News

The Town of Many lends a helping hand with The Toledo Bend Lake Association’s (TBLA) upcoming Bass Unlimited Back-A-Great-Fighter Poster Unveiling that will be held Thursday, April 7. The 2022 original painting and #1 poster by Artist Eddie Pastureau will be auctioned that evening along with the 2020 #1 poster by Artist Don Edwards, recognizing 50 years of Toledo Bend Lake Association’s service in the Lake Area Communities.

The Poster Unveiling is free and everyone is invited. The doors open at 6:00 with a cash bar and appetizers served, and the auction begins at 7:00 pm in the Ball Room at Cypress Bend Resort.

Dr. Hiram “Pete” Gregory and Dr. Rebecca Riall, professors in Northwestern State University’s School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs, were honored with faculty awards presented by the University of Louisiana System during the ULS’s fifth annual For Our Future conference.

Gregory was named a Champion of Diversity and Inclusion for decades of work in supporting indigenous people of Louisiana and surrounding states, through education, interpretation and preservation.

Riall was named the Rising Star in Diversity and Inclusion for her work in creating the American and Indigenous studies, Black studies and Creole Studies programs at NSU.

“Dr. Gregory talked about cultural competency before the term was invented,” said ULS President Dr. Jim Henderson.

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that John Matthew Tatum, 45, of Converse, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to 63 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy in Sabine Parish between August 2020 and May 2021.

Tatum pleaded guilty on November 18, 2021 to a Bill of Information charging him with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, following an investigation by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office.

On May 6, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant upon Tatum’s residence and located a safe containing approximately 413 net grams of pure methamphetamine. Also found in Tatum’s possession were 22 firearms, including a stolen handgun inside his vehicle, and cash proceeds from drug sales.

The 2022 Regular Legislative Session opened on March 14 at 12 p.m.

There are 805 prefiled bills in the House and 390 in the Senate, for a total of 1,195 pieces of legislation.

In legislative sessions that take place in even-numbered years, legislation shall not be concerned with fiscal issues. According to Article 3 Section 3b of the Louisiana Constitution, “No measure levying or authorizing a new tax by the state or by any statewide political subdivision whose boundaries are coterminous with the state; increasing an existing tax by the state or by any statewide political subdivision whose boundaries are coterminous with the state; or legislating with regard to tax exemptions, exclusions, deductions or credits shall be introduced or enacted during a regular session held in an even-numbered year.”

Join in for the 158th Anniversary of the Battle of Pleasant Hill with a festival & re-enactment from Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10, 2022. Re-enactments and activities will take place 3 miles north of Pleasant Hill at 23271 Hwy. 175, Pelican, LA.

This outstanding Civil War re-enactment portrays the historically recorded events of the battle with the help of more than 400 re-enactors. The town will commemorate the event with a parade, period ball, church service and open camp activities throughout the weekend. Re-enactments take place on Saturday, April 9th and Sunday April 10th at 2:00 pm. Entry fee is $5 per person (5 and under are free). Parking is free!

Nichols and Toledo Town & Tackle are once again teaming up to play a major role in the Toledo Bend Lake Association’s (TBLA) Back-A-Great Fighter Banquet and Auction. For many years Nichols has partnered with TBLA in numerous endeavors. In addition to co-sponsoring the Bass Unlimited caps, Nichols has provided decorations for many events, and in 2020 Nichols was the TBLA Bass Unlimited poster sponsor. The 2020 original painting by Don Edwards will be auctioned the evening of the Bass Unlimited Banquet and Auction on April 22 at Cypress Bend Park Pavilion.

Toledo Town & Tackle has been a historic supporter of TBLA and the Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program; solely administering the Lunker Bass Program for several years prior to partnering with

TBLA and eventually turning the program over to TBLA. Toledo Town & Tackle is co-sponsoring the Bass Unlimited caps again in 2022.

Fort Jesup State Historic Site celebrated its bicentennial celebration on February 25, 2022. The fort was established by Zachary Taylor in 1822. It is situated between Natchitoches, the oldest city in the Louisiana Purchase and Toledo Bend. The fort was built to secure the western border of the U. S. frontier between the United States and Spain.

Even though the weather was not at its best, over 350 dignitaries including Lt. Governor of Louisiana Billy Nungesser, re-enactors and Living History volunteers, and visitors joined together for the celebration.

The Poet Laureate of Louisiana is coming to Many to entertain and inform.

Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy, an award-winning poet, folklorist, author and educator, will be at Bayou Crawfish Restaurant at 1 P.M, Thursday, March 17, to document Creole culture by sharing her poems, discussing the importance of play and demonstrating sidewalk songs, jump-rope rhymes, and clap-hands games.

Dr. Saloy’s visit is sponsored by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Sabine

Parish Library and Bayou Crawfish Restaurant. The special event is free. Seating is limited to 50 people, so it’[s important to arrive early and get a good seat.

The Conrad Hilton Endowed Professor of English at Dillard University in New Orleans, Dr. Saloy is a scholar of Creole culture. She writes on the significance of Black Beat poets, on the African American toasting tradition, Black talk, and the Creole culture.

Sabine State Bank is a long-time major gold sponsor of the Toledo Bend Lake Association (TBLA) Bass Unlimited Back-a-Great-Fighter Banquet and auction that will be held on Friday, April 22 at Cypress Bend Park Pavilion. Their support of TBLA has helped raised tens of thousands of dollars for projects, grants, and scholarships that benefit the Lake Area communities.

TBLA volunteers are gearing up for a fun evening on April 22 with the dinner, live auction and raffles. Included are guided fishing trips, an LSU Rodrigue “Blue Dog” print, culinary experiences, a greenhouse, guns, kayaks, and SO much more. Tickets are available now by contacting Gaynell Goodeaux at 337-842-7814.

Sydni Smith, from Converse, was named the 2022 Queen of the Krewe of Highland for this year’s Mardi Gras in Shreveport. She never once failed to mention her roots in Sabine Parish throughout all of her appearances on television and stage. It was by far the biggest parade in the Krewe’s 27 year history.