News

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.

Mrs. Eylda G. Thaxton, Ed.S, Principal of Negreet High School (NHS) has been named Sabine Parish Principal of the Year for the 2021- 2022 school year.

Mrs. Thaxton shares that one of the most important elements in a school setting is to have a vision. From that vision, all stakeholders move forward to achieve the established and identified goals. Our vision at NHS is to achieve the highest level of academic success for all students.

Mary Key Brocato of Many has been elected to serve on the board of directors for Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

She will serve a three-year term with the option to renew for another three years.

President of the Board, Kathy Seymour, nominated Brocato. After all nominations were in, the board voted and she was elected.

The Mission of Louisiana Public Broadcasting is to provide programming that is intelligent, informative, educational and entertaining. LPB strives to connect the citizens of Louisiana by creating content that showcases Louisiana’s unique history, people, places and events.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is a state network of six non-commercial television stations licensed to the Louisiana Educational Television Authority (LETA), established in 1971 by the Louisiana Legislature.

An attractive new sign has been placed in front of the Many Depot.

The sign, which was funded by a grant from the William C. Pomeroy Foundation, reads as follows: ‘ KANSAS CITY SOUTHER RAILWAY DEPOT HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 2000 BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.’

Many street workers installed the sign at the depot last week. The metal sign is printed on both so motorists approaching the depot from both directions can read it.

Mary Brocato, chairperson of the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee, said “We are so pleased to have obtained this sign honoring our historic old depot.” She thanked Many’s grants writer Suzanne Williams for finding the grant opportunity and writing the grant proposal that made having the sign possible.

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By Amanda McElfresh, amcelfresh@theadvocate.com