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City Bank’s Kristy Miller presents Payton Hyden, member of the MHS Football Team, a donation to sponsor the Many High School Football Scramble. The Scramble is 8:00 A.M. on August 6th at the Northwestern Hills Golf Course. For more information, please contact Coach Hassell, 318- 564-7343 or Andrea Pickett, 318-332-6038.

Five students completed the GeauxFAME Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program, a work/study partnership between Central Louisiana Technical Community College, Northwestern State University and regional industries. Through the program, graduates earned a certificate from CLTCC and an associate degree from NSU while working at a regional manufacturing facility.

Graduates, who were honored earlier this week, and their sponsoring company are Jay Latour of Many (Alliance Compressors), Cody Tibbett of Baton Rouge (AFCO), Justin Jacobs of Pleasant Hill (RoyOMartin), Kyleb McMahon of Many (Boise Cascade) and Luke Holloway of Choudrant (Stella-Jones).

My name is John Stewart and I have qualified to run for Sabine Parish School Board member for District 6. I am married to Candice Etheridge Stewart and together we have four children: Makayla, 20; MaKinah, 13; Mack, 9; and MaKynzlee, 5. After working in the oil field for 11 years, I now own and manage John Stewart Trucking and John Stewart Timber Services. I’m also a lifelong member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Following in the footsteps of my mother, grandparents, and all four of my older siblings, I graduated from Ebarb High School in 2005. My oldest daughter is a 2020 graduate, and two of my children currently attend Ebarb High School. It is safe to say that Rebel pride runs deep in my blood.

Daron Chandler was sworn in for a second year with the Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Baton Rouge during the Association’s 2022 LSBA Capitol Conference. Mr. Chandler serves as a member of the Sabine Parish School Board representing Ward 1, District 1, and Florien High School.

“I love serving on the LSBA Board of Directors because they stay on the pulse of all things education, lobbying for everything to make our local education the best it can be and against anything that will drag it down,” said Chandler. “It’s an honor to be a part of that.”

LSBA President Melvin Lodge echoed similar thoughts. “As leaders and board members, we have a responsibility to advocate on behalf of our students, giving them the best possible opportunities to become successful. Mr. Chandler recognizes this and I’m glad to have him as a member of the LSBA’s Board of Directors,” said Lodge.

Last week was qualifying at the Sabine Parish Courthouse, and numerous local candidates have thrown their hat into the ring for the November 8 election.

One U.S. Senate seat is up for grabs this election, and incumbent John Kennedy will have plenty of stiff competition for the seat. Qualifying were Beryl A. Billiot, I; Gary Chambers Jr., D; Devin Graham, R; “Xan” John, other; W. Thomas La Fontaine Olson, I; Bradley McMorris, I; Vinny Mendoza, D; Luke Mixon, D; Salvador P. Rodriguez, D; Aaron C. Sigler, L; Syrita Steib, D; and Thomas Wenn, other.

Mike Johnson, the Republican incumbent of the U.S. Representative 4th Congressional District, will return to office unopposed.

Elizabeth Pickett will return as Judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeal.

Verity Gentry will be appointed as judge of the 11th Judicial District Court.

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the start of construction on a $110 million lumber production facility that will support the creation of nearly 500 new jobs in Northwest Louisiana.

Teal Jones Group, an international forestry products company based in Canada, disclosed in December that it was considering Northwest Louisiana as the site of a new southern yellow pine lumber plant. The company made its final investment decision official at a groundbreaking ceremony Monday that was also attended by LED Secretary Don Pierson, Teal Jones CEO Tom Jones, company President Dick Jones and other regional and local officials.

(The Center Square) – The Louisiana legislative auditor is urging the Department of Natural Resources and state lawmakers to better manage the state’s surface water, citing the lack of a comprehensive plan and caps on voluntary agreements that limit revenues to fight invasive species.

A decades-long delay in developing a statewide water management plan is hampering Louisiana’s ability to regulate and value surface water, which is currently managed through a voluntary program run by the Department of Natural Resources, according to a recent audit.

“During fiscal years 2020 through 2021, DNR had 87 active cooperative endeavor agreements in place for surface water withdrawals that requested a total of 1.54 trillion gallons. For 56 (64.4%) of the CEAs, cash payment was required for water withdrawals, while 31 (35.6%) permitted the submission of economic impact reports in lieu of cash payments,” Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack wrote to legislative leaders.

(Editor’s Note: As of press time Mr. Ledoux is still missing. This could change between now and publication.)

The Louisiana State Police has issued a Silver Alert on behalf of the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office for 61-year-old David Ledoux. He was last seen at his residence on Robeline Provencal Road in Provencal on July 16, 2022 at 9:30 p.m. His wife discovered him missing this morning. He is believed to be traveling in a 2006 Dodge Ram bearing Louisiana license plate X918312.

Ledoux is a white male with black hair and blue eyes. He is approximately 5’9” tall and weighs about 190 pounds.

Ledoux suffers from a severe medical condition that may impair his judgment.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ledoux is asked to immediately contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office 318-357-7858 at or dial 911. Questions should be directed to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The Sabine Parish Back To School Rally is almost here, according to Chairman Mary Gore of Toledo Bend Ministries.

The event will be hosted at the First United Methodist Church of Many on Saturday, July 30. Doors to the Family Life Center will open at 7:30 a.m. with registration following at 8 a.m. Students in all parish schools, K-12, are encouraged to attend and pick up age-appropriate school supplies.

Donations from the community have been received from Toledo Bend Lake Association, Tabernacle of Love in Zwolle, First Baptist Church of Many, the Sisters of Grace Sunday School Class and Vacation Bible School offerings, both of Many’s First Baptist Church, along with the use of the First United Methodist’s Church facility.

Serving as Mistress of Ceremonies will be Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth Pickett. The guest speaker will be Matthew Couvillion. Music will be provided by Michael Cutright of Zwolle.

(The Center Square) — A recent study shows southern states have been hit hardest by raging inflation and Louisiana tops the list.

When considering change in the consumer price index, regional price parity, state sales tax rates and median household income, southern states are struggling the most with inflation, according to the small business website Merchant Maverick.

“Inflation is a problem everywhere, but the price of necessary staples has risen faster in the Southern region of the country,” according to the report. “In particular, Southern states with high sales tax and low median household income may be feeling the biggest squeeze.”

Researchers used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Tax Foundation to rank states based on the impact of inflation.

Number one on the list: Louisiana.