Wednesday, May 10, 2023

One person was killed and another wounded at a party rented by a group called Nothing But Azz (NBA) early Sunday morning, May 7, at the events building at Toledo Bend RV Resort and Cabins at 114 Southern Leisure Rd.  A call came into the Sabine Sheriff’s Office at 1 a.m. reporting that shots had been fired.

Deputies arrived at the scene a short time later and learned that one individual had been shot in the chest and one in the leg.  Both were transported to Sabine Medical Center by private vehicle.  Kristian Jones, black male, 21 of Mansfield was pronounced dead at the Medical Center. Kalandre Brown, black male, 24, of Many was transferred to Rapides Parish Hospital in Alexandria with non-life-threatening injuries.

The party was attended by over 100, and one law enforcement official termed the shooting as having occurred over a “turf war.”  It was reported that a similar event happened in DeSoto Parish recently.  Some months back, there was a report of a rowdy crowd in downtown Many with folks from DeSoto Parish in the group.

Detectives and patrolmen worked hours processing the scene and interviewing potential witnesses after the 1 a.m. shootings.  All evidence gathered will be submitted to the Northwest Louisiana Crime Lab in Shreveport for analysis.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell asks if anyone has information related to the case to please call (318) 256-9241 or submit a tip on the Sabine Sheriff’s App.

We could not find any information anywhere on the NBA rental group except one short description:  “It’s all about the booty.” As Observations went online for publication Tuesday, no arrests had been made.

A stabbing also took place on Highland St. in Many early Sunday morning after the shooting on Southern Leisure Rd. The two incidents were not related. Two females were arguing inside a house when someone tried to separate the two. As a result, the victim received a stab wound in her arm. She was treated at Sabine Medical Center and released. The Many Police Dept. recovered the weapon, and the perpetrator, a female from Natchitoches, was arrested a short time afterward. The woman was found to be in possession of fentanyl, ecstasy and other items, so she was also charged with Possession of narcotics. She was then transported to Sabine Parish Detention Center.

On Monday afternoon Many Chief of Police Cheryl Wooley asked Observations to assist in sharing a warning to the public.

She reported that two Toyota 4Runner SUVs were stolen over the weekend in Many, describing the thefts as “crimes of opportunity.” One vehicle was recovered locally, parked on the outskirts of Many, and the other was recovered down around New Llano parked at an apartment building. In both instances, keys left inside permitted the vehicles to be easily stolen. The thefts remain under investigation.

“Don’t leave guns and valuables in your car,” Chief Wooley warned. “And please don’t leave your keys in your car. That is an open invitation to theft or for someone to take joyride,” she said. She also asked citizens to be sure their home security cameras are in good working order.

Of the thefts, Chief Wooley noted, “We have fingerprints we are sending off.”

In one neighborhood, two young males were seen on security footage at about 5:30 in the morning entering an unlocked vehicle. They looked to be rummaging around for valuables. The two were wearing masks and hoodies to hide their faces.

Chief Wooley asks citizens to contact the police department immediately if they see suspicious persons out prowling around in masks and hoodies. The Many PD may be reached at (318) 256-5617.

(Thanks to my wife Laurie for the above report.)

Sales tax collections in Sabine Parish were up by $420,920.48 in April over the same month in 2022.  The report was issued by Wanda Rivers, Sabine Parish Sales/Use Tax Administrator.  All collection entities were up except the Village of Pleasant Hill.  The complete figures are published below.

Northwestern State University’s School of Education recently welcomed 67 students into teacher candidacy during a Teacher Candidate Celebration.  Teacher candidacy signifies the move from education major to teacher candidate within the School of Education.

Most School of Education students are accepted into teacher candidacy in their sophomore year.  To be accepted, the students must successfully complete their 30-hour freshman courses, maintain a 2.5 grade point average, have no grade lower than a C and receive a favorable dispositions review by an education professor.

Area students in the program include Macy Dowden of Anacoco, Chance McDonald of Converse, Peighton Rhodes of Hornbeck, Tyler French of Robeline and Mary Craig of Zwolle.

Pat Scarborough announced last Wednesday on Tedd Dumas’ popular “Open Line” radio program that he will be a candidate for Sabine Parish Police Juror from Dist. 5 in this fall’s election.

Scarborough is known throughout the area for organizing the group Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads on Facebook.  The group has been very successful, having initiated and implemented a recall on Juror Jeff “Gilligan” Davidson in Dist. 5.

The candidate promised if elected he will be truthful, will use common sense leadership, will remain accountable, will not waste tax dollars and will have road work plans.  He said these will be done, and there will be “No Excuses.”

“I believe governing bodies should have open meetings,” he stated.  “People should have an opportunity to speak and elected officials should talk with and communicate with residents.”

He continued, “People have a right to know what’s going on and they deserve a voice in it.”

The candidate concluded, “I’d appreciate your support.  Together we can clean up the mess at the Police Jury and stop waste and mismanagement.”

Scarborough, his wife Joy and sister-in-law Rebekah Stiegemeyer started their very successful, effective Facebook group about nine months ago.

Tedd Dumas said he will give a free 15-minute program on the radio to anyone who wishes to announce for Police Juror.  He’s a tight guy, so if you plan to run, be sure to take advantage of his offer.

Speaking of Jeff “Gilligan” Davidson, he was arrested by Sheriff’s Deputies last week and charged with DWI.  He bonded.  It has not been a good few days for him.

The Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads has announced it will support Eric Garcie in his bid for re-election as Police Juror from Dist. 6.  He has successfully operated Garcie Logging in Zwolle for years.

Word on the street is that folks are beating a path to Bruce Taylor’s door asking him to run for Police Juror from Dist. 3.  Bruce has been in the road building and contract business for many years, and folks feel he would bring a lot of first-hand knowledge to the Jury.  We’ll just have to wait and see if he decides to run.

The Sabine Parish Citizens for Better Roads also announced that it now has its 2,000^th group member on Facebook.  The person who was Number 2000 is Reuben Rachal.  The group continues to attract more and more people.

Trenton Harvey has announced that he will seek the office of Police Juror from Dist. 6.  He pledges to “Spend your tax dollars wisely.”

Sabine Parish Sheriff Aaron Mitchell has announced that Madison Holcomb has been named the recipient of an academic scholarship from the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program.  She is the daughter of Candi and Bruce Taylor of Many.  She will attend McNeese State University in Lake Charles and plans to study nursing.

THIS SATURDAY:  The campaign to re-elect Sheriff Aaron Mitchell will hold a Rally on Saturday, May 13, at the Zwolle Festival Grounds starting at 6 p.m. The re-election kickoff will include door prizes, entertainment, a meal and fun all around.

We hear that people continue to call Sheriff Mitchell daily for signs to place in their yards and on their property, and at last report another order of 500 signs was about to be delivered to fulfill sign requests.

Folks who contact Observations have had nothing but praise for the Sheriff. They have mentioned the investment in much-needed repair and updated security measures at the Sabine Detention Center, his tough approach to drugs and drug dealers, and the useful Sabine Parish Sheriff’s App, among other things.

It’s our understanding the app was obtained by the Sheriff’s Office at no expense, and in turn, Sheriff Mitchell provides it free of charge to the public. He has certainly maximized its potential. Not only does the Sheriff’s Office use it to provide up-to-the-minute safety and crime notifications, but it includes a complete list of sex offenders in the parish, now at 117 persons, and also sends timely, helpful weather alerts. During the storms of late, we depended completely on the Sheriff’s App weather info. In addition, people can submit anonymous tips about criminal activity through the app. There are other uses to it as well, but we have not explored them all yet.

Persons attending the kickoff can pick up campaign items, enjoy dinner and entertainment, visit with Sheriff Mitchell, make a campaign donation, of course, and maybe walk away with a door prize.

(Thanks to my wife Laurie for the above article.)

It is our understanding that Taco Bell will soon be coming to Many on this lot on Hwy. 6 West, across San Antonio Ave. from Walgreens.  We hear construction on the new fast-food restaurant may start within 90 days.

Work has started at and around the old Many Post Office building on San Antonio Ave.  The building has been vacant for years.  We’ll try to find out what is going on and report next week.  Nice to see activity going on there.  Hope some new life can be breathed into this historic, beautiful building in downtown Many.

We hear another well-established business plans to make Many its new home. As of press deadline, details were not totally firm, but be watching for more activity in downtown Many on San Antonio Ave. We’ll share more news on the exciting development as soon as possible.

The Louisiana Department of Health Water System Grades for Sabine Parish for 2022 have been released, and most of them aren’t good.  Only two systems were rated A.  The Peg Leg Cove Water System received an A with a score of 109.  The Ebarb Water District No. 1 MARSH was rated 90.  There were three systems that scored C, five systems scored a D, and seven systems made an F.

Rick Sepulvado announced this week that he will seek the Police Jury seat from District 8. Said he, “I take the opportunity to serve the residents in my district very serious and I would appreciate your help and input to take care of business. If elected I will give 100% into this new chapter and I look forward to speaking with as many households as possible.”

Dr. Ted “Bussy” Mims is a native of Many who now lives in Normal, IL and is a regular reader of Observations.  He called last week to tell us about a blowing dust storm near Springfield, IL, where he used to live, that caused a crash pileup involving 72 vehicles and resulting in six fatalities along a stretch of Interstate 55.  He said at one time he lived about three miles from where the tragic incident took place.

Thirty-seven persons ranging in age from two to 80 were transported to area hospitals.

Bussy said excessively high winds blew soil from farms to the west onto the roadway. A dust storm is a combination of meteorological conditions and human activity, namely agricultural land cultivations that leave topsoil bare.

Another regular reader of Observations is Mark Birdwell of Marthaville, and we had the opportunity to visit with him Sunday.  He said he reads the column every week, and we are proud to have him as a reader, but even more so as a good friend.

WE GET LETTERS. And it’s always a pleasure to hear from our longtime friend and faithful Observations reader Ronald Byrd, whose latest letter follows.

“Robert, it was encouraging to learn about the cross-raising ceremony in Zwolle. Erecting that symbol on public land sends a clear message that Zwolle is a Christian community and proud of that fact.  There are too many places across our nation where some leftist, atheist or not, would raise a legal challenge and seek to have such a cross removed.  I am so proud of those folks in Zwolle and hope that no problems will emerge.  It’s time for Christianity to make a comeback.

“That Clan Stewart has earned my admiration. Preserving their family culture through music and other Scottish cultural activities is certainly fun and worthwhile in a society where ‘woke’ individuals are so frequently working to erase so much of our history and culture. May they continue forever!  I noticed that Laurie performed with them as did a couple of the Birdwells.  Wish I could have been there in person!

“I sympathize with the Pleasant Hill Methodists who disassociated themselves from the United Methodists if it was a conservative/liberal decision. I’ve seen or heard about too many denominations running into the same problem nowadays.  I know there are probably some good arguments on both sides, but I’m conservative by nature and would have to ask the obvious question: What would Jesus do?  I’m sure that he would welcome everyone into Churches, for we’re all sinners; in other words, he’d go for inclusion. However, I have to think that he would not favor undermining the basic tenets of Christianity just to satisfy some activist liberal church members.  It’s bad enough that Christians of all denominations are being attacked by folks outside churches; when chaos comes from within, that’s another matter. Back to the question of what Jesus might do, I expect that he blesses all Methodist Churches, both conservative and liberal.  After all, all Methodists are still Christians and as such need to celebrate our commonalities and be understanding about our inability to be on the same page on every issue. We’re only humans, each of us flawed and sinful.

“Regards to Laurie… wish I could see and hear her perform again. Ronny”

A very “Happy Birthday” to our granddaughter, Miss Bree Martinez, who celebrated her 6th birthday on May 9. Bree is the daughter of Amber Gentry and Dewayne Martinez. She is a lot of fun and keeps us on our toes. Bree will graduate from kindergarten next week and has several enjoyable activities planned for summer break.

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