Town Council Postpones
Paying Debt Again
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Councilman Toney Johnson gave
an explanation on the situation regarding the payment of the town’s long-term
debt to the USDA that was approved at the regular meeting in November. He said,
“I would certainly like to see us pay some of the bond off.” Several issues
have come to light since the first of the year and the Council is uncertain
what can be done at this time. They met with engineers about the sewer plant
and the serious cost overrun on construction at the plant—something he was
unaware of. He wants the public to understand this issue is not being swept
under the rug.
Carlette Sanford asked what had been
done with the check written in November to the USDA. She suggested the Council
go ahead and take the steps necessary to pay the debt, so they can save on the
interest being paid by the Town. She believes it is a good idea to get out from
under some of the debt owed by the Town.
Johnson said he was not opposed
to paying the debt, but wanted to wait to see what issues the Council might
have to address, such as replacing the roof on city hall, the lawsuits facing
the Town, water leaks, problems at the sewer plant, the electric plant, and the
water plant.
Mayor David Newell suggested
they wait until the audit is completed which should be in June or before. He
inspected the city hall roof which he said was falling in. It is not
structurally sound.
As for the interest, the Town
is paying 6.35 percent interest on the present debt. He said, 'Certainly any
money you borrow would be far in excess of that amount.” He did not think it
would hurt to study and make a determination of exactly what the Town was
looking at.
Johnson said the Council will
still have to pass an ordinance to amend the 2007 budget in order to pay the
debt.
The Council voted to approve
working the upcoming holiday on February 19 in lieu of the holiday that was
incorrectly taken by town employees on January 2.
Following executive session to
discuss issues with two town employees, Mayor Newell made no comment and the
Council took no action after reconvening in open session.
The Council voted to appoint J.
C. Moore as mayor pro tem and voted to re-appoint Rita Mitchell as town clerk
and Shenovia Harris as treasurer.
A resolution was approved to
authorize placing Mayor David Newell, Town Clerk Rita Mitchell and Councilman
Toney Johnson on the signature cards at First Guaranty Bank.
The Council approved allowing
the mayor and council attend the LMA Mid-Winter
Conference in Baton Rouge on February 13-15.
The Council approved allowing
Clerk Rita Mitchell attend the Louisiana Municipal
Clerks Association Annual Spring Conference to be held March 8-10 in Bossier City.
The Council authorized allowing
Police Chief Russell Mills attend the New Chief Management Course provided by
the Law Enforcement Executive Management Institute to be held in Baton Rouge March 19-23, which is required
by state law.
Included in the packets was a
letter to council members from Mayor Newell. He said he met with Governor
Kathleen Blanco several times when she was in town on January 22, discussing
the Homer Bypass, Interstate 69, the traffic situation on the square, and other
town needs. He also met with engineers to discuss options on the completion of
the sewer plant.
Newell told the Council that
Police Chief Russell Mills was correct regarding the parish’s responsibility to
pay for housing some prisoners at the Claiborne Detention Center. He spoke with Police Jury
Secretary Dwayne Woodard who told him the parish had been paying bills for
Haynesville prisoners, but not for Homer’s.
Stallion Inc. agreed to pay
$1,400 rent beginning January 1 and has paid the entire electric bill. He also
contacted Sheriff Ken Bailey and Wade Correctional concerning inmate crews.
The Council also approved the
minutes of the January 8, 2007 meeting and the payment of
January bills.
Christian Danielle and Joseph Gregory Manzanares
will be forever remembered at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis,
thanks to the tireless efforts of their grandfather, Rickey Bearden and wife,
Sharon, and the many volunteers who helped raise the $70,000 needed over the
past 5 years to have a room at St. Jude’s dedicated to the Manzanares
children, who were killed in a tragic mobile home fire in August 2001. On hand
to present the check to St. Jude representative Bertie Downs was (l.-r.) Reggie
Jackson, Judy Lofton, Keith and Melissa Smith, Matt Manzanares,
Rickey Bearden, Leslie Manzanares, Ann Burton, Clint Boyett, Tommy Sanders, Joe Bauldree,
(Downs), and Grant Killgore. (Not pictured Sharon
Bearden.)
St.
Jude Car & Bike Show Tops $70,000 Goal
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
They needed $70,000. They
raised almost $72,000. It took five years, but the dream has finally come true—the
dream of Rickey and Sharon Bearden...the dream of Matt and Leslie Manzanares....their dream to keep the memory of their two
precious angels alive.
In the early morning hours of
Sunday, August 19, the Manzanares family woke to find
their small mobile home filled with smoke. Desperate attempts to reach their
two young children in the opposite end of the trailer were unsuccessful.
Christian Danielle was only five years old. Joseph Gregory was four.
Thanks to the perseverance and
the dedication of the children’s grandfather, Rickey Bearden, and the many
volunteers who pitched in to help raise money each year for St. Jude’s
Children’s Research Hospital, one of the rooms at the Memphis hospital will now be dedicated
to their memory. A plaque will be placed on one room at St. Jude’s in memory of
Christian and Joseph.
For the past five years,
Bearden has organized St. Jude Lake Claiborne Car and Bike Show held each
October at Lake Claiborne State Park; each year getting a little closer to the
$70,000 goal. In the past four years, the Show had raised a total of
$48,331.96.
This year the Car and Bike Show
held Saturday, October 7 had 52 cars and 19 bikes entered. They raised $5,500.
Thomas McDonald, winner of the 50-50 pot, donated his winnings of $304 back to
St. Jude. This year, students collected “Pennies for St. Jude” at Haynesville
Senior/Junior High, Haynesville Elementary, Homer Junior High, Claiborne Academy, Summerfield High, Pineview, and Athens, raising $5,198.27.
Although they received many
personal contributions, it fappeared they would be
about $2,000 short of their goal. Then on December 13, Bearden received a $3,000
contribution from BTP Contractors of Homer, putting this year’s total at
$23,596.37. With past contributions of $48,331.96, they were able to reach
their goal, with a grand total of $71,928.33.
Bearden offered his heartfelt
thanks to all the many volunteers, to Reggie Jackson who helped with the
motorcycle show, to the employees at Gibsland Bank
and Trust who counted all the pennies at no charge, to the inmates at David
Wade Correctional Center who painted the beautiful mural and provided the award
plaques, to all the students who collected pennies, and to all the generous
people of Claiborne Parish who donated money for St. Jude.
Bearden said he plans to
continue holding the St. Jude Lake Claiborne Car and Bike Show each October at
Lake Claiborne State Park, but it should be a little more relaxed now tat they
have reached their goal. He expects to be contacted by St. Jude in the near
future with a date for the dedication ceremony at the hospital in Memphis, something he wouldn’t miss
for the world.
Stolen Vehicle Discovered
Following Traffic Stop
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
While patrolling along West Main in Homer about 8:30
PM on
Monday, January 29, Homer Police Officer Mario Thomas observed a truck run the
red light at the intersection of North Main and West Main, almost hitting another vehicle. Thomas pulled the
vehicle over on East Main. When the driver got out of the vehicle, Thomas noticed
a strong odor of alcohol. Officer Roger Smith arrived on the scene and assisted
Thomas by giving the driver a field sobriety test. He failed all tests.
Tommy Joe Strickland, 39, of Dallas, Texas was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was placed on the intoxilyzer 5000 by Sheriff Deputy Jeff Pugh. His blood
alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Further investigation revealed
the older model Ford pickup truck driven by Strickland had been reported stolen
earlier that night in El Dorado, Arkansas. About $800 in lawn equipment was also
recovered in the truck and returned to the owner.
Strickland was charged with DWI
(driving while intoxicated) first offense, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle,
and theft. His bond was set at $21,000. Several DWIs
were shown on his record prior to the 10-year time limit.
Woman
Arrested; Chews Holes In Patrol Car
Claiborne Parish Sheriff Deputies Matt Harris
and Randy Pugh were dispatched to a disturbance call on Sunday, January 14 at
1190 Hwy. 519 in south Claiborne Parish.
Amanda Driskill,
26, of Arcadia was placed under arrest for disturbing the peace and
simple criminal damage to property. Driskill had
apparently knocked out the front window of the complainant's trailer. She then
resisted officers when they attempted to place handcuff on her.
Deputies searched her vehicle
and found a plastic container on the back right seat that contained a green
vegetable-like substance commonly associated with marijuana and some rolling
papers. A two inch metal container with white residue was found in Driskill’s front right pocket.
Driskill was transported to the
Claiborne Parish Jail by Deputy Pugh. She was booked on simple criminal damage
to property, disturbing the peace (simple drunk), resisting an officer,
possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. It was then
discovered that she had chewed two holes in the back seat of the patrol unit
CP-13. Driskill was then charged with another count
of simple criminal damage to property.
Bond was set at $500 each on
all counts except possession of marijuana and the second criminal damage to
property. Bond on those was set at $1,000 each.
Two Athens
Men Arrested For Copper Theft
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Office received a report on Tuesday, January 30 from a property owner who had
discovered some mobile homes had been vandalized and property had been removed
from them. Detectives Randy Smith and Duffy Gandy contacted the owner and found
the inside of the mobile homes had been stripped of copper wiring and pipes.
The walls and ceilings had been torn loose to obtain the wiring and pipes.
Further investigation by
detectives led to the arrest of Elbert G. Winzer, 47,
of 1815 Cook Road in Athens and Demarcus
Dewon Pickens, 21, of 126 Lewis Way in Homer. Both were charged
with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
Winzer was also arrested on an
outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a traffic violation for driving
without a license. Pickens was arrested on an outstanding traffic warrant for
failure to appear on a careless operation and no seatbelt charge. Total bond
for Winzer was set at $12,500. Bond was set at $6,500
for Pickens.
Marijuana,
crack cocaine, MDMA or ecstacy, and several
unknown pills were confiscated September 22 on Buckner Street
in Homer after Police Chief Russell Mills and Officer John Bailey discovered
the drugs while searching for a missing puppy.
Crime Lab Report Leads To
More Drug Charges
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Dever Andre Laron
Burns, 24, of Homer was arrested Tuesday, February 6 at the Claiborne Parish
Courthouse on several new arrest warrants by Homer Police Chief Russell Mills
and officer Keith Ferguson.
Last September, Chief Mills and
officer John Bailey worked with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Office and the Claiborne Narcotics Enforcement Team on a drug bust on Buckner Street in Homer, which netted
approximately one pound of marijuana, a small amount of crack cocaine and what
was believed to be MDMA or ecstacy, along with a
number of unidentified pills. The estimated street value was $4,000.
CNET Agent James Spillers submitted items to the Crime Lab for
analysis. The Crime Lab report received this week identified unknown items as oxycodone, MDMA (ecstasy), and alprazolam.
Burns was charged with possession of Schedule II (oxycodone),
possession of Schedule I (ecstasy and methamphetamine), and possession of
Schedule IV (alprazolam).
Bond was set at $20,000 on the
four new charges. Last September, Burns was charged with possession with intent
to distribute Schedule I (marijuana) and Schedule II (cocaine.).
VITA volunteers
Dave Knoebel and Sherman Brown prepare a tax return
at the Homer
Vo-Tech
WIA
Center.
Jean Reynolds, head of the local VITA project, reminds area residents that
trained, tested, and certified volunteers are available Tuesday evenings and
Saturday mornings to prepare returns at no cost. Call 927-3557 or 800-870-4166
to schedule an appointment for tax help at no cost.
Tourism—One Goal Of Economic Alliance
Tourism, one of the goals of
the Economic Alliance of North Central Louisiana, 
was the topic of the January 31, 2007 meeting hosted in Ruston. Over thirty people were in attendance to welcome
special guest speaker, Sharon Calcoate, Marketing
Supervisor for the Louisiana Office of Tourism, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism.
"North Louisiana has lots to offer to the
traveler," said Calcoate who enjoys promoting
the state to travelers across the United States. Ms. Calcoate said
that the state has lots of stories to tell.
She explained some of the tourism themes: civil war, African American trail, World War
II, and scenic byways that the state is promoting. Calcoate also
talked about the
existing birding trails and the new trails being developed that would include
destinations in North Louisiana.
Calcoate suggested that North Louisiana should consider other avenues
of interest. Suggestions included: mountain bike trail, a Bonnie and Clyde
Bandit Trail, a trail for motorcycles and a political trail that would trace
the life and times of governors like Huey P. Long.
"We have lots to promote
and it's always difficult to narrow the focus," said Calcoate. She cited a five parish group known as,
"Five Parishes West," who have done just
that. This group with the assistance of
the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism is branding their area in
hopes of attracting tourists. Calcoate said that one of the persons who played a key role
in the success of that group, Timothy Bush, now serves as the marketing
director of the Ruston Lincoln Parish Convention Visitors Bureau.
Calcoate believes Louisiana has a story to tell; and that
we need to research our local areas and begin to tell those stories. She ended her presentation by offering to
return to the area to help work on projects.
At the close of Calcoate's talk, community leaders were invited to share
information on upcoming opportunities.
Richard T. Ward, Director
Economic Development, Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives, announced
that Claiborne Electric Cooperatives', Inc. planned to host a "Site
Selection Workshop" in Arcadia on March 7th to teach the fundamentals of
landing new businesses when prospects are interested in your community. For
more information, contact Omar Valentine, Arcadia's Director of Economic
&Community Development at 318-263-8456.
Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter Community Rural Development Agent, announced that
the LSU Mobile Unit will be in Arcadia on March 1-2 and in Minden on March 5-8. The mobile unit hosts classes designed to
help people start their own business.
The classes are free and information for the classes can be obtained in Arcadia by calling 318-263-7400 and in
Minden by calling 318-371-1371 after February 10, 2007.
Scott Terry with the
Ruston/Lincoln Chamber of Commerce informed the group about several
meetings. Those meetings are:
A Business Incentives Workshop
is planned for February 14, 2007 in Ruston from 8:30
a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. at the IFM Building on the La. Tech University campus. This workshop will discuss renewal community,
enterprise zone, industrial property, tax exemption, quality jobs, and
restoration tax abatement programs. To
reserve a seat, call the
Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce at 255-2031.
"The Economic Impact of the Film Industry
on Northwest
Louisiana"
conference and luncheon on February 22, 2007 is from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at LSUS University Center. The cost is $55 (pre-registration) or $65
(at-the-door) for more information, please call (318) 797-5187.
The Lean Manufacturing Training
on March 6, 2007 in Ruston is an in-depth training that
will help small and large industries/manufacturers realize
the full potential of their businesses by learning through MePOL's
model used in the workshop. Please
spread the word about this workshop to small and large manufacturers in your
area. For additional information, the
business should contact Mike Hayden at (318) 671-7675.
The next Alliance meeting will be on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 in Ruston in the Peach Suite of the Ruston Civic Center from 9-10:30 A.M. At that meeting each of the six parishes
will give a 15 minute promotional talk on their parish and its tourism assets.
The Alliance's mission is to "create
partnerships and strategies to advance a sustainable economy in the parishes of
Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Winn, and Union." Its membership is
comprised of mayors, police jurors, chambers, tourism groups, and others
interested in furthering economic development in the region. The meetings are open to the public.
The Alliance would like to especially thank
Mayor Dan Hollingsworth, his staff, and the City of Ruston for hosting the meetings.
For more information on
meetings, contact meeting facilitator, Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter
Community Rural Development Agent, at 318-927-9654 Ext. 229.
Submitted
by Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter Community Rural Development Area
Agent
Patte Folts was in Egypt
recently with an Overseas Adventure Travel tour. During her trip, she attended
a dinner hosted by a local Egyptian family. Over the course of the evening,
they shared information and stories of their home countries. Patte told them the best place in the world to live was
Homer, Louisiana.
If you look closely, you will see her hosts are proudly wearing “I Love Homer”
buttons!.
Committee Hopes To Improve
Lake
Claiborne
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Finding ways to develop a long
term strategic plan to improve Lake Claiborne and provide scheduled
maintenance of the lake and public boat landings was the main topic of
discussion at the meeting held last Thursday at noon. Alice Stewart was appointed
to serve as chairman of the Lake Claiborne Maintenance and Improvement
Committee appointed by Claiborne Watershed Commission Chairman Butch Fincher.
Dora Ann Hatch, Community Rural
Development Area Agent for the LSU AgCenter,
facilitated the meeting. Committee members spent more than an hour coming up
with ideas to make Lake Claiborne more attractive for new
residents and more usable for those who use the lake.
Ideas were listed in three
separate categories: 1) quick projects that could be started immediately
, 2) projects that could be completed in the next 3 years, and 3) long
range projects that would take more than 3 years.
Quick projects included:
• repairs
to pier at Lisbon landing
• more awareness about lake
regulations, water quality, sanitation issues, lake levels and flood control,
beautification, and education programs such as the Water Fest held each year at
the State Park.
• establishing an office to
improve public access to information and involvement
• developing a volunteer pool
• installing remaining floating
buoys
•scheduled maintenance at
public landings and the dam, trash pickup, weed and vegetation control
Mid-range projects included:
• new addition at the Arizona
public landing; improvements to other landings could include fish cleaning
stations, pavilion or gazebo, and kiosks to distribute literature such as
fishing and boating regulations and maps of the lake
• zoning property around Lake Claiborne for new construction
• installing permanent channel
markers
Long-range projects included:
• planned residential development
such as gated communities on or near the lake and possibly a hotel or motel on
the lake
• recreational opportunities
such as upgrade at the State Park, a golf course, regional or national fishing
tournaments, ski team, possibly developing a park area below the spillway
• develop a levee spillway
system to control flooding
• beautification
projects around the lake and parish
Attending the meeting were
Stewart, Hatch, Roger Pemberton, Chic Hines, Doug Shurling,
Benji Winn, Gene Coleman, Dennis Butcher, Kevin
Greene, and Susan Herring.
Another meeting is scheduled
for Tuesday, February 13 at noon in the Police Jury Complex.
Dora Ann Hatch will facilitate this meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to
begin developing a plan to achieve the objectives established at the first
meeting. The meeting is open to the public. Anyone interested in working to
help improve Lake Claiborne is encouraged to attend.
Clementine Hunter Exhibit To Open February 15 At Museum
The Art and Social Commentary
of Clementine Hunter is comprised of more than 20
images of works by the artist. The exhibit, which will be on display at the Herbert S. Ford Museum in Homer from February
15-April 20, captures the spirit of Hunter’s life and work. As with most folk
artists, Hunter’s art reflects the tragedies and triumphs of a simple and
unadorned lifestyle. Her work depicts exactly what she knew, the agrarian
existence of life on Melrose Plantation and the small traditions and ceremonies
that mark a person’s progression from birth to death. For information on the
primitive art workshop to be conducted by local artist Chris Broussard on
Monday, February 26, call 927-9190.
Looking Back—More
Highlights From 2006
Continued from last week....
Below are highlights from more
events that occurred in 2006...continued from last week.
AUGUST
In a crackdown on drunk
driving, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office held a checkpoint August 4 and
made four arrests for DWI, John Harkey of Shreveport,
Raymond Lee Brown of Haynesville, Elton R. Harris of Athens, and Isaac James
Stephens of Athens.. …more
This Film by Michael Haynes Productions was created in conjunction with 
