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October 20, 1939 - April 2, 2017
Funeral services for Dixie Lee Borel Thorla will be held Thursday, April 6, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at Ibert’s Mortuary in Franklin. Burial will follow in the Franklin Cemetery. Pastor Jeff Morea of LifePoint Assembly of God Church in Jena, LA will conduct the services. A gathering of family and friends will be held Thursday at Ibert’s from 11:30 a.m. until time of service.
Dixie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, and sister, who devoted herself to the care of her family. She was born on Weeks Island to the late Ernest Borel Sr. and the late Emily Savoie Borel, the eldest of three children. A self-taught musician, Dixie’s passion was playing the accordion, the piano, which she also played for her church, and the violin. When times became tough due to the downturn in the oil industry, Dixie went back to school in order to help support her family. In her mid-forties she graduated from college receiving her Associate’s Degree as a Registered Nurse. She went on to become the Charge Nurse of the Cardiac Unit at Forest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss., where she retired from. Following retirement, she worked briefly with Autistic children at Ernest Gallet Elementary School in Youngsville. In addition to music, she enjoyed painting and crocheting and loved spending time on the water. Dixie was called home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the age of 77 with her family by her side on Sunday, April 2, 2017, at the Franklin Health Care Center. She will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Those she leaves to cherish her memory includes her son, Troy Thorla and his wife Karina; two grandsons, Trevor Anthony Thorla and his companion Shelby Passman and Ethan Thomas Thorla and his wife Kaitlynn; one great grandson, Anthony Cooper Thorla; one brother, Ernest Borel Jr. and his wife Margie; one sister, Alice Janet Miller; one brother-in-law, Ira Thorla Sr.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Wayne Thorla.
For those wishing to make contributions in Dixie’s name, the family asks that you please consider the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601, 1-800-272-3900, www.alz.org.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538, (337) 828-5426.

Bayou Horseshoe Pitchers Association
Spring League
Week 1
Won/Loss
1st Place Monroe 5.0 – 4.0
2nd Place The Waterboys 5.0 – 4.0
3rd Place Margaritaville 4.5 – 4.5
4th Place 4 Dead 4.5 – 4.5
5th Place 3 Sacks & A Rack 4.0 – 5.0
6th Place Floating Ringers 4.0 – 5.0
Leaders
Scratch Point Average
Al Dodson 74.3
Dudley Michel 72.7
Linda Dodson, Tim Gilmore 69.0
Angela Percle 58.0
Dwain Arceneaux 54.3
High Individual Ringer Percentage
A. Dodson, Michel 55.0
Gilmore 52.5
L. Dodson 49.2
Gerald Prados 40.0
Dwain Arceneaux 32.5
High Scratch Game
Gilmore 84
Michel 82
A. Dodson 80
L. Dodson 74
A. Percle 66
Most Ringers – One Game
Gilmore 26
Michel 25
A. Dodson 24
L. Dodson 21
Prados 20
Most Points – One Night
A. Dodson 223
Michel 218
L. Dodson, Gilmore 207
A. Percle 174
Arceneaux 163
Most Ringers – One Night
A. Dodson, Michel 66
Gilmore 63
A. Dodson 59
Prados 48
Most Points One Night – Team
3 Sacks & A Rack 444
Margaritaville 404
Most Ringers One Night – Team
3 Sacks & A Rack 114
Monroe 105
Best Won/Loss Record W/L
A. Dodson 2.5 – 0.5
Michel, Gilmore, Arceneaux, Julius Lovell
Jimmy Percle, Hilton Rhodes, Bryan Phoneix
Sue Williams 2.0 – 1.0

(Submitted article)
At first thought, there aren’t many commonalities between a seven-year-old precocious first grader and a personable outgoing elementary school principal, except that their days are spent in the same school.
However, the educational roots of Raintree Elementary School student Camren Hogan and Principal Donald J. Sanders III are deeply linked, as both are products of the St. Mary Community Action Agency Head Start program.
The dynamic young principal whose infectious smile and strong handshake quickly puts visitors at ease, credits Head Start with instilling in him a love for learning and education. Sanders recounts how he still remembers the smell of oatmeal and the daily naps during his time as a young student at Snow White Head Start center over 30 years ago. The late Clara Pellerin was Snow White’s Site Manager at the time, and had a profound impact on Sanders’ young life.
His connection to Pellerin is infinitely entwined as he is married to her granddaughter, Megan. All three of their children are Snow White Head Start Center graduates.
For Camren, school is a great haven to release her imagination and genuine love for learning. Camren’s 69-year-old grandmother and legal guardian, Doris Griffin, credits Mickey Mouse Head Start Center in Baldwin for preparing her for school beyond Head Start.
“Her teachers, Darrel Perry and Valerie Rhine and Mrs. Eave worked hard with her to prepare her for school and now she really loves school and never misses a day,” Griffin said.
Dedication to school has led this shy little girl with twinkling eyes, and a dazzling smile towards achieving great honors, such as being on the Honor Roll, Principal’s List and being named her class Super Hero (Helping Everyone Reach Outcomes) for the month. Camren may have a hunger for learning, but she also has a fondness for the Wheel of Fortune TV game show. “She can solve puzzles faster than the contestants,” her grandmother says. “And she also loves to participate in her dance recitals and to write.”
Sanders’ pride in the young student is evident as he speaks on her ability to overcome some struggles in her young life. “Camren exemplifies the school’s motto: GRIT, Greatness Requires Internal Toughness, that will lead her far in life,” he said. She also personifies the real influence the Head Start program has on students entering public schools, the principal said.
Head Start graduates from Mickey Mouse and Bambi Head Start centers normally attend Raintree Elementary for Pre-K, Kindergarten and beyond. Sanders finds that generally most of his students who come from the Head Start have developed more social skills than students who have not. He credits a good working relationship with St. Mary CAA/Head Start’s Family Service Workers, which ultimately helps with a smooth transition from Head Start to Kindergarten.
Sanders path to his current profession had a few bends in the road as he initially had visions of playing professional basketball. The Centerville High School alumnus tried to walk on to the LSU 1998-1999 basketball team, but didn’t make it. Still his love for the game kept him involved as he worked as an assistant trainer for the team. He later taught history and coached basketball at West St. Mary High School. He has served as Raintree’s Assistant Principal for two years and Head Principal for the past three years.
Sanders is a strong believer in the philosophy that young people should have a backup plan in case their first plan doesn’t work out and it should start with education. “I didn’t start off with a backup plan because I was too busy chasing basketball dreams,” Sanders said. “Once I realized basketball wasn’t in my future, then I knew I had to have a backup plan and education was it.”
While Sanders is the first in his family to acquire a college degree, he credits his mother as the force behind him ensuring that he did his best in school. Griffin, who will turn 70 in July, is the anchor of Camren’s support system because she believes that in spite of any difficulties her granddaughter may face, a good education and teachers who care will instill a confidence and desire in her that can take her anywhere she choose to go.
St. Mary CAA/Head Start is celebrating 50 years of service to children, families and seniors living in communities throughout St. Mary Parish. Almetra J. Franklin, Chief Executive Officer, Sanders said, and Camren’s stories illustrates the impact and importance that the Head Start Program has on the children, families and communities being served.

Lights go up on the newest non-profit theatre in Franklin. Soulful Theatre’s Single Black Female. Headed by Tyra Yarber and Ed Verdin, the show tells the story of two strong independent women looking for love and the problems that come along with finding it. Opening this weekend is April 8 at The Lamppost, Main Street, Franklin, 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. One night only. Tyra Yarber and Ed Tiger Verdin, having both over 30 years of theatrical experience each under their belts, have decided to take to all of south Louisiana to create, promote and support the arts by traveling their passion and performing theatrical productions in an effort to increase the viability of economic development, tourism and culture.