Local state troopers attend civil rights protest in Jena

Submitted photo

These Louisiana State Troopers keep a close watch as the protesters in Jena voice their opinions. Approximately 50,000 people from across the country traveled to Jena for the civil rights protest last week.

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

Several local Louisiana State Troopers were called to Jena last week for seemingly one of the biggest civil rights protests since Martin Luther King’s march in Washington, D.C. in 1963.

Local state troopers from the Claiborne Parish area who were assigned to the Jena protest included Troopers Michael Allen and Rusty Taylor of the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations; and Troopers Seth Harmon, Doug Pike and Brandon Peters, all of Troop G.

Due to the nature of the protest and State Police procedures, these troopers were not able to speak to the press regarding the protest.

According to sources, approximately 50,000 protestors from across Louisiana and the country converged on Jena to protest the incarceration of Mychal Bell, one of six involved in the brutal beating of a former fellow student, Justin Barker.

Troop G Public Information Officer Doug Pierrelee was one of those officers who went to Jena. He made it clear their mission was to make sure those who protested were afforded their rights to do so.

“I was listening to those people, but I was not there to judge what they were saying,” Pierrelee said. “They were very passionate about what they were saying. You are helping them do what Americans have the right to do. You couldn’t let yourself get caught up in it, because it was our job to make sure that something illegal, harmful or dangerous didn’t happen.”

“As state police, we had a mission to keep peace and insure everyone’s rights were protected and I think we accomplished that,” said Captain Tom Madden of Troop G. “We were simply another agency lending support.”

The protest was peaceful and not a single arrest was made that day. Pierrelee said several of the speakers had “tough” things to say, and the crowds got fired up, but not out of control. In fact, it was such a peaceful protest that when the Black Panther Party began shouting things that “didn’t make sense,” people were booing them and walking away.

“Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were very peaceful, and they said some tough things, but they never crossed that line,” Pierrelee said. “They ranted and raved and said some things, but they never crossed that line.”

Although the protest itself was peaceful and law enforcement in several areas of Jena were overwhelmed with name-calling and hostility, they were ready for anything that came their way.

“It’s clear. They’ve shown their cards, and it gave us a chance to show them how disciplined policemen are,” Pierrelee said. “They didn’t cross that line, but were we ready? Yes, we were ready. We knew they were coming to say those things. We have been inoculated with the name calling. When it gets to you emotionally, you compromise your ability to do your job.”

And that was one thing officers did not allow themselves the luxury of – showing emotion during the protest. Pierrelee said after the event, he went home and felt the things he had put on the back burner, but during the protest, he and his officers did not allow emotion and opinions to cloud their duty to keep the peace.

Madden said although he’d heard that name calling had taken place, his experience was different in that where he was stationed, the people seemed appreciative of their presence.

“I did not have that experience,” Madden said. “For the area of command that I was tasked with, we had no issues. Maybe I was just fortunate. I met some interesting people, but where I was, folks had a good day. They proceeded with their march, and other than huge, huge traffic congestion, there was nothing more to it than that.”

Several well-known people and groups attended the protest, including Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the NAACP, the Black Panther Party and the Nation of Islam.

Approximately 300 state troopers from all across Louisiana went to Jena with a total of approximately 500 law enforcement agents involved. The Louisiana State Police had two helicopters there as well as a mobile command center to assist in the security of the protest.

Haynesville man charged with murder

The Guardian-Journal

According to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, on Sunday, September 23, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call at 8:50 a.m. regarding a stabbing at 2044 Gary Lane in Haynesville. Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith was dispatched. Smith arrived on the scene and determined there was a death and requested a coroner. Smith called the Sheriff’s Office and requested assistance from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives.

An altercation at the residence of Marcus Empfield, 33, of  Haynesville, resulted in the death of Robby D. Hare, also of Haynesville.

Assistant Chief Jason Branch of the Haynesville Police Department is the lead investigator in this case with Sheriff’s Detectives Chuck Talley, Charles Buford, Duffy Gandy and Randy Smith assisting.

Empfield was taken to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center and charged by Haynesville Police with 2nd degree murder. Bond will be set at a later date.

If convicted of 2nd degree murder, Empfield faces life imprisonment at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

St. Jude Car and Bike show set for October 6

Submitted photo

This car was one of many shown in last year’s St. Jude Car and Bike Show at Lake Claiborne State Park. Last year’s fundraiser netted $26,000, with a total of $71,900 raised in the last five years.

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

The sixth annual Christian and Joseph Manzanares St. Jude Car and Bike Show will be held on Saturday, October 6, at Lake Claiborne State Park with much to do and many cars and bikes to see.

Rickey Bearden, coordinator of the show, said there will be several activities taking place that day. Hwy. 146, 10 miles out from Homer on the left. There will be a sign at the State Park entrance.

There will be a silent auction, musical entertainment, lunch plates, drinks and games. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with judging at 11 a.m. Awards will be presented at 2 p.m. Entry fee for the first car or bike will be $20, and $10 for each additional car or bike registered. Visitors must pay $1 per person for parking. Bearden said those entering cars or bikes in the show will not have to pay a parking fee.

The bike classes are as follows: Special Construction Chopper; Chopper Manufactured; American Pro-Street Custom; Pro-Street Manufactured; American Custom; Foreign Custom; Sport Bike Custom; Antique; Auto Trike; Custom Trike; American Custom Touring; Foreign Custom Touring; Mini Bikes; People’s Choice and Best Bike in Show. Awards will be given for first, second and third places.

The car classes are as follows: Antique Original up to 1931; Antique Original 1932-1940; Antique Original 1941-1954; All 1955, 1956, 1957; Antique Original 1958-1968; Antique Original 1969-1980; Original 1981-up; Street Rod; Truck Up to 1989; Truck 1990 and up; Mustang; Corvette; People’s Choice and Best Car or Truck in Show. Awards will be given for first, second and third place.

The awards, plaques made of wood in the shape of the state, are made by inmates at David Wade Correctional Center.

On average, the car show usually has registered approximately 70 cars and approximately 20 bikes.

Tommy Sanders, Robert Sanders and their helpers will be serving baked chicken lunch plates at 11 a.m. Plates will be $5 a piece. A Coca-Cola trailer will be there serving drinks, cookies, cakes and snacks, including peanut patties furnished by Fred Ware.

Barry Roberts will be providing musical entertainment beginning approximately 8:30 or 9 a.m. A moonwalk and slip and slide will be provided for the kids to play on.

There will also be a silent auction for car enthusiasts to bid on their favorite items. Donations for the silent auction are still needed even though some have already been given. Donations already made include a fish cooker with cases of oil, beauty supplies from local hairstylists, hand tools and many, many more.

Also, in case of rain, come anyway, Bearden said.

“If it rains, please come, because the money goes to St. Jude,” he said. “St. Jude needs all the help they can get. If you could see those kids up there, it’ll break your heart. They go through a lot.”

So why the car and bike show? Bearden told the tragic story of what has motivated him to help other children. On Aug. 19, 2001, he received a call to a fire on what he thought was Gladney Farm Road on Hwy. 146. By the time he and Dennis Butcher got to the cemetery on Hwy. 146, they were turned around and told to go to Gladney Road.

“We turned around and I knew it was my children’s house,” he continued. “I was the third truck that got there. When I got there, I saw my daughter and son-in-law, but the babies were in the trailer. We lost two grandbabies.”

Christian Danielle Manzanares was just 5 years old, and her brother, Joseph Gregory was 4 years old.

“They would be 10 and 11 by now,” he said.

It was that moment that changed his life forever. And it is his two grandchildren that have inspired and motivated him to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In 2002, the tradition of the Lake Claiborne St. Jude Car and Bike Show began. In the last five years, $71,900 has been raised and donated to help the children of St. Jude. Last year alone, $26,000 was raised for the research hospital. Last year, Claiborne Parish Schools were able to raise approximately $5,000, but this year’s total from the schools has not come in yet. On Friday, September 28, Bearden will pick up the pennies, and the ladies at Gibsland Bank and Trust in Minden will count the pennies.

“I want to make sure the girls in Minden get all the credit, because they work hard for us,” he said. “I’m real proud of the children in Claiborne Parish Schools.”

In fact, this year, a room at the hospital will be donated in memory of Christian and Joseph, Bearden said.

“I’ve always given to St. Jude, and it’s one of my favorite (charities),” he said. “I wanted something to do for kids, and I wanted to get a room in memory of my grandkids with their names on the door.”

And thanks to the hard work and giving hearts of the Claiborne Parish community, that room in memory of Christian and Joseph is about to become a reality.

First responders learn techniques of school bus rescue

The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates

Jeff Franklin, of Sarepta, shows local and area emergency responders one way to get into a bus if it is ever involved in an accident.

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

Local and area firefighters and emergency responders attended a training course they hope they never have to use.

Last week, Louisiana State University Fire Emergency Training Institute (FETI) instructors taught a course on how to quickly and efficiently rescue children from a school bus that has been in an accident.

According to the course instruction manual, the 12-hour, three-day course addresses the techniques required to extract children from the school bus and how to provide appropriate emergency care. The biggest lesson they learned was the design and construction of school buses and the quickest way to get into them.

“Rescuers learn to accomplish all the rescue evolutions that are likely to be encountered during an actual incident,” the instruction manual said. “Participants will learn the differences between automobiles and buses, the unique features shared by buses of all types, and effective methods for extricating victims safely.”

Jack Canton, a FETI instructor, said that time is of the essence in a situation like this.

“Our reward is saving those kids,” he said. “We’re looking for the fastest way to get in and the fastest way to get out.”

Homer Fire Chief Dennis Butcher said the course was an important part of their training, but it is training he hopes they never have to use.

“It’s important to know the construction of a school bus, because they have to know how to get into it quickly,” Butcher said. “This is a serious issue, and we have to know how to do it right and do it proficiently. This is dealing with an accident with mass casualties. It’s one of those things we train for and hope to God we never have to use.”

Sonny Greeson, volunteer firefighter, said this training is different.

“Extraction in a school bus is totally different than cutting up a car or truck for extraction,” Greeson said. “The design is totally different.”

The two school buses used in the exercises were surplus property donated by the Claiborne Parish School Board. Ronnie McKenzie, school board transportation supervisor, said that in Claiborne Parish alone, there are 37 bus routes that are run twice per day, five days per week. There are approximately 40-50 buses running in Claiborne Parish every day.

The training was funded by a grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission through the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

CERT training to be held October 2-4

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

Claiborne Parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is now in the process of organizing a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and they are looking for volunteers to train as instructors to teach their local communities how to prepare themselves and take care of themselves in cases of disasters or situations where they would be on their own.

Scott Greeson, assistant director of CERT, said this training course, to be held October 2-4, at the LSU Fire and Emergency Training – Pine Country, will train people to become instructors. There is no cost to attend the course, which will be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day at the fire training center at Camp Minden.

Through this training, “citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective,” he said in a press release.

“Before Katrina hit, we had this idea and we started seeing these CERT teams popping up from the Citizens Corps, and we decided to form this CERT team in Claiborne Parish,” Greeson said. “With Katrina and the other events, it was kind of hard.”

He said CERT is about training people to take care of themselves.

“People should be able to take care of themselves and organize themselves in a fashion where they can handle small search and rescue, shut off gas lines if they smell gas, deal with small fires and perform search and rescue,” he said, “and more than anything, be able to give information to first responders when they get there. That’s what we’re going to try to provide for Claiborne Parish, especially as rural as the parish is.”

He gave an example where a CERT team would have been very helpful. The tornado that hit a couple of years ago could have been much worse than it was, and had it been worse, CERT training would have been an effective tool in helping people take care of themselves until first responders could get to them.

“We have such limited resources, and had it been on a larger scale, some of these people might not have gotten the help when they needed it,” he said.

He explained CERT a little more clearly, saying that this emergency response team is a branch of civilian volunteers that will work hand in hand with law enforcement, fire departments and homeland security.

“The class that will be going on in October is about training the trainer,” he said. “We’re hoping to get at least 10 to 15 instructors that can go to different parts of the parish. Our goal is to try to get a CERT team organized in every town and village in the parish. Athens, Summerfield, Haynesville, Homer, around the lake, Lisbon and keep branching out – that’s our plan.”

It will be easier to implement this plan if more than one or two instructors could go into the different parts of the parish and teach citizens these basic approaches to helping themselves.

So far, some from the Haynesville Police Department, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, someone from Homeland Security and others have already signed up to go, but more are still needed.

This training is funded by the Office of Homeland Security, which is funneled through the Citizens Corps. This funding will not effect any monies used by the parish for other things.

Greeson said the funding will pay for training, basic emergency items (CERT packs), different response kits, public education and training exercises.

“This thing is a community builder, that’s what it is,” he said. “I think Claiborne Parish will benefit from this and really bring the community together.

For more information about CERT and how it works, log on to www.citizencorps.gov/cert/ To find out more about the training course next week or to attend, call Greeson at 927-9400 for registration information.

Sagging pants no more?

Haynesville to hold public hearing on proposed ordinance

The Guardian-Journal

The Haynesville Town Council is now in the process of trying to pass an ordinance that would outlaw “sagging pants.”

The ordinance was read at the town council meeting held on Thursday, September 20, and they set the date of October 25 for a public hearing on the matter.

The proposed ordinance would make it illegal for people to wear their pants with their undergarments showing. This ordinance does not address low-cut tops and blouses worn by women. The ordinance does, however, apply to women wearing their pants with undergarments showing as well.

Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith already enforces “no sagging pants” under Title 14:106, under indecent exposure.

“This is just getting it into context,” he said. “I’m already enforcing it, this ordinance just gets it down on paper.”

The problem of sagging pants has become such an issue over the last couple of years that many communities in the region, including Shreveport, Bossier and Minden have passed ordinances outlawing the offensive style of dress.

And according to a couple in Claiborne Parish, who spoke to The Guardian-Journal on condition of anonymity, the parish needs to do something about it as well.

The couple owns a local store in the parish and has clearly marked on the door “No sagging pants,” as part of their store policy. This simple rule caused them some problems that will now end up costing them thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

The store owner said he was coming around the corner and he saw a young male at the counter with his pants below his waist, underwear showing. He told the young man to pull up his pants, and he did. The store owner said this was not the first time this had happened with this particular young man, and he said he told the young man that he would not tolerate sagging pants in his store.

The store owner’s wife then said the young man got “irate,” and began using very profane language inside the store. The young man was asked to leave the store, and when the store owner went outside to get the license plate number from the vehicle the young man arrived in, the altercation then escalated when the store owner was hit in the face, completely knocking two teeth out and almost knocking out another one. His lip was also cut almost through when he was struck.

“All of it was over sagging pants,” the store owner said, “and you have to tell them every time they come in here. That’s why we’ve already forbidden two people from coming in here.”

Wade inmate group sponsors appreciation banquet

JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer

David Wade Correction Center’s H.E.L.P.E.R. Group sponsored their annual Awards and Appreciation Banquet Saturday, September 15 in the visitor’s room at Wade.

Rodney Gay, Vice-President of the local group, said their chapter of 30 or so was formed about 15 years ago and meets weekly. The H.E.L.P.E.R. (“Health Education Lowers Potential Exposure Risk”) Group supports HIV/AIDS-related education, counseling, and prevention.

Gay went on, “Earlier this year we had a special day of activities that included free AIDS testing by the Philadelphia Center from Shreveport.”

About the banquet, he said, “It allows us to show our appreciation for the contributions of time, money, and effort of many who make possible the accomplishments of the H.E.L.P.E.R. Group.”

The night’s program began with musical entertainment by the “Top 40 Band,” a talented inmate band who performed music by the Rolling Stones, Elton John, and other well-known artists. A delicious fish supper with hush puppies, baked potato, and other trimmings followed.

Keith Dees, president of the local H.E.L.P.E.R. Group, concluded the evening by presenting a number of awards, plaques, and gifts. Some of the recipients included Linda Tucker, RN; Ronnie Dannehl, RN; and Sue Odom, RN.

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Guilt: the gift that keeps on giving.—Erma Bombeck (1927-1996)

Watershed District appoints 2 new commissioners

The Guardian-Journal

The Claiborne Parish Police Jury appointed two new commissioners to the Watershed District and reappointed Dr. Alice Stewart as the secretary and chairman in its monthly meeting, held on September 5.

Dr. Robert Haynes, a native of Lisbon, was appointed to the Watershed District with the support of others on the committee. Chic Hines, Watershed District member, said Haynes will be a true asset to the District because of his knowledge of the aquatic vegetation in Lake Claiborne.

Haynes has a Ph.D. in botany with a specialty in aquatic plants. Once he received his Ph.D., Haynes went on to Ohio State for one year and took an assistant professor position at Louisiana State University in Shreveport in 1974.

According to his biography, Haynes taught at a Ph.D. granting institution, where he accepted a tenure-track position at the University of Alabama in 1976. He moved through the ranks and was appointed professor of biology in 1985. In 1973-77, Haynes taught a course in aquatic plants at the University of Michigan Biological Station, which is near the Straits of Mackinaw.

He has authored or co-authored more than 200 scientific publications and was fortunate enough to travel to 20 or more countries to study plants. He has also studied plants on every continent except Africa.

W. Wayne Kilpatrick was the other committee member appointed to the Watershed District. He has several years experience working with agriculture. Born and raised in the Haynesville area, Kilpatrick majored in agronomy and minored in botany at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. He attended graduate school at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in soil science.

He has received special training and certifications from several institutions including Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, Soil Science Institute; Wetlands Hydric Soils Certification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Alexandria and advanced hydric soils training from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Greenville, Miss.

After college, Kilpatrick went to work at the Louisiana State University Agriculture Experiment Station as a soil scientist. He also worked as a soil scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service. He worked for the Natural Resource Conservation Service for 31 years and retired as area resource soil scientist in 2001.

After retirement, he formed an environmental consulting business, NoLa Soil Services, Inc., where he provides on-site soils evaluation, wetland identification, wetland delineation and wetland migration.

‘Hills of Homer Christmas Run’ set for November 24

Special to The Guardian-Journal

Here is the course for the “Hills of Homer Christmas Run.”

The Guardian-Journal

Local runners and walkers and athletes and anyone who would like to get up and move a little, take note: 8:00 a.m., November 24, 2007, at the parking lot behind the Police Jury Building. That's the time and place for "The Hills of Homer Christmas Run."

Wayne Hatfield recently announced that various events will be a part of this year's run. There will be both a 5K and a 10K run as well as a "1-Mile Fun Run."

The 5K route will proceed from the Police Jury Building  parking lot up South Main to West 6th Street. Runners will then head south (left off of South Main) to Dutchtown Road and follow the curve to the right up to Torbet Drive. They will continue north (go to the right off of Dutchtown Road) on Torbet on up to North Main. This will put them just west of the high school. They continue east on North Main a piece, then back north onto Edgewood Drive and continue down to Beverly Drive where they will follow its loop back to Edgewood. Back on Edgewood, participants will go to East College Street and in front of Homer Memorial Hospital back to North Main. They will follow North Main back to the 5K finish at the original parking lot while 10K runners will continue and complete the same course again.

Measuring 3 miles (or 5 kilometers), the run allows for several categories in which participants may compete.

Some of last year's categories and winners included Tony Summers in the Male Open Competition of the 5K Run/Walk with a time of 20 minutes, 46 seconds. Jenifer Martin won the Female Open with 26 minutes, 11 seconds.

In last year's 10K, Male and Female Overall Winners were Mathew McVicar and Tara Allgood with 43 minutes, 52 seconds, and 58 minutes, 47 seconds, respectively.

James Colvin and Barbara Lindsey were first in the men's and women's divisions of the 1-Mile Fun Run.

"Everyone is looking forward to another great time," said Hatfield. He added, "Sign up early. There are several advantages: Those who pre-register will have their T-shirt for the race instead of the shirt being mailed later. Early registrants also save money because it's only $15 if you pre-register but $20 if you wait until the day of the run."

Hatfield added that people can pre-register online at www.sportspectrum.com or at the following: Emerson Oil, Raven Bookstore, Fred Smith and Sons, and Hatfield Ice.

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