Spring 2009 Issue by The Minute Magazine

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

IthisNSIDE issue...

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

6 7 9 12 16 24 26 32 36

Weeder’s Digest by Anita Goodson On the Spectrum by Lela Robichaux The White Elephant by Galen White It Runs in the Family by Jackie Lewis Heroes Forever by Bennye Stewart Antique Junkie by Donna Arender Small Town Folks by Lynette Carter Sheets Take a Springtime Safari! by Jackie Lewis

SPRING 2009

JACKIE LEWIS & TIFFANY BYRAM Owners/Publishers Regional Editors Graphics/Layout

VICKI CASKEY Sales Manager

KERRY EASLEY Ad Sales

JENNY REYNOLDS Founder

Contributors:

Donna Arrender Chris Broussard Schelley Brown Tiffany Byram Lynn Warnock-Dorsey Anita Goodson Nelson Goodson Ruth Jeane Jackie Lewis Janet Reeves Lela Robichaux Lynette Carter Sheets Bennye Stewart Margaret Timmons Galen White

Letters to Mama by Jackie Lewis Circulation & Distribution: James “Shay” Callen

Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, DeSoto, Red River, Natchitoches, Webster & Lincoln Parishes in Louisiana and Columbia County, Arkansas

CIRCULATION OF 10,000 READERSHIP OF OVER 15,000 The Minute Magazine is published quarterly.

The cover of this issue was taken by Jackie Lewis while on tour at the High Delta Safari Park in North Eastern Louisiana. For more information on High Delta, visit their website at www.highdelta.com or call us at 318.382.1900 for more information.

The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Webster, Claiborne, Bienville, Caddo, DeSoto, Lincoln, Red River, Natchitoches and Bossier parishes. They are FREE for ou to enjoy. Take a few to your friends, relatives or anyone else that you think might need a refreshing, enlightening “minute.” Please tell us what you think - we’d love to hear your input!

Contact Information: Office Phone: 318.382.1900 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 Mail: 512 Fort Avenue, Minden, LA 71055

This quarterly magazine is FREE! However, you can have it mailed to your home or business for $20 a year to cover postage and handling. Call 318.382.1900 or send your check and mailing address to The Minute Magazine, 512 Fort Avenue, Minden, LA 71055.

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced without permission. The Minute Magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials. The editorial content of The Minute is prepared in accordance with the highest standards of journalistic accuracy. Readers are cautioned, however, not to use any information from the magazine as a substitute for expert opinion, technical information or advice. The Minute cannot be responsible for negligent acts, errors and omissions. The opinions expressed in The Minute are those of our writers and do not necessarily reﬂect the views of the publisher. The publisher has the right to accept or reject any advertising and / or editorial submitted.

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

SPRING 2009

FOR GOOD MEMORIES, WE ARE THANKFUL faces would be tightly drawn. When she was satisfied that, indeed, the strand was right,, she would begin to roll the curler toward our heads while never letting up on the tensity of the strand of hair. She would continue to roll, until at least one full round of scalp hide was wound securely around the curler.

A WRITTEN HISTORY OF THE CARNELL AND LONNA TRIPP FAMILY OF CULLEN, LOUISIANA. WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BYMARGARET TRIPPTIMMONS

GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY Every Saturday evening, just as it was getting cool enough to play, it was time for us to start getting ready for Sunday. Mama would call us kids in and start the long process of washing seven little girls’ heads of hair and rolling five of those. The twins were blessed with beautiful naturally curly hair and did not have to stand the torment of wearing curlers. There’s no telling how many barrels of shampoo we used in our time at home, or how many thousands of gallons of water. Mama literally would wear combs and brushes down to the nub! There’s no way anyone could ever count the curlers that we went through. I sometimes wonder if God didn’t feel sorry for Mama when He finally gave us our little brother Jimmy so she wouldn’t have another head of hair to wash and roll! Seems like she started with us little girls first. She would take us to the bathroom, or to the kitchen sink, and lay us down on the cabinet flat on our backs with our heads hanging over the edge of the sink or lavatory. She would run warm water over our hair, dribble on the shampoo, and scrub us down. She never failed to give our eyes a good washing out with soap at the same time in spite of our protests and dodging. When she had rinsed out the last bubble from our LONG squeaky

clean strands, she would wind a towel around our head and usher us into the living room. There, she would sit us on the floor in front of her, with our backs to her. After she had locked us into position with her knees, she began the task of getting out the tangles. Since our hair was waist-long and conditioners and tangle-free products had not been invented, we knew we were in for a torture session until the tangles were gone. Mama would begin the process of tangle removal by parting off little swatches of hair. She would slowly begin at the top of our head with the comb, and gradually pull it through the hair, one swatch at a time, until all of the ‘rat’s nests’ were gone. Finally, when she could run a comb smoothly through all of our hair, she began the task of putting in the curlers. I remember the curlers being made of rubber. Some were pink and some were brown. They were about the length and almost the width of your index finger. They were split in half down the middle and had a circular ‘cord’ that continued from each side and joined at the end in a small circle. Mama would slip a strand of hair into the slit of the curler, slide it down to the end of the hair, and then roll the curler upward. She would keep the hair taut as she rolled toward the top of the head. Once she had securely fastened the curler, she parted off the next section and began the rolling process over and over until the last strand of hair was rolled. The trouble was, Mama loved a good tight curl and a good tight curl was what she always got! The way I remember it, and I’m sure that the other sisters do as well, Mama first got a good firm hold on us with her knees. She then anchored us to the floor with her foot on our dress hem. Next, she tightened the strand of hair by pulling it straight up and away from our heads. She did this by placing the palm of her hand on our head and pulling until it had reached the tinsel ability to sound out the key of high “C” when plucked properly. The harder she pulled, the more our eyes would squinch upward and the more our

When Mama was finished, we could neither shut our eyes nor stop smiling! It wasn’t that we were wide awake and happy, it was that our hair was so tightly wound around the curlers that we looked like giggling little Asian girls! No sooner would one happy little “Oriental girl” exit the living room door, than Mama would be back in the bathroom or kitchen starting the whole process over again. It took hours of washing, combing, and rolling before we were ready for bed. Sunday morning must have come much too soon for Mama. She had to get up, fix breakfast for 10 hungry people, start dinner, and begin to unroll her little girls’ hair. We all had ringlets. Mama would take a strand of hair, comb it around and round her index finger, and then p ull her finger out from the bottom. It all worked well on days that we traipsed off to Sunday School looking as if we all had blonde, auburn, or brunette

wieners attached to the sides of our skulls. Invariably, at least one of us would lose a curler in the night and would wind up with eleven wieners and one ‘dribble’ down the back of our necks. Mama would try to remedy this by combing the hair around her finger and securing the end with a Bobbie pin. Sometimes she just tucked the hair into the color of our dress. Off we would go to church. Mama would parade us proudly down the aisle of the little white building that was known as King’s Corner. I guess folks down there always looked forward to seeing us because all eyes would follow us as we marched down the aisle to our seats. Mama always said, “Folks always expect big families to be dirty and sloppy! Well, soap is cheap and it doesn’t take too long to run an iron over a dress!” Mama proved it to the world when she took her Saturday evening to wash and roll her girls’ hair so they could look nice and clean for Sunday School and Church. And, everyone could tell that we were happy. At least it LOOKED like we were happy... thanks to Mama and her girls’ tightly wound curlers and getting ready for Sunday! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPRING 2009

Weeder’s Digest with Anita Goodson

“People who love compost

Parks Department and encourage them to stop planting any more wind pollinated trees. There are hundreds of fine choices of street trees that do not cause any allergies. Working together we can lower, if not eliminate, pollen and we’ll all breathe better for the effort.

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Spring is the perfect time to prepare new garden beds. It is also a great time to use that compost you have worked so hard to make. Add it to vegetable or flower gardens before planting. If you have a worm bed it is time to clean it out. Empty the soil with the worms into a wheel barrow. The daylight will make the worms go down into the bottom of the soil. You can then scrape off the top portion and use the soil. Put the worms back into their box to make more worms and compost. Worms are so easy to keep you’ll never even know they are hard at work for you. You may even want to use a few to go fishing.

can drive you crazy, eyeing your eggshells well before you’ve finished your egg. ~ Diana Wells, “Manure, Sweet Manure,” Green Prints, Spring 1998

With spring arriving leaves are budding out too fast for the eye to see. Pollen is in the air. It is also on the car, in the house and in our lungs. Pollen is the enemy if you live in Louisiana. Allergies are a thing we have to live with nor can we do much about it. Pollen is also our friend; making it possible for us to have fruit, vegetables, and all other matter of living plant life, … and honey too! If gardening sends you into sneezing fits, you are not alone. More than 35 Million people in the United States alone suffer from chronic sinus problems. Here are some allergy-free gardening tips: Do plant female trees and shrubs. They are messier than male varieties but produce no pollen and they actually trap and remove pollen from the air. Plant disease-resistant varieties; mildew, rust, black spot, and other plant disease reproduce by spores and these spores cause allergies. Use only trees and shrubs well adapted for your climate zone. Native plants are the healthiest choices. Diversity is good. Use a wide selection of plants in your landscape. Lack of diversity often causes over or under-exposure to the elements. A balanced mixture of different heights and proper layout will result in a healthy garden, whether it be vegetable, flower or both. Use pollen free selections whenever possible. Their are many hybrids with highly doubled flowers and in many cases these flowers lack any reproductive organs which create pollen. Examples would be formal double camellias and tuberous begonias. Wild birds are a plus. They eat many insects. Plant fruiting trees and shrubs to encourage more birds. Suet also attracts many insect-eating birds. Insect dander causes allergies and birds consume an incredible amount of aphids, whiteflies, scale and other invertebrate pests (insects). If you must have some high-allergy potential plants in your yard, watch where you plant them. Avoid planting next to bedroom windows, patios, well-used walkways, or by front or back doors. Place plants as far away from the house and downwind. If you have a tree or hedge that has high allergy potential and don’t want to remove it, consider keeping it heavily sheared so it will flower less. Examples would be ligustrum or boxwood. Get involved with your city’s Tree and

If you don’t have a worm bed you can create one by simply getting a plastic storage box and drilling small holes in the bottom of it. The storage box should be placed on bricks in some sort of tub or plastic pan with water in it to keep ants out. Keep the water level so the pan holds water but the container is above the water so the worms won’t drown! Place a small amount of compost in the bottom of the box, then layer it with newspaper, leaves, kitchen scraps (no meat or dairy), cardboard, and moisten everything to a spongy consistency. Keep a piece of screen or burlap over the top to keep the worms from escaping in a lightning storm (They will); or a Possum or Raccoon from having a meal. Add green matter and brown matter as needed for the entire year. Keep moist but avoid drowning the worms. Next year you’ll have the best in fertilizer for nothing more than a small amount of effort. They call it Black Gold for the garden. February thru early March is a good time to plant from seed - tomatoes, eggplant, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, bell pepper, radish, and hot peppers in a cold frame or greenhouse, . Prune and plant fruit trees. Mulch beds for dry seasons. Build trellis’ for vines. March planting: snap and lima beans, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, radishes, hot peppers. Late March: pumpkin, Southern peas, bell pepper transplants, & basil. April: Eggplant, cantaloupe, corn, and honeydew melon. For enjoyable reading check out “Lasagna Gardening“, by Patricia Lanza. This book features a layering system for bountiful gardens: no digging, no tilling, no weeding, no kidding. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me with plants in the subject line to BlondiesBulldog@ aol.com. Remember to have fun gardening. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

ON THE

SPECTRUM

with Lela Robichaux

I love getting good news. I mean, who doesn’t, right? As my husband and I sat at our up-teenth meeting at my son’s school recently, we heard a lot of promising comments. The best of all being that my son is beginning to socialize with his peers. Yes, my son has always had friends, but let me explain friendship as my son has viewed it thus far. The setting can be anywhere from school to the grocery store. He sees a child about his own age, he walks up to them and says “Hi, my name is Trent.” This person is now his best friend. He views everyone as his friend, whether they wave to him or punch him in the jaw. You don’t believe me, but seriously, we’ve seen it happen. He got in a fight on the school bus – he told us that a boy hit him, but that they are friends. He had a neighborhood boy coming over to play who ended up robbing him blind of all his Gameboy games but yet, there’s no way he meant anything bad about it because he’s a friend! It’s hard enough trying to explain that one to a child, let alone a child who is socially naïve. But it is very good to hear that he is responding to other kids who are speaking to him. Usually he’s so wrapped up in his own world that when you say hello or ask a question in passing, he doesn’t even respond. A lot of adults think he’s just rude, but that’s not the case. If I am with him, I will get his attention and say, “Someone just spoke to you.” He will then focus on that person and respond. It is also good to hear that other kids are engaging him in conversations and play. It has always been hard for him to play with more than one or two kids at a time. He has a hard time dividing his time up between people. He plays with our neighbor’s kids, and they have fun but both children are two or more years younger than him. He has always responded better to younger children or to adults. We were once told that my son is two to three years behind socially. Which means he acts more like a 7 or 8 year old than a 10 year old. That’s sometimes very difficult to remember and nearly impossible for other 10 year olds to understand. He has always been what you would call “quirky” and other kids mostly didn’t seem to mind. But as he has gotten older, it matters more and more. I remember when we first started this battle and my son would be the child on the playground, sitting alone, exploring bugs or collecting different leaves to study while the others ran, screamed and hung from play equipment. We once had a teacher that told us, “Poor

Trent, he wants so badly to just be alone during recess but the other kids have figured out that whatever he’s doing is interesting and they just won’t leave him alone.” This came after he had a series of mishaps of yelling at people to leave him alone. The other children were only doing what is normal at that age; they were trying to engage in play with other children. My son was only interested in being by himself. He always seemed happier that way. No one would upset his ordered world. And we went through the period where no one could call him by his name. He had decided, for security purposes, that he would change his name every day. For two months we had to call him by a different name daily and other kids did not understand why he wouldn’t respond when they tried to talk to him. I can remember being so sad and upset at birthday time that we had no one to invite other than family and maybe one or two kids that my son connected with on some level. When I would think back to my own birthdays and remember how great it felt to invite tons of kids and to be crushed that someone didn’t show up, I would feel so bad for my son. My husband pointed out to me that our son doesn’t look at friendship the same way we do. And he’s right. My son doesn’t hold friendship in the same regard as most people and that, too, makes me sad. I just felt that his life would be so empty. Good friends can make your life full and can be very rewarding. I was worried that he was missing out on something. But, when I stopped to look at this another way, he wasn’t missing anything. How can you miss something that you never knew was there? He was always happy about having a birthday whether anyone showed up or not. But it makes me happy to know that he is starting to want to be part of a friendship. He is starting to come out of himself and see that others can be a fulfilling part of his life. Now I worry that he will chose the right kind of friends and not people who are there just to take advantage of the naïve child who they can pull around by puppet strings. I guess even in the happiness, I will always be worried about my son. I guess something would be wrong if I didn’t worry. Let’s just look to the future with hope and I know that we’ll make it through.

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SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

Spring Arts Festival #15 will celebratE

ancient Egypt For the past fifteen years, organizers for Cultural Crossroads’ annual Spring Arts Festival have included the celebration of various cultures, foreign or domestic. This year’s festival will focus on the art and culture of ancient Egypt. “Pharaoh’s Favorites” is the theme for this year’s festival slated for April 23-26th in Minden. Special exhibits and activities will include a maze in search of King Tut’s tomb as well as an archeological dig for Egyptian treasures. Youngsters will be encouraged to enter their art for competition in this area’s largest art show for children ages K-12. Poetry and handmade crafts will be added to the competition. The Great Talent Search will once again showcase the talent of parish children in the largest on stage competition in search of the “Most Talented School” and the “Most Talented Student.” Last year Richardson Elementary School took the honors of “Most Talented Elementary School” for the third year in a row. Minden High won “Most Talented High School” while Webster Junior High won “Most Talented Junior High School.” “Richardson Elementary will be the ones to beat,” states festival Chairperson, Chris Broussard. “Richardson Elementary has won more times than any other school in the parish. “They sponsor their own in house talent show prior to the festival and their art entries have always pushed them ahead of other schools. They will be treated to special Arts In Education activities this year as part of their winnings. One such activity will include an opportunity for them to write their own book and have it published,” Broussard explains. Last year’s “Most Talented Student,” Janiece Roberts from Webster Junior High wowed the crowd with her ballet performance while Collin Jenkins from Shongaloo danced his way to a standing ovation and third place honors.

First place honors went to another dance group that stunned the crowd with their precision. Abby Reynolds, Madeline Couch, Jordan Lary brought back top honors to Central Elementary School. And Holly Maynard’s second place honors put Harper Elementary School in the running for “Most Talented School.” But it was all the winning art entries that gave Richardson the lead over Harper. The Great Talent Search will be held all day Saturday, April 26th. Open auditions for the opportunity to be included in the more than 35 performances will take place during the month of March and April. Details about the competition will be released to every student in Webster Parish in late February and early March. Open auditions are expected to be held in each section of the parish so that every student will have an opportunity to present their talent. Points in the art, poetry and craft division as well as the performing arts division are combined to find the “Most Talented” in our parish. There is no entry fee for any of the various categories. Professional judges from outside the parish are contracted each year to provide fair and impartial results. Artists and craftsmen wishing to show and sell their fine arts or crafts will be included on a first-come, first served basis. The juried selection process will require that every art or craft submitted for inclusion be handmade by the vendor. No commercial products will be allowed. Featured artists with a unique art or craft will be selected for special compensation including free booth space and special publicity. Booth space rental is $25 for Saturday only. The movie industry has had such an impact on our area that a new program will be introduced to the various elementary schools in the area. Cultural Crossroads and the Robinson Film Center of Shreveport

will be partnering to bring “Lights, Camera, Action” to third graders this year. Third graders from area Minden schools will be engaged in the scripting, set design, costumes and the filming of their own movie. They will spend the next several months working on their movie that will debut at this year’s Spring Arts Festival on Friday, April 25th. The movie will be shown on the Farm’s outdoor movie screen. Cultural Crossroads is Webster Parish’s only arts agency. Their membership is open to the general public. Annual dues of $30 per household help to finance the organization’s four acre ‘Farm’ located at 416 East Union. The sixteen year old non profit own and manage the four acre ‘Farm’ and provide many of the students with their first real art experience. If you are interested in volunteering at this year’s festival, call Chris Broussard at 393 5991. If you are interested in more information about the organization or their activities, visit their website at www.artsinminden.com. The Spring Arts Festival is funded in part each year by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. A grant from the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau provides promotional and marketing dollars for the parish’s only arts festival.

Spring Arts Festival 2008: Janiece Roberts, “Most Talented Student” in Webster Parish

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

The White Elephant by Galen White

HEROES ARE NOT SELFAPPOINTED -----------------------------------------------If you remember the last issue of the Minute Magazine, I told you we were asked to write about heroes. And that’s what I did. At that time and as the gears and wheels in between my ears began creakin’ and groanin’ tryin’ to figure out how I was gonna compose the article, I did what most people would do. I searched and thought about other folks who, to me, were heroes. That’s logical, isn’t it? Well, I’ve been advised the theme for the upcomin’ issue – or if you prefer, this issue – is to be a continuation on heroes. At times, comin’ up with a subject to write about can be difficult. When asked to write again on the same subject, well, my heart lost heart! I first thought it was nothin’ more’n an itchy ear, but when I determined it was my heart leavin’ through my left ear, I fig’erd I was in for a difficult time. I fig’erd right ‘cause my brain, weak and feeble as it is, as well as my lungs, liver, and pancreas, were right on the heels of my heart. Left with nothin’ much more’n some bones and sinew, I set about tryin’ to come up with another heroes article. Although it took some time, my heart and other organs finally returned to their original restin’ spot. Of course, only part of my brain returned; the rest is still traipsin’ around somewhere out there. If you happen to see it, please tell it to call home. I need all the help I can get! Anyway, I got to thinkin’ about heroes again. As I said, when we think of heroes we most often think of someone else. But have you ever thought of yourself as a hero? That may be a difficult question to answer if you really think about it. First off, if I were to claim myself a hero, I would immediately be labeled arrogant, egotistical, and most likely, a liar. Rightfully so, too. It’s one thing to have saved someone’s life and be labeled by others as a hero; but with no more than what I’ve done in my life, I’d be a fool to utter – or even entertain the thought – of such a claim.

Most of us, however, have dreamed of being a hero. And that’s good. While the dream may have been nothin’ more than scorin’ the winnin’ touchdown or tossin’ in a basket to win the game in overtime, we would still be considered a hero. Even if the dream is of saving the life of someone or saving the life of a pet, it still reflects your desire to do something good. That in itself, to me, is part of the definition of a hero. Do sports heroes belong in the same class as other heroes? Maybe. Maybe not. Obviously, that remark does not mean an athlete or coach cannot be a real hero. For example, a sports figure who is determined to be a great role model for kids – as well as adults – is certainly a hero in my book. If my memory is correct, Charles Barkley, a well-known, highly talented, and very successful basketball player of the NBA, created a lotta hoopla a number of years ago while he was still a pro player. I remember seeing the story unfold on television as the play was over and he and an opposing team player headed back down court. Trailing a step or two behind his opponent and for no reason other than to inflict harm as he passed by, Mr. Barkley threw a vicious elbow to the face of his opponent. The opponent was taken totally by surprise and was unsuspecting of any impending assault from anyone. I’m sure Mr. Barkley thought the referee wasn’t looking, but he was wrong on that point, too. The ref immediately called a technical foul, and if I’m not mistaken, Barkley was ejected from the game. In my humble opinion, he should have been banned from ever playing the game again; sucker punches have no place in athletics. Later on, someone asked Mr. Barkley if that was the kind of role model he wanted to be for kids. His arrogant reply was something like this, “I ain’t no role model! I don’t want to be a role model! You media people are trying to make me a hero, but I ain’t one.” Well, I have to agree with him, but unfortunately, Mr. Barkley wasn’t smart enough to figure out the choice wasn’t his to make. Nor was it the choice of the media, either. But to many kids who dreamed of being an NBA player just like Sir Charles, he was, indeed, a hero. Certainly not for his moral attitude and outstanding behavior, but solely for his basketball

ability. Trust me, there’s a lot more to being a hero than physical ability. In most cases a hero is someone who does the right thing without forethought or afterthought. It is someone who gives encouragement

when encouragement is needed. It is someone who helps without being asked. It is someone whose actions have reflected honor and dignity, trust and compassion. A sneak attack on an unsuspecting individual doesn’t even come close to my definition. Ever hear the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”? Well, the same is true with heroes. The decision to look upon someone as a hero belongs to those doin’ the lookin’! I’m sorry, but I can’t help but believe we’ve made some pretty lame choices of some whom are deemed heroes. On the other hand, I can’t help but believe there’s a lot of heroes walking around unheralded. You may be one of them! - Galen

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

My Dream Job by Schelley Brown

For those of you that know me the following statement is the way I describe my self; “If it is old, rusty, paint peeling off, buried or will not crank, I have something to do with it!” In 2007, I was finally after nearly 50 years on this earth able to find my dream job. I believe it is not how much money you make but how much you enjoy what you do that is important in life. So in that respect I am finally where I need to be. In January 2007, after several attempts by the Dorcheat Historical Association to get me involved helping them raise money, I went to work for them. As some of you know I had just about volunteered myself into the poor house and I just couldn’t do anything else and work selling cars too. So I went to the association President; Mr. Thad Andress and asked for a job. That same day a meeting of association board members was held and I was hired. I was so excited and thrilled to be able to finally do the things that I love, plan events and to help preserve history and raise awareness of our history in Webster Parish. The Dorcheat Historical Association Museum wasn’t even open yet and I went to work the next day trying to figure out how to raise money, awareness and gain support from our community. Six months later after much hard work from

many, many people we opened the doors, to what I think is one of the best local museums around. When a new visitor walks in the door, usually the first word out of their mouth is “WOW”! With the direction of Museum Exhibit designer local artist Larry Milford has transformed our building at 116 Pearl Street into a “step back in time”. It reminds me of going into some of the exhibits at Disney World. We are first class and have Larry Milford to thank for a lot of it. It truly is a work of art from the front door to the back door. It is also a huge work in progress and will be for quite some time. Our museum is a timeline of our parish. We start with our earliest inhabitants the Indians and move on to our pioneer families and early settlements. The importance of cotton to our area is highlighted with one of the last square bales from the area. We even have a log house inside the museum that is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. From there we have the Civil War and Reconstruction, Black History, Historic Homes, Famous People (too many to even list in this story) Education, Disasters, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Churches, Fire

and Police, Commerce and Theaters just to name a few of our wonderful exhibits that are in the works. Sound effects and live footage add to your overall museum visit. Funding is always an issue with museums. We have been fortunate so far to have some generous local support and also big support from the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau. Historic venues are one of the biggest tourism draw in most states and Louisiana is no exception. We now have a place for visitors to come. One day soon will have a theater room, equipped with surround sound and a large screen monitor to view educational and historic presentations. We are so excited about the plans for this room we can hardly wait to get started on it. We have had several financial benefactors designate there money for this new room. Other fundraising projects include our two cookbooks. Our first cookbook “A Taste of Yesterday” not only has 400 recipes it includes historic pictures and history of Webster Parish. This first book sold over 500 copies in 10 days when it first hit the shelves in 2007. In 2008 our second book told of early

education of Webster parish “A Taste Of Class” was just as big of a hit as our first book. In fact I think now people will expect a new book from us every year. These books have been given as gifts to a few people you may have heard of; President Bush, Allison Krauss, Secretary of State Jay Dardenne. I have mailed books all over the country! We still have a few available and you can go to our web site www. museuminminden.blogspot.com to see the information about them and the rest of the exciting things going on at the museum. This year the Minden Press Herald voted the museum the number 10 item in the top 10 things that happened in 2008. To me that was extremely exciting. One of the reasons we were voted in the top 10 is the monthly events that started in March of 2008 and ran until November of 2008. These second Monday of the month events are called “A Night for the Museum” and are held at Christopher’s located just around the corner from the museum at 615 Main Street in Minden, Louisiana, right in the heart of Minden’s Historic Downtown area. These events take place at 6:00 P.M. with refreshments and socializing first and at 6:30 our guest speaker begins. These historic events have featured two men that had grandfathers that fought in the Civil War, one gentleman that began his love of the railroad at 16, a local author of a book written about a 1916 murder, the Bossier Parish Historian, the Webster Parish Historian, a trip down memory lane back to the 1950s, a touching night filled with stories about the immigrant families

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!” that came to our area with nothing but a few dollars, WWII Veterans and much more. January 12, 2009 our second season began with WWII Veteran Mr. John S. Willis. This 90 year old veteran flew over 30 amazing missions in WWII. February’s focus on our Black History and Dr. Roy G. Phillips’ amazing research of his family back to Africa and his work on our Black History exhibit will be an important night to remember. More speakers are lined up for the year so you don’t want to miss a single one. If you do miss one, we have a DVD available for $10 each of our speakers. You can read about our events also on our web site and in our new Newsletter “Legacies and Legends”. If you aren’t on our mailing list please give me a call at

318-423-0192 and I will add you to our data base. If you have items that you think would be of interest to the museum please drop by or give me a call. The museum hours are Closed on Monday, Open Tuesday – Friday 10 A.M. – 1 P.M. closed from 1-2 for lunch and back from 2 P.M. – 4 P.M. Saturday Hours are 10 A.M. – Noon. We are also open for special meetings and group tours by appointment. Cost is $4.00 Adults $2.00 Children with special group rates available. Something is always happening at the museum. Remember this is not my museum it is your museum so help us make history happen in 2009. For more information visit www. museuminminden.blogspot.com . - Schelley

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

An Interview with Artists Kerry and Kimberly Ellington Kimberly -I can’t really say that any one person influences my art. I guess I have of moment of inspiration and I run with it. It doesn’t matter if it is a person, an animal, and sign - whatever strikes me is what I paint. I really think that something has to appeal to you before you truly enjoy painting it. I have no preference in what I paint as long as I enjoy it. Tell us about the people in your life that encouraged you artistically. Kerry and Kimberly sat down with The Minute Magazine Staff and gave us a little insight into their creativity. Here are their answers to some rather indepth questions:

Do you think that there is an artistic movement happening in North Louisiana? Kerry - I believe there has always been an artistic movement in North Louisiana. We already have many accomplished artists from our area. Just stopping by The Spring Arts Festival each year shows the exceptional talent we have in our area that is just waiting to be discovered. I think it is being noticed and appreciated more due to small galleries, such as Easley’s Fine Art, that are showcasing local talent. Kimberly - My dad is right. The talent in our area is amazing. There are so many people with different artistic abilities in this area. Many of these people have been here for a long time and I hope there are many newcomers. Who inﬂuences your art? Kerry - I would say the 19th century French sculptor Auguste Rodin. However, I really feel my artwork is unique. I have always “seen” faces in everything. When I start a sculpture, I don’t have a particular picture of what it should be. I scupt whatever comes out of me. I try to show personality in my sculptures, more than just an individual face. I do feel that is what makes my artwork connect with people.

Kerry - I have several - first would be my mother, Glenda Ellington. She drew pictures when I was younger. She has always encouraged me. Another influence would be my grandfather, Clyde V. Ellington. He owned the Ellington Bakery on Elm Street. I remember watching him decorate wedding cakes. His roses were so realistic. He took such pride in his work and it would give his customers such joy. Probably the most influential artist has been Larry Milford. I took an art class from Cultural Crossroads taught by Larry several years ago. He has not only been a great mentor but a great friend. He was instrumental in introducing my art to the public. His encouragement gave me the self-confidence I needed to pursue my artwork more seriously. Kimberly - My dad would have to be first. He is my biggest supporter. He has tried his best for the past few years to convince me to paint. Just recently I decided that I should take his advice and the outcome has been tremendous. Everyone in my family as well as all my friends are thrilled that I am actually doing something that I enjoy. They all know how much I love to paint and they all keep encouraging me to do more. Where has your artwork been shown? Kerry - My first public showing was at an arts & crafts event at First Baptist Church of Minden. My first gallery showing was at the East Bank Theatre in Bossier City. It was a joint showing with Larry Milford. I have also

had shows at Urban Art Ware Gallery in Winston-Salem, NC. I have pieces currently displayed in North Carolina and Baton Rouge. I was most honored by my recent showing at Easley Fine Arts Gallery in my hometown of Minden. It was even more memorable to me because I got to introduce my daughter, Kimberly’s work to the public. I couldn’t have asked for a better or more special night. Seeing my daughter in the spotlight was priceless for me. Kimberly - The first time my artwork was every seen publically was at The Spring Arts Festival about 10 years ago. I didn’t have very any pieces there but someone liked them enough to purchase one. This was my very first art sale. My first true art show was with my dad at Easley’s Fine Art in November. I was so glad to have my first show be with my dad. I thought everything turned out great and I was so happy to have all the support from everyone who helped and the people that came to our opening. I had a one day showing of my art at The Red Onion in Baton Rouge. It was a viewing of art provided by several different artists. I am glad I was able to participate in such an event with amazing artists from south Louisiana. Kimberly - How did your Dad’s artistic inﬂuence affect you while you were growing up?

I was interested in all forms of art at a young age, but I was introduced to clay by my high school art teacher, Mrs. Joann McKinney. She gave me my first block of clay for graduation. I used it to make my first sculpture, a bust of my brother Gary. He still has it on display in his home. I still go to Mrs. McKinney for her opinion and advice. Her sharing of her knowledge with me has been greatly appreciated. When and where is your next show? We look forward to having shows in the future but do not currently have any dates set. How can our readers buy your artwork? Kerry - To purchase any of my artwork, they can contact me personally. I would be happy to show them the works I have already done. I will consider doing special commissioned pieces. Kimberly - I have painted a couple of Minden related pieces that you can purchase prints of at Easley’s Fine Art. He also has a variety of my work at his store and contacting the gallery would probably be the best way to look at these pieces. What mediums do you use?

My dad has always shown me how passionate he is with art. Seeing this first hand only makes me want to strive to be a great artist. He amazes me with some of the artwork that he does. I hope that he and I can further our artistic abilities and make a great name for ourselves. Kerry - Who first introduced you to art?

Sculpture by Kerry Ellington

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

Kerry - All my original scupltures are done in clay. If a copies are made, they are done in Hydrostone.

Do you believe that your artistic ability is a natural gift or a trained skill? Do you have a combination of both?

Kimberly - This can also be answered by whatever sticks me. I use alot of acrylic as well as oils, but occassionally I look toward other mediums. I have pieces that are done in copper and gold leaf; spackle is always fun and I even have been known to use cement. I think when you try something a little outside the box it always makes for a unique outcome.

Kerry - I believe that it is a God given gift. When I was younger I lived by some red clay cliffs. I always wanted to create something with that, but couldn’t make it work. I have been drawn to art all my life. I do think you can get ideas from taking classes, but you have to have a passion for what you are doing.

Kimberly - You are on the Board of Directors for Cultural Crossroads. What makes you so passionate about this non profit organization? Cultural Crossroads is an amazing organization. The amount of passion and love that these people put into the arts in this area is astonishing. It is nice to have such an organization in our community. With the events and help that that members give to uncoming artists we can only expect that there will be a flood of talent come from our area. I am proud to say I am now a part of this group.

Kimberly - I think I naturally aquired a lot of my talent. Being exposed to it my whole life gave me a great appreciation for the arts. I do think that you can only better yourself by being taught techniques. Chris Broussard gave such great instruction on how so much art is created. I cannot thank her enough for the knowledge she gave to me. Sandra Brown was also a great inspiration and encourager. She saw talent in me when I was not sure if I had any real talent. I am greatful that she was my art teacher and encouraged me throughout the years. What made you decide to seriously pursue selling your artwork?

SPRING 2009 Kerry - I wanted to share the enjoyment I get from creating the piece. It is such an honor for someone to recognize your work and want to show it in their homes. Kimberly My dad’s encouragement played a big role in me wanting to show off my artwork. I decided to paint a self portrait. I had so much possitive feedback from the piece I decided I should expand my collection. It has been well worth it. What obstacles have you had to overcome in your careers? Kerry - In the beginning, it was finding time to do it. I was working full-time in Bossier, had a business I was trying to build for myself and raise a family. I would scupt at the kitchen table because I wanted to be with my family at night. The only draw back to this was clay all over the house. My wife was usually very understanding about that! It also gave me the opportunity to expose my youngest daughter, Kenzie, to my love of art. Kimberly - I agree with my dad on this one. I have a full time job and a very active two year old

son. It is very hard to find time to paint. I usually wait till he goes to sleep and take a couple of hours to work on something. What advice can you give to local artists? Kerry - Don’t give up on your dreams. It is never too late. Take every opportunity to not only learn, but to teach. Find someone you can mentor and share your passion with. I have been very fortunate for the people throughout my life that have encouraged and guided me. It is an honor for me to pass it on. Kimberly - I would have to say to let your art work be seen. I have met many talented people. Alot of these people do not publically show these talents. Whether it is scupting, painting, singing or anything in between you should let it be known that you have these talents. I just recently started to show my work publically. It is amazing the support that this community has giving to the arts. Explain your favorite pieces. Kerry - All of them are my favorites. I can’t pick just one. I

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try to make each piece unique. Each one has a special meaning to me. When I sell a peice, it is like selling a piece of me. Kimberly - I don’t really have a favorite. I like them all for different reasons. I really like the ones that are a little outside the box - if not for their subject for the painting technique used on them. For example, Nemeaux, I could not get the right effect using my paint brushes so I painted the entire piece with my fingertips. I think the little details that aren’t really obvious are the things that make the pieces special. I do have a favorite of my dad’s pieces, but no one ever sees it. He did a bust of me when I was about six weeks old. I think it is a masterpiece. He did such an amazing job with the details. This peice was done almost 25 years ago. This just goes to show the talent that my dad has, but did not start to use on a larger scale till years later.

Kerry - You must be so proud of your Daughter Kimberly. Is your entire family artistic? I am so proud of Kimberly, not only for her artwork, but the young women she has become. My yougest daughter, Kenzie, who is nine, is an excellent singer. She enjoys being on the stage. I think that is where her artistic ability will shine. She does do some drawing and scupting with me. She also looks to Kimberly for advice.

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

Already, she values her sister’s opinion more then mine! I do want to say a special thanks to my mother. She has been with me throughout every step of the process. She and I have learned to make molds, cast, mount and display my artwork together. She is always willing to do anything to help Kimberly and I achieve our dreams. I hope she realizes how much she inspires me and amazes me. I would not be where I am without her. Kerry - how do you feel when you see Kimberly’s work? Pride and amazement. Each of her paintings are incredible works of art. Kimberly has always had an “eye” for creating. Whether it is decorating a room, fixing hair or wrapping a gift it was always something special. I remember sitting at the kitchen table when she was around 7 or 8 years olds and drawing pictures. I shared with her the techniques I could. She has definitely surpassed me now! I used to teach her, but now she is teaching me. I truly believe that she is just beginning a wonderful, fulfilling and successful art career. I could not be a prouder dad!

Artwork by Kimberly Ellington of Minden, Louisiana.

Artwork by Kimberly Ellington, top of page. Photo of Kerry and Kimberly Ellington, bottom right.

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

Written by: Nelson GOODSON

Bird Watcher

Each year I sit in the kitchen, in the morning, looking at the birds on our feeders and on the ground out the back windows. Also, each year I tell myself I want to share the sights with others. Please don’t consider me as a real bird watcher, I’ve never been to a seminar nor gone on a field trip. I do have a bird book that was a gift from back in 88’. Most of the birds we see in the winter are regulars each year, some only show up every now and again and a surprise or two happens every year. This year the big surprise is a “Rufous Sided Towhee“. He is as big as a Robin but many times more beautiful with black, brown, white chest and tail, and a white beak with red eyes. He is a ground feeder but is not ashamed to show himself on a limb for a good look. Also, for the first time we have had a visit from the “Common Grackle”. He’s not rare but has never been to our feeders before. Another first time visitor is the “Red Winged Blackbird”. This year is a first for the “Mockingbird, he’s hit every window in the house 5 times and seems to have a strong disagreement with a mirror hanging in our gardens! Of our others, the regulars consist of the “Titmouse”, he is nearly always accompanied by the “Carolina Chickadee”. I have read that they nest together. At the first of the year we had one male “Purple Finch” but now we have 5 or 6 females and not a male in sight. Today I notice the wings of one of these female finch, she was actually a “Pine Siskin“, the wings have yellow stripes instead of white. Other than that they are nearly the same. It seems we always have many “Gold Finch”, sometimes up to 50 or more. It’s easy to tell cold weather is coming, the

The

day before, they come out of the woods to fill up. We usually have at least 2 “House Wrens” that nest either under the porches or an eve of the shop. Another familiar bird is the “yellow Warbler”, we have several. It takes a little looking before you notice the difference between him and the Goldfinch at first glance. Always running around on the ground are various types of sparrows, some of these include the “Junko, White Throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow”, and without a doubt several more I have not identified. We also have the usual “blue Jays and Redbirds. Oddly enough we have only had a few Robins and one Red Headed Woodpecker over the years. We do have “Ladder Back” and “Pileated Woodpeckers” although they are more heard than seen. We have seven feeders in our yard and feed different combinations for different groups. The mixtures are different parts of white and or golden millet, cracked corn, black oil sunflower seeds, a little thistle, and add some general blend of finch food. Thistle seed in special feeders is for the finch only, it is fairly expensive and they make a large mess with it. Suet cakes come in many varieties and one will suit your flock. These are what I see from our home about 15 miles south of Minden. What you see from your house whether in the city or rural will vary greatly. Once you get in the habit of looking you will be really surprised at what’s there. It doesn’t cost a thing to look but if you need to spend buy a pair of manual focus binoculars.

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SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!” By Bennye Ryan Stewart Photos (left) of Tommy Moore, Jr.

The Times station. KWKH on November 20, 1951. Mrs. Moore was give a copy of the recording by Captain Henry I. Coulam.

s a country, we celebrate Memorial Dal, Flag Day, Fourth of July, etc. These are special days set aside for us to give thanks for the great country that we live in and to remember the sacrifices that have been made for us. For this reason, I would like to reflect on other wars and their local heroes. I feel that so many of them have been neglected or forgotten. I had uncles on both sides of my family that served in different branches of service during and following WWII. My Aunt, Mary Ryan Hedgecock of Minden, served sixteen years in the Women’s Army Corps. My Dad, Bob Ryan, and two of his brothers served in the Merchant Marines. They were heroes. My husband Dugan’s stepDad, the late Duncan Carter of Doyline, lost a leg in WWII. “Dugan” put Papaw Dunk’s Medals in a shadow box for display. The flag from his coffin is in a flag case. My children and grandchildren definitely believe that Papaw “Dunk” was a hero. The late Juanita Agan wrote an article about former classmates and service ment hat were gone but not forgotten. Later, she wrote a beautiful tribute to George Calirt. There were over 292,000 US Service Men lost in WWII. Then came the Korean War. This has been

called the ‘Forgotten War.’ There were over 500 from Louisiana that gave their lives during the Korean War from 1950 - 1953. During the 1990’s a Korean War Memorial was placed in a cemetery in South Louisiana to honor those we lost. I was only 15 or 16 years old when this war started and when it was over, I can’t remember Minden or Webster Parish doing anything to honor the ones that we lost. They may have, so if you know of anything that was done please contact the office of The Minute Magazine. I’d like to tell you about a hero that I knew personally. P.F.C. Thomas Moore, Jr. Tommy moved to Minden with his parents and older sisters when he was about three years old. Other brothers and sisters were born in Minden. All of his family is deceased except Lucy Quaid of Minden, Freddie Moore (Barbara) of Minden, and Peggy Burge (Bo) of Doyline. Tommy attended schools in Minden. He hung out at our house quite a lot with my brother, the late Jack Ryan. Tommy was a very quiet, polite young man. Tommy quit school and went to work for the Shreveport Times. Part of his job was to deliver the paper to all of the Minden customers. After his death, Tommy was saluted on the Fourth Army Show carried over

Tommy later quit his job and joined the Army. The U. S. became involved in the war about June of 1950, and Tommy was killed on November 5, 1951. According to a letter Tommy’s platoon leader, Lt. L. S. Hay, Jr. wrote to the family, the platoon’s objective was to knock out a ridge that the Chinese held. Tommy moved over the edge of the ridge to get a more effective position. He used up his ammo and went back to the rear and helped his assistant re-load magazines. While he was at the rear, a Chinese machine gun until had moved up a little closer. When Tommy resumed his position, he was hit in the chest. His platoon leader and others got him and took him to the Aid Station. He died about 30 minutes later. Tommy could have been buried in Arlington Cemetery, but his mother wanted him closer to her home. He was given a military funeral at the Minden Cemetery on Pine Street. The Department of Defense asked that the merchants of Minden close for the funeral. Some of them did and some of them didn’t. Tommy’s family is still proud of the medals that he received. If you have time, call them and let them know that you appreciate what they gave up for us. There were over 157,000 casualties in The Korean War; twentythree thousand in actual combat. About February of 1965, the U. S. became involved in yet another military struggle: a conflict between the Northern and Southern Vietnamese. In this war we lost 57,658 servicemen. It’s estimated that there are still 2500 Missing in Action. Of those that did come back, most did not get a heroes welcome. Some were shunned, spit on and called terrible names. Minden lost 10 servicemen in Vietnam. They are George Allen Branch (August 18, 1968), Allen Culpepper (May 18, 1969), Paul Douglas Dukes (1969), David Allen Floyd (March 1, 1969), Bill Ray Foster (June 15, 1966), James Ronald Garcia (June 17, 1967) and W. Purfoy Seamster (June 15, 1968). My niece, Vickie Ryan May of Blanchard, Louisiana, dated Paul

Dukes before he quit school and joined the Marines. Vickie died on December 15, 2008. Paul’s Mom, Mrs. D. W. Dukes, still lives in Sibley. Allen Ross Culpepper has a few relatives still in this area. Carolyn Culpepper Ayers of Minden is his cousin. David Floyd and his twin brothers, Ronald (Red) and Donald (Blackie) were all in “Dugan’s” Explorer Post Scout group of Minden. Neal Hays of Sibley was also in the group. His parents allowed the group to have wiener roasts, hayrides and dances in the hay loft on their farm. They had great times and that was a good bunch of boys. David’s Dad lives in Keithville near “Red” and “Blackie” lives in Natchitoches, Louisiana. But there are many from our local area that served and came back to us. One such man is Murphy Neal James. Did you ever know someone when you were really young that you never forgot? Well, that’s how it was with Neal. I lived on the corner of Pine and College. Neal, Al and Ann, along with their parents, lived on College Street in Minden near Peral Street. I walked to school past their house. Sometimes the lot of us walked up the hill together. The Jones Family lived in Minden for about a year. Their Dad, Louie Jones, has lived here years before. He ran for Sheriff of Webster Parish in 1933 against Mr. Oscar Haynes, Sr. Mr. Haynes won the election. Mr. Jones was assistant Superintendent of the State Highway Patrol, personal bodyguard to Senator Huey P. Long. He was director of State Department of Corrections when Neal was born. The family moved back to Baton Rouge about January of 1949. When we read about Air Force Major Murphy Neal Jones of Baton Rouge being shot down on the outskirts of Hanoi, we knew it was the Neal that used to live near me. “Dugan” and I put Neal’s name on our prayer list at church when we attended. Neal was captured, interrogated, and later given a grand parade. He was in restraints in the back of a truck. They gave him hotel accommodations from June 1966 to March 1973. He didn’t have to pay a dime but he did have to undergo inhumane treatment during his stay there. Neal was held six

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Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!” months longer than Senator John McCain who recently ran for President of the United States and lost the election. I wrote Neal when he got back to the states. He answered my letter when he got back to Baton Rouge and said he intended to stay in the Air Force. He retired a Colonel. In Neal’s letters, he thanked “Dugan” and I for all of our prayers, thoughts, etc. While he was a POW , some would say that Neal was one of the luck ones. Neal believes it was faith in God, his family, his Country and the American people that kept him alive. If you see the video “Faith of My Fathers”, listen closely toward the end. Neal’s name was the third one called to get on the truck when they were released. “First in, first out.” I was also watching TV as Neal got off the plane in the states. I heard his name, but couldn’t see him because the media was not allowed up close. Neal and his wife, Glenda, now live in Covington, Louisiana. Some words that I heard recently

were, “All gave some, and some gave all.” Let’s remember to thank all of our heroes, both past and present. I’ll close this like Neal does in his letters: “God bless you and God bless America.” Thank you so much, Neal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Photo of Paul Douglas Dukes

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Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!” daughter Oma. Oma was only 30 when we lost her in a car accident. She was a student in Theological school in Denver, CO. Elaine Wimberly Age 86

We invited several senior citizens and residents of The Arbor to share their fond recollections of the past. Here is what they had to say about their favorite heroes of all time. I’ve had a lot of heroes over the years. My high school principal, Ray Crout, comes to mind. He was wonderful, discipline, and fair man. He began every assembly with a prayer. I interviewed him for an assignment in English. He was so likable, wonderful and patient man. He wished me good luck and a good grade. Later he asked me what kind of grad did I receive? I did get an “A” on this assignment… Joan Albus Age 78 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This 88 year old knew so many heroic people that choosing just one to commemorate is difficult. Then dreaming about my husband told me that I had lived with one for 63 years and never told him so. Hassell was wounded, patched up, then was a spearhead in “The Bugle”. But he did not get to the river, because he was wounded again, seriously. A soldier on crutches in an English hospital told him that he had waited by his bedside for days to thank him for saving his life. Hassell was shell shocked and didn’t know it, but he picked up the soldier and carried him behind the lines, just in time. The field was wiped out-no one left behind. He never told me that-his squad scout told me when he visited Hassell (from his home in Iowa) about 30 years ago. Winnie Haynes Age 88 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The herion in Girl of the Limberlost was and is still my hero. Read his book, but luck finding it! When you read this wonderful book you will agree. Lucille Felts Age 92 ½ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My mother was my hero. She did everything! She could sew into the late night, get up and cook, wash clothes, and raise 5 wonderful children. Faye Moore Age 88 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My hero was my brother-in-law, Clarence Hyde. My mother and father divorced when I was very young. There were 5 boys still at home, so it was very difficult for my mother. I went to live with my sister and her

husband when I was 7 years old. This man was such a hard working Christian man, who raised me until I went into the service for WW!!. Tommie Stretch Age 89 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tom Mix was my hero. I saw him when I was very young-5 years old. We were in El Dorado, AR. And I met him in person. Mildred Crump Age 84 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mrs Wimberly was my 2nd grade teacher whom I considered my heroine. She took the class to her home once a month and had homemade ice cream. Nancy Brown Age 78 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Daddy was my hero. He never punished us and used a lot of psychology. One day he asked me to go to the store and get a loaf of bread. We were playing hiding-go-seek, so I told him I was tired. So, he sent my sister and told me to rest. As soon as she left I jumped up to play and he said “Oh no honey, your tired you need to rest.” Lula Mae Williams Age 94 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have several heros. My brother, T.C., raised me after my father died. He encouraged me to do well in school and was a very good role-model. My high school chemistry teacher, My Yeates, he taught chemistry part of the calls and aviation the other part. My 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Yerger, MADE me learn. Dr. George Byram Age 75 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mrs Gamble was my senior English teacher. She made us write papers all the time. She was a beautiful lady. Dr George Byram is also my hero. Dot Byram Age 72 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My father, my husband, and deceased

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My father was my hero. At night before going to bed, my father had a habit covering the wood and coals in the fireplace with hot ashes. This would keep them from burning out. In the morning, we got up to a warm house. Emily Ambrose Age 94 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My hero is my dad, Mashall Carson. He grew up in a large family, the only boy with six sisters, five of them younger than he. His father took him out of school in the 8th grade to help him farm and provide for their family. He worked all of his life, was a successful businessman, a good provider and greatly loved by me, my mother, and sister and everyone who knew him. Louise Ritchie Age 78 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My hero is my Mom. After graduating from college, she became a high school math teacher. At the time, if a female teacher married, she could no longer teach. I was born in 1929, during the depression. Since my real parents could not support another child, I was placed in the Methodist Children’s Home in Mississippi.

“Mom” had recently lost her firstborn daughter. I was lucky and she adopted me. Before I was two, we moved to Shreveport, hoping she could find a job. She went to work at Whites and worked there until 1932 when my sister was born. Jeanne was a beautiful, chubby baby. When she was 19 months old, a mosquito carrying encephalitis bit her. This left her severely physically handicapped; always “a baby”. Soon, my Mom and Dad separated for the last time and my grandmother moved in with us to help out. Mom went back to work at Whites until my Freshman year in High School. She then got a job teaching math at Castor, LA, in Caddo Parish. The next year, she transferred to Vivian and we moved to Shreveport. This meant that we were closer to Jeanne’s doctor. Mom was a true teacher in every sense of the word. She loved teaching her students and her math was interesting and creative for her students. Mom taught there six years and commuted each day. One day, she received an emergency call that Jeanne almost died and that Mom was needed immediately. Mr. Butler, a co-teacher, drover her to the hospital. Jeanne made it but the school superintendant transferred Mom to Byrd High School the following year where she taught until she retired at age 65. Mom never complained about her responsibilities of taking care of my Grandmother, my handicapped sister and me as a single Mom. She loved us all and always kept her unwaivering faith in God. Is it any wonder that she is my hero? Bettye Write The Arbor of Bossier

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

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n We ca nd strip a r ou wax y cial er comm floors!

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

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Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

SPRING 2009

Get to Know

Jeffrey Goodman The Minute Magazine had the opportunity to interview Shreveport native and Film Director Jeffrey Goodman early this spring. His charm and witty personality won us over immediately, and we’re sure that you’ll enjoy what he had to say in his interview! Read all about him (below) and then turn to page 24 to find out more about his film, The Last Lullaby. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Filmed entirely within a 30-mile radius of Shreveport/Bossier, The Last Lullaby showcases many small communities in Northern Louisiana. Is there any reason in particular that you chose to shoot on location in the local area? When I came back to the area in January ‘05, it had been almost fifteen years since I lived here. And, as I started on the journey of raising the money and putting the film together, it was kinda the first time I was discovering the area as an adult. I realized how much of an attachment I had to the area. And that attachment really inspired me to try and capture some of that on film. I also liked the idea that much of this area was still virtually untapped by the film industry. We’ve seen so many movies made in and around New York and Los Angeles. But until 2005 and after Katrina, this area had hardly ever been put on film. And I really liked the idea of bringing the world a glimpse of a place that they probably had never seen before. 2. You were raised in the local community. Would you mind telling our readers a little bit about what you love the most about your hometown? I like so many things about the area. Some of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met live her. And the people, for the most part, are just very good, community-minded people who want the area to be a great place to raise kids and an easy place in which to live. I also love the somewhat smalltown feel of it -- the school sporting events, people knowing each other, and everyone trying to make the area as great of a place as they can. That’s a spirit and lifestyle that make sense to me. 3. What local schools did you attend? It’s a somewhat long list. But let’s see. I started at the Montessori school. Then Southfield, St. Marks, and Middle Magnet. And then finally I went to high school at Captain Shreve. 4. How did you first become interested in film? Really, I attribute it to a couple of different things. One my older brother was in the film industry when I was in college and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. And you

know, he was the older brother that I looked up to. So that’s probably the first thing that planted the idea. Then, during my junior year of college, I went away for a year abroad in France. That year was really when I got hooked. More than anything, it was because for the first time I was exposed to a different kind of film and a different way of thinking about films. Really, prior to that trip, all I knew about movies were the big-budget Hollywood pictures like Spielberg or James Cameron-type movies or period pieces like Howards End or The Remains of the Day. And I didn’t see myself in either of those really. But then I learned that there was a whole group of more director-driven pictures. And once I discovered those and learned more about the role of the director, I realized that here was a craft that kinda combined all the things that I was pretty good at doing. 5. How did you gain experience in the film industry, and who encouraged your progress along the way? The first job I got in the film industry actually was in the Fall of 1997. I was taking a directing course at the time from Bob Buseick at Centenary. A production was coming to town to do the first commercial for the Horseshoe hotel, and they needed some extra crew members. So they contacted Centenary, and Centenary gave them my name and the names of a few others who were in my class. I worked on that commercial and one day while I was dressing one of the sets I got into a conversation with the director. And I told him that I was planning on moving out to LA at the start of 1998. He gave me his phone number and said he’d tried to help when I arrived. That was actually probably my first big break (‘cause he actually followed through when I called him in January of 1998 and helped me get my foot in the door working on commericals and music videos.) Bob Buseick definitely encouraged me early on by advising me to move out to Los Angeles to see what I could make happen. He also taught me a great deal about directing. Most of the encouragement after that came from my parents and friends. I don’t think they knew whether or not I had any talent. But they knew I was certainly passionate about pursuing this path. 6. All of the money needed to shoot The Last Lullaby was raised in the local area. How difficult was it to find movie investors in the Shreveport/ Bossier area, and would you share the names of some of your financial backers? I don’t think it’s ever easy to raise money. But that’s another thing I love about this area. People really supported me and my goal of making this an entirely homegrown production (raise all the money and shoot the entire film in and around the area.)

I don’t really like to share the names of my backers without first asking their permission. But if you’d like to speak to some of them, I am happy to ask if any of them would like to have their names in print. I have 48 investors in all. 7. The Last Lullaby has quite a web following. How can our readers tap into your website and join the Lullaby family? Yes, I think having a strong web presence is really important in this day and age. Particularly for independent films. We have a Facebook group and fan page for the film and also a MySpace group for the film. All in addition to the film’s website (www. thelastlullaby.com.) Another thing I’m really excited about is the LULLABY family. All the web presence I have for the film is interactive in a way. But probably the most interactive of all of them is the LULALBY family. It’s a registry of people who receive monthly updates on the film. Through the registry, these people, from all over the world, can dialogue with me directly. Also, I try to give the updates a real educational angle, letting people into the behindthe-scenes work and the process of bringing a film out into the world. To join the LULLABY family, all people have to do is send an e-mail to register@ thelastlullaby.com with “Register Me” in the subject of the e-mail. And now, for the first time, by registering for the updates people will qualify to receive a free, signed poster of the film.” 8. If there is one lesson that we have learned from you, it is that determination pays off. Tom Sizemore (lead actor in The Last Lullaby) said that you’ve traded in your youth for a chance to make a motion picture. What did you learn about yourself while filming this movie? You learn so much about things when you make a movie. I think that’s one of the things that keeps directors, producers, all involved in the process, coming back for more. While making LULLABY, more than anything honestly, I learned that I could actually make a full-length film. LULLABY was my first feature. And even though I was confident that I could do it, you never know for sure until you actually do it. 9. Your accomplishment will no doubt inspire others in our local community. Can you give the readers of The Minute Magazine advice about how to reach their own goals in life?

I’m a firm believer in the old Nike motto, “Just do it.” That’s one of my biggest pieces of advice. Whether it’s making a movie or starting your own business or anything new for that matter, nothing’s ever gonna happen unless one day you just say, “I’m going to do it.” And then it’s amazing once you start doing it, how much of it is common sense and how much you can handle. But I think many people get scared and think they need to know everything about something before they do it for the first time. Unfortunately, many of these new things you can’t learn everything about in advance. You just have to jump in there and do them. I also love the concept of short-term goals. When I was in my teens, I never really could get anything done. I’d set these lofty, long-term goals and end up intimidated by them before I could complete anything. Once I discovered the concept of small steps and shortterm goals, I realized how much easier it was to tackle these sorts of things. 10. At The Minute Magazine, we really focus on the positive. We celebrate the achievements of those people doing good in our community, and we are delighted to focus our spotlight this issue on you and all of your hard work. You have shown that youth is no handicap. What advice can you give our younger readers about how to be taken seriously? Never a better time than now to get started. If you’re passionate about something and firmly believe in it, age shouldn’t come into play at all. It’s focus, passion, and persistence that’s going to drive things forward. As long as you have those things, don’t spend a second worrying about age and whether or not you’re old enough. 11. I know the area has been enormously supportive of you. But for people who are just now discovering you and this great hometown project, what can they now do to offer their support as you move forward? That’s a great question. The first thing they can do is join the LULLABY family. And then encourage others to join the family, as well. I’d also love for as many people to join us on Facebook and MySpace, too. In the next few months, I will need some major area support as we prepare to bring the film to theaters and put it out into the world. But for now, just the more people signing up for the LULLABY family, the better. Truthfully, the area made this film happen. And, I think with some of the distribution strategies that I’m going to apply, the area will have an opportunity to make or break whether or not the film gets out into the rest of the world. I need everyone’s support to just build the awareness of LULLABY as much as we possibly can. If LULLABY is a success, it will bring some really positive attention to the area and really open up the doors for other hometown people wanting to make films here.

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SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

Lights, Camera, Action! Jeffrey Goodman on the set of The Last Lullaby

Do you Want to Join the

The Lullaby Family? Jeffrey, can you tell our readers about The Lullaby Family?

the process and feel a part of this dream of putting a film out into the world.

Sure! I would hear about a great many independent films, go to their websites, simply to find out that they haven’t been distributed yet. And there was no way of really participating in the films or following them as they went from completion to distribution. So I decided to start the LULLABY family as soon as the film was done. That way, people could dialogue directly with me throughout

It’s simple to join. All people have to do is send an e-mail to register@thelastlullaby. com with “Register Me” in the subject of the e-mail. Then, they’ll immediately receive the latest update and begin having access to me and a way to communicate with me about the film.

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SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

What does it take to grow a virtuous man or woman; someone with high moral and ethical principles, a person satisfied with their life. Is it small towns, close knit neighborhoods, where everyone knows everyone else or streets where children know they are safe and free to explore and grow? All of these things do contribute to a mentally healthy and loving adult, but what is it that drives some people to do and care more? Do they have a passion that drives them or is it a satisfaction in knowing they are contributing to the betterment of the earth and her people? People with some type of passion, whether it be politics, sports, medicine or religion are happier because of the satisfaction they get from caring deeply about something. My next stories will be about some small town folks who grew up to become not only responsible and caring people, but who have a passion for life. I will also be discussing the influence a church, school or other affiliation played in these people’s lives.

SMALL TOWN FOLKS by Lynette Carter Sheets

It is a small, old fashion church, set down in the gentle land of north Louisiana, with it’s rolling hills and creeks, where the pace of life seems to be slower and the people seem to be more honorable. For a number of years I passed this house of worship each morning and evening as I traveled to and from work. I watched her people as they would enter and leave the open doors and I often wondered about those people; who were they, where did they live? In the years since moving to the countryside, my husband and I had visited several churches in the surrounding area, but having watched my son and then my daddy suffer slow debilitating deaths, my faith had slipped into neutral. I couldn’t connect to any one church. I wasn’t deeply depressed, I just felt an emptiness inside me and at times a despair for the human race. They say intuition is seeing with the soul. Maybe all of those times that I watched this little church and her people, a part of me knew that someday I would enter her doors and feel a tranquility that

I hadn’t felt for quite some time. Then, there is the fact that I have always had an affection for small, country churches, due in part to the fact that my youth was spent in such a place of worship, Pilgrims’ Rest Baptist Church at Doyline. Gilgal Baptist Church, located nine miles east of Minden on the Old Arcadia Road, has a lot of the same characteristics as Pilgrims’ Rest, but it was the warm welcome my husband and I received from the members of this modest congregation that made us decide, “ This is the church for us.” When I mentioned to the current pastor at Gilgal, Brother Richard May that I was writing an article about the church he offered to give me a history of the church written by Mary Lou Richardson Sibley. The following is from Mrs. Sibley’s, “History of Gilgal Baptist Church.” As I read Mrs. Sibley’s account and history of Gilgal I was left thinking, “Who could have known, when this church was first started how it would echo through time to touch generations yet unborn.” “Gilgal was organized in 1842. The

ground, according to Mrs. Willie Mason, was donated by the McNeil Estate. There is not a list of the first charter members, as a fire destroyed all the church records around 1851.” “The present building was erected in 1947 following the demolition of the original one which was built about 1882. The red brick building is located in the southwest corner of Claiborne Parish. Behind the building the beautiful pine forest forms an inviting background for the simple church edifice.” Mrs. Sibley writes, “When I was asked to write the history of the church and community for the centennial celebration in 1942, C.A. Baker, who moved to the community in 1870, was helpful, as was J.T. Kemp.” She states, “They furnished most of the early records from memory.” The pastors named by these men were, H.Z. Ardis, who was there around 1870; L.A. Traylor who served three years ; W.E. Carter who died while pastor and then C. E. Foster, who served ten years.” Mrs. Sibley states, “The earliest dates of any knowledge were given to me and my brothers and sisters by our father, James S. Richardson, who as an eight-year old boy camped overnight at Gilgal Church with his parents and their eight children. They were moving from Twiggs County, Georgia.” Mrs. Sibley explained, “ With them were John and Jacob Pearce and their families. My grandfather, Sanders Richardson, and two Pearce brothers had married sisters.” She said she could picture the long train of wagons slowly wending its way across unknown new country, looking for a place to settle. “The Pearce family settled near Dubberly and the Richardson family went on to Mt. Lebanon. No doubt the splendid spring behind the church supplied them with plenty of clear water for drinking and for the preparation of meals. Nearly half a century later that same spring furnished the water to fill the pool for my baptism.” Mrs. Sibley continues, “I feel that this church has had a great part in molding the lives of many young people who have served and are now serving elsewhere and has also been a great asset to the progress of this country. A church like Gilgal serves as a tether that keeps many out of sin and promotes both moral and spiritual well-being in their lives.” “No church is the building alone; whether small or large, elegant or simple, beautiful or crude; the church is composed of its people – the redeemed of God constitute the church spoken of in the scriptures. In my memory, even after three-score years, I can see the faithful members of Gilgal Church, gathering in their buggies and wagons, the men hitching the horses or mules, helping the women and children to the ground and walking slowly to the building. The men

would enter at the left door and the women and children at the right door. The men marched quietly to their seats to the left of the pulpit and the women with babies in their arms seated themselves on the opposite side. They would place the little children on pallets and wait quietly for the services to begin. Each mother carried a sachet with cookies to keep the older children quiet. The younger men seated themselves to the left on benches facing the pulpit and their wives did the same on the right; only the young people dared to sit together in the middle tier of seats. We girls felt “grown up” when we were allowed to sit there.” “There were no musical instruments to help keep us on key when we would sing , “Amazing Grace,” “Jesus , Lover of my Soul” or the many other old hymns. After the services were over, neighbors who lived some distance away were invited by those living closer to the church to go home with them for lunch. An afternoon of fellowship would follow. Some people think that those were not the good old days, but comparisons are odious. That was what we had and we loved it.” “The history of this church could not be written without giving the record of the historic name and its origin. In scriptures, the name Gilgal means, ROLLING, as God rolled away the reproach of Egypt from the Israelites. It also means a circle. It is first found in the bible when Joshua led the Israelites across the ﬂooded Jordon on dry ground. He had a man from each tribe pick up a stone where the priest had stood in the center of the stream, take the stones to Gilgal and there establish an altar. The purpose of this altar was a memorial to the miracle of God and it would also serve as a reminder for unborn generations. When the young children would ask about the stones, they would be told of the crossing after the Israelites had been led out of the wilderness into the “ Promised Land.” “This country church, through the past one hundred and twenty-three years, has been true to the teaching of the bible and thus served four generations faithfully. There is much in a name – yet, it is ours to make it much. I would apply the meaning of the Circle to the church. Some may say that Gilgal is just an unimportant country church, and so it is; yet the inﬂuence of these people has

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!” been felt in distant cities and lands.” In conclusion Mrs. Sibley said, “The young people who have gone out to other places and through the years have honored the church by righteous living and church work that would never have been done except for the fact; they were redeemed at this altar.” Our lives are really very short and by the time we have realized what they should be, we have been caught up like the doomed fish in the fisherman’s net, by the daily chores of providing for our families and just surviving in the rush of everyday life. Most of us do try to do our best. Our intentions are good, but we are limited; some of us by our backgrounds, others by a lack of knowledge and even by our physical weaknesses. When we meet someone who understands what God intended for us to do with our lives, we have to admire that person. Bro. Richard May is one of those people. Bro. May is the current pastor of Gilgal Baptist Church and he can also be found at Rose-Neath Funeral Home where he works several days a week. Bro. May is a quiet man with noble qualities, and it didn’t take me long to learn that he is a very compassionate and caring person. The one thing I did find hard to believe is that he will soon be eighty years old. In an unwavering voice and in words that even a seven or eight year old can understand, he delivers his sermons every Sunday morning and most Sunday nights. Bro. May was born in Ellettsville, Indiana, where he grew up with one brother and one sister. He was the middle child. His father worked in a stone mill, but during the Great Depression the plant closed and the family was moved to Spencer, Indiana. In 1946, Bro. May was in the hos-

pital at Barksdale Air Force Base. During that period of time he met the love of his life, Merle Cubley May. They were married in 1948 and their marriage produced three children, and one adopted child. When talking to me about losing his wife of almost sixty years, Bro. May could not keep the tears from his eyes. I could feel the love he had for his wife and knew their marriage had to have been a good one. In nineteen fifty-three Bro. May came home from Korea and he decided to go to electronics school. Merle and Bro. May were saved and baptized together. About a year later he felt the call to the ministery. He explained that he was a very shy person and because of this he didn’t think he could actually be a minister. With two children and a third one on the way, they made the decision to sell their home in Shreveport and attend Louisiana College. After finishing school, the first church they served at was Holly Springs, where they remained for about three years. Several years later they went to Doyline Baptist Church, where they remained for seven years. Including Gilgal, Bro. May and Merle have served at seven churches. Bro. May told me that the people at Gilgal know how to love. They have stood by him, when he was having his back surgeries. He explained that he had tried to give up his pastoral position but the congregation said they would work around his medical problems and they prayed for him. He said, “They are good people.” One of those good people Bro. May was talking about, is a lovely lady named Nancy. The first time I entered the doors of Gilgal, I was drawn to this gracious lady who came to sit by me before the services began. She never failed to talk

SPRING 2009 to me, before and after church. Nancy is now a very ill and even though I have only known her for a short time, I feel like I am losing someone special. I have always had problems remembering names and it was a while before I learned that Nancy’s last name is Sanders and she is the mother of Lisa Ellen Anderson. I recently talked to Lisa about her mother and she told me that the two things she admired about her mother were, knowing her mother was a good Christian lady who always maintained a true Christian home and that she was able to talk to her mother and know she would listen without judging her. She also said she admired her mother’s independence. Nancy Harris was raised in the Gilgal community as were her parents and grandparents. She has two siblings, one brother, James Frank Harris and one sister Lilla Mae Gaebel. She was first married to Bill Gyder, the father of her only child, Lisa Ellen. Nancy has two grandchildren, Kim Guillat and Daniel Hill and she also has three step-grandchildren, Will Anderson, Mary Ellen Anderson and Kenneth Anderson. These statistics do not tell the worth of this person. I had planned to write a story about Nancy, but her illness got in the way and I am left with a longing to have known her better and longer. I acknowledge, “There are layers of mystery in the world that we do not understand; mysterious patterns in each of our lives.” When I attended the first

(L to R) Photos: Gilgal Baptist Church (Old Building) Built around 1882; Bertha & Frank Harris; Baptism at Doyle Cox’s pond with Bro. D. L. Rambin, Bill Gryder & Mr. Elkins

services at Gilgal, I immediately felt a bond with Nancy, a feeling of real friendship and I wanted that feeling enough to convince my husband to go there with me. I have wanted to tell Nancy what she has meant to me, but the time never seemed right, so now I am telling the world. This is one unique lady. Nancy, I want to tell you now, “Thank you for the warm smiles, and most of all, thank you for making me feel special, too.” Small miracles happen everyday and among us walk many heroes; people who are not recognized as heroes. Maybe we should all pay more attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPRING 2009

Hometown Spotlight on

HORNET PRIDE

Written by Jacquelyn Tripp Lewis Researched by Renee’ Andrews McCluskey ��

et’s step back in time for a moment and think of what it was like to be 16 years old and cheering for your alma matter at a high school football game on your home turf. Thinking back now, I can almost hear the excited roar of the crowd, smell the Frito chili-pies and feel the shriek of the referee’s whistle as it zips past my ears. Do you remember those distorted play by play announcements blaring from loudspeakers, followed immediately by claps and shouts and cowbells and whistles and then the opening notes from the marching band’s most-practiced tune? Well I certainly do. I remember those games from my high school days as if they were yesterday. There’s nothing quite like that small-town feel, and this issue of The Minute takes you into Northern Webster Parish to a town where tradition and spirit reign supreme. The hundreds of towns that dot across the map of Northern Louisiana may be small, but what they lack in size they definitely make up for in spirit. Sarepta, Louisiana is a shining example of one of those towns. Their lone stop-light proudly

dangles from the intersection that forms the heart of hometown, USA, and most people around will tell you with great excitement that it’s only been up for a few years and that it sure makes the Sunday-morning Church traffic move along a little smoother. Town Mayor E L Edwards, currently serving his 9th year as fulltime Mayor, took us on a grand tour and explained to us a little about the town’s history. His enthusiasm was evident as he pointed at the city’s wall of plaques, certificates and photos both old and new. “That’s me with Trace Adkins, one of our hometown boys,” the mayor beamed as he pointed toward his computer’s screensaver. Mayor Edwards, like many other townsfolk, loves to talk about one of Sarepta High’s most successful former students. On the wall opposite of the mayor’s desk is a framed proclomation from former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, dated 1987, that declares Sarepta an official town. And with a population settling around the 1,000 mark, it’s easy to see why everybody in this tiny town knows everybody else. So what exactly makes Sarepta so special? Well ask anybody around that neck of the woods about Winks’ Landing or Crow Lake, and you’re bound to get an ear full about fishing for white perch. Ask someone in Sarepta about what it means to be a Hornet, and you’ll get stories of touchdowns, home runs and letter jackets. Though the students at Sarepta HIgh may not line their halls with athletic championship trophies, they do line their halls with that spectacular Hornet pride. In Sarepta, most of the students are second and third generation Hornets, following in their parents’ and their grandparents’ footsteps by wearing the time-honored school colors of maroon and white. It all began for Sarepta back in the 1850’s, when the first school

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ime may have changed the landscape, but thanks to the Sarepta Branch Librarian Renee’ McCluskey, much of the town of Sarepta, Louisiana’s rich history is preserved. Renee’ can help give you a glimpse into the past via her very detailed collection of historic memorabilia held at the Sarepta Branch Library.

was built. A little over ten years later, “Old Sarepta Church” was built; it was named after Mrs. Sarepta Carter, per her request, in exchange for her donation of a large Bible for the pulpit. Within ten years of the founding of Old Sarepta Church, a small settlement consisting of the Old Sarepta Church, Old Sarepta Cemetery, a store and a few small farm houses dotted the landscape and the name Sarepta had been adopted by the residents. The mail was carried in on horseback, and according to some accounts the first post office was located on what is known in the present day as Langley Road. The first store in Sarepta was located at Old Hickory Tree, a term that most locals have forgotten by now. Ole’ Hickory Tree later become the home site of T. and Katie Caraway, grandparents of Sarepta’s pride and joy, Trace Adkins. I grew up within a few hundred yards of Old

Renee’ Andrews McCluskey is happy to share what she knows about the HISTORY OF SAREPTA!

She gave us copies of two publications: “The History of Sarepta, published 1924 - 1925”, and the recently published “History of Sarepta High School.” Much of the historical information in this article was taken directly from these two sources. If you know someone that feels this passionately about local history, let us know! Call The Minute office at 318-382-1900! Hickory Tree, and until I researched for this article I had no idea of the historical significance of the spot. So what is there to do in modern-day Sarepta? If you’re wanting to take a drive up that way to check out the hometown of Trace Adkins, then we recommend that you stop for a burger and a vanilla milkshake at The Hornet Drive In, the home of the Hornet Burger. Whatever you do, don’t forget to order one of their vanilla milkshakes. After your meal, ask for directions to Sarepta’s new walking trail and park. And if you’re feeling really adventuresome, then take along your fishing pole and ask the locals how to get to Winks Landing. I promise you’ll have a great time there, and I should know... I’m a 1995 graduate of SHS! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Jean Doerge and Senator Robert awhich transferred the Germantown Colony Museum to the Secretary of State as a state museum in July of 2008. Worked with Jay Dardenne, Secretary of State to produce a special press conference in August to feature the transfer of the Germantown Colony Museum.

Highlights of Webster Parish Tourism in 2008 Written By Lynn Warnock-Dorsey ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

s a new year begins, it is important to set goals for an organization. To begin the process, it is valuable to look back at the accomplishments of the past year. In 2008, Webster Parish tourism had another outstanding year. Here are some of the highlights: Worked with State Representative

In November, facilitated a meeting of the Friends of Germantown with Cliff Deal, Director of Museums to discuss their plans to construct a new building at the front gate featuring interpretive panels telling the history of the colony, and a space to feature live exhibits of crafts made during that time period such as quilting and basket weaving. They also addressed the immediate need to place signage along the interstate and parish roads and their plans to purchase billboards on Interstate 20. The State Department is targeting completion of the new building next summer, with a grand opening in July. Worked with Rick Rowe on three shows featuring the Germantown Colony as a new state museum, the Germantown Bluegrass Festival, and the filming of the movies in Webster Parish in 2008.

SPRING 2009 Worked with various local, state and federal agencies on the Cullen Railroad Museum Project in 2008. This was the beginning of what can be a wonderful new tourist attraction for the north end of our parish. Coordinated meetings of the Bayou Dorcheat Restoration Project including the Manager of Scenic Streams, the USGS Office reporting on the progress of GPS mapping, the State Land Office reporting on the progress of removal of encroachments, and the Shreveport Ozark Society discussed the support and participation from their local group and the national organization. Since December of 2005, Webster Parish has been featured in 15 movies and one music video. The Webster Parish tourism office has been actively involved in servicing the film industry. Actively assisted the location manager for the movie, “The Year One” filmed in Sibley. This set was the largest set ever built in the state of Louisiana and the purchase of materials for its construction has been very significant for local businesses. The set covers a 6 acre area and cost over 14 million dollars to construct. Currently in discussions with property owner regarding use of

the set for future films, events and tours. Hired a professional ad agency, The Farley Group to develop new branding. The new slogan is “Webster Parish, Discover Our Good Nature”. The new logo and slogan will be used as we update our website www.visitwebster.com for all new ads in publications, billboards, and promotional items. Contracted BASS Champion, Homer Humphreys as the official spokesman for Webster Parish tourism. Signed a new contract with the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association to distribute a new brochure for the Dorcheat Museum that opened in 2008. This will get the new Dorcheat Museum brochure placed in all the visitor centers alongside the Webster Parish Brochure and the Webster Parish Cemetery Guide. Provided information and photographs for an article featuring Webster Parish in the 2008 winter edition of “Louisiana Parish Government”, the official publication of the Police Jury Association. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPRING 2009

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GO GREEN This Spring

by Jackie Lewis

Generations of our forefathers taught us that cleanliness is next to Godliness, but I’ll be the first to admit that I have had a difficult time taking their advice. But thanks to a little store in Bossier City called SUNSHINE HEALTH FOODS, found online at www.sunshinehf.com, I have turned Spring Cleaning into something that not only spruces up my home, but also benefits the environment as well!

My first journey down the aisles at my local Sunshine store was filled with surprises. I learned many new facts that day! Did you know that many laundry detergents are made from petroleum? Or that organic fruits taste a lot different than non-organic varieties? I also learned that many hand soaps, body washes, shampoos and conditioners contaminate ground water. Thankfully, there is a simple solution to these problems. Environmentally friendly versions of these products are available. They are a tiny bit more expensive, but I consider the trade-off to be very beneficial. Our family made the switch to organic shampoos, conditioners and body washes a little over a year ago. The first major difference that I noticed while using these new products occurred immediately. My hair, after over 30 years of being complete straight, actually began to show signs of having natural curl! Within a month, people began to notice the difference. “Did you curl your hair or get a perm?” they would ask. “Nope. I did get new shampoo, though...”

One other immediate difference happened to my very sensitive skin. Suddenly, the breakouts that I had finally come to terms with as being a permanent fixture in my life began to fade. No more breakouts. So I asked my husband to make the switch, and the same thing happened with his skin. That’s when I realized that organic, environmentally friendly products really do make a difference. I no longer buy products with ingredients that I can not pronounce. I find that to be a good rule of thumb when buying groceries as well! My husband and I made a resolution in 2008 that we would try to buy organic foods and see if it made a difference in our health. Over a six month period, with no additional exercise, I was surprised to find that I lost 7 lbs. If you try the organic diet, don’t be surprised to find that you can lost weight, too! It is extremely difficult, though not impossible, to find organic cookies and potato chips. That is, in all honesty, probably why I lost weight. But when you do find organic versions of your old favorite

“I probably shouldn’t eat this” type snack foods, go ahead and splurge. They’re made from better ingredients, after all. That should give you reason to feel a little less than guilty! Take the changing of the season to heart and start making a few changes toward a greener lifestyle. Don’t let the terms ORGANIC, GREEN, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY or BIODEGRADABLE scare you away. Our family began our journey by taking baby steps, and we’ve got a long way to go before we’re walking on both feet down the path of green living. Do what we did: pledge to make one or two small changes a month to better yourself and your planet. Start by splurging on environmentally friendly / energy saving light bulbs when your incandescent bulbs burn out. Not only will the bulbs last years longer, but they will also make a major difference in your electric bill. Next, go ahead and begin buying organic fruits. Thin-skinned fruits and vegetables are the ones that you really want to concentrate on first. I always buy organic potatoes, tomatoes and onions; I don’t feel guilty for buying non-organic bananas and oranges, though. Their thick outer skins offer some protection from pesticides and herbicides. Do wash your hands thoroughly after washing non-organic fruits and vegetables. If you’re interested in making small changes that will make a big difference, consider buying in bulk. I purchase cases of organic foods such as whole wheat macaroni and cheese, whole wheat bread mix,

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!” soups, pastas, jams, dried fruits and even an organic version of Oreo cookies! My kids have after-school snacks like organic oatmeal animal crackers, rice treats made with real dried fruit and honey, and whole wheat fig newtons stuffed with... you guessed it... organic figs. My two small sons never even realized that we made the switch to healthy living! And thanks to Amazon.com and their Subscribe and Save program, I don’t have to spend all of my extra time shopping for goods in bulk. I just tell them how often to deliver our goodies and they do the rest! The shipping is free, joining the program is free, and I get 15% off just for buying through their automatic service! Amazon also has a large selection of 7th Generation products. Check them out!

What should you do to get started? Make a trip to Sunshine Health Foods in Bossier City or Shreveport. Walk down the aisles and begin your journey toward small changes. Don’t try to (literally) take on the whole world all at once. Set small goals for yourself, such as: “This month I will begin drinking organic milk.” and then go from there. Before you know it, you will have made many small changes that add up to a big difference. And write me if you need encouragement or have questions! My email is lewisfamily1908@bellsouth.net. I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line and let me know what you’re doing to go green! After all- we are all here on this journey together, and it is our responsibility to help each other along the way!

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

High Delta Safari Park Take a little drive for a big day of adventure! Written by Jackie Lewis

hen was the last time that you went on an honest to goodness adventure? How long has it been since you’ve taken

Priscilla and Elvis, High Delta’s two Camels, are eager to meet park visitors!

the kids somewhere exciting? We set off a few weeks ago to visit one of North Louisiana’s hidden treasure: The High Delta Drive Thru Safari Park in Delhi, Louisiana. Our trip was one that the kids will talk about for years to come! Before you make the drive, we do have a few suggestions. We prefaced our outing with a little lesson about the animal kingdom, and I highly recommend that you do the same with your children. After visiting www.highdelta.com

and familiarizing ourselves with a few of the animals that we could expect to see, we researched a bit and taught 7-year-old Miles, 8-year-old Brayden and 9-yearold Claire several facts about camels, zebras and buffalo. You might also find information to share with your own children about any of the other animals at the park. You can expect to see any of these animals when you take you own trip: Aoudad, Axis Deer, Barasingha, American Bison, Black Buck Antelope, Water Buffalo, Spanish Burro, Dromedary Camel, Ducks & Geese, Eland, Emu, Fallow Deer, Helmeted Guinea, Kangaroo, Llama, Nilgai, Pere David’s Deer, European Red Deer, Rhea, Scimitar Horned Oryx. Mandarin Sika Deer, Jacob’s Four Horned Sheep, Watusi Cattle, White Bearded Wildebeest, Grant’s Zebra, Zebu, and more! We recommend www. nationalgeographic. com as an online resource for facts and pictures of any of these animals.

advice and directions, let’s talk a little bit about your future Safari!

If you’re going to take the kids out for the day, pack a few items before you leave. You’ll need sunscreen, a picnic lunch, and change to spend on a few bags of feed to attract the animals to your car. There is a petting zoo, so make sure to save a little bit of the feed for the farm animals! So now that you’re loaded up with

If your child loves your Safari trip and wants to come back for more, consider sending them to High Delta’s Summer Camp! At Summer Camp, kids learn to do animal health checks, help build habitats and nesting boxes, go through African and Animal Craft Workshops and more! If you’ve got a future zookeeper on your hands, this camp is an absolute must! Visit www.highdelta.com for more information, or call 318878-8770.

At The HIgh Delta Drive Thru Safari Park, you realize very quickly into your adventure that something is strikingly different from a traditional zoo visit. In this park, you adventure is interactive. We’ve all had the opportunity to see a picture of a camel, and a few of our readers might have seen a camel in person at the zoo. But how many time have you ever had the opportunity to feed a camel from inside your car? Elvis and Priscilla, High Delta’s very inquisitive and dynamic camel duo, rush to meet you once they realize that you have your hand on one of their favorite feed cups! Everyone in our group laughed hysterically when Priscilla stuck her head and long neck completely inside our car for a look around! With over 2000 acres, High Delta Drive Thru Safari Park certainly has plenty of room for their animals to roam. It is evident that they have a very successful breeding program by all of the little ones roaming around the park. During our day at High Delta, we fell completely in love with the baby Zebras. The children all bragged for weeks about seeing the little Zebras up close and personal!

Are you ready for your trip? Gas up the car and head on out for

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

At The High Delta Drive Thru Safari Park, the adventure (literally) comes to you!

a day trip that the kids will be talking about for years! If you’re driving from Monroe/ Shreveport, take I-20 East to the Delhi Exit(153) and head north on Hwy. 17 for 8-9 miles. Take a left after you see Safari Park sign head on down the road and the Safari Park gate will be on left; and make sure that you tell Elvis and Priscilla that we said hello! ~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!” and we instantly light up a room. Turn a knob and we get running water_hot and cold! Adjust the thermostat and we keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Our refrigerator keeps food cold without having to bu blocks of ice. To warm food in minutes or even seconds with a microwave would surely be unimaginable. An perhaps one of the best luxuries of all would be to take a bath or use the “potty” without having to go outside.

wrutten by Donna Arender

the true confessions of an

ANTIQUE JUNKIE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

y now most of you have figured out how much I love antiques, old things, and especially primitives. I have shared several stories with you about both sides of my family and the heirlooms that have been passed down through the generations. I’ve also talked about how I like to “rescue” old pieces from the side of the road waiting for the trash collection day. Remember, my Grandpa Woodell was the “original” trash-to-treasure guy. And as I’ve grown older, I have learned to appreciate that characteristic in him, even though I thought he was crazy when I was a kid. Our home has a variety of hand made, one-of-a-kind, very unique pieces of furniture. Each one has a story all it’s own. My imagination thinks of all different kinds of tales that each has accumulated through the years of wear and tear...if only they could talk. I’m pretty sure that the function they have now is quiet different from the original purpose. I believe what they are used for isn’t as important as

making sure they are well taken care of so they can continue to “live”with future generations. Now for the “twist” to the story. I guess I have overlooked a very important “detail” about the history of these cherished pieces. This was recently brought to my attention as I heard my mother sharing her childhood story. She told me how her Granddaddy, (my great grandfather) traveled all over the country in his line of work. He saw an ad in the paper about some land for sale just outside the small town of Coushatta. He decided to but it, and the whole family moved from Dallas, Texas area to the newly acquired rural farm land. Grandaddy & Nanny Chambers, Aunt Janie & Uncle Ed Mohon, and Pappaw & Granny Hinckley all packed up and moved from the “Big City” life to a large plantation of a little over 600 acres. Some was pasture land, some timber, and plenty of large plowed fields where they grew their crops. They raised their own cattle, They had milk cows, pigs, and chickens. Along with the chickens, of course, came fresh eggs. The also had turkeys, guineas and ducks. At one time they even had some sheep and goats. The fields were grown as food for the livestock. They also planted and worked large gardens in which they grew their own food. This took place during the mid 1940’s. My mother (born 1942) was just a toddler at the time. She also had a sister born in 1944. I can’t even begin to imagine what a hardship my grandmother endured- to make such a transition with 2 small children. They went from the city life with funning water and electricity...to a very rural life with out any modern conviences. Life on the farm meant they had to draw their water from a well with a bucket, (no running water), no electricity, and no inside bathrooms. Yep! Th outhouses were just as common as hanging clothes on the line...back in the day. And speaking

of clothes...my grandmother did all her washing with a rub-board and an old black wash pot. Pap-paw cured thier meat in a little log smokehouse. They were very self contained which meant lots of hard work. It was a tough life. As much as I love my old stuff, I have to remember that I probably like it because I didn’t actually have to work with it. For instance, I might not think my collection of primitive washboards is so wonderful-if that is how I had to wash all our clothes. Even with me electric washer and dryer I can barely keep up with all our laundry. And what about cooking? All I have to do is walk over and turn a knob and I instantly have a flame. I can’t image having to cook on a wood burning stove like Nanny did. keeping the fire going and knowing how to regulate the heat was as important as actually preparing the food. That’s not to mention all our other modern conveninces. To my grandparents...they would be considered luxuries. Flip a switch

Even though I grew up on the late 60’s and early 70’s, we certainly had all of the modern amenities that I just named. But that’s not to say that I never took “a step back in time”. Mr grandparents on y dad’s side didn’t have a bathroom until I was grown and had children of my own. As I visited them when I was a child I was introduced to the “outhouse”. I remember my cousin, Leisa, and I use to never go to the outhouse alone. We practiced the “buddy system” before we ever knew there was such a thing. One of us always stood guard with a fly-swat to try to keep the red wasp and other flying enemies away. What was just an adventure to me-was a way of life for my grandparents. I’m sure it wasn’t fun for them as it seemed to me. Even now I am surrounded by old furniture and tools that I use for decoration purposes, I know they would see the, in a very different light. Truth be told, I probably wouldn’t love the old treasures of the past quite as much if I didn’t have my modern day conveniences to with them. So as I continue to enjoy my old primitives and thins from yesteryear-I am thankful that I’m not actually using them the way my grandparents didi. I do agree that they were the “Good Old Day” as far as the closeness of the families and a simpler way of life. But I do enjoy the modern luxuries... mixed with the perfect blend of old furnishings. I “salute” the men and women who were the true pioneers of an ear that we can only imagine. I doubt many of us could “walk a mile in their shoes”-for they had some tough shoes to fill!

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Fea

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

You CAN conquer it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ere’s the problem with hiking: I don’t like to walk. You can forget about carefree strolls in the park. I do not appreciate the romantic quality of a warm spring breeze blowing through my hair while I walk hand in hand with my husband down a well-trod path. The thought just does not appeal to me. It makes my feet hurt. Give me a park bench any day, or a blanket in the sand. The only problem with park benches and blankets is that you have to walk to them. Yes. I am lazy. I’ve grown accustom to the fact. My husband, however, has not. I’m not what you’d call a nature buff and the thought of me in hiking boots doesn’t exactly come to mind when I’m planning a vacation. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the outdoors just as much as the next person, just as long as there’s running water, toilet paper and an internet connection within .5 miles of wherever I’m standing. Nevertheless, my husband and I decided to take a trip to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and Zion National Park for some winter hiking and sightseeing. I had originally proposed a fun filled weekend getaway to Vegas (just Vegas)… I guess you can see who wears the pants (or hiking boots) in our relationship. We planned our escape for the Sunday after Christmas with a grand total of 9 days away from home. Our first destination was the Grand Canyon. Before I delve any deeper into this story, I should probably tell you about the weather. The week before our trip, the Grand Canyon had several days of solid snow. My husband and I assumed that there might still be snow in a few patchy spots on the side of the road. Boy were we wrong! There was snow as far as the eye could see and it was as tall as I am. There were lots of hiking trails to walk on but they were all covered in snow and ice. As the day went on, the tops of the paths would melt. At night the melted paths would freeze. The next day

the paths would be icy. Visitors would walk on them and slip and fall. So, as I mentioned earlier, I am not a hiker. When you add ice to trails it adds an extra element of excitement and danger. I didn’t particularly care for the original elements of danger. The only plus side to having snow and ice covered trails is that my husband let me walk very, very slowly and I got out of having to walk to the very bottom of the Grand Canyon (it’s a long way down).

Now let’s talk about switchbacks. Switchbacks can be found throughout the Grand Canyon. The definition of a switch back is a zigzagg road whereby elevations otherwise insurmountable are passed until the summit or base is reached. The switchbacks had steep cliffs on one side that dropped hundreds of feet down the canyon. Typically the snow served as a wall between myself and the drop-off, but sometimes the snow jumped ship. It just wasn’t there anymore. You would be walking along the switchbacks with a nice little cushion of snow and then all of the sudden you would look over and WHAM! A thousand foot drop-off! Truth be told it was probably only fifty or one hundred feet but my heart didn’t know the difference. For those of you who don’t know me, I am terrified of heights. Every time someone would come down the trail at the same time we were on it, I would freeze up and assume the fetal position along the side of the wall. I am very surprised that my husband Josh didn’t have to pry my cold little fingers from the sides of the canyon wall after each encounter with a passing hiker. Amazingly, I would regain composure, stand up straight and continue the journey down or up the trail (whichever way we were going.) Our next destination was Vegas. Most people wouldn’t consider Vegas a hiking spot. I do. My feet hurt more on the days we were in Vegas than the days we were “hiking”. We stayed at the MGM Grand, went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, saw the Bodies exhibit at the Luxor, caught a Cirque du Solei show at New York, New York, and on and on. The big plan was to see the fireworks on the strip New Year’s night. We bundled up in our warmest clothes and went out on the town with a few thousand other visitors. The countdown began. My camera was aimed and ready. Happy New Year! Believe it or not my husband and I did not see a single firework, unless you count the ones on the jumbo-trons. Apparently we, along with the countless others standing around us, did not plan very well. We were too far away from the MGM Grand’s fireworks on one side and too far away from the Paris hotel fireworks on the other side. Most of the people on the street didn’t mind, and after the initial shock my husband Josh and I laughed at our misfortune and celebrated

the night away. If you ever go to Vegas for New Years, make sure to scout out your spot beforehand. Rule of thumb: if you can move freely in the crowd of people your standing with, chances are you’re probably in a bad spot. Think sardines. The more cram-packed you are, the better the show. The final stop on our grand adventure was Zion National Park. I’m sure that most of you haven’t heard of this destination (I hadn’t). The difference between Zion and The Grand Canyon is that at Zion you start at the bottom of the canyon and drive through switchbacks all the way to the top of the canyon. Along the drive, there are overlooks to stop at and admire the scenery. There are also trails near the road that beckon to hikers of all skill levels. During the winter, several trails are closed due to ice and the elements. Josh and I had the privilege of facing these elements on the Emerald Pools Trails. This was a series of trails that stretched 3 miles. The Lower Pools was the first trail. It was covered in ice and very steep but manageable. We finished this trail with no problem. At the end of the trail was the top of a waterfall. After catching our breath we went on to the next trail called The Upper Pools. In the distance we could see our goal: a giant waterfall. This trail was more strenuous. I slipped a few more times on this one but for the most part it seemed to be going ok. There was a nice snow cushion on the side of the switchbacks as we climbed upward toward the waterfall. And then I stopped. And then came the fetal position. And then came the tears. The only thing that separated me from my emerald waterfall was a 12-foot area of pure torment. There before me stood my greatest fear.

Not only was my snow cushion gone but there was also a series of fallen boulders and rocks to climb. After what seemed like an eternity and much prodding from my husband I slowly began the task at hand. Right foot here, left foot there. “I can’t do it!” Start all over. Eventually I made it across and the waterfall was just around the next corner. It was our own little paradise. Even though we had to go over a mountain (literally for me) and through the woods to get there, it was worth it. The return trip was a lot easier and our final trail for the day was the Lower Pools. This trail took us underneath 2 waterfalls. The next 2 days were filled with many more trails, lots of torture on my feet, and a few more tears. There were several more experiences similar to the one above but I don’t need to go into detail because they all ended up about the same. I would freeze up for about 5 minutes and then build up enough courage to get past the danger zone. The moral of my story is that I had a good time doing something that I normally don’t like to do. I don’t like heights, hiking, or cold weather. But I do love snow and the scenery was well worth putting my fears and feet aside. I will admit that there were times when Josh had to push me along a little to keep me going but all in all I feel that my first hiking trip was a success. I’m not so sure that there will be another one in the near future but I guess we’ll have to see where Josh wants to go on vacation next year. I just hope it isn’t white water rafting. Bahamas anyone? Written by Tiffany Byram

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SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!” family is not much. We know that Mr. Joe Johnson lived at Box 496, Glenmora, Louisiana during the 1940’s. We also know by reading many of the letters that C. L. stands for Claudie. We also believe that he had a sister named Bea Johnson, and a brother that also served in WWII.

By Jackie Lewis

Claudie wasn’t the only child writing home to Mama. We found a letter from Ben, whom we assume to be Claudie’s brother. By the time we read this letter, we had come to realize that Claudie’s nickname was Tootie. May 7, 1945 My Dearest Mother & Dad,

S R E LETT A M M O M O T

n a beautif u l , sunshine-filled Saturday morning a few years ago I stumbled upon a piece of history. When I first walked up the driveway toward a humble sign proclaiming the words GARAGE SALE, I had no idea that I was about to touch a very personal piece of WWII history. I glanced over tables of ten cent costume jewelry, picked through a box of vintage gloves and passed on a few assorted lamps and coasters before I saw them. When my eyes found the box, I knew that I had found something valuable. “How much for these old letters,” I asked while my eyes scanned the envelopes for postage prices and dates. They were definitely from the 1940’s. “Oh, I don’t know. How about $5?” I paid for the letters and made my way home where I began to read them, one by one, until I found myself totally submersed in the life of Private C. L Johnson from Glenmora, Louisiana. The earliest piece of mail in the collection is from Alexandria, Louisiana in 1924. It says New Year Greetings. Just Evelyn.

How are you this fine day? I am fine today, but it is a longing in my heart to be with you. Mother Dear, this Christmas Eve, the night old Santa should come down. I have always been happy at this time of the year, because I would be home with you and my family. But this year, Mother, I don’t even have the Christmas spirit. Guess it is because I am away from you.... ~ C. L. Though the vast majority of the letters in the box are from C. L. Johnson, there are a few other authors. In 1944, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson receive this letter: Dear Aunt and Uncle, We made it home okay. Zozi got sick on the way and developed pneumonia, but she is better. We put her in the hospital as soon as we got home, hope you both are okay. Will write you again sometime. ~ Love, Eliza

Dated December 24, 1935, there is another holiday greeting. It is a Christmas card addressed to Bess, Ben & Sonny. A purple United States Postage Stamp bearing the great amount of three cents is on the outside of the envelope, but no return address is anywhere to be found. That is our first look into the Johnson Family- before the war came and carried them away to all corners of the earth and then back. After this letter, their journey begins.

My Uncle Trey and I sat down one night and read the letters to one another until past three o’clock in the morning! What we realized that night was that C. L. Johnson made it through the war. He wrote to his Mother, Mrs. Joe Johnson, often- always referring to her as his “Mother Dear.” He sent home newspaper clippings from afar, and explained in great detail about what Japan was like in 1945. When he and fellow soldiers began having their Chapel in an old Japanese temple, he sent his mother home their church service program. In the back of the program the Chapel Notes are printed:

December 24, 1942 Dearest Mother & Dad,

A CORDIAL WELCOME is extended to all the men of the various units.

B I B L E STUDY is conducted each Tuesday evening at 1800 by Chaplain Bourns in the little Theatre Chapel. Come! THE CHOIR practices in the Little Chapel Tuesday evening at 1900, and Saturday at 1230. S/Sgt Norman Meek, Director. Singers are needed. MR. JONATHAN FUJITA, today’s guest minister, is secretary of the Tokyo YMCA. He graduated from Drew Theological Seminary, and received his M.A. from the University of Chicago. The title of the sermon refers to the 151 days Mr. Fujita was imprisoned by the Japanese for his Christian and ProAmerican views. MRS. ESTHER FUJITA, who sings today, was born in Yakima, Washington, and was educated in the United States. Holding that program in our hands that night did more than send a chill up our spines. That tangible piece of history really made WWII Japan come alive for Trey and I. All that we could think about was that somewhere out there, probably still in Louisiana, Mr. Johnson’s family lives and either doesn’t know that the letters existed or wonders what happened to them. That night we decided to do something about it. We decided to print this article and beg all of the readers of The Minute Magazine to help us find Mr. Johnson’s family. What we know about The Johnson

Well we just heard the news and I told you that the war would be over in Germany before Tootie could get over there, I don’t know whether he is on his way there or not. He may be but it’s all over for the Germans now, and Mother Dear I know that you were glad to hear the good news. I am glad with the millions of others who are glad to have the good news and now the war will not be entirely over until Japan. I don’t think the Japanese will hold out after we put all our eﬀorts on them, but they may last quite a while. I’d say that the whole thing should be over in another 6 months. I love you and will write more next time. ~ Yours, Ben That letter from Ben was followed a few months letter with another posting from Tootie. September 3, 1945 Dearest Mother and Dad, Just a few lines today to let you know, I am still feeling fine and dandy, and hope you are. I don’t know when this will be mailed, as I guess where ever it is it will be a surprise to you both, but any way you will will know that on this day, the 3rd of September I was allright and thinking of you both. Yesterday was VJ (Victory over Japan) day so our President said. I heard him over the radio, him and General McArthur, and all about the signing of the surrender terms. Did you all hear it over the radio, Mother Dearest, and what time did you hear them? ~ Tootie It is through a piece of mail from U.S. Senator Russell B. Long that we finally find out Mrs. Johnson’s

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!” first name. May 15, 1950 Dear Mrs. Ella Johnson- Let me remind you that important elections will take place this year, probably in July. If you haven’t registered since January 1949, you will be disqualified from voting. True democracy can be had only when everyone votes. Through the following letter dated September 27, 1960, we realize that Claudie has a sister named Hazel. Dearest Mama, Home again. It’s cold and raining here. We can stand some rain, everything is so dry. We stopped in Alex (Alexandria), saw Alvin and Sue. They told us about Mr. Robinson. How is he now? ~ Love, Hazel After the war, Tootie returned to Louisiana. He continued writing to his Mother Dear, and these post-war-

letters are in the collection as well. Here is one of them: October 19, 1961 Dearest Little Mommie, Just a line to let you know I got your letter and was glad to know you were doing all right. I told Bacter what you said, his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, so be ready Mother Dear. For eve we’ll see you. ~ Tootie

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With YOUR help, we can return these letters to their rightful owners. If you know anyone related to the people in these letters, call us at 318-382-1900 or email me at lewisfamily1908@bellsouth.net.

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

B O T O X

Brain for the

by Tiffany Byram Ianmagine having a sharp pain like ice pick being stabbed through

your skull. Now add a constant throbbing sensation on one side of your head. Then let’s throw in some nausea. And did I mention that the lights need to seem so bright that you suddenly want to put duck tape over your eyes? Oh, and don’t forget an overwhelming sensitivity to smell. Those are just a few of the symptoms that Migraines inflict upon over 28 million Americans! Migraines are not prejudice. They do not see gender or race. They have no concept of time or place. They simply wait for the perfect moment to strike and then do so with a vengeance. You see, Migraines don’t care if you have a party to go to or paperwork to get done before an important meeting. I had a car wreck on November 6, 2006 and have suffered from debilitating headaches and migraines ever since. For the past two years I have lived with a constant headache and have had up to 4 migraines a week. I have gone to Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, Doctors, and Neurologists and I am currently beginning that cycle over again. I am telling you my story not for sympathy, but so that you can become aware of a brand new treatment for migraines. Soon I will embark on a new chapter in my migraine experience. In early Spring, I will begin to receive Botox treatment for my migraines. Currently, Botox is used to treat several conditions ranging from eyelid and neck spasms, wrinkles around the eyes, and crossed eyes. There is a slight difference when it is applied for medical relief for Migraine sufferers. Botox treatment for migraines targets the brow, eyes, forehead, and side of

the neck extending up to the base of the skull. Doctors believe that Botox is effective because it blocks the nerve pain signals from transmitting to the targeted areas while also relaxing the muscles. The treatments have been found to last anywhere from 3 to 6 months and much of the research has been positive. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved Botox for the treatment of migraines, there are many neurologists who perform the procedure. My neurologist has tried many other treatments for me, and we’re moving into this area as almost a final resort. If you’re experiencing chronic Migraines, too, then Botox might just be for you. I feel I should warn you about a few down sides to Botox before you rush off to your Doctor. The first thing that you need to know is that there are needles involved. If you didn’t know that already, then perhaps you should do a little research on Botox. Also, Botox is a fairly expensive procedure (several hundred dollars). Often, insurance will not cover this treatment. The plus side is that the results can last up to 6 months. If you want to get the best bang for your buck, I would say to only consider Botox for Migraine purposes if you are a frequent Migraine sufferer. One last thing: I was told that you can’t get the crows feet removed from your eyes and that my skinny little lips are going to have to stay skinny. If you want real cosmetic work done, you have to go to the cosmetic surgeon… but wouldn’t it be easy if we Migraine sufferers could multi-task? A world where we’re all wrinkle and headache free sounds just fine to me! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”

SPRING 2009

Please say you saw it in ‘The Minute’!”