News

PRANCER, one of Santa’s favorite reindeer, is flying into the Many Community Center on Saturday night, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. He plans to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. ADMISSION IS FREE AS ALWAYS.

A farm girl nurses a wounded reindeer she believes is one of Santa’s, hoping to bring it back to health in time for Christmas. Her holiday spirit inspires those around her, something her disheartened father is having trouble understanding. In fact, he is planning to send his daughter away.

The Shrine tournament at Zwolle High School provided an extra $1,000 for the Shriners Hospital for Children. The Shriners of Sabine and the numerous children they help all thank them. The Shriners also honored John Burns, who was a long-time Shriner who passed away last year.

(The Center Square) – Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting has knocked Louisiana’s annual financial report with several low-transparency findings.

State governments release comprehensive annual financial reports every year that are audited by certified public accountants and serve as bedrock public information regarding each state’s financial condition.

The open-government nonprofit said these “important-but-obscure” documents often fail best practices found in the private sector. Its latest analysis, Financial Transparency Score 2021, explores fiscal year 2020 state data to “encourage the publication of transparent and accurate government financial information.”

Louisiana’s annual report, the group said, falls short with respect to accessibility, navigation, external auditors and pension data timing. In each area researchers assigned a score of 1 or 2 out of 10 possible points.

Pat Procell, well known to many around Sabineland, has been chosen as the grand marshal of this year’s Zwolle Christmas Parade and Festival.

Pat wishes to thank mayor G.J. “Pie” Martinez, Town Secretary Ashley Garcie, and the town council for selecting him to represent the town of Zwolle as grand marshal for this year’s Christmas parade.

He was born June 18, 1953 to Ernest and Merrlie Procell. He attended school at St. Joseph’s Catholic School and moved to Zwolle High School in seventh grade. He graduated in 1971 and has recently celebrating his 50 year class reunion.

Pat entered the workforce at age 15 when he went to work for his grandfather, Ludry Martinez, and uncle, J.V. Martinez, in their store on Grady Hill. After graduation, he went to work for the Wright brothers after the buyout of Piggly Wiggly. He spent over 25 years between both companies in grocery retail.

On November 15, 2021, at approximately 3:45 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a three-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 191 at Louisiana Highway 481. This crash claimed the life of 66-year-old Charles R. Moran of Converse.

The initial investigation revealed a 2015 Ford 150, driven by Moran, was stopped at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 191 and Louisiana Highway 481. For reasons still under investigation, Moran turned left onto Louisiana Highway 191, but failed to yield to a northbound 2016 Peterbilt commercial vehicle. As a result, Moran’s vehicle was struck by the Peterbilt. Also, a 2011 Chevrolet Cruz was struck by debris from the initial crash.

Moran, who was restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the Peterbilt and the Cruz, who were restrained, were not injured in the crash. Toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.

Georgia Craven, newly selected Executive Director of Sabine Parish Tourist & Recreation Commission, comes to SPTRC with 23 years of experience in the energy industry. Georgia served as Contracts Manager for Shell Polymers where she led the startup of the supply chain organization and established global supply chain for a new polyethylene plant. An accomplished leader, she has a reputation for creating positive alliances, innovative problem solving, and delivering results.

Georgia earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Loyola University in New Orleans, La. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Already active in the community, Georgia sits on the Economic Development Council and serves as the Digital Navigator leading the Parish’s effort to increase broadband access, affordability, and digital literacy by 2029.

Toledo Pharmacy recently held a well-attended ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new business, which will brings yet another convenience to the ever-expanding Toledo Town community and residents of the lake as a whole.

Their spacious new facility was packed to capacity for the ribbon cutting, with many eager to catch up after long times apart due to the COVID-19 situation.

Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Shanna Dees Gaspard has extremely kind words for the new business, and the Rev. Wilton Anthony of Siloam Baptist Church offered a blessing toward the new lifesavers and their longevity.

Owners Vince and Donna Bartley have tapped Tanya Turner, who herself has over 35 years of experience as a pharmacist and is a longtime Sabine Parish resident, having lived here since 2002 when she married Stevie Turner of Florien.

Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook, announced that Dillon James Merritt, 54, of Many, Louisiana was sentenced today by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to life imprisonment, plus 600 months in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, on kidnapping, interstate domestic violence, and firearms charges. This sentence is the result of two separate cases in which Merritt was charged and convicted.

In the first case, Merritt was charged in December 2019 with two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement officers with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, learned that Merritt, who had several felony convictions, had firearms in his possession. On January 12, 2018, law enforcement officers arrested Merritt on a warrant based on his illegal possession of a firearm. Merritt went to trial in April 2021 and was convicted by a federal jury on both of those counts.

In today’s paper, you’ll find a list of name-of-your parish residents owed money by the state of Louisiana.

The state currently has millions of dollars it wants to return to its rightful owners, but first it has to locate those to whom money is owed, according to State Treasurer John M. Schroder Sr.

The list in today’s paper shows name-of parish residents who have unclaimed property of various types on record in the state Treasurer’s office.

Businesses from all over the country are required by law to report unclaimed property to the Treasury each year. Sometimes, the address the company has on record is no longer correct. Funds may be in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, securities, insurance benefits or other. The assets are reported in the name and last known address of the owner(s).

Two years ago, Schroder reported on a woman who claimed more than $2 million she didn’t know she was owed.

“It happens a lot more than you think,” Schroder said.

Many Mayor Robert Hable and the Town of Many happily provided Many High School with three Softball Championship Signs. The signs will be placed on sign posts coming into town at Highway 171 South by Walmart, Natchitoches Hwy. by Many High School and Texas Hwy. at the city limits. We are proud of the Lady Tigers softball team. Pictured from left are Dayton Craig, Keaton Booker, Josh Jenkins and Mayor Robert Hable. Special thanks to Jackie Goodman and Sky’s the Limit for the great looking signs.