Wednesday, July 7, 2021
It’s hard to believe, but on Tuesday, July 1, Sheriff Aaron Mitchell completed his first year in office. We are happy to report that he, Chief Deputy Brad Walker and his deputies have made a difference. They have had the passion to do a good job and all the work necessary for Sabine to have a first-class Sheriff’s Department. And they had their work cut out for them, but they are meeting the challenge.
Here is a list of what the Sheriff’s Department has accomplished during its first year under the administration of Sheriff Mitchell.
The Fight Against Drugs
- Created a new Sheriff’s Office Tactical Narcotics Team, “TNT,” which works daily to identify and arrest drug dealers in Sabine Parish.
- Partnered with the ATF, FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to federally indict career criminals operating within Sabine Parish.
- During Sheriff Mitchell’s first year in office, the amount of money that has been seized is approximately $75,000 in cash and one vehicle valued at $40,000; seizures of two additional vehicles are pending.
- Achieved the first asset seizures (forfeiture) in Sabine Parish in ten years.
- Added two deputies to the FBI Task Force.
- Currently the SPSO has eight federal indictments and eight pending federal indictments.
Detention Center Improvements
- Constructed a high fence around the entire jail perimeter.
- Installed an entrance gate with a controlled 24-hour access and a camera system.
- Updated the entire surveillance system for the jail.
- Relocated the wash rack away from the entrance to the jail.
- Implemented routine shakedowns of all dorms and facilities for contraband. Required all inmates to be searched upon entering the jail.
- The SPSO is currently working with FEMA to replace an outdated standby generator.
- Implemented a medical program to provide required care for inmates.
- Installed additional perimeter lighting.
- Installed a new roof on the entire jail.
Other Important Measures
- Added a full-time sex offender detective.
- Relocated the Detective Division to offices on San Antonio Ave. along with the administrative office of the Sheriff and Chief Deputy to allow the Sheriff to take a more hands-on approach to cases.
- Implemented a free smart device app for citizens to download that provides information about law enforcement activities and other news, a Most Wanted list, a Sex Offenders list with map, a Social Media link to the SPSO’s Facebook page, Weather alerts, a “Submit a Tip” link that allows anonymous reporting of crime, COVID-19 information, etc.
- Worked diligently to provide adequate training for all deputies.
- Modernized policy and procedure.
- Added a certified dive team.
- Sheriff Mitchell hosts quarterly Chiefs’ meetings with all Chiefs of Police within Sabine Parish to address problems they may be having in their towns.
- A Special Response Team, who will be responsible for responding to emergency situations in the parish, has been organized.
- Implemented a strong policy toward community policing throughout Sabine Parish. Deputies are encouraged to talk with citizens about crime in their communities.
- Secured NRA grant to improve the firing range, rock the entrance road and provide a parking area.
- Improved the rank structure among deputies to provide better accountability and leadership.
- Hosted a regional FBI Leadership Conference at Cypress Bend Resort with approximately ten agencies from Louisiana and Texas.
- Partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to host advanced Interview and Interrogation School at Cypress Bend.
- Partnered with Attorney General Jeff Landry to install a prescription Drug Take-Back Box inside Sabine Parish Courthouse.
- Updated the phone system in the dispatch office for better and faster service.
Whew, that’s a lot for only one year, and Observations bets there’s much more to come.
It was an historic Swearing In ceremony at the Town of Many City Hall last Wednesday, June 30.
Robert Hable was sworn in as Mayor, providing a change in leadership in the town for the first time in 32 years. And for the first time ever, a female Chief of Police was sworn in as well as an all-female Town Council.
The event started promptly at noon with a Welcome by Town Clerk Amie Brown, who served as Master of Ceremonies. The Rev. Ray Spiller, Pastor Emeritus at First United Methodist Church of Many opened with prayer.
After a light buffet lunch, Brown read a statement of congratulations and good wishes from former Mayor Ken Freeman, then the Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth Pickett did the oath of office honors, swearing in some persons individually and others in groups.
To begin, Town Attorney Chris Sylvia was sworn in, followed by Many Police Dept. Officers Jacob Bridges, Stanley Cook, Matthew Cook, Evan Eddington, Kody Firesheets, Mark Holder, Brian Mattison, Wayne O’Con, Kenneth Neal, Carla Nicks, Benjamin Shaw and Chaplain Jim Manning.
Next, Chief of Police Cheryl Wooley was sworn in, followed by Assistant Chief Kyle Cook.
Judge Pickett then swore in Hart Airport Manager Lee Woods, and afterward, all of the Town of Many Supervisors as a group. They are Roger Dew, Water; Joshua Darden, Wastewater; Jeremy Koss, Water Plant; Jeremy Wilkerson, Streets; and Michael Moore, Sanitation.
Then Town of Many Deputy Clerk Valisa King was sworn in, followed by Town Clerk Amie Brown.
Next, Many’s first all-female City Council was sworn in, including Mayor Pro-Tem Bobbie Jackson, Dist. C; Anita Darwin, Dist. B; Cherry Williams, Dist. D; and Councilwoman-at-Large Mary Brocato. Councilwoman Mary Perry, Dist. A, was ill and unable to attend the ceremony.
The highlight of the ceremony was the swearing in of Robert Hable as Many’s new mayor. As he stepped toward the podium to take the oath of office, loud cheers and shouts of support filled the Hall.
With wife Crystal by his side, Hable was sworn in and was clearly moved by the crowd’s enthusiasm. “This is beyond humbling,” he said after stepping behind the podium to speak.
“I’m ready to go to work. This is going to be a monumental task for all of us [and] Council ladies, I can’t wait to get to work with y’all,” the newly sworn-in mayor announced.
“Today I got to share a very special moment with my friends and family,” the Mayor Hable commented later. “[My wife] Crystal has been by my side throughout the campaign and election! She does not get enough credit for all the things she does for me and the kids. Today the Town of Many got to enjoy Crystal and newly-sworn-in Councilwoman Cherry Williams’ (and more people behind the scenes) hard work!” Mayor Hable was, in part, referring to the ladies’ beautiful décor and preparation at City Hall to present it perfectly for Wednesday’s Swearing In reception.
It was indeed a new feel at City Hall, complete with a new black-and-white portrait of Mayor Hable that has been freshly hung. When he spoke after his Swearing In, the mayor noted he had been repeatedly asked what he intended to do first once his official duties began. He announced to the crowd gathered that he was not going to do a single thing, and as he waved his arm toward the all of the Town’s newly sworn-in Council, Police Dept. and other officials, he said, “We’re going to do something. We’re going to do something together.”
ELECTIONS COMING UP: Our next election in Sabine Parish will be Oct. 9, according to information from Clerk of Court Shelly Salter. Voters will cast their ballots for a parish-wide Library Tax Renewal and a Health Unit tax renewal. There will also be a tax renewal for Road District 4, which is Ward 7, and will be for Precinct 9-1 at Pleasant Hill Village Hall, part of 9-2 at Pleasant Hill Fire Station and part of 90-3 at Belmont Fire Station. The Secretary of State is also showing Nov. 13 as an election date, but as of now, no information has been released as to what it is for.
At its June 16 meeting, the Sabine Police Jury voted to approve the purchase or rental of the following equipment in order to improve parish roads and clear out the ditches for improved drainage:
Asphalt Reclaimer/Stabilizer, estimated cost $279,000; Engine Driven Roadside Ditcher, estimated cost $252,000; 150 horsepower tractor, estimated cost $96,000; and Wheeled Frontend Loader, rental as needed, estimated monthly rent of $6,600. No equipment has been purchased and the Jury is in the process of advertising for bids. Observations will keep you updated on this matter as the condition of roads is a very important issue in the parish.
Sales Tax Collector Nolan Rivers has released the following sales tax report for June. The change reflects the difference in collections between June 2020 and June 2021.
A Sign of the Times
Our longtime friend and local historian Rickey Robertson just sent word that the TV show he filmed with Dave McNamara, “Heart of Louisiana,” is set to air soon.
The episode that features Rickey is about the last buffalo in Louisiana and the last buffalo hunter, L. C. Curbey, who is buried at the site he killed the buffalo in the 1800s. The location was near Curbey’s farm in the Kisatchie Forest.
The story runs on KALB Channel 5, KPLC Channel 7, DNOE Channel 8 and KTBS Channel 12 the week of July 20.
McNamara reported to Robertson that the show’s first broadcast will be on WWL TV in New Orleans on July 20. Said he wanted folks in New Orleans to “learn a valuable piece of Louisiana history.”
Congratulations to Rickey for having the opportunity to share local history. We appreciate his good efforts.
Observations, like many others in the area, was interested to see all the fanfare and special activities surrounding St. John the Baptist Catholic Church’s 150th Anniversary on Sunday, June 27. A special Mass of Thanksgiving was held at 11 a.m.
The occasion was marked by an important visitor, the Most Reverend Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio of Pope Francis to the United States, along with the Most Reverend Francis I. Malone, Bishop of Shreveport, and the Most Reverend Robert W. Marshall Jr., Bishop of Alexandria.
We hear there were also special visitors from Nigeria who attended the event and took part in the day’s festivities.
Our own Kayla Hataway was interviewed by KTBS TV out of Shreveport, and she did wonderfully. We were also pleased to see Chief of Police Cheryl Wooley on the job as well as Assistant Chief Kyle Cook. They were joined by dozens of other local and area law enforcement to provide tight security.
Congratulations to Pastor Francis Kamau and all the parishioners of St. Johns on such a wonderful celebration.
All photos courtesy of Kayla Hataway.
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