Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Many native Ingrid Cook was honored in an impressive tribute Saturday, Sept. 10, with a retirement Ceremony in Shreveport as she retired after 31 years of service with the United States Navy Nurse Corps.  She is the daughter of Many Councilwoman Bobbie Guay Jackson and James Cook, both of Many.  And what a remarkable career record she has stacked up, including serving under three Presidents – George W. Bush, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

In 1991, Capt. Cook was selected for the Navy’s Bachelor Degree Competition Program and became an Officer Candidate Seaman until she was commissioned an active-duty Ensign in 1992 after completing her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing.

Once graduated from Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, RI, she reported for her first active-duty nursing military assignment at Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA as a staff nurse in the emergency medical department.  Other assignments during her active-duty time included interim Division Officer for the inpatient neurosurgical/ortho-spine trauma unit and as the Assistant Division Officer for the radiation oncology clinic.

After spending five years on active duty in Portsmouth, Capt. Cook was released from active duty and reported for her ready reserve assignments in the following areas:  Naval and Marine Corps Center, Worcester, MA from 1998-2001; Naval Air Reserve Center, San Jose, CA from 2001-02; Naval Reserve Center, Manchester, NH from 2002-04; Naval Reserve Center, Baton Rouge, from 2004-07; and Navy Reserve Center, Shreveport, from 2007-present.  She served in numerous leadership roles over the years.

She has served aboard U.S. Navy hospital ships, both the USNS Comfort in support of Continuing Promise 2011 and the USNS Mercy in support of Pacific Partnership 2012 humanitarian missions.  In her years of service as a Navy pediatric nurse practitioner, during the Covid pandemic she served three months in the Bronx in New York.  Capt. Cook has provided medical care to thousands of patients at numerous medical commands in support of operational contingencies, staffing shortages and humanitarian missions.

Capt. Cook began her nursing career as a nursing assistant in 1988 prior to graduating from Grambling State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in 1992.  In 2010, she completed her Masters of Science in Nursing from Northwestern to become a board-certified Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.  In 2016, after completing a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Fellowship at Ohio State University, she obtained her board certification as a Pediatric Mental Health Specialist leading to her final graduate program completion of her post-masters’ certification as a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

In the civilian sector, Capt. Cook is currently a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing specialty care to children and adolescents with a concentration in autism in Monroe.  She also serves on the national Pediatric Nursing Certification Board as a test item exam writer for the National Pediatric Mental Health Specialist board certification exam for nurse practitioners.

Awards she has garnered include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three gold stars), Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, along with various unit and service awards.

During the retirement ceremony, she was honored and awarded, all very deserving.  She also received commendations from the three presidents under which she served.

Congratulations to Capt. Cook on a long and distinguished career. We thank her for her service and wish her the very best in the future.

Bigfoot and associates are still making their presence known around Sabine Parish.  The photo at left was captured in the front yard of Elaine Jett Thompson in Florien.  And, at right, Bigfoot is seen in Many lurking at the home of Sonny and Tammy [Mangum] Fiscus on Dillon St.

Ann Stuckey-Davis has worked for the last 38 years to keep the music and memory of her former husband, Country Music great Nat Stuckey, alive.  She recently released a new CD on her label, Music Row Talent, and said she thinks it will be the last one she will issue.

“This is a very personal CD,” she shared.  “I wanted to include songs that mean a lot to me.”  There are five songs on the CD, and they are “Loving You,” “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me,” “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues,” “The Man That I am” and “Take Time to Love Her.”

Nat was identified with many aspects of the entertainment world, including his work as a radio announcer, writer and voice on many radio and TV commercials, singer, songwriter, music publisher, record producer and actor. In addition, he owned Music Row Talent Inc. and Texas Promise Land Development Co. He was very talented, and those who knew him personally remember him as a good man who loved God, his family and many friends.

He was raised in Atlanta, TX and received a degree in communications from Arlington University.  He got his first job as an announcer at KALT in Atlanta, and then moved to the power-house KWKH in Shreveport.  There he became the last major act on the popular Louisiana Hayride.

Nat became a hit songwriter after he composed “Waiting in Your Welfare Line,” which Buck Owens took to the top in 1965.  Following that, he wrote and recorded “Sweet Thang” on Paula Records in 1966, which started his career in a new direction.

Jim Ed Brown took Nat’s composition of “Pop A Top” to the top in 1967.  Through the efforts of Brown and Bobby Bare, they brought Nat to the attention of Chet Atkins, who signed him to a recording contract with RCA Victor in 1968.  He had seven records in the Top 10 and six in the Top 20, including “Plastic Saddle,” “Cut Across Shorty,” “She Wakes Me with A Kiss Every Morning” and “Take Time to Love Her.” He later recorded for MCA Records.

Nat teamed with Connie Smith on the duet of “Young Love,” followed by two albums. The duo was in the final nominations for a Grammy for their version of “Whispering Hope.”

He found another career path in producing sessions, along with voice acting and singing jingles on hundreds of commercials, both regionally and nationally.  Those included ads for Coca Cola and McDonald’s, and he was also the singing voice on the last Spuds MacKenzie Budweiser commercial.

Nat road motorcycles and owned two Hondas and a Harley Davidson.  He was a bass fisherman and by invitation attended at least four Bassmaster Tournaments.  He loved to do construction work.  His love for animals was unending.

After moving from Brentwood, TN to Center Hill Lake near Smithville, TN, Nat decided to slow his touring schedule to concentrate on writing, making commercials and his next venture – designing and making furniture.  Too late was the discovery of cancer, and two months after his diagnosis, Nat passed away on Aug. 24, 1988 at the age of 54.  His ashes were scattered over the lake.

His legacy continues with the revival of songs he wrote including cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis and Loretta Lynn.

Memorabilia from Nat’s life and career is held in the archives of the Country Music Foundation in Nashville, TN; Rebel State Historic Site in Marthaville; and the Texas Country Music Museum in Carthage, TX where he was posthumously inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002.

On Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m., Nat Stuckey will be posthumously inducted into the Walk of Stars at the Shreveport Festival Plaza, which is located at Crockett and Spring Streets in downtown Shreveport. The ceremony will take place on the Red River Revel Depot Stage.  Other Walk of Stars inductees will be Geoffrey Beene, Van Cliburn, William B. Wiener and Samuel G. Wiener. 

Nat’s widow, Ann, and her husband Randy Davis live near Florien.  Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the latest CD may contact Ann at lakesong@msn.com.

Something to Think About

“I find myself worrying most that when we hand our children our phones, we steal their boredom from them. As a result, we are raising a generation of writers who will never start writing, artists who will never start doodling, chefs who will never make a mess of the kitchen, athletes who will never kick a ball against a wall, musicians who will never pick up their aunt’s guitar and start strumming.”

– Glennon Doyle, “Untamed”

Bob Groves visited with Observations recently and reached way back into his storehouse of fond memories to talk about growing up in Monroe, his school days at Neville and his college days, during which he was a star athlete.

But, on his mind the most that day was his friend, musician Billy Ledbetter, who is a native of Monroe.  Bob was able to obtain a copy of Ledbetter and the A Team’s CD of “Smooth With a Groove,” and he is very proud of it.

The CD came about through the efforts of Ledbetter’s nephew, Lonnie Wilson.  The work is a celebration of Ledbetter reaching age 60 in January 2004 and Lonnie being named 2003 Drummer of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.  And the group is called “The A Team” because it features the best musicians in the business backing Ledbetter up.  Unfortunately, Ledbetter died on Oct. 7, 2008 at the age of 64.

Bob said that without question, Billy was North Louisiana’s favorite and most beloved entertainer.  Bob continued, “His 50-year career won the hearts and respect of people in Louisiana, Las Vegas and all along the Gulf Coast.  His combination of gifts in singing, impersonations, storytelling, guitar and banjo playing and yo-yo artistry qualified him as a true cabaret entertainer.”

In another matter, Bob said he will be handling Coach Mike McConathy’s campaign for State Senator in Sabine Parish.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell reports arrests have been made in the burglary and theft of firearms from a residence on Boleyn Rd. in northeast Sabine Parish, which was first discovered on Friday, Sept. 23. 

Arrested in the case were:

Camron Lee Barmore, age 18, of Pleasant Hill – Illegal possession of stolen firearms. 

His bond was set at $250,000 by the 11th Judicial District Court. 

Barmore was later booked for Simple burglary, Theft $5000-$25,000, 137 counts of Theft of a firearm, Illegal possession of stolen firearms and Simple criminal damage to property $1,000-$50,000. 

As of press deadline, bond was pending for these charges, and he remained in jail. 

Ray Lee Scott Jr., age 20, of Mansfield – Theft over $25,000, Theft of a motor vehicle, 137 counts of Theft of a firearm, three counts of Illegal possession of stolen firearms and Simple criminal damage to property $1,000-$50,000. 

As of press deadline there was no bond by the 11th Judicial District Court, and he remained in jail. 

Quantavious Qwinshawn McCray, age 20, of Pleasant Hill – Illegal possession of stolen things under $1,000 (misdemeanor). 

He was released. 

Also arrested were a 15-year-old male juvenile from Zwolle and a 16-year-old male juvenile from Many; each were charged with Simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, Theft of a motor vehicle, Theft of a firearm and Simple criminal damage to property $1,000-$50,000. 

Both juveniles are incarcerated at the Ware Youth Center in Coushatta pending a later court date by the 11th Judicial District Court. 

Chief Deputy Brad Walker commends Sabine Parish Sheriff Detectives for their extra-hard work, long hours, and tenacity over the last week and half in this case.

The case began on Sept. 23, when the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office was notified of a vehicle located in the Red River near Coushatta. The vehicle was registered to a man living on Boleyn Rd. in northeast Sabine Parish. The man was working away from home at the time. 

Sabine Parish Sheriff Deputies and Detectives traveled to the victim’s property and noticed his travel trailer and shop had been burglarized. The victim was notified, and he was able to return home. 

The victim told investigators he was missing three gun safes containing over 100 firearms, countless ammunition and magazines, and several other items. 

The victim provided serial numbers for all the firearms, and they were entered into the Nation Crime Information Center (NCIC) as stolen. 

Detectives then traveled to Red River Parish to examine the truck. The three gun safes were found in the bed of the truck and a few firearms were located in the cab. The safes had been pried open and all the firearms and ammunition were gone. 

Detectives continued the investigation and were able to develop possible suspects and locations of the stolen items. 

Detectives obtained search warrants for residences and digital data as well as arrest warrants for suspects, which included some juveniles. 

Several firearms, numerous ammunition and magazines, illegal narcotics, burglary tools, cellular devices and other items were located and seized. The firearms, ammunition, and magazines matched the items taken from the victim’s property. 

Sabine Chief Deputy Brad Walker said the Sheriff’s Office used local, state and federal resources in the investigation. Sheriff Aaron Mitchell noted that the internal federal task force members proved vital in the case. 

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

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