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The first newspaper by this name in Minden was founded in 1895. The newspaper has evolved through many manifestations. In 1989, the Louisiana Press Association presented ''The Press-Herald'' with the annual "Freedom of Information Award" for its work the previous year in maintaining public access to city meetings and records.

The first newspaper by this name in Minden was founded in 1895. The newspaper has evolved through many manifestations. In 1989, the Louisiana Press Association presented ''The Press-Herald'' with the annual "Freedom of Information Award" for its work the previous year in maintaining public access to city meetings and records.

==Original ''Minden Herald''==​

==The original ''Minden Herald''==​

The earliest use of the name ''Minden Herald'' dates to 1895, after publisher and editor William Jasper Blackburn (1820-1899), an [[Arkansas]] native, settled in Minden, then a part of Claiborne Parish, and established the newspaper. He was a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], a supporter of the Union during the [[American Civil War]] and opposed [[slavery]]. He was [[mayor]] of Minden for a single one-year term from May 1855 to May 1856. Blackburn published his ''Minden Herald'' for about six years. It was not the first newspaper in Minden. That distinction was held by the former ''Minden Iris'', which was established in 1848 at the same time as the founding of neighboring Bienville Parish.<ref name=agan>John Agan, "Minden Press-Herald story goes back more than 150 years", ''Minden Press-Herald'', 2007</ref>​

The earliest use of the name ''Minden Herald'' dates to 1895, after publisher and editor William Jasper Blackburn (1820-1899), an [[Arkansas]] native, settled in Minden, then a part of Claiborne Parish, and established the newspaper. He was a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], a supporter of the Union during the [[American Civil War]] and opposed [[slavery]]. He was [[mayor]] of Minden for a single one-year term from May 1855 to May 1856. Blackburn published his ''Minden Herald'' for about six years. It was not the first newspaper in Minden. That distinction was held by the former ''Minden Iris'', which was established in 1848 at the same time as the founding of neighboring Bienville Parish.<ref name=agan>John Agan, "Minden Press-Herald story goes back more than 150 years", ''Minden Press-Herald'', 2007</ref>​

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'''Former'''​

'''Former'''​

* '''John Agan''' (born 1958) is the former author of "Echoes of the Past", a periodic column on local and state [[history]], much of it from the 19th century. He is a [[professor]] at [[Bossier Parish Community College]] in Bossier City and the official Webster Parish historian.​

* '''John Agan''' (born 1958) is the former author of "Echoes of the Past", a periodic column on local and state [[history]], much of it from the 19th century. He is a [[professor]] at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City and the official Webster Parish historian.​

*'''Juanita Murphy Agan''' (1923–2008) wrote a periodic column "Cameos", which focuses on "older times" of [[Americana]]. She was the mother of John Agan.​

*'''Juanita Murphy Agan''' (1923–2008) wrote a periodic column "Cameos", which focuses on "older times" of [[Americana]]. She was the mother of John Agan.​

*'''Josh Beavers''' (born c. 1979), former publisher and editor, resigned 2014.<ref>"My Time Here Has Ended", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 18, 2014</ref> A native of Claiborne Parish, Beavers was born to Dwight Alan Beavers (1948–2008) and the former Sheila McKenzie; in 2013, he was named vice president of Specht Newspapers, Inc.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 9, 2013.</ref>​

*'''Josh Beavers''' (born c. 1979), former publisher and editor, resigned 2014.<ref>"My Time Here Has Ended", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 18, 2014</ref> A native of Claiborne Parish, Beavers was born to Dwight Alan Beavers (1948–2008) and the former Sheila McKenzie; in 2013, he was named vice president of Specht Newspapers, Inc.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 9, 2013.</ref>​