Friday, March 25, 2022
There was another event, “March Madness Shakedown,” scheduled at Rigs & Racks on the 171 Bypass in Many for Saturday night, but it was canceled after a visit from the State Fire Marshal’s Office on Tuesday. The fitness business is operated by Anna Cate Williams Wright, daughter of Many Council Member Cherry Williams.
Last Saturday, Rigs & Racks was rented out to a group for an event that turned into trouble. The event started at 9 p.m. and about 1 a.m. Sunday morning, Many Police were called with a complaint about the party’s loud music. A short time later, a fight broke out, followed by a second fight. Estimates report there were 150-200 present, with cars parked all the way to the Fairgrounds.
Thereafter, a group of 60-70 people moved to the vicinity of the Chevron station on San Antonio Ave. downtown. It was in the only business in town still open at that hour. Chief Wooley said the gathering then turned into a disturbance or brawl. Men pulled their shirts off, and the street fighting began. In addition to several fights, there was loud music, loud and profane language and drinking, as well as verbal and physical abuse of our local law enforcement officers.
Chief Wooley and five officers were on hand, and Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Walker said 10-15 deputies were called out to assist. “It was chaotic,” Chief Wooley said. She said officers used chemical spray to try to disperse the throng that did not want to leave. It took two hours to get the rowdy crowd to go home. Reports are there were some people in the group from Mansfield, Zwolle and Pleasant Hill.
When the word got around about the disturbance, lots of folks throughout Many were very concerned such lawlessness would come to our town. No arrests were made. We are told law enforcement officers did not expect such an incident and were unprepared.
That’s the background, now here is what has happened this week:
The State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted by the Many Police Department with a request for a capacity determination following the overcrowding complaint made last weekend.
An inspection of the Rigs & Racks building resulted in the setting of a current capacity of 49 persons. Following resolution to some deficiencies that were identified by the Fire Marshal’s Office, the building will have the potential to eventually expand that capacity up to more than 150.
In addition, Ashley Rodrigue, Public Affairs Director for the Fire Marshal’s Office, told Observations, “An inspection of the business identified several deficiencies of the Life Safety Code and citations for those deficiencies were issued. Some of the deficiencies had immediate response required like blocked egress (exits). Other deficiencies have 10 to 30-day response deadlines.”
Reports reaching Observations is that tomorrow’s March Madness Shakedown event was called off after the inspection by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Actually, we were surprised another event was still planned to happen after the outcome of last weekend’s affair.
Fred Jones Jr. of Many, CEO of Wats Wrong Wit Em, was producer of Saturday’s proposed show. On March 23, he issued the following statement on his Facebook page: “After speaking with Anna Cate Williams Wright and ms Cheryl Wooley today, because of the lack of security at the last event and what took place inside & outside the event I will be cancelling my event this Saturday & it’ll be moved to a later date. Appreciate mr Robert Hable also for the help and support as well. We will keep everyone updated. Y’all be blessed & stay safe.”
A few replied to his post with their disappointment that tomorrow’s party had to be cancelled.
“Sucks that we can’t have nun round here cause people wanna be IDIOTS,” Breanna Hope Allen commented.
Frances Williams wrote, “Sad when you can’t hold things because other’s people actions and disrespect towards others peoples property.”
“They should have had the ones that started it arrested,” Sharonda Cade posted. “To let them know that there is zero tolerance for stupidity and maybe y’all can start back having stuff.”
In a related matter, the gates to the Sabine Parish Fairground have been locked closed. It sez here that law enforcement officers will be ready next time.
On a side note, the woman advertised above is promoted as Vickeelo, a New Orleans Bounce artist. Bounce is a Southern Hip Hop style that is hypersexual and meant to be danced to in the Bounce style. Big Freedia, whom some consider the top Bounce artist ever, describes the dance as “The more your butt is moving, the better.” The dance, if you want to call it that, is basically a person bent at the hips bouncing their knees and legs to make their behind shake like a jello earthquake.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson this week appeared before a U.S. Senate committee in hearings related to her nomination by Uncle Joe Biden for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.
She was asked by Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee to provide a definition of “woman.” After a short exchange with Sen. Blackburn, Jackson responded, “No I can’t [define a ‘woman’], not in this context. I’m not a biologist.” Seems it was a very simple question.
On the other hand, there is a character, “Nadine,” who is played by comedienne Mona Brown. She appears on “Larry’s Country Diner” TV show each week on RFD-TV. She plays the part of a sassy church lady. Much of her charm comes from her ability to make folks laugh about everyday life and church-related topics, and she is not afraid to share her opinion on anything.
On a recent show, Nadine was talking about the difference between males and females. And she said something like, “If you ever wonder about what you are, just look in your drawers.”
The gas pipeline coming through Sabine Parish at present is something to behold. The contractor is Michels, headquartered in Brownsville, WI. The company has 16,000 pieces of heavy equipment and a lot of it is being used in this area. We are told the pipeline runs from somewhere near Mansfield and goes to near Lake Charles. This photo was taken Thursday and shows workmen boring under Hwy. 6 just east of Many.
Jenny Adams, known as “The L’il One,” wanted us to use this photo of her. She is in her 30s and loves dolls and stuffed animals. She would like to have some more to add to her collection. If you have some that you no longer want, please drop them by my office in the radio station building at 605 San Antonio Ave., and I will get them to Jenny. The Lord will bless you for it.
Well, he was in Many and Sabine Parish visiting this week. He came by our office Thursday and we had a nice lunch together at Bayou Crawfish. I’m talking about Many native Ted “Bussey” Mims of Normal, IL. Now retired and living the life of Bussey, he once headed the computer department at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Recognized as an authority in the field of computer science, the Sabine Hall of Fame recognized him a couple of years ago with their Achievement Award. It was a pleasure to have him visit and we always look forward to hearing from him.
WE GET LETTERS. Always a pleasure to hear from our good friend Ronald Byrd of South Boston, VA. His note follows:
“Robert, I just had to laugh at the Dye story, when nature called him to hide under the school board warehouse, but that fighting was no laughing matter. The rioters should be thankful for actions of the police and sheriff’s deputies because someone was likely going to die otherwise. And we all should be thankful that gunfire didn’t break out; anyplace other than Many and you’d have a gunfight and deaths. You can’t excuse fighting, but you have to give credit to this crowd that they didn’t cross that line. I have to think that the good reputation of law officers in Many and Sabine might be partly responsible for no guns being involved. I also see a ray of hope in the fact that nobody physically resisted the officers. While I wasn’t looking for silver linings, they were there. I’d much rather live in a place like Many where a civil disturbance, while frightening and potentially dangerous, didn’t erupt into killing and offenses against officers like you see happening in other parts of our Nation. On a sad note in closing, RIP Hardrick Rivers. The world suffers when folks like him, who make others smile and feel good, pass on. Wish I could have experienced that tribute to him. Take care, my friend. Ronny”
It was our pleasure to attend a recent banquet at a statewide meeting of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES), in which our friend and BDC employee Kathy Warmack serves. She is a past Grand Matron. Her husband Danny is the official statewide OES Chaplain.
Imagine our surprise when we arrived in Alexandria to find our good friends, Willie Stewart Family & Friends, as the evening’s entertainment. And they put it on the top shelf that night. For the OES show, Willie, Bo and all the gang had with them Bobby Moore on vocals and guitar and Tom Reeks on vocals and bass.
They performed a lot of good, old Classic Country, which we loved. As always, Bo’s jokes kept the crowd in stitches. Toward the end of their performance, an impromptu second line of sorts broke out, and Bo jumped right in there with them. All the ladies were dressed to the nines in their floor-length gowns, and most of the men had on tuxedos. Bo fit right in.
The Stewarts were invited to perform by the most recent Grand Matron, Kay McCray, who is a good friend of Kathy and Danny Warmack. We were honored to attend and enjoyed the festivities.
Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell reported Richard Corneilus Johnson, age 31, of Many was arrested Monday morning, March 21, for two arrest warrants.
When Johnson was booked and searched at the Sabine Parish Detention Center, Correctional Deputies located approximately 8 grams of suspected marijuana on his person.
Johnson was also charged with Contraband into penal institutions.
Sheriff Mitchell commends these Deputies for thoroughly searching arrestees and inmates to keep illegal contraband from entering the Detention Center.
(Thank you to Det. D.W. Seegers for the above article.)
Community Bank of Louisiana doesn’t have a branch in Kenya, but you may see their cap there. Third generation Many banker J.J. Blake recently sent one of his bank’s ballcaps with the priest of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church to take on his trip home to Kenya.
While he was in Kenya, Father Francis Kamau gave the cap to his dad, Mr. Laurence Kamau, who is 94 years young and just celebrated his 70th Wedding Anniversary. J.J. remarked, “Maybe one day I will visit Kenya.”
On Wednesday, March 16, several Sabine Parish Sheriff Deputies and Detectives assisted Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office in the search for Steven Burkett of Marthaville, according to Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell.
Burkett was reported missing to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Office on Feb. 13 under suspicious circumstances.
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Detectives and Sabine Parish Sheriff Deputies executed a search warrant at a residence on Preston Hayes Rd. in the Marthaville area.
Next, Natchitoches Parish Detectives, Sabine Parish Deputies, Natchitoches Parish Fire District 7, Alexandria Fire and Rescue, K-9s and other volunteers searched approximately 100 acres of property off Preston Hayes Rd. The goal was to find clues or evidence in the disappearance of Burkett.
Back on Friday, Feb. 18 of this year, Sabine Parish Deputies also assisted Natchitoches Parish Detectives and other volunteers with the initial search of other wooded property off Preston Hayes Rd.
Sheriff Mitchell was pleased he could assist Sheriff Stuart Wright and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office with the investigation and has vowed to lend future help if needed.
Persons with any information about the disappearance of Steven Burkett are asked to please contact Det. Lt. Jonathan Byles at (318) 357-7830.
(Thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the information above.)
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