Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Anna L. Garcie, Assistant District Attorney for DA Don Burkett, has been elected to the Louisiana District Attorneys Association Board of Directors. She has worked for Mr. Burkett for the past 24 years in the 11th Judicial District. She is beginning her second term as ADA Section President.

Billy Joe Harrington of Natchitoches, DA for the 10th Judicial District, was also selected to serve on the Board.

The Association is composed of District Attorneys, Assistant District Attorneys, District Attorney Investigators and their staff in Louisiana. It provides training and legal services across the state. The Association also develops and promotes legislation to strengthen the justice system. Its members are available for testimony before legislative committees.

Observations had a nice visit with Joseph Matula of Robeline last week. It turned out he had an interesting story to tell.

I had my “funeral fete” at Rebel Park near Marthaville on Oct. 30, 2011. My friend, the late Gov. Edwin W. Edwards, delivered the eulogy. He also sold and autographed his then-new biography following his remarks onstage.

Mr. Matula shared that he wanted to purchase a book that day and have it autographed, but the Edwards’ credit card machine was not working. He said after the crowd of buyers dwindled down, the Governor sought him out and said, “I am sorry you couldn’t buy a book, so I am going to give you one.” And he did and he also autographed it.

Mr. Matula was born in Granger, TX and lived in Texas City. He was a kid there when the great Texas City explosion took place in 1947. He served in the Air Force for four years, being discharged in July 1956. He moved to Louisiana in 1983.

Said he, “Louisiana women lured me down here, and they wouldn’t let me go.” He was speaking of a lovely lady named Vera Bennett. He has been self-employed doing carpentry work, but also worked with George Albritton. He has been retired since 2000.

Congratulations to Miss Ella Claire Freeman, granddaughter of former Many Mayor Ken Freeman and wife Mary Ellen.

Ella is an expert swimmer, and she recently swam at the Texas Tags Meet in Arlington, TX, where she performed so well that she was invited to the Junior Nationals Meet.

Ella is the daughter of proud parents Peyton and Teresa Freeman of Rockwall, TX. It is our understanding if Ella shaves just a few seconds off of her swim time, she will qualify to go to the Olympic tryouts in three years.

We have every expectation she will be successful and make us all proud in a few years when she competes representing Team USA. Go, Ella! We are all behind you!

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Tactical Narcotics Team arrested Frederick Marqueze Smith, 32, of Zwolle Wednesday afternoon, July 28, during a traffic stop on La. Hwy. 191 near Mayfield Loop.

As the blue Mercury SUV was stopped for a traffic violation, Smith ran from the front passenger side of the vehicle. Agents noticed a handgun fall to the ground from Smith as he was running. Agents, all in good physical condition, caught Smith a short distance from the vehicle.

Smith was booked for Possession with intent to distribute marijuana and meth, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Resisting by flight and No seatbelt. His bond was set at $15,000.

(Thanks to Detective D.W. Seegers for the above information.)

State Hwy. 6 between here and Natchitoches continues to deteriorate rapidly. Of course, there are many roads and highways in Sabine and Natchitoches Parishes that are deteriorating rapidly. Take your pick.

We called our State Sen. Louie Bernard and asked for a report. He had traveled the highway to Many recently and agreed that it was getting bad. So, he called one of the head honchos with the State Department of Transportation and Development. He was informed the highway has been moved up on the priority list and work on it should start later this year or early next year. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Donna Dyson-Horn of Marthaville is a regular reader of Observations and has been writing news of her community for the Natchitoches Times for years. She is a proponent of anything good for Marthaville and is as straight as an arrow.

Concerning Pepper Rains who maintains the Facebook Page “Transparency in Sabine” getting a refund for being overcharged by ex-director of the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission Linda Curtis-Sparks, Ms. Dyson-Horn writes:  “Wish there were more around like Pepper Rains. She has the guts, knowledge and know-how when it comes to getting to the bottom of someone that is playing dirty, and no telling how many times this very thing has happened before, but no one said anything.  What a shame. Keep up the good work and give them what they deserve and that is the ‘Spotlight.’”

We carried a short article last week about a party held at a pavilion in the Sabine Housing Project on Buffalo Drive in Many. The post was based on information we were provided.

We were later informed by the person who gave the party that she had obtained the permission of the Housing Authority before doing so. It was a birthday party for her one-year-old son.

We are sorry for the inaccurate information and wish to apologize to all involved. The post was removed from Observations as soon as we found out it was erroneous.

We had a telephone chat last week with Mary Perry, mover and shaker in the Town of Many and an Alderwoman. Mary recently suffered a stroke, but said she is improving every day.

She said a lot of people have prayed for her, and she is very appreciative of those prayers and believes in the power of prayer. We wish Mary well as she continues to travel the road to recovery.

The 2021 Back to School Rally was held Saturday morning, July 31, at the Many First United Methodist Church Family Life Center. Volunteers from across the parish participated in this annual event. Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Deputies were in attendance handing out DARE items to the children. The Many Police Department and Central Fire Department also participated.

(Thanks to Detective D.W. Seegers for the above information.)

MOVIES IN MANY

“The Lion King” is coming to the Many Community Center [Sabine Theater] this Saturday, August 7 at 7 p.m. This Disney adventure is rated PG and is free for everyone. Some lucky movie goers will also win some awesome door prizes before the movie starts. 

This film takes viewers on a journey to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother – and former heir to the throne – has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba has to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

The movie’s all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon. The film uses pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way.

The Lion King is two hours of wholesome entertainment for the entire family. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday night in Many with children and/or grandchildren in a cool, air-conditioned theater with surround sound and a huge 30-foot movie screen. The historic Sabine Theater is one of only three original single-screen movie theaters still operating in the Louisiana.

Popcorn and soft drinks are available for only $1 each, as always.

“The Lion King” is sponsored by the Town of Many, Mayor Robert Hable, the City Council, and the Cultural District Advisory Committee.

Hable commented, “We want our citizens of Many and the surrounding area to be able to enjoy some good, wholesome entertainment right here in Many without having to travel out of town. Movies in Many serves that purpose.”

Awesome door prizes will also be awarded to those lucky people whose names are drawn. “This is just a fun way of ‘sweetening the pot’ and encouraging people to attend Movies in Many,” said Mary Brocato, chairperson of the Cultural District Advisory Committee and councilwoman. She hopes to see lots of families enjoying the Disney summer movie.

“The theatre had to be shut down for a year because of COVID, but attendance at Movies in Many is picking up, and people are starting to come out and enjoy our movies again,” said Mayor Hable. “This is a good movie for everyone to enjoy.”

[We remind all that, for now, a mask mandate is in place by Gov. John Bel Edwards for all persons over age 5 indoors except inside one’s private residence.]

(Thank you to Mary Brocato for the above article.)

The Apollo Plaza Apartments July Birthdays Celebration was held Friday, July 30. The Apollo Plaza Management, Sabine Parish Sheriff Detectives, Project Celebration Inc. and Central Sabine Fire District participated.

The folks at Apollo grilled cheeseburgers and hot dogs and provided drinks, watermelon, cake and balloons for the kids. The Sheriff’s Office brought drinks, chips and shade during the heat wave. Project Celebration provided school supply kits and Central Fire District brought their firetruck and filled the swimming pool for the kids.

The Sheriff’s Office brought basketball goals and balls recently purchased jointly by the participating groups. Sheriff Aaron Mitchell said his office is proud to participate in this monthly event. 

(Thanks to Detective D. W. Seegers for providing this information.)

Tragically, three men from South Louisiana drowned overnight Friday in a fatal boating incident on Toledo Bend. Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Agents and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office participated in the recovery of the bodies.

LDWF agents were notified at 10 a.m. on July 31 that three men had launched a 14-foot boat around 10:30 p.m. the night before at the Hwy. 1215 boat launch and had not returned or been heard from since going onto the lake.

The body of Paul L. Murphy Jr., 46, of Opelousas was recovered Saturday at 12:45 p.m. near Stonewall Jackson Dr. Found on the body was a personal flotation device. The bodies of Joseph L. Sam Jr., 44, of Opelousas and James F. Young, 40, of Lafayette were recovered at 7 a.m. on Aug. 1. Neither were wearing a life jacket.

Sabine Sales Tax Collector Nolan Rivers informed Observations that his office will require masks upon entry until further notice per Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Monday mandate.

The following was posted by District Attorney Don Burkett after the recent mask mandate was issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards, which says all persons over age 5 should wear masks “indoors in any place outside of a private residence.”  

“I expect to be criticized and attacked for posting this, but real leaders stand up regardless. We are in a crisis in Louisiana and, more particularly, in Sabine Parish. This crisis was totally preventable. Our hospitals are filled with Covid patients, and the overwhelming majority are there because they are not vaccinated. If myself or my loved ones need a hospital bed, one is not available because of the choices others have made. Don’t tell me about your rights. Your choices are affecting others including me. Please, if you are not vaccinated, do it ASAP!! Help bring this crisis in our parish and state under control. Do the right and responsible thing. To those I may have offended, please know that is not my intent. I’m posting this because I deeply care about my parish and my state. My prayers are with all affected tonite. May God bless us. Don Burkett”

The current Sabine report on COVID shows 94 active cases, up 69 from the previous week. A total of 6,752 in the parish have now been vaccinated, which is up 413 from the previous week. That’s a total of 28 percent in the parish who have received the COVID vaccination.

So, what Don is saying is serious, folks.

If you have a doubt whether or not you should get the vaccine, please consult your doctor.

THANKS, JOE:  The average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. is now $3.16, up $l from a year ago.

A lot of taxpayers have wondered why construction of a bridge across Bayou Dupont on Hwy. 120 between Robeline and Marthaville has taken so long. Observations has been wondering the same thing for years, almost four years to be exact. So, we decided to contact the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and see what they had to say.

We started by sending our request to the Alexandria DOTD office which covers Sabine Parish. We received a response from Brandan Rush, Customer Service Manager for DOTD. He said he was forwarding the request to the DOTD Public Records Section.

We then received a highly redacted form from Michael Jackson in Baton Rouge who said the records had been “reviewed for privileges and exemptions.” The form said it was for “Bridges near Provencal.” This description threw me for a loop. We sent Mr. Jackson another email telling him the bridge was near Robeline, not Provencal. Mr. Jackson asked that we speak over the phone, and we did on Wednesday,  June 30, shortly after noon. He said the bridge listed as being “near Provencal” was the one I inquired about which is only a few miles from the junction of Hwy. 6 and Hwy. 120 in Robeline. He said he did not know how it was listed as such. He did say there are four bridges in the project. Mr. Jackson said he did not know why the project was taking so long, and he directed me back to square one.

I sent another query to Mr. Jackson asking why so much of the information was redacted. He said it was marked through because I had not requested it. How can you request something on a form when you do not know what is on the form? So, I sent in another request for the complete form, which was then sent to me. Nothing it contained was private, so the earlier redaction was totally unnecessary. I spell that “bureaucratic stupidity.”

So, I sent yet another email that afternoon to Mr. Rush.

The records showed that DOTD’s contract date was Dec. 1, 2017, with a letting date of Nov. 8, 2017 to W. E. McDonald & Son, LLC. of Glenmora. The work order was dated Jan. 3, 2018. DOTD gave the notice to proceed on Jan. 3, 2018. The bid was for $5,188,195.88.  Change orders to this point have been $437,290.03, making a total of $5,625,485.91 thus far for the project. There have been seven sub-contractors on the job.

Erin Buchanan, Public Information Officer for DOTD in Bossier City, told Observations on July 2 that the project still has some time left on the contract. 

He stated, “The new bridge has been constructed, and the contractor is currently working on embankment work, which is heavily dependent on having dry weather. Unfortunately, we have experienced quite a bit of rain over the last few months, which has impeded some of that work. But they are making progress on that front and following embankment, will cut soil cement and lay asphalt to tie in the road to the new bridge. We anticipate another 4-6 weeks to be able to get that bridge open to traffic.”

Mr. Buchanan continued, “Because of the multiple work sites on this project, the contractor has been mobilizing and re-mobilizing, depending on which bridge they were working on at the time. I know it can be frustrating to see a closed bridge and not see any construction activity taking place. But the contractor’s crews were likely working on the other end of the project at that time.”

That project has been going on for well over three years now. We wonder if maybe it has taken so long because the contractor has been as confused as we are, and has been working on bridges near both Robeline and Provencal. It is interesting to note that work on the project started right back after Observations requested information from DOTD. But, we know that was just a coincidence.

The Many Fairgrounds now has a new grass volleyball court for folks to enjoy when they’re looking for activities in the area.

The Jaret J. Barrett Volleyball Court was made possible by the idea and generous donation of Jaret Barrett, a former Many resident who lived here as a small child.

Barrett and his family moved to the Houston area in 1983, but he has never forgotten his small-town roots all these years and returns often for visits with family, including to see his grandmother who still lives in Many.

Last year, Barrett donated the money to build one of the basketball goals for the Leon James Park on Martin Luther King Drive. When that project was completed, he began to think of additional ways he could provide more activities for young people who live in the town.

His idea was to build a volleyball court at the Fairgrounds. Once then-Mayor Ken Freeman found a location and gave his approval, Barrett began to shop for a professional grade volleyball net that would hold up for several years. He found one, purchased it, and had it shipped to the Town of Many at City Hall. 

The next step was construction of heavy iron posts to attach the net so it could not be removed. Clauriste Byles of Byles Welding and Tractor generously donated the posts and supervised the installation of the posts into concrete so they would not lean or sway. City workers performed the actual installation.

Then Mayor Freeman ordered a sign naming the play area “Jaret J. Barrett Volleyball Court.” Freeman said Barrett deserved that recognition because Barrett devoted so much time and funding for the court as well as the basketball goal.

Barrett recently returned to Many and brought his parents to see the volleyball court for the first time. He said he was pleased with what they saw.

His mother, Sandra Barrett Warren, and his father, Jerry J. Smith Sr., were happy to see the results of their son’s hard work.

Barrett finished high school in the Houston area and attended college on a basketball scholarship. After graduation from college, he played professional basketball, playing internationally in China and other countries. He then returned to the Houston area where he owns a successful pest control business and a power washing business, as well.

He has always remembered his hometown of Many and plans to continue finding projects in Many for the youth of the area.

 “I have a good life,” Barrett said, “and I want to give back to my hometown and its residents, especially young people. I’m not finished giving back to Many. There will be more to come.”  

(Thank you to Mary Brocato for the above article.)

Quote of the Day:

“I was once a man trapped in a woman’s body, but it only lasted for nine months.”

I always called her “Little One.” I’m talking about Jenny Adams whom I met when both her parents, Will and Carrie Adams, worked at the Sabine Index. She said she was 14 when we met. She’s now 37. When she got a few years under her belt, she too worked for the Index. I watched her grow up.

She said one of the highlights of her life was attending the Lions Camp for Crippled Children in Leesville. She was allowed to attend for two years and said she wishes she could go again.

Nowadays, she said she helps her mother around the house and collects dolls. If you have a doll you would like to give her, drop it by my office here at the radio station, and I’ll see that it gets to her.

Even though she is now grown, I still call her “Little One.”

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