Haynesville mayor to run unopposed
Athens qualifying opens again
The Guardian-Journal
Qualifying
for the April 4 election ended Friday afternoon, and the Town of Haynesville will see another four years with Mayor Sherman Brown.
According
to qualifying results with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Brown will run
unopposed this April. Haynesville Chief of Police Anthony Smith will also be
unopposed. All districts in Haynesville will run unopposed except Districts 1
and 3. District 1 Councilman Dump Hatter has an opponent – Valinda “Faye” Webb.
Incumbent District 3 Councilwoman Joyce Major will be running against Barbara
Beene “Net” Torrence.
District
2 Councilman Herbert Taylor, District 4 Councilman Brian Bogle and District 5
Councilwoman Carla Smith, are all unopposed.
Only
one qualified for the Village of Athens, and two aldermen must be chosen for
the two positions open. Qualifying for these positions only will be opened from
Wednesday, February 18 until Friday, February 20 at 5 p.m. To qualify, go to the Claiborne Parish Clerk’s Office between 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and until 5 p.m. on Friday.
For
more information, please call the Registrar of Voters Office at 927-3332 or the
Clerk’s Office at 927-9601. All who wish to qualify must do so at the Clerk of
Court’s Office.
Wanted man behind bars
The Guardian-Journal
A man
wanted by the Louisiana State Police, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office and
Probation and Parole Office is now in custody.
Bryan
Webb, 26, of Homer, was arrested by Homer Police Monday morning, February 16,
on several warrants. Those charges include aggravated flight from an officer,
with bond set at $10,000; simple criminal damage to property, with bond to be
set; speeding, with bond set at $5,000; a probation violation with no bond;
interfering with an officer, with bond set at $500; failure to stop at a stop
sign, with bond set at $500; unauthorized use of a movable, with bond set at
$5,000; driving without a safety belt, with bond set at $500; driving under
suspension and reckless operation, with bond set on those charges at $500 each.
According
to police reports, a concerned citizen contacted the sheriff’s office in
reference to a wanted individual.
Homer
Police Officer Joseph Henry went to the address of where Webb was said to be
located. Upon arrival, Henry asked the person answering the door if Webb was
inside the residence. The person indicated he was not, but later conceded that
he was.
The
suspect was taken into custody without incident and transported to the police
department for booking. He was later transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
In an
unrelated incident, another Homer man was taken into custody on Tuesday,
February 10, after police received a call in reference to a request for an
officer. Upon arrival, the complainant told Officers Mike Rayburn and Tim Cox
that James M. Lee, 43, of Homer, had become abusive.
After
taking the complainant’s statement, reports say she told officers where Lee was
located inside the residence.
Upon
making contact, officers asked him if there were any weapons in the house. He
said no. A shotgun was found, and Lee was placed under arrest while Cox
interviewed the complainant.
Lee was
transported to the Homer Police Department and charged with domestic abuse
battery with bond set at $50,000; resisting an officer with bond set at
$10,000; and possession of/dealing in unregistered/illegal weapons with a bond
of $30,000.
In
other crime news, L.C. Hamilton, 56, was arrested Thursday, February 12, after
police found him in possession of drug paraphernalia.
While
on patrol, according to reports, Officers Mario Thomas and Dale Sindle stopped Hamilton in the Martin Luther King Drive area. A background check revealed Hamilton had three active warrants for his arrest.
Sindle
searched the subject, and that search revealed a suspected crack pipe and a
cigarette lighter.
Hamilton was arrested and booked at the Claiborne Parish Detention Center. He was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, with bond set
at $500; and the three warrants – theft less than $300, with a bond set at
$500; theft over $500, with bond set at $10,000 and contempt of court order,
with bond set at $100.
Patrick
Dunn, 17, of Homer, was arrested the same day in a different incident.
According to reports, Officer Henry observed four males in the area of another
call to which he’d been dispatched. Reports say Henry observed one of the four
males pass an object into a vehicle.
Once he
completed his call, he asked for assistance from Officer Tim Cox and they
returned to the area where Henry had seen the four males. Investigating what
might have been criminal activity, both officers came in contact with a male,
identified as Dunn.
Reports
conveyed that Dunn began behaving suspiciously. Henry asked Dunn to step to the
back of the patrol unit, keep his hands out of his pockets and place them on
the back of the patrol unit. When he did not, Dunn was placed under arrest for
resisting an officer.
A search
for officer’s safety revealed six off white rocks in a plastic bag on Dunn’s
person. He was transported to the Homer Police Department for booking. Test
results on the off white rocks came back positive for Schedule II drugs.
He was
charged with possession with intent to distribute Schedule II crack, with a
bond set at $20,000 and resisting an officer, bond set at $500.
Arkansas woman busted for drugs
The Guardian-Journal
An El Dorado woman was busted for drugs after a traffic stop by Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
deputies.
Santana
Denise Mitchell, 24, of El Dorado, Ark., was arrested and charged with simple
possession of marijuana with a bond of $500.
On
Sunday, February 15, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Keel was on
routine patrol and observed a vehicle traveling northbound at a high rate of
speed. Keel initiated a traffic stop and requested the proper paperwork from
the driver of the vehicle.
Contact
was then made with the passenger of the vehicle, identified as Mitchell. Keel
asked her to exit the vehicle.
Deputy
Marc Herring and Louisiana State Trooper Brandon Salmon assisted with the stop.
Keel
performed a search of the vehicle that revealed a white plastic grocery bag
containing a clear plastic baggy with suspected marijuana in it. This bag was
located behind the front passenger’s side seat on the back passenger’s side
floorboard. Both suspects were detained for further investigation.
It was
determined that the suspected marijuana belonged to Mitchell, and she was
transported to the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office where she was booked on
the above charge.
The
driver was cited for speeding 77/55 and released.
HMH board chairman honored
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
Buddy Pixley, pictured right holding the
framed drawing, was honored at Homer Memorial Hospital’s board meeting Tuesday,
February 16. He was honored for his years of service not only to the hospital,
but for his service to his community. Pixley, hospital board chair, signed this
artist’s rendition of the U.S. Post Office in Homer. The drawing, with his
personal signature, will hang in the lobby of the hospital.
The Guardian-Journal
A man
who has been an integral part of the Claiborne Parish community was honored by
the Homer Memorial Hospital’s board Tuesday.
Honored
with an artist’s rendition of the United States Post Office in Homer, a placard
at the bottom of the picture thanked him for his contributions to Claiborne
Parish over the years, not just as a member of the hospital board, but because
of his years of service to other people.
Thomas
“Buddy” Pixley was born in Homer in 1940 to Ernest and Ruth Pixley and has been
a resident of the area since, except for a short period away in the military.
He
graduated from Homer High School in 1958 and was one of the famous “Homer Iron
Men” football team. He attended Louisiana Tech University before returning to
Homer to work at Ludlow Plastics and the U.S. Postal Service where he worked
for 32 years before retiring as postmaster with 16 years in that position. Of
special interest is that five of the employees he hired and trained have gone
on to be postmasters also.
Pixley
is married to Virginia Hinson and has two children: Waylon and wife Janice who
live in Haughton; and Stacy and husband David, who live in Fayetteville, Ark. He also has two step-children, three step-grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
He is a
member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church on Lake Claiborne. He has
taught the adult Sunday school class there for 38 years and is active in all
aspects of church life including choir and MCAT. He is Wesley’s delegate to
Annual Conference and is chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the
Administrative Board.
Some of
his contributions to the community have been through positions held such as
advisory committee to the Claiborne Parish School Board (1969), president of
the Homer PTO (1982-85), chairman of the Claiborne Christmas Festival (1984-85,
1995), president of the Homer Lions Club (1984), Zone Chairman Lions Clubs
(1985), Homer Industrial Board, Chairman, Claiborne Watershed Commission
(1992), and Co-chair, building committee which constructed Homer Pelican field
house (1984).
He has
always been active in the community and continues in his retirement. He
currently is chairman of the Homer Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and has
worked in several capacities with the hospital for the last 15 years. He was
instrumental in working with the hospital administration and boards which
culminated in the construction of a $2 million emergency room, visiting
physician clinic, and renovation of all patient rooms. He also serves as an
advisor to the 4-H Foundation of Claiborne Parish and is a Gideon speaker to
the churches of Claiborne Parish.
A fifth
generation resident of Claiborne Parish, his heart and soul are in this
community. God has been good to him, he says, and he could do no less than to
work to serve his fellow man as Jesus has told us to do.
Arrest made in ‘hot check’ case
A Homer
woman is incarcerated after allegedly writing several bad checks in Minden.
Mary H.
Mallard, 53, of Bream Island Road, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant issued
for theft by fraud.
During
questioning following her arrest, Mallard reportedly confessed to writing
additional hot checks, resulting in four more charges of theft by fraud.
“Mallard
was arrested when she arrived at a scheduled meeting Wednesday morning at the
Webster Parish parole office,” said Minden Police Chief T.C. Bloxom. “After her
arrest, during questioning, she admitted to writing numerous checks on an
account that was closed in October 2007.”
To
date, investigators have uncovered five checks allegedly written by Mallard at
several Minden businesses.
“We
believe there may be more checks still out there that were written by Mallard,”
said Bloxom. “Any business in possession of a check written by her should
contact headquarters.”
This story was reprinted with permission from the Minden Press-Herald.
New school zone lights really work
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
The newly installed school zone speed
radar and caution lights worked as soon as they were installed. This driver,
pictured above, slowed down to just 18 miles per hour when the vehicle’s speed
flashed across the radar. The units were installed in Homer and Haynesville
school zones Friday, February 13. Claiborne Parish School Board Transportation
Supervisor Ronnie McKenzie works to tighten up the solar panel on the speed
radar unit in Haynesville. These units were installed in Homer and Haynesville
school zones on Friday, February 13. The funding for these units came from the
“Safe Routes to School” program.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
school speed zone lights have finally been installed at the Homer and
Haynesville school zones.
With
the hard work of many, the solar-powered units were assembled and installed the
latter part of last week.
Joe
Wise, owner of Solar Traffic Controls out of Tempe, Arizona, described the
school zone safety lights as energy efficient, because it uses batteries
charged from solar energy and LED lights, which draw less energy than
conventional electrical utilities. These units will not be connected to any utilities.
It also
works differently than the conventional school zone safety signs and lights.
The yellow caution lights will come on at a designated time, set by the
Claiborne Parish School Board. When a car comes into the school zone, a radar
built into the unit will flash a number, showing the driver the speed at which
they are traveling inside the school zone.
“It’ll
show them their speed, and hopefully they’ll slow down,” Wise said.
These new units are very
beneficial for the communities in which they are installed, Wise said.
According to the company’s website, benefits include its cost effectiveness,
low installation and operating costs, virtually no maintenance, increases
public safety and it is designed specifically for the community where they are
used.
“Preliminary
studies have indicated that the use of both units (LED lamps and radar speed
displays) has a significant impact on motorists’ compliance with school zone
driving restrictions,” the website said.
Janet
Holland, school board technology supervisor, said she is pleased to see this
long awaited project come to fruition.
“Today
(Thursday, February 12), they are finally being put together and installed
after a year of hard work,” she said.
Some
work is still being done, because old signs need to be taken up as well as
cleanup of other materials. Holland said the entire project should be complete
soon. She did ask drivers to be patient while old signage is being removed.
Follow the speed limit on the new signs; when the caution lights are flashing,
the speed limit is as it has always been, 25 miles per hour.
This
project has come to fruition through the efforts of many throughout Claiborne
Parish. The safety of the communities’ children has been paramount in the minds
of Haynesville citizens for a long time and has been addressed several times at
the town council meetings.
This
need was reinforced after a child was hit by a car in front of Haynesville
Junior/Senior High School last year.
In
fact, they said if the money could not be found through a grant program of some
sort or through the school board, then the council would take action
themselves. With the growing urgency to update the signage in the school zones
in Haynesville, Claiborne Parish Police Juror Bob McDaniel, also a resident of
Haynesville, began looking into the issue.
After
some investigation, a grant was found that fit the need perfectly. “Safe Routes
to School,” a grant in which its initiative is battling childhood obesity, fit
the parish’s need perfectly.
This
grant was presented to the Claiborne Parish School Board at the recommendation
of Haynesville Mayor Sherman Brown, and it was awarded in May 2008. After the
grant had been awarded, it was sent to the state in order to draw up a
contract, get approval and send it back to the school board. The contract was
received in July of that year, and it was then forwarded back to the state,
which in turn, sent it to the federal government.
According
to the school board’s records, the federal government did not actually release
the funds until October 2008. Once the funds were released, it took the company
awarded the contract six weeks to manufacture and assemble the units.
These
units were delivered in January, while holes were dug and concrete poured in
preparation for installation. According to Holland, the concrete had to cure
for a full 28 days before the installation could proceed.
The
“Safe Routes to School” program actually came from a federal legislative bill
called SAFETEA-LU (Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users).
According
to the Federal Highway Administration’s website, the eligible use of these
funds “include sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction
improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle
facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities, secure bike parking
and traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools (within
approximately 2 miles).”
Of the
$9 million grant received by Louisiana, the Claiborne Parish School Board, only
one of eight to receive approval for this grant, received $24,800.
The
culmination of this grant will come in April, when the Homer and Haynesville
schools will participate in a “Walk to School” Day. This day has been set aside
to promote exercise by making it safe for children to walk or ride their bikes
to school.
On this
day, school faculty as well as parents and community members will gather at a
designated point, forming a “human bus.” Children will walk together in
designated walking areas to the school.
Boil advisory lifted
The Guardian-Journal
The
boil advisory that was supposed to be in effect until Friday was lifted late
Wednesday afternoon, according to town officials.
And the
water is safe.
Late
Monday afternoon, February 9, a reverse 911 call went out to Homer citizens and
businesses issuing a boil advisory. According to Public Works Supervisor Lee
Wells, the advisory was issued after a pipeline company working the area broke
a water main.
The
advisory was issued for businesses and homes north of Brookshire’s on U.S. Hwy.
79. On Tuesday morning, representatives from the Louisiana Department of Health
Hospitals came to Homer and took samples of the water to test for any possible
contaminants.
“All of
our samples came back clean,” Homer Town Clerk B.J. Lowe said.
DWCC warden speaks to Homer Lions
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
It
might surprise many that men make up approximately 94 percent of Louisiana’s inmate population – with the remaining six percent being women.
That’s
according to Jerry Goodwin, warden at David Wade Correctional Center (DWCC or “Wade”).
Speaking
to the Homer Lions Club last Thursday, Goodwin provided a number of statistics
that don’t look good for our great state – like the fact that Louisiana houses
the largest prison population in the country.
“Louisiana incarcerates more people per capita than any place in the world,” he said. “We
have a lot of different factors in that, but Louisiana leads the nation in
incarceration.”
On the
bright side, DWCC provides top-notch security for its inmates as well as the
public at large.
Classed
as a Level I prison, meaning maximum security, DWCC houses the highest number
of inmates who will never see the free world again. Known as “lifers,” these
inmates will spend the rest of their natural lives behind bars.
Goodwin
said the prison has one inmate who has been incarcerated since 1958, being
sentenced for his crime at the age of 18.
“Life
is life in Louisiana,” he said. “You get a life sentence in Louisiana; you die
in prison unless they let you go.”
DWCC is
comprised of the main site in Claiborne Parish and two satellite facilities —
one at the former Caddo Correctional Center in Caddo Parish and the other in
Tallulah, which is a treatment facility for those who have multiple DWI
offenses or substance abuse problems.
The
Caddo facility houses many of DWCC’s geriatric inmates, which are inmates over
the age of 50.
“A lot
of these guys age differently than we do, because they never take care of
themselves,” he said.
The
warden cited several different reasons for this, including alcohol and
substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, liver disease and more.
There
are several inmates that either suffer from full blown AIDS or are HIV positive
at Wade. Hepatitis is another disease largely dealt with at the prison — mainly
Hepatitis C. When inmates reach the age of 50, many of the problems caused by
these diseases become more serious, Goodwin said.
There
are a total of 12 state prisons in Louisiana. Wade is one of three state prisons
in Louisiana with a Level I classification where approximately 48 percent of
its population are maximum-security prisoners. The Louisiana State Penitentiary
at Angola and the Louisiana Women’s Prison in St. Gabriel are the other two
Level I prisons.
Although
DWCC is a state prison, about 50 percent of its inmates are in state custody
awaiting trial.
Local
detention centers are paid approximately $24 per day, per diem, per inmate. In
fact, the warden said it’s cheaper to house state prisoners in local detention
centers because the costs of inmates in the state prisons are higher. Why?
Medical costs, education, mental health and other factors.
According
to the Louisiana Department of Corrections website, DWCC was opened in 1980 as
a medium security state prison. It is located on approximately 1,500 acres of
land.
Wade
operates on an approximate $58 million budget, 60 percent of which is budgeted
for staff salaries. The average pay for a Wade employee is $13 per hour.
Some
thought DWCC would be detrimental to Claiborne Parish, but as it turns out, at
least 50 percent of the employees at Wade live in Claiborne Parish. Not only
did it bring jobs to the area, but its work crews have also been a benefit.
Many
parish residents have witnessed the prison’s work crews along the side of state
highways picking up litter. Inmate labor has also been utilized to accomplish
various community service projects that otherwise could not have been completed
due to a lack of manpower.
Goodwin
has been with the Louisiana Department of Corrections at DWCC for approximately
25 years. He previously served as deputy warden and has served as warden for
the last two years.
In
1992, DWCC was the first state operated facility in Louisiana to be accredited
by the American Correctional Association’s Commission on Accreditation. It
has been reaccredited in 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2007.
Interestingly,
DWCC is the only totally electric correctional facility in the nation, Goodwin
said.
Did you see that?!
Submitted photo
Pictured above is the cause of a traffic
jam at The Square in Homer early Friday morning, February 6. This pipe came
through Homer, headed out on Hwy. 9 towards Arkansas. According to witnesses,
this escort had traffic stopped as far as the eye could see on several
different entrances to The Square.
