Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Kaitlyn Johnson joins Sabine Hall of Fame Board

The Sabine Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the election of Kaitlyn Johnson as a member of the Board of Directors according to Chairman Pete Abington. She replaces Donna Smith Ammons who resigned.

Born in Misawa, Japan, Kaitlyn attended Anacoco Elementary and Pineville High School. She then studied Mass Communication with a focus in Broadcasting while double minoring in Criminal Justice and Marketing at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and worked with the Girl Scouts of Acadiana as a mentor.

While in Lafayette, she spent three years working with KLFY News 10 and ESPN where she was the face of UL Sports Media. She recently transferred closer to home to finish her degree at Northwestern State University.

Featured on local, regional and national television, Kaitlyn has a diverse background in communication, mentoring, leadership, social media, broadcast production and graphic design.

Kaitlyn is currently the Marketing and Events Coordinator for the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission and the President of Sabine Parish Leaders Against Litter.

She loves Louisiana and is looking forward to working with members of the Sabine Hall of Fame Board to highlight and honor the special people who call Sabine Parish home.

Observations was very saddened to learn of the explosion that injured Jeremy Dillard on Sunday.

Jeremy is a race car builder with Cade Dillard Racing – you may be familiar with his race car driver brother Cade, and while he was working on a race car with son Cason, it is believed a fuel cell exploded. A few household fireworks also exploded which were stored in the same warehouse-type building as the race car, located to the right rear of Slay’s Electronics off Fisher Rd. in Many.

In the explosion Dillard suffered burns across 13 per cent of his body, including second degree burns on his face and third degree burns on his hands, arm and lower back. Son Cason was not harmed. Thankfully, despite his serious injuries, Jeremy was able to run to Sabine Medical Center nearby for immediate attention. From there he was transported to the LSU ICU burn unit where he began in critical but stable condition and has steadily shown improvement.

As of press deadline, he had been moved to a second-floor room at LSU, and still has not been able to open his eyes.

Folks have asked about a GoFundMe account to benefit Jeremy and his family. When Observations learns of any details, we will share them here as we know the caring people of Sabine will want to be of help in any way possible.

“We appreciate the prayers for him,” sister Leah Dillard Gunter shared Tuesday. “Please just keep them coming. He has a very long road ahead of him,” she said.

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

On Jan. 9 and Jan. 12 there were two shooting incidents in Many, according to Many Chief of Police Cheryl Wooley.

One shooting was near Middle Creek Apartments and the other was in a residential Many neighborhood.

A person from Zwolle sustained minor injuries from a gunshot wound at the shooting near Middle Creek but was treated and released from the hospital. There were no injuries associated with the second incident.

Two suspects were arrested on Jan. 12, and a third suspect was arrested the following day. The third suspect is a juvenile.

Many Police Dept. is working with the Sabine Sheriff’s office and federal agencies in investigating these incidents.

Two of the suspects are on probation already, and the third has a criminal history. An investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are possible.

Many PD responded quickly to the shootings. “We will not tolerate gun violence endangering innocent bystanders and the general public,” Chief Wooley asserted.

Annalise Sylvia of Florien is a co-captain of the Northwestern State University cheerleaders who brought home four Top Five finishes, including a gold medal, at the 2023 UCA/UDA College National Cup Championship and the University World Cup Championship in Orlando, FL.  Mascot Vic the Demon was also in the competition.

Annalise is the daughter of Many Attorney Chris Sylvia and wife Frances.

Thanks to David West of the Northwestern News Bureau for supplying Observations with this information.

Wanda Rivers, Sabine Parish Sales/Use Tax Administrator has issued a chart showing Year-Over-Year growth for 2021 vs. 2022 in Sales/Use tax collections for Sabine Parish. A total of $4,845,222.71 more was collected in 2022.

Something to Chew On

“Train up a child in the way he should go – but be sure you go that way yourself.”

– Charles Spurgeon

The Humane Society of Louisiana is actively involved in a fundraiser to pay for the heartworm treatment and medical expenses for the two starving dogs who were left chained without food or water on a lot near Florien. About $2000.00 had been raised as of Jan. 18.

Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, became involved after he was contacted by Mary Brocato, local animal lover who serves on the Board of Directors of the Sabine Parish Humane Society. Brocato asked Dorson to help the Sabine Animal Shelter handle this particular case of animal cruelty. She and Dorson are friends and have worked together in the past on legislative issues concerning animals.

The two dogs were seized by law enforcement officers and are now safe and being cared for at the Sabine Animal Shelter. They are eating well and responding to the care of the shelter employees.

However, both Lucy and Lucky have been diagnosed as high heartworm positive as well as with other medical problems caused by the physical abuse. Lucky is having seizures and has a heart murmur likely caused by the heartworms.

These two animal abuse victims have a long road to go before they can recover.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell said his office is actively involved in trying to identify and charge the culprits who abused the two pit bulls.

Jackie Conyer, president of the Sabine Parish Humane Society, is grateful for the assistance from the Humane Society of Louisiana. She said she truly appreciates their quick and positive response to the request for assistance with raising money to enable the best medical treatment for Lucy and Lucky.

“Our shelter is doing everything we can do, but the help from the state Humane Society will empower us to do so much more now,” Conyer said.

Animal lovers throughout Louisiana have responded to the plight of the two dogs and are calling for quick action in identifying the persons who owned and mistreated the dogs, for arrest, charges, a swift trial, a guilty verdict and the sentence that the law allows.

If someone wishes to make a donation toward the treatment and care of Lucy and Lucky, one can make the donation directly to the Sabine Animal Shelter at 520 McDonald Dr., Many LA 71449 or call (318) 256-2275.

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

WE GET LETTERS. This note came last week from our longtime friend Ronald Byrd of South Boston, VA.

“Robert, I’m glad to learn that Laurie’s earache was only an earache and that you have that special medical care easily available. That fire station article was impressive, and I cannot believe the consistently high numbers of drug arrests that are made every week. There must be an incredible number of users out there, and every one is a tragedy, a waste of what might have been. Sad situation.  With respect to the Sheriff, please let me know if he sets up a campaign fund; I’d like to help.  I have to think though that there’s no way he could lose even if somebody tried.  The job he’s done is simply outstanding and that has to be obvious to everyone.  However, if all those drug users and sellers got together and voted in a block, they could elect one of their own with the numbers available.  Let’s hope they don’t think about that.  No problem.  If they can think, it would be about buying and selling drugs.  The reason I’m a bit slow this week is that I have the world’s record cold… not COVID, but I checked for that.  Just an old fashioned cold, but I’ve never had one at this age! LOL Ronny”

Louisiana through and through

Ms. Christina Rivers of Zwolle recently shared this sweet photo of her twin girls on social media. Her daughters’ names are Louisiana through and through:  that’s Bayou Saige on the left and Cypress Beige on the right. Christina is also the proud mom of son Hatcher.

Overheard:

The Amish Powerball is up to 4 dozen eggs.

Plan to do a good deed while you enjoy the Town of Many Mardi Gras Parade this weekend. Join the “Krewe of Life” with a donation of blood. See details below:

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