Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020

It was with a great deal of sadness that we learned Sunday of the death of the Rev. Billy Burkett. He almost made it to age 91. We extend our deepest sympathies to Sabine District Attorney Don Burkett and other members of the family.

The Rev. Burkett led an amazing life dedicated to the Lord. He preached his first sermon at 16 and surrendered to the ministry at 17. He served as a Baptist preacher for a total of 72 years, with most of his service being in Northwest Louisiana.  He was born in Converse.

Rev. Burkett was a cattleman and avid horseman, nicknamed the “Cowboy Preacher” when in his early 20s. To add to his amazing life, he was also a stage four cancer survivor. He lost his wife, Mary in 2012, and on April 22, 2015 married Martha Jan Powell, with whom he lovingly shared the last five years of his life.

He was a good man. He will be missed by all of those who knew him.

A Zwolle man drowned Sunday afternoon in Toledo Bend, according to Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell. The drowning was reported around 2 p.m. at the end of Springwood Ridge in the San Miguel area. Deputy Coroner Ron Rivers said Calvin Blake Akins, 29, drowned in five feet of water about 30 feet from the shore.

Sheriff Mitchell said the Central Sabine Fire Department Dive Team, DeSoto Parish Dive Team and Wildlife and Fisheries agents responded to the drowning. Witnesses said the victim was trying to swim to an island when he went under.

Sales tax collections were down again during October in Sabine Parish, according to information released by Collector Nolan Rivers. Collections were down by $203,054.15 from October of 2019.

School Board revenues were down by $144,986.04, the Police Jury by $72,564.96, Town of Zwolle by $3,318.51, Sabine Sheriff’s Department by $54,369.48, School District No. 2 by $64,146.96, the District Attorney by $9,124.39 and the Council on Aging by $18,123.36.

Collections for the Town of Many, Villages of Converse, Florien and Pleasant Hill and the Tourist Commission all increased.

Oops!

Strange things happen at the Sabine Parish Detention Center. Recently the shift was over at the Center about 4:30 a.m. one morning, and two jailers walked to the gun lock box, where jailers can store a gun when they come to work.

One jailer had brought a gun to work with him and was showing it to the other jailer in order to possibly sell it to him. Well, the gun went off, but no damage was done. There was an inmate in the room when the pistol discharged.

Both jailers were fired, according to Chief Deputy Brad Walker. “We have a zero- tolerance policy,” he said. This is not the first time a similar incident has happened over the years with a pistol being discharged.

And another story:  During Hurricane Laura, the Many Walmart store was closed. One of the Center’s female secretaries was sent to Mansfield to purchase some supplies. A witness called the Sheriff’s office and said the woman had purchased beer and put it in a cooler in the Sheriff’s Department van.

When alerted, Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and Deputy Walker immediately went to the Detention Center. They learned that the beer had been put into a jailer’s truck.  The plan was that the two were going to have a cook-out and drink a little beer at the Center after their shift was over. Wham, bam. Both were fired.

Sheriff Mitchell pledged a transparent administration when he was elected. And he has lived up to that pledge. It is very important for the public to be aware of what is happening within the Sheriff’s Department, and we appreciate the forthrightness we have now found there since Sheriff Mitchell took office.

“We are continuing our pledge to clean up the problems at the Detention Center,” Deputy Walker commented. In a related matter, Joshua K. Trahan, 29, was recently arrested on charges of contraband in a penal institution, as well as other charges.

Pet projects totaling 118 were funded to the tune of $25.2 million by the State Legislature. The money wasn’t distributed evenly across the state, but a handful of legislators who control the budget process sent more than half of the funding – $13.1 million – to parishes they represent. They represent only 17 of the state’s 64 parishes.  

When dividing the money up based on population, the parishes represented by the budget negotiators also fare better than average. Pet projects are defined as those allocations that benefit a local community more than the state as a whole.

Sorry to say that Sabine and Natchitoches Parishes did not make the list. Thanks to friend David West of Natchitoches for calling the matter to our attention.

We get letters:  Joey Harris, who lives in Vernon Parish, thinks it’s wrong for Sheriff Aaron Mitchell to run commercials on the radio asking people to turn in persons suspected of using or dealing in drugs. “That is insane,” he writes. “I’m a catch them if you can American. Most small-time dealers are dumb as a rock and easily caught. Sickening to me. Glad I don’t live in Sabine.”

We certainly disagree with Mr. Harris, but acknowledge that he is entitled to his opinion. Sheriff Aaron Mitchell is very passionate about doing something about the drug problem in the parish and we laude him for it. He has seen first-hand the damage that drug use not only does to the user, but to many other innocent people. It brings heartbreak for a family to see their child or loved one use drugs. And there are so many other good reasons to bring as much of it as possible to an end. Good work, Sheriff Mitchell, and keep it up.

And Mr. Harris had a few other things to say. “I want to add that during the covid outbreak, the Many Mayor and other officials completely shut Sabine Parish down. Even ran off visitors to Toledo Bend that were fleeing other areas. In my opinion the officials in Many and Sabine Parish greatly over-stepped their bounds. As has our Governor. We are American in the pursuit of liberty and happiness and I for one can’t abide when little self-important politicians start dictating to the people and overstepping their authority. They only have limited power and authority that we the people granted them. And it can be taken back by we the people. I sincerely hope people recognize that or else we are doomed as a nation of free people.”

It was a great time for Trick-or-Treating in downtown Many Friday afternoon. Observations estimates there were at least twice the number this year of costumed children and their parents than normally attend. Almost every downtown merchant along San Antonio Ave. had a candy or treat table and kids were enthusiastic, as always. And we saw a few adults just as eager as the children to nab some sweet goodies.

All Blood Types and COVID Survivor Plasma Requested

A call is going out for blood and plasma donors.

We understand there is a local and national blood shortage, the likes of which has never been seen. 

Everyone who can give blood is encouraged to do so immediately. Arrangements may be made by calling a LifeShare Blood Center. LifeShare Bossier City may be reached at (318) 742-4636; contact Shreveport LifeShare at (318) 222-7770. 

Blood Centers are using strict protocols to protect everyone from COVID-19.

Further, plasma donations from COVID-19 survivors are also solicited.

Willis-Knighton is participating in a clinical study using plasma from recovered COVID patients to help those with the disease.

It is hoped COVID patients who receive the plasma will experience diminished symptoms and lessen their risks of disease complications and death.

LifeShare is also collecting the plasma donations.

If you are a COVID survivor and interested in donating plasma for this study, contact Clinical Research Manager Carrie Kay at (318) 212-8130.

Seen:

Have you ever been so offended at something, you thought, “Man, I need to steal a flat screen TV right now!”

St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Many was all aglow Monday night and it was a beautiful sight. A candle was placed on each headstone to commemorate All Souls Day on Nov. 2.

In the Catholic faith tradition, All Souls Day falls on the day after All Saints Day, Nov. 1.

A special thank you to Mary Beth Tarver for the lovely photos.

That’s a wrap for now. Thank you for reading. Please call or write with your ideas for future columns. You may reach me at (318) 332-8653 or robertrgentry@gmail.com. To save, send or print today’s column, click on the appropriate icon below. To see columns of the recent past, scroll through the pages provided. To see older ones, please visit our Facebook page.

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