Dylan Kyle Poche was born on March 10, 1997, in Natchitoches, Louisiana

In just 18 short years, Dylan left a mark far greater than time could measure. After his tragic and violent passing, Dylan’s family made a decision to hold his first memorial Bass Tournament on May 8th  2016. 
Burt says, The event has grown bigger than we ever would have expected.

Each year, they host a memorial fishing tournament in his honor. Proceeds fund a scholarship through Northwestern State University, Dylan’s name continues to open doors and change lives for generations to come.

This year, a portion of tournament proceeds will also benefit Hope For Lydia

Registration Deadline:  March 27, 2pm

Tournament Information:  www.dylankylepoche.com

Online Registration:  https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/421EecWiVrOyjr7ynXJz

10th Annual Dylan Kyle Poche Bas Tournament
Date: March 28, 2026

Location: Cypress Bend Park

Activities
•Kids Fishing from the bank
•Food for all
•Prizes/Raffles
•Kids Jumpers
•Live Band

November 23, 1939 — March 8, 2026

Funeral services for Marlene Jackson “MiMi” Pitt, 86, will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Little Flock Baptist Church, 1805 Little Flock Rd., Many, Louisiana. A visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until time of service. A burial will follow the service at Florien Cemetery, 1452 N. Nolan Trace, Florien, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Brother Jimmy Speight.

Marlene was born on November 23, 1939 to Charles Bolton Jackson and Willie Mae Jackson in Many, Louisiana. She passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Marlene is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Willie Mae Jackson; sisters, Charlene Wilbanks and Sharon Rollins; and granddaughter, Courtney Denise Pitt. She is survived by her sons, Dennis Pitt and wife, Michelle, of Mineral Wells, Texas and Mike Pitt and wife, Nerissa, of Many, Louisiana; daughter, Debra Denise Pitt Olah of Many, Louisiana; sister, Sue Potter of Elmer, Louisiana; brother, Charles Jackson and wife, Connie, of Florien, Louisiana; 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Honoring Marlene as pallbearers will be Ryan Porter, Brad Pitt, Cody Pitt, Corbin Pitt, Caden Pitt, Logan Pitt, Austin Bellair, and Derek Davis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Dementia Society of America at Dementia Society of America/donate or Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at CureAlz.org

Services and care were provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Many, Louisiana.

January 3, 1958 — March 7, 2026

A memorial service for Diana Serrett Davis, 68, were held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Siloam Baptist Church, 35480 Hwy 191, Many, Louisiana. Officiating the service was Brother Chuck Lusk.

Diana was born on January 3, 1958 to Wesley and Hazel Serrett in Arnaudville, Louisiana. She passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Diana loved to watch the sunset every evening. She made it a regular habit to take a picture and post it for everyone to see. She was gifted with a talent for crocheting and when she had free time she enjoyed painting. She loved everything about the beach, lake, or the pool. But above everything, she adored her grandchildren.

Diana is preceded in death by her parents, Wesley and Hazel Serrett and her brother, Dickie Serrett. She is survived by her husband, Jeff Davis of Many, Louisiana; son, Mikey Davis and Felica, of Many, Louisiana; daughter, Christina Faust and husband, Jared, of Robeline, Louisiana; and grandchildren, Audrey Faust and Waylon Faust.

Services and care were provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Many, Louisiana.

September 24, 1960 — March 4, 2026

David Wayne Oliver passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was born on September 24, 1960 to Bertha Lovelady Oliver and Ross Franklin Oliver in Shreveport, Louisiana.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Bertha and Franklin Oliver; son, Benny Ross Oliver; brothers, John Oliver, Jimmy Oliver, and Ross Oliver; sister, Lanell Steele; and brothers-in-law, Mike Keel and Wiley Wedgeworth.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Dana Robin Oliver; sisters, Faye Wedgeworth, Carolyn Elliott (Jimmy), Charlotte Keel, and Judy Hippler (David); special nephew, Josh Hippler; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Services and care were provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Many, Louisiana.

Dialog and debate are important, and I welcome the opportunity to engage on the sequestration of carbon waste in western and central Louisiana. I offer these words with respect and seriousness.

On 27 Feb 2026, Ms. Lemoine criticized the “what-ifs” being raised by concerned citizens in Vernon and Rapides parishes and suggested we are short-sighted for not embracing the promised jobs and growth. Fair enough.   Wrong, but I understand the point she is trying to get across. No one is rejecting industry or jobs.   Here are a few of my own “what-ifs” for consideration by Ms. Lemoine and by all who ae paying attention to this debate.

What if the author of the 2009 legislation that opened the door to carbon burial (Rep. Jim Morris) had known then what we know now? In his floor speech, all he told colleagues was, “We’re putting carbon in the ground,” and “This is complicated.” He did not appear fully informed. He didn’t explain anything.    He certainly didn’t seem to know this day would be coming.

What if the legislators at that time had perfect knowledge of where we would be today? I believe many members — including my own — would have asked much harder questions.

What if the industry sponsors who pushed Senator Sharon Hewitt’s 2020 bill had told her about the Satartia pipeline rupture? What if they had admitted the true intent was not to bury carbon only in depleted oil fields, but in unmapped subsurface zones with no definable traps like in Vernon Parish?

What if the special interests that backed these bills had done real due diligence on the risks — including potential damage to our water supply, family land, and the second-largest Army training range in America — instead of hoping the details would slip through under cover of darkness?

There are real risks here. This is not like betting on a product that might or might not sell, where the only but serious downside is bankruptcy. Much more is at stake — our groundwater, our land, our way of life, and our national security infrastructure.

What if the industry Ms. Lemoine speaks of would maybe consider another place to send their captured carbon?   No one from around here is fighting the production and sale of wood products (biomass).   We want wood pellet and other timber producers to come here.   It’s what they do with carbon that is the consternation.  We are voracious users of pipelines in Louisiana, right?  What if they pipe the carbon to the Gulf and put it under the ocean floor?   No one EVER thinks of that or even addresses it.  It appears to be ALL OR NOTHING in the CENLA HUB—in Vernon Parish.    What if we think outside the box?

A full, transparent debate has never taken place on these issues.  One side or the other always feels like discussions are slanted or one-sided.    Why not have a public debate?  I extend this public invitation: I will bring a geologist, an environmental scientist, and an engineer, and you can bring who you wish.  Maybe we can get Moon Griffon and Brian Haldane to be the moderators.   Let’s sit down in Vernon or Rapides Parish and have an honest discussion — no spin, no slogans, just facts.

The people of Central Louisiana deserve nothing less.

PS  What if people lying about the Sierra Club being behind the efforts in CENLA?  They’re not.  They came to a meeting.  They might have visited with some folks, but the opposition to carbon burial is not funded by leftists and most of us want nothing to do with the green scam they still relish.   Opposition is organic and local and it’s NOT left wing.  No one around here is fighting oil and gas, timber or progress.

Very respectfully,
Charles A. Owen
State Representative, District 30

Member, Central Louisiana Delegation, Louisiana Rural Caucus, Louisiana Freedom Caucus

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BATON ROUGE — State Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier have both expressed concern about a spate of bills that might give communities veto power over carbon capture projects in their areas.

The push for a local option follows growing concerns of residents, landowners and environmentalists in Louisiana about the possible health implications of having the carbon capture and storage projects nearby.

Carbon capture is the process of capturing carbon dioxide at emission sources, transporting it and then storing or burying it in a deep, underground location.

DeVillier, R-Eunice, said more than 20 bills have been filed in the House that he would consider “anti-carbon capture.” DeVillier said he wants to ensure that the new technology is handled safely but also in accordance with guidance from the Supreme Court, “that says states nor local governments should interfere with interstate commerce. I mean, that is exactly what local option is,” he said.

Henry, R-Metairie, said that “when you’re talking about an industry that’s going to come in and change not only a parish but could possibly change the face of Louisiana, I think having a group of five people go in and say, ‘Under no circumstances will I ever allow this here,’ that’s not practical,” Henry said.

The lawmakers made those comments at a lunch at the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday.

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July 28, 1956 — February 14, 2026

Antonia Roberta Randolph Harwell Sonnier, lovingly known as “Tonie,” 69, of Pendleton, Louisiana, passed away on February 14, 2026 at Rapides Medical Center. Born on July 28, 1956, in Zwolle, Louisiana, Tonie lived a life as vibrant and unforgettable as her wardrobe. She was proud of her German heritage and carried that pride in her traditions, values, and strong spirit.

Funeral services for Tonie will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Pendelton Assembly of God Church, 14152 Texas Hwy, Many, Louisiana. A burial will follow at Pendelton Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Monday, February 16, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Officiating the service will be Brother Ed Held.

A proud 1974 graduate of Negreet High School, she faithfully cheered on the Indians and often reminded those around her that it was always “a great day to be an Indian.” That school pride stayed with her throughout her life.

Tonie was an accomplished accountant, known for her dedication, intelligence, and sharp wit. She was a proud supporter of Northwestern State University and enjoyed cheering on NSU. Her greatest joy, however, was her family. Her most cherished roles were wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, cousin, and friend.

Above all, Tonie loved the Lord. Her faith was the foundation of her life, and Pendleton Assembly of God was near and dear to her heart.

She is survived by her loving husband, Phillip Sonnier of Pendleton, Louisiana; her children, Amanda James (Neil) of Negreet, Louisiana, Phillip Harwell of Pendleton, Louisiana, Nick Sonnier (Carlotta), and Stacey Sonnier of Oberlin, Louisiana; sister, Kathrine Brown of Plainview, Louisiana; brother, Rodney Randolph (Beverly) of Pendleton, Louisiana; special sisters-in-law, Brenda Pate (Billy) of Valliant, Oklahoma, Kerry Thomas (Harley) of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and Betty Randolph; sisters-in-law, Louise Stelly (Mike) of Lake Charles and Kat Hooper (Gerald) of Moss Bluff, Louisiana; special friends, Steve and Rose Fontenot; along with innumerable cousins, nieces, nephews, dear friends, and loved ones.

She was a proud and devoted grandmother to Gus Harwell and Ronnie James of Negreet, Louisiana, and Jacob James (Marly), and a cherished great-grandmother to Annalise James.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Hilda Randolph; husband, Joe Harwell; brothers, Peter and Frank Randolph; her beloved aunts known as “The Seven Sisters,” including her godmother, Bonnie Layfield; nephews, Bobby Glen Randolph and Jeffrey Randolph; mother and father-in-law, Ralph and Pat Harwell; brother-in-law, JD Brown; her beloved fur babies, Daisy Mae and Kitty; and her grand dog, Tank.

Honoring Tonie as pallbearers will be Neil James, Jacob James, Andy Randolph, Tracy Brown, Timmy Layfield, Andrew Fultz, Nick Sonnier, and Justin Merritt. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Gus Harwell, Ronnie James, and Tim Layfield.

Tonie had a larger-than-life personality and never entered a room quietly — especially when dressed to the nines. She loved gardening, traveling — especially to the beach — shopping, and took great pride in her purse and shoe collection. She enjoyed cooking for those she loved, was an avid reader, loved working puzzles, and never missed an opportunity to test her knowledge while watching Jeopardy! She loved a good debate and stood confidently in her well-informed opinions.

Even in her passing, Tonie continued to give to others as a selfless organ donor, a final act of generosity that reflected the giving heart she carried throughout her life.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to Acadian Ambulance Service, the Sabine Parish first responders, Sabine Medical Center, the compassionate staff at Rapides Regional Medical Center, Pastor Ed Held, the entire Northwestern State University Social Work Department, and Pendleton Assembly of God for their care, compassion, and support. The outpouring of love has been tremendous.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her — and as she would proudly remind you, it was Tonie with an E.

In true Tonie fashion, the family would like those attending her service dress in their most fabulous attire and shoes or Mardi Gras in celebration of her beautiful life.

Services and care were provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Many, Louisiana.

September 4, 1970 — February 19, 2026

Funeral services for Anthony Terrell Ebarb, 55, will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 307 Hammond St., Zwolle, Louisiana. A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 9891 Texas Hwy, Many, Louisiana and again on Monday, February 23, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. A burial will follow the service at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Officiating the service will be Father Timothy Hurd.

Terrell was born on September 4, 1970 to Earl Anthony Ebarb and Brenda Kay Ebarb in Many, Louisiana and passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026 in Shreveport, Louisiana surrounded by his loving family.

Terrell is preceded in death by his brother, Steven Wayne Ebarb; paternal grandparents, Earl and Florence Ebarb; and maternal grandparents, Earl and Mary Olla Malmay. He is survived by his parents, Anthony and Brenda Ebarb of Noble, Louisiana; daughter, Paige Freeman and husband, Kenneth “Spooky” Freeman of Noble, Louisiana; son, Dewayne Ebarb and wife, Ashley, of Many, Louisiana; grandchildren, Ethan Ebarb, Bentley Ebarb, Carson Ebarb, and Brooklyn Ebarb; and a great number of aunts, uncles, nephews, and cherished friends.

Terrell made many friendships through the places he’s worked, including Market Basket, Rivers Builders Supply, and Walmart. His greatest joy outside of work was spending time with his pup, Cosmo, and his grandpups, Tank and Boomer. He loved hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family. He never met a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. His memory will shine brightly through the lives of those he touched.

Honoring Terrell as pallbearers will be Waylon Malmay, Jeremy Campbell, Trystan Ezernack, Keith Lopez, Josh Winfield, and Daniel Smith. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Cricket Manshack, Kenneth “Spooky” Freeman, Dewayne Ebarb, Josh Ebarb, Trevor Ebarb, and Tyler Ebarb.

Services and care were provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Many, Louisiana.

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Here’s my latest Q & A

The Latest Question & Answer

Dr. Valerie Salter was sworn in at the January board meeting as the newest member of the Sabine Parish Tourist & Recreation Commission. Dr. Salter serves as Department Head and Associate Professor in the Department of Hospitality Management & Tourism at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches. She has been a resident of Sabine Parish for more than twenty years.

Dr. Salter earned her Ph.D. in Hospitality Management from Iowa State University and has extensive experience in hospitality education, food safety, and tourism development, having led international study tours and maintained strong industry partnerships throughout her career. She is passionate about promoting Louisiana’s unique tourism assets and supporting economic development through sustainable tourism initiatives in Sabine Parish and the surrounding region. The Commission is comprised of 7 members and located at 1601 Texas Highway in Many.

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Digital news network’s no-paywall model drives advertising reach in underserved markets

By Frank Johnson
Special Report

The Parish Journals of Louisiana generated 17.6 million articles read in 2025 across 17 parishes in northwest and central Louisiana, according to site analytics data, establishing the digital network as a significant advertising platform in markets traditional media increasingly abandons.  While many social media platforms get their “counts” by you simply scrolling across their article or post, the 17.6 million Parish Journals analytics are specifically from articles opened and read – a huge difference for those who understand the value of that! 

The network, operated by Journal Services LLC, maintains individual publications serving Avoyelles, Bienville, Claiborne, DeSoto, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Vernon, Webster and Winn parishes, plus the Shreveport-Bossier Journal covering Caddo and Bossier parishes.

Unlike legacy newspapers implementing paywalls while reducing rural coverage, Parish Journals publications remain entirely FREE to readers — a model creating distinct advantages for advertisers seeking reach beyond metropolitan markets.

Geographic footprint addresses news deserts

The network spans Louisiana’s northern border through central parishes, delivering hyperlocal coverage to both population centers and agricultural communities where traditional news operations have contracted or closed entirely.

Each publication focuses on municipal government proceedings, school board operations, high school athletics and regional business developments — content that generates sustained reader engagement and repeat traffic.

Site analytics show consistent readership across rural parishes that major media outlets typically serve only through regional editions or wire service content, if at all.

Paywall-free access multiplies advertising reach

The network’s most significant competitive advantage centers on unrestricted content access and its impact on advertising distribution.

When readers share Parish Journals articles through social media, email or messaging platforms, recipients access full content immediately without subscription barriers. Advertisements within shared articles reach expanded audiences at no additional cost to advertisers.

Paywalled competitors face structural limitations: subscribers may share content, but non-subscribers cannot access articles or view advertisements without subscriptions. This restricts organic distribution and caps advertising reach at existing subscriber counts regardless of content popularity.

Parish Journals articles continue generating traffic and advertising impressions weeks or months after publication as readers discover and share content without access restrictions. High school sports coverage particularly demonstrates this sustained engagement as families share game stories and season recaps long after initial publication.

Learn more about advertising opportunities with the Parish Journals network.

Digital infrastructure enables targeting flexibility

The network’s digital-first operations provide capabilities traditional print cannot match: real-time campaign deployment, performance analytics, geographic targeting across multiple parish markets, and mobile accessibility.

Advertisers can execute both broad regional campaigns and parish-specific initiatives through a single media partner while maintaining unlimited organic reach through social sharing.

Contact Journal Services LLC to discuss your advertising strategy.

Market positioning amid industry consolidation

As consolidation reshapes Louisiana media markets and legacy publications reduce rural coverage while implementing subscription barriers, Parish Journals has systematically expanded into underserved communities.

The result: comprehensive regional reach combined with genuine local focus across individual parish markets, without subscription barriers limiting advertising effectiveness.

The network’s 2025 performance — 17.6 million articles read across 17 parishes — demonstrates sustained audience engagement in markets where traditional news operations struggle to maintain profitability.

For businesses seeking connections with audiences across northwest and central Louisiana’s diverse communities, the platform provides documented reach and engagement with the structural advantage of unrestricted content access multiplying advertising distribution.

Contact Journal Services LLC regarding advertising rates and partnership opportunities.

Northwestern State’s football team will play six games at Turpin Stadium in 2026, including a season-opening Thursday night, Aug. 27 contest renewing a long dormant series with nearby Louisiana Christian (formerly Louisiana College), and third-year coach Blaine McCorkle’s Demons will visit NSU’s oldest rival, Louisiana Tech in Week 2.

The 12-game schedule was announced on Tuesday as part of a Southland Conference-wide schedule release for the 2026 season.

“Thursday night openers are always fun because the students are here and you get a good crowd. We opened up against Alcorn on Thursday night last year and it was a great atmosphere so we are excited to do that again,” said McCorkle.

The game with the Wildcats is the first between the two programs since 1968 in a series dating back to 1908.. LC dropped football in 1969, and resumed it two decades ago. Located in Pineville, Louisiana Christian plays at the NAIA Division I level and has visited Southland members McNeese and Houston Christian in season-openers in the past two years.

“I can see LC bringing a lot of people up and they’re a good football team,” said McCorkle. “I give Coach (Ben) McLaughlin a lot of credit. They’ve won their conference two of the last three years, and they do a lot of good things. There’s no doubt their players will be excited to come in here and play.”

Northwestern renews another regional rivalry the following week when it travels to Louisiana Tech on Sept. 5. The first meeting with the Bulldogs since 2023 begins a stretch of three straight September road games for the second straight season.

Sandwiched between the trip to Ruston and a program-first trip to Utah to close a home-and-home agreement with Weber State (Sept. 19), the Demons travel to East Texas A&M (Sept. 12) for the first of nine SLC games on the schedule.

After four straight seasons with multiple FBS opponents on their non-conference schedule, the Demons face just one in 2026.

“Excited about the regional rivalry with Tech. We have a history of playing a lot over the years,” McCorkle said. “I know our kids will be really excited to go up there and play against people that they know. There’s a lot of crossover on our rosters with high school teammates or guys you played against when you’re that close in proximity.

“Then after a week of conference play against East Texas A&M, back on the road to Weber State, who came in here two years ago and handled us pretty good. They have been a perennial FCS power. So, three non-conference games this year and we definitely have our work cut out for us. They should set us up pretty good going into conference play to know where we are.”

With two Louisiana-based teams in the non-conference, the Demons face five total in-state opponents on the year, including the first home conference game against Southeastern on Sept. 26. It signals a stretch of three of four and five of seven games inside Turpin Stadium.

McNeese (Oct. 17) and Nicholls (Oct. 24) also visit Natchitoches in 2026, marking the first time since 1978 the Demons host the Colonels, Cowboys and Lions in the same season and the first time with all being Southland Conference opponents.

The last time NSU played five games against in-state teams in the same season was 2017.

After consecutive home games in mid-October, the Demons close their home slate with consecutive home games in early November, hosting UTRGV (Nov. 7) in the first football meeting between the two schools in history, and HCU (Nov. 14).

“Six home games is a big deal,” McCorkle said. “It’s been a while since we’ve had six home games. And then Louisiana Tech is right up the road. So really, you have within proximity, seven right here in our backyard where all our fans all be able to see us play.

It is the first time since 2013 the Demons have six home games during a season.

NSU closes the season with a Thursday night rivalry game against Stephen F. Austin, this time in Nacogdoches.

Kickoff times and the homecoming date will be set later, officials said.

*indicates Southland Conference games

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Beginnings are tricky, but here we are—fresh page, blinking cursor, and a head full of questions. I’m Ida B. Torn, a lifelong Southerner from Kenner, Louisiana, who’s spent years working in newsrooms, design studios, and public service. I’ve seen my share of life’s chaos and comedy—and learned that sometimes, folks just need straight answers and a little laughter along the way.

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As Christmas approaches, the Sabine Parish Journal would like to extend our warmest wishes to each of our readers. This season reminds us of the joy of community, the comfort of tradition, and the importance of taking time to appreciate the people who make life meaningful. We are truly grateful for your support and for the privilege of sharing Sabine Parish’s stories throughout the year.

To allow our staff time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends, SPJ will take Thursday and Friday off. We’ll return Wednesday, refreshed and ready to bring you more of the news and updates that matter to our parish.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas, and may your holiday be filled with peace, warmth, and all the things that make this season bright.