Wednesday, November 9, 2022

He was a true legend, the last man standing of the Million Dollar Quartet. The impromptu foursome was comprised of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, all label mates on Sun Records in Memphis in late 1956. An originator of the genré, “Rock n’ Roll’s first great wild man” Jerry Lee Lewis died on Oct. 28. We had the honor of attending his funeral and Celebration of Life last Saturday, Nov. 5 in his hometown of Ferriday.

We imagine the cool, rainy weather kept a lot of folks away who might have attended otherwise. As it turned out, some 150 people including family gathered for the service inside Young’s Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m. Another 100 or so watched a livestream of the service in the funeral home lobby and parlor spaces. By noon, the unpleasant weather lifted, replaced by mostly blue skies and partial sun.

Robert and I were fortunate to get seats inside the chapel as did our friends, Sabine Chief Deputy Brad Walker, Larry and Lois Anderson of Shreveport, David Stallings (aka phone prankster “Willie P. Richardson”) of Nacogdoches, TX and his sister Dayna Stallings O’Con of Benton, AR.

Clyde Webber, a lifetime friend of Lewis and longtime Concordia Parish Clerk of Court, spoke at the service, recalling his long friendship with Lewis and telling of how a young Jerry Lee became known as the “Killer.” The nickname predated Lewis’ musical career. He earned it in childhood when he attempted to whip a much bigger opponent and showed no mercy. Fighting was in his nature.

As a child he often “jumped” his double first cousin, Jimmy Swaggart, and they would fight. “When we lost him,” Swaggart shared at the funeral, “I lost the brother I never had. He and I learned to play piano together.”

Swaggart went on to ministerial fame. Another Ferriday first cousin, the late Mickey Gilley, became a Country music star.

Swaggart laughed as he recalled playing Rock n’ Roll with Lewis “when nobody knew what Rock n’ Roll was. My mother and daddy didn’t think it was right. The first place we played, all of a sudden the place went wild. They were throwing chairs, anything they could get their hands on, and we had to have the cops to get us out. That was my introduction to Rock n’ Roll, and it was about my last show. My mother and dad would not allow it. I was about 15, and Jerry Lee was 14,” he said.

The famous televangelist later shared the story of Jesus on the cross and two thieves on each side. Swaggart pointed out that, after a life of sin, one thief placed his faith in Christ just before death, and Jesus honored the thief’s earnest prayer, saying “Today you will be with me in paradise.” He drew a parallel to Lewis’ life, and said he was sure of his cousin’s eternal destination.

Lewis and Swaggart had an all-Gospel recording released earlier this year, “Jimmy Lee & Jerry Lee, the Boys from Ferriday.” Two numbers from the project featuring Lewis were played during his funeral, “In the Garden” and “The Old Rugged Cross.”

At the Rock n’ Roll legend’s Celebration of Life event held in Ferriday’s Arcade Theater, a number of Jerry Lee-inspired artists and friends paid tribute to him, including Jacob Tolliver, who portrayed Lewis in the Million Dollar Quartet Las Vegas show, and 50-year friend and longtime UK driver Graham Knight. Among the stories of his experiences with Jerry Lee, Knight recalled asking the star why he had married so many times. In all seriousness, Lewis replied, “I just had to give them the opportunity to be married to Jerry Lee Lewis.” He recounted how Lewis would say, “I’m a bachelor when I leave Memphis.”

Jerry Lee’s seventh wife and widow, Judith Coghlan [Brown], to whom he was married for the last ten years, thanked everyone for honoring her husband and attending his funeral and Celebration of Life.

If Swaggart is right and Saint Peter ushered Jerry Lee inside the pearly gates, there’s a good chance the angelic host is now singing to a distinctive boogie-woogie beat gifted from God and born near the banks of the mighty Mississippi in rural, Northeast Louisiana.

(Special thanks to my wife Laurie for the above article.)

Veteran Needs Help

Pat Scarborough informs Observations that Elijah Talley, a disabled veteran who lives in the Merritt Mountain area, needs some help.

Scarborough explains, “His car needs $1,400 worth of front-end work due to being damaged driving down Merritt Mountain Road, which was damaged earlier this year by milling.  He is in a tough situation.”

He continued, “I don’t usually ask anyone for charity, but if there’s anything you can do for this man, it would be greatly appreciated.”

If you are interested in helping Mr. Talley, please contact Pat at (318) 315-2233 or (469) 348-3995.  He may also be reached by email at pscarbor@ix.netcom.com.

The Mayor Robert Hable family of Many, along with other families who have adopted children, were guests of Gov. John Bel Edwards in Baton Rouge on Nov. 3.

November is National Adoption Month, and Gov. Edwards held an event at the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion last Thursday to celebrate the 700 adoptions across Louisiana this year.

“It was a wonderful experience,” First Lady of Many Crystal Hable posted on Facebook. “John Bel Edwards approached us and addressed Rob as Mayor! I was quite surprised that he was recognized. Hampton got to go to the Capitol Building. The girls got to join us, the whole Hable Clan was in attendance. It has been a good day,” she shared.

The October sales tax report has been issued by Wanda Rivers, Sales and Use Tax Administrator.  Collections for the month were $410,499.94 more than collections a year ago.  The 2022 October total was $2,946,333.77, compared to $2,535,833.83 collected a year ago.  The School Board collected $1,129,786.45, plus $115,583.47 for School District 34 and $166,799.55 for District 2.  The Police Jury collected $564,893.47 and the Sheriff’s Department $423,669.79.

Community Bank of Louisiana invites everyone to join them this Thursday, Nov. 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. for their “Kickoff to the Playoff” Pep Rally for the #1 Many Tigers at their Many office at 540 San Antonio Ave. 

KWLV and KTEZ will be on-site broadcasting live and Big Meaux’s Food Truck will serve free hot dogs and hamburgers. “So come show your Tiger pride to get ready for the Many run back to the Superdome In New Orleans,” Bank Vice-Pres. J.J. Blake shared.

The Mighty Many Tigers will be there as well as the Many High School Band, Dance Line and Cheerleaders.

Attendance is free, but everyone is asked to please make a canned good donation to the Community Bank holiday food drive. Sabine Parish CBLA locations will be donating all goods collected to the Sabine Council on Aging this year. 

Angel Tree adoptions are also available inside the bank for those interested.

Police Officer Bronson Cook, 25, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 4, on charges of Aggravated assault on a dating partner, felony grade; and Battery of a dating partner by strangulation, felony grade, five counts. He was an officer with the Robeline Police Department.

A bond of $30,000 was set, and he was released from the Sabine Parish Detention Center on Monday, Nov. 7 at 12:34 p.m.

He is the son of longtime Many Police officer Stanley Cook.

Back in the 1950s and early ‘60s, Johnny Horton of Shreveport was one of the nation’s top Country music stars.  On the night of Nov. 4-5, 1960, he was killed in a collision with a drunk driver on a railroad overpass on Hwy. 79 in the little town of Milano, TX.  He was transported to a hospital in Cameron, TX where he was pronounced dead.

It was 62 years ago that Johnny Horton died, and I remember it as if it were only yesterday.

Traveling with Horton that fateful night were his manager and bass player Tillman Franks and his guitar player Tommy Tomlinson, who was badly injured in the wreck.

My good friend Tedd Dumas is kind enough to let me be guest host on his popular “Open Line” radio show on the second Monday of each month.  This coming Monday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 a.m. we will have Tommy’s son, Tom Tomlinson of Uncertain, TX on “Open Line,” and we will talk about the life and music of Johnny Horton. 

Johnny was a member of the old Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, and his hits include the smash “Battle of New Orleans,” “Johnny Reb,” “Honky-Tonk Man,” “North to Alaska,” “Springtime in Alaska” and many more

If you like Country music, be sure to listen. Tune in KWLA 103.1 from the “Listen Live” button at bdcradio.com, or download the 103.1 KWLA Radio app.                    

  

Our good friend Gail Thomas of Many recently brought a very interesting article to the attention of Observations.  It is a stock certificate to the Victoria, Fisher and Western Railroad Co. dated March 10, 1903.  It is for 500 shares and is made out to O. W. Fisher, president of the company.  John B. White signed the certificate as secretary.  Capital stock for the company is listed at $300,000.

The item belonged to Gail’s late husband, Henry Morgan Thomas.

On the back of the certificate, written in Mr. Fisher’s hand, is a list of seven persons who transferred 197 shares of stock.  As best we could make out, the names are James Fitzpatrick, Phillip Cordz, Mrs. Sue Bonett, F. A. Cordz, J. M. Blyet and Bum Fisher.

Happy Veterans Day this coming Friday, Nov. 11.

To all soldiers, past and present, thank you for taking the risks and making the sacrifices to help build, maintain and protect this great nation. We are always grateful to you for your service, and we honor your courage and dedication. May God bless you and may God bless America.

Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office recently hosted the 2023 True Blue Drew Criminal Law Update event. It was held Tuesday, Nov. 1 in Many.

Law enforcement officers from across Sabine Parish were in attendance, including 72 Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office.

Judge Verity Gentry and Assistant District Attorney Jim Seaman talked to Deputies about arrest and search warrants, probable cause, and report writing, with input from Sabine Parish District Attorney Don Burkett and First Assistant District Attorney Anna Garcie.

State Representative Alan Seabaugh, Dist. 5, addressed Deputies about violent crime in Louisiana and updated the group on legislation to create a new Louisiana Violent Crime Task Force to find a solution to the dramatic rise in violent crime in the state. The task force emphasis is to determine violent crime’s cause and to craft solutions to help tackle the problem legislatively.

In addition, Rep. Seabaugh provided a meal of hot tamales for the event.

Retired Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jeff Cox and 2nd Judicial Assistant District Attorney Tammy Jump presented the criminal law update training to law enforcement officers. They informed Deputies of new laws and changes to laws which went into effect this year.

Sheriff Mitchell and Chief Deputy Brad Walker thanked everyone in attendance and commended Deputies for their hard work and dedication to training.

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

SPECIAL SABINE ANIMAL SHELTER FUNDRAISER

A special fundraiser for the Sabine Animal Shelter will be held this Saturday night, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. with the showing of “The Art of Racing in the Rain” at Many Community Center [Sabine Theater] in downtown Many.  The movie was released in 2019 starring Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried and Kevin Costner as the voice of Enzo, the dog. 

Admission to the movie is free, but the Sabine Humane Society welcomes any and all donations from movie-goers to put toward Sabine Animal Shelter expenses.

The film tells a beautiful story about the love between a dog and his human owner who’s a race car driver. 

The plot goes thusly:  Denny Swift is a Formula One race car driver who understands the techniques needed on the racetrack can also be used to successfully navigate everyday life. Besides his career, Denny has three loves of his life – his beautiful wife, their young daughter and his best friend, which is a dog that wants to be reincarnated into a human.

The film is not based on actual events, but it has some fundamental beliefs in its details. For example, there is a Mongolian legend that proposes humans and dogs have similar souls. That is portrayed, and its implications are explored in the movie.

“The Art of Racing in the Rain” is a heartwarming, emotional story about a dog’s love for his master and the difficulties in life that humans and animals go through.  It is told from the dog’s point of view.

The Sabine Humane Society hopes people who love animals and want them to have good lives will attend “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” love the movie and give generously to help the Sabine Animal Shelter pay for its many expenses such as food, treats, toys, blankets and towels needed for the many dogs and cats housed at the shelter.  Donations of these items are also appreciated.  At the theater, there will also be a sale table of toys, bandanas and pet treats to purchase.  All sales will go toward helping the animals at the shelter.

Come on out this Saturday night, enjoy an awesome movie and help the animals in Sabine Parish.

(Special thanks to Mary Brocato for the information and article above.)

The drive to obtain signatures to recall Dist. 5 Police Jury Jeff “Gilligan” Davis continues. The drive is being conducted by the Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads group, which was launched on Facebook several months ago.

Headman Pat Scarborough reported that as of Saturday, Nov. 5, a total of 486 signatures had been collected. For week four, they had set a goal of 60, but 83 were collected. The committee has set a total goal of 600 names.

Pat said that he and wife Joy checked with Registrar of Voters Zach Faircloth, and in order for a person who has signed to remove their signature, that person will have to come to the Registrar’s office in person and fill out a form. Said Pat, “I expect Jeff will try to convince people to remove their signature but since they will have to go to the courthouse and do it in person, I doubt many will do that.”

Pat said the committee plans to continue to obtain signatures until the end of week eight, even if they reach the 600 goal sooner.

And Gilligan was ticketed by the Sheriff’s Department for letting his German Shepherd lurch at and mildly bite a juvenile person who was riding on a golf cart on Friday, Nov. 4. It was near Davidson’s property, but not on his property. The child’s skin was not broken, but investigators could see visible bite marks.

The citizens involved filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Department, and Davidson was issued a ticket for his dog running at large. He can either pay a fine of about $200 or go to court.

A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department said they have seen a dramatic increase in the number of animal complaints in the last couple of years. While Sheriff’s officials want the public to have and enjoy dogs, the pets must be kept up according to local pen and leash laws.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and Chief Deputy Brad Walker recently announced Deputy Liam Rivers Kidd and Deputy Kohlman McGee received their Level 1 Louisiana Basic P.O.S.T. Certifications.

Graduation exercises for the 52nd Basic Training Class of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy took place Monday evening, Nov. 7 at Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator was the guest speaker.

Several law enforcement agencies from northwest Louisiana were represented when graduates took the oath of office, received their badges, and participated in a special ceremony where family and friends assisted them with pinning on their badges for the first time. 

Class participants received 535 hours or more of Peace Officer training in areas including criminal law, patrol activities, traffic services, report writing, investigations, firearms, first aid, and criminal justice.

Lt. Jesse Branam, Chief Deputy Walker, and Lt. Jason Heard were in attendance to congratulate Deputies Rivers Kidd and McGee on their hard work and perseverance during the last 14 weeks.

Deputy Rivers Kidd received the Academic Award for having the highest grade point average in the class. His was an exceptional accomplishment.

These two Deputies will be assigned to the Patrol Division under Lt. Heard.

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

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