Wednesday, October 12, 2022
The Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads have started taking action against a member of the Sabine Parish Police Jury they feel is not doing a good job. That official is Jeff “Gilligan” Davidson who represents District 5. Head man of the Citizens for Better Roads, Pat Scarborough told Observations that Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin on Oct. 5 certified the recall. Pat, along with his sister-in-law Rebekah Stiegemeyer, were notified by certified mail.
Pat and his wife Joy stopped by Registrar of Voters Zachary Faircloth’s office Friday and discussed the certification with him, as he had been notified via email. They spent about 45 minutes with him going over the procedure so they were assured everything would be done legally.
Pat and Joy got some of their immediate neighbors to sign the petition for recall on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. They met with volunteers Saturday and then again Sunday to go over plans. As of Monday morning, they had 47 signatures. They need to gather 600 signatures for the recall.
The group has five persons thus far who will be going door-to-door gathering signatures. Pat commented, “We only had three people we spoke with who didn’t want to sign the petition. Most people were very eager to sign and were very enthusiastic about getting Jeff recalled. He is not a popular guy. We are keeping this on a strictly non-personal basis, only talking about wasting tax money, incompetence and not responding to residents.”
The Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads started a few weeks ago on Facebook and the group has been very active, and now has about 1,500 members.
The group has also taken a stand against the proposed Library tax that will be voted on in the Nov. 8 election. The tax was already defeated one time, but the Police Jury has called another vote on it.
Sales tax collections in Sabine Parish increased by $518,296.19 for September of 2022 compared to the same month a year ago, according to figures released by Wands Rivers, Sabine Parish Sales/Use Tax Administrator. The School Board received $209,520.12 more and the Police Jury $105,956.04.
Early voting for the Nov. 8 election will start Tuesday, Oct. 25, according to Registrar of Voters Zachary Faircloth. Early voting will end Nov. 1 in his Courthouse office, which will be open each day excluding Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Mestiza cultural authority Rhonda Gauthier was named a Louisiana Tradition Bearer by the Louisiana Folklife Commission and honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum. Serving as a folklife ambassador for the Louisiana Folklife Commission, Dr. Shane Rasmussen, professor of English and director of the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University, talked with Gauthier about her lifetime spent preserving Louisiana’s traditional folklife.
An Adeasonos and member of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb and president of the Ho Minti Society, Inc., Gauthier grew up outside of Zwolle. As a young girl she began learning from the women in her immediate and extended families’ traditional arts such as crochet, embroidery, hand sewing, quilting, cooking, baking and animal tending. Her grandmother taught her midwifery, the use of natural herbs to treat common ailments and herb gardening. Everything she learned as a young girl followed her through to adulthood. After earning a B.A. in anthropology and history from Northwestern State, she worked in the fields of research, genealogy and history, first part-time as a cultural interpreter at Fort St. Jean Baptiste, and later as a full-time interpretive ranger at Nuestra Senora de Pilar de Los Adaes and Fort Jesup State Historic Site. Since 2000 she has worked in the Louisiana Regional Folklife program as an assistant to Dr. Dayna Lee, as an assistant to historical archaeologist Dr. George Avery in the Los Adaes Program and as community coordinator for the Creole Heritage Center. She served as the liaison for the Creole Center to the St. Augustine Historical Society, the Cane River Creole community and Creole communities across Louisiana. Her work during these years included grant writing, research, Creole genealogy, coordinating conferences and maintaining the Badin-Roque Historic structure on Cane River Lake.
In 2005, she produced the film “Maize to Masa,” which documents the Choctaw-Apache process of nixtamalization, a traditional maize preparation process in which dried kernels are cooked and steeped in an alkaline solution, usually water and food-grade lime, to make hominy. The Choctaw-Apache community still uses this process to make tamale dough. In 2008, Gauthier returned to Louisiana State Parks as an interpretive ranger until retiring in 2018. In 2021, Gauthier worked with the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission and Zwolle Depot Museum Board doing research and volunteer work to ready the Depot Museum. Research, genealogy and cultural studies have been never-ending passions. Since 1994, she has worked closely with the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb, consulting, researching genealogy, grant writing, working with the Rising Sun Youth and serving on powwow and tribal recognition committees.
The ceremony and discussion were part of a series of events throughout the state for Folklife Month in Louisiana. The event was sponsored by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, the Louisiana Folklife Center, and the Louisiana Folklore Society, and the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. Funding was also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works, and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, in collaboration with the Louisiana Folklife Commission.
For more information, call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332, email folklife@nsula.edu, or go to nsula.edu/folklife/.
(Thank you to David West, NSU Director of Communications, for sharing the above article.)
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell recently reported felony drug and gun arrests made by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office in the month of September.
Almost six ounces of suspected methamphetamine, various drug paraphernalia, and several firearms were seized last month during these arrests.
Two of the arrests were federal warrants from the United States District Court for cases investigated by the Sabine Parish Sheriff Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) and the FBI.
Arrested were:
Jerry Wayne Smith, age 38, of Many – Warrant for Distribution of schedule II (Meth). His bond was set at $4,500, and he remains in jail.
Cassie Remedies Price, age 40, of Zwolle – Warrant for Distribution of schedule II (Meth) and Criminal conspiracy to distribute schedule II (Meth). Bond was set at $4,000, and she bonded.
Jaquarious Devarsia Devontre Montgomery, age 28, of Zwolle – Warrant for Principle to distribution of schedule II (Meth) and Criminal conspiracy to distribute schedule II (Meth). Bond was set at $10,000, and he bonded.
Eugene Patrick Kavanagh, age 57, of Many – Federal Warrant for Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Distribution of methamphetamine, Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and Possession of firearm by a felon. He was transferred to the United States Marshal Service.
Destiny Louise Hanley, age 30, of Many – Warrant for two counts of Distribution of schedule II (Meth). Bond was set at $10,000, and she remains in jail.
Royshun Avair Newton, age 36, of Many – Federal Warrant for Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. He was transferred to the United States Marshal Service.
Gala Allen Judah, age 45, of Zwolle – Possession of schedule II (Meth), Possession of drug paraphernalia and Expired license plate. Released, (must attend and complete drug treatment.)
Keivondrick Andre Cutright, age 33, of Zwolle – Warrant for Distribution of schedule II (Meth) and Second and subsequent offenses. Bond was set at $10,000, and he bonded.
Antwon Rafael Thomas, age 33, of Many – Warrant for six counts of Distribution of schedule II (Meth). Bond was set at $17,500, and he bonded.
Michael Dwayne Garner, age 38, of Zwolle – Warrant for two counts of Distribution of schedule II (Meth). Bond was set at $10,000, and he bonded.
Jamarious Devonte Coleman, age 24, of Many – Illegal possession of stolen firearms and five counts of Possession of stolen firearms. Bond was set at $60,000, and he remains in jail.
Camron Lee Barmore, age 18, of Pleasant Hill – Illegal possession of stolen firearms. Bond was set at $250,000. Additional charges of Simple burglary, Theft $5000-$25,000, 137 counts of Theft of a firearm, Illegal possession of stolen firearms and Simple criminal damage to property $1000-$50,000. Bond is pending for those charges. He remains in jail.
(Special thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the report above.)
MARK IT DOWN: MARTHAVILLE GOOD OLE DAYS is upcoming this weekend and you don’t want to miss it!
For their 30th Anniversary Festival, Marthaville will have all the food, fun, fellowship and great music everyone has come to expect this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 15.
The event kicks off Friday evening at 6 p.m. on the Heritage Park stage in downtown Marthaville with the 20th Gospel in the Park. Taking part with music, scripture, hymns and prayer will be Jennings Chapel Congregational Methodist Church, Rev. Joe Hendrickson, Pastor; Beulah United Methodist Church, Rev. Charlotte Birdwell, Pastor; Bethel Congregational Methodist Church, Rev. Brian Jennings, Pastor; Crossroads Baptist Church, Rev. Dean Crittenden, Pastor; Phillip Strahan; and Marthaville First Baptist Church, Rev. Danny Forsyth, Pastor. Butch Bruce lined up the Gospel program and will give a welcome.
Saturday morning, Oct. 15, kicks off in the Kids Area, which opens at 8:30 a.m. At 9, the Festival Grand Opening will be held and at 10 a.m., the 30th Anniversary World-Famous Good Ole Days Parade will start, led by 10-year-old Grand Marshal and guest of honor, Rylee Ann Pearson.
Serving as “Grand Marshal” of the Horse Parade will be 13-year-old Rayle Hays, who organized all of this year’s parade horseback riders.
Following the parade, antique cars and trucks will be judged at 11 a.m. At the same time on the Heritage Park stage, singer songwriter Derrick McLendon will entertain with his talent.
“Born in East Texas and raised in Sabine Parish, Derrick considers himself to have a Texas heart with Louisiana soul. After completing his time of service in the United States Army, and with his wife and two daughters in tow, Derrick came back home to Louisiana and began to chase after his first love, music,” Festival Director Fuzzy Hennigan shared.
McLendon is a gifted songwriter and performer who works a lot throughout this region and is gaining fans everywhere else he goes as well. He will play a half-hour set at 11, and then take the stage again at 1, playing until 1:30 p.m.
Miss Marthaville Good Ole Days Lexie Trichel and all visiting queens will be recognized at 11:30 a.m., and Good Ole Days Essay Contest winners will be recognized at 12:15. The winners, all from Marthaville School, were Emmett Nelson, 1st Place; Teyton Free, 2nd Place; and Faith Marr, 3rd Place. Each wrote about what Marthaville and patriotism mean to them.
Parade and performance awards will be handed out at 12:30 p.m., then elected officials and political candidates will have a short Open Mic opportunity.
After Derrick McLendon finishes his 1 p.m. set, there will be an afternoon break, then the big 30th Anniversary Saturday Night Show will start at 6 p.m. Featured this year is Casey Martin and his Hot Southern Country Rock Band, who are set to rock Heritage Park and play into the night.
In addition to all the above, there will be lots of crafts and sales vendors, delicious food trucks and good visiting in Heritage Park all throughout the day. Marthaville High School graduates of 1972 and all years prior will be recognized from the Heritage Stage at 12:25 p.m.
For more information, call Festival Director Fuzzy Hennigan at (903) 474-3338.
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell recently announced federal sentences handed down by the United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana in Shreveport in late September and early this month.
On Tuesday, Sept. 27, Elena Elizabeth Rivers, age 30, and Tryton Alonzo Thomas, age 33, both of Many were sentenced for Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Thomas was sentenced to 21 years, ten months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Rivers was sentenced to ten years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Sabine Parish Sheriff Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Thomas, and learned Thomas sold over 3.5 ounces of methamphetamine on four different occasions to individuals. On Sept. 29, 2021, TNT Agents observed Rivers drive Thomas from her house to conduct a drug transaction. Sabine Parish Sheriff Deputies and TNT Agents attempted to make a traffic stop, but Rivers placed the car in gear and fled the scene. As she fled, she narrowly missed hitting two deputies who were on foot. During the chase that ensued, Agents observed Thomas throw a bag containing a white substance from the car. TNT Agents were able to locate and recover the bag which contained methamphetamine.
Rivers and Thomas were stopped shortly after and arrested. Following the chase, deputies executed a search warrant on Rivers’ residence and discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, 60 ecstasy pills, and numerous prescription drugs.
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Damien Martell Medlock, age 36, of Many was sentenced to 12 years, seven months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Medlock was indicted in June 2021 and pled guilty to the charge on May 16, 2022. The case was investigated by TNT and FBI Agents.
In May 2021, TNT Agents learned through their investigation that Medlock sold approximately one pound of methamphetamine to an individual. Following the sale of the methamphetamine, law enforcement agents arrested Medlock. A search warrant was obtained and executed at Medlock’s residence in Many.
During the search, TNT Agents discovered almost three pounds of methamphetamine in various containers in the kitchen, along with three digital scales, baggies, and a drug ledger that was found in the living area.
Sheriff Mitchell said the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office will continue to use federal partners and resources to target, arrest and prosecute the illegal drug dealers in Sabine Parish.
This makes a total of 12 federal sentences from the U.S. District Court from narcotic and firearm investigations by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Aaron Mitchell in a little over two years.
(Special thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the above information.)
OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
After a successful “Paint Many Pink” by the Town of Many and supported by Pink Sisters of Sabine, another October observance is underway. Everyone is encouraged to wear the color purple on Friday, Oct. 21 in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Town encourages all to speak out and support a victim.
They recently shared these thoughts on social media:
“If you are in an abusive relationship, remember – 1. You are not alone; 2. It is not your fault; and 3. Help is available.”
In addition, they encouraged victims of domestic abuse with this message:
“Your life matters! You can’t change the way someone treats you, but you can change how you react to it. Dig deep inside for the inner strength to break free from this abuse. You deserve better. You don’t always need a plan, but you do need courage and trust in yourself. You can do this! Break the cycle. Speak up and get help. Become a survivor.”
Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell last Tuesday reported the arrest of Sasha L. Gasaway, age 34, of Many. She was arrested late Saturday night, Oct. 1.
The arrest followed an investigation by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) into Gasaway’s recent illegal narcotic activity. Agents were able to obtain a search warrant for Gasaway’s home at the Many Apartments complex on Hwy. 171, and Sabine Parish Sheriff Special Operations Group (SOG) executed the search warrant the night of Oct. 1 without incident.
TNT Agents located and seized a loaded 9mm pistol and ammunition, over three ounces of suspected methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana, Oxycodone, Ecstasy, and Tramadol pills, and various drug paraphernalia.
Gasaway’s vehicle was also seized to be searched at a later date.
Gasaway was booked into the Sabine Parish Women’s Jail for Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I (Synthetic Cannabinoids), Possession of Schedule I (MDMA), Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II (Meth), Possession of Schedule II (Oxycodone), Possession of Schedule IV (Tramadol), Possession of Firearm in the Presence of CDS, Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Gasaway’s bond was set at $50,300 by the 11th Judicial District Court. She remains in jail.
(Thank you to Det. D.W. Seegers for the article shared above.)
If the cooling fall temperatures have you feeling creative, there are painting classes upcoming to unleash your inner artist.
Wild for Art Painting Class at Sabine Council on Aging (SCOA) will be led by artist Shanna Gaspard on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. Participants should bring their own canvas. The SCOA is located at 200 Legacy Dr. in Many and may be reached at (318) 256-4140.
Painting classes are held at the Converse SCOA location on the 2nd Thursday of each month. That site is at 211 N. Front St. in Converse and may be reached at (318) 567-9631.
The Sabine Parish Library will host Family Game Night on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. We hear it’s a hit. The Library is at 705 Main St. in Many.
In other Library news, folks can now check out a sewing machine from their “Library of Things” at the Many Branch. The check-out period is two weeks. Interested persons can learn more details by calling (318) 256-4150 or by visiting sabineparishlibrary.org.
The Town of Many Fall Farmers Market is ongoing, and the next one is this Saturday, Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the empty square lot across from City Hall. Come one, come all and let’s support our local produce and product vendors.
Florien High School will hold their FHS Carnival on Monday, Oct. 17 from 6 until 9 p.m. Admission is $2 per person, and the night promises food, games and fun for all ages, including Bingo for adults. Sounds like a great time for a good cause.
The Many Police Department is hiring. The Dept. is seeking officers with a minimum of two years Louisiana POST certification who are looking to become School Resource Officers.
Training is available; certified School Resource Officer is preferred.
Interested persons are invited to visit the Many Police Dept. at 955 San Antonio Ave. and fill out an application.
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