School Board Lowers Pay, Discusses
Budget Cuts
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne
Parish School Board voted unanimously to reduce the salary of board members
from $400 to $200 effective January 1, 2007 when new board members take office.
Blake Hemphill make the recommendation due to budget
problems facing the Board. He said, "This will save $24,000 per
year."
Superintendent
James Scriber has made several revisions, but has not yet completed his
recommendation to balance the 2006-2007 budget. He
will have ready by the special called meeting on Thursday, April 20 at 6:30 PM.
At that time he will recommend cuts to offset the projected $1.5 million
deficit.
Scriber
provided board members with several options on possible pupil-teacher ratios, one would keep a lower pupil-teacher ratio in
elementary grades. There are presently 27 or 28 school systems in the state
that are in financial distress. Right now, Claiborne Parish is not one of them.
Scriber encouraged board members to offer suggestions for reducing costs. He
said, "The easiest thing you could to do for me is to say, `Let's don't do
anything for another year and see how it turns out', ...but
would that be the right thing for this system?"
Scriber told
board members he had no idea when the District would receive money for
hurricane evacuee students, which he hoped would offset a portion of this
year's deficit. He said, "So far, we have not received one penny from
FEMA." Scriber suggested they pro-rate the amount to be paid per student
based on the length of time students were in the Claiborne Parish school
system.
The School
Board Association asked board members to encourage legislators to accept the
MFP formula as presented by the BESE Board, however
the legislative committee says they cannot accept the present formula due to
the number of students expected to return to the hurricane parishes.
Glenda Corbin,
president of the Pineview High School PTSA, presented concerns discussed at a
recent meeting of Pineview parents and faculty regarding possible cuts at
Pineview High School. She asked what could be done to offset these cuts. She
heard it cost twice the amount to educate a student at Pineview compared to
other schools and asked what formula was used to calculate that cost.
Scriber
presented figures prepared last year for the U. S. Justice Department by school
and by school district on total cost of teacher salaries and the number of
students. The cost per student was based on these figures. (See chart this
page.) He also had figures on janitor cost per
school and per student, because they had been soundly criticized by the Justice
Department, who stated Summerfield was cleanest school in system, because it
was the whitest and, because of that, had been given more money than other
schools. Figures showed Summerfield had the lowest janitor cost per school and
per student. He also prepared cost per school last year for administrators,
teachers, utilities, coaching, and coaching supplements.
Corbin asked
about parishwide sales taxes. Scriber said a one-cent tax passed in 1970 for
teacher salaries. Another one-cent tax was passed in 1996,
half for teacher salaries and half to the general fund.
Corbin
suggested the Board consider combining classes at schools with multiple grades in one class. that have multiple classes in same grade. Joe Lee asked if
she was suggesting placing as many as 30 students per class at Homer and
Haynesville, when the average pupil-teacher ratio at Pineview is 9.7 to 1.
Tommy Davidson
said there was going to have to be some cuts. Something has to be done, but no
decision would be easy. "I think
you have to make the decision that best suits the students to get the best
education," he said. "As a board, we have to look at what is best for
the parish as a whole, and the viability of the Claiborne Parish School
District—not just for this year, but for years down the road."
On October 1,
2005, Scriber said Claiborne Parish has 2,668 students and 239 teachers. In
comparison, Winn Parish had 2,694 students and 193 teachers in four schools They were ranked 17 in state, but have fewer minority
students and fewer free and reduced lunch students. Bienville Parish had 2,346
students and 195 teachers; Webster had 7,454 students and 514 teachers (15-16
to 1 ratio); and Union had 3,324 students and 219 teachers.
Scriber said he
thought they could make cuts through attrition but found that alone would not
be enough to keep Claiborne Parish from falling into financial distress. He
suggested Corbin and others meet with him and Pineview board members before
April 20 to discuss possible options.
Arrests Made For Pearl Street
Disturbance
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Arrests
warrants were issued for five individuals following an investigation by the
Homer Police Department regarding a disturbance call on Saturday, April 1 on
Pearl Street. Officers arrived in the 1400 block of Pearl Street shortly after
receiving two 911 calls just after 8:30 PM regarding a fight on Pearl Street.
Officers arrived on the scene to find a large crowd of juveniles and adults
standing in the street, along with a number of cars parked everywhere.
Officers were
told several men had jumped on one 16-year-old juvenile and had thrown him to
the ground. One person had also reportedly fired shots into the air.
Wallace Ridley,
38, of Homer turned himself in April 7, was booked and charged with aggravated
battery and illegal use of weapons. He was released on $30,000 bond.
Four other
individuals were arrested and charged with simple battery, then released. They
were Blake C. McGee, 18, of Haynesville; Omar Drew, 23, of Homer; Omesha Drew,
19, of Homer, and James Jackson, 20, of Haynesville.
In an unrelated
incident, Police Chief Russell Mills recovered a weedeater stolen in late March
from a residence on North 7th Street. An arrest warrant is pending.
On Saturday,
April 7, Homer Police officers responded to a report of gunshots being fired in
the North 4th Street area around 7 PM. Officers were unable to locate a
shooter. On Monday, April 10, one mother reported her son had been walking with
several individuals near Keith's Food Mart on Hwy. 9 Saturday, when they were
confronted by individuals in a car, who shot a gun into the air.
Bench warrants
issued on following were paid: Andrew Haulcy paid $160 for traffic offense and
loud music, Willie Graham paid $200, and Frederick Willis paid $200 for
disturbing the peace
Sheriff’s Office Makes Crack Cocaine
Arrest
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said his office received a report on Tuesday, April 4
of an abandoned vehicle parked on private property on Cook Road near Athens.
CPSO Deputies David Morgan and Brian Pepper and Detective Duffy Gandy responded
to the complaint. The driver of the vehicle and others were found fishing
nearby. After receiving permission to search the vehicle, deputies found a
clear plastic bag in the glove compartment which contained a green vegetable
substance which appeared to be marijuana. They also found eleven (11) small
plastic bags containing an off-white rock-like substance which appeared to be
crack cocaine.
The driver of
the vehicle, Demetri Cortell Gray, 20, of Jonesboro was read his Miranda
rights, then transported to the Claiborne Parish
Detention Center where he was booked on charges of possession with intent to
distribute Schedule II CDS (cocaine) and possession Schedule I CDS (marijuana.
Bond was set at $22,000.
Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Arrests
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Deputy David Morgan made an arrest following a routine traffic
stop on Hwy. 79 South in Homer on Friday, March 31 according to Sheriff Ken
Bailey. Morgan had pulled Edward V. Winters over for an expired motor vehicle
inspection sticker, when he noticed the sticker which had expired in 2005 had a
number six (6) written over the number five (5). As Morgan approached the
vehicle, he also noticed Winters place something
between the passenger seat and driver's seat. When questioned, Winters gave permission to search the vehicle.
Morgan found a
small burned hand-roller cigar in the front ashtray. It appeared to be
marijuana.
Winters, 44, of
Homer, was advised of his Miranda rights and placed under arrest for imitation
MVI sticker and possession of marijuana. A passenger in the vehicle, Erik Lee
Waterman, 26, of Homer was also searched. A green vegetable type substance
which appeared to be marijuana was found on his person. Waterman was also
advised of his Miranda rights and placed under arrest for possession of
marijuana.
Both were taken
to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where they were booked. Bond was set
at $1,000 on Winters and $500 on Waterman.
CHILDREN AT THE Homer Childhood Learning
Center are shown here with administrative director Alecia
Nychole Levingston wearing their Easter Ears as part of the center's Easter
Week activities.
Roy Mardis Elected Police Jury President
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Roy Mardis was
unanimously 
elected president of the Claiborne Parish Police Jury at their
regular meeting on Wednesday, April 5, 2006, on motion by Scott Davidson and
second by Mark Furlow. Mardis replaces Roy Lewis who stepped down as president
last month. Mardis is serving his fourth term on the Jury and plans to run for
re-election. Mardis expressed his appreciation to fellow jurors for their vote
of confidence.
Dr. Phillip
Fincher, chairman of the Claiborne Parish Watershed District, asked the Jury to
consider calling an election for 1/8 cent sales tax for a limited period of
time, perhaps seven years. The Watershed District has a lot of responsibility
but no permanent source of income. This tax is expected to bring in between
$125,000-$140,000.
One of their
major problems is no permanent markers on Lake Claiborne. Commissioners have
volunteered to put out buoys which float off and puts personal liability on commissioners.
At their last meeting, they voted to no longer mark channels due to liability
and to remove the existing markers and put up signs warning individuals they
boat at their own risk. Among other needs, commissioners would like to install
permanent markers in form of pilings.
Fincher said,
"What we want to do as a watershed is to develop our water resources in
the parish and the economy of the immediate region." The Jury has problems
with funding because the tax base continues to fall.
Claiborne
Parish needs an agency to work actively to develop the resources we have. The
Commission will continue to manage and develop Lake Claiborne and other water
resources, seek grants, work as coordinating agency with other groups in parish
interested in providing stimulus for economic development in the parish, and
handle administrative responsibilities.
The Jury voted
to approve Fincher's request with the understanding a resolution would be
prepared for the next meeting.
Tuggle Descendant Reminisces Of Days
Gone By
BY JUDY PIXLEY DILLARD
In the past few
weeks, 
there were numerous weekly articles printed in The Guardian-Journal
about the Tuggle-Ramsey feud. Some
readers probably thought the articles were interesting, while other readers may
have thought they were appalling and should not have been published. The fact
remains they are a part of Claiborne Parish history. Our family knew of the
feud and my grandmother felt the facts were a "skeleton to keep hidden in
the closet." The Guardian-Journal brought that skeleton out of the closet
for many to read.
For members of
both families, these articles hit close to home and raised many unanswered
questions. Why did things happen as they did? Could it be the sheriff and his
posse and bloodhounds were inadequate to solving these crimes? Did the family
members think the only recourse was to take justice in their hands and resolve
to living and dying by the gun?
While I read
some of the articles, tears came to my eyes, and my heart was saddened over the
turmoil my grandfather Elmo Tuggle, endured as a young teenager. His favorite
uncle, Joe Tuggle, was killed when Elmo was only 16½ years old. Uncle Joe's
mother had begged him not to go to town the day he was killed, because she had
dreamed the night before that he was shot.
Uncle Joe was a
hunting companion to Elmo and was to send him to art school in New York. Elmo
had a natural art talent and the family still has two cherished paintings he
drew as a child. Elmo's eldest son was named after his beloved Uncle Joe......
.....I believe
my ancestors were proud people and had firm convictions and a strong love for
one another. Their spirits still remain on the land they once inhabited. In a
certain area, on a still day, one can hear the leaves begin to rustle and the
sound of birds' wings flapping. If one goes back again, an apparition will
appear. Is this my great-great grandmother waiting for her son, Joe, to return
home? Is it someone who was tragically killed? Is it someone still watching
over the land they loved so dearly or is it someone waiting for their loved one
to return from the war?
Only the woods
know the true answers to all our questions, and they have yet to reveal their
secrets.
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DAVID HOOD, HOMER ARTISAN, adds his sculptures to a window which also features a quilt made by
Mrs. Nurlie Foster, in preparation for the 2006 Claiborne Jubilee to be held
April 28 & 29. Check out this and other Jubilee windows on the Courthouse
Square. |
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THE WONDERFUL ART of Hair Braiding will be
demonstrated by 13-year-old Keessence Warren (seated) of Homer and 15-year-old
Shaniqua Washington of Summerfield on Saturday, April 29 at the 2006 Claiborne
Jubilee. |
| Click Here to Visit the Jubilee Event Page |
American Cancer Society's Relay For Life
Set April 21
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The American
Cancer Society's 2006 Relay For Life event will be
held Saturday, April 21 at Homer High School. Opening ceremonies begin at 7 PM.
Anyone interested in making a contribution or
purchasing a luminaria in honor or memory of someone can contact Co-Chairmen
Nancy Mason or Sandra Griggs at Regions Bank at 927-9625. Luminaria can be
purchased by filling out the form in today's newspaper and mailing with your
check for $10 to Relay for Life Luminaria Ceremony,
309 Beardsley Ave., Homer, Louisiana 71040. For more info, go to www.relayforlifeclaiborne.org
NOTICE: Town Square To
Be Closed Sat., April 15
Homer Police
Chief Russell Mills released a notice today informing residents three sides of
the Courthouse Square in downtown Homer would be closed to traffic on Saturday,
April 15 beginning at 6 AM to allow a promotional clip to be filmed. Detours
will be posted. Two-way traffic will be open on the west side of the Square.
