Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Our congratulations to Shelly Salter who recently took the oath of office as Sabine Parish’s new Clerk of Court. She took the oath of office July 1 with Judge Stephen B. Beasley doing the honors.

Former Clerk of Court Tammy Foster decided to retire at the end of April, so Shelly fulfilled her unexpired term for May and June, and then was sworn in July 1 for the full four-year term.

Shelly was born in Montgomery, TX and the family moved to Louisiana when she was only a month old. Her father worked for Brown and Root and it was during this time he met her mom. They married and were traveling with his job when Shelly’s paternal grandfather Chester “C. D.” West informed her father if he would move back to Louisiana, West would give him half-ownership in the logging company he owned. The family moved from Texas to Mount Carmel and lived on her grandfather’s land. One-month-old Shelly was the first granddaughter born after the birth of seven grandsons on her father’s side of the family.

Shelly attended Florien School and when she was in the third grade, the family moved to the Dess Community to be closer to her grandparents, Chester and Elizabeth Lovelady West. She then attended Negreet School until the sixth grade. When her parents divorced, she moved to Many and began attending Many Junior High during the Sixth Grade. Her father moved, then married, and the new family unit moved back to Florien. Shelly graduated from Florien High in May 1989 and from Sabine Valley Voc-Tech School in October 1989 with a Secretarial diploma.

Shelly married Gary Salter and they had two daughters. The couple later divorced. 

She was a stay-at-home mom for a couple of years, but then decided to go to work outside the home. While job hunting, a friend called and said there was an opening in the Sabine Clerk’s Office.

The next day, she visited with the late, long-time Clerk of Court Dollie Knippers. Shelly explained, “I brought my resumé and explained to her that I needed a job, but had no experience. I told her I wanted to work and that I would work, I just needed a chance. She called me the next day and hired me part-time three days a week. That was in June 1992. I worked one week like that, and Ms. Dollie asked if I would work every day, but still be considered part-time and I agreed. In January 1993 she offered me a full-time position and the rest in history.”

Shelly continued, “Ms. Dollie would often laugh and joke with me and re-tell the story of me coming in her office that day and telling her that ‘I would work, that I just needed the chance.’ She would say, ‘And you’ve been working ever since.’”

Salter’s two daughters are Courtney Salter Chester of Provencal and Tiffany Salter Carnline, who lives in Fort Jessup. She is the proud grandmother of six.

In her spare time, Shelly likes to read, travel, go to fitness boot camp (Camp 217) and hang out with family and friends. And I might add that one of her biggest boosters is David West, a cousin, who is head of the News Bureau at Northwestern State University.

And we want to wish outgoing Clerk of Court Tammy Foster the best in her retirement. Ms. Foster has done a superb job and has been a great administrator. She assembled a great staff who realize they work for the public who pays their salaries. 

Before becoming Clerk of Court, Ms. Foster served as Deputy Clerk and Chief Deputy for almost 23 years under the late Clerk Ms. Dollie Knippers.

She resides at Florien and she and husband Dennis has been married something like 37 years. They have a son, Matthew. Ms. Foster’s parents are Roy Lee Snell and Thelma Castillo Snell of Hornbeck.

We’ll miss Ms. Foster around the Courthouse, but know that she will make the most of her retirement.

Valmore Byles of Many has been elected Chairman of the Louisiana Sabine River Authority and a lot of people are happy about that decision. He has been on the Authority about a year.

He has been very active in the affairs of Sabine Parish for many years. When the Many Volunteer Fire Department was almost non-functional in the late 1960s, it was he who took the lead and reorganized it successfully. He went on to lead the battle to create a fire district and pass a tax to support the fire department. He served on the Fire District Board for many years, including serving as chairman.

A Republican to the core, he has served on the State Republican Commission. He and his brother Clauriste operated Byles Welding and Tractor beginning in 1960. Later Valmore dropped out of the company and had a boat business. In 1969 he went into the construction business and ran that very successful business for years. He is now semi-retired, but if someone puts a little pressure on him, he might be talked into constructing another building.

You are not going to believe this. The Sabine Parish Police Jury sign for the White City Rd. off of Hwy 171 near Hornbeck was stolen last Thursday night, and Willie Stewart who lives nearby is not happy.

The sign was taken down by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development a few weeks back for no good reason other than it had the word “White” on it. They said it was taken down because it was on the state highway right-of-way. Willie got involved and the Police Jury put up a new sign, but it was still located on the state right-of-way. The whole ordeal didn’t make sense.

Anyway, Willie said the sign was stolen, but the post that held it up was left.

So here’s what’s going to happen. Willie is going to put the sign up on his property which is very near Hwy. 171. He will have cameras set up so if anyone bothers it, he will have their pictures. In addition, his pistol is loaded.

As we have reported before, the historical context of that road’s name goes back to White City, a Sabine Parish voting precinct for years. There appears to be no written history explaining the name, except it is attributed to the surname “White,” belonging to a family who lived in that area, or it referenced the bright, white outcroppings of soil in that community.  

A word to the wise:  “Leave the sign alone.”

We understand that the big Trump Boat Rally on Toledo Bend back on July 4 was a great success. The theme was “For God and Country.” The organizers of the grand affair were LeeAnn Gill Cooley and Dale Bailey. Photos courtesy of Wade Britt

Longtime Sabine Parish Registrar of Voters Kristi McCormick will retire come the end of August.

Many people have applied for her job, which will be filled by appointment by the Sabine Parish Police Jury.

Applying for the position are:

Elizabeth “Nan” Arthur

Jarred Brandon

Kaley Carter

Carl Chance

Joe Dewil, Jr.

Zachery Faircloth

Taylor Farmer

Tammy Fiscus

Dundee Fredieu

Reneta Goeghagan

Rebecca Heard

James Hubbard

Nicole Jackson

Beth Milligan

Faye McDonald

Kelli McLendon

Kaylynn Remedies

Samantha Rivers    

Clancey Stewart     

Lindy Strahan       

Edwina Thomas    

Priscilla Wolf

Kalli Wright

Qualifying for District Judge, District Attorney and Justices of the Peace will take place next week. The dates are July 22, 23 and 24 at the Sabine Parish Clerk of Court’s office. The election will be held Nov. 3, the same date as the Presidential Primary.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has announced it will not allow High School Football until Louisiana reaches Phase 4 in its reopening. Sad news for Many High School Tiger football fans.

All Town of Many employees are under quarantine for 14 days. The order was issued last week after an employee of the Police Department tested positive for the Coronavirus. For complete details you can go to the Town of Many Facebook page.

It all happened Tuesday morning. The first picture shows only the word “Mask” on the Many Community Center [Sabine Theater] marquee after a Facebook uproar Monday night over the previous Town of Many message which read “Click It Or Ticket. Mask It Or Casket.” Then at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, the original sign “Click It Or Ticket. Mask It Or Casket” was put back up. But that didn’t last long, as a workman came and put up a new sign saying “I Will Wear My Mask Here Or There. I Will Social Distance Everywhere.”

The first we saw of the social media posts on Monday night was from Patrick Colston who posted:  “This is sad and embarrassing for our city. After all, I’m not surprised.” A total of 78 responded to his comment, 85 shared it and 51 commented. The popular Cenla Report picked it up Tuesday morning, and as we readied to publish Observations on line, the Cenla post had 119 views, 63 comments and 66 shares.

Of the “Click it…” message, Sandy Upchurch McAnulty said:  “This is absolutely the stupidest s… I’ve seen yet. Ever who is responsible for this has lost their mind. We are grown people, not children. It’s time to grow up.”

Ashley McDonald wrote: “It rhymes and is humorous. I approve.”

Michele Parrie Quintero:  “I thought it was funny. People these days are too soft and offended by anything and everything.”

Gaynell Goodeaux:  “I am embarrassed that someone on the City Council thinks this is appropriate.”

Speedy Santos:  “Really needs to be taken down. This is an insult to the families that have a loved one who has passed away.”

Mark Simpson:  “All I will say is I’m glad I left and went to Texas.”

Kresha Matkin:  “I don’t care who is responsible for this, but please stop and think. Kids can read, and this is unnecessary worry on their ALREADY stressed minds. This is inappropriate and morbid and needs to come down.  No matter your feelings on the masks…this is too much.”

Katie Alford:  “Wow. Our minds go straight to legal thinking. Is this a threat? I know plenty of people who have gotten the virus, but didn’t end up in a casket, so what is their point here? If people don’t wear a mask, are they automatically putting them in a casket? I’m confused.”

Trina Taylor Haymon:  “I saw this going through town and thought how insensitive it was to those that have lost loved ones to Covid.”

Other words that were posted to describe the public’s reaction to the message:  sad, tacky, embarrassing, poor taste, unnecessary, trashy, I love it and distasteful.

And Many Councilwoman Mary Beth Brocato posted:  “Come on, Lighten up just a bit.”

Word about the speed trap village of Robeline is really getting around. This meme was posted on social media on July 1 by Simba Willis.

Life has certainly changed over the last few months, and things folks enjoy are changing with it. Sabine music lovers will be happy to know a new monthly event – a “Social Distance Social” – is now planned to provide live music in a safe, outdoor setting downtown.

After COVID-19 took hold, and local musicians could not perform inside Many restaurants or the Many Community Center [Sabine Theater] anymore, The Turn-Ups sponsored a free concert in front of the historic theater in late June. “We’re still standing strong,” was the evening’s theme and the live outdoor music provided a much-needed morale boost to passersby and those who listened from parked cars or drove down the street.

The Turn-Ups drew a surprisingly good crowd of local as well as out of town music fans who had a great time listening to their sidewalk performance. During the evening, the group was joined on a few songs by other regular Bayou Crawfish musicians, who normally appear at the downtown restaurant. Listeners social distanced on sidewalk benches and lawn chairs, and enjoyed the music as they visited Bayou Crawfish for food and refreshments.

Laurie Gentry happened to be across the street from the theater that night at Verity Gentry’s new law office, and they both noticed the event’s enthusiastic response. Laurie called James, the band’s bass player, soon after and within a few minutes the two tentatively planned a five-month outdoor music series to help bolster local spirits, boost downtown business and provide family entertainment for area music lovers. It was planned to be enjoyed in a safe, social distanced atmosphere, yet provide local event fellowship that has been much missed since back in March.

A “Social Distance Social” will be held on the third or fourth Friday of each month as follows:  July 24, Aug. 21, Sept. 25, Oct. 23 and Nov. 20. Performances are from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Businesses on San Antonio Ave. are invited to extend their open hours on those days until 8 p.m. to provide “Social Distance Social” shopping opportunities and to offer special discounts if they desire.

As in late June, Attorney Verity Gentry will have free bottles of water available outside her office door. Laurie Gentry will also provide free, washable cloth face masks and hand sanitizers courtesy of Laurie Gentry Designs. Those attending are reminded there is currently a mandatory face covering order in place from the governor’s office, and persons of different households are expected to social distance at no less than six feet.

As noted, The Turn-Ups will be the house band and local musicians are invited to sit in. Citizens are welcome to bring lawn chairs to use on the sidewalks. Core Sponsors for this series include Mayor and Mrs. Ken Freeman, Attorney Verity Gentry, Vanguard Behavioral Consultants LLC, John and Betsy Godfrey, Wagley Electrical LLC and Laurie Gentry Designs.

The series will take a break during the winter months and resume in the spring. Individuals or businesses who would like to sponsor future shows may contact Laurie Gentry at (318) 332-7873 or lauriegentrydesigns@gmail.com, or James Wagley at (318) 602-9206 or jameswagley.lcsw@gmail.com. Musicians who want to sit in should contact James beforehand by phone or email.

Many is quickly growing a reputation for great live music by local musicians. All are invited to attend and help create a great, new tradition of fun, outdoor street music.

A special thank you to James Wagley for the article above.

That is all for this 15th day of July. I love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for future articles. Send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com or call me at (318) 332-8653. To save, send or print this week’s column, click on the appropriate icon below. To read Observations of the past few years, follow the pages below. To see older, archived ones, please visit our Facebook page. As always, thank you for reading.

-30-