DES MOINES, Iowa – Two Northwestern State sprint greats, 2014 senior Justin Walker and 2018 senior Amir James, finished 4-6 Sunday evening in the storm-delayed 200 meter dash final at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships.
Walker, competing professionally, took fourth in 20.80. James, in his last meet officially representing Northwestern, claimed sixth in 20.818 to the 20.817 by Kenzo Cotton of Arkansas.
Ameer Webb was the winner in 20.47, followed by Kansas State’s Terrell Smith (20.74), Andrew Hudson of Texas Tech (20.797), Walker (20.789), Cotton, James, and Marqueze Washington, who cruised across in 24.67. The remaining qualifier for the finals, Michael Norman, did not start the race.
Walker and James finished 3-4 in Heat 2 of the 200 semifinals earlier Sunday to advance to the eight-man final, originally slated for 4:10 but delayed by thunderstorms until 7:20.
Walker ran 20.61 and James 20.71 into a slight headwind to earn their spots in the national final.
Both won a pair of All-America honors competing collegiately. This was James’ final competition for NSU.
James set the NSU school record, 20.41, in May at the NCAA East Preliminary Round after initially breaking it with a 20.47 at the Southland Conference Championships.
James ran the pivotal third leg of the Demons’ record-shattering 4×100 team that posted a 38.92 in the NCAA semifinals earlier this month and earned first-team All-America honors with a seventh-place finish in the finals. Two years earlier, he was a second-team All-American in the 4×100 after the Demons finished 15th at the NCAA Outdoors.
Walker took third in the 200 at the 2014 NCAA Outdoors, after finishing fourth in the 100, to earn his two first-team All-America honors.
Sabine Parish 4-H will collect eyeglasses that you NO LONGER use for the Lions Club through August 1. The 4-H members will donate these glasses to those in need through the Lions Club. There are several boxes in the front office where you can drop these glasses off for collection. You can also give them to any Junior Leader. Giving back to the community is our first priority.
BATON ROUGE— With a theme of “We’re all in this together,” nearly 1,500 4-H’ers from across the state won educational trips, participated in educational programs and selected new officers for the 2018-19 school year during 4-H University.
The 104th annual event was held on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge on June 19-22. 4-H University consists of 33 competitive contests, 11 Clover College tracks, electing new state officers and regional representatives for the state 4-H executive board, and selecting national conference delegates and members of six state leadership boards.
In the competitive contests, youth contended for educational trips to the Gulf Coast and San Antonio. They also vied for the right to represent Louisiana 4-H in several national competitions and cash prizes.
“For many 4-H members, 4-H University is the highlight of their year,” said Janet Fox, LSU AgCenter 4-H department head. “Some have been preparing for their contests all year, and others look forward to components like Clover College and other educational programs.”
4-H University also allows the participants to experience what life is like on a major college campus. They stay in dormitories during the event, and the contests and programs are held across the LSU campus, exposing 4-H members to a college-like experience.
“Some of our participants come from rural areas and attend small schools. 4-H U gives them a taste of the college atmosphere, and hopefully, they will find it less intimidating if they go off to college someday,” Fox said.
Nearly 250 students attended Clover College, a selection of seven-hour programs that are non-competitive and focus on education and exposing young people to campus life. Sessions included forensics, graphic design, horsemanship, learning about opportunities in the LSU College of Agriculture and lessons regarding the basics of video production.
State 4-H president, vice president, secretary, historian/reporter and parliamentarian were elected during the week. Westin Cobb, of Livingston Parish, was elected president, and Tay Moore, of Bienville Parish, will serve as vice president.
Eugenia Williams, of St. Landry Parish, was elected secretary; Nydia Cooper, of St. James Parish, was elected historian/reporter; and Clay Leblanc, of Iberville Parish, was chosen parliamentarian.
Members were also designated to serve on the boards for citizenship, fashion, food and fitness, performing arts, shooting sports, and science, engineering and technology (SET).
Delegates to represent Louisiana 4-H at the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C., in spring 2019 were also selected during 4-H U.
Representatives were chosen from five geographical regions to serve as liaisons between the state executive board and their respective regions and help in the planning and staging of regional and state 4-H events.
“I’m really excited about the next six months of Movies in Many, Music in Many, and Happy Hours Creative Classes at the Depot Museum,” says Many Mayor Ken Freeman.
“Our Cultural District Advisory Committee has worked really hard during the last few weeks to plan and finalize these programs from July through December, and I want to thank them for coming up with such appealing programs,” Freeman continued.
“Let me just hit some of the highlights,” the mayor explained. “Our popular Movies in Many program will be showing Jurassic World and Ferdinand in July. We’ve got a really special movie and party on September 15. The movie is Grease and we’re giving a 1950s sock hop along with the movie. We want people to dress in costume, and we’ll have some fun activities along with the movie. We are showing the acclaimed film Dunkirk on Nov. 10 in honor of Veterans Day. And we’re showing Justice League in November. And, of course, we’ll have Halloween and Christmas movies and parties for the children.”
The mayor emphasized that all movies are free to everyone, with concessions for only $1 each. Movies are shown on the first and third Saturday of each month. They are family friendly movies with ratings from G to PG 13. An R rated movie may be shown rarely if the story line is important enough to merit showing it. Freeman said he could think of only two movies in the past four years that received R ratings.
The mayor explained that people are warned in advance of an R-rated movie. The R rating is posted on the theater marquee, on Save the Date Facebook page and also the Town of Many’s Facebook page, as well other pages. Local media are also advised through news releases.
Freeman is also looking forward to the popular Music in Many concert series. The fall music concerts will begin in September, after taking a break for July and August. Freeman said that a parish wide gospel singing concert will be a new addition to the music shows. It will be performed on October 13 and will feature some outstanding gospel singers and praise dancer from around the Central Louisiana region.
Willie Stewart, Family and Friends will perform their second annual Christmas Concert on Dec. 15. Last year’s Christmas show was the first time the popular Stewart family had performed at the Many Community Center. “The show was a huge hit and one of our most popular music shows in 2017,” Freeman said. “So we asked them to come back this year, and Willie accepted.”
Freeman is especially proud of the Happy Hour Creative Classes taught on Saturday afternoons at the historic Depot Museum.
Members of the Depot Art Guild work closely with the Cultural District Advisory Committee to feature creative classes in several areas.
The creative classes last for three hours on the second, third and fourth Saturday afternoons of each month. Painting classes are taught on the second Saturday of every month starting on July 14. Well-known artist JoAnn Cason will teach the classes through November.
Crafts with Art Guild President Shanna Gaspard will begin on August 18 and will run through November. These are popular classes to bring children and grandchildren to, and they’re taught on the third weekend of each month.
One of the most popular classes to be taught is the Jewelry Design and Jewelry making class taught by professional jewelry designer Cheryl Pearsall. Pearsall has almost 20 years of experience in designing and creating one-of-a-kind jewelry. She shares her skills with her students. And students can take home their creations! Pearsall’s classes are taught on the fourth Saturday afternoon of each month.
Each of the Happy Hours creative classes have small class fees to cover the cost of materials and supplies that are provided.
Mayor Freeman emphasized that many hours go into planning and providing all these activities for the people of Many, Sabine Parish, and the surrounding areas.
“I don’t like to hear that there’s nothing to do here in Many,” Freeman said. “Now, thanks to some hardworking volunteers, our people can attend movies, concerts, plays, and different events at the Many Community Center. And they can also learn to paint, make something for their homes, or make a beautiful piece of jewelry.”
“We are lucky indeed to have these activities and we hope to add even more,” Freeman concluded. “Many is a great place to live with great people. And now we have some great activities for them.”
NSU– Northwestern State University announced the names of 1,087 students named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2018 semester. Students on the Dean’s List maintained a 3.5-3.99 grade point average. Students, listed by hometown (in the Sabine Parish area) are as follows.
Alexandria — Chris Vincent Advincula, Evelyn Allen-Lewis, Lili Bedoya, Heather Bergeron, Tianna Bowens, Lydia Branch, Morgan Bryant, Thomas Crowe, Noel Cusick, Angela Dunn, Aubrey Farque, Claudia Gauthier, Ian Grant, Monnie Guillory, Tameka Hammonds, Tyraneisha Hayward, Roderick Henry, Martha Hopewell, Jaliyah Jasper, Whitney Joffrion, Jordan Johnson, Kelli Leone, Hunter Lewis, Jimmie Magee, Aaron Martin, Ceerah McNeal, Jennifer Miranda, Kylah Porter, Sailor Reed, Savannah Sices, Shacora Simpson, Christopher Warren, Shanequa Watkins, Amber Williams Taylor;
Ashland — Victoria Roderick;
Bossier City — Alexander Bequette, Kendall Caple, Jael Ahmad, Lauryn Bakalis, Abigail Barkley, Breanna Black, Elizabeth Blair, Brittany Boothe, Steven Braddock, Katie Briggs, Jonathan Castillo, Peyton Davis, Anthonia Dogbey, Madison Edwards, Bailey Freeman, Karli Freeman, Laschae Gadson, Kelsey Gallman, Julie Golden, Mizzani Grigsby, Candace Guillory, Devonte Hall, Oai Lee Huynh, Anton Inyakov, Dejaney Jackson, Nourain Jamhour, Anqumesha Jeter, Shane Kaiser, Tina Kile, Danielle Lombardino, Alexandra Madrid, Samantha Maiette, Caroline McKee, Amanda Mings, Stacy Moore, Katherine Parson, Kennedy Parson, Brittani Phillips, Kathryn Pierce, Rachael Pierce, Tatyana Porter, Timothy Rice, Jami Rivers, Jasmine Roberson, Kassidy Robideaux, Madison Rowland, Rheagan Rowland, Jeremy Ryals, Dakota Schudalla, Ranya Shihadeh, Hope Spaw, Tabitha Stevenson, Susan Stone, James Taylor, Jazmine Tom-Jones, Giselle Trejo, Lacey Velasquez, Madalyn Watson, Meagan Willis, Nour Zeidan, Eric Zheng;
Boyce — Tiffany Barnhart, Ekaterina Bordelon, Sarah Hill, Sonya Hill, Hannah Miller, Ashley Smith;
Many — Rachel Bensinger, David Bourgeois, Toby Bruce, Jocelyn Cannon, Tyler Colston, Skyler Ezernack, Tiarra Frazier, Alison Garcia, Brittney Garcie, Savannah Garcie, Sheridan Gowen, Emmy Hinds, Emily Holcomb, Jenifer Meadows, Matthew Peace, Lincoln Pearce, Jonathan Pilcher, Bailey Walker;
Marthaville — Dillon Hagan, Mallory Powell, Madeline Procell, Daniel Rachal-Claspill;
Natchez — Victoria Bradford, Courtney Sarpy;
Natchitoches — Alissa Addison, James Armstrong, Cass Arnold, Adam Barnes, Behrend Behrendsen, Lauren Bennett, Joshua Bolton, Kayla Bordelon, Megan Bouchie, Taylor Burch, Deasia Burrell, Ebone Burton, John Byone, Ana Cardaba Garcia, Valerie Chadick, Hannah Chelette, Laura Coffey, Donna Cooper, Whitney Crooks, Dalton Dark, Cieara Davis, Sean Day, Jacob Ellis, Fred Fontenot, Daniela Forero Salcedo, Ashley Fortenberry, Mark Gallien, Luis Gallo Quintero, Taylor Garland, Christopher Gistarb, Samuel Greene, Pamela Gross, Hannah Haigh, Michaela Haigh, Jorgia Hamel, Jett Hayes, Emily Heard, Marcie Jenkins, Regina Johnson, Zachary Johnson, Jeremy Jones, Brian Jordan, Daniel Killian, Michael Kingsley, Abagael Kinney, Lyndon Knueppel, Jiyoon Lee, Robert Lee, John Lindsey, Luke Lucky, Kary-Katharine McCormick, Amber Minor, Shanteria Montgomery, Destiny Moody, Sarah Moody, Brooklyn Noe, Karmen O’ Connor, Joseph Parrie, Kevin Price, LaKendria Remo, Antavious Roberson, Cayla Roberts, Tyler Roberts, Aaron Rogers, William Rogers, Kayla Roquemore, Dante Samuel, Spencer Sepulvado, Anna Sibley, Josie Stamey, Scott Stewart, Harrison Thomas, Margaret Thompson, Victoria Thompson, Kaleb Usleton, Kristan Valdez, Ricardo Ventura, Ryan Wade, Kathryn White, Sarah Kay, Nicholas Wiggins;
The Natchitoches Parish Journal received this Letter to the Editor on June 19. The town of Many in Sabine Parish ranks number 22 nationwide.
NATCHITOCHES: I have always been proud of our little town, its historical significance, its beauty, and its festivals. However, there is another real fact that we must confront. According to a USA TODAY article published June 18, in towns with populations of 1000 to 25000 people, Natchitoches is the 6th poorest in the country. Listen to me: Not in the state, but in the entire country. Something has to be wrong if there are only five other towns in this entire country where the people are poorer than those in Natchitoches.
I don’t know where the fault lies but I would start with our political leaders, since they should be looking after the welfare and promoting businesses to ensure those who live here can earn a living wage. Further, while tourism is good, Natchitoches needs to attract industry, not chicken and other fast food franchises.
This negative national exposure that Natchitoches has just received can do nothing but harm Natchitoches. What parent will want to send his son or daughter to college in Natchitoches now? Very few, so it will have an adverse impact on NSU also.
To the powers that be, you need to do something and do it immediately or our little town will die a slow death!!
Michael J. Bonnette
Cloutierville, LA
(318) 332-6718
NSU– One thousand and ten students were named to the Spring 2018 Honor Roll at Northwestern State University. Students on the Honor Roll earned a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.49. Those named to the Honor Roll listed by hometown (in the Sabine Parish area) are as follows.
Alexandria — Raven Adams, Iris Barrera, Samantha Bergeron, Ariyanna Bonton, John, Jasmine Brown, Kayla Busby, Keana Byone, Joshua Cain, Alyssa Carpenter, Brandy Danzy, Josyf Das Neves, Anne David, Joshua Dorsey, Tai Fletcher, Bailey Gaspard, Mallory Halford, Adrienne Jett, Jasmine Johnson, Tadriel Jones, Leslie Katz, Dean Mayeux, Claudine McGlory, Olivia Mosley, Deasheneire Payne, Kellie Pebbles, Madeline Pharis, Ragan Richey, Imani Ricks, Kenya Sariale, Nadage Scott, Taijha Silas, Carlos Sykes, Payton Tassin, Alexander Trotter, Hailey Urena, William Welch, Tashiana Whitehead, Elaina Williams;
Bossier City — Austin Averitt, Adriana Avie, Colton Bailey, Ashley Bennett, Leah Benoit, Jontil Benson, Mickayla Blue, Alexandra Borrmann, Kayli Brewer, Alexander Brooks, Courtney Brooks, Takeynea Brown, Mckay Crews, Karla Cruz, Marda David, Jordan Davis, Kasey Dice, Kelly Flores, Courtney Giddens, Sydney Gootee, Jacob Hammons, Adrianne Hampton, Asylynn Henderson, Angelo Hurtado, Haley Joncas, Emily Larosee, Mikayla Lehane, Savannah Lewwe, Rance Mason, Claire McMillan, Michelle Moline, Brittany Morris, Reondrick Owens, Michael Phelps, Khayla Pugh, Nigmeh Rahman, Sierra Richard, Johnathon Schluter, Sydney Shannon, Allisyn Steele, Crystal Tuggle, Tomaya Turner, Jacory Williams;
Boyce — Hannah Aslin, Seth Baggett, Brooklynn Basco, Devin Hilliard, Amanda Land, Lizabeth Lee, Eli Maffioli, Alexandra Morgan;
CLTCC Executive President Jeremy Gray was sworn in as a student member in the Board of Supervisors June 13 and attended his first Board meeting in Baton Rouge. Gray was elected into this position through the Council of Student Body Presidents (COSBP) and will serve on this Board as a member for the 2018-2019 term.
The Sabine Council on Aging, Inc. is gearing up to elect additional members to its Board of Directors. Residents are invited to fill out an application to apply for a board membership.
The Board of Directors meet monthly at a time and place designated by the Council, usually the fourth Thursday of each month. Special meetings may also be called, as necessary.
The length of each Board Member’s term shall be for a period of three years and may be renewed for a second three year term.
The deadline to submit applications for membership is on or before July 16. The
annual Board Meeting will be held July 26 and new Board Members will be elected at that time.
Fill out the applications forms below and return to the Legacy Building in Many.
The Sabine Parish Tourist Commission expressed its sincere appreciation for the 12+ years of service Mrs. Barbara Peterson dedicated to the Commission and to helping encourage tourism in the Toledo Bend Lake Country area. She is shown here with President Kyle Martinez as she is presented with a commemorative clock in her honor.
Divorcing after 23 years of marriage was never my plan in life. No one plans for failure. Sometimes failure is the only option. From my failure there were lessons to be learned and strangely enough laughs to be had. I never dreamed I would find so much humor and wisdom all at the same time.
1. Divorce under the most peaceful of circumstances is still a roller coaster of emotions. Every single day. Sometimes several emotions at the same time during the same day.
2. If you lose friends during the divorce they were not your true friends in the first place. You cannot lose what you never had.
3. Getting mail addressed to the “______ family” will always be a gut wrenching experience. Not sure how to let junk mail know that we are divorced.
4. It is easier to get a divorce from a spouse than get your cell phone bill separated. Cell phone companies are firm believers in “Family Plans.”
5. Christmas card season is super awkward. Cudos to my friend on Starlight Point for winning this award. She must have read a helpful article on this one. When I received her family Christmas card I didn’t feel like I wasn’t part of a family anymore.
7. You will fight over things you never imagined were important. ie WalGreens points and Brookshire’s points for gas (When Super 1 took over this ended the race to gas station for points).
8. You will be lonely at times. Extremely lonely. But you will survive.
9. Your children will be sad. They will be angry. No matter how good you are getting along with your ex-spouse they will not be at peace with the divorce decision. Patience and honesty is key here.
10. There are so many kind people in this world and our community. Let them help you. It’s okay to need others. Reach out.
11. Always put your children first. Even when they don’t want you to. Focus on your children. They act like they don’t want the extra attention but they need reassurance that they will be okay and they are loved.
12. Bitterness is better left behind. The main loser in a bitterness battle is yourself. The people closest to you will suffer too if you do not get this in check. No one wants to hear the bitter version more than once or twice.
13. If you shared children with your ex-spouse they will forever be in your lives. Make the most of it. The kids will cherish and appreciate this one day.
14. The first time you have to sign school documents listing two separate addresses for parents will leave you feeling like a failure as an adult. I haven’t even crossed the bridge of taking back my maiden name yet. Two addresses. Two Names. #fixitJesus
15. Everyone has a opinion on how and where your marriage went wrong. The only opinion that matters is the truth.
16. Broken people attract broken people. There will no shortage of people who love attending pity parties. A true friend will attend two maybe three pity parties and then refuse to allow them and attend them.
17. Change is so hard. I’ve been through so many changes this year I’m actually looking for more ways to change. Go big or go home.
18. You might drink too much. You might eat too much.
19. Alcohol and Country Music are depressants. Stay away from both. Especially both at the same time. However, Taylor Swift Essentials Play List on Apple Music is so therapeutic.
20. Not everyone loses weight during a divorce. This one made me sad. I was looking forward to this but it didn’t happen.
21. Reminder- you will be lonely. This bears repeating. Lonely will not kill you. Divorce hurts and you have to feel every bit of it to heal properly.
22. I’ve learned and made peace with the fact I am not perfect on any level. Being imperfect builds character. Or so, I keep telling myself.
23. You absolutely unequivocally cannot make it through a life changing event without your faith. I’ve heard so many people criticize others for “finding Jesus in critical times”….this is what you are supposed to do. Our God is a patient and forgiving God who will give you peace during the storms.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
At the June 2018 Sabine Parish Tourist Commission Board Meeting, Sabine Parish Clerk of Court Tammy Foster swore in Board Member Edith Palmer and new Board Member Bobbie Jackson. To learn more about the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission go online to toledobendlakecountry.com/about-us.
There will be a free showing of “Legends of the Fall” at the Many Community Center in honor of Father’s Day this Saturday, June 16 at 7 pm at the Sabine Theater in Many.
In the early 1900s, three brothers and their father living in the remote wilderness of Montana are affected by betrayal, history, love, nature, and war.
Rated R. Admission is free. Drinks and popcorn only $1 each.
Plot Summary: In early 20th-century Montana, Col. William Ludlow lives in the wilderness with his sons, Tristan, Alfred and Samuel. Eventually, the unconventional but close-knit family encounters tragedy when Samuel is killed in World War I. Tristan and Alfred survive their tours of duty, but, soon after they return home, both men fall for Samuel’s gorgeous fiancée, Susannah, and their intense rivalry begins to destroy the family.
The annual Black Heritage Festival will take place this weekend, June 15-17. The festival will include a car show, gospel music, storytelling and a pig roast along with other activities. It is free and open to the public.
The festival is a day for reflection, renewal, and pride. The festival is open to the public and is inclusive of all races, ethnicities and nationalities.
Friday, June 15: Gospel concert, Sabine Theater at 6 pm
Saturday, June 16: Festival, Old Many Jr. High at 11 am
Sunday, June 17: Car Show, Old Many Jr. HIgh at 7 pm
TBLA provided a grant of approximately $20,000 to the Sabine Tourist Commission June 7 to install Gateway welcoming signage and landscaping at the intersection of Hwy. 6 and Hwy. 191, to make a more pleasing site for local residents and visitors in the Toledo Bend Lake Country area.
TBLA combined efforts with the Sabine Tourist Commission, SRA of Louisiana, volunteers from the Sabine Parish Detention Center and community volunteers to make the project come together.
Toledo Bend Lake Country hosts thousands of visitors each year and is home to many residents. This project offers a positive first impression to the area and helps to set the stage for Toledo Bend’s upcoming 50-year celebration in 2019.
By Patrick Bonin
Article republished courtesy of Louisiana Sportsman
Not too long ago, Mike Carriere was wondering if he’d ever get the chance to beat his personal best 8 ½-pound bass.
“Just a few weeks ago, I was saying I might not ever catch a fish over 10 pounds in my life, but I want my grandkids to have the chance,” the 59-year-old Church Point angler said. “So that’s why we’ve been telling people to release the big fish and keep the smaller fish.
“Let all those big fish go so some kids can catch them one day.’”
All that good karma apparently paid off early Sunday morning up at Toledo Bend, when Carriere reeled in a 12.4-pound hawg during a night-fishing trip in Lanan. He was with Phil Vidrine and his son Travis, on Vidrine’s party barge when the fish of a lifetime bit about 3:45 a.m.
“We always night-fish this time of year,” Carriere explained. “It gets so hot during the daytime, unless you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, it’s just too hot to bass fish. And you’re going to catch bigger fish at night.”
They had been working a point, and moved down a shoreline to a lighted dock when the big fish bit his Texas-rigged, 11½-inch plum-colored Zoom Ol’ Monster worm.
“I had constantly cast under that light, I guess five or six times in the same place,” Carriere said. “I was like, ‘They have to have a fish under this light. They have to.’ But nobody was catching, so I said, ‘Let’s go back to the point where we were, let’s turn around.’ But I said, ‘One more cast.’ When I cast it, there she was.
“It just stopped. My rod stopped, and I hollered, ‘This is a big fish.’ I didn’t know what it is, because it’s dark. But she came up and she tried to spit it, and then I said, ‘It’s a real big fish — get the net.’
“She came up two or three times between the boat and the dock and tried to spit it.”
Phil and Travis each had a net waiting for the lunker on the first pass.
“I said, ‘Here she comes,’ and she came up right on the side of the boat — and they both missed her,” Carriere said with a chuckle. “Then she took a dive again. I said, ‘Oh no — two nets and neither one of y’all got it.’”
On the next pass, Phil had the bigger net and safely brought the giant fish aboard.
“I was thinking she looked around 10, but Phil said no — she’s more than 10,” Carriere said.
Vidrine’s scale backed up his estimate — it said the fish weighed 12.7 pounds, and the decision was made to leave immediately to try and keep the fish alive.
But the party barge didn’t have a livewell — not a regular one, anyway. Fortunately, Vidrine’s aerator-equipped ice chest that he uses to keep minnows in while crappie fishing was onboard, so the big bass squeezed inside with about 30 or 40 baitfish for the trip back to Carriere’s camp in San Miguel.
At Toledo Town & Tackle, the big bass tipped the certified scales there at 12.4 pounds, and measured 27 inches long with a 20 ⅜-inch girth.
It is the ninth — and largest fish so far — registered in the 2018-19 Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program, which awards anglers who catch 10-pound-plus bass a free replica if the fish is returned back to the reservoir alive
So as it turned out, Carriere wound up not only catching that elusive 10-pound-plus fish, but crushing his personal best by almost 4 pounds.
“That’s a gift to be able to catch something like that,” he said. “I’m just so glad.”
The Sabine Council on Aging will host its annual Membership Drive/Open House at all locations on June 15 from 10 am – 2 pm. There will be light refreshments and representatives there to answer any questions.
To qualify for membership one must be 18 years or older and a resident of Sabine Parish. Membership is free for those who wish to sign up.
Membership benefits include being able to vote for board members during the election cycle and eligibility during elections, if the member is above 60 years-old.
When we stood in the driveway and gazed upon our new home in Goldonna it was a sight to behold. It was a modest and picturesque older frame home with a circle driveway made of sand and gravel. There were large pine trees and oak trees covering the house with just enough shade to make you appreciate when the sun came beaming through the leaves. This country home was landscaped with 30-year-old azaleas and camellias. At first glance the older trees and bushes seemed overgrown. It still had tremendous potential for a breathtaking yard. We all tried to imagine the beauty once everything in the yard bloomed.
Sadly no one had a green thumb or really even understood what a green thumb did. As luck would have it we had a church member who was more than eager to take on the task of pruning the elderly shrubbery. She claimed to be able to restore them to their former glory. We watched helplessly as she cut the shrubs down to bare nubs. We saw the potential quickly burned in a trash pile.
There was no burn ban and we lived in the country. This is how we handled things. Our church member turned tree surgeon kept reassuring us that she fertilized them and we should see new growth soon and the blooms the following year should be stunning.
Should be.
Every morning for what seemed like months, we would wake up with hopes this would be the day that we would see growth. There was none. Days turned into months. Months turned into years. If hope could grow greenery and blooms our yard would have looked like a page torn right out of Home & Garden. After about three years we gave up hope that we would ever see them restored.
Every time my father preached about forgiveness I just imagined he was referring to the church member who stole our yard’s dignity.
Our family did not understand the mechanics of heavy pruning and did not realize that the chopped bushes still had potential. We still gave up and made peace with the fact that our shrubbery was barren.
Pruning can be devastating but sometimes our own lives get pruned as well. Sometimes it’s willingly and we recognize the need to rid our lives of overgrowth.
We prune friends who are no longer on our same path or who are potentially just not good for us. We prune family members who we have completely given up on. We may prune a dead end job when there’s no potential or it just feels stagnate. Sometimes we’re so overcommitted with unnecessary obligations that we’re completely overwhelmed and lose sight of our true purpose in life. Sometimes we even see the need to prune our earthly possessions.
Pruning is simple when we authorize the changes.
Unexpected or unauthorized pruning feels like punishment because more times than not we are not strong enough to execute the pruning ourselves. When something is removed from our lives without our consent it is a hard pill to swallow. Something we will miss and something we had convinced ourselves that we cannot live without is gone. Somethings we were not ready to let go of on our own. We were too weak to realize that those branches were unhealthy and had to be removed. When this happens this season can be quite painful. We literally cannot see the potential for growth during this season. It can be dark and lonely.
But just like the landscape that we thought would never return, once it was fertilized for a proper amount of time and the right season came along… it bloomed. The blooms were larger and more full than they ever were before. Sometimes the blooms will be heartier and may even bloom in a better color than before. This is the season where you see a purpose for the pain. This is the season where God delivered you from your past and you see a promise for a great future. The true blessing comes when you can say, “I would go through that all over again just to be where I am today.”
I am blessed to say that the church member tree surgeon is still a treasured friend even today.
Ecclesiates 3:1-8
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens:
A time to be born and a time to die
A time to plant and a time to uproot
A time to kill and a time to heal
A time to tear down and a time to build
A time to weep and a time to laugh
A time to mourn and a time to dance
A time to scatter stone and a time to gather them
A time to embrace and a time refrain from embracing
A time to search and a time to give up
A time to keep and a time to throw away
A time to tear and a time to mend
A time to be silent and a time to speak
A time to love and a time to hate
A time for war and a time for peace
NATCHITOCHES – The biggest Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Weekend ever begins in signature fashion on Thursday evening, June 28, with the annual La Capitol Kickoff Reception welcoming the 2018 Induction Class and guests to the Hall of Fame museum.
The reception is open to the public at no charge from 5-7 p.m. on June 28. It starts a series of festivities including a brand-new Friday afternoon bowling outing, a first-ever riverbank concert Friday night June 29 that is free to the public, the traditional free Championship Saturday Kids Clinic, a Sunday golf scramble July 1 at Alexandria’s OakWing Golf Club, and the feature event, the Saturday evening, June 30 Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Ceremony.
Information and registration opportunities are available at the LaSportsHall.com website or by calling the Hall of Fame Foundation office at 318-238-4255.
La Capitol has sponsored the Kickoff Reception since the Hall of Fame returned its annual inductions to Natchitoches in 2003, after a three-year trial run in Shreveport-Bossier. The reception has always been open to everyone, providing a unique opportunity in a casual setting to meet and mingle with the incoming Hall of Fame members while enjoying quality local entertainment, food and refreshments.
Natchitoches resident Mary Ann Nowlin, a regional vice president for La Capitol, initiated the financial institution’s partnership with the Hall of Fame induction weekend 15 years ago with a sense of community responsibility and pride.
“La Capitol is committed to improving the well-being of communities throughout the state. What better way than to provide our youth dedicated role models, determined to achieve a standard of excellence,” she said. “The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame honors “Real Life” heroes and presents their stories of achievements – right here in Natchitoches with this event, and all year long in the museum.”
“La Capitol is a cornerstone partner for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame,” said Foundation CEO/President Ronnie Rantz. “Mary Ann Nowlin and La Cap led the local and area business community in supporting our annual induction weekend and consistently helping raise the level of involvement by their active engagement in all our weekend activities.
“The La Cap family, from all around our state but particularly the local staff members, have been active participants and volunteers during our inductions since 2003 and we hope for years and years to come,” said Rantz.
La Capital FCU has been part of Louisiana’s financial landscape for 56 years, with roots deep in the capital city of Baton Rouge and branches spreading statewide. The La Cap mission statement says the organization’s goal is “to be a strong and growing non-profit financial institution, serving the financial needs of a wide diversity of members throughout our state, region and nation.”
For more information about La Cap and its many financial services, visit LaCapFCU.org.
The 11 inductees being enshrined June 30 at the Natchitoches Events Center include eight competitive ballot sports heroes: NFL star receivers Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley, LSU and 18-year Major League Baseball pitcher Russ Springer, Grambling and NBA champion Larry Wright, coaching legends Lewis Cook (high school football) and Jerry Simmons (tennis at UL Lafayette and LSU), and the late Paul Candies, a member of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
Three contributors are set for induction, led by Steve Gleason, the former New Orleans Saints defensive back whose advocacy for victims of ALS has earned nationwide acclaim. He will receive the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.
NSU graduate and noted Louisiana broadcaster Lyn Rollins, and acclaimed Lake Charles sportswriter Scooter Hobbs will receive the state’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.
Many Mayor Ken Freeman, the Many City Council and the Many Cultural District present Music in Many: Live Music Series to residents in Sabine Parish. Performances will be held at the Many Community Center. Admission on June 23 and September 22 is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Admission on November 3 and December 15 is $8 for adults and $5 for kids. Veterans get in for free.
June 15 at 7 pm: Juneteenth Festival (FREE) featuring gospel choirs
June 23 at 7 pm: 2 Country 4 Nashville
September 22 at 7 pm: Jerad Bridges and Band (PENDING)
October 13: Sabine Parish Gospel Singing (LOVE OFFERING ONLY)
November 3 at 7 pm: Troy LeBlanc & Band
December 15 at 7 pm: Family & Friends Christmas Concert with Willie Stewart
Many Mayor Ken Freeman, the Many City Council and the Many Cultural District and Depot Art Guild present Happy Hour Classes to residents in Sabine Parish. Classes are held at the Historic Many Depot, located at Hwy. 171 Bypass in Many.
PAINTING CLASSES: HELD ON SECOND SATURDAYS FROM 1-4 PM
July 14- Summer Roses in a Jar
August 11- Chickadee Perched on a Flower Branch
September 8- By the Beautiful Sea
October 13- Robin’s Nest in a Tree
November 10- Santa Claus
Painting classes are $20, which covers supplies. To register for a painting class call JoAnn Cason at 318-228-7767
CRAFT CLASSES: HELD ON THIRD SATURDAYS FROM 1-4 PM
August 18- Framed Dried Florals
September 15- Wooden Pumpkin Patch
October 20- Leaf Art
November 17- Mason Jar Lid Snowman
Craft classes are $20, which covers supplies. To register for a craft class call Shanna Gaspard at 318-602-1614.
JEWELRY MAKING & DESIGN: HELD ON FOURTH SATURDAYS FROM 1-4 PM
July 28- Paper Bead Bracelet
August 25- Splashes of Summer Bracelet
September 22- Back to School Geometric Earrings
October 27- Cloth Bead Necklace
November 24- Holiday Sparkle Necklace
Jewelry classes are $25, which covers supplies. To register for a jewelry class call Cheryl Pearsall at 727-534-1057.
Zwolle Mayor G.J. “Pie” Martinez, Town Council, and the Anniversary Committee are busy preparing for the town’s anniversary on June 9 at 1pm. The Town of Zwolle received its Official Charter on June 12, 1898. City Officials will dedicate two bronze historical markers honoring Zwolle’s Kansas City Southern Railroad Depot (c. 1914) and the Old Zwolle Jail (c. 1909).
The area destined to become Zwolle was settled by Native American, Spanish, and French families more than a century and a half before the arrival of the railroad in 1896. This area was called Vallecillo, which is Spanish meaning “the little valley”. The devotion and hospitality of the large Catholic community at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church moved KCS Railroad Financier Jan De Goeijen to open a railroad station at this location. In 1896, the Dutchman gave the town the name of his birthplace Zwolle, Netherlands, and aided financially in its founding.
A special guest at the festivities will be Jan De Goeijen’s great granddaughter, who is traveling from her home in the Netherlands to Zwolle for the first time. She is the third generation De Goeijen family member to visit Zwolle. Her grandfather and great grandfather visited Zwolle in 1927, when they visited every town along the KCS Railroad, from Kansas City, MO to Port Arthur, TX.
In 1896, Teofilo “T.” Laroux, a community leader and descendant of the early Native American, Spanish, and French families donated 20 acres to the KCS for a depot and town to be built. The descendants of T. Laroux will be recognized for Laroux’s donation of land and lifelong service and generosity to the Zwolle community.
The old Zwolle jail served the town through its wild and unruly early years. It housed lawbreakers of many offenses such as fighting, public drunkenness, larceny, murder, and moonshining. Originally built in 1909, the jail had fallen into deplorable conditions by the 1940s. Longtime City Marshal Quinton Brandon campaigned for more humane conditions for the prisoners. In 1953 a new City Hall, Fire Station, and Jail were dedicated. The descendants of Quinton Brandon will also be honored for Mr. Brandon’s long dedication and service to the town of Zwolle.
Everyone is invited to join the celebration on June 9, 2018 at 1pm at Zwolle City Hall. Anniversary Committee Members include G. J. “Pie” Martinez, Martha R. Henderson, Mary Lucille “Betty” Rivers, Cody Bruce, Linda Curtis-Sparks, and Robert and Laurie Gentry. Without support from Town Council Members Carolyn Cutright, Darlene Frazier, Martha Rivers Henderson, Rich Remedies, Allen Rivers, and Chief of Police Daniel Thomas this event would not have been possible. For additional information please contact Zwolle City Hall at 318-645-6150 or Martha R. Henderson at 318-645-9573.
The Town of Zwolle has come a long way since it was first settled by Native American, Spanish and French families more than a century and a half ago. It was originally called Vallecillo, Spanish for “the little valley.”
Zwolle is planning a celebration in honor of their 120 founding on June 9 at 1 p.m. City Officials are dedicating two bronze historical markers which will honor the Kansas City Southern Railroad Depot and the Old Zwolle Jail.
The event is free to the public and will kickoff at City Hall.
Zwolle’s 120th Anniversary Celebration:
Welcome Mayor G.J. “Pie” Martinez
Master of Ceremony Becky Brandon Loupe Retired Educator, 37 years
Pledge of Allegiance Boy & Girl Scouts of America
National Anthem Ieshia Cutright
Blessing Rev. Richard Norsworthy St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
Recognition of Guests: Veterans Elected Officials Native American Tribes
Zwolle History Highlights Cody Bruce, TX A&M Professor
Future Plans for Depot Linda Curtis-Sparks, Director Sabine Parish Tourist Comm.
Unveiling and Reading of Bronze Plaques:
Zwolle Railroad Depot Monique Kuipers de Goeijen Recognized Teofilo “T.” Laroux Descendants Recognized
Early Zwolle Jail Quinton Brandon Family Recognized Storytelling
Presentation of Framed Prints Martha R. Henderson
Recognition of Committee Carolyn Cutright Darlene Frazier
Closing Remarks Daniel Thomas, Chief of Police
“I’m really excited about the next six months of Movies in Many, Music in Many, and Happy Hours Creative Classes at the Depot Museum,” says Many Mayor Ken Freeman.
06/20/2018 21:10
The Sabine Council on Aging, Inc. is gearing up to elect additional members to its Board of Directors. Residents are invited to fill out an application to apply for a board membership.
The Sabine Parish Tourist Commission expressed its sincere appreciation for the 12+ years of service Mrs. Barbara Peterson dedicated to the Commission and to helping encourage tourism in the Toledo Bend Lake Country area. She is shown here with President Kyle Martinez as she is presented with a commemorative clock in her honor.
At the June 2018 Sabine Parish Tourist Commission Board Meeting, Sabine Parish Clerk of Court Tammy Foster swore in Board Member Edith Palmer and new Board Member Bobbie Jackson. To learn more about the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission go online to toledobendlakecountry.com/about-us.
