News

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.

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