Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Memorial Day is this Monday, May 25. It is a day set aside to honor and mourn the military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Sabine has had many die in service to our country, and we hope you and yours take time this Monday to honor the men and women who gave their all to assure our way of life. The often repeated saying is true, “Freedom isn’t free.”
And we believe, maybe even more so during this time of pandemic, that those last two lines of our national anthem sum up the two most important aspects of liberty – bravery and freedom. You can’t have one without the other. True freedom requires great courage.
A Happy Memorial Day to all of our readers.
A critic of the financial operations of the Village of Robeline who goes by the name of “Deep Pockets” informed Observations Monday morning that the State Legislative Auditor’s Office will be sending personnel soon to do an investigation. The informant said Tom Cole of that office confirmed that it will be a fact-finding investigation.
“I think it will take 60 days to get a fact-finding report,” the informant commented. Continuing, Deep Pockets said, “The Legislative Auditor has no authority to arrest anyone, but the report will go to Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Rick Herrington.”
The informant has been very critical of the financial operations of the Village since 2005. In addition, Observations learned the informant fears physical retaliation.
Congratulations to Jarrad Rivers of Sabine Parish who has been named in the semi-finalists for Teacher of the Year by the Louisiana Department of Education.
Last week I was at Kountry Korner on San Antonio Ave. in Many when we heard an awful noise coming from outside. We ran out to see what the commotion was about to find a car pulled in at an angle in front of Ed’s Sheet Metal and a young man lying on the sidewalk yelling, kicking and trying to roll around. The man was frothing at the mouth. It was a terrible scene and at first we thought he was having an epileptic seizure.
By then a small crowd had gathered and someone called Many Police and an ambulance. Chief Roger Freeman and his crew arrived on the scene very quickly and took charge.
The man on the ground was screaming at the top of his lungs, kicking and fighting those who tried to help him. I have never seen anything like it. It was reported later that the man was high on drugs. The man had no control whatsoever over himself – hollering, screaming, kicking, flailing his arms, fighting those who tried to help and foaming at the mouth. He tried to get up, but couldn’t. Officers and volunteers had to hold him down until a MedExpress ambulance arrived.
Officer Kyle Cook of the Many Police Department said bystanders reported the man stepped out of the vehicle and fell to the ground. He was identified as Allen Thomas. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Timothy Ebarb. Ebarb sat in his vehicle until the police arrived, and then didn’t exit his car until he was arrested and helped to a patrol car. As police helped him into their car, he appeared not at all steady and could hardly walk.
Officer Cook said officers found drug paraphernalia and suspected marijuana on Ebarb’s person. They reported he appeared to be under the influence as well. A bottle of Olde English 800 was also found in the vehicle.
MedExpress took Thomas to Sabine Medical Center for treatment. He was not charged with a crime. Ebarb was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia, Schedule I and Schedule 2 drugs.
It is hard to believe people get under the influence, absolutely stoned, and drive down the main street in Many. Folks are very fortunate that someone wasn’t killed.
We remind all that a very special, big Commencement Parade will be hosted by the Town of Many to honor all the graduating Seniors of Many High School on Saturday, June 6 at 5 p.m.
Prior to the parade, graduates and their parents are being invited to a reception in the City Hall parking lot, then at 5 p.m. graduates are invited to wear their caps and gowns and ride down San Antonio Ave. with family in their decorated automobiles for the “We’re not Walking, We’re Rolling into Our Future” parade. “Pomp and Circumstance” will play, and we hear there’s a good possibility the Many High School Marching Band will lead the festivities down the parade route with some of their rousing crowd favorites.
When one of the graduate’s parents contacted Mayor Ken Freeman about Many possibly hosting “a small parade” in light of the pandemic, Mayor Freeman said, “No, we will not host a ‘small’ parade – we will have a ‘big’ one!” The mayor feels it is very important to help create special memories for this year’s graduates since so many of their traditional Senior year activities were disrupted by the COVID-19 stay at home orders.
“At 5 p.m., the graduating seniors who have decorated a car or truck will go to their cars/trucks dressed in their cap and gown to ride in a commencement parade,” Freeman said on social media Tuesday. “’Pomp and Circumstance’ will be piped in and played along San Antonio Ave. An announcer will announce each senior and their accomplishments in high school and plans for their future,” he explained.
“This is the community of Many’s way of saying how proud we are of their accomplishments and to let them know that we have great interest and will be watching with pride their accomplishments in the future,” Mayor Freeman stated.
Mark it down now and plan to attend the big Commencement Parade for our graduating Senior Tigers on Saturday, June 6 at 5 p.m. on San Antonio Ave. downtown.
The Sabine Parish School Board on Monday announced plans for each Sabine Parish school’s graduation ceremonies.
“We feel it is important to allow our students to have this opportunity so we are moving forward with graduations,” a Board statement read.
The schedule for each school is as follows:
The Board also shared health guidelines that will apply to all events:
- Each graduate will be issued four tickets for four guests.
- Graduates will be social distanced 6 feet apart.
- Guests will sit with family in groups of four and groups will be social distanced 6 feet apart as well.
- Guests will wear masks.
- Graduation ceremonies will be live streamed for family and friends to enjoy.
The Board asks that all adhere to the guidelines and advised attendees to call their local schools with any questions.
FOR SALE: 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan for handicapped, VMI. Conversion, Rubberized Flooring, Step Flares, Ramp, Both Front Seats are Removable with Two Sets Tiedowns. Less than 19,000 miles. Asking $35,000. Call (318) 256-2400.
We had a visitor Monday afternoon who complained very highly about hauling a trailer of trash to the Sabine Parish Landfill and being charged $46.44 per ton dumping fee. The person working the scale ended up not charging him that trip, but said he would be charged in the future.
Mind you Sabine Parish residents are paying a 1 cent sales tax for operation of the landfill. The irate resident said, “When we voted the tax in, we were not charged to use the landfill. The charge occurred when the Jury recently took back over the operation of the dump from a private service that had operated it for years. I think the fee is outrageous.”
Sabine football fans are not pleased that the Louisiana High School Athletic Association has put off the beginning of football practice until June 5. One of the big arguments is that the boys won’t be used to the summer heat by that time and it might cause problems. We understand that Many High School Principal Norman Booker Jr. is a member of the group’s executive committee and voted in favor of the June 5 date.
Signs Along Life’s Highway
Obviously, this homeowner doesn’t mince words. If you’re traveling between Robeline and Marthaville through Shamrock community, we suggest you not turn down this drive. The sign reads, “Private Drive. No Dope Heads. If you aren’t coming to see Tony, Angi or Janice, get the #$%! on.” Pretty clear. Censored by Observations.
COVID-19 numbers have been growing in Sabine Parish. Glad to report the “presumed recovered” number is also steadily growing.
Bigger numbers are probably to be expected as people return to work and begin to be a bit more active. Nevertheless, we encourage all to continue to wash hands frequently, to be careful not to breathe on others by maintaining a proper distance from them, and to use common sense not to spread the virus. Remember, it is possible to show no symptoms but still be positive for having the virus. So don’t be the unknowing person who takes no care and goes around passing the virus to everyone.
Some folks are choosing to wear face masks and some are not. Please be understanding of others’ choices to cover or not cover. If everyone will take personal responsibility to stay safe, and also take responsible measures to be safe with all the people they come in contact with, the numbers will lessen.
If someone is scared of people who do not wear face masks, the easy answer is for that person to maintain plenty of distance from those who don’t cover. That way everyone stays safe and feels safe.
We have heard reports that in some areas of town, people have pretty much ignored the stay healthy guidelines and continue to have close contact and breathe all over each other. We also hear COVID-19 numbers are high in those areas. It does not take a genius to realize there will continue to be higher numbers where precautions are not being taken. So, please put the safety and good health of others before your own wants and comfort.
Also at this time, we remind all that the senior citizens in our local nursing homes and rehabilitation centers have had hardly any contact with friends and loved ones “on the outside” for two months now. If you can send cards or letters, or provide friendship and support in some other safe way, please do. It has been a lonely time for everyone, but nursing home residents surely are experiencing more loneliness than usual.
SABINE CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS UPDATE
We turn to Sabine Parish Office of Homeland Security Director David Davis for our updated Sabine Parish numbers. As of noon Tuesday, they were:
“Louisiana = 35,038 [cases], up 329 in 24 hours. Presumed Recovered are 26,249. Louisiana Deaths = 2458, up 18 in 24 hours. Sabine Parish = 48. Presumed recovered are 32. No local reports as of 12:19 [p.m. on Tuesday]. Stay safe,” said Davis.
Thanks to Director Davis for his daily posts.
It remains confusing that the state tally of cases and the local tally never agree. Observations asked both District Attorney Don Burkett and Director Davis about the matter.
“The local numbers come mostly from David Davis of Homeland Security,” DA Burkett explained. “I supplement his list if there are others I know about not on it. I am confused about where State Hospitals are getting their numbers for Sabine, but they are not up to date.”
Davis replied to our inquiry, “[We get our numbers] direct from care giver, with GOHSEP [Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness] picking up the out of parish folks. Our offices receive reports every day.” We assume the care givers are doctors, hospitals, clinics, etc. with whom Davis has contact.
Regarding the daily discrepancy with state numbers, Davis said, “We can’t figure it out, unless [it is] slow reporting to them. We get the reports first because of first responding.”
People throughout Sabineland appreciate the good efforts of DA Burkett and Director Davis. Though the number of cases has risen recently, we are encouraged that the “presumed recovered” number seems to be growing at a similar rate.
“I wanna be quarantined with you.”
– flirting in 2020
For just awhile, let’s turn back the pages of time to July 18, 1917. A Texas and Pacific Troop Train derailed near Shamrock on the line which ran from Pleasant Hill to somewhere near Flora. One soldier was killed and nine soldiers were injured, as were three Pullman porters and two trainsmen. The train was comprised of 13 cars and a caboose.
The accident was caused by the track spreading under Trail 293 East, not having been sufficiently spiked or filled in with dirt between the ties. This allowed the rail to expand in the heat and become tight, pushing outward when the weight of the train bore down upon it.
The train left Marthaville at 12:32 p.m. on that hot Wednesday afternoon and was derailed about 3.8 miles east of Marthaville near Shamrock only eight short minutes later at 12:40 p.m. It was said to be running at a speed variously estimated to have been from 15 to 40 miles an hour at the time of the accident.
The locomotive, the first five cars and last two cars of the train were neither derailed nor damaged, but the other seven were derailed. Four cars turned over and came to rest on the left side of the track and were severely damaged, having skidded forward about 35 feet after turning over.
The engineer said the train was going about 14 miles per hour at the time of the derailment. The first he knew of the disaster was when he felt the train jerk and upon looking back, he saw the train had broken in two. In passing over the track, he did not notice any unusual roughness, but after the derailment he examined the track and noticed the new ties had not been spiked and at the rail joint, where the track began to spread, he found two new ties that had not been spiked on either end. In his opinion the accident was caused by the spreading of the track, due to insufficient spiking.
The person in charge of the section crew said they had just put in new ties on a distance of 60 feet and they had quit work to take a lunch break. He thought there were about 19 new ties put in place, although all had not been spiked. But he believed the track was in safe condition when he left it for lunch. He said he did not spike all the ties because he did not have a sufficient number of tie plates with him. He also said he did not put out a ‘slow’ flag for the train. The section crew supervisor then stated he believed on account of the extreme heat, the rail expanded and became so tight it buckled under the train, thus causing the accident.
The accident report concluded: “This accident was caused by the track spreading under the train on account of not having been sufficiently spiked or filled in with dirt between the ties, thus allowing the rail, which had been expanded by the heat and become tight, to push outward when the weight of the train was placed upon it.”
Thanks to our good friend Dr. Ted “Bussey” Mims of Springfield, IL for providing us this information. It is a very interesting glimpse into a local tragedy of the past.
Super storyteller and prime yarn spinner Barry Guillet guested last Thursday morning on Tedd Dumas’ popular “Open Line” radio show, heard each weekday morning at 7:30 a.m. on all BDC Radio stations.
Guillet told some real whoppers about spending the last 60 days in quarantine with “Clovis Conway and his girlfriend – a 67-year-old, 312 lb. gorilla from the wilds of Nicaragua.” He and Tedd were joined by your truly who asked a few questions to keep the conversation moving. With Barry, however, that really isn’t necessary. As all his friends know, he only needs an opening and an intro to dive head first into a tall tale.
Guillet always entertains in fine style, and we sure are happy he brought his matchless sense of humor to our area. In the midst of this pandemic, laughter is a fine medicine.
“…thanks for inviting Barry to be on ‘Open Line,’” said Donnie Wooley of Many. “That show has never been more entertaining. I’m still laughing,” he shared with Observations late Thursday afternoon.
In real life, Guillet owns and operates Guillet Realty Co. at 507 2nd St. in Natchitoches where he is an agent and appraiser. Barry is the son of our late friend and Natchitoches photography legend, John Curtis Guillet.
That is all this third week of May. Thank you for faithfully reading. To save, send or print this week’s Observations, please click on the appropriate icon below. To share your ideas and suggestions for future articles, call me at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. Older Observations may be found on our Facebook page; columns of the last few years may be found by following the pages below.
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