Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Jeremie Jacob Ryan, age 48, of Many was arrested by Sabine Parish Sheriff Detectives Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 15.

Ryan has been the principal of Many Junior High School since July 2021.

In late January, the Sabine Parish School Board discovered Ryan had used the school credit card for personal expenses since August 2021.

Ryan had been a teacher and coach with the Many School District since August 2009. He was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 25, and he resigned his position one week later.

The Sabine Parish School Board reports the total charges to the credit card to be over $3000 and an audit of Many Junior High School has been ordered.

Ryan was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center for Felony Theft $1000-$5000. As of Tuesday afternoon, no bond had been set by the 11th Judicial District Court.

Sabine School Supt. Shane Wright provided Observations the following statement at 2:44 p.m. Tuesday following Ryan’s arrest: “Allegations of theft at Many Jr. High School have been investigated and the investigation findings have been provided to the District Attorney. As stated in my previous response, Mr. Ryan resigned as Principal of Many Jr. High School effective Feb. 1, 2022. An audit of Many Jr High School has been ordered and will begin this week. If further information is identified during the audit, the proper authorities will be notified.”

As noted above, Jeremie Ryan resigned as principal of Many Junior High School effective Feb. 1, according to Sabine Supt. Shane Wright. Observations made a Public Records Act request to Supt. Wright who responded that “Documents relating to his performance as principal are confidential and contained within his personnel file, which is specifically exempted from the Public Records Act.” Observations responded that it had not requested any information about his “performance as principal” and on Feb. 9 sent six more specific questions to Supt. Wright. He had not yet responded to those requests as Observations was posted Tuesday evening. According to the Act, public officials should respond to requests for public information within three days.

According to reports, Ryan misused the school’s credit card for his personal use. We contacted District Attorney Don Burkett on Tuesday of last week about the matter, and he said information about the theft had been turned over to him. He told Observations at the time the matter should have been turned over to the Sheriff’s Department for investigation, not his office. Burkett said he had not decided what action he was going to take at that time. Observations agreed not to post the news until Burkett had made a decision on how to handle the matter.

So, last week Burkett turned it over to the Sheriff’s Department. Chief Deputy Brad Walker said Tuesday morning the matter was under investigation, and he could not comment further at that time.

Ryan was named principal at the Junior High in July 2021. Prior to that he was Assistant Principal from August 2019 until July 2021. He served as science teacher and coach at Many High from August 2009 until July 2019. Before starting in Many, Ryan was a science teacher at Holy Savior Menard Central High in Alexandria from August 1997 until October 2006.

He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology and General Studies from Mississippi College and a Masters in Educational Leadership, Administration and Teaching of the Gifted and Talented from Northwestern.

(Thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for a part of the information above.)

UPDATE:  Subjects have all been identified. The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office thanks everyone for their help and information.

Just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1, the three subjects shown above took over $200 worth of merchandise from Toledo Town & Tackle located on Hwy. 6 without paying.

A casting reel, rattle traps, crankbaits, jigs, and plastic craw baits were the items taken from the store.

The three subjects left in a silver Ford F150 extended cab truck, also shown above, with a Texas license plate.

Detectives are attempting to identify the truck and license plate at this time.

If you have any information or you can identify any of these subjects, please contact Sabine Criminal Investigation Division at (318) 590-9475, or submit a tip through the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s app.

(Special thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the above information.)

We recently received a packet signed “Concern Citizens” asking questions about the operations of the Town of Many. The first question was about overtime, saying that for a six-month period $80,000 was spent on overtime. “We are concerned and would like to know just where our tax money is being spent,” the letter said.

Another question concerned “the new HR person” who is married to a Many Police Officer.

The letter asked why Councilwoman Mary Beth Brocato was “being squeezed out” of the Many Cultural District. They wrote, “Seems like we had lots going on for our kids and community and now nothing is going on for them to attend.” A final question asked why the Council meeting minutes were not printed in the Sabine Index for the period August 2021 through January 2022 as required by state law.

We asked Mayor Robert Hable for an answer, and his response follows. He did not respond about Mrs. Brocato being “squeezed” or about the publication of the town’s minutes. It is our understanding that after a meeting with Mayor Hable and Suzanne Williams, Grant Writer and Manager of Community Development for the town, Ms. Brocato resigned. We covered that development in an earlier Observations.

Mayor Hable said he was glad to respond to the questions, as his goal is to have a transparent administration.

Concerning overtime, he writes: “During July-December 2020, the Police Department had 17% overtime; Office, including Town Clerk, Payroll Clerk, Accounts Payable Clerk and Janitor accounted for five percent.  Sanitation/Garbage had 4% and Water, which includes water production, sewer, daily water sampling, repairing leaks, installing and/or repairing water and sewer lines, accounted for 64% of the overtime. The total paid in overtime during this period was $68, 048.44 for 41 employees.”

He continued, “During this period, Hurricane Laura struck on Aug. 27, 2020, the Payroll Clerk quit in October, and there was a time lag before a new one was hired and fully trained, which forced the Town Clerk to become the interim Payroll Clerk, along with all the other duties the Town Clerk is responsible for.”

“During the period January through June 2021, the Police Department had 25% of the overtime. Office was 15%, Sanitation/Garbage 2%, Streets 4% and Water 54%. The total spent was $62,240.15 for 46 employees.

“Notable events during the same period include the ice and snow storm during February, the Supervisor of Public Works quitting in April and the position eliminated, saving the town money for a full-time salary and benefits, the Accounts Payable Clerk also quit in April leaving the Town Clerk to perform Accounts Payable duties, interviewing, hiring and training a new Accounts Payable Clerk in addition to being Town Clerk.

“During July through December 2021, the Police Department had 30% of the overtime, Office was 16%, Sanitation/Garbage was 3%, Streets was 10% and Water was 40%. Total spent on overtime was $83,215.98 for 36 employees.

“Events during this period included replacing the Payroll Clerk, which took two months with interviewing, hiring and training, with the Town Clerk performing all payroll duties during that same time. In addition, two people quit and neither position has been or will be filled, again saving the town two more full-time salaries and benefits.

“Also during this time, our auditors came and worked out of our office for five months and performed two back–to-back audits for FY 2020 and FY 2021. Because of COVID, the FY 2020 audit was not done as it required the auditors to be present in order to access files and documents in persons. During the five months they were here, they requested numerous records from each of the Departments and most of their requests fell upon the Town Clerk to find and produce the records.

“As far as your concern about having the wife of a police officer performing payroll duties, there has been and will always be provisions established regarding oversight of not only the payroll process, but in all cash related procedures, no matter who is in these positions. In fact, in the spirit of transparency, before the hiring you are concerned with took place, we reviewed the Louisiana Ethics laws for possible nepotism violation and found none. The auditors working in the offices at the time reviewed cash control methods used for money coming in and money being paid out and found them to be up-to-date and more than sufficient to prevent any fraudulent acts from occurring.

His remarks continue, “With regard to events for kids, we have scaled back Movies in Many due to COVID but will resume that within the next six weeks. Music in Many will resume with indoor concerts as artists are scheduled and paid for with grant money already received for this year. When the weather permits, we will have outdoor music much like the Social Distance Socials that were popular events during the beginning of the pandemic in Spring 2020. There is a Sabine Drama Club financed through the School Board and open to any Sabine Parish student. Auditions for their Spring play was Feb. 7. I am in the process of developing a Mayor’s Youth Council where Many High students can apply to be on the Council and learn about and take part in governmental affairs, including expressing their wants and desires for the town. Fort Jessup will celebrate its bicentennial with a kickoff event on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. Any parish students interested in joining the youth re-enactors for the year-long celebration can contact my office for more information. The art contest, sponsored by the town in collaboration with the Sabine Prevention Alliance closed Feb. 11.

“Volunteers are always needed for each of the above events and especially when we reinstate Movies and Music programs at the Sabine Theater.  These volunteers are essential, otherwise at least two employees from City Hall will have to be paid overtime to prepare for and clean up after the events.”

Mayor Hable ended by saying he hoped his letter would shed light on the concerns, and he urged any interested citizen to attend meetings of the Many Town Council or any other group associated with the Town.

Signs Along Life’s Highway

Seen on the wall of the Many Police Department. We agree wholeheartedly.

Two agents who serve on the Sabine Parish Sheriff Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) spoke to Criminal Justice students at Northwestern State University (NSU) last Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Lt. Jesse Branam and Sgt. Josiah Steinke shared with students about local narcotics issues, how arrests are made, about asset forfeiture and other related topics.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell thanked the NSU Dept. of Criminal Justice for the opportunity given his Agents to speak to these students. He noted these young college students are the future of law enforcement and criminal justice.

(A special thank you to Det. D.W. Seegers for the above information.)

Seems that Sabine Medical Center hired a company to place billboards on Highways 171 and 6 coming into town without obtaining permission. Also seems some of the frames (the strange looking things you’ve been seeing) were placed on highway right-of-way and others on private property. Hospital officials have met with the State Department of Transportation and Development to see if permits can be obtained.

Many Councilwoman Mary Beth Brocato said a sign frame was placed on her private property without permission, and she wants it removed.  When the crew comes back to town, the frame will be removed and placed somewhere else.

This notice showed up on the sign space at the Sabine Theater last week causing some folks to wonder why. It was for a garage sale that Many Councilwoman Cherry Williams was having at her home on Ponder St. According to reports, the marquee had previously not been used for any private function. We understand that the cost for doing this was $5.

Council Member Mary Beth Brocato said while she was in charge of the signage, it was only used to promote Town events and non-profit functions. She is against it being used otherwise.

According to more reports we received, for years the sign has been available to rent for $5 if it is not otherwise filled with an official Town of Many message.

A Marthaville man with ties to Sabine Parish has been reported missing. Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright said Steven W. Burkett, 49, was reported missing around 11 p.m. on Feb. 13 by a female friend who reported his disappearance as “suspicious.”

He was last seen driving a dark gray GMC 4×4 pickup with fender flares.  He is described as being 5 ft. 11 inches, 175 lbs. with medium length brown hair and brown eyes. He was last heard from during the early morning hours of Feb. 12.

It is reported that he has ties to Many and Florien. Anyone with information should call (318) 352-6432 or (318) 357-7830.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents rescued two men from out of Toledo Bend Lake on Saturday, Feb. 12.

Agents received a call at about 12:45 p.m. that a vessel was flooded with two men on board and could not return to shore on Toledo Bend.  Agents learned the men were tournament fishing when the weather became bad and waves overtook their boat.

Agents responded immediately and found the men around 45 minutes later located about a quarter of a mile from Solan’s Landing on Toledo Bend. Their vessel was flooded and grounded in shallow water.

Agents loaded the men into their enforcement craft and transported them back to shore where an ambulance waited. One of the men was treated for hypothermia at the Desoto Parish Medical Center and released the same day.

Agents who conducted this search and rescue mission were Corporal Marcus Delaney and Agent Dustin Nash.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The First United Methodist Church of Many, located at 1000 Main St. in Many, is hiring for the position of part-time housekeeper. The job offers 20 hours per week with some flexibility at $10 per hour. Please contact the church office at (318) 256-3632 for an application.

Picture of the Past

There’s a unique date on the calendar upcoming next week. February 22 falls on Tuesday, and the numerical date is 2/22/22. So, Tuesday will truly be a 2s day.

Among those completing another trip around the sun on Tuesday are our friend and neighbor, Monica Coplin, wife of FUMC-Many Pastor Brian Coplin, and longtime friend Dr. Joe Amos McFerrin. An early Happy Birthday to these and all others celebrating on Feb. 22!

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