Wednesday, March 18, 2020

“Whenever I hold back the rain or send locusts to eat up the crops or send an epidemic on my people, if they pray to me and repent and turn away from the evil they have been doing, then I will hear them in heaven, forgive their sins and make their land prosperous again.”  from 2 Chronicles Chapter 7, Verses 13-14

Posted on Facebook by Tonia Bridges of Many

We are currently going through an event that has shut down society and is destroying our economy. It is the Coronavirus Pandemic. It is causing panic and fear and is wreaking havoc around the world. Life in the good ole USA has changed greatly in the last week. And the effects of it are being felt in Sabine Parish.

NO CASES REPORTED IN SABINE:  Department of Homeland Security Director David Davis reported Monday there were two presumptive cases of Coronavirus in Sabine Parish. That means they had been tested and were waiting for the results. Of course, there was a lot of concern about this. District Attorney Don Burkett reported a few hours later that he had contacted the Sabine Medical Center and that no one had tested positive.

PRESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES:  Pres. Trump and his Coronavirus Task Force announced late Monday afternoon their “15 Days to Slow the Spread” campaign, telling the public to avoid gatherings larger than 10 people, to cancel discretionary travel, avoid shopping trips and social visits. The White House advised older citizens and those with underlying health issues to “stay home and away from other people.” The president also advised governors to close schools, restaurants, bars, gyms and other large-group locations in states with evidence of community spread.

GOVERNOR’S DIRECTIVE:  Gov. John Bel Edwards had announced earlier on Monday aggressive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana. He limited the size of gatherings to 50 persons, closed casinos, bars and movie theaters and limited restaurants to delivery, take out and drive-through orders only. The changes went into effect statewide at midnight Tuesday and will continue until April 13. He said before giving permission to resume normal operations on April 13, the situation will be re-evaluated seven days prior.  “These limitations were difficult to make, but they are necessary to slow the spread of the virus, protect the health of Louisianans and flatten the curve,” the Governor said. “What we’re learning is that it can take two weeks for symptoms to appear. We believe we are still unearthing community spread that’s been around for the past several weeks, which means it is a statewide problem that requires statewide solutions.”

GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER:  District Attorney Don Burkett said state law provides a fine of up to $500 and jail up to six months for violation of a governor’s executive order during a declared emergency. He stated, “This will be enforced in Sabine Parish, so I appreciate everyone’s compliance. Together we can beat this thing.”

TOWN OF MANY:  Mayor Ken Freeman and the Many Town Council met in special session Monday at noon to take action concerning the Coronavirus. The following actions were taken:  City Hall will be closed until May 4. City employees will continue to man phones to answer any questions. All water payments, tax payments and occupational license and ticket fines will continue to be made on the regular due date and can be made at the town’s drop box at City Hall. You must have a check or money order to pay at the drop box, or you may mail your payment or call in with a credit card. All city services will continue as usual. In addition, there will be no council meetings, Mayor’s Court will not be held, all activities at the Many Community Center [Sabine Theater] will be suspended and no Town Council committee meetings will be held.

MANY CURFEW:  The Town of Many has an ordinance making it unlawful for any person under age 17 to be or remain in any public street or public place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and between midnight and 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, unless one of the exceptions under Section 9-212 applies. Any youth under age 17 who is out during the described hours must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

MANY POLICE DEPARTMENT:  The department closed today, Wednesday, March 18, and will remain closed until May 4. If you have an emergency, please dial 9-1-1. If you have a question, you may call (318) 256-5617 and someone will assist you. The police officers will be working their regular schedules.

ELECTIONS:  Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced that the April 4 Presidential Preference Primary and Municipal Primary election will be moved to June 20, with early voting from June 6-13. This also includes the local election for Chief of Police in Florien.

DISTRICT COURT:  District Attorney Don Burkett announced that all court dates for March have been rescheduled to May.

SABINE SCHOOLS:  On March 13, Gov. Edwards signed a proclamation that immediately closed all K-12 public schools statewide, effective Monday, March 16 and continuing until April 13. Sabine Supt. Sara Ebarb said during this time all school events before, during or after school are postponed and may be rescheduled any time after April 12. The central office will be open through tomorrow, March 19, and will reopen after Spring Break on Monday, March 30.

SCHOOL LUNCHES:  Meals will be available for pickup for students age 18 and under until Thursday, March 19 at every school from 9:30 – 11 a.m. The student receiving lunch must be present. Campuses are closed for Spring Break March 20 – 27, and more information will be forthcoming concerning meal service for March 30 – April 9.

Supt. Ebarb encouraged everyone to prevent the spread of germs by following the health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control:

+ Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, use alcohol-based sanitizer if no water is available

+ Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

+ Avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with those who are sick

+ Stay home when you are sick

+ Cover cough or sneeze with tissue, throw tissue in trash, wash hands

+ Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with cleaning spray or wipe

OTHER SCHOOL INFORMATION:  Information concerning online resources will be posted on the District website and the school’s Facebook page. Paper and pencils will be available beginning March 30. Teachers will also be contacting parents regarding instructional resources. All campuses are closed for Spring Break March 20 – 27. Those with questions are invited to call their school office between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

SABINE HALL OF FAME:  The 23rd Annual Sabine Hall of Fame Banquet will not take place on its originally-scheduled date of Tuesday, March 31. Lots of Sabine Parish citizens have already received letters with tickets to the event, and some of those letters are arriving this week. Of course, this affects all the honorees and their guests as well. A new event date will be selected when pandemic restrictions are lifted and it is determined that all honorees and banquet guests can celebrate safely and in good health. All interested persons are encouraged to “like” and “follow” Sabine Hall of Fame on Facebook to keep up with the latest. In addition to Facebook updates, the board of directors will re-contact everyone on this year’s mailing list with news of the postponement. They will also send out a new banquet date once it is decided.

ATTENDANCE AT FUNERALS:  District Attorney Don Burkett said he has been asked about more than 50 people attending a funeral. He stated, “The Governor’s order would appear to include funerals. That may sound harsh, but this is a very serious situation. I’m aware of weddings being cancelled or postponed where much planning and expense is involved. We are all in this together for good or bad. Please comply.”

In an effort to assist local churches, Tonia Bridges created a “Through the Storm” Facebook group page, which is open to all.

“Due to (the) recent quarantine guidelines in place, I started this as a public group to share church-related info. Churches are welcome to update their service information. Pastors, Sunday School teachers, etc. are welcome to post sermons, testimonies, scripture, whatever is laid on their hearts to reach those who are unable to attend services due to the quarantine guidelines. If you plan to go live (online) for Sunday services, post it here. If you have a favorite radio or television program that offers Sunday services, share those,” Bridges posted on Tuesday.

On Monday night at 9 p.m., the word went out on social media in the U.S. for worldwide prayer, as follows: 

“Pray for transformation of the Coronavirus situation in the world. Visualize and ask for healing, anointing and energy like rain to fall and soak every inch of land in the world, for all flu virus, coronavirus and pneumonia-like illness to supernaturally die out by itself, (to be) evaporated and extinguished from the world, for no more reports of new cases. Visualize the feeling of relief and smiles amongst the medical people and for the public to shout out with victory on their faces, saying ‘Thank you, God, for your love, grace and mercy that everything will begin to be back to normal.’”

Several indicated on social media that they had participated in the designated prayer time. We certainly did.

On another note, after a steady diet of Coronavirus in the news last week, it didn’t take long for local store shelves to empty of toilet tissue, paper towels, face tissues, wet wipes, bleach products and water jugs. The tissue aisle at Many Walmart was left completely bare.

During all the bath tissue madness, Observations heard a wise, probable explanation from someone regarding the toilet paper shortage:  “This Coronavirus has scared the crap out of everybody!”

FOLLOW-UP:  We have been reporting on a confidential drug informant book that was reportedly stolen from a Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Deputy, who was a member of the Tri-Parish Drug Task Force. Information from the notebook was posted on the internet just a few weeks before last fall’s Sheriff’s election. The deputy, David Deshautelle, testified in an unrelated drug case last week in District Court that the only things stolen from his vehicle were a personally-own rifle AR 14 or 15 and a tactical vest. He said nothing else was stolen. The drug informant note book was not mentioned. Deshautelle testified he was fired in May 2018 because the items were stolen from his car.

So, if the drug notebook was not stolen from his car, then how did it go public? We don’t know Mr. Deshautelle, but would like very much to talk to him about the story. We assume he was telling the truth because he was under an oath to do so. I would not want Judge Stephen Beasley to know that I lied to him in court.

The last we heard was that the matter was being investigated by the Sabine Sheriff’s Department. Reports were also out that the State Police had been called in to investigate. Observations asked Senior Trooper Casey Wallace on Feb. 7 if the State Police were investigating “the drug book reportedly stolen from a Sheriff’s Department car.” He responded the same day, “LSP is not working a case involving any theft of a Sheriff’s Office vehicle.” We then corresponded on Feb. 12, “It was reported that the State Police investigated the theft of a confidential drug informants book from a Sabine Parish Sheriff’s patrol car and the placing of the information on the internet.  Am I to understand from your previous email that this was never investigated?” Trooper Wallace never responded. The case will soon be two years old. How long does it take to investigate and conclude such a matter? You know, soon there’ll be a new sheriff in Town – Aaron Mitchell. We’ll be greatly disappointed if he doesn’t get to the bottom of it – and soon.

FOLLOW-UP #2:  Observations had to make a second request to Attorney General Jeff Landry for a report on the sentencing of Roderick Davis Sr. and his two adult children. 

Last week, the Attorney General sent the following information: 

“On Feb. 20, Roderick Davis Sr. was convicted on two counts of Medicaid Fraud by prosecutors from the State Department of Justice. Upon his guilty plea, Davis was set for sentencing before Judge Tarvald Smith. At the sentencing hearing, Davis was sentenced to one-year supervised probation with the following conditions:  full restitution to the State ($8,635.54), costs of prosecution ($7,500), fine ($1,000) and court costs ($414.75). Davis will be supervised by the Department of Corrections, Office of Probation and Parole. A review of Davis has been set for May 20. As a result of his conviction, David no longer meets the qualifications to hold his elected office.” Davis was a member of the Sabine Parish School Board.

The release continued, “While sentencing is at the discretion of the Judge, the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit – who (sic) has earned the national Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General Award of Excellence, believes Davis’ felony conviction is in the best interest of justice. Since AG Landry has taken office, this unit has procured approximately 270 convictions and $96 million in ordered recoveries for losses to the Medicaid Welfare Program. And they will continue to root out waste and abuse in Medicaid in an effort to help protect this welfare program for people who truly need the assistance.”

It is interesting to note that the new release did not mention that charges against Davis’ two adult children were dropped as part of the deal. In addition, it should be noted that Davis worked for the Sabine Association for Retarded Citizens. When the Board fired Davis, he immediately was given a check for $25,000 for accumulated back pay. Wonder who kept the records on this?

After receiving the news release, Observations ask Attorney General Landry two question, as follows:  “1. Why were charges dropped against the two adult children? 2.  Roderick Davis Sr.’s actions were against mentally retarded and handicapped people. Why do you consider his sentence just?” We did not receive a reply from the Attorney General and our guess is we won’t.

We share with great sadness two recent deaths:

Mr. Joe Rains, lifelong friend and native of Marthaville, passed away Tuesday morning. Joe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer six weeks ago, and it progressed unusually quickly. The family announced that a private graveside service will be held early next week in Marthaville and a memorial service will be planned at a later date once pandemic restrictions have been lifted. We are so very saddened by this news and send our love, prayers and deepest sympathies to Joe’s family and friends.

Mr. Moses Spikes, age 34, of Many passed away Thursday, March 12, from first stage heart failure. He was the grandson of the late Ms. Georgia Neel, who was beloved in Many and passed away last August. Moses was a fishing enthusiast and proud owner of about four dozen rod and reels and lots of baits. His mother, Rita Maybank, said Moses always dreamed of holding a fishing family reunion some day and the idea brought him a lot of joy. Moses is survived by his mother, his brother Joshua Maybank, and a host of family and friends. To accommodate pandemic crowd restrictions, visitation will be held from 1:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at Jenkins Funeral Home in Many. The family will hold a private funeral on Saturday. We send our sympathies to all.

Speaking of fishing:  have you seen the newly painted Town of Many fish on the corner west of Sonic between San Antonio and Main? It is a beautiful work of art! One side features a street scene of Many with the Sabine Theater and other businesses, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and the historic Many Depot. The other side features a fireworks display over Toledo Bend lake. It was painted by local artist Kathryn Woodruff, who has Kat’s Portraits, Etc.

We hear a whisper that downtown Many will soon begin a revitalization effort with more art – murals, perhaps? – cleaned up spaces and storefronts to create a more inviting street scene for locals and others who visit. Wishing them well on that venture. Anything to keep downtown viable is a plus in our book.

That is all for this very eventful week. Thanks for faithfully reading. Please call or send an email to share your ideas for future articles. Contact me at robertrgentry@gmail.com or (318) 332-8653. Observations of the last few years may be found by following the pages below. Old ones are archived on our Facebook page under Photo Albums by date. To send, save or print this week’s column, click on the appropriate icon below.

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