FIVE CLAIBORNE PARISH TEENS were injured, one seriously, when this 2002 Toyota Camry overturned several times on La. Alt. 2 approximately five miles west of Hwy. 167 near the Union/Claiborne Parish line Sunday night.   Photo courtesy of The Bernice Banner

Claiborne Parish Teens Hurt In Wreck

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

            Five Claiborne Parish teenagers were hurt in an automobile accident around 9 PM Sunday night, February 5 following a church youth meeting where the teens had joined in a devotional then watched the Super Bowl together. Four female students at Summerfield High School were passengers in a 2002 Toyota Camry driven by Claiborne Academy student Jared Wilson. was taking the girls home when he lost control in a sharp curve near Weldon Baptist Church, causing the vehicle to flip several times. The vehicle was traveling east toward Weldon on La. Alt. 2 approximately five miles west of Hwy. 167 when the accident occurred.

            Wilson, Jordan Branch, and Ariel Davis were transported to the Tri-Ward Hospital and Clinic in Bernice where they were treated for minor injuries and released. Allison Matherne and Ellery Baugh were taken to Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston where Matherne was also treated and released. Baugh was transported by ambulance to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport where she remains in ICU with several broken ribs, a broken collar bone and broken shoulder blade, broken thumb and bruised lung.

            Ariel is the daughter of Karen and Kevin Davis, Allison is the daughter of Ken and Christene Booth, Ellery is the daughter of Benji and Denise Baugh, all of Summerfield. Jordan is the daughter of George and Debbie Shirey of Lisbon. Jared is the son of Todd Wilson of Bernice.

Homer Council Approves Request By Police Chief

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

            The Homer Town Council approved a number of requests by newly appointed Police Chief Russell Mills including hiring one full-time officer at their regular meeting Monday, February 6. Mills said he wanted to hire two full-time officers but only had one person to recommend at this time. He introduced Roger Smith, who he said was already a certified police officer, in military reserves, and presently working for the Shreveport Police Department. Mills would like to train him for two or three weeks on the day shift before moving him to evenings. The Council approved hiring Smith at  $9.50 hour.

            Mills said with the addition of Smith, they now have seven patrol officers besides himself. This is down from ten officers when he started working for the Town in 1991. The department recently lost one part-time officer, Anthony Combs, and another officer will taking off one month for surgery.  The Council confirmed their prior approval to allow Mills to add four reserve officers who will work for no pay. Matt Simmons has expressed interest, but will need to get re-certified for handguns. The Council approved advertising for another full-time officer. Billy Kirk Jenkins suggested Mills hire an African-American.

            Ford asked Mills if he had prepared a schedule. He was to prepared one for 8-hour shifts and one for 12-hour shifts. Mills said he had only been in the position for one week and it would take time to get things straightened out. The Council approved appointing Toney Johnson and J. C. Moore to meet with Mills and go over control of tickets, scheduling and other needs, then bring a recommendation back to the next meeting.

            The Council also approved the list of seventeen rules and regulations and the code of conduct presented by Mills. Much is existing policy, but some not being enforced. It includes arrival time, appearance, keeping a patrol log, communication, handling of gas receipts, completing reports, and filling out time sheets. No patrol units shall be outside city limits unless dispatched. Officers shall not attempt to reduce or void any citation. While on duty, officers shall maintain radio contact.

            The Code of Conduct requires police officers to conform and abide by laws of state and nation. Officers shall not conduct themselves in a manner unbecoming to an officer which would bring HPD into disrepute, reflect discredit on an officer, impair operations, detrimentally affect morale, destroy public respect or confidence, engage in any immoral activity, or intentionally tell an untruth.

            Carlette Sanford suggested background checks be conducted on all potential employees in the police department or any position with the Town. Mills said he would check on the cost for a background check, although they could conduct some background checks through the police department or sheriff's office.

            Jenkins said he was very concerned regarding tickets being out of compliance in the audit finding. Mills said he was more than willing to make needed changes handling tickets to get in compliance. One way would be to get a 3-copy ticket book, and provide one copy to City Hall.

            Finance Committee Chairman Elmer Poss shared concerns about the recent audit where CPA Marsha Millican refused to issue an opinion. She stated in her findings "the Town did not maintain complete and adequate accounting records for the year ended December 31, 2004." Financial statements were not prepared on a monthly basis, bank statements were not reconciled monthly, and accounting records regarding utility billings were not maintained, resulting in a failure to comply with Louisiana Audit law requiring audit to be completed within six months of close of fiscal year.

            He asked if the Council would like for the Financial Committee to meet with town clerk and treasurer to find out what they did not have and if these findings have now been corrected. Town Clerk Rita Mitchell said she would welcome a meeting. Jenkins suggested placing the findings for 2004 for discussion on the agenda for discussion at the March meeting. The Council voted to engage Millican for the 2005 audit.

            Ford told Town Attorney David Newell he was very disappointed that he did not show up to the last two meetings. He said, "If we are playing politics, I would hate to see it played at the town's expense." Since the Town pays $500 month he felt the Town needed to be compensated.

            Newell explained his reasons for missing both meetings in January. He thought first meeting would be January 2 and had scheduled to referee Homer Junior High basketball game January 9 which ran late. He had to attend a counseling session with his daughter the night of the special called meeting.. Newell agreed to return the $500 retainer for January.

MEMBERS OF THE I-69 Mid-Continent Coalition Board from Claiborne Parish who flew to Memphis in May 1994 to meet with 200 members of a 7-state coalition to begin making plans to establish an interstate route from Indianapolis to Houston were (l.-r.) Harvey Hugh Emerson, Blake Hemphill, Jerry Williams, J. T. Taylor, Kennedy Morelock, Mack Waits, Tom Crocker, and Jimmy Bates.

I-69 Seemed Destined To Come Through Claiborne

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

            Following the announcement last week of the decision to select Alternative 4 with Revised Option 3 as the preferred alignment for Interstate 69 through Claiborne Parish, the local URS I-69 office is busy again. Christi Wilson has had a steady stream of landowners wanting to view a detailed map of the selected corridor to see if their property would fall in its path.

            Wilson said URS will now conduct  field studies to confirm and correct information in the Draft EIS to begin preparing the Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS). The Record of Decision will be released later this year by the Federal Highway Administration, the Louisiana Department of Transportation, and Arkansas Highway Department.

            Keith Cascio, Scenic Rivers Coordinator with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, oversees about 80 scenic streams across Louisiana. It is the responsibility of his office to issue permits for highways to cross scenic streams.

            From his perspective, they came out with the DEIS three years ago with a broad base of information, which was narrowed down first to two or three alignments_now down to one. "And to me," he said. "It is the one that makes sense."

            Cascio said, "It tickles me to no end to see a scenic river being given the kind of consideration Dorcheat is getting. It deserves it. It is one of the prettiest ones in the state."  From a scenic rivers perspective, Cascio and others agree  the crossing of Bayou Dorcheat in the Alternative 5 alignment was a no-brainer.

            When his office was asked early on for an opinion on the alignment, Cascio took a first hand look at the area. Apparently, others were doing the same. This area  had a huge response from the public, which made him proud of the people in Louisiana_people like Lane Merritt who began asking questions. This forced his and other agencies to take a closer look. He never saw any politics at work, but found it "curious" that some information found to be inaccurate in the DEIS had never been corrected.

            Politics has, however, followed the planning of I-69 since its beginnings in the early 1990s. It was almost fifteen years ago when Lindy Broderick of Shreveport first learned of the I-69 project. She shared that information with Claiborne Parish native John D. Caruthers who would become chairman of the 7-State Mid-Continent Highway Coalition, and who would spearhead efforts to bring the new north-south interstate across this area and ultimately connect Canada to Mexico.

            An organizational meeting of the I-69 Coalition was held in Memphis, Tennessee in 1992. It was about that time the City of Shreveport entered an agreement with a firm, asking them to propose potential alignments and interaction between the Inner Loop Extension and the proposed I-69.

            Then officials in Monroe and Ruston began to lobby for the Interstate to move further east. Those hopes were dashed in October 1993, when an amendment by Senator J. Bennett Johnston to expand the study area eastward was defeated.

            In May 1994, a Claiborne Parish delegation of eight men returned to Memphis for a meeting of the 200 members of the 7-state I-69 Coalition. At a subsequent meeting in September 1995, a feasibility study found the I-69 project would "provide $1.38 cents in travel benefits for every $1 in cost" and would serve significant traffic volumes on most segments of I-69's corridor from Indianapolis through Memphis and Shreveport to Houston.

            The path of I-69 is scheduled to include a 25,000 foot bridge, the proposed Great River Bridge, to be built across the Mississippi River. It is the first totally new bridge crossing of that river in over 20 years. It will connect US 65 in Arkansas with State Road 1 in Mississippi.

            This past year, in August 2005, President George W. Bush signed a 6-year $286 billion highway bill (SAFETEA-LU) for road projects in 2004-2009. It included over $400 million for the uncompleted portion of I-69 in Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Engineering design and right of way acquisition is expected to cost roughly $2 million per mile. Bush agreed the uncompleted portions of I-69 must be completed.

            At a meeting last month on January 19, Congressman Jim McCrery told members of the Northwest Louisiana I-69 Coalition that House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young of Alaska had told him I-69 and I-49 were the two highest highway priorities in his opinion.

            The Record of Decision on the SIU 14 (El Dorado to Haughton) and SIU 15 (Haughton to Texas) portions of I-69 is expected in late summer 2006. The need for ear-marking the 2006 Appropriations Bill was presented to Congressman McCrery. He pointed out, while difficult, progress would be somewhat easier because of the $475 million in last fall's Transportation Act. Ear-marking for I-69 must be submitted to the Congressional Committee by the seven states' Representatives on or before February 28, 2006. Preparation of the 2009 Transportation Bill may be undertaken as early as 2007.

CAROL W. STAHL of Bossier City was in the URS Program Office in Homer this week to view a map of the new I-69 alignment that will cross Stahl family property on La. 2 in western Claiborne Parish. Christi Wilson, right, pointed out that all four corners of the proposed interchange on La. 2, which is located less than 1 mile east of Blackburn and approximately 3 miles west of the Hwy. 534/La. 2 intersection, is on property that belongs to Stahl's dad, Carol D. Stahl, who is a native of Blackburn, born there in 1919.

THE PROPOSED I-69 ALTERNATIVE 4.3 Corridor will traverse Claiborne Parish first crossing Flat Lick Road between Red Hill and Glass Creek Roads, then cross La. 2 less than 3 miles west of the 534/La. 2  intersection, then cross the 534 Spur, will run parallel on the west side of Clarence Ivory Road, then cross P. D. Worley Road, Mercantile Road, Salter Road, then overpass Dykesville Road, cross Clarence Ivory Road, Winn Bottom Road about 1/2 mile south of La. Alt. 2, then cross Pine Lane, Oil Center Road, and Hwy. 615, then overpass Hwy 808 about 2 miles west of the Haynesville city limits, then cross Ward Chapel Road and Oilfield Road. A cloverleaf interchange, with entrance and exit ramps on the east side of the proposed interstate, will be located on Hwy. 79 north of Haynesville, about one-half mile south of the Arkansas State Line.

Warrants Issued For Forgery

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

            The Homer Police Department investigated a complaint last week by George Hamilton who reported he had some checks stolen from his truck parked in front of his residence on Westside Street in Homer sometime between January 21 and 23. The person had broken the window out in his truck and taken the checks. Hamilton stopped payment on checks that were missing, but not before four checks had cleared his bank account.

            Police Chief Russell Mills was able to secure signature copies which led to arrest warrants being issued for Rodney Kirk of Homer, for four counts of forgery.

            Anyone with information on this crime or the whereabouts of Rodney Kirk is asked to please contact the Homer Police Department at 318-927-4000.

Options Discussed For Homer Vo-Tech Campus

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

            State Representative Rick Gallot conducted a meeting last week concerning the future of the Homer campus of the Northwest Louisiana Technical College. He met with Charles Strong and Lisa Doney, Director and Assistant Director of Northwest Tech, and several other interested individuals to discuss what the possible options were for reviving classes in  Homer.

            Strong said Claiborne and Webster operations merged into a single four-campus school in 1997. At that time, on-site administration was returned. He explained the reason for moving the remaining business classes and last instructor to the Minden campus for the Spring semester was the lack of FTEs or full-time equivalent hours, but he hoped they could reopen the campus this summer. He said, "The bottom line is students."

            Funding for the campus is based on enrollment on a full-time equivalent basis or FTE. Every time 30 semester credit hours are pursued whether by one or more students is equal to an FTE. Since 2003, FTEs have dropped from a total of 46, to 33.5 in 2004, now down to 19.8 in 2005. The Spring semester in Homer had only 1.53 FTEs.

            Business courses are the only classes that have been consistent since the school opened in 1980. Strong said, "Those programs have served us well, but we have milked them dry."

            The Homer campus will continue to offer customized training to local industries such as Ludlow and Claiborne Electric through the Incumbent Worker Program. The school is also presently registering students for a CNA class scheduled to begin February 20.

            Presently, Strong said the only classes they have permission to offer in Homer is certified nursing assistant, accounting technology, office systems technology, computer specialist applications, and hospitality/tourism operations. All of these were offered this spring.

            The Louisiana Technical College System has already suffered a $6 million budget deficit due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They are being prepared for another $5 million cut for next year. The Board of Regents has directed campuses to complete the most detailed program by program efficiency analysis Strong said he has ever been called to do.

            Strong suggested two options. Both would depend on the lifting of the Board of Regent's moratorium on new training programs. The first option would be to submit a request for the patient care technician program. The other option would be to try to establish training for corrections officers in North Louisiana at the Homer campus. Presently, training for all corrections officers and law enforcement personnel in Louisiana is held at Angola only. Strong said this could be a long-term answer to the stability in enrollment at the campus, since this type training would draw enrollment from beyond this area. Gallot said he would contact DOC Secretary Richard Stalder to check into the possibility.

            One other option Strong suggested would be to come up with some means of transportation to allow Claiborne Parish students to access a wider range of training options being offered at the Minden campus. These are courses that will never be available in Homer.

            Judy Davis said she felt it was important to continue to offer training in Homer for Claiborne Parish students who could not go to Minden. She suggested they check into a new federal program recently approved that would help pay tuition costs.

            NW Tech instructor Joy Hays said there are presently 43 Claiborne Parish students enrolled in Minden through the Workforce Investment Act. As of January 31, Strong said they had 61 total students from Claiborne Parish registered, distributed across 11 instructional program areas. The 23 nursing registrants are in three separate nursing classes. No single program has enough Claiborne Parish students to meet the LTCs minimum class size policy.

            Hays said WIA is offering five technical or community college scholarships to high school students this year. So far, she has received eight applications from Pineview, Summerfield, and Athens.

            Strong and Doney both agreed to continue to work toward a possible solution for the Homer campus. 

Watershed Commission Approves Ski Team Proposal

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

            The Claiborne Parish Watershed District Commission met in Special Session January 19 to elect officers and consider a proposal by the Louisiana Tech Ski Team. Consideration for funding a joint economic development proposal was added to the agenda. A proposal was presented by a representative of the Louisiana Tech Sports Club to establish a ski ramp and slalom course on Lake Claiborne for the team's practice use. The Commission approved a resolution permitting La. Tech's Water Ski Team to locate structures for practice along Sandy Creek on Lake Claiborne with a list of conditions to be followed. Permission was granted for one year with the intention of renewal if no problems arise.

            Butch Fincher was unanimously elected chairman and Chic Hines vice-chairman. Almeter Willis recommended Alice Stewart to continue as secretary. A decision on treasurer was tabled.

Jewish High School Dropout Helps Claiborne Parish

BY JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer, The Guardian-Journal

            Forest Grove and St. John  and 33 other bygone Claiborne Parish schools...an Illinois Jewish high school dropout...what is the connection? Read on.

            Although this country's founding principles of "liberty and justice for all," is well-known, it has taken centuries to make education available to all children without regard to gender, ethnicity, or social class.

            From the 1600s to the early 1900s, schools were rare in this country. The ability to read and write was sufficient to qualify one to be a teacher. Pay was low. The whole school usually consisted of one room. Children were expected to bring wood to warm the school. It is said that those who did not bring wood had to sit in the coldest part of the room. Classes focused on ABCs, writing, and learning numbers and basic arithmetic. There was heavy emphasis on memorizing and reciting.

            Educating black children was almost unheard of. Black schools were illegal throughout the South until after the Civil War. The early 1900s brought a visionary and philanthropist into the picture, Julius Rosenwald.

            Of Jewish heritage and born in Illinois, Rosenwald was a high-school dropout who became a partner in Sears and Roebuck in 1895.

            While CEO of Sears he met Booker T. Washington. They shared an interest in educating poor, black youth. Rosenwald had already established a fund to provide monies for educational programs and facilities. The Rosenwald Fund would match locally-raised money. The result was over 5,000 "Rosenwald Schools" throughout the South.

            Over 14,000 teachers taught in the network of Rosenwald Schools. Julius Rosenwald   was presented with a special gold medal in 1927 from the William E. Harmon Awards for Distinguished Achievement in Race Relations.

            The Rosenwald Fund provided over $70 million between 1912 and 1948 when the fund was depleted. During its years of operation, the Fund assisted in constructing over 5000 schools, over 200 teachers' homes, and over 150 shop buildings in 15 states.

            Louisiana benefited with 393 Rosenwald Schools that served over 50,000 students. The program also contributed to 31 teachers' homes and 9 shops in the state.

Rosenwald Schools in Claiborne Parish   Linda Volentine at the Ford Museum has been seeking pictures, artifacts, and other material concerning the 35 Rosenwald Schools in Claiborne Parish. She shared the following from her research: Athens: Located in Athens on a hill near L & NW tracks, it was a two-room school. Mrs. Vivian Lopo taught and watched the growth of Athens from a four-teacher frame building to a larger facility with cafeteria, gym, and more classrooms. Beech Hill: Located 4 miles east of Lisbon, Mrs. Mattie J. Holmes was principal at one time. Fellowship: From 1945-1951 Clyde Meadors was principal. Students who lived to far to talk boarded in homes in the community. Many Army veterans attended the school. Four teachers plus the principal handled all high school courses.The school consolidated with the Rosenwald School in Junction City in the early 1950s. The school in Junction City served children of Union County, Arkansas, and Claiborne and Union Parishes, Louisiana. Frazier: Located in Athens, it was also known as the Dock Lewis School. This was a one teacher school serving grades 1-7. Some of the educators were Mrs. Linnie Buggs, Mrs. Zadie Thompson, and Mrs. Ethel Pearson. These dedicated people occasionally bought supplies out of their own paychecks. Friendship: Located 13 miles east of Homer, this school also had a teacher home. Three teachers and a principal carried the teaching load for grades 1-7. Starting the schoolday, the bell signaled boys and girls to form two lines, one for boys, one for girls. They marched into the building, then put their wraps and dinner pails in the cloakroom while entering. At one time Mr. and Mrs. Willie Moore taught there and conducted a hot lunch program. Another teacher was Ester Lee Meadors. Past principals include T.J. Jones and C.H. Shyne. Gum Grove: This school east of Lisbon on the Dubach Road near the Claiborne Gasoline Plant. Liberty Hill: This school had a teacher home. Mr. and Mrs. Willie P. Moore taught there from 1931-1941, then the school was reduced to a one-teacher school. Moreland: This was a two-room school. Mt. Olive: Located about 10 miles south of Homer, it is said to have been well-built and comfortable, even though heated with wood-burning heaters. A wood-burning stove was used for hot lunches. Although there was insufficient space in the lunchroom for eating inside, the lunch program was consider good for its time. Mary T. Walker was the last Junior High principal. Mt. Pisgah: The school had a teacher home. At one time N.A.E. Jones served as principal. (to be continued)

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