News

Recently, FBI Little Rock and FBI New Orleans have noted an increase in sextortion schemes targeting children in southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. The FBI has received numerous reports of predators posing as children on social media to coerce minors into sending sexual videos of themselves and then extorting money from these underage victims. FBI Little Rock has noted an alarming uptick in these schemes targeting children in areas around El Dorado, Magnolia, and Monticello, AR. FBI New Orleans has also seen similar schemes targeting children in the Monroe, Alexandria, and Shreveport, LA areas.

Here’s how this disturbing scheme works:

A predator (posing as a child on social media) uses deception and manipulation to convince a minor victim, usually 13 to 17 years old, to engage in explicit sexual activity over video chat.

The videos or images are secretly recorded and saved by the predator.

Many Attorney Verity Gentry has announced she is a candidate for Judge from the 11th Judicial District in Sabine Parish. She is seeking the post vacated when Judge Stephen B. Beasley resigned effective April 1. Qualifying for the post is July 20-22 with the election to be held Nov. 8.

She was born and raised in Many, the daughter of Robert and Marsha Gentry. She was graduated from Many High School where she was very active in student activities. She attended church at First Baptist of Many, Calvary Baptist and Word of Truth Church, and also served on a mission trip to Romania while in high school.

Verity was graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 2007 where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in business and pre-law. At LSU she was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.

On May 13th, 1822, future President Zachary Taylor arrived at Fort Jesup with four companies of the 7th United States Infantry officially opening the Fort. Fort Jesup would not only be an important part of Sabine Parish History but would also play an important role in American History.

Help us celebrate the founding of Fort Jesup on May 13-14 with a weekend full of special events. Kicking the celebration off at 6 p.m. on Friday the 13th will be a special “Taste of History” meal served in the original army kitchen. Experience some of the dishes that officers and soldiers would have eaten in 1822 by candlelight in the only original building from Fort Jesup. After the meal, at 7:00 pm there will be special presentations on the history of Fort Jesup and the region.

The Toledo Bend Lake Association (TBLA) has awarded two college scholarships to area students. The 2022 Glynn Carver Memorial Scholarship for $3000 has been awarded to Lexi Ezernack of Zwolle High School. Lexi plans to attend Northwestern State University in the fall and will be studying to earn a degree in Nursing. Lexi has been active in many community and school organizations, including Beta Club, SADD, and Explorers Club. Lexi has also achieved an outstanding scholastic record.

TBLA established the Glynn Carver Memorial Scholarship in May of 2019 in recognition of the contributions that Mr. Carver made throughout his life to Toledo Bend and the surrounding communities as well as the pioneering impact that he had on the fishing industry beyond the borders of Toledo Bend.

On May 7 at approximately 6:30 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a fatal crash on JaBush Road. This crash claimed the life of 11-year-old Saylor Gatti of Zwolle.

The initial investigation revealed a 2021 Yamaha Viking Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV), driven by Gatti, was westbound on JaBush Road. For reasons still under investigation, Gatti lost control of the vehicle which caused it to overturn. This action ejected Gatti and her three juvenile passengers from the vehicle.

Gatti, who was not restrained or wearing a helmet, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Sabine Parish Coroner’s Office. One juvenile passenger, who was not restrained or wearing a helmet, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Two additional juvenile passengers, who also were not restrained or wearing a helmet, sustained no injuries.

Family, Fishing and Fun at the Big Bass Splash presented by Sealy Outdoors. $500,000 Guaranteed in Cash and Prizes with 1st Place Overall winning a Phoenix 721 Pro XP powered by Mercury equipped with Minn Kota, Lowrance, Navionics, Power Pole and X2 Power Batteries; a RAM Truck plus $5,000 Cash. That yields a total GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE VALUED AT $100,000!

Fifteen places will be paid in cash each hour of each tournament day beginning with the 7-8 AM hour and continuing through the 1-2 PM hour for the fifteen single heaviest bass weighed in. Top prize each hour is $2,500. Hourly updates will be broadcasted live on KICKS 105.1 FM and once hour is official, results are listed on Facebook/BigBassSplash1984.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell reports Tyson Coby Strickland (age-37) of Many was arrested this afternoon.

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Tactical Narcotics Teatm had been investigating Strickland’s illegal narcotic activity since October 2021. T.N.T. Agents were able to obtain arrest warrants for Strickland’s illegal narcotic sales.

In March 2022, Sabine Parish Sheriff Detectives were contacted by the Louisiana Department of Justice Cyber Crime Unit of child sexual exploitation material by a possible resident of Sabine Parish. The material was uploaded through a popular messaging application. The tip was submitted through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Sheriff Detectives, who are also members of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, further investigated the allegations and determined Strickland was the suspect.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell reports clerks allegedly took thousands of dollars from two local villages.

Anna Marie Ferguson (age-50) of Florien took approximately $12,285.50 from the Village of Florien from the end of 2020 until March 2022. Florien’s CPA noticed the irregularities and it was reported to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office. Ferguson was placed on paid leave in March, then she was later fired.

Ferguson was accepting cash payments from traffic citation fines and keeping the money. During the investigation by Sabine Parish Sheriff Detective Don Flores, Ferguson admitted she took the money.

Ferguson was arrested and booked into the Sabine Parish Women’s Jail on Monday, April 25, 2022, for Theft $5000-$25,000 and Malfeasance in office.

The 23rd Sabine Hall of Fame Banquet, hosted at St. Joseph’s Catholic Hall in Zwolle on Tuesday evening ,April 26, proved to be one the nicest events of the past several years.

Black floor-length tablecloths with table decorations of lanterns, candles and an array of greenery, turned the Hall into a beautiful and breathtaking venue. Board member Lauren Moore coordinated the decorations with items from her business, Nichols and the help of talented employees.

The highlight of the evening was the induction of Edith Jones Palmer as the 23rd inductee into the prestigious Sabine Hall of Fame. She was joined at the head table by grandchildren, and dear friends.

The Toledo Bend Lake Association’s (TBLA) 2022 Banquet and Auction was a resounding success. The sold out event was TBLA’s first banquet in three years, and it was clear from the attendance that the Lake Area was ready to put Covid behind and to celebrate Toledo Bend once again.

The evening began with over 600 guests, sponsors and volunteers browsing items available in the raffle drop boxes, silent auction, live auction, and TBLA merchandise. Emcee Ricky Yeldell mingled throughout the crowd and then Haydn Knight sang The National Anthem which was followed by the invocation. Then the delicious BBQ dinner provided by Brisket House of Jena, Louisiana, was served.

TBLA recognized the lake area Sheriffs and their spouses and thanked them for their service in our communities.