Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday,
March 9! Don’t forget to turn your clocks forward one hour!
Former town clerk arrested
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Former Homer town clerk Rita Mitchell has been arrested
for felony theft over $500.
The warrant for her arrest was issued last week after a
lengthy investigation into allegations that she was stealing money from the
town.
She was arrested by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office
Thursday, February 28, without incident and bonded out on a $15,000 bond.
Mitchell was suspended without pay in August 2007 after a
customer complaint regarding a water bill that had been paid twice. Upon
initial investigation, funds were found missing and billing stubs that
indicated cash payments were altered to checks received to balance transaction
reports.
She was terminated September 17, following an initial
investigation.
In October 2007, Mitchell’s attorney, Chris Bowman, filed
a lawsuit against the town for violation of open meetings laws, stating the
town was in violation when it met in executive session after being asked to
hold the meeting open to the public. She is also suing for damages.
That suit was dismissed on the grounds that the mayor and
the town council members could not be sued in their official capacity because
the offices of mayor and council members are just political subdivisions of the
Town of Homer. They cannot be sued as representatives of the Town of Homer.
However, that does not mean that the entire suit was dismissed.
Town Attorney Jim Colvin said he is preparing documents to get the rest of the
suit dismissed.
In
response, the Town of Homer has countersued for damages, return of money
stolen, return of overtime pay fraudulently taken, return of wages paid while
the clerk prepared tax returns for personal clients at work and other matters
to be decided at trial.
If Mitchell is convicted of felony theft over $500, she
could face up to 10 years in prison with or without hard labor, or may be fined
not more than $3,000 or both.
Warrant nets drug arrest
The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne Narcotic Enforcement Team arrested a Homer
man after serving a search warrant that lead to a drug arrest.
Richard J. Daniels, of Homer, was arrested Friday,
February 29, after CNET, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Homer and
Haynesville Police Departments and the Louisiana State Police served a search
warrant in the 900 block of Hudd Drive.
The residence at the center of this investigation is
located at 901 Hudd Drive in Homer, and is part of the Federal Housing Project.
Sheriff Ken Bailey and Homer Police Chief Russell Mills advised that
information was received by CNET that Daniels, 53, was selling drugs from that
residence. During CNET’s investigation, information and probable cause for a
search warrant was developed and that warrant was obtained from the Second
Judicial District Judge Jenifer Clason.
At approximately 8:02 a.m., Friday, officers served the
warrant at 901 Hudd Drive. During this search, officers seized marijuana and
cocaine, as well as other items associated with controlled dangerous
substances. These seizures resulted in Daniels’ arrest for possession of
marijuana and possession of cocaine.
He was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was booked and bond set at $6,000. While Daniels was attempting to
bond out of jail, CPSO dispatch personnel contacted surrounding agencies for
any outstanding warrants. This check resulted in the Minden Police Department
placing a hold on Daniels for an outstanding warrant from their jurisdiction.
Sheriff Bailey encourages the public to notify area law
enforcement agencies of any suspicious or illegal activity that is going on in
their neighborhoods. Concerned citizens can call CNET at 318-927-9800, the
Louisiana State Police at 318-676-3200, the Homer Police Department at
318-927-4000, the Haynesville Police Department at 318-624-1355 or the
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Department at 318-927-2011.
Any and all information is considered confidential and is
greatly appreciated.
Truck dumps load, trapping man
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Paramedics, fire and rescue and ordinary
citizens work quickly and tirelessly to dig out a man trapped underneath this
truck’s load of red clay. Fortunately, the man trapped under the dirt did not
suffer any life-threatening injuries. He was transported to Minden Medical Center by Pafford Ambulance Services.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A dump truck spilled a load of red clay dirt trapping a man
underneath.
On Friday, Feb. 29, a dump truck was set to unload a bed
of dirt on a logging trail off Harris Road near Old Arcadia Road when it turned
on its side trapping the man under the bed and a large pile of red clay.
The trapped man was conscious and alert, not complaining
of any pain, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s deputies said.
Officials said the truck overturned because it was on
uneven ground falling over when the bed was raised too high. The man was on the
side of the truck directing others inside the cab where to unload the dirt.
Homer Fire and Rescue as well as concerned citizens all
grabbed shovels and began to dig the man out.
Dennis Butcher, Homer Fire Chief, said the man was very
lucky.
“He was buried nearly waist deep in the dirt,” Butcher said.
“If that dirt had been any higher, he wouldn’t have been able to breathe.”
The dirt protected him from serious injuries in that it
acted as a cushion between the man and the bed.
Pafford Ambulance was called to the scene and was able to
carry him out on a backboard. He was transported to Minden Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s deputies, Homer Fire and
Rescue and Pafford Ambulance all assisted at the scene. Newt-Brown
Construction, the owner of the dump truck, came to turn the truck upright.
McInnis threatens to file lawsuit
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
McInnis Brothers Construction, Inc., has threatened to
file suit against the Town of Homer.
The town council met in executive session Monday night to
discuss possible litigation strategies if the company files suit for nonpayment
of sewer treatment plant projects.
“The town met in executive session and we discussed the
threat of litigation and how we would respond to it,” said Homer’s town
attorney Jim Colvin. “No decision was made. We discussed the nature of the
threat, and a potential for a response. I am currently researching several
issues relative to that to advise the town council precisely how we should
proceed.”
In 2006, McInnis Brothers was contracted by the Town of Homer to do some upgrades to its sewage treatment plant through a Louisiana Community
Development Block Grant (LCDBG). A contract was signed, and there were overages
in the contract pursuant to change orders in which McInnis sought additional
money over and above the contracted price. The Town of Homer took issue with
how those change orders were implemented.
The issue has to do with an absence of written change
orders on many of the ones that were requested. Colvin said that in order to
move things along, the town and McInnis discussed settlements to try to work
something out.
“It was anticipated that that would work, and it has
not,” Colvin said. “In addition to the change order issue, there is still some
electrical work that needs to be done, which McInnis Brothers is not going to
do without being compensated for it, and as a result, the town has asked me to
review legal options and consider our own suit to rectify the situation, if
there is such cause of action.”
In 2006, a lien was placed on the treatment plant by
McInnis Brothers for nonpayment of services.
“Basically, a lien says ‘You owe me money,’ and the Town
of Homer takes the position that it does not owe them money,” he said, “so the
process will have to work itself out either through settlement or through
litigation.”
Right now, the town is holding approximately $75,000 in
light of the situation, and until this grant is “closed out,” it cannot apply
for another grant.
Colvin said that Homer would see no ill effects because
of the hold placed on the money. It just means that while the money from this
grant has not been used, the town cannot apply for another grant until the
current one has been spent.
“It just seems like the change order issue could have
been handled a little bit differently on behalf of Balar, on behalf of the town
and on behalf of McInnis altogether,” Colvin said. “The contract between the
town and McInnis is very specific on how a change order is to be implemented.
If it doesn’t work in that regard and if it wasn’t done in that regard –
everybody shares some blame in that.”
Colvin expects the matter to be handled quickly, one way
or the other.
As of press time, calls by The Guardian-Journal to a
representative of McInnis Brothers were not returned.
In other town council news, a motion for a proposal to
move the office door at town hall and fix the floor under the ice machine in
the kitchen was passed.
Jon Crumpler sent in a proposal to move the office door
down some, and renovate that area to allow for a counter to be put in. This
would make the front office more accessible to the public while maintaining
security.
The town council also passed a motion to buy uniform tops
for all the town employees and custodians. Tops will be bought for eight
people, and a $600 limit has been set. Although it is not in the budget, the
motion passed with the understanding that James Colvin Sr. is to look at the
budget and see if there is extra to be spent.
A motion to pay a repair bill was passed as well. The
town agreed to pay an invoice submitted by Perry Dean for repairs made in a
home on Walnut Street where sewage had backed up.
Lee Wells, street supervisor, found blockages in the
sewer system and was able to fix the problem and treated tree roots with a
chemical to kill the parts of the roots causing the blockage.
The next item on the agenda was a motion to repeal
ordinance 07-101, regarding the accumulation of junk, debris and abandoned
cars, in its entirety and adopt an ordinance amending the Town of Homer Code of Ordinance Section 10-8. Section 10-8 regards the health and sanitation in
the town’s codes.
The next town council meeting will be held April 7, at 6 p.m., in council chambers located at the Homer Police Station.
CPSB hopes for school zone grant
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
School zone warning lights have been a topic of
discussion for several months and the Claiborne Parish School Board hopes grant
monies will give the project a green light.
On Friday, February 29, the school board turned in an
application for a grant program called Safe Routes to School in order to get
funding for the school zone lights as well as educational materials to teach
kids about school zone safety.
According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation
and Development’s (DOTD) website, Louisiana received approximately $9 million
in funding for Safe Routes to School programs, which will be distributed over
the next three years.
Claiborne Parish Schools Superintendent Wayne King said
he has been working with the Haynesville Town Council as well as Homer officials
to make the parish’s school zones safer for its children. He also intends to
update school zone markers for other parish schools as well.
On February 18, a student was hit by a vehicle in the
school zone in front of Haynesville Jr./Sr. High School. The teenager sustained
no injuries; however, this incident drove home the point that something needs
to be done.
“It had been talked about for a period of time, before
this took place,” King said. “Ironically, we were talking about it at lunch
(that day), and then something happened that afternoon. It was all in the
making before this came about.”
King said the important thing is the safety of the kids
and that’s why the district is applying for this grant.
In this grant application, the school board is requesting
five flashing yellow “beacons” (lights) – two to be placed on each end of the
newly incorporated school zones in Haynesville on U.S. Hwy. 79 and three for
the Homer schools complex. Two of those three lights will be placed at each end
of the school zone on Main Street in Homer and the third on the north side of
the school complex on Edgewood Street.
Solar lights were chosen because of their reliability
during power outages, environmental friendliness and low maintenance costs, the
application stated.
An education component is also part of the grant
application process. Janet Holland, with the school board, said that with
childhood obesity in schools, the promotion of healthier kids is highly
encouraged. Through this grant application, the state is using different
methods to encourage kids to walk or ride their bicycles to school. Marking the
school zones clearly will help tremendously in that it will help kids feel
safer when walking or peddling.
“The health and safety of the kids is the primary focus
of the grant,” Holland said.
Both Senator Robert Adley and Representative Rick Gallot
have sent letters of support for the grant.
Previously, Holland requested a feasibility study by the
DOTD regarding one joint school zone instead of the current two school zones.
Following a spot speed study, DOTD announced the plan was feasible.
“Based on the results of the spot speed study being in
close conformance with the 25 mph school speed zone, and that the difference in
overall travel time at a slower speed is minimal, and that the school is
generating pedestrians along the subject segment of the highway, it is
recommended that a new comprehensive 25 mph school speed zone be established
and the two existing independent 25 mph school speed zones be rescinded…” the
study stated.
According to Holland, one school zone was recommended due
to the fact that there seems to be some confusion as to what the speed limit is
in town. The short distance between the two zones is another factor taken into
consideration.
The presence of the Boys and Girls Club building, which
is located between the two schools, as well as a nursing home and a park, also
played a part in the decision.
The school zone warning lights issue has been a topic
that has been discussed for several months, beginning with the Haynesville Town
Council. Claiborne Parish Police Juror Bob McDaniel, a resident of Haynesville,
brought his concerns before the council about a year ago after going to the
school board. McDaniel pursued the issue until this last month when the school
board took over and turned in the grant.
Holland said it is possible
the school board will not get the grant and they were given no time frame as to
when an answer could come.
“Even if they (the school board) don’t get the grant,
those school zones are now one,” she said. “If they don’t get the grant, they
will look into other avenues to get the money to pay for the lights. This will
get done one way or another.”
What would you do? Jesus prays before
His arrest
JOHN D. MCCLELLAND, First Presbyterian
Church
Editor’s Note: In celebration of the
Easter season, this will be the first in a series of articles leading up to the
special holiday. This week, the Rev. John D. McClelland, pastor of First
Presbyterian Church in Homer and Athens, begins our series with the passion of
Christ – the moments leading up to Jesus’ arrest and the crucifixion in the
Garden of Gethsemane.
Six hours of freedom is about all you have remaining in
your life. Within 24 hours, you are going to be arrested and executed for
crimes you did not commit.
What would you do?
Would you run to the nearest airport and buy a ticket for
a destination as far away as you could go? Would you invite your family and
friends to attend a farewell supper and warn them about what was to happen?
Would you invite all of your friends to bring guns and ammunition to your place
for a final stand?
What would you do if you were a follower of Jesus Christ?
Would that make a difference in your last minutes of freedom? Would you ask
yourself, “What would Jesus do?”
In the 22nd chapter of the Gospel of Luke (22:1-53), we
are told what Jesus did.
He gathered his family and friends on a night when they
might have shared a meal anyway. They were totally unprepared for what was
about to happen to Jesus, even when He told them to be ready. They missed the
point of His message and spent these precious moments bickering with one
another.
After supper, He told them to go and find swords and then
accompany Him to a private garden. He left his friends just inside the garden
with the suggestion they spend these moments in prayer.
He went away by himself, still in the garden, and prayed
to God the Father that what was about to happen to Him might not. As always,
his prayer included the idea that God’s will would be done.
Jesus was fully human and fully divine. He knew what was
about to happen, but like most of us, wished for a way out of His difficulty.
He prayed so hard, that he dripped drops of perspiration like drops of blood.
These hours, during the last days of Jesus’ life have
come to be called the Passion of the Christ. Later, there would be the
Crucifixion and the Resurrection.
But on that special night, Jesus was so involved and so
passionate about His praying that He dripped sweat like blood.
How often do we pray like that? Yet, He was willing to
leave the outcome in the hands of God. He could have run away, but He didn’t.
Jesus was willing to do what God wanted Him to do, and
what love for all of us demanded that He do. For life and love to overcome the
power of death for all time, Jesus had to die and be resurrected to new life.
In His humanity, He gathered friends and family and said
good-bye. In His humanity, He asked the disciples to arm themselves. But,
because of His love for God and for all of us, he told Peter to put the sword
away – that there was another solution. We know that was the way of peace, the
way of love and the way of God.
When faced with challenges in life, do we rely on the
love of family and friends to help us get through it as Jesus tried to do? Do
we pray so hard that we break out in drops of sweat on a chilly night?
Finally, do we leave the outcome in the loving arms of
God? What do we do when faced with a tough challenge?
Parish witnesses historical moment
The Guardian-Journal
The citizens of Claiborne Parish witnessed history Monday
when it implemented its Louisiana First Call system for the first time.
The system called more than 5,000 phones yesterday
warning people that Claiborne Parish was under a tornado watch. Although a
tornado watch is not a serious condition yet, it could have very easily turned
into a warning – quickly.
Dennis Butcher, director of the Office of Homeland
Security and Emergency Preparedness in Claiborne Parish, said Monday was the
perfect time to test the system to work out any kinks. They did find a few
problems, and that’s why they ran the test.
“We got some good feedback from it,” he said. “Overall,
it went fairly well. For Claiborne Parish, it’s a historical moment for public
communications, because it’s the first time we’ve used this.”
The system called 5,380 phones Monday. It delivered the
message to 2, 745 phones. That means that 2,745 people got the message. It
delivered that message to 443 answering machines, and delivered the message to
7 TTY and TTD (hearing impaired phones). The system received 562 no answers and
66 busy signals. When it gets a busy signal, the system makes an attempt to
make one more call to that phone.
This warning system comes from a grant obtained by the
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Claiborne Parish.
It gives them the capability of issuing a message to a
large percentage of the population in a short period of time. This system will
be used in serious situations like tornado watches, ice storms or other emergencies
that effect large areas of populations.
The call comes from Baton Rouge through the Office of
Homeland Security and Office Preparedness.
“It’s impressive in that it can call a large number of
people in a very short period of time,” he said. “We think it’s a great system
and we think it’s going to work well. Our communications are really coming up,
because we have the alert system and now we can get calls out to a large number
of people in a very short period of time in emergencies.”
Accident surprises McDonald’s customers
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
This is where the other vehicle stopped
after being hit in the passenger door on Hwy. 79 Friday afternoon when trying
to cross from Regions Bank into McDonald’s restaurant. The driver and
passengers of the other vehicle were transported to Homer Memorial Hospital for treatment of possible injuries.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Customers at McDonald’s in Homer got quite a surprise
when an accident nearly sent a GMC Tahoe through their lunch tables.
The driver of the Tahoe was coming across Hwy. 79 from
the parking lot at Regions Bank when it appeared that the driver of a GMC Yukon
t-boned the SUV, sending it into McDonald’s front yard, stopping just short of
the front of the restaurant. The impact appeared to have smashed in the front
passenger door and break the front passenger wheel.
The Tahoe was hit hard enough to deploy its airbags. No
injuries were reported for the driver of the Tahoe. The driver of the Yukon and its passengers, including a small infant, were transported to Homer Memorial Hospital by Pafford Ambulance to be treated for minor to moderate injuries. The
baby suffered no injuries.
The Homer Police Department, Pafford Ambulance, McKenzie
Brothers Wrecking Service and Gordon’s Towing all assisted at the scene.
Tremendous progress made in tourism
A farewell reception for Lauren Tichenor, Americorps
Vista representative, will be held from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. at the police jury complex events room. This reception will give everyone a chance to wish
her well and show appreciation for the tremendous difference she has made in
Claiborne Parish.
The Guardian-Journal
A tremendous amount of progress has been made in getting
the economic engine of tourism underway.
A driving tour CD, aptly named “Claiborne Parish: An
Explorer’s Destination,” has now been recorded, complete with directions, a map
and a history of Claiborne Parish. The cover of the CD will have a
scrapbook/collage look to it with several photos. The Claiborne Chamber of
Commerce’s contact information will be placed on the back of the CD case.
This CD is now in production and will soon be available
to the public for a minimal cost. It will be available at several distribution
locations throughout the parish.
A tourism website is also now underway and will feature
places of interest as well as fun hotspots the parish has to offer.
Production of a cemetery map for Claiborne Parish is
still in the works. A finished product is expected to be completed by the end
of March, and once that is done, it will also be available to the public for a
minimal cost.
The committee that has been meeting for the last several
months is now an official tourism committee under the umbrella of the Claiborne
Chamber of Commerce. Financial issues came up, and in order for the Chamber to
be able to give money towards the tourism projects underway, the committee had
to be made official.
There will be a couple of positions on the committee’s
board that will be chamber members.
Keep reading The Guardian-Journal for updates on when and
where the driving tour CD, brochure and maps will become available.
This Film by Michael Haynes Productions was created in conjunction with 
