Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Word just in from Councilwoman Mary Beth Brocato that the Aug. 8 and 22 Movies in Many have been cancelled due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Sabine Parish.

Because of an abundance of news, we want to remind you that another Observations will be published on Friday. In addition, Observations is now published each week in the Sabine Index.

Our Sabine Sheriff is a man of his word.

John Allen Martinez Jr., 40, hanged himself in the Sabine Parish Detention Center on March 18. On June 18, Observations carried a story about his widow, Melanie Martinez, attempting to get answers about his death from then-Sheriff Ronny Richardson, District Attorney Don Burkett and others.

“I’m getting the run around; I’m not getting any answers and it’s frustrating,” she said at the time. Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, who was not in office when the incident happened, said he would listen to Ms. Martinez after he took office July 1, and he did.

Ms. Martinez informed Observations that she had a conversation with Sheriff Mitchell and she appreciated his time very much. She also said she talked to DA Burkett and got a copy of the investigative report from him.

Observations asked Burkett for a comment, and just before we published this week, he said the file is ready for us to take a look at. He did say that his office would not take any action concerning the matter.

There were so many problems in the Sabine Detention Center under Sheriff Richardson that Sheriff Mitchell and his Chief Deputy Brad Walker have made a concerted effort to get the mess cleaned up.

On July 28, Stanley Frederick Craig, 28, was charged with possession of contraband in a penal institution.

Defunding the police is the best example of “You don’t know what you have ‘til it’s gone!”…I think they should have a trial run, let them go on ride-alongs and the officers just step back and let things happen. It wouldn’t take them long to respect law enforcement.

There was a shooting at the Chevron Station in Zwolle on Tuesday, July 28 at 1:33 p.m. inside the store, according to Zwolle Chief of Police Daniel Thomas. That is a very sad disregard for human life as innocent persons could have been shot or killed.

Chief Thomas said Brendan Allen Ezernack walked into the store and punched Cardell Andrew Lynch Jr. in the face. The two men started fighting when Lynch pulled out a gun and shot Ezernack in the arm.

Lynch was charged with aggravated second-degree battery and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. Ezernack was charged with simple battery and disturbing the peace.

We have been informed that Thomas Lindsey has an outstanding citation from the Town of Many. Recently he received a letter from American Municipal Services in Carrollton, TX that he owed $468 and that the court has issued an arrest warrant. “Action is required on your behalf to resolve this matter and have the warrant recalled,” the letter said.

According to information provided, the ticket was for a minor violation and was to have been resolved by a case in District Court. The ticket was issued in 2011 and the person was very upset by the amount that was claimed he owed.

The Many Police Department said a Many citizen reported an unusual phone call on July 29. The call showed up on the person’s caller ID as Many Police Department, (318) 256-5617. The caller identified himself as an officer, but was described as having a foreign accent, either Indian or Asian.

The caller was attempting to gain money from his potential victims by persuasion and intimidation by telling the victims to visit Many Police Dept. if no payment was made.

The Police Department urges Many residents to be aware of such and if someone calls you with a similar story, disregard it.

Sales tax collections in Sabine Parish were down by $67,388.47 compared to July of last year, according to a report issued by Sales Tax Collector Nolan Rivers. Only the Town of Many, Town of Zwolle, School District #34 and Sabine Tourist Commission showed an increase in revenue over the previous year. The report follows:

Dr. Stella Immanuel, whom we featured last week, currently faces a lawsuit for medical malpractice. A Louisiana family sued Immanuel after their loved one, Leslie Norvell, died in February 2019.

The case is not related to the coronavirus, the treatment of which Dr. Immanuel spoke of recently on a national platform. This story begins at Sabine Medical Center in Many, where Immanuel practiced at the time of the alleged incident referenced in the lawsuit.  

Court documents reveal Norvell’s relatives are making the claim that the fatal infection which took her life might have been prevented had Dr. Immanuel and another doctor at Sabine Medical investigated the initial emergency more closely. Documents say that when Norvell first visited the hospital, she told medical staff that a meth needle had broken off in her arm while she injected the drug.

It is reported that following her complaint, Norvell was prescribed medication and sent home. After continued pain, the suit says Norvell visited another hospital elsewhere, and the needle was removed. The lawsuit alleges her death was caused by a massive infection due to the embedded needle.

As recently as April, Immanuel had not actually been served with the lawsuit yet because Norvell’s family was unaware the doctor had moved to Texas.

When updates on the lawsuit are available, Observations will share the information in future columns.

Dr. Immanuel was licensed in Louisiana in 1998, and there are no documented disciplinary actions or complaints against her in Louisiana or Texas, where she now practices at Rehoboth Medical Center in Houston.

I have a trail camera on my place out in the country near Marthaville and love to have a look at what travels the land. This is what I think is a unique picture of a bobcat climbing a pine tree. I would love to know what it was after. There was no picture of the cat coming down, so it might still be up the tree.

Last week we ran a list of the persons we have heard mentioned as candidates for the Town of Many Mayor’s race next year. A name we heard after publishing was Caleb Burkett, son of District Attorney and Mrs. Don Burkett.

Saturday morning we had the pleasure of meeting Sarah Lee who has moved to Many. Her grandmother, the late Virginia Lee, worked for years at the Sabine Index when I owned it and her father, Larry Lee, worked for the Florien Police Department, among other jobs.

If I remember correctly, Ms. Lee has worked in seven different countries, traveled the world and is highly educated. She is articulate, friendly and sure seems to be a people person. And she told us she is going to run for Many Mayor. You’ll be hearing more from her later.

We get letters:

Last Friday we published a piece that Carl Derrick, a native of Converse, had written. On Saturday we received an email from our longtime friend, Attorney Ken Simmons. He is a native of Converse and his father, the late W. G. Simmons, served as principal. Ken lived and practiced law in Many for several years. He and wife Phyllis moved to Shreveport a few years ago. Mr. Simmons wrote the following message:

“My thanks to Carl Derrick for his tribute to my dad in the July 31 ‘Observations.’ My thanks to you for printing Carl’s article. I too spent ‘several’ hours in that northeast corner, second floor classroom of the old Converse High School building. I also spent a goodly part of my life with W. G. Simmons. He was a fiercely proud and determined patriot who loved this country with a passion. I am confident that he is looking down with his thanks to Carl and to you – BUT, with much discontentment about the direction this country is taking and the commitment of those who are resolved to destroy it.”

Thanks for writing, Ken.

The happy fisherman who caught this 11.43 lb. bass on Aug. 1 is Bernard Fruge, above, shown after weighing it in at Buckeye Landing Marina. The fish is noted as Number 004 for the period of May 2020 to May 2021.

As we reported earlier, the 28th Annual Marthaville Good Old Days Festival and Parade has been canceled due to COVID-19. Head man Fuzzy Hennigan said the expenses go on to maintain the Marthaville Heritage Society Park, and they are raising funds through membership fees and donations.

Last September Pat Hillard Hall, Donna Dyson Horn, Amy Birdwell Vercher, Fuzzy and others had a political rally which cleared $2,243 to go toward a new roof for the Heritage Building. The best bid to get the roof done was $6,700, which has them $4,500 short to complete the project. 

“Even during these trying times, we still have an electric bill and the grass keeps growing,” Fuzzy said. Members are asked to renew, and anything above the $5 yearly dues will go to expenses. Interested persons may send membership fees and donations to Marthaville Heritage Society, P. O. Box 182, Marthaville, LA 71450.

We were saddened to learn last week of the death of long-time Sabine Parish citizen, James Q. Salter. He was 95.

Salter was born on Feb. 25, 1925 in Florien, LA and passed away at his home in Stuarts Draft, VA on July 30.

He lived in Zwolle from 1933 until he moved to Stuarts Draft, VA in 2011. Mr. Salter was graduated from Zwolle High School in 1941, received his BA degree from Northwestern State University, his MA degree from Stephen F. Austin University and did graduate work at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Mr. Salter served 27 months in the U.S. Army Force during World War II. He served as a radio operator on a B-29 Superfortress. His crew completed 32 missions against Japan. He received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross along with other citations.

He retired from the Sabine Parish School Board in 1980 after 33 and one-half years of service. He served 17 years as a classroom teacher, 12 and one-half years as Principal and four years as Parish Supervisor.

A prolific writer, he is the author of two books: “Zwolle, Louisiana, Our Story” and “Smelling the Roses.” Mr. Salter wrote many articles for the Sabine Index in Many. He served as Editor of the Village News, the monthly newsletter of the Stuarts Draft Retirement Community where he lived.

He was inducted into the Sabine Hall of Fame in 2004.

We were honored to have the opportunity to know and have the friendship of this good man. James Q. Salter was a jewel and he will be deeply missed.

The Coronavirus has hit the Sabine Detention Center. Chief Deputy Brad Walker said three inmates have tested positive. The chapel, located near the Center, has been turned into a place where the prisoners can be quarantined. In addition, seven jailers have tested positive. Deputy Walker said they are keeping a close eye on the situation.

That’s a wrap. I love to hear your ideas for future articles, so please call me at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. To save, send or print today’s column, click on the appropriate icon below. To see past Observations, follow the pages below. As always, thank you for your faithful readership.

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