Wednesday, November 27, 2019

SOUTHERN LADY SEEKS GENTLEMAN FOR FRIENDSHIP

A couple of years ago we met a nice lady and have visited with her a few times since then. Her husband passed away several years ago and she is lonesome. She would like to find a nice gentleman for friendship.

The lady enjoys fishing, traveling and good conversation. Said she, “I would like to find a nice senior gentleman for friendship and to share some of life’s adventures together.”

She is only interested in someone who doesn’t smoke, is single and is a social drinker only.

First, all replies will be kept in the strictest confidentiality. This is not a joke, so only serious men need respond.

If you are interested, here is how it will work: Write a statement giving information about yourself. Enclosing a photo would be helpful. Mail your letter to:  Southern Lady, c/o Observations, 605 San Antonio Ave., Many, LA 71449. I nor anyone here at my office will open the letters. They will strictly be passed along to the lady.

And we’re not pretending to be eharmony or match.com – just trying to help a good person find another good person with whom to enjoy life.

As we approach Thanksgiving, we pause again to reflect on just how much we all have to be thankful for. God has truly been good to us personally, to our town, our parish, state and nation. Let us never forget where all our blessings come from.

And at this time of the year, we are truly thankful you choose to read Observations each week. In addition, we thank those who have assisted us with stories, photos and suggestions through the years.

May your Thanksgiving be a wonderful time with family and friends.

SOUTHERN LaDEEZ

Southern LaDeez, located in the former Many Pawn Shop at 867 San Antonio Ave., is off to a great start! And by the looks of things, we trust they plan to make a permanent home in downtown Many.

For starters, their new location affords them lots of extra room to showcase all of their various vendor booths. The items there are nice. It’s a classy, fun way to shop, find a pre-loved or new treasure and support local artists and business-people.

When Observations visited recently, we found everything from alpaca socks and boutique clothing to antique furniture, home and holiday décor, original art, vintage mirrors, and delicious food items like salsas, jams and jellies. We can vouch for the salsa and look forward to trying several more of their food items as well.

Owners Robbie Edwards and daughter Lori Vines, who also teaches school at Pleasant Hill, are very encouraged by the number of new visitors the store has had since moving to San Antonio Ave.

When their coffee and tea shop opens with light food, that should be a big plus as well.

Be sure to visit Southern LaDeez this holiday shopping season. They are open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Their number is (318) 315-5540 or email lauravines1017@gmail.com.

FUNDRAISER FOR KRISTIN WILLIAMS SEPULVADO

Kristin Williams Sepulvado is one of the strongest people we know. She is battling an aggressive form of breast cancer, which in itself is enough, but she’s doing it all while pregnant. And she is due in a couple of months.

There is a very important fundraiser upcoming this weekend that will give us all an opportunity to help. On Saturday, Nov. 30 at Blue’s Bar in Zwolle, big barbecue chicken and brisket plates will be for sale at noon (delivery is available), and there will also be a 50/50 drawing with spots being sold all day throughout the benefit, and two games of “Chicken Poop Bingo,” which will have two lucky winners who will win $332.50 and $1,330, respectively. There will be a cornhole tournament, live auction, gun drawing for a beautiful walnut bolt action Remington 243 rifle with scope (bullets included) valued at $650, and live music by Greg Edwards and the Pine Knotz.

Folks, this is a must-support cause, and we all need to get behind this young lady and her family. All of the proceeds raised will go directly to Kristin’s medical expenses related to her battle against breast cancer and to treatment for her unborn baby, who requires intensive care now and after birth.

If you wish to volunteer your time that day, donate, buy BBQ plates in advance or purchase spots on the bingo board, call (318) 315-2999.

Remember, that’s noon this Saturday, Nov. 30 at Blue’s Bar, 580 Hideaway Dr. in Zwolle for a fundraising dinner plate sale and all kinds of fun, fundraising activities for all to benefit a most worthy cause.

The mighty Many Tigers Football team will play the quarter-finals here Friday night at the John W. Curtis Tiger Stadium. They will meet Pine High School from Franklinton. Both teams have a 90-3 record.

Be sure to attend Friday night and cheer Head Coach Jess Curtis and the Tigers on to the play-offs.

A few weeks ago, someone leaked on the internet a lot of confidential information about the illegal drug business in Sabine Parish. Recently someone sent to Observations nine pages of it, plus one short video.

In the material were sheets that contained the names of more than 80 informants. The report contained names, cell numbers, product (drug), alias(es) and other information.

Among the items was another two-page report compiled by Kyle Cook when he worked for the Many Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit which contained information on about 17 persons.

Included in the released information was an intel report from the Tri-Parish Task Force giving information on nine persons obtained in a January 24, 2017 meeting with two informants.

The short video shows someone flipping through the pages of a binder. It contains a photo listed “Suspect Rap Sheet” and a Walmart money transfer receipt, among other things. On the video, the voice of an African-American says:

“Say, Man, When I say they got Walmart receipts, got d*** name, they got intel reports, they got all kinds of s***, man. How in the f*** these n****** get down like this here, man? How in the f*** these n****** get down like this here, man? Hmmh.”

We wonder how such information got released on the internet.

What about the safety of those informants listed? And what about the integrity of law enforcement? Are informants going to want to cooperate with law enforcement if they know information about them might be made public? Shouldn’t something so confidential be kept under lock and key with access by only a few people?

The reports contain information about two law enforcement officers who say the information is false and they are very upset about it. Do they have grounds for a suit?

In checking into the matter, we were informed that about a year ago a Sabine Sheriff’s Deputy who worked on the drug task force had a binder with this information in his patrol car. He didn’t lock his car and the binder was stolen along with an assault rifle. The deputy was later fired, but we understand no one in the Sheriff’s Department knew about the information being missing until it popped up on social media.

One public official told Observations, “You can’t arrest people for being stupid.” First of all, the deputy should not have been allowed to carry such information around in an unlocked patrol car. Was there any oversight? And, of all people, why would a deputy leave his patrol car unlocked with valuables in it? Somebody should be held accountable!

Sales tax collections for October in Sabine Parish amount to $2,429,706.22. This represents an increase of $265,427.91 over last October, for a 12.26 per cent increase. These figures come from Nolan Rivers, Sabine Sales Tax Collector.

The School Board collected $954,846.22, totaling $144,794.54 more than last year. The Police Jury collected $477,495.28 for a 17.89 per cent increase over the previous year. The Town of Many had an 18.44 per cent increase for $20,214.11.

The Sheriff’s Department collected $358,086.86 for an increase of $54,298.35 more than last year. Collections for the District Attorney’s Office were 9,134.69 more; the Council on Aging collected $18,100.01 more; and the Tourist commission collected $2,703.90 less. 

The Town of Zwolle’s total was $53,564.29, which represented $85,029.86 less than was collected in 2018. And collections in the Village of Florien were $3,833.65 less than the previous year.

Sometime back, the Cenla Report ran a picture on the internet of my truck parked in a no-parking zone. What they didn’t report is that it was also parked the wrong direction on a one-way street. We had a good laugh about it and in the related comments, several folks came to my defense, which I appreciated. They pointed out that in old downtown Many, many times there are simply not a lot of parking places.

A few weeks ago, a friend sent me the photo shown above right in front of the Many Police Department with the comment, “Illegal parking by the Many Police Department is not a good example for the public to observe.”

Just for the record, Title 32 of the 2014 Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation, RS 32:144 Additional Parking Regulations states:  “Except as otherwise provided in this section, every vehicle standing or parked on a highway where there are adjacent curbs shall be so standing or parked with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel to and within eighteen inches of the right-hand curb.”

The Community Bank of Louisiana Many branch hosted a big event Friday featuring their participation in KSLA News 12’s Holiday Food Drive and their own Angel Tree Christmas project. Lots of folks stopped in to donate canned goods and all kinds of food items and to enjoy free grilled hot dogs with all the trimmings, chips and cokes for lunch. When Observations visited, Meteorologist Jessica Moore from KSLA out of Shreveport was setting up to interview Senior Vice Pres. J. J. Blake.

“We are a full-service bank,” the third generation banker explained. “We handle a full scope of services from checking and savings accounts to CDs, IRAs, deposits, ATM services, consumer and business loans,” Blake shared.

Community Bank has the old downtown building at 795 San Antonio Ave. looking good with three teller windows to serve customers, as well as a desk for the branch manager and an office for Blake.

The Angel Tree project now underway there has been a Many Christmas tradition for 28 years. Eighty-four pink and blue angel figures adorn the tree this year representing 84 Sabine Parish girls and boys who have needs this Christmas. Each tag contains the information needed to purchase jackets, shirts, pants and shoes for that particular child. Once shopping and giftwrap is complete, packages must be returned to the bank no later than Tuesday, Dec. 10, to be organized with toys to be given to each family in time for Christmas. The public is invited to stop by and adopt an angel or simply make a monetary donation to be sure all the Angel Tree needs are met.

Another upcoming promotion at Community Bank is a big 65-inch LG TV giveaway. The pubic is invited to come by and register to win the TV; the drawing will be held Friday, Jan. 31. And the Super Bowl is Sunday, Feb. 2. That’d be a good way to watch the game.

Observations salutes banker J. J. Blake and Community Bank of Louisiana for working toward the betterment of Many and Sabine Parish. Community Bank in Many is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (318) 256-6161 for more information.

Bruce Gandy of Many got a chance to meet sports great Shaquille O’Neal following the LSU football game in Baton Rouge Saturday night. The event happened at Gino’s Restaurant where Bruce and some of his relatives were dining. O’Neal, who is retired, is regarded as one of the greatest players in the National Basketball Association. He currently does sports analysis on television and also is featured in ads for various products. Bruce said O’Neal is a very nice guy and even snapped their selfie.

The Curtis family welcomed citizens of Many in fine style at their official Grand Opening of the Curtis Family Pharmacy on Tuesday.

The Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce was on hand to conduct the 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting, and lots of festivities surrounded the event, including free food throughout the day, giveaways, door prizes and more. More than 50 persons attended the ribbon-cutting.

“I’m overwhelmed by your support,” Pharmacist Leslie Founds Curtis said after she cut the ribbon. “I just want to thank everyone for coming out today and for supporting Curtis Family Pharmacy,” she said.

Curtis Family Pharmacy is also ably staffed by Pharmacist Rhonny Valentine. Leslie’s husband Moses owns the business along with her, as well as partner and father-in-law John Curtis.

As one would expect, the Curtis family tradition of quick, efficient and complete service to the public is at the forefront of all they do.

The new store now boasts thousands of prescription customers, a full line of over the counter medications, and boutique shopping with unique items for men, women, children and the home. A visitor to Curtis Family Pharmacy will not be disappointed.

Curtis Family Pharmacy is located at 536 Hwy. 171 Bypass in Many and their hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call Pharmacists Founds and Valentine or any of their helpful staff at (318) 273-2650.

Tamale Fiesta, Pink Sisters work to help local cancer patients

When Sabine Parish has a need, her good citizens are faithful to help. The Zwolle Tamale Fiesta Board demonstrated that spirit of generosity recently when they designated one of its official event t-shirts as a fundraising effort to benefit Pink Sisters of Sabine. Pink Sisters serves local breast cancer patients by offering a tote bag of practical items for use during treatment, support and encouragement through social media, and pairing new patients with breast cancer survivor mentors.

On Nov. 8 at their Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, the Zwolle Tamale Fiesta Board led by Pres. Chris Loupe donated a portion of the sales from their “Never Give Up” festival t-shirt to Pink Sisters of Sabine.

The special shirt was created to honor all cancer patients and survivors.  Designs featured a deep gray shirt with bubbles of various color representing each kind of cancer and also a similar blue shirt with a white imprint. Sales were brisk, but a few shirts remain if interested persons wish to get one of these 2019 first-ever commemorative shirts.

“It’s something that had been on my mind a long time,” Board Committee Member Cindy Ezernack shared. “For the last few years, it’s been a dream to raise funds for a great local cause with sales from one of our Fiesta t-shirts,” she said.

Pink Sisters President Betsy Godfrey and Board Member Laurie Gentry gratefully accepted the Tamale Fiesta contribution in the amount of almost $500 to put toward serving local breast cancer patients. The group was also given five dozen “Never Give Up” shirts to place in their cancer patient supply bags and were promised a portion of future sales of the remaining stock. To purchase a t-shirt, contact Cindy D. Ezernack at dusang59@hotmail.com or (318) 508-0035.    

“You won’t find bigger hearts anywhere than the ones right here in Sabine Parish,” Gentry said. “When there’s a need, our parish steps up. I love that about our home, and we thank the Zwolle Tamale Fiesta for their generosity,” she said. 

 “Pink Sisters” is a term chosen to describe anyone who has had breast cancer – patients and survivors. Their friends and family are invited to take part in the group as well. The non-profit’s mission is to “…encourage and support women living with breast cancer.” Pink Sisters of Sabine also provides Pink Gifts Need Bags, a Facebook page and seeks to offer newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with a survivor mentor who can support the patient through the unfamiliar territory of breast cancer treatment.

Emma McElwee: Sabine Parish Rising Star

The Sabine Parish Rising Star in the 2019 Hometown Christmas Parade is 17-year-old Emma Rose McElwee, the second oldest daughter of Melissa and Archie McElwee of Many.

Emma has three sisters who will learn much from the example she sets. Her older sister Makenna is 18 years old, Ava is 13 years old, and Stella is 6 years old. She is often seen at Sunday morning mass holding little Stella and adjusting the big bow in Stella’s hair. 

School and church are two important parts of Emma’s life. She is president of the junior class at Many High School. In that capacity Emma coordinates fundraisers for the prom and also for graduation. She also leads and plans meetings of her class.  Emma is also vice president of the MHS Student Council.

Additionally this busy teenager is a delegate to the La. Association of Student Councils and has attended their conventions and workshops during her three years in high school Emma is a member of the Future Business Leaders of American and a part of the Global Business Team. Emma’s team has placed in the top 10 in the Louisiana state contest for the past two years. Emma served as parliamentarian for the FBLA in the 2018 school year.

Emma is a member of BETA club at school where she is a BETA officer. This hardworking coed is also a member of the Explorers Club which is a program that helps educate students about opportunities for college and scholarships. She is a team captain on the Many High quiz bowl team where she enjoys competing at parish level tournaments.

Emma is also a Tigerette on the Many High School dance line. She says performing on Friday nights at the high school football game’s half-time is the highlight of her week.

She is also treasurer for Many High 4-H. Emma says, “I love all the opportunities it provides me in which I can give back to my community.”

A member of the Library Club at school, she helps promote good reading habits in the children of Many.

Emma’s Christian faith is a vital important part of her life. A member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Many, she and her parents and three sisters can be found at church every Sunday morning. She is a part of the church youth group and she helps with mass, fundraisers and other activities with the church.

Emma is not just a Sunday morning Christian. She brings her deep faith in God to school with her Monday through Friday. She is a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes where she is a huddle leader. She helps and aids students’ journeys in prayer through this position. Emma is a leader of the student-led Bible study held at Many High School in the mornings before the official school day begins. A member of the 4:12 crew, she often gives talks about how students can follow their faith as they go through school.

Emma will be graduating from Many High in May of 2021. She plans to advance her education at Louisiana State University by pursuing a degree in philosophy. After acquiring her bachelor’s degree, she plans to attend law school in hopes of coming back to Many to pursue a career as a lawyer.

Emma says, “It is important to me to return to my hometown and help the community progress and maintain its charm. Many has a certain draw that is unparalleled to any other town I have ever visited.

Emma McElwee, the 2019 Rising Star, serves as an outstanding example of a teenager who devotes her life to her family, her faith and her school community.  She is a credit to all teenagers and an example of a person living a worthwhile life at a young age.

As an adult, she is sure to be a credit to the community of Many when she returns to her hometown to practice her legal career.

Happy Birthday wishes to Dr. Thomas Hennigan of Natchitoches who will be 90 on Friday. He taught me Industrial Arts during my high school years at Marthaville. He then insisted I attend Northwestern State College, where he gave me a job in the Audio Visual Department, which he ran. I couldn’t have made it without him. He helped me in so many ways, including giving me lots of encouragement. We wish him the best and many more Happy Birthdays. It is a privilege to call him my friend.

Once again, we wish you and yours a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. As always, we appreciate your faithful readership. To share an idea or suggestion for a future article, please email me at robertrgentry@gmail.com or call (318) 332-8653. To see Observations of the last year, follow the pages below. To view older ones, visit our Facebook page, where they are listed under Photo Albums by date. To send, save or print this week’s column, click on the appropriate icon below.

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