Merry Christmas to the dedicated readers of Observations! We wish you joy, warmth and delightful times with family and friends this holiday season. Here’s to another year of shared perspectives through our “news, views, facts and opinions.” As we remember the greatest gift every given – Jesus, through whom we can have a personal relationship with God, we wish all the best to you and yours this Christmas.
Blake Byles, right, is shown presenting Sabine Schools Supt. Shane Wright with a check to award a scholarship to a student who plans to pursue work in a field that doesn’t necessarily require a college degree. This scholarship is from EarthMovers Construction, which Byles owns.
The graduating 2024 student will be selected from one of the schools in the parish. The EarthMovers team wants to provide an opportunity for Sabine students to be successful in their future careers, and hopes this will help this year's recipient get a good start as they pursue future plans.
Supt. Wright thanked Blake and EarthMovers for providing their scholarship. “Partnering with our local businesses is imperative for our students to have increased opportunities to reach the highest levels of success,” Supt. Wright said. “The preparation of tomorrow’s workforce begins today in Sabine Parish Schools, one student at a time.”
The story gets bizarre: Bruce Taylor has not taken the oath of office yet as District 3 Police Juror, and already he’s getting credit for the resurfacing of Cedar Lane.
Last week Observations carried a story about the resurfacing of Cedar Lane in the exclusive Woodhaven Estates near Many by the Sabine Parish Police Jury. Stephen Steinke is the Juror from Dist. 3. Both he and his brother David live on Cedar Lane, which caused some folks to be critical of Stephen for “using his position as a Juror to get the road by his house resurfaced.” There are those who said the road was in good shape to start with, not a pothole in sight, and critics say the money should have been used for a road that was in far worse condition.
Cedar Lane is one-half mile long and has 29 homeowners along it. Cost of the project was $65,000. Stephen said Road Supt. Bobby Hughes approached him in October and told him there was room for one-half mile of overlay in his district, and that is how the project came about. “We want to receive something for our tax money,” Stephen said.
Steinke will leave office the first part of January, and Bruce Taylor will be sworn in as Juror from Dist. 3. Bruce told Observations a lot of folks have been calling him with complaints as to why the Jury would resurface a “good road” while leaving them in the mud. Taylor said he wants the public to know that he would not have approved this project had he been on the Jury.
Bruce informed Observations Wednesday morning that on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 10:19 p.m. he received the following text message from (318) 315-2644: “Thanks, Bruce, for getting our road paved. You’re not even in office yet and our roads are better. Looking forward to the next four years. Keep up the good work.”
Bruce said he did not know who the message was from, but later learned it was from David Steinke, Stephen's brother. He said he attempted to call David to discuss the message with him, but David would not talk to him over the phone.
Then Bruce replied to David with the following text: “I thought it was the Christian thing to do, David. Didn’t matter if other roads were not passable just so it brought your [home] values up.”
Bruce’s importance must be approaching legendary status if the brother of Police Juror Steinke wants to give Bruce credit for something his brother had done. “Why would David do this?” Bruce asked. We certainly don’t know and do not care to venture a guess. So much for political happenings in Sabine this week. Sometimes they’re too strange to follow.
We were pleased with a visit from Dr. Ted “Bussey” Mims of Normal, IL, recently. He is a native of Sabine Parish, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Mims. He has more degrees than a thermometer and is a computer whiz. He retired several years ago after many years of teaching on the college level. It is always good to see him.
The following was shared with Observations by a friend for the good readers of Sabine:
“The World Economic Forum and the United Nations continue to promote the fallacy that climate change will end life on earth and that it is a man-made phenomenon. The present Pope is just another woke fool who has swallowed those arguments - hook, line, and sinker. Nobody is arguing that the climate is changing; that's happened constantly throughout the history of Earth. I copied a postscript from an article on the Pope's position; it is information available only in conservative media:
“This past August, however, a group of more than 1,600 eminent scientists, including two Nobel Prize winners, issued the ‘World Climate Declaration,’ in which they stated outright: ‘There is no climate emergency.’
“’Climate science has degenerated into a discussion based on beliefs, not on sound self-critical science,’ the scholars asserted, offering a number of reasons for their criticisms.
“The Declaration asserted, for example, that climate models have proven inadequate for predicting global warming, that carbon dioxide (CO2) is not a pollutant, and that climate change has not increased natural disasters.
“’There is no statistical evidence that global warming is intensifying hurricanes, floods, droughts, and suchlike natural disasters, or making them more frequent,’ the document stated. ‘However, there is ample evidence that CO2-mitigation measures are as damaging as they are costly.’
“’There is no climate emergency,’ it concluded. ‘Therefore, there is no cause for panic and alarm.’
“Even prior to this Declaration, hundreds of prominent scientists have been publishing similar data-based information, but the mainstream media won't give them the time of day. We have a couple of generations that have grown to adulthood believing that there's really no hope for the future because of climate change, and that is impacting their behavior and mental health adversely.
“[People] deserve to know the truth that the worldwide opinion of reputable scientists undermines the Biden, WEF, and UN's leftists positions that are so costly economically and psychologically.”
Rodney Wilson has been named chief financial officer at Northwestern State University effective Jan. 3, 2024. He replaces Pat Jones, who is retiring. Wilson’s appointment has been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.
The chief financial officer (CFO) is responsible for managing the business and financial services of the university. The position provides collaborative financial management leadership for the university; ensures the short and long-term fiscal health of the University; oversees the business practices of the University and ensures that the budget is linked to and supports the University's strategic plans.
“Rodney, a Northwestern alumnus, brings a vast array of extensive experience in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems with him to the institution,” said Northwestern State President Dr. Marcus Jones. “Based on his professional experience, Rodney possesses the knowledge and leadership qualities we value, making him the ideal candidate for the next Chief Financial Officer for Northwestern State University.”
Wilson has been finance director for the Sabine Parish School Board since 2012. He was the lead business official for the parish school system reporting directly to the superintendent of schools and managing all financial aspects of the district.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next CFO of Northwestern State University and am excited to join Dr. Jones and his team,” said Wilson. “As an alumnus of NSU and a lifelong resident of west central Louisiana, I have an interest in seeing the university continue to succeed and grow. It is my hope that my own children will someday be alumni as well. NSU is vitally important to our region, and I recognize the great responsibility that I have been afforded by this appointment.”
Wilson served as president of the Louisiana Association of School Business Officials, chairman of the Cooperative Accounting Management System and commissioner and vice-chairman of the Sabine Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission, He is a member of the Southeastern Association of School Business Officials and Property Casualty Alliance of Louisiana where he was vice-chairman.
Before joining the Sabine Parish School System, he was an analyst and programmer for Amerisafe Inc. in DeRidder and was promoted to senior programmer.
(Special thanks to longtime friend and NSU Director of Communications David West for sharing the above article.)
Singer-songwriter Carl Hale
We were introduced to Carl Hale recently when he came by the office to visit with Tedd Dumas. Mr. Hale, a very interesting person, handles a variety of jobs for the Bank of Montgomery. BOM’s head man, Ken Hale, is his father.
About a year ago, Tedd had some discussion on his popular “Open Line” program from Jeff Landry who was running for Governor at the time. Landry talked about people moving out of Louisiana, and said if he was elected he would make things more conducive to people moving here instead of moving away.
It was at that point that Mr. Hale called Tedd and said he had written a song called, “When You Come Back to Louisiana.” Tedd ask him to send a copy of it, and he has been playing Mr. Hale’s song at the end of his “Open Line” program each morning since. And it has gotten a lot of positive response.
Mr. Hale is a very talented musician, singer and songwriter. He spent some time in Nashville trying to make it big in the music business.
There’s a nice black cat that hangs around back of the radio station. It is skittish but seems to want to be friendly. As we began to have some cooler days the last while, Tedd Dumas started worrying about the kitty not having a warm place to sleep this winter. Well, he talked about it so much, he got me interested in it. Can you imagine two old men like us becoming so interested in a cat?
Next thing I know, I am up at my place in Marthaville building a house for the cat. Tedd is buying food. The cat is loving it all, but he still won’t let us get too close.
The day John Gosey and I brought the house from Marthaville to Many, the cat was around, sitting out in the street watching us. As we finished up and got ready to leave, we saw the cat immediately go to the house to conduct a personal inspection.
In the meantime, we have put carpet in the house and two pillows so the cat can stay warm on a cold winter’s night. You will note a Christmas decoration on the house, thanks to my wife, Laurie. And the cat has a toy hanging from a nearby step.
Thus far, we have seen two other cats visiting the new domicile and also a squirrel.
Mayors are presiding over their town courts despite guidance from the Louisiana Judicial College saying they shouldn’t. State Rep. Edmond Jordan, a Democrat from Baton Rouge, wants to reform the state’s mayor’s courts, an unusual system where by default the mayor acts as the town judge. When these courts bring in a substantial share of the town’s revenue, the mayor is supposed to appoint someone else to preside, according to a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. Research showed that in more than a dozen places, including Robeline, this had not happened.
It has been recommended that any town which receives 10 percent or more of their overall income should have a judge.
Robeline, known all over the area as a speed trap town, has a population of 117 and receives 74 percent of its revenue from traffic tickets. It ranks third behind Georgetown which has a population of 277 and gets 82% of its revenue from traffic tickets and Tullos which has a population of 304 and receives 79%.
Shown with Mrs. Guynell Melton, center left, at her SPSO retirement party are, from left, Chief Deputy Brad Walker, Judge Verity Gentry, [Melton], former Deputy Tommy Raimond, former Sheriff Guffey Lynn Pattison and Sheriff Aaron Mitchell.
A retirement party was given last Thursday, December 14, for Mrs. Guynell Melton, who has worked at the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office since 1993. During her SPSO career, she worked for four different sheriffs, including the late Alfice Brumley, Guffey Lynn Pattison, Ronny Richardson and Aaron Mitchell.
The party was held in the Sabine Parish Courthouse Police Jury Meeting Room, and it was standing room only with several watching from the doorway and listening from the hallway outside. Former Sheriff Guffey Pattison and wife Carol were among those attending.
After his remarks of thanks for her wonderful work, Sheriff Aaron Mitchell presented Mrs. Melton with a special plaque honoring her 30 years of service to the department.
Top: Sheriff Aaron Mithcell presents Guynell Melton a special plaque of appreciation upon her retirement. Botton: Sheriff Mitchell and Judge Verity Gentry listen as Mrs. Melton reads a heartfelt goodbye to her former co-workers.
Judge Verity Gentry asked for a show of hands from those who had been trained for some aspect of their job by Mrs. Guynell. Almost half in attendance raised their hands. Judge Gentry then asked the rest of the crowd to raise a hand if they had ever been helped through a problem by Mrs. Melton. Almost everyone in the place held a hand up. Sheriff’s Deputy Keith Gentry had both hands raised and asked Judge Gentry to not ask any more questions. “I’m out of hands!” he announced with a big laugh.
The retiree thanked everyone for their many years of support, including husband Joe and her family, and she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all. “I will miss you,” she said to those gathered. “It has truly been wonderful working here all these years.”
(Thanks to my wife Laurie for the above report.)
The Wreaths Across America effort came to Many on Saturday morning, Dec. 16, as wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery.
“It was such an honor to be a part of the Wreaths Across America project yesterday,” Kayla Hataway posted afterward. “Thank you, Mary Beth Tarver and the CAR, for bringing this special program to Sabine Parish. May our veterans all rest in peace,” she said. Kayla is one of the children of veteran Ernest Rodrigues, who is buried at St. John’s.
The gravesite of the late Ernest Rodrigues, above, was adorned with a special veteran's wreath by daughter, Kayla Rodrigues Hataway, shown at right.
St. John’s partnered with the Ft. Jessup Children of the American Revolution (CAR) for the church’s cemetery to become an approved location for Wreaths Across America.
The Wreaths program promotes core values of “Remember, Honor, Teach” with wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,500 cemeteries across the nation.
(Thanks to Kayla Hataway for sharing the information and photos above.)
Northwestern State University in Natchitoches awarded 426 degrees to 422 Summer graduates and 683 degrees to 665 Fall graduates in commencement exercises on Dec. 13 and 14.
SUMMER 2023 AREA GRADUATES
CONVERSE: Taylor Hill, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
FLORIEN: James Boline, Associate of General Studies; Frances Parris, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and London Vidrine, Bachelor of Social Work.
MANY: Roger Dew and Masen Starks, Associate of General Studies and Caroline Settle, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
MARTHAVILLE: Kaylene DeSoto, Associate of General Studies; and Madison Pleasant, Master of Arts.
PLEASANT HILL: Taylor Jones, Associate of General Studies.
ROBELINE: Kelly Dubois and Stephen McCallister, Bachelor of Science.
FALL 2023 AREA GRADUATES
CONVERSE: Abby Rivers, Associate of General Studies; Evan David and Jared Lum, Bachelor of Science; and Jo Ebarb and Sarah Friday, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
FLORIEN: Lamilriel Belvin, Associate of Science in Nursing; Andrew Gatti, Associate of General Studies; Madison Davis, Terry Foshee and Chrystell Thompson, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
HORNBECK: Kristen Townsend, Bachelor of Arts; and Kelsey Lott, Doctor of Nursing Practice.
MANY: Hope Cambias, Bachelor of Arts; Wade Salter, Bachelor of General Studies; Alexis Bush, Presley Corley and Ethan Penfield, Bachelor of Science.
NOBLE: Brandon Miller, Associate of General Studies; and Averie Meshell, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
PLEASANT HILL: Regan Johnson, Bachelor of Social Work.
ROBELINE: Makenzie Davidson, Associate of General Studies; Robyn Lewing, Bachelor of General Studies; Hannah Dease, Master of Arts in Teaching; and Lucia Creighton and Lindsay Rachal, Master of Education.
ZWOLLE: Nahliyah Boykins and Maurisha Shelby, Bachelor of General Studies; Autumn Palmer and Katelyn Rivers, Bachelor of Science; and Cheyenne Calhous, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Congratulations to the above students for their hard work and achievements. They make us very proud.
Sabine Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, left, Judge Harmon Drew, center, and Chief Deputy Brad Walker, right, at a "True Blue Drew" criminal code update class held annually for law enforcement in Sabine
A man who meant much to several in this area passed away Sunday, Dec. 17. He was an attorney, assistant district attorney, judge, teacher of criminal law, talented musician, performer, bandleader and all-around good guy. The loss of Richard Harmon Drew Jr. will be felt for years to come.
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, Chief Deputy Brad Walker, musician and Many businessman Mike Morris and others have shared tributes to the 77-year-old in the days since he passed.
In his online announcement about Drew's death, Sheriff Mitchell noted, “Judge Drew had been coming to Sabine Parish to present the criminal law update training to Sabine Parish Sheriff Deputies for over 35 years.”
Judge Drew earned a political science degree from LSU in 1968, a law degree from LSU Law School in 1971, and then practiced privately from 1972 until 1988.
During his law career he served as Bossier-Webster Parish first assistant district attorney and Minden City Court Judge.
In 1988 he was elected Judge in the 26th Judicial District, and ten years later was elected to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal, retiring in 2017.
“Judge Drew and his team taught the law of search and seizure and the criminal code to some three thousand peace officers across Louisiana every year,” Sheriff Mitchell explained in his recent announcement. “They published two books annually to explain amendments passed by the Louisiana legislature. Their popular ‘True Blue Drew Book’ explains criminal law amendments in simple terms,” he said.
Chief Deputy Brad Walker said, “Judge Drew was always just a call away. I cannot think of anyone who contributed more to law enforcement than him.”
The Harmon Drew Super Group featuring Judge Harmon Drew on piano, left, is shown performing back in 2013. At right are vocalists Zelma Broussard and Mike Morris of Many.
On the musical front, he was a longtime friend, supporter, bandleader and musical hero to several local and regional artists, playing piano in his “Harmon Drew Super Group” for 40 years-plus. Sabine musicians who performed in the beloved group are Mike Morris, Zelma Broussard and James Wagley.
When Harmon passed, Mike Morris shared a photo of him and said, “My world is empty on this day, but a new band leader arrives at the gates.”
Longtime friend and former State Representative Joe Salter
We were so happy to get a good health report from Joe Salter, Florien native and former State Representative, on Monday. He has been battling health problems for many months now.
He reported Monday, “Got a great report from oncologist. All affected areas have shrunk dramatically. Wants me to continue pill at a lower dosage. [He] thinks we will continue to get good results and I will feel better.”
Joe is a former Assistant Supt. of Schols in Sabine Parish, a teacher and a principal. He has worked in the State Department of Education and has been with the Secretary of State’s office for several years. As State Representative, Gov. Kathleen Blanco appointed him Speaker of the House.
A lot of Observations readers have prayed for Joe and his family, and I know they have felt those prayers through the years. We are so happy to hear the good news and wish the Salter Family a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with good news.
Tackett Curtis is changing his stripes. Many have expressed hopes they will be LSU Tiger stripes, but that remains to be seen.
Word is out that former Many High School Tiger football standout linebacker Tackett Curtis has put his name in to the transfer portal. Following graduation from MHS, he played this season for University of Southern California in Los Angeles but is now leaving.
Many folks are hoping he will come home and play for the LSU Tigers. He may be looking at Notre Dame or Ohio State. We should see in a few days.
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