News

By Daniel Jones, editor

On March 25, after a court case that lasted almost six days, Melvin C. Maxie was found guilty of the murder of Tyruss Thomas in the second degree.

The verdict of second-degree murder in Louisiana carries a penalty of life in prison at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

The verdict was handed down after several hours of deliberation by the jury.

Judge Stephen B. Beasley of the 11th Judicial District Court of Sabine Parish called court to order on March 20, with the state being represented by District Attorney Don Burkett and Assistant District Attorney Anna Garcie, while Maxie was represented by the team of Meghan Shapiro of the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center and attorney Casey Secor.

Read more in Wednesday’s Sabine Index.

Hill Kemp of Many has inked a deal to put his patented solar powered Suns River desalination equipment into a Middle East desert and use seawater feed to grow food crops.

Merlin Digital of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will install the demonstration one-half acre system. The site will be the research center of the American University of Sharjah in the Dubai area. Merlin will also showcase their new approach to housting, which features a home built with bolt-together panels that can be erected in a day or two.

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An emergency community meeting to seek ways and solutions to save Hodges Gardens State Park will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 23 at the Many Community Center (old Sabine Theatre).

The State of Louisiana and the Hodges Family Foundation have been unable to agree on a solution to keep the gardens open. Unless the State of Louisiana can find adequate funding to operate the gardens for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the gardens will close and will revert to the Hodges Foundation.

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Bernie Bitting, director of development of Easterseals Louisiana in Shreveport, left, presented a momento to Frances Hopkins in memory of her late husband, Rodney, following a medley of gospel hymns at the talent show Friday night, March 3. The show was dedicated to the memory of Hopkins, who was instrumental in getting last year’s show off the ground with his technical advice and willingness to aid the committee.

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Talented saxophone player Hardrick Rivers will be the guest performer at the first Lake Country Musical Show Friday, March 24, at the Many Community Center.

James Wagley and the Turn- Ups will be the house band on the fourth Friday of every month.

The musical shows will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children from 6 to 12 years of age. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Veterans with proper identification are also admitted free.

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Friends, family and former colleagues of Jimmy D. Long Sr. recalled his distinguished life and career at the dedication of the Jimmy D. Long Student Services Center at Northwestern State University Thursday.

Long served eight consecutive terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1968 to 2000. He was appointed to Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System in 2001.

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By Daniel Jones

On March 8, a ruling by Judge Stephen Beasley of the 11th Judicial District Court voided the results from a local election called by the village of Florien regarding the allowance of alcohol sales in the municipality.

While on the witness stand, Patrick Sandel, who owns P&K One Stop, stated that roughly half of the Florien convenience store’s sales come from alcohol.

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The Lake Country Music Shows, promise to deliver a wide range of musical genre to include Americana, Rock, Classic Rock, Gospel, R&B, Bluegrass and Country to the residents of Many and Sabine Parish.

The Lake Country Music Shows will begin at 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday of every month. Mayor Ken Freeman is delighted that the new music shows will begin on Friday, March 24, at the Many Community Center.

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Robert Lynn Byles, 57, owner of Robert Byles Plumbing, Electric and A/C Company of Many, died unexpectedly on the morning of Monday, February 27, at Sabine Medical Center. He was stricken at his home prior to beginning his work day.

Funeral services were held Thursday, March 2 at 10 a.m. at The Life Church. Officiating were Pastor Jim Manning of The Life Church and Deacon Mike Sullivan of St. John’s Catholic Church.

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Early voting for the March 25 election will be held Saturday, March 11 through Saturday, March 18 from 8:30 a.m. – 6
p.m. Please note the office will be closed on Sunday, March 12.

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