KTBS Reporter Barbara Stewart was at the Homer Wal-Mart interviewing
local citizens on the closure of Wal-Mart. Above she speaks to former Town
Councilman Keith Beard and former Town Clerk Lana Pugh. Beard (left) said,
“Because Wal-Mart came in, some stores closed in the past, and now there are
some things you can’t purchase in town anymore, because those businesses are no
longer here. Pugh (center) said, “I am devastated. We depend on Wal-Mart. I for
one spend between $400-500 here every month.”
Homer Wal-Mart To Close July 1
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor,
The Guardian-Journal
Several Wal-Mart officials came to Claiborne Parish last
Thursday, May 29, to meet with associates at the Homer store. The reason was to
announce plans to close the 43,770 sq. ft. discount store operation on July 1.
Maggie Sans, Director of Public Affairs for Wal-Mart Store, Inc. said, “The
decision to close our Homer store was not an easy one. We have been a part of
the Homer community since 1979, and we remain committed to the community, but
we recognized that it no longer made business sense to keep the store open.”
Both the press release and the notice posted on the door of the store
indicated the lease on the Homer store would expire in August 2006. In order to
continue operating in Homer, two options were considered—to make a significant
investment to either extend the lease or build a new store. According to Howard
Morris, one stockholder in Homer
Investment, LLC, the corporation who owns the building and lot, “If Wal-Mart
officials were indicating Homer Investment LLC was unwilling to negotiate a new
lease, that is a flat out lie.” Morris said Wal-Mart has a 50 year contract
that locked in the lease amount at the same rate paid in 1981. He asked, “What
item could you buy at Wal-Mart today for the same price you paid in 1981?”
For almost 30 years, many believe Wal-Mart has been a
good neighbor to the citizens of Claiborne Parish. Others, like Homer
Councilman Toney Johnson said, “This was a prediction I made years ago—that
Wal-Mart would stay for awhile, they would eventually leave, once all the
existing businesses closed.” Johnson owned one of those businesses that closed
after Wal-Mart opened in the 1970s. His building supply store was averaging
about $45,000 every three months in sales. Within a year, those quarterly sales
dropped to about $12,000, and he was eventually forced to close his business.
J. T. Taylor, President of the Claiborne Chamber of
Commerce said, met with the five Wal-Mart officials last Thursday. He said, “I
feel strongly if Wal-Mart had given us a little more notice, possibly in
conjunction with the Chamber, the community and state officials, we could have
tried to help them work out some of their problems.” Taylor said he was continuing to talk to
Wal-Mart, the property owner, and state officials, to do whatever they could,
and, if necessary, work with state officials to find someone to fill the space
that could bring tax dollars and the best possible benefit to the town and
community.
Wal-Mart District Manager Christy Ratliff lives in
Claiborne Parish, on Lake Claiborne. She was totally unaware of plans to close
the Homer store until she received a call on her cellphone Wednesday—the day
before the announcement was made. She spent the entire day Thursday looking for
openings for the 69 associates at the Homer store who would no longer have a
job on July 1. She found 21 positions available at Wal-Mart in Minden, 21 in
Ruston, 2 in Springhill, and 39 in Bossier.
Associates working at the Homer store were given the
option to transfer or accept a severance package, which included all their
vacation pay for this year and next, plus a week’s pay for every year they had
been with the store. For example, a person who had worked with the company for
20 years would get 4 weeks vacation for this year, 4 weeks for next year and 20
weeks’ pay. In addition, they could sign up for unemployment.
Ratliff said Wal-Mart would also honor all commitments to
charitable donations to the community through next year.
The Town of Homer and the Claiborne Parish School Board
won’t fare so well. The Town of Homer stands to lose 22% of its annual sales
tax collections, or almost $200,000 of the total sales tax collected by the
Town over the past 7 years (1999-2006), total collections which have ranged
between $912,971 and $933,374.
The School Board stands to lose 14% of its total sales
tax collections. Although the dollar figures were not disclosed, they are
estimated between $200,000 and $300,000, and will directly affect the 13th
check to all School Board employees.
According to Tax Assessor Clyde Hightower, the Claiborne
Parish Police Jury stands to lose $39,275.26 and the Town of Homer $3,475.08 in annual taxes on inventory,
furnishings, fixtures, machinery, etc.
The property tax on the building and lot last year were $15,877.42 to
the parish and $1,404.83 to the town.
Claiborne Parish School Superintendent James Scriber said
he did not understand why they were closing the store. He said, “Financially, this is going to hurt
us seriously.” And, he believes it will have a ripple effect. He expects other
area businesses will begin to suffer when people go out of town to shop, and
while there, eat at a restaurant and fill up their gas tank. Scriber predicted,
“In the long run, I believe the School Board will lose more than 14% in sales
tax. This will cause further economic distress in the future.”
Bob Robinson, President of the Homer Industrial
Foundation and former Homer Councilman, would like to meet with company
officials, perhaps a community meeting at Homer City Hall. He would like to try
to find a solution to the problem, but he said, “We must first know what the
problem is before we can offer a solution.” He wants to see if the community
can help in someway to resolve any need the store may have and ask them, “Why
close July 1?” He feels the company could at least give the community more time
to adjust.
Robinson also wants to know what Wal-Mart’s long range
plan is. “Is it to build a new Wal-Mart, do they want a new building, or just
relocate to another community and ignore this area.....an area that has
supported Wal-Mart for almost 30 years?” What other community has Wal-Mart
given only 30 days before closing a store?
Homer Councilman Billy Kirk Jenkins suggests town
residents attend the council meeting Monday, June 5. He hopes the Council will
set up a community-wide town meeting with Wal-Mart officials the following
Monday, June 12, either in Homer City Hall or possibly in the Wal-Mart parking
lot.
Local Citizens Respond To Wal-Mart
Closure...
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Bob Robinson, President of The Homer Industrial Foundation:
”I would like to meet with company officials. Perhaps we can offer a solution to the problem, but we must first know what the problem is.”
|
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J.T. Taylor, President Claiborne Chamber of Commerce:
”I feel strongly that if Wal-Mart had given us a little more notice, possibly....we could have tried to help them work out some of their problems.” |
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James Scriber, Claiborne Parish School Superintendent:
“Financially, this is going to hurt us seriously. I am afraid of the
ripple effect. In the long run, I believe it will be more than the 14% in sales
tax.” |
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Naomi Starr:
”All this has to do with is money. Wal-Mart should be about the people.
It is going to hurt the elderly the most. That is wrong.” |
 |
Martha Ruple:
”If they are going to close this Wal-Mart, are they going to provide ‘free’ transporation for the elderly to a Wal-Mart in another town?”
|
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Toney Johnson, Homer Town Council:
”This is a big blow to our town, but I knew it was coming. I predicted this 20 years ago, that Wal-Mart would eventually leave.” |
Homer Wal-Mart’s Legacy
AN EDITORIAL BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor,
The Guardian-Journal
Could it be that Wal-Mart has nothing to do anymore with the ideals and principles of founder Sam Walton? Was his death in 1992 a turning point? Walton started the chain of super stores over 60 years ago when he opened his first retail store in Arkansas. His goal was to provide items to small rural communities at the same low price they were selling for in larger metropolitan areas. He didn’t think small town residents should have to drive 40 miles to another city for those same low prices.
In November 2004, the PBS program Frontline ran a story entitled “Is Wal-Mart Good For America?” Today, residents in Homer and Claiborne Parish might say “no” if that question were asked of them.
For almost 30 years, Wal-Mart has provided “low prices” to citizens in Claiborne Parish. In turn, the citizens of Claiborne Parish have spent millions every year at Wal-Mart, both in Homer and at Wal-Mart Super Centers in neighboring towns. Last Thursday, that once positive relationship turned negative. Local residents are still reeling from the announcement that Wal-Mart plans to close the Homer store permanently on July 1.
Local residents, town and parish officials are looking for answers. They want to know what happened. Even Wal-Mart District Manager, Christy Ratliff, who resides in Claiborne Parish, was unaware of Wal-Mart’s plan to close the store. She received a call on Wednesday, May 24, just one day before the announcement was made.
It seems rather ironic that Leo Scott, Wal-Mart CEO, announced at the Newspaper Association of America’s annual convention less than two months ago, the creation of the “Wal-Mart Jobs and Opportunity Zones” initiative. He touted the building of more than 50 stores in neighborhoods with high crime or unemployment rates, on sites that are environmentally contaminated, or in vacant buildings or malls in need of revitalization. Is not Homer and Claiborne Parish in need of revitalization? The entire parish qualified as a Renewal Community zone in 2001 because it was shown to be a poverty-stricken and/or distressed community.
Activists have argued that competition from Wal-Mart destroys small businesses, particularly “mom and pop” stores that make communities unique. While some communities, such as Inglewood, California voted to keep Wal-Mart out of their town in 2004—others, like Mansfield, Louisiana recently fought to keep their store open after it was closed.
According to PBS’ “Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes To Town” at www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars, critics believe Wal-Mart opens stores to saturate the marketplace and clear out the competition, then close, leaving their stores sitting empty. Store Wars, billed as a “truly American story about the right of a community to determine its own future”, notes that Wal-Mart is criticized for deserting stores that under-perform. In May 2000, Wal-Mart had left behind more than 25 million square feet of unoccupied space across the country, refusing to sell the empty buildings to their competitors. Homer is apparently another notch in their mega belt.
It appears the dream of Sam Walton died with him in 1992. The goal of the “new” Wal-Mart seems to have completely changed from the days when “Made in America” was the slogan. Today, “everyday low prices” means buy from China. And, what of the three guiding principles founded by Walton—respect the individual, service to our customers, and strive for excellence? His belief was “that every individual deserved to be treated with respect and dignity.”
Lee Scott says, “We at Wal-Mart are optimistic – or smiling, if you will – about our ability to continue to grow and touch the lives of millions more working families around the world.” To that, residents in Claiborne Parish say, “Thanks, Lee.”
National Public Radio reported in April, 2006, that Wal-Mart planned to offer seminars to mom-and-pop stores about how to survive when Wal-Mart comes to their neighborhood. Perhaps Wal-Mart needs to offer a seminar to the folks in Claiborne Parish on “how to survive when they leave.”
To submit a comment to Wal-Mart, go to www.WalMartStores.com, call 1-800-WAL-MART (1-800-925-6278), or mail your comment to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-8611.
HOMER POLICE CHIEF RUSSELL MILLS escorts Kent Kirk from
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Criminal Investigative Division office to transport
him to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was booked on three
counts distribution of crack cocaine.
Local Drug Dealer Arrested
Sheriff Ken Bailey released a statement regarding the
arrest of Kent Willis Kirk, 31, of Homer on Friday, May 26 by the Claiborne
Narcotic Enforcement Team (CNET), Claiborne Sheriff’s Office, Homer Police
Department, and the Louisiana State Police. This was the culmination of a four
month investigation.
Kirk was charged with three counts distribution of
Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (CDS), crack cocaine. The
investigation centered on Kirk’s alleged drug distribution activities in the
area of North 4th and East 4th Street in
Homer. He was also charged with two counts of failure to pay child
support.
Narcotic agents obtained arrest warrants on Kirk on
Friday through the Second Judicial District, and with the assistance of Homer
Police Chief Russell Mills, were able to locate and arrest the subject while he
was working on a construction site in Homer.
If convicted, distribution of Schedule II CDS carries a
term of imprisonment at hard labor for not less than two years, nor more than
30 years, with the first 2 years of said sentence being without benefit of
parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. In addition, the person convicted
could also be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $50,000.
Sheriff Bailey and Chief Mills agree this is an example
of communication and cooperation that has resulted in the removal of a serious
problem from our local community. CNET Agent James Spillers stated that in
recent months, calls from citizens in reference to illegal drug trafficking
seem to have increased. Additionally, these calls have been in more detail. He
said both Homer and Haynesville Police Departments have been instrumental in
providing assistance through information they are able to provide about activities
in their towns. Sometimes law enforcement can gather evidence and respond
quickly to public complaints and sometimes it can take months or years to make
the case against illegal drug traffickers.
Spillers reminded the citizens of Claiborne Parish, “The
fight against illegal drugs is a battle that everyone, not just law
enforcement, shares. The anonymous calls and citizen complaints are taken
seriously and greatly appreciated.”
To provide information on illegal drug activities or any
other crime, call the Claiborne Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation
Division (CID) at 927-9800, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 927-2011,
Chief Russell Mills, Homer Police Department, at 927-4000, or Chief Anthony
Smith, Haynesville Police Department, at 624-1311.
HMH Board Abandons New Hospital
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor,
The Guardian-Journal
The Board of Directors of Homer Memorial Hospital voted
unanimously at their last meeting to abandon plans to build a new hospital
according to Hospital Administrator Doug Efferson. The
study requested by the Homer Town Council last December was recently
completed by Parsons Healthcare Services and META Associates, one of the
nation’s oldest and largest dedicated healthcare program management companies.
The firm was hired by the Board to determine the feasibility of building a new
hospital. Efferson said, “A replacement facility is what’s best for healthcare
in Claiborne Parish. That is definitely what is being told in this story. We
just can’t afford it.”
The total estimated cost to build a new hospital was
$27,470,241 and would take 21 months to complete. To renovate the existing
hospital to the standard of a replacement facility would be almost as
much—$27,075,778.
It was determined a new hospital would require almost
80,000 sq. ft. This is the minimum area required to build a new hospital to
meet state and national guidelines, and guidelines by the AIA (American
Institute for Architects. The national
average for a 50-bed hospital is about
100,000 sq. ft. Presently the existing hospital has 52,000 sq. ft. and the
Senior Care Center in Haynesville has 8,000 sq. Ft.. The increase in space
would provide out patient services and larger patient rooms.
Efferson said the Board realized $15 million was the most
they could get from the sales tax. Based on the debt capacity of the hospital,
they could add another $3-4 million, but it wasn’t enough.
Hospital construction costs in 2004 was $135 per sq. ft.
In 2005, it was $150 sq. ft. The Board was expecting the price to range between
$165-170 per sq. ft., however the cost last December after Hurricane Katrina
jumped to $185. Today, it is $235 per sq. ft.
Efferson
said if they had built a new hospital 5-6 years ago, they would have gotten the
$135 price, but politics killed it. Now economics are killing it.
Data analysis showed the population is expected to
decrease by 3 percent in the primary service area over the next five years. The
hospital currently has 50 licensed beds of which 45 are used for
medical/surgery and five for ICU. The study determined there would be no need
for additional beds through 2012.
Two problems to be addressed are space for visiting doctors and parking.
The emergency room and intensive care unit are extremely small. Efferson said the Board still has about $2
million available to do begin work on the first phase of the renovation. He
noted the Board spent $500,000 last year on improvements and renovations to the
air conditioning system and for the purchase
of new beds.
Efferson will attend the meeting of the Homer Town
Council on Monday, June 5 to give a report on the findings of the study
Contributions Needed For
Fourth of July Fireworks
The
2006 Claiborne Parish Boat Show and Fourth of July Fireworks will be held
Tuesday evening, July 4. The Boat Show will commence from Pleasure Point Marina
beginning at 7:30 PM, followed by the Fireworks display from the Lake Claiborne
dam at 9 PM. Last year was great, but this year should be as good or better. We
do need your contributions, large or small. Please make your checks payable to:
Claiborne Fireworks, Inc., 180 Post Oak Road, Homer, LA 71040. If you have
questions about Fireworks, call Fred Lewis at 927-9180. Boat Show questions
should be directed to Dick Dorrell at Homer Loans at 927-0039.
