Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Things are heating up for the Library tax proposition which will be voted on Nov. 8.  Voters turned thumbs down a 5.05 mill tax renewal on Nov. 13 of last year by a vote of 1,695 against to 517 for.  After that defeat, the Library Board lowered the requested millage to 4 mills, and the Sabine Police Jury again called for a vote on the tax.

The big thing going around on social media in the last few weeks is that if you don’t vote for the tax, the Library will close.  Lots of folks keep posting and sharing passionate pleas that strongly promote the idea that the library and its services will be no more if folks don’t vote “yes” for the tax.  Nothing could be farther from the truth. 

Conrad Cathey, who led the charge against the tax last time, said this time he is serving more or less in an advisory capacity and is assisting those who call on him for help.  “The Library Board has about $5 million in the bank, and the operating budget is about half million a year, as best we can find out,” Cathey said.  “That means the Library could operate for 10 years just on the money it now has in the bank.”

“If you vote against the tax, it will not mean that we will lose the Library or that it will have to shut down,” Cathey said.

The Library Board has proposed building a new Library at a cost of $400,000 to $450,000.  Cathey said the Board has already hired an architect to draw up plans for a price tag of 10% of construction costs.  He said the Library Board has not come forth with plans or a drawing as to what they are proposing.  “I think the people, not just a few people on the Board, ought to vote whether they want to spend money on a new Library,” he explained.

Continuing, he stated, “I am against spending that kind of money on a new Library building.  We have a beautiful new bank in town, very comparable to a proposed Library and it cost $2 million.”

“I have always supported the Library,” Cathey pointed out.  “It is worthwhile.  But I am a most financially conservative person, and I am against wasteful spending,” he said.

Cathey said he met with a few members of the Library Board, and they gave him a pamphlet from the State Library, and it was printed that visits to libraries in the state had dropped by 57.9%.  Said he, “I have asked the local Library for usage and attendance records, and they said that information is not available.” When was the last time you used the library?

Since the first election on the matter, a new group called Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads has been formed.  They are a very active Facebook group and at last report had more than 1,500 members.  They have come out very strongly opposed to the Library tax.

“I hope a NO vote on the library tax will make leadership in Sabine Parish focus their attention to what citizens need – safe, well-maintained roads. Once that is done, then we can look at other ways to improve our parish,” Suzanne Pezey, a Better Roads group member recently posted.

At the invitation of Judge Verity Gentry, a multiagency collaboration was organized to discuss mitigation efforts and plans made to combat student truancy on Thursday, Oct. 22. The meeting was hosted at the Sabine Parish School Board office.

Those accepting Judge Gentry’s invitation included Sabine Supt. of Schools Shane Wright, School Board office staff, FINS Intake Officer Kem Jones, Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, Chief Deputy Brad Walker, Assistant District Attorney Anna Garcie, Many Police Chief Cheryl Wooley and Assistant Chief Mason Wiley.

All district principals were also in attendance and had an opportunity to voice concerns and share ideas.

As a result of this meeting, SPSB Officials, in coordination with these entities, will identify truant students and work to provide solutions to barriers preventing regular attendance. Discussed in detail was the implementation of more serious consequences for chronic absenteeism and continued truancy by repeat offenders.

School attendance is vitally important for long-term academic success, and it is a parent’s responsibility to ensure that his/her children attend school regularly. State law allows a maximum of 10 unexcused absences per school year (five unexcused absences per semester for grades 9-12). Parents whose children are habitually absent from school will be required to work with the local FINS Intake Officer. In addition, parents may be required to attend FINS meetings, juvenile court, attend mandatory parenting courses, and/or pay applicable truancy fines.

Supt. Wright said, “Our school system is pleased to share a strong partnership with these local agencies and know that through our collective efforts, student truancy rates will decline. I appreciate Judge Gentry bringing everyone to the table for today’s open dialogue with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for the students of Sabine Parish.”

Our good friend Ronald Byrd of South Boston, VA was a visitor in the area last week, and we were fortunate he came to visit in Many two different days.  On Oct. 18, he enjoyed coffee at the Gulf Station Café with John Curtis, Bruce Gandy, Tedd Dumas, Don Winn of Marthaville and Dale Skinner of Belmont.

Later he visited with Sheriff Aaron Mitchell.  Ronny is a big supporter of law enforcement and of Sheriff Mitchell.  The Sheriff presented Ronny a certificate making him an Honorary Sabine Parish Deputy.  Ronny was very appreciative and said the certificate would be framed and proudly hung in his home.

Next, he visited newly installed Judge Verity Gentry.  He has a lot of admiration for her and enjoyed the visit.  Laurie Gentry also came to the Judge’s office to enjoy the visit.

Ronny spoke to the Vultures Club luncheon at noon at Pete Abington’s Office.  He spoke about the state of our country and his views on the upcoming Nov. 8 election.         

Early voting for the Nov. 8 election continues in Registrar of Voters Zachary Faircloth’s office in the Sabine Courthouse.  It will continue until Nov. 1.  Voting will take place each day except Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads group is almost halfway toward getting enough signatures for the recall of Jeff “Gilligan” Davidson as Police Juror from District 5, according to a report from headman Pat Scarborough.

At the end of the second week of collection of signatures, which was last Saturday, 283 signatures had been collected.  The group is going to collect 600. The second week, the group collected 128 signatures which was significantly more than their goal of 90.

In a Facebook post, Pat commented, “I’d say we were doing very well. I noticed that Gilligan’s Crawfish restaurant is for sale or lease. Maybe one of you could lease it for a couple of months so we could put a sign out there, ‘Recall Jeff Davidson.’”

Congratulations to our good friend Joe Salter, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Chief of Staff for Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin. Joe has been battling some medical issues recently, and we are thrilled to report that tests show his treatment has proven very effective. Doctors are pleased with his progress and prognosis. Please continue to keep Joe in your prayers until he is completely recovered and back in the swing of things.

Pamela Jennings is one of four candidates running for Mayor of Robeline in the Nov. 8 primary. She currently serves on the Board of Aldermen. As a candidate, she has a lot of big plans to improve the Village.

She has a big billboard in Robeline which says, “Vote No. 78, A Candidate that Actually Lives Here.” She contends that two of the candidates in the mayor’s race actually live outside of the Village limits. Her campaign slogan is “Be the REASON for Change.”

“First of all,” she commented, “The Mayor makes too much money. It is about $50,000 per year and if I am elected, that will be reduced by $1,000 per month.”

She proposes a marker at the site of the old Robeline High School remembering that it was home of the Robeline Bulldogs and to recognize the students who went there and the teachers who served there. In addition, she will have programs to honor veterans and those who have served in the military.

“I want to promote the history of Robeline,” she stated. “I want to apply for grants for historical markers and to improve our historic buildings. I want to instill a sense of community in Robeline. I want our citizens to take pride in our town and hope to have community meetings to talk about improving our town. I want to move forward as a community. You can’t change if you stay the same,” she said.

She said the roads in Robeline need to be improved and she is also concerned about drainage.

Ms. Jennings pointed out what she feels are her strengths:  she is a committed public servant, has a strong financial background, honesty and integrity, is a hard worker, has a vision to rebuild trust, believes in transparent government and wants Robeline to return to a strong sense of community.

“As a fiscal conservative, I believe you should seek the best quality at the lowest price and handle taxpayer funds with utmost stewardship,” she concluded.

Micah Nicholson, longtime educator and Principal, recently announced his candidacy for the Natchitoches Parish School Board, Dist. 9 seat. His announcement follows:

“Hello, my name is Micah Nicholson, and I am a candidate for Natchitoches Parish School Board District 9.

“I have over 20 years’ experience in the field of education including serving for four years as the Principal of Marthaville Elementary and Junior High School. My other positions over the years include Principal of M.R. Weaver Elementary School and teaching positions at NSU Elementary Lab School, Lakeview Junior and Senior High School, Broadmoor Middle School, and Jena High School. I also had the opportunity to teach at NSU as an adjunct faculty member for five years.

“I come from a long line of educators with my father teaching for 47 years, my mother entering her 50th year of teaching, and my grandmother also teaching for over 40 years.

“During my years as Principal at Marthaville School, we experienced consistent academic growth with a commitment to excellence and a focus on school community and culture. We made many improvements to the facilities, including (but not limited to) upgraded hvac systems, lighting, multiple awnings/covered sidewalks, upgrades to the elementary building, new flooring in both gyms, and a new parking lot. We also found a local hvac contractor to call when the ac smells bad or starts acting up. The time and resources committed to improving our facilities are important and will continue to support the community and our students.

In addition to these substantial upgrades, we also ensured that our HVAC systems remained in peak condition through proactive maintenance. Addressing issues such as unusual smells or system malfunctions promptly was crucial to maintaining a comfortable learning environment. For instance, when our systems showed signs of trouble, we can rely on Palmers Electric Motors & Pumps to address almost any motor or pump issue swiftly and efficiently. Their expertise in diagnosing and repairing these components will prove invaluable in keeping our systems running smoothly and reliably.

“I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve the communities in District 9 as a member of the Natchitoches Parish School Board.

“I believe that my experience in education and especially as Principal of Marthaville School would be an asset to the board and could only help to ensure that District 9 continues to be supported on all issues. My promise is to always protect the interests of Marthaville School and to be an advocate for the community and school on all issues. I believe Marthaville School to be one of the best schools in the parish, and humbly ask for your vote on Nov. 8 in support of Ballot #63.”

The Town of Many and their Events Committee presents “Fall Fest on Main” this Saturday, Oct. 29 from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Main St. in Many.

There will be food trucks, baked goods, arts and craft booths, Kids’ Painting with Shanna Gaspard (48 seats are available), a performance by the Dazzling Dance Divas, a costume contest for ages Infant to 12 years, and a street dance featuring The Rose Down Rockers.

Living Word Church will sponsor a carnival and kids activities with two jump houses, face painting, games, giveaways, a bike raffle and a special outdoor movie, “Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin.”

Sabine Parish 4-H is sponsoring a pumpkin display and a petting zoo for the event.

Looks like it will be a great time for all!  Persons who wish to participate in Fall Fest on Main as a vendor should turn in the information and follow the directions on the form below.

Former Northwestern Basketball Coach Mike McConathy will host a Campaign Announcement Party on Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Natchitoches Events Center.  He will be tossing his basketball in the ring for State Senator.  Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., and Mike will speak at 5:45 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.

The election will be held Oct. 14, 2023.

TOWN OF MANY TRICK-OR-TREAT

The Town of Many’s annual Trick-or-Treating along San Antonio Ave. will be on Monday, Oct. 31 this year from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. at local businesses downtown and near downtown.

Residential Trick-or-Treating in Many is scheduled from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

MANY CHRISTMAS PAGEANT DEADLINE NEARS

The Town of Many announces their “Home for Christmas” Christmas Pageant to be held Saturday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Many Community Center [Sabine Theater] at 675 San Antonio Ave. in Many. Mandatory practice for contestants will be Friday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. at the theater. The deadline to enter is Monday, Nov. 7.

Divisions are as follows:

0-11 Months – Baby Miss

12-23 Months – Tiny Miss

2-4 Years – Toddler Miss

5-7 Years – Petite Miss

8-10 Years – Deb Miss

11-13 Years – Junior Miss

14-16 Years – Teen Miss

17-22 Years – Queen Miss

Entry Fees are $25, ages 13 and under; and $35, ages 14-22. A Most Photogenic competition is included but is optional. Entry fees are non-refundable. Payments may be made by cash, check or money order payable to Many Christmas Festival. Entry fees and and one 8″x10″ photo for Photogenic consideration may be turned in to pageant contacts Lacey Malmay, (318) 947-0021; Kim Lafitte, (318) 471-4810; Ashlyn Etheridge, (318) 663-3360 or to Many City Hall no later than Monday, Nov. 7.

Please note: the Teen and Queen Miss divisions are formal attire, and all other divisions are Christmas wear. Entrants must live in Sabine Parish to participate.

All Queens will receive a trophy, banner and crown.

Interested persons should contact one of the names listed above to obtain an official Pageant Entry Form, which must be completed to enter.

The Annual Choctaw-Apache Veterans Day Pow-Wow and Native American Art Fest will be held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5, at the Choctaw-Apache Tribal Grounds located at 217 Gene Knight Rd. in Noble.

The Saturday dance and social schedule is 11 a.m. – Gourd; 1 p.m. – Grand Entry; 4 p.m. – Dinner; and 6 p.m. – Grand Entry.

The Art Fest Contest will include entries of art, sausage, fry bread, canned goods, tamales and wild game. Entries are due by 10 a.m. Saturday. First Place prize in Wild Game will win $200, and First Place in Sausage, Fry bread, Canned Goods and Tamales will be awarded $100.

Calling all artists and wanna-be artists! Local painter Shanna Gaspard has two upcoming classes for all interested persons as follows:

The first is “Cocktails & Canvas” hosted at Bayou Crawfish Restaurant at 650 San Antonio Ave. in Many on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. The art subject matter is a colorful, fall turkey perfect for Thanksgiving décor.

The $40 per person fee covers Gaspard’s professional instruction, all painting supplies, two cocktails, a light supper and a good time. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available.

Please RSVP to Bayou Crawfish at (318) 431-1503 or visit the event’s Facebook page and select “Going.” Be sure to arrive 10-15 minutes early to get set up with painting supplies before the class starting time.

The second painting opportunity is Gaspard’s Wild for Art Painting Class at the Sabine Council on Aging in Converse on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. It is at 211 N. Front St. in Converse. Call (318) 567-9631 for more information.

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