Wednesday, March 15, 2023
SABINE HALL OF FAME TO RECOGNIZE CURTIS FAMILY WITH SPORTS AWARD
Members of the John Curtis Sr. family will receive the Sports Award at the Sabine Hall of Fame Banquet to be held Tuesday, March 28, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Hall in Zwolle at 6:30 p.m.
John Curtis
John attended Many High School (MHS) and played football four years from 1959-62. He played quarterback for the Tigers, but with only 17 players on the team, he had to play a little bit of everything.
He was offered a scholarship to play quarterback at Louisiana Tech in Ruston. While there he competed against and became great friends with Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame and briefly with Terry Bradshaw, National Football League Hall of Famer.
Following college, John owned and operated Big Star for 38 years. During this time, he was very involved in supporting and contributing to all the athletic programs in Sabine Parish. Whatever the need of the schools, folks could count on Big Star to step up to the plate no matter what.
Following retirement in 2011, John became even more involved with the hometown Tigers. About this time, his son Jess became head coach, and you could count on John being at most practices.
In 2018 Tiger Stadium was renamed John W. Curtis Tiger Stadium due to his generous and continued support of MHS football and all other athletic programs.
In the last five years, John lived a dream with grandson Carson playing his senior year at Many, followed by four years of getting to watch grandson Tackett play and son Jess coach. John attended most all practices, went on some recruiting trips with Tackett and family and was on the sidelines every Friday night cheering on the Tigers.
Coach Jess Curtis
Jess was a member of the first MHS football team to make it to the state championship game in 1988. He became head football coach at MHS in 2010 and led the team to its first state championship in 2014.
After instilling the “Many Made” culture in his program, the team enjoyed consistent greatness. During his 13 years as head coach, he led the Tigers to three state championships, six state championship games and three other appearances in the semifinals. All three of his state championship teams were undefeated, including this past year when they won the newly created Division III championship.
His teams were undefeated in their last 53 district games in a row. He compiled an overall record of 142 wins and only 32 losses during his tenure at MHS. Coach Curtis took MHS to a level of football success never before achieved in its history. The MHS football program is recognized statewide for its physical and aggressive style of play and its winning way.
Over the last 10 years, the MHS football program has won more games than any other team regardless of class. Coach Curtis is very grateful for all the support he’s received from everyone throughout Sabine Parish. In January, Jess announced he was leaving MHS to take on a new challenge as head coach at Natchitoches Central High School.
Tackett Curtis
Tackett started all four years at MHS. He played safety on defense and in his last two years, he also played quarterback and safety. He helped lead the Tigers to four straight championship games, two of which they won. He was Most Valuable Player of this season’s championship game in which the Tigers defeated 3A powerhouse Union Parish 35-13. He finished his high school career on a team that won 49 games and lost only six.
During the latter part of his sophomore year, he became a national recruit getting offers coast-to-coast from most all of the top programs in the country. He received a total of 46 collegiate offers.
Tackett was three-time MVP defensive player of the year on the class 2A All State Teams. He was named high school All American by MaxPreps following his junior year. He was also a finalist for the Dick Butkus award, a national award honoring the top high school linebacker in the country.
This past January, Tackett was named Mr. Football for Louisiana, which is awarded to the most outstanding player in the state. Along the way he beat out Arch Manning and Trey Holley for this honor.
In July, Tackett announced he would attend the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles to play college football. He enrolled at USC in early January and is now participating in spring training practice getting ready for his first college football season and doing great.
Each year the Hall of Fame donates to non-profit charitable groups. This year, donations will be made to H.E.L.P. of Sabine, a Christian 501c(3) corporation that provides outdoor opportunities to physically disabled children, adults and combat injured veterans and to SWAG Youth Group at Zwolle’s St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Tickets are $50 per person and available at Pete Abington’s Office, Nichols in Many, Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, Robert Gentry’s Office in the radio station and from Martha Henderson at (318) 645-9573. To reserve a table, call Nell Britner at (318) 256-4344. Table sales and individual tickets are going fast. Interested persons should act quickly as it is expected to be a capacity crowd this year.
District Attorney Don Burkett came away from Sabine Juvenile Court Monday night totally aggravated and probably exhausted. Court started at 8:30 a.m. that morning and did not end until about 8 p.m. That’s almost 12 continuous hours.
And to make matters worse, sometime mid-afternoon a Sheriff’s Detective saw and arrested a juvenile who was there for court. The juvenile was waving a pistol in the front District Attorney parking lot, directly across from the Courthouse. It was later determined the pistol had been stolen from Walmart on a previous date.
Sheriff’s Lt. Jesse Branam of the Narcotics Unit told Observations that he and Sgt. Josiah Steinke drove by the parking lot and saw five juveniles gathered around the open trunk of a car. Sgt. Steinke saw they had a gun, which the youths threw under a car before scattering in all directions when they saw the officers approach.
Lt. Branam apprehended one of the juveniles, and Sgt. Steinke caught three. One of the youths remained at large as Observations was posted online Tuesday afternoon. All of the youths were waiting to go inside the courthouse for Juvenile Court.
In a Facebook post Monday evening, DA Burkett stated, “We definitely needed the newly implemented court house security. Long overdue.” Judge Verity Gentry was on Tedd Dumas’ popular radio program “Open Line” Monday morning defending the recently installed courthouse security amid a minor amount of criticism. She also explained why courthouse security is needed, and that Sabine is probably the last courthouse in the state to install metal detectors and have sheriff’s deputies search all visitors.
DA Burkett continued his post, “We also need some parents to take control of these juveniles. Of course, many of them have only one or neither parent in the home. As a result, teachers, coaches and ultimately the legal system have to handle discipline. If I sound like an aggravated DA tonight, it’s because I am. Excuse the ranting.”
He said the very long docket resulted in a long day for his staff including Assistant District Attorney Anna Garcie and juvenile staffer Nicole Byles, in addition to Judge Gentry, the court reporter, Clerk of Court staff, Sheriff’s Department personnel, public defenders, juvenile probation officers and others.
No reason to apologize, Don. You hit the nail on the head.
SABINE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE MAKES HISTORY WITH FBI ACADEMY CANDIDATE
Once more, Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and his staff are working their hardest to make sure Sabine Parish law enforcement are as well-prepared as possible. Since taking office in July 2020, Sheriff Mitchell has required all deputies to meet certain training standards, and he also increased training and certification in their Criminal Investigations Division, including homicide, advanced interview techniques and sexual assault. In addition, he established a certified dive team to respond to lake and other water emergencies, among other training improvements. Now, his office is making Sabine Parish history with the area’s first candidate who will attend the FBI National Academy.
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and Chief Deputy Brad Walker announced on March 10 that Sabine Parish Sheriff Detective D.W. Seegers will attend the 286th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy (FBI NA) in Quantico, VA, which starts April 3.
Detective Seegers has worked for the Sheriff’s Office for over 20 years; he handles digital forensic investigations and supplies news for publication on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s App and to local media. He also handles IT issues along with several other duties.
The FBI NA began in 1935 under Director J. Edgar Hoover as a professional training program for experienced leaders and managers in state and local police, sheriffs’ departments, military police organizations and law enforcement agencies from across the country and around the world.
Candidates must be invited through a nomination process and must meet several qualification standards to be accepted. Detective Seegers will be one of 250 law enforcement officers from across the nation as well as police officers from several foreign countries attending the academy.
The 10-week academy provides undergraduate and graduate coursework in intelligence theory, terrorism and terrorist mindsets, management science, law, behavioral science, health and fitness, law enforcement communication and forensic science. It serves to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge and cooperation of agencies worldwide.
Participating law enforcement officers share ideas, techniques and experiences with each other to create lifelong partnerships that reach beyond state and international borders.
At the end of the course, there is a final physical exam, “The Yellow Brick Road,” which is a 6.1-mile obstacle course built by the United States Marines.
Detective Seegers is the first law enforcement officer in the history of Sabine Parish to attend the FBI National Academy.
Sheriff Mitchell noted that Seegers will bring back increased knowledge, leadership skills and a new network of professional relationships that will all serve to further the professionalism of the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Mitchell and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office said they are honored and privileged by this latest development and wish Detective Seegers the best of luck at the FBI National Academy.
We add our congratulations and best wishes as well.
It is wonderful to have a Sheriff’s Department that places the highest priority on training and certification. We understand when Sheriff Mitchell took office, many of the Deputies were not current on their mandated POST training – basic courses required within one year of employment as an officer which must be updated annually. We are happy to report all SPSO officers are now up to date on POST certifications. That alone is quite an achievement considering how things were when Sheriff Mitchell took office.
“Beware the Ides of March…”
The word “ides” refers to the middle of the month, so the Ides of March falls on March 15. But despite superstitious beliefs around its origins, Ides simply marks the first day of the full moon every month, usually coming sometime between the 13th and the 15th.
SELMA SCAIFE, JACK STATON TO BE HONORED WITH SABINE HALL OF FAME POSTHUMOUS AWARDS
Selma Mains Scaife and Arnold Charles “Jack” Staton will be honored with Posthumous Awards on Tuesday, March 28, at the Sabine Hall of Fame banquet at St. Joseph’s Hall in Zwolle. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program starts at 6:30. These awards are given to honor and remember special persons who had a lifetime of achievement, was a Sabine Parish leader and active in community service.
Selma Mains Scaife was born June 9, 1914, to Lee Roy and Mary Jane Mains. She passed away at age 93 on June 6, 2007.
Selma is fondly remembered in Many and Sabine Parish for being in the local retail business for 28 years. She bought Scaife Unique Shop in 1956 and opened Selma’s Fashion in Wright’s Shopping Center in 1970.
Selma’s Fashion Shop continued to operate well into the 2000s at a newer location at 174 San Antonio Ave. with daughter Delores Geoghagan and her husband, Robert Dale, at the helm.
Selma was a very active member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Red Hat Society, Women’s VFW, Many First Baptist Church and Sunday School Class.
She and husband Don were the proud parents of a daughter, Delores Scaife Geoghagan (husband Robert Dale); a son Donald (wife Beth); and two sons who are now deceased – Doyle “Popcorn” (wife Evelyn Ann); and Dale (wife Linda); all of Many.
Arnold Charles “Jack” Staton was born Aug. 9, 1948, in Zwolle to O.C. Staton and Mae Dell Davis; he was raised by Norman and Eliza Dowell Staton. He passed away at the age of 72 on May 14, 2021.
Faith was important in Jack’s life. He accepted Christ early in life and was a member of Haskin Chapel United Methodist Church. There, he became Trustee Board Chair/Steward and helped bring one of the first summer feeding programs to the community. Later Jack joined and became a deacon at St. John Baptist Church in Zwolle.
Jack attended J.S. Clark High School in Zwolle and was graduated from Scotlandville High School. He attended Louisiana State University, McNeese University and Northwestern State University, receiving numerous accreditations.
Staton was active in service organizations as a Master Mason; 32nd Degree Mason; past Worshipful Master Golden Light Lodge #199 P.H.A, Zwolle; Past Patron Goodwill Chapter #128 Order of the Eastern Star and Past Joshua of Cockrell-Williams Heroine of Jericho Court #42.
As a young entrepreneur at age 12, Jack started his own lawn service. In later years he began a wood cutting company with friend Hillie Price, Sr., a janitorial service, barbecue stand, G & J Laundromat and G & J Mobile Home Park.
Through the years, Jack worked at Staton’s Grocery, Boise, Hunt’s Lumber Company, “PEG” Stewart Convenience Store and at the Sabine Parish School Board. He started his law enforcement career at the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 30, 1983, retiring over 30 years later on Nov. 6, 2014.
In 1993, Jack married the love of his life, Gloria Jean Benton. The couple moved from Zwolle to Toledo Bend where they resided until death.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet are $50 each and may be purchased at Pete Abington’s office, Nichols in Many, Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce, Robert Gentry’s Office inside the radio station and by calling Martha Henderson at (318) 645-9573. To reserve a table, call Nell Britner at (318) 256-4344. Table sales and individual tickets are going fast. Interested persons should act quickly as it will be a capacity crowd this year.
WANTED
Dekedrick Demond Lynch, age 25 of Zwolle, ran from Sabine Parish Deputies on Sunday evening, March 12, into the woods off Hwy 6 east of Many.
He is wanted on warrants for: two counts Felony theft, three counts Misdemeanor theft and Probation for felony theft charges.
He also has charges pending but is not considered armed and dangerous at this time.
(Thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the information above.)
FREE MOVIE NIGHT
The Town of Many is offering a free movie this Saturday, March 18 at 7 p.m. at Sabine Theater.
“Ticket to Paradise” stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts as a divorced couple who teams up and travels to Bali together to prevent their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years before.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Drinks and popcorn are $1 each. Candy is available for $1 and $2.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS. IT’S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER: the Town of Many’s 2nd Annual “Bloom on Main” is set for Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Main St. in downtown Many.
Event organizers say there will be a variety of outdoor flowers, plants and garden décor along with fresh produce, artisan handmade items and more.
Vendors will be accepted until March 24. The booth setup fee is $25, and interested persons should call (318) 256-3651 for more information.
“Come join us for a day full of activities, music and entertainment [with] FREE admission,” organizers say. “See you there!”
As she did last year, Town of Many Councilwoman Anita Darwin will host an Autism Walk the same day. It will leave Many City Hall at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, and proceed to the old Sabine High School.
Bikes, ATVs and horses are all welcomed in addition to walkers.
“We will have lots of fun, food, snowballs, games and prizes,” Ms. Darwin promised.
Those who wish to support the Autism Walk with a t-shirt may visit the Facebook page of Amanda Darwin to place a shirt order.
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