Agreement reached for Pilgrim’s Pride
$80 million price tag saves thousands of
farms, growers
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Help is
on the way for poultry growers, farmers and others in the agricultural
industry.
With
the recent closure of the Pilgrim’s Pride plants in Farmerville and El Dorado, Ark., not only were plant workers scrambling to find jobs, but growers all over
the region were trying to figure out how to keep the very homes they live in.
They
will have to worry no more. A press release from Gov. Bobby Jindal stated
Pilgrim’s Pride and Foster Farms reached an agreement to sell the Farmerville
plant. With a price tag of $80 million, growers in Louisiana who contracted
with the company will be back in business very soon, according to Scott
Davidson, who is a chicken grower in Claiborne Parish.
Although
the agreement is a verbal one at the moment, a written buy/sell agreement will
have to be drafted. Before the sale is complete, the judge handling the Pilgrim’s
Pride Chapter 11 bankruptcy will have to approve the sale. Because the sale of
the plant is a joint effort between Foster Farms and the state, a cooperative
endeavor agreement will also have to be drawn up.
Half of
the $80 million will come from Foster Farms and the other half will be matched
by the state. Davidson also said a significant capital investment will be made
for plant upgrades, which will be matched dollar for dollar by the state.
“This
is a major victory for the people of northeast Louisiana – and our entire
state,” Jindal said. “This agreement will save more than 1,000 direct jobs and
keep hundreds of chicken growers in business. This proves what we can get done
when folks come together to solve a problem. We knew we were up against the clock,
because in just a matter of weeks, hundreds of chicken growers would be out of
business.”
As for
the El Dorado plant, Davidson said the state of Arkansas is looking to take the
plant by imminent domain, which means the state will buy the plant at fair
market value.
Davidson,
who is also the Claiborne Parish Police Jury president, said he was pleased
with the determination and hard work of the governor, state senators and
representatives who have fought to keep Louisiana’s chicken growers and farmers
from losing their livelihood.
“In my
limited knowledge, this has been the best cooperative effort between the
government and private citizens I’ve seen,” he said. “They’ve saved thousands
and thousands of people. Even though I’m a politician, I don’t have anything
but praise for all the state and federal officials. They got in there and
rolled their sleeves up and went to work for us.”
And it
doesn’t stop there. On the federal level, Congressman John Fleming has signed
on with members affected by the closing of Pilgrim’s Pride in an effort to
bring in federal financing to help poultry growers and others in the
agriculture industry stay afloat until the market recovers.
A
letter has been sent to Secretary Tim Geithner, Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C., requesting his assistance in this matter.
The
letter is requesting under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan and
other emergency recovery efforts that banks and other financial institutions,
as a condition of receipt of federal funds, do three things:
• Implement a restructuring loan
program for farm loans;
• Offer the same program to any
farmers or ranchers at least 60 days behind on their loan payments; and
• Restructure loans that qualify
under the program.
The
letter is also requesting “that (Geithner) direct a portion of the economic
assistance made available in President Obama’s Jobs and Recovery Package for
the purposes of short-term, low-interest loans, or other forms of financial
assistance, to allow these farmers a bridge to stay afloat during this current
downturn.”
Senator
David Vitter is also exploring ways to help those who are suffering from the
plant closings, according to Gareth Vaughan, Vitter’s press secretary.
Sen.
Mary Landrieu is expected to participate in a field hearing in Shreveport on Tuesday, April 14, in regards to the impact of these job losses. She is also
expected to tour these facilities before the hearing.
According
to a press release from her office, Sen. Landrieu has been in touch with U.S.
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack about assistance for Louisiana farmers and will
continue working with him. She will also continue working with state officials,
such as Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, to marshal the
assistance of the federal government on behalf of impacted families, businesses
and communities.
“There
is no silver bullet to solve these economic problems overnight, but this
hearing should start the dialogue on how to better coordinate federal, state
and local efforts,” Sen. Landrieu said in a press release. “I believe this is
an important first step not just for north Louisiana, but also for other
communities around the country that are facing similar manufacturing closures.”
Jindal
praised both houses of state government as well as Strain for their hard work
in saving thousands of farms.
“The
fact that we reached an agreement to sell the facility this quickly is a true
testament to what can be accomplished through a lot of hard work and dedication
to helping a community in their time of need,” Jindal said. “I want to thank
Pilgrim’s Pride and Foster Farms for working with us throughout this process,
along with Commissioner Strain and Sen. Mike Walsworth and the other officials
in the area who were instrumental in this positive outcome. It took a lot of
work on all sides to reach this important agreement accepted.”
In his
visit to Homer a couple of weeks ago, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu conveyed that he
understood the pain people are feeling from the state’s economic downturn.
Even
though the closing of these poultry plants have hit home, it’s also hit on a
much broader scale. Internationally, the economy is struggling and Louisiana is feeling its effects.
“The
message that I bring back to you from my travels on your behalf is that we are
in an economy that is not living in isolation,” he said, “and it’s really
important that we pay attention to where we fit in time and place on the world
stage, on the national stage, or on a local stage so that we can make smart
decisions on how to protect ourselves while we’re on the downside.”
Landrieu
also said that even though the economy is on the downturn right now, he has
faith in the people of Louisiana.
“I feel
very good that the people of Louisiana are going to find the fortitude to
actually get through it and grow through it smartly,” he said. “That’s going to
be our real challenge. I think with a lot of forethought, with a lot discipline
and a lot of faith, eventually we’ll pull through it and things will get
better.”
Homer man arrested for impersonating
police
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A Homer
man who cried foul on the Homer Police Department in a recent community forum
has been arrested in Bienville Parish for impersonating a police officer.
Benny
Holyfield, 30, of Homer, was arrested by Bienville Parish sheriff’s deputies
Monday afternoon, March 23, after a traffic stop that took place on Friday,
February 20.
According
to Bienville Parish Sheriff’s records, a traffic stop was initiated after
Deputy Clint Smith observed a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed.
Bienville
Parish Sheriff John Ballance said Holyfield was stopped on the eastbound side
of Hwy. 80 just west of Gibsland for speeding 94 in a 55 mile per hour zone.
When Smith asked Holyfield why he was driving so fast, Holyfield told the
deputy there was a situation in Homer, referring to an officer involved
shooting. Holyfield then told the deputy that he was a reserve officer for the
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office and that dispatch had called all available
officers to the scene.
Ballance
confirmed that Holyfield claimed he was with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Office. Upon advisement of his supervisor, Smith let Holyfield go. An
investigation into the matter was conducted and when it was discovered he was
lying, the sheriff’s office took appropriate action, Ballance said.
“The
deputy checked with all law enforcement agencies in Claiborne Parish (Homer,
Haynesville and CPSO) and we found out he was not an officer of any type,”
Ballance said.
Holyfield
said in the community forum held Friday, March ?? that he was concerned with
the department's unprofessional contact with citizens, referring to alleged use
of excessive force and slow response time to fires and burglaries in the black
community.
Two
warrants were issued for his arrest: one for false impersonation of a police
officer with a bond of $10,000; and speeding 94/55, with bond set at $10,000.
According to Ballance, Holyfield has bonded out.
If
convicted, Holyfield faces a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment with
or without hard labor for no more than two years or both.
Holyfield
will be arraigned in Bienville Parish on May 5.
Driver airlifted after serious accident
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
On Monday afternoon, March 23, a one vehicle
accident on Hwy. 9 north of Homer had emergency personnel scrambling to save
the driver’s life. According to officials at the scene, the man apparently ran
off the road at a five to 10 degree angle. The driver did not appear to be out
of control when his vehicle left the roadway. When emergency personnel arrived,
the driver was unconscious and fire and rescue personnel wrenched the passenger
door of the vehicle open to extract him. He was airlifted to LSU Health Sciences Center with serious injuries. Fire District 6, the Homer Fire Department,
the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Department, Pafford Ambulance and Pafford Air
One all responded to the scene of the accident. As of press time, the driver’s
condition is stable.
Shots fired at Mayfield Park
Threat of danger disperses Sunday crowd
gathered for ball tryouts
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
investigation of a theft led to the arrest of a 16-year-old juvenile for firing
shots into a crowd of people at Mayfield Park in Homer.
According
to Homer Police Officer Van McDaniel, on Sunday afternoon, March 22, he was
investigating a theft at Dixie Mart in Homer when that investigation led
officers to Mayfield Park where the suspect in the case was believed to be.
Upon McDaniel’s arrival, a large crowd was gathered at the park for various
activities.
There
were approximately 200 to 300 people at Mayfield Park for baseball/softball
tryouts and other activities when shots rang out among the crowd. It was
discovered that a juvenile had allegedly discharged a firearm after a fight
broke out among three or four people, where one juvenile was struck in the
mouth with the butt of a gun.
The 9
millimeter weapon was dropped to the ground and the juvenile in question picked
it up and allegedly discharged at least one round, Homer Police Chief Russell
Mills said. Officers say it is not known whether the suspect was firing in the
air or if he fired the weapon at someone.
Upon
further investigation, McDaniel observed a loaded magazine on the ground next
to the car at the basketball court as well as the grip of a handgun.
At this
time, McDaniel ordered the driver of the vehicle to exit and the suspect and
two other passengers were restrained. At that time, he called for backup, and
once they arrived on scene, citizens were ordered to disperse.
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff’s Deputies Sedrick Millage and J.T. Williams; Homer Police
Officer John Bailey and Captain Donald Malray were all on scene.
Law
enforcement was advised that several other guns were also in the area, but
those guns have not have been located.
“Three
or four more people supposedly had guns, but only one was discharged,” Mills
said. “Thankfully, no one was shot. There were more than a couple hundred
spectators at the ball festivities. About three of those spectators intervened
in the altercations among the juveniles and advised police of the situation,
which led to the arrest of the 16-year-old juvenile who has been arrested with
a prior weapons possession.”
The
juvenile arrested in this incident was the same young man arrested
approximately five weeks ago for possession of a firearm.
Once
the area had been cleared, officers collected evidence which included a spent
shell casing, one live round, the clip, handgun and a pocket knife. The vehicle
was also impounded.
“If it
wasn’t for the cooperation of the public,” McDaniel said, “the shooter might
have gotten away.”
The
juvenile shooter was charged with illegal use of weapons and dangerous
instrumentalities; possession of a firearm in a gun-free zone; illegal
possession of a firearm by a juvenile; possession of a firearm with obliterated
serial numbers; and discharging a firearm within the city.
The
juvenile was transported to Ware Youth Detention Center in Coushatta.
In
another incident on March 19, Jeroderick Allen, 19, of Homer was charged with
discharging a firearm inside the city limits.
According
to reports, witnesses reported Allen had fired several shots from inside a
vehicle in the area of Pearl and Memphis Streets. Officers canvassed the area,
which revealed no shell casings or spent rounds, but as police investigated,
other witnesses told officers Allen had returned to his residence.
When
officers arrived at his residence, he was arrested without incident and taken
to the police station for booking. According to police, Allen admitted during
his interview that he had in fact discharged a weapon in that area.
“This
is what we’re faced with – juveniles and guns,” Mills said. “Parents: You’ve
got to be aware of what your kids have.”
At a
special meeting of the town council held Monday, Homer Mayor David Newell
brought up this incident.
“We
have a problem with the kids needing something to do,” Newell said. “I was out
there playing basketball at 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon (Sunday, March 22) and I
just talked to Michael (Wade) and he suggested that we take the goals down.
That’s a problem. I think that recreation is the most important thing in this
town and we have to study this because this is a serious issue.”
The
Rev. Willie Young agreed that there is a problem, but taking down the
basketball goals is not the answer.
“Guns
are everywhere,” Young said. “Guns are brought to schools and we can’t shut the
schools down, so we can’t shut down recreation. We’re just going to have to try
to get people who will supervise and monitor what goes on. We can’t let a
couple of bad apples spoil it for everybody. The best thing that could happen
right now for this summer is to promote recreation. If we have supervised
recreation, it’s going to be better for everybody.”
Mills
advised the council that this isn’t the first time this issue has been brought
to the table.
“On
numerous occasions, Mr. (Vincent) Williams has asked us to do something for the
kids,” he said. “Unless we have something that is constructive and somebody to
be there and watch what’s going on, we’re going to be faced with these
problems.”
Mayfield Park is no longer
secure, Mills said, because there is more than one entrance. He suggested
fencing around the basketball goals, rules and hours of operation for the park.
With
the increase of guns in the hands of juveniles over the last two or three
years, District 3 Councilwoman Carlette Sanford spoke out on the issue.
“How
are these children gaining access to guns?” she asked. “In my house, children
wouldn’t have access to guns. They’d be locked up. Shouldn’t parents get more
involved in what their kids are doing? It’s very unsafe to let young people
have access to a gun.”
In the
meantime, Mills offers the following safety tips when handling guns and keeping
them out of the hands of children.
·
Put the gun in a safe place with a
trigger lock on the gun itself.
·
Lock the gun in a safe place where
children don’t have access to it.
·
Parents need to know what their
children have in their possession.
Tempers flare as council vote goes to governor’s
office
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The decision on the
appointment for Homer’s District 1 will go to Gov. Bobby Jindal.
In a special meeting held
Tuesday evening, tensions ran high as the council tied on a vote for nominee
Scott “Doc” Roberson. Homer Mayor David Newell abstained from breaking the tie,
saying in an interview after the meeting that he felt the decision should be
the council’s and not his.
“I wanted them to have
somebody they could work with,” Newell said. “I was looking for a unanimous
vote because we need to be able to work together.”
District 2 Councilman
Michael Wade made the motion to nominate Roberson and District 5 Councilwoman
Patricia Jenkins seconded. District 3 Councilman Toney Johnson and District 4
Councilwoman Carlette Sanford both voted against Roberson when it came up for a
vote. Wade and Jenkins voted in favor of Roberson.
Johnson expressed his
reasons again for not voting in favor of Roberson -- and tempers flared. In his
comments, he said that a “racial thing” was eluded to, at which point the Rev.
Willie Young spoke up in denial of any “racial” thing.
As soon as accusations
flew, Newell shut down the meeting, saying he wanted everyone to cool down.
“Doc Roberson is the only
one that’s been requested,” Newell said. “At this point in time it’s a ‘no’
vote by the council and if there’s nothing else by the council, I entertain a
motion to adjourn.”
The council also held a
special called meeting Monday morning to appoint someone to fill the vacancy –
but it died on the table.
The late J.C. Moore,
District 1 Councilman, passed away March 15 after suffering a stroke
approximately two weeks before. Funeral services were held last Saturday.
Newell nominated two people
Monday within District 1, Roberson and Johnny Ramey. Ramey withdrew his name,
leaving Roberson up for the position. Another name was put in the pot for
nomination, but it was never brought before the public.
Jenkins made a motion on Monday
to accept Roberson’s nomination, but no second was made. Therefore, Roberson
was not appointed.
“If we don’t pass the
motion, it’s going to go to the governor,” Newell said to the council. “The
governor will make the decision. My suggestion is to unite this town. Let’s do
the things we need to do.”
According to law, if
someone is not appointed within 10 days of the date of the vacancy, the
decision will have to be sent to the governor’s office.
The Town of Homer is under a special legislative charter. Because Moore left a term of more than one
year, the mayor has to nominate someone to fill the vacancy until an election
can be held. The names of those nominated will go before the council for a
vote.
The election will be held
Saturday, October 17 with qualifying to be held August 12 and ending at 5 p.m. Friday, August 14.
The proclamation has been
made and was sent by certified mail to all affected parties declaring the
vacancy and the election date. The appointed nominee is supposed fill the
remainder of the term up until the election. At the time of the election, the
newly elected councilman will then finish out the vacated term.
“Whoever is chosen can run,
but he’d have to qualify just like everybody else,” said Town Attorney Jim
Colvin said.
After the mayor called for
a decision, District 3 Councilman Toney Johnson spoke to Roberson, saying he
had a problem with him in that Roberson allegedly used town resources for his
own gain and violated rules and law in his previous terms on the council.
Roberson defended himself.
“I have no intentions of
impressing my position on the town or anything ‘Scott Roberson,’” Roberson
said. “I served two terms on this council, and there is not a single person
that will tell you that I tried to force anybody to do a single thing for me.”
All of this was discussed
without a second ever being made to the motion on the floor. Newell stopped the
exchange, bringing the matter at hand back to focus.
According to law, the
proper procedure for the meeting to follow is that a council member makes a
motion, another seconds and then the floor is opened for discussion.
Once the motion died, the
mayor called for adjournment. The Rev. Willie Young spoke up saying he had an
issue with the way what took place was handled. He said that Newell expressed
the urgency of this meeting and claimed it became personal when Roberson’s name
was mentioned.
Johnson and Sanford
disagreed.
There was also some
question as to whether the council could move forward with the meeting because
District 2 Councilman Michael Wade was absent at Monday’s meeting. With Moore’s death, the council is already down one member, but according to Colvin, the
council did have a quorum.
A moment of silence was
held in honor of the late councilman before the meeting began.
Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser a success
The Guardian Journal photo/Jenni Williams
Third grade teacher, Nakia Jones, of Summerfield High School, buries a three-pointer over senior Jordan Branch at the charity
basketball game the Beta Club held against the teachers and staff members last
Wednesday. The students enjoyed the show and helped to raise money for the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Is Easter still all about Jesus? Not
eggs-actly
JENNI WILLIAMS, The Guardian-Journal
Easter is the time of
springtime festivals, a time to welcome back the tulips, the crocuses and the
daffodils. It’s a time of new suits, new dresses and patent leather shoes. A
time for Christians to celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Christ.
And a time of chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, and colored eggs.
In the United States it is celebrated in many different ways by many different religions. Mostly
it is celebrated with traditional church services and family festive
celebrations.
On Easter Sunday in New York and other cities, large street parades are held where people show off their new
clothes and Easter bonnets. The parade is often led by someone carrying a
candle or a cross.
Easter processions or
parades, often including special dress, have been part of Christian culture
since its earliest beginnings. The Bible records two processions in the first
Holy Week.
The first was on Palm
Sunday as Jesus was welcomed to Jerusalem by an adoring throng. The second took
place as Jesus carried a cross to Calvary. These processions are often
commemorated in Christian church services, and are seen as the earliest
predecessors of the modern Easter parade.
During the Dark Ages, Christians
in Eastern Europe would gather in a designated spot before Easter church
services, then walk solemnly to the church. Sometimes the congregation would
form another parade after the services, retracing their steps and singing songs
of praise.
These processions had two
purposes—to demonstrate to churchgoers the unity of spirit found in their
faith, and to reach out to nonbelievers in a highly visible manner. Even in
those times, participants wore their finest attire to show respect for the
occasion.
In the Middle Ages, the
clergy expanded these processions into teaching tools. Paintings and statues
would be placed along city streets, where church members could walk from one to
another to see all the "stations of the cross."
To a public that had no
access to the Bible and often could not understand the Latin language in which
church services were conducted, these special processions were a means to
understanding their faith.
In the 21st century, Easter
parades are conducted in many cities, with prominent ones in Richmond (36th
annual parade, 2008), New Orleans (25th annual parade), Toronto (42nd annual)
and elsewhere.
The Easter parade is an
American cultural event consisting of a festive strolling procession on Easter
Sunday. Typically, it is a somewhat informal and unorganized event, with or
without religious significance.
Persons participating in an
Easter parade traditionally dress in new and fashionable clothing, particularly
ladies' hats, and strive to impress others with their finery. The Easter parade
is most closely associated with Fifth Avenue in New York City, but Easter
parades are held in many other cities.
Starting as a spontaneous
event in the 1870s, the New York parade became increasingly popular into the
mid-20th century—in 1947, it was estimated to draw more than one million
people.
Moak pleads guilty to Valhalla burglary
The Guardian-Journal
An Athens man has pleaded
guilty this month to two charges stemming from the burglary of Valhalla Motorcycle
Campground on Dutchtown Road in August 2008.
Gregory Scott Moak, 34,
pleaded guilty to simple burglary and criminal mischief. He received three
years at hard labor for the charge of simple burglary. On the criminal mischief
charge, Moak was sentenced to serve 6 months to run concurrent with the other
charge.
Moak was arrested in
January by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office on charges of attempted simple
arson, simple battery/domestic and resisting an officer after threatening to
burn down a house during an argument with family members. According to a
January press release from the sheriff’s office, Moak got a can of gasoline and
poured it in the kitchen area.
Assistant District Attorney
Jim Hatch said those charges were dismissed at the request of Moak’s mother.
He explained that under
normal circumstances, charges such as these are not dismissed. However, in
Moak’s case, he will already serve time for the Valhalla burglary and will have
to undergo three months of drug rehabilitation through the Blue Walters
Program, offered through the Department of Corrections Office of Probation and
Parole.
“His mother was the
principal victim to the simple arson and she wrote a letter to the DA asking
that those charges be dismissed,” Hatch said. “We don’t do that a lot. It has
been the policy of the DA’s office that if someone asks for the charges to be
dismissed at least require a misdemeanor and would have them under supervision.
In this case, he was going to serve time, and the judge also ordered drug
rehabilitation.”
According to Hatch, Moak’s
mother, sworn in under oath, gave a statement to the court that she wanted the
charges from January dismissed.
