Remains Found In Sabine Parish

MANY, La. — More skeletal remains and other undisclosed items were recovered last week when divers re-entered an abandoned water well in rural Sabine Parish. 

A partially decomposed body was pulled from the well on April 18, 1986 as part of a missing person investigation. Sabine Central Fire Department firefighters who are trained to do rescues in confined spaces were utilized to go back into the well on April 19 as part of an ongoing investigation into the cold case. 

“They spent several hours in there,” Sabine Parish sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker said today of the search of the well on Recknor Road.

Investigators were unable to determine a DNA profile from the remains recovered 35 years ago. But the additional information found recently leads Sabine authorities to believe the remains are those of a missing person from Grand Isle. 

The LSU Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) Laboratory in Baton Rouge completed a facial reconstruction of the first remains in 2008 and determined the unidentified remains to be a white man, between 30 and 45, who died at least six months or more prior to December 1985. His dental profile and an old shotgun injury to the hip provided valuable identifiers to the forensic examiners but still wasn’t enough for a positive identification. 

The bones and other items removed from the well last week have been sent to FACES for further DNA analysis and possible identification. 

SOURCE: KTBS

ATM Theft Suspect Believed To Be In Sabine Parish

Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby says Leo Burt Mitchell Jr., 40, is the suspect accused of stealing a pickup truck after an attempted theft of an ATM at Sabine State Bank in Burkeville early Monday morning.

Burby says the suspect lives in Louisiana and investigators believe he’s in Natchitoches or Florien, Louisiana.

Call the Newton County Sheriff’s Office at (409) 379-3636 or 3637 if you have information about Mitchell.

A judge set bond at $75,000 for Billy Dewayne Adams, 38, arrested Monday on a charge of Theft of Property in connection with the attempted theft of the ATM at Sabine State Bank in Burkeville

SPSO Searching For Suspect In Robbery


— — MANY, La – Detectives are requesting your help identifying the subject in these photos. Subject broke into a vehicle at South Toledo Bend State Park Wednesday morning.

Subject was driving a silver Chrysler Voyager van. Van was last seen headed north on LA Hwy 191 at Little Flock Road.

If you have any information, contact Detective Sculthorpe, Sabine CID, at 318-590-9475. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 318-256-4511 or submit a tip through our Sabine Parish Sheriff App.

SOURCE: SPSO

Blessed: The Burning Bush

If you close your eyes and imagine a thirty day calendar, I can tell you the numerical dates of each day for the next three months. My mind eats, sleeps and breaths a calendar while making sure that everything is accounted for on the appropriate date. Attention must be paid so no balls are dropped.

Being a single parent who works three jobs (I love saying that because I consider none of the three actual work), a calendar has become part of my DNA. It is also somewhat of a security blanket. My mind is consumed with schedules for church, family time, drop offs and pick ups for sports and social events for my daughter, meetings, and the occasional doctor’s appointment for her or a random hair appointment for myself.

There is so very little room for deviating from my calendar because something.

On this particularly cloudy and overcast day, my schedule was packed. But, I was feeling blessed because I was relying on someone else to take my youngest for a sports physical at her Pediatrician’s office in Ruston. I really do not think that I have missed more than a hand full of doctor’s appointments since both children have been born, so mommy guilt was not rearing it’s ugly head.

Just as I was finishing a meeting in Grant Parish I was notified that my blessing had backed out of their commitment. The blessing no longer felt like a blessing. I now had to rush back to Natchitoches, keep a hair appointment that had already been moved a time or two, make the doctor’s appointment and get the child back before Volleyball practice started.

On the ride to Ruston, as my daughter fell asleep, it gave me time to pray and seek God about my stress. Yes, it was partially self-induced, I was mostly angry at myself for allowing me to rely on someone who has not always been the pillar of consistency. Was I trying to do too much? Would I ever have good hair? Would I ever make it to a gym again? Am I a bad mother? How does a single mom with multiple children handle life?

I was truly feeling like a poor planner who could not rely on anyone other than herself. This was going to be an epic pity party once I found the time to enjoy it.

During that drive, I literally prayed that God would send me a sign that I was going to be okay and that all of the tiny tasks set before me in this life would get accomplished. This was more like a desperate plea from an emotionally stressed woman who was questioning her role in life. I just needed a sign. One small sign. Or, a burning bush.

When the appointment was over I felt a slight burden being lifted. Life was looking up and the sun was beginning to peek through the clouds. It was truly becoming a beautiful day.

As we were leaving the clinic I spoke to a few of the patients sitting outside waiting on their group transportation. One particular lady with a fragile smile caught my eye. She kept staring at me so I simply said, “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

She quickly replied, “Come here, I need to tell you something.” I obeyed and headed in her direction.

She went on to say, “Beauty is everywhere you look if you slow down to notice it.” I agreed with her and was just starting to move on when she asked me if I had a twin. Perplexed at her question and with a puzzled look, I verified that I was not a twin.

With so much intention and wisdom in her eyes she firmly said, “So that means you came into this world alone and you are equipped to handle anything that comes your way all by yourself, you don’t need anyone else.”

On any other regular day that I had not freshly prayed for a burning bush sign, I would have merely appreciated her wit and moved on. This was so much more than wittiness. This was my burning bush. This precious woman had no idea how much my soul needed these words. God was letting me know that his grace was sufficient for me and always there for me. God didn’t send me a burning bush that day. He sent a woman full of strength, knowledge and confidence to know that God always shows up on time. He is never late.

I am still realizing that the more I rely on my calendar and my own strength, that I am not allowing any room for trusting that my Savior will take care of my concerns and meet my needs as they arise.

“So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. – Isaiah 41:10


NSU will relax restrictions for spring commencement

Northwestern State University will relax restrictions planned for spring commencement exercises, following Governor John Bel Edwards’ announcement Tuesday that large public buildings can open to 100 percent occupancy if all individuals are wearing masks.

Ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 5-Friday, May 7. The ceremonies will be live streamed at http://www.nsula.edu.

Armbands will not be required to attend any of the six commencement ceremonies and graduates will not be limited to the number of guests in attendance. Everyone must wear a mask to enter the building. Guests will be directed to their seats and families who wish to sit together must enter the building together. Saving seats will not be allowed. Guests are asked to remain seated for the duration of the ceremony if possible.

Graduates will enter the main door of the Coliseum and will be escorted to their seats. There will be no graduate procession. Guests for graduates with last names beginning with A-L should use entrance and exits on the east side of Prather Coliseum, the side facing the tennis courts. Guests for graduates with last names beginning with M-Z should use entrance and exits on the west side of Prather Coliseum, the side facing the Kappa Sigma House. ADA accessibility entrance is on the West side. Graduates and guests should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to each ceremony.

“We are pleased that our graduates will be able to share their special day with family, but we do ask that everyone attending commencement ceremonies continue to wear masks indoors and be courteous to others in attendance,” said NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio.


Angler’s Perspective: An Anglers Learning Curve

As a young fisherman growing up in East Texas during the 70’s, there wasn’t a lot of material available on how to be a better angler. Sure, you could go down to the local library and maybe find a few books to check out but nothing that really made you sit up and take notice. Then came along Bassmaster Magazine, oh my Lord, are you kidding me? Wow…I mean it was the greatest thing to ever happen to bass fishing!

Finally, a monthly publication dedicated to nothing but bass fishing. It definitely shortened the learning curve of my generation. It had full color sketches of baits and techniques, how to fish wood, how to fish hydrilla (grass), and even how to make the proper cast. It had tips and pointers on how to catch fish under all conditions. It gave the results of all B.A.S.S. (Bass Angler Sportsman’s Society) tournaments and how the pro anglers caught their fish. It even had “best times to fish” calendar for every day of the month based on the moon phases. I mean are you kidding me, the moon phases. Who knew the moon had an impact on when a bass would feed or not feed. This was pure science for those of you that think bass fishing is all luck. Leave it to Bassmaster Magazine to be the educational leader of the outdoors world. I would literally sit by the mailbox near the end of each month just waiting for mine to be delivered. Nothing lit my fire for reading more than Bassmaster Magazine! It’s probably responsible for correcting my dyslexia issue I had in my early elementary years. That’s how good Bassmaster Magazine was and still is today.

Then came VHS tapes and so many videos that showed live footage of catching bass. Videos showing live underwater footage of bass in their natural environment. They had one called “Big Mouth” that showed an angler fishing a crankbait with two sets of treble hooks and a bass inhaling the lure and spitting it out and the angler never knew he had a bite. It was insane to think a bass could actually do this! Videos took bass fishing to a whole other level. They had professional bass fishermen like Bill Dance, Virgil Ward, John Fox, Ricky Green, Bobby & Billy Murray and one angler who many consider to be the best angler ever Roland Martin doing video presentations. “How to” videos designed to shorten your learning curve and make you a better angler. Of course, if you had a VCR to play your VHS tapes, you were considered wealthy. But once they became more affordable, everyone had one. You could even go to Blockbuster Video Store and rent these bass fishing tapes. How cool was that?

For today’s anglers, it’s a whole other world with the amount of bass fishing videos, books and magazines available. Oh, then came this thing called the internet which has more information than hundreds of thousands of libraries. It’s an information highway that has given anglers of today the ability to look up any topic about every facet of bass fishing. There are even videos from average anglers that like to share their fishing experiences and information via GoPro cameras. So, the learning curve for today’s anglers has been cut in half. Instead of taking years to accumulate knowledge like it has for my generation, today’s generation can learn the same amount of information in just a few weeks. But there’s one thing I’ve learned over my 40 plus years of bass fishing experience: there’s no replacing time on the water. No book, no video and no internet can replace time on the water. This is how an average angler can become a great angler. Till next time, don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf
Owner/Co-host
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show
And Tackle Talk Live


Notice of Death – April 29, 2021

SABINE:
Joanna McComic
April 19, 1971 – April 25, 2021
Service: Friday, April 30 at 2 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

NATCHITOCHES:

Scott Alexander
December 29, 1974 – April 27, 2021At his request, he did not want a funeral, and to quote his favorite movie Tombstone, “Well…bye”.

Carolyn Faye Glover Roberts
June 17, 1945 – April 28, 2021
No service arrangements listed

Lawson Boyett
February 16, 1932 – April 29, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 1 at 2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Chuck Raymond Foshee, Sr.
February 17, 1943 – April 28, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Camille Hoover
April 24, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Harry Graham
April 24, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Amari Clark
April 28, 2002 – April 22, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Donnie Ray Armstrong
February 1, 1953 – April 18, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Rickey Lane Smith Sr.
October 7, 1968 – April 17, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Thelma Jean Morris
April 16, 2021
Arrangements TBA


Local Lumber Mill Gives Grant To School Board

On April 23rd, 2021 the Sabine Parish School Board was able to purchase 40 new chromebooks for local students with funds from a grant given by Weyerhauser.

The technology department shared their thanks with the local mill; “Thank you Weyerhauser for the grant opportunity and award of 40 Chromebooks for SPSB students to use for virtual learning activities. Sabine Parish School Board appreciates Weyerhauser’s partnership and comittment to supporting our students and schools.”

ULS President Jim Henderson finalist to take over at LSU

After two days of interviews with eight semifinalists, the LSU Presidential Search Committee reportedly met for three hours behind closed doors for three hours before on Tuesday night announcing its three finalists to replace former LSU President-Chancellor F. King Alexander.

One of those finalists is Jim Henderson, former Northwestern State University President and current President of the University of Louisiana which oversees both Grambling State University and Louisiana Tech University in Lincoln Parish.

Droegemeier was the director for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy for part of President Donald Trump’s term while Tate is the provost at the University of South Carolina.

Louisiana Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, who was interviewed Monday, did not make the cut for finalists. LSU Interim President Tom Galligan on April 20 withdrew from the permanent presidential search.

LSU has been searching for a new permanent president since Alexander announced in late 2019 that he was taking a similar post leading Oregon State University.

The search committee has indicated it is hoping to deliver to the LSU Board of Supervisors a recommendation by Friday.


Save the Date: MOVIE – Dora and the Lost City of Gold

Parents and their children will especially enjoy watching “Dora and the Lost City of Gold”, the FREE movie playing at the Many Community Center on Saturday, May 8, at 7 p.m. the theatre will open at 6:30

DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD starts off showing a young Dora enjoying life with her parents and her cousin Diego in the jungle — until Diego and his parents move “to the City.” Young Dora looks directly at the camera, asking viewers to repeat words in Spanish, and believes that her monkey Boots talks to her — just like on the show. But in the movie, her parents consider it a quirk of her being homeschooled.

A decade later, a now teen Dora makes a breakthrough discovery that leads her parents on a mission to Peru to unearth a legendary Incan city. While they’re gone, they send her to live with Diego (Jeff Wahlberg) and his family in Los Angeles. For the first time in her life, Dora has to attend public school with kids who are decidedly uninterested in her earnest curiosity and friendliness. During a field trip to a museum, Dora and her friends are kidnapped and taken to Peru — but they escape with the help of Alejandro, a friend of her parents. Together they try to find her parents and the city of gold.

Parents need to know that Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a live-action adventure based on the beloved animated series Dora the Explorer. Since this Dora is a teen rather than a very young girl, the movie is geared toward slightly older viewers than the show. The story is a mix of fish-out-of-water high school comedy and true-to-Dora adventure and rescue mission. Expect some peril, including a kidnapping, an armed hostage situation, and several close calls with danger, injury, and drowning. Kids are chased and gassed, but there’s also lots of humor and slapstick, and everyone’s favorite explorer ends up completing her mission safely. Characters use a bit of insult language (“shut up,” “stupid,” “weirdo,” etc.), and there’s some flirting and a quick kiss between teens. Expect themes of teamwork, communication, compassion, courage, curiosity, and perseverance.

It’s a great movie to bring your children to, and older children 10 years old and above, and especially teenagers will especially enjoy “Dora and the Lost City of Gold”. IT’s a quirky adventure movie, and especially directed toward children aged 8 and up. Rated PG, it teaches young people some good lessons about role models. Parents do not have to be concerned about violence, drinking or drugs or sex scenes in this movie.

The theatre will open at 6:30 to give families time to purchase popcorn and soft drinks for only $1 each. The movie will begin at 7. Please wear masks and practice social distancing.


Parish Wide Drive Thru Vaccines

Sabine Parish residents will be able to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination this week. 

On Thursday, April 29, 2021 from 10am-6pm all Sabine Parish residents 16 and older will be eligible for the drive through vaccination. 

The parish wide vaccine event will be held at the Zwolle Festival Grounds. Residents simply need to pull up, register, and get their Pfizer vaccine.

Note: This is the first dose; residents will need to return in 21 days to the next vaccine event to receive their booster. 

SOURCE: Sabine Parish Homeland Security

Local Leaders and Businesses Now in Charge of Policies Requiring Masks in Louisiana

Following months of sustained improvement in COVID hospitalizations and an increase in the supply and availability of vaccines, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that some mitigation measures will be eased and, starting Wednesday, April 28, the statewide mask mandate will be lifted.

Mask policies in Louisiana will be set by local leaders and business owners. Under the Governor’s new public health order, masks will still be required on public transit and in state government buildings, K-12 schools, early childhood education centers, colleges and universities, and healthcare facilities.

More than one in four Louisianans are now fully vaccinated, including two-thirds of those 65 and older. The state of Louisiana joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal and medical officials in recommending that people wear masks in public or when they are with unvaccinated people outside of their households.

All Louisianans 16 and older have been eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine for more than a month and Louisiana was one of the first states to broaden vaccine eligibility to the full population. The three safe and effective COVID vaccines are widely available in Louisiana.

“Many Louisianans have been wearing masks for more than a year now and the statewide mask mandate has been in place for nearly 10 months. We know masks work – the science is clear and we’ve seen the positive impact in our own state. It’s intuitive for people to protect themselves with masks in higher risk situations, and this important mitigation measure should continue. But we have many more tools for slowing the spread of COVID than we did even a few months ago, including better treatments and, most importantly, several highly effective and safe vaccines,” Gov. Edwards said. “I want to be clear: this is not the end of wearing masks in public, as COVID-19 and the spread of variants are still a real threat in our communities. Louisianans should respect each other and businesses and places where masks will be required as we move into a new phase of slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. I will continue to wear a mask in government buildings and in public, especially when I do not know if someone around me has been vaccinated, and I encourage everyone to do this as well.”

The order the Governor signed Tuesday also eases restrictions on live music and allows some businesses, like salons, to re-open their waiting areas. Outdoor events will no longer have crowd limitations.

Social distancing and masking are recommended by both the state of Louisiana and the CDC.

Lifting of the mask mandate does not affect the COVID-19 liability protections that were enacted by the Louisiana Legislature which require businesses and schools to follow the recommendations of state and federal health authorities, all of which recommend continued mask wearing.

For theaters, event spaces, festivals and fairs and other outdoor events, there will be no limitations on outdoor capacity. Indoors, a facility may choose to operate at 75 percent capacity while enforcing six feet of social distancing or at 100 percent capacity with masking required and enforced.

For indoor sporting events, capacity is limited to 75 percent of capacity with social distancing, or 100 percent capacity if a mask mandate is enforced at the venue. Capacity will not be limited outdoors.

For live music, new regulations will require 10 feet of space between the stage and the audience and crowds must be seated. Bars will still only be open to those 21 and older.

State agencies may choose to opt-out of the mask mandate for state-owned buildings in writing to the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and also must inform people entering the building that masks are not mandatory. All state agencies in the Governor’s cabinet and under the Governor’s authority will keep their mask mandates.

The Department of Health additionally will issue a state health officer order that will mandate masks in all health care facilities.

MASKING RECOMMENDATIONS

The Louisiana Department of Health recommends that the public follow the “Two out of Three” rule to keep themselves safe during COVID.

When in doubt about whether to wear a mask at a certain activity where people outside of a person’s everyday household will be present, they can stay safe by:

Making sure everyone around them is vaccinated, or Maintaining the 2 out of 3 Rule: To lower risk for COVID-19, make sure the activity meets two out of the following three conditions.

Outdoors, Distanced and Masked:

Outdoors + Distanced = No Mask Recommended
Outdoors + Not Distanced = Mask Recommended
Indoor + Distanced = Mask Recommended

Residents can call the Bring Back Louisiana COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-855-453-0774 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The hotline can help residents schedule vaccine appointments, find vaccine providers in their area and connect people with medical professionals who can answer vaccine-related questions.


LA. Oil and Gas Industry Needs “Sanctuary” Too

Royal Alexander/Opinion

LA. State Rep. Danny McCormick recently introduced House Bill 617, seeking to have Louisiana designated and declared a “sanctuary” state for fossil fuels in order to protect our oil and gas industry—a critically important part of our state’s economy—that is again under attack, this time by the Biden Administration.

There is certainly precedent for Rep. McCormick’s legislation. We’ve seen sanctuary cities and states across the country, even without enabling legislation like McCormick’s, refuse to help enforce federal immigration law regarding the location and deportation of illegal aliens, often including criminal aliens. So, the idea of a state ignoring federal law is not new.

And, while McCormick’s legislation will face an uphill fight due to the Supremacy Clause of our U.S. Constitution—which essentially declares that federal law trumps state law—that in no way diminishes the principle underscoring the legislation.

We are talking about the principle of state sovereignty. We must remember that our Constitution created and designed our federal government and the 50 state governments to exist as co-equal sovereigns. This principle of state sovereignty is powerfully pronounced and preserved by the 10th Amendment which clearly and succinctly declares that those rights not specifically and expressly enumerated in our Constitution as being granted to the federal government are reserved to and for the states and the people.

Derived from the 10thAmendment, the legal theory upon which the legislation is based is the concept of nullification. This is the process by which a state would nullify or declare null and void a federal law that violates the Constitution. Here, the constitutional violation arguably includes the fact that the oil and gas industry, a major Louisiana industry with tens of thousands of jobs flowing directly and indirectly from it, are the “property” of Louisiana companies and individual citizens that are being deprived “without due process of law.” This also arguably amounts to a 5th Amendment “taking” for a “public use” but “without just compensation.”

[We should note that the production of fossil fuels has been attacked relentlessly, worldwide, supposedly to combat the eons-old cyclical warming and cooling of our planet. However, according to Dr. Patrick Moore, a Greenpeace co-founder, “there is nonscientific proof that human emissions of carbon dioxide are the dominant cause of the minor warming of the Earth’s atmosphere over the past 100 years … no actual proof, as it is understood in science, actually exists.”]

McCormick’s legislation, similar to the way sanctuary cities and states have disregarded federal immigration law, would likely work like this: the federal government would obviously still be free to enforce its own anti-oil and gas regulations with its own resources but states like Louisiana could simply say to the feds “we are not going to cooperate in helping you enforce those laws” with our own efforts, funds, assets, or resources. This is because the U.S. Supreme Court has held that, while the federal government may dangle federal dollars in front of states in order to incentivize certain conduct, it may not “commandeer” the states and force them to do so.

It is beyond dispute that the economic impact of federal laws and regulations on Louisiana’s oil and gas industry has been devastating. For this reason, we can and must find a way to balance energy and industry with good environmental stewardship while remembering that the worst environment one can be in is to be cold, hungry, and unemployed.

[I am confident that if the Biden Administration also overreaches on other issues like 2nd Amendment gun rights and gun ownership, we will see more states undertake efforts like this one.]

Again, this undertaking will obviously face many obstacles but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the effort. Our Framers fully recognized that co-equal, shared power between the federal and state governments would necessarily involve tensions and friction, which they viewed as healthy in our system of dual sovereignty.


Pudding and Pie

By Brad Dison

For hundreds of years, London has attracted more inhabitants than the city could adequately house. During Roman times, the city was enclosed by a wall on three sides and the Thames River on the fourth. When the limited space was filled, workers built on top of existing buildings as well as across the London Bridge, the city’s only bridge. These additions grew wider with each added level, which caused homes to almost touch across the street.

Fire was always a great concern to large cities. By the 1600s, it was illegal to build with wood and to roof with thatch in London, but those building materials were much cheaper than stone and slate. The public largely ignored the building codes and enforcement officers did little to enforce them. The city was full of blacksmiths, glaziers, foundries, bakeries and a host of other craftsmen who manufactured their products by using open flames in wooden buildings.

London had no fire department, but relied on its local militia to watch for fires. Each church was required to house equipment for fighting fires including ladders, leather buckets, axes, and firehooks. In the event of a fire, the militia doused the flames by throwing water from leather buckets. In order to keep the fire from spreading, the militia used the firehooks to pull down flimsy houses. If those efforts failed to stop the spreading flames, the militia created firebreaks by demolishing homes with controlled gunpowder explosions.

Thomas Farriner owned a prominent bakery in the city. The bakery was on the first floor and Thomas’s family lived in an upper floor. Just after midnight on Sunday, September 2, 1666, a fire broke out at Thomas’s bakery and quickly spread. Thomas and his family escaped from the fire by climbing through windows into an adjoining neighbor’s home. Thomas’s maid, however, was unable to escape and was the fire’s first victim.

Within a short time, the fire had spread to adjoining buildings. The militia was unable to extinguish the fire with their water buckets and it gained momentum. Militiamen wanted to pull down houses on the outer perimeter of the fire but their tenants refused and the Lord Mayor was slow to intervene. A strong west wind fanned the flames. All attempts to slow the spread of fire failed.

At first, Londoners who lived just a few streets away assumed the fire would not reach their homes. When they realized the fire would likely destroy their homes, Londoners began loading the bulk of their possessions onto carts and hauling them away. The streets of London were congested by hundreds of carts, full carts trying to get out of London and empty ones coming back in for another load. The carts bottlenecked at each of the eight gates in the Roman wall. Many people stored their possessions in stone buildings, mostly churches such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, because they were thought to be fireproof. However, the contents of most of these buildings caught fire and added to the destruction. Some wealthy Londoners hired boats on the Thames to transport their possessions away from the burning city. Tenants scurried to grab whatever they could up until they were repelled by the heat of the fire. Contemporary accounts claimed the fire created its own weather system and eyewitness accounts described what amounted to fiery tornadoes.

On the orders of King Charles II, the militia began using controlled gunpowder explosions to level buildings. As soon as a building was detonated, teams of people cleared the area of the debris. The fire spread to homes on the London Bridge and people feared the fire would spread to the opposite side of the river. Luckily, a firebreak on the bridge prevented its crossing.

On Wednesday, September 5, the wind which had fanned the flames died down. A slow and steady rain began to extinguish fires throughout the city. The last fire to be extinguished was at the corner of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane in central London. By the time it was extinguished, the fire had destroyed an estimated 13,500 houses, 87 churches, 44 trade associations and guild buildings, the Royal Exchange, the Custom House, several prisons, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and numerous other buildings. The numbers vary depending on the source, but, surprisingly, only a few people died as a result of the fire.

During reconstruction efforts after the fire, Londoners created monuments to mark the starting and ending points of the fire. The Monument to the Great Fire of London, colloquially referred to as “the monument,” is a 202-feet-high Doric column which stands 202 feet from where the fire began. In an alcove at the corner of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane is a statue called “Golden Boy of Pye Corner”. Pye was old English for Pie. This statue marks the spot where the last of the fire was extinguished.

Following the fire, some citizens of London perceived the Great Fire of London as a sign from a higher power of the evils of overeating. An inscription on the “Golden Boy” statue states: “This Boy is in Memory put up for the late Fire of London, Occasion’d by the Sin of Gluttony.” You see, the fire began at a bakery on Pudding Lane and was finally extinguished at Pie Corner. The fire began on Pudding and ended at Pie.

Sources:
1. The London Gazette, September 10, 1666, p.1.
2. The Monument. “The Monument.” Accessed April 19, 2021.  themonument.info/
3. Historic UK. “The Golden Boy of Pye Corner.” Accessed April 19, 2021.  historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/The-Golden-Boy-of-Pye-Corner/


Opportunity: Secretary

JOB VACANCIES: SECRETARY

LOCATION: Central Office

QUALIFICATIONS: High School Diploma or equivalent, Associate or
Bachelor’s Degree preferred, excellent communication
skills, and proficiency in computer skills.

SALARY: According to Parish Salary Schedule

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 months

WHERE TO APPLY:

Linda Page, Personnel Director
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358

DEADLINE: Monday, May 3, 2021; 4:00 p.m.

APPLICATIONS: Application packet should consist of a letter of
application, resume’, official transcript, and two
letters of reference.

EOE


Notice of Death – April 27, 2021

SABINE:
Joanna McComic
April 19, 1971 – April 25, 2021
Service: Friday, April 30 at 2 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

NATCHITOCHES:

Sherry Dale Thomason DuBois
October 01, 1949 – April 18, 2021
No service information listed

Patsy Jo Young Bennett
July 18, 1935 – April 24, 2021
A private family graveside service was held on Monday, April 26 at Russell Cemetery in Natchitoches Parish

Randy Charlton Hall
March 26, 1954 – April 26, 2021
Service: Wednesday, April 28 at 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Camille Hoover
April 24, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Harry Graham
April 24, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Amari Clark
April 28, 2002 – April 22, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Donnie Ray Armstrong
February 1, 1953 – April 18, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Rickey Lane Smith Sr.
October 7, 1968 – April 17, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Thelma Jean Morris
April 16, 2021
Arrangements TBA


National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Recognized

— — MANY, La – On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, to celebrate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a tree planting ceremony was held to honor victims of crime in Sabine Parish. Victims of crime and surviving family members of victims helped make this event truly special.
 
It was coordinated by Project Celebration, the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department, and the Sabine Parish District Attorney’s Office.
 
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell attended with some of his deputies, one of whom is Barbara Campbell, who handles crime victims’ services for the sheriff’s department. He gave statistics for the types of crime that have occurred in the first quarter of 2021 in Sabine Parish. Sheriff Mitchell expressed his sadness for the trauma that crime victims suffer and pledged that his office will continue to work diligently to keep Sabine Parish and its citizens safe.
 
Project Celebration staff attended the ceremony, including Luci Collins, a forensic interviewer at Project Celebration, who described the types of interviews that are conducted for criminal investigations and the services for counseling that are offered through Project Celebration.
 
Assistant District Attorney, Anna Garcie, described how Crime Victims’ Week began and the importance of the work done by law enforcement and service providers, such as Project Celebration, which helps in preparing cases for prosecution.
 
District Attorney, Don Burkett, in attendance with his staff, talked about the importance of community safety and ensuring the rights of victims. He introduced his Victim Assistance Coordinator, Karen Williams and Court Liaison, Angie Ponder, who work directly with victims daily. He pledged that his office will continue, as it has for more than three decades, to seek justice for victims of crime in Sabine Parish.
 
If you or someone you know is or has been a victim of crime, please contact law enforcement.
 
SOURCE: Sabine Parish DA

Zwolle Loggers And Forestry Festival Trail Ride

The Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival will hold a Trail Ride on Saturday, May 8th at 2PM.

Howdy Trail Riders! We invite you to the Zwolle Loggers & Forestry Festival Trail Ride

Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 2:00 pm

Trail Ride will leave from the Zwolle Festival Grounds

Admission is $10.00 per person ages 16 and up and $5.00 per person ages 15 and under

No Four Wheelers are allowed!

Side by Sides are allowed!

Prizes will be awarded and Food will be available before and after the ride

For more information, please contact Monk Sepulvado at 318-332-8140

The Zwolle Loggers & Forestry Festival is not responsible for any lost or broken items.

Phone number: 
318-332-8140
 
Event Location: 
Zwolle Festival Grounds
1100 S Main
Zwolle, LA 71486

To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE

Choctaw Apache Tribe Of Ebarb Annual Powow

Today, Friday, April 23rd, the Choctaw-Apache Tribe, located on the banks of Toledo Bend at the Community of Ebarb, hosts a traditional Powwow.

The Choctaw-Apache Tribal Powwow celebrates the 2,500-plus member tribe’s roots.  

The Tribe is essentially 21 families strong, and according to tribal records, 13 of the tribe’s families were associated with the mission and presidio of Los Adaes. After being forced by the Spanish crown to move from Los Adaes to San Antonio in 1778, the families made their way back as close as east Texas and resettled the abandoned mission at Nacogdoches. It was only a matter of time before those families and eight others resettled their ancestral lands on the east side of the Sabine River in what was to become Sabine Parish between 1835 and 1870.

Today, there are 1100 enrolled members who still live within a 15 square mile area that has been home to many since before first European contact in the 1720’s. Across the country, another 1600 non-resident members live from coast to coast and from border to border.

The Choctaw Apache Powwow is a celebration of Native American Culture; enjoy traditional dancing, delicious food, unique craft items, jewelry, and fellowship.

All dancer and guest drums are welcome.

The general public is invited to attend. This is an alcohol and drug free event. No coolers are allowed.

This Powwow is sponsored by: Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb, Department of Health and Hospitals, Cane River National Heritage Area, and the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission.

The Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb Pow Wow will be held at the Ebarb High School Gym on Friday, April 23rd ONLY due to the weather. This is for demonstrations and vendors. Saturday is at Pow Wow grounds.

Friday, April 23:

Demonstrations 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Gourd Dancing 6:00 pm

Grand Entry 7:00 pm:

Saturday, April 24:

Gourd Dancing 10:00 am

Lunch 12:00 pm

Grand Entry 1:00 pm

Dinner 4:00 pm

Gourd Dancing 5:00 pm

Grand Entry 6:00 pm

Event Location: 

5340 LA-482 OR 217 Gene Knight Rd

Noble, LA


To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE

Marcus Jones named NSU’s interim president

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors voted unanimously at its April 22 meeting to name Marcus Jones interim president of Northwestern State University effective July 1. Henderson said that with his 23 years spent in the community, Jones will be able to keep the ship moving steadily forward as the university holds a search for a new president to replace Dr. Chris Maggio who recently announced his plans to retire.

The board expressed its appreciation for Maggio’s years of service to NSU.

Other agenda items voted on by the board included:

Approve NSU entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with Caddo Career and Technical Center

Approve NSU entering into a Transfer Articulation Agreement with Bossier Parish Community College

Approve NSU School Affiliation Agreement with Rapides Regional Medical Center

Approve NSU’s request to convert post-baccalaureate certificates in the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health to undergraduate certificates

Approve NSU’s request to transition the Bachelor of Science in Theatre – Design and Technology Concentration to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production and Design

Approve contract with Sean Kiracofe, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, effective March 1, 2021

Approve Ground Lease Agreement with the Northwestern State University Foundation to obtain and install artificial turf on the football field at Harry Turpin Stadium

Appoint Dr. Michael Snowden as Vice President for Inclusion and Diversity at NSU effective May 1, 2021


To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE

Angler’s Perspective – How Dumb Are Ya?!!!

There are a few things that really set me off when it comes to angler/boater incidents both on and off the water. Things that make you ask the question “How dumb are Ya?” Today I’m going to give you a few examples of what I mean and hopefully you won’t fall into one of these categories. Some of these situations I’ve heard about from other anglers but most I’ve witnessed personally. If you’re wondering if I’m being judgmental, the answer is yes!

I’m so tired of seeing people do stupid stuff especially at the boat ramp. If you’re an angler or a boater, listen up! Please do me and everyone else a favor! DON’T BLOCK THE BOAT RAMP! Load your boat with all your gear before you back down the ramp. This happens all the time where an angler or pleasure boater waits to unhook his tie down straps, remove the motor mate, put in the plug, load the ice chest, fix a sandwich and place their rods in the boat. Oh, and I forgot to mention, that after they’ve done all these other things and get in the boat to back it off the trailer, they forgot to unhook the front. Do ALL this before you back down the ramp and launching your boat will only take a minute or two versus ten minutes. Please stop doing this! Do ALL your prep work before you get on the ramp!

This next category I call “cutters.” These are bass anglers who like to cut off or cut in front of another angler on the water. A prime example that I’ve experienced in my last two trips to Toledo Bend occurred when I was fishing a main lake point about thirty yards off the bank when another angler came around the same point that I’m obviously fishing. As I make another cast towards the point, I notice that instead of going around me, this anger decides to go between me and the bank and is literally twenty feet from my boat! The first problem I had with this idiot, is that he never even acknowledged that I was there. The second problem was the fact he actually trolled directly over my fishing line and still never acknowledged my presence. Needless to say, after I shouted a few expletives questioning this man’s intelligence, I just could not believe what I had witnessed. After a case of water rage, I literally wanted to physically hurt this man! I wished I had videoed this incident so I could post it on Facebook on what not to do when fishing a point that another angler is also fishing. Again, this has happened to me my last two trips to Toledo Bend. I just don’t understand what people are thinking!

This next incident took place on Sam Rayburn in March while fishing the ABA Solo Top 150 Tour event. Now you have to understand that anglers who fish this tournament trail, do so without co-anglers or partners. This is not a team bass tournament, so anglers have to launch their boats by themselves. This means as you back your boat off the trailer, you need a place to park it so you can pull your trailer off the ramp and park it in the parking lot. The problem was, as the first 10 or 15 anglers launched their boats, they decided it was a smart idea to park along the bank and alongside the boat dock This made it impossible for the other 65 anglers to find a place to park their boats so other anglers could launch as well. Just like the “cutters” at Toledo Bend, I could not pass up the opportunity to inform this group of anglers of just how dumb they are. I mean it’s just common sense that everyone cannot park next to the boat ramp while other anglers are trying to launch their boats. Again, “How dumb are Ya?”

I hope today that you’ve learned a few things about what NOT to do at a boat ramp and on the water. With so many anglers and pleasure boaters on the water today, it’s important that everyone be conscious of what they are doing and how their actions might affect other boaters. I feel like it should be required that anyone operating a boat of any size be required to take a boating safety course and that the unwritten rules of etiquette be taught as part of this course. Until next time, if you hear someone chewing out another angler or boater on any body of water, it’s probably just me trying to educate a few people. Good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf
Owner/Co-host
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show
And Tackle Talk Live


To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE

Opportunity: Secretary

JOB VACANCIES: SECRETARY

LOCATION: Central Office

QUALIFICATIONS: High School Diploma or equivalent, Associate or Bachelor’s Degree preferred, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in computer skills.

SALARY: According to Parish Salary Schedule

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 months

WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda Page, Personnel Director
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358

DEADLINE: Monday, May 3, 2021, 4:00 p.m.

APPLICATIONS: Application packet should consist of a letter of application, resume’, official transcript, and two letters of reference.


To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE

Notice of Death – April 22, 2021

SABINE:
Frances Gayle Speight
March 6, 1941 – April 19, 2021
Service: Saturday, April 24 at 2 pm at Beulah Baptist Church

Edna Genevieve Moore Dufour
April 1, 1944 – April 15, 2021
Service: Friday, April 23 at 1 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home, located at 355 Capitol St. in Many

Jackie Ruth Holcomb
July 17, 1943 – April 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, April 24 at 2 pm at Mt. Olive Cemetery

NATCHITOCHES:
Joseph “Boney” Powell
April 18, 1951 – April 20, 2021
Service: Saturday April 24 at 1 pm at Blanchard St Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Donnie Ray Armstrong
February 1, 1953 – April 18, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Rickey Lane Smith Sr.
October 7, 1968 – April 17, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Thelma Jean Morris
April 16, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Annie Belle Davis
April 15, 2021
Arrangements TBA

RED RIVER:
Mildred Marie Loving
May 02, 1924 – April 19, 2021
Service: Saturday, April 24 at 11:30 am at Mt. Zion Cemetery


To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE