News

Jeff Procell, Ryan Procell, and Steven Pilkington recently claimed this alligator while out on Toledo Bend.  Pilkington tells the Index that they caught it with a 14 aught hook with chicken on the end.  It was caught on the south end of the lake close to Kites' Landing.  Unlike the popular “Swamp People” show on History, they were on the bank close to the waters edge instead of a boat.

Jonathan R. Dykes, 53, of Vallejo, California, was arrested by Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies on September 25 for cutting a female with a knife in Pleasant Hill. 

Dykes was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center for aggravated battery, domestic abuse aggravated assault under the dating violence act, and resisting an officer.  He was also booked on unrelated warrants for sexual battery and failure to appear for simple possession of marijuana.

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at approximately 4:40 p.m. indicating that a female in Pleasant Hill had been cut by Dykes and he had fled into a wooded area.  Tracking dogs from Natchitoches Parish and Vernon Parish were requested and when they arrived, Dykes surrendered to deputies.  The victim was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition.  The case is still under investigation.

More will be included in next week's edition of The Sabine Index.

On October 12, the Amateur Radio Club of Sabine will host a training seminar for those interested in participating in the SKYWARN Project.

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans.  To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN with partner organizations.  It is a volunteer program with between 350,000-400,000 trained severe weather spotters.  These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN spotter is to identify and describe local storms.  In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States.  These events threatened lives and property.

Leo B. Mitchell, 37, of Many, was arrested by Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies on September 23, 2018, for numerous charges stemming from his alleged attempt to steal an ATM kiosk from a local business. 

Mitchell was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center for theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of simple criminal damage to property (over $1,000), simple burglary, attempted theft of an ATM, theft (over $1,000), and no tail lights.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a Robeline subject for alleged deer hunting violations on September 15 in Natchitoches Parish.

Agents cited Justin S. Matthews, 20, for taking a deer during a closed season, possession of an illegally taken deer, hunting without resident and big game licenses, failure to possess deer tags, and failing to comply with deer tagging requirements.

Agents received a tip about an eight-point buck that was shot northwest of Robeline.  After further investigations, agents made contact.

He admitted to agents that he shot the deer the evening before around 6:30 p.m. using a Marlin 30/30 rifle with scope.  Agents seized the meat, antlers, and rifle.

All are invited to a special event at South Toledo Bend State Park on September 29 beginning at 9:30 a.m.

This area is a major site for bluebirds in Louisiana, and through special arrangements with the Hodges Foundation, the Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society (LBBS) has continued its 40-year mission of tending to the bluebird trail at Hodges Gardens, even though the park is closed and gardens are not open to the public.

This year local LBBS volunteers looked after the 25-house trail, stewarded the fledging of over 160 baby bluebirds and kept alive a tradition going back over a generation.  While the future use of the gardens remains uncertain, the bluebirds are tended and cared for.  Some of the hundreds of bluebirds we have shepherded over the years may be the ones you see in your yard or as you drive along the roads of Sabine Parish.