Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Observations has been made aware of a new public Facebook page titled “Transparency in Sabine.”  Patricia “Pepper” Rains, the creator, said the page’s purpose is to hold governmental agencies accountable and to bring awareness to the taxpayers of the parish.

She said the page will discuss issues that may be presented and talk about how property owners feel and how citizens can make Sabine Parish a better place. Mrs. Rains commented, “We want to focus on our parish, its government and ways to improve it. The residents are the owners of the parish, not the politicians that hold public office. Let’s create a voice for change. Let the elected officials know what we want. After all, they work for you.”

Mrs. Rains started the Facebook page just a few weeks ago and it already has 176 members. Her ground rules are:  be kind and courteous, no hate speech or bullying, and no promotions or spam. The page is open to anyone who wants to read it on Facebook at “Transparency in Sabine.”

Earlier Mrs. Rains started a private group Facebook page called “Suppression in Sabine.” Persons must request to join the group to access that page. At present she has 439 members on the page and its motto is: “Say No to Corruption.”

She remarked, “This is a discussion-only group. This [Suppression in Sabine] group was created to keep Sabine residents informed on specific legal cases that are suppressed by the media, by people of authority or for various other reasons. This group is here to bring awareness to problems harming our parish and, hopefully, to discuss resolutions that will improve the parish.”  This group page is specifically for victims of physical assault, sexual assault and harassment. Mrs. Rains emphasizes that all information given her will be kept in strictest confidence, if the person so requests.

Mrs. Rains was born in Many and attended Florien High School. She is the daughter of Clarence T. and Jeanette Lewing. She received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Northwestern State University and later studied criminal justice, business law and accounting economics. 

She moved to Texas after high school and worked in the oil and gas field on projects that ranged in value from one to nine million dollars. She traveled all over to various projects performing cost accounting to ensure the projects stayed on budget and remained on schedule for completion.  In addition, she completed subcontract agreements per company guidelines.

Mrs. Rains moved back home to Louisiana after her divorce in 2002 for a much-needed break. She stated, “I was burned out and thought I would do something that has always pulled at my heart strings.” She attended Northwestern State University, graduating in December 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in social work. She did her internship in Vernon Parish with the Child Protective Services.

She then received a call with an opportunity to go overseas to help with projects, federal funding and audits. She spent four months in Kuwait, then boarded a C130 plane headed for Baghdad, Iraq to work for the Department of Defense LOGCAP Headquarters. She researched and implemented a plan to ensure armored vehicles would begin getting parts since there was such an issue prior to obtaining parts necessary to keep them road-worthy for diplomats while in a war zone. Her duties included estimated and budgeted projects to rebuild cities, assisting the Army Audit Agency Team in locating government property, assisting in audits on projects for misappropriated funds spent in other areas and funds not accounted for during audit. In addition, she requested funding from US Army Contracting Command in Rock Island, IL for projects based on percentage of completion.

In 2008, the contract ended for her, and she went to Dubai for four months for debriefing then came back to Sabine. She married Dennis Rains and helped him in the office with his drilling consulting business. They are both now retired.

She invites all interested persons to check out her two Facebook pages, pledging, “You’ll be hearing a lot from me.”

We only met Mrs. Rains a few weeks ago when she came by the office to introduce herself and her projects to headman Tedd Dumas and me. I was impressed with her intelligence, her desire to right wrongs, her ability to get to the heart of problems, her diligence and her tenacity. I think she will become a force to be reckoned with if she observes the rules that used to guide all professional journalists:  keep it factual, fair, honest and impartial.

Newspapers and the media were once called “the fourth branch of government” because they weeded out corruption in government and presented to the public what its government was and was not doing. Newspapers and other media, to a great extent, simply do not do that anymore. It seems to us that Mrs. Rains has the time and intelligence to fill that gap in Sabine Parish. We will keep an observant eye on her and wish her well in her endeavors.

Our own Mandy Cathey, Many native and supreme wedding planner, was invited to be a part of a special floral art installation in San Diego, CA recently.

Observations contacted Ms. Cathey about her part in this event, and she shared the following with us: 

“This year was the San Diego Art Museum’s ‘Art Alive’ 40th Anniversary,” Ms. Cathey explained. “The lead Rotunda Designer was Beth O’Reilly, AIFD. Beth has competed on the HBO Max series ‘Full Bloom’ and six other designers from around the U.S. were selected to create and complete this installation in the beautiful rotunda.”

The group, which included Mandy, started on Monday, June 14, at 5 a.m., picking up over 250,000 stems from two markets, and selecting fresh cut flowers from all over the world. The design team completed the installation at 10 p.m. on Wednesday. Final touch-ups were made Thursday for the Grand Reveal on Friday morning, June 18. They were gratified to see thousands of people line up in front of the museum to get to see this year’s design, “Botanical Graffiti”.

Elsewhere in the Museum, local designers showcased personal designs inspired by the present collection of art from European Masterpieces from the Bemburg Collection.

“I was honored to be selected to join Beth’s team,” Ms. Cathey said. “The installation was a beautiful piece of art, and the experience was one I will never forget,” she shared.

Most weekends, Mandy Cathey is busy designing weddings across Louisiana. On weekdays, she works as a Sabine Parish Assistant District Attorney for DA Don Burkett.

Congratulations, Mandy, on being selected for this prestigious opportunity, and thanks for making us all proud in Sabineland.

New SCOA opens in Florien

Photos courtesty of Kayla Hataway and Donna Smith Ammons

For the second time in a week’s span, a celebratory ribbon-cutting in recognition of a Sabine Council on Aging’s meal site was hosted.  A large crowd of dignitaries, friends and families attended the celebration at the SCOA’s new Florien location on N. Nolan Trace from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23.

Director of the Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce Shanna Gaspard conducted the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the steps of the new ranch-style building at 11 a.m.

Executive Director of the SCOA Jeff Morrow and Board member Frances Hopkins snipped the ribbon, as Board members and dignitaries looked on.

Last week, the new SCOA Converse Meal Site was dedicated. 

Board members on hand for the festivities were Kay Anthony, Sally Maxie, Danny Lopez, Mary Procell and Donna Smith Ammons.

Dignitaries attended included Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, Tax Assessor Chris Tidwell, Clerk of Court Shelly Salter, District Attorney Don Burkett, State Senator Louie Bernard, State Representative Rodney Schamerhorn, Florien Mayor Eddie Jones Jr. and several council members, and Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce President Pollie Brandon.

A large crowd gathered in the main meeting/eating room of the new facility for refreshments and a light lunch. Sausage Jambalaya, meatballs, meat pies, chicken salad and crackers, along with vegetable and fruit trays were served, along with a huge SCOA cake.

Guests toured the open concept building, which also includes an exercise room, quilting room, library and game room. A large pool table is available for a little shooting. A huge front porch with chairs beckoned to several, who sat outside.

Managing the new meal site are Sonya Wilson Law and Christy Butler, who were interviewed by Jessica Gray of KWLA-KTEZ radio.

The meal site, which replaced a much smaller building, has become a popular place for the elderly to gather for meals and visiting.  It is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A Special Thank You to Donna Smith Ammons for the above article.

Photos by Carolyn Gandy and by Observations

Outgoing Many Mayor Ken Freeman was honored royally by his many friends Saturday night with a Roast and Toast at Ray Miller VFW Post 4858 in Many. About 140 attended. Freeman is the second longest-serving mayor in Louisiana with 32 years – eight terms, plus another four years as a member of the Many Town Council.

The place was decorated beautifully. In fact, Ellen Abington remarked, “I’ve never seen the old building look so good.” Lauren Manasco Moore of Nichols provided lots of natural wood décor items, including the large wood branch photo backdrop. Doing the decorating were my wife Laurie, Shanna Gaspard, Betsy Godfrey, Mary Ellen Freeman, Linnie Freeman McInerny, McCall McCullen, Suzanne Williams and Kay Chevallier. Paula Thomas and Grace Manasco stopped by to also lend their talents, and Robert Freeman helped prep some party items.

After a program of folks lauding his record of service, Mayor Freeman responded. He noted what an honor it has been to serve the Town of Many and shared that he is looking forward to doing some new things now that time and opportunity will permit. He thanked all of the staff who are employed by the Town and all the staff that has worked for the Town of Many over the years. He thanked his wife Mary Ellen and his family for their support of over three decades.

Robert Gentry served as Master of Ceremonies and Rev. Ray Spiller, Pastor Emeritus at First United Methodist of Many, opened the gathering with prayer and spoke of his long association with Ken. Others who spoke were State Sen. Louie Bernard, former State Rep. Joe R. Salter of Florien, former Natchitoches Mayor Wayne McCullen and Many Council Member Mary Beth Brocato, who topped the list with her remarks.

Ken’s sister, Linnie Freeman McInerny spoke for the Freeman Family and read statements from Ken and Mary Ellen’s two sons, Peyton and Seth. Peyton was unable to attend, but Seth, who has been winning a valiant fight against cancer, was in attendance with his wife Amber and their little daughter, Charlotte Anne.

Pete Abington also spoke and then sang a song he had written at Ken’s request. It was a funny parody of “On Top of Old Smokey,” which described Ken’s service to the town, as well as offering appreciation and some highlights of Ken’s career.

But the hit of the show was a creative rendition of another parody, “The Night the Lights Went Out in Many,” performed by Town of Many Staffers Phyllis Jeansomme and Suzanne Williams. They were accompanied on guitar by Roger Dew Jr. Their inventive lyrics outlining the mayor’s most colorful time in office drew peals of laughter and the group received a standing ovation afterward.

Music for the event was presented by Mike Morris and Uptown Jazz, featuring the incredible Zelma.

Party Hosts who sponsored the event were the Kenneth Freeman Family, Foy Motor Co., the Robert Hable Family, Judge Elizabeth Pickett, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Abington, East Gate Electrical, Sheriff and Mrs. Aaron Mitchell, Mrs. Linnie F. McInerny, Mr. and Mrs. John Curtis, Ms. Mary Key Brocato, Clerk of Court Shelly Salter, Laurie Gentry Designs, Nichols, KSA, Family Farm & Garden, City Bank and Trust Co. and Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Blake III.

Others were Billy Pickett, Mr. and Mrs. Donnie Wooley, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Gandy, Mrs. Suzanne Williams, Councilwoman-elect Cherry Williams, Williams Equipment/Apeck, Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Burkett, Buddy Wood, Crittenden’s Garage, District Attorney and Mrs. Don Burkett, Mr. and Mrs. John Godfrey, James Cook, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Payne, Community Bank and Councilwoman Bobbie Jackson.

Congratulations to Pollie Brandon who has been named president of the Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce. We know she will do an outstanding job. She is a life-long resident of Sabine Parish and was graduated from Northwestern State University. She has been married to Assistant District Attorney Ronald Brandon for 40 years and they have three sons.

She works full-time and then some at Brandon Law Office and also owns Century 21 Sabine Property Shoppe. Ms. Brandon is a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Zwolle where she serves as Eucharistic Minister. 

As Chamber President, Pollie said she hopes to encourage all areas of the parish to join the Chamber, ensuring a better and prosperous parish.

Roy Lee Brumfield was arrested June 25 during a traffic stop on a warrant for Possession with intent to distribute meth and Possession with intent to distribute Xanax. The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Tactical Narcotics Team made the arrest. Both Sabine and DeSoto Authorities received anonymous tips from the public about Brumfield’s illegal drug activities.

During the traffic stop, agents located more drugs and paraphernalia belonging to Brumfield. He was also arrested for Possession of marijuana, Possession of meth, Possession of Xanax and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell continues his never-ending war on illegal drugs. He offered thanks to the public for information about illegal drug activity.  Several tips have led to the building of cases and the eventual arrests of drug dealers in the parish.

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