News

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance with a cold case murder from 1984 that was recently reopened. One warrant has been issued in the case for Patricia Tito, a 58-year-old woman who is currently in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Tito is serving a sentence for a homicide committed in Shreveport in 2003. As our investigation progressed, Tito identified another individual, Delvin Avard Sibley, now 76, as the individual responsible for the 1984 murder. Sibley, formerly of Shreveport, is considered to be a person of interest in the investigation, and our investigators are asking anyone with knowledge of Sibley’s possible involvement in the homicide or later disposal of the victim’s remains to come forward.

Tia Q Holmes will be honored with the Sports award Tuesday, March 28, at the Sabine Hall of Fame banquet at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hall in Zwolle. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the program will start at 6:30 p.m.

Tia Q Holmes is the 19-year-old daughter of Destrick and Quanteequa Holmes. She has two brothers, DJ Holmes, and Tre Edmonson. Tia is a 2022 graduate of Many High School and finished her high school career with a 3.5 GPA. She is currently enrolled at LSUA on an athletic scholarship studying Radiology. Tia has played softball since she was three years old. She started with Many Dixie Youth, Sabine Shock Traveling Team, Many Jr. High Lady Tigers, and Many High Lady Tigers. She is excited and honored to continue her career with LSUA.

Some of Tia’s outstanding accomplishments include: A part of the 2010 & 2017 State Championship team for Sabine Dixie Youth League.

Members of the John Curtis Sr. family will receive the Sports Award at the Sabine Hall of Fame Banquet to be held Tuesday, March 28, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Hall in Zwolle.

John attended Many High School (MHS) and played football four years from 1959-62. He played quarterback for the Tigers, but with only 17 players on the team, he had to play a little bit of everything.

He was offered a scholarship to play quarterback at Louisiana Tech in Ruston. While there he competed against and became great friends with Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame and briefly with Terry Bradshaw, National Football League Hall of Famer.

Following college, John owned and operated Big Star for 38 years. During this time, he was very involved in supporting and contributing to all the athletic programs in Sabine Parish. Whatever the need of the schools, folks could count on Big Star to step up to the plate no matter what.

City Bank sponsors Ft. Jesup Settler’s Day

Kenneth Ammons, former Scoutmaster of Troop 80 Boy Scouts of America, will receive the highest award Norwela Council in Shreveport can present to its volunteers, according to Jeffery Brasher, Scout Executive.

The prestigious award, the Silver Beaver, is based on outstanding service to youth or for outstanding longtime service to youth by a registered Scouter in the Council.

Ammons reactivated the local Boy Scout Troop 80 in 1990 and the Cub Scout Pack 331 in 1991, both sponsored by the Many Lions Club. He served as Scoutmaster for 23 years. During that time, he mentored nine Eagle Scouts.

Lions Club members Jim Cole and Stewart Carnline nominated Ammons for the award.

Ammons will be honored at the Sunday, March 19 worship service at the First United Methodist Church of Many at 10 a.m. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Scouts and former leaders are welcome to attend.

Anna Garcie, left, is Sabine’s first major sponsor of the Sabine Hall of Fame induction banquet to be held Tuesday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hall in Zwolle. She is shown here with Sabine Hall of Fame board member Mary Perry, seated at right. Garcie’s support will help the organization honor several outstanding citizens of Sabine Parish, past and present, whose achievements and contributions will be formally recognized at the upcoming banquet.

Community Bank of Louisiana is the proud sponsor of the 20th Annual Toledo Bend Lake Association (TBLA) Bass Unlimited – Back A Great Fighter Poster. The Poster Unveiling is being held at Cypress Bend Resort at 7:00 p.m. on April 6, where the original painting by local artist Angela Osborn and Poster #1, along with other items, will be auctioned.

“Community Bank has long supported multiple community organizations throughout our operational areas of NW Louisiana, and we are pleased to add the Toledo Bend Lake Association to this list. Toledo Bend Lake has been and continues to be one of the main economic engines that helps drive the tourism and retirement sectors of the area. TBLA’s contributions to the lake and lake area communities only enhance this benefit,” states Community Bank President, Jayce Simpson.

Dr. Mark Holder will be honored with the Outstanding Service to Humanity Award Tuesday, March 28, at the Sabine Hall of Fame Banquet at St. Joseph’s Catholic Hall in Zwolle. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the program will start at 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Holder, a man of many talents, is Chief of Staff at Sabine Medical Center, where he also serves as an Emergency Room Physician. He is a detective on the Many Police Department and serves as Sabine Parish Coroner.

A native of Houma, his father worked in the oilfield and his mother was a police officer. Dr. Holder was graduated from high school and then attended LSU and Nichols State University earning a BS in biological sciences/ chemistry. He was accepted at the LSUMC School of Medicine in New Orleans where he earned his MD degree.

Deacon Arnold Charles Staton “Jack” will be honored with the Posthumous Award Tuesday, March 28, at the Sabine Hall of Fame banquet at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hall in Zwolle. Doors will open at 6 p.m. This award is given to honor and remember someone with a lifetime of achievement who was a Sabine Parish leader and active in community service.

Deacon Arnold Charles Staton “Jack” was born August 9, 1948, in Zwolle, Louisiana to O.C. Staton and Mae Dell Davis. Jack was reared by Norman Staton and Eliza Dowell Staton. At an early age Jack accepted Christ and was a member of Haskin Chapel United Methodist Church where he served as trustee board chair/steward, and other capacities, one of which brought the first summer feeding program to the community. Later Jack joined St. John Baptist Church in Zwolle under the leadership of Dr. Harrison Fields, Sr. where he served as deacon among other things.

Courthouse entrance procedures was among several items up for discussion at the Sabine Parish Police Jury meeting on Feb. 15.

The procedures, which are now being undertaken, require that visitors must enter and exit the courthouse through the glass facing doors on South Capitol Street. Deputies will be stationed at that entrance to operate a security checkpoint, and every courthouse visitor will be subject to a security screening for weapons and/or dangerous instrumentalities. Visitors to the courthouse are also prohibited to carry a bag, purse, package, briefcase, or other closed container. The other entrances to the courthouse will be closed to the public.

The jury also discussed a $210 million investment in solar energy that could be coming to the parish. The jurors sought to seek out legal counsel with District Attorney Don Burkett before committing to anything.