Police Chief Russell Mills (right) explains the rights under the law to Gerald Ray Anderson who was apprehended around 2 AM Saturday morning and charged with the armed robbery of In-Mart. Officers Roger Smith (left), Jim Faulkner, John Bailey, Ken Wood, along with the DWCC Chase Team and CPSO deputies, assisted in the search.

The Chase Team from David Wade Correctional Center assisted in the capture of the suspect in the armed robbery of In-Mart in Homer last Friday night. Members of the Chase Team include (kneeling) Major John Stephenson with “Bullett II”, (standing, l.-r.) Col. Danny Mills, Gerald Manzanares, Sgt. John Eric Stephenson, and Lt.  Darrell Hamiter.  (Not pictured is Sgt. Pam Gildon.)

Homer Man Arrested For Armed Robbery

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

It took less than three hours in a joint effort by Homer Police, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the David Wade Correctional Center Chase Team to capture and identify the person suspected in the armed robbery of In-Mart in Homer last Friday night, March 23. Store clerks made a  911 call at 11:35 PM to report a black male had entered the store carrying a pipe, forced his way behind the counter and grabbed more than $1,900 in cash, then fled the store on foot.

Homer Police officers Roger Smith and John Bailey responded to the scene. Homer Police Chief Russell Mills immediately called for Wade’s Chase Team. Officer Mario Thomas, along with off-duty officers Jim Faulkner and Ken Wood and CPSO deputies Brian Pepper, Cedric Millage and Matt Harris, quickly set up a perimeter and were able to contain the suspect until the Chase Team arrived shortly after midnight.

The Chase Team dog quickly detected a scent and entered the woods at the end of Wilson Street . A person matching the description of the suspect was spotted on the north end of Jessie T. Jones Street. Members of the Chase Team observed a man running in the creek and gave several verbal commands to stop, at which time they took custody of the subject.

Gerald Ray Anderson, 36, of Homer was transported to the Homer Police Station where he was arrested and charged with armed robbery. He was taken to Homer Memorial Hospital where he was checked for injuries before transporting him to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.

Last year, Anderson was arrested and charged for the May 24, 2006 robbery of The Movie Gallery in Homer, where a bag containing more than $600 was stolen. Homer Police officers  located and arrested Anderson within four hours of the theft. He had been jailed on that charge until  he was released in the last month on $75,00 bond.

“Thanks to the quick response of Sheriff deputies and off-duty Homer police officers, a perimeter was quickly set up which kept the subject contained until the Chase Team could arrive on the scene,” Chief Mills said. “This is a perfect example of how law enforcement can be successful when various agencies work together.”

Local Fugitive Sought By Authorities

Local law enforcement authorities are searching for Jarvis Bothla Warren, now considered a fugitive from the Second Judicial District for failure to appear in court on February 27, 2007 according to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey. Last Thursday, March 22, Bailey said CNET (Claiborne Narcotic Enforcement Team) agents, Louisiana State Police, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearm agents, Haynesville and Homer Police officers attempted to locate Warren, also known as “Peter Wolf”, after receiving information he was at the residence of Earl J. Warren Sr. aka “Woosie” at 4860 Harris Road in Homer.

Officers went to the residence at 4860 Harris Road and spoke with Earl Warren, who told them Jarvis was not there, then gave them permission to search the residence. During the check of the residence, agents saw marijuana in plain view inside the house and crack cocaine in a vehicle parked in front of the residence. Agents seized the drugs and placed Earl J. Warren Sr. under arrest for possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine.

After obtaining a search warrant, agents conducted a thorough search of the residence and vehicle, which resulted in the seizure of additional crack cocaine. Jarvis Warren was not located at the residence.

Jarvis Warren was arrested by CNET agents and the Louisiana State Police on May 5, 2005 for possession of over 400 grams Schedule I CDS (19 lbs. marijuana). He was supposed to appear in court on February 27, 2007 and plead guilty, but failed to show up. Subsequently, District Judge Jenifer Clason issued a bench warrant for Warren’s arrest, with no bond.

Sheriff Bailey urges anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jarvis “Peter Wolf” Warren to call the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office CID (Criminal Investigative Division) office at 318-927-4800, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-927-2011, Chief Anthony Smith at the Haynesville Police Department at 318-624-1311, or Chief Russell Mills at the Homer Police Department at 318-927-4000. Any other crimes can also be reported to any of the above numbers..

Domestic Abuse Call Leads To Drug Arrest

Deputy Brian Pepper with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Deputy Paul  Brazzel, responded to a 911 call on Friday, March 23, in regard to a fight at the Bella Vista mobile home park off La. 2 east of Homer. After arriving at the residence, deputies found a domestic altercation had taken place.

Further investigation revealed that Erick Ray McGowen, 24, of Athens was in possession of Schedule IV CDS, Klonopin.

Deputy Pepper located McGowen at a neighbor’s residence. After advising him of his rights per Miranca, he was arrested and charged with domestic abuse battery and possession of Schedule IV CDS.

McGowen was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center by Deputy Brazzel. Bond was set at $2,000 on the domestic abuse charge and $5,000 on the possession charge.

Representatives from various law enforcement agencies who make up the NW Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children’s (ICAC) Task and Strike Force attended a press conference at the Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden on Monday, where they announced recent operations netted 7 arrests.

Webster Parish Sheriff Gary Sexton and Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey spoke at the press conference Monday in Minden.

Sheriff’s Office Joins Northwest ICAC Task Force

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

The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office is the newest member in the Northwest Louisiana  Internet Crimes Against Children’s (ICAC) Task and Strike Force. Sheriff Ken Bailey and Juvenile Officer Ben Booth attended the press conference held at the Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden on Monday where Webster Parish Sheriff Gary Sexton said statistics show that nationwide there are 50,000 predators per minute using the internet,  trying to lure our children into some illicit activity. In the most recent operation, the task force made seven additional arrests.

Sexton said, “There is only so much that law enforcement can do to protect your children.” Parents have got to monitor their children’s actions on the internet, adding, “This is a very dangerous situation. The last thing we want to happen is one of our children end up being a statistic.”

Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said, “This doesn’t just happen in the bigger cities.” Predators are everywhere, even in small rural area like Claiborne Parish. On Tuesday, May 15, he announced the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct an in-service workshop at 6:30 PM with Webster Parish Detective Scott Tucker and Claiborne Deputy Ben Booth. He wants to educate parents of the danger out there.

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator said it is very evident that parents need to get more involved with their children’s activities, shown by the ease in which they are making these cases. He suggested putting the local sheriff’s office or several police officers as “friends” on their child’s MySpace site. This will serve as a warning to any potential predator who may visit their MySpace page.

Of the seven arrests made, Sexton noted particular interest in Troy Schlehuser, 25, of 2175 Stockwell Road, Bossier City who was charged with four counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, possession of child pornography, carnal knowledge of a juvenile and computer solicitation. During the investigation, the Task Force discovered more than 100 images of child pornography and has solicited hundreds of underage girls in Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico through use of a MySpace.com website, posting younger pictures of himself.

NLICAC Task Force agents located several underage children Schlehuser had contacted, one he met and had sex with.  They are looking for other possible victims, asking parents to contact them at the Bossier City Marshall’s office at 1-318-741-8855.

Besides Schlehuser, six other offenders were arrested and charged as follows:

Jimmy Yates, 36, of 2740 Marquette Ave., Shreveport, was arrested and charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile.  

Charles Strate, 22, of 5341 Hollyhock Lane, Bossier City, was arrested and charged with computer-aided solicitation for sexual purposes of a minor, indecent behavior with juveniles, attempted felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Strate allegedly solicited sex from what he believed was an underage child and made arrangements to meet the child.

Jerett Crumbley, 18, of 802 Nella Street, Minden, was arrested for cyber-stalking after he aided in the posting of a Myspace page with inappropriate images and messages against an assistant principal and a principal at a Webster Parish high school.

Kerry Garland, 17, of 1005 Elm Street, Minden, was arrested and charged with two counts of cyber-stalking after he aided in the posting of Myspace page of a Webster Parish principal and school assistance principal with inappropriate images and messages.

Jerry Parker, 28, of 14027 Louise Drive, Hammond, was arrested in Tangipahoa Parish and charged with two counts of indecent behavior with juvenile, two counts of distribution of materials harmful to a juvenile and two counts of computer solicitation.

Jeffery Robert Magee, 19, of 2000 Vienna, Ruston, was arrested and charged with two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, two counts of computer aided solicitation, two counts of attempted carnal knowledge of a juvenile, two counts of encouraging and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, two counts of attempted distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) schedule I (marijuana) and felony possession of a CDS schedule I (marijuana). Magee allegedly solicited sex from what he though were underage girls and wanted to supply them with marijuana and alcoholic beverages.

The Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (http://www.icac.ag.state.la.us/) was created through a grant awarded to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office in April 2003 for the purpose of sharing information, resources and expertise in the investigation, prosecution and deterrence of online sexual exploitation of children. The Louisiana ICAC Task Force is dedicated to protecting children in the online environment. Their mission is to:

• Stop individuals who use the Internet to entice children to meet them for sexual purposes.

• Investigate and prosecute those who possess, manufacture and distribute child pornography.

• Educate the public about online dangers that exist to children

The Northwest Louisiana ICAC Team is comprised of members from the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Bossier City Police Dept., Bossier City Marshal’s Office, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Department of Homeland Security-Immigration, Customs Enforcement, Shreveport Police Department, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshal’s Office, Offices of the District Attorney for Bossier/Webster and Caddo Parishes, and the Louisiana State Police.

To arrange a presentation on the dangers facing children in cyberspace and how to protect them, contact the Northwest Louisiana ICAC Task Force at 318-741-8855.

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Police Jury President Roy Mardis and other local leaders welcomed the new Louisiana VISTA member assigned to Claiborne Parish, Lauren Tichenor. Her main focus will be to bring public and private sectors together to create a master plan for community or economic development, then set that plan into motion.

Claiborne Welcomes LA VISTA Member

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

It was the desire to work in disaster relief that first prompted Lauren Tichenor to come to Louisiana. It was Rebecca Tedford, who heads up the LA VISTA Program in Louisiana, who changed her mind. Tedford shared information about Claiborne Parish with Tichenor, and she thought it sounded many times better.

At the age of 24, Tichenor has traveled extensively and speaks four languages, fluently in French and Spanish.  She graduated last November from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia with a Master’s degree in conflict resolution. Although she was born in Minnesota, she calls Dayton, Ohio home.

Her plans for the next year include setting up collaboration between the different public and private sectors to get them to start working together towards community development.

It was Police Jury President Roy Mardis who first presented the idea to the Claiborne Parish Police Jury in January. The Jury approved a resolution to support the exploration and possible creation of a Claiborne Parish site project through the Louisiana AmeriCorps VISTA Program. Tedford met with jurors and other parish leaders to explain what would be involved in developing a site project.

A LA VISTA site project in Claiborne Parish would combine aspects of two current “best practice” approaches: 1) Network weaving which is a concept to create sustainable communities through improved connectivity, and 2) Economic gardening an economic development approach which focuses on existing businesses and providing support services to enable them to flourish and grow.

The Project would address three areas previously identified in the 2004 Governor’s Summit on Solutions to Poverty: 1)enhancing education, 2) enhancing employment and economic development, and 3) enhancing community assets.

Connecting existing groups and organizations will “facilitate approaching the overall goals of the parish in a collaborative manner and help ensure groups within Claiborne Parish are not competing with each other for available grant funding.” The economic gardening approach will provide existing and emerging small businesses the support and resources they need in order to succeed and grow.

Tichenor will meet with people from all areas of the community to see where the needs lie, then work to develop a  unified strategic master plan for the entire parish. She will then provide guidance and assistance through the process and assist in finding grant money for potential projects.

Homer Police Chief Russell Mills displays the plaque and training manuals received for completing the New Chief Management Course held last week in Baton Rouge.

Homer Police Chief Completes Management Course

Homer Police Chief Russell Mills was one of 45 police chiefs from around the State of Louisiana who successfully completed the mandatory New Chief Management Training Course held last week in Baton Rouge.

The course, which is conducted by the Law Enforcement Executive Management Institute (LEEMI), addressed a variety of law enforcement issues which were presented in three large binders. Issues included training resources, records of reporting, emotional survival, ethics, managerial liability, media relations, budgeting, mayor and council relations, developing policy and procedures, legal updates, and cultural diversity. 

Mills was so impressed with one of the featured speakers, he has invited him to come to Homer to speak in the next few weeks. He said, “Police departments represented ranged from 1 to 281 officers, with annual budgets up to $22 million, yet they all are facing many of the same problems we have right here in Homer.”

Covalence, Berry Plastics To Merge

Covalence Coated Products (formerly Ludlow Coated Products) is in negotiations to merge with Berry Plastics according to the Berry Plastics website located at http://www.berryplastics.com/  Local Covalence officials had no comment on the merger which is expected to be completed sometime next month. The transaction is subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals.

On February 6, 2007, Covalence Specialty Materials announced they planned to exit the Coated Products Material Handling business and close the Meridian, Mississippi manufacturing facility effective immediately. The news release stated, “As the business environment is becoming more and more competitive every day, it is imperative that we look for ways to reduce costs, deliver more value to our customers, and create a business that demonstrates solid and sustainable performance and growth.” The exit from Material Handling will take several months to complete. The closure of Meridian is expected to be completed the end of March.

Berry Plastics Group, Inc. ("Berry Group") and Covalence Specialty Materials Holding Corp. ("Covalence Holding") announced March 12 they had entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Berry Group will merge with Covalence Holding in a stock-for-stock merger. Following the merger, Ira Boots, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Berry Group, and Brent Beeler, Chief Operating Officer of Berry Group, will remain in the same roles with the combined company, which will be known as Berry Plastics Group, Inc. ("New Berry Group").

Mr. Boots stated, "We welcome the merger with Covalence, which will bring additional customers, products and skilled personnel to our company. Focus will be placed on servicing our customers by utilizing all assets available to Berry, including the strength derived from our current ownership." Mr. Boots continued, "The combined company will benefit from enhanced diversity of end-markets, customers and products, and the increased scale will make Berry one of the largest plastic packaging companies in the world, while at the same time deleveraging our balance sheet."

Kip Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Covalence Holding, who will remain with the combined company running the Covalence businesses, stated "We are excited about the merger with Berry and the benefits the added scale and financial resources bring to our customers, employees, and suppliers. We look forward to partnering with Ira, Brent and their accomplished and seasoned management team to grow the business and capitalize on the abundant opportunities that this merger will create."

"Berry and Covalence are each leaders in their respective markets and the combined company will be one of the highest margin, most diverse and attractive plastic packaging businesses in the world." said Joshua Harris, founding partner of Apollo Management, L.P. Mr. Harris continued, "This merger will provide substantial growth, cross-selling and synergy opportunities, and we look forward to working with the combined management team to continue Berry?s remarkable record of over 15 years of consistent growth in revenue and profitability."

Berry Plastics is a leading manufacturer and marketer of plastic packaging products. Berry Plastics provides a wide range of open top and closed top packaging as well as comprehensive packaging solutions to over 12,000 customers, ranging from large multinational corporations to small local businesses. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, the company had pro forma annual sales of $1.3 billion. Based in Evansville, Indiana, the company has 25 manufacturing facilities worldwide and more than 6,800 employees.

Covalence, with a workforce of approximately 7,000 people in 37 manufacturing facilities, is a major producer of a wide range of products, including polyethylene-based plastic films, industrial tapes, medical specialties, packaging, heat-shrinkable coatings and specialty laminates. Covalence is the number one producer domestically of trash bags, duct tape and niche laminated and coated products. Among its leading brands are Ruffies(R) and Rhino-X(R) trash bags; Film-Gard(R) plastic sheeting; Nashua(R) tapes; Covalence Raychem(R) heat-shrinkable coatings (Raychem(R) is a trademark of Tyco Electronics Corporation and Nashua(R) is a trademark of Nashua Corporation; each are used under license by Covalence); Polyken(R) pipeline coatings; Thermo-ply(R) and Energy-Brace(R) wall sheathing; as well as R-Wrap(R) and Barricade(R) housewraps. For more information, please visit http://www.covcorp.com

More information on the merger is available in the press release on the Berry Plastics website at http://www.berryplastics.com/

Tourney Set For Ceccarelli

Fred Smith and Sons Farm Service and Supply will sponsor the Second Annual Benefit Bass Tournament for Don “Chic” Ceccarelli at Pleasure Point Marina on Lake Claiborne on Saturday, March 31, from safe daylight to 3 PM. First Place pays $500 with 100% pay back on Big Bass. Entry fee is $72 per boat which includes Big Bass and boat launch. More than $13,000 was raised last year.

Fish plates will be sold for $7 at Pleasure Point Marina beginning at 2 PM. You do not have to enter the tournament to purchase a plate. All proceeds from the fish plates will go to Chic.

Chic served as a dedicated law enforcement officer in Claiborne Parish for 25 years and a volunteer fire fighter for the Homer Fire Department for 23 years. He served as Claiborne Parish Sheriff following the retirement of Sheriff J. R. “Snap” Oakes and one term on the Homer Town Council in the 1990s. An avid outdoorsman, Chic’s favorite sports were hunting and fishing.

On July 9, 2005, Chic was seriously injured in a boating accident while participating in a bass tournament on Red River. He suffered several broken bones in his neck and back which left him partially paralyzed.  He was in the hospital for four months following the accident.

For more information or make a donation, call Weyland Smith at 927-9416, Ken Heard at 927-3999 or Chris Bailey at 927-4734.   

Claiborne Electric Board of Directors President, G. F. "Pistol" Thomas, receives a lamp from Claiborne Electric in recognition of more than 50 years of service. Director of Communications and Marketing, Joey White, presented the lamp which has a working electric meter on the base.

Claiborne Electric Annual Meeting A Big Success

For the first time in about four decades, the members of Claiborne Electric Cooperative were able to do business at an Annual Meeting Saturday, March 24 because a quorum was reached.

More than 1,400 members registered to take part in the meeting, well surpassing the number needed to conduct meaningful business. Most of these members brought spouses and children, and the total attendance was estimated at 2,900.

“We worked very hard on this year’s meeting, not only to make it a day our members would think about for a long time, but to promote it well enough for all our members to know about it and have the opportunity to attend,” said Mark Brown, Claiborne Electric’s General Manager and CEO. “We were thrilled to have so many people attend their annual meeting, and hope the attendance continues to grow in the future.”

Members had plenty of reasons to attend this year. After a few hours of great national entertainment and plenty of hamburgers and hotdogs, the business meeting began.

Among the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of a recognition award to veteran Claiborne Electric Board President, G. F. “Pistol” Thomas for more than 50 years of service. Mr. Thomas has not only served on the Claiborne Electric Board of Directors, but has represented Claiborne Electric on the statewide board of directors of the Association of Louisiana Electric Co-ops, serving on many committees.

Following business remarks from Brown, the co-op gave away 50 great door prizes, a huge grand prize and two college scholarships.

Lauvoss McLeod of Downsville was the day’s biggest winner. He won the grand prize Honda Rancher 350 4x4 ES ATV. McLeod has been a Claiborne Electric member since 1977.

Two high school seniors also had a lot to be happy about after they were drawn for college scholarships. Ashley Smith and Keon Taylor were each drawn for a $1,000 college scholarship. The drawing was open to high school seniors whose parents or guardians are Claiborne Electric members. Smith lives in Lillie and attends Spearsville High School. She is the daughter of Eugene Smith. Taylor lives in Heflin and attends Lakeside High School. He is the son of Wanda Taylor.       

Claiborne Jubilee Poetry Prize To Honor Peggy Deas Godfrey

The Jubilee Best of Show in Poetry Prize is once again being given in honor of parish native, Peggy Deas Godfrey, by her father, Dr. T. M. Deas. All those lucky enough to have attended last year’s Jubilee will remember Ms. Godfrey’s sharing of her stories and poems about life as a cowboy and shepherd in Colorado. Her books and DVDs are available through Godfrey by emailing her at poetpeggy@ctelco.net. Parish poets of all ages are urged to submit up to three entries each by emailing them to claibornejubilee@bellsouth.net or mailing them to 309 North Main Street, Homer, LA 71040 before April 25. In addition to the $300 Best of Show for Poetry, Adult first prize $75, second $50, third $25. Children are ages 8 and under, Juniors are ages 9-12, and Youth are ages 13-17. For those age groups first prize is a $50 savings bond.  Second and third place winners will receive ribbons.  Anyone interested in any aspect of the Jubilee may call Cynthia Steele at 927-2566 for more information.

David Wade Correctional To Hold Arts & Crafts Festival

David Wade Correctional Center will hold their Spring 2007 Arts & Crafts Festival featuring art work, wood crafts, and leather crafts on Saturday and Sunday, April 14-15 from 8 AM - 4 PM at the facility located at 670 Bell Hill Road. Come shop early before it is all gone. No checks! For more information, call 318-027-0631.

Relay For Life Golf Tournament Set For April 14   

The Relay for Life Committee decided to add a golf event to the fundraising schedule in 2007 and would like to invite everyone to participate in the First Annual Relay for Life Golf Tournament, a two person scramble, to be held at the Homer Golf Course on Saturday, April 14. Sponsors are needed. A minimum donation of $100 will provide sign recognition at the course on the day of the event. A donation of $250 will also provide a spot for a team to play in the tournament. All donations are appreciated and will help the American Cancer Society find a cure for cancer. Deadline for sponsorship is March 26, 2007. Entry fee is $150 per team, 27 holes. Cash prizes. All fees and donations are tax deductible. For team registration or golf information, call George Tigner at 927-2184 or  927-3000. For sponsor information call Elbie Dickens at 927-2360.

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