Community

Welcome to Minden

Whether you’re relocating or just looking for a nice place to visit, you’ll feel at home in Minden, Louisiana, located in the piney woods of northwest Louisiana. Wander around our website to learn more about our unique community, where history and hometown values abound. Beautiful historic neighborhoods, nationally-recognized healthcare, unique fairs and festivals, progressive businesses and small-town quality of life make our town a great place to visit, live or retire. See for yourself.

Education

PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Minden-South Webster Parish public schools are fortunate to have one of the best school systems in the state. Since 2002, the school board has completed multi-million dollar construction projects on five new schools and completed parish-wide renova­tions and additional projects to its remain­ing 10 schools. In addition, voters recently approved construction of facilities to better accommodate elementary and middle school students.

In the past several years, the graduation rate for Webster Parish schools has increased from 69.3 percent to 83 percent, above the state graduation rate of 82 percent and tied with the national graduation rate of 83 per­cent. The District School Performance Score showed an increase of 6.9 points in 2016.

Minden High School continues to foster strong partnerships with multiple post-sec­ondary institutions to provide career readiness options for students with varying interests. The implementation of the Jump Start program allows students to begin career focuses in the areas of Emergency Medicine, Business Management, Welding, Carpentry, Computer Information and Public Service. Students who wish to begin college coursework during high school have the opportunity to take classes from Louisiana Tech University, Louisiana State University-Shreveport and Bossier Parish Community College. The wide-range of academic offerings for students are a main focus, and local schools are committed to further exploring additional options for all students. The Webster Parish School Board (WPSB) offers Honors programs in all Minden elementary, middle and junior high classrooms and has expanded Honors programs into the northern and southern ends of the parish, depending upon the size of school.

Technology has been a focus over the past few years with upgrades to an all Fiber Wide Area Network and high speed Fiber Internet Access. The WPSB has also upgraded the internal infrastructure of all schools to include high speed managed switches and wireless access points in every classroom. These accomplishments have been made possible by leveraging funding from the E-Rate program and other available funding sources. Technology improvements continue to be important to the WPSB as it plans to spend available funds on additional devices to assist with the needs of schools around computer-based testing.

Webster Parish School System remains the parish’s largest employer with 394 teachers, 49 administrators (includes superintendent, board members, supervisors, coordinators, principals, assistant principals, etc.), and 382 support staff personnel totaling 825 on payroll and a total of 15 schools in the parish, four of which are high schools. The parish operates on an annual budget of approximately $47,000,000.

In Louisiana, students can qualify for TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) and receive tuition reimbursement by meeting the state-mandated requirements as outlined in www.osfa. la.gov/schgrt6.htm.

GLENBROOK SCHOOL
The vision of Glenbrook School is to provide students with a complete education and to prepare them for college and life. The Glenbrook administration, faculty and staff promote the development of the total child: academically through a balanced col­lege-preparatory program; socially through leadership opportunities, extracurricular activities and community services; and phys­ically through complete physical education and athletic programs. Moreover, the school recognizes the responsibility it shares with the home in development of ethical and moral values.

Through membership in clubs and orga­nizations, Glenbrook School encourages community service and volunteerism opportunities with organizations such as Special Olympics, Minden St. Jude Telethon and Auction, Veterans Day Program, UCAP and local food banks. Glenbrook School also provides students with the opportunity to help others abroad through mission trips to Nicaragua. Enrichment opportunities are provided to each student in grades kindergarten through sixth. Students attend structural music classes and art classes. All students receive instruction in computer technology and the Spanish language.

Glenbrook School teachers provide a variety of opportunities for the students to learn “outside the classroom” through day field trips and overnight field trips.

Glenbrook’s outstanding athletic program in­cludes sports activities ranging from football to tennis to weight training to baseball and softball. The athletic program has culminated in several state championships. In addition, the elementary physical education program provides structural activities that prepare students to participate in varsity sports.

To request a tour of Glenbrook School, call  318-377-2135.

NORTHWEST LOUISIANA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
2017 is slated to be a red-letter year for higher education in the Minden-South Webster area. Northwest Louisiana Techni­cal College’s new 40-acre campus, located on the 1-20 service road at 9500 Industrial Drive, opened in May 2013 with state-of­the-art classrooms and equipment. Efforts to secure the new campus spanned more than 20 years and included the ongoing support of the college’s legislative dele­gation, spearheaded by former Louisiana State Representative Jean Doerge and former State Senator Robert Adley, who were ultimately able to secure the neces­sary funding. Aided by generous property donations from Webster Land Corpora­tion’s Richard Carey and Amy and Darrin Mealey, the college’s longtime dream has come true.

A new 10,000 square foot Workforce Development Center opened at the North­west Louisiana Technical College Minden Campus in October 2016. This building will be used for customized training and includes state-of-the-art welding and industrial electrician labs as well as two state-of-the-art classrooms.

The new campus has received approval to build a new 10,000-square-foot workforce development center that will be utilized for customized training.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the College’s student services office at their earliest opportunity to complete the college application process and secure their place in this new, ultra-modern technical education complex.

Healthcare

MINDEN MEDICAL CENTER (MMC), a 161-bed, acute care hospital, is the only hospital in the southern portion of Webster Parish and serves a population of more than 70,000. Each month, more than 1,700 people seek emergency care in MMC’s emergency room. The hospital has more than 550 em­ployees, including those who work at off-site locations, and an annual payroll of more than $27 million. This means MMC staff and their family members attend many of the same schools, shop at the same stores and volunteer their time and resources to the same organiza­tions as the rest of the community.

MMC’s goal is to deliver the best healthcare available in Webster, Claiborne and Bienville parishes as they seek to make the residents of the community healthier. With the help of dedicated physicians, employees, volun­teers and board members, along with the continued support and encouragement of the community, MMC is able to continue its passionate pursuit of excellence. Delivering quality healthcare close to home is the single most important contribution it makes. Along with making a positive impact on these communities, MMC has been recognized at the national level.

Minden Medical Center received its eleventh “A” grade in the Spring 2017 Hospital Safety Grade, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections within the hospital. Minden Medical Center is the only hospital in Louisiana to receive straight /\s since this initiative began in 2012 and one of only 63 hospitals across the nation to be recognized for consecutive A grades.

Minden Medical Center offers a wide range of services, including orthopedics & sports medicine, cardiology, emergency room, gen­eral surgery, pediatrics, OB/GYN, laboratory, diagnostic X-ray, cardiopulmonary, CT scan­ning, MRI, oncology, TeleStroke and a full range of rehab services including physical, speech and occupational therapy.

The hospital’s medical staff consists of cardiologists, general surgeons, OB/GYNs, pediatricians, a podiatrist/foot and ankle sur­geon, a pulmonologist, family practitioners, urologists, a rheumatologist, an orthopedic surgeon and an otolaryngologist (ENT). Ophthalmology, behavioral health services, oncology services and a home health agency complement the acute care offerings. Numer­ous managed care alternatives complete the menu of available services. For help finding a physician, please call the physician referral line at 318-382-8282.

Minden Medical Center has received the Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the So­ciety of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in an effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction.

Hospitals that have received SCPC accredita­tion have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation, as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of pa­tients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. They also serve as a point of en­try into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack.

Minden Medical Center addresses the entire continuum of care for the heart patient, including important areas such as dispatch, Emergency Medical System, emergency department, cath lab quality assurance plan and Minden Medical Center’s community outreach program. By becoming an Accred­ited Chest Pain Center, Minden Medical Center has enhanced the quality of care for the cardiac patient and demonstrated its commitment to higher standards.

Minden Medical Center’s Baby Place provides valuable services from the begin­ning of a patient’s pregnancy to their day of discharge. Labor & Delivery rooms are private and spacious to provide a home-like environment.

Stroke patients at Minden Medical Center now have immediate access to highly specialized vascular neurologists as the result of a partnership between Minden Medical Center and Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, also known as TeleStroke. Through this network, MMC’s emergency department physicians have the ability to consult in real time with Ochsner vascular neurologists 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year using telemedicine equipment to determine the best treatment options for stroke patients.

Recreation

Minden is home to one of the best public recreation complexes in Louisiana. The $8 million Minden Recreation Complex features a 40,000 square foot gymnasium with basketball courts and seating for 1000, a weight room, meeting rooms, walking track, locker rooms with showers, and a heated exercise/aerobic lap pool. Outdoors is a large swimming pool, children’s water playground, four basketball courts (one covered), two enclosed racquetball courts, four tennis courts, 4 adult softball fields, 12 baseball/softball fields, and 2 tee ball fields, one soccer field, one football field, a 1 mile outdoor walking track, playground, 7 concession/restroom/announcer buildings.

The recreation complex is located off of Industrial Drive (I-20 Service Road) and encompasses more than 150 acres.

Membership is free and open to everyone; however, a photo identification card must be obtained and presented to use the complex.

In addition to the Minden Recreation Complex, the City maintains Minden Fairgrounds. The complex on Goodwill Street features an open area that includes a pig barn, livestock barn, show barn and RV hookups. Griffith Stadium has a baseball field, which is used by high school, American Legion and semi-pro teams.

Neighborhood Parks are also accessible and provide a variety of features:

  • Victory Park: Includes a public water playground, tennis courts, playground equipment, picnic tables and restroom facilities. Located on Park Highway.
  • Academy Park: Includes tennis court, gazebo and picnic tables. Located at the intersection of Lewisville Road and East & West.
  • High Street Park: Includes playground equipment, basketball court, picnic area. Located on High Street.
  • Ewell Park: Includes ball fields, a public water playground, playground equipment, playground, picnic area, restroom facilities and a recreation center for basketball, ping-pong and a pool table. Located at 801 Harris Street.
  • Babb Park: Includes a public water playground, playground equipment ball fields, picnic area, basketball and restroom facilities. Located on Horton Street.
  • Walnut Street Park: Includes playground equipment and basketball only. Located on Walnut Street.
  • Roosevelt Street Park: Includes playground equipment only. Located on Roosevelt Street.
  • Hinton Park: Nature Park which includes playground equipment. Located on Hinton Street.
  • Constable Street Park: Includes basketball courts and playground equipment only. Located on Constable Street.