Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Hancock Whitney Bank has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase MidSouth Bank, which operates branches in Many and Zwolle. MidSouth purchased Peoples State Bank of Many on December 28, 2012.
“We are pleased to have MidSouth join the Hancock Whitney franchise,” said John M. Hairston, President and CEO. “The merger fits perfectly with our stated strategies of adding scale and enhancing value through in-market, financially accretive; low-risk transactions that strengthen our current franchise and provide opportunities for future growth.”
Under the terms of the agreement, each share of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. common stock will convert to the right to receive 0.2952 shares of Hancock Whitney Corp common stock. Per the agreement, the conversion rate reflects a per share value of $12.75 per MidSouth common share.
The agreement will go into effect toward the end of the third quarter.
Previously, Peoples State Bank had branches in Florien, Pleasant Hill, Robeline and Natchitoches which MidSouth closed.
Sabine Parish Tax Assessor Cindy Manasco told Observations that she is undecided about whether or not she will seek re-election. Last year, she was deeply considering retirement, adding, “In fact I would have almost promised I would be retiring.”
She pointed out her life drastically changed with the sudden, untimely death of her beloved husband Butch Manasco.
Mrs. Manasco contined, “I am still trying to find my new normal. I have not made an announcement just yet because I don’t want to be a liar. I am still considering retirement for me and I’m trying to weigh all the pros and cons while I’m still adjusting. I will make a decision soon.”
Assessor Manasco’s deputy Carl Chance has been campaigning for awhile now. Suppose he will hold back until Mrs. Manasco decides what she will do.
Conrad Cathey, who served many years as Sabine Tax Assessor – well, he is out beating the bushes.
The Louisiana Tax Commission has required the Sabine Assessor’s Office to re-assess real estate property. This includes all land and buildings in the parish. The Commission is the agency appointed by the governor that oversees all assessors in the state. The request was made due to studies showing the present Sabine Parish values do not meet accepted standards, which are based on sales in the parish.
At the request of Observations, Sabine Assessor Manasco issued the following statement about what her office is doing:
“As you know the Louisiana Tax Commission has mandated that we assess all real estate property in the parish. This has been a very strategic series of actions that’s starting to wind down.
“This has required extra personnel both inside and outside of this office. First, we had to have trained persons in the field gathering factual information (such as measurements or other factors) to be applied in digital form. Factors that may affect values include changes in market conditions, or additions/renovations to a structure. etc. Next we have extra personnel entering this data into our Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system. We implemented this CAMA software in 2015 and began evolving that process very carefully not to exceed what was necessary until we had more current information from the field inspections. We are using mass appraisal techniques as opposed to fee simple appraisal (bank appraisal), which estimates only one property. I might add that we are using the latest mass appraisal and statistical software available to us in developing valuation models which are based upon recent sales. By using valuation models, we will have un-biased uniform assessments. Shortly after administering this software we readily made it, along with our records, available online free of charge for public use and will continue to do so.
“In doing our re-assessment, those properties that were most out of ratio saw the first attention. Also, properties in the same market area or general location to the most out of ratio properties were re-assessed to complete the geographical area.
“We have also focused on areas that may have received complaints of inequity from property owners.
“Our re-assessment values for this year have to be completed in June, and we’ll begin analyzing the final results. Property owners will be sent a notice of value for inspection and a review period if they disagree with their assessment. After values are finalized you may also review your assessment on our website at sabineassessor.com. Or, if you have any questions you may call our [Sabine Assessors] office anytime between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.”
The Sabine Parish Assessors office number is (318) 256-3482.
Sales tax collections in Sabine Parish are up $1,012,785.27 in April over March. The total collected in April was $2,604,471.55.
The School Board received $995,020.58, which is $388,315.08 more than was collected in March.
The Police Jury received $496,897.42 for April, which is $193,544.62 over March.
And the Town of Many collected $82,677.31 more during April, with that figure being $183,153.84.
This information is according to a report from Nolan Rivers, head man over at the Sales and Use Tax Commission.
The annual meeting of the Marthaville Cemetery Committee will be held June 1 at the Cemetery. Several items of business are on the agenda, and the meeting starts at 10 a.m.
The cemetery business has been in turmoil since the Committee kicked James “Rocky” Gandy off as president, and he refuses to leave. The Committee is presently suing him for return of the Cemetery’s records.
Hats off to our Public Service Commissioner Foster Campell for trying to do something about the flood of unwanted “robo-calls” we are now getting. He has asked telephone companies what they are doing to help customers deal with this seemingly endless nuisance.
“We have a strong ‘Do Not Call’ law in Louisiana that has been on the books for 20 years,” Foster said. “It prevents law-abiding companies from calling people who don’t want sales calls at home.”
“The new generation of robo-callers is breaking the law by using internet technology to avoid detection,” he continued. “I hear complaints from constituents who are called at home and on their mobile phones. We need help from the telephone industry to defeat these outlaws.”
“We want to hear what the providers are doing to block these calls,” he said. “If we work together with industry, we can stop this harassment.”
Good job, Foster. Please march forward.
I sincerely hope you have had a chance to see a wonderful tribute given to me around and about Bayou Crawfish Restaurant on San Antonio Ave. I must say I am absolutely flattered by the artwork someone posted at both entrances to the downtown Many establishment and over at the Sabine Theater. I don’t know who did it, but do want to say, “Thanks so much! I appreciate your efforts.”
The colorful and fun layout took someone more time than it should have to design, and I must first compliment its designer on choosing a wonderful hat. Seeing that beanie took me right back to my days at Northwestern State University when all freshmen were required to wear something similar. Boy, those were the days! And my wife dearly loves a bowtie, so she was thrilled to finally see me in one.
A quote at the bottom of the poster borrowed from philosopher Denis Diderot mentions what an honor it is to play the role of jester. Always thought the word “jester” had a good meaning, but I did look it up to be sure.
Here is the definition: “The jester is symbolic of common sense and of honesty. The court jester is a character used for insight and advice on the part of the government, taking advantage of his license to mock and speak freely to dispense frank observations and highlight the folly of government.”
Have mercy. What a compliment! Not sure I deserve such praise, but I’ll take it. Thanks again!
The Town of Many Council has authorized that all water bills, current and past due, are to be paid by the 15th of each month. Any past due bill not paid by the 15th will have service disconnected the following business day. “No exceptions,” they say.
The new policy goes into effect July 15.
The condition of Hwy. 6 between Many and Natchitoches is getting worse and worse. There are cracks and potholes developing very rapidly in both lanes, especially in the right lane when you’re driving east. Throwing a little hot mix in them is not working.
Family Dollar Store in Many has announced it is closing. A sale is going on now. On a positive note, Burger King got a fine facelift. Looks nice and inviting.
History will be made at the Many Community Center on Saturday, May 11, at 7 p.m. thanks to “Music in Many,” Many Mayor Ken Freeman, the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee and the Many City Council.
Choupique will be the first Cajun French band to ever play their joyful music in Many, and admission to the concert will be absolutely free to everyone.
The Louisiana-based Choupique Cajun Band has been playing together over 19 years. They have recorded three CDs and multiple singles. Choupique has played festivals throughout Louisiana and events all over the U.S. In 2018, they toured New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, playing Acadian festivals, pubs, and Sainte-Anne University.
Choupique will have folks attending the concert dancing the Fais-do-do in the aisles of the historic Community Center.
Band members include: Jesse Brown (Cajun 10-button accordion, Zydeco triple row accordion, fiddle from Eunice, LA); Bill Grass (Louisiana State Fiddle Champion in years past from Plaquemine, LA); Kent Lavigne (electric bass from Gonzales, LA); Warren Thomassie (drums from Gonzales, LA); and Anglyn Brown (acoustic guitar from Baton Rouge, LA).
They play traditional Cajun music, Creole Zydeco, and Louisiana Folk tunes. They cover songs from legends Dewey Balfa, Dennis McGee, Hadley Castille, Bruce Daigrepont, and many others. They have also written several originals. This is a five-piece band with a lot of energy!
Albums include: Choupique – Pass a Good Time (2015); Choupique – Catch and Release (2009); and Choupique – Moi, Je Connais Pas (2001).
The Choupique concert will be free to everyone thanks to a generous grant from the Shreveport Regional Art Council.
Many Mayor Ken Freeman commented on how fortunate Many is to have this south Louisiana Cajun Band drive all the way up to Many to play at the Community Center.
“It’s a unique opportunity for our music lovers in Many and Sabine Parish to hear and enjoy a nationally-recognized Cajun band that has represented Louisiana so well [in] so many concerts throughout the U.S. and even Canada,” said Freeman.
Chairperson of the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee Mary Brocato said she first heard Choupique last year at the Louisiana Folklife Festival.
“I just fell in love with this band, and thanks to our SRAC grant, we are able to bring Choupique to Music in Many for everyone to enjoy. I am so excited to hear Choupique again and in our very own Many Community Center,” she said.
“Remember that admission to hear Choupique on May 11 is absolutely free to everyone,” Brocato reminded. “We want all our good folks to come out and show this South Louisiana band that we North Louisianans know how to ‘pass a good time too.’ “
That is all for you good folks this second Wednesday in May. I love to hear your ideas for future articles, so call me at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. Recently archived Observations are catalogued on the following pages, and older ones are archived on our Facebook page where they are displayed in Photos and listed by date under Albums. To print, save or send this week’s column, click on the appropriate icon below.
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