Claiborne Parish Students
Return To Class Next Week
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Claiborne Parish students will begin returning
to the classroom beginning Monday, August 14, when bells ring for Claiborne Academy students. All Claiborne Parish
public schools (Athens, Haynesville, Homer, Pineview,
and Summerfield) will start their new school year on Wednesday, August 16. The
first day for students at
Mt. Olive Christian School in Athens and at Junction City Schools
will be Monday, August 21.
Claiborne Academy will hold on Monday, August
14. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at Claiborne Academy, First Guaranty
Bank or Capitol One Bank. Take-outs begin at 5 PM and entertainment at 6:30
PM.
Homer High School students can stop by the
school office, pay their school fee, and pick up their schedules for the
2006-2007 school year anytime between 8 AM
- 2 PM,
Monday-Friday.
The Homer Junior High School will hold a community-wide
Open House at their new school building on Pelican Drive (formerly Bonner Street) across from Homer High School’s Ronny G. Beard Memorial
football stadium on Monday, August 14, from 6-8 PM. Principal Keith Beard
encourages everyone in the community to attend and tour the new facility.
Open House and Registration for
all Pre-K-5th grade students who will be attending Homer Elementary School in 2006-2007 will be held on
Wednesday, August 9, from 8 AM.-2 PM and on Thursday, August 10
from 1-7 PM in the school’s multi-purpose building for students
currently enrolled. New students should register in the Homer Elementary
Office. Every child planning to attend Homer Elementary in the 2006-2007 school
year must be re-registered on one of the above dates.
Students not registered on August 9-10 will not be assigned to a classroom or
be able to attend class until an adult parent or guardian comes and fills out
the paper work. Parents of those students who come the first day of school and
have not been registered will be contacted to come and pick up their child
until someone comes and re-registers them.
Pineview High School will host a Parenting Workshop
from 6-8 PM on Thursday, August 17. Ron Anderson will be the
presenter. All parents are asked to come out and participate in this workshop.
Orientation for parents of
kindergarten students at Junction City Elementary will be held Tuesday, August
15 at 6:30 PM according to Principal Margaret McGaha. These times have
been designated as the time for parents of kindergarten students to meet their
child’s teacher, receive information, and become familiar with the kindergarten
program.Students should not attend this meeting. For more information, call
870-924-4578.
New Headmaster At Claiborne
Academy
BY
PAIGE REEDER
Schedules are shuffled and
reshuffled. Teachers, tanned and relaxed, ease back to their schoolrooms with
fresh ideas. Trucks fill the stadium for evening football practices. Signs of a
new school 
year are cropping up at Claiborne Academy, and leading the way is
Charles “Chuck” Herrington.
In the brisk pace of
back-to-school excitement, the new headmaster seems unfazed by the chaos. After
all, Herrington has 30 years of experience in education, serving as a classroom
teacher, head football coach, athletic director and principal throughout his
career. “I have gained a tremendous knowledge and experience to be an
educational leader at any level,” he says, adding, “I’m very excited about
being in the private school arena. There’s so much more flexibility.”
After recently retiring from
the public school system in Natchitoches, Herrington and wife Janet
have settled in Homer. He’s familiar with the area, having served as Minden
High’s head coach in the 1980s and leading them to a State Championship in
1980. He spent the past five years serving as principal of Marthaville Elementary/Junior
High School. His leadership there was impressive. Test scores steadily rose,
earning the school a state performance rating of “school of exemplary growth”
and landing the school financial rewards from the state for the past four
years.
Since arriving at CA in June,
“the response from faculty and families has been overwhelming. I’m really
amazed at the people here and how they’re willing to work for the school,” he
says. It’s obvious family is important to Herrington.
A glance around his office reveals several photos of his children and seven
grandchildren.
Serving as Herrington's right
hand man this year is Phillip Mayfield, the school’s
new Assistant Headmaster and Athletic Director. The Haynesville native worked
at CA last year in various capacities, but became most endeared to elementary
students as “Coach Mayfield” during their PE time. “Being here last year
allowed me to get a feel for things at CA,” Mayfield explains. During the time,
he also earned additional certificates in administration.
Settling into his new office
amidst a maze of unpacked boxes and a stack of assorted football jerseys,
Mayfield seems to have the right answer for every question thrown his way, a
smile for each office visitor, and a heap of patience for his ever ringing cell
phone.
His career has spanned teaching
at the high school level as well as working in hospital settings. His wife
Erica is an elementary teacher in Haynesville. Before returning to Claiborne
Parish, Mayfield was the head athletic trainer and Director of Sports Medicine
at an Arkansas university. “It was 7 days a week, 365 days a year,” he
says, “Now. I’m where my kids are. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”
Mayfield has two daughters—Delaney, who is entering fourth grade, and Mikayla,
who will be in first grade at Claiborne Academy.
“I fell in love with it—the
people, the kids, the parents,” Mayfield says of CA. “There is so much
enthusiasm and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
DA Files Petition Against Attorney General
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
District Attorney Walter May
filed a petition in Second Judicial District Court in Bienville Parish on
Friday, August 4 questioning the constitutionality of Act 669 adopted during
the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature in 1999. Senate Bill 751
authored by then Senator Randy Ewing of Jackson Parish was passed by the
Legislature and enacted in 1999 amending the residency requirement for the
three judges in the Second Judicial District Court beginning with the term
commencing on January 1, 2003.
The petition names as
defendant’s Attorney General Charles C. Foti Jr. and Second Judicial District
Court Judges Jenifer Ward Clason, Jimmy C. Teat, and C. Glenn Fallin, the only
judges elected after Act 669 was enacted. “The petition is not about the
judges,” May said, “It is actually a petition to sue the Constitution.” The
only reason the three judges were named is because the State Law requires the
petition to name all parties and interests.
May contends
in the Petition that La. Revised Statute 13:621.2 expressly states that “The
Second Judicial District Court shall have three judges.” According to Article
V, Section 24 of the Louisiana Constitution, judges must simply reside “in the
district”. Section 14 says “the state shall be divided into judicial districts,
each composed of at least one parish and served by at least one district
judge.” A proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed
sub-districts statewide was rejected by Louisiana voters in October 1989.
Act 669 requires the judge in Division “A” of the Second
Judicial District Court be a resident of Claiborne Parish, the judge in
Division “B” be a resident of Jackson parish, and the judge in
Division “C” be a resident of Bienville Parish.
According to May, this is the only judicial district in the state that
has such a residency requirement.
May said he was only trying to
rectify an error created in 1999 by the enactment of Act 669. Only the
Constitution can set forth the qualifications for judges. May now awaits a
response from the Attorney General.
Local
Man Reported Missing
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Office received a report that Rodney L. Capers, 36, had not been seen since
Friday, July 14. Capers was last seen around 4:30 PM walking at the intersection of
Hwy. 531 and US 79 in Minden, carrying his Bible and a
backpack by a friend. According to his family, Capers had has had prior drug
problems and was apparently headed to Bossier Parish. Anyone with information
regarding the whereabouts of Rodney Capers is urged to contact your local law
enforcement agency or the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-927-2011.
Homer Fire Department
Maintains Class 3 Rating
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Homer Fire Department was
evaluated this past May by the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana
(PIAL). Their findings were released in July and, according to Homer Fire Chief
Dennis Butcher, the Town of Homer once again received a Class 3
rating. Butcher said, “The men and women in our fire department deserve a great
deal of recognition for their contribution to the community for having achieved
this rating once again.” This is the second time in five years.
“This is a significant
achievement,” said Butcher. The Homer Fire Department is the only fire
department in Claiborne Parish to hold a Class 3 rating. What this means for
Homer residents is that they will continue to qualify
for lower homeowner’s insurance rates for at least another five years.
Citizens Oppose Changing
East 2nd To One-Way Street
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Elmer Poss presented a petition
with approximately 70 names of people who opposed changing the one block of
East 2nd to a one-way street. Poss told the Homer Town Council at a public
hearing held prior to their regular meeting Monday night, changing the one
block of East 2nd Street between First Guaranty Bank
and St. Margaret Catholic Church to a one-way street would force residents to
go to East 3rd or East Main. Both options would create less safe situations.
East 3rd Street intersects North Main near the railroad track and
has limited visibility due to a hill. East Main would force traffic back onto the Courthouse Square, and making a left turn onto North Main would be more hazardous. In
addition, the change would create problems for parking at the church. Several
members are elderly, one is disabled and uses a
walker. Changing the traffic would require them to go out in the road in
oncoming traffic to get in their vehicle.
Loy Weaver, who made the
request to change the street to a one-way, said he felt it would be safer for
church members since they would only have to look for traffic in one direction
instead of two. He said the street was so narrow it created a problem for
vehicles turning into the street and caused traffic to back up on North Main. He said his request had
nothing to do with the bank, but “strictly a matter of traffic control and
safety for citizens.”
Poss said the town had a number
of traffic problems around town that needed to be addressed to allow traffic to
move more effectively and efficiently. He said, “Some of us do not believe
making one block of East 2nd Street follows that policy.”
Jesse Ford said they had
several options. They could change the street to a one-way, remove at least
three trees that restricts view, or widen the street.
Weaver said there was no room to widen the street on the bank’s side.
J. C. Moore was not aware of
the situation it would create for the church. He felt it was a dangerous corner
and thought a good idea at the time, but was flexible and open-minded.
The Council voted to table
making a decision until they could study the situation further.
The Council adopted a
resolution recognizing the contribution of former Police Chief Rodney
Hollenshead who served as Chief of Police from October
31, 1988
through December 31, 2005, “with no other good in mind
but to work to improve quality of life. for all the
citizens of the Town of Homer.” The Resolution went on to say
“Rodney never considered his position on the Homer Police Department as one of
honor but rather a position of servitude to the citizens of Homer. and believed elected officials should serve their
communities with dignity and honor, energy and zeal, and a commitment to work
together in a spirit of unity with the Mayor, Council, his department, and
other area law enforcement agencies, as well as the citizens of the community
to improve and protect the quality of life through fair and impartial
decisions.”
Other issues addressed by the
Council included hiring another police officer, video equipment for police
units, policy for employee K-time,
garbage rate increases, purchasing the hangar at the airport, authorizing a
second inmate crew, and mowing the cemetery.
“Lights...camera...action”
BY
JIMMY DEAN, Feature
Writer, The Guardian-Journal
It is April, 2006, in North Louisiana: “Lights, camera, action!”
Fast forward
to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
night, August 1 at Homer City Hall auditorium. Almost 150 are on hand to
attend the debut of “North Louisiana—A Filmmaker’s Dream.”
The air is loaded with the
buttery smell of fresh popcorn. Men in
confederate 
gray mill around, a few with vintage rifles. Clusters of
hoop-skirted women sashay here and there. Some ponytails in “pedal-pushers” and
bobbysox evoke the spirit of the 1950s. On a wall is the classic picture of Marilyn
Monroe, skirt a-flaring.
Though there are no dancing
spotlights tonight, Claiborne and Webster Parishes costar in this Michael
Haynes production. Earlier this year Claiborne and Webster supporters
collaborated with Michael Haynes to create the promotional film for the area.
As the 13-minute film runs,
sharp-eyed viewers note several locals. In one scene Tommy Gore appears to be
panning 
for gold. Bearded Keith Owens leads a mule across a creek. John
David Watson, emcee for the evening, later mentions that Keith “walked that
mule through the water 50 times to get it just right.”
The Germantown buildings,
Madden Mansion at Minden, Lake Claiborne, the Homer Courthouse, the Spring Theater in Springhill, and other
notable landmarks of the area take center stage at one time or another in
“North Louisiana—A Filmmaker’s Dream.”
Brief staged scenes depicting
Civil War gunfire, Old West cattle rustling, and panning for gold were created
to help movie producers see the viability of the Claiborne-Webster area for
motion picture production. The cinematic canvas also includes scenes suggesting swampy
lowlands thick with fog and dense with Spanish moss. The impression of miles of
railroad with trains and impressive aerial shots of Lake Claiborne add to the film’s mosaic of North Louisiana.
The production concludes with
State Senator Robert Adley
commenting that Louisiana has the most aggressively
favorable tax incentives in the nation to attract the film industry to the
state.
Sheriff’s Office Makes
Four Arrests For DWI
Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Arrests
As part of a continuing effort
by the Sheriff’s Office to maintain safe highways in Claiborne Parish, four
individuals were issued citations for DWI (driving while intoxicated) at a
checkpoint held over the past weekend beginning late Friday night, August 4.
Arrested were John S. Harkey,
48, of Shreveport, charged with DWI first offense; Raymond Lee Brown, 56, of
Haynesville, charged with DWI first offense and no motor vehicle inspection
sticker; Elton R. Harris, 50, of Athens, charged with DWI first offense, no
license plate light, and for bench warrant for failure to appear in court; and
Isaac James Stephens, 24, of Athens, charged with DWI first offense and failure
to obey stop/yield signs.
On Thursday, August 3,
Claiborne Parish Deputy Brian Pepper pulled over a vehicle driven by Minnie L.
Simmons for having no license plate lights. According to Sheriff Ken Bailey,
Deputy Pepper found the inspection sticker had expired and Simmons in
possession of crack cocaine and a crack pipe. Simmons, 49, of Homer was
transported to the Claiborne Parish Jail Women’s Facility where she was booked.
Bond to be set.
A passenger in the vehicle,
James Ray Gipson, 51, also of Homer, was seen discarding a crack pipe out the
window of the vehicle. He was arrested and charged with possession of drug
paraphernalia. His bond was set at $500.
Sheriff’s Office Launches
New Crackdown
On Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. In fact,
during 2004, nearly 13,000 people were killed in highway crashes involving an
impaired driver or motorcycle operator with an illegal blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. The picture for motorcycle operators is
particularly bleak. Forty-one percent of the 1,672 motorcycle operators who
died in single-vehicle crashes in 2004 had BAC leverls of .08 or higher.
That is why the Claiborne
Parish Sheriff’s Office announced this week they will be joining with thousands
of other law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation during
August and the Labor Day holiday to launch an aggressive new crackdown on
impaired drivers called: Drunk Driving. Over the Limit.
Under Arrest.
"Make no mistake. Our message is simple. No matter what you drive—a passenger car,
pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle—if we catch you driving impaired,
we will arrest you. No exceptions. No
excuses," said Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey.
We will be out in force conducting sobriety checkpoints,
saturation patrols and using undercover officers to get more drunk drivers off
the road. We want everyone to play it
safe and always designate a sober driver or find a different way home if they
have been out drinking," said Sheriff Bailey.
Driving with a BAC of .08 or
higher is illegal in every state.
Although drunk driving fatalities across the
nation slightly declined in 2003 and 2004, alcohol-related fatalities are
projected to increase in 2005. Moreover,
according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.4 million people were
arrested for driving under the influence during 2004.
"Drunk driving is simply
not worth the risk. Not only do you risk
killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash
or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant," said Sheriff
Bailey. "Violators often face jail
time, the loss of their driver's license, higher insurance rates, attorney
fees, time away from work, and dozens of other expenses.
"So don't take the chance.
Remember, if you are over the limit, you are under arrest."
The national Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. impaired driving crackdown is a comprehensive impaired
driving prevention program organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation's
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that focuses on
combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through
advertising and publicity.
This year's effort is supported
by $11 million in paid national advertising to help put everyone on notice that
if they are caught driving impaired, they will be arrested.
REGISTRAR OF VOTERS Patricia Sanders
is distributing informational pamphlets this week detailing Louisiana Voter
Registration Facts, A How To Guide To Register To
Vote, and how to become a poll worker in conjunction with Voter Registration
Week, August 7-11,
2006. Wednesday, August 30 will be the last day to
register to vote in the September 30 election. Early or absentee voting will be
held September 18-23. Prospective candidates for the September 30 election have
until Friday, August 11 at 5:00
PM to qualify. For more information, contact the
Clerk of Court office at 927-9601.
July 4th Fireworks Sets
Schedule For 2007
Claiborne Fireworks, Inc., in
an effort to make our annual Lake Claiborne Fireworks and Boat Show convenient
to as many as possible, have decided on the following as a permanent scheduling
policy. When July 4th falls on either
Friday or Saturday, the Fireworks Show will be held that day,on
the Fourth of July. Otherwise, if the Fourth of July falls on a Sunday through
Thursday, the Fireworks Show will be held on the preceding Saturday night. In 2007, when July 4 falls on Wednesday, the
Fireworks Show will be held on Saturday, June 30. As the date approaches, the
show time will be advertised in the local and area media.
Hamilton
Announces Candidacy For Police Chief
Jimmy Hamilton, a 14 year
veteran of the Homer Police Department, would like to officially announce his
candidacy for Chief of Police. "I have dedicated myself to the service of
the citizens of Homer for over a decade.
It is my sincere desire to continue this service as Chief of Police. I
feel 
that my experience in law enforcement and with the Police Department in
particular, along with my education, specialized training, and expertise makes
me the most qualified person to serve this position."
Hamilton chose law enforcement
as his career at the young age of 20 beginning as a volunteer reserve officer
before being hired as a full-time Police officer at the age of 22 with 14 years
served to date. He was born and reared
in Homer and has been a life-long resident.
He intends to devote his undivided attention on being Police Chief as he
does not have other career obligations that will decrease his time, efforts,
and focus away from this position. Hamilton's heart has been in Homer and
he feels that he is needed the most here in Homer. Hamilton would like to follow in his
father's footsteps in serving the public.
Jimmy's father, James Hamilton, was employed by the Town of Homer for 38 years in the Public
Works Department and served as Fire Chief for the town before current Fire
Chief Dennis Butcher.
Jimmy graduated from Homer High School in 1991. He continued his education at Louisiana Tech University & Bossier Parish Community College from 1991-1993 studying
Business Administration. After
completing the Police Academy in March 1995, he was promoted
quickly to Corporal by Chief Rodney Hollenshead in 1996. He was again promoted to Sergeant and shift
supervisor in 1999. Jimmy is responsible
for calculating and reporting the department's Uniform Crime Report to the
State of Louisiana's Governor's Office and has
received several commendations from the State on his work.
Jimmy has continued his law
enforcement education by attending the following 29 law enforcement schools and
seminars: Hazardous Material Awareness Level, Pursuit Driving, Criminal Patrol,
Doppler Traffic Radar Operation, Mental Preparation for Armed Confrontations,
Street Survival 1997, Police Killed and Assaulted Training Program, Advanced
Practical Homicide Investigation, Basic Crime Scene Investigation, Searching,
Measuring and Documenting of Crime Scenes, Scientific Crime Investigation,
Criminal Investigation Techniques, Gang Awareness, Pressure Point, Handcuffing,
Weapon Retention, and Disarming, Introduction to Basic Criminal Investigation
Techniques, Safe and Drug-Free Communities, Fingerprinting, Criminal
Investigations Case Management, Burglary and Robbery Investigations, School
Violence, Introduction to Community Oriented Policing, Problem Solving,
Effective Communication Skills, High Risk Calls, Death and Homicide, Drug
Interdiction, Kinesics Interview, Narcotics Enforcement Annual Conference, and
Child Interview Techniques. He is a
member of the Municipal Police Officers Association, Louisiana Peace Officers
Association, Louisiana Narcotic Officers Association, and the Louisiana Union
of Police Associations. Jimmy's certifications include the following: State of Louisiana Certification in DWI and Standardized Field
Sobriety Testing, State of Louisiana Certification in Chemical Testing for
Intoxication, Notary Public for Claiborne, Bienville, Webster, Jackson, and
Lincoln Parishes, PPCT Defensive Tactics Instructor, and PPCT Spontaneous Knife
Instructor.
Jimmy has numerous ideas on
enhancing and improving the Homer Police Department and the Town of Homer in general. If elected as Police Chief he would like his
office to be more proactive to the concerns of the citizens of Homer through
Community Orientated Policing to deal with the issues faced by a community
experiencing growth and the crime that accompanies it. He also believes it is important to promote
more educational programs for young people.
"With the increased drug activity involving our community, it is
important to educate our children and the community on the dangers of these
drugs that are moving into our area."
Hamilton would also like to promote his open door policy at the
Police Department along with starting neighborhood watch programs. With the
continued growth in Homer, Neighborhood Watch programs are more important than
ever. Jimmy would like to have a good
working relationship with the City Government and other local law enforcement
agencies to work together as a team to improve the safety and quality of life
for the residents of Homer.
"My goal as Chief of
Police is to positively impact the quality of the life in our community. To
attain this goal, the department and I will be committed to forming practical
partnerships with the citizens, which includes a mutual goal setting process
aimed at resolving problems, reducing fear, preserving the peace and enforcing
the law; thereby providing a safe environment for the community as a
whole. Neighborhood patrol will be
strictly enforced to help eliminate break-ins and criminal damage to
property. I have always patrolled and
checked the local businesses and I place security check cards to let the owners
know that I was there and that your business was secure at the time I checked
it. I will make it a priority for
officers to do security checks on your businesses and place cards to let you
know we were there."
Jimmy is a lifelong resident of
Homer. He is the son of James and Beth Hamilton,
both of Homer.
His grandparents are the late Joe D. and Cora Weaver Tuggle, and Aubrey
and Nellie Hamilton. Jimmy is married to
the former Lori Hanna. She is the
daughter of Pamela K. Austin of Homer and Kerry Hanna, formerly of Homer. She is the granddaughter of C.C.
"Hamburger" Austin and John L. and Dorothy Ferguson, all of
Homer. Jimmy and Lori have one son,
Austin, who is 5-years-old. Jimmy is a
lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Homer.
"I hope to personally meet
as many citizens throughout the community as I possibly can and I openly
solicit anyone to contact me with any questions regarding my candidacy and
qualifications. Please feel free to
contact me through my website at www.hamilton4chief.org to discuss any issues
important to you or to set up a time for me to meet with you face to face. You can contact me at 927-2930 or 225-0078
(local cell) and I humbly ask for your support on Sept.
30, 2006."
