News

Sabine Parish Waterworks District #1, received highest honors this year at Louisiana Rural Water Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony when they were named the Wayne Fontenot Leadership Award. The awards were presented on July 19, 2023, at LRWA’s 37th Annual Training and Technical Conference held at the Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The LRWA Awards Program was established to recognize the outstanding efforts of Rural Water and Wastewater Systems and their personnel. Of all the systems/operators/office personnel across the state, Sabine Parish Waterworks District #1 was selected as this year’s winner for dedication to providing safe drinking water and/or helping to maintain a cleaner environment through their efforts in the water industry in the State of Louisiana.

On August 1 at approximately 12:20 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a one-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 6 near Recknor Road. The crash claimed the life of 46-year-old Nathan Gowen.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2018 Ford F-150, driven by Gowen, was traveling east on Louisiana Highway 6. For reasons still under investigation, Gowen’s vehicle left the roadway, traveled down the ditch embankment and struck several trees.

Gowen, who was restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Routine toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.

While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, distracted and inattentive driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in our state. Louisiana State Police urges all motorists to stay alert while driving. A lapse in one’s awareness can have deadly consequences.

A traditional crafts person and five musicians were inducted into the Louisiana Folklife Center’s Hall of Master Folk Artists during an induction ceremony held at Northwestern State University on Saturday, July 22 as part of the 43rd Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival. Inductees included cultural authority and traditional crafter Rhonda Gauthier, who also served as honorary Festival Chair; the Broussard Family Juré group and country musician Hugh Harris.

Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center at NSU, led the induction ceremony, assisted by Cherry Perkins, Ms. 2023 Avoyelles Arts and Music Festival Queen, and Jace Jordan, Miss 2023 Avoyelles Arts and Music Festival Queen.

Sabine Parish Schools is excited to announce the achievements of its students in this year’s State LEAP test scores. Our students have demonstrated academic success, securing improvements and achieving notable results across almost all subject areas.

The LEAP results for Sabine Parish Schools reflect the dedication and hard work of our educators, staff, students, and parents, who continuously strive for excellence in education. We are proud to report an overall increase in test scores, showcasing our district’s commitment to providing a high-quality learning environment that fosters academic growth and achievement.

Highly respected Sabine Parish businessman Bruce A. Taylor announced this week that he will be a candidate for Dist. 3 Police Jury in the Oct. 14 primary. A lifelong resident of Sabine, he has an extensive background as a road builder and is a licensed Louisiana contractor.

Taylor stated, “I will my business experience to provide the change needed to get roads repaired and built properly. We need real change and if you are ready, please vote for me.”

The Sabine Parish Waterworks District No. 1 System has been awarded the Aquarius Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its Consolidation Project with Ajax-Beulah Water System.

The award recognizes the most exceptional drinking water system improvement projects funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), which is a federal-state partnership to finance the construction and rehabilitation of critical drinking water infrastructure projects. The award was presented at the Council of Infrastructure and Finance Authorities (CIFA) Summit Conference held in Washington, D.C., in April 2023.

Sabine Parish Waterworks District’s consolidation project with Ajax-Beulah Water System was selected over DWSRF projects from across a five-state area in EPA Region 6, including Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico.

It is rare that a pioneering figure who had a hand in making the sport of boxing a more inclusive place visits the small parish of Sabine, let alone takes up residence in Converse. However, on July 8 at the Many Train Depot, pioneering practitioner of the sweet science “Dangerous” Deirdre Gogarty took some time out of her schedule to sign copies of her autobiography, visit with attendees, and even teach a few people how to throw a punch.

In the pantheon of women’s boxing, Gogarty is one of its biggest success stories. In 1997, she became the first Irish woman to win a boxing world title. It was a long road to get there.

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Aaron Wade Knight, 31, of Noble, Louisiana, has been sentenced for making threats of violence against employees with the Sabine Medical Center (SMC) and the Veterans Administration (VA). Knight was convicted in February 2023 by a federal jury in Shreveport.

Registration is now open for an LED FastStart online career fair that will connect job seekers in and outside the state with Louisiana companies filling a wide range of business administration and customer service positions. The online event will take place Wednesday, July 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants can register in advance or during the event. Positions featured at the career fair include Business Development and Sales Executives, Medicaid Coordinator, Child Nutrition Supervisor, Customer Experience Managers, Customer Care Representatives, Project Manager, Business Financial Analyst, Medical Billing Specialist, Payroll Coordinator, Recruiter, Regional Account Executive, Occupational Medicine Coordinator and IT Technical Support Specialist.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Public Safety Services, Office of Motor Vehicle (“OMV”) responded to a data security incident that involved personal information of individuals who applied for, and/ or were issued a Louisiana driver’s license, identification card, and/ or vehicle registration. This notice explains the incident, the measures that have been taken, and some steps you can take in response.