MANY, La – A local two year old is in critical condition following a traffic accident.
Police responded to reports of a traffic accident within the city limits of Many Thursday morning. It appears that a two year old darted into traffic and was struck by.

The child has been airlifted to Shreveport where they remain in critical but stable condition.

When imagining the position of police chief for a town, one would typically paint a picture of a courageous individual with great pride in his town. It comes as no surprise that in a town packed with pride, such as Zwolle, that the current chief of police is just that.

Throughout the years I have been the eager participant in so many fundraisers that they have almost become second nature to me. Putting the right power team together is the perfect start to the perfect event. With the right people, low overhead and an engaging social media page we can literally through a successful fundraiser within a matter of hours. No task goes unassigned and everyone pitches in.

Living in such a generous and loving community, we know just who to call when it comes to gathering donated food, supplies, advertising, and most importantly, manual labor. It takes all hands on deck but there is no better feeling than the feeling of giving back to the community and living with pure intentions of helping those in need.

This past week I was notified of a Fish Fry fundraiser for a friend’s family in Goldonna who has been facing countless medical treatments, testing and expenses. I was made aware of it again at this week’s School Board meeting when my fellow Board Member, Eugene Garner, told me that he and his brother have been fishing and will be fishing for days to catch all of the fish for the event. He was excited about the fishing and looking forward to cooking it as well.

This stopped me in my tracks. I had to make sure that I heard him correctly. I asked him repeat what he said. He went on to say they were fishing and hoping to catch enough fish for 250 plates and community churches and residents have all been pitching in as well.

“This is the least I can do for the family who does so much for Christmas in the Park and Goldonna as a whole”, said Mr. Garner.

His words have repeatedly danced in my mind all week.

“He and his brother were going fishing to catch the fish for a fundraiser to help with medical expenses for the Dupree family”.

It is so easy to pick up the phone and make calls to friends who can pitch in to help with store bought items. But, how many people do you know that would go out and physically catch the fish for a fundraiser? In my eyes, this was the purest form of service, self sacrifice and love. It really just spoke to my soul and showed me what true servant leadership looks like.

So much love going into the very lines used to catch the fish that will feed a crowd that will help a family.

People will often grumble at various food fundraisers because of the taste or the type of food being served. It is not about the food itself. It is about the many hands who have gathered to make the fundraiser happen and the end result.

If you are ever asked to buy a chicken plate, cold jambalaya, or anything else that may or may not taste as good as you like it, just buy the plate. Or better, yet….just donate the small amount of money they are asking for. It is not about the culinary presentation and your taste buds having a party in your mouth. It is about helping someone or an organization in a very small way that in turn makes a huge impact.

God’s love gives. Pure and simple.

“By this we know love, that he laid down his own life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth”.
1 John 3:16-18

TITLE: Health Information Management Technician (IT Staff)

This position will join our existing IT manager with primary duties to be a subject matter expert providing many routine clinic management REPORTS and staff TRAINING & TROUBLESHOOTING on our electronic medical records system and other business systems. Besides that, this position will also provide IT support as a backup to the IT Manager and to assist in priority IT projected assigned by an executive officer. Other related technical duties as assigned.

SALARY based on level of job-related experience and related qualifications.

EXEMPT position that serves on emergency team.  For a full set of responsibilities and qualifications contact the OMC executive office at 318-357-2071 or email info@outpatientmedical.org.

EOE

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced today, Feb. 4, that Louisiana is expanding vaccine priority groups to include people ages 65 or older. According to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), this update to the prioritization guidance will go into effect on Monday, Feb. 8. This will add about 250,000 people to the Phase B, Tier 1 group.
Expanding the vaccine eligible age group to include individuals 65 or older is still in accordance with the Phase B, Tier 1 group. This prioritization guidance update does not indicate that Louisiana is moving toward including members of Phase B, Tier 2, which is the next priority group, for vaccination.

To view a current list of Louisiana’s priority groups, visit LDH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Information webpage at https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine.

MANY, La – An arrest has been made in the January 28th break-in where eight firearms were stolen.

On Sunday, January 28th local LEO’s were called out to Many Collision Center for a reported break in. Among the items stolen were eight firearms.

Officer Kenneth Neal of the Many Police Department has arrested Tavaris Creshun Smith.

Along with the arrest, officer Neal (pictured below) has recovered two of the eight missing weapons.

The case is still ongoing and more information will be posted as it is received.

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MANY, La – After a long history of a male lead in the position of Chief of Police, the Sabine Parish town of Many is proudly welcoming in their first female Police Chief. In November 2020, Many sadly lost their former chief. In December, after a month of seeking the right fit for the position, Cheryl Wooley stepped up and hasn’t looked back since. With an expansive and impressive background in a multitude of areas surrounding both law and order, this long-time local has been just the right person for the job.

Cheryl was named interim police chief for the town of many after a vote during a specially held meeting on December 14th, 2020 following the death of Chief Roger Freeman. Said to be “well qualified” for the job by Mayor Ken Freeman, Wooley has made steady progress towards what she believes can be an even better community. She has quickly and naturally taken to the interim, soon to become official, position by utilizing her experience including eleven years in Oklahoma as an agent of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, time as a child welfare supervisor, and a position on the Board of Directors for Project Celebration which serves to protect and give a voice to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Newly named interim Chief Wooley recognizes the need for growth when it comes to all areas of the local police force. Her plans include specialized training for officers to better utilize their individualized skills and an update to locally used technology, along with plans to strengthen relationships with other local law enforcement agencies. Chief Wooley is most excited about building relationships within the community itself through “community policing” to ensure that all local citizens not only feel protected, but heard as well.

It’s clear after only a short interview with Chief Wooley that she is passionate about the job, as well as qualified. Her excitement and fresh ideas, along with her background in law enforcement, are the perfect addition to an excellent team of local law enforcement agencies.

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Gov. John Bel Edwards announced on Feb. 1 that the application process for the 2021 Governor’s Fellows Program in Louisiana Government is now open.

This summer program gives college and university students the opportunity to experience the inner workings of state government and gain a deeper understanding of public policy.

“The fellowship program has been cultivating and inspiring the next generation of leaders in Louisiana for the past three years,” Gov. Edwards said. “I strongly encourage all college students to apply if they are interested in how state government and public service work. When we invest in our young people, we invest in our state’s future. I always look forward to meeting the next generation of people who are going to move this state forward.”

Each fellow will be assigned to a cabinet-level agency to observe first-hand how the governor and agency heads lead and how policies are developed, advanced and implemented. Fellows will also participate in a weekly speaker series and take field trips designed to enhance their knowledge of Louisiana government and current affairs.

The program is open to all students currently attending a Louisiana higher education institution as well as Louisiana residents enrolled in out-of-state colleges and universities. Fellows will be chosen based on students’ commitment to leadership, public service and good government.

Participating students will receive housing on the Baton Rouge campus of Louisiana State University (LSU) for the duration of the fellowship, a stipend up to $1,500 and three credit hours through the LSU Public Administration Institute.

“The experiences I gained in this program truly deepened my passion for both public service and the state of Louisiana,” said Richard Davis, a 2019 fellow and graduate of Southeastern University. “Working in the education office at the Department of Corrections opened my eyes to the many opportunities we have to improve educational outcomes at all levels. The individuals I met still serve as a support system for me today, and I am grateful this program brought us together.”

The Governor’s Fellows Program in Louisiana Government is a partnership between the Office of the Governor, Louisiana State University, Southern University and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. The program is funded entirely through philanthropic contributions managed by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

The application is open through February 28, 2021. For more information about requirements and the application procedures, click here.

ZWOLLE, La – In covering the local dignitaries of Sabine Parish, you’d be hard pressed to find a more beloved town official than Mayor G.J. “Pie” Martinez of Zwolle, Louisiana. Pie has served in a variety of positions both in and out of town government including serving as a member of the La. Loggers Council.

His long career in local government started in 1995 when he ran for the Ward 8 Zwolle seat on the Sabine Parish School Board where he then served two terms and is recognized as a past president. While in office, he saw the renovations and additions of local schools as well as gave vocal support for the alternative school where he was instrumental in obtaining grants for the SPARK program. After retirement in 2002, Pie was still regarded in high esteem by colleagues as a vital voice for the parish schools.

Following his time serving on the school board, Martinez has continued to play important roles is numerous areas of local government, including his notable assistance in the revision of laws in moving logging equipment and the passing of a law allowing people with vision in one to be able to drive a tractor-trailer in Louisiana.

In 2010 G.J. “Pie” Martinez officially ran for the title of Mayor after much encouragement from the town of Zwolle and was subsequently elected to the position he serves still today with the same enthusiasm and passion as his first day in office.

Even after holding multiple prestigious titles, being honored in local festivals, named King of the 2018 Zwolle Tamale Fiesta, this lifetime local to Zwolle and beloved Mayor has remained humble and kind. After speaking briefly with Mayor Martinez, he was honored to be recognized and thankful for the time. Regardless of the title or the time served, one thing is for sure; C.J. “Pie” Martinez gives every position his all and believes fully in his much loved hometown.

 

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By Royal Alexander/Opinion

The false religion of climate change appears to trump every other consideration but the Constitution may provide relief

President Biden issued a series of executive orders on his first day in office including two that constitute a direct attack on oil and gas. Louisiana is one of the states that will bear the brunt of it.

The president enacted a 60-day ban on new oil and gas drilling leases and permits on federal lands and waters, prominently including the Gulf of Mexico where roughly 17 percent of America’s crude oil is produced. The president also halted a permit for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline that is ultimately designed to run from Texas to Canada. These actions will destroy tens of thousands of jobs in Louisiana and hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide. It also weakens and undermines the relationship with our ally, Canada.

Regarding the ban on new leases and permits, we are acutely and painfully aware from the BP oil spill that the oil and gas industry does not operate in a vacuum and the drilling moratorium put on new leases and permits drastically interrupts the industry as a whole and specifically the creation of oil and gas jobs. It will also require America, which had become a net exporter of crude oil under the Trump Administration, to perilously begin to rely once again on foreign oil.

Regarding the Keystone XL pipeline, we must note that the Obama State Department, on 5 separate occasions, determined that the pipeline would have no material effect on greenhouse gas emissions. The plan for the pipeline is to transport approximately 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the oil sands in Alberta Canada to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast. None of this mattered. The Obama Administration still rejected the permit and joined the Paris Climate accords.

For two decades, America has led the world in the reduction of energy-based emissions because, among other reasons, highly efficient and technologically advanced shale hydraulic fracturing has replaced coal in power production. However, none of this will matter if the concern is keeping fossil fuels in the ground because neither Russia nor China, for example, will ever truly abide by a restriction on emissions even as Russia now undertakes an enormous exploration project in the Arctic and China moves full speed ahead with its fossil fuel development. Under the accord, China is not even required to cut its emissions for ten years which there is absolutely no reason to believe it will do then.

Perhaps most remarkable is that pipeline owner, TC Energy, (formerly TransCanada) and the unions themselves worked diligently to persuade new Biden Administration officials not to kill the pipeline by highlighting the fact that the pipeline’s benefits include over 10,000 American union construction jobs, the fact that the steel pipe used was made in the U.S., the deal included the pixie dust of a $10 million Green Job Training Fund as well as 100% renewable power being used to operate the pipeline. Didn’t matter. So, TC Energy announced layoffs last week.

I am hopeful that TC Energy sues the Biden Administration over the rejection of the permit because I believe that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress, not the executive branch/president, the power over foreign trade and commerce and this reversal violates the due process rights of TC Energy.

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.

By Curtis R. Joseph, Jr./Opinion

From the beginning of 1977 through the middle of 1981, I lived in Hanau, Germany. At the time, I was an only child, and my mother was stationed there due to her enlistment in the United States Army. Bear in mind that this was well before the internet. Not only was there no cable television, but there was only one channel with programming in English. Consequently, that was the channel that I watched.

During the last couple of years, though I watched my fair share of cartoons, the majority of what I watched involved news coverage of the Iran hostage crisis. Many will recall that a militarized group of Iranian college students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and captured fifty-two American diplomats and citizens. The crisis dragged on for 444 days and, by virtue of the fact that I was immersed in it, it played a crucial role in shaping my psyche.

I was ten years old at the time, and my fascination with politics began as I watched the saga play out in real time. Given my predicament, being so far detached from home, family and friends, I realized that much like the American hostages in Iran, I was a stranger in a foreign land. However, something beautiful happened during this time in my life. The other military children and I united and banded together around those things that we had in common. In short, we had to find the common in order to maintain some semblance of sanity and normalcy. Little did I know that those experiences in repeatedly finding the common would ultimately hone a very necessary life skill (i.e., the ability to relate to people who appear, on the surface, to be different than I am). I would submit that this particular skill is necessary now more than ever.

So many find themselves in the echo chamber, where all beliefs mirror their own, that any belief, no matter how unmoored it may be to reality, takes root and spreads like wildfire. To that point, look no further than the Congresswoman from Georgia, who asserts, with a straight face, that there are lasers in space causing wildfires in California. Such an assertion would be laughable if it weren’t so terribly unfortunate.

As citizens, we rely upon individuals, like the referenced representative, to travel across the country, and to gather in order to legislate in our best interests. Thereafter, it was envisioned by the Founders that those chosen as representatives would return home, having accomplished tasks that benefit our state, specifically, and our country as a whole. As I consider the numerous issues that currently beset our country, I cannot say that we have the luxury to focus energy, time, or taxpayer dollars on such drivel as the Congresswoman is spewing.

Unfortunately, we live in a world so filled with vitriol and political gamesmanship that Democrats and Republicans can’t agree that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. And, if they cannot agree upon a common nexus of facts, it is truly impossible for them to address the problems that everyday citizens face. In fact, the record reflects that each of the most recent Congresses has passed less legislation than the one that preceded it. Rising healthcare costs, stagnant wages, wage inequities between the sexes and the races, failing infrastructure, deficiencies in education, and Covid, among other things, are issues that will not solve themselves. They will only be solved when we silence the noise and focus with laser-like intentions (pun intended) on common problems that require common sense solutions.

Each and every day that the 52 Americans spent as captives in Iran was a day that required introspection and deliberation by our political leaders. Each of the 444 days was nothing short of a life-or-death situation. The stakes were high then. They remain high. We were equal to the task then. Likewise, we are equal to the task now. But we must go forward, with purpose, as one nation. For, as it is written, “The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

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.

OMC seeks a skilled Compliance Auditor to investigate, audit, and prepare reports to executive officers and the policy-making Board. For assigned compliance matters, this executive level position will assess and track healthcare compliance with procedures, policies, federal requirements, Joint Commission standards, etc. Must have experience with healthcare compliance and ability to prepare reports that meet expectations.

Salary based on job related experiences and qualifications.

This is an exempt position that assumes assigned emergency duties when necessary.

For a full set of responsibilities and qualifications contact the OMC executive office at 318-357-2071 or email info@outpatientmedical.org.

EOE