Wednesday, August 11, 2021

In a regular meeting of the Sabine Parish School Board Monday evening, Unmask our Kids Sabine Parish organizer Kresha Matkin persuaded the Board to schedule an upcoming public meeting for the discussion of concerns over schoolchildren wearing masks. She had intended to use her allotted time to plead the case that schoolchildren not be forced to wear masks. Instead, Matkin opted to urge the Board to set a special meeting to hear everyone’s concerns, not just hers.

A crowd of less than 100 milled around outside the School Board meeting room in the summer heat, due to the School Board only allowing a total of 30 persons inside. Sabine Supt. Sara Ebarb did stick her head out the door and inform the group outside that there was cool water in two ice chests near the door. Several Many Police Officers, along with Chief Cheryl Wooley, were present, but there was no disturbance. News teams from KSLA-TV 12 and KTAL-Channel 6 in Shreveport were present, as well as Fox 33.

Brenton and Candace Riggs, two parents who waited outside the meeting room, were interviewed by KSLA.  The articulate Brenton asked, “Who’s in control? Why in America do I or my child have to wear a mask? We’re being led to a trap. This is about freedom. The leftists have taken over so many things in our country. They can kill a baby after it’s born, but I can’t choose not to vaccinate my child. We have alternatives. If we don’t win, we can start our own school, we can send our children to a private school or we can home school.” The Riggs have four children in Sabine Parish schools.

After Gov. John Bel Edwards issued his recent mandate that all persons age 5 and over must mask indoors, local concern about the matter affecting schoolchildren became apparent. Matkin started an “Unmask our Kids Sabine Parish” Facebook group page and quickly saw its number jump to 1,100 persons.

The School Board agreed to add to their Monday meeting agenda “3-5 minutes” of remarks from Matkin, but supporters of the Unmask effort were disappointed to see a maximum capacity of 30 posted on the meeting room door. As it turned out, the Board, its meeting staff and guests accounted for about half the maximum persons allowed. Only seven Unmask our Kids concerned parents were allowed into the meeting. That included a toddler one parent was holding in her arms.

Dozens had said they would be there to support the effort but according to Matkin, many declined to come when they learned of the limited number allowed inside and that the School Board would not be accepting the forms many parents had completed to request their child not be masked at school.

After a unanimous Board vote granting Matkin’s request to hold a special public meeting at Many High, Supt. Sara Ebarb assured Matkin that she would speak with Principal Moses Curtis about scheduling and get the upcoming meeting’s details set quickly. Supt. Ebarb followed through on her promise. [Please see box above.]

In her remarks afterward to media waiting outside the meeting room, Matkin, a nurse with three school-age children, discussed the physical impact of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ mask mandate on students as young as 5. She said Gov. Edwards is allowing COVID-positive illegals into the state while at the same time placing a physical, emotional and psychological burden on the youngsters of taxpaying citizens. “It’s not fair,” she said.

“This is a statewide mask mandate,” Supt. Ebarb explained in an interview with KSLA-TV. “It’s an order signed by the governor. As long as that order is in place, it is law and we have to follow it.”

“In light of the large number of people out there that would love to be able to have their voices heard,” Matkin said as she addressed the Board and motioned toward the meeting room door, “And, [for them] to be able to hear what you have to say, I would like to request a special meeting so that we can all discuss these things as a community. Many parishes have already granted special meetings to their taxpaying citizens, and I would like that, too. In fact, I would like to request it be held at a special location, like Many High School. I just believe, as taxpayers, that everyone outside should have the same rights as those people that are in here, especially since this is such a confusing and passionate topic that we’re discussing.”

“I personally think that we ought to hear them,” Board Member Dale Skinner offered. “I know what the law says, I know what this is, and I don’t know what they’re going to say, but I think that we, as board members, vote to represent the people, and I think if we don’t represent the people, then we’re not doing our job.”

“[A special meeting in a large venue] would enable the most clear…communication between the Board and the people,” Matkin said. She also told the Board she wished to hold her planned remarks about masking children until the special meeting.

“It wasn’t my wish or hope that we would have to wear masks. But it’s mandated, so we will have to follow that mandate,” Ebarb said in her interview with Shreveport media.

The tone from all sides of the discussion Monday evening was courteous and cordial. Supt. Ebarb, Board President Terrell Snelling and representatives of Unmask our Kids Sabine Parish all voiced their appreciation to those on the other side of the issue.

After the special Aug. 26 School Board meeting details were released, Matkin posted on the “Unmask our Kids” page about the upcoming meeting, “Dr. Ebarb just called to let me know and was very nice about it all. Please remember to be polite and respectful,” she said.

Camryn C. Ford last week agreed to play softball for the Northwestern State University Demons following her senior year. She was a catalyst for the Lady Tigers of Many High who bolted their way to the LHSAA Class 2A state title this past spring under coach Keaton Booker.

“I’ve always felt at home at NSU,” Camryn said. “I grew up watching Northwestern sports with my dad [radio personality Brad Ford]. NSU is such a great community and atmosphere to be in as a whole. So, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

Camryn also had offers from LSU-Eunice, McNeese and Mississippi College. Playing centerfield for Many, she hit .443 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs. Her slugging percentage of .809 was one of the tops in the area. Tied for most hits in Many softball history, she said the experience of winning state was “unreal.”

“Our team worked so hard to finally achieve this lifelong dream of ours and I am proud to say I was part of it,” she commented. “I’ve played with these girls since T-ball and winning a state championship with my closest friends is an indescribable feeling.”

She was selected to the LHSAA Class 2A All-Star first team as the Lady Tigers ended with a 33-5 overall record.

“Camryn definitely set the tone being in the leadoff spot,” Booker commented. “Great at-bats and lockdown defense were easily the expectation from herself, as well as us coaches. She went 100 percent, 100 percent of the time and it set her apart. Being coachable throughout the season is key to being consistent. She definitely was and it showed.”

Congratulations to Camryn and her proud parents, Brad and Crystal Ford, grandmother Evelyn Ford, and proud grandparents Perry and Patsy Sattler.

We remind all that Lisa Butler, Sabine Animal Shelter Manager, will be the special featured guest this Thursday morning, Aug. 12, at 8:10 a.m. on the “Save the Date” radio program broadcast on KTEZ 99.9. Butler will share about the overwhelming number of cats and dogs at the shelter and the great need for donations to help the animals. Please listen.

Coach Jess Curtis’ Many High School Tiger Football Team sit atop this season’s Class AA pre-season poll presented by the Tim Fletcher Show. Many has dominated foes on the gridiron over the last couple of seasons and are primed for another strong season.

The Tigers have become a football juggernaut in Class AA, and they have no plans of relinquishing their position as one of the top programs in the state. The team has six offensive starters from last season who are returning and will be loaded with experience on the defensive side. Highly-recruited target Tackett Curtis will be charged with leading the team on both sides as linebacker and will do double-duty as the team’s quarterback.

WE GET LETTERS:  This one from Derek Campbell:  “I just read your column and saw where you talked with Sen. Louie Bernard and they got Hwy. 6 from Many to Natchitoches moved up on the list to re-surface. It passed me off ‘cause we have been waiting on Hwy. 120 for years and it is way worse than Hwy. 6. Guess talking to Rep. Frankie Howard and Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn wasn’t good enough. Oh well, I guess it will be another 20 years before it gets fixed.”

I agree with you, Derek. Hwy. 120 is in horrible condition. Has the state quit providing better highways in Sabine and Natchitoches Parishes?

The July sales tax report has been issued by Collector Nolan Rivers. Total taxes collected in Sabine for the month were $2,862,955.43, up by $719,891.41 over July of last year. This represents an increase of 33.59 percent.

Here is a breakdown:

It was the loss of a landmark when the old wooden house on the south side of Hwy. 6 a little east of Ft. Jessup was torn down recently. The house was located on Corley V. Jackson’s place, and he said it had been there as long as he could remember. He’s 80. Mr. Jackson said some of the R. J. Stoker family built the house, but he did not know when. It was a tenant house, and the last person to live there was Julie Smith, who moved to Many in the late 1960s. The house was torn down so that Mr. Jackson’s son, Virgil, can build a new house there.

Gailor Phares, long-time Many businessman, is wrapping it up. He is closing down his office after being in business for something like 60 years. At one time he was in the dozer business with his father, Glenn Phares. He purchased Carmichael Insurance from Jack Carmichael, probably in the late 1960s. Later, he and Les Lites became partners and formed Phares-Lites Insurance.

Gailor recently tied the knot with Shirley Fair of Natchitoches and they are living happily ever after. We wish them well, much love and happiness.

LOOKING BACK

The Veterans of Foreign Wars post No. 4858 in Many is named after Ray Miller. We were up there the other day and saw a picture of Mr. Miller hanging on the wall. We never had seen one of him before. Printed on the picture is his quote:  “Put this in the garden when the rabbits start eating the vegetables.” Post No. 4858 was created on Oct. 24, 1945. The Pickett family of Many was very involved in its organization.

Ray Aubrey Miller served in the Navy during World War II and was lost at sea when two torpedoes sank the gulf oil steam tanker about 75 miles southwest of the Mississippi River Delta. The tanker sank within two minutes. Twenty-one died and 19 survived.

Miller was born Jan. 26, 1922 and was the son of Albert and Mollie Pearl Brown Miller. His siblings were Willard, Inez, Eunice, Iva Rene, Joyce Elizabeth and Lois Miller Rivers. He has a memorial marker at Many Cemetery.

Rest in peace, Ray Miller. We appreciate your service and continue to remember you.

The Sabine Animal Shelter is experiencing a huge influx of animals at the shelter this month.

Humane Society President Jackie Conyer said much of the problem is caused by people not having their cats and dogs neutered or spayed. Conyer said, “We are getting more kittens and puppies than we’ve ever experienced before. If people would only spay/neuter, these numbers could be greatly reduced.”

Conyer also said microchipping dogs and cats with owner contact information could reduce the large number of animals ending up at the shelter. The Sabine Animal Shelter will microchip and register animals for only $10 per animal if the owners will bring them in for the microchipping process. Local veterinarians also can microchip animals.

Both Conyer and Shelter Manager Lisa Butler said they’re overwhelmed with caring for the many animals and are trying to get them adopted or to rescues.

Figures bear out their concerns. From  August 1, 2020 until July 31, 2021,  874 dogs and 589 cats were admitted to the Sabine Parish Shelter. Strays accounted for 403 dogs and 589 cats admitted to the shelter. Only 119 dogs and 68 cats were adopted in the 12-month period. Rescue organizations helped a lot by accepting 481 dogs and 257 to various rescue groups both in Louisiana and out of state. 

Sadly though, 170 dogs and 247 cats were euthanized last year.

The Shelter is asking for donations from people who care about animals to help with the expenses involved in trying to save and care for these unlucky cats and dogs.

Both Conyer and Butler stress that personal donations are always needed to help with the many expenses incurred in feeding, sheltering and attending to medical needs of the many animals at the shelter. 

Donations may be made by cash, check or credit card to Sabine Parish Animal Shelter at 520 McDonald Dr., Many LA 71449. Contact the Shelter at (318) 256-2275 for more information.

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

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