News

Jaxon Brock Foster has been named this year’s Many Christmas Parade Academic Rising Star.

Jaxon is the son of Randall & Stacye Gordon of Many and Chris & Rachelle Foster of Lake Charles, LA. He is a brother of eight siblings. Jaxon is 18 and a senior at Many High School. Jaxon is a proud Many Tiger! Jaxon has been a part of the MHS Tiger football team his entire career in high school. Jaxon will receive the Academic All-State Award in football and be recognized at the 2023 LHSAA Football State Championship at the Superdome in New Orleans. Jaxon is also a part of the MHS track and field team and will receive the Academic All-State award during the LHSAA Track and Field State Championship at LSU in Baton Rouge. The awards go to senior high school athletes with a composite GPAof 4.0.

Judge Verity Gentry of the 11th Judicial District completed an intensive Digital Evidence course the week of Nov. 13-17 at the National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover, AL. The program, which provides advanced training for state and local law enforcement, prosecutors and judges, was a unique opportunity that came at no cost to the parish or the state.

As one of only 25 judges selected nationwide, Judge Gentry’s participation distinguished her as the sole attendee from Louisiana, the youngest judge, and the one with shortest tenure on the bench. Most of the class participants have served as judges for a decade or more.

The diverse group hailed from widespread jurisdictions, including Wisconsin, Saipan (U.S.

Commonwealth), Puerto Rico, California and Idaho, among others. The breadth of experience represented ranged from limited jurisdiction to tribal court, district court and appellate court.

Three pillars of the Northwestern State University family were honored and memorialized Nov. 18 when the NSU Foundation announced the creation of the Jack Brittain Jr., Jerry Pierce and Richard Ware First Generation Endowed Scholarships, made possible by a $300,000 donation from Robert “Skeeter” Salim.

“The impact of these scholarships cannot be overstated,” said NSU President Dr. Marcus Jones, noting that 34 percent of NSU students are the first in their families to attend college.

Jones and Edgar Cano- Lopez, assistant professor of art, unveiled a portrait of Brittain, Pierce and Ware depicting the three individuals with the NSU columns in the background, symbolic of their legacies at the university.

As early as 1916, when New York became the first state to declare an “American Indian Day,” efforts have been underway to acknowledge the many contributions and achievements of Native peoples.

In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial commemoration, S.J. Res. 209 authorized President Gerald Ford to proclaim October 10-16, 1976, as “Native American Awareness Week.” In 1986 Congress passed S.J. Res. 390, requesting that the president designate November 23–30, 1986, as “American Indian Week.” Congress continued this practice in subsequent years, declaring one week during the autumn months as “Native American Indian Heritage Week.”

The 2023 Grand Marshals of the Many Christmas Parade and Festival are the South, Central, and North Sabine Firemen.

This years grand marshal choice was a unanimous decision! We have the best Fire Districts in the state and two months ago they proved how important a role they played by protecting our Parish from further destruction due to the wildfires! We honor you all for your dedication and commitment to protecting our communities. Thank you!

All parade honorees were honored at the Christmas poster unveiling and presented with a plaque, on Thursday, November 15 at the CDC Building in Many.

As Christmas approaches it is asked that you keep Project Celebration, Inc. in your holiday plans. While preparing for the joyous holiday celebrations with your friends and family, it’s important to stop and reflect on the joy and blessings in our own life while also being aware that not all families are that fortunate. While shopping for gifts and gathering with loved ones, please consider setting aside a gift or donation to support the work that Project Celebration, Inc. does for the community.

PCI is seeking the support of our wonderful community to help these families in need anyway we can whether it be food for their panties, gifts for Christmas, or just providing basic supplies for the women and children in need.

Every year PCI gears up to provide needs for the clients we serve. PCI is a nonprofit organization; all donations are tax deductible.

Operation Christmas Child’s West Central Louisiana team has two drop off locations in Sabine Parish at Calvary Baptist in Many and Mitchell Baptist in Converse. This year they have set a lofty goal of 18,663 shoeboxes.

The Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University will present the 35th Annual Christmas Gala on Nov. 29-30 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium.

Tickets are $15. NSU, BPCC@ NSU, and LSMSA students are admitted free with a current student I.D. Tickets can be purchased online atwww. nsu.la/Gala23, Dr. Robert Cardwell is the Gala director. More than 300 Northwestern State students, faculty and staff in the School of Creative and Performing Arts combine their talents to present the Gala as a kickoff to the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. Large crowds attend the Gala each year which is based on the long-running Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.

Weyerhaeuser today announced the launch of a new program that will provide targeted support to five of its rural operating communities, starting with Zwolle, La., and the northwest Louisiana region. The new program, called THRIVE, involves a commitment from Weyerhaeuser to invest $1 million in each community over the next several years. As part of this $5 million investment, the company will work with innovative partners — including businesses, nonprofits and governments — to further support these communities through grants and other types of funding and local engagement.

C. Miller of Zwolle penned this poem, which was inspired by the 2022-2023 Zwolle Hawks team.

One team, one dream, winning “Sweet Sixteen” In 2022 the Hawks left Burton Coliseum as number two, but their Hawk Pride felt that this would not do.

It ignited a fire within this team That in 2023 they could win “sweet sixteen”.

All through the season the Hawks played tough; Whether they played with finesse or maybe a little rough; Just whatever it took to secure the win Over all but one team, this is the way it had been.

Their quickness, superb ball handling, and a smothering defense Was enough to check most opponents and limit their offense, Except for the Anacoco Indians, who had won two out of three.

But the Hawks were determined that this is not how the end result would be.