Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Without questions it was the biggest event Sabine Parish has ever seen. Folks who attended called the atmosphere “electric.” The highly anticipated matchup between the Mighty Many Tigers and the Isidore Newman Greenies last Friday night did not disappoint.
A huge crowd of approximately 5,000 packed into John W. Curtis Tiger Stadium, which only seats 3,000. For the special matchup, folks were allowed to place their lawn chairs on the track surrounding the field, which provided the extra room needed for fans.
The nation’s top-rated quarterback, Arch Manning, who has committed to Texas, was pitted against Many Tiger Tackett Curtis, the country’s sixth best line-backer. Curtis is a USC commit.
It was an exciting game, to say the least. Many’s strong defense came out on top to lead the Tigers to a win of 25-17. The Tigers kept constant pressure on Manning. There were four sacks, and Many never let up on their great defense.
Tigers head coach Jess Curtis said, “This game got us better tonight and we got them better tonight. We both attacked areas that we need to work on and get better, but that’s how you get better by going against one of best teams in the state.”
Making the magic happen were Many running back Jamarlyn Garner, who had 18 carries for 106 yards, and Jeremiah James. James rushed 19 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
Newman rallied just before halftime, and it looked like they might start turning the tide, but due to the Tigers running game and great defense, the Greenies could never get a handle on it.
Greenies coach Nelson Stewart said, “Jess and I have known each other for years and we couldn’t find anybody to play. We have so much respect for them, and we needed this. We got better tonight. We may be split private and public, but boy, it would be nice to see this [in December]. They are definitely in that select level.”
The “Player of the Game” was Many Tiger Jamarlyn Garner. His biggest 46-yard run placed the Tigers on their side of the field about halfway through the last quarter.
Arch Manning’s grandfather, former NFL star Archie Manning was in the crowd, and his presence certainly added to the exciting night.
Congrats to our Many Tigers, Coach Jess Curtis and all his support staff. We are proud of you and your dedication that has built a fine football program at Many High School.
There’s nothing like a get-together of old Army buddies. And that’s what three Vietnam veterans did near Florien on Sept. 14-20. Bill and Barbara Townsend of Florien were hosts for the gathering. Coming from Canton, GA were Mr. and Mrs. Gary Bennett, and visiting from Waverly, WV were Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Morris. Two other vets who usually attend the group’s reunions were unable to be present. They are Tony Kennedy of Shelbyville, KY and Glen Holeman of Tuscaloosa, AL.
The group stayed at the Lilly Cook Farm, three miles east of Florien on Plainview Rd. Louise Thaxton of Florien owns the place and provided it free of charge through the American Warrior Initiative of which she is CEO. As are all of Ms. Thaxton’s properties, the farm’s lodging is beautifully and comfortably furnished. She and Sean Parnell have traveled extensively for the past few years inspiring and educating Americans on the importance of giving back to the men and women of the U.S. military.
Observations got to sit down and visit with these longtime Army buddies, and it was a treat.
Townsend said he landed in Vietnam in December 1968 and went to Saigon. Bennett and Morris both landed at Cameron Bay and were trained as infantry. Townsend was trained as a combat engineer and the other two got promoted to the 24th Engineer Battalion, C Company. So began their friendship, and they served together for a year.
Bill related, “We became good friends and stayed in touch all these years through the good times and the bad.” The veterans have met seven times in the last 54 years. They are now trying to gather every year. They also stay in touch by phone and on Facebook.
Their jobs in the Engineers were to do mine sweeps of the roads, construction of roads and “blow up anything in our way.”
Concerning his service in Vietnam, Townsend remarked, “If it had not been for their friendship, I don’t know if I would have come back home the same.”
During their visit here, the Townsends took their guests to visit Fisher and the Southern Forestry Heritage Sawmill Museum at Long Leaf, LA.
The three veterans recalled how so many people looked down on those who fought in Vietnam and the effect that treatment had on them. Bennett commented, “Vietnam Veterans were treated badly. Korean veterans are being overlooked. They are being bypassed and there are still a lot of them around.”
The three are true patriots and are very concerned about how the liberal Democrats are tearing down our country. Bennett stated, “I am not Republican, Democrat or Independent. I’m American. I’m a Patriot. Maybe someone ought to start a Patriot Party.”
On Sunday night, the group, along with several guests met at the Lilly Farmhouse for music by Willie Stewart Family and Friends. In the group that evening were Willie and Debbie Stewart, Steve and Mark Birdwell and Laurie Gentry.
Ms. Thaxton also provided a big dinner for the group, all free of charge, catered by Karen Lee from Busy Bee in Florien.
The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office (SPSO) announced on Thursday, Sept. 22, that Brice Samuel Foy, age 18, of Many is wanted for two felonies: Terrorizing and Theft of a Firearm.
A $500 cash reward has been offered for information that leads to Foy’s arrest, and the SPSO advises he could be in the Shreveport area.
It has been reported that Foy posted on social media that he was going to take a gun and shoot up the Sabine Parish Fair in Many, which was going on last week.
As of press deadline, Foy remains at large.
A lot of folks perceived the actions of the Sabine Parish Police Jury at its Sept. 21 meeting as an attempt to shut down public comments. According to Pat Scarborough of the popular Facebook group Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads, the Jury went into a 30-minute executive session then came back into open session and approved a resolution establishing rules and restrictions regarding public comments during meetings.
Pat wrote on the group’s Facebook page: “According to the new rules, each meeting will have a public comments agenda item at the beginning of the meeting. Each person will be allowed five minutes to speak about any item or items on the agenda. After that there will be no comments or questions allowed, and if any of the public speaks, he or she will be forcibly removed.”
Hats doffed to those who voted against the proposal, being Bo Stewart, Dist. 1; Jeff “Gilligan” Davidson, Dist. 5; and Eric Garcie, Dist. 6.
Voting in favor were Mike McCormic, Dist. 2; Stephen Steinke, Dist. 3; Ricky “K-Wall” Sepulvado, Dist. 7; Kenneth Ebarb, Dist. 8; and Randy Byrd, Dist. 9. William Ruffin, Dist. 4, was absent.
The next day, Pat issued another post, saying: “People are fed up with excuses. People question why the Jury would vote to silence public comments, [and] restrict them to only comments about what they allow.”
He asks, “Why can’t we ask about our roads, comment on the miserable conditions we all have to endure? Why can’t we ask for planning in the way millions of dollars of our tax money is spent?”
Pat then called for the recall of some of the Jurors and urged citizens to join the effort. The next election for Jury is not until October of next year. He’s calling for recall, and he means now. The Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads Facebook group page now has 1,300 members, and they are growing and active. If you wish to join, visit their Facebook page. We’ll keep our readers posted.
And the influence of the Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads continues to grow and expand. Three members of the group were on Tedd Dumas’ popular radio program “Open Line” recently and from that broadcast, the group decided to oppose the Library tax to be voted on Nov. 8. Their opinion is the Library already has plenty of money in its coffers, and tax money would be better spent on parish roads which are in destitute condition. The Library tax was defeated earlier this year, and the Board came forward with a new, reduced millage, which will be decided by voters on Election Day.
Three local young men found former New Orleans Saints Quarterback Archie Manning at Friday night’s ballgame at John W. Curtis Stadium. Manning cheered on his grandson, Arch Manning, quarterback for the Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans Friday night. His grandson has committed to the University of Texas and is the #1 quarterback in the State of Louisiana. Young Manning and his Greenies played an awesome game but were defeated by Many Tiger Quarterback Tackett Curtis and the Tigers! The game went down to the wire with the Tigers getting the win, 25-17. The lucky boys posing with Archie Manning are, from left, Ayden Byles, Payton and Levi Aton.
(Thank you to Donna Ammons for sending the above photo and article.)
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell reported a man was arrested Wednesday evening, Sept. 21, for stealing campaign signs in the Noble/Ebarb Community.
Over the last couple of months, District 6 Sabine Parish School Board Candidate John Stewart claimed someone had been stealing his campaign signs, and he decided to place a covert camera at a location of some of his campaign signs.
On the early morning hours of September 10, 2022, a subject in a black car was observed taking one of Stewart’s signs. The subject was later identified as Zackary Deigh Parrie, age 30, of Zwolle. Parrie admitted to Sabine Parish Sheriff Detectives he took several campaign signs, and they were located at his residence.
The Sheriff’s Office seized 11 signs: four John Stewart signs, three Donald Garcie signs, an Ebarb Rebels sign, two High Speed Internet advertising signs, and a Free Quotes for shops.com advertising sign.
On Sept. 21, Parrie was arrested and booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center for Theft less than $1000 (Misdemeanor.) Parrie’s bond was preset at $1094.50.
Sheriff Mitchell reminds everyone it is a crime to remove any item from private property without the property owner’s consent.
(Thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the above report.)
Roger A. Rivers Jr., 47, was arrested Sept. 20 and charged with one count of Residential contractor fraud over $5,000. According to the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, he was paid $6,000 to do a job and allegedly never did it.
Rivers was a member of the popular History Channel’s “Swamp People” TV program in 2014. He was billed on the show as a “fierce Apache hunter.” Rivers was raised in Zwolle and it is written that he spent a lifetime stalking the banks of Toledo Bend Lake hunting, fishing and otherwise being a country boy. In Sept. 2011, Roger made headlines after he had a frightening encounter with a 12-foot 7-inch alligator he hooked on Toledo Bend.
Back in May 2017, Rivers was charged with 20 counts including Selling alligator snapping turtle, Selling reptile/amphibians without a collector’s license, Taking alligators with a license, Failure to tag an alligator, Selling fish caught recreationally, Possession of marijuana, Selling alligator meat illegally and Selling deer meat.
(Special thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the above information.)
Brother Bill Nash, pastor of the Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church in Mangham is a regular reader of Observations. He has been a friend for a long time and is author of several good books on Louisiana politics. And he knows what he writes about since he has called many a governmental official his friend.
He is so well known and liked that he has been called upon to lead prayer in the U.S. Congress [and they really need a lot of prayer] and before the Louisiana Legislature.
We were talking the other day, and Brother Nash made this remark: “The world is run by tired people. If we don’t show up for work, nothing would get done.”
Brother Nash is a close friend of Buddy Wood, our friendly State Farm agent. Buddy has talked about getting the reverend over for a fall revival for several years, but it hasn’t materialized yet.
MARK IT DOWN! It kicks off this weekend. We’re talking about the new Town of Many Fall Farmers Market at 990 San Antonio Ave. across from City Hall. Beginning this Saturday, Oct. 1, local and parish farmers are invited to set up in the empty, square lot and sell their produce and wares. The event goes on the entire month and will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday in October.
SLAY’S ELECTRONICS
Kudos to Many’s own Radio Shack and owners Susan and Benford Slay. We understand the Slay’s Electronics location at 255 Fisher Rd. in Many is now the oldest Radio Shack in the nation.
General Wireless Operations Inc. acquired Radio Shack in 2015 following some financially turbulent times for the company, which was founded back in 1921 in Boston, MA. In 2020 about 400 independent authorized dealers and some 80 Hobbytown USA affiliate stores were purchased by Retail Ecommerce Ventures.
Benford Slay recently shared an old list online from 2013 showing Radio Shack locations that had been in business 40 and 35-plus years. Slay’s Electronics was the oldest in Louisiana at that time; a decade later they are now the oldest Radio Shack in the nation. We expect, under Susan and Benford’s leadership, they will be around for a long time to come.
Congratulations to the Slays on this distinction and thank you for serving Many and Sabine Parish well.
Ms. Carrie Broussard, a resident of Many Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, recently treated her fellow residents to some melodies on the piano.
“She is 100 years old and quite a pianist,” the facility posted on Facebook recently. “She is so talented, and everyone has been enjoying it so much!” they shared.
Ms. Carrie is the mother of Zelma Broussard (and mother-in-law of Mike Morris), who make up two-thirds of Many’s popular Uptown Jazz musical trio, proof that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
The 46th Annual Zwolle Tamale Fiesta is just about to crank up with its pre-festival excitement this weekend with activities on Saturday and Sunday you don’t want to miss.
This Saturday, Oct. 1, will be the Tamale Fiesta Trail Ride, which leaves the Zwolle Festival Grounds at 2 p.m.
Barbecue and tamales will be served, and the Fiesta First Lady and King’s Dinner is at the Festival Grounds from 5 to 7 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m. by DJ-K9 Productions and will continue until 11 p.m.
Admission is only $10 per person, and everyone is welcome.
On Sunday, Oct. 2, a Fiesta Royal Mass will be conducted at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zwolle at 11 a.m.
See next week’s Observations for information on the Zwolle Tamale Fiesta Weekend, Oct. 6-8. There’s lots of fun stuff planned, as always.
Talk about deceptive packaging. I bought a box of Pataday for eye allergy relief. I opened the box and almost couldn’t find the container it was so small. The box measured 3 ¼ inches high by 2 ¾ inches wide. Now, the eye drop bottle was only about 2 inches high by less than 1 inch wide. It contains 0.085 of a fluid ounce and says it is a 30-day supply. I doubt it.
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