Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Our neighboring town of Robeline is well known for one thing. That is being a speed trap town. There was a café there a few years back where a popular t-shirt was sold reading: “Welcome to Robeline, The City of Blue Lights.”

State Rep. Frankie Howard has pre-filed a bill in the State Legislature providing for the designation of Robeline as a speed trap town. The Legislature will go into session April 8. When passed, the bill provides for the Village of Robeline to put up the billboards and pay for them.

Taking the matter a step further, Rep. Howard has also been in touch with the Department of Transportation and Development to see if the speed limit on the state highways within the village limits could be raised.

According to information on several web sites, the population of Robeline in 2017 was 176. Robeline has three patrol cars, which is one car for every 58 persons.

Let’s make a comparison. The reported population for Many is 2,730. If the Many Police had the same car-to-resident ratio as Robeline has, the department would have 47 patrol cars.

An audit for the Village of Robeline for the year ended June 30, 2018 showed a total revenue for the Village of $674,049, of which $569,319 was collected in fines and forfeitures. I suppose most all of this was from traffic stops. This represents 84 per cent of the entire Village budget. If that money was split and given to every resident of the Village, each would receive $3,234.70.

The audit for June 30, 2017 showed a total of $302,319 collected in fines and forfeitures. The 2018 figure showed an increase of $267,000 over 2017.

The 2016 audit showed $276,652 collected in fines and forfeitures. So, the 2017 figure shows an increase of $25,667 over 2016. For three consecutive years, the figure collected in fines and forfeitures just keeps climbing.

Rumor has it a horse drawn wagon went through Robeline last week and the driver was handed a ticket for speeding. So, when you go through Robeline, slow down. Don’t give them a reason to write you a ticket.

The new Marthaville Cemetery Committee has inherited a royal mess. A guy named Rocky Gandy was the president of the organization and there were complaints a’ plenty about how he ran the cemetery’s business. It has been reported that someone asked him how he got to be president, and he said his Mama appointed him. I don’t know if this is true or not.

Anyway, the citizens who have loved ones buried in the cemetery had enough and last October called a special meeting to, in essence, kick Gandy out and elect new officers and board members through the process specified in their bylaws. Patty Berry Weeks was elected President and Sue Roe was elected Secretary. Board Members were Donna Dyson Horn, Randall “Fuzzy” Hennigan and Johnny Rawls, who later had to resign because of work obligations. Gandy did not attend the meeting. But there were about 50 others who did

The new Board wanted an orderly transition and needed the organization’s records. Instead of turning the records she had over to the new board, the old secretary, Wendy Allen, mailed them to Gandy who lives in Houston. According to reports, she did this knowing that the new Board needed them.

Then, Gandy refused to let the Committee have the records. They need the minutes, the financial records and the cemetery plat showing the plots. After repeated attempts to get the records, the new Board has had to resort to hiring an attorney, Chris Sylvia of Many. Still no records.

So, it is probable that this week the Board will file suit against Gandy to try to obtain the records.

All members of the old Board have resigned except Gandy and his mother, Glendyl Berry Gandy, who used to be employed by the Town of Many under the late Mayor Virginia Godfrey. Board members who resigned include Dale Barnhill of Many, Charles Davis and, of course, the Secretary.

People who have dedicated plots in the cemetery are very concerned. Some have been marked for as long as 50 years. The new committee needs the plat.

Attorneys don’t work free, so the Cemetery Committee is having a fund raiser on April 13. The event is being headed by Dubo and Renee Rains. They will be selling barbecue chicken at the Marthaville Heritage Building from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Donna Dyson-Horn, who has done a wonderful job covering these happenings in the Natchitoches Times, summed it up best: “It is just a shame and a disgrace. The whole ordeal is just heart-breaking. We have family buried in the beloved Marthaville Cemetery, and so many families are upset about something that is so very uncalled for.” And we want to thank Donna for her help in providing us with information.

Just who is Gandy? According to a site on the internet, he is Managing Member of Post Oak Financial, LLD in Houston. It said the goal of the company is “…to broaden our client offerings to include active managed investments, by third party managers, for personal and corporate clients. Post Oak provides services for a fee for clients seeking alternative investment opportunities.”

We made repeated calls to Gandy’s office in Houston, but he did not take our calls, nor did he return them.

Questions arise. First of all, why would a guy who lives in Houston want to try to run a cemetery in Marthaville? Why does he not want to turn over the records to the new committee? Does he have something to hide? Why does he want to try to stay involved with an organization that apparently doesn’t want his involvement? Why does he want to try to cause the cemetery continued problems?

Why can’t he just pick up his toys and go home?

Congratulations to Dr. Ted “Bussey” Mims who will be honored with the Achievement Award by the Sabine Hall of Fame at the banquet to be held Tuesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. at Siloam Baptist Church on Hwy. 191 South.

A native of Many, he is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mims. He is retired after 50 years as a teacher and administrator. When he retired, he was Professor and Head of the Computer Science Department at the University of Illinois at Springfield. He held that position for 25 years.

He was graduated from Many High, received a BS and MS from Northwestern, a MS from Louisiana State University and his Ph.D. from the University of North Texas.

His work and accomplishments at the University of Illinois at Springfield are highly regarded by those he served and worked with.

Last week Observations presented information about the pay for Sabine Parish Police Jury. A lot of folks were surprised at the amounts. We also published an item about how our Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is trying to put limits on the amount paid to part-time Board Members of the Electric Cooperatives.

Fearing he didn’t have enough votes to approve restrictions, especially on health insurance and per diem, Campbell at a meeting last Thursday presented an idea of allowing customers to vote on how the leadership would be compensated.

PSC staffers, at the request of commissioners, on Friday published rules that include a ban on providing board members health insurance, limit how much they can be paid to attend meetings, and require term limits.

Campbell introduced an amendment that would enforce the rules only if the co-op boards detailed for each customer how much they were compensated and asked if that amount was okay. “If they vote ‘yes,’ then you get the money. If they vote ‘no,’ you don’t,” he said.

The PSC kicked the can down the road until next month.

Music lovers are in for a real treat at the Many Community Center [Sabine Theater] this Friday, March 1, when the Justin Merritt Band performs.

The box office will open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7. The show is sponsored by Music in Many, the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee and Many Mayor Ken Freeman.

“Music keeps me honest and pure. It allows me to release all that disturbs me, all that excites me and all the things I have trouble saying without a guitar in my hands,” says Merritt.

The Justin Merritt Band walks the line between Country music’s storied past and its uncharted future. They take the everyday life and working man’s storytelling of Country music and cross-pollinate it with full-tilt, no-holds-barred Southern Rock.

Growing up along the red dirt border of western Louisiana, Justin began writing music as an escape from mundane rural life. Born into a family with the most unlikely source of inspiration, Justin describes his first encounter with music as spiritual:

“Religion has always been part of my life. Although it followed me throughout the years, I have always felt connected to the soulful spirit of Country hymns,” says Merritt.

His family’s deep-rooted faith first exposed Justin to music and built the foundation for his passion to grow. With a musical past steeped in Gospel hymns and the resonating sound of Country twang, Justin’s writing personifies the honest spirit of traditional Americana. Yet the band’s unclassifiable unique sound comes from the diverse range of influences of all four members.

After years of slugging it out on the local scene, bassist Trent Procell describes the bands formation as fate:

“We’ve all played together in various groups and projects over the years. It was inevitable that we would all eventually wind up together. All those years playing in clubs with different bands helped us all hone our craft as musicians. We’ve played Waylon and Merle and all the classics in the local honky tonks. We’ve jammed 4-hour sets of Blues standards. From George Strait and Pantera to Alice in Chains and ZZ Top. You name it…we’ve played it.”

Of course, any artist worth his salt knows that talking the talk is one thing, but when it comes to performing live, that’s when you have to walk the walk.

“I just want our music to mean something to somebody.” Justin explains. “It’s that connection and musical honesty that drives our passion. We didn’t record [our] album in hopes of making a ton of money. It’s not about that. It’s about believing in your dreams and doing what you love. Making music is what we love to do.”

The Justin Merritt Band is one of a series of musical concerts presented this spring at the Many Community Center.

“We try to present different genres of music – everything from classic Country to Cajun to Classical concerts. We are so pleased to have Justin and his band perform for us on March 1. They represent Sabine Parish musicians and the musical talent that reaches far beyond our parish. We hope our folks won’t miss this perfect opportunity to hear a great band on March 1,” said Mary Brocato, chairperson of the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee.

A magical nanny will fly into town this Saturday, March 2, at 7 p.m.

“Mary Poppins”’ (the original movie) will be featured at Movies in Many at the Sabine Theater [Many Community Center], and admission for everyone is completely free. It’s a magical, musical that the entire family will enjoy.

Sponsored by the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee, Many Mayor Ken Freeman and the Many City Council, the movie is part of a series of family-oriented entertainment offered on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

A second version of the movie, “Mary Poppins Returns,” which was released in 2018, will be shown this coming summer.

In the original version that will show this Saturday, a magical nanny in turn-of-the-century London employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.

“Mary Poppins” is a treat for the entire family to see as this ‘supercalifragilistic’ nanny soon puts things in order in the Banks family. The movie stars Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke as chimney sweep Bert.

When Jane and Michael, the children of the wealthy and uptight Banks family, are faced with the prospect of a new nanny, they are pleasantly surprised by the arrival of the magical Mary Poppins. Embarking on a series of fantastical adventures with Mary and her Cockney performer friend, the chimney sweep Bert, the siblings try to pass on some of their nanny’s sunny attitude.

The movie combines songs, color and sequences of live action blended with the movements of animated figures. Mary Poppins is a kind of Super-nanny who flies in with her umbrella in response to the request of the Banks children and proceeds to put things right with the aid of her rather extraordinary magical powers.

Seeing this movie at home on your TV is one experience, but Many Mayor Ken Freeman believes there is nothing like going into a darkened movie theater and watching this movie on the giant 32-foot screen installed at the Many Community Center.

“The smell of freshly popped popcorn, the enjoyment of a cold soft drink and hot popcorn while watching a great movie like ‘Mary Poppins’ – there’s nothing at home to compare to that,” Freeman said.

Movies in Many are always free to everyone, as part of an ambitious program by the Town of Many and the Cultural District to provide entertainment and activities so that area residents and families can save money, stay home and enjoy free movies and affordable professional music shows each month at the Many Community Center.

We are happy to report Double D’s Burgers & More in Zwolle is quickly becoming a popular favorite for the best burger around.

Their hours have changed since first opening. They are now open Tuesday thru Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and closed on Sunday and Monday. You can stop by their location at 2445 Obrie St. in Zwolle, or call ahead for pick-up at (318) 645-8033.

Last Tuesday, Feb. 19, the Vultures men’s lunch group who meets at Pete Abington’s office was treated to the drive-in’s burgers, homemade onion rings and fries. Different ones commented on how much they enjoyed the lunch.

It should be noted the original name of Pete’s group was The Fat Boys Club. They initially planned to meet every other Tuesday to weigh in, eat a healthy lunch and encourage each other to lose weight. It was soon discovered everybody enjoyed eating more than attempting to lose weight, so the Vultures group was born, and they’ve been eating ever since.

Attending Tuesday’s meet and eat were Pete Abington, Sheriff Ronny Richardson, Donnie Wooley, Bill Adams, Travis Bennett, John Curtis, James Cook, Lewis McBryde, Don Cooper, Alan Williams, Wayne Martinez, Mayor Ken Freeman and yours truly.

That is all for this last Wednesday in February. We appreciate your loyal readership. Please call or write with your thoughts and suggestions for future articles. Call me at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. I love to hear from you any time. To see older Observations, please visit our Facebook page. They are listed under Photos, and dated under Albums. For more recent columns, see below. To print this week’s column, please right-click on the content and select “Print.”

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