News

Wed
12
Jan

Retired Supt. Ebarb recalls tenure successes with gratitude

Retired Supt. Ebarb recalls tenure successes with gratitude

Dr. Sara Peace Ebarb, recently retired Sabine Parish Superintendent of Schools

At the end of December, Sabine Parish Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sara Ebarb retired after serving in that post for 10 years. “It has been the greatest honor of my career to serve as superintendent in my home (and beloved) Sabine Parish,” she recently shared. “It has been a privilege to live and work in Sabine Parish.”

The following is an in-depth look at Dr. Ebarb’s career and accomplishments:

EDUCATION AND CAREER

Dr. Ebarb earned her initial Bachelor of Arts Education at Northwestern State University in 1983. From ’83 until 1986, she taught in the classroom at Mrs. Eddie Jones West Shreveport Elementary School.

Wed
12
Jan

Eric and Teri: A holiday love story for the ages

Eric and Teri: A holiday love story for the ages

Lovebirds Teri Williams and Eric Cato take a moment for a holiday picture. The duo will be wed in Holy matrimony on Valentine’s Day.

Eric and Teri: A holiday love story for the ages

Teri and Cato are eager to show off her beautiful engagement ring.

There’s nothing quite like a Christmas love story. The season lends itself so well to that type of tale that entire industries have been built around it. However, one doesn’t have to look far to find that same type of magic happening locally.

Our story begins several years ago when when Eric Cato first met Teri Williams. They were both on an outing looking at Christmas lights with other residents at Sabine Retirement and Rehabilitation Center and met during that outing.

“I kept hearing this silly little giggle and fell in love with it,” Eric told the Index during a recent interview.

The two became quick friends, and spent every day together.

“When they wake up in the morning they have to find each other first thing,” said Sharon Chance, who heads up activities at the facility.

Things progressed when Eric got to go home with Teri for this year’s Thanksgiving celebration, and Eric and Sharon put a plan in motion for a Christmas Eve proposal.

Wed
05
Jan

Health department: 20% of Louisiana COVID tests positive since holiday weekend

Health department: 20% of Louisiana COVID tests positive since holiday weekend

(The Center Square) – Louisiana is experiencing a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

Department officials said 2,619 new cases have been reported out of 12,831 tests conducted since Sunday, marking a 20% positivity rate.

Over the four-day holiday weekend, officials said 12,164 cases were reported to the state.

“Omicron is surging,” the agency said on social media about the latest COVID-19 variant. “Please take precautions as you gather and celebrate with loved ones this holiday season. Wear your mask, get boosted if eligible, work remotely if possible, [and] limit your exposure to those outside your household.”

Studies have shown the omicron variant is highly transmissible and less severe than previous COVID-19 strains, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said more data is needed.

Wed
05
Jan

Weyerhaeuser donates thousands of dollars to local schools, organizations

Weyerhaeuser donates thousands of dollars to local schools, organizations

Weyerhaeuser received a gift of their own, as this piece of custom art featuring the mascots of local schools was donated to them as thanks for their kind contributions.

Weyerhaeuser donates thousands of dollars to local schools, organizations

Salvador Cruz of Fire Dist. 1, Wards 3 and 4 was on hand to receive $12,240 to be used for portable radios.

Weyerhaeuser donates thousands of dollars to local schools, organizations

The Many High School Band, represented and led by Scott DeBose, received a total of $7,000 to be used toward music education.

Weyerhaeuser donates thousands of dollars to local schools, organizations

Members of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb were on hand to receive $6,880 to support the construction of a new community center.

Weyerhaeuser donates thousands of dollars to local schools, organizations

Anthony Ebarb, operations manager at the Zwolle mill, is shown presenting a check for $9,000 to assist the Sabine Parish Art and Music education program.

Weyerhaeuser donates thousands of dollars to local schools, organizations

Chris Brumley, at right, is shown receiving a check for $7,000. The money will go to program enhancements and will address team safety.

Weyerhaeuser donates thousands of dollars to local schools, organizations

Bonnie Fox-Miles and Zwolle Mayor “Pie” Martinez were on hand to receive a check for $6,880 that will go toward the forthcoming Toledo Bend Historical Museum in Zwolle.

Weyerhaeuser donates thousands of dollars to local schools, organizations

Anthony Ebarb, at left, is shown presenting a check for $7,000 for the Zwolle High School Softball team. The money will go toward repairs to the field and facilities.

In what has quickly become an annual holiday tradition, Weyerhaeuser in Zwolle has seen fit to present over $50,000 in grants to a number of local schools and organizations.

Zwolle Mill Operations Manager Anthony Ebarb took time to hand out the much-needed awards and was joined by a number of mill employees, who are made up by the fantastic people that call Sabine Parish home.

“Weyerhaeuser operates in small communities and believes in helping the local communities,” Ebarb said. “This is just one way that we can support the communities that support us.”

Over the years these small gatherings have become a family, much like the way that family runs throughout these communities. During the gathering, everyone was happy to sit and visit.

Weyerhaeuser already has plans to do this again next year and will take applications.

Wed
29
Dec

Sabine 4-Hers compete at 2021 Northwest District Horse Show

Sabine 4-Hers compete at 2021 Northwest District Horse Show
Sabine 4-Hers compete at 2021 Northwest District Horse Show

Awards were recently given to these Sabine Parish 4-H youth exhibitors who had great success at the 2021 NW District Horse Show. Sabine Parish was well represented with winners and State Qualifiers in showmanship, halter, western, and english classes. The show was held at the Red River Cowboy Church arena and drew competitors from 12 parishes in Northwest Louisiana.

The 4-H horse project, which is open to all 4-H and F.F.A. members, is popular because it promotes and teaches animal husbandry, work ethic, responsibility, planning, and dedication. There are classes offered and prizes awarded to all breeds of horses which compete in Showmanship, Halter, English, Western, Ranch, or Speed disciplines.

The Sabine Parish Extension Office congratulates all the local competitors for a job well done.

Wed
29
Dec

BOM sponsors local nursing home, Many Tiger baseball

BOM sponsors local nursing home, Many Tiger baseball
BOM sponsors local nursing home, Many Tiger baseball

BOM’s Many location donated personal items to their local nursing home for the residents. Pictured from left to right: Sharon Chance, BOM’s Linda Guay, Ashley Parrie, and Savannah Garcie.

BOM is proud to sponsor the Many High School Baseball Team. Pictured left to right: Dagen Knippers, Keaton Oxley, and BOM’s Kayla Sepulvado.

Wed
29
Dec

Pets deserve a good life, responsible owners

Pets deserve a good life, responsible owners
Pets deserve a good life, responsible owners

Sadie May was adopted and is now in a loving home.

Pets deserve a good life, responsible owners

An extremely young litter of puppies were found in Many this week and will most likely not live long enough to be adopted

Pets deserve a good life, responsible owners

This mother dog never had a chance to have her puppies, as she was found dead on the side of a street in Many.

A lot of people in Sabine Parish are pet lovers but what happens when you let your dogs and cats run loose? They get hit by cars, have litters of unwanted kittens and puppies, and sometimes end up in the animal shelter where they are euthanized if they are not adopted or transferred out to another rescue agency.

The Town of Many now has two state-licensed Animal Control officers who have picked up 16 dogs and 14 cats since August this year, but they can only work within the Town’s limits. “I hate this part of my job”, said Cecil Jordan, Town of Many Street employee who helps with animal control. “Why do people have animals then let them run loose to get killed on the road or waste away tied up in the yard without food and shelter? It just does not make any sense,” he said sadly.

Wed
29
Dec

Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn announces town hall meetings

Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn announces town hall meetings

State Representative Rodney Schamerhorn

Representative Rodney Schamerhorn will host be holding a series of Town Hall Meetings to be held in January at locations in Hornbeck, Florien, Robeline and Many. Enthusiastic to provide information on topics of interest, Representative Schamerhorn will explain to constituents how they can have their voices heard on issues relating to them and their communities.

Main topic of discussion will be the DODT highway construction priority program for the upcoming fiscal year and its impact on the District 24 region. In addition, a discussion of services provided to the communities by the District 24 office throughout the pandemic and on a regular basis. Representative Schamerhorn will also focus on the upcoming Legislative session by identifying specific issues he will be addressing; to include Grandparent’s Rights, Restitution for financial costs related to crime, and Hunting Regulations in regard to methods of taking game.

Wed
22
Dec

Sabine Early Childhood Network scores in top tiers

In 2012, the Louisiana Legislative Session enacted The Early Childhood Education Act that began a uniform accountability system for publically funded early childhood programs. With this system, Louisiana early childhood programs are rated on a scale from 1-7. The rating categories are 7.00-6.00 Excellent, 5.99-5.25 High Proficient, 5.24-4.50 Proficient, 4.49-3.00 Approaching Proficient, and 2.99-1.00 Unsatisfactory. These ratings are based on rigorous observations conducted by trained early childhood educators using the nationally renowned Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) tool. Research has found that Pre-K classrooms with higher CLASS ratings result in better prepared kindergartners.

Wed
22
Dec

Local group works to beautify, restore Belmont Cemetery

Local group works to beautify, restore Belmont Cemetery

Belmont Cemetery is getting a little update thanks to the efforts of a group of dedicated locals.

Local group works to beautify, restore Belmont Cemetery
Local group works to beautify, restore Belmont Cemetery

At left is one tombstone before refurbishment. It has years of weathering and is partially sunk into the ground. The after picture at right shows the restored memorial, which shines its original bright white and has been leveled.

Local group works to beautify, restore Belmont Cemetery
Local group works to beautify, restore Belmont Cemetery

Another before and after photo shows just a sampling of the progress made so far.

A dedicated group of local citizens have undertaken quite the large task, that of cleaning up and refurbishing the Belmont Cemetery.

The project began in August after Ruth Touchton Jeffery got the ball rolling.

“My parents are buried there,” she said. “My son is also buried there, and we were lucky to be able to have him interred at the location.”

She noticed the state of many tombstones in the cemetery and that restoration and maintenance was needed to bring the final resting place of numerous Sabine Parish residents, including World War II and Confederate veterans, to its proper state.

The assembled group meets once a month and uses a Saturday to perform their duties.

“I just wanted to do something meaningful, but the more we work the more amazing everything becomes,” Jeffery said.

Not only is ground maintenance performed, but the group is leveling and resetting stones, cutting and clearing trees, and much more.

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