Concerns, suggestions voiced about Pineview School

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

Pineview School was at the center of a public hearing held Tuesday night.

The big issue is the low attendance of Pineview School, which the Justice Department deems “problematic.”

To complicate matters, said Attorney Bob Hammonds, Claiborne Parish is under a 1970 court order to desegregate the schools, because Pineview’s student population is “all black.” Summerfield, on the other hand, he said, is 70 percent white and 30 percent black — today. When this court order was issued, Summerfield was approximately 70 percent black and 30 percent white.

The bottom line is this: The Claiborne Parish School Board will need to come up with a workable plan to present to the Justice Department and the federal judge by next fall, or a decision will be made for them.

“That’s the purpose for this meeting,” Hammonds, who specializes in school board representation, said, “is to listen to people and figure out how we can address these problems. I can tell you this, though, the Justice Department is very insistent that something be done by next fall. Our window of opportunity for coming up with those changes is not that long.”

If the school board decides to do nothing and let the schools run as they are, they would continue to run as they are unless the Justice Department files a motion with the court to ask the judge to change the schools.

“At that point, it’s no longer the decision of this board with the support of its community,” Hammonds said. “It then becomes the decision of one man, who will be the federal judge overseeing the case.”

Several concerns were voiced regarding the student population numbers of Pineview and why only Pineview was represented in a chart handed out and not the other schools in the parish.

An issue that was brought to light is that the general population and economy of Claiborne Parish has been in steady decline over the last several years, and all the schools in the parish are seeing a decline in their student population.

Another issue is that the Pineview school district is not a true representation of the number of school age children living in that district. Only the number of children who attend Pineview was represented. Other children who live in the district are attending other schools in the parish, namely Homer schools and Summerfield.

A common thought among many who spoke seemed to emphasize that this issue is not about race, but about doing what’s best for the children.

Vevelyn Johnson, who has two children currently attending Pineview, said the people need to learn to work together.

“All this black/white thing needs to go out the door and find a way to educate our children,” she said.

Between Summerfield and Pineview, she suggested turning one school into an elementary school and the other into a junior/senior high school to better balance the population in the two school districts.

Hammonds said that could be a workable plan. Another suggestion he made was possibly redrawing the district lines.

Xanthe Seals said it best when she told the audience that this situation was happening while no one was watching. The whole issue boils down to money, she said.

“We’re in the midnight hour,” she said. “Somehow this happened because people weren’t watching – not to say that this is anyone’s fault – but a lot of times, things are set into motion long before we realize it. Now it’s an issue of economics, and in the end it’s economics that will rule the decision. In the end, unless we become very creative across the board, there will only be two schools in Claiborne Parish.”

She looked to the future, saying that if Pineview is closed, it will create a domino effect. If Pineview is closed, eventually, Athens and Summerfield would follow because the parish’s economic base is dwindling.

She suggested coming together as a community to figure out how to build up the economic force in the parish to build up the schools.

Superintendent Wayne King commended those who attended for caring about their community.

“I inherited some of this (issue) when I got here, and I promise you I’m not going to back off,” King said. “We’re going to work through this together. This is a serious thing – the future of the children of Claiborne Parish. To tell you the answer to anything, I don’t know that answer.”

He emphasized that he will not make the decision on what happens to Pineview, if anything. The school board will make that decision – good, bad or indifferent.

“There are some good people in that school, and there are good people in this parish,” he said, “but the leadership is going to have to come from within as to what we do and how we go about what’s going on.”

The plan now is to compile the concerns and suggestions made in this meeting and present it to the school board. It will not be presented at the next school board meeting, but at a later date.

Mt. Olive’s Homecoming Court

Mt. Olive Christian School’s Homecoming will be held on Friday, November 2, at 7 p.m., versus the Northeast Baptist Knights. Presentation of the Homecoming Court will be held at half-time. The Queen and her court are pictured above. Standing from left to right, Laney Ellis, junior maid; Chelsea Martin, sophomore maid; Brooke Curtis, senior maid; Natali Easterling, Queen; Jessie Forrester, senior maid; Kalyn Jordan, sophomore maid; and Brittney Bridges, junior maid. Sitting from left to right, Ranelle Stovall, football sweetheart; Whitney Woods, freshman maid; and Kimberly Danforth, senior maid. Come support the Eagles!

Early voting to begin November 3

Early voting will begin Saturday, November 3, and go through Saturday, November 10, from the hours of 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day. For more information, call the Registrar of Voters office at 318-927-3332 or the Clerk of Court’s office at 318-927-9601.

Get to know the candidates

Williams, Robinson to face off in race for Tax Assessor’s office

Bob Robinson

Bob Robinson says he wants to bring fresh ideas to the Claiborne Parish Tax Assessor’s Office.

With those fresh ideas, he states he wants to continue to serve his community by making the tax assessor’s office more user-friendly. He intends to modernize the office and make it more efficient.

He is experienced in management and successful in business, keenly aware of modern technology and will promote new and innovative ideas for bringing the tax assessor’s office into the 21st century.

“I want to do this to make this office more progressive,” he said. “I would like to make myself available to the public and explain taxes and tax incentives to the general public to show why it’s better to live in Claiborne Parish.”

He will hold public meetings to explain to citizens what they pay for and why they pay it.

Robinson has been involved in his community for many years as an insurance agent, business manager, community volunteer and servant. He has raised his family here and is a lifelong member of First Baptist Church in Homer.

He worked for Louisiana Northwest Railroad Company for 16 years, moving through the ranks from clerk to dispatcher. Sixteen years ago, he changed his career and went into the insurance business to help serve people’s personal and commercial insurance needs, he said.

He is a homeowner, landowner, and conservationist. He is also an avid hunter and fisherman.

Robinson has also served as a former Selectman for the Town of Homer from 1980-1988, former 2006 President of the Homer Lions Club, of which he is still a member, former 2006 President of the Homer Industrial Foundation and has served on the board of directors for the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce. He is also a former board member of Homer Memorial Hospital.

Robinson is #64 on the ballot for the November 17 general election.

Mae Williams

Mae “Kitty” Williams has been a deputy tax assessor for 23 years, which she feels gives her an edge.

If elected, Williams, who is a certified deputy assessor since 2002, intends to insure equitable assessments and promote public understanding of property assessments to the taxpayers. She would also insure a smooth, effective and efficient operation of the tax assessor’s office.

She intends to make the office more available to the public and get their office online so that the taxpayer can look up their assessments on the Internet.

“I will have an open door policy,” she said, “and that means I will provide the best customer service to the taxpayers in order to make every visit as pleasant and efficient as possible.”

Williams said that public trust is important to her and she intends to make sure that trust is maintained in the tax assessor’s office. She will also insure that property is assessed fairly and property owners only pay their fair share – in other words, property owners would pay what they are supposed to pay.

Another drawback right now is the mapping system, she said. All “plats,” or drawings of the land, are done by hand, and are placed in big, bulky books. Williams wants to upgrade the computers by installing a mapping system, which would allow the drawings to be done on the computer, instead of by hand.

Like her opponent, she is very involved in her church and community. She is the youth director for Friendship Baptist Church in Haynesville, and the children’s and youth director for Friendship Missionary and Educational Association.

She is one of three assistant girls’ basketball coaches at Haynesville High School and volunteers her time with the youth in several activities. She is also the former president of the board of directors with the Claiborne Boys and Girls Club. She is also a current member on the board of directors for the Haynesville Mayor’s Youth Council.

She is the daughter of Mary and Napoleon Meadors, better known as “Fat Sam. She has been married to Franklin Williams for 23 years and they have three children together.

Williams is #66 on the ballot on November 17.

Haynesville police chief headed to court for forgery,

theft charges

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith is set to appear in court at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, November 7.

The hearing was set to insure the admissibility of Smith’s statements to law enforcement officers at trial and whether state prosecution may use them in its opening statement. Also at this hearing, a motion was filed for “handwriting exemplars,” which means if the motion goes through, Smith will have to produce a handwriting sample.

The statements the motion refers to two recorded phone conversations between Smith and Karen Budwah, the complainant.

According to the bill of information filed at the Clerk of Court’s office, Smith was originally charged with one count forgery, one count felony theft over $1,000 and money laundering. Those charges have been amended. He is still charged with forgery and money laundering, but the felony theft charge was amended to two counts of unauthorized use of movable over $1,000.

According to the initial complaint report filed with the Louisiana State Police, on January 16, 2006, the North District Detectives received a complaint from Budwah in reference to a forged check. She stated she had a relationship with Smith, and had given him two checks and $7,000 in cash to put in his safe for her.

On August 18, 2005, Budwah stated she attempted to put a stop payment on both checks and learned that one check in the amount of $9,656.08 had been deposited into Smith’s personal account, with $5,000 withdrawn in cash. The check deposited had both Budwah’s and Smith’s signature on the check, according to bank records, but Budwah denies signing the check.

If convicted of forgery, Smith faces a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $1,000,000, and imprisoned with or without hard labor, for not more than 10 years, but not less than six months, or both.

If convicted of both counts of unauthorized use of movable over $1,000, Smith faces a fine of not more than $5,000, or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years or both.

If convicted of money laundering, Smith could face imprisonment with or without hard labor for not less than two years, not more than 10 years, and may be fined not more than $10,000.

F. Stanton Hardee is the prosecuting attorney handling the case for the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. Attempts to contact Smith’s attorney, Chris Bowman, were not returned.

Jury trial is set for February 18, 2008.

Juveniles go on crime spree over weekend

The Guardian-Journal

According to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, on Saturday, October 28, at approximately 8 a.m., the sheriff’s office received a phone call from Russell and Dana Mills, owners of Pleasure Point Marina, reporting that their business had been burglarized.

Deputy David Crump and Detective Chuck Talley arrived on scene and found the back door of the business broken into and the cash register missing. After Mr. and Mrs. Mills conducted an inventory, they discovered an unknown quantity of items missing.

During this same time frame, Deputy Paul Brazzel responded to a call of an abandoned vehicle blocking the road on Clearlake Road in Claiborne Parish. Deputy Brazzel discovered evidence in the abandoned vehicle that related to the reported burglary. After an investigation was conducted into the ownership of the abandoned vehicle, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office contacted the Bossier City Police Department.

At approxmately 8:45 a.m. on this same date, the Homer Police Department received a report of a stolen vehicle from N. 6th Street in Homer. When the vehicle was reported stolen, there were two weapons located inside it. This vehicle was identified and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Homer Police Department worked together to discern the connections among these three reports.

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office contacted the Homer Police Department on October 28, at 1:30 p.m., and advised that DeSoto Parish deputies clocked a truck speeding on I-49. In their pursuit of the truck, the truck crashed.

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office checked the license number and discovered it was the vehicle reported to Homer Police Department as being stolen. The two occupants of the vehicle, two white male juveniles, ages 15 and 16, fled and ran into the woods in the area. Approximately 2 to 3 hours later, they were apprehended and it was discovered that they had escaped from Johnny Gray Jones Youth Shelter in Bossier City.

These subjects were then detained at the Ware Youth Center in Coushatta. After further investigation, it was discovered that a residence located on Pleasure Point was also broken into on this date.

In another incident, a vehicle that experienced mechanical problems and was left on Hwy. 79 in Webster Parish had been damaged by these juveniles.

These two juveniles were taken into custody by the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office and charges are pending by the Bossier City Police Department and Webster Parish. DeSoto Parish has charged them and Claiborne Parish is charging each of them with three counts of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling; three counts of simple burglary; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and theft of firearms. The firearms stolen in the above incidences were recovered.

Traffic stop leads to drug charges

The Guardian-Journal

Deputy Matt Harris of the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office was traveling north on U.S. Hwy. 79 on Friday, October 26, and observed a vehicle bearing Arkansas License Plate #578 LGF that did not have properly functioning brake lights.

Upon making the stop, Harris identified the driver as Dion M. Cooper, 22, of Magnolia, Ark., and detected an odor consistent with that of marijuana. When questioned about the possibility of any illegal narcotics being on his person or in his vehicle, Cooper stated that he didn’t have any marijuana.

After receiving consent to search his vehicle, Harris discovered a plastic bag containing a green substance consistent with that of marijuana under the back seat on the driver’s side. Harris also discovered traces of a green substance consistent with that of marijuana scattered on the driver’s side front and rear floor board.

Cooper told Harris that the vehicle was his and the passenger with him did not have anything to do with the marijuana. Cooper was thenn arrested for no brake lights and possession of Schedule I CDS marijuana. He was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center and booked for the above charges. Bond was set at $1,000.

Haynesville Police, CPSO make drug bust

The Guardian-Journal

Sheriff Ken Bailey of the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that on Thursday, October 25, Deputy Matt Harris was working a patrol detail in Claiborne Parish when Officer Tim Cox of the Haynesville Police Department called for assistance at the Old Town Cemetery.

Officer Cox noted a suspicious vehicle and observed Jason T. Staggs, 24 of Haynesville, with a plastic bag filled with a green substance associated with that of marijuana sticking out of his right shoe. Officer Cox turned the investigation over to Deputy Harris.

Deputy Harris questioned Staggs and his passenger and was informed that the marijuana belonged to Staggs. Staggs was placed under arrest and a search of the vehicle incident to arrest was conducted.

Upon searching the vehicle, Harris discovered a multi-colored bag containing two glass pipes that are commonly used to smoke marijuana in the center console of the vehicle. Harris also discovered a green substance consistent with that of marijuana in the passenger door compartment. He then questioned both subjects about the items discovered in the vehicle, and Staggs stated that the items were his.

Staggs was then transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center, booked for possession of Schedule I CDS marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, and bond was set at $1,000.

Plane makes emergency landing at Homer Airport

Photo courtesy of Dennis Butcher

Michael Dorsett makes the necessary repairs to his plane after making an emergency landing at Homer Airport Thursday. The new alert tower was sounded around noon when emergency responders were dispatched to the airport to assist.

The Guardian-Journal

The alert tower was sounded at approximately noon or a little after when emergency responders were dispatched to Homer Airport.

A small Beechcraft Baron, single engine, 4-passenger plane made an emergency landing at the small airport, citing engine trouble. Michael Dorsett, of Lafayette, was on his way to Rogers, Ark., when he declared an in-flight emergency. He contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was directed to land his plane at the closest airport, the Homer Airport.

According to emergency responders, Dorsett was flying at an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet, which put him above the “ceiling,” or cloud cover. He had to come below 1,000 feet in order to see the ground.

Dorsett came in “hot,” which means he was forced to land at a higher rate of speed than normal to give him enough “glide” – airlift – to land in case his engine stalled.

Luckily, the pilot was able to land the plane safely – a little hard, but safely. Dorsett was able to assess the situation, make necessary repairs and continue on with his flight.

“Any time you have an emergency landing like that, fire and EMS are always dispatched,” said Homer Fire Chief Dennis Butcher. “You never know what could happen. This guy was lucky. It could have been a worse situation than this.”

7th annual DART radiothon planned to start November 6

Jimmy Dean, Feature Writer

Mary Ellen Gamble of the local DART office announced that the 7th Annual DART  Radiothon will be held Tuesday, November 6 from 6:00 am-6:00 pm at Super 1 in Ruston and will be broadcast over “The Peach 99.3.”

Although being held in Ruston, the fundraiser will benefit the five DART offices in Claiborne, Bienville, Union, Lincoln, and Jackson parishes. Gamble stressed that all donations collected on behalf of a parish will stay in that parish to help operate and maintain the local DART office for that parish.

Gamble has sent letters to area businesses and has been accepting donations for the radiothon. 

Area DART employees and volunteers will be answering the phones. Callers may support the fundraiser on November 6 by calling 318-243-2163 or 318-243-5693. The Kappa Sigma Fraternity will be greeting people and accepting donations at Super 1 with the help of “The Peach 99.3 Team.”

DART will be also sell hot dogs from 4:00 pm-7:00 pm in the Super 1 parking lot.

Gamble said, “Our annual radiothon is an important part of what keeps this vital program going.  Because DART was built and formed by the community, we need community support to keep us going. The radiothon is so important because we have many expenses that grants don’t pay for.”

Explaining the importance of DART in this area, Gamble continued, “During 2006 we served 605 victims of domestic violence, showing the great need for DART in this area.”

Describing the radio program, Gamble added, “We have some exciting guests this year who will address listeners that day. For example, there will be two survivors of domestic violence who have used DART services. Local Sheriff Ken Bailey will  also speak as will Barbara Monzingo of the Community Response Team of Claiborne Parish. And there will be many others on the program. We encourage local residents to tune in.”

When asked for a concluding comment, Gamble said, “I want to remind everyone that all donations are tax deductible, and they may donate by calling in on November 6 or by sending their donations to DART; P.O. Bx 1223; Ruston, LA; 71270. Of course, local residents may donate directly to the parish office by calling me at 927-2818.”

Remembering lives lost

The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates

These are some of 25 silhouettes on the Courthouse Square that serve as wordless witnesses to tragic incidents of domestic abuse in this area. A sign in front of the display explains: “SILENT WITNESSES—Each red silhouette represents a woman or child murdered in a domestic violence situation in north central Louisiana since 1997.”

Haynesville council listens to youth

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

One Haynesville youth went before the town council to bring awareness to a growing problem.

Demontre’ Robinson proposed an idea he feels would help keep kids his age out of trouble. In his presentation, he proposed establishing a “hangout” for teens that would allow them to play video games, shoot pool, play dominoes or cards.

“If we establish a Big Cool Kids hangout,” he said, “it would keep a lot of kids out of trouble and off the streets. I’m saying in order for the Town of Haynesville to reach its full potential, the town council and the people of the town have to come to some understanding, saying that the youth are the future. In order for the future to look good, you have to give the youth something to occupy their time.”

He said the younger children have the Boys and Girls Club, but teens, ages 13 to 18, don’t go because they feel they are too old.

On the heels of Robinson’s presentation, the youth pastor of First Assembly of God in Haynesville came before the town council to ask permission to start a street ministry.

Jimmy Williams commended Robinson on his idea, because that’s why he was there, he said. He, too, proposed an idea to reach the youth of Haynesville outside the church setting.

“I appreciate his vision to see something at a young age that needs to be changed,” Williams said of Robinson.

Through this street ministry, Christian rap and drama, he said, more youth would be reached than in a conventional church setting.

He also intends to promote drama in this street ministry. Of course, all of these ideas, he said, are contingent on the council’s approval. Once he presented his ideas and the council discussed the issue, it was agreed there was no problem with what he wanted to do.

In other news, the town council passed the sagging pants ordinance, which now makes it illegal for people to wear their pants below their waist.

Town Councilwoman Carla Smith voted against it stating the council had more important things to tend to.

Smith acknowledged that for her personally, sagging pants are offensive, but it’s more of a reflection on that person.

“I don’t want to be a town that’s known for an ordinance that tells you how to dress,” she said. “Instead, I want to be a town that focuses on important things such as crime, drugs, the environment, more jobs for our children, a cleaner place to live so that people will move to our town, pride, economy for growth, spending more time and energy with the elderly like Rene Buggs did, raising our children and grandchildren in a safe environment…”

The ordinance was passed with three votes in favor, one against, and one abstained.

The town council also ordered John Wesley Cooper to have his property cleaned up within 30 days. His neighbor, Joyce Baker, said this has been an ongoing problem, and it is an eyesore. Cooper stated he’d begun the process of cleaning up his property, but Baker countered that he’d only begun the process that morning (Thursday, October 25).

Cooper even offered to pay moving expenses plus three months rent as an alternative if she was willing to relocate, but she declined.

“That is not an option,” Baker said. “No one should have to live under those conditions. Just because you are willing to buy me out does not mean that you’re going to clean up your property. The problem would still be there.”

Mayor Pro-Temp Joyce Major noted that Cooper was sent notice about the issue, and stated that he was breaking the law because of the town ordinance.

“You’ve had over a year to clean your property up,” Major told Cooper. “It’s not fair to Ms. Baker to have to live in that condition.”

If Cooper has not cleaned up his property within the 30 days, the town will hire someone to do it, including the cost of the cleanup in his annual property taxes.

Major also brought up concerns regarding the water tank on Hwy. 79. She said the town was losing approximately 13,000 gallons of water per day, following a conversation with a town employee.

“It needs some type of filter to keep it from leaking,” she said. “After talking with Ms. Penny (town clerk), we are now in the process of trying to get a grant to replace that tank.”

The town should know whether the grant will be approved within the next two to three weeks. Major said the probability of getting that grant looks good.

Another item on the agenda included the car wash, because people have been using the car wash stalls to change their oil. The used oil is going down the drain, going into Haynesville’s sewer system. Major warned that she would call the police if she sees this happening again.

The next council meeting will be held November 15 at 6 p.m. at council chambers in Haynesville.

Police Jury considers replacing historical marker

The current marker, barely visible in the middle of this photograph, is embedded in a church parking lot on LA-151.

JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer

Ann Skinner, representing the Historic Commission for Claiborne, Bienville, and Lincoln parishes, addressed the Claiborne Parish Police Jury at its October 10 meeting. Skinner discussed installing a replacement marker at the location where the three parishes meet. A marker currently indicates the 3-parish convergence at Alabama Baptist Church on LA-151.

The Historic Commission is requesting the local Police Jury share in the expense of placing the monument to mark the site. Flat on top, the planned obelisk will be 36 inches high and 18 inches wide. According to Skinner, the left side of its top will be inscribed with “Claiborne Established 1828.”

Created in 1828, Claiborne was the first of the three parishes to be formed. Lincoln was formed in 1873 from parts of Claiborne and other parishes. Bienville appeared in 1884, being formed entirely from Claiborne Parish.

Skinner pointed out that LA-151 is a scenic by-way for tourists and stated that the Historic Commission sees the obelisk as a way of demonstrating “our commitment to our unity and heritage.”

The Historic Commission is seeking $1430 as Claiborne Parish’s part of the project’s cost. Following some discussion, the Police Jury passed a motion to approve the amount on condition that Bienville and Lincoln parishes pay their shares as well.

Harvest Carnival Benefits

Local DART and Claiborne Boys & Girls Clubs

The Guardian-Journal photos/Jimmy Dean

Homer Mayor David Newell laughingly taunts Elbie Dickens as she winds up for the pitch at the dunking booth sponsored by Pafford Amublance at the Harvest Carnival.

Brookshire’s parking lot in Homer was the site of fun and games Saturday afternoon, October 27, with proceeds going to DART and Claiborne Boys & Girls Clubs. Popular attractions included the dunking booth where a ticket bought 3 chances to dunk Mayor David Newell, Sheriff Ken Bailey, Police Chief Russell Mills, or several other local dignitaries. Some other activities included cake walks, the bean bag toss, and face painting. Patti Beaty, coordinator for the benefit, commented, “This was our first year doing this, and it turned out great! We look forward to a bigger program next year.”

The Guardian-Journal photos/Jimmy Dean

Face painting was fun for all - some of the children who enjoyed the carnival gather for a picture; Tommy Sanders grilled hot dogs for carnival-goers.

Homer’s Homecoming Parade

The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates

Homer High School held its homecoming parade Thursday afternoon, kicking off homecoming activities for the weekend. The Homer Pelicans faced off with the North Caddo Rebels. The court, with Homecoming Queen Samantha ? was presented at halftime.

Gallot praised by police jury for bringing

more money into the parish

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

The Claiborne Parish Police Jury passed a resolution thanking State Representative Rick Gallot for his efforts in passing a house bill that raised the cap on the severance tax from $750,000 to $850,000.

This means that Claiborne Parish will see approximately $100,000 more come back into the parish annually.

Act 864, which was signed into law last year, will go into effect July 1, 2008.

The state constitution set forth a severance tax so that when companies go in and extract oil and natural gas from the ground, they pay the state a tax for taking those minerals out of the ground. The constitution also states the parish where these minerals are being extracted is entitled to 20 percent of the amount of severance tax that these companies pay – 20 percent or up to $750,000, whichever comes first.

“The bill and constitutional amendment that I got passed raised the cap from $750,000 to $850,000 per year,” Gallot said, “plus it has an increase mechanism in it so that based on the consumer price index and other inflationary factors, it will automatically increase as the amount of severance taxes are increasing as well.”

Dwayne Woodard, Claiborne Parish Secretary-Treasurer, said this extra $100,000 per year will most likely be put towards the upkeep of parish roads. He also said it will help because the parish’s sales tax revenue has dropped significantly due to the total population decrease.

In the 1940s, there were more than 42,000 residents living in the parish, which means the parish brought in more tax revenue. Today, with a population of approximately 16,000, the parish’s annual budget runs about $6 million per year.

Last year, the parish paid out more than $14 million in oil and gas state taxes, only receiving 6 percent (or $840,000) back into the parish.

“Initially, the cap was set at $500,000 (in the 1970s), when oil prices were low and there wasn’t much inflation going on, the cap wasn’t particularly a problem for us,” Gene Coleman, former police juryman, said. “By the time I got in there (on the police jury), oil and gas prices had changed quite a bit.”

During his term on the police jury, Coleman worked with state representatives as well as other key people to get the severance tax cap increased. By the time all was said and done, they were only able to get it increased by 50 percent.

After Gallot took office, Coleman began talking with the state representative to push for the inflation endorsement, which means the cap will adjust as inflation adjusts each year.

Gallot expressed his appreciation to Coleman for pushing him to make this amendment possible.

“I really appreciate Mr. Coleman and citizens like Mr. Coleman who are so concerned about the community and are always active in trying to do more for the community,” Gallot said. “There was nothing in it for him, but it was an issue that he continued to stay on top of and to stay in touch with me on. So, again, I applaud his unselfish time and effort in keeping the fire burning on that issue until we could get it passed.”

Raffle tickets on sale now!!!

The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates

The beautiful pine tree quilt pictured here with its creator, Mrs. Nurlie Foster of Haynesville, will be raffled off at the 2007 Christmas Festival. It is presently on display at Capital One Bank in Homer where tickets can be purchased for $1.00. They are also available at The Raven Bookstore and the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce in Homer and Killgore Pharmacy in Haynesville. Purchase your tickets now and help promote art in Claiborne Parish!

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