Homer Council Chastises Hospital Board

HMH Board Withdraws Request For Transfer Of

Hospital To Parish Board

BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal

            The Homer Town Council discussed the possibility of reprimanding members of the Homer Memorial Hospital Board of Directors for not following proper procedure in their recent decision to hire a new administrator. Billy Kirk Jenkins presented a copy of the ordinance adopted in 1999 that requires the Board to get approval of the Town Council before hiring an administrator. Jenkins said the Council should order the Board to terminate the administrator until he can be approved by the Council. He also felt the employee fired by the new administrator should be reinstated.

            Hospital board member Lawson  Wilder assured the Council the hospital was well run and the HMH Board had selected the best qualified individual to run the hospital. Board members were unaware of the ordinance and did not intentionally fail to bring the administrator before the Council for approval. He urged the Council to honor the Board's recommendation and approve hiring Doug Efferson.

            Ronnie Anderson said firing the administrator would be a drastic action. Jenkins said he did not mean fire him, just dismiss him until he could be approved by the Council. Toney Johnson said the Council should address the Board's action rather than fire the administrator. Jesse Ford suggested they give the Board a deadline to bring their recommendation to the Council for approval.

            Former mayor David Aubrey told the Council there was a lot of controversy during the time the Council adopted that ordinance. A third parishwide hospital district had been created, the state ethics board was investigating hospital scholarships, the Council voted to reduce the number on the board from 17 to 9 with a majority of Homer residents, and it was discovered the hospital had a contract to provide fresh flowers in the cafeteria for $60,000 per year. At that time, the Council felt they needed to be more involved with the selection of the administrator and requested semi-annual reports from the HMH Board.

            Linda Hardaway addressed the Council concerning her being terminated by the new administrator. Wilder spoke up, telling her the HMH Board had a policy to handle these types of grievances. He said that was the appropriate place to bring her complaint, not to the Town Council. The Council took no formal action.

            Mayor Huey Dean informed the Council he had received a call from Mike Hays, stating the HMH Board would like to withdraw their request for the Town Council to consider transferring ownership of the hospital to a parish-wide hospital district at this time, so they could publicize the issue more.

            A committee had been appointed by Mayor Dean to consider the Board's request. They had met April 28 and voted to enter into a study with the Claiborne Parish Police Jury to transfer all movable property, equipment, accounts, cash, employees, financial interests, and debt. The Town would not transfer ownership of the hospital building or land. The Board's intent is to improve medical care by building a new hospital facility that would insure long term parishwide health care.

            Wilder told the Council, that unless a deal could be made that would be so favorable to the town that every council member could support it, they should scrap the whole deal. The Council took no action.

Click Here for Full Size PDF Map
www.I69ArkLa.com

THE I-69 CORRIDOR MAP included in the Draft Environmental Impact Study document recently released by the URS Corporation shows the revised paths of the two remaining I-69 corridors (Alt. 4 and Alt. 5) with several options (1,2,3). The deadline to submit public comments is May 30, 2005.

Alternate 4 (2&3) Gains Support

BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal

            The I-69 Alternate 4 route with options 2 and 3 through Claiborne and Webster parishes is gaining support by local governmental and organizational bodies. Last month, the Claiborne Parish Police Jury unanimously approved a resolution in favor of the Alternate 4 route with options 2 and 3. In the past week, the Homer Town Council, the Claiborne Chamber Chamber of Commerce, and the Haynesville Lions Club also have unanimously voted to support the I-69 Alternate 4 route with options 2 and 3.

            These groups believe the Proposed Interstate I-69 SIU 14 Alternate 4  with Options 2 & 3 is the best alternative for the entire region_Homer, Haynesville, Minden and Springhill_based on these and other reasons:

            ∙ It represents the preferred selection of alternatives presented to the public in June 2004.

            ∙ It minimizes adverse effects to the recreational and scenic use of Bayou Dorcheat.

            ∙ The combined crossing of Bayou Dorcheat with pipeline and railroad crossings is at an already disturbed, un-navigable site.

            ∙ It provides the closest proximity to the proposed North Hills Lakes Project development in Claiborne Parish.

            ∙ It traverses less combined acreage of Sparta Aquifer recharge and Chico terrace area than Alternative 5 and its options.

            ∙ It results in fewer grade separations and fewer cross road terminations than Alternative 5.

            ∙ Option 2 provides an alternate crossing of Cornie Bayou in Arkansas along an existing pipeline right of way, as suggested for consideration by US Fish and Wildlife Service.

            ∙ Option 3 minimizes adverse relocation and noise effects to residential areas in Claiborne and Webster, particularly along LA 3008 that otherwise would be affected by Alt. 4 and 4.2.

            ∙ The statement by URS Corporation in their Natural Resources Technical Memorandum states "Based on the LDWF Scenic Stream Permitting Criteria alone, Alternative 4 is the preferred and Alternative 5 is the least preferred Bayou Dorcheat crossing.

            ∙ Alternative 4 with options 2 & 3 is the more central location in the study area and better equalizes land dedication among stakeholders.

            ∙ Alt. 4 lies within a more central portion of the North Louisiana Renewal Community, an enticement for economic development for poverty-stricken or distressed communities. All of Claiborne Parish qualified as an RC indicating a higher percentage of Claiborne Parish citizens, many of of whom are African-American,  are living at or below the poverty level, while northern Webster Parish and portions of southern Webster Parish did not qualify as economically depressed areas.

            ∙ Alternative 5 will impact several new and old oil fields in Haynesville and Cotton Valley and will dissect locations of two refineries in the Cotton Valley area.

Three public meetings will be held next week to present the findings in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement_in Haynesville on Wednesday May 11 from 4-7 PM at the Claiborne Parish Fair Barn. Public comments will be accepted through May 30.

SIXTY-FOUR PAIR of Great White Egrets were among the 106 pairs of wading birds found nesting in the I-69 Alternative 5.1 Bayou Dorcheat wetland/flood-plain crossing last month.

I-69 Document Overlooks Nesting Birds

Federally Protected Bird Rookeries Found In Alt. 5.1 Dorcheat Crossing

BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal

            The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the I-69 SIU 14 corridor summarizes the purpose and need for a new 4-lane interstate highway between El Dorado and Haughton. The document was prepared by the URS Corporation, the firm hired by the Federal Highway Administration, the Louisiana Department of Transportation, and the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department, to conduct the study.

            In August 2003, all but five of the original corridors were eliminated. In December 2003, it was announced that Corridor 1d was the preferred corridor by FHWA, LaDOTD, and AHTD. A number  of the reasons were given for the selection of 1d, including the statement that "it was supported by both the public and government resource agencies.

            Corridor 1d was determined to be the best because it provided the greatest number of suitable crossing of Bayou Dorcheat, it met the local purpose and need for the project and appeared to minimize adverse effects to human and natural environments. However, due to public comments received concerning the potential adverse effects of Corridor 1d to oil and gas operations, Sparta Aquifer recharge and the viability of the North Hills Lake Project, Corridors 2a was reevaluated from which Alternative 4 was established.

            Dr. James Robert Michael argued the I-69 Corridor 1d did not address the economic benefit to the area and suggested a shorter, straighter route through the SIU 14 Study Area that could save up to $300 million in construction costs.

            Michael and Dr. Alice Stewart , both who serve on the committee for the North Hills Lake Project, favored a more southerly route, because they felt it would provide more advantage for economic development in the region.

            Lane and Syralja Merritt of Cotton Valley began collecting signatures in March 2004 opposing the crossing of Bayou Dorcheat in the upper and middle areas in Webster Parish and presented over 3,700 signatures to Keith Cascio, State Scenic Rivers Coordinator, asking him to deny any future permit to cross Dorcheat Bayou in those areas.

            Four alternatives were presented at public meetings in June 2004. Of the 1,396 public comments received during that comment period, the majority favored Alternative 4 (52% in Webster Parish and 79% in Claiborne Parish). Alternate 1 received 39% in Webster and 8% in Claiborne. With no support for Alternatives 2 & 3, the best portions of these were combined with Alternative 1 to form Alternative 5, with several optional crossings of Bayou Dorcheat. To minimize adverse residential effects along LA 3008 near the Grove residential community east of the Bayou, another optional alignment was also designed. From these eight remaining alternatives, the final corridor will be selected sometime later this year.

            The DEIS contains maps of eight possible corridors: Alternatives 4, 4.2, 4.3, 4.2&3, 5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.1&2. These are the remaining corridors from the 30 preliminary 2-mile-wide corridors that were first identified in the initial project study area in January 2003.

            A summary of effects in the DEIS includes displaced structures, farmland, recreational areas, powerline and pipeline crossings, scenic rivers traversed, the Sparta aquifer recharge area, wetlands, ponds, streams, water wells, oil and gas sites, and road separations and terminations.

            Page 3-95 of the DEIS states, "Rookeries, or wading bird nesting colonies, are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918." It further stated, that "no rookeries were observed during field activities along the build alternatives" and "furthermore, neither Bayou Dorcheat, nor other large stream habitats in the vicinity of the build alternatives showed any signs of waterbird nesting colonies."

            On page 3-96, "field investigations completed in August 2003, January 2004, July 2004, and the most recent investigations in January and February 2005 also revealed no evidence of bald eagles or wading bird nesting colonies."

            On April 19, 2005, Keith Cascio, Scenic Rivers Coordinator for Wildlife and Fisheries, traveled to Webster Parish where he was asked by Lane Merritt to register several rookeries located along the Alternative 5.1 Bayou Dorcheat wetland/flood-plain crossing. Cascio documented 106 pairs of wading birds within the area: 18 Great Blue Heron, 17 Anhinga, 64 Great White Egrets, and 7 Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. This same area is host to hundreds of roosting Cattle Egrets each night.

            Cascio told Merritt, "The birds return to the same area each year, in which they were hatched, to nest and rear their young." If the habitat is preserved, this cycle should never end.

            The public is encouraged to study the DEIS and submit their comments before the May 30 deadline. Copies of the DEIS are available for view at the I-69 Program Office at 425 West Main in Homer and both the Haynesville and Homer branches of the Claiborne Parish Library. Several public meetings will be held next week to present findings in the DEIS, to answer questions and accept public comments.

Kendrick Wins Runoff

                Alvin J. Kendrick will begin serving his eighth term on the Haynesville Town Council representing District 1 beginning July 1, 2005. Kendrick defeated challenger Monica Beene-Ridley in a runoff election held Saturday, April 23. Kendrick received 71 votes, or 55.04%, while Ridley received 58 votes, or 44.96%.

Jubilee To Feature Contemporary Christian Music

            Besides art, quilts, and poetry, there will be entertainment at the Claiborne Parish Jubilee on Saturday, May 14 on the Claiborne Parish Courthouse lawn. Jeff  Simmons will serve as deejay for the  music presentations. Among the performers are Scott Dillon, Marvin Lewis, Johnny Parrish, Dick Dorrell and Pat Gladney.

            Scott Dillon, son of Gladney and Linda Dillon, will offer two performances of Contemporary Christian Music, the first at 11 AM and the second performance at 12:45 PM.

            Come enjoy the music under the trees on the north side of the square. The awards will be presented at 2pm and poets will be on hand to read their entries. Dillon will also have his new CD "Under God" available for sale before and after each performance. Cost is $10.00 each.

            Lunch will be available from the Clean City Committee in front of the Ford Museum and the Corner Cross Coffee Shop will have grills going on the east side.  Trailblazers volunteers will be demonstrating composting techniques and making pots from newspapers. The Master Gardeners will be selling cookbooks and the Claiborne Parish Friends of the Library will hold a used book sale. Various health related exhibits are also expected and quilters can visit two booths of quilting supplies near the Quilt Show on the west side of the square.

            Friday, May 6, is the deadline for entries to the Jubilee Poetry contest. They can be emailed to or brought to 309 North Main Street in Homer.

            Don't forget to bring your quilts for documentation Tuesday, May 10 and/or for the show before May 13. For more information call Mrs. Nurlie Foster at 624-0323.

            Come out and enjoy the music under the trees on the north side of the square. Awards will be presented at 2 PM and poets will be on hand to read their entries.

            For more information contact Cynthia Steele at 927-2566.

More Parking For July 4th Fireworks This Year

            The 2005 Patriotic Boat Parade and July 4th Fireworks Display will be held Saturday, July 2 at the Lake Claiborne dam off Hwy. 518, same as last year. Thanks to the efforts of the Claiborne Parish Police Jury and Fred Lewis, there will be additional parking this year. For the past two weeks, a crew has been clearing and leveling a site near the dam. Lewis encourages everyone to make a date to attend, support and donate to this year's event, "Further enhance our community while having fun." Contributions to the Fireworks Display are needed. Please send checks to Claiborne Fireworks, Inc., 180 Post Oak Road, Homer, LA 71040. For more information,call Fred Lewis at 927-9180

Buy A Cake For Mother's Day

            The very best bakers in Claiborne Parish are sharing their skills this Friday morning, May 6, at 8 o'clock in front of Wal-Mart to benefit the Claiborne Jubilee Art, Quilt, and Poetry Show winners. Support the arts in the parish and have a treat for Mother's Day weekend. To reserve your cakes call Bubba McClung at 927-3241 or come to Wal-Mart Friday morning to see the selection. Checks may be made to the Claiborne Jubilee.  

Haynesville Graduation Set For May 10

            Commencement Exercises will be held at Haynesville High School on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 7:30 PM in the high school auditorium.

            The top three honor graduates are Britney Winn, Kayla Moss, and Chikita Amos.

            The 2005 candidates for graduation at Haynesville High School are Chikita Lashun Amos, Derek Foster Bailey, Mary Lee Bailey-Kirkpatrick, Charles Rashad Beene, Taurean Laderius Brown, Phillip Brandon Brownmiller, Clay Austin Canterbury, Alan Bryant Cockrell, Bryant Colquitt, Jaszmine Tanecia Oliver Dace, Tony Don Ellerbe, Jessica Dianne Evans, Shaquila Renee Fielding, Jamie Lynn Galloway, Cameron Brown Goodwin, Courtney Aim Goodwin, Lloyd Joseph Guillory II, Roderick Dewayne Hampton, Kathryn Whitney Harper, Christopher Ray Hatfield, Ticondria Juanish Henderson, Victor Allen Hubbard, Ramon Torreze Hudson, Lakitha Denay Hunter, Courtney Darryl Jackson, Cyrus Charles Jackson, Tiffany Daniele Jackson, Roderick Yantez James, Arshardae Denine Johnsonm, Sutton Parker Lewis, Wilbert T Lincoln III, Megan Sue Lonadier, Robert Everett Lowe, Lashame McCutchen, Christopher Daniel Mercer, Ashley Ann Mills, Kayla Michelle Moss, Theresa Nikkita Murray, Cody James Poynter, Elisha Nacole Robinson, Latoya Evette Rogers, Leslie Morgan Rupert, Laparis Patrice Speech, Notashia Shantary Tell, Timorrius Leallen Thomas, Aaron Wayne Vines, Freddie Lee Watts, Geremy Oneal Williams, Britney Lynee Winn, Lindsay Ann Wood, Constance Juan Wortham.

Homer High Commencement Set Tuesday, May 10

        Homer High School will hold Commencement Exercises on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 in the Ronny G. Beard Memorial Stadium beginning at 7:30 p.m.

            Honor Graduates are Christopher Cain Nguyen, son of Kiet and Mary Nguyen; Jariel Eugene Norton, son of Derwin Gabin and Valencia Norton; Lauren Rebecca Newell, daughter of David Newell and Ruby Striplin.

            The 2005 candidates for graduation at Homer High are Odarius Q Akrong, Paul Wayne Barnette, Joshua Ross Camp, Patrick Steven Canterbury, Pamela Ceccarelli, Cardaro Darnez Champ,  Linda Champ, Lacarol Christiana Cooper, Kelvin Curry, Santanna Terriosha Curry, Mardalero D Daniels, Jessica Denice Davis, Norie Shartaye Drew, Madison D Dunn, Markequis Vandez Ferguson, Decarrio Deuntay Fisher, Jesnita Lashun Ford, Morgan Geoghagan, Casey Brantly Gilbert, Keiahara Aisha Green, Jessica Tatyana Harper, Dominque Hay, Shavanti S Hay, Levi M Hilton, Rakeyla Shytise Ivory, Jonas Darnell Jones, Kevin Jones, Jeremy David Lester, Dedarruis Levingston, Geren Wayne Lowery, Alberto Evan Luna, Corderra Rashard Merritt, Gregory Blake Nelson, Lauren Rebecca Newell, Christopher Cain Nguyen, Jariel Eugene Norton, Andria Cherie Odom, Ashley Olson, Lacasha Eniye Oyara, Quinshawnda Lashay Paskel, Rachael Denise Pugh, Taneisha Nicole Rhodes, Paul Edward Seymour, Albert Smith, Kevin Walter Smith, Zachary B Torbet, Shamekia Shontrell Turner, Kalandra Walker, Alesia Webb, Loukeysha Renee Webb, Shaerica Janysia West, Dennis Hugh Wolfe Jr., Corailter Denise Willis, Shaneshia Bushee Willis, Melissa Erin Winters, and Rashid Armand Young.

Athens High Commencement Set May 8

        Summerfield High School will hold their Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 8, 2005, at 4:00 p.m. in the Athens High School gymnasium.

            Valedictorian  is Michael Rictraveus Lewis and  Salutatorian is Brandon Dewayne Sistrunk.

            Candidates for graduation are Tokorra Koderria Cato, Janay Cerise Douglas, Cameisha Marsha Franklin, Takori Shere Harris, Joshua Cadero Johnson, Emily Madgalene Jones, Michael Rictraveus Lewis, Crystal Manuel, Mark Anthony Manuel, Tamisha Tasha Pickens, Brandon Dewayne Sistrunk, Mary Helen Slaughter, Brittney Thornton, Tavoris Traylor, and Bobbie Jo Willis.

Summerfield Seniors To Graduate May 9

        Summerfield High School  Commencement Exercises will be held Monday evening, May 9, 2005, at 8:00 p.m. in the Summerfield High School gym.

            Valedictorian is Ashlie Nicole Oliver and  Salutatorian is Lashunda Nicole Jones.

            Members of the Class of 2005 who will be graduating are Heather LeAnne Anglin, Monisha Diatwain Bell, William Klint Dorrell, David Brandon Farley, Robert Curtis Ford, Thelma Shree Ford, Hardell Antwain Hill, Lashunda Nicole Jones, Ashlie Nicole Oliver, Mikky Gayle Pugh, M.indy Carol Pugh, Kendall Robert Saintignan, and Justin Lee Shirey.

Pineview Seniors Graduate May 6

        Pineview High School Commencement Exercises will be held Friday, May 6, 2005, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Pineview High School Gymnasium, according to Principal Felton C. Evans.

            Valedictorian and TOPS recipient is Shakeydra Eyvette Johnson. Salutatorian Rashad Darnell Wortham. Other honor students are Sukari Sheniese McKinsey, Shaletha Vantara Mays, Shannessia Shawthy Ford, and Terence Lemond Washington.

            Candidates for graduation are Denise Marsha Carter, Dennis Carter, Jamaro Deshan Coleman, Shannessia Shawthy Ford, Amy Nicole Hay, Whitney Sharde  Heard, Brittany Nichole Johnson, DeAndrea Shanette Johnson, Shakeydra Eyvette Johnson, Sha Rocka De Shunte' Knowles, Shaletha Vantara Mays, Kerry Quendrell McCline, Sukari Sheniese McKinsey, Jason Bryant Sumlin, Terence Lemond Washington, Kristin Nicole Willis, Travis Charles Willis, and Rashad Darnell Wortham.

Graduation Commencements

Athens High School - Sunday, May 8, 4 PM in the school gym.

Claiborne Academy - Thurs. May 12, 8 PM in the school gym.

Haynesville High School - Tuesday, May 10, 7:30 PM in the school auditorium.

Homer High School - Tuesday, May 10, 7:30 PM in Ronny G. Beard Memorial Stadium.

Junction City High School - Friday, May 13, 8 PM in the football stadium.

Mt. Olive Christian School - Friday, May 13, 7:00 PM in the school auditorium.

Pineview High School - Friday, May 6, 7 PM in the school gym.

Summerfield High School  - Monday, May 9, 8 PM in the school gymnasium.

NOTICE: Deadline For Advertisements

No Later Than 5 p.m. On Mondays

All display and legal advertisements for The Guardian-Journal must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Monday of the week in which it is to appear. Classified ads will be received until 12 p.m (noon) on Tuesday prior to the Thursday publication date. Thank you for your cooperation.