News

The Fourteenth annual Toledo Bend Lake Association (TBLA) and Sabine Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Fish Fest will be held June 3, 2023, at the Sabine River Authority’s Cypress Bend Park.

The registration deadline is April 29, 2023. If you would like to participate and need a registration form call the office at 318-256-3491. Registration forms can be mailed to or dropped off at our office Sabine SWCD 570 HWY 171 Bypass, Many, LA 71449.

Local artist Angela M. Osborn’s painting “Richard’s Day Off” is making a big splash among TBLA Bass Unlimited poster collectors and the general public. Her original artwork and poster number one sold for big bucks at the 20th Annual Poster Unveiling and Auction held Thursday evening, April 6, at Cypress Bend Resort. This event kicked off Toledo Bend Lake Association’s Bass Unlimited Fundraiser that will culminate with the annual Banquet and Auction on Friday, April 21, at Cypress Bend Park Pavilion.

On Wednesday March 29th the Many 7th -12th grade concert band performed at the Louisiana Music Educators Association Music Assessment and earned a Superior Rating for both Stage performance and Sightreading performance earning a Sweepstakes Award, the highest honor given to a concert band by the State Music Association. To be able to earn this award, the band performed two songs on stage that they have been rehearsing during the spring semester. Then for the sight reading part of the event they had eight minutes to learn a song that they had never seen before and play it from start to finish. The band would like to thank all of their supporters and community, without your support, amazing performances like this would not be possible.

Bassmaster is coming to Toledo Bend Reservoir in Many, La, April 13th – 15th. The threeday event will be at Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive. The public is invited to come out and watch the pros cast off at 6:45 a.m. and weigh in at 2:45 p.m. each day.

Anglers fishing all nine Opens Series events will be vying for an invitation to the Bassmaster Elite Series. The top nine anglers in the Bassmaster Open Elite Qualifiers standings will earn an invitation to join the prestigious Bassmaster Elite Series in 2024. Individual event winners will be eligible for a berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. Executive Director of Tournaments says, “We are so excited about this new format. That excitement, plus the great fisheries we have on our schedule, will make 2023 so much fun for anglers and fans of the sport.”

Boater Daniel Bryant of Scott, Louisiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Toledo Bend. The tournament was the third event of 2023 for the BFL Cowboy Division. Bryant earned $4,509 for his victory. “When my boat number was called and I left the launch, I didn’t know which way I was going to head – north or south,” said Bryant. “The night before the tournament I had rigged up for both north and south situations that I fished in practice. When it came time to turn the boat, something told me to go north.”

Bryant said he picked an area and started the day with a 2¾-pound fish and knew he had made the right decision. He stayed in a half-mile stretch of Toledo Bend on a hard grass line in 8 feet of water and used a vibrating jig to catch his bass.

After incredible response after starting a travel business several years ago, Nan Arthur of Arthurized Adventures is preparing her most ambitious foray yet.

The July trip will last for seven days and include visits to the Ark Encounter and Amazing Creation Museum, along with a riverboat sightseeing trip and the Cincinnati Museum Center.

The Ark Encounter features a full-size version of Noah’s Ark, which is said to be built to the exact specifications of the Bible, making the massive structure span 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high. With three decks, each provides a different perspective on the events it covers, including the preflood world, plausible living quarters for Noah and family, and post-flood events. It also includes a special Museum of the Bible exhibit.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives are investigating a Sunday afternoon shooting homicide in Powhatan that has claimed the life of a Sabine Parish man, while an ongoing search for the suspect by Natchitoches, Sabine and DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Offices is continuing according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

On Sunday afternoon, March 26, at approximately 12:32 p.m., Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of a shooting at Willa Point Apartments located in the 1400 block of La. Hwy 1 North in Powhatan.

While responding to the scene, deputies learned that a gunshot victim was being transported by private vehicle to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center in Natchitoches.

The vehicle was intercepted and escorted to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

Jeff Evans, experienced law enforcement officer, today officially announced his candidacy for Sheriff of Sabine Parish. With 30 years of experience in the law enforcement field, Evans has an in-depth knowledge of the policies and procedures that come with being a Sheriff. Evans is a leader who is firm yet assuring and has a proven track record of being fair, transparent, and accessible. Endorsers and local residents throughout Sabine Parish were on hand today to show support of Evans’ announcement.

“I am very humbled by the support our community showed me and my family at today’s announcement. I want to be very clear that I am not running for a position or title. I am asking you to hire me as your sheriff. Residents of our parish have my assurance that I will be a sheriff for you,” said Jeff Evans.

Samuel “Cole” Pickett, center, a senior at Many High School, signed to join the Northwestern State University Fishing Team.

Picket will attend NSU on scholarship as part of the university’s competitive bass fishing team. Pickett will also be in the President’s Leadership Program while majoring in Health and Exercise Science. He hopes to eventually become a physical therapist.

The NSU Fishing Team is open to all NSU students. For more information on the NSU Fishing Team, email team sponsor Juddy Hamous at juddyh@nsula.edu or call (318) 332-0565.

The Sabine Parish School Board recognized the District’s Students of the Year and the District’s Bus Driver of the year at the regular board Meeting, Monday, March 21, 2023.

Ms. Cassie Thomas was recognized as the District Bus Driver of the Year. She was also recognized for winning PCAL’s Regional Bus Driver of the Year. PCAL or Property Casualty Alliance of Louisiana, is the District’s Fleet Insurance Carrier. They also provided Ms. Thomas with a swag bag and a check for $100.00. Ms. Thomas was recognized by the Board at the beginning of the school year for her professionalism when handling a medical emergency aboard her bus. Ms. Thomas has been employed with the District since 2017. She is currently driving for Zwolle Schools.

The Board Recognized the District Students of the Year.