Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, Nov. 3. Be sure to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.

Aaron Mitchell is a man who believes in putting all he has into what he does. He started his campaign for Sabine Parish Sheriff on March 1. In April, his son Wesley bought him a new pair of boots to campaign in.

He walked so much that Mitchell wore holes in the boots before the first primary.
“They had holes in the bottom,” Aaron recalls. “I felt something on my feet and looked and found I had holes in both boots. My feet were touching the rocks.”

Mitchell continued, “I tried to see everyone in the parish – north, south, east and west. A saw a lot of people and met a lot of good people.”

“A lot of people tell me that no one has come and asked for their vote,” he related. “I believe I have seen between seven and eight thousand people. I will continue to work hard and might wear out another pair or boots or two. I would like to meet every single person in the parish and ask them to vote for me.”

He concluded, “I will not downgrade my opponent.”

In the Oct. 12 election, Mitchell led the four-man race for Sheriff with 3,349 votes for 44.03 per cent. He led incumbent Sheriff Ronny Richardson by 942 votes. Richardson polled 2,4087 votes for 31.65 per cent. Frankie Howard ran third with 1,486 votes for 19.54 per cent and Chris Abrahams rounded out the field with 364 votes for 4.79 per cent. Abrahams has since endorsed Mitchell. Howard stopped short of endorsing him, but remarked, “There will be a change in the Sheriff’s Office.”

Seth Freeman, son of Many Mayor and Mrs. Ken Freeman was honored Friday night by the American Cancer Society. He was one of five survivors honored at the Belles and Beaus on the Cane gala in Natchitoches. Seth has fought cancer for two years. He is shown with his wife Amber Wallace Freeman, left, and mother Mary Ellen Freeman, right.

Early voting for the Nov. 16 election will take place in the office of Registrar of Voters Kristi McCormick in the Sabine Parish Courthouse starting Saturday, Nov. 2, and continuing through Saturday, Nov. 9. Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily, except for Sunday; the office is closed on Sunday.

He is known by “Gilligan.” His name is Jeff Davidson and he is in the run-off for Sabine Police Juror from District 5. He led in voting Oct. 12 with 422 votes, only 80 votes short of winning. In the Nov. 16 run-off, he meets Mattew Murdock Adams, who polled 254 votes. Running third was Georgann McNabb who received 248 votes, just six votes under Adams.

“Our roads have been neglected so long,” Davidson said. “We need start from ground zero on roads. Take the Pump Station Rd. as an example. I don’t know how many people’s vehicles have been damaged on that one road.”

He continued, “We need organization within the Jury. All roads need to be graded at least four times a year.”

In another topic, Davidson remarked, “The lake is a gold mine. I have had people tell me they would build here, but would not because they would have to have a four-wheel drive vehicle to get to their property.”

Davidson said the recent raise the Police Jurors voted for themselves is “illegal” and said he will give the $400 per month back to the District he will represent. He concluded, “I will probably piss off members of the Jury, but I want everything to be transparent – to be an open book.”

A special meeting of the Marthaville Cemetery Inc. will be held this Saturday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. in the Heritage Building in beautiful downtown Marthaville. The special session was ordered by Natchitoches Parish Judge Lala B. Sylvester as the outcome of a suit filed by Rocky Gandy of Houston, TX, who was kicked out as president of the Cemetery Committee.

Gandy refused to relinquish his seat as president, refused to give the new officers the membership list, past meeting minutes and financial records.

Judge Sylvester ruled that an election held Oct. 20, 2018 to elect new officers was not valid because state law and the Committee’s Articles of Incorporation require all members be notified of any special election. And the judge also ruled there has not been an election of board of directors in 15 years. The petition and Judge never considered the annual meeting of June 1, 2019, where over 70 attended and voted to amend the Bylaws and Articles clarifying the terms of officers and directors, and then elected five new officers and directors.

The judge appointed Natchitoches Attorney Jeff Thomas to represent the court at the meeting. A Shreveport attorney will represent the defendant Gandy at the meeting, and Many Attorney Chris Sylvia will represent the plaintiffs.

A letter was mailed to about 280 known members of the Marthaville Cemetery notifying them of the special upcoming meeting. Five members of the Board of Directors will be elected and from the Board, a president and secretary-treasurer will be elected.

The long-awaited signs in the speed trap Village of Robeline went up Monday. State Rep. Frankie Howard filed a bill in the House earlier this year to put up a billboard announcing that Robeline is a speed trap town. In a Senate Committee, Sen. Gerald Long had the sign reduced to the small ones that were erected Monday by the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD).

Terri Matthews, a resident of Robeline and a long-time critic of the way the Robeline Village government operates, played a large part in seeing that the signs were put up. She was in constant contact with the DOTD when it seemed the signs were not going to be erected or that someone was dragging feet on the project.

Annual Downtown Trick or Treat, Neighborhood Trick or Treat & Movie Party

The children of Many and Sabine Parish will have lots of activities to choose from on Halloween, this Thursday, Oct. 31. Ken Freeman, Many’s mayor, has worked hard to make sure there are safe, fun activities for children who live in the area.

The Town of Many is sponsoring the Annual Halloween Trick or Treat on San Antonio Ave. Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Lots of businesses have indicated they will participate. 

After 5 p.m., children are invited to trick or treat in Many neighborhoods from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. And then there’s more activities:  children and their families can plan their time to be back to the Many Community Center (Sabine Theater) downtown for still more Halloween fun, a free Halloween party and movie that starts at 7 p.m.

The featured film will be “Hotel Transylvania,” a not-so-scary Halloween movie. And best of all, concessions will be completely free on Halloween night. Every child will receive a soft drink and a bag of popcorn, gifts from Mayor Freeman and the Town Council.

But wait, it’s still not over! After the movie ends, kids will receive a treat bag loaded with candy as they exit the Community Center. Freeman said he wanted to make sure that all the children of Many and their families have a great Halloween.

The following locations on San Antonio Ave. that will participate in the afternoon Trick or Treat are Foy Motors, Gulf Station Cafe, SARC Thrift Store, City Hall, Many Police Dept., National Loan Company, The Sabine Index, K & W Clothing, Brandon Law Firm, ArkLaTex Financial Consultants, Attorney Charles Soileau, the Treasure Chest, Bayou Crawfish, Sabine Martial Arts, Adam Sullivan Law Office, Vandegaer Insurance Agency, Burger King, Sonic, Shop A Lott Chevron, City Bank & Trust, the Texaco Station beside McDonalds, O’Reilly’s and Tractor Supply. In the Sabine Parish Courthouse are the Clerk of Court’s Office, Register of Voters Office and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office. Close by, the Sabine Parish Police Jury and District Attorney Don Burkett’s Office will also have treats. Participating locations along Hwy. 171 Bypass and Fisher Rd. include Curtis Family Pharmacy, Waskom Brown & Associates, Nichols Discount Center, Sabine Retirement & Rehab Center, and Central LA Technical Community College.

Other merchants, organizations and businesses have indicated they will also participate during the 3 to 5 p.m. timeframe. If you have any questions, please contact Many City Hall and speak with Sandra Neel at (318) 256-3651.

Calling all goblins! Young and young at heart are invited to don their favorite Halloween costumes for the annual Many Halloween Party at the Many Community Center (Sabine Theater) this Thursday night, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. Vampires, zombies, the Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood, witches, and other monsters may all come out for the big party and movie to be shown tomorrow.

Costumed children and their families will enjoy watching the “Hotel Transylvania” Halloween movie and kids will receive treat bags filled with candy as they leave the Center located on San Antonio Ave. downtown. 

The children and their families will also enjoy the special effects of ghosts, witches, fog and skeletons that will be the theatre’s special holiday décor. The Mayor of Many’s staff takes lots of time to decorate the theater for the children.

It will be Halloween fun for everyone! Admission and concessions will be free, thanks to the generosity of Many Mayor Ken Freeman, the Many City Council and the Cultural District Advisory Committee, who are sponsoring the special Halloween event. 

Special events and movies are part of the plan by Mayor Freeman and the Cultural District Advisory Committee to provide wholesome family entertainment and events for the people of Many and the surrounding area at affordable prices.

The party and movie are just one of the many special events throughout the year that are planned by the above group for the families and children of Many.  Be sure to watch for the next upcoming special events to take place in December during Many’s “Hometown Christmas Festival,” which will include lots of special Christmas movies for families.

It was a bright, sunny day at the future Sabine Parish Historical Museum location on the Hwy 171 bypass – a perfect day to raise the United States Flag at the old depot.

Many Mayor Ken Freeman, Many’s hardworking street crew supervised by Mike Moore, and Fred Hurd, electrical contractor who donated and installed the night light for the flag, all met last Wednesday to fly the U.S. flag for the first time.

Mayor Freeman said he was delighted that work was complete with the installation of the flag pole and the light which would shine on the flag throughout the night so that the flag could finally be raised.

“Everyone worked hard on this project, and teamwork was so important toward completing the project,” said the mayor.  Whitney Hancock Bank donated the flag pole which was taken from the Florien location. Local businessman Dean Crittenden donated the large American flag. Morris and his crew brought the flag to the depot and then installed it. Fred Hurd donated both the light and work to install it.  

“We now have our country’s beautiful flag flying 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the old depot and site of our future museum,” said Freeman. Freeman said that the public sometimes does not know about all the good, positive things that happen around Many. “This is just one of them, and through the media and our Town of Many Facebook page, we’re going to let people know more about how hard we work to make our community a good place to live.”

Here’s your chance to “Flashback” to the 1950s, the decade that introduced Rock ‘n Roll to music lovers everywhere!

The popular music group Flashback is performing at the Many Community Center (Sabine Theater) this Saturday, Nov. 2, and they plan to put on a show that will have the audience clapping and dancing in the aisles.

Members of Flashback are not only musicians. They are also talented performers who love to interact with their audience. “At the Hop” is their tribute to the music of the 1950s.

You don’t want to miss this unique music show that starts at 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Community Center. And the good news is “At the Hop” is completely free for everyone thanks to the generosity of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.   

A grant submitted by Mayor Ken Freeman’s office was approved by SRAC and will fund several musical performances in 2019-2020. Those performances will always be free to the public.

Attendees are invited to wear their versions of the popular clothes of the 1950s:  poodle skirts, matching cardigan sweater sets, petticoats, panty hose,  bobby socks, Mary Janes, saddle shoes, pedal pushers, Capri pants, blue jeans rolled at the cuff, Peter Pan collars, motorcycle  jackets,  pork pie hats, ducktails, slicked back hair – all stylish in the ‘50s. So come dressed for “At the Hop” and get into the swing of things with Flashback.

You’ll want to write down the title of your favorite song from the 1950s and bring it with you. Chances are good that Flashback will play it for you if you’ll just request it. Be assured, this band won’t remain on stage. They’ll be out on the theatre floor chatting with the audience as well as taking requests.

So think back. Was it “Little Darlin’” by the Diamonds, “Chantilly Lace” by the Big Bopper, or “At the Hop” by Danny and the Juniors? Maybe it was “Shake, Rattle and Roll” by Bill Haley and the Comets, or “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash. Or just maybe it was Elvis Presley’s “Teddy Bear” or Hank Williams’ “Hey, Good Lookin’.”

Whatever the song, whoever the singer and band, Flashback probably knows it and will be happy to perform it “At the Hop.”

The 1950s is often called the greatest era of music ever.  It introduced Rock ‘n Roll, Swing and Doo-wop music, and the musical world has never been the same since.

This unique musical show is presented by the Town of Many Cultural District Advisory Committee, Many Mayor Ken Freeman and the Many City Council.

Concessions will be available for sale at only $1 for popcorn and $1 for soft drinks. No alcohol or outside food or drinks are allowed at the Community Center.

That will do it for this last Wednesday in October. See you next week. Call me at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com to share your thoughts and ideas for future articles. To read Observations of the last year, follow the pages below. To see older ones, visit our Facebook page, where they are listed under Photo Albums by date. To save, send or print this week’s column, click on the appropriate icon below. As always, thanks for reading.

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