Will Homer’s utility rates increase?
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The Homer
Town Council debated on whether to increase utility rates at its regular
monthly meeting Monday night.
Allied Waste Services has raised its contract price by
6.5 percent, raising its contracted price from $11.10 per month to $11.82 per
month for curbside services. The backdoor service would be raised from $16.73
per month to $17.82 per month.
This adjustment is based on changes in the consumer price
index (CPI), according to a letter to the Town of Homer by Allied Waste
Services.
But, because of this rate increase, water and sewage
rates were also looked at. Customers are charged $2.80 per thousand gallons of
water consumption, and sewage rates are $2.15 per thousand gallons, based on
water consumption.
If water and sewer rates are increased, the current rate
for water would go up to $2.97 per thousand gallons, and sewer would go up to
$2.29 per thousand gallons, based on water consumption.
The average water usage in Homer for a family of four to
five is approximately 4-6,000 gallons of water per month.
Mayor David
Newell said the town is already absorbing a tremendous amount of expenses
because of its low utility rates, which means the town is losing money every
month.
“Our rates are much lower than most other communities,”
Newell said. “If we don’t do this, then we’re simply subsidizing more costs
than we already are.”
District 3 Councilman Toney Johnson said because of the
subsidization, more money is being poured into the utility department, which
means less money is going towards street repair and other things the town
needs.
District 4 Councilwoman Carlette Sanford strongly
disagreed with raising rates on customers, because she doesn’t feel like the
customers should have to absorb the extra costs. Everything else is going up,
she said, and it’s not fair for constituents to have to pay more.
She suggested raising rates to a flat rate across the
board, which might bring in a little more revenue, but it would also help take
the burden off customers with large families who consume more water than one
person or a couple.
In the end, Newell appointed Sanford and District 1
Councilman J.C. Moore to research the issue further and tabled the motion to
increase the rates. Moore and Sanford are expected to meet with Town Clerk B.J.
Lowe later this month.
In other council news, the council only received one bid
for the old Entergy plant. Jimmie Tripp upped his bid of $8,000 and submitted a
bid of $11,000. The council agreed to accept the bid.
Also, Homer Reserve Police Officer Joey Henry was hired
to replace Officer Ken Wood, who took a job with the Magnolia Police
Department.
The
contract with David Wade Correctional Center’s crew was renewed for the 2008-09
year.
The Guardian-Journal was also appointed as the town’s
official journal for the 2008-09 year.
In other news, the town agreed to a monetary donation of
$500 each to the Fourth of July Fireworks committee and to the Sparta
Groundwater Commission.
A beer permit was also approved by the town for Homer
Discount Mart.
The next regular meeting of the town council will be held
July 7, at 6 p.m. in council chambers, located at the Homer Police Station.
Homer man arrested for auto theft,
fugitive captured
Drug charges also filed by Minden police
Special to The Guardian-Journal
A Homer man wanted for auto theft out of Arcadia was arrested in Minden and the stolen vehicle was recovered.
Jarmaine Winzer, 21, of Homer, was arrested Wednesday,
May 28, and charged with a warrant issued by the Arcadia Police Department for
auto theft.
An additional charge of simple possession of a CDS
schedule I (marijuana) was also filed by the Minden Police Department (MPD).
On Wednesday, MPD received a report regarding a stolen
Lincoln Continental. Patrol officers later spotted the vehicle on Stone Street.
“The officers approached the vehicle and identified
Winzer as the driver,” said Minden Police Chief T.C. Bloxom. “During a search
of the vehicle, the officers discovered a small amount of marijuana, resulting
in the possession charge issued by this department.”
A background check on a passenger in the vehicle revealed
no criminal history or active warrants and the subject was released.
“A background check on Winzer revealed two counts of
burglary filed in Claiborne Parish during the past couple of months,” said
Bloxom.
Winzer was placed under arrest and transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
Upon transfer to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center, bond was set at a total of $70,289.
In another matter, a tip regarding the whereabouts of a
wanted Athens man resulted in his arrest Thursday, May 29, at a Minden apartment complex.
Clifford Jones, 59, was arrested Thursday on a fugitive
warrant issued by Claiborne Parish for felony theft over $500.
“We received a tip that Jones was supposed to be at the
Sheppard Street Apartment complex,” said Bloxom. “Officers came in contact with
Jones and placed him in custody.”
According to Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Chief Detective
Chuck Talley, a warrant was issued for Jones in August 2007 on these charges.
A hold was also placed by Smith County, Texas.
Information in this story was reprinted with permission
from the Minden Press-Herald.
Claiborne Parish visits Baton Rouge
Submitted photo
On Wednesday, May 28, Chamber Executive
Director John Watson and Chamber Vice President J. T. Taylor traveled to Baton Rouge to pay Representative Rick Gallot, D-Ruston, Senator Robert Adley, and ,not
pictured, Senator Mike Walsworth a visit. Also, the two had a chance to visit
with some of Governor Jindel’s staff.
Search nets drug arrests near
Haynesville
The Guardian-Journal
Two Homer men were arrested on drug charges after trying
to throw what appeared to be drugs out of a vehicle.
On Saturday, May 31, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputies
Roger Ellerbe and J.T. Williams were patrolling Hwy. 79, just south of
Haynesville when they observed a white Buick traveling north with no tail lamps
or license plate light. A traffic stop was made and while in the process of
conducting the stop, Ellerbe noticed the passenger of the car, identified as
Patrick L. Thomas, 24, of Homer, began throwing white and clear bags onto the
highway.
The driver of the vehicle, Dion L. Brooks, 36, of Homer,
continued to travel down the highway and came to a stop on Barnette Road.
Haynesville K-9 Officer Tim Cox, Officers Adrian Malone and Aaron Christian
arrived at the scene to assist.
Ellerbe
recovered a white plastic bag and one clear plastic bag on the shoulder of the
road. While performing a search of Thomas, a white napkin that contained a
green vegetable substance that appeared to be marijuana was discovered in his
right sock.
Thomas
was placed under arrested and charged with littering and possession of Schedule
I CDS (marijuana).
A search of the vehicle revealed what appeared to be
marijuana scattered throughout the driver’s side floorboard.
Ellerbe
placed Brooks under arrest and charged him with tail lamps required, driving
under suspension, no vehicle insurance, no license plate light, driving an
unsafe vehicle and possession of Schedule I CDS (marijuana).
Upon further search of the vehicle, officers discovered a
cigar filled with a green vegetable substance that appeared to be marijuana and
one clear plastic bag that was filled with a green vegetable substance that
appeared to be marijuana.
Thomas and Brooks were transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center with bonds to be set.
Accident leads to DWI, drug charges
The Guardian-Journal
The cooperation of several law enforcement agencies in
the area lead to drug charges and a DWI in Claiborne Parish.
On Monday, May 19, Claiborne Parish Deputy Roger Ellerbe
was dispatched to a one-vehicle accident on Hwy. 146.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Bryan
Wayne Cook, of Longview, Texas, was not found on the scene.
Louisiana State Trooper Brandon Salmon was on scene and
officers discovered a large amount of empty beer cans and seven cigars
containing a green vegetable substance that appeared to be marijuana in the
vehicle.
While officers were at the scene of the accident, Homer
Police Officer Jim Faulkner made contact with the suspect and transported him to
the Homer Police Department.
Cook was arrested and charged with driving while
intoxicated 1st (DWI), careless operation by the state police and simple
possession of marijuana by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Department.
Bond was set on the DWI 1st at $750; careless operation
at $500; and possession of marijuana at $500.
Lions club to host tourism speaker
The Guardian-Journal
The Homer Lions Club will get a special speaker on
Thursday, June 12.
Courtney Hornsby, director of programming and promotions
for the City of Natchitoches, will share with Lions club members what Natchitoches has been doing to attract tourism. She will also speak about what Claiborne
Parish can do and the many ways similar programs could be modeled after the
ones that have worked for them.
She has been employed with the City of Natchitoches for
seven and one half years, and she has managed the Natchitoches Main Street
Program, served as the director of the newly constructed Natchitoches Events Center and handled all marketing and public relations efforts for the city.
She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a masters
degree in English from Northwestern State University. She earned the title of
Nationally Certified Main Street Manager from the National Trust for Historic
Preservation in 2005.
During her time with the city, Hornsby has been
responsible for helping the city earn several awards and recognition including Natchitoches being named as a Preserve America Community by the White House and a Preserve
America Presidential Award by the White House. Other awards include a Great American Main Street community by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, one of
the United States’ Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for
Historic Preserviations and one of Louisiana’s first ever certified retirement
communities. She has also netted several grants totaling thousands of dollars
for projects in the Natchitoches area.
Please be at the Homer Lions Club on Thursday, June 12 at
noon at Nicky’s Mexican Restaurant. This will be one speaker not to be missed.
Homer, McInnis settle sewer dispute
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The details of the agreement between the Town of Homer and McInnis Brothers Construction, Inc., was released this week after the town
council gave the mayor authority to settle the dispute.
In 2006, McInnis Brothers was contracted by the Town of Homer for upgrades to the sewage treatment plant through a Louisiana Community Development
Block Grant (LCDBG) grant. A lien was also placed on the treatment plant by McInnis
Brothers for nonpayment of services. The town was also holding approximately
$70,000 in light of the situation.
The plant has been functioning for approximately two
years, and it is functioning properly, but the issue was over $130,000 in
change orders and how those change orders were implemented in that there was an
absence of written change orders. The town didn’t dispute that the change
orders were actually accomplished, said Town Attorney Jim Colvin.
Also, the town agreed to pay $61,000 to settle the
dispute over the change orders, and McInnis agreed to accept that.
“The issue was the change orders and how they were done,”
Colvin said. “There’s no question that some of the work that was done in these
change orders was necessary and essential. We compromised it down to $61,000 in
order to keep it from costing both parties litigation costs and time.”
The town further agreed to release the $70,000 it owes
McInnis for completion of the job, over which there was never a dispute.
The only other issue that came up, he said, was the
electrical wiring. Both parties’ electrical experts will have to agree that the
plant’s electrical wiring functions properly and complies with all state and
federal regulations. In the event that it either does not function properly or
comply with regulations, McInnis will correct the problem at its cost. A final
inspection in the near future will be conducted to insure that all work meets
state and federal standards.
The lien placed on the plant will also be removed.
With the release of the grant money to McInnis, the town
will now be able to close out that grant and begin applying for more grants in
the future.
As of press time, phone calls to McInnis Brothers
Construction were not immediately returned.
After Hours at Homer Loans
Submitted photo
Many businesses and citizens throughout
the community gathered at Homer Loans recently for the After Hours event,
hosted by various Claiborne Chamber of Commerce members. This After Hours event
was hosted by Dick Dorrell and Homer Loans. The Raven Bookstore hosted the last
After Hours event. Please contact the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce at 927-3271
for more information.
Sonny Rose tourney to be held July 19
The 8th Annual Sonny Rose Memorial Softball Tournament is
scheduled for Saturday, July 19th, 2008 at the Minden Recreation Complex in Minden.
Sonny Rose always had a passion for sports and this event
allows friends and family to join together for a fun day of competition and
celebrate the memories of a dear friend. This tournament was first held
in the summer of 2001. Since that time, the Rose family and this
tournament have been responsible for raising thousands of dollars for
non-profit organizations.
This year, all proceeds will benefit Holy Angels
Residential Facility in Shreveport. Since 1965, Holy Angels Residential
Facility has provided services to hundreds of children and adults living with
intellectual and developmental disabilities. These residents come from Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and many other states across the nation. Holy Angels is
always striving to meet the ever-changing needs of its special
population. Community involvement and support has a significant impact on
the services that Holy Angels provides to its more than 180 residents.
This tournament will offer many added extras including
great food, raffle items, prizes, t-shirts and trophies. Team registration
begins now and if you would like more information on how you or your company
can be involved, please contact Andrea Wilkerson, Director of Development, at
(318)797-8500 or Billy Reeve at 318-371-1797.
ConocoPhillips hosts benefit cook-off
for
Claiborne Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Claiborne are having a
barbecue cook-off to help raise funds to operate summer programs in Homer,
Haynesville and Minden.
The barbecue, hosted by Conoco Phillips, will be held on
July 16 at 13501 Industrial Drive in Minden. There will be a $10 entrance fee.
Judging will begin at 12:30 p.m. Winners will be awarded a trophy and one
year’s bragging rights.
Come and represent your company, your work group, family
or just yourself. Cook your meat in advance or cook on the grounds. The plates
and utensils will be provided by ConocoPhillips. Also, don’t forget we need
side dishes. Plates will be available after the judging for a ten dollar
donation.
Trophies will be awarded to each of the categories which
include chicken, pork ribs, pork (shoulder or butt), beef brisket, open or you
can enter all categories.
Entry forms may be picked up at the ConocoPhillips office
at the address above or contact Glenda Allums at (318) 382-4508 or by faxing
(318) 382-4510. The deadline to enter is June 25.
If you are unable to participate in the cook-off, please
come out and support our local Boys and Girls Clubs by buying a plate or making
a donation.
One hundred percent of the funds raised will help support
the Boys and Girls Clubs of Claiborne Parish.
Grand Master Charity Relay comes through
Homer
Submitted photo
On Sunday, June 1, Homer Lodge 152 met on
the Homer Town Square to pass along a check to Donald Buxton and Eddie Wellman.
They were running in the Grand Master Charity Relay. This Relay has been going
on for several years to bring attention to the Louisiana Special Olympics as
well as raising money for the kids. Pictured above are Donald Buxton, Wayne
Hatfield, secretary, Eddie Wellman, Tony Allen, treasurer, Brady Allen, junior
warden, and Michael Allen, senior warden. The Masonic Lodge meets on the first
and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m.
Totals in for May blood drive
The Guardian-Journal photo/Jenni Williams
Nurse Jaquelyn Daniels assists Bonnie
Keene as she donates blood at the Lifeshare Blood Center’s blood drive held at Homer Memorial Hospital on May 15. The blood drive brought in a total of 30 units of blood.
This Film by Michael Haynes Productions was created in conjunction with 
