Wednesday, January 12, 2022
The rumor’s been floating around for a few months now. It’s true. Judge Stephen B. Beasley will resign from the bench at Sabine Parish Courthouse on April 1. He has served the 11th Judicial District since 1995.
“It’s a criminal jury trial week and that’s a Friday, so leaving on that date will make sure I get that criminal jury trial in [before leaving],” the Judge shared with Observations on Tuesday morning.
He said he delivered the news of his upcoming resignation unexpectedly to a small group Monday who were gathered in his office for a pre-trial meeting. Present in the room were District Attorney Don Burkett, Assistant DAs Anna Garcie Cash and Jim Seaman, and Attorney Verity Gentry.
The timing of his departure rested on the timing of some things he had hoped to get done this term, things he is happy to report are now accomplished.
“COVID hit in 2020, so I decided I wanted to help get our system through COVID,” the Judge told Observations. And there were two other reasons for choosing this time to step down. “One was I wanted to get our mental health clinic open. CADA [Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse] had been making noises about coming here, so I wanted to continue to encourage them, and I wanted to get them here so we would have outpatient facilities here and have someone who’s connected with an inpatient facility. All those things came together. I know COVID is still here, but I think the worst is over,” Judge Beasley said.
He continued, “The other goal I accomplished was getting an annual $200,000 grant from the Supreme Court for a drug court and a mental health court. Whoever the next judge is will get that money. That’s going to happen. I’ve been running a mental health court and a drug court without any money, so this is going to be a really big deal for this district.”
These two courts allow someone who is mentally ill or has a substance abuse problem to access more resources and be carefully monitored after their cases are processed. In regular court, there is no one assigned to keep track afterward of each individual who comes through the court system. The mental health and drug courts are set up to provide intense supervision after cases are heard. These courts make sure people stay on their prescription meds for mental illness and help substance abusers if they slip and need to go back into rehab, as well as providing other support services.
“The intense supervision is key to their continued improvement toward becoming productive citizens, which is what we want,” Judge Beasley shared. “These two courts are like extra tools in the toolbox. If you were a plumber and all you had in your toolbox was a plunger, well – you’re not going to get very far. Or say you are an electrician and all you have is a pair of pliers. You need other tools to get the job done. [In the court system] you have the blunt instruments of incarceration, fining people and things like that, but if you really want to affect recidivism, to keep people from coming back, then you need to do something else, too. These are just some more tools that judges need. At the end of the day, what’s the purpose? We want all people to be productive citizens in our community. We want our community to be safer and to function better. That’s what we want. So, these are things that help that to occur.”
When Observations asked what he plans to do after leaving office, Judge Beasley said he has not yet made up his mind. “I’m thinking about running for another office possibly, but I haven’t made up my mind and I haven’t decided what it’s going to be yet. I know people say this on their way out – how grateful they are and all these things, but really the most important thing in my mind is helping other people and being a public servant. It is an honor. It’s something I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to do. I’d like somehow to be able to continue to help people,” he said. The Judge indicated that if he does decide to run, it could be for a state office, rather than serving again locally or regionally.
As for immediate plans after his April 1 departure, the Judge said he will definitely take some down time. “I want to think long and hard about what direction I want to go. I’ve been so fortunate that I married ‘up.’ My wife Barrett has, for the last eighteen years – the number of years we’ve been married – really helped me to see things clearer in life, and I think she’ll help me as I’m trying to make these decisions after I leave here. And frankly, Barrett’s been very successful, so that allows me to take my time.” Barrett is a Partner at the law firm of Salim & Beasley, LLC in Natchitoches.
When asked what he sees as upcoming challenges and strengths of the 11th Judicial District, the Judge responded, “One of the weaknesses of this area, any rural area, is lack of resources. Two of the recurring problems we have here are substance abuse and mental health. I’m not discounting violent crimes or anything like that. You do what you need to do with people who commit violent crimes, but most people are not violent. I see the drug and mental health courts as positives for whoever sits here next. They’re going to have resources I didn’t have,” he explained.
These long years serving as judge has afforded Judge Beasley a lot of growth. “I’m a much better judge than the day I set foot in this office,” he shared. “In fact, the longer I’ve done it, the more I realize how much I don’t know,” he said with a smile. He continued with a laugh, “I guess by the time I leave here, I’ll realize I really don’t know anything at all.”
Two of the hardest challenges for a judge, perhaps especially in a small town and rural parish, is maintaining an adamant refusal to listen to citizens’ concerns about upcoming cases and keeping a fresh, open mind.
“Early on [the now late] Judge Pickett would come by and visit with me, and I asked him, ‘What do I do about people who want to talk about upcoming cases? I want to be polite to them, but I don’t want to discuss their case.’ I remember him laughing and saying, ‘Judge, everybody just wants their fair advantage!’ So, you learn how to deal with that after a while, but sometimes it’s upsetting to people,” Judge Beasley said. He noted only a few nights ago, he got a call at home from someone wanting to discuss a case. Before he could cut the conversation off, the caller attempted a quick blow to the other side by saying, “I just want you to know the other party in this case is a really bad person!” He replied to the caller that he would wait to hear everything in the courtroom, and only in the courtroom.
He spoke of the other challenge as well: “A judge here is going to hear everything that deals with Louisiana law. So, when you’re hearing a case, maybe you’re halfway through and you think you have it figured out, but many times you’ll be mistaken because something will occur to cause you to realize that it’s not how you thought it was at all. Keeping an open mind is so important.”
As he looked back at the last 27 years, Judge Beasley said, “This is the most difficult job I have ever had, and it does bring a lot of humility with it. But the unexpected can be very gratifying. I’ll give you an example: one night Barrett and I went out to eat dinner in Shreveport. We were sitting there just enjoying our dinner and this person, whom I did not recognize, walked over to the table. The person said, ‘Hey, I want to thank you!’ And actually, at first, I thought maybe they were part of the wait staff or something. I didn’t know. But turns out it was someone who had a substance abuse problem and I caused them to go to rehab. They had a difficult time and had to go back to rehab, but they came over to our table that night and told me things were working out for them. It’s that. It’s the unexpected. It’s things that you do day to day that you find out made a real difference in someone’s life.”
Suzanne Williams, Grant Writer and Manager of Community Development for the Town of Many, has called a special meeting this Thursday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to discuss what she termed “our new and improved Town of Many Cultural and Historical District.” A group of interested persons have been invited to attend and voice their opinions on which direction the District should go.
Mary Beth Brocato, Town Alderwoman and head of the Cultural District and Many Museum, has decided to resign after a confab with Mayor Robert Hable and Ms. Williams recently. Ms. Brocato told Observations Tuesday morning that it was she and Janice Randow, under the administration of Mayor Ken Freeman, who got the Cultural District organized in about 2015. She has spent many hours working on the Cultural District and the Museum. She said she will have a statement regarding the matter for Observations next week.
Ms. Williams stated, “We are reaching out to all citizens to join us in the meeting and to give us input on what the public may want to see going forward. Once we get our group established, then I would like to have an open meeting for the general public to voice their ideas, also.”
She continued, “Our parish and towns have rich histories and unique cultures that need to be told and remembered, plus we have a lot of artists and musicians that live here. These are areas we can capitalize on to grow opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Observations met with Ms. Williams and Mayor Hable Tuesday morning to discuss this change in direction. They want to do what the general public is interested in, including the theater, museum and historical and cultural ideas. “We want to know what direction the general public wants us to go, and we want their input,” Mayor Hable said. “We think we will see new energy brought to the Many Historical and Cultural District.”
They are looking for a change in direction with more programs to involve and help the youth of the area. “Our goal is to make downtown Many a destination area,” Ms. Williams said.
The Mayor and Ms. Williams said they are to meet with Ray Scriber of Lt. Gov. Billy Nunguesser’s office on Thursday to talk about getting into the Main Street Louisiana Program. They said work needs to be done on the museum, and that Sen. Louie Bernard obtained a $25,000 grant for such work. They are exploring the idea of making the depot into an events center which can be rented out.
While Ms. Williams is now running the show, she is hopeful a new chairman can be elected at the Thursday night meeting. If you are interested, be sure to attend.
Dale Skinner, who represents the Pleasant Hill area on the Sabine Parish School Board, said he can’t get answers from the Board. Skinner had been helping coach the Pleasant Hill basketball team and the Board passed a resolution preventing Board members from volunteering. Skinner said the motion was directly aimed at him.
He said at the Monday night Board meeting that he did his best to find out who put the item on the agenda but got no answer. In addition, he said he contacted President Terrell Snelling of Converse several times prior asking the question and he did not respond. Skinner said he also sent messages to each Board Member, but again, did not get a response.
He said three Pleasant Hill basketball players were at the Monday night meeting in support of him but were not allowed to address the Board.
“There are some who say that since I cannot find out who put the item on the agenda, that it had to be retired Supt. Sara Ebarb who makes out the agenda,” Skinner commented.
He said he had made a public information request to the new Supt. Shane Wright asking the name of the person who put the item on the agenda, along with several other matters he has questions about. Said he, “I like Shane. I will do everything I can to support him as long as he does the right thing.”
Voice from the cistern: “Who’s to say what’s right?”
It hit the Peason Community and it hit hard. It was described by the National Weather Service in Shreveport as an EF2 tornado that touched down just before 5 a.m. Sunday. The tornado caused widespread and significant damage. It touched down about seven miles northeast of Hornbeck and lifted nine minutes later 10 miles east of Florien. The tornado had winds estimated at 125 miles per hour and cut a path 3.6 miles long and ½ mile wide. The Weather Service suggested the tornado was most intense in a narrow corridor from Hwy. 118 to where it crossed McInnis Road. The storm was part of a system of stormy weather that moved across parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Sunday.
According to reports reaching Observations, the damage brought out the best of neighbor-helping-neighbor. “There has been an overwhelming and unbelievable amount of support from volunteers and neighbors,” Sheriff Aaron Mitchell said. He and Chief Deputy Brad Walker and the Sheriff’s Office have been giving aid since the tornado hit and will continue as long as needed. In addition to neighbors and folks around who believe in giving a helping hand, on Sunday the American Red Cross, U.S. Forest Service, National Weather Service and Shreveport Volunteer Network came to the scene with equipment and volunteers.
According to a release from Detective D.W. Seegers at the Sheriff’s Office, 15 homes, five barns, two sets of chicken houses and many outdoor sheds and vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Another report said as many as 30 homes received some damage. Lots of power lines were downed, and SWEPCO arrived immediately on the scene to restore power. Many trees were blown over and simply broken. Sheriff Mitchell placed the Sabine Detention Center Inmate Litter Crew in the area cutting and removing trees and debris. There were other first responders on the scene to render whatever aid they could.
According to a social media post from Erica Powell Thaxton, Sabine Medical Center had a team at Pine Grove Church Tuesday morning to conduct wellness checks on the elderly in the community should anyone be in need of their assistance.
Friends immediately started a fund for those affected. Headquarters were set up at Pine Grove Baptist Church, and folks brought food, water and ice for those who were victims and for all those who came to help.
The Westfall Family were the hardest hit victims of the tornado. The family lost their home and all their belongings. In addition, the entire family sustained multiple serious injuries. Justin was in ICU at Rapides General Hospital and Alesha was hospitalized at LSU in Shreveport due to her injuries. Kaylee, age 8, and the twins Connor and Carter, who are 3, are recovering from their injuries at a family member’s home.
Stormie Pilcher of Florien organized a GoFundMe page for the Westfall Family. As of Tuesday evening, $37,770 had been raised. Those wishing to donate to the Westfall family, please go to https://gofund.me/7e89446e to access the GoFundMe page which benefits them.
On Monday afternoon, Kay Pilcher Westfall posted on Facebook that Justin has a broken back, in addition to other injuries and that he is in a lot of pain. Kaylee is being fitted for a pediatric brace and has a fracture to her c7 and a buckle fracture to her wrist. Alesha has a broken ankle and has been taken back to Shreveport to an Orthopedic doctor. At this time, she is unable to walk. Both boys are cut up and bruised but doing well.
The family wants to thank everyone for the outpouring of love, support and prayers. Ms. Westfall wrote, “We appreciate and love you all so much. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all for everything and please continue to pray for our family and all those impacted by the tornado. God is so good.”
Sabine Parish Attorney Verity Gentry has been named representative of northwest Louisiana on the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Board of Directors. The mission of the organization is to promote a fair, accurate and humane criminal justice system through education, advocacy and the development of effective and professional defense lawyers.
Verity, who I am proud to say is my daughter, also has an office in Shreveport. For the past two years she has been named one of the best lawyers in Shreveport by readers of SB Magazine out of Shreveport.
A few Observations back, we wrote there was a rumor going around that Many Alderwoman Cherry Williams was looking at running for Mayor next go ’round. She responded this week saying, “I am very happy and satisfied being Alderman for District D. I support Mayor Robert Hable 100 per cent and feel like he is making many positive changes for our town and community.”
In addition, in the previous column, we lauded Ms. Williams on her efforts to clean up Many and she herself going out to pick up trash. We suggested she clean up along the fence line on Nabours St. near the Brookshire’s grocery lot, which is always littered. She responded, “I spoke with Bobbie Jackson, the Alderwoman for District C about your concerns in her district of the trash on Nabours St. She was going to look into the problem. The city crew does pick the trash up often, but people are so neglectful with their garbage. We have several areas throughout town that private citizens try to maintain, but the residents in those areas could care less. Personally, I am not sure what would solve the problem other than pride that one receives when things are kept nice.” We agree and hope she will keep on keeping on.
“We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” Thomas Jefferson said it.
We see right now that our country is in a big mess. A lot of us never thought we would see such drastic and devastating changes to our great county. Here in Sabine Parish, we see fewer and fewer people who participate and vote in elections. If you are not registered, please do so and when election time rolls around, learn the issues and get out and vote.
-30-
