Community forum small but productive
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A small
yet productive community forum was held Friday night to address remaining
issues associated with last year’s shooting/death of Bernard Monroe Sr.
Approximately
20 people congregated at Homer City Hall in support of their community and to
get some questions answered. The tone of the meeting was quiet and subdued,
with citizens voicing their concerns for the children who were allegedly present
at the scene of the shooting.
Carmelita
Pope Freeman, of the U.S. Justice Department, said that some work toward
getting those children the counseling they need has been done, but she wasn’t
sure if it was panning out.
Homer
Police Chief Russell Mills came to the forum in support of the community he and
his officers police. He voiced his concern for the children, saying there just
isn’t enough money to create an environment conducive to keeping the kids off
the streets.
“We
care a lot about our kids,” he said. “The issue is there’s not enough
facilities to keep their minds occupied.”
William
Maddox, Claiborne Parish Constable, said he’s sent some kids to state police
camps in order to help them gain a better understanding of what police are
supposed to do.
“There
are resources out there, we just have to find them,” he said.
Homer District 3 Councilman
Toney Johnson agreed, saying the community needs to come together.
“We
need to come together and start doing what we need to do to take care of
business,” he said.
Another
concern addressed was the breakdown in communications after the Claiborne
Parish Grand Jury handed down a no true bill in the case of Monroe Sr.’s death.
A no
true bill means the grand jury decided that there wasn’t enough evidence to
bring charges against Officers Tim Cox and Joseph Henry.
Monroe was shot and killed by Cox on February 20, 2009, after he allegedly engaged the two officers with a loaded handgun. Cox and Henry
were pursuing Monroe’s son, Shawn, on foot. The foot pursuit ended at the elder
Monroe’s home, where the shooting occurred.
According
to sources, a federal investigation continues into any alleged civil rights
violations in Monroe’s case.
When
the state investigation began, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began
an investigation of its own into those alleged violations. In February, the
state wrapped up its case when the grand jury handed down its decision, but the
FBI investigation continues.
When
the decision was handed down on Thursday, February 4, U.S. Justice Department
Community Marshal and Liaison Terry Willis said the news media knew before the
family did, and it shocked everyone.
“No one
knew,” he said. “It was a shock to the family. Nobody went by the Monroe home after the verdict came out.”
Willis
said due to the handling of the situation, the family and friends were upset.
“We got
several calls, but we had no information,” said Willis. “Why wasn’t there any
information? Why was it so secretive? The public needs to know the judicial
steps.”
However,
Willis added that no matter how the news was received, the outcome remains the
same – and it’s time for the community to begin moving past it.
“We
have a responsibility to protect our people,” he said. “We’ve got to move
forward – but we do need help.”
U.S. Justice Department Law Enforcement Liaison Mike
Campbell, former Bossier City police chief, encouraged the community to keep
meeting and coming together. He commended those in attendance for showing their
concern for their community, namely Mills and Willis for showing up at every
meeting. He also said it doesn’t take a lot of money to get something started.
“It
doesn’t take money to get something done – it takes people,” he said. “The
question is, ‘Do we move forward?’ or “Do we stay where we are?’”
The Rev.
Cleon Warren addressed those present, saying he didn’t understand how a police
officer can fire upon someone if they perceive danger, but while he was in Vietnam, Americans couldn’t fire unless being fired upon.
Campbell said that officers are given the authority to fire their
service weapon if they perceive a danger or threat to their own life or that of
another officer.
“It
certainly may or may not justify the action, but there’s a rational
explanation,” he said.
He said
officers are trained in what’s called stress inoculation, which means an
officer in the academy is exposed to high stress levels in order to adapt his
or her body to the automatic response. Stress inoculation is when the human
body is put into what’s called the “fight or flight” mode, which is a
self-preservation mode the body enters when it perceives a threat or danger to
life.
“Stress
inoculation training (SIT), first developed by Dr. Donald Meichenbaum in 1985,
uses strategies similar to those incorporated in SWAT team training,” said Dr.
Bob Deyoung in an article published on www.lawofficer.com. “Although SIT was
not originally developed specifically for law enforcement, we can easily adapt
its principles for our work. Coupled with the other strategies incorporated in
SIT, officers can train themselves to bulletproof their minds with repeated
exposure and practice.”
Although
an officer’s actions may not be justified, Campbell said it could be explained
by science, and there is a growing need to train law enforcement officers about
the science behind the actions.
Tangie
Wallace, niece of Monroe, Sr., spoke during the forum, saying it isn’t that
community members mistrust law enforcement; it is that they feel the Homer
Police Department could use more training.
“It’s a
small force, and we know that they don’t have the time to be more
community-oriented,” she said.
The
Homer Police Department just doesn’t have the manpower to do the things bigger
departments do, such as going into the schools and talking to kids about
safety.
The
Justice Department is working with community members and the police department
to address these concerns and offer suggestions and resources on how to do
things better for the community as a whole.
Willis
said he was grateful to see a mix of the community coming together – a mix of
government officials, citizens, clergy and color. And even though the community
isn’t there yet, it seems to be moving forward to healing and unity – as Campbell said, “It doesn’t take money, it takes people.”
It’s getting there...
CPSB audit report improves
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Claiborne Parish School Board is dealing with audit issues that still need
cleaning up.
During
the school board’s work session, just before the regular meeting, the auditors
went over this year’s audit report. The good news is the school board received
an unqualified opinion, which is the best opinion a governmental entity can
receive and is based on the full accrual system of accounting.
The
school board has had its share of problems the last few years. It could have
lost its state and federal funding had they not worked diligently and quickly
to correct some the issues they had. According to former superintendent Wayne
King, the problem was internal control over financial reporting.
Several
other issues came to light that had to be fixed and had to be fixed right then.
Accounts
that were zero balance accounts still had balances. Accounting records had
numerous errors. Schools were not turning their records in on time, and the
list goes on.
Many of
those issues fell on the shoulders of the business manager.
Although
things have much improved in the accounting department, the school board’s
auditors, Allen, Green and Williamson, LLP of Monroe, still had a list of
findings that need to be corrected – mainly the school lunch fund.
According
to Auditor Margie Williamson, said the school lunch fund is still showing a
deficit – keeping in mind that it is supposed to be a “0” balance fund. This
means what’s put in the fund is supposed to be spent and equal “0” at the end
of the fiscal year. It began the year with a deficit and ended with one.
“You
can’t budget a deficit,” she said. “With the school lunch fund, normally,
there’s not much income or excess for the year. If it gets into a deficit, then
it has to come from the general fund.”
Fred
Evans, financial consultant for the school board, said there are three ways to
correct the issue: cut expenses, raise school lunch prices or move the money
out of the general fund.
“That’s
going to be hard to do,” he said to the board. “In this particular instance,
you’ve reached the end of the line, and you’re running a true deficit.”
However,
in 2008 and 2009, the issue was corrected to some degree. Last year, moving
monies from the general fund into the school lunch fund was discussed as an
option to get the fund out of the hole. It’s a legitimate plan, Evans said, but
they can’t just keep putting an increasing amount of money in the fund to cover
it. In other words, the school board is going to have to figure out a way to
control costs.
According
to Williamson, in 2008 and 2009, more than $100,000 each year was transferred
from the general fund to cover the deficit. If the school lunch fund began with
a deficit, more than likely, it will end up budgeting a deficit, which is against
the budget law.
Claiborne
Parish Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janice Williams says the reason there’s an
issue with the school lunch fund is that at least 80 percent of students
attending Claiborne Parish Schools are either on the reduced lunch program or
are receiving free lunches. Only 20 percent of students are full-paying
students.
Another
issue is the rising cost of food, and according to District 6 School Board
Member Tommy Davidson, Paula Becker, food service supervisor, is doing the best
she can to cut corners and still feed students good, nutritious meals. But, the
school board would almost have to double school lunch prices just to make up
the deficit. According to Evans, that alone wouldn’t work because the deficit
is too big.
In
other audit news, the school board’s audit this year shows the amount spent on
benefits to retirees. What this means is that although these do not show up on
the books, it must be shown in the audit report. According to Williamson, all
government entities must now show benefits paid out to retirees.
To be
clear, the benefits are the health insurance premiums paid on retirees.
“This
is the first year you’ve had to include post-employment benefits,” she said.
“It’s the benefits you pay to retirees after they’ve retired for health
insurance. All governments now have to report what that liability is. In the
past, the only expense you reported on was whatever you paid during the year.”
She
said it doesn’t show up in their funds, but that liability will add to the
$800,000 already allotted for that and will show a deficit. The reason it will
increase each year is because this number projects over the years what the
school board will pay for retirees over their lifespan.
“That
is only in this statement,” she said of Statement A on page 13. “It just means
that you’ve got this liability out there, and that at some point if you’re not
doing any changes to benefits, it could affect your credit rating.”
This
does not mean the school board will show a debt, because these amounts have
always been there, it’s just never been reported.
“At
this point, no one knows what the effects are going to be, because all
governments are just now starting to report it and to see what that number is,”
she said.
“You
need to keep in mind that it’s just now being defined,” Evans said. “It’s not
something you’re going to have to produce cash for immediately.”
Williamson
said the government cannot make the school board fund it, but they do have to
report it. She also suggested that the money could go into what’s called an
irrevocable trust, but if money is transferred into that trust, the school
board will not be able to touch it. Evans suggested putting it into a reserve
fund instead of the irrevocable trust.
Davidson
says the board needs to have some kind of plan so they aren’t going to go broke
by the time others retire in the future.
“We’re
not ignoring this,” Evans said in answer to Davidson’s statement. “We’ve talked
about it pretty often since we’ve received the report. You could possibly put
it into a reserve, but these are the things we’re talking about. We’re still in
the discussion stages with it right now.”
In
other findings, the school board is still having an issue with inadequate
internal control over financial reporting. But that seems to be a carryover
from last few years in that Evans is still combing through past records to
correct problems that affect this year’s audit.
The
audit report suggests reviewing personnel and positions to see what changes
need to be made.
“Each
position in the business department should be evaluated to determine if any
duties need to be changed or if additional personnel are needed to ensure that
accounting records are maintained in an efficient and correct manner,” the
report states. “Invoices and journal entries should be reviewed for
appropriateness by school board personnel other than the preparer.”
In
earlier interviews with Williams, she said the process was going to be slow,
just due to the fact that at least three years of records would need to be
reviewed and corrected.
Other
findings that still carry over from last year include violation of the Local
Government Budget Act and school activity funds. Another finding for this year
is violation of the public bid law.
Although
these findings put the school board in violation of law, they aren’t anything
that can’t be corrected and maintained.
For
instance, the school board is in violation of the Local Government Budget Act
because Title 1, Maintenance Fund and Special Education actual expenditures
exceeded budgeted expenditures by more than 5 percent.
According
to law, any fund expenditures that exceed its budget by 5 percent require that
a formal amendment be made to the school board’s budget. In other words, the
school board must adopt an amended budget at a regular monthly meeting and send
the amendments to the state superintended of education no later than September
30 of each year.
In
other school board news, several old busses as well as two pickup trucks and
two tractors were declared surplus. According to Transportation Supervisor
Ronnie McKenzie, sealed bids will more than likely be taken on the trucks and
tractors, but the busses will be sold at auction.
Other
items approved include:
• the
school board audit report,
• the
2010-11 school calendar, which is almost identical to the 2009-10 school
year’s,
• a
revision to the principal and supervisor supplemental pay,
•
revision of the expense re-imbursement policy,
• and
the termination of school board employee Thelma Crews.
The
next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 8, at central
office in the school board meeting room. For more information, please call
927-3502.
Haynesville man gets more than he
bargained for
The Guardian-Journal
A
22-year-old Haynesville man got more than a $30 bargain when he allegedly
robbed a woman.
Demarcus
Payton was arrested Friday, March 12, on a charge of first-degree robbery. Bond
was set at $50,000.
According
to reports, on the above date, Homer Police Officers Van McDaniel and Darren
Norton were approached by Kelly Montague who informed them that she’d just been
robbed. According to Montague, reports say, the suspect, later identified as
Payton, approached her from behind and put something on her back that she
believed was a weapon. She told officers that she checking her mail when the
incident occurred.
Police
say the suspect demanded money from the victim. When she refused, he allegedly
began going through her pockets and took $30 from her person.
He then
fled the scene, and the victim described the suspect, saying he might go by the
nickname “Biggie.”
Police,
including Norton, McDaniel and Officer Willie Fred Knowles, searched for
Payton, conducting interviews with residents he might have gone to. Payton was
later found in a field in the 1300 block of Monroe Avenue, interviewed and
arrested.
According
to police, Payton told officers that he did take the money, but stated it was
from a drug transaction and not a robbery.
Based
on statements from both parties, the suspect was placed under arrest and
transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
Another
Haynesville man found himself in trouble with the law.
Cornelius
M. Malone, 27, was arrested on several charges. They include illegal possession
of a stolen firearm, forgery, monetary instrument abuse, simple possession of
marijuana, expired driver’s license, a parole violation, two counts of
resisting an officer and licensee must give notice of change of address. Bond
on all charges are to be set.
He was
placed under arrest and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
Claiborne Police Jury joins Lincoln Parish Sparta efforts
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Claiborne Parish Police Jury (CPPJ) has joined the Lincoln Parish Police Jury
(LPPJ) to take a stand on the adverse effects of oil and natural gas drilling
and the use of groundwater.
In
their regular monthly meeting held March 10, the police jury adopted LPPJ’s
resolution as well as a similar one of their own. The resolution requests the
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Office of Conservation, to
consider potential damage to the Sparta Aquifer and take necessary measures to
monitor its quality and quantity. LPPJ is also asking DNR to protect the
aquifer from depletion as a result of the drilling and hydraulic fracturing
process in the oil and gas industry.
“A lot
of people don’t realize what this means,” District 5 Police Juror Lavelle Penix
said. “According to an article I read the other day, it takes 30 million
gallons of water to drill one well. That’s coming out of our Sparta – our drinking
water.”
Based
on more reading, Penix estimates there are 300 wells being drilled in northwest
Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. Add that up, and “that’s a lot of water,” he
said.
In
other news, the Haynesville Golden Tornado was honored by the police jury with
a resolution making Wednesday, March 10, Golden Tornado Day.
“I have
a good appreciation for what the Haynesville Golden Tornado has accomplished
over all these years,” CPPJ Vice President Jerry Adkins said. “We honor them
for what they did this year, but the tradition is such an excellent tradition.”
The
Golden Tornado brought home its 15th Class 1A State Championship, beating South Plaquemines 19-12 at the New Orleans Superdome.
“It
says not only good things about you guys this year – the tenacity you have and
the desire to represent your town and your school well,” he said to Head Coach
David Franklin and two captains Ronnie Fields and Lance Reeves. “But it says
something about the coaching staff, the administration and the young men who
have played and the support of the town. It’s something really special.”
The
entire police jury stood in honor of the team.
Another
of Claiborne’s own was honored as well. Truck Driver Joe Willie Fielding was
presented with a plaque in recognition and appreciation of more than 19 years
of service to the police jury.
“He’s
the type of employee that you’ll never replace,” said Claiborne Parish Highway
Superintendent Tommy Durrett. “You can put somebody in his position, but you
can’t replace him.”
Adkins
added his appreciation as well.
“He’s a
person we’ve all come to depend on, and we like him personally,” he said. “He’s
done a good job for us for a long time.”
Fielding
expressed his appreciation to the employer who has supported him for so long,
saying, “It’s been a pleasure working with everyone.”
In road
news, a recommendation from the road committee to increase the chip and seal
budget was approved. Durrett requested the police jury increase his chip and
seal budget from approximately $500,000 to approximately $700,000. With the
$500,000 budget, the highway department would only be able to chip and seal 34
miles of road, but with the increase, they will be able to chip and seal 50
miles of road. This increase is only for the 2010 year. A final list of roads
to be done will be available at the April regular monthly meeting.
The
police jury also adopted a resolution concerning its assumption of 3.9 miles of
LA 807 to the Alternate 2 junction.
“When
the state agreed to build the new bypass around the (Claiborne Parish Courthouse)
square, there’s a law on the state books that the state cannot add any new
roads in their system within each parish,” Secretary/Treasurer Dwayne Woodard
said. “So, the parish has to assume equal responsibility to share the amount of
mileage that will be going into the new road. There will be 3.9 miles of road
going into the bypass and this is a resolution to take in a total of 3.9 miles
of LA 807 Bypass beginning at a point 1,250 feet north of the Junction LA Alt.
2, and ending at the Arkansas state line.”
In
other police jury news, a discussion carried over from last month’s meeting has
been sent to the buildings and grounds committee for a possible solution. The
issue is one that is becoming more dangerous – constituents leaving their trash
cans on the side of the road for more than 24 hours.
“It’s
becoming more and more of a problem,” Penix said.
Adkins
said it’s a problem because if big trucks come by, aerodynamics can actually
suck the trash can off the side of the road into the middle of the street.
District
3 Police Juror Bob McDaniel said one of his constituents who always left his
trash can on the shoulder of the road, contacted him, saying that about a month
or two ago, someone hit his garbage can, strewing trash and parts of the can
itself at least 150 yards down the road. There were also parts of a headlight
in the road too.
Although
it’s been sent to buildings and grounds, Penix suggested making stickers to put
on the lid of the trash can reminding citizens to move their cans off the shoulder
of the road and out of the rights-of-way within 24 hours after trash pickup.
Not
only is it a tremendous expense to Allied Waste, but those costs are passed on
to the police jury, Woodard said.
A water
storage tank in the Pine Hill Water System has recently had some repairs, and
although the holes were fixed and the tank was repainted, more leaks have
appeared, according to District 2 Police Juror Mark Furlow. The leaks were
stopped, but there is no timeline on how long the patchwork done will hold.
“The
main reason I bring this to you today is because we just got through talking
about how important our water is in that area,” he said. “You’ve got a nursing
home right across the street from it, a school and several residences in that
area.”
Currently,
the police jury is looking into ways to obtain emergency funding to get the
storage tank fixed right. Unfortunately, Woodard said, the issue does not
qualify for state funding because it is considered a maintenance issue and not
a catastrophic one.
Right
now, Woodard told police jurors, approximately $3,000 to $4,000 would be left
over for immediate, necessary repairs in Community Water Enrichment Fund (CWEF)
monies. The problem is the total cost of repairs will be about $20,000. They
would have to wait until the next grant cycle to secure funding to complete the
repairs. He said this repair could go at the top of the list this summer, when
the next cycle begins.
The
police jury approved an intergovernmental agreement where the Town of Haynesville will be under the umbrella of IBTS, the parish’s building code officials. This
means the town will be able to use IBTS as their building code officials and
the police jury’s administration office will serve as their permitting office.
The
town passed an ordinance that “allows a certified third party provider to come
in and “…act in the capacity of a building code enforcement officer or to
assist the Building Official for the Town of Haynesville in enforcing the
provisions of this Ordinance.” (Ordinance 577, Section 6-104 (B)).
The
council also approved:
• the
lowest qualified bid for the purchase of a new wheel loader for the highway
department,
• the
lowest bid for the purchase of culverts, galvanized and plastic,
• a
request from David Wade Correctional Center to place a sign and wreath on the
Courthouse lawn the week of April 18-24 commemorating National Crime Victim’s
Rights Week,
• a
request from the Trinity Bible Study and Prayer Group and the Homer Ministerial
Alliance requesting permission to hold a short prayer meeting on the Courthouse
lawn in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer,
• a
request from the Ford Museum requesting a letter of support for the museum in
their request to land a grant from the Louisiana Decentralized Arts and the
Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and
• a
request from the U.S. Forest Service asking for assistance in the aid of
removal of debris blocking a culvert on Forest Road 912. The road is closed at
this time to traffic until the problem is resolved.
The
next police jury meeting will be held Wednesday, April 7, in the police jury
room at 9 a.m. For more information, please call their office at 927-2222.
Homer Lion shares love of flying
The Guardian-Journal
As he
takes the podium, there’s a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. That’s
because he’s talking about one of his favorite subjects and pastimes – air
planes.
Lion
Buddy Pixley spoke at the Homer Lions Club meeting held on Thursday, March 11
on his recent visit to the home of the largest air show and convention on earth.
In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on any given day of the week-long event, there might be
as many as 500,000 people showing off their airplanes, watching performances,
mingling with their fellow pilots or just simply walking through the many gift
shops at the former military base.
According
to its history, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture Fly-In
Convention, or now known as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, is one of the largest
aviation conventions in the world. It began as a small air pageant in 1953 in Milwaukee, Wisc., but according to Pixley, by the 1980s, it was hosting nearly 500,000
people in Oshkosh.
“Understand
that the EAA is a volunteer organization,” he said. “None of the people are
paid except the administrative staff. The first time I went up there in the
80s, there were no facilities, no campgrounds, no place to stay.”
In
fact, he said, for those who wish to attend and stay at the event, people must
register at least one year or more in advance. There are now hotel rooms,
camping facilities and dormitories for patrons to stay.
The
aviation convention brings in millions of dollars every year to the small
community – about $110 million by their records. There approximately 10,000 to
12,000 planes at the event at any one given time. The convention costs $25 per
day to attend.
The
convention, which is now considered a world premiere event, draws many types of
people from all walks of life, including top government officials, corporate
leaders and thousands of aviation enthusiasts.
“Today,
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is an international gathering place for aviation
enthusiasts,” states the website, www.airventure.org.
It
draws all types of planes from historical World War II planes to what they call
home-built planes and other forms of aircraft. More include aerobatic, war
birds, ultra lights, light planes, rotorcraft and seaplanes.
“AirVenture
Oshkosh isn’t for everyone,” Pixley said, “however, if you’ve ever had a desire
to fly or even if you are just interested in aviation, you must attend this
event at least one time. If you’ve ever considered obtaining a pilot’s license,
there are now some options which may make it affordable and enjoyable.”
The
type of pilot’s license he is referring to is the sport pilot license.
According to www.pilotoutlook.com, the sport pilot’s license is a newly
introduced license in 2005 and allows aviation enthusiasts to fulfill their
passion of flying at half the cost.
Pixley
said he now has a sport pilot license, because before 2005, his health would
not allow him to get his pilot’s license renewed. However, he still loves
flying.
The
license will cost approximately $3,500, which includes 20 hours of training,
plus the cost of operating the plane.
For
more information, or for those enthusiasts interested in learning more, go to
www.airventure.org or www.pilotoutlook.com.
