Wednesday, June 3, 2020
It is with a great deal of sadness we watch what is going on in our great country. And it is even sadder to see that our elected officials continue to let it happen. Do they think about the countless men and women who are losing their livelihoods and life savings? Do they care? The longer our leaders and law enforcement officials continue to let rioting and looting happen, the more emboldened the thugs and thieves are going to feel and the more they will continue. That’s not hard to see at all.
We hear that this is a move by a certain group, aided by criminal elements, to tear down civilization as we know it in America. It is hard to understand why Americans would want to destroy America, but that is the way it is going.
It is also interesting to note that of the 26 major cities most often mentioned in the news where the bad rioting, looting and lawlessness is taking place, 25 have Democratic mayors. Is it possible those cities have been targeted because Antifa, other anarchist groups and criminal gangs know they will have greater success where law enforcement has less support? Loads of bricks to throw through windows and cars filled with looting and vandalism supplies have been discovered near peaceful protest areas. We hear reports that the lawless individuals who take over after dark have been using these prearranged stashes to fuel their theft and anarchy.
None of this rioting and looting helps right the wrong in the tragic death of George Floyd. Let us all pray to God that this mess will soon be brought under control.
While our country has been on lockdown for going on three months now, while businesses have been closed down, while many folks are out of work and while so many folks are hurting in so many different ways, the government of the speed trap Village of Robeline has taken a giant fiscal step for such a small community. Several people from Robeline called the following information to our attention last week.
At its May 21 meeting, the Village Council voted to give Mayor Bobby Behan a $1,000 per month pay increase and a $200 per month pay hike for the Aldermen. The raises all passed unanimously and go into effect immediately.
The Mayor’s salary was hiked from $30,456, according to the 2018 audit, by $12,000, making it $42,456 annually. That is a 39.4 percent pay increase. The motion for the increase was made by Gilda Jenkins and was seconded by Bubba Ivey. They voted in favor, along with Pamela Jennings.
The motion to give the Alderman a $200 per month increase was made by Mayor Behan. The Village minutes do not reflect that the motion had a second. The three Aldermen voted in favor. They now draw $4,500 per year, so this increase hikes it to $6,900 annually. The increase amounts to 53.3 percent.
It should be noted that governing authorities are to operate by standard parliamentary procedure known as “Roberts Rules of Order.” The rules state that the chairman (in this case the Mayor) cannot make a motion and should only vote in cases of a tie. It also states that all motions must have a second before being brought to the floor for a vote.
And remember being Mayor or Alderman is only a part time job – that is if they choose it to be.
We also note that Chief of Police Gordon O’Con was not among those who got a raise this go ‘round. According to the 2018 audit, he only makes a lousy $20,800 per year. Bet he’d enjoy getting a pay raise of over 50 percent, as well. Who wouldn’t?
There was another escape at the Sabine Detention Center on Monday around noon. This just adds one more event to the list of things that have happened there, including escapes, theft of a patrol car and a prisoner hanging himself from a hook in a jail cell.
According to Jailor and Public Information Officer Joe Dewil, Kevin Joseph DeSoto, 31, of Zwolle was in the booking area of the Detention Center and had just finished a courtroom video conference with the judge, who was considering setting a bond for violation of a protective order. The bond was denied. DeSoto then ran out the “booking door,” (which goes into the jail) and into the fenced-in yard, scaled the fence including the razor wire at the top and took off running down the nearby hill into a pasture.
Much to his dismay, there were Sheriff’s Deputies and Many Police Officers in the pasture practicing shooting. They chased DeSoto down and he was back in jail within a matter of minutes.
DeSoto had been booked into the Detention Center April 20 for Domestic Abuse Battery. Monday he was also charged with simple escape.
FREE CORONAVIRUS TESTING in SABINE – NO SYMPTOMS REQUIRED
The Louisiana National Guard has announced they will test in Sabine Parish for COVID-19 this month free of charge. You need only to be age 18 or over and supply a photo ID. It is not necessary to have symptoms of the Coronavirus to be tested. Tests will be drive-through only, conducted in vehicles.
Those with positive results will be notified with a phone call, and all results will be mailed to each participant’s home.
UPDATED 6-4-20: Due to the expected tropical storm, dates have been pushed forward one week. Locations and times remain the same. Please note the new dates below.
Free test dates and locations are as follows:
Tuesday, June 16 – Many Central Fire Station, 8-11 a.m.
Thursday, June 18 – Fisher Fire Station or Commissary, 8-11 a.m.
Monday, June 22 – Florien High School, 8-11 a.m.
Wednesday, June 24 – Negreet High School, 8-11 a.m.
Friday, June 26 – Toledo Town, 8-11 a.m.
Tuesday, June 30 – Zwolle High School, 8-11 a.m.
Thursday, July 2 – Ebarb High School, 8-11 a.m.
Monday, July 6 – Converse High School, 8-11 a.m.
Wednesday, July 8 – Pleasant Hill High School, 8-11 a.m.
Director of Sabine Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness David Davis said, “Our goal is to test everyone who wants to be tested, 18 years old and above, in Sabine Parish.”
We encourage all to take advantage of this opportunity.
Louisiana enters Phase 2 reopening Friday, NOLA not so fast
Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday afternoon that this Friday, June 5, Louisiana will enter Phase 2 of its reopening. During his press conference, Gov. Edwards and Dr. Alexander Billioux of the La. Dept. of Health noted that the state continues to see decreasing symptoms of COVID-19 and a decrease in hospitalizations.
Although the overall projectory is decreasing, two regions are still experiencing increased numbers – Region 6, which includes Alexandria, and Region 8, which includes Monroe. Dr. Billioux said the uptick in these regions is due to congregant settings (nursing homes and similar), general spread and because the areas were undertested originally.
Dr. Billioux said since mid-April, Coronavirus numbers have been rising and falling repeatedly in Region 6, so a lot more tests will be done there. It may be that the increased free testing in Sabine Parish is related to that effort.
As part of the Phase 2 reopening, now 50 percent occupancy will be allowed with continued 6-ft. social distancing for restaurants, casinos, retailers and churches. Others allowed to open include day spas, tattoo shops, barbers and hair salons, playgrounds/outdoor play centers, museums, zoos, aquariums, recreational swimming pools (with controlled swimming) and more. Casinos will be allowed to open up 75 percent of their gaming positions such as slot machines. Bars will be allowed to open with 25 percent seated occupancy. Outdoor amusement parks, visits to nursing homes and sleep-away children’s camps will remain a no-go during Phase 2, which is expected to be in place at least three weeks.
New Orleans officials said they do not plan to enter the Phase 2 reopening just yet. That city was the southern epicenter of the virus, and city leaders want to see if precautionary measures taken thus far are paying off before lessening restrictions further.
Dr. Billioux said, “Wearing masks may be important for up to three years until herd immunity is reached.” He stressed continued good hygiene, staying home when sick, continued sanitizing and other precautionary measures as advised by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Older citizens and those with underlying health conditions are encouraged to continue staying home and limiting unnecessary contact with others as much as possible.
We turn to Director of Sabine Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness David Davis for Sabine Parish COVID-19 numbers. These totals are as of noon Monday, June 1.
“Sabine Parish = 28 total positive tests. Presumed recovered = 48.
“Looking very good for our parish right now, but we can’t get complacent and forget about precautions. It has proven to go up in the blink of an eye. Right now, we have only 10 active cases. Be safe, everyone,” said Davis.
Congratulations to Robert B. Vincent, our good friend who is an attorney and serves on the Town Council in Erath. He recently received the 2020 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Southern University Law Center. The award was scheduled to be presented in April, but due to the Coronavirus the presentation was rescheduled for September.
But Robert had a big surprise in store for him. On Mother’s Day, some of his close friends and relatives visited his home to present the award early. His mother, Ms. Jackie LaBauve Vincent, planned the surprise timing without Robert knowing. On hand to make the presentation was Judge Jonathan J. P. Perry, and Louisiana Supreme Court Justice James Genovese attended and spoke.
I first met Robert in January 2004 when he was presented an award by the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in Winnfield. He is a great humanitarian, a great public servant, a great friend and an overall great human being.
A new report reveals nearly 31% of small businesses in Louisiana that responded to a survey are at risk of closing permanently over the next two months as a result of the effects of closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also stated that nearly 60% of small businesses that responded could close over the next five months. The report was published by Main Street America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In addition, the report stated 58% of Louisianans employed by small businesses may face unemployment. Nationwide, nearly 66% of small businesses face permanent closure in the next five months with more than 72% of workers facing unemployment. And on top of all that, we have thousands of thieves, looters and rioters running around our country trying their best to destroy what’s left of society as we know it.
Word has it that the Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival, held in mid-September for many years, will fall victim to the Coronavirus this year. Long-time chairman Fuzzy Hennigan informs us that he is no longer in charge of the event. He also states that he is in the early planning stages to personally host an all-Gospel “God Is Still In Control” music program in beautiful downtown Marthaville on Sunday, July 5, if at all possible. This will be a great event and we will keep the public posted.
Sabine Sales Tax Administrator Nolan H. Rivers has released the parish’s sales tax report for May. As way of explanation, he states, “I would like to note that we closed a few rather large audits which is the cause for the increase in collections compared to last year. Without those audits, we would have been down overall around 40 percent.” His report follows and the percentage of change reflected is this year as compared to May 2019.
Angela Osborn of Many, shown at right, has designed and painted a large mural on the side of a building in downtown Montgomery. It depicts Bon Dieu Falls, the original name of the little village established only five years after Natchitoches. The project was planned by the Bon Dieu Falls Ladies Club. Ms. Osborn received her art education at Northwestern and her work has been displayed at Artspace in Shreveport. This was Angela’s first big outdoor mural. The Bank of Montgomery (BOM), through President Ken Hale, a Montgomery native, paid for half the project, and the Ladies Club paid the balance. Others in the photo, left to right, are Delores LeBaron, Samatha Pinder, Joann Lary and Cathy Jackson.
We remind all the big Many High School Graduation Commencement Parade is this Saturday, June 6, at 5 p.m. on San Antonio Ave. in downtown Many. It promises to be a great time to salute and honor our Senior Tigers and to celebrate this milestone in their lives.
Parents and graduates have been invited to a reception earlier that evening and after that, graduates will don caps and gowns to ride down San Antonio in their decorated autos. “Pomp and Circumstance” will play, and graduate names, achievements and plans will be announced.
Mark it down because you don’t want to miss it – this Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. in downtown Many.
That is all for this first Wednesday in June. My, how this year is racing by. Thanks for faithfully reading. I welcome your thoughts and suggestions for future articles. Call me at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. To see Observations of the last few years, follow the pages below. To see older ones, visit our Facebook page. To print, save or send this week’s column, please click on the appropriate icon below.
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