News

The Toledo Bend Lake Association’s (TBLA) 21st Annual Bass Unlimited Back-AGreat- Fighter Banquet and Auction was a tremendous success. It was a beautiful evening that defied the early-week weather forecast. The sold out event began with over 600 guests, sponsors and volunteers browsing items available in both the Silent and Live Auctions and the raffle drop boxes, while Emcee Ricky Yeldell mingled throughout the crowd with music playing in the background. Ricky asked BU Chairman Ted Dove to give the invocation and then he invited Negreet High School junior Abby Shanley to the stage where she led everyone in the singing of the National Anthem.

The newest civic club in the Parish is the Kiwanis Club of Sabine, which was organized in late February this year. The club’s purpose is to provide an organization that is solely devoted to children and youth, to encourage and promote daily living by the Golden Rule, to help create a safer environment for young people to grow and thrive in, while learning how to become profitable and prosperous adults.

Kiwanis is an international organization, since 1915, and is made up of volunteers who are solely dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The purpose of Kiwanis is to provide, through our clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities. We cooperate as a team in creating and maintaining sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.

Florien native Joe Reece Salter was honored by the Louisiana House of Representatives Thursday afternoon, April 18. The presentation was made upon Joe’s retirement after many years of public service in many different fields.

Members of the House stood in honor of the former Speaker as Rep. Francis C. Thompson of Delhi read a special resolution. It was only the second time in the last 15 years or so that a special guest was allowed to come to the podium on the House floor.

Afterward, Joe was honored with a reception in the House members’ lounge. About 100 people, including relatives, friends and former work associates, came by to offer Joe their best wishes.

Sabine Parish folks who attended were Court of Appeal Judge Elizabeth Pickett, Sabine Judge Verity Gentry, former Many Mayor and Mrs. Ken Freeman, Pete Abington, Mr. and Mrs. William Ruffin, Many natives Trish Lowrey and Colby Cook, and Robert and Laurie Gentry.

Toledo Bend Lake Association (TBLA) volunteers have been preparing for a fantastic evening this Friday, April 19, when over 600 attendees will come together for the Annual Bass Unlimited Banquet and Auction. Generous businesses from Texas and Louisiana have contributed to help make this a unique opportunity for raising money that directly benefits the Toledo Bend Lake communities. Included in the raffle and live auction at the banquet are unique items, culinary dining experiences, long-guns, guided fishing trips on Toledo Bend, and much more.

Many and Sabine Parish book lovers are in for a special treat when author Susan Noel Sands comes to Many City Hall at 12 noon on Saturday, May 4, to launch her 10th novel, Bayou Redemption, and hold a book signing party. Susan is special not just because she is a successful author, but because she grew up in Sabine Parish, graduated from Negreet High School and Northwestern State University. Her 10 published novels have Southern settings, many in the Many, Natchitoches, Cane River areas. Even though the names of the locations are changed, her readers may recognize these familiar settings.

The bright colored regalia moving with the motion of ancestral dance make the 2024 Choctaw- Apache Powwow a must-see event! The Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb will host a Native American Mass on April 25th, followed by the 31st Annual Powwow April 26-27 at the Choctaw Apache Tribal Grounds, 217 Gene Knight Rd. in Noble, La.

The powwow celebrates the heritage of the 21 families that make up the tribe of over 7,000 members – one of the largest tribes in Louisiana. The ancestral territory, located in the western part of Sabine Parish, includes Converse, Ebarb, Noble, Zwolle, and the communities of Blue Lake and Grady Hill.

All who are interested in joining this celebration are welcome to come and enjoy the traditional music, dance, food, and crafts. Guest drums and dancers are also welcome. Make plans to take advantage of this opportunity to experience the rich Native American culture in Sabine Parish!

The Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival is pleased to announce that Dewitt Sepulvado has been named the oldest logger for 2024.

Sepulvado began cutting logs in 1958 for Hunt Lumber Co., and over the years he has worked for Haslam Lumber Company, Sabine Lumber Company, Boise Cascade, and Willamette, where he retired at the age of 62. He worked six days a week regardless of weather conditions. Luckily, throughout his career, he never had an accident while using his power saw. Since his retirement, he enjoys fishing, farming, and going to the casino.

The 2024 Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival will be held April 19th and 20th at the Zwolle Festival Grounds in downtown Zwolle, La. As always, this event promises to be a memorable experience for local and visiting families.

The festival opens Friday at 4:30pm with a multitude of exciting events, beginning with a Truck Show. The carnival rides can be enjoyed any time between 5 and 9pm. Following the Truck Show is a Talent Show, the Pink Sisters of Sabine Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, and Truck Light Show. Fans of live music can enjoy the Bernie Alan Band from 7 to 11pm. Friday’s gate admission is $5 and carnival armbands are $25 but must be repurchased on Saturday.

Foy Motors generously continues to support Toledo Bend Lake Association’s efforts by sponsoring the visors for this year’s Bass Unlimited Banquet and Auction. Foy is a locally owned and operated business that proudly participates in supporting its community. Together with their support this event allows TBLA to raise funds for the Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program, scholarships, grants, and other projects that benefit the Toledo Bend Lake Area communities.

The Bass Unlimited Back-A-Great Fighter Banquet and Auction will be held on Friday, April 19 at Cypress Bend Park Pavilion.

Larry Maurice Malmay, 47, of Zwolle, Louisiana, was sentenced on drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Malmay to 182 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.