Cut cable causes Haynesville area to lose 911 services

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

Haynesville was without 911 emergency services for several hours after a fiber optic cable was cut.

Claiborne Parish 911 Director Scott Greeson said at approximately 7 p.m. Thursday, August 14, a company was boring holes in the Haynesville area when the seismic activity disturbed the ground enough to crush the fiber optic phone cable that routes emergency calls to 911. Anyone with a 624 prefix could call each other, but they could not receive calls or dial out to any other prefix, but the cut line also affected other areas in the parish as well.

“They can call each other, but they can’t dial out,” Greeson said. “They can call their prefix, but they can’t dial out to Homer or anywhere else.”

Another complication is that because AT&T is the parish’s phone service provider, anyone with Cingular cell phone service was out of luck as well. That meant absolutely no phone service or internet access whatsoever.

Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Chief Detective Chuck Talley released a press release to the TV news stations that day asking anyone needing emergency services to call the Haynesville Police Department.

“We have it worked out right now where the police chief in Haynesville has somebody up there manning the phones around the clock,” Talley said Friday. “Anything that goes to Haynesville has to go through the radio.”

CPSO Dispatcher Mike Walker said it’s been very busy in the dispatch office since the incident.

“Folks are calling wanting to know what’s going on,” he said. “My major concern as a dispatcher is that everybody gets in contact with who they need to get in contact with.”

Phone lines were expected to be fixed by noon Friday, August 15, but were not actually up and running until later that evening.

A representative with AT&T didn’t return phone calls for comment.

According to Greeson, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is expected to launch an investigation into what went wrong. A study is currently underway by local officials to see what can prevent this from happening again.

Greeson said he contacted AT&T to get an incident report, but he was told it was not complete because it is still under investigation.

Fiber optics is still a relatively new technology in the world of telephones. According to the Fiber Optic Reference Guide, David R. Goff, fiber optic technology progressed quickly in the second half of the 20th century. Fiber optics is, simply put, light reflected inside a glass tube.

It is a glass tube with an outer coating that keeps light from “leaking” out of the tube.

“The innermost region of the fiber, or core, was used to transmit the light, while the glass coating or cladding, prevented the light from leaking out of the core by reflecting the light within the boundaries of the core,” the guide states. “This concept is explained by ‘Snell’s Law,’ which states that the angle at which light is reflected is dependent on the refractive indices of the two materials.”

In other words, the cladding causes the light going through the core to be angled back into the core. In essence, it bounces back and forth inside the core until it reaches its destination.

Alexander Graham Bell, put this technology to use by finding a way to turn this light into voice transmission. Since then, other industries, such as the medical industry, the military, the broadcast industry and others, have improved fiber optics technology into what it is today.

Wreck leads to DWI arrest

The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates

The driver of the truck (in the trees) was taken to Homer Memorial Hospital with mild to moderate injuries, while the driver of the Chevy Malibu was arrested for DWI. The driver of the car crossed the center line, causing the accident.

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

A near head-on collision sent one driver to the hospital and one to the back seat of a patrol car.

Ann Marie Warren, of Athens, was arrested Friday afternoon, August 15, and charged with DWI, second offense, and improper lane usage by the Louisiana State Police. Bond was set at $1,000 on the DWI charge and $500 for the improper lane usage charge.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office received a report of a head-on collision on Hwy. 146 – White Lightning Road – just east of Port Au Prince in front of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church.

According to State Trooper Seth Harmon, witness statements said Warren was “all over the road.” She apparently crossed the center line into the other lane, causing the driver of a Chevy pick up truck to veer off the road to avoid the car. The truck rolled down into a deep ditch, landing just at the edge of the woods. The driver of that vehicle was transported to Homer Memorial Hospital by Pafford Ambulance Services to be treated for mild to moderate injuries. They were not life-threatening.

“It was more of a glancing blow, not a head-on collision,” Harmon said.

At the scene, a friend of the injured woman said the accident could have been much worse.

“God was with her, and He will continue to be with her,” she said.

Harmon spoke with Warren, at which time he performed a field sobriety test. She performed poorly and was arrested.

According to State Police Public Information Officer Doug Pierrelee, the next step would have been to take her to a facility where she could be further tested to determine her level of impairment.

According to Harmon, Warren’s impairment was due to prescription drugs. Sgt. Mike Wilkerson, of the Louisiana State Police, confirmed that she was given a breathalyzer test and a chemical test. The results of those tests cannot be disclosed at this time, he said.

Homer’s Search and Rescue team was also dispatched to the scene of the accident for possible entrapment. Once it was determined no one was trapped in either vehicle, their services were no longer needed. Also, Pafford Air One was on standby in case the injured driver needed to be airlifted to another facility for treatment.

Sibley man charged with rape

The Guardian-Journal

A Sibley man was arrested on aggravated rape charges after the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint involving minors.

On Saturday, August 16, David B. Farley, 22, of Sibley, was arrested on charges of aggravated rape and aggravated incest after a complaint was filed against him involving three minor children.

Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Booth conducted an investigation into the allegations and obtained a warrant against Farley.

Farley was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was booked. Bond for the aggravated rape charge was set at $500,000, and bond for the aggravated incest charge was set at $10,000 for a total of $510,000.

In light of that, the OffenderWatch program that is the sex offender registry for the State of Louisiana went online Friday, August 15.

This program offers the citizens of Claiborne Parish a means to locate sex offenders living in their area. Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Detective Randy Smith is the administrator for the program and citizens are encouraged to visit www.sheriffalerts.com/la/claiborne to check for offenders in their vicinity.

In the near future, this website will have an automatic link on the sheriff’s office website, www.claibornesheriff.org, and will be accessible from there.

Homer man arrested on sexual battery charges

The Guardian-Journal

A Homer man is behind bars again after reportedly trying to force himself on another woman.

Andrew Critton, 33, of Homer, was arrested for attempted sexual battery and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. He was also charged with a probation violation. Bond on the attempted sexual battery charge was set at $5,000, and bond on the unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling charge was set at $6,000. No bond was set on the probation violation.

According to Homer police, their department received a complaint on Wednesday, August 13, that Critton forced his way into a residence on Wilson Street and tried to force the homeowner to have sex with him.

As of press time, Critton was still incarcerated at the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.

In an unrelated case, a Shreveport man racked up several charges after Haynesville police received a report of a disturbance on Mills Street.

Kenneth W. Rogers, 29, of Shreveport, was arrested on Saturday, August 16, and charged with disturbing the peace’ disturbing the peace, simple drunk; flight from an officer; resisting an officer; resisting an officer during booking; terrorizing/making threats; illegal use of weapons/dangerous instruments and sagging pants (city ordinance). Bond was set at a total of $5,100.

According to reports, Rogers was threatening police and was drunk. He was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for booking.

Sparta reinforces its resolve

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

The Sparta Groundwater Commission took some pretty hard hits since the last legislative session, but those blows have not broken its resolve.

Not only has the funding been cut for an educator, but a study resolution drafted by Rep. Rick Gallot was shot down by the state senate.

He filed a study resolution which included a widespread variety of stakeholders regarding the Sparta Aquifer to discuss the feasibility of a user fee or some sort of recurring funding.

“We got it out of the House with no problem,” Gallot said. “When it got to the Senate, there were ‘interests’ that didn’t want to see it go forward. It died in the Senate. I think there was probably some misinformation that this was an attempt to impose a user fee. It was clearly a study resolution to bring them all together to talk about it.

He said it was still possible to bring everyone together for an informal meeting to discuss how to implement permanent funding. He reiterated that he is still committed to helping the commission find that funding.

The commission has hit the ground running in efforts to gain financial support through local and parish sources, of which most have agreed. The idea was for the next two years, that funding as well as state funding through the LSU AgCenter was to pay the salary of the educator’s position.

According to Dr. Allen Nipper, of the LSU AgCenter, when the Louisiana Legislature passed its budget, that funding was not increased to include money for that position. To top that off, it was just one of seven positions cut from the AgCenter’s budget.

Several members of the commission expressed their anger and disappointment regarding the situation as well as re-emphasizing the need to open up discussion. The problem is the commission has little authority to do anything. The state government formed the commission without giving it authority to do anything.

Olevia McDonald, board member, said she was “just sick of the whole process.”

“If you’re not going to be able to take a person at his word, you can meet and bring everybody to the table,” she said, “and if they are just going to sit there and lie and tell you what you want to hear, then you have nothing.”

Everyone agreed that it is time to restate the Sparta Commission’s position, and that is the importance of preserving the aquifer. The commission has fought hard to get this issue stated as a critical designation, but as of yet, it is not recognized as such.

“Everybody that we talked to in north Louisiana said they were for providing what was necessary for education,” McDonald said. “Then, all of a sudden, there’s no money for education, because somebody somewhere who said they were willing to spend money for education changed their mind. So, where does that leave us? Is meeting and talking going to do us any good if nothing’s put into effect?”

Ted McKinney, the newest board member, agreed with McDonald.

“This issue of water is going to be just like the oil and gas industry,” he said. “We’re going to sit on it and sit on it until the faucet runs dry, and then we’re going to try to take the salt out of the ocean to try to get water. How much more clarification do you need? It simply is an issue that must be addressed.”

Dr. Alice Stewart, who is one of many who has spent countless hours promoting the preservation of the Sparta, expressed her disappointment in the state government for its lack of support.

“I was just reeling when I found out the Senate wouldn’t even study – not even look at – our recommendations,” she said. “Since they established the Sparta as a political body of the state almost 10 years ago, the state legislature has disregarded almost every commission recommendation.”

She went on to say that even though the commission has gained great local and regional support, the state has all but ignored its requests. The whole purpose of the commission, she said, was to study and find ways to preserve the aquifer. It has done its stated purpose, but when they began making recommendations like they were asked to, they were all but ignored.

“The study was only to iron out difficulties among many suggestions,” she said. “Perhaps we need to restate our compelling case. The Sparta will always be a limited supply of the region’s supply of highly desirable, and in most cases, least expensive potable water. Therefore, the aquifer will always require ongoing research and planning.”

She gave the example of the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District Commission, which has an executive director who is doing everything this position would be assigned with. It also has state funding, and she said she didn’t understand why the Sparta Commission was singled out not to be funded.

All is not lost, though. The commission restated its commitment to educate Louisiana citizens on the importance of preserving the Sparta Aquifer.

Dennis Woodard said the educational DVDs are in, and there are 1,200 of them to go around. Each school in the Sparta area will receive one as well as businesses, local and parish governments and others.

The DVDs were funded through an Entergy grant as well as local business support.

Gallot also discussed the ethics reform package passed by the Louisiana Legislature in the first special session in February and what it means for the Sparta Commission. The Sparta Commission is under Tier 2.1, which means they don’t have to disclose as much as other governmental bodies.

They are required to disclose their full name and address, the full name of their spouse, their business and their spouse’s business, just to name a few. They are not required to disclose their amount of income, just where it comes from, Gallot said. They only way it has to be disclosed is if he or she is a state or legislative employee. Retirement and individual earned income taxes are also not required to be disclosed.

“The whole goal of the ethics reform is to be available to anyone and everyone,” Gallot said. “The goal is to make sure that all of this information will be available in one place.”

That also means making this information available on the internet.

Failure to disclose, willfully or otherwise, comes with penalties, he said, which means offenses will be prosecuted as misdemeanors and comes with fines.

The next Sparta meeting will be held in Union Parish on November 13. Time and place are pending.

DART attends domestic violence seminar

Claiborne Parish DART members are shown with Mike Coker and Andrea James at the recent “Confronting Domestic Violence Seminar” held in the Ruston Civic Center. Pictured (left to right) are Coker, James, Mary Ellen Gamble, Judy Whitton, Krista Johnson, Jean Reynolds, Donna McCarty, Paul Brazzel.

JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer

Dozens of times in life, everyone faces brutal emotional trauma. No one is immune. Sadly, it’s just the nature of life.

Claiborne Parish Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART) members joined more than a hundred others from area law enforcement, social services, and related disciplines at Ruston Civic Center on August 7 for the seminar, “Confronting Domestic Violence: A Practical Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Violence.”

Led by retired police Sergeant Michael J. Coker, the program presented an honest, sometimes raw, depiction of the brutality of domestic violence. Only the most callous and insensitive could not have been moved by Coker’s program.

Skillfully combining crime scene photographs with actual 911 calls interspersed with Coker’s running commentary, the result is a “you-are-there” tension, edginess, and (for some) queasiness.

Mary Ellen Gamble with the Claiborne Parish DART office provided opening remarks, then Coker then guided seminar participants through a day balanced with comedy, seriousness, and pathos.

Always riveting, Coker frequently refers to his experience as a 20-year veteran of the Portsmouth, Virginia, Police Department. Coker’s intolerance toward domestic abusers and sympathy for victims is evident throughout his day-long discourse. His deep concern for the littlest victims—defenseless children who not by choice but by circumstance are forced to live amid violence and rage—is obvious. Painful images of those littlest victims will stay with seminar attendees.

Coker challenged various departments—law enforcement, social support, legal advocacy—to replace their turf battles with cooperation focused on helping victims of domestic violence.

Coker spared none from his stingingly honest insights, even citing examples from his experience of how personnel under his own supervision failed to respond properly in certain tense situations.

According to Mary Ellen Gamble, local DART members came away with a renewed sense of responsibility and commitment to helping local victims of domestic violence.

Gamble reminds area residents who may want information about domestic violence to call 927-2818 or 888-411-1333. DART strictly protects the confidentiality and privacy of all callers.

—o—

“Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent.”—Jonathan Swift

Main Street speakers share information

JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer

A number of local citizens met August 11 with Ray Scriber, Director of Louisiana Main Street, at Homer City Hall. Also present were Jan Corrales of Springhill and Judy Thompson of Minden, directors of the Main Street programs in their respective cities.

Scriber provided an overview of the National Main Street Center™ which serves as an arm of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In addition to preserving and saving historic buildings, the National Trust seeks to foster economic growth, urban revitalization, and job creation.

Scriber explained four distinct areas that when considered together address everything about a commercial district’s needs: Economic Restructuring, Organization, Promotion, and Design.

Louisiana Main Street’s economic restructuring strengthens existing economic assets while diversifying the economic base. This is accomplished by retaining and expanding existing businesses to provide a balanced commercial mix, converting unused or underutilized space into productive property, sharpening the competitiveness and merchandising skills of business people, and attracting new businesses.

Organization refers both to the formal organization and the grassroots organizing that takes place as a Main Street program begins. Before starting work on any of the other points, a Main Street program must first organize. This happens when a core group of people share common ideas about the business district and realizes that they need help from others to accomplish program goals.

Although promotion takes many forms, the goal is always the same: creating a positive image of the commercial district to rekindle community pride. Promotion also seeks to improve retail sales events and festivals and to create a positive public image that attracts investors, developers, and new businesses.

Scriber explained that design takes advantage of the visual opportunities inherent in a commercial district by directing attention to its physical elements: public and private buildings, storefronts, signs, public spaces, landscaping, merchandising, displays, and promotional materials.

At times during the meeting Thompson and Corrales shared what the Main Street programs in Minden and Springhill have accomplished. Thompson pointed out that when Minden Main Street began in 1987, there were 27 vacant buildings in their downtown. Now there are only 3-4. She also praised Minden’s participation in the annual Main-to-Main event, “35 miles of food, fun, and shopping,” held each November.

Corrales described the showpiece of Springhill’s Main Street program, the Spring Theater. Originally built in 1946, the Spring Theater was closed in 1982 and remained unused for 20 years. Following a $100,000 restoration, the Spring Theater has reopened and now offers first-run films with seating for more than 400.

Some discussion centered on Homer’s last application for Main Street designation some years ago. Several present wondered aloud why Homer was not chosen then and “what was the problem” with  the earlier paperwork. Scriber, Thompson, and Corrales assured all present that “nothing was wrong” with the last application. They said Main Street selection is competitive and that points are awarded related to various evaluation criteria. They noted that Homer’s paperwork and presentation may well have been flawless; however, when points were totaled for all competitors, the difference of a single point could mean one town’s selection and another’s nonselection.

As for Homer’s future chances for selection, Scriber, Thompson, and Corrales all agreed that the Main Street Approach holds great promise for this area. It was noted, however, that several preliminary steps must be initiated., e.g., formation of a core organizing group responsible for planning, coordinating, and guiding the project.

Those present agreed to provide Main Street brochures at the next Chamber of Commerce “After Hours” event to be held August 28 at 5:30 pm at the Branch on the north side of the Square.

A Main Street organizing meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. at City Hall on September 4. All interested persons are invited to both the Chamber’s “After Hours” and the Main Street organizing meeting.

Boys and Girls Club enjoys end of summer programs

Submitted photo

Leroy Hamilton, far left, and James Ridley, far right, stop for a moment to take a picture with all the kids who enjoyed the mini-youth conference, sponsored by David Raines Community Health Center.

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

David Raines Community Health Center sponsored a mini-youth conference for the Claiborne Boys and Girls Club Wednesday, August 6.

Filled with fun activities, the conference was designed to teach the kids of the Homer unit skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

Joyce Maiden, community development coordinator with David Raines, said the conference included several areas of interest. Activities included arts and crafts, character counts, personal hygiene and health, music and etiquette and intro to modeling.

Etiquette included teaching the kids manners and other useful tools. During the physical fitness portion of the conference, a basketball player from Evangel’s girls’ basketball team came and gave the kids some useful tips in the sport. A nurse was also on hand to teach the kids proper hygiene and how to properly brush their teeth.

In its fourth year, the conference is done every year just before the beginning of school. And it’s these types of activities that keep the kids busy and out of trouble, Maiden said. She also complimented them on their behavior and their willingness to learn. Positive feedback on the conference has also been a factor in its continuation.

“When I see their parents in Piggly Wiggly, they say it helps,” Maiden said of the conference. “These are the most well-behaved group of kids I’ve ever worked with. I’m very impressed with that.”

Leroy Hamilton, the Homer unit director, said the conference teaches them many things while having fun.

“These kids are learning personal aspects for their lives, but they’re doing it in a way that’s fun and it keeps them wanting to learn more,” he said.

The kids stayed busy, because the very next day, the Boys and Girls Clubs, both the Homer and Haynesville units enjoyed an end of summer blowout at the Homer unit. Fun Day, as it’s called, entailed several different activities throughout the day. Bright and early, the kids enjoyed a couple of hours in the cool, refreshing water at the Mayfield Pool, followed by a lunch of hamburgers, hotdogs and nachos. They also enjoyed a dance contest, games and musical chairs.

An awards ceremony was held before lunch, and several kids from both units received awards for their exemplary attitudes and behavior.

They are as follows. From the Homer unit: Ashla Logan, 2008 The Arts; Kelly Carr, 2008 Education and Career; Iyshia Tims, Youth of the 2008 Summer Camp; James Williams, 2008 Sports and Fitness; Burundell Adams, Youth of the 2008 Summer Camp; Jarmarquez Pleasant, Character and Leadership Development; Chyna Pleasant, Character and Leadership Development; and Corey Willis, Character and Leadership Development.

From the Haynesville unit: Keambria Roby, Youth of the 2008 Summer Camp; Jarius Knowles, 2008 Health and Life Skills; Kaijah Glover, 2008 Education and Career; Whitney Evans, 2008 Sports and Fitness; Josh Evans, 2008 The Arts; J’Marquiez Robinson, Youth of the 2008 Summer Camp; and Breoanna Robinson, Character and Leadership Development.

From all the kids and the staff, a special thank you goes to the following for their donations and support. They include Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden, who donated the drinks; Piggly Wiggly of Homer, who donated the chips; Piggly Wiggly of Haynesville, who donated the hotdog and hamburger buns; Brookshire’s in Homer for their donation of the hamburger patties; Fred’s in Haynesville, who donated the paper goods; Family Dollar in Homer, who donated the charcoal and lighter fluid; and McKenzie Brothers, who paid the rental fee for the bouncer. Thanks also goes to Key Energy who donated $100 towards the raffle and Rusty Billings, State Farm agent in Homer, who donated the T-shirts.

David Raines Community Health Center has clinics located in Haynesville, Minden and Caddo Parish. Working on a sliding scale, the clinics offer many aspects of healthcare, including medical services, dental services and optometry services. According to its brochure, its mission is to provide accessible, affordable, comprehensive and quality healthcare services to the communities it serves.

The Haynesville center is located at 1953 East Main Street. Office hours are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 318-624-1995.

The Claiborne Boys and Girls Club membership includes children from ages 6 to 13. Membership is $10 per year, and it has units in Homer, Haynesville and Minden.

Currently, the Boys and Girls Club is experiencing a huge financial hardship with their state funding being cut in the last legislative session. Board members are asking the community for its help through donations. For those who would like to make a donation to help keep the programs it offers going or for more information, please call 927-2718. If writing a check, please make it payable to The Boys and Girls Club of Claiborne, and mail it to P.O. Box 777, Homer, LA 71040. Your gifts are greatly appreciated.

Teacher orientation welcomes 21 teachers to Claiborne Parish

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

This year, the Claiborne Parish School Board has hired 21 new teachers, with nearly half of them teaching in a classroom for the first time.

The new teachers, and some veteran teachers teaching in Claiborne Parish for the first time, were given an overview of what it will mean to be a Claiborne Parish School Teacher.

Several topics of discussion were covered, including tools and resources for teachers to use when teaching their students as well as some do’s, don’ts and policies for them to adhere to.

One of the most important topics discussed was the use of technology. Janet Holland, technology supervisor, talked about computers in the classroom and internet access as well as the school board’s website. This website, she said, is an important tool for teachers to be able to use, not only to get news and important information from the school board office, but useful tools in teaching in the classroom as well.

Each classroom should have a computer in it, if not two or three. Each school is also equipped with computer labs for student use. The faculty and student use policy was also emphasized as well, with Holland touching on a few things from there.

The website, which is still under construction, is www.claibornepsb.org.

In that website, Barbara Monzingo, Title I director, talked about what’s called the comprehensive curriculum. This curriculum, developed by teachers, covers much of the subjects that are presented in state testing. She talked to the teachers about the curriculum and strategies used to teach several areas.

One of the most important, though, is literacy. Dr. William G. Brozo, a renowned literacy researcher who worked with the State Department of Education, said more literacy strategies needed to be taught in all core areas, including math, science and social studies. That research concluded many kids were not comprehending what they were reading. So, to answer that call, literacy strategies were implemented into the comprehensive curriculum to strengthen those skills necessary for comprehension.

“Literacy is so important,” Monzingo said. “The state just felt like literacy needed to be used in every subject, not just in English.”

In this comprehensive curriculum, teaching is made easier because it gives a guideline in what needs to be taught in order for students to move to the next grade level as well as preparing them for state testing. Teachers can go to the link and print off master copies of lesson plans, classroom assignments and practice work for the students.

Discipline in the classroom is a subject that must be discussed in every school system, because as Janice Williams, secondary supervisor, said, children are not always little angels. The school board has a strict disciplinary policy that each school must adhere to. The policy, found in the student handbook, covers many infractions. But, teachers are also given the discretion to implement classroom rules that must be adhered to as well rules implemented by individual principals to meet the needs of the schools.

Williams also gave some tips on ways to handle students and keep the upper hand in the classroom. Williams said it was important for teachers to document EVERYTHING, and to make sure discipline wasn’t too harsh or too light for the infraction.

“Be firm, be fair and be consistent,” Williams said. “Be reasonable with punishment and make sure the punishment fits the crime.”

Other policies were discussed, including behavior policies, code of ethics, and other important policies. Grading systems, curriculum, and other issues teachers needed to know were also discussed.

A special thanks goes to all who contributed to the orientation. Door prizes went to Penny Andrews, sixth grade English teacher at Haynesville Junior High; Laurie Coker, 5th and 6th grade science at Haynesville Junior High School; and Chad Rook, PE and Boys Basketball at Haynesville Elementary.

Each teacher walked away with a gift bag courtesy of Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an organization of key women leaders in education. Delta Kappa Gamma is an international society that supports key women leaders in education. It’s one of fellowship and scholarship. Beta Alpha is the Claiborne Parish Chapter.

Also, special guests included Carter Federal Credit Union, Horace Mann, Clinton Agency, ValuTeachers, APEL and the Louisiana Association of Educators. The continental breakfast was courtesy of APEL and ValuTeachers. Lunch was courtesy of the Claiborne Association of Educators.

Brokerage firm discusses Haynesville Shale

JENNI WILLIAMS, The Guardian-Journal

Landowners in the Athens area were recently offered a helping hand in dealing with the craziness that the Haynesville Shale discovery has brought to Claiborne Parish.

Fortress Management, LLC, of Shreveport, is a brokerage firm that truly seems to have the best interest of the landowner in its sights.  The company, owned by the Rev. Denny Reedy of Shreveport Community Church and his partner, Tom Turnbow, have offered to put together a package for the landowners to be presented to some of the top oil companies interested in the Haynesville Shale.

The two said they have already helped more than 3,000 landowners make much better deals. They have negotiated multi-million dollar land agreements.

Reedy didn’t set out to become a land broker, he said.

“It just sort of fell into my lap,” he said. “A few of the members of our church asked for my opinion and it sort of snowballed on me.”

After realizing that the oil companies would only be interested in sections where they could control at least 51 percent of the section, Reedy quickly gathered up as many interested individuals in his own neighborhood as he could and presented their cases to a few oil companies.

A bidding war began and Reedy and his neighbors were able to sign on the dotted line on a deal that all parties were satisfied with. Prices skyrocketed about two weeks later, but the individuals who had gone in with Reedy were well satisfied with the negotiations they had worked out.

Through these negotiations Reedy and his neighbors were involved in, he became quite knowledgeable about the ins and outs of negotiating with the big oil companies and is still helping landowners across north Louisiana get the best deal he can.

“My partner and I have had to hire six other individuals to help us deal with all of the calls and emails we receive about the Haynesville Shale,” Reedy said.

Typically, Reedy only gets involved in an area after he has been called by a interested landowner. When enough interest in a certain area, or section, has been garnered, Reedy and his partner call a small meeting.

One of these such meetings was held last Tuesday, August 12 at Camp Harris. Reedy had been contacted by David McCormick to see if he was interested in helping out some concerned landowners in the Athens area.

Reedy was told to expect approximately 40 or 50 landowners to attend but was surprised when a couple hundred showed up.

Reedy spent a couple of hours answering questions and explaining what his company could do for the public. Knowing that some interested landowners were not in attendance, all interest parties agreed to hold a couple more informal “meet and greet” sessions before signing a contract with Fortress Management, LLC and presenting it to the oil companies.

Fortress Management has a brokerage fee of four percent of the sign-on bonus with an oil company and does not receive any percentage of each landowner’s royalties.

To find out more information and to learn time and location of the next meeting, contact David McCormick at 927-1289 or Fortress Management, LLC, at 318-775-0001.

Virginia Tarpley at 927-6116 will also relay questions. Fortress Management, LLC  has a website located at www.fortressmanagementllc.com and will respond to any emails received.

Fortress Management, LLC was aptly named by Reedy’s wife, who thought her husband’s company would be a safe place for landowners to receive help with lease negotiations.

Check out our Back-to-School edition!

School begins August 21
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Claiborne Parish tourism initiative is underway

JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer

The Claiborne Chamber of Commerce has put together an assortment of materials to highlight where to go and what to do and see in Claiborne Parish. “Whether you’re a visitor or a local resident, Claiborne Parish has a driving tour CD set that you will find interesting,” says John Watson, Executive Director of the Chamber.

“The CD is one part of a major initiative aimed at helping others see and appreciate what is wonderful about Claiborne Parish,” Watson notes.

Asked what else is a part of the initiative, Watson explains that a colorful tourism brochure has been prepared. In addition,  there is a new website www.claiborneparishtourism.org.

Also, a cemetery brochure includes a map of the parish with the locations of 156 cemeteries in the parish or within a few miles of the parish line.

Finally, television ads have appeared describing Claiborne Parish as a desirable tourist destination.

Describing the tourism brochure, Watson says it highlights points of interest in Homer, Haynesville, Athens, Lisbon, Summerfield, and other areas of Claiborne Parish. It points out that 10 buildings in the parish are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The brochure includes pictures of the Claiborne Parish Courthouse, Herbert S. Ford Museum, Lisbon’s Killgore House, the mural on the west wall of Haynesville’s Killgore Pharmacy,  Homer’s Old Town Cemetery, the Hill Farm, Summerfield’s Alberry Wasson House, and Lake Claiborne.

The cover of the “Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, Cemetery Guide” notes that it is intended to be “A guide to finding the resting places of your ancestors.” A brief description gives directions for each of the 156 cemeteries There is also a map in the brochure marking the approximate location of each.

The new tourism website, www.claiborneparishtourism.org, describes Lake Claiborne State Park and lists local lodging such as Panther Creek Bed and Breakfast at Summerfield and Lake Claiborne Vacation Cottage on Harmon Loop.

The website describes “eateries” such as the Rebel Stop and Moon’s toward Summerfield, Port-au-Prince on Lake Claiborne, Sunrise Bakery and Restaurant and Homer Seafood and Pizza as well as Yesterday’s Grill in Haynesville.

Highlights related to Homer, Haynesville, Lisbon, Athens, Summerfield, and the parish’s historic cemeteries are all mentioned on the website.

Some parish events are plugged including the Butterfly Festival, the Claiborne Jubilee, the 4th of July Fireworks and Boat Parade, Lake Claiborne Antique Auto and Bike Show, and the Christmas Festival.

The set consists of two CDs with 41 tracks of information highlighting areas of interest around the parish. For only $3 visitors or local residents can learn things about Claiborne Parish that’s not in the history books, stories passed down from grandparents to grandchildren that has become the stuff of local legend and lore.

Of course, the internet website is free as is the tourism brochure. With the cemetery guide available for $1 and the driving CD sets for $3, the whole tourism package is available for $4, a token cost to cover expenses of production.

Many local citizens donated many hours to the brochures, the cemetery guide, the driving CDs, and the website.

Brochures and CD sets are available at the following locations:

* The Grapevine

* The Raven Bookstore

* Port-au-Prince Restaurant

* Killgore Pharmacy

* The Rebel Stop

* Claiborne Parish Library

* Gibsland Bank and Trust, Athens

* The Chamber Office at Ford Museum

Brochures only are available at the following:

* Miss Lizzie’s

* Parden’s Paradise

* Courtyard Florist

* Lake Claiborne State Park

* Haynesville City Hall

* The Outpost

* The Guardian-Journal

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