News

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.

The Toledo Bend Lake Association (TBLA) has commissioned artist Angela M. Osborn to create the 2023 Bass Unlimited Back-A-Great-Fighter poster. Angela is a local artist from Many, and her work can be seen in Sabine Parish at the Sabine Theater, Many Town Hall, Living the Dream Fishing Guide Service and Zwolle High School. She graduated from NSU with a degree in Fine Arts and has worked professionally as an artist with a focus on murals, commercial art and Louisiana landscapes. This year’s poster, sponsored by Community Bank of Louisiana, is titled “Richard’s Day Off” in honor of Angela’s uncle, an avid fisherman of Toledo Bend and major supporter of her artistic endeavors.

Chis Loupe will be inducted into the Sabine Hall of Fame 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.

Paul Christopher Loupe (Chris) was born October 6, 1948, in Lafayette, Louisiana. After Chris graduated in 1966 from Zwolle High School, he attended LSU in Baton Rouge, for two years then transferred to NSU where he graduated in 1971 with a BS in Animal Science. Having taken a vacation to Galveston he called home and talked to his mother only to find out he was drafted and was to report to Fort Polk for boot camp and be inducted into the United States Army. After his boot camp and AIT training, he received orders to report to Long Binh, Vietnam, where he spent 11 months. Returning home after serving 2 years in the Army he decided to attend La Tech and get his degree in Vocational Agriculture.

The office of The Sabine Index has moved into its new location at 210 Pico St. in Many.

This is the first move from the office since 2008, when it moved back to its original location at 875 San Antonio Ave.

The office hours, phone numbers, and email will stay the same.

Stop by to say hi!

Shantrece Underwood Hooker will be honored with the Good Citizens 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. This award is presented to someone whose work to better Sabine Parish, its organizations and endeavors deserves special recognition.

Shantrece Underwood Hooker was born May 6, 1971 in Many, Louisiana. She is oldest of two children to Marshall and Brenda Underwood. She attended Many High School and was a 1989 graduate. In December of 1996, she obtained her B.A. in Social Work from Northwestern State University and is currently pursuing a MBA from Columbia Southern University.

Victoria Paige Gaspard will be honored with the Accomplishment 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. This award recognizes a young Sabine Parish citizen with accomplishments that deserve special recognition who is 25 years old or below.

Victoria was born April 3, 2006. Her art career started as soon as she could hold a pencil. Victoria began taking Talented Art classes with the Gifted and Talented school program since she attended Many Junior High School and Nancy Dockens Hurley wanted to do something special with her husband, Ace, for her 50th anniversary. Especially since he had reminded her of its importance. “He said, ‘you know this is the big one?’” she recalls. “He was always thoughtful about birthdays and gifts.”

A great celebration for Operation Christmas Child was held recently at Calvary Baptist Church in Many. There were videos, prayers, and praises for the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes donated during 2022. Each church’s and group’s Operation Christmas Child donation was celebrated. These Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes, which are distributed in countries all over the world, not only include toys, school supplies, and other items; but include the Gospel of Jesus Christ printed in their own language. One packed shoebox makes an eternal difference in a child’s life and for each shoebox packed, ten people are positively impacted by the Good News of Jesus Christ. For every 6 shoeboxes donated, 1 child will spend eternity in Heaven.

Sabine High School Revitalization Project Management Group, Inc. (SHSRP) has been awarded a $748,650 History of Equal Rights grant from the Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS) funded through the Historic Preservation Fund for the Sabine High School Exterior Rehabilitation Phase 1. SHSRP will use the funding to complete substantial rehabilitation of the historic Sabine High School gymnasium and install temporary roof and window coverings on all other campus buildings awaiting rehabilitation.

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a federal jury has returned guilty verdicts against Aaron Wade Knight, 31, of Noble, Louisiana, on two counts of making threats of violence against employees with the Sabine Medical Center (SMC) and the Veterans Administration (VA).