Wednesday, May 26, 2021
The Many Town Council, meeting in session on May 18, called the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission to task for hiring a Director not only from out of parish, but from out of state. Linda Curtis-Sparks has announced she is retiring as Director after serving 14 years. Chip Davis of Greenville, SC has been hired by the Tourist Commission, upon the recommendation of Curtis-Sparks.
Council Member Bobbie Jackson brought the matter before the Council saying, “We’re getting a new director. Ms. Linda’s slowly stepping down. It’s Chip Davis from South Carolina.”
The Town of Many Council passed a motion saying that it was disappointed that “we had to go outside the state to hire someone to come and sell our parish.” The motion was made by Council Member Gay Corley, seconded by Member Anita Darwin, and passed unanimously.
Members of the Tourist Commission are President Lauren Moore, Vice President Martha Henderson, Sec./Treas. Edith Palmer, Bonnie Fox-Miles, Bobbie Jackson, Daniel Bennett and Lance Rivers.
Mayor Ken Freeman wrote a letter to the Commission stating, “The motion expressed the dissatisfaction of having to not only go out of Sabine Parish, but the state of Louisiana, to hire someone from South Carolina. …he is not a resident of Sabine Parish or the State of Louisiana and will have a long learning curve to learn who we are and what assets we possess so that he can effectively sell our parish.”
During the meeting, Mayor Freeman asked, “Why did they go outside the state when there were numerous qualified people to apply here in Sabine Parish and Louisiana?” It has been reported that more than 100 persons applied for the job. Ms. Corley answered, “I guess it was the best qualified,” and the Mayor asked, “According to who?” Council Member Jackson, who also serves as a member of the Tourist Commission, responded, “Linda and some of the others interviewed. I wasn’t in on that.” Council Member Mary Beth Brocato commented, “You know, I wondered because I knew of some of the applicants who seemed to be extremely well-qualified.”
“I would have liked for this committee to have voted that they stay in the state,” the Mayor said. “Did you report to us who they were going to be hiring?” and Ms. Jackson said, “No.”
The Mayor continued, “It’s unusual that we have to go out of state to find somebody who can sell our parish when there are a lot of people in the parish who know our people, who know what our assets are.”
Both Ms. Corley and Ms. Brocato asked if the new hire had ever been to Sabine Parish and Ms. Jackson answered, “Yes, yes, and of course Linda took him around.” Ms. Brocato asked, “And he came here to visit because he was applying for the position? He’s never been here before that?” Ms. Jackson replied, “Not to my knowledge.”
Ms. Corley expressed her disappointment that the opening for the Director’s position was not more widely advertised. “It wasn’t publicized?” Ms. Jackson asked to which Ms. Corley responded, “No, no, or I would’ve put in for it.” Ms. Corley had earlier in the discussion stated, “It should have been publicized because there are people in the parish that are more qualified to take over… that could do more.”
The newly-hired Tourist Commission Director is a native of Pennsylvania and is currently a showroom sales manager for ProSource Wholesale of Greenville, SC, a wholesaler of flooring, kitchen and bath construction supplies.
A PERSONAL NOTE: In the interest of transparency, it should be known my wife Laurie applied for this job.
A day after she interviewed and five days before the Commissioners were going to vote on whom to hire, Curtis-Sparks told Laurie she would not be offered the job. At that same meeting, Curtis-Sparks explained her personal, future vision for the Tourist Commission, her proposed continued involvement in its operation, and her intended continuation on some statewide tourism-related committees. Curtis-Sparks also said she personally felt strongly that the South Carolina candidate checked all the right boxes on issues that would help accomplish her future goals for the Commission. She did offer Laurie a position, which was appreciated, but it was not the one the Tourist Commission advertised or the one for which Laurie applied. After thinking it over, Laurie felt it best to withdraw her application.
Further, I did not know the Town Council was going to take up this matter, and I did not attend the meeting. I knew nothing of this resolution until after its passage.
Memorial Day is a special holiday to recognize, remember and pay tribute to all those who have died defending our great country. We surely do owe these men and women a debt of gratitude we can never fully pay. While we mourn the loss of life, we celebrate these troops’ honor, valor and bravery.
According to military.com’s Blake Stillwell, “Since the Revolutionary War ended, 646,596 American troops have died in battle and more than 539,000 have died from other, [war death] non-combat related causes.”
We wish you and yours a blessed Memorial Day this Monday, May 31. May you take time to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to provide us the many freedoms we enjoy in the United States.
Sabine Parish Tax Assessor Chris Tidwell has announced there was an increase in the income requirement for the Special Assessment Levels. The new adjusted gross income amount is $100,000. If a person makes under that amount and qualifies for a special assessment freeze, they should come by the Assessor’s Office in the Courthouse.
Assessor Tidwell listed the types of special assessment that can be offered in addition to Homestead Exemption:
1. Senior Citizens: Must be 65 or older. The income requirement had been about $78,000 prior to the increase to $100,000.
2. Disabled Veterans can be any age and must have a service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or more by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
3. Permanently Totally Disabled: Can be any age and must be permanently and totally disabled as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of court or certified by a state agency.
4. Widows of Armed Forces Killed in Action, Spouses of Missing in Action or Prisoner of War, or a surviving spouse of a person who died while performing their duties as a first responder, active-duty member of the military or law enforcement or fire protection officer: can be any age and must have verification that the spouse was a member of the Armed Forces or Louisiana National Guard, who was killed in action or is currently Missing in Action or a Prisoner of War.
More information on this and the Homestead Exemption may be obtained at the Assessor’s Office.
Northwestern State University alumna Emily Myers first recognized her love for reading and writing while in the seventh grade at Converse High School. She knew her dream of becoming a published author was lofty and came with an uncertain future. Still, she continued her studies in English, graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Professional Writing and a minor in Mass Communications.
She put her dreams on hold after graduation and began teaching English in Rapides Parish. Her path toward a certain and stable future was shattered for her emotionally when her father passed away after an 18-month battle with Stage 3 Lung Cancer. At that point, realizing life’s uncertainty, she decided to pursue her dreams immediately, and has spent the last two and one-half years finding her niche in the publishing industry and preparing her first novel to self-publish.
Her debut novel, “The Truth About Unspeakable Things,” is a Women’s Fiction/Romance novel. The book is now available for purchase on Amazon or through Barnes and Noble’s web site in both eBook and paperback forms. To learn more visit www.emilyamyers.com or find her on Facebook and Instagram @emilymyersauthor.
Curt Carver, second from left, owner of Toledo Town and Tackle, has donated four law enforcement life vests to the Sabine Sheriff’s Department. The vests were special ordered and tailored not to restrict motion or duty belts. Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, shown at left, greatly appreciates this kind gesture by Carver. Also shown are Deputy Jimmy Campbell and Chief Deputy Brad Walker, at right.
READERS SPEAK OUT: Derreck Perry: “Who is over the Sabine Parish Compactor sites? Is it our elected Police Jurors? Why are they all brimming full? While we are at it, why is EVERYTHING the Police Jury is over in such disrepair and sad shape? Regardless of extenuating circumstances with each Juror, they ran for office on the premise of maintaining the position. I’m tired of ALL the excuses on why our roads are so shoddy and why our dump sites are so terrible. ‘Pigs get fat, but hogs get slaughtered.’ #cleanhouse.”
Father Francis Kamau, pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Many, became a U.S. Citizen during naturalization ceremonies the morning of May 12 in New Orleans. We offer him congratulations, a hearty and warm welcome, and we applaud him for doing it the right way.
If you wish to send Father Kamau a card of congratulations, his address is 1130 San Antonio Ave., Many, LA 71449.
MORE FROM DEREK CAMPBELL: “I recently told you about my daughter getting threats at Pleasant Hill School. We asked Principal Jarrad Rivers if he called the law, and he said he called Pleasant Hill Chief of Police Ray Williams. We asked if the boy was arrested and he said he didn’t know. I called Ray Williams and asked him. At first he didn’t remember, then he recanted and said he would call me because he didn’t remember what was done. He said he would go see the principal. He never called.
“I asked him after graduation what he found out. He was very helpful over the phone, but when I saw him in person he got very standoffish, [with] kind of an attitude. He said the school handled it and that’s all there was to it. I let him know when the law was broken it wasn’t up to the school. We argued for a minute and then he said, ‘Look I’m not going to do anything about it!’ And I let him know he was wrong. Then I went to School Board Member Dale Skinner. He agreed with me for the most part. I told Dale he didn’t elect Supt. Sara Ebarb or Kristi Brumley as a judge and jury. He agreed. I also asked him how many lawsuits we were going to have against the School Board before she was run off. He said that was a question for me to ask her. But she is more worried about me having an attitude and getting rude with her and her staff than fixing the problem.”
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy announced that airports in 16 parishes will receive $9,843,973 in federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. The Town of Many is to receive $714,883.00 for rehabilitation of 1,000 ft. of runway 12/30 pavement at Hart Airport to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement.
Voice from the cistern: Wouldn’t that money be better spent on Sabine Parish roads?
Word has it that the Sabine Parish Police Jury wanted to charge the Sabine Parish Library Board $2,500 per month for rent on the library. It sez here that Library Board members asked District Attorney Don Burkett about it and found out the Jury couldn’t legally do it.
The folks at Marthaville are really peeved with the Natchitoches Parish School Board concerning consolidation of schools. In a statement released Monday, parents stated, “Unfortunately, the Marthaville school district is being railroaded into a forced consolidation with two other districts to form a new high school. The proposed school is not in an acceptable location for Marthaville/Robeline residents.”
The statement continued, “This would result in an hour-plus bus ride for our students. Marthaville district pays the most in taxes and it has been said that a high school cannot happen without our district’s money. We have no say in the matter of consolidation. The School Board will vote on this. If this consolidation takes place, our small school in Marthaville would more than likely close within five years. Marthaville would pay around 45 percent towards this new school and the other two districts would pay the remainder. This is not okay. If we are paying taxes to go toward our school, then it should be ours. If the other two districts want to consolidate, then that’s fine, but let them fund their own districts.
“The School Board held secret meetings regarding this and they work for us. We elected them to represent us and sadly it seems as if their minds are made up and our concerns don’t matter.”
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