Operation T-Bos
Taking Back Our
Streets
Submitted photos
Homer Police Chief Russell Mills and
Captain Donald Malray sift through a mountain of evidence following several
arrests over the last week. This is just a portion of evidence recovered as
several people were arrested on distribution charges during Operation T-Boss.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Homer Police Department is taking back the streets of Homer by removing the
drugs and their distributors.
Several
have been arrested over the last week on distribution charges, with others
having been arrested throughout the month and more to come.
Arrested
on Tuesday, August 31, include:
•
Tannisha Curry, 34, arrested on one count of distribution of a schedule III Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) (Lortab), with bond set at $30,000.
• Helen
Dixon, 51, arrested on one count of distribution of a Schedule III CDS (Lortab), bond set at $30,000.
• Tabb
James Cooper, 29, arrested on one count of Schedule III CDS (Lortab), with bond
set at $30,000.
Arrested
on Monday, August 30, was:
• Kim
Rushing, 26, one count of Schedule III CDS, one count of Schedule II CDS and
one count of legend drugs with bond set at $60,000.
•
Michael Walker, 32, arrested on a grand jury indictment for three counts of
distribution of Schedule I (marijuana). Bond was set at $120,000.
Arrested
on Friday, August 27, include:
•
Felicia R. Sims, 33, arrested on two counts of distribution of Schedule IV CDS
(Xanax), with bond set at $30,000 on each charge with a total of $60,000.
•
Patrick M. Dunn, 19, arrested on two counts of possession with intent to
distribute Schedule I (marijuana) with bond set at $30,000 on each charge for a
total of $60,000.
•
Shummundra S. Knowles, 27, arrested on two counts of distribution of Schedule III CDS (Lortab) with bond set at $30,000 on each charge for a total of $60,000.
•
Thomas Eddens, 28, arrested on one count of possession with intent to
distribute Schedule I (marijuana), with bond set at $30,000.
•
Robert Curry, 18, arrested on two counts of possession with intent to
distribute Schedule I (marijuana), with bond set at $30,000 on each count with
a total of $60,000.
•
Carolyn Ann Morris Watts, 42, arrested on two counts of distribution of
Schedule III CDS (Lortab), with bond set at $30,000 on each count for a total
of $60,000.
•
Juanita Watts, 62, arrested on one count of distribution of Schedule III CDS (Lortab) with bond set at $30,000.
•
Calvin Ramon White, 29, arrested on two counts of possession with intent to
distribute Schedule I (marijuana) with bond set at $30,000 on each count for a
total of $60,000.
• Eric
Gene Williams, 41, arrested and charged with three counts of possession with
intent to distribute Schedule II (cocaine) with bond set at $60,000 on the
first count and $50,000 on each subsequent count, for a total of $160,000.
•
Rodney D. Emerson, 27, arrested on one count of distribution of Schedule I CDS
(Ecstasy), with bond set at $50,000.
•
Robert Allen Gilbert, 20, arrested for DWI 4th, with bond set at $40,000 and a
parole violation with no bond.
Arrested
on Tuesday, August 3, include:
Ester
Renee Crew, 45, arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute
Schedule IV CDS, with bond set at $15,000, possession with intent to distribute
Schedule III CDS, with bond set at $15,000, distribution of legend drugs with
bond set at $15,000, and distribution of a legend drug with bond set at
$15,000.
According
to Homer Police Chief Russell Mills, Operation T-BOS began in February 2010,
but because of other issues at hand, work on the cases slowed.
Captain Donald Malray said the
operation began when the department began receiving several phone calls
regarding prescription pills being sold illegally. In fact, he said, there were
several overdoses with one being fatal.
Malray
headed the investigation as it went forward. Through funds from the Town of Homer and money seized in evidence, Homer officers were able to make undercover purchases.
Since
March 2010, Malray said approximately 44 grand jury indictments were made from
undercover buys, with some being repeat offenders.
“If you
buy them off the street, you don’t know what you’re going to get,” Malray said.
“You don’t know what you’re body will tolerate. What one patient may take,
another patient may be allergic to. It’s very important that you visit your
doctor to get your pills and not buy them off the street.”
He also
said doctors’ offices in the Homer area have called the police department
advising officers that they will not see patients who have been arrested in
Operation T-BOS.
“This
will help slow the distribution of scheduled drugs,” he said. “We will be
working closely with Homer Memorial Hospital and the different doctors’ offices
in the Homer area in the upcoming months to put a stop to illegal prescription
drug activity.”
The
Homer Police Department along with an undercover agent from another
jurisdiction helped with the arrests of those above.
Mills
also said more arrests in Operation T-Boss are pending.
“This
operation is not complete,” Mills said. “We still have outstanding warrants
involved in this operation. We’re going to take back our streets.”
Haynesville couple charged with drug
distribution
The Guardian-Journal
The
Claiborne Narcotic Enforcement Team arrested a Haynesville couple on
distribution charges.
According
to a press release, on Friday, August 27, CNET culminated an investigation
which started last October when they served a search warrant at 165 Sims Loop
in Haynesville.
This
investigation has led to the arrest of Ronnie Lee Duncan and Judith A. Duncan
for three counts of distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous
Substance (CDS), oxycodone and one count of distribution of a Schedule IV CDS
(alprazolam).
This
investigation started after CNET received information that the Duncans were selling their prescription medications. CNET conducted undercover operations
during which purchases of oxycodone and alprazolam were made.
On the
date of their arrests, CNET obtained a search warrant for the Duncan’s
residence and served this warrant around 4 p.m. that day. This search led to
additional charges against Ronnie Duncan for possession of Schedule II CDS
(cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal conspiracy to
distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
CNET members stated that this investigation is continuing and
additional charges against both subjects are expected. Both of these subjects
were booked into Claiborne Parish Jail Facilities with bond to be set by a
judge.
Sheriff
Bailey, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills and Haynesville Police Chief Anthony
Smith encourage the public to notify area law enforcement agencies of any
suspicious or illegal activity that is going on in their neighborhoods.
Concerned citizens can call CNET at 318-927-9800, the Homer Police Department
at 318-927-4000, the Haynesville Police Department at 318-624-1355 or the
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-927-2011. Any and all information is
considered confidential and is greatly appreciated.
In a
separate incident on that same date, a Homer man was arrested after he was
allegedly busted during a traffic stop.
According
to a news release, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Harbour was patrolling and observed a vehicle cross the center line and the fog line of the
roadway several times. Upon making a traffic stop, Harbour found the driver to
be Michael Danyell Turner, 36.
A
subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a suspected marijuana cigarette in a
cup inside the vehicle. Harbour also discovered a handgun on the passenger side
floorboard. Turner was arrested and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
He was
booked on charges of possession of marijuana 2nd offense with bond set at
$1,000, driving on the right side of the road with bond set at $1,000 and
illegal carrying of weapons while in possession of controlled dangerous
substances with bond set at $10,000.
In
another separate incident, a Minden man found himself in a heap of trouble
after a traffic stop was initiated.
According to Claiborne Parish
Sheriff Ken Bailey, on Sunday, August 29, Deputy J.T. Williams observed a
vehicle that did not dim its headlights when appropriate. Williams made contact
with the driver, Tacardo B. Hollinquest, 29, and found him to be driving without
a license.
A
passenger in the vehicle, also from Minden, was identified as Victor Thomas,
26.
Deputies
Aaron Christian, Steve Harbour and Roger Ellerbe arrived on scene to assist.
Christian deployed the K-9 officer and he alerted on the vehicle.
A search
of the vehicle was conducted and two shotguns were located in the trunk of the
vehicle. A check of driver and passenger revealed they had felony charges.
Hollinquest
and Thomas were arrested and Hollinquest was charged with failure to dim
headlights with bond set at $1,000, no driver’s license with bond set at
$1,000, expired motor vehicle inspection sticker with bond set at $1,000 and
possession of a firearm by a convicted felon with bond set at $15,000. Thomas
was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon with bond set at
$15,000.
H’ville man charged for attempted murder
The Guardian-Journal
A
Haynesville man has been arrested on two counts of attempted 2nd degree murder
after police say he was shooting a gun at someone.
Deandrea
Deshun Amos, 20, was arrested Thursday, August 26, in Homer, and charged with
the two counts of attempted 2nd degree murder with bond set at $250,000 on each
count, two counts of aggravated criminal damage to property with bond set at
$25,000 on each count, illegal use of weapons/dangerous instrumentalities with
bond set at $25,000 and illegal carrying of weapons in a no-firearm zone with
bond set at $25,000.
Total
bond was set at $600,000.
According
to police, several witnesses said they saw Amos shooting a gun. Officers Van
McDaniel, Mike Rimsky and Mario Thomas arrived at Armory Drive where they
observed a moderate crowd gathered at the entrance to the apartment complex
there. At the time of their arrival, witnesses told police Amos had fled on
foot.
Amos
was then located on Marble Drive and taken into custody.
Rimsky
then returned to the original crime scene where he observed a bullet hole in a
vehicle belonging to Terrance Rabb. Also the bullet used was taken into
evidence.
Other
victims were interviewed at that time and described to police what she saw.
According to witness statements, police say, Amos was seen in a physical
altercation with his girlfriend, saying he was forcefully pulling her back
inside the apartment.
It was
at that time, one witness stated he threatened her with a gun when she told him
to stop. According to the witness, reports say, Amos’ girlfriend had a child in
her arms at the time of the physical altercation.
Another
vehicle pulled into the parking lot, and it was at that time Amos allegedly
pulled his gun and began shooting at her.
Amos
was booked and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center on the above charges.
In a
separate incident, a Homer man was arrested on his fourth DWI after being
pulled over for driving erratically.
Robert
Gilbert, 30, was arrested on Saturday, August 28, and charged with DWI 4th and
a parole violation.
According
to reports, Officer Greg Schneider observed a vehicle almost hit the railroad
tracks on West Main Street, and when the driver overcorrected, he almost went
into the ditch. After finally correcting, the officer pulled him over in the
parking lot of Delta Interiors.
Once
the traffic stop was initiated, Schneider made contact with the driver,
identified as Gilbert. While Schneider was speaking with Gilbert, he observed
what appeared to be an open can of beer inside the vehicle and detected what he
believed to be the odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from inside the vehicle.
Officer
Thomas Davis was called to the scene as backup to assist.
Schneider
asked Gilbert to exit the vehicle, and at this time field sobriety tests were
conducted to which Gilbert is said to have performed poorly.
He was
placed under arrest and transported to the Homer Police Department for further
testing. According to reports, Gilbert became uncooperative, but later
consented to the chemical test. He was then transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for further booking.
Election results are in
...and looking forward to October 2
election
Candidate Forum slated for September 7
A candidate forum, sponsored by the
Claiborne Parish Chapter of the NAACP will be held from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. at Friendship Missionary and Educational Association Building, 299 Washington Street in Homer. There will be a question and answer session moderated by a
special guest. A reception will be held following the forum. THE PUBLIC IS
INVITED TO ATTEND!
The Guardian-Journal
The
results are in, and it looks like Incumbent U.S. Senator David Vitter will not
have any opposition in the Republican Party.
Vitter
received 93 percent of the vote in Claiborne Parish while carrying the State of
Louisiana by 88 percent of the vote. He carried the state by 85,179 votes.
Others running for Vitter’s seat were Nick J. Accardo with 5 percent of the
vote and Chet D. Traylor with 7 percent of the vote.
In the
Democratic Party, Republican Vitter will face off with “Charlie” Melancon, who
received 71 percent of the vote statewide and 52 percent in Claiborne Parish.
Others in Democratic Party hoping to face off with Vitter included Neeson J.
Chauvin Jr. with 18 percent of the vote statewide and 26 percent in Claiborne
Parish. Cary J. Deaton carried 12 percent of the vote statewide while he
received 22 percent of the vote in Claiborne Parish.
In the
Libertarian Party, U.S. Senator candidate Randall Todd Hayes received 62
percent statewide while receiving 88 percent of the vote in Claiborne Parish –
which means he received 7 votes in Claiborne Parish. Anthony Gentile only
received 1 vote in Claiborne Parish while carrying 38 percent of the vote
statewide.
Democratic
hopeful David Melville will face Congressman John Fleming in a race for the 4th
District Congressional seat. He carried the state with 81 percent of the vote
while he carried Claiborne Parish with 79 percent. Steven Jude Gavi received 19
percent of the vote statewide and 21 percent of the vote in Claiborne Parish.
Fleming
had no opposition in the Republican Party.
So now
it’s on to the October 2 ballot, which will include a couple of proposed constitutional
amendments as well as tax propositions.
See
upcoming editions of The Guardian-Journal for more details as the voters become
informed of what they are voting for before they pull the lever or push the
button in the voting booth.
However,
here’s a brief highlight of what’s next:
Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Proposed
Amendment No. 1
Act No.
537 Senate Bill No. 5, Regular Session 2009
To move
the convening of the legislature in annual regular session in even-numbered
years to the second Monday in March and in odd-numbered years to the second
Monday in April and to change the effective date of legislation enacted at such
sessions to August first (Amends Article III, Sections 2(A)(3)(a) and (4)(a)
and 19).
Proposed
Amendment No. 2
Act No.
538 Senate Bill No. 209, Regular Session 2009
To
provide that the director, deputy director and all employees of the Governor’s
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness shall be in the
unclassified service of the state civil service (Amends Article X, Sections
2(B)(11) and (12); adds Article X, Section 2(B)(13)).
Tax Propositions, Town of Homer
Proposition
(Sales Tax)
SUMMARY:
ONE-QUARTER OF ONE PERCENT (.25%) SALES AND USE TAX WITH ALL THE PROCEEDS TO BE DEDICATED AND USED FOR TRAINING, SALARIES, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES,
MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION OF THE HOMER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Shall
the Town of Homer, State of Louisiana (the “Town”), under the provisions of
Article VI, Section 29 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974,
Louisiana Revised Statute 33:2711, and other constitutional and statutory
authority, be authorized to levy and collect a tax of one-quarter of one
percent (.25%) (the “Tax”), upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or
rental, the consumption, and the storage for use or consumption of tangible
personal property and on sales of service in the Town, all as currently defined
in Louisiana Revised Statute 47:301 through 47:317 and in the manner provided
by State law, with the proceeds of the Tax (after paying the reasonable and
necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) (the estimated
amount reasonably expected to be collected from the levy of the Tax for one
entire year being $109,000), to be dedicated and used for constructing,
acquiring, extending, improving, operating and/or maintaining police department
for said Town, including but not limited, for salaries and benefits; education
and training courses, equipment, and materials; uniforms and accessories;
officer supplies, equipment and accessories; vehicles and accessories; fuel,
oil, and other similar supplies; communication equipment; computers, software,
accessories and supplies; office supplies; buildings; and all other items
reasonably needed and used by police officers and police personnel in the operations
of the Homer Police Department?
Proposition
(Sales Tax)
SUMMARY:
ONE-EIGHTH OF ONE PERCENT (.125%) SALES AND USE TAX WITH ALL OF THE PROCEEDS TO BE DEDICATED AND USED FOR PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES?
Shall
the Town of Homer, State of Louisiana (the “Town”), under the provisions of
Article VI, Section 29 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974,
Louisiana Revised Statute 33:2711, and other constitutional and statutory
authority, be authorized to levy and collect a tax of one-eighth of one percent
(.125%) (the “Tax”), upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or rental, the
consumption, and the storage for use or consumption of tangible personal
property and on sales of services in the Town, all ass currently defined in
Louisiana Revised Statue 47:301 through 47:317 and in the manner provided by
State law, with the proceeds of the Tax (after paying the reasonable and
necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) (the estimated
amount reasonably expected to be collected from the levy of the Tax for one
entire year being (54,500), to be dedicated and used for constructing,
acquiring, extending, improving, operating and/or maintaining public parks and
recreational facilities for said Town, including but not limited, for
recreational equipment, materials, supplies and accessories; recreational
buildings and facilities, including public pools and parks; equipment, supplies
and accessories for public pools, parks, and recreational facilities; salaries
and benefits of employees and/or independent contractors for recreational
purposes, including lifeguards, grounds keepers, maintenance employees, and
others; sports facilities, equipment, supplies and accessories; and other
recreational purposes for the benefit of the Town?
Lieutenant
Governor
Democrats
Kenneth
“Ken” Burkhalter of Slidell, James “Jim” Crowley of Shreveport, Caroline Fayard
of New Orleans and “Butch” Gautreaux of Morgan City
Republicans
“Jay”
Dardenne of Baton Rouge, Kevin Davis of Abita Springs, “Sammy” Kershaw of Lafayette, Melanie J. McKnight of Baton Rouge and Roger Villere of Metairie.
Judge,
Court of Appeal 2nd Circuit
Henry
Brown of Bossier City, Democrat (Unopposed)
Claiborne Parish School Board
District
1
Danny
“Doc” Lee of Bernice (Unopposed)
District
2
William
H. Maddox of Haynesville (Unopposed)
District
3
Linda
Knox of Haynesville (Unopposed)
District
4
Yolanda
L. Coleman and Betty Richardson, both of Haynesville
District
5
Betty
Fomby Andrews of Homer and Stanley O. Edwards of Athens
District
6
Thomas
E. Davison of Athens (Unopposed)
District
7
Vera R.
Walker Meadors and Georgia Marie Norton, both of Homer
District
8
Almeter
H. Willis of Homer (Unopposed)
District
9
Mary F.
Randle and “Joey” White, both of Homer
District
10
B.
Stewart Griffin, “Billy” Kirk and Terry R. Willis, all of Homer
Mayor,
Village of Athens
Hubie
D. James of Athens (Unopposed)
Mayor,
Town of Homer
Huey
Dean and Alecia Nychole Smith, both of Homer
Mayor,
Village of Junction City
Preston Rogers of Junction City (Unopposed)
Chief
of Police, Village of Athens
“Jack”
Spurlock of Athens (Unopposed)
Marshal,
Town of Homer
Bennie
W. Holyfield and Russell Mills, both of Homer
Chief
of Police, Village of Junction City
Mark A.
McLelland of Junction City (Unopposed)
Aldermen,
Village of Athens
Melver
Stassen of Athens, Prentis Washington of Homer and Ardis Willhite of Homer, all
unopposed
District
1, Town of Homer
Sedric
Bates, Willie “Hoghead” Curry, Linda Ferrell Mozeke and “Doc” Roberson, all of
Homer
District
2, Town of Homer
Ray D.
Jiles and Michael J. Wade, both of Homer
District
3, Town of Homer
“Don”
McCalman of Homer (Unopposed)
District
4, Town of Homer
Carlette
Sanford and Maxine F. Wilson, both of Homer
District
5, Town of Homer
Patricia
K. Jenkins of Homer (Unopposed)
Aldermen,
Village of Junction City
Barbara
B. Daniels, William “Terry” Enis and Arnold Jones, all of Junction City, all
unopposed
Fleming: ‘Optimistic on economy’
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
With
what some call today’s failing economy in the headlines of every newspaper and
television news station, the picture looks pretty bleak.
The
Coordinating and Development Corporation met Thursday, August 26 at Claiborne
Electric Co-op for its summer quarterly meeting, where District 4 U.S.
Congressman John Fleming was the keynote speaker.
“We are
at a critical junction in our country’s history in that we have an economy that
is now 21 months into recession and appears to be softening rather than
strengthening,” Fleming told the standing room only crowd in regards to the
national economy.
According
to statistics he gave, unemployment is up to 9.6 percent. Housing sales are
down by 27 percent and new home sales are down by 12 percent.
“That’s
an historical level since they’ve been keeping those statistics,” he said. “No
matter what we throw at the economy, it seems not to work.”
There
are some uncertainties, he said, including tax increases at the end of the
year, capital that is being displaced by the federal government, and a $13.3
trillion debt in this country.
“Right
now, we’re taking it to a whole other level,” he said. “It’s deficit spending
on steroids – going from a Bush average of $300 billion per year deficit per
year to a $1.5 trillion debt each year, doubling the debt in five years and
tripling the debt in 10 years.”
However,
according Fleming, the picture for north Louisiana looks pretty good. He
mentioned several positive things including the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier Parish, Fort Polk as well as the training center at Camp Minden. It’s all due to the Haynesville Shale natural gas boom in the area, he said.
In
fact, according to his sources, the Haynesville Shale and the Bossier Shale are
the fourth largest natural gas deposits in the world. Now, it is accessible
because drillers have the technology of horizontal drilling to get to it. And
with this kind of gold mine underneath the earth, Louisiana stands to gain huge
benefits from the severance tax it would collect every year. His hat is off to
those who have worked on getting this proposed constitutional amendment back on
the ballot this year.
“It’s a
net benefit for both parish and the state,” he said. “We have ‘Jed Clampetts’
popping up all over the district. It’s really wonderful. It’s very rewarding to
me to see this happening.
“I feel
so blessed to be your congressman at a time when they made that discovery,” he
continued, speaking of the discovery of the Haynesville Shale. “This is
something that was little known in previous years, and even if we did know
about it, we couldn’t do anything because the technology was not there.”
In
fact, since the discovery of the Haynesville Shale, nearly $7 million has been
pumped into the economy – and rural parishes and small towns are already seeing
the benefits from it by adding jobs and building new structures.
“We all
stand to benefit from the Haynesville Shale,” Fleming said. “We should be proud
of those who have those leases.”
However,
the only “dark spot” in this gold mine is the fact the moratorium put on
off-shore drilling by the federal government has also stopped what’s called
hydro-fracking, which is essential to extracting natural gas.
According
to www.schraderwells.com, hydro-fracking is a “well development process that
increases the flow of water from a bedrock well by increasing the size and
extent of the bedrock fractures that bring water into the well. The procedure
involves subjecting the bedrock formation to water pressure sufficiently high
enough to either extend existing bedrock fractures or create new fractures.
Hydro-fracking is a more cost effective alternative than drilling deeper. Water
is injected into a low-yield water well at a high pressure and volume opening
and cleaning out the existing fractures found in the rock.”
Fleming,
who serves on the Natural Resources Committee, said several hearings have been
held on the issue of hydro-fracking.
“There
is a strong movement in certain parts of the country – and certainly Washington – that is anti-drilling, period,” he said. “They want to stop drilling. There is
absolutely now scientific reason for a moratorium on off-shore drilling right
now. The 10 scientific experts that the President of the United States chose to evaluate that all disagree with him on having an off-shore
moratorium on that.
“It’s
killing jobs and it’s hurting our oil independence,” he continued. “Again, it’s
being driven by a very extremist group who call themselves environmentalists,
and I think it’s more ideological than it is environmental.”
These
environmentalists are going after hydro-fracking, he said, in order to stop the
drilling. The issue is that those pushing the moratorium say hydro-fracking
will contaminate water supplies. However, the process has been in use for 60
years and it’s regulated.
“There
are those who would like to restrict it severely or they would like to end it
completely and that would be devastating to us,” Fleming said. “To put that
into perspective, the total consumption of natural gas in 2008 in the U.S. was 23 trillion cubic feet. That’s 10 times the entire usage of natural gas for the
entire country. These estimates suggest the Haynesville Shale will be the
largest natural gas plate in the United States, perhaps North America. It’s
equivalent to 18 years of U.S. oil production.”
Since
the discovery of the Haynesville Shale, 57,600 jobs have been created across Louisiana. Thirty percent of America’s oil and natural gas has been done so as a result of
hydro-fracking. More than 90 percent of the wells up today have used
hydro-fracking.
They
say it would contaminate water supplies, however, Fleming disputes that claim.
“You’ll
find that the depth of the Haynesville Shale is two miles – way below the
surface of the earth,” he said. “The aquifers where our drinking water is
contained is much, much closer to the surface. If they drill through an
aquifer, there are six layers of casing, which includes steel and cement that
protect from that.”
He
concluded by saying that natural gas is “wonderful form of energy for the
future.” Natural gas offers the ability for energy independence and lower costs.
“Natural
gas is the best source of fossil fuels,” he said. “It’s a plentiful, cleaner
form of fuel and prices are extremely low.”
For
more information on his speech, please go to www.fleming.house.gov. For more
information on the Coordinating and Development Corporation, please go to www.cdconline.org.
Timber theft costs millions every year
JENNI WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter
Jim
Baldwin, a Department of Forestry and Agriculture Investigator, was on-hand
last Thursday to address the members of Homer Lions Club about the issues
concerning timber theft.
Baldwin received his bachelor’s degree in 1980 and has since
been involved in more than 700 timber theft investigations.
With
only two agents covering the area north of Alexandria, Baldwin, along with the
his partnering agent, are kept busy dealing with our area’s many forests.
The
Department of Forestry and Agriculture works directly with the local District
Attorney and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office to investigate claims of
timber theft in the Claiborne area.
Baldwin said that timber theft crime is pretty much the same all
over Louisiana with more than a $1 million in timber stolen each year and an
average of 50 people arrested each year.
“Ninety-nine
percent of timber/logging companies are completely honest and hard-working,” Baldwin said. “But there are a select few that will deliberately slip across that property
line and cut a tree here and there.”
Also,
there are those individuals that will completely clear cut a piece of property
that is remote or out of the way of everyday sight and it might not be found
for weeks or even months.
Baldwin continued, “Sometimes the money from the stolen timber
is just gone. You just have to be satisfied with jail time sometimes.”
One of
the easiest ways to help prevent timber theft is to mark property lines. A
forester can be contacted if this is something a landowner is unable to
personally oversee.
The
Department of Forestry and Agriculture keeps an updated list of honest, reputable
foresters for every area of the state. The Department can help steer
individuals to legitimate logging companies and also help avoid disreputable
ones.
The
members of the Lions Club were also addressed by Michael Blazier, Ph.D.,
Forestry Research Project Leader with the Hill Farm Research Station
His
primary research focus is on developing forest management practices that
optimize environmental and economic values of forestlands for the private
landowners of Louisiana, from the small non-industrial owner to the large
industrial owner.
His
extension activities are continually pursued in order to educate forest owners
and the general public about sustainable, cost-effective forest management
practices that fulfill timber and non-timber management objectives.
“Forestry
is the dominant agricultural product for the state of Louisiana,” Blazier told
the group, “with more than $3 billion dollars last year, a total equal to last
year, but 25 percent less than 2008.”
9/11 program just days away
Remembrance event to be held at FBC
Homer
On
September 11, a program in remembrance of those lost that tragic day and in
honor of all firefighters, law enforcement and emergency personnel will be held
at First Baptist Church in Homer.
Beginning
at 6:30 p.m., a fish fry with all the trimmings will be served, followed by a
dynamic speaker, Dr. Rick Scarborough.
There
is no charge to attend the event, and all are welcome to attend.
