There was good news and bad news on the economic front in Webster Parish, making the economy the number one story for the 2009 Year in Review.
Camp Minden
In early October, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal arrived in Webster Parish for a groundbreaking ceremony held by the Louisiana National Guard for Phase I of the new Regional Training Institute (RTI) at Camp Minden. The facility, which will be built in four phases, will provide regionalized leadership and military occupational specialty training for the Army National Guard. RTI will maintain a staff of 97 with a maximum student load of 538. McInnis Construction of Minden has been hired to construct the site infrastructure and education/administration building. The Wieland-Davco Corp. will construct the billeting building and Hand Construction has been awarded the dining facility.
The budget for Phase I stands at $23,875,000.
Clement Industries
After a series of layoffs in less than a year and a temporary plant shut-down in January, 2009, Clement Industries was still feeling the woes of a lackluster trade and industry market by summer.
Within the past seven months, Clement Industries sent home roughly 50 percent of its normal workforce. As a result of a slow-moving economy, one of the nation’s leading dump trailer manufacturers began operating with less than a fourth of its normal 170 plus workforce, including 10 office staff and 22 plant workers.
With the global demand for scrap metal still low, it appears not much has changed for the manufacturer since late 2008.
Fibrebond Corporation
In early July, Fibrebond Corporation, a Minden-based concrete buildings manufacturer, sent home in excess of 30 employees. The layoff affected a combination of administrative support and production workers.
The cuts accounted for less than eight percent of the company’s total workforce, which currently registers at approximately 400.
Weyerhaeuser
The same month, Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world’s largest forest products companies, announced it would be permanently closing the doors at its iLevel lumber mill near Taylor.
The shutdown affected approximately 39 employees at the site, including some Minden residents.
Weyerhaeuser attributed the closure to a decrease in demand for wood products, which continues to decline due to a slow-down in the housing market.
Trane
In December, Trane Commercial Systems in Springhill announced it will be closing its Springhill site and relocating to Monterrey, Mexico by May 2010.
The closure of the Springhill location, which manufactures condensing units, air handlers and heaters, is expected to claim the jobs of roughly 190 salary and hourly employees.
AUTO DEALERS
In May, three Minden auto dealers were given the green light to keep sales and service traffic moving as two of the “Big 3” automakers restructured business.
Employees of Brown Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Harper Motors and Minden Country Chevrolet were, at least temporarily, breathing a sigh of relief.
The 19 employees of Brown Chrysler received word from Chrysler’s Vice Chairman Jim Press via UPS that it will remain in business, as Chrysler LLC. realigns its three-brand company.
Minden Chevrolet
A little more than one month later, Minden Country Chevrolet closed its doors after experiencing a decline in business traffic.
With its 22 remaining employees, Minden Country Chevrolet spent July 1 closing out sales operations. The Homer Road dealership shut its doors to the consumer car buying business as of 5:30 p.m. that day.
TWO
Bobby Ingram stands trial
At the end of November, Judge Ford Stinson sentenced Bobby Ingram to 28 years at hard labor for the 2006 shooting death of his ex-wife, Kim Ingram.
Prior to sentencing, Defense Attorney Marty Stroud made a motion for an acquittal, stating the alleged evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooting of Kim Ingram was not justifiable. The attorney cited the statute (R.S. 14:20) for justifiable homicide, which states a person can use deadly force when an unlawful entry has occurred and that said person is under no duty to retreat in that situation.
Ingram was convicted August 16. The jury, which deliberated for five hours and 20 minutes, voted 10-2 to convict after hearing three days of testimony.
Ingram was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence. His guilty verdict was on the lesser charge of manslaughter, which carries a sentence of zero to 40 years.
THREE
New construction and renovations on local entities, hospital
Minden City Hall
In August, Minden Mayor Bill Robertson signed a contract with Brown Builders to begin the remodeling and renovations project to Minden City Hall. Brown Builders’ bid of $2,589,000 came in well under the project’s $3.4 million estimated by the city. Groundbreaking took place September 3.
Webster Parish Library
Area residents caught their first glimpse inside the recently updated Webster Parish Library structure August 30 during the library’s grand opening. Overall, the project has added 5,300 square feet for use. Funding for this project was made possible through area property taxes.
Minden Medical Center
In September, the new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Minden Medical Center was complete and ready to receive patients.
The $5 million project, awarded to McInnis Bros. Construction Company, features eight beds with plans to open four additional rooms in 2010.
This 9,480 square foot ICU addition is cutting-edge in its size, practicality and attractiveness.
FOUR
ADA Sherb Sentell resigns from office
In October, what began at a Bossier City casino led to events where no one came out a winner.
Bossier-Webster Assistant District Attorney Sherb Sentell, 43, of Minden, was arrested at the Horseshoe Casino Saturday, October 3 and charged with one count each of domestic abuse battery and public intimidation-bribery. Sentell III and his wife, Julianna formally announced his resignation and discussed the circumstances surrounding his arrest at a press conference.
Sentell submitted his resignation to District Attorney Schuyler Marvin in what was declared a mutual decision.
FIVE
Hope Youth Ranch convictions overturned
The convictions of three former Hope Youth Ranch employees, who were found guilty of negligent homicide in the death of facility resident Alex Harris, were overturned in December.
The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that the evidence against Kelton Greenard, Arthur G. Henderson III and Anthony L. Combs was “insufficient to prove beyond a doubt that the criminal negligence of the three defendants caused the death of the child in question.”
The appellate court upheld the three men’s conviction of cruelty to a juvenile. They will appear before District Court Judge Parker Self for resentencing. The trio could face up to 10 years in a state penitentiary.
Views: 2328
Comments (1)
Only registered users can write comments. Please login or register.
Webster News 
Comments (1)
