Arrest made in arson investigation
The Guardian-Journal
An arrest has been made in an arson investigation that
has been going on since November 2007.
Stacey L. Hollenshead, of Homer, was arrested Wednesday, June
4, on charges of arson with intent to defraud and insurance fraud. Her husband,
William H. Hollenshead, also of Homer, was arrested and charged with insurance
fraud.
A joint investigation between the Louisiana Fire
Marshal’s Office and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s office began on November 16, 2007, when a house fire was reported at 720 Hollenshead Road in Haynesville.
According to information gathered at the scene that day,
five units from the Homer Fire Department and Claiborne Parish Fire District 4,
with 12 volunteers assisting, responded to the fire. When firefighters arrived,
they were faced with a fire in the living area of the mobile home. The fire
destroyed the living area and moderate damage was done to the rest of the home,
according to Fire Chief Dennis Butcher. No injuries were reported at the scene
and the blaze was extinguished within 20 minutes.
Due to evidence found at the scene, the fire was
classified as arson by the state fire marshal’s office.
Fire Marshal Investigator Rusty Edwards and Claiborne
Parish Sheriff’s Detective Randy Smith conducted the investigation that led to
these arrests. The initial investigation was requested by Butcher.
Bond for Stacey Hollenshead was set at $25,000 on the
arson with intent to defraud charge and $15,000 on the insurance fraud charge.
Bond for William Hollenshead was set at $15,000 on the insurance fraud.
One charged in Homer shooting
Another charged with felony carnal
knowledge
The Guardian-Journal
A Homer man charged with attempted second degree murder
is free on bond.
At approximately 8:22 p.m., on Sunday, June 8, the Homer
Police Department was dispatched to Monroe Avenue in reference to a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers observed Ronnie Shelton to be the
victim of the shooting. Shelton advised police that Damian Willis, 21, was the
person who shot him and had left the area in his (Willis’) vehicle.
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Department was then
contacted and said Willis was believed to be in a blue Ford pickup. Claiborne
Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Sedrick Millage spotted the vehicle on Hwy. 9 south
near Cook Road.
A traffic stop was initiated and Willis was arrested. At
that time Sgt. Jimmy Hamilton of the Homer Police Department, traveled to that
location and transported Willis to the Homer Police Station.
Once at the station, Willis was questioned, at which
time, he admitted to shooting Shelton. He was placed under arrest and charged
with attempted second degree murder. He was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center and bond was set at $100,000.
Shelton was transported from
Mayfield Park to the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center’s trauma center by Pafford Air One. As of press time, Shelton is listed in fair
condition.
In an unrelated case, Brandon Wright, of Homer, was
arrested Friday, June 6, for felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile on a warrant
obtained by the Homer Police Department.
Several months ago, a complaint was filed against Wright
in regards to a relationship he had with an underage female. After a lengthy
investigation, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills and Officer J.D. Faulkner
executed the warrant.
Upon his arrest, he was transported to the CDC, where he
bonded out on a $20,000 bond.
Also in an unrelated incident, Willie Young Jr. was
arrested Sunday, June 1, on several drug related charges after he was stopped
by Homer police.
Officer Van McDaniel initiated a traffic stop for running
a stop sign. Upon coming into contact with the driver, identified as Young, and
the passenger, Brandon Ferrell, of Homer, McDaniel detected the strong odor of
what appeared to be marijuana coming from the vehicle. Once both men were out
of the vehicle, McDaniel pat them down for officer’s safety, at which time,
Young surrendered a 25 caliber handgun he had concealed on his person.
A further search of Young’s person revealed two small
baggies which contained a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, a
small baggie of what was believed to be marijuana and a small blue ecstasy
tablet. The search revealed that all of these items were in his shoe.
The passenger, Ferrell, was arrested on a warrant from
the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Department. Reports show that Ferrell was
arrested on an open container charge. Bond was set at $500.
Young was transported to the CDC, where bond was set at a
total of $9,000. Young’s charges include illegal carrying of weapons, with bond
set at $500; possession of Schedule I CDS (marijuana), with bond set at $500;
possession with intent to distribute Schedule II CDS (cocaine), with bond set
at $7,500; and possession of Schedule I CDS (ecstasy).
5 charged with incite to riot
The Guardian-Journal
Several people were arrested for incite to riot Sunday,
after someone threatened to harm another’s family member.
According to their booking information sheets, Marvin R.
Rogers, Jeremy J. Smith, Steven S. Smith, Kenneth W. Rogers, Cornelious E.
Colquitt and Jermiah Mosby, all of Haynesville, were arrested and charged with
one count each of disturbing the peace and one count each of inciting to riot.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., police were dispatched to
Mill Street Apartments in Haynesville in reference to a fight. One had
threatened to beat another’s grandmother with an aluminum bat, which led to an
exchange of words.
According to reports, the five men are neighbors and
there has been an ongoing feud among them.
Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith and Officer John
Barnett were the arresting officers.
The five were arrested and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center. Bond on each was set at $11,000. Mosby and Colquitt have
made bond, but the other three are still incarcerated.
In other news, Byran O’Neal Franklin of Homer was
arrested Friday, June 6, by the Haynesville Police Department for simple
possession of marijuana. Bond was set at $500.
More arrests pending in auto theft case
The Guardian-Journal
Through the joint efforts of several law enforcement
agencies, two stolen vehicles were recovered in Claiborne Parish, and more
arrests are pending.
On Wednesday, May 28, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office
Dispatch Supervisor Walter Johnson received a call from the Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) regarding two stolen vehicles from Jackson Parish. Upon checking
with Jackson Parish, he was advised that a 1997 Dodge 4x4 and a 2002 Chevrolet
pickup were stolen on Wednesday, May 14.
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Detective Randy Smith
discovered both trucks were purchased by Top Dollar Scrap and Recovery, and the
vehicles were recovered in Claiborne Parish. Jackson Parish investigators were
advised about the location of the vehicles and were able to make three arrests
in their parish on the thefts of the vehicles. Also during the investigation, a
Road Runner travel trailer, stolen out of Webster Parish, was recovered and
Webster detectives were notified. They made an arrest on this case as well.
Further charges in these cases may be pending.
“Joint efforts between Claiborne Parish and our
surrounding parishes enables law enforcement to work together to solve crimes
that occur which cross parish lines,” said Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey.
In other news, the CPSO made a drug bust after a vehicle
was stopped for crossing the fog line.
On Saturday, June 7, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy
Roger Ellerbe was patrolling Old Athens Road and observed a vehicle stopped in
the middle of the roadway. When the vehicle began traveling, it crossed the fog
line and Ellerbe initiated a traffic stop.
Upon approaching the vehicle, Ellerbe detected a strong
odor of marijuana. Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy J.T. Williams arrived on
scene to assist.
The driver was determined to be Derrick D. Voner of Athens, and the passenger was identified as Sadat O. Akrong of Homer. A subsequent search
of the vehicle produced two small clear plastic bags filled with a green
vegetable substance that appeared to be marijuana and a light blue metal box
that was filled with a green vegetable substance that appeared to be marijuana.
Also, two approximately half-inch cigars containing marijuana were found in the
center console of the vehicle.
Voner and Akrong advised the marijuana belonged to both
of them. They were both placed under arrest and charged with simple possession
of marijuana with a $500 bond each, and Voner was charged with improper lane
usage with a bond of $500. Voner and Akrong were transported by Williams and
Ellerbe to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for booking.
In an unrelated case, Lt. Jimmy Brown, of the Claiborne
Parish Sheriff’s Office was working a routine traffic patrol on La. 2 Alternate
and clocked a westbound vehicle speeding.
Upon making a traffic stop, Brown discovered the driver,
Jennifer R. Frick, of Haynesville, to be driving without a license. The vehicle
Frick was driving had been reported stolen earlier that day.
Haynesville Police Officer Aaron Christian arrived at the
scene to assist. Brown searched the vehicle and observed a blue paper towel
that was wrapped and stuffed between the driver’s seat and the console. The
towel contained a green leafy vegetable material that appeared to be marijuana.
There was also a round metal can in the tool box that had some green leafy
vegetable material inside the can, along with a pair of scissors and a package
of Zig Zag cigarette rolling papers.
Frick was advised of her rights in Miranda form and
transported to the Claiborne Parish Women’s facility. She was booked and jailed
for speeding, 67/55; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; possession of
Schedule I (marijuana); and no driver’s license. Bond is to be set.
Claibornites to be inducted into
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer
The world of sports and the world of medicine will never
be the same, thanks to the contributions of two Claiborne Parish native sons.
Dr. James R. Andrews and Karl “the Mailman” Malone will be inducted into the
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in ceremonies Saturday, June 21, at the Natchitoches Event Center.
Festivities begin Thursday, June 19, with an afternoon
press conference followed by a reception. Other events include community
outreach activities, a Friday afternoon golf scramble, a free kids sports
clinic on Saturday morning, then the keynote event Saturday evening with the
induction dinner.
Born in Homer and a graduate of Homer High, James R.
Andrews went on to become a world renowned orthopedic surgeon, specializing in
sports medicine.
The son of a coach, James Andrews was a member of the
1957 Homer High football team, the “Iron Men,” as well as a track star. Earning
a place on the LSU track and field team and winning SEC pole vault titles both
indoors and out, he posted a personal best clearance of 15½’ when the world
record was within that range.
Graduating from LSU School of Medicine in 1967, Dr.
Andrews served his residency in orthopedic medicine at Tulane in 1972. He has
since become the “go-to” surgeon who has extended the careers of many
professional athletes in addition to producing cutting-edge research. These are
but a few of the reasons he was chosen for the 2008 Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports
Leadership Award.
Born in Summerfield, Karl Malone was nicknamed “The
Mailman” at Louisiana Tech because of his consistency in scoring (“the mailman
always delivers”). Malone won the NBA Most Valuable Player award twice and is
acknowledged as one of the greatest power forwards ever in NBA history. Scoring
the second most points in NBA history, only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hit the net
more.
From 1985-2003 he was the Utah Jazz’s star player, then
played his final season (2003-2004) for the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring.
Malone's Utah Jazz jersey (#32) was retired in 2006 when
he was also honored with the unveiling of a bronze statue outside the
EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City. A portion of the intersection of
Stockton and Malone in Salt Lake City is named in his honor.
A very physical player, he achieved his career high in a
game against the Golden State Warriors on March 29, 1994, with 23 rebounds. He was voted in 1996 to the “NBA's 50 Greatest Players” list.
In 1991 Karl Malone married Kay Kinsey, Miss Idaho USA of
1988. They have four children together, son Karl, Jr., and daughters Kadee,
Kylee, and Karlee.
— o —
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” — Abraham Lincoln
Hunter education course to begin July 30
The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, along with David Wade Correctional Center, will be sponsoring the Hunter Education Courses for 2008.
The hunter education course will be conducted at the
Homer Fire Station beginning July 30-31, and August 2.
The class schedule is as follows:
•
July 30: 6 until 9 p.m.
•
July 31: 6 until 9 p.m.
•
August 2: 8 a.m. until noon
Anyone interested in this hunter education course must
pre-register with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Department at 927-2011 or by
contacting Col. Brad Rogers at 927-0453.
In 1985, hunter education became mandatory in Louisiana. Anyone born on or after September 1, 1969 is required by law to complete the
Louisiana Hunter Education Course before purchasing a hunting license. The
minimum age for certification is 10.
Hunter education programs have always taught young
hunters the practice of firearm and hunting safety. Today, hunter education
programs are about more than safety. They have been expanded to produce
knowledgeable, responsible and involved hunters – hunters who understand the
importance of complying with hunting laws and behaving ethically. These
programs give beginners a good foundation, and they provide a refresher for
veteran hunters.
Ultimately, the mission of hunter education programs is
to ensure the continuation of the hunting tradition.
Chemical spill leads to evacuation
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Several agencies melded together last week in the name of
safety when a truck hauling chemical waste was stopped when a leak was noticed.
According to reports, Haynesville Police Officer Aaron
Christian stopped a truck at Airport Road and Hwy. 79, across the street from First United Pentecostal Church in Haynesville with a possible chemical spill.
Haynesville Fire Chief Mark Furlow was called to the
scene by Police Chief Anthony Smith when officers realized what the truck was
carrying. When Furlow arrived, the driver was already out of the truck and
Christian was inspecting the required MSDS (material safety data sheets), which
tell what kinds of chemicals are on board, what they do and their danger level.
“After I saw what he was carrying, I went ahead and
called for an evacuation and got everybody out of there,” Furlow said.
Furlow called for a half-mile evacuation, placing people
at the Haynesville Fair Barn Complex and the Haynesville Fire Station. Sonic
and Chic-a-dilly restaurants, both in Haynesville, provided food and drinks to
the evacuees.
Traffic was rerouted down Columbia Road and from Hwy. 79
to Hwy. 808. Traffic control was handled by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Department.
The communications trailer, provided by the Office of
Emergency Preparedness, was taken to the scene to set up internal
communications as well as provide a cool place for first responders to recoup
if they needed to rest before returning to the grueling task of the cleanup
efforts.
The driver was coming from Texas to El Dorado, Ark., carrying numerous amounts of hazardous material waste to be incinerated, Furlow said.
The truck was carrying a variety of chemicals that could have come in contact
with each other and ignited.
One of the containers, containing a type of acetone,
tipped over, bursting at the bottom. The chemical leaked into the back of the
truck and onto the road.
The Louisiana State Police Hazmat team was called in to
oversee the cleanup process, and according to their reports, on a scale of 1 to
10, the chemical waste was an eight and one half to nine, with 10 being the
worst.
Four to six people stayed away from their homes that
night and returned the next morning. Agencies had the spill cleaned up by
approximately 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
“It worked out really well,” Furlow said, “because it
could have been a lot worse. I’d like to thank the other agencies that helped
us out. Everything was handled very professionally by everybody.”
Scott Greeson, training officer for the Office of
Emergency Preparedness, agreed.
“It could have been a recipe for disaster,” he said. “You
saw a perfect melding of all the parish’s agencies. It went together perfectly,
and it all went so smoothly.”
Other agencies involved with the cleanup efforts included
the Louisiana State Police, Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Department
of Environmental Quality.
New IRS law affects school system
employees’ benefits
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is making some changes
in requirements for retirement benefits that will change school employees’
benefits.
According to Johnny Rosier, of Taylor and Sons Insurance
and Financial Service, the 403B – the retirement plan for many school systems –
will be treated more like a 401K, beginning in January 2009.
One of the changes the IRS is making, too, is that school
systems must allow companies like his educate the system’s employees about
retirement plans and options. Rosier said that, in a sense, this is a black eye
on his industry, meaning support staff, bus drivers and custodians were never
really educated about these retirement plans because they generally could not
afford to contribute to a retirement plan.
“This new law is saying that once a year every employee
has to be exposed to and told what a 403B retirement plan is in case they want
to participate or not,” he said. “They don’t have to participate, but that’s
the IRS’s way of saying, ‘We’re going to treat everybody fairly.’”
This rule has been in effect for 401K retirement plans
for many years, but it’s never been enforced across the board. The 401K is
self-monitored, because the employer can’t participate – in other words, match
what the employee contributes – if the employee does not.
In a typical 401K retirement plan, an employee can choose
to contribute into this retirement plan, and the employer matches the
employee’s contribution up to a certain percentage. The 403B works in much the
same way, but the biggest difference between the two is the 401K is for
private-sector employees and the 403B is for employees of educational
institutions and some nonprofit organizations.
Many employees of the Claiborne Parish School system already have their 403B plans set up with Taylor and Sons, and Rosier came before
the school board to inform the board of the new laws. He also asked permission
to set up meetings in the fall with support staff to inform them of their options
and the new law changes.
“Even though the new law does not take effect until
January, we’re suggesting that we meet with your employees in August,” Rosier
said. “The law takes effect during this school year. It’s important that your
employees know before the school year starts that the game is changing during
the holidays.”
Another important task the school board tackled was
declaring the gym floor at Summerfield High School an emergency, because the
floor has what’s called dead spots in it. This means the entire floor will have
to be replaced because it cannot be repaired.
According to Ronnie McKenzie, maintenance and
transportation supervisor, the floor needs to be declared an emergency in order
to get quotes for its replacement and get it replaced before the 2008-09 school
year begins.
The school board approved the motion to declare it an
emergency.
In other school board news, bids for lunch items milk,
bread and ice cream were chosen for the 2008-09 school year. The school board
approved the bids for Borden for milk, Flowers’ Baking for bread and Blue Bell
for ice cream.
In the superintendent’s report, Superintendent Wayne King
said the school board office will be closed July 3-4, and just for the month of
July, it will go to a 4-day work week, with office hours from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m., July 10, at the school board office.
Holiday, Office Hours
The Claiborne Parish School Board office will be closed Thursday and Friday, July 3-4, in
observance of Independence Day. Also, beginning in July, the school board
office will go to a 4-day workweek, with office hours from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. This will only be for the month of July. The office will return to
regular summer hours in August.
Jour de Pères—Vatertag—Día de
Padres—Giorno di Padri—Fathers Day
The Guardian-Journal
Father’s Day is observed worldwide on different dates in
different countries.
President Woodrow Wilson officially designated a national
Mother’s Day in 1914, so it might seem that Father’s Day was officially
declared soon after. However, that is not the case.
Although the first Father's Day celebration in the U.S. was June 19, 1908, in Washington State, it was not until 1972 that a national Father’s
Day was recognized.
As for whose idea it was, there are a couple of nominees.
According to one story, Grace Golden Clayton is said to have been inspired to
honor fathers after a mine explosion in Monongah, West Virginia, that killed
361 men in December, 1907.
Another account claims that Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd wanted
to honor her father, William Jackson Smart, a veteran of the Civil War whose
wife had died in childbirth. Smart was left with six minor children that he
raised alone. His daughter, Mrs. Dodd, wanted public commendation for such
devoted fathers.
Support gradually built over the years from various
notables such as Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge as well as
William Jennings Bryan. In 1916 President Wilson’s fatherhood was privately
celebrated by his family, and President Coolidge recommended it as a national
holiday in 1924.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith in 1957 told Congress,
“Either we honor both our parents, mother and father, or let us desist from
honoring either one. But to single out just one of our two parents and omit the
other is the most grievous insult imaginable.”
President Lyndon Johnson made Father's Day a holiday to
be celebrated on the third Sunday of June with Richard Nixon officially
designating a national Father’s Day in 1972.
Father’s Day for many is an occasion to remember Dad with
gifts related to hunting, grilling, tools, fishing, sports, electronics, etc.
(source www.ideafinder.com and www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father’s_Day)
LSU coach to speak at Minden Alumni fish
fry
The Webster Parish LSU Alumni Association Chapter will
hold its 25th Annual Luncheon and Golf Tournament Thursday, June 19th, 2008, at the Pine Hills Country Club in Minden, Louisiana.
In 1984, the chapter’s inaugural fish fry featured former
LSU Coach Bill Arnsparger and was held in the backyard of J.C. and Annie Laura
Johnson. The event has become one of the largest functions of any
in-state chapter, and LSU Head Football Coach Les Miles will be guest speaker
at this year’s fish fry. The Luncheon is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. Pine Hills Country Club, in addition to hosting the fish fry, will once again
be the site of the event’s preceding golf tournament. The 18-hole
scramble tournament features a 1:30 p.m.
Shot-gun start and prizes will be awarded for top
finishing team and for various on course challenges.
For information please contact Kay Elzen at (318)
377-8364 or Jeanne Branch at (318) 377-8764. Pine Hills Country Club is located
on Homer Road in Minden, LA. To contact Pine Hills Country Club call
(318) 377-3024.
2008-09 Pupil Progression Plan
The Claiborne Parish School Board will revise and adopt
the 2008-09 Pupil Progression Plan at its regular meeting to be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10. This plan sets local policy for promotion, retention, graduation
and testing of students in the Claiborne Parish Schools during the next year.
A draft plan will be available for public view and
comments in the Claiborne Parish School Board office, located at 415 East Main Street in Homer, during its regular business hours.
First United Methodist, Homer welcomes
new pastor
The Guardian-Journal
Members of the First United Methodist Church, Homer and Wesley Chapel will be welcoming to the pulpit Rev. Roy Bryan Moore as their
new pastor on Sunday, June 15.
Rev Moore was born in Germany in 1956 while his father
was serving in the U.S. Army. Besides Germany, he has also lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
He is married to the former Millie Anderson of Petal, Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She is a physical therapist.
The Moores have two children. Their son Bryan, 24, is a
graduate of Louisiana Tech University. He is currently attending the University of St. Augustine in Florida where he is studying to be a physical therapist. He
plans to marry Meg Martin of Ruston on August 16 in Ruston.
Bethany Anne Moore, 21, their daughter, is a sophomore at
Louisiana Tech University. She was named Miss Tech 2007 and is currently in
family studies with plans to become a pediatric occupational therapist.
Also moving to Homer with the Moores is their beloved and
faithful friend, “Sugar Bear,” the family dog.
Before attending seminary Rev. Moore served as a
missionary in Brazil and a youth minister in Mississippi and Metairie.
He attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and
Perkins School of Theology.
He has served as a pastor for almost 25 years.
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