News

In west-central Louisiana, where wildfires have ravaged thousands of acres of drought-stricken forests in recent weeks, more has been lost than just trees.

For many people, the towering pines that define the landscape of this rural region represent family inheritances, years of investment and hopes for the future. Growing trees takes a long time, but the cash they bring in when cut is worth the wait.

This summer’s fires have dimmed those prospects for some — adding insult to injury in an area still dealing with storm damage from three years ago.

The Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival committee on Friday announced their 2023 Good Ole Days Parade Grand Marshal will be Laurie Gentry of Many. This year marks the event’s 31st anniversary, which begins Friday night, Sept. 29, at Fuzzy Hennigan Park downtown and continues Saturday, Sept. 30, with a 10 a.m. parade, all day music and activities, food and craft vendors.

For over a week now, multiple wildfires have devastated Vernon Parish. A large number of these fires are caused by natural or mechanical causes. However, wildfire investigators with the LDAF Forestry Enforcement Division have determined that the Lions Camp Fire – which threatened multiple residences and grew to 1,204 acres before it was contained – resulted from arson.

LDAF investigators and Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives are actively investigating this matter.

Investigators are urging you to call law enforcement if you or anyone you know has any information regarding this fire. To report an arsonist or information regarding this fire, call the LDAF 24-hour hotline at 1-855452-5323 or the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-238-1311.

On August 23 and 24, 2023, Louisiana National Guard aviation and engineering assets were activated to assist the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Louisiana State Fire Marshal office in fighting wildfires. As the wildfires spread, causing 17 parishes to declare a state of emergency, Louisiana’s Guard men and women have displayed their abilities to respond to wildfires at a moment’s notice.

At approximately 12:00 p.m. on August 25, 2023, a team of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters consisting of crews from the LANG’s 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion and G Company, 238th General Support Aviation Battalion received a call to divert one helicopter from their current mission over Tiger Island in Merryville, Louisiana to observe and assess a situation developing in the Pirates Cove neighborhood in the town of Florien on the banks of the Toledo Bend Reservoir in Sabine Parish.

On August 14th, a wildfire engulfed the Mt. Carmel Cutoff Road area in Florien, resulting in the complete loss of a home owned by Charles & Connie Jackson. The blaze moved with such intensity that their home was reduced to ashes within a matter of hours. Tragically, they lost everything they owned, including cherished belongings accumulated over the years. Unfortunately, Charles and Connie had recently let their homeowners insurance go, so the burden is even greater on them.

The community of Florien and surrounding areas have rallied around the Jacksons in their time of need, offering support, condolences, and assistance. Many businesses, organizations, and individuals have initiated fundraisers and donation drives to help the couple begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

The Jackson family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has help them during this challenging time.

The Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, along with Desoto Parish Tourism Commission and Sabine River Authority are proud to announce that Toledo Bend Lake will be the first stop of the 2024 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. The tournament is set to take place January 30th through February 4th. MLF, one of the leading bass fishing organizations, describes the Bass Pro Shops Bass Pro Tour as ‘professional bass fishing’s most competitive circuit.’

Sabine Parish Tourist Commission Executive Director, Georgia Craven, says ‘We are excited to host the first tournament of MLF Bass Pro Tour season six. It is thrilling that Toledo Bend Lake continues to be considered a desired destination for top pro anglers and their fans.’

Animal lovers Ronnie and Pam Bison made a surprise visit to the Sabine Animal Shelter last week and presented Shelter Director Lisa Butler with a generous gift, “‘We wanted to do something to help animals find forever homes with good families so we are giving a check for $250 to pay the total cost of adoptions for the next 10 people who are approved to adopt a pet’ ” Bison said.

Butler gladly accepted the Bison’s donation and said the adopted animal will receive a microchip, all health vaccinations, a spay neuter voucher, and a collar from Family Farm and Garden.

The Bisons are both dog lovers and told about the different pets they have had over the years and their love for them. “By giving this check, we can help others who love animals have pet of their own,” Pam Bison said.

The Tamale Fiesta Board is pleased to announce that the artist for the 37th Commemorative Tamale Fiesta Poster is Gene Guidry. The poster unveiling is set for Sept. 7 at the Fiesta Grounds in Zwolle.

Guidry is a retired engineer who worked for 47 years in the oil industry. Most recently he was a resident of Sabine Parish working as manager of the dam on the south end of Toledo Bend Reservoir with the Sabine River Authority of Louisiana.

Following his time in Sabine Parish, he returned to his hometown of Lafayette, where he and his wife, Jeanie, currently reside. During his retirement he has spent much of his time painting and drawing in his home studio.

On August 24, investigators with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Forestry Enforcement Division and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department arrested 21-year-old Jeremiah Hill of Many.

As part of an ongoing investigation into recent wildfires in Sabine Parish, investigators received information on an individual who used social media platforms to broadcast threats of arson in Sabine Parish.

On August 23, investigators obtained a warrant for three counts of communication of false information of planned arson. Hill was arrested at his residence, taken into custody without incident, and booked into the Sabine Parish Jail. A bond has not been set at this time.

Converse Mayor Troy Terrell is just as proud as he can be of his grandson, Lelex Terrell, who goes by the nickname “Big Rig.” The son of Troy Neal Terrell, Lelex was invited out of thousands of players to come to the Perfect Game All State tryouts in Baton Rouge. Perfect Game is the largest recruiting organization in the world. To be chosen is a huge accomplishment, and they had over 10 first round draft picks out of high school this year. Perfect Game picked 40 players his age and out of them, 15 were chosen to represent Louisiana in the National Championship. Lelex was chosen and was the only one from North Louisiana. He turned 10 a month ago, is 5’3” and weighs 140 lbs. He plays first base, third base and pitches at over 55 mph. His goal is to play Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers. First base is his favorite position. He is shown here with some of the items he has collected in his baseball career.