Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, the top Sheriff in the state in our opinion, and his deputies recently received a letter from Attorney General Jeff Landry saluting his office on behalf of the state Department of Justice “…for your extraordinary efforts in the fight against illegal narcotics.”
The letter stated: “Thank you to your Tactical Narcotics Team and your entire agency for your joint efforts with the FBI to help make Louisiana safer and healthier.”
“As you know, the drug trade all too often ravages communities and destroys families. Defeating it requires a multi-dimensional approach, one that your office has greatly contributed.
“Please encourage your deputies to keep the great work going and let them know they remain in my prayers.
“Thanks again for protecting and serving the people of Sabine.”
We have been greatly impressed since he took office 16 months ago at the tremendous job Sheriff Mitchell has done.
A few weeks ago, Laurie and I were in Putnam County, Tennessee and had the pleasure of meeting Anna Allison Burgess. We met at the Joe Bob Allison Cemetery where I am going to erect markers in remembrance of two of my grandfathers, Silas Whitney Gentry and Robert Preston Gentry II. Another grandfather, Robert Lindsey Gentry, is buried there.
Ms. Burgess is a descendant of Joseph “Mine Lick” Allison, who is buried at the cemetery. I can remember my grandfather talking about “Mine Lick” Allison, who was a close friend to my great-grandfather. She has taken over the operation of the cemetery and has done a wonderful job of cleaning and maintaining it.
She was born in Baxter, TN, the same place my father was born. She attended Twin Oak School for seven years and then Upperman High where she was Miss Upperman High, Class Beauty, cheerleader, a member of the yearbook staff and on the National Honor Society. She earned her BS and MA in Education from Tennessee Tech University.
Having retired after years in the field of education, she has time now to spend on her love of genealogy and family research and travel.
Her efforts saved Ashburn Cemetery in Overton County, TX with clean-up and fencing. We were recently reading some material which listed her many qualifications. They were mighty impressive: “Passionate, creative detail-oriented, collaborative, professional, excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, experience in distance and online conferencing, technology savvy, problem-solver, motivated and driven.”
And her interests were listed as: “Biographies, births, baptisms and books. Bridges, cemeteries and rivers. Charts, sources, kinship and databases. Family Bibles, diaries and letters. Googling, folklore, photos and ports. Wars, Wikis and timberlines. Networking, traveling, ships and prisons. Traditions, queries and guidelines.”
She needs help on the expense of her cemetery work. If you are so inclined, please send a check to: Ann Allison Burgess, 861 James St., Cookeville, TN 38501. She is a lover and preserver of history, and your donation will be well-used to help honor to those who have gone before. Thanks.
And more congratulations to Sheriff Mitchell and his staff for solving the cold case of “The Man in the Well.” The case is something like 35 years old. Detective Chris Abrahams got the case and he has been like a dog on a bone. He didn’t quit until the case was solved.
Abrahams took the original case files, investigative work done by Teddy Delacerda and others, and missing person files from Lafourche Parish, and over a period of ten months was able to find key connections that led to the identification of the unknown victim and led to an arrest in the case.
Delwin Avard Sibley, age 74, was arrested at his home in Biloxi, MS on Thursday morning, Oct. 28, by U.S. Marshals.
Sibley was charged with Second Degree Murder in the 1984 death of Lester Rome of Grand Isle.
Rome’s remains were initially located in a well in Sabine Parish in 1986, but final confirmation of Rome’s identity was not determined until Oct. 18.
Sabine Parish Sheriff Detective Chris Abrahams worked the case for the last ten months and developed Sibley as a suspect.
On Tuesday, Oct. 26, Det. Abrahams was able to obtain an arrest warrant through the 11th Judicial District Court on Sibley for Second Degree Murder.
Sibley was returned to Many over the weekend, and on Monday morning, Nov. 1, his bond was set at $200,000.
Sheriff Mitchell, his Chief Deputy Brad Walker and his staff are tenacious in their work. We think they will now get on some other cold cases and we think there’ll be some other cases solved.
(Special thanks to Det. D. W. Seegers for providing the arrest details shared above.)
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, Chief Deputy Brad Walker and Detective Chris Abraham will be on the popular “Open Line” radio program with Tedd Dumas and me on Monday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 a.m. They will be talking about the “Man in the Well” case and other matters related to the Sheriff’s Office. Be sure to listen.
Get well wishes to Mike Luster of local radio fame. He fell off a ladder last week and suffered a badly broken leg, according to reports we received. Hopefully he will be okay.
In addition, please remember Patricia “Pepper” Rains in your prayers. As this was being written on Friday, Oct. 29, she was in serious condition in a Lufkin, TX hospital with COVID-19.
Early voting will continue until this Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Registrar of Voters Office in Many. The election will be Saturday, Nov. 16.
On the ballot will be tax renewals for the Sabine Parish Library and Sabine Parish Health Unit and four Constitutional Amendments.
Bobby Williams, retired long-time Sabine Parish businessman, recently notified the Sabine Chamber of Commerce that he is dropping his membership after 66 years. His sent his note by email on Oct. 25 to all the group’s members in reply to a Chamber of Commerce reminder that had gone out about their upcoming Fall Banquet. Williams’ message follows:
“After 66 years as a member of the chamber, I chose to no longer be a member.
“So please remove my email address from your list.
“Reason is, in recent past, stage stores indicated an interest in coming to Sabine parish. Their products were needed so great and we had a empty space in our Wright Shopping Center. I ask the S/P Chamber – through you to pass a resolution welcoming a stage store in Sabine Parish – along with materials identifying our parish.
“There was no response to this request in attempting to bring a needed retail merchant to our parish.
“Stage decided that Sabine Parish would not support a store.”
Chamber Director Shanna Gaspard sent out the following email on Oct. 28 in response to Williams’ note:
“As a Chamber of Commerce, we would like to apologize for the previously incorrect email regarding the Chamber of Commerce not supporting new businesses coming to our parish. Your Chamber of Commerce for Sabine Parish first and foremost supports, promotes, and encourages all business opportunities, large or small.
“If you or anyone have any question regarding the Chamber operations or ideas regarding business opportunities, please feel to contact us at (318) 256-3523.”
The Town of Many will honor all veterans by showing the special movie “1917” this Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Many Community Center [Sabine Theater.]
The film, about World War I, will begin at 7 p.m. and is free to everyone.
During World War I, two British soldiers – Lance Cpl. Schofield and Lance Cpl. Blake – receive seemingly impossible orders. In a race against time, they must cross over into enemy territory to deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their fellow comrades, including Blake’s own brother.
As indicated by the title, “1917” is set amidst the turmoil of World War I and takes place in and around the so-called “no man’s land” in northern France separating British and German troops. Two young corporals are awoken from what could have only been a few minutes of sleep and ordered to report for a new assignment. A few miles away, another company, one that includes one corporal’s brother, has planned an attack to commence in a few hours designed to push the Germans back even further following a recent retreat. However, recent intelligence suggests that the retreat is a ruse that will land them in ambush that will cost thousands of British lives. With the radio lines down, Blake and Schofield are ordered to head on foot to that company in order to call off the attack before it can commence, a journey that will force them to travel through enemy territory. Of course, the two have been assured that where they will be crossing is safe enough, but the tension within the soldiers they meet as they get closer to the front, and the recent nature of the carnage they witness when they first go over the top, suggests otherwise. And yet, that first glimpse of the literal Hell on earth they must journey through is only a taste of what they have to endure. At one point, one of them inadvertently plunges a hand recently sliced by barbed wire into the open wound of a corpse and that turns out to be one of the less excruciating moments in store for them.
This movie is based on a true-life story about heroism during World War I. “1917” won the Academy Award for best cinematography. The visuals are stunning and graphic throughout the movie.
It’s a must-see on the big 36-foot screen with surround sound at the Many Community Center on Nov. 6.
The free movies at the Community Center are sponsored by the Town of Many, Mayor Robert Hable, and the Cultural District Advisory Board.
Concessions are always available at a cost of only $1 for popcorn and $1 for soft drinks.
(Special thanks to Mary Brocato for the above article.)
More kudos to the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department and their Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) for scoring two more federal drug indictments. The United States District Court Western District of Louisiana handed down the indictments on Wednesday, Oct. 27.
Tryton Alonzo Thomas, age 32, and Elena Elizabeth Rivers, age 29, both of Zwolle, were indicted for one count each of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and two counts each of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
These indictments are a result of the Sept. 29 arrests and investigation of Thomas and Rivers for felony drug charges in Many by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s TNT.
Thomas and Rivers are currently incarcerated at this time.
(Thank you to Det. D. W. Seegers for the case details above.)
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