FEMA Trailers Hot Topic In Haynesville
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Larry Parr,
designated representative for FEMA, attended the special called meeting of the
Haynesville Town Council on Monday, October 10 to address the possibility of placing 20 RVs at the
Claiborne Parish fairgrounds to provide temporary housing for approximately 80 hurricane evacuees. More
than 60 residents attended the meeting to voice their concerns, most apparently
opposed to the idea of setting up temporary FEMA homes in town.
Mayor H. U.
"Mutt" Slaid said they were also looking at the possibility of using
the airport and the industrial site for fullsize trailers. There are 58 acres
at the industrial site which has water, sewer, and electricity available. Any needed improvements would be paid for by
FEMA which would benefit the town.
He assured
residents that precautions would be taken and they would have the right to
evict anyone who did not abide by the law. Heads of households would be
required to register at city hall. Larry Parr, designated representative for
FEMA, said his agency does both criminal and financial background checks.
Some residents
questioned whether the police department was capable of handling additional
residents. Keith Killgore said, "How are 2-3 officers going to handle all
these people." Police Chief Anthony Smith said they would enforce the law
and, if needed, would go to outside resources. If anyone does anything wrong,
they will go to jail.
Other concerns
included bringing people to a small town with little to offer, few jobs, and no
transportation. Someone asked where these people come from, if they were child
molesters or from the 9th ward in New Orleans. When asked if it would be better
to put the trailers closer to where they were from, Parr said they were trying
to place 200,000 trailers and there wasn't enough
places there.
Slaid said
there would be no vote tonight, but it was their duty to hear both sides and
consider all that was said tonight and make an intelligent decision.
The Council
then considered two proposals for pay raises, one presented by Renee
Lincoln-Buggs, the other by Alvin Kendrick. Kendrick's proposal gave each town
employee an hourly increase of $ .47 except for Superintendent Mike Dunaway.
Buggs' proposal gave Penny Fields 7% or $1.07 hr, Sue Lonadier 6% or $.76 hr,
Susan Leonard 5.5% or $.51 hr. Public works employees, except for Dunaway would
get 5.3%, ranging from $.50-$.59 hr. Police officers would get 5%, $.54 hour
for Jason Branch and $ .49 hour for John Barnett and James Bolton By a vote of 3-2, the Council approved Buggs'
proposal effective October 1 with Moss, Majors, and Buggs voting yes and Smith
and Kendrick voting against.
Before
adjourning, Moss read a letter of resignation effective October 28 from Mike
Dunaway who accepted a job in Springhill for more money.
The Council
will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 18 beginning with a public
hearing at 5:30 PM to allow input on the two ordinances increasing the salaries
of the police chief and council, followed by the regular meeting at 6 PM.
THIS RECREATIONAL VEHICLE is one of three RVs currently at Parden's Paradise on Lake Claiborne.
FEMA is presently considering a number of sites for temporary housing in the
Homer area.
RVs Roll Into
Parish
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Recreational
vehicles, or campers, could soon be a common site in Claiborne Parish as the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works hard to meet the October 15
deadline set by President George W. Bush to have all Hurricane Katrina evacuees
moved from shelters to some type of temporary housing.
In Claiborne
Parish, FEMA representatives have been meeting with local landowners and
elected officials the past several weeks in an effort to locate potential sites
where they could set up RVs and trailers as transitional housing for evacuees
for up to 18 months or until they are able to return to their south Louisiana
homes.
Although the
goal is to get them out of the shelters, if evacuees do not want to leave, they
will not be forced to according to Acting FEMA Director David Paulison, who
replaced Michael Brown.
Dennis Butcher,
director of OEP, the Office of Emergency Preparedness in Claiborne Parish, said
there were only about 125 evacuees left in Claiborne Parish at the two designated shelters, Camp
Harris and Lake Claiborne State Park.
Several RVs have already been set up at
Parden's Paradise on Lake Claiborne. As of Tuesday, three RVs purchased through
a joint effort of FEMA and HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) are housing two families at Parden's. The two bedroom units
can sleep six.
Evacuees must
register through FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA, (1-800-462-7585 TTY), or
applying online at www.fema.gov/register.shtm for Federal disaster
assistance. It is important that individuals and households promptly update
their FEMA registration information with any change of address or new telephone
numbers so they may receive assistance in a timely and direct manner.
Western Union Scam Nets $7,088
Routine Traffic Stops Lead To Drug Arrests Lightning
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Piggly
Wiggly grocery store in Homer received a phone call about 8:15 PM on Wednesday,
October 5 from a female claiming to be with Western Union. Assistant Manager
Steve Goss answered the phone and directed the call to store clerk Karnisha R.
Webb, who was directed to transfer some money. She was told the information was
on her computer screen and was told to follow instructions to transfer $2,742
to a location in California.
About 45
minutes later, at 8:47 PM, a second call came in. Webb was told their was a mistake on the first transaction and she needed
to go through the process again. This time $2,741 was wired
to another California location. Webb was told confirmation would be sent
the following day. It never showed up.
About 3 PM
Thursday, October 6, Homer Police were contacted by John Morris from Piggly
Wiggly's main office in Springhill. Jim Hatch with the local District
Attorney's office is assisting Homer Police Captain Donald Malray and Officer
Jim Faulkner with the investigation.
~~~~~~
Two traffic
stops last week by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office led to several arrests
for marijuana possession according to Sheriff Ken Bailey. On Wednesday, October
5, Deputy David Morgan made a routine traffic stop on Highway 79. Deputies
Randy Pugh and Randy Smith were called to assist after multiple open containers
and what appeared to be marijuana was discovered in the vehicle.
Randell Douglas
Robertson Jr., 26, and Joanna Marie Barkins, 23, both of Homer, were arrested
and charged with open container and possession of marijuana. Lamar Burns, Jr.,
38, of Homer, was arrested and charged for possession of Schedule I CDS, open
container, no license in immediate possession and improper lane usage.
Robertson and Burns were booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center on
$1,000 and $2,000 bond, respectively. Barkins was booked into the Claiborne
Parish Women's Facility, with bond set at $1,000.
In a separate
incident, Deputies Jeff Pugh and Paul Brazzel made another routine traffic stop
on Hwy. 79 on Friday, October 7 where they cited April Lynn Barber, 26, of Port
Arthur, Texas driver of the vehicle for expired license plates. Deputies then
discovered marijuana on passenger Paul Daniel Barber, who was cited for simple
possession of marijuana and given a court date of November 9, 2005.
Mayfield Reunion Group Addresses School
Board
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
James Ridley,
on behalf of the Mayfield School Reunion Group, told members of the Claiborne
Parish School Board they were displeased with the decision at the last meeting
to rescind the motion to change the name of Homer Junior High to Mayfield
Junior High. He said he felt the Board should have contacted them and given
them and given them an opportunity to respond.
Superintendent
James Scriber said the item was initially on the agenda in August but at the
request of Stewart Griffin it was tabled until September. Tommy Davidson said
they were asked by the faculty at Homer Jr. High and parents to keep
the name Homer Junior High.
Ridley said he
worked very hard to get the bond issue passed with the understanding the school
name would be changed. There was concern at the time it would not pass if they
closed the school.
Vice-President
Vera Meadors said at the time, the main issue was closing the junior high
campus. and she suggested putting the alternative
school and Option 3 program there.
Scriber said
there were numerous public meetings held about the bond issue. He asked Ridley
if changing the school name was ever mentioned or if changing the name to
Mayfield was published on the board agenda Ridley was not sure. Scriber told
him it was not. It was an added agenda item after the board convened. He said,
"There was no prior discussion. Those are the facts."
Jessie Ruth
Cooper asked what could be done to honor Dr. Mayfield. Scriber said the Board
approved adding a library to the new junior high building and naming it the
Mayfield Memorial Library and name the present campus, the Mayfield School
Complex.
Keith Beard, principal of Homer Junior High, said presently
there is nothing at the school about Mayfield, but they are already collecting
memorabilia and plan to set up an area in the new library with trophy cases and
information on the history of that school system with a portrait or bust of Dr.
Mayfield. They also plan to include a plaque over the entrance.
Griffin
suggested Scriber appoint a committee. The Board approved Griffin's motion to
give the superintendent permission to form a committee of a cross section of
both groups to present historical values and contributions of Rev. Roy Mayfield
in the new junior high building.
In response to
whether the Board would follow through on their decision, Scriber assured them
he would stand behind his word and would see it through to completion.
Scriber
explained the importance of approving the two parishwide renewal taxes on
ballot October 15. One is an operation tax that goes into the general fund and
generates about $430,000 annually. The
biggest expenditure in the general fund is for salaries. The other, also 5.90
mills, goes into the parishwide general maintenance fund. The biggest
expenditure in the general fund is for salaries.
Also on the
ballot is a 4.14 mill maintenance renewal tax in District 11 (Haynesville)
which is estimated to bring in $102,000. The Board refused an opportunity to
roll the tax forward and voted to leave the rate the same as last year. He
said, "Taxes are not any fun for anyone but you cannot run schools without
them, and these are absolutely critical for us."
If these
renewal taxes do not pass, serious cuts would have to be made. Besides recent
increases in retirement and insurance benefits, utilities have gone up
considerably and the parish is overstaffed. They are working to reduce the
staff through attrition, by not replacing some positions when someone resigns
or retires. He said, "What I've been trying to do for the last year is to
get us to learn to live within our means." He urged board members to
encourage everyone to go to the polls and vote in favor of the tax proposals.
Saturday Is Election Day
Polls open at 6
AM Saturday in Claiborne Parish. On the ballot is two 10-year parishwide school
tax renewals (5.90 mills each) and one 10-year tax renewal in School District
11 (Haynesville) for 4.14 mills. School Superintendent James Scriber said these
were not new taxes, only renewal of existing taxes, one for parishwide
maintenance of school buildings, the other to the general fund to help fund
salaries for teachers and other personnel. He said, "It is absolutely
critical these propositions are approved." Voters will also choose a
replacement to serve the remaining term for Homer Selectman in District 4—Ivy
McGee-Reed or Carlette Sanford and will vote for either C. F. "Chuck"
Clawson or Roberta Paschal to fill the remaining term for Justice of the Peace
in 1st J.P. Court.
THE 2005 HOMECOMING COURT OF HAYNESVILLE HIGH consists of Queen Whitney Wortham (front row, center) and her court,
front row left, Senior Maid Kimberely Smith and, front row right, Nicosia
Beene, second row, Junior Maid April Faulkner, Junior Maid Lakesha Manning and
Sophomore Maid KaSaundra Beene, and, Freshman Maid Diedra Williams, Sophomore
Maid Darneshia Sturges and Freshman Maid Lauren Wise. Homecoming will be
observed this Friday night, October 7, during their football game against
Calvary Baptist. — Haynesville High
Tornado Watch Newspaper
Taste Of Homer Set For
Saturday, November 12
Historic
Claiborne Parish welcomes you to "A Taste of Homer" and the
"Claiborne Parish Holiday Open House" to be held Saturday, November
12. The annual "Taste of Homer" will be held from 11 AM - 1 PM at Homer City Hall
and will feature over special home-made dishes from 150 wonderfully talented
area cooks. Tickets are $10 for meal only and can be purchased from any of the
participating sponsors, with all proceeds going to the Claiborne Parish
Christmas Festival scheduled for Saturday, November 26.
The Claiborne
Parish Holiday Open House will be held from 10 AM - 4 PM, hosted by
participating merchants in Homer and Haynesville. There will be plenty of sales
and a $250 shopping spree to be given away. Merchants have stocked their stores
with specialty gifts and many great sale items.
Chamber
President J. T. Taylor said, "With the cost of gasoline, why waste money
and travel out of town when our merchants are here to supply you with that
special item for all your loved ones. Let's show our sponsors we are behind
them and support them by shopping Claiborne Parish first."
During the week
of November 7-12, each time you purchase merchandise from one of the
participating merchants, you can register to win the $250 shopping spree.
In addition to
the wonderful dining experience and shopping experience, the Herbert S. Ford
Memorial Museum which houses a remarkable collection of artifacts reflecting
the life, culture and society of North Louisiana Hill Country, will hold a
special showing from 10 AM - 4 PM.
Phase I of USDA
construction has been completed at the Ford Museum and regular hours have
resumed. The Museum is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:00
noon and 1:30-4:00 PM. Admission is Adults - $3, Children - $1, and Families -
$5. Special group rates are also available. For special appointments, call
927-9190.
Sanford Announces For Town Council
District 4
Carlette
Sanford would like to announce her candidacy for Town of Homer Selectman in
District 4. "What we really need in
this town is unity," said Sanford, who believes every person should be
treated the same, adding, "You will never have unity until everyone feels
like they are part of this community, and this will take God's help." She
says we all need to pray for our town—or Homer to be what it needs to be.
Sanford says she is tired of reading so many negative things about Homer and
believes she can help change that image. Sanford encourages everyone to go vote
on Saturday and she asks voters to please give her the opportunity to try to
make a difference—for our town and our children's future.
“White Lightning Feud” Part 1: The Rabid
Dog
White Lightning Feud Series: Part 1 of 6
NOTE: This is the first in a series of articles reprinting prior
published information on the White Lightning Feud.
* * * * *
Wholesale
destruction has been caused by a rabid dog which was the property of John H.
Tuggle. Before the dog could be destroyed, he bit a fine bull and several cows
belonging to Rev. J. T. Davidson, some stock of Thomas H. Tuggle, and a mule
and some hogs of William Ramsey. He also bit a mule belonging to J. H. Tuggle.
The owner finally was able to kill the dog. All the animals that were bitten
have since died.
— Guardian-Journal,
August 28, 1878
* * * * *
The Assassination
of W. W. Maddox
We presume most
of our readers have heard of the assassination of William W. Maddox on Tuesday
of last week. The facts in the case, so far as known, are briefly as follows:
On the day above-mentioned Mr. Maddox came to town to transact some business,
and on the return home late in the evening he was shot by someone concealed by
the side of the road, about two and a half miles from town, just this side of
Mrs. Tuggle's place. Tuesday night a [traveling peddler] passed and saw someone
lying in the road and drove around the man but did not stop thinking it
probable that the man was only drunk. He related the circumstance, however,
when he reached town, but nothing definite was known until Wednesday morning
when the report of Maddox's assassination was brought in. Dr. Turner, the
coroner, at once summoned a jury and went out to investigate the matter. The body
was found lying in the road. About twenty-five buckshot had entered his body,
most of them passing through the left shoulder, neck, and head. The place by
the roadside where the assassin had [hidden] himself was found, and from the
indications he had remained in waiting for his victim for several hours and had
prepared for sure work by trimming the limbs out of the way so as to have a
clear view to the road. The coroner kept the jury in session for several days,
summoned all the witnesses from whom it was even suspicioned (sic) that
something might be drawn, had the district attorney present to question the
witnesses, but nothing was discovered which promises to lead to the
apprehension of the party or parties who perpetrated the bloody deed. It was a premeditated,
cold-blooded assassination, and it is hoped that the guilty party will yet be
discovered and brought to justice. If such horrible crimes can be committed and
the perpetrator go undetected and unpunished, the life
of no member of the community is safe from the assassin's bullet. It behooves
the community to use every exertion, to leave no stone unturned, to apprehend
and punish the guilty.
—Louisiana Weekly Journal, page 3
June 13, 1888
* * * * *
The Police Jury met last Thursday and offered a reward of two
hundred and fifty dollars for the arrest and conviction of the assassin of W.
W. Maddox and also petitioned the Governor to offer a reward. We approve of the
Police Jury's offering a reward, but we think it would have been better to have
offered a larger reward.
— Louisiana Weekly Journal, page 3
June 20, 1888
* * * * *
POLICE JURY PROCEEDINGS
The Police Jury of Claiborne Parish met July 1, 1888. Among
business conducted was the following item:
$250.00 REWARD
Be it enacted
by the Police Jury of Claiborne Parish, that in addition to the reward offered
at the June session of the Police Jury on June 14, 1888, there be and is hereby
offered an additional reward of Two Hundred and Fifty dollars for the
apprehension and conviction of the murderer or murderers of W. W. Maddox, who
was killed on or about the fifth day of June, 1888, in the Parish of Claiborne.
And that the Governor of the State be and he is hereby
requested to offer a similar reward for the same purpose, July 8, 1889. (signed) T. A. Watson, President, Police
Jury; (attest: J. R. Ramsey, Clerk, Police Jury
— Louisiana Weekly Journal, page 1
July 17, 1889
* * * * *
ARIZONA VS. D'ARBONNE
Homer Defeated Badly by
D'Arbonne but Arizona
Defeats the Visitor
A good deal of
interest was manifested in baseball circles last week. The approaching entertainment by the Claiborne Agricultural Fair Association on the
4th and 5th instants brought forth challenges from various amateur clubs, and
on the 4th two games were played.
The first game
was played in the morning between Homer and D'Arbonne, the victorious club to
play Arizona in the evening. It was near a walk-over for D'Arbonne as the score
will show—21 to 5 in favor of that club.
As evening
approached interest in the National game was at fever heat, and everyone
appeared anxious to be present at the first twirl of the willow.
About 4 o'clock
game was called by the umpire, B. A. Bridges, and the following players given
positions:
Arizona—J. E.
Madden, C. M. Harris, Hamp Tuggle, A. B. Nicholson, C. A. Parker, Luther
Robinson, Wm. Johnson, T. M. Harris, J. W. Minnifee (sic).
D'Arbonne—G. L.
Jordan, Geo. Bridgeman, Drayton Freeman, Ed. Goodson, Geo. McKenzie, J. D.
McKenzie, Sim McKenzie, Walter Price, Jim Simmons.
From beginning
to end this game was very interesting, and as fast as the many pretty plays
were made by each side, a round of applause followed. Arizona, however, came up
here to play ball and proved the assertion she had made, that they were ball
tossers and the champions. The score at the end of the game was announced:
Arizona, 13; D'Arbonne, 11.
NOTES
Ed. Goodson
makes a first-class first baseman.
Hamp Tuggle
holds third with a "death grip." Nothing passes and no basket needed.
There was no
"razzle dazzle and get up de line" coaching. It was conspicuous by
its absence.
The Homer boys
are a little disfigured but still in the ring. Practice, boys, is what you
need.
Guardian-Journal, page 5
July 19, 1890
* * * * *
An unfortunate
shooting scrape occurred in this town last Thursday afternoon in which Mr. J.
D. Tuggle was painfully, though we hope not seriously, hurt. Mr. Tuggle, who
lives 4 miles east of Homer, has mounted his horse and started for home about 6
o'clock, and as he was passing the hardware store of Denman and Co., was fired
upon three times with a double-barreled shotgun in the hands of Mr. J. H.
Ramsey. The first and third shots did not take effect, but the second inflicted
painful wounds on Mr. Tuggle's back and arm. Mr. Ramsey was arrested by the
sheriff and constable and placed in the parish prison.
Numerous
reports are in circulation as to the cause of the shooting, but we refrain from
making comments and think the courts are the proper place for such things to be
settled.
Both of the
parties are well-connected and have many friends in the parish.
— Guardian-Journal, page 5
October 8, 1890
* * * * *
Judge Barksdale
was in [Homer] last Saturday for the purpose of investigating the case of the
State vs. J. H. Ramsey, charged with shooting J. D. Tuggle with intent to kill.
Ramsey was admitted to bail in the sum of twelve hundred dollars. He has not
yet made his bond, but we learn expects to do so today.
— Guardian-Journal, page 5
October 15, 1890
* * * * *
THE KILLING OF PROFESSOR J.H. WILLIAMS
Last Saturday
at about 12 o'clock, Prof. J. H. Williams was killed on the front gallery of
the hardware store of Messrs. Denman & Co. by the discharge of a shotgun in
the hands of Mr. J. D. Tuggle who was standing in front of the store of
McCorkle & Bro. when the gun was discharged. Tuggle did not intend to hit
Williams. He shot at John H. Ramsey, but missed him and hit Prof. Williams who
chanced to be standing near where Ramsey was at the time the shot was fired. One
shot passed through Ramsey's coat sleeve, but his person was not hurt in the
least. When the gun fired Ramsey ran through the store of Denman & Co. and made his
escape. Prof. Williams was hit in the leg, thigh, and side with a number of
buckshot. He was carried to the residence of Dr. Frank Henry where he boarded
and medical assistance summoned. His wounds were pronounced fatal, and he died
in a few hours. Prof. Williams was a comparative stranger in Homer and was
engaged in teaching a dancing school. He was a harmless, polite, and
gentlemanly man, and his death under such circumstances is a sad one. Prof.
Williams was sixty-six years old.
It will be
remembered that J. H. Ramsey shot and wounded J. D. Tuggle a few weeks [ago] in
this place with a shotgun. ......to
be continued
NOTE: Bill Hightower and Jimmy Dean
researched this article.
