Wednesday, September 7, 2022
In advance of the upcoming November federal election, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin informs citizens that his office, the Registrar of Voters nor the Clerk of Court conducts door-to-door canvasses to update or confirm a voter’s registration.
Although independent third-party groups conduct their own surveys, registration or petition drives, resident are under no obligation to speak to or answer these groups’ questions. Cooperation or refusal to cooperate will have no bearing on a voter’s registration status.
The Secretary of State’s office, in conjunction with local election officials, conducts an annual voter canvas via mail only.
Voters are encouraged to check their registration status, or to make updates to their registration, by visiting geauxvote.com or downloading the award-winning, free Geaux Vote mobile app. They can also visit the Louisiana Voters’ Bill of Rights there.
Fuzzy Hennigan, known far and wide as “The Mayor of Marthaville,” said big plans are being made for a wonderful 30th Anniversary Marthaville Good Ole Days on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 15. The event started back in 1992.
He said Gospel Music in the Park will be held on Friday beginning at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the event will start with the opening prayer and the singing of the National Anthem at 9:30 a.m., followed by the ATV-Motorcycle Parade at 9:45. The World-Famous Country Parade will roll through town beginning at 10 a.m. Activities in the park will start at 11 a.m. and continue until 1 p.m. The Good Ole Days will end with a Nashville Country Music Show at 6:30 p.m.
Put it on your calendar. Come one – come all.
Tommy Dunigan has been in the interior design business in Houston for 40 years and has now decided to semi-retire in Many. His great aunt and uncle were the late Adam and Flarcie Key and he spent summers and holidays with them as a child. He, along with his sister and brother-in-law, lives in the Key family home.
Dunigan enjoys designing and decorating homes. He is available to consult on color choices, furniture arrangements, drawing future floor plans and restaging homes.
It’s not always out with the old and in with the new for this successful and talented designer. He said he likes to dig through closets to find and use things his clients haven’t known how to place in their homes.
Well known, he has designed homes in New York, Florida, San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, Seattle, Santa Fe and Texas.
Dunigan likes to give new, fresh, updated looks to homes and has said he would enjoy working with clients in the Many, Toledo Bend, Natchitoches and Leesville areas. Although he still returns to Houston for a few days of work every other week, he plans to eventually fully retire here.
Interested persons may reach him at (281) 686-8979.
Continued best wishes to regular Observations reader Liz Alford upon her recovery from surgery. We understand she is doing well and we wish her a speedy recovery.
The newly created Facebook page for Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads continues to be active. They have more than 1,000 members and continue to grow. And they are active.
Last week Pat Scarborough took District 5 Police Juror Jeff Davidson to task. A little background: Jury President Ricky Sepulvado, Dist. 7, suggested putting oil sand along the sides of Pilcher Road when it had been milled in order to smooth over the roughness left by the “much dreaded asphalt zipper.” He wrote, “While not a permanent solution, this would afford some relief to Pilcher Road residents who are getting flat tires and suspension damage.”
Scarborough said Jeff initially agreed to this solution, “he has now backed out, throwing up one excuse after another.” His final claim was “oil sand will stick to cars” which Pat said is false. Jeff then made a post saying he would get oil sand put down IMMEDIATELY if Scarborough would pay to clean the “sticky oil sand” off cars.
After Jeff’s post, Scarborough said he immediately blocked him from the Facebook page, adding, “Smooth move, Jeff, you’re a real class act.”
In view of the fact that Citizens for Better Roads are trying to get more people to attend the Jury meetings and voice their opinions, Scarborough came up with a good plan.
He said: “I WILL PERSONALLY WASH ANYONE’S CAR IF THEY WILL AGREE TO COME TO THE POLICE JURY MEETING WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21, AT 9 A.M. AND STAND UP AND TELL THE JURORS WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ROADS IN SABINE PARISH.”
Scarborough concluded: “For two days before the meeting, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., I will be in the front part of my property with a water hose, bucket of soapy water and sponge. Come on by – ANYONE who will agree to stand up with me and speak your mind. I don’t care if you live in Sabine Parish or not, come get your car washed and stand with me at the Police Jury meeting! End of Pilcher Road, look for the big fish mailbox.”
A citizen brought to Observations a group of charge tickets from Rivers Builders Supply at Zwolle signed by Dist. 6 School Board Member Donald Garcie and charged to Ebarb School. The question was whether or not a School Board Member could legally charge items to the school.
We took the matter up with District Attorney Don Burkett. He discussed the matter with Rodney Wilson, Director of Finance for the School Board, and looked over the charge tickets. His conclusion was this:
There was no violation of the law with Garcie picking up the materials in his truck, signing the tickets and hauling the items to Ebarb School. Once there, a total of four different people (principal, assistant principal, etc.) at different times signed the tickets verifying the materials had been delivered.
Burkett said it appears most of the materials were used for improvement to the ball park at the school. He assumed that Garcie hauled the items to the school as a matter of public service.
Last week in Observations we carried a story about Sheriff’s Deputy Phillip “Koolaid” Cutrer which appeared to indicate he was gearing up to run for Many Chief of Police next go around.
We received a nice note from Koolaid about how much he appreciated our calling attention to him. Then, a second message came correcting some of the information we had in the article. We try as hard as we can to be sure that information in Observations is correct. At any rate, here is Koolaid’s note:
“Hey sir…. just so its clear the video/pictures were taken by a camera placed at the property by a person that placed it there solely to get me in trouble… resigned due to actions and the position I placed the administration in at SPSO… The juveniles that was taken to the church were my own children… please come to me when posting what you guys hear from sources around here to get a CLEAR story.”
Thanks, Koolaid, for the clarification.
Two persons have been arrested in connection with shots being fired on Middle Creed Rd. in Many, according to Many Chief of Police Cheryl Wooley.
Shawn Xavier Pearce, 19-year-old white male, was charged with Assault by drive by shooting, Obstruction of justice and Accessory after the fact.
Jalan Dunte Megee, 19-year-old black male, was charged with Assault by drive by shooting and Obstruction of justice.
Chief Wooley said several spent bullet casings were recovered, and the Sheriff’s Office, which was assisting in the case, recovered an unspent shell in one suspect’s vehicle. This led to a consent to search of the vehicle and two empty gun cases were recovered, along with information that led to the purchaser of the weapons.
Chief Wooley also reports that the person who made threats against the Sabine Medical Center was denied release in a detention hearing recently. The person has been sent for mental evaluation. Chief Wooley said she preferred not to use the person’s name due to medical privacy issues.
Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announces the purchase of a DJI Matrice 300 RTK Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).
The Matrice 300 has a HD video camera with 200x max zoom, thermal imaging, object tracking, a spotlight, and other state-of-the-art capabilities. It features separate pilot and camera controls.
The Matrice 300 measures 32” long, 26” wide, 17” tall and weighs 14 pounds. It has a 55-minute maximum flight time and a maximum range of 9 miles.
Sheriff Mitchell said the UAS will be an essential tool for locating missing or lost persons, drownings, inmate escapees, wanted persons, and for ensuring community safety.
The UAS Team will be composed of highly trained, motivated members of the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office.
On Thursday, September 1, members attended an all-day training class to become familiar with the features and operation of the UAS.
All members were able to pilot the UAS and operate the camera controls.
The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office will abide by all FAA regulations, and all UAS members will obtain pilot licenses and certifications.
There have been many cases of missing and lost persons in the past in Sabine Parish, some of which had tragic endings. Chief Deputy Brad Walker said the Number One goal of the UAS program is to be able to locate these individuals and bring them home safely.
Those who have questions regarding the program, are asked to please contact Chief Deputy Walker or UAS Coordinator Trevor Beason at (318) 590-9475.
Many’s 12 book nooks are getting a face lift and will continue to offer free books for our citizens to read and enjoy.
The book nooks, which are placed in strategic locations all over town, have been a popular project to encourage reading. They’ve been around for years and now need repainting, some minor repairs, and even a couple of door replacements.
The town hired Mickey Burton, the dynamic drummer for several area bands, who is also a handyman extraordinaire, to make the repairs and do the painting.
Ten book nooks have been completed. The last two are expected to be finished within the next two weeks. Members of the Depot Art Gallery will then provide the final touches by signing the doors with the slogan “Take a Book, Leave a Book.”
The book nooks have been scraped, sanded, caulked, then base coats and bright primary colors were painted on them.
Twelve volunteers will keep the book nooks filled with books for adults and children, DVDs, and sometimes fun surprises, such as coloring books, crossword puzzle books, pencils, pens, notepads, etc. Each volunteer is responsible for one book nook.
If you would like to volunteer to care for and regularly replenish a book nook, please call Mary Brocato, Town of Many Council Member at Large at (318) 617-5239. There are now six volunteers, so six more are still needed.
Remember that everyone is welcomed and encouraged to leave books in the book nooks.
Mayor Robert Hable is pleased with the new look of the book nooks. As he said, “We want to do everything we can to encourage people to read and our twelve book nooks are popular with all our families and children.”
(Thank you to Mary Brocato for the above article.)
On Saturday, August 27, Ronald D. Brandon was crowned the 46th Annual Zwolle Tamale Fiesta King. Brandon, a local Attorney and Assistant District Attorney, will reign over the festivities during the 46th Annual Zwolle Tamale Fiesta to be held October 6-9, 2022.
Ronald Dale Brandon was born on March 26, 1962, to Earl and Joan Brandon. He has an older brother and sister, Sharon Brandon DeWitt and Mike Brandon and one younger sister, Karen Brandon Stonecipher.
He was raised in Hurricane Valley, a small community right outside of Zwolle. He attended St. Joseph Catholic School until Sixth Grade and then started at Zwolle High School. He graduated from Zwolle in 1980.
Brandon started at Northwestern State University in the Fall of 1980, and married Pollie Sepulvado in June of 1981. He worked for the University Police before working for Natchitoches Police Department in 1981 where he received the Purple Heart for being shot in the line of duty. He graduated from Northwestern State University in 1986 with an associate degree in Criminal Justice and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
In 1987 he moved to Baton Rouge to begin law school at Southern University Law Center. He graduated from law school Cum Laude in May 1990. In October of 1990, he was sworn in as Sabine Parish Assistant District Attorney and began his own private law practice.
Soon after in 1991, Ronnie welcomed his first son, Ronald Heath Brandon who is now working with his dad as an Attorney. Since opening, the Brandon Law Office has grown to three attorneys – Ronnie, son Heath and nephew Russell Busby. Brandon’s second son, Jarred Nicolas Brandon, was born in 1994 and is currently employed by Trust Care Management.
Ronnie taught Criminal Justice at Northwestern State University in 1995. The same year he also developed his first residential subdivision, Beau Chene. Since then, he has developed five residential subdivisions and one commercial subdivision. In 1996, Ronnie and Pollie welcomed a third son, Samuel Brett Brandon, who lives in New Orleans and is employed at the Ritz-Carlton.
In 1998, Ronnie and Pollie bought Century 21 Sabine Property Shoppe where Ronnie is Broker and has 11 agents working for the company.
Ronnie is a member of St Joseph Catholic Church in Zwolle where he has served on the Pastoral Council, as an Usher and as a fourth degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. Ronnie has been a board member of the Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival from its start and has served as President, Vice President, and is currently serving as treasurer.
Always civically minded, Brandon was instrumental in helping acquire the Zwolle Festival Grounds and has served on the Zwolle Festival Grounds Board since its inception.
Ronnie is the first Tamale Fiesta King to be married to a former Zwolle Tamale Fiesta Queen and have all three of his sons serve as Royal Fiesta Pages. Ronnie’s hobbies include deer hunting, traveling, and raising cattle. Contact the taxidermists near me for your taxidermy needs.
The Assistant DA said he is extremely honored to be chosen as this year’s Zwolle Tamale Fiesta King.
HELP WANTED
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announces the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking for motivated individuals for part-time Dispatcher positions.
Dispatchers communicate via radio with Deputies and Officers working throughout Sabine Parish. They receive calls for service from the public requesting assistance from law enforcement and also answer emergency 9-1-1 calls. In addition, they coordinate with other law enforcement agencies, fire, and ambulance services.
The position requires shift work, rotating days and nights, to include weekends and holidays.
A high level of multi-tasking and typing skills is preferred but not required.
Qualified applicants must be 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent, have no felony convictions, and must meet other criteria.
Anyone interested should contact Chief Dispatcher Stacy Etheridge at the Sabine Parish Courthouse.
If you have any questions, call (318) 256-9241 – option 5, or email s.etheridge@sabinesheriff.org.
(The Sheriff’s Office is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, age, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin.)
(Thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the above information.)
-30-
