Journal Staff

As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, there were no further updates on the explosion at Goex Industries at Camp Minden other than those received from Louisiana State Police. Goex Industries’ officials have yet to release a statement.

Wednesday’s early morning explosion at Goex Industries, LLC, isn’t the first at the Camp Minden site for the black powder manufacturer which, according to its web site, is the only U.S. manufacturer of black powder.

An investigation of the incident, under the supervision of the Louisiana State Police, is continuing. Goex Industries reportedly is preparing a statement which will be released.

Since moving the operation to Camp Minden in 1997, Goex has suffered explosions on several other occasions. The last incident involving Goex Industries occurred in June, 2021 when roughly 1,000 pounds of black powder exploded in the corning mill plant. One worker reportedly was slightly injured during evacuation when he fell.

Other explosions occurred in July, 2006; November, 2004; October, 2001; January, 2000; and, November, 1998, less than a year after the plant opened. That 1998 accident resulted in the only death from explosion at the plant. 

Three employees have been injured in explosions, including two who were victims of the 2001 incident which caused roughly $2.5 million in damages.

While Goex has seen its share of explosive incidents, other similar accidents have befallen companies at Camp Minden and the former government-operated Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant (LAAP). Those include:

• October, 2012: A bunker owned by Explo, a company that dismantles and recycles old military bombs, exploded, a powerful blast that was felt throughout northwest Louisiana. No injuries were reported.

• August, 2006: Multiple explosions at Explo caused evacuations of homes, schools and highways in Doyline. The company lost about 200,000 sq. ft. of its plant; spent around $3.5 million relocating on the grounds and rebuilding. No injuries were reported.

• Also in 2006, a fire at Valentec Systems’ flare assembly plant destroyed one building. No injuries were reported.

• August, 1968: Six persons died and nine were injured when an explosion destroyed “F” line and facilities at the LAAP.

• January, 1963: One person died in a testing ground explosion at LAAP.

• July, 1962: An explosion on an assembly line killed three persons and injured six at LAAP.

• November, 1942: Five people were killed and one injured when a shell exploded in the “F” area shipping room.

According to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office, on the final day of early voting, Oct. 29, Louisiana broke the single-day in-person record (99,004) and the all-time in-person record (817,957), both set in 2020. Nearly 1/3 of eligible voters have already cast their ballots. Election Day is now six days away. Visit GeauxVote.com or download the free GeauxVote Mobile app to learn more.

Starting Oct. 30, construction began on a brand-new 40-foot pier at Milton James “Hookie” Cameron Park, also known as the Wallace Lake boat launch.

The park and boat launch will remain open daily from 6 am – 9 pm throughout the construction period, with an expected completion date of Nov. 12, weather permitting.

For your safety, follow all posted signage and construction barricades in the area. Thank you for your cooperation as we work to enhance this beautiful space.

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

Earlier in the season, when it came time to install some new things into the offensive and defensive game plans, Northwood coach Austin Brown would typically add one or two items.

As the 2024 regular season begins to wind to close, it’s gone up to more like five or six.

That’s the difference in the Falcons from the beginning of the season to now and a big reason why they sit with a 7-1 overall record and 4-1 in District 1-4A play heading into Friday’s game at Minden.

“Even on the everyday drills we do, the kids have really honed in on what’s expected of them and doing those things to a higher level,” Brown said. “They are really intelligent, athletic and have been fun to be around.”

This may not be the most talented team he’s ever coached, but Brown does say it is the most coachable.

“These kids take coaching very well,” Brown said. “They do what is needed from them. When we watch film, we are trying to nitpick on their techniques and execution on what they are supposed to do and they are doing it about as well as any team I’ve seen in my eight years at Northwood.”

After an opening district loss to North DeSoto, the Falcons have responded with four straight wins in which they have scored at least 40 points in every game.

The biggest area of improvement, according to Brown, has been in the defensive scheme and how aggressively the Northwood defense has been, particularly in defending the pass.

Offensively, the Falcons are still a run-first team but quarterback Jaxon Bentzler is putting up some amazing stats. He’s thrown for 1,152 yards and 17 touchdowns and has no interceptions. As in zero. With a Z.

“That’s unheard of,” Brown said.

Last week against Southwood, he was 14 of 16 for 287 yards and four touchdowns. He only has four incompletions in the last two weeks.

The Falcons bring waves of running backs at a defense, led by junior Kyran Johnson who has had five 100-yard games and leads the team with 909 yards.

Senior Tomarcus Keith (494 yards, six touchdowns) and junior John Sneed (215 yards, seven touchdowns) also add to the attack.

Four players have caught at least 10 passes this year with junior Jayden White leading the way with 20 receptions.

The Falcons have lost only two fumbles all year.

“For us to be able to hold on to the ball and be very proficient in the pass game has probably been the biggest change since the start of the year,” Brown said.

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine

Looking for defensive backs In Louisiana you can always find a hidden gem all around the state, along with plenty of very talented DBs that are known to the public. That’s very true year after year in Shreveport-Bossier.

Here’s a breakdown on some local sleepers and big time players in the Class of 2025 who man the defensive back position. This group is being under-recruited by most of the big schools compared to what I saw before the college transfer portal came about.

There are some obvious Division I players. You might question this and say, look at all the passing yardage and scoring here. The quality of offenses has sharpened these talented seniors. I feel confident saying that after watching these kids play, some for the last 3-4 years.

The most gifted defensive back here and one of the best in the state is Woodlawn’s Brandon Henderson (6-0, 170), who plays with great effort and phenomenal ability.

This season, he has four interceptions, two of those for touchdowns, and 12 pass breakups. Henderson plays free safety for the Knights and I believe can play any spot in a college secondary with his speed, in the 4.45 range or slightly better. His first offer came from South Florida.

There are a couple of Division I prospects as cornerbacks who are doing a lot of good things for their teams.

I am very high on Cortaveus Dorsey from Green Oaks. This fall he has three interceptions, has scored once as a WR and once on a 72-yard kickoff return. Dorsey (6-3, 178) was second at the Class 2A state track and field meet this spring in the triple jump, marking 45-3 ½.

Carmaro Mayo from Parkway is a playmaker on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game as a returner, but his college future is in the secondary. Mayo is a four-year starter with several D-1 offers. He was initially committed to Louisiana Tech but now is leaning to Grambling and Stephen F. Austin.

Tyler Welch (6-1, 188) at Huntington leads the Raiders with three interceptions after making four in 2023. He’s also playing receiver and ha 4.5 speed. A big time hitter, he is committed to the dynamic new coach Blaine McCorkle in Natchitoches, where a program is being rebuilt very smartly at Northwestern State.

Safety Denzel Kirkendoll (6-1, 190) for Bossier’s Bearkats is a big time sleeper. This is a tough kid and he brings the hat. He has 4.6 speed and looks the part in person too.

Captain Shreve safety Tre Fuller (6-2, 175) a four-year starter at both receiver and DB. He’s just a great kid. Byrd’s Kaiden Abraham Miller can run and defend with the best of them. He’s still growing at 6-0, 165 and has collected over 10 interceptions combined in the last two seasons.

Players who can play Division I FCS or Division II are hidden gems that will make some college very happy.

Cornerback Kylen Nelson (5-11, 160) impressed Northwood coach Austin Brown so much the Falcons have had him in press coverage this season, something the team doesn’t usually do.

Cornerback/safety Jacolvey Cooper (5-10, 180) is versatile. Huntington coach Steve Dennis told me Cooper is called “Mister Fix It” for the Raiders.

At North Caddo, cornerback Mason Jackson has been a four-year starting QB with 4.43 speed in the forty, but coach Chase Thompson sees him on the other side of the ball at the next level. Jackson has received a D3 offer from Centenary as a cornerback.

Woodlawn safety Jotavien Scroggins is a four-year starter. Coach Thedrick Harris told me he is “Mr. Woodlawn” with a 3.8 GPA, and this fall Scroggins has two interceptions with 12 pass breakups. He has next-level upside.

Any recruiter shopping for help in the secondary would be smart to look at these guys.

Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com

Lee Brecheen has been covering high school football and recruiting in Louisiana since the early ‘90s. He is owner of Louisiana Football Magazine and can be followed on Twitter @LeeBrecheen. He hosts a YouTube show, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen. Previews of all state high schools are available on lafootballmagazine.com.

When are losers winners?

Look north in Bossier Parish to Plain Dealing High School.

The Lions tee it up for the final time at home in 2024 Friday night when Lincoln Prep visits for a District 1-1A game with a predictable outcome. Plain Dealing hasn’t won in 33 games since the middle of the 2021 season, when a few of the players taking the field Friday night were in elementary school.

Although the visiting Panthers will happily ride home to Grambling, their opponents should walk away proudly.

Last month, coach Clint Walker’s team had just 16 players, some in junior high.. Last week, after an injury or two and a departure or two, the Lions had less than 11 available to compete, and had to forfeit their Week 8 game at Jonesboro-Hodge. There was no assurance, just noble intentions, for Plain Dealing to make it back on the field this week, or for next Friday’s season finale at Pickering.

But the plan is to get back into action. In an extremely discouraging situation, those kids – who are competing despite the smallest enrollment of any football-playing school in Louisiana – are doing more than playing out the string. They’re standing tall for each other, for their classmates, for their school, and for their community.

They’re also doing it for the love of the game. No sport is easy. In no other sport do the players absorb the amount of bumps, bruises and bone-rattling hits.

Never played? Neither had St. Martinville defensive end Rodney Phearse before the former California Golden Gloves boxer lined up for the south Louisiana school in a season-opening 1984 contest at New Iberia. Rodney had a great game, with 3-4 sacks and more tackles as St. Martinville shocked NISH 14-0.

I covered the game for the local paper, and had to ask the newcomer to the sport how he would describe what happened.

“We were doing the hitting,” said Rodney, grinning broadly. “They were doing the getting hit.”

Who do you think had more fun?

It would have been easy for those Plain Dealing boys who had injuries, or had recently decided to put up their helmets to get started on basketball, to not respond to Walker’s roundup for players over the past week or so.

But as of Tuesday, the Lions were 13 strong.

Those who had remained were still there. Those who returned, for whatever reasons, have given their teammates the gift of being able to finish what they started – no small feat in today’s society, especially not in a bleak scenario.

It won’t be fun to look at the scoreboard. But it will be fun to seize the moment, to score small victories on this play and that snap, and to know that every one of those 13 is doing something to support the other 12.

In 1957, the fabled Homer Iron Men played the last seven games of their regular season with just 13 boys, and lost only once. They made an incredible run to the state championship game and will forever live in Louisiana high school football lore.

The 2024 Plain Dealing Lions football team won’t be remembered that way. But each of the players and coaches can always remember how they faced ridiculous odds, kept fighting, and stood tall for each other.

That’s winning.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director

On an open date weekend for Centenary football, there’s home action in cross country and volleyball, with local products shining in swimming and golf.

FOOTBALL: The Gents are off this Saturday and return to action at home on Nov. 9 against the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs in a Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference contest, their final home game of the season set for 1 p.m.

The Gents (4-4, 4-2 SCAC) earned a memorable 41-21 comeback victory over the Austin College ‘Roos in SCAC play in their Homecoming game last Saturday evening at Atkins Field.

CROSS COUNTRY: Centenary will host the 2024 SCAC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship on Saturday at South Bossier Park, featuring the league’s 22 cross country teams. The women’s 6K race scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and the men’s 8K follows at 10. With the additions of Concordia, McMurry and University of the Ozarks to the SCAC, there will be 11 men’s and 11 women’s teams competing at this year’s meet — the largest fields on both sides since the 2011 championships. 

WOMEN’S SWIMMING: Sophomore Hannah Waddell, a Caddo Magnet High School product, was named the SCAC Co-Women’s Swimmer of the Week on Tuesday, sharing the honor with McMurry’s Maddy Rohrer.

Waddell recorded three individual wins last weekend as she helped lead the Ladies to a victory over Millsaps College in a dual meet in Flowood, Miss. Waddell won the 100 breaststroke (1:10.28), 200 breast (2:35.37), and 200 IM (2:23.79), and was also part of the Ladies’ winning 200 medley relay team that swam a time of 2:03.46. Waddell now owns 14 wins in her first five meets this season. 

MEN’S GOLF: Senior Andrew Bennett, a former Airline star, was named the SCAC Men’s Golfer-of-the-Week on Wednesday after he claimed his third-career victory on Tuesday, firing a 2-under par 142 to claim the individual title in the Crusader Cup hosted by the University of Dallas at Hawk’s Creek Golf Club. As a team, the Gents finished in a third-place tie with St. Thomas at 27-over par 603.

Bennett finished three shots ahead of runner-up Kaden English of Concordia as they were the only two golfers to finish at or under par this week. Bennett now owns a trio of career wins, nine top-five finishes, and 12 top-10 finishes as he continues to add to his legacy as the program’s top golfer in the Division III era. Bennett, the 2024 SCAC Individual Champion and Men’s Golfer of the Year, has tied for sixth, tied for second, and finished first in three tournaments this fall.

Sophomore Aubrey Snell, who prepped at Parkway, climbed up the leaderboard on Tuesday as he shot a 2-under par 70 to earn a fifth-place finish at 4-over par 148. In Monday’s opening round, Snell shot a 6-over par 78 and was tied for 25^th.

WOMEN’S GOLF: The Ladies, who joined the Gents in the same tournament this week, finished sixth on Tuesday in the Crusader Cup as they shot a 171-over par 747. The Ladies, who shot an 88-over par 376 on Monday in round one, completed their Fall season on Tuesday.

Freshman Haylee Crowder of Haughton led the way for the Ladies as she shot a 35-over par 179 (89-90) to tie for 19^th place. The rookie was in a tie for 17^th place after her 17-over par 89 on Monday and followed with an 18-over par 90 in the final round. Crowder is off to an impressive start to her collegiate career as she has finished in the top 20 in every event this fall.

VOLLEYBALL: The Ladies were swept in a pair of non-conference road matches on Tuesday, falling to both East Texas Baptist and LeTourneau. Centenary (1-21) has now lost 11 matches in a row and is 0-8 on the road.

The Ladies are home this weekend in SCAC play with their final two home matches of the season. Centenary will face McMurry on Friday at 5 p.m. and the University of Dallas on Sunday at noon. The Ladies’ 2024 senior class will be honored in a pregame ceremony on Sunday at 11:45 a.m.

BASKETBALL: The Gents were picked to finish fourth in the conference this season in the SCAC preseason poll released on Wednesday while the Ladies were predicted to finish 12^th.

The Gents begin their regular season at home on Friday, Nov. 8 against Arlington Baptist while the Ladies open on the road at Hendrix on Nov. 10 in Conway, Ark.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

Amazing, isn’t it, what half a century of time can do to a place.  I grew up in rural Natchitoches Parish near the village of Goldonna and I’ve been gone from there over five decades. I go back today on occasional visits and hardly recognize anything. 

There were four of us who grew up together, one year apart. I’m the oldest; my cousin Doug is a year younger; my brother Tom a year younger than Doug and Sambo a year younger than Tom. The four Harris Boys, they called us. Living less than a quarter mile apart, we were constant companions. Summer days were spent barefooted and bare-backed in the woods and creeks around our homes, bird hunting, fishing, killing snakes, playing “deer and dog” and swimming.

One particular area served as a catalyst for our summertime outdoor activities — the Tank Pond. On a visit back home several years or so ago, I took a walk down through the woods to visit the Tank Pond but to my surprise and dismay, it was no longer there.

Thick buck brush grew over a damp spot where we once swam and played. If I listened closely though, I could hear a trickle of water somewhere down there in the brush. I could only rely on my memory to bring to life the old pond where the four of us learned to swim. Back then, fresh spring water coursed over a concrete spillway that had been built there maybe a century earlier to impound the little creek into a nice-sized pond.

The Tank Pond was used as a water source for the engines of the L&A Railroad trains that stopped there for water to generate steam. Near the pond was an elevated tank where the water was pumped from the pond. A boom was lowered and water flowed from the tank into the boiler of the engine where it was heated by a coal-fed fire box, thus generating the steam that served as a power source for the train.

I recall lying in bed at night, listening to the train grind to a laborious halt with screeching wheels and hissing steam as it stopped at the Tank Pond for water. Once the boiler was filled, the engine would begin a slow CHUG … CHUG … CHUG before the wheels lost their grip on the rails with a rapid CHUGCHUGCHUG.

I knew what was next. The train had to back up all the way below Goldonna, nearly a mile distant, to get a running start at the gradual grade that culminated on Oshkosh Hill a couple of miles on up the track past the Tank Pond.

That’s all gone now. The L&A railroad is no more, the tracks long abandoned, the right-of-way overgrown. My sister told me that the rails were pulled up and sold to a company that transported them to Chile. I find it odd that the rails I walked barefoot as a kid are now supporting train traffic and barefoot boys in South America.

Water that coursed over the spillway trickled through a culvert beneath the railroad tracks where it spilled into Molido Creek 50 yards from the tracks. Just below where the Tank Pond waters met Molido, a deep hole in the bend of the creek made for a fine swimming hole, one that holds a plethora of memories. The only snake bite I ever had was inflicted in this swimming hole. A  snake bit me behind the knee while we were swimming. One look at Doug’s rusty Barlow and I decided to take my chances of dying of snake bite rather than to have Doug whittle on my leg with his dull knife. Luckily, the snake was a common water snake and I survived without my cousin’s help.

I visited the area a while back and to my surprise, the Tank Pond is there again, much as it was when Doug, Tom, Sambo and I swam in it as youngsters. I learned that some 20 years ago, the brush, debris and sediment were removed, and the pond was excavated to recreate our old swimming hole much like it was when we were boys.

Some things old and forgotten can be brought back to existence. I’m thankful our Tank Pond is now breathing new life.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

BOM is a Golden Paw sponsor of the Fairfield Elementary Magnet Foundation. Our donation helps enrich the educational experience through new technology, infrastructure, and facility improvements.

From the Webster Parish Journal

According to Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker, there was another Goex Explosion at Camp Minden around 7 a.m. Wednesday (today). Parker said Louisiana State Police has taken over the investigation and information will be forthcoming.

BELIEVE Lights the Night Holiday Experience at Shreveport Aquarium Tickets on Sale

Celebrating its fifth year of Christmas magic, BELIEVE is the ultimate interactive magical Christmas journey in the biggest, brightest, most beautifully decorated place in town.

Receive a magical motion-activated Christmas wand in the gingerbread lobby, and use it to turn on lights, play music, light up a cozy fireplace, make reindeer footprints, jingles festive bells and more as you venture through the aquarium to see all of our wonderful animals. Are you on the naughty or nice list? Use your magic wand to find out!
Meet and snap photos with all of the enchanting cast of costumed holiday characters, including the lovely Mrs. Claus, the beautiful Snow Mermaid, Glacielle, our mischievous elves, and of course, have a heartwarming visit with Santa himself!
Take a stroll down our beautiful Christmas Tree Lane, and don’t forget to cast a vote for your favorite tree, spreading the holiday cheer far and wide!
Enjoy Mrs. Claus’ delicious cookies, sip on hot cocoa and make a holiday craft with an elf
Keep your magic wand as a special gift

Get festive! Wear your Christmas jammies or sweaters on this unforgettable journey that will make you BELIEVE in the magic of Christmas! This experience typically takes 60-90 minutes.

More information:

Select Dates: Nov. 30, Dec. 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 20-23
Times: 5 – 9 p.m.
Cost: $30 for non-members, $20 for members
Tickets on sale beginning Nov. 1 at http://www.shreveportaquarium.com/believe
Tickets are limited and will sell out

Shreveport Aquarium is located at 601 Clyde Fant Parkway in Downtown Shreveport. Visit http://www.shreveportaquarium.com for more information.

Media Contact:

Josh Evans, 318-383-0601, josh@shreveportaquarium.com

Good chicken salad is like pornography. We can’t really define it, but we know it when we see it.

And taste it.

We live among a people bent on throwing wrenches into what should be the simplest things. Pee wee ball. Music awards shows. The high school prom.

And chicken salad. 

Instead of just playing, singing, dancing, or eating, we end up injecting everything with steroids, putting it under strobe lights, and driving people crazy.

These are the people our parents warned us about, the kind of complicated folk who mess up one-car funerals. And it’s not because they’re stupid. It’s because they want to add seven more cars, two taxis and a tow truck — just because. Too much time on their hands.

Big problem.

Nowhere is the disease more rampant than in your foodstuffs. I offer, for your consideration and contemplation, chicken salad. So simple, yet so misunderstood. It falls into a troublesome category of food that can be either really good or really bad. Usually, it turns bad when people try to glorify it and lift it above its reason for being. 

Think of a jacked-up VW with chrome and mud flaps. Some things just aren’t meant to be. 

My friend Ma Parker came back from lunch this week lit up like a Christmas tree. The reason was music to my ears.

“I just had,” she said, “some really, really good chicken salad.”

Sweet. It’s hard to come by in these modern times, so hard that, when you find it, you have to seek out a friend and comment, spread the love.

Chicken salad need not be complicated. I am no pro but when I think chicken salad, I think chicken, a little mayo and hint of mustard, some ground pepper, a smidge of lemon juice, and you’re ready to roll. 

Remember when you were little and you got sick and had to go to the doctor, and your mom always tried to do a little extra something special for you to get you over the hump? 

Mine bought me a chicken salad sandwich at a pharmacy that had a grill in the same town that had a doctor. Spoiled me for life. David’s Pharmacy in Mullins, S.C. They had a sandwich press deal and it would toast the bread with your “chick sal” stuff already inside and it came out crisp and heavenly.

The word I’m looking for is succulent. So succulent. It was almost worth getting sick just to get one.

On the panini sandwich deal, they were 40 years ahead.

Forty YEARS.

So I had David’s when I got sick, and every other day I had my momma’s understated chick sal in a clear Tupperware bowl in the icebox at the house. You just snatched a bit, put it on a piece of white bread, fresh and lush, folded it over and went back to your bicycle. 

Sweet.

But today … cranberries and grapes and nuts in chicken salad? Apples? 

Seriously? Would you put pork butt roast in your jello mold?

No doubt there are different strokes for different folks. To each his own and to and fro and all of that but …

I’m on a campaign to get celery, whose popularity defies logic, out of tuna fish sandwiches and chicken salad and I know my work is cut out for me there, but grapes? Nuts? Really? I love trail mix. 

But not in chicken salad.

Where we error is when we think “adding stuff” makes things better. Not always.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu