Homer community commemorates King
The Guardian-Journal photos/Jenni
Williams
More than 20 people participated in the
fifth annual Commerative March in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior on
Thursday, January 15 despite the cold temperatures. After bundling up in winter
finery, the participants marched from the corner of Martin Luther King Drive
and Hill Street in Homer to New Hope Baptist Church, located on Monroe Avenue. David Aubrey, pictured above, was one of the keynote speaker for the
commemorative service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
JENNI WILLIAMS, The Guardian-Journal
New
Hope Missionary Baptist Church and the Claiborne Parish Branch of the NAACP hosted
speakers, David Aubrey and Shreveport Councilman Joe Shyne at the fifth annual
Commerative March and Remembrance Program on Thursday, January 15.
During
the 1950-60s, civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. recognized the power
of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals. Initiated by
Congress in 1994, King Day of Service builds on that legacy by transforming the
federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community service.
The day
was established to have a designated day where people of all ages and
backgrounds come together to improve lives, build social barriers and move our
nation closer to the “beloved community” that Dr. King envisioned.
The
march, which began at the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Hill Street in Homer and ended at New Hope Baptist Church, had approximately 20
participants.
Despite the cold weather, the
marchers gave their all, singing the entire way. Many residents in the
neighborhood enjoyed the songs from their porches as the participants passed
by.
Once
arriving at the church, the marchers joined their fellow attendees in the
sanctuary for the program. After Claiborne NAACP President Billy Kirk welcomed
the large crowd, Geneva Jackson performed the opening song.
The
Lane Chapel Youth Department performed a tribute to Dr. King and turned the
crowd over to the Homer Golden Raiders, who performed a musical interpretation.
Xanthe Seals introduced David
Aubrey, the first and only black mayor of Homer. Aubrey’s speech, “Would Dr. King
really be pleased with Claiborne Parish,” kept the onlookers on the edge of
their seats.
“A race
that doesn’t know its history is apt to repeat it.” Aubrey said. “There is no
greater time to start improving our community than 2009.”
After
Aubrey’s closing remarks, the young ladies of Lane Chapel Dancers of Praise
performed a musical interpretation “The Presence of the King.”
Bettie Cheatam introduced the
second speaker of the night, Joe Shyne, a Claiborne Parish native, now a
Shreveport City Councilman.
Shyne
discussed many ways to make improvements in the communities of Claiborne
Parish.
“Education
has no color. Education is the equalizer,” Shyne said. “You have to put people
in office, whether they are black or white, who are educated and have a Christian
heart A person who can’t read or write has no business running for office.
Claiborne Parish needs people who are intelligent, progressive and passionate.
“You
got to try to do something. God wants you to be a working Christian,” Shyne
continued. “You’ve got to come together to make this [Homer] a better place.
You can’t sit around and expect God to do everything for you. Ask God to give
you the strength and knowledge to do what you need to do.”
Shyne
ended his speech by repeating that all residents of Claiborne Parish need to
come together as a whole.
On
behalf of the Claiborne Parish NAACP, Kirk thanked all for their attendance
and participation.
“We are
excited about the new things that are happening in our chapter. We encourage
you to join today,” Kirk said.
Claiborne Parish...On Parade
Chamber banquet a huge success
The Guardian-Journal photo/K.H. Hightower
Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne
entertained the crowd at 2009’s Claiborne Chamber of Commerce Banquet, held
Monday, January 19, with impressions of past governors while talking about some
of his favorite books that help Louisianians understand their great state.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Who
knew that Louisiana’s secretary of state could be so animated?
Secretary
of State Jay Dardenne was the keynote speaker for 2009’s Claiborne Chamber of
Commerce, and he didn’t talk about elections or voting. He gave an animated
presentation on several books that describe this state perfectly. With
surprising accuracy, Dardenne put on his best impression of Huey Long and
several others who have made Louisiana’s political scene so rich and colorful.
Before
introducing 10 of his favorite books on our great state, each one was
introduced by music from some of Louisiana’s greatest artists, including Jerry
Lee Lewis and Randy Newman.
Although
his description of Louisiana was colorful, his perception of our state is one
of passion and love for the place he calls home. He spoke of New Orleans, where
the some of the greatest musicians began and its place in history as the home
of jazz. He spoke of its renewal and the hope that it will be a better place
than it was before Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
He
talked about the resilience of the people of Louisiana. In a place where many
make their living in the waters of this great state, he spoke of preserving its
coastal lines and the domino effect it has on our state economy.
“It is
a city unique among American cities,” he said.
He continued through the list of
books, but when he got to number one, “Rising Tide,” written by John Barry, he
talked about Louisiana’s resilience. The book was about the great flood of
1927.
“It is
a story of man’s constant struggle with mother nature and our futile attempt to
control it,” Dardenne said. “But it’s also a story of the resiliency of the Louisiana people. In the face of that great flood we did not simply give up as
Louisianians. We seized the opportunity to build levees and to reconstruct the
economy.
“In
closing, one of the things that makes Louisiana really unique and special is
its ethnic blend, but it’s also our resiliency,” he continued. “We have seen a
lot of struggles over our existence, from political corruption to natural
disasters to lots of things that have challenged us and threatened us and kept
us from being the great state that we can become. I firmly believe that our
best days are ahead of us.”
A very
special thanks to the diamond sponsors this year. They are: Emerson Oil
Company, Inc.; Citizens Bank and Trust; First Guaranty Bank; Gibsland Bank and
Trust and John Wesley Cooper Jr.
Thanks
also goes to this year’s platinum, gold, silver and bronze sponsors. Platinum
sponsors included Claiborne Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Capital One Bank;
Killgore’s Pharmacy and David Raines Community Health Center, Inc. Gold
sponsors included Carter Federal Credit Union; Coca Cola Bottling Co. and
Entergy. Silver sponsors included Lynn’s Flowers and Gifts; Claiborne
Insurance, Inc. and McInnis Insurance/Insurance Consultants. Bronze sponsors
included Shelby Duay; Dwayne Woodard and Louisiana and Northwest Railroad.
A
special thanks also goes to David Wade Correctional Center (DWCC) for providing
the backdrop for the stage; Homer Mayor David Newell and the Town of Homer for
use of City Hall and their assistance in preparing for the banquet; Sheriff Ken
Bailey for his assistance in setting up for the banquet; and Homer Police Chief
Russell Mills and his officers for providing security.
Dinner
was catered by Rand and Nancy Killgore of Upper Crust Catering and served
courtesy of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle of Claiborne Academy.
Brianna Murray sang the National
Anthem, and Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey led in the Pledge of
Allegiance. Invocation was given under the Rev. Gary Taylor.
Welcoming
remarks were given by Nicole Sanders and special recognitions were given by
J.T. Taylor.
John
Watson gave an overview of the past year and all the things the chamber has
been able to accomplish. Many of these accomplishments topped last year in that
the Homer Bypass is now coming to fruition with the help of state and local
government officials.
Also,
the chamber has sponsored several “After Hours” programs and several ribbon
cuttings; supported the Butterfly Festival in Haynesville; provided low-cost
advertising on the parish website for chamber members (www.claiborneone.org);
launched a new tourism website (claiborneparishtourism.org); published a new
Claiborne Parish tourist brochure and cemetery guide and developed a Claiborne
Parish driving tour CD. Other accomplishments include becoming a LA
Sameday-Travel ambassador.
The
chamber has also supported numerous events including the Claiborne Parish Fair;
the 4th of July Fireworks Show on Lake Claiborne and the Scholastic
Achievements Awards Banquet for Claiborne Parish students. The chamber also
paid for the promotional cable television ads to shop Claiborne for Christmas.
The
chamber has also worked with the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation and the Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum and remained in close contact with elected state and
federal officials by inviting them to come to Claiborne Parish and seeking
their support to promote the parish. The chamber has also remained in close
contact with surrounding chambers.
President
Steven J. Koskie introduced 2008 and 2009 board members and introduced
Dardenne. The presentation of awards was given by Koskie and Watson, followed
by the benediction, given by the Rev. R.B. Moore.
The
officers and directors for 2009 include President Steven J. Koskie; Vice President
Chic Hines; Secretary Nicole Sanders and Treasurer Patricia McMullen. Board
members include Fred Lewis; Janell Brown; Travis Tinsley; Wesley Emerson; O.P.
“Pete” Pearson; Stephen Lewis; Beverlee Killgore; Vanessa Efferson; Galen
White; Kelly Waller; Dan Ware; Benji Winn and Cynthia Steele.
A few
of those who have rotated off the board now were given special recognition with
new jackets with the chamber’s insignia embroidered on them. Those honored were
Gurvis Vines, John Wesley Cooper Jr. and J.R. “Snap” Oakes. J.T. Taylor was
especially honored for his tireless work and dedication to the chamber. Given a
standing ovation, Taylor was presented a plaque in honor of his dedicated
service.
Those
on the chamber banquet committee include Beverlee Killgore, chairperson; Nicole
Sanders; J.T. Taylor; Cynthia Steele; Steven J. Koskie and John Watson.
New members this year include
Carter Federal Credit Union; Dusty’s Heating and Air; Ted’s Pharmacy;
Haynesville Mayor Sherman Brown and DART (Domestic Abuse Resistance Team).
Arson still under investigation
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A Homer
woman is in jail following her arrest on aggravated arson charges.
Raquel
A. Warren, 22, of Homer, was arrested by the Shreveport Police Violent Crimes
Unit on Tuesday, January 13, and charged with aggravated arson, with bond set
at $100,000; writ of attachment, with a fine of $317; and unauthorized entry of
an inhabited dwelling, with a bond of $6,000.
On
Saturday, January 10, the Homer Fire Department as well as the Homer Police
Department were dispatched to the 300 block of Washington Street in reference
to a fire. At approximately 3:29 p.m., firefighters and officers arrived on
scene to find a section of an apartment complex engulfed in flames.
Further
investigation led authorities to believe an arson had been committed. The fire
damaged at least four apartments, and Fire Chief Dennis Butcher would not
release many details on the case. It is still an ongoing investigation, he
said.
“It was
a fire of suspicious origin,” Butcher said. “Further investigation determined
that it was an arson and sufficient evidence was accumulated to make an
arrest.”
Butcher
contacted the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, and investigators were
sent to look into the matter.
“After
further investigation, it was determined by the investigators that the fire was
set,” said Homer Police Chief Russell Mills.
Through
the joint efforts of the police department and the arson investigators, several
people were interviewed in regards to the case. Police were given Warren’s name, who was subsequently arrested by the fire marshal’s office and also charged
with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling by the Homer Police
Department.
“She
was charged with unauthorized entry because witnesses said they’d seen her
enter the apartment,” Mills said. “We asked the tenant if he’d given her
permission to enter that apartment and he said no. He’d demanded that she stay
away from his property.”
Mills
said that witnesses placed Warren at the apartment moments before the fire
started.
Through
the course of the investigation, Mills was able to locate Warren in Shreveport. He contacted the Shreveport Police Violent Crimes Unit, and after they
obtained a copy of the warrant, arrested Warren and booked her in the
Shreveport City Jail. She was later transported by Homer Police to the
Claiborne Parish Women’s Facility where, as of press time, she remains
incarcerated.
The
cause of the fire has not been released due to the status of the investigation.
As of press time, an arson investigator with the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s
Office could not be reached for comment.
In an
unrelated case, Nicholas Gilbert, 30, of Homer, was arrested and charged with
theft and domestic abuse battery, with bond to be set on both charges.
According
to police reports, Gilbert was arrested on Saturday, January 17 on a warrant of
these charges. It was reported that on Friday, January 16, Gilbert had stolen
some money from a victim and assaulted her. The next day, while on patrol,
Officer Van McDaniel observed Gilbert trying to enter the apartment.
McDaniel
approached Gilbert, at which time, he was arrested with the assistance of Officers Steve Harbour and Roger Smith.
Fire engulfs home, pets lost
The Guardian-Journal photo/Jenni Williams
Shortly after lunch on Tuesday, January
20, Calvin Lee, a resident of 305 Bream Island Road, noticed smoke coming from
the mobile home where he was staying with a friend. His friend was not home at
time. The home, owned by Sharon Wagner of Texas, was already fully engulfed by
the time the Homer Fire Department was notified. While there were no life
threatening injuries reported, Lee did receive second degree burns to his face
and arms after attempting to extinguish the fire with a water hose. The fire
appears to be accidental at this time.
Couple arrested for theft
The Guardian-Journal
A
Webster Parish couple has been arrested in Claiborne Parish for theft over
$500.
First
Guaranty Bank in Haynesville reported that on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, Paul
R. Butz, 31, and his wife, Michele Lee Butz, 37, both of Sarepta, deposited a
check for the amount of $4,260 into his checking account with the bank,
Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said.
Between
November 18 and December 4, 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Butz made purchases and
withdrawals of all this money. On or about December 4, the bank discovered that
the check Mrs. Butz deposited was a forged check. The bank notified Mr. and
Mrs. Butz that they would have to refund the amount of the check to the bank.
After a
certain length of time, no attempt was made by the couple to refund the bank
the amount of money owed. First Guaranty Bank wished to press charges and
warrants were obtained by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Paul
and Michele Butz were arrested by Detective Ben Booth on Friday, January 16.
They were each charged with theft over $500 and a $10,000 bond was set in each
case.
In an
unrelated incident, on Saturday, January 17, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy
Darren Keel was traveling southbound on La. Hwy. 9 when he observed a vehicle
traveling at a high rate of speed.
Keel
initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Ryan W. Cannon, 22,
of Summerfield. When asked for the proper paperwork, Cannon could not produce a
valid driver’s license.
Keel
ran a check through the Claiborne Parish Dispatch Office and discovered that
Cannon’s driver’s license was suspended. Dispatch also revealed that Cannon had
two active bench warrants for failure to appear. Cannon was advised of the
warrants, handcuffed, Mirandized and placed in the rear seating area of Keel’s
patrol unit.
A
subsequent search of Cannon’s vehicle revealed a small amount of burned
suspected marijuana, along with some stems from a suspected marijuana plant.
The suspected marijuana was found in the glove compartment of the vehicle.
Cannon
was then transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was
booked on simple possession of marijuana and two failure to appear bench
warrants. Bond was set at $500 on each charge for a total of $1,500.
Haynesville Industrial Park sale almost complete
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
sale of the Industrial Park in Haynesville is almost complete.
After
the publication of the resolution passed at the regular monthly council meeting
and the publication of the notice, the sale should be completed within 30 days
of those publications.
The
sale of the property to Patriot Rail, currently owned by L&NW of Homer, was
set at $60,000, which is the price the town originally bought it for. District
3 Councilwoman Joyce Major made it clear that the town is required to sell the
property for what they paid for it.
“We
just don’t our community to think that we gave away our property,” she said.
“We had to sell it for what we bought it for.”
The
company requested to purchase the property for the purpose of soliciting
business and industry for Haynesville, Mayor Sherman Brown said.
“There
is a process that we as a town must go through that they would not necessarily
have to go through if and when they find companies or industries interested in
locating here,” Brown said. “They would be able to roll over and turn over much
faster than what we are able to do.”
The
good news is that one company is already interested in locating to Haynesville,
but he could not divulge who it is as of yet, but he is glad to see the
interest in Haynesville.
Town
Attorney Danny Newell said there will be a covenant from here on out that the
property would be used for industrial or commercial uses only.
“The
Town of Haynesville will have the right of first refusal,” he said. “Anytime
they decide to sell it to somebody else, the Town of Haynesville will have the
right of first refusal on the sale, and if it is not put into commercial use
within two years of the date of sale, the Town of Haynesville has the option to
buy it back for the stated price of $60,000.”
The
resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote.
The
resolution will be published in Haynesville’s official journal and a notice
will be published two times. The notice states what to do if anyone objects to
the sale.
“We
have to wait 30 days after the resolution has been published before we can sign
the deed,” Newell said.
In
other council news, a piece of property in Haynesville has now been renamed.
Parker’s Point has now been officially renamed Parker-Newell Point. Brown read
a letter, dated November 4, 2008, from the late Judge Paul Newell in regards to
the property.
A
triangular piece of property, located at McDonald Street and U.S. Highway 79,
was donated to the town by the Parker and Newell families that the Haynesville
Garden Club maintains. In the deed, a plaque was to be dedicated to Norrie and
Estelle Parker, but was never done.
In
light of that, Judge Newell requested in the letter that a resolution be passed
to call it Parker’s Corner. The Parker family was an integral part of the
Haynesville community, and was largely responsible for the Edmont-Wilson glove
plant, which provided many good paying jobs to the people of Haynesville for
more than 20 years. The company was headquartered in Ohio. The building is now
owned by North American Pulp Molding (NAPM), headquartered in California, where
the company makes egg crates.
“We
felt that they deserve this recognition,” Newell stated in the letter, “not
us.”
Keith
Killgore has been contacted about obtaining a marker or monument designating
the property as such. Brown said that District 5 Councilwoman Carla Smith and
her family, who are related to the Parkers, felt the Newells deserved
recognition as well.
It was
decided after discussions with the Newells and the Parkers that it should be
named Parker-Newell Point.
The
resolution recognized the dedication of the Parkers to bringing industry to
Haynesville and Judge Newell for his service to the law to the people of
Claiborne Parish.
The
resolution passed unanimously.
Other
items discussed at the council meeting include:
• A
resolution was adopted approving a Delta Regional Authority application. This
application is not anything specific the town is applying for just yet, but
their grant writer, Larry Kinlaw, suggested passing a resolution as a “just in
case something comes up.”
Kinlaw
advised the mayor that sometimes grants become available on a very short
notice, so instead of calling a special meeting in order to pass this resolution,
Brown suggested adopting the resolution at this time. These types of grants
require a resolution, he said.
“This
resolution would be good for the year of 2009,” he said. “So, if something
comes up next December of this year, it is my understanding that this
resolution would serve its purpose.”
He
continued by saying that the town does have some waterline and sewer problems
that he’d like to see taken care of. These are the types of projects the Delta
Regional Authority are in favor of granting monies for.
“This
resolution is to be in place if and when we need it,” Brown said.
The
Town of Haynesville is located in the Delta Region.
It was
adopted unanimously.
•
Vershelle Taylor, with the Girl Scouts in Shreveport, visited the town council
meeting in hopes of trying to get more troops in the area started. Haynesville
only has one troop with approximately 32 girls. She said that volunteers are
also needed for the organization.
• In
the public comments portion of the meeting, John Wesley Cooper updated the council
on Claiborne Chamber of Commerce happenings. Janell Brown will serve as the
liaison between the town council and the chamber. Steve Koskie has been
re-elected as chamber president and Chic Hines will serve as the board’s vice
president. Also, five new members were added in 2008.
• Mayor
Brown updated the public on several things going on. The final approval for the
town’s tourism brochure was expected to be ready by last Thursday, January 14.
He hopes the final brochure will be ready by February’s meeting.
The
town’s website is not yet complete. The web address will be
www.haynesvillela.com.
• In
other news, the Citizen Advisory Committee held its first meeting this month.
William Maddox was elected to serve as its chairman and Martha Trinko will
serve as vice chairman. Mary Adams will serve as secretary and Linda Baremore
will serve as the assistant secretary. The next meeting will be held on Monday,
February 9, at 6 p.m. at City Hall in Haynesville.
• The
inside of the fair building is getting a paint job. The town will provide the
labor for the project and the fair board will provide the paint. Brown thanked
the fair board for this project.
The
next town council meeting will be held at 6 p.m., February 19, in council
chambers, located at City Hall. For more information, please call city hall at
624-0911.
Attention Voters!
Voters in Precinct 82 will be getting a new
identification card with their new precinct. Precinct 82 has been merged with
Precinct 8. If you have any questions, please call the Registrar of Voter’s
Office at 318-927-3332.
Sheriffs’ scholarship program accepting
applications
The
Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program will award scholarships providing
assistance to worthy Louisiana students in furthering their education and
training with resources made available through the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary
Membership Program.
“This
scholarship program is a meaningful expression of the Program’s respect for
education,” according to program chair, St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg
Champagne. “It demonstrates our confidence in Louisiana’s youth…our future
leaders.”
Scholarships
of a maximum of $500 each will be awarded to graduating high school students
from each parish where the sheriff is an affiliate of the Honorary Membership
Program.
There
are no restrictions on the purposes for which scholarships are spent. The
scholarships are not loans and will be awarded as gifts to defray the rising
costs of tuition and related expenses in higher education. The only limitations
are that applicants be permanent residents of Louisiana; scholarships be
utilized in higher education within the state of Louisiana; and students be
enrolled as full-time, undergraduate students.
Completed
applications must be submitted to the sheriff of the parish of the applicant’s
permanent Louisiana residence by April 1. Further, applicants must be eligible
for admission to the school indicated on the application. The award will only
be paid for attendance at institutions of higher learning within the state. All
scholarship winners will be announced by May 1 of each year.
“Louisiana Sheriffs are pleased with the Honorary Membership Program’s ability to bring
scholarships to Louisiana students bound for higher education,” concluded
Sheriff Champagne. “To continue to do so and fund other important projects and
initiatives, continued support of the Honorary Membership Program is essential.
We could not function without our Honorary Members.”
For
further information regarding the Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program, contact your
local sheriff’s office at 318-927-2011.
Claiborne Watershed discusses water
usage fees
JENNI WILLIAMS, The Guardian-Journal
Members
of the Claiborne Parish Watershed District met on Monday, January 12 to discuss
the possibility of charging a fee for companies wanting to draw water from
bodies of water located under the control of the Watershed District.
With so
many pipeline companies in need of water, the district began looking into other
parishes in the state that currently charge for water usage. A study of Sabine
Parish showed that a charge of 15 cents per 1,000 gallons was a price these
large corporations were more than willing to pay and it would bring revenue
into the Watershed District.
Members
of the District voted to refine, propose and adopt a policy on water sales to
these companies.
The
cooperative agreement has been received concerning the permanent markers to be
placed on Lake Claiborne and is now available for use. The committee is
finalizing the engineering specifications and hopes to begin advertising for
bids soon.
The
Below-the-Dam project, in which a recreation area including picnic tables,
walking trails and a larger parking area, will have an inspection done on
January 22 at 2 p.m. Members of the Department of Transportation will be
attending the inspection.
The
2009 proposed budget was also presented at the meeting to be adopted by the
members.
Martha Peters speaks to Lion Club
JENNI WILLIAMS, The Guardian-Journal
Delta
Contractors owner Martha Peters spoke to the Lion’s Club at the January meeting.
Peters,
and her husband, John, are the owners of Delta Contractors and Delta Interiors,
two companies under one roof. Delta Contractors was begun in 1976 as a mobile
home drapery company and has emerged as a huge hospital, nursing home and hotel
drapery producer.
Delta
Contractors produces everything from valances and curtain rods to cornice
boxes here in their Homer plant.
After
outgrowing their space on The Square, Delta was going to have to move out of
the parish to find larger space to handle all of the orders they were receiving
as they became more and more widely known.
But
thanks to Mayor David Newell, who helped Peters acquire half of the old
Wal-Mart building, Delta was able to stay in the area when this larger facility
was discovered.
Peters
wanted to thank all the loyal employees who believed in them and stayed the
course. The drapery business has increased by such a large number that Peters
is already employing 32 people and in need of more.
Delta
has already filled the new building and hopes to one day occupy the other half
of the building.
Delta
Interiors was established in 1984 and included gifts in their stock about 15
years ago.
Recently,
Peters made the decision to shake things up a bit and added Java Link, a
high-end coffee and cappuccino bar inside Delta Interiors.
The
coffee bar also includes specialty sandwiches and wraps for the lunch hour.
Peters said they wanted to introduce something to Claiborne Parish that no one
else had.
Many of
the day to day customers are from out of town, including Magnolia and Minden who are looking for something a little different.
Since
moving to the larger facility, Delta’s business has more than tripled.
Peters
wanted to thank the Lion’s Club for inviting her to speak and for helping to
support this undertaking.
The
Club’s December activities included the annual canned food drive in conjunction
with Brookshire’s grocery store Homer.
Lion’s
club members were able to fill 198 bins of food and distribute them personally
to residents of Claiborne Parish.
After
reading of the food drive in the local paper, a Rhode Island resident called up
the Lion’s Club wanting to know how he could most help out the Club in their
efforts and was told there wasn’t quite enough food to fill the bins. Any
amount of donation would make a difference.
Jody
Richardson, a native of Claiborne Parish and son of Joe and Earline Richardson
of Homer, sent a $100 check in honor of his parents. The money was just enough
to finish filling the bins.
“There
were a few tears and a bunch of hugs at the deliveries and we should be proud
as a club when this can be done,” Lion’s Club President Doug Efferson said.
