Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) – Sabine Valley Campus held a stakeholder meeting last Thursday, April 15, to announce a re-alignment with Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC). On hand to welcome the contingent from BPCC were Campus Dean Gwen Fontenot and Natchitoches Campus Dean Laurie Morrow.

Dr. Rick Bateman, BPCC Chancellor, visited the Sabine Valley Campus to make the announcement, explain the alignment’s impact and to take questions from interested community leaders. The move is part of “a strategic campus realignment plan to improve access to transferable general education and workforce training programs in rural communities.” The Natchitoches Campus is also included in the realignment.

It is anticipated the change will increase program offerings, enhance workforce training and expand partnerships with K-12 and higher education institutions. The realignment target date is July 1 or as soon as possible thereafter.

“Our college community looks forward to welcoming these campuses and their students as part of BPCC’s mission and to serving the educational needs of more Louisiana citizens,” Bateman noted.

Several interested persons spoke at the meeting, including an industry representative who shared his concerns that local high school graduates have trouble passing the math portion of an employment test because they do not understand fractions and decimals. He noted his industry offers some 725 entry level jobs which pay $27-$28 per hour but, in general, newly-graduated locals cannot qualify because of a basic lack of math skills.

Others in attendance voiced hopes that an alignment with BPCC will provide increased program and training options locally. Currently, career and technical education programs offered at CLTCC Sabine Valley Campus are Business Office Administration, Electrician Technology, Patient Care Technician and Welding.

The CLTCC Natchitoches campus offers A/C & Refrigeration, Business Office Administration, Business Office Technology, Cosmetology, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Industrial Manufacturing Technology, Patient Care Technician, Practical Nursing and Welding.

Both campuses offer general education courses, high school dual enrollment, WorkReady U (adult basic education) and workforce development training.

To contact the Sabine Valley Campus about course or other information, visit the college at 1255 Fisher Rd. in Many, call (318) 256-4101 or email admissionsoffice@cltcc.edu.

My Daddy used to tell me don’t be fooled by what you see.

If you want to get to the heart of things you gotta look way down deep.

Second place don’t get it, Son, a winner gotta come in first.

There’s nothing worse than to take a drink that leaves you in the dirt.

Dig, dig, dig a little deeper in the well, Boys, dig a little deeper in the well.

– as sung by the Oak Ridge Boys       

and played on Many Radio by Tedd Dumas

That’s what the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office did Monday in the cold case of body parts first found in a well on April 18, 1986. According to Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, eight members of Central Sabine Fire District spent about six hours going deeper, about four feet deeper.

And they found more bones from the man who was thrown in the well some 36 years ago. Chief Deputy Brad Walker said the remains newly found have been sent to the crime lab for identification. He thought the report should be back within about two weeks.

Hats again doffed to Sheriff Mitchell and Chief Walker for their untiring efforts to improve the operation of the Sheriff’s Office. We are appreciative of their efforts and we know their hearts are in the right place.

Regular readers of Observations will remember we last focused on this story back in November of last year when, under the leadership of Sheriff Mitchell, the SPSO re-opened an investigation into the case of the unknown “Man in The Well.” Investigator Chris Abrahams led the charge and noted the victim has yet to be identified.  

Turning the pages back over three decades ago, it was April 18, 1986 when Charles Pilcher looked into an abandoned well on his place located on Recknor Road, a mile or so south of Hwy. 6 west of Many. He was thinking about using the well as a source of water for his cattle. When he looked into the well he saw a big sheet of polyethylene plastic wrap. He fished it out and found that it had covered a body. Pilcher’s son told officers at the time that he had seen the plastic in the well before Christmas of the previous year, but thought someone had dumped trash in the well. The well was 27 ft. 3 in. deep and the water table was 13 ft. “We feel that whoever dumped the body knew in advance where the well was,” Chief Deputy Brad Walker said.

Back in the day when the remains were first discovered, they were found to belong to a white male, estimated by Mary Manheim of the LSU FACES lab in Shreveport to be between ages 30 and 45. The unknown man was estimated to be 5 ft. 8½ in. tall, and the body had a shotgun wound in the hip, with some pellets still lodged in the body. It was assumed he might have walked with a limp. The victim had extensive dental work and was dressed in a light blue shirt, blue knit pants and a light blazer jacket. In his possession were a Snoopy night light, several small keys, a black comb with several teeth missing and a urine cup.

Dr. George McCormick, then-Caddo Parish Coroner, ruled that the victim died from blunt force trauma with several blows to the head causing bone and tissue destruction. In addition, it was determined that he had possibly been stabbed in the back twice.

If you know of anything at all about the case, or if you think you know something, please give your tip to Detective Abrahams at the Sheriff’s Office. Call him now at (318) 590-9475. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at (318) 256-4511.

This Saturday, April 24, is Election Day.  Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.  On the ballot are BESE, Dist. 4 runoff between Republican Michael Melerine and Democrat “Cassie” Williams, and Police Juror, Dist. 3 runoff between Joseph A. Hendon and Stephen M. Steinke.

Sabine Registrar of Voters Zack Faircloth said 213 persons had voted as early voting came to an end on Saturday. Another 231 persons cast absentee ballots for a total of 444 votes which were cast early.

Of that total, 400 were White, 27 Black, and 17 self-described as Other. Of the total, 208 were male and 236 were female. Democrats totaled 132, there were 249 Republicans and another 63 voters listed under “Other” for party affiliation.

There will be no Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival this year, but they will have a trail ride May 8 at 2 p.m. It starts at the Zwolle Festival Grounds and admission is $10 per person – ages 16 and up and $5 per person – ages 15 and under. No Four-wheelers are allowed, but side-by-sides are allowed. Prizes will be given. Food will be available before and after the ride. For more information contact Monk Sepulvado at (318) 332-8140.

Observations has seen an industrious group of young people working on Ponder St. lately and admired their strong work ethic. They are AdaLynn Alford, age 8, Isabella Allen, age 9 and Maci Haigh, age 8. Helping in the effort is Mason Allen, age 5.

We stopped by last week to see what they’re doing and learned they are raising money to buy a clubhouse to hang out in. They’ve been at it about two weeks or so now.

The group reported as of last Wednesday they had raised “forty-something dollars,” and proudly peeled back the lid of their plastic kitchen container for Observations to admire the stash. They don’t know the cost of the clubhouse yet, but intend to keep raising funds until they feel it is enough.

Mr. Observations asked, “Are y’all going to let boys go in the clubhouse or just girls?”

“Just girls!” was the strong reply given in unison from the three females. But then Isabella quickly added, “Just girls, and then Mason because he’s helping us.”

Mr. Observations replied, “I tell y’all what to do on Mason if y’all want to let him go into the clubhouse – make him wear a dress.” Mason protested with a big laugh, but one of the ladies good-naturedly agreed with the advice.

“I don’t even have girl clothes!” Mason exclaimed. One of the ladies suggested he could borrow something from big sister Isabella.

Bracelets are $1 each as created, but if someone wishes letter beads to be used to spell out a name, the person can place an order and come back in about ten minutes to pick it up, the group said.

“Now, that costs more because we have to spell out the name and everything,” AdaLynn said. Name bracelets cost an extra 50¢.

Generally, the group is set up to sell after school hours; two are homeschooled and two attend at Many. Their usual spot is somewhere along Ponder St. in front of one of their homes.

Kudos to these fine, young people who are working hard toward a goal and learning the value of initiative and industry.                               

Sabine Parish had a total of 15,091 persons who were registered to vote in the March 20 primary. Of those, only 2,060 voted, for a total of 13.65 per cent. Those are figures provided Observations by Registrar of Voters Zack Faircloth. Sabine Parish has a population of about 24,000.

Of the registered voters, there are 11,118 Whites and 2,253 Blacks; 1,390 are self-described under the “Other” category.

There are 4,942 registered as Democrat – 2,819 Whites, 1,712 Blacks and 411 listed as “Other.” There are 6,560 persons registered as Republican – 6,002 Whites and 75 Blacks. There are also an additional 3,589 registered listed as “Other parties” – 2,627 Whites, 466 Blacks and 496 “Other.”

Some time ago, someone called to our attention the 2019 audit of the North Sabine Fire Protection District which showed that Chief Nick Spann drew a salary of $70,674. We made a request to the Fire District for copies of the official records and Chief Spann was forthcoming and very transparent about the matter. We appreciate this very much in a public official.

It turns out that the auditor, Marsha O. Milliean of Shreveport, listed all salaries paid from the Fire District under Chief Spann’s salary. We were provided a letter from Ms. Milliean saying “…there was a typographical error on page 26 of the 2019 audited financial statement. Your salary is incorrectly listed as $70,674.  The correct amount is $26,500.” A typographical error? What about proofreading?

The Chief provided us with his W-2s showing the total amount he has been paid.

The current salary from Chief Spann is $36,000 annually, or $3,000 monthly, less withholding taxes. No insurance or any other pay is given him. On Oct. 15, 2019, the Board voted to increase Chief Spann’s salary from $24,000 to $36,000.

The fire chief has a truck purchased under state contract that is issued to him. The truck is used for district business and “incidental personal use” and “is not required to be reimbursed.” The truck was purchased in February 2020 from Courtesy Ford of Breaux Bridge for $36,971.25. Total fuel expense, including two flats and a wheel balance totaled $1,451.28 for 2020.

In a discussion with Observations, Chief Spann said he has been Fire Chief since 1994 and that the North District is the largest in the state that’s not parish-wide. It includes six of the 10 wards in Sabine Parish.

Again, we appreciate Chief Spann being forthcoming and clarifying this matter.

Foy Motors head man and Many Mayor-Elect Robert Hable and Foy Sales Executive Josh Haigh recently made a fun drive down to College Station, TX to deliver a beautiful, new 2021 Suburban to former Texas A&M Wide Receiver and Arizona Cardinals player Ryan Swope and his wife Melissa.

“Any college football fan will know this man’s name all too well!” Haigh shared on social media. “Ryan is the all-time leader for Texas A&M in both Career Receptions and Receiving Yards. Thanks again, Ryan and Melissa, for trusting and joining the Foy Family!” Haigh posted.

It was with s great deal of sadness we learned of the death of long-time friend Terry Waxham on Sunday. He gallantly battled a long illness. Terry was a native of Pleasant Hill and worked for AT&T for many years. After he retired in 1998, he moved to the old home place of his wife, the former Carolyn Litton, in Marthaville.

Terry was a Civil War historian and knew more about the Red River Campaign in this area than anyone else I know. The old Litton place was on the field where the Battle of Crump’s Corner was fought. Terry used his metal detector to find many relics from that battle. He started a museum of Civil War artifacts, and he was proud to share it with anyone who was interested, especially groups of students. He was a true student of history.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Carolyn, a classmate of mine from Marthaville days, to his daughter Tammy, son Clay, sisters Evangeline and Paula and brother Tommy.

Please join in prayer for Seth Freeman, son of Many Mayor Ken Freeman and wife Mary Ellen. Seth has been fighting a battle with cancer. There have been ups and downs, and we have continued to hope and pray that Seth can win the battle.

On Sunday, Mayor Freeman reported that Seth had to be taken to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Houston. We spoke with him on Monday and the news was not good. The cancer has spread to Seth’s spinal cord. So please continue to pray for Seth, wife Amber and their little daughter Charlotte as well as the entire family.

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