Friday, October 16, 2020
I had the pleasure recently of making the acquaintance of our new Sabine Registrar of Voters, Zachery Brent Faircloth. He’s a nice young man, was very personable and it was a pleasure to meet him. Faircloth took the job upon the recent retirement of Kristi McCormick.
Zachery told Observations that thus far is he doing very well with the job and that he has been spending a lot of time studying about what the job entails. “My job is to get you registered to vote and to let you know what is offered in the Registrar’s office,” he stated. He has been visiting with other Registrars of Voters in the area, and they have all been very kind in helping him get acclimated.
Longtime employee Cathy Kelly continues to work at the office. She will reach retirement age the first of next year and may choose to retire, Zachery said.
A graduate of Converse High School in May 2011, Zachery received the Bachelor of General Studies degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport in December 2015.
His professional experiences include being Dispatch Officer and Assistant Yard Manager at Interstate Building Materials in Many from August 2016 through October 2019. In addition, he has been Property Manager for AT&N Land Company in Mansfield from June 2011 until the present.
Tedd Dumas of Baldridge-Dumas Communications, the operator of eight radio stations in this area, is pleased to announce that Jessica Gray has joined his staff as an on-air personality, board operator and sales representative. In addition, she will be doing remote broadcasts.
“She has knowledge of many different topics and is a great on-air personality,” Tedd said. “She is very energetic and is eager to work and be a big part of the BDC team.”
Jessica is a cum-laude graduate of Northwestern State University with a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a concentration in broadcast media. She has a minor in hospitality management and tourism.
“I began college as a Pre-Med student, but after a week of prerequisites, quickly discovered a career in medicine was not for me. One day I walked out of Bienvenue Hall [where science classes are held] and ran into Dr. Arthur Dew. Dr. Dew spent about an hour talking to me about the department of New Media and… I realized I belonged there,” Gray shared.
While at Northwestern, she was Public Relations Manager at The Current Sauce, which helped set her on a path to a broadcast journalism career.
“At Baldridge-Dumas Communications, I am talk show host of the ‘No Hostage Report’ on KWLA 103.1. I have never felt more sure of myself, or my calling in life, than I have being on the radio,” Gray said.
In addition to on-air duties, she is a sales representative in Sabine, Vernon and Beauregard Parishes.
“In my free time, I enjoy watching the Food Network with my two cats, Leo and Laila,” Gray shared. “And I coach local and state pageant contestants.”
The new BDC employee is a local pageant queen, having earned four titles: Miss Sabine Freestate, Miss Natchitoches Meatpie, Miss Louisiana Pecan Festival and Miss Sabine Fair and Rodeo.
“Pageantry has truly shaped me into the woman I am today,” she explained. “It is within pageantry that I grew my confidence to even be on the radio.”
In closing, Gray said, “My plans for the future are to [host] a nationally-syndicated talk show and continue to bring Americans the truth. Our civil liberties are being threatened every day, and by being the only woman on the morning line-up of KWLA, it is my responsibility to produce accurate facts and be a voice for the American woman. The strides that I hope to make for women in radio are unmeasurable and I am extremely blessed to be in this position.”
Early voting has started, and we encourage all to do their patriotic duty. There has never been a more critical time than now to cast your vote.
Early voting is underway in the Sabine Parish Courthouse at 400 Capitol St. in Many from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16 – Saturday, Oct. 17; Monday, Oct. 19 – Saturday, Oct. 24; and Monday, Oct. 26 – Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Be sure to take a valid photo ID to be allowed vote.
DON’T FORGET: The big Social Distance Social and Great Chili Cook-Off happen next Saturday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. in downtown Many.
There will be free music by The Turn-Ups and their special guests on the sidewalk in front of Sabine Theater.
Bayou Crawfish, just across the street, has a full menu of drinks and tasty Creole and American options. Hard Kor Cafe will be on the street, and event organizers are presenting the “Great Chili Cook-Off” to benefit Project Celebration as well.
Project Celebration is giving away two fabulous free prizes and selling tickets for a wonderful grand prize [we hear it’s a huge Yeti cooler compliments of Boise! Awaiting confirmation.]
The Chili Cook-Off already has 10+ entries and winning chilis will be awarded trophies and bragging rights.
Chili chefs vying for the top prize include Ark-La-Tex Financial, Attorney Ronald Brandon, Community Bank, Mayor Ken Freeman, Interstate Building Materials, McBryde & Associates, Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, Service to Sawmills Inc., two entries by Ms. Camillia Spilker, and Sabine Chief Deputy Brad Walker. More are being added daily. To enter or learn more, contact Laurie Gentry at (318) 332-7873.
Online registration is over for the Sabine Runners 5K, which will be held at the event, but interested persons can still register beforehand with Adam Lehr at Rigs & Racks Fitness on Hwy. 171 Bypass or by calling (318) 508-1514. The 5K starts at 6:30 p.m. under the red light at the intersection of Capitol St. and San Antonio Ave. It ends downtown as well. Proceeds from the run will also benefit Project Celebration.
At Saturday’s Social, the downtown Karate studio will demonstrate their skills, which was a big crowd-pleaser when they visited before.
As always, Southern Ladeez will be open for evening shopping. They offer vintage and new items, boutique items, specialty foods, handmade and more.
Event sponsors are Mayor and Mrs. Ken Freeman, Laurie Gentry Designs, Attorney Verity Gentry, John and Betsy Godfrey, Vanguard Behavioral Health Consultants and Wagley Companies LLC.
Free bottled water, masks and hand sanitizers are always provided.
Project Celebration also wishes to thank their sponsors who are helping to make the Social a great fundraising event. They are Boise, Tannehill Timber and Land, State Farm Insurance – Buddy Wood, City Bank, Bank of Montgomery (BOM) and Foy Motors.
Our good friend Steve Birdwell of Marthaville shared something with us he found the other day, and we hear from many others who feel exactly the same:
“I am not voting for a man. I am voting for the principles for which this country has stood since its founding. I am voting for Constitutional government. I am voting for a strong and viable military. I am voting for a vibrant economy. I am voting for the right to keep and bear arms. I am voting for the freedom to worship. I am voting for a national recognition of the founding of our nation on Biblical principles. I am voting for the ability for anyone to rise above their circumstances and become successful. I am voting for my children and grandchildren to be able to choose their own path in life, including how and where their children are educated. I am voting for our borders to be open to everyone under our law and closed to everyone who would circumvent or ignore the law. I am voting for the Electoral College to remain in place so that a few heavily populated liberal centers do not control the elections. I am voting for a Supreme Court that interprets the Constitution rather than rewrites it. I am voting to teach history, with all its warts, not erase or revise it. I am voting for the sanctity of life from conception to birth and after. Let us all make America great again.”
Signs Along Life’s Highway
We chatted with Valmore Byles earlier this week and he is recovering well from back surgery he underwent last week. We continue to send him our best wishes for a full and complete recovery.
And neighbor Bob Gates continues physical therapy in Natchitoches following a second hip surgery. He said he is making progress daily, and we also continue to wish him a full and speedy recovery. We miss him around the neighborhood.
Former Gov. Earl K. Long said this about truth: “The truth. The truth. Anything I say you can record it and put it in the paper. I’ve got one language and that’s the truth.”
Big congratulations to Lauren Manasco Moore and husband Shawn who have been selected Grand Marshals for the Many Christmas parade. The couple will lead this year’s parade down San Antonio Ave. on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.
Lauren is a native of this area. She graduated from Belmont Union Christian Academy in 2001 and from Northwestern State University in 2006 with a degree in Housing and Interiors, Family and Consumer Science and a minor in Business.
Although Shawn’s roots are in Shiloh, TN, his family relocated to Many when he was only 10, so he certainly qualifies now as a hometown guy. Shawn graduated from Many High School in 2001 and earned a degree in Business Administration from Northwestern in 2006.
The couple met at college and were married shortly after graduation in May 2006. They are the proud parents of two precious girls, Nora Leigh, age seven, and Naomi, who turns five in just a few weeks.
Since 2015, Lauren has owned the historic Nichols Dry Goods, which has been in operation since 1914. The chain of Many, Leesville, Winnfield and Coushatta stores is headquartered in Many.
Lauren came to Nichols as a college intern working with Debbie Nichols, the previous owner. She was hired immediately after graduation as Visual Merchandiser, and Debbie taught her the business from top to bottom over the next decade until Nichols’ untimely death in October 2015.
As Lauren established her new ownership role at Nichols, she initially tapped Shawn’s talents to become the chain’s buyer for Sporting Goods.
Before joining Nichols in January 2017, Shawn worked for 12 years at Boise in Human Resources.
From his teenage years throughout college, Shawn worked for John Curtis at his local Big Star grocery store chain. “I learned so much from Mr. John,” Shawn said. “Customer service is key to everything.” Shawn said the early lessons of work he learned from Curtis have continued as a source of inspiration and standard of excellence.
Since coming to Nichols, Shawn has taken on some intensive and much-needed projects, like installing a chain-wide Point of Sale (POS) system. Under his watchful eye, a century of paper record-keeping has given way to an efficient, time-saving and inventory-accurate electronic system, which places the Nichols legacy in a prime spot for continued service and growth.
Shawn and Lauren work side by side in an office together at the Nichols warehouse, and it looks to be a perfect setup.
“I’m very artsy, creative and visual,” Lauren said as she explained their working relationship, “And Shawn is very good with numbers. We definitely complement each other,” she said.
In addition to her work at Nichols, Lauren serves on the boards of the Sabine Tourist Commission, Sabine Parish Chamber and Sabine Hall of Fame.
“I let Lauren do all that stuff,” Shawn said with a smile, but he does find time to serve on the board of the Friends of the NRA.
When Observations stopped in to visit the Moores this week about their selection as Parade Grand Marshals, they were both honored and humbled by the Town of Many’s gesture.
“And you know what’s really special?” Lauren asked as she motioned toward some glass-front cabinets holding historic Nichols mementos in the adjacent office, “I have a photo in there of when Debbie was selected as Grand Marshal and also of when her father served as Grand Marshal. To continue that tradition means the world to me.”
That’s all for now. Call me at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com to share your thoughts and ideas for future columns. I love to hear from you. To save, send or print today’s column, click on the icon below. To see Observations of the recent past, scroll through the pages provided. To see archived ones, visit our Facebook page. As always, thank you for reading.
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