UPDATE: LHSAA football state championships – Schedule & Results

The LSHAA high school football state championship game dates are December 27-30 with state championship games in nine classifications being played at Turpin Stadium on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.

CLASS 5ASeasonDateTimeScoreStatus
Acadiana10-112/306pm0Pending
Alexandria7-012/306pm0Pending


CLASS 4ASeasonDateTimeScoreStatus
Carencro11-112/296pm35Won
Edna Karr10-112/296pm19FINAL


CLASS 3ASeasonDateTimeScoreStatus
Madison Prep10-212/306pm0Pending
Union Parish11-012/306pm0Pending


CLASS 2ASeasonDateTimeScoreStatus
Many11-012/271pm16Won
Union Parish9-212/271pm13Final


CLASS 1ASeasonDateTimeScoreStatus
Oak Grove10-012/2811am33Won
Grand Lake8-212/2811am7Final


Division ISeasonDateTimeScoreStatus
Catholic – B.R.9-212/276pm35Won
C.E. Byrd10-012/276pm12Final


Division IISeasonDateTimeScoreStatus
Thomas More9-012/287pm35Won
De La Salle10-012/287pm28Final


Division IIISeasonDateTimeScoreStatus
Lafayette Christian9-112/283pm10Won
Charles Catholic8-212/283pm7Final


Division IVSeasonDateTimeScoreStatus
Calvary Baptist8-212/291pm62Won
Ouachita Christian9-112/291pm41Final

Operation Christmas Child collects over 2,000 shoeboxes in Sabine Parish

The occurrence of Covid-19 and two hurricanes did not prevent individuals, groups, churches, schools, organizations, and businesses from packing shoeboxes. These shoeboxes will go to over 150 third world countries to bring cheer and hope. Now more than ever people need to hear the gospel and be given the hope of Jesus Christ.

The West Central La team, (Red River, Sabine, Winn and Natchitoches parishes) collected 13,120 shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child.

The four drop off center totals were as follows:

Red River Parish: 2,195 shoeboxes
(Martin Church-Susan Longino)

Sabine Parish: 2,286 shoeboxes
(Calvary in Many- Cherry Wells)

701 shoeboxes
(Mitchell in Converse-Glenna Ott)

Winn Parish: 1,967 shoeboxes
(First Baptist Winnfield-Jeanine Ford)

Natchitoches Parish: 5,971 shoeboxes
First Baptist Natch -Brenda Ingram

Two and a half 18 wheelers were packed with 350 cartons with over 5,000 shoeboxes. A great big thank you to Coach McConathy and the Northwestern State University basketball team and State Senator for District 31 Louie Bernard that helped move and load the cartons onto the trucks.

Some countries the boxes have been delivered to in 2020 are: Mexico, Mali, Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, Madagascar, Republic of Congo, and Ecuador. Wherever they may be delivered the hope and love of Jesus will be shared.

Big thanks to all who participated in this ministry. For more information call Area Coordinator Pansy Morgan 318-471-7160

N-Club Hall of Famer Ted Simon dies at 86

Two-sport standout and N-Club Hall of Famer Ted Simon passed away Dec. 22 at the age of 86.

Simon was a football and track standout at Northwestern State in the 1950s, earning four letters in each of his two sports. He was a standout lineman on the 1953 Gulf States Conference championship team. He was inducted into the Northwestern State N-Club Hall of Fame in 2007.

A two-time All-Gulf States Conference selection as a center in his junior and senior seasons, Simon also played defensive end from his freshman through junior seasons.

In addition to earning a conference championship in football, Simon was part of four straight Gulf States Conference track and field championship teams from 1953-56, competing in the shot and discs.

In lieu of flowers, Simon’s family asks that donations be made to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kaplan or to a charity of their choice.

Photos: Memorial graphic and 1954 track and field and 1955 football headshots of Ted Simon. Credit: NSU Athletics

Electoral College Process Allows For Principled Objections

By Royal Alexander/Opinion

Votes not ‘regularly given’ or an elector not ‘lawfully certified’ include objections to individual electoral votes or to state returns as a whole

Polling indicates that as much as 54% of the country feels the presidential election was not fairly and honestly conducted and, therefore, that the outcome is illegitimate. So, at this point, what can be done about that?
Short of the U.S. Supreme Court deciding to hear a case that challenges the voting procedures in the contested states, the only likely constitutional and/or statutory path left is an objection in the Joint Session. The objection would have to be based on the allegation that an electoral vote was “not regularly given” or that an elector was “not lawfully certified.” (3 U.S.C. § 15). These two grounds are considered by legal scholars to include objections to individual electoral votes or to state returns as whole.

The specific procedure for making objections to the counting of electoral votes is as follows: The objection must be presented in writing and must be signed by at least one Senator and one Representative. The objection must state clearly and concisely, and without argument, the grounds for the objection. When an objection is properly made in writing and endorsed by at least one Senator and one Representative, the joint session is suspended, and each house then meets separately to consider the objection.
So, the House meets alone and the Senate withdraws from the House chamber to also separately consider and debate the objection for no more than two hours and then vote whether to count the electoral vote (s). If both houses then vote separately and, by a simple majority, don’t each agree to the objection, the objection fails and those electoral vote (s) are counted.

Of course, the reason the electors are so important is because the Electoral College is the formal body that actually elects the President and VP. Each state has as many “electors” in the Electoral College as it has Representatives and Senators in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. (LA. has 8). So, when voters vote in a Presidential election, they are actually voting for a slate of electors who vow to cast their ballots for that ticket in the Electoral College.

On Jan 3, 2021, the new Congress will be sworn in. On Jan. 6, 2021, at 1:00 pm, the new Congress counts the electoral votes at a joint session of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House in the U.S. House chamber. The President of the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence, presides over the joint session. This process usually certifies a winner of the presidential election.

We will see whether it does this time. Even if the outcome of the election is not changed, making objections that must be separately heard and voted upon is a highly visible—and highly principled—manner by which to formally declare on the record whether this election was conducted in a way that deserves the faith in, and support of, millions of American voters.

(P.S. As an aside, I offer again that the State Legislatures in each of the disputed states—Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania—clearly possess the plenary (complete) constitutional authority to decide which electors to certify. Recall that because the new Congress doesn’t meet until Jan. 3rd, electoral votes are not counted until Jan. 6, and a new president is not inaugurated until Jan. 20th, any certification that has been made—remember Dec. 8th and Dec. 14th are statutory deadlines not constitutional ones—can still be rescinded and a correct certification of electors made by each legislature. It is the state legislatures that must act).

The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Sabine Parish Journal. If you have an article or story of interest for publishing consideration by the SPJ, please send it to SPJManyLa@gmail.com.

Dipper’s New Year’s Celebration

By Brad Dison

“Happy New Year!” Everyone in New Orleans, it seemed, was out in the streets celebrating the passing of the old year, 1912, and was welcoming in the new, 1913. Brass bands paraded through the neighborhoods playing Dixieland jazz by torch light. People with expendable incomes shot off Roman candles and other fireworks, while others celebrated by making as much noise as possible with whatever they could find. People banged on pots and pans, scrap pieces of metal and tin, anything that would make a noise. Another popular form of ringing in the new year was firing guns into the air, which was and is illegal in most cities and towns. They accompanied whatever noise they could make by yelling, “Happy New Year!”

Eleven-year-old Dipper had no money for frivolities such as fireworks. He grew up in one of the most impoverished and dangerous neighborhoods in New Orleans. His father had left when he was just a few years old and his mother worked odd jobs to keep Dipper and his sister fed. Dipper had several “stepfathers” through the years, some of which were good for Dipper’s family, but most were not.

Dipper took odd jobs to help his mother buy food for the family. Even at the young age of eleven, he realized he needed to do his part for his family’s survival. He hustled newspapers, coal, and anything else he could get his hands upon legally. He and three of his friends became street performers and formed a singing quartet. Dipper and his friends walked down street after street singing the popular hits of the day. If someone liked their singing and had some spare change, they motioned for the quartet to sing a few songs for them. Afterword, the customer gave them some spare change, which the quartet divided up. Dipper gave his earnings to his mother.

On December 31, 1912, Dipper and his four friends wandered through the streets looking for a customer with some spare change. Dipper was well prepared to ring in the new year. Earlier in the evening, he went into his mother’s trunk and found his stepfather’s .38 caliber revolver pistol. He stealthily removed the pistol from the trunk and slipped it into his pocket. He had found his noisemaker.

Dipper and the other members of the quartet were enjoying themselves on this New Year’s Eve. They sang, laughed, joked around, and sang some more. As they were walking and singing on Rampart Street, they were interrupted by six shots from a small caliber pistol. “dy-dy-dy-dy-dy-dy.” Someone yelled, “Happy New Year!” Dipper heard what a pathetic sound the small caliber pistol made and motioned to his friends. He pulled the .38 caliber pistol from his pocket, aimed it toward the sky, and fired. POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! “Happy New Year!” People all around them laughed.

After the laughter died down, Dipper pocketed the pistol and the quartet continued down Rampart Street singing for tips. A little while later, Dipper reloaded the pistol, aimed it toward the sky, and fired six more shots. POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! Just then, Dipper felt two strong hands grab him from behind. His friends ran. For Dipper, there was no escape. The two strong hands belonged to a New Orleans detective. He begged, cried, and pleaded for the detective to allow him to go home, but the detective disregarded his pleas and took him to jail.

Dipper was scared. He had never been arrested and wondered what would become of him. The next morning, a juvenile court judge sentence him to spend an undetermined length of time in the Waifs’ Home for Boys. A policeman transported Dipper and several other boys to the Waifs’ Home in a prison cart led by two horses.

Dipper was terrified when they reached the Waifs’ Home. He and the other boys were stripped of their clothes, forced into showers, were checked for lice, and received ill-fitting uniforms. One of the keepers led the newcomers into the mess hall where other inmates sat eating “white beans without rice out of tin plates.” For three days, Dipper was too afraid to eat. The keepers and other inmates mocked Dipper for not eating, but he gave no response. On the fourth day, his hunger was too strong for him to ignore.

In addition to scrubbing floors, making beds, and a myriad of other undesirable but necessary chores, the keepers at the Waifs’ Home taught Dipper and the other boys various skills. Mr. Jones drilled the boys every morning and taught them the proper way to use rifles in formation with wooden rifles. Mr. Alexander taught carpentry and gardening. Mr. Davis gave the boys other vocational training, which included music. One of the only choices the boys had in the Waifs’ Home was their selection of vocation. Dipper had always been drawn to music and naturally gravitated towards Mr. Davis’s orchestra. For the first six months, Mr. Davis refused to allow Dipper to actually play any instrument, and Dipper had been too afraid to ask. Finally, Mr. Davis asked Dipper if he wanted to play in the band. Dipper was excited. Rather than hand him a cornet, the instrument Dipper had dreamed of playing, Mr. Davis handed him a tambourine. Although disappointed, Dipper played the tambourine with such unique style that Mr. Davis immediately made him the drummer in their marching brass band. Within a short time, Mr. Davis, pleased at Dipper’s quick progress with the drums, taught him how to play an alto saxophone. Dipper was a quick student and progressed quickly. Dipper became the bugler for the Waifs’ Home, which was a coveted position because the bugler was excused from most of the undesirable chores required of the other boys. Dipper had so impressed Mr. Davis that he made Dipper the leader of the brass band and taught him how to play the cornet. Dipper “was in seventh heaven.” Dipper practiced the cornet faithfully and impressed everyone who heard his unique style.

He was eventually freed from the Waifs’ Home. For years, Dipper worked at manual labor during the day and played his cornet at night. He eventually became world-famous for his unique playing and singing abilities. Had it not been for Dipper’s arrest on New Year’s Eve and his incarceration at the Waifs’ Home for Boys, we may never have heard the musical talents of a man who went by many nicknames including Dipper, Dippermouth, Pops, and Satchmo (short for Satchel Mouth). Dipper’s real name was Louis Armstrong.

Source:
Armstrong, Louis. Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans. New York: Da Capo Press, Inc., 1986.

Notice of Death – December 29, 2020

SABINE:
James Sisk Jr.
January 8, 1962 – December 22, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 30 at 2 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

NATCHITOCHES:
Charles Clifton Ferguson
December 08, 1929 – December 27, 2020
Service: Thursday, December 31 at 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Ruthie Lee Fisher
December 24, 2020
Service: Saturday, January 2 at 10 am at the Goodwill Baptist Church on Holmes Street in Natchitoches

Ruby Lee Hicks
December 27, 2020
Service: Saturday, January 2 at 1 pm in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

Alice Oliver
December 24, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Jennifer Robinson
December 8, 1972 – December 25, 2020
Service: Friday, January 1 at 12 pm at Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery

Jayen Smith
September 11, 2001 – December 23, 2020
Service: Arrangements TBA

Willie Brown
January 8, 1965 – December 21, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Bobby Jean Parker
August 9, 1955 – December 21, 2020
Arrangements TBA

McTavish Raymond
June 22, 1972 – December 21, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Sophia Willoughby Washington
December 15, 2020
Arrangements TBA

WINN:
Brenda Haddox Etheridge
January 10, 1949 – December 24, 2020
Service: Thursday, December 31 at 10 am at First Baptist Church

Janet Brookins
August 26, 1957 – December 25, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Shirley Ann Coleman
July 19, 1952 – December 24, 2020
Service: Wednesday December 30 at 1 pm at the chapel of Kinner and Stevens funeral home in Jena

RED RIVER:
Mary Lucille Williams
August 26, 1955 – December 25, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 30 at 2 pm at Bethany Cemetery

Paul Avery Blakesley
October 03, 1956 – December 28, 2020
Service: Saturday, January 2 at 12 pm at Baker Cemetery

 

Sports on Call: LIVE preview of the LSHAA Football State Championship – This Morning!

Join David Stamey, Billy West and Doug Ireland this morning at 7am right here on the Sabine Parish Journal for a LIVE discussion of the upcoming High School Football State Championship.

Our Guests include:
Dr. Chris Maggio
Eric Held
Ronnie Williams
Greg Burke

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association State Football Championship will be played right here at Turpin Stadium December 27 through December 30th in beautiful Natchitoches.

Law Enforcement meets regarding Narcotic and Burglary problems

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and staff held a meeting this morning with the Chiefs of Police in Sabine Parish. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss any narcotic and burglary/theft problems in the cities. Sheriff Mitchell’s goal is to work close with each Chief and city and share information.

Sheriff Mitchell and staff plan to host this meeting once a month.

If anyone has any information about a crime, please contact us at 318-256-9241.

Local attorney helps Mystikal beat rap

Natchitoches Parish Public Defender and Shreveport/Many attorney Verity Gentry announced that Michael Tyler of New Orleans, better known as Grammy-nominated rapper Mystikal, has been cleared of first degree rape and second degree kidnapping charges by a Caddo Parish grand jury. If convicted of rape, Tyler would have faced a mandatory life sentence.

“I am thankful to the Caddo District Attorney for re-presenting my case to the grand jury. I have maintained my innocence from day one and was confident the truth would come to light,” Tyler said. “I am also thankful for my legal team – Verity Gentry, Joel Pearce and Timothy Yazbeck for their work on my case. I look forward to getting back to work, making music and performing,” the rapper shared.

The Caddo Parish District Attorney announced Thursday, Dec. 17, it had re-presented the case to a grand jury, and the grand jury declined to indict Tyler on the offenses. Based on the jury’s decision, the Caddo DA intends to dismiss charges against the rapper.

Gentry, Pearce and Yazbeck worked diligently to prove Tyler’s innocence after he was arrested in 2017 and his case was presented to a grand jury. The alleged incident took place in October 2016 while Tyler was in Shreveport to present a rap concert.

A woman claimed that after spending time together earlier in the evening, Mystikal and another rapper lured her to a Shreveport casino hotel room with a date rape drug and then raped her.

“I looked at the sexual assault exam lab results of her blood and urine,” Gentry explained, “Nobody had really studied those. After making some important discoveries, I sent the lab results to an expert to double check what it looked like to me.”

The expert confirmed Gentry’s findings. The lab results totally undermined the claim of a date rape drug being used. In her allegations, the woman never claimed verbal non-consent, so the issue of whether she was able to consent or not rested on her story of having been drugged.

Luckily for Tyler and his defense team, casinos are heavily blanketed with video surveillance of their patrons.

“The alleged victim said she was given a drink in a Styrofoam cup and she didn’t know what was in it. Casino hotel lobby video footage showed the woman drinking from that Styrofoam cup,” Gentry explained. “Thank God, the cup was later taken into evidence and its contents saved.”

Further, to explain the presence of cocaine in her system, the woman had also claimed she was given a hand rolled cigar to smoke and said it must have contained cocaine.

The expert’s conclusion that the alleged victim was not under the influence of any date rape drug at the time of the alleged offense is what led the state to test evidence from the hotel room where the woman claimed assault. After testing the contents of cups and hand rolled cigar butts, all turned up negative for the presence of any illegal substances, including any date rape drugs.

“When the cigarette butts in the hotel room were content-tested, they all came back negative for anything except tobacco,” Gentry stated.

Tyler and his legal team were extremely pleased with the outcome of his vigorous defense.

“I appreciate, more than I can say, the District Attorney’s office being totally committed to finding the truth – wherever that might lead – and making sure justice prevailed,” Gentry said.

Pictured above: Rapper Mystikal, Michael Tyler, right, and Attorney Verity Gentry

Demon great Gary Reasons to serve as CST analyst for LHSAA Prep Classic

NSULA– Gary Reasons first made a name for himself on the playing field at Turpin Stadium.

A three-time All-American and College Football Hall of Fame inductee based on his exploits as a Demon, Reasons will enjoy another homecoming when the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Prep Classic takes place on the Northwestern State campus Dec. 27-30.

Reasons will be the color analyst for all nine Louisiana state high school championship football games that will be replayed on Cox Sports Television. A two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, Reasons has served as the color analyst on numerous television broadcasts involving his alma mater.

“What a tremendous honor it is to be broadcasting all nine LSHAA state championship games this year, and it is extra special that this year the games will be played at Northwestern State,” Reasons said. “I remember seeing Natchitoches and Demonland as a high school athlete and I know the players competing, fans attending, and those viewing our telecasts will enjoy the games, the scenics we’ll show, and hopefully some of my personal thoughts on what should be a tremendous slate of games.”

Reasons will be joined on the broadcast crew by Jeff Palermo (play by play) and Ronnie Rantz (sideline).

Like Reasons, Rantz shares Natchitoches ties, serving as the President and CEO of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation. The foundation provides financial and marketing support to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, located in downtown Natchitoches, while also hosting statewide events that raise awareness of the brand of the hall.

The four-day Prep Classic kicks off with two games Sunday – the Class 2A championship between Many and Kinder at 1 p.m. and the Division I championship between C.E. Byrd of Shreveport and Catholic-Baton Rouge at 6 p.m.

State Fire Marshal Offers Safety Tips Ahead of the New Year Holiday

BATON ROUGE- As another fireworks sales season begins, the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) wants to encourage all Louisiana residents to not only be safe when using fireworks, but knowledgeable when buying them and prepared if considering attending a public fireworks display during this pandemic.

Ordinarily, the SFM would encourage families to choose to enjoy public fireworks displays over creating their own. However, many public fireworks displays are either being canceled or altered due to the concerns over COVID-19. In the event a public display is still being offered in your area, and your family is considering attending, make sure every member of your household wears a face covering, aim to provide your own seating and ensure that seating is spaced six feet from the nearest individual or group of individuals.

If your family has, instead, chosen to purchase fireworks in order to stay safer at home, ideally with only the members of your household, know that there is no prohibition on the sale of retail fireworks at the state level as a result of COVID-19. However, state law does still require wholesale and retail fireworks business operators to be appropriately licensed by the SFM in the parishes and municipalities where they are legally allowed. The sales season extends through January 1.

A retail fireworks business falls under the Modified Phase 2 guidance for “Shopping Malls/Retail Stores,” which details requirements such as a maximum limit of 50% of the total capacity of the structure or tent while maintaining a social distance of six feet between employees and customers, the wearing of face coverings by employees and customers as well as explicit sanitation requirements. The full guidance can be accessed on OpenSafely.la.gov. For businesses that operate with counter sales only, where fireworks are displayed and sold from behind a counter, requirements include maintaining a distance of six feet between customers and the wearing of face masks by employees and customers, especially when interacting. Owners should also maintain access to hand sanitizer for employees and customers engaged in sales which require the handling of money, credit cards, etc.

Lastly, we want everyone to enjoy fireworks in the safest way possible. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), fireworks started an estimated 19,500 fires in 2018, including 1,900 structure

fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 17,100 outside and other fires. These fires caused five deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and $105 million in direct property damage.

To avoid becoming part of these statistics, the SFM advises:

Detonating devices at least 200 feet away from structures, vehicles and rubbish
Never allowing children to light fireworks
Never operating fireworks while impaired
Lighting devices one at a time and monitoring embers released with a bucket of water or hose nearby
Discarding detonated items by wetting them down to prevent reignition and not disposing of them in a trash container immediately

Gov. Edwards Extends Modified Phase Two Order to Slow the Spread of COVID during Louisiana’s Third Surge

Gov. John Bel Edwards extended his modified Phase Two order on Dec. 22, including Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate, to January 13, 2021, as hospitalizations have exceeded the level reached during the second surge in July.

The Governor also declared an emergency for the elections in February, March and April of next year, per a request from the Secretary of State.

“While we have seen minor improvements, no one should feel good about our current COVID situation in Louisiana. We have too many new cases, too many people in the hospital and, sadly, too many Louisianans continue to die of this illness. Just this week, we reported the highest number of deaths since July. Aggressive mitigation is recommended by Louisiana’s public health experts and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and it is absolutely critical that all of our people take every action they can to slow the spread of COVID,” Gov. Edwards said. “All Louisianans are at risk, but those who are 65 or older or who have health conditions that make it more likely that they will have severe COVID complications should be incredibly careful in the coming days and weeks and should avoid any indoor place other than their home where there is not universal masking.

“I cannot stress this enough: the holidays this year simply cannot look the same as they have in previous years,” Gov. Edwards said. “Having holiday parties where people from various households gather together, especially indoors, is dangerous and could lead to the spread of COVID and the loss of family members and friends. This year has been tragic and sad and we finally have the hope of better therapeutics and a vaccine, which means the end of the pandemic is in our sights. Now is not the time to let down our guard simply because it is Christmas or New Year’s Eve.”

Gov. Edwards’ extended order will be in place through January 13, 2021.

Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate remains in place. Louisiana’s COVID-19 restrictions include the below:

All Louisianans are encouraged to avoid gatherings of individuals not part of their households.
All businesses, private and public sectors, are encouraged to use remote work where they can.
All restaurants are limited to 50% of their indoor capacity. Restaurants should move as much dining outdoors as they can. Social distancing is required.
For bars in parishes above 5% positivity, bars are closed to indoor sales and consumption but open for outdoor consumption at tables only and at 25% capacity, with a maximum of 50 people. Social distancing is required. Take-out and delivery will still be available.
Retail businesses may open at 50% capacity, except for essential businesses, as defined by federal guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Gyms may be open at 50% of their capacity.
Places of worship will remain at a maximum of 75% of their capacity or the number of people who can physically distance with at least six feet between each immediate household, whichever is less.
Barber and beauty shops, and nail salons may open at 50% of their capacity.
Movie theaters may open at 50% of their capacity.
Indoor gatherings at event/receptions centers are limited to 25% capacity or up to 75 individuals.
Outdoor gatherings at event/reception centers are limited to 25% capacity or up to 150 individuals when strict physical distancing is not possible.
All sporting events will be capped at 25% capacity.

Notice of Death – December 22, 2020

NATCHITOCHES:
Louise Posey Booty
July 02, 1938 – December 19, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 23 at 11 am at the First Baptist Church of Coushatta

Barbara Nell Jordan
June 04, 1949 – December 20, 2020
Service: Tuesday, December 29 at 2 p.m. at Rocky Mount Church

Joseph Antee
December 22, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Bobby Gene Dalme
May 22, 1938 – December 19, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 30 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Eva Lee Antilley Beasley
September 25, 1927 – December 20, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 23 at 2 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home

Willie Brown
January 8, 1965 – December 21, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Reva Darlene Dalton
August 10, 1959 – December 18, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 30 from 5-7 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Clyde Shoemaker
February 04, 1934 – December 19, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 23 at 10 am at Hickory Grove Congregational Methodist Church in Robeline

Bobby Jean Parker
August 9, 1955 – December 21, 2020
Arrangements TBA

McTavish Raymond
June 22, 1972 – December 21, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Richard Williams
December 17, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Sophia Willoughby Washington
December 15, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Elijah Calhoun
February 11, 1960 – December 11, 2020
Arrangements TBA

WINN:
Faris Cooper Wyatt
February 27, 1931 – December 20, 2020
Service: Saturday, December 26 at 2 pm at the Southern Funeral Home Chapel

Cheryl Caskey Walters
September 20, 1949 – December 20, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 23 at 2 pm at Gloryway Church

Mary Fitzgerald
May 22, 1940 – December 19, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 23 at 10 am at Corinth Tabernacle Cemetery

Sherri Stroud Davison
February 29, 1948 – December 19, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 23 at 11 am in the St. Maurice cemetery

RED RIVER:
Glenn Curtiss McElwee
September 26, 1927 – December 21, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 23 at 3 pm at Bethany Cemetery in Coushatta

Elsie Pauline Harrison
September 02, 1935 – December 21, 2020
Service: Sunday, December 27 at 1 pm at Thomas-Wren Cemetery

Interim Chief of Police for Many is Cheryl Wooley

She was approved by a unanimous vote of the city council after Mayor Ken Freeman nominated her. She will be the first female chief of police in the town’s history and will serve until after a chief is elected in April and sworn in later.

Mayor Freeman said Wooley is well qualified, having served in Oklahoma for 11 years as an agent for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics where she worked state and federal narcotics investigations.

Wooley graduated from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. She went straight to work for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

In 1999, she left the agency and went to the Oklahoma Dept of Human Services and stayed until 2012 working child abuse and sexual abuse investigations becoming a supervisor in 2008. Wooley currently serves as president of the Board of Directors of Project Celebration.

Freeman pointed out that she met two legal requirements. She has been a resident in Many for more than a year and she has also been a registered voter in Many for more than a yar.

“ We are fortunate to have Mrs Wooley agree to serve because she is so well qualified with lots of years of experience in the fields of narcotics and domestic abuse situations,” said Freeman.

Cheryl Wooley is the wife of Donnie Wooley of Many.

PHOTO: Mayor Ken Freeman,  Interim Police Chief Cheryl Wooley,  Assistant Chief of Police Kyle Cook.

Delta Deadline to Register for FEMA Assistance is December 16

BATON ROUGE, La. —Renters and homeowners in parishes designated for FEMA assistance afterHurricane Delta have until Dec. 16 to register for help.

Federal assistance includes help for temporary housing, rental assistance and repair or replacement of damaged property.

Additionally, grants may be available to help with other expenses such as medical and dental care, childcare, funeral and burial costs, replacing essential household items, moving and storage, vehicle repairs and cleanup.

To see if you live in a designated parish, visitfema.gov/disaster/4570:

For more information or to register for assistance:

Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY at 800-877-8339).
Visit the FEMA websitedisasterassistance.gov/.
To find a drive-thru DRC you can text 43362 and type DRC and your zipcode (i.e. DRC 12345).
To receive a link to download the FEMA app:
· Apple devices: text APPLE to 43362

· Android devices: text ANDROID to 43362

Visit fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/app

Call 211 or text 527435837 to 898-211. For Louisiana evacuees that are now out-of-state, please call 337-310-4636. To get support, this number also is valid for TTY out-of-state users.
Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service.

For the latest information on Hurricane Laura, visitfema.gov/disaster/4559. Or, for Hurricane Delta, visit fema.gov/disaster/4570. Follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6.

Facebook to Face the Music: Feds, 46 States Sue

By Royal Alexander/Opinion

The Federal Trade Commission and 46 states sued Facebook, Inc., this past week alleging that the huge social media platform has engaged in buying and freezing out small start-up businesses in order to eliminate competition. Specifically, the broad antitrust case is being brought to force Facebook to sell and/or unload its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram. The lawsuits allege that the lack of competition, in and of itself, has damaged customers, including with weakened privacy protections.

(I note that a few weeks ago the DOJ also brought a case alleging that Google had, through unfair trade practices and monopolistic activities, illegally created a monopoly in its search engine business).

I find these developments to be positive and encouraging both for the reasons alleged in the respective lawsuits, and for others.

In addition to unfair trade practices and antitrust conduct, the censorship we have witnessed from Facebook (and Twitter, for that matter) is stunning. Recall that only a few days before the presidential election, Facebook (and Twitter) blocked access to damaging news regarding Hunter Biden, the son of presidential candidate, Joe Biden, simply because Facebook principals favored Biden for president. The news story involved the discovery of credible evidence in the form of emails revealing that Hunter Biden clearly leveraged his dad’s then-position as VP by gaining favors from his dad that benefited the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma.

Regardless, Facebook immediately stated that it “was reducing [the New York Post article’s] distribution on our platform.” What this really means is Facebook would tweak and alter its algorithms to limit the ability of users to view, discuss or share the Biden article.

(Note, this past week YouTube, the video streaming giant, stated it will remove from its platform all new content that alleges that widespread fraud changed the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. More censorship).

These are perfect examples of why millions of Americans trust neither the national media nor social media. This is the behavior of totalitarian regimes and dictatorships. Not America.

It’s simply insufficient to say that no duty of fairness and evenhandedness is owed by Facebook (as well as Twitter and Google) because the First Amendment only applies to government, not private, actors. Government censorship of speech is not the only kind. Private sector suppression of speech is equally threatening, chilling, and damaging. Democracy can only function with a free exchange of information. These tech giants may not be government actors, but they are quasi-public entities, and they are behemoths. They are essentially monopolies and possess enormous leverage as a result.

Facebook owes a duty of fairness for many reasons, not least because Facebook (and Twitter) directly benefit from a valuable legal advantage contained in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This law protects it from any legal liability for content published on its site, much of which may be defamatory. Facebook should not be allowed to receive valuable federal benefits on the one hand then also take the position that “we are a private company so we can suppress speech whenever we like.”

Facebook is no longer, if it ever was, a neutral arbiter simply operating an information exchange platform. It has become the equivalent of a media company that regularly makes editorial decisions in the composition of its news feed and in so doing, reflects a distinctly Leftist bent. It remains legally unaccountable for damage done by the content on its platform and has broad discretion to censor 3rd party speech. This is too much. I am hopeful changes to Section 230 will be made to limit the legal protections of Facebook and other social media companies.

Given its special status, Facebook has an obligation to act in the public interest and it is not doing so. I support the Feds either breaking it up on grounds of antitrust and monopoly or Congress removing its Section 230 advantage and regulating it as a public utility. It’s the best way to ensure that free market competition and innovation succeed.

The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Sabine Parish Journal. If you have an article or story of interest for publishing consideration by the SPJ, please send it to SPJManyLa@gmail.com.

A Grand Adventure

By Brad Dison

The Grand Canyon is considered one of the seven wonders of the natural world. The Colorado River carved out the canyon over millions of years. The canyon measures about 277 miles long, 18 miles at its widest span, and reaches a depth of over a mile. Millions of visitors flock to the canyon each year to see the unique landscape. In 2016, the Kleins, 47-year-old Eric, his 46-year-old wife Karen, and their 10-year-old son Isaac were on vacation in Arizona and wanted to see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. They had driven some thirty-five hours across the country from Easton, Pennsylvania, and the Grand Canyon was to be the highlight of their trip.

It had been snowing for some time on that Thursday afternoon. The ground was blanketed with thick snow but the main roads were clear. Unbeknownst to the Klein family, the snowfall was just the beginning of a larger snowstorm which was heading their way. Being from Pennsylvania, they were unconcerned about driving in snow. They travelled along Arizona Highway 89A until they reached State Route 67, the only main road which led to the North Rim. To their surprise, Route 67 was closed for the winter. Eric used his cell phone and found an alternate route to reach the North Rim. Undeterred by this setback, they trudged ahead. They turned off of the main highway and onto their alternate route. They drove for a few miles until they reached a spot where the road was impassable. They turned their vehicle around and headed back to the main highway. Within a short distance, the vehicle’s tires lost traction in the accumulating snow. The Klein family was stuck.

The Kleins were not too concerned because Eric could use his cell phone to call for help. None of the sources mention Karen having a cell phone. By this time, the snow was falling in thick sheets. Eric tried to call for help but he had no signal. Karen, a marathon runner and triathlete, was in better physical condition than her husband and they decided that she should go for help. Karen wore a parka, a knit cap, and hiking boots, clothes which were not considered snow gear. Karen reassured Eric and Isaac that she would soon return and walked away in the snow. Within seconds, she was out of sight.

In the car, Eric and Isaac impatiently waited for Karen’s return. Minutes turned into hours. Eric and Isaac used the car’s heater to stay warm. To save gasoline, Eric would turn the engine off occasionally. When the cold became almost unbearable for him and Isaac, Eric would crank the car again. Eric and Isaac spent a slow evening, night, and morning in the car. Finally, the car ran out of gas.

Eric decided that he and Isaac would abandon the car and try to go in search of help. It was Friday afternoon. Karen had been gone a full 24 hours. Eric and Isaac trudged through the deep snow. Eric regularly checked his cell phone for signal but none was available. Eric saw a high hill a short distance away. He and Isaac climbed the hill and Eric looked at his cell phone. His expectation of having cell signal was almost nonexistent. To Eric’s surprise, his phone had reception. He quickly called 911 and told them of their dire situation. Within a short while, searchers rescued Eric and Isaac. Eric asked about his wife, but they had no knowledge that anyone was missing until Eric’s 911 call. The rescuers took Eric and Isaac to a hospital in Kanab, Utah, where they were treated for exposure. Now they had to find Karen.

Searchers used all of their resources which included helicopters and car-sized snowmobiles in their search for Karen. On Saturday morning, searchers on snowmobiles located her tracks. They followed her tracks for about 26 miles through snow that sometimes reached a depth of three feet. Her tracks led to a cabin at the park entrance station which had been closed for the winter. From the outside, the cabin looked deserted. No lights were on and there was no smoke coming from the chimney. They ran to the cabin, threw open the door, and found Karen lying on a bed in the freezing cold cabin. One of the rescuers said that Karen “was too exhausted to even make a fire.” They took Karen to the same hospital where they had taken Eric and Isaac. Her condition was more serious than Eric’s or Isaac’s, but not life-threatening.

To save her family, Karen walked for more than 24 hours non-stop, for a distance of about 26 miles, in snow up to three feet deep, without proper snow gear. Karen, Eric, Isaac, and the host of search and rescue personnel considered their survival a Christmas miracle because they were reunited on Christmas Day.

Source:
1. Albuquerque Journal, December 25, 2016, p.B18.
2. National Park Service. “Grand Canyon National Park.” Accessed December 10, 2020. gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm.

Maggio inducted as Barksdale AFB honorary commander

Dr. Chris Maggio, president of Northwestern State University, was one of several community leaders inducted as honorary commanders at Barksdale Air Force Dec. 10. The goal of the honorary commander program is to build and maintain a strong and lasting bond between Barksdale Air Force Base and surrounding communities, while exposing community leaders to important role of today’s military. This is the second year Maggio received the honor.

The U.S. Air Force developed the honorary commanders program to improve community relations with the service. Civilian leaders from around the region are paired with specific units and encouraged to exchange ideas and experiences while building relationships. Maggio was paired with 2nd Bomb Wing leadership.

The military commanders immerse their honorary commanders in the unit’s mission, structure and programs, and invite them to take part in quarterly activities and other events on base allowing the honorary commander to observe their duties and the mission.

Honorary Commanders use their insight into base operations, missions requirements and capabilities to facilitate partnerships with the local community to bridge the military-civilian gap and serve as military advocates within their spheres of influence in the local community.

Notice of Death – December 15, 2020

NATCHITOCHES:
F. Allen Horton
August 31, 1933 – December 15, 2020
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, a private family graveside service in the Catholic Rite of Christian Burial will be held at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches on Friday, Dec. 18, under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home of Natchitoches.

Sophia Willoughby Washington
December 15, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Gloria Marie LaCaze
July 09, 1940 – December 11, 2020
Service: Wednesday, December 16 at 11 am at Weaver Cemetery in Flora

Elijah Calhoun
February 11, 1960 – December 11, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Margaret Ann Holmes
April 26, 1954 – December 10, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Ruby Lucille Ferri
October 02, 1925 – December 02, 2020
Services are pending due to Covid 19.

Shirley Ann Remo
December 6, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Arthur M. Hardy
December 8, 2020
Arrangements TBA

WINN:
Tommy W. Lowe
March 23, 1967 – December 13, 2020
Service: Friday, December 18 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home

James Alfice Brumley

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell sadly announces former Sabine Parish Sheriff James Alfice Brumley, Jr passed away this morning. Sheriff Brumley served the citizens of Sabine Parish for many years.

Brumley started his law enforcement career in the early 1960s with the Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Thomas “Pappy” Phillips, then served under Sheriff Harold Sandel.

Brumley was then appointed Chief of Police of the Town of Many in 1972. Brumley was later elected Chief of Police and served until 1978.

Brumley campaigned and was elected Sheriff of Sabine Parish in 1978. Sheriff Brumley served 18 years as Sheriff until 1996.

Sheriff Brumley did not meet a stranger and he was respected throughout the community.

Sheriff Mitchell and his staff offer their deepest sympathies and prayers to Brumley’s family.

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office Announces New Smartphone App

Sabine Parish Sheriff Aaron Mitchell is excited to announce the release of a smartphone ap
plication. This app will serve as a new way for the sheriff’s office to connect with Sabine Parish residents and visitors, providing information quickly and efficiently to anyone with a smartphone.

The app offers quick access to items of public interest and is easy to use. In just a few clicks, users can:

Receive instant push notifications
Submit a tip
View sex offenders
Search for current inmates
View Sabine Parish’s most wanted
Connect to the organization’s social media platforms
Read the latest news and press releases

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app was created by TheSheriffApp.com, a division of OCV, LLC, which specializes in mobile app development for sheriff’s offices and public safety organizations across the country.

“Over 80 percent of people in the United States own and use smartphones as their primary means of communication,” OCV Vice President Kevin Cummings said. “Mobile apps offer agencies a better way to alert, inform and prepare the public. Apps allow public safety agencies the ability to reach and serve their citizens where they are: their smartphones.”

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app is available for download for free in the App Store and Google Play Store.

NSU band members to be part of virtual marching band performance during national championship game

Seventeen members of the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band will be participating in a virtual college marching band show that will air during the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Jan. 11, 2021.

They will join nearly 1,500 performers from 200 collegiate marching bands in 45 states to form the College Band Directors National Association Intercollegiate Marching Band. This unique project will combine college marching bands from different confer­ences, regions and styles in a single performance. The Intercollegiate Marching Band will perform “End of Time” by Beyonce in a video that will be shown in the stadium and online.

“This is going to be a historical performance,” says Dr. Mark Spede, president of CBDNA and the director of bands at Clemson University. “In this unusual year when bands have been unable to perform their traditional pregame and halftime shows during college football games, CBDNA is pleased to offer this opportunity with the help of its partners.”

The IMB performance will showcase all of the unique aspects of a college halftime show including musicians, drum majors, color guard members, dancers, and majorettes.

Participants from the Spirit of Northwestern are drum majors Jacob St. Pierre of Laplace, Chloe Farrar of Bossier City, and Abby Kent of Benton, Ben Wilkinson of Bossier City on trumpet, Eric Renova of Mesquite, Texas, on clarinet, Daniel Scott of Benton on saxophone, Austin Pierre of Gray on tenor drums and Caroline Shephard of Frisco, Texas on bass drum. Those taking part from the Colorguard are Alissa Joseph of Pineville, Treyvin Aucoin of Rayne, Katherine Greenmun of Ragley and Faith Wilson and Cameron Kelly of Prairieville. Demon Dazzlers submitting videos were Alphonse Engram of DeRidder, Sarah Talbot of Baton Rouge, John Jefferson of Shreveport and Ashley Henry of Slidell.

“When (Assistant Director of Bands) Mr. (Dan) McDonald made us aware of this opportunity, I was very excited to take on this project,” said Kent. “It is not often that an opportunity like this becomes available, especially on a national level. By having members participate in national events, not only does the SON gain a wide range of exposure as a substantial program, but the participating members gain a fun and new experience as well.”