BOM participated in and sponsored the 1st Annual Women’s Council of Realtors Shreveport-Bossier Golf Tournament. Pictured left to right: Joel Hall, BOM’s Dylan Knotek, Matt Snyder, and Mac Meyer.

By TONY TAGLAVORE

If you want to kneel in prayer, or just marvel at the architectural beauty and stained-glass windows inside First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in downtown Shreveport, you better hurry.

Tomorrow — May 31 — will be your last opportunity.

No, the historic church founded in the 1800’s isn’t closing.

It isn’t moving.

But it is changing its name.

Starting Thursday, June 1, the church with the iconic steeple at the Head of Texas Street, will legally become First Methodist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana. That’s because last Saturday at a special meeting of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, FUMC was one of 95 statewide churches which had their request approved to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination.

Other Caddo-Bossier Parish churches whose disaffiliation requests were approved are Ellerbe Road United Methodist, Plain Dealing First United Methodist, and Vivian United Methodist.

The result was expected and had become reality hours earlier. But after his four-hour drive back to Shreveport, Dr. Steven Bell was still trying to process what happened.

“To be honest, that truth is still sinking in,” said the Senior Pastor of FUMC. “I can honestly say I am still in a bit of a state of shock and almost in disbelief.”

At the center of the churches’ wish to leave the United Methodist denomination is sexuality and theology. Many conservative methodist congregations across the country are in favor of upholding bans on same-sex marriages, and the ordination of gay clergy.

In April, 1,120 members of FUMC’s congregation voted on whether to separate from, or remain with, the United Methodists. Nine hundred forty (84 percent) members voted to leave, while 166 voted to remain. Fourteen people abstained.

“There is a huge weight that has been lifted,” said Dr. Bell. “I’ve been a United Methodist pastor for 24 years. I would have been going into year 25. This fight has always been on the horizon — what is happening right now.”

Dr. Bell was expecting the worst at last Saturday’s meeting. This is one time he is glad his expectations were not met.

“It could have been real ugly,” he said. “There could have been a whole lot of talk and debate, motions, and amendments. Lots of arguments. It could have gotten real ugly. It didn’t, and I am grateful for that. I am grateful to the Lord. I am grateful to the delegates.”

But the process to disaffiliate was, at times, ugly.

“It’s been a difficult and challenging 10 months,” Dr. Bell said of what he calls “this season of disaffiliation. There’s been a lot of ugliness. There was litigation. There was a smear campaign —  a very expensive smear campaign — directed against our church. All of that is over, and I am happy that it is.”

Like others, First United Methodist Church is paying a price to leave the United Methodist denomination. One requirement was paying the remainder of FUMC’s 2023 connectional giving, and two additional years of connectional giving.

“So, our exit fee was basically three years of connectional giving,” explained Dr. Bell. “Much of 2023 is already paid. When we wrote a check to the (Louisiana) Annual Conference, which was sent just a couple of weeks ago, it was right at — just shy of — $700,000.”

But the move could have been more costly.

Dr. Bell said if FUMC had joined 58 other churches (including Benton United Methodist) whose request for disaffiliation was granted last November, FUMC would also have had to pay “the better part of a half-million dollars in unpaid pension liability. But because our process carried us into 2023, and because of the state of the economy and the shifts there-in, we actually paid nothing in unpaid pension liability.”

Now begins a new process. A process of affiliation. That starts with Thursday’s meeting of the Church Council.

“This will be work that our church does together,” said Dr. Bell. “There are some great options before us. One is to remain an independent methodist church. There is the potential of joining the Global Methodist Church.

“And there are a number of other Methodist or Wesleyan traditions that we can and will consider being a part of.”

Regardless of which direction First Methodist goes, Dr. Bell is confident in the church’s future.

“Our ministry is about to surge even more than it already is. It’s going to explode. We’re moving into a very, very exciting season in the history of First Methodist Church Shreveport.”

 Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com

JOURNAL STAFF

Louisiana State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened Monday afternoon.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m., the Shreveport Police Department responded to a welfare concern located in the 7200 block of Old River Road. Two officers arrived on scene and encountered one male subject.

During that encounter, an altercation ensued and shots were fired. That subject was transported to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and was later pronounced deceased. No officers were injured during the incident.

The Shreveport Police Department requested Louisiana State Police to investigate this officer-involved shooting. LSP investigators were working diligently to process the crime scene and gather further information.

Anyone with information and/or pictures and video is urged to share that information with LSP Investigators by calling 318-741-2735.

In addition to the option above, citizens can anonymously report information through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.

Bossier Parish teacher Lane Raley has been named Teacher of the Year by the Kiwanis Club of Shreveport for the outstanding work he does as the lead Special Education teacher at Elm Grove Middle School.

Raley has been in education for over 15 years and taught classes ranging from elementary creative arts to middle school English and math. He currently teaches sixth and seventh grade resource math and co-teaches a seventh grade math class.

As the Kiwanis Club of Shreveport’s Teacher of the Year, Raley will be recognized this summer by the organization and the non-profit of his choice will receive a $100 donation in his name. He is now being considered for the Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee (LMWT) Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced at a district Kiwanis convention in August.

Earlier in the school year, Raley was celebrated by Bossier Schools’ SPED department as its February/March outstanding staff member. It was noted that Raley has always expected that every student can succeed despite his/her learning differences.

“I encourage my students to realize failure is not the final destination and from time to time is necessary in order to truly have a deeper understanding of the concept they are struggling to grasp,” Raley said. “I want my students to build confidence in a multitude of untapped talents they can use once they leave school and venture into the real world by individualizing education as much as possible. These gifts are not always found in a boxed-in classroom, but in an open world waiting to be revealed.”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development recently announced a project to provide major repairs to a heavily traveled section of I-20 in Bossier City, as well as additional repairs along the I-20 corridor in Shreveport.

The Department accepted bids on May 10, with the contract officially awarded to JB James Construction, LLC. at a cost of $117,656,250.15.

The long-awaited project includes a full reconstruction of all lanes of I-20 from just west of LA 3 (Benton Road) near Hamilton Road to LA 782-2 (Industrial Drive). The pavement will be removed down to the roadway sub-base and replaced along this 3.5 mile section of interstate, which services between 62,000 – 86,000 vehicles per day.

This reconstruction will be performed in phases, and also includes all on and off-ramps of the five interchanges between Benton Road and Industrial Drive in Bossier City.

“This is a significant project, not just for Shreveport-Bossier, but for the northwest region as a whole,” said DOTD Secretary Eric Kalivoda. “A critical investment like this in our interstate system translates to our continued ability to move goods and services efficiently, as well as to provide the travel experience residents and visitors expect.”

Additionally, concrete patching repairs will be conducted on I-20 stretching from Pines Road in Shreveport to I-220 in Bossier City, which is outside of the complete reconstruction area. This work will address other sections of the busy interstate corridor that serves both residents and the thousands of motorists passing through the region on a daily basis.

An innovative queue detection system will be implemented for this project, which will provide real-time advanced warning to motorists that they are approaching construction area congestion and should be prepared to slow down or choose to detour. This type of system is effective in improving safety during construction projects – particularly on an interstate – and for helping to mitigate traffic congestion approaching the work zone.

This project also includes the replacement of the roadway lighting system components along the stretch of I-20 that is being reconstructed in Bossier City.

Actual construction work will begin in late 2023, following the contractor’s allotted assembly period. The entire project is anticipated to take approximately two years, with progress dependent on weather conditions and other factors that can impact construction timelines.

Construction will take place in phases in order to continue to facilitate traffic flow, however lane closures will be required in both directions of travel for the majority of the project, particularly during the rehabilitation portion.

Additional information will be issued as the process moves forward toward construction.

Shreveport’s Downtown Festival Plaza was the place to be for live bands, food, games, and fun centered around Louisiana’s signature crustacean, May 25-28.  

Mudbug Madness, an area tradition now in its 39^th year, drew a crowd of over 30,000 festivalgoers to its 29 live bands on two stages.  

The bands performed an eclectic variety of music, ranging from rock to country and zydeco.

Over 25 food vendors served up hundreds of pounds of the event’s namesake crawfish as well as other savory treats.

Another 25 booths offered crafts, artwork, and services.

A children’s area offered magic shows and other fun for the younger set.

The Mudbug Madness cornhole tournament saw some fierce competition as the players raised money for the charity of the winner’s choice.

There were crawfish eating contests for men, women and a popular one for local celebrities.

While crawfish may not be well known for either their speed or listening abilities, that did not deter contestants who wished to try their luck in the crawfish races and crawfish calling contest.

While a tremendous amount of fun, the Mudbug Madness Festival is more than a local tradition marking the start of the summer season.

The event raises funds for a variety of initiatives intended to promote downtown Shreveport.

The Greater Shreveport Chamber will hold a Young Professionals Initiative Lunch and Learn event on Wednesday, June 21 from 12-1 pm at the LSUS University Center on the 2nd floor (Caddo-Bossier Conference Room), located at One University Place in Shreveport. Dr. LaTienda Pierre, graduate coordinator of MEDL(Master of Education in Leadership Studies)/MEDCI (Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction) Program at LSUS will speak on diversity, equity, and inclusion in a professional work environment. RSVP by June 14. To register go online to https://bit.ly/427wgUY.

The Department of Property Standards is holding the next sweep in District F this Wednesday, May 31 from 8 am – 4 pm. Residents can bring trash, tires and debris to Cedar Grove Park, located at 6900 Vincent Ave. for disposal.

Centenary College’s Meadows Museum of Art will host an intensive art camp for high school students July 10 through 14. Local art educators Tess Pepitone and Martha Claire Lepore will lead the camp that will explore a variety of artistic styles and techniques.

The camp will meet July 10-14 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Meadows Museum on the Centenary College campus. The cost is $150 and includes all art supplies. Online registration is available at themeadowsmuseum.com/summercamp. Registration deadline is June 26.

“I am excited to bring this summer programming to the museum and engage the community during a time that we are usually closed to the public,” said Alissa Klaus, director of the Meadows Museum. “Students will be challenged to grow their artistic skills under the guidance of Tess Pepitone, a Talented Arts Program teacher at Caddo Magnet High School, and Martha Claire Lepore, an AP Art teacher at Parkway High School.”

Students who have completed 8th through 12th grade are eligible to attend the Meadows Museum Summer Camp. For more information, visit themeadowsmuseum.com/summercamp.

About the Meadows Museum

The Meadows Museum of Art is located on the campus of Centenary College of Louisiana at 2911 Centenary Boulevard in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Museum is closed on Sundays and during College holidays, including the summer. For more information or to schedule field trips, call the Museum at 318.869.5169 or visit themeadowsmuseum.com.

JOURNAL STAFF

Two places. One heart.

That was the message on the huge banner outside the Red River Room at the Shreveport Convention Center Thursday morning as officials gathered to unveil Visit Shreveport-Bossier’s 10-year Destination Master Plan (DMP) and new regional brand.

The goal is to increase the visitor economy in the area by uniting the two cities that are separated by the Red River.

“By bringing people from all corners of Caddo and Bossier Parishes together to push common goals, the entire area benefits,” said Stacy Brown, president and CEO of Visit Shreveport-Bossier.

Brown started the press conference by announcing that the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau has officially been rebranded Visit Shreveport-Bossier (VSB) and unveiling a new logo.

“We want to encourage locals and visitors to see that Shreveport-Bossier is a place with enough flavor, style, and soul for two cities,” said Brown. “A lot of areas push that ‘one thing.’ But we’re not ‘one thing!’ We’re so many things. You take a little of this and a little of that, and you find a whole lot of US.”

The VSB chose MMGY Global and MMGY NextFactor to guide the DMP and regional brand efforts, which began in 2019. A Steering Committee made up of community stockholders was formed to advise the consultants.

The committee includes Brown, Brittney Dunn (co-chair), Lisa Johnson (co-chair), Doyle Adams, Pam Atchison, Gabriel Balderas, Tommy Boggs, Mike Busada, Eric England, Butch Ford, Beau Hays, Tim Magner, Amanda Nottingham, Jason Roberts, Liz Swaine, Bob Thames, Henry Whitehorn, and Dr. Woody Wilson.

In 2019, more than nine million day and overnight visitors spent $681 million in Shreveport-Bossier. In 2021, that economic impact jumped to $819 million.

“Eight hundred nineteen million dollars,” said Greg Oates, Senior Vice President, Innovation, for MMGY NextFactor, a consulting firm specializing in travel and tourism. “That’s how much visitors brought to Shreveport-Bossier. That money came from outside (the area) and stayed here.”

Oates said increasing that amount is the purpose of the DMP.

“You’re on track to be a billion-dollar visitor industry,” Oates told the conference attendees.

The Shreveport-Bossier DMP strategic framework focuses on six things:

1. Increasing and diversifying community collaboration
2. Accelerating mixed-use development, placemaking and mobility in the two urban waterfronts
3. Prioritizing support for local creative entrepreneurs in art, culture, film, food, music, retail and more
4. Capitalizing on the surging demand for sports tourism
5. Increasing visitor volumes in the meetings and conventions sector
6. Accelerating business development in outdoor recreation and upgrading event venue

“The municipal governments for both Shreveport and Bossier City have high-priority economic and community development initiatives,” said Oates. “The same applies for Caddo Parish and Bossier Parish. This plan builds on all those initiatives.

“It is critical for government, industry, and community leaders to embrace how the visitor economy supports local small business development which, in turn, builds stronger and more vibrant communities.”

While Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler was not able to attend Thursday’s press conference, Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux was on hand and emphasized the need for the two cities to come together to make the DMP a success.

“We need to think of ourselves as one large community,” said Arceneaux.