Haynesville Police Chief Gets Pay Raise

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

            The Haynesville Town Council voted to raise Police Chief Anthony Smith's annual pay from $27,900 to $40,000 effective retroactive from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2009. At that time the Council can review the issue and choose whether to increase or decrease the pay. Councilperson Carla Smith thanked Smith and the other policemen, but said she voted with reservations, noting that Smith knew the salary when he ran for the position.

            Following the second reading by Town Clerk Penny Fields of Ordinance 574 which would raise the monthly rate of pay for councilman to $350 month, Carla Smith asked, "How much does it cost as a councilperson to serve our town?" She asked members of the council if they had searched their hearts and asked themselves why they ran. "Did you run to serve and better your district or did you run because you knew you would be drawing a paycheck?" she asked.

            Smith said she had no idea what the pay was until she received her first check. As a relatively new council with very little experience, she did not feel they were ready for such a step. The cost over the next four years is $19,090. She suggested using that money for the town, for Christmas lights, welcome flags, painting and cleaning buildings, decorative street lamps, planting trees, etc.

            Joyce Majors said the only people on the council getting the $100 will be the three new council members. She said $350 won't make her rich, won't even pay her light bill. The Ordinance died for lack of a motion. Majors said they were not afraid to vote for it, but chose not to.

Marilyn Bush Arrested Again

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

            It has been more than a year since the Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the decision by Judge Jenifer Clason to throw out Marilyn Bush's ten year sentence for felony theft. Bush pleaded guilty in April 2002 for stealing from the Town of Haynesville while serving as town clerk. The State Legislative Auditor showed  at least $432,250  missing between July 1991 and September 2000, even though Bush admitted to taking no more than $70,000 to support her gambling habit.

            On January 30, 2004, after serving only 22 months of her 10-year sentence, Bush was back in the Claiborne Parish courtroom where Judge Clason granted her motion to reconsider her sentence. Clason vacated the original sentence , then resentenced Bush to a 10-year suspended sentence. She was then placed on four years supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution of $100,000 to the Town of Haynesville. On condition of  her release, she was ordered to submit to random drug and alcohol testing, to attend gambling abuse counseling, and ordered not go to any gambling establishment, otherwise, her sentence could be revoked and she would have to serve the rest of the original 10-year sentence.

            District Attorney Walter May appealed Clason's decision and on July 8, 2004, the Second Circuit Court of Appeal ruled the district court erred in allowing any judicial review of an agreed sentence. Bush's original sentence was reinstated.

            Bush's attorney, Eric Johnson, appealed to the Louisiana Supreme Court, but on January 7, 2005, the Court unanimously denied any review. Johnson then filed a new motion to correct the illegal sentence. A hearing was held last April. May argued the overall case history justifies the original sentence. Judge Clason ordered May and Johnson to submit written briefs and instructed both to not discuss the case outside court.

            Johnson's brief argued the Court would not have imposed a maximum term if there had been an order of restitution. "Since Bush's original plea bargain was based on an illegal sentence, it should be declared null and void and Mrs. Bush put back to square one."

            In the opposition brief prepared by Asst. District Attorney James R. Hatch for May who is presently serving in Iraq, it was noted the court carefully and articulately advised the defendant of her rights. She stated she fully understood her rights and knew her guilty plea waived those rights. "The real question is whether or not a criminal defendant may make a plea agreement and, after having served a large portion of the required sentence, return to court displeased with their jail environment and seek another sentence by asking the court to order her to give restitution to the victim"...the Town of Haynesville.

            On October 13, the Second Circuit Court of Appeal overruled the decision of the district court to set aside the guilty plea and vacate the hard labor sentence and reinstated the defendant's agreed hard labor sentence. Considering that decision, Judge Clason issued an order October 19 to arrest Bush and return her to jail to continue serving the hard labor sentence originally imposed. Bush turned herself in Friday, October 21 and was booked into the Claiborne Parish Jail, then released the same day on a $100,000 bond. Bush will remain free on bond until the matter is resolved by the Louisiana Supreme Court. On October 18, Judge Clason also issued an order to Hibernia Bank to void the cashiers check for $100,000 payable to the Town of Haynesville, and to disburse the funds directly to Marilyn or Frank Bush, or their agent

DOUG EFFERSON, administrator of Homer Memorial Hospital, presented the rationale for building a new hospital during a joint meeting of the HMH Board of Directors, Homer Town Council, Claiborne Parish Police Jury, local physicians and other interested persons on October 13 at the Police Jury Complex

New Hospital—Yes Or No

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

            Should the Board of Directors at Homer Memorial Hospital attempt to meet the healthcare needs of the citizens of Claiborne Parish by building a new hospital or by renovating the existing facility? This question was posed by Doug Efferson, administrator of Homer Memorial Hospital, at a public meeting held October 12 attended by members of the HMH Board of Directors, the Homer Town Council, the Claiborne Parish Police Jury, several local physicians, and other interested persons.

            Board Chairman T. E. "Buddy" Pixley explained the reason for the meeting was to try to determine whether a new hospital was needed or not, to provide information and to dissuade any rumors. He said, "Everyone must be on board if we are going to get it done."

            After transferring the hospital to the parish, the Town could receive rent payments for the current facility which would help them offset current financial shortfalls. "Again, I want to emphasize, that should not be a reason to build a new hospital...but an economic consideration," said Efferson.

            Dr. Samuel Abshire remembered in 1984 when most agreed a new hospital was needed. Jim Elrod with Willis-Knighton quoted a turn key price of $7 million, but the idea broke down in the political arena. He said, "Physicians want a new hospital, but we also know it won't be the physicians who build a new hospital, but this community."

            Lawson Wilder, who serves both on the hospital board and the Town finance committee, said, "I think a new hospital is desirable and has a lot of benefits, but a lot of questions must be answered." He said he has served many years on the hospital board....the first time it was broke, the second time mismanaged. They recently corrected a number of problems—generator, roofing, mold, and new furniture. "The hospital is in better shape than it has been in years," said Wilder. "If you don't want to build a new hospital, we'll spend the money and we will live with what we've got." Since the hospital was built by a tax election of the Town of Homer, he thinks it should be transferred by the same vote by the people of Homer.

            Efferson would like to see the police jury appoint new members to the Hospital Service District 3 Board as soon as possible. He personally would recommend appointing Pixley chairman of the District 3 Board, and appointing George Tigner, Dottie Palmer, and Dr. Cliff Salmon to the board. He said the current board has experience running a hospital. He would also like to see the Homer Council accept this ordinance or prepare an ordinance acceptable to them.

Traffic Stop Leads To Arrests

            A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of Johnathan E. Budwah, 29, of Springhill.

According to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, Deputy Jeff Pugh, while patrolling last Sunday,  pulled over a 1999 Chevrolet pickup on East 4th Street in Homer for erratic driving. At that time, he discovered the driver of the vehicle, Budwah, had drug paraphernalia and methamphetamines on his person. He was arrested and transported to Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was booked.

            David L. Watts, 49, of Haynesville, a passenger in the vehicle, was also arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamines. Bond on both individuals was set at $5,500.

INSTRUCTOR Jason Prichard gives pointers to Kimbell Hays during a training session at Northwest Technical College in Homer. Hays (center) is one several Ludlow employees attending weekly classes at NW Tech to improve their computer skills. Others in this class are (l-r) Lucretia Wilson, Cynthia Mitchell, (back) Tommy Nelson and Wayne Ebarb. Asst Dean-Homer campus Lisa Doney and NW Tech Asst Dean David Rhodes (standing, right) observe the class.

Northwest Tech Offers Training To Area Businesses

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

            Northwest Louisiana Technical College in Homer is training employees at two local businesses in Claiborne Parish—Ludlow Coated Products and Claiborne Electric Cooperative. David Rhodes, Asst Dean at NW Tech, explained the training was being funded through IWTP, the Incumbent Worker Training Program, which was developed several years ago as a way to use the excess unemployment insurance premiums collected from businesses across Louisiana.

            Rhodes said, "The goal of IWTP was to create jobs."  By offering training to employees, those employees could see either an increase in pay or a possible promotion by becoming more qualified. This would then open  jobs for those unemployed. He said, "The result is a better trained workforce and more job opportunities."

            All businesses who have paid unemployment insurance premiums and who have 50 or more employees can benefit from this program. Other programs are available for smaller businesses. One benefit to NW Tech is that all equipment purchased through this grant program is kept by the school once the contract is complete.

            For more information on IWTP or other customer training programs available at NW Tech, contact List Doney, Asst. Dean at the Homer campus,.at 318-927-2034.

PAM SUGGS, director of Claiborne Parish Library, took a few minutes to check out the new viewer that will allow visitors to view  back issues of The Guardian-Journal beginning in June 1890, when the Homer Guardian merged with the Louisiana Weekly Journal. Issues of The Guardian-Journal through 1977 are available. Other newspapers available on microfilm are the Louisiana Weekly Journal (Jan. 1886-1890) and the Haynesville News (Jan. 1924-Dec. 1978).

Newspaper Archives Now Available At Library

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

            History enthusiasts no longer have to go out of town to view archived issues of The Guardian-Journal, the Haynesville News, or the Louisiana Weekly Journal. The Claiborne Parish Library recently received copies of those newspapers on microfilm and, on Monday, a viewer was set up at the Homer branch to allow visitors to view the microfilm. This will allow interested persons to peruse old issues of the newspapers right here in Claiborne Parish.

            The first issue of the Louisiana Weekly Journal available at the library is Wednesday, January 13, 1886. It lists J. K. Hulse as editor and proprietor. Ben D. Harrison, an old and experienced newspaper man, was the publisher of this paper. He prided himself upon his ability to get out a neat and handsome paper.

            The annual cost for a subscription was $1, and not less than six hundred copies would be issued from the start, with the expectation of having at least one thousand before three months expires. It was "the largest paper ever published in the parish and containing decidedly more reading matter."

            The Journal—The Paper For The People—stated it was "devoted to politics, agriculture, education, and the general welfare of the people." In politics, the Journal stated it "would be thoroughly Democratic, but opposed to King Rule and Monopolies, and all corruption in high or low places."

            The Journal stated it was for honest, pure and economical government from the Federal Administration down to the corporation of the town...and would be FEARLESS and OUTSPOKEN on all public questions.

            The Journal included fishing reports, shootings, numerous ads for attorneys in Homer, even mentioning the Claiborne Male and Female Institute and Professor John Davidson. "Certainly there was no better school in this section of the state."

            The Homer Guardian established in 1877 and the Louisiana Weekly Journal established in 1886, merged in 1890 to become The Guardian-Journal, with the first issue published June 18, 1890.   It listed John R. Hulse as editor and stated the office was located in the old "Advocate" building.

            One early article reported, "Claiborne Parish is not dead nor is Homer dead, as some have been overready and overfond of announcing the some months past. Commercially, Homer may not be all it was in days of yore, but the same can be said of many places that are far from being dead. There are other things than commerce that go to make a town."

            Another article mentioned the "cursing and grumbling" over a new jail tax and the recent completion of the jail "which was certainly needed." It stated the Police Jury had also "established a poor house for the paupers."

            Claiborne Parish Library Director Pam Suggs is excited about the new addition of newspaper archives on microfilm at the Homer branch, recently received from the LSU-Baton Rouge Special Collection. In the past, researchers had to travel to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge or Shreveport, or to Louisiana Tech University in Ruston to access old issues of local newspapers. Suggs hopes to add more issues to their collection in the future, as well as some parish census records. Within the next few days, a printer will be connected to the viewer which will allow visitors to print pages for a small fee.

Flu Shots Expected Soon At Parish Health Unit

            It was reported in error last week that flu shots would be available at the Claiborne Parish Health Unit in Homer. The Guardian-Journal apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused. As of Tuesday, October 25 the DHH Office of Public Heath had not released the high risk guidelines for the 2005 flu season and no dates had been set for when vaccines would be available at the local health unit. It is hoped this information will be made available by next week. For updates, contact the Claiborne Parish Health Unit at 927-6127.            

New Parish Recycling Site Opens For Office Paper

            A  new recycling site especially for office paper has been opened by Trailblazer and the Claiborne Parish Police Jury at the parish highway department. Businesses and individuals are urged to take their paper to the large truck trailer inside the gate and to the left at the highway department on Hwy 79, next to Ludlow. All types of office paper including carbonless forms and manila folders are acceptable. Staples are okay, but please do not include envelopes with windows. Trailblazer continues to accept newspapers and rinsed, crushed aluminum cans at the original site located in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Homer.

"White Lightning Feud":

Tuggle and Glover Ambushed

White Lightning Series: Part 3

            NOTE: This series was originally scheduled to run for six weeks; however, continuing research indicates that the series will run longer than originally planned. This is another in a series of articles reprinting prior published information on the White Lightning Feud.

Historical Series Chronology             Resposes have been favorable to this historical series. Additional material continues to come to light. This means the series will be longer than originally expected; therefore, we are including a brief chronology of past articles:             Part 1 (printed 10/13/05) - J. H. Tuggle's rabid dog bit several livestock and other animals; W. W. Maddox assassinated by unknown person and rewards totalling $500 offered for arrest and conviction of the killer; J. H. Ramsey wounds J. D. Tuggle near Denman and Co. Hardware in Homer.             Part 2 (printed 10/20/05) - Near Denman and Co. Hardware in Homer, J. D. Tuggle shot at John H. Ramsey, missed, and killed Professor J. H. Williams; W. W. Ramsey died and Hamp and Henry Tuggle were wounded in a shootout between the jail and Knighten's saloon in Homer.             Part 3 (printed 10/27/05) - J. D. Tuggle and I. N. Glover died when ambushed by unknown assailant about three and a half miles toward Summerfield.

* * * * *

continued from last week......

            We learn that John Ramsey has left the country, and that his father and family will soon move away. It is a deplorable state of affairs, indeed, when citizens leave their homes to insure the safety of their lives.

— Guardian-Journal, page 3

 March 4, 1891

* * * * *

            It begins to look as if the Claiborne Parish feud will soon be settled by the death of everybody concerned with it, with an occasional outsider as a victim [of] its misdirected bullets. This is bad, but a great deal better than if the deadly vengeance of the factions lingered year after year until half the community are involved in it.

— originally printed in the

Baton Rouge Advocate

 and reprinted by the

Guardian-Journal, page 2

 April 1, 1891

* * * * *

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

The Affair Shrouded in Mystery

            Last Wednesday [March 25, 1891] at about 1 o'clock p.m., the people of Homer were thrown into a fever of excitement by the report that

J. D. TUGGLE AND I. N. GLOVER

had been shot and killed at Beaver Bridge on the Summerfield road about three and a half miles from this place.

            A large number of persons from town at once repaired to the spot, among whom were the coroner and the sheriff and his deputies. The report was found to be true. Tuggle and Glover were found to be dead, and judging from their wounds they were

KILLED INSTANTLY

 and died without a struggle.

            Mr. Glover had been to town that morning and was returning home in his wagon. Mr. Tuggle was accompanying him for the purpose of taking a duck hunt on Cornie (sic) Bayou. The two men were riding side by side on a spring seat. Just as the wagon was going up on the bridge the shooting, it was supposed, was done. The body of Glover dropped dead in the road near the bridge. Tuggle fell over the dashboard of the wagon and remained there. The mules were

FRIGHTENED AT THE SHOOTING

and ran away but were stopped by a bog-hole in the Kinnebrew Lane.

            On the north side of the road at the bridge about thirty yards from the road was found the place where the party or parties who did the fatal shooting had stood. A blind made of pine brush was found, also pieces of an old sack on which they had stood or sat while waiting for their victims. There were two places where parties had stood, but whether there were two men or only one and for some reason he had moved his position is not known.

FOUR SHOTS WERE FIRED

and it is said that there was time enough between the second and third shots for a gun to have been [re]loaded. Two shells were also found near the spot from which the shooting is supposed to have been done. These facts would tend to indicate that there was only one party, but a number of persons who surveyed the grounds think that there were more than one.

            The sheriff and his deputies found a track which led off through the swamp. This track was followed for some distance when the party

MOUNTED A HORSE.

            The tracks of the horse were followed for several miles by parties whose evidence was given before the coroner's jury. The coroner's jury was composed of the following parties: R. F. Taylor, J. G. Knighten, Dr. A. R. Bush, W. D. Bonner, and F. U. Allen. After hearing all the evidence the jury returned a verdict that Glover and Tuggle came to their death from gunshot wounds at the hands of

UNKNOWN PARTIES.

            The killing of these two men has been the topic of conversation since it occurred, and there are all sorts of theories and rumors in the air, but if there is any evidence to implicate anyone, it is not known to the public.

            Both the men killed were well-known to the people of this parish. Mr. Glover had been deputy sheriff and several times a candidate for sheriff. He leaves a family. Tuggle had no family.

            The sheriff speaks of procuring a pack of bloodhounds for the purpose of tracking [the] criminals.

            It is thought by many persons that the late J. D. Tuggle left a considerable sum of money buried in some place and that it probably will never be found.

            Eight white men and we don't know how many colored have been killed in this parish in the past six months. This is a terrible record for old Claiborne.

AND STILL ANOTHER

            On Sunday last a negro, Webb Asberry by name, was shot on the place of the late J. D. Tuggle and seriously, though not dangerously, wounded. About the middle of the day  Sunday the fence around  J. D. Tuggle's place near Hamp Tuggle's home, was discovered on fire. A negro was sent to put it out. Some distance from this first fire near a gate on a road through the plantation, [Asberry] was shot as he was coming from church. The negro sent to put out the fire did not hear the report of the gun. After he had put out the fire at the first place he discovered fire near the gate and went and extinguished that, [as he returned to the house he] found Asberry by the road shot. The supposition is that the fence was fired for the purpose of drawing out Hamp Tuggle, and it is also supposed that the negro (Asberry) was shot merely because he was approaching the party who was lying in concealment. The party who fired the shot is supposed to have been in a fallen treetop near the gate. This treetop was destroyed by fire.

            The sheriff could track no one from the spot, and no clue whatever has been discovered.

— Guardian-Journal, page 2

 April 1, 1891

* * * * *

            Last week a negro discovered a wagon sheet, blanket, and an old sack in a hollow tree about one mile east of town in D'Arbonne Swamp. The sheriff was notified and went out and got the articles and now has them at his office. It is supposed that these articles had probably  been used by the party or parties connected with the assassination of Glover and Tuggle. They are held at the sheriff's office as a clue to be used for what they are worth as evidence. The negro who found them says someone had been sleeping in his cottonseed house, which is on a path which Tuggle sometimes traveled when coming to and returning from town.

— Guardian-Journal, page 3

 April 15, 1891

* * * * *

The Assassination of J. H. Ramsey

            On Saturday evening last [August 15, 1891] at about sunset, Mr. John H. Ramsey was waylaid and shot about a half-mile this side of his home, which is about three and a half miles southeast of Homer by a party or parties who are as yet unknown. Mr. Ramsey had been to town Saturday evening and was on his way home in a wagon with his brother Sam and a negro man and a negro girl. When in about a half-mile of home, the shooting was done from behind a dense fence row of a field by the roadside. Twenty buckshot struck John Ramsey in the back, shoulders, and neck, and it is said that any one of eighteen of these shot would have proven fatal. The negro man was also killed, being struck in the head with four buckshot. Some of the shot also passed through the hat and clothing of Sam Ramsey and one through the hat of the negro girl. Three shots were fired. When the shooting was done, Sam Ramsey and the negro girl leaped from the wagon. John Ramsey fell from his seat dead in the wagon, and the negro man who was driving the wagon retained his seat for some distance when he fell from the wagon and was caught between the front wheel and the bed of the wagon. The mules took flight when the gun fired and ran home.

            News of the bloody tragedy was brought to town by Mr. Sam Ramsey, and in a short time the sheriff and his posse and the coroner and his jury were on the ground. Deputy Sheriff Brown went to Minden Saturday night for bloodhounds and returned with the dogs early  Sunday morning, but the dogs failed to trail the track of the assassin with any success, and all efforts to follow it for any distance proved a failure. The man who did the shooting had blocks of wood about seven inches long and about one and a half inches wide fastened to the bottom of his shoes. The sheriff's posse traced this track for                          ............to be continued

NOTE: Bill Hightower and Jimmy Dean researched this article.

Step Back In Time At Palmer's Store

BY JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer, The Guardian-Journal

            There’s a time machine between Summerfield and Antioch: Palmer’s Store. If you want to go back in time and glimpse the first half of the 1900s, visit C. V. Palmer, Jr., at Palmer’s Store.

     My visit begins at 7:50 a.m. This store may be as well protected as Fort Knox, what with iron gates and bars and alarms and other security stuff. Once we get in, it becomes 1950’ish again. Opened in 1916 by  C. V. Palmer, Sr., Palmer’s Store has been around almost 90 years.

     Now operated by C. V. Palmer, Jr., the store handled general merchandise for 54 years. Then the business began a shift from general merchandise to gun sales, gun repair, and gun-related services and products.

     “We took care of farmers in this area for many, many years providing their staples and anything else they needed from the spring until the fall when the crops came in. Then they’d settle up the bill,” says Palmer. He goes on, “But that’s all changed. Things are different now what with the discount stores. The little guy just can’t compete.” Many small businesses do not survive without creating their own niche market. Palmer’s is guns.

     When you enter Palmer’s, it looks like any country store that’s been around a while. But as I walk around, Palmer’s begins to distinguish itself from any other store I’ve seen. I am amazed at shoes, hats, and bonnets—some from the 1930s—wooden thimbles of thread, even a 1923 Ladies Birthd-ay Almanac.

     There are shelves with cans of corn, green beans, and carrots. I also see baking powder, canned peaches, soup, mustard, canned milk, and much more. When I ask about buying these things, Palmer says they’re mostly for display, kind of like the gas pumps out front. He hasn’t sold gas in almost 30 years. And there are packages of Congespirin, Empirin, Percy Medicine, and Geritol along with the more recognizable Sucrets and Robitussin.

Atop a display case is a collection of whiskey bottles, some similar to old crocks, and others with a fancy cut glass look.

     There is a contraption to strip husked corn off the cob. (I didn’t know that. Palmer explains it to me.) There’s a  hoop cheese cutter. Also an old washboard. Suspended from the ceiling are a single ox yoke, ice tongs, and an old carbide lamp. There are also a grain scythe and a gun furnace, the latter used by gunsmiths to make metal gun parts.

     Which leads to the guns. Palmer has quite a gun collection that includes a Model ‘92 Marlin with an octagon barrel, an H. J. Sterling double-barrel shotgun, and  a Stevens rifle from the early 1900s.

     I ask about how one buys a gun. Palmer provides form ATF-F-4473, required for an over-the-counter firearm purchase. He explains that a call to the FBI with the information from the form generally results in a reply “within a minute or so.” “Most purchases can be made the same day,” he answers in reply to my question about how long it takes to get a gun.

     I review the form and see standard stuff like name, residence address, date of birth, and the like. Then follows a number of background questions such as whether I have prior felony convictions, whether I have been dishonorably discharged from the military service, whether I am illegally in this country, and a few others. Palmer says I would need to provide picture evidence of my identity.

     The gun business is quite active during hunting season, roughly August through January. Palmer says that gun repair and service is year-round work.

     Continuing my tour, I find the walls covered with advertisements from the last century, some original, some reproductions: Worthmore Chicken Feed, Fuller Brushes, Baker’s Delight Cooking Powder, Bull Durham Tobacco, and Champion Natural Chilean Soda, to mention a few.

      For a pleasant step back in time, you can visit Palmer’s Store from 8-5:30 Monday through Thursday or from 8-5 Friday or Saturday.

Halloween To Be Observed Monday, October 31, 2005

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.