Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Gov. John Bel Edwards declared June 30 as Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) Awareness Day in Louisiana. His proclamation describes AMC as a condition that develops prenatally and causes many joints to be stiff and crooked at birth. AMC is an umbrella diagnosis meaning it is part of many other conditions and syndromes with over 400 different types.
A newborn has to have three contracted joints in two different areas of the body to be diagnosed with Arthrogryposis and this occurs in one in 3,000 births. A newborn with Arthrogryposis lacks the normal range of motion in one or more joints. It is not curable, but treatment goals aim to allow those living with the condition as much independence in their daily lives as possible.
There is a little girl in Florien, Paisley Grace Langton, who was born with the condition On Nov. 24, 2014. Her parents are Blake and Crystal Langton. She is truly an inspiration to all who know her. She is the granddaughter of Registrar of Voters Kristi McCormick, Wade Langton, and Randall and Sharon Sepulvado.
At birth Paisley was 100 per cent confirmed to have AMC. To add to the matter, she was born two months premature, so she had to stay in the hospital for more than a month. At the age of eight weeks, she was fitted with casts on her legs. Paisley progressed to braces with metal bars, which she wore for two years. Now she wears Ponseti Braces, which help keep her feet in the correct position. She used a walker, but after watching “The Incredibles,” she decided walking without a walker was her “super power” and she hasn’t used it since.
Her family has worked very hard to see that Paisley leads a normal life.
Ms. McCormick stated, “The world sees Pais as handicapped. We don’t. She doesn’t.”
Little Paisley has taken dance for the past two years and she completed Pre-K at Many Elementary. In addition, she holds two queen titles: “Sabine Parish Cure on the Bend” and “Sabine Parish Free State Festival.”
A big thanks to Kristy Sandel Knippers for supplying information used in this article.
Recently Greg and Lou Young of Many drove to Shreveport. When they got there, they stopped at a store and someone told them that was something strange wrapped around the axel of their vehicle. It turned out to be a rattlesnake. A person attempted to get it off with a broom handle and the rattler crawled up to the motor. After a time, they got the rattler out onto the ground and it was about four feet. Lou is a long-time employee of Bruce Gandy’s Vandegaer Insurance Agency.
Steve and Phyllis Birdwell of Marthaville were visiting with Laurie and me recently, and we shared with them that grandson Jayden Gentry of South Carolina had visited recently and caught a terrapin, which he left in the backyard. This brought up the subject of terrapins.
We talked about how folks used to carve their initials and the date on terrapin shells and turn them loose. Steve recalled that Lester Durr from the Beulah community found a terrapin when he was an old man that he had carved his initials and date on when he was just a boy, some 70 years before.
Then a strange thing happened. The very next day, Phyllis found a terrapin outside their home that she had carved her initials and the date on almost 29 years ago. It was 9/27/90, eleven days before the birth of their daughter Dana.
Greg Bell has notified the Town of Many that he intends to file suit, the result of the illegal search of his vehicle earlier this year. He claims he suffered embarrassment and mental anguish over the incident.
In a letter to the Town, Attorney Ronald J. Miciotto of Shreveport asked the Town to provide him the name of its insurance carrier.
In closing, Miciotto wrote: “In the alternative my client will entertain a settlement of $25,000.”
The Many Complaint Board met June 5, 2019 to take action on the matter.
Their report concluded: “The accusation on improper or illegal search of the vehicle, after reviewing the body cam, it was very clear that the citizen was cooperative, did not use foul language, put his hands behind his back, was handcuffed and placed in the police vehicle. The wife, Tammy Bell, got the keys from her husband and took possession of their vehicle. The officer, after placing Mr. Bell in the back of the patrol car, came back and asked for the driver’s license in which Mrs. Bell said, ‘You don’t need those driver’s license.’ The officer once again asked for her husband’s driver’s license because he needed them for booking purposes. Mrs. Bell responded, ‘You have all the information on the traffic ticket off his license and you don’t need them.’
“The traffic cam showed she turned and walked to the patrol car where her husband was handcuffed and the officer said he was getting the license out of the vehicle and Mrs. Bell said, ‘No, you’re not.’ After she said that, the officer went into the pickup truck, retrieved the license and went back to the patrol car. It was determined by the city that this was an improver search. It was recommended to the Chief to take disciplinary action.”
Signing the Committee report were Mayor Ken Freeman, Chief of Police Roger Freeman and Councilwomen Bobbie Jackson and Anita Darwin.
We get messages:
Henry Ebarb: “Thankful for real news to keep the public informed.”
Derek Campbell said he will not run for Police Jury, saying, “I would have to use Bruce Taylor’s words, ‘I wouldn’t lower myself.’ I’m just tired of how things are run. There is so much waste.”
Qualifying to Run for Public Office is Aug. 6-8
Qualifying to run for public office starts Aug. 6 and continues through Aug. 8, only three days. Candidates for parish offices will qualify in the Clerk of Court’s Office, which is open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The election will be held Oct. 12, with the second primary on Nov. 16.
Rep. Frankie Howard, who is running for Sabine Parish Sheriff, will have a big fund raiser Thursday night, Aug. 1, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Festival Grounds in Zwolle. Tickets are still on sale for $25 each.
There will be plenty of fried fish, entertainment and the candidate will speak.
Last week in Observations we carried an article about re-assessment. We described how the system works and how governing authorities could “roll the assessment forward” in order to get more money without taxpayer approval.
This week we are reporting on three entities that are having hearings to roll the millage forward.
The School Board will hold a hearing during its regular meeting on Sept. 9 at 5:45 p.m. to consider levying additional or increased millage without further voter approval or adopting the adjusted millage rates after reassessment and rolling forward to rates not to exceed the prior year’s maximum. The estimated amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next year from the increased millage is $4,980,666 and the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase if $958,831. A breakdown by districts follows:
Sabine Fire District 1 (Wards 3 and 4) will have a hearing at the Center Station Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. to consider rolling the millage forward. The estimated amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next year from the increase is $370,000 and the amount of increase is $90,000.
The Village of Fisher will hold a hearing Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The Village’s legal notice did not include the amount of increase.
Last week we reported:
Police Jury: Hearing set for Sept. 4 at 9 a.m. in the Jury Meeting Room. The amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase as a result of “rolling forward” is estimated at $1,047,478.54.
Sheriff’s Department: Hearing Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. at Sheriff’s Office Room 105. The estimated amount of taxes from the increased millage is $3,005,556, representing an increase of $562,573.
Village of Converse: Hearing Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. at City Hall. New assessment for general alimony is $8,865.70 and the increase amount is $292.30. The new assessment for street and drainage fund is $12,258, and the amount of increase is $404.18.
Village of Pleasant: Hearing set Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. at Town Hall. New millage for General Alimony is $11,422.49, with the increase being $1,736.48. The new figure for sewer and street maintenance is $12,309.07, with the increase being $1,871.25.
Radio Personality Tedd Dumas suggested on his popular “Open Line” radio program last week that if you do not like governmental officials raising your taxes without a vote, to cast your vote against them this fall.
Miss Ella Freeman, granddaughter of Mayor and Mrs. Ken Freeman recently competed in Austin, TX and took First Place in the U.S. for Individual Medley (IM) – a swimming event in which a swimmer utilizes a series of different swimming strokes in a set order. Congratulations to Ella, her parents, Peyton and Teresa Freeman, and grandparents Mayor Ken and Mary Ellen, on this great accomplishment!
It’s official. Brookshire Brothers is expanding its presence with the acquisition of a second location in Many.
In making the announcement, company Vice President of Retail Operations Luke Gustafson says, “We are very grateful and excited to have the opportunity to serve Many in a wider capacity. With the Market Basket acquisition, we inherit its greatest asset, amazing partners – some of whom have been with the store since it first opened in Many in 1982.”
Brookshire Brothers, based in Lufkin, TX, will keep its location at 223 S. Elizabeth Street in Many and its new store, formerly Market Basket, at 175 San Antonio Avenue. Brookshire Brothers expected the Market Basket purchase to be complete by today, July 31. The newly-acquired location will spend about two weeks in transition before opening as Brookshire Brothers in mid-August.
Brookshire Brothers promises to bring its signature hot deli and fresh offerings to the new location as well as certified meat cutters who will make specialty cuts for customers.
Brookshire Brothers boasts 5,500 employee owners and is a 100 per cent employee-owned, community-centered grocer founded in 1921. The regional grocery chain operates more than 115 locations from the Texas Hill Country to the west to Lake Charles, LA to the south and east. Their complimentary formats include fuel and tobacco operations.
The Sabine Parish School System was hit with ransomware early Sunday morning, July 21. The electronic virus disabled some of their technology systems as well as their central office phone system.
The cyber incident was reported to local law enforcement, state officials and the FBI, and it is still under investigation. The Louisiana Office of Technology Services, National Guard and Air National Guard are aiding in these efforts.
Phone systems at the schools were not affected, and the central office phone system has undergone repair.
School is scheduled to start for teachers on Wednesday, Aug. 7, and for students on Monday, Aug. 12.
Observations contacted Supt. Sara Ebarb Monday for an update on the matter, and she was able to confirm it was ransomware. In information received Tuesday afternoon from the School Board Offices, it was noted there is no evidence that student or staff information has been compromised.
Pink Sisters of Sabine is up and running! The new non-profit organization for breast cancer patients, survivors and their friends and family, held its first Board of Directors meeting on Monday evening. The group will soon host a gathering to share more about Pink Sisters’ goals for serving breast cancer patients. The short meet, greet and learn more event will be at First United Methodist Church of Many Fellowship Hall at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22.
“Pink Sisters of Sabine’s mission is to encourage and support women living with breast cancer,” said President Betsy Godfrey, “This group will provide a great opportunity for breast cancer patients and survivors to connect,” she explained.
Godfrey and my wife Laurie, both breast cancer survivors, came together earlier this year to create an organization to serve the needs of local “Pink Sisters,” a term used to describe women who have had or currently face breast cancer.
They, along with three other Board Directors – Ginger Jordan, Laurie Morrow and Nancy Spiller, all breast cancer survivors – are creating a database of area breast cancer patients and survivors. The growing list is a vital part of the organization’s vision to match newly-diagnosed patients who are facing an unfamiliar health journey with a breast cancer survivor mentor who will be available to listen, offer support, love and share personal experiences as the new patient undergoes treatment.
An online form to participate in Pink Sisters of Sabine is pinned to the top of the group’s new Facebook page. The organizers stress that membership is open to all. Having had breast cancer is not a requirement of participation.
An equally important outreach of Pink Sisters is their “Pink Gift Needs Bag.” Each large tote bag is supplied to a newly-diagnosed patient and filled with helpful items for use during treatment, including a seat belt pillow, neck pillow, light blanket, drink bottle, chemo cap, sanitizers and wipes, a journal and more.
“We are proud to announce this newly-formed organization in our parish to support breast cancer patients,” Godfrey said. “Please visit, like and share our Facebook page and please fill out the short ten-question survey you will see pinned to the top of the page,” she asked.
Interested persons may also copy and paste the link posted at the end of this article into their web browser to complete the online survey for membership.
Pink Sisters of Sabine will hold their first public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 22 at First United Methodist Church of Many Fellowship Hall at 6 p.m. All support is welcomed and participants do not need to have been diagnosed with breast cancer to attend. The church fellowship hall is at the rear parking lot located off of W. Louisiana Ave., one block south of the church’s 1000 Main St. address.
For more information, call Pres. Betsy Godfrey at (318) 471-5475 or Vice-Pres. Ginger Jordan at (318) 332-9914.
Pink Sisters of Sabine membership survey:
That’s a wrap for this last day of July. Please be in touch with your thoughts or ideas for future articles. Call me at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. To see recently archived Observations, follow the pages below. To see older ones, visit our Facebook page where columns are listed under Photo Albums by date. To save, send or print this week’s column, click on the appropriate icon below. Thanks for reading.
-30-
