Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Eighteen years ago today our nation was horrified to watch a terror attack unfold mid-morning during a work day at the Twin Towers in New York City, then grow to include the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and a remote field in Pennsylvania.
Three thousand died in that attack and more than 6,000 were injured. Another 2,100 have died since from attack-related health issues. It was a tragic day indeed.
Scripture tells us, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Out of that day’s terrible tragedy sprang amazing love through the heroic efforts of people in New York City and around the nation.
We still see it today through programs like “Tunnels to Towers,” which builds mortgage-free smart homes for catastrophically injured service members to honor the late Stephen Siller, an NYC firefighter who lost his life saving others. And there are so many other great service organizations which were started after 9-11.
We don’t forget the brave souls who were lost that day – ordinary citizens going about their daily activities and extraordinary rescuers who put the lives of thousands of others before their own.
I recently had eye surgery at WK Eye Institute in Shreveport. The surgeon was Dr. Ashley Wheat-Sipes, a native of Natchitoches. She is just a fine person and a very good eye doctor. I first met her about two years ago.
Prior to that, her mother and father took care of my eyes for many years. They both practiced in Natchitoches. Her father was Dr. Reginald D. Wheat Sr., who died in 1993. He was only 55.
His wife, Margaret continued to run Wheat Eye Clinic after his death. She later married Billy Carter, who passed away in 2018. They were married for 20 years. Margaret retired several years ago.
Both Reginald and Margaret would visit Central American countries during the summer months and provide free eye care to the folks who lived there. I was program chairman for the Many Lions Club at the time and would often have them over to speak about their adventures in providing free eye care for the needy.
Dr. Sipes is one of the nicest persons I have ever met in addition to being a first-class doctor.
It was a great Political Rally at Marthaville last Thursday evening! Lots of candidates turned out to meet and greet, and several folks from Natchitoches and Sabine Parishes came to hear them speak.
Each candidate was allowed a couple of minutes to introduce themselves, and then event organizer Fuzzy Hennigan posed a couple of questions to candidates for each office, with each candidate answering the same questions selected for their respective office. The questions were chosen from citizens’ concerns by the committee in charge of the event – Hennigan, Pat Hall, Donna Dyson Horn, and Amy Birdwell Vercher.
Candidate for Secretary of State Gwen Collins-Greenup spoke, and then headed out to attend another area event. Candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Charlie Greer also spoke, bearing down on what he describes as a desperate need for new leadership and common sense organization in that department.
All the candidates for State Senator, Dist. 31 appeared as well as all the candidates for State Representative Dist. 24.
Senatorial candidates were Louie Bernard, Douglas Brown and Trey Flynn.
Candidates for Representative that took the podium were Willie Banks, Dr. Greg Lord and Rodney Schamerhorn.
Heavy on Hennigan’s mind was the terrible condition of local roads, and he questioned candidates for Representative forcefully, asking them to make a promise to try to get something done about district roads.
Banks said, “I’m not going to make a promise, but I will try to help make a difference.”
Dr. Lord stated, “We have to make sure gas taxes are allocated to build roads and bridges, and we have to send somebody (to Baton Rouge) who has the knowledge, grace and intelligence to get it done.”
“I know dirt,” said Schamerhorn. “We have to start from the ground up.”
Two candidates for Sabine Parish Sheriff spoke: Chris Abrahams and Frankie Howard. All three candidates for Natchitoches Parish Sheriff attended: Steve Pezant, Steve Rachal and Stuart Wright.
Four out of six candidates for Sabine Assessor appeared. They were Ronny Bison, Carl Chance, Carroll Ellzey and Donnie Wooley.
Though she did not speak, Many Alderman at Large Mary Key Brocato, who is seeking election, attended, took photos and visited with the crowd.
Incumbent candidate Sabine Parish Police Juror Randy Byrd also spoke and took questions.
In addition, candidates for Natchitoches Parish Council President scheduled on the program were Precious Barber, Jerry Longlois, John Richmond, Carl Sias, Lee Waskom and Nicholas Ryan Wright.
Candidates for Natchitoches Parish Council Dist. 4, Rodney Bedgood, Marty Cheatwood and Justin Lester, attended and spoke. Candidates for Dist. 5, Larry Paige, Russell Rachal and John Salter all appeared and addressed the crowd as well.
Fuzzy Hennigan ran the show. Natchitoches Clerk of Court David Stamey served as Moderator for the Natchitoches Parish candidates, and Yours Truly and my wife Laurie moderated during the Sabine Parish portion.
Some delicious cakes and sweets were also auctioned off to raise funds to help replace the roof on the Marthaville Heritage Society building.
The Sabine Parish Police Jury will meet Thursday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. to receive protests and hearing complaints on values of property for assessment purposes as fixed by the Sabine Tax Assessor. Persons wishing to protest must file their written appeal and supporting documents with the Secretary of the Police Jury at least seven days prior to the meeting.
Wife Trina found former Gov. Edwin W. Edwards unresponsive in their Gonzales home Tuesday, Sept. 3, and he was taken to a Baton Rouge hospital by ambulance.
He told Observations that he got food poisoning and that caused a drop in his blood sugar. He was also dehydrated.
He responded well to treatment and was released the next day. He said, “I’m feeling fine. I’m okay. I appreciate all the calls and good wishes.”
Trina, of course, was very concerned when she found him. But after things got back to normal, she said she had to stop and laugh at some of the one-liners he managed to spit out.
She said, “I guess I can tell my favorite now that he’s back to normal. Once we got to the hospital he was having some hallucinations caused from the dehydration and low blood sugar. He was seeing crawfish, cows and dogs. He said there was a room full of strangers and women were in his face trying to kiss him. He looked at the doctor and said, ‘I understand if you can’t make them go away, but can you at least make them a little better looking?’”
He says he’s going to live to be at least 104 and I believe he will. He turned 92 last Aug. 7.
Jonathan Y. Enriquez, 26, of Anacoco was taken back into custody in Bossier City last week after escaping from the Sabine Parish Detention Center on Aug. 21. It was reported that he squeezed through a locked gate.
He was arrested in Bossier after he allegedly took items from a Walmart without paying.
Enriquez now faces charges of theft and simple battery. He was brought back to Sabine Parish where he was arrested on escape charges. He also faces loss of good time credits through the Department of Corrections. It was a bad mistake he made by escaping, as he was scheduled to be released in October.
Sales Tax collections in Sabine Parish were up by $515,517.31 in August over a year ago, according to a report issued by Tax Collector Nolan Rivers. Collections topped out at $2,210,006.54.
The School Board collected $211,362.75 more over last year and the Police Jury $105,533.98.
Other increases were:
Town of Many – $17,921.80
Sheriff’s Office – $78,861.30
District Attorney – $13,208.34
Council on Aging – $26,280.83
School Dist. 34 – $12,966.63
School Dist. 2 – $39,615.96.
Town of Zwolle – $7,206.36
Sheriff’s candidate Frankie Howard said he was told this at the Marthaville political forum last week: “I’m going to vote for you. I know you’re a fighter because you dang sure can’t run.”
Frankie also said that when he first ran for Sheriff of Vernon Parish, older folks said he was too young. He continued, “Now, guess what the young folks are saying about me?”
Ms. Renee Longoria is very upset that her 21-year-old mentally challenged son was reportedly raped in the Sabine Parish Detention Center. According to her, Calvin Jake Longoria was raped by two other inmates about three weeks ago.
Mrs. Longoria did not find out about it until recently when a released prisoner told her about it. She said she knew something had happened when her son “…kept crying and wanting to get out of jail. He would not tell me about it because he was scared and embarrassed. I did not know what was wrong with him and kept telling him to ‘Keep the faith.’”
Calvin was arrested May 30 for parole violation. He had earlier been arrested for possession of schedule II drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Mrs. Longoria said, “They let this happen and it’s killing me. I talked to the jailer Joe Dewell and told them my son was not all there. I asked them to keep him safe and he told me they would. He told me everything would be okay. He said they had cameras to watch the prisoners. This has been devastating to me.”
She continued, “No one from the Sheriff’s Department called to tell me about it. I would not have known about it had the prisoner not been released. I talked to Mr. Dewell, and he gave me the run around.”
Mrs. Longoria said she talked to Sheriff Ronny Richardson about the matter Monday. She stated, “He apologized to me and said they had shipped the two prisoners off after the incident. He didn’t seem to know what to do about the matter.”
Continuing, she said, “He told me warrants had been signed and the two prisoners will be brought back to Sabine Parish and I suppose charged with rape. My son was only taken to the doctor after I found out about it. I think otherwise it would have been covered up. I think someone told my son not to talk about it. He is so gullible.”
Calvin’s father is the later Lester Longoria who was well known in Sabine Parish.
Just in: Will Michael Callens, white male, 31, was arrested Monday on charge of Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for second degree rape. Joshua Waylon Rivers, white male, 27, was also arrested on two counts of second-degree rape.
Precious Barber is a candidate for Parish Council President in Natchitoches Parish. She has a new way of campaigning that is getting her a lot of attention. Photo courtesy of Verity Gentry.
Another charge of first degree rape, indecent behavior with a juvenile and sexual battery (all under age 13) was filed Sept. 6 against Dustin L. Crow of Noble. On Aug. 1, he was charged with pornography involving juveniles – both distribution and production, indecent behavior with a juvenile, sexual battery and first degree rape, under the age of 13.
Starting today and continuing through Friday, BDC Radio will conduct a poll concerning the Sabine Parish Police Jury. The question will be, “If the election were held today, would you vote to re-elect your present police juror.” The vote will be either yes or no. The last poll conducted about the Police Jury attracted about 1,500 participants.
To vote, go to bdcradio.com and click on the Facebook icon. Only one vote per computer is allowed.
Last week the poll was for Sabine Parish Clerk of Court. A total of 688 persons voted. Deputy Clerk of Court Shelly Salter received 437 votes to 251 for her lone opponent Pollie Brandon.
Terri Matthews, a critic of the way the Village of Robeline operates, has filed a complaint with Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington. She alleges that no agenda was printed out for the month of August, that the minutes of the meeting are not available for public viewing, that the Village never has had the public meetings when they are supposed to and that the Village does not in advance when the meetings are supposed to take place.
The second rig started drilling Wednesday of last week on land of Winston Birdwell in the Bethany Community near Marthaville. The property is located near the Sabine-Natchitoches Parish line. The wells are being drilled by Basin Drilling, LP and Independence Contract Drilling. Thanks to Steve Birdwell for the photo.
Momentum has started operations at the gas-gathering plant about two miles north of Many just off Hwy. 171. Construction of the multi-million dollar facility has been going on for something like a year. Observations snapped this photo Saturday night.
It was something to see and hear. Observations visited the gas well that blew out Friday, Aug. 29 and is still burning. It is located a few miles north of Coushatta just off Hwy. 71. The well has been allowed to continue burning and officials say there is no problem. The fire can be seen for miles and the roar of the escaping gas is loud.
It is with deep sorrow we report the passing of Robert Adam Brocato, son of our friend and Alderman at Large Mary Key Brocato and her late husband, Dr. Bobby Brocato.
We knew Robert to be smart, handsome, devoted to physical fitness, and with a heart to help others. He chose the medical profession, becoming a doctor who served patients here in Many, Shreveport and other areas.
To lose a child must be the most painful thing a person can endure. Our love and prayers go out to Mary and all of Robert’s family and friends. He will surely be missed.
Sabine Parish inmate Kolby Wayne Quinn of Lake Charles walked away from the mowing crew Monday at the Sabine Parish Detention Center. His orange prison shirt was located after he removed it. He was arrested Nov. 27 on charges of criminal trespass, possession of schedule 1 drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Word is out that the prisoner stole a Sheriff’s patrol car and was apprehended in Humble, TX.
Reports are that he parked the car and went into a business when a patrolman noticed the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Dept. car and thought it looked suspicious.
It is reported that the Sabine Sheriff’s Office was called, and it was determined the car had been stolen.
Happy Birthday wishes to Maxine Birdwell who will celebrate 92 years this coming Friday. She is one of the finest Christian persons I have ever known and I have had the privilege of knowing her since childhood. She is a native of the Bethany Community near Marthaville and was married to the late Harvey Birdwell. She is now a resident of a nursing facility in Natchitoches. We wish Ms. Maxine the very best.
The Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. (CRNHA), will host a lecture at the Grand Ecore Visitor Center this Saturday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. until Noon entitled “Digital and Traditional Archaeology.”
Visitors will learn about the digital blending of old and modern photographs and how they allow us to gain a better understanding of the history of the spaces around us. Mike Mangham, and his brother Mark, the co-owners of Twin Blends Photography, will demonstrate how to blend the digital and the concrete archaeological experience to show what can be rediscovered from the past and preserved for modern audiences. This digital archaeology is pivotal in providing us a window into the past.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring a bag lunch and enjoy the views offered at Grand Ecore following the presentation.
Classical Music to Visit Many
Many music lovers will have the opportunity to listen to a different kind of music this Saturday night, Sept. 14, at Many Community Center.
Music in Many is presenting “An Evening of Classical Music” with the Corrales String Quartet from Northwestern State University.
Last week, Many Cultural District Chair Mary Key Brocato reported, “And we have even more good news: this concert is absolutely free! Thanks to a generous grant from the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, we are able to offer this splendid evening of music without it costing the audience one cent.”
Brocato said a 2018-19 grant from SRAC has already enabled the Town of Many to bring in a Cajun Band and feature the Louisiana State Fiddle Champion Clancey Stewart in a patriotic concert with the Stewart Family. “Now we are offering an evening of classical music and later in September, the Shreveport Opera will present a program,” she shared recently.
The program will feature Jose Gabriel Vasquez on violin I, Emily Owens on violin II, Cesia Corrales on viola and Paul Christopher on cello.
The talented musicians from NSU will play selections from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nicolo Paganini, and Luciano Boccherini. These composers wrote music during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Their music has endured for centuries, and audiences are often spellbound when they hear concerts from these composers.
Many Mayor Ken Freeman said how pleased he is that the Many Community Center has become the focal point for so many different concerts and events in Many. “We have free movies for everyone, we have music concerts for every taste in music with Country/Western, Gospel, Popular, Rock ‘n Roll, and now Classical. We will even have Opera on Sept.25,” he said.
The Evening of Classical Music begins at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 14. Admission to the concert is totally free, thanks to the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.
That’s a wrap for this 11th of September! Thank you for reading. I love to hear your suggestions and thoughts for future Observations. Call me at (318) 332-8654 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. To see recently archived Observations, follow the pages below. To read older ones, visit our Facebook page, where they are listed by date under Photos/Albums. To save, send or print this week’s column, click on the appropriate icon below.
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