News

Wed
07
Feb

Tourist Commission hosts Education Day in conjunction with Major League Fishing event

Tourist Commission hosts Education Day in conjunction with Major League Fishing event

Approximately 260 eighth grade students from Sabine Parish schools attended an Education Day at Cypress Bend Park on February 2. The Sabine Parish Tourist Commission (SPTC) hosted this event as an effort to engage the community with the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour on Toledo Bend.

Wed
07
Feb

Dustin Connell clinches fifth MLF win at B&W Stage One on Toledo Bend

Dustin Connell clinches fifth MLF win at B&W Stage One on Toledo Bend

a morning fog delay and a stacked field on Championship Sunday, pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, weighed 36 scorable bass totaling 112 pounds, 4 ounces to earn his fifth Bass Pro Tour win and the top award of $100,000 at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole. Connell’s Championship Round total nearly doubled the rest of the 10-man field, earning the win by a whopping 44-pound, 2-ounce margin over Hot Springs, Arkansas’ Spencer Shuffield who finished the day in second with 22 scorable bass weighing 68-2.

As the second period of the Championship Round ticked away, Connell felt his lead slowly slipping away. The Alabama native had gotten off to a hot start, catching nearly 40 pounds of Toledo Bend bass in the first period and claiming the top spot on SCORETRACKER .

Wed
31
Jan

Lake Level

The elevation of Toledo Bend Reservoir on Monday morning, January 29 was 170.77 mean sea level.

Top of the power pool is 172 ft. msl and bottom of the power pool is 168 ft. msl.

Wed
31
Jan

Cleco encourages nonprofits to apply for giving program funds

Cleco Power is committed to giving back to the Louisiana communities we serve through volunteerism and charitable giving.

Organizations across Cleco Power’s 24-parish service territory are encouraged to apply for funds through the company’s online giving portal.

“In 2023, Cleco supported over 600 organizations across Louisiana through corporate and employee donations,” said Madeline Ducote, communications representative. “We also had over 4,700 employee volunteer hours and nearly $100,000 of employee donations to the communities we serve.”

Cleco accepts donation and volunteer requests from nonprofit organizations whose mission aligns with one or more of the company’s giving categories. Cleco’s giving categories include STEM programs, education, youth, health and wellness, low income and diversity.

Wed
31
Jan

Supt. Wright releases statement regarding Florien High School

Supt. Wright releases statement regarding Florien High School

Superintendent Shane Wright

In light of recent events associated with Florien High School, we cannot stress enough the importance placed upon the safety of our students and staff. Upon knowledge of this event, Superintendent Wright collaborated with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and Florien High School administration to ensure a thorough investigation of the matter. During the course of the ongoing investigation, he was not at liberty to make public comments and/or statements.

Superintendent Wright places a high priority on the well-being of all Sabine students and takes all matters regarding threats to student safety very seriously. He wishes to assure the public that all applicable district policies and state laws have been and will be followed regarding employee and student involvement.

The Sabine Parish School Board thanks the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement for their continued partnership and dedication to keeping all Sabine Parish Schools safe.

Wed
31
Jan

Florien student, teacher arrested

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell reports a 15-yearold student at Florien school was arrested for bringing a handgun to the school campus on Thursday evening, January 18, 2024.

Florien schoolteacher Stacey Renee Chesher (age-51) of Leesville was also arrested for her involvement in the case. Chesher has been a teacher in Sabine Parish for the past six years.

Sabine Parish Sheriff SROs and Detectives began the investigation after a video of the student with the gun was posted on social media.

The social media video allegedly showed a student with a handgun in a holster in his waistband in the parking lot of Florien school.

School video surveillance footage captured the student with the gun in his waistband while he was inside the school during a basketball game that night.

Wed
31
Jan

First legislative session concludes

The First Extraordinary Session of 2024 adjourned last week after legislators passed measures redrawing Louisiana’s congressional districts as well as creating closed party primaries for federal elections as well as members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Public Service Commission. The eight-day session concluded 3 days early after lawmakers completed their business ahead of schedule.

“The Governor shared with us his commitment to ending the redistricting litigation so the legislature could quickly focus on the issues that will make Louisiana an even better place to live and work,” said Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier. “We didn’t want a federal judge to do it for us. In terms of closed primaries, it’s been a goal for many that gained traction under the leadership of Governor Landry and now was the time to act. With this session complete, all of our energy can now be directed towards the priorities that are important to our constituents.”

Wed
31
Jan

Castillo sentenced to 30 months in prison

Castillo sentenced to 30 months in prison

Joseph Chad Castillo

Joseph Chad Castillo, 36, of Converse, Louisiana, was sentenced on January 24, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Donald E. Walter sentenced Castillo to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of firearms.

Information introduced in court revealed that on December 26, 2022, a deputy with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve an arrest warrant at a residence in Converse. While the deputy was at the residence, a vehicle drove down the driveway and stopped and the rear seat passenger, later determined to be Castillo, fled into the woods. After a brief pursuit, law enforcement officers stopped and searched the vehicle and found a Remington Model 1100 shotgun and a Remington Model 7600 rifle, as well as Castillo’s cell phone in the backseat. The rifle had an obliterated serial number and Castillo had previously stolen it from a private residence.

Wed
24
Jan

Local angler kicks off Bass Pro Tour season on home lake

Local angler kicks off Bass Pro Tour season on home lake

Justin Cooper, photo courtesy of Major League Fishing

Justin Cooper of Sabine Parish will begin his first season in the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour on his home lake, Toledo Bend Reservoir.

Cooper, who grew up on the northern side of the parish in the Converse area, is a father, husband, fishing guide and fulltime angler. When he isn’t traveling the country for fishing tournaments, he’s at his home in Zwolle on the lake running his guide service and fishing for Bass and Crappie on Toledo Bend. If you’re looking for him in the fall months, you may also find him in the woods enjoying hunting season or working with RMS Outdoors as an Assistant Breeder Consultant.

I sat down with Cooper in December to better understand his journey to becoming a pro angler and how he feels about the upcoming MLF season opener on Toledo Bend.

“Not many people get to make a living out of something they love every day. I’m blessed for sure.” Cooper said.

Wed
24
Jan

BESE reappoints Dr. Cade Brumley as La. State Superintendent

BESE reappoints Dr. Cade Brumley as La. State Superintendent

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) unanimously voted on January 17 to reappoint Dr. Cade Brumley as Louisiana State Superintendent of Education. Dr. Brumley has served as State Superintendent since 2020 through a period that has included unprecedented disruptions, from the global pandemic to historically active hurricane seasons. Despite challenges, Louisiana education has progressed on both state and national measurements.

“Dr. Brumley’s leadership has been instrumental in the improved academic outcomes Louisiana has made in recent years,” said BESE President Ronnie Morris. “We look forward to our continued collaboration as we continue to raise the bar for Louisiana students.”

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