulations, Paul Brantley!

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Community Partner of the Year Over the past several years, our 2018 Community Partner has stubbornly and con-

sistently overcome challenges and achieved success by making a difference in lives where it was never made before. Due to support of a small, but dedicated Board, generous volunteer staff, key donor organizations and supportive community members who step up and contribute when asked, Project Reclaim has been able to service some of the youth and families in the most impoverished and underserved areas of Minden. The caring and generosity of supporters helped Project Reclaim have a very successful 2017! ■ 100% of the program’s 8th graders promoted to high school ■ 100% of participants remained in school ■ 100% of participants remained free from involvement in teen pregnancy ■ Only 1 of 63 participants was involved in juvenile court after enrollment in the Optimal Life Skills Program Ron Anderson has made it the mission of Project Reclaim to make a difference in these kids lives, and in return, makes a difference in our community. Project Reclaim assists kids in fighting to overcome poverty, self-esteem, and disparity issues, while realizing that a “rising tide lifts all boats.” Project Reclaim develops pride and self confidence within the kids and helps them to look outside themselves by helping others, and thus validating themselves. “Touching lives and making a difference” where it has not been made before. If you have not been to one of their Youth Leadership Sessions, we highly recommend you check it out. Project Reclaim is making a positive change in our community, one child at a time. Congratulations, Ron Anderson and Project Reclaim!

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HELPING OTHERS

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Volunteers celebrated raising more than $1.5 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 4. Minden hosts the St. Jude Auction each year.

Still a ‘million-dollar city’ ■ Minden St. Jude Auction raised over $1.5 million in 2018 CALEB DANIEL Minden Press-Herald

When it comes to giving generously, the city of Minden once again cemented its title of “Million Dollar City” in 2018, raising over $1.5 million for cancer research at the Minden St. Jude Auction. The auction, a four-day affair held at the Civic Center over Super Bowl weekend, featured hundreds of auction and raffle items. Participants from across the country called in to place bids and entries on everything from gift cards to a 2018 GMC Yukon, all to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The event was much more than an auction, however. From humble beginnings 42 years ago as a oneday radio broadcast, it has grown to include a chili cook-off, a half marathon, a children’s fun day, and much more. This year’s theme was “The Little Town that Could,” inspired by the popular children’s book, “The Little Engine that Could.” “We’re not the biggest town,

we’re not the most wealthy town and we’re certainly not the flashiest town, but we are definitely the epitome of the little engine that could,” said 2018 Chair Melissa Brown. “And as the saying goes, ‘We think we can. We think we can.’” This year, the auction website – which has made the annual auction a worldwide event – brought in more than $487,673, Laura Hollingsworth said. Students of Webster Parish raised more than $131,000, while the Minden Run for St. Jude raised more than $68,000 from 1,155 runners in 5K, 10K, and half marathon events. Other off-site events raised money throughout the year. On site, the sales of merchandise totaled more than $60,000. Mark Chreene with KASO/KBEF radio put together several statistics that show Minden’s impressive history of giving over the 42-year history of the Minden St. Jude Auction. Not only was 2018 the largest total ever raised at the auction, it was also the biggest increase from year

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Laura Hollingsworth holds up the check showing the total amount of money raised during the Minden St. Jude Auction Feb. 1-4. The event set a new record, raising more than $1.5 million for the Children’s research hospital in Memphis, Tenn. to year, topping the 2017 total by $214,693. The auction ﬁrst broke a million dollars in a single year in 2012, and since that point the event has raised at least that much every

time. The total amount raised from 2012 onward is $9,055,774. But the biggest tally of all, the total amount raised for cancer research since the auction’s inception, is $18,309,071.

For decades, the city of Minden and surrounding areas have earned a reputation for selﬂess giving. As the tradition continues, residents can truly know they live in the Little Town that Could.

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NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

A JLFP volunteer boxes food products to be picked up at the food pantry’s new location, 814 Constable Street.

FILE PHOTOS

Food Pantry meets needs, forms relationships ■ Joe LeBlanc more than a decade old Special to the Press-Herald It’s getting close to lunchtime, and your stomach is growling. The big decision becomes where you will go to eat to satiate the feeling that you’re starving while hoping there’s enough money in your account to cover the meal. Now imagine feeling like that way all the time – hungry, with little or no money to buy your next meal. Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry was formed more than a decade ago to ensure families won’t have to face that as a way of life. “People need to know that when they face hard times they are not alone,” said Jessica Lewis, director of JLFP. “Our vision is to meet the immediate need by providing food,

but we also work hard to form relationships with our clients in order to connect them with other resources in our area that may meet other needs they have.” The idea is to treat the problems that result in hunger in the local community. When JLFP was founded in 2007, volunteers began by feeding 30 local families. In December 2017, they served 700 local families, with a large majority of them living in Minden. Others live within Webster Parish. “In 2017, JLFP served 4,947 households and gave out 297,700 pounds of food,” Lewis said. Clients receive assistance based on USDA income guidelines. A family of four has to make less than $2,600 per month.

“Average income for a client’s family of four is around $1,200,” Lewis said. Using anywhere from 100 to 200 volunteers each month, JLFP handles monthly food assistance, a community garden where clients can grow their own produce, 85 homebound deliveries to clients that are medically disabled and now offers pet food through a pet pantry program. JLFP spends an average of $1,000 per month on food, purchasing it from NWLA Food Bank in Shreveport. “New this year, we will be opening a thrift store,” Lewis said, “and, beginning in February, we will be offering free monthly classes on finances to help break the cycle of poverty.”

Two JLFP volunteers deliver groceries to a homebound resident.

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