Minden held it’s 33rd Annual observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day over the weekend. Over the weekend, there were different events going on in the name of the holiday, including a basketball tournament at the REC Center on Friday, a commemorative service with guest speaker Dr. Nikole Roebuck, GSU Band Director, and the essay and poster contests that many students participated in.
Minden’s observation of the holiday peaked on Monday, MLK Jr. Day itself. Things got started off early in the morning with the Ecumenical Unity March going down Martin Luther King Drive.
While the march may have been over, the marching wasn’t yet done with the MLK Jr. Day Parade taking place in Downtown Minden. Marching bands from high schools across north Louisiana took to the brick streets of Minden, those being Arcadia High School, North Webster High School, Bastrop High School, and Minden High School.
Miss Minden 2020 Joy Journey Davis was the one chosen to serve as the Grand Marshal for the parade. The route went through downtown Minden and ended in front of the Civic Center, where the bands performed for a table of judges before finishing the parade. The judges were also looking for the best-decorated float and the most-spirited group/organization.
A youth rally was held following the parade at the Minden Civic Center, emceed by Reginald Bridges. There, the winners of the parade contests, the MLK Jr. day Youth Leadership contest. the essay contest, and the poster contests were announced. There was also a friendly battle of the bands held between the marching bands while they awaited the judges’ results.
For Best Decorated Car/Truck, third place went to Lee Lodge #221, second place went to Woo’s Barber Shop, and first place went to Alpha Kappa Alpha.
For Best Decorated Float, third place went to Minden Main Street, second place went to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and first place went to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
For Most Spirited Group, third place went to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, second place went to Lee Lodge #221, and first place went to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
For the Best Marching Band Performance, third place went to Arcadia High School, second place went to North Webster High School, and first place went to Minden High School.
For the Jr. High Essay Contest winners, third place went to Taylor Young, second place went to Leigha Kennon-Gilbert, and first place went to Tyrone Grider. For the High School Essay Contest winners, third place went to Krystal Cornelious, second place went to Jasmine Sneed, and first place went to Ariel Cage. The 2020 MLK Leadership Award was presented to Alexis Reynolds and Donovan Douglas of Minden High School.
The winners of the poster contest in each division are Akari Kelly in the K-1st Grade Division, Aryanna Plummer in the 2nd -3rd Grade Division, Claire Edens in the 4th-5th Grade Division, Isabelle Beckham in the Jr. High School Division, and the group of Alivia McKenzie, Destenee Franklin, and Laci Beth Hough in the High School Division.
For more photos from Minden’s 33rd Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, see page 16.