Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Many Mayor Ken Freeman has some story to tell. It was Thursday night of last week, and he and wife Mary Ellen were driving back from a fund raiser for Senate candidate Louie Bernard in Natchitoches. On the way home, they were almost to Robeline when the phone rang. It was friend Tammy Bell calling for Mary Ellen.  She said her husband Greg had been stopped for speeding and was about to be booked and put in jail.

Ms. Bell was very upset, so Mary Ellen said, “I will let you speak to the Mayor.” Bell related that her husband was stopped by a Many Police officer for speeding 45 in a 30 zone. “Was he drunk?” the Mayor asked. The reply was, “No.” 

“Then why are they arresting him?” the Mayor asked. “Because he wouldn’t sign the traffic ticket,” was the reply. Seems he was at first told he was doing 45, then when the ticket was written it stated 40, so Bell would not sign it because of the discrepancy.  The Mayor immediately knew the arrest for not signing a ticket would qualify as false arrest.

The Mayor told Ms. Bell he would be there shortly. Well, when the Freemans were almost to the Catholic Church in Many, Ms. Bell called again and said they were at the Detention Center and that her husband was being booked. The Mayor started driving faster, hoping to get to the Detention Center in time to prevent the booking.

Now, here’s where the story starts to pick up:  When the Mayor turned from Fisher Rd. onto the street by Diamond Electric, he looked in his rearview mirror and saw blue lights. Thinking the officer would check his license plate number and realize who it was, and also wanting to get to the Detention Center as quickly as possible to prevent the booking underway, the Mayor kept driving. As he entered the housing project, the siren came on. Cars were parked on the sides of the road in the housing project, so the Mayor kept going.

Mayor Freeman and wife pulled up to the front door of the Detention Center and the Mayor got out. Telling his story, the Mayor said, “The young man had a gun on me and says, ‘Halt.’ I told him, ‘Seriously! Put that damn thing away.’ I was dressed in a suit and my wife was dressed up. Did we really look like criminals? The other officer was screaming about why didn’t I stop.”

Continuing, he said, “I told the officers I was trying to get [to the Detention Center] in order to stop the booking. Greg was given a ticket, which I nolle prosed. It was put on the radio and the Bells are very upset. They want to sue. I hope we can work it out.”

Ending his story, the Mayor said, “When I got back in the car, Mary Ellen said, ‘Clyde, where are we going now?’ I said, ‘What?’ and she replied, ‘We’re Bonnie and Clyde.’ And now she’s started calling me Clyde.”

According to the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department arrest report for May 17:  “James Gregory Bell, White male, 59, arrested on charges of speeding by Many Police Department. He bonded.”

Editor’s note: Nolle prose – “Nolle prosequi” – is a Latin phrase meaning “will no longer prosecute” or a variation on the same.

We understand that at the Sabine Police Jury meeting last week, the wife of one of the Jurors spoke about “all the negative” stuff about the Jury that is broadcast on the radio, without calling any names. We’re told she suggested the Jury buy ads in the Index newspaper to tell the positive side of their story.

Radio personality Tedd W. Dumas has invited any member of the Sabine Police Jury to be on his popular “Open Line” show and discuss the positive points of three specific issues.

The three issues on which the invitation is based are:

1.  Tell the positive side of the tremendous amount the Jury pays for health insurance for Jurors who only work part time.
2. Tell the positive side of the recent 50 per cent pay raise the Jurors passed for themselves.
3. Tell the positive side of making it hard for Harvey’s Auto Parts, Inc. of Leesville to open a recycling plant on the Shuteye Rd. in Many.

As Observations was being put to bed this week, there were no takers. We bet there is not a one of the Jurors who will come forward with a positive response. And the election is only months away.

Chief of Detectives Bradley Marr, center, was named Deputy of the Quarter by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Ronnie Richardson, center, said, “Bradley is an experienced investigator and goes above and beyond in providing guidance to our other detectives and servicing our community needs. He has just recently been tasked with coordinating the active shooter drills in each of our schools.” At right is Chief Deputy John Adair.

It all started when Donnie Wooley and Mayor Ken Freeman took a cultural tour of Progreso, Mexico on a recent cruise the two made with their wives and several couples from Many. During their tour, the men dined at a restaurant featuring traditional Mexican food that they found quite different from what we normally call “Mexican” in the U.S. They liked it so much they obtained the recipes, in Spanish no less, translated them into English, and cooked a wonderful replication of the meal for the folks who were with them on the cruise.

The authentic feast was served Saturday night at the home of Mayor Freeman and his wife Mary Ellen. Donnie and Ken prepared a great dinner including a delicious corn-based soup, a cool shrimp aspic, and a skirt steak entrée made with traditional sauce and sides. Essential to their culinary success were their wives Mary Ellen Freeman and Cheryl Wooley, who made sure special ingredients were obtained and who helped out however needed.

All the cruise crowd was able to attend with the exception of Kellie Hataway. Everything was absolutely delicious and those attending enjoyed it very much. Thanks again to Donnie and Cheryl, and Ken and Mary Ellen.

We laid the cremated remains of Robert Lewis “Tex” McKnight to rest Saturday afternoon in the Florien Cemetery. His friend Sid Lucius provided a spot in the Lucius family plot for the burial. Tex was one of a kind and had been a friend of mine for many years, he and his wife Carolyn having also worked for me. Tex was a citizen of the South, a real patriot and a craftsman who could build just about anything. He was remembered Saturday as a man of great intelligence. The Rev. Rickey Robinson, chaplain for the Sons of Confederate Veterans did an outstanding job of eulogizing Tex as he conducted the service. At the end of the graveside service, son Mike McKnight, left, and wife Carolyn, second from left, were presented a certificate from the Sons of Confederate Veterans, an organization that Tex loved very much. The Rev. Robinson is shown second from right. At right is a representative from the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Sabine Rifles Association. RIP, my friend. You will remain in our memories forever.

I ran into this lady and her dog last week as she rested along Hwy. 171, a couple of miles north of Many. She was traveling, but I couldn’t get much information from her. She did say she was walking from somewhere down around Lake Charles to some place in Missouri. That’s a long walk and we wished her well.

It is interesting and commendable to see folks who want to be public servants. So many times folks run for public office, not for the common good, but for their personal good.

It is wonderful to see notable exceptions serving right here in our home communities.

Take Fisher Mayor Susan Slay as an example. She is now serving her fifth term and she does not take a cent of pay from the Village of Fisher for doing the job. She is a public servant whose main interest is the promotion and betterment of the village she serves. Her late husband Bucky Slay served one term as Mayor.

Mayor Slay is now working to obtain funds to repair the damage done to public buildings during the recent tornado that hit the village. We bet she’ll get it done.

Another true public servant is Carol Pattison, wife of former Sheriff Guffey Lynn Pattison, who is a member of the town council of Pleasant Hill. She is required by law to take her paycheck, but because she wishes to not take pay, upon receipt she immediately gives it to a charity. She works hard for the progress and improvement of Pleasant Hill and does it all without thinking of being paid for doing a great job.

And speaking of Mrs. Pattison, I ran into her a couple of weeks ago and we made a spur-of-the-moment $1 bet. It turned out I won the bet, but she didn’t have any money with her. She said she would pay me later. I told her that winning was good enough for me, that I didn’t want the money and I promptly forgot about it.

A few days later here comes a note in the mail. It was from Carol. She sent a $2 bill, saying she always pays her debts, plus interest. What a gal!

Stuart Wright, left, is a candidate for Natchitoches Parish Sheriff.  He and outgoing Sheriff Victor Jones, right, were guests on Tedd Dumas’ (shown center) popular “Open Line” program last week. Sheriff Jones is retiring after serving five successful terms. He has worked in the Sheriff’s office for 43 years. In announcing his retirement, Sheriff Jones endorsed Wright to take his place. Wright has 35 years’ experience in both the Natchitoches Parish District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office.

Left, Fuzzy and Shirley Hennigan of Marthaville are shown visiting with Louie Bernard, candidate for the State Senate, at a fund raiser last Thursday night. The Hennigans are very instrumental in producing the Marthaville Good Ole Days coming up Sept. 20-21. This year is their 27th annual event.

Right, Rivers Murphy of Natchitoches is pictured with long-time friend Louie Bernard.  Murphy is retired after teaching art many years at Northwestern State University, including serving as head of the Art Department.

There was a large, enthusiastic crowd gathered for the Louie Bernard fund raiser last Thursday night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Van Eversull near Natchitoches.  Bernard, former Clerk of Court in Natchitoches Parish for many years, is running for the State Senate.

Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court David Stamey served as master of ceremonies for the event. State Sen. Gerald Long, who has endorsed Bernard, also spoke. A surprise on the program was Ms. Polly Eversull, who taught Bernard in the first grade.

Among those from Sabine Parish who attended were Sabine Parish District Attorney and Mrs. Don Burkett, Attorney Chuck Soileau, Pete Abington, Mandy Cathey, Anna Garcie Cash, Clerk of Court Tammy Foster and her husband Dennis, Many Mayor and Mrs. Kenneth Freeman, and Mr. and Mrs. Observations.

It was great to see the Town of Many paint fresh center line stripes in the sharp curve where Trace St. becomes Andries St. near Many Cemetery. Lots of people drive fast in the middle of the road on this 90-degree curve. Hopefully the bright yellow stripes will help. It would also be nice to see signs saying “Slow Down, Sharp Curve” on the approach to each end of the curve.

Shortly before the new stripes were added, my wife almost got hit head-on by a truck speeding around the curve, whose driver took his half of the street out of the middle. As he almost hit her, she whipped her car toward the ditch, and the driver jerked his steering wheel at the last possible moment. Could have easily ended in tragedy.

Two Sabine Parish natives have established the Julia Hildebrand Education Endowed Scholarship for education majors at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.  Ms. Hildebrand is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Chambers of Fisher and is a sister to Fisher Mayor Susan Slay. Her husband is Tynes Hildebrand, son of the late Hez and Isabella Hilderand

Ms. Hildebrand is an educator whose career spanned several decades and included work on the state and local level. Her desire is to support aspiring teachers who have a passion for children. For years, Tynes was basketball coach at NSU.

Robert B. Caldwell of Many has completed his Ph.D with a 4.0 in coursework from the University of Texas at Arlington. He received his MA at Northwestern in 2011 in the study of Heritage Resources.

Caldwell recently completed the doctorate in transatlantic history with comprehensive field of migration history, revolutions, cartographic history and the history of exploration and discovery. His research involves history of cartography, ethnohistory, foodways, colonialism and imperialism and Native American and indigenous studies.

The annual meeting of Marthaville Cemetery Inc. will be held Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m. at the cemetery. A number of important items are on the agenda.

Last Oct. 20, folks who have loved ones buried there gathered for a meeting. The group was not satisfied with the job James “Rocky” Gandy had done as president and voted him out. But, he refused to give the cemetery records to the new officers. They are in the process of having to file suit against Gandy and his mother Glendyl to obtain the records. The matter is set for trial on June 27 in District Court in Natchitoches. Many Attorney Chris Sylvia represents the Cemetery board.

Pete and Ellen Abington of Many attended the tenth annual Best in Sheaux in Shreveport, benefitting Robinson’s Rescue. The event took a creative turn with their theme “Art of the Dog.” The sold-out event was held at the sophisticated Marlene Yu Museum.

Memorial Day weekend will be special in Many as the first “God Bless America” concert will be presented at the Many Community Center [Sabine Theater] on Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m.

Willie Stewart Family & Friends will perform the first-ever patriotic concert for Music in Many on Memorial Day weekend. The concert is free to everyone because of a generous grant from the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.

 Country, Gospel, Old-Time Folk and Bluegrass songs will be featured. All the songs will be in the patriotic vein.

Veterans attending the concert will be recognized in a short ceremony. 

Family patriarch Willie Stewart of Florien will be joined onstage by son Bo, grandson Kelly, Kelly’s wife Clancey, Willie’s fiancée Debbie Hillman, Steve and Mark Birdwell of Marthaville and Laurie Gentry of Many.

The group will present a full concert of toe-tappers, hand-clappers and ballads with fiddle, mandolin, guitar, upright bass, cajon drum box, spoons and more. Someone may even prevail on Clancey to do a little clogging with her fiddle.

Clancey Stewart is the reigning Louisiana State Fiddle Champion. A new mother, Clancey also works with Sabine Parish Schools to teach music to parish students, including instrumental and vocal instruction.           

Willie Stewart, Debbie, and all the Stewarts are known far and wide for their musical talent and heartfelt vocals – all of which will be on display to the fullest for this special patriotic concert to honor America and remember the veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice to defend her. 

The Birdwells come from a longtime musical background – including the famous Birdwell Quartet, who performed on live radio years ago. Several Birdwell entertainment troupes have since followed, and Steve and son Mark hold up the beloved Birdwell musical tradition in fine style.

Laurie Gentry performed for over 20 years with her family playing Folk and Gospel music from coast to coast, including headline performances with her dad at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the State Fair of Texas, Six Flags Over Texas, Silver Dollar City in Branson, as well as at numerous colleges, universities, radio and TV broadcasts and various other venues.

The “God Bless America” concert is sponsored by Many Mayor Ken Freeman, the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee, the Town of Many City Council.

“We are pleased to present this first patriotic concert on Memorial Day weekend, and we hope that everyone will come out to celebrate our great country and honor our Sabine Parish veterans who’ve served the country so well,”  said Mayor Freeman. 

Don’t miss the “God Bless America” special Memorial Day weekend concert. It’s sure to be a good one!

That’s a wrap for now. Please call or write with your ideas for future articles. Call me at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. To save, send or print this week’s Observations, click on the appropriate icon below. Recently archived columns may be found on the following pages. Older columns are archived on our Facebook page, where they are listed under Photos and Albums by date.

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