Wednesday, January 27, 2021

“What we need in the Sabine Parish Police Jury is leadership,” Truman Nichols said this week as he announced for the District 3 post. “And I will bring that leadership to the Jury.”

He continued, “The people are concerned about roads and I am concerned about roads. That is why I am running. It is a shame that we have roads that are not passable or hardly passable in times of rainy weather. We need oversight, and I will bring that to the Jury. My main concern is improving roads.”

In addition, Nichols said he will not take the insurance program the Jury offers members. He explained, “Being on the Jury is a part-time job. It doesn’t make sense that our tax money is being spent on insurance for Jurors. It is a total waste, and it just benefits a few and none of them should be taking it. That money needs to be used to improve our roads.”

Nichols, 56, has worked at International Paper Co. in Campti for the past 17 years. Prior to that, he was a poultry farmer for 12 years and also was in the logging business. In addition, he worked at Nichols Department Store, which was owned by his grandfather, the late Truman D. Nichols and later his aunt, the late Debbie Nichols.

Married to the former Angelia Cross of Natchitoches, they have a daughter Payton who lives in Shreveport. Mrs. Nichols was a teacher, but presently works in the Veterinarian Department at Northwestern.

Nichols was graduated from Many High School and attended Northwestern for two years.

In conclusion, he stated, “The Jury needs to manage its money wisely. I will find out where the money comes from and how it is spent. We need to look into what is the best way to improve our roads, and what are the best materials to use. I can promise I will work to assure the taxpayers that no money will be wasted.”

Many’s first female Chief of Police, Cheryl Wooley, is unopposed in the upcoming March 20 election.

“After having been appointed by the Town Council to serve out the term of the late Chief Roger Freeman, I was humbled by the many encouraging requests that I run for the office,” Wooley shared on social media Friday evening, Jan. 22. “This evening, I received notice that there were no other candidates to qualify. I am so excited to be Many’s Chief of Police for the next four years. My simple pledge is to protect and serve the citizens of Many and those who visit our town,” she said.

Late last week, Chief Wooley shared about recent department improvements as well as her guiding principles for running a good office.

“For me, it comes down to community first, professionalism, leadership and fairness,” Wooley said. Since her appointment on Dec. 15 of last year, improvements are in full swing, but there remain other goals she hopes to achieve as soon as possible.

“I want to emphasize training,” she said. “I also want to establish a regular community meeting with community leaders so that we can all work together for the good and safety of our town. We need additional detectives to help with cases as well,” Wooley stated.

Her long background of law enforcement in Oklahoma is what brought her name to the forefront when an appointment had to be made following Chief Roger Freeman’s death.

“I went to work for the Bureau of Narcotics in Oklahoma and worked there for about 11 years. I worked state and federal narcotics investigations, rising to the level of Agent III,” Wooley said.

Agent III responsibilities included working as a senior agent on advanced level criminal investigative work, coordinating and participating in major investigations and specialized criminal investigations, acting as lead on investigations, and providing training and guidance to lower level agents.

After 11 years with the Bureau, Wooley transferred to the Dept. of Human Services.

“I had a two-year-old at the time, so it wasn’t the greatest circumstance of having to be on call 24/7 and needing to get up in the middle of the night and leave, and that kind of stuff. So, I transferred to the Dept. of Human Services and stayed there for 12 years, where I became a supervisor for the Child Welfare Unit. Altogether, I have about 23 years of experience in the court systems and in law enforcement,” Wooley explained.

In a way, Wooley feels she has come full circle in her career after her long stint in Oklahoma. She began her work career in TV and print journalism, then found her passion when she went to work for the Bureau of Narcotics.

“A police department is different than a state agency in that its jurisdiction is smaller, and you have different things you need to do, but it’s basically the same principles. You’ve got to have professionalism, good policy, high ethics and you’ve got to keep up with technology. So, once a department makes sure all those are in place, the guys know how to do the rest – you’ve got a strong police department,” Wooley stated.

Since her arrival some six weeks ago, the station has undergone a bit of modest restoration including replacing some ceiling tile, a fresh coat of paint and a re-organization of records and evidence storage. More importantly, an assessment of current needs brought about significant changes in other areas, all designed to help officers fulfill their duties with professionalism and skill.

“We have put email capabilities on everybody’s computer with the work schedule, so that everyone can simply pull up their email and see who’s working and when,” Wooley said. Prior to her arrival, the office maintained a printed calendar on the wall of the station with the work schedules posted there. “I thought if you’re not at the station and can’t look at the calendar, officers could at least pull up their email and have the schedule handy,” Wooley explained.

“Some of the vehicles needed spare tires and jacks to repair a flat, so we’ve been working on getting those supplies. Some of the police cars don’t have a ‘cage,’ the protective divider between the front and back seats. We are working on getting those installed. We were low to non-existent on ammunition for officers to practice at the range, which is a must to qualify every year, so we got those supplies purchased. We are also working on updating the technology in the cars for their radio communications and computer accessibility, so officers can multitask while out on patrol,” Wooley said.

The improved in-unit technology will allow officers to access information and do related patrol tasks that might have required a trip back to the station before. Improvements also include a subscription to a service that equips officers to access needed information on potential suspects, identifiers and other helpful information.

“We’re doing a lot of things that probably needed to be done for a while, but last year was a bad year for the department. They lost their Chief, who had been here for a long time, in addition to all the added stresses of 2020 – from the pandemic to hurricanes. Everyone here deserves props for maintaining a viable force in spite of everything last year threw at them,” Wooley stated. “The guys have been awesome. They have really been positive and welcoming of the new stuff that we’re doing. We are moving forward, one step at a time.”

After much speculation about whether he would run for Mayor of Many, we learned last week that Robert Hable of Foy Motors is in it to win it. Apparently, his announcement generated a lot of excitement online. It was reported some 9,200 persons from Sabine and beyond viewed Hable’s qualifying announcement on his campaign Facebook page. Of those, 120-plus persons shared the information, counting the announcements published in Observations and the Cenla Report.

Hable’s platform includes building up business and industry, infrastructure and services – water, streets, gas, electric and internet, opportunities for young people, support for families and diversity, safety for all through support of fair, well-trained law enforcement, downtown renewal and cultural events, and creating positive relationships in the community to find solutions that work best for everyone.

One of Hable’s competitors for the office is James Kennedy, who is giving up his 16-year seat as Alderman, Dist. A, to run for mayor. Kennedy has announced he is looking forward hearing and to tackling the concerns of all of Many’s residents.

Kennedy said serving so long on the Town Council has allowed him to understand the complexities of running the city government. He is a lifelong resident of Many and he serves as Deacon and Usher at New Jerusalem Baptist Church.

No stranger to politics, previous Many Mayor, Councilman and 30-year public servant Mike Tarver is making strides with his campaign platform of planning for industrial development, providing an employment registry and residential rental aid services through the Town of Many, focusing on soliciting grant monies and improving streets.

Tarver has also proposed starting a Trade Days/Farmers Market type event to generate regular visitors to the area. Another promise from Tarver is having devoted hours each week for citizens to come and personally share their issues and concerns with him.

Candidate for Many Mayor Ernest Williams qualified and also announced his intentions on social media last Wednesday. From among his 1,400 or so Facebook friends, just over 100 enthusiastically shared his announcement. Williams is a lifelong resident of Many, a graduate of Many High, and an NSU graduate with degrees in Criminal Justice and Education. He also holds graduate hours in Homeland Security.

Williams’ platform includes hoping to provide more job and career opportunities for Many’s young people so they will have reasons to remain here, seeking to bring in an industrial employer, cleaning litter and demolishing abandoned, dilapidated homes.

Many attorney Christopher Sylvia qualified last Wednesday morning for Police Juror, Dist. 3. His announcement follows:

“I am excited to announce my candidacy for Sabine Parish Police Juror, Dist. 3. With the political turmoil we have all witnessed both locally and nationally in the recent weeks, I felt I could no longer sit on the sidelines and hope change would come. With the encouragement from my family and friends, I believe the timing is right for me to begin causing change for the better by serving on our police jury. My goal is to work tirelessly for the people of District 3 and all of Sabine Parish to ensure a solid, stable future for our district and parish. Sabine Parish has proven to be a wonderful place to live and it is extremely important to me that I do my part to ensure Sabine Parish is just as wonderful for my children, for your children and for future generations.

“Although I moved around a lot in my youth because my father was a career military man, we eventually settled back down in my original home parish – Natchitoches Parish. After I graduated from high school, I graduated from Northwestern State University with a degree in sociology and a minor in political science. I then went on to obtain my law degree from Louisiana State University in 2000. Once out of law school, I practiced law in Rapides Parish for eight years and thereafter I was hired in August of 2008 as in-house counsel for The Peoples State Bank. I quickly became impressed with the people and area and decided that I wanted to live and raise my family here in Sabine Parish. After nine years as in-house counsel, in October of 2017 I opened my own law practice and currently have an office on San Antonio Avenue. I have resided in Sabine Parish for over eleven years, along with my wife, Frances, and our four children – Annalise, Gracie, Vivian, and Brock. Sabine Parish is now my home parish.

“Our police jury will be handling many critical matters in the near future. Money available for all government agencies seems to be constantly declining while costs are constantly rising. If we want to flourish in the future, we must have cooperation among the various governing agencies. The best way to achieve a common goal is by working together and helping one another. I pledge to work hard, research the issues we face, collaborate with other jurors and municipal leaders, and keep you the people informed of new opportunities to benefit Sabine Parish.

“My grandfather was a constable for many years in Natchitoches Parish and I would like nothing more than to serve you as a police juror in Sabine Parish. I humbly ask for your support and look forward to meeting you as I walk door-to-door across District 3 in the upcoming days. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach me at (318) 431-5009 or at christopher.sylvia@cmsattorneyatlaw.com.”

Qualifying for the March 20 Primary ended Friday, with the following persons throwing their hats into the ring.

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, District 4:  Shelly McFarland of Winnfield, Michael Melerine of Shreveport, John Milkovich of Shreveport, Emma Shepard of Shreveport, Cody Whitaker of Winnfield and Cassie Williams of Bossier City.

Police Jury, District 3:  Joseph A. Hendon of Robeline, Truman Nichols of Many, Dewayne “Porkchop” Rains of Many, Jeff D. Scaife of Many, Michael Smith of Many, Stephen M. Steinke of Many and Christopher M. Sylvia of Many.

Andrew Rodgers of Converse was unopposed for Constable from District 4.

Many Mayor:  Robert H. Hable Jr., James D. Kennedy, Mike Tarver and Ernest L. Williams.

Cheryl Wooley was unopposed for Many Chief of Police.

Mary Key Brocato was unopposed for Many Alderman at Large.

Many Alderman, District A:  Curtis “Andy” Knippers and Mary C. Perry.

Anita Wolf Darwin was unopposed for Many Alderman, District B.

Many Alderman, District C:  Bobbie Guay Jackson (incumbent) and Claudette “DeeDee” Palmer.

Many Alderman, District D:  Monte Davis and Cherry M. Williams.

Claire Marie Lopez went in unopposed as Village of Noble Alderman.

“WHAT HAPPENED TO KOOLAID?”

Everybody’s asking, “What happened to Koolaid?” Those wonderers are talking about Phillip Cutrer, who announced recently in Observations that he was running for Many Chief of Police. He failed to qualify as the deadline passed last Friday.

Observations is posting a special edition next Friday with the Koolaid story. You’ll find it of interest, so don’t fail to read.

Qualifying last week for Police Juror, Dist. 3 was Joseph Hendon. His announcement follows:

“I would like to officially announce my candidacy for Sabine Parish Police Juror District 3. My parents moved to Sabine Parish in the early ‘90s after my dad retired from the U.S. Army. I graduated from Many High School in 2002. For the last 18 years, I have worked for the largest inland tank barge company on the inland waterways, moving up through promotions to Captain. I have been married for 15 years and have four children; my wife is a teacher at Many Elementary School. I have loved living in Sabine Parish for the past 20 plus years.

“When elected, my priority will be to help create a rotating working schedule to maintain all roads within District 3, as well as the rest of the parish. Sabine roads should be safe enough for all travelers: school buses, visitors, residents and, in the event of an emergency, first responders. Currently, and sadly, that is not the case.

“Feel free to contact me directly to discuss any issues, old or new. I look forward to meeting, and hopefully serving, the residents of District 3. I appreciate your support and will do my very best to improve our parish, particularly District 3.”

Word has it that Hancock-Whitney Bank will be closing branch locations on Toledo Bend west of Many and on Hwy. 6 leading into Natchitoches.

Another candidate seeking the Police Jury, Dist. 3 seat is Jeff D. Scaife. Here is his announcement:

“After much consideration I have decided to join the race for Sabine Parish Police Jury District 3. Growing up as a child in Sabine parish, I have traveled many roads around here. I have also watched them decline. I will not make promises that I can fix everything, but I do promise to be attentive to the needs of District 3. I will not be one of the ‘good ole boys.’ I will ask questions and research the answers I’m supplied. 

“A lot of good people are running for this spot, and if you have a great person for the job in mind, then please help elect them. If you are ‘on the fence,’ I would much appreciate your consideration for a vote for me. Any questions that I may be able to help you with, feel free to call or text (318) 471-8922, Facebook or Messenger.

“Thank you for your consideration once again, and I will soon be making my way around District 3 to visit and listen to concerns.”

The man means business, unlike some public officials. Sheriff Aaron Mitchell said Clinton Staton, 62, of Zwolle has been arrested on nine charges related to illegal drugs.

Sheriff Mitchell has started a program where he, Chief Deputy Brad Walker and others meet on a regular basis with all Chiefs of Police in the parish. When the Zwolle Police Dept. expressed concerns about Staton, the Sheriff’s Tactical Narcotics Team began an investigation last November.

Agents were able to obtain a search warrant for Staton’s Henry St. residence in Zwolle, and they executed the search last Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Staton was initially charged with five counts of Distribution of Schedule II, Meth.  He was later charged with Possession of firearm or Carrying a concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies, Possession of firearm while in possession of CDS, Possession with intent of distribute of marijuana, ecstasy, meth, suboxone and Xanax and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff Mitchell is passionate about putting a stop to as much drug traffic in Sabine Parish as possible. In this case, he emphasized the importance of law enforcement officers working together and sharing information.

If anyone has any information of narcotic activity or any other crime, please contact the Sheriff’s Department at 256-9241. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 256-4511 or submit a tip through the Sheriff’s Office App.

In-person registration to vote continues through Feb. 17 in the Registrar of Voters office, according to Registrar Zack Faircloth. Online registration will continue until Feb. 27. For more information, visit the Louisiana Secretary of State’s web site at sos.la.gov, then click on Geaux Vote. To go directly to online voter registration, visit voterportal.sos.la.gov and select Sabine Parish from parish drop-down menu. Follow the prompts to register online.

Early voting for the March 20 primary will start March 6 and end March 13, according to Faircloth. His office will be open Monday through Saturday for early voting from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. The office is closed on Sunday, March 7.

L Brooks Real Estate recently recognized three of its outstanding agents. Honored last week as 2020 Million Dollar Producers were Associate Reneta Geoghagan and Associate Kristi Pleasant. Pleasant joined the firm in August 2020. Associate Taryn Brooks was also honored as the 2020 Top Sales Agent and as a Multi-Million Dollar Producer. Congratulations, ladies, on your hard work, success and this deserved recognition!

The Many Town Council met in session Monday, Jan. 18, and heard a proposal from Alderwoman Anita Darwin for a pay raise. She said it had been some years since the Town Council had a raise.

Mayor Ken Freeman stated with the present state of the economy due to the Covid-19 outbreak, that he felt it was not a good time for a raise. Ms. Darwin did not make a motion for the pay raise and after the Mayor’s remarks, suggested the matter be tabled until later.

Mayor Freeman then asked for a motion to not give a pay raise. Alderman James “Pie Lemon” Kennedy made the motion; it was seconded by At-Large Member Mary Beth Brocato and passed.

That’s all for this week. Thank you for faithfully reading. We appreciate it. See you Friday for lagniappe Observations.

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