Wednesday, December 28, 2022
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Well, another new year is just about here. Surprising how the years roll by. Come Sunday, 2023 will be here. We want to wish all our Observations readers a very Happy New Year. May it be your best ever. We appreciate each and every one who reads Observations each week and are very thankful for all the good comments we receive throughout the year.
If you follow the news, you know that Louisiana election integrity is the envy of other states. Also, you may or may not know that a gentleman of sterling integrity, Joe R. Salter of Florien, is Chief of Staff for Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin.
Secretary Ardoin has issued the following statement about Louisiana election integrity:
Another election cycle has passed, and once again, states across the union failed to produce timely results. We are 22 years removed from the logistical and operational debacle of Bush v. Gore, and despite the resources available to election officials, it has taken some states days, if not weeks, to tabulate their results. This, in turn, has created space for some to question the integrity of their state elections.
Ensuring the integrity and orderly execution of our elections is the most important aspect of my role as head of Louisiana’s Secretary of State’s Office. I have to get it right the first time, every time – any deviation from that standard risks losing the trust of the voters. That trust is the lifeblood of our democracy. Our social contract rests on the assumption that the power we delegate to our elected officials is done so in a uniform, fair and consistent manner. If we as election officials fail to maintain the voters’ faith in their elections, then the political health and long-term stability of the republic is put at risk.
Unfortunately, there have been efforts by both parties over the past two decades to undermine American voters’ faith in their elections for partisan advantage. It is an escalatory electoral arms race that has seen candidates refusing to concede, spawned congressional investigations, and yielded attempts to prevent the certification of electoral votes.
The best way for officials to counter claims of stolen elections is to leave no room for doubt. I would humbly suggest that other states look to Louisiana as a model for conducting elections and maintaining their integrity.
Louisiana utilizes a top-down approach to the administration, preparation and execution of its elections. Where some other states run their elections at the county level, our policies and procedures are set in the Secretary of State’s Office and flow downstream to the registrars of voters and clerks of court in all 64 parishes. This gives Louisiana much-needed uniformity in our elections. Whether a voter is in St. Bernard, Beauregard or Bossier, they will be voting on the same system, in the same manner, with the same procedures for tabulation and reporting.
Moreover, this system grants my office the ability to quickly and flexibly respond to crises and contingencies as they arise. This allowed us to devise and carry out our award-winning Operation Geaux Vote in 2020 and 2021 in the wake of hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta and Ida, where we mobilized state personnel and resources to provide emergency equipment, move voting precincts and ensure voters remained informed throughout the crises.
It is because of these measures that Louisiana is rightly considered among the best in the nation when it comes to our elections. Organizations like the Heritage Foundation and the Electoral Integrity Project have given my office high marks for our procedures and performances in past elections. These groups praised, among other things, our vote-counting practices, our voter ID requirement, the ban on ballot harvesting and the accuracy of our voter rolls, which the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found to be over 99% accurate.
This top-down approach to elections is what allowed us to have over 1.4 million votes tabulated within five hours of poll closure on election night. It is this system that keeps Louisianians from having to wait two weeks to learn who their elected representatives are going to be.
Our elections are far too important to leave any room for uncertainty. So, to any states struggling to tabulate and report their results in a timely manner, I say this: Take a look at what we are doing here. Consider adopting some of the standards and practices Louisiana has in place. If we leave zero room for doubt, we will give the voters every reason to trust in their elections and our democracy.
Louisiana Man Convicted of Dog Fighting Sentenced to Federal Prison
U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown recently announced that Charles Calvin Akins, 52, of Many has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 15 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
Akins was charged in a federal indictment in February 2022 and pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture. This charge is a result of an investigation by law enforcement agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) into illegal activities of Akins. Akins is a convicted felon, having been convicted of a felony charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile in 1988, as well as misdemeanor convictions for aggravated assault and unauthorized use of a movable in 2016.
On January 19 of this year, agents with the ATF obtained a federal search warrant for Akins’ residence in Many. While planning the execution of the search warrant, agents observed 15 pit bull type dogs in the backyard of Akins’ residence. The dogs were chained in close proximity to each other but outside of biting reach and each dog had access to a small wooden structure. During the execution of the search warrant, agents observed the dogs, their chains, and their plywood structures. Each structure was surrounded by a circular path or “chain path.” The chain paths appeared to be worn dirt that the dogs would traverse around their plywood structures due to the restrictions of their chains.
Inside a nearby shed was a homemade treadmill with a small, dog-sized running belt made of wooden slats. These treadmills are commonly used by dog fighters to train and condition their dogs for fights. Inside another shed, agents found a pistol next to a large toolbox containing a large metal spring device, metal scale, and animal medications, as well as several heavy metal chains and metal stakes, a dog-breeding device and numerous carpet pieces. All of these items are commonly used by dog fighters to train and strengthen their dogs’ bite, weigh game dogs as they train and prepare them for upcoming fights, and for strength conditioning of the game dogs. Pieces of carpet are also commonly used by animal fighters to line fighting pits and provide traction for their game dogs. The dogs were seized and given behavioral and medical assessments. Several of the dogs had scars and wounds around the back legs, neck and rear, and displayed dog-aggressive behavior toward other dogs.
Akins admitted to owning and possessing the 15 dogs at his residence, along with the dog-fighting equipment found there. He also admitted that the dogs were possessed for use in dog-fighting events which would be conducted between at least two animals for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment, and that such dog-fighting events affected interstate commerce.
“Dog fighting is not only against the law, but an inhumane way of treating animals,” said Attorney Brown. “Individuals who participate in this type of activity should be aware that it is illegal to participate or wager in dog or cock fights. This office will continue to work with federal and local law enforcement agencies to put a stop to this kind of activity in the Western District of Louisiana.”
The case was investigated by the ATF and FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan.
WE GET LETTERS. The following arrived from our longtime friend Ronald Byrd of South Boston, VA.
“USC has a new fan in Virginia the day that Curtis Tackett starts his first game. While I’ve never met the young man, I’m convinced that he is the kind of person worthy of respect, not only for his football ability, but for his character as revealed in your Observations over the past year or so.
“Coincidentally, the same day I read about Ted Mims in your column, I got an email from him suggesting that we meet in early January. He will be in nearby Raleigh, NC for over a week and offered to drive up to South Boston one day. I look forward to meeting him, a testament to the value of education instilled in Marthaville’s students back in the distant past.
“Congratulations on being selected to another hall of fame, this time of the Marthaville School. You are certainly deserving as was Hoyt Reed. The one year I taught there, substituting for Waple Lilly who was on a one-year leave for military service, Hoyt was the perfect boss, one who I would always remember as helping me get my feet on the ground as a teacher and coach without any sign of pressure or undue influence. There was one exception when he pushed me into singing a duet with his wife, Annie, at an assembly. We gave it our best and got an ovation for doing ‘Purple People Eater.’ I have another vivid memory of him when he coached at Pleasant Hill. In this game, Vernon Birdwell had been battling Laverne ‘Treetop’ Free under the basket, but for some reason moved out to the top of the circle. Wayne Hennigan passed him the ball and he took a picture-perfect sweeping hook shot…nothing but net, and I’ll never forget looking at the Pleasant Hill bench and seeing Hoyt shaking his head in disbelief. I still can’t imagine anyone at any level even trying a hook shot at that distance, but Vernon was special. In another similar feat, I recall that in a home game we had a jump ball on our end of the court, and Vernon told me to go to the basket when the ball was tossed up. He was going to try to tip the jump ball in and wanted me to be in position for a rebound if he missed. Again, nothing but net. He was the cement that held our team together for two years and is deserving, in my opinion, of research into possible inclusion in that Marthaville Hawk Hall of Fame.”
WE GET LETTERS. This one came from our close friend David West, who is Director of Communications at the Northwestern State University.
“Robert I wanted to commend Sheriff Mitchell and those in the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Civil and Tax Department. I just paid my property taxes online and they have made it much easier to do so. The fees for using the online service have gone down as well. That is a great convenience for those of use who prefer doing business online. David”
Two North Sabine Station firefighters were recognized on Thursday, Dec. 15 for their actions taken on Aug. 26 that resulted in saving the life of a little boy.
Firefighters Christopher Martinez and Brady Green were commended and presented plaques by Chief Nick Spann at a ceremony and Christmas dinner held at the new fire station.
“It takes a special servant’s heart to go take care of somebody in their time of need,” Chief Spann noted.
The Chief described the event of Aug. 26 and said the call came in to the fire station at 7. Martinez and Green were to the scene of the emergency by 7:04. They arrived to Sabine Medical Center with the child at 7:22. Spann praised the duo’s quick, effective efforts in answering the call.
After the presentation, Chief Spann said the North Sabine Fire Station will hold a dedication ceremony at its new station on January 3, and all are welcome to attend and tour the new facility. Please watch local media for more details.
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announced Tuesday morning the arrest of Bacelis Brito Perry, age 46, of Zwolle on Thursday evening, Dec. 22.
Prior to the arrest, the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) had investigated the illegal narcotic activity of Perry for several months.
TNT Agents were able to obtain a search warrant for Perry’s residence and vehicle on Cherry St. in Zwolle.
Agents located and seized approximately three ounces of suspected methamphetamine, almost two pounds of suspected marijuana, cash and drug paraphernalia from inside Perry’s vehicle.
Perry has a history of drug arrests dating back over 25 years.
Perry was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center for Possession with intent to distribute schedule I (Marijuana), Possession with intent to distribute schedule II (Meth), Possession of drug paraphernalia and Second or subsequent offenses.
As of press deadline, bond had not been set.
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