Haynesville Elementary to hold Veteran’s
Day program
November 11
Haynesville Elementary School
will be presenting a Veteran’s Day program beginning at 9 a.m. in the Haynesville Elementary gym. The students have been working hard learning songs to
sing for our veterans. All veterans are invited to attend the elementary
program in honor of Veteran’s Day and our local veterans.
CA to host Veterans Day Program November
11
The Claiborne Academy Fellowship
of Christian Athletes huddle will host a Veterans Day observance. The event
will begin at 11 a.m. in the school gymnasium. All veterans and their spouses
are invited to attend. A short program will be followed by lunch being served
to the veterans and their spouses. All veterans in attendance will then be
recognized.
Taste of Homer on November 6
The annual Taste of Homer will
be held Saturday, November 6 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Homer City Hall. Tickets are $10 each. Come enjoy some great food along with some local
favorites. For more information, please call the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce
at 927-3271.
In our lifetime...
Homer Bypass becomes long awaited
reality
The Guardian-Journal photo/Jenni Williams
State, local and parish officials
attended the long awaited ribbon cutting for the Homer Bypass. Dubbed by the
state as La. 3244, the bypass will open as soon as all the signs come in and
are installed.
The Guardian-Journal photo/Jenni Williams
Pictured at left in front are DOTD
official Roy Cazerre, District 11 Rep. Rick Gallot, D-Grambling, Homer Bypass
Advocate J.T. Taylor, District 33 Sen. Mike Walsworth R-West Monroe and
Claiborne Chamber of Commerce President Nicole Sanders Ware. This photo was
taken as the ribbon was actually cut. District 8 Police Juror Roy Mardis and
Secretary/Treasurer Dwayne Woodard are pictured behind them.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
It’s in
our lifetime! That seemed to be motto among several people in the crowd at the
Homer Bypass ribbon-cutting held on Thursday, October 28.
The
Homer Bypass, also known as La. 3244, is being prepared to open soon. The
intention was to have it open the day of the ribbon-cutting, but the state
can’t allow it to be opened to traffic until all the signage comes in and is
erected.
District
4 Engineer John Sanders, with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development (DOTD), jokingly told the crowd at the ceremony all that was needed
was a stop sign at each end and a big piece of cardboard with “Homer Bypass”
written on it. Although it is not open just yet, the roadway itself is complete
– and that completion hasn’t come without many years of hard work and
dedication to get it done by a number of people over the last 20 to 30 years.
“It’s
been great that so many have shared in the vision of the Homer Truck Bypass,”
said District 11 Rep. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston.
Special
thanks went out to all those who worked toward getting the bypass completed,
including J.T. Taylor, Gallot and many others who have dedicated themselves to
making this vision become a reality.
District
33 Senator Mike Walsworth said he came along at the right time to see the
completion of the bypass, but the real gratitude goes to Gallot who worked
tirelessly with the state.
“It’s
all been Rick,” Walsworth said. “It’s all been his efforts and my hat’s off to
you. I can’t tell you how wonderful this project is. So many places in Louisiana want a bypass and now Homer has one.”
According
to Roy Cazerre, with the DOTD, the 3.9 mile bypass cost $6.4 million to
construct. Traffic records show that U.S. Hwy. 79 carries 8,500 vehicles per
day with at least 50 big rigs coming around the Homer Town Square every day.
With
the construction of the bypass, this will allow big rigs and other vehicles to
move goods faster while improving safety for both drivers and the people of
Homer by bypassing the downtown area.
Four
roads currently converge in the downtown Homer area around The Square including
U.S. 79, La. 2, La. 9 and La. 146.
Special
thanks goes to these sponsors for the ribbon cutting: Barnette and Benefield,
Magnolia Pulpwood, LLC, Fred Smith and Sons, Steven J. Koskie, CPA, LLC,
Roberson Trucking Co., Inc., Stateline Vacuum Services, LLC, Rose-Neath Funeral
Home, Fowler Trucking/Boo Boo Sims, Claiborne Electric Co-op, Homer Seafood,
David Nokes, Jerry Andrew, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Stallion Heavy
Haulers and Fluid Disposal Specialties.
Flu shots now available
The
seasonal flu vaccine is now available at the Claiborne Parish Health Unit.
Groups
eligible to receive influenza vaccine through the health unit are as follows:
• All
children from 6 months up to 18 years of age
•
Pregnant women
•
Anyone 50 years of age or older
•
Persons who are morbidly obese
•
Anyone with long-term health problems such as: heart disease, lung disease,
asthma, kidney disease, diabetes, long-term aspirin therapy, muscle or nerve
disorders, or a weakened immune system.
Flue
shots began last week, Thursday, October 29, on a daily basis, excluding the
second and fourth Mondays of each month, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Claiborne Parish Health Unit, 624 West Main Street in Homer.
People
are asked to bring their Medicaid/Medicare cards for billing purposes. For
those who are not covered by these programs, there is a $10 administrative fee.
For
more information, please call the local health unit at 927-6127.
Lesson: Never fight law enforcement
Haynesville man arrested on string of
charges
The Guardian-Journal
A
Haynesville man got more than he bargained for after he allegedly fought
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s deputies during a traffic stop.
Hardy
A. Taylor, 53, was arrested and charged with improper lane usage with bond set
at $500, speeding with bond set at $500, resisting an officer with force or
violence with bond set at $500, battery of a police officer with bond set at
$5,000, obstruction of justice with bond set at $5,000, simple possession of
marijuana with bond set at $500 and illegal carrying of weapons with bond set
at $5,000.
According
to a Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office news release, Deputy Steve Harbour was
on patrol on Tuesday, October 26, and observed a truck speeding. Taylor exited his vehicle, and at that time, Harbour detected Taylor was driving impaired.
As Taylor emptied his pockets, Harbour noticed a cigar box in his right shirt pocket which
had a plastic baggie hanging out of it that allegedly containing marijuana.
While
being handcuffed, Taylor pulled away from Harbour and the deputy drew his taser.
When Harbour attempted to handcuff Taylor a second time, Taylor once again
pulled away.
The
deputy re-drew his taser and ordered Taylor to place his hands behind his back
and he refused.
Harbour
deployed his taser, striking Taylor but with little effect. Deputy Harbour attempted to detain Taylor again and the subject began physically resisting
arrest.
At that
time, Taylor turned to his left and swung his right fist, striking Harbour in
the upper left shoulder. Several other attempts to subdue Taylor were necessary
before Harbour could handcuff him.
During
this time, Taylor threw the box containing suspected marijuana towards the
woods.
Taylor was tased again and handcuffs were put on him.
Deputies
Aaron Christian and Roger Ellerbe arrived on scene to assist as well as Homer
Police Officer Michael Rimsky.
A
further search of the vehicle revealed two shotguns and a rifle in the toolbox
of his truck.
A cup
of alcoholic beverage was located in the driver’s front floorboard and an open
bottle of gin was located in the driver’s front seat.
Taylor was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center and booked on the above charges.
Council divided on airport issue
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Homer Town Council is, to say the least, divided on the issue of the Homer Municipal Airport.
At
Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, Todd Henry, with Alliance Engineers,
spoke to the public about the FAA grant and the runway lighting repairs that
are to begin soon. However, the town council learned quite a bit they didn’t
seem to be happy with.
“We’re
in the process of doing some land clearing right now,” Henry said. “We have
about 65 acres out there that we have to clear off airport property.”
Henry
said that they will have to go to each landowner whose properties adjoin
airport property and get their permission to clear portions of their land in
order to be in compliance with regulations with the lighting project.
If the
property owners do not agree to allow them to clear portions of their property,
then they would have to go through the process of land acquisition and other
avenues.
“I’m
beginning to think this airport’s not worth it,” said District 3 Councilman
Toney Johnson. “It’s ridiculous what we’re spending on this thing. We’re fixin’
to make all these people out there that have nothing to do with it mad. I know
this is a federal requirement, but this is another case that’s out of hand.”
Johnson
also brought up another valid point, asking how the town could force these
people to do anything because the property itself isn’t within corporate
limits. However, Henry said the town does have that authority because the
airport is town property.
The
problem is at the time of applying for the grant, council members and the mayor
at that time were not aware that clearing of more property or land acquisition
would be part of it.
Another
issue is, the grant was applied for several years ago, but due to other issues
with Stallion Heavy Haulers housed at the airport, the town had to “lend” their
grant to other municipalities to keep from losing the grant altogether. Also,
at the time of the grant application, there were no concerns about having to
clear any more property because at that time, the trees out there weren’t tall
enough to matter.
Now
that the project can finally move forward, the trees have grown tall enough to
cause issue with approach and departure on the runway. According to Henry, FAA
regulations state that for every so many feet at the end of the runway, a
certain amount of height clearance is mandated. It’s a safety issue in that
pilots must be able to see the runway on approach and must be able to clear the
runway on departure without obstacles.
“In
order to get the landing approach and the take-off approach, they’d have to be
removed,” he said. “Now that you’re going to have a lighting system out there
that’s functional, you can’t land them in the trees. So they have to be
removed, if you’re going to operate the airport.”
“Here
we are – we need a water system, and here we are spending $700,000 for an
airport we don’t need,” Johnson said.
However,
if the town had decided not to go through with the grant, then that money would
have to be paid back by the town – and it’s simply not an option the town can
afford right now.
In the
end, the council passed the ordinances necessary for the project by a vote of
4-1, with District 5 Councilwoman Patricia Jenkins voting against the motion. A
public hearing will be held Monday, December 6, at 5:30 p.m., just before the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m.
In
other council news, ordinances on levying sales and use tax for the Homer
Police Department and Recreation was passed unanimously by the town council
after a public hearing before the meeting. This ordinance will ensure that a
portion of the sales and uses taxes collected within the corporate limits will
go towards the Homer Police Department and recreation.
Also
discussed were the Environmental Protection Agency’s findings concerning the
Mayfield sewage treatment plant.
“We
received these findings back in March 2009,” said Town Attorney Jim Colvin. “At
that time, everything was done, but there weren’t any problems with the water.
It had to do with the way it was being tested. There was only one matter that
remains outstanding on this issue.”
Allen
Crawford with American Wastewater Management spoke to the council and the
public about where the project stands. He said all they are waiting on is the
equalization basing, which has to do with the retention time it takes to
disinfect the water.
“We’re
disinfecting it right now, but it’s not done by EPA standards,” he said.
“There’s about six hours of work left to be done. Agape Construction has to
come back and finish it. It has to be done by the construction company and
signed off that a certified construction company has completed it.”
Everything
is ready, but they are waiting on the construction company to unbolt phalange
bolts to let the water flow better. This will also allow the disinfection
process to go forth.
According
to Crawford, though, there’s a holdup in another area as well. Repeated
attempts to contact Balar Engineers, the town’s engineers, have been fruitless.
Several phone calls have been placed to the engineering firm, but these phone
calls are not being returned.
“We
need to send them another letter telling them we’re going to sue them again,”
said Johnson. However, Homer Mayor Alecia Smith says she has a meeting set up
with them on Friday, November 5. She intends to address this issue with them at
that time.
Four
new administrative employees were approved by the town council to replace
employees whose positions were vacated by resignations.
See
next week’s issue for more from the Homer Town Council meeting.
Gallot visits Homer Jr. High on
legislative program
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Rep. Rick Gallot visited Homer Junior
High School Monday, November 1, as part of a state legislative programcalled
the National Conference of State Legislators Back to School Program. He spent
the day with the eighth grade students and spoke to the entire school during an
assembly that afternoon. Afterwards, a reception was held in the school’s
library.
The Guardian-Journal
District
11 Rep. Rick Gallot, D-Grambling, visited Homer Junior High School Monday as
part of the National Conference of State Legislators Back to School Program.
Gallot
talked to students and encouraged them to be their best and to never give up on
their dreams.
“Whatever
it is you want to do, don’t let anyone put a damper on your dreams,” he said
during an afternoon assembly. “You can do anything you want to do, but you
can’t do it thinking negatively. You have to think positively.”
He
spoke to students about facing challenges not only in their lives today but
also the challenges they would face in the future. And the key to facing those
challenges is education, he said.
“Education
is a ticket to get you into the game of life,” he said. “The more you do now,
the easier it will be to face those challenges in the future.”
He
talked about his own life and the day he decided to become an attorney. He said
that many people helped him along the way, encouraging him to pursue his
dreams. Mr. Lenward Seals, a former band teacher at Grambling State University, did just that, Gallot said. And it was with encouragement from him and others
that gave him the confidence to pursue his dreams.
“You
will never possess what you aren’t willing to pursue,” Gallot told the
students.
A short
reception in the school’s library was held after the assembly which gave
faculty, staff and the public an opportunity to visit with Gallot.
The
NCSL Back to School Program is a program designed to give elected officials in
all 50 states the opportunity to meet personally with the young constituents
and answer questions, share ideas, listen to concerns and impart a greater
understanding of the legislative processes necessary for developing effective
public policy and engaged citizens, their website states.
“It’s
designed to teach young people – the nation’s future voters and leaders – what
it’s like to be a state legislator: the processes, the pressures, and the
debate, negotiation and compromise that are the very fabric of representative
democracy,” it states. “The program is emphasized as a bipartisan event.
Legislators of both political parties are urged to participate in this national
event and help bring civics to life for young people.”
Gallot
was born and reared in Grambling and is a graduate of Grambling State University, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and Southern University Law
Center. He has one son, Richard III, and attends St. Benedict Catholic Church
where he is a trustee and member of the finance council.
He also
serves as vice chairman of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee and
currently serves as the District 11 state representative. His law practice,
Gallot Law Firm, is located in Ruston. He served from 1995-1999 as a city
councilman for the City of Grambling and provided representation in non-capital
felony appeals for indigent defendants from 1996 until 1998 as part of the
Louisiana Appellate Project.
Special
thanks goes to Rep. Gallot, Piggly Wiggly, Brookshire’s, Homer Junior High
Character Counts students, Mrs. S. Ford, Mr. S. Grafton and guests.
Progress? Sparta Commission frustrated
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Progress
is being made towards getting a statewide water conservation initiative in
place, according to members of the Sparta Groundwater Commission.
However,
there is some frustration concerning communication issues between the Sparta
Commission and the state. According to Billy Perritt of Bienville Parish and
Commission Secretary Alice Stewart of Claiborne Parish, pertinent information
by the state is not being shared with the commission in a timely manner.
A
resolution was approved by Sparta members to the State Groundwater Resources
Commission requesting specific measures, including reporting conservation
efforts to the commission, to support the Sparta Commission’s conservation
efforts. According to the resolution, “the Sparta Commission asks Lt. Gov. Scott
Angelle, acting secretary of the Department of Natural Resources Robert Harper,
the Commissioner of Conservation James Welsh and the Ground Water Resources
Commissioners to join the Sparta Commission in aggressively promoting Sparta
Aquifer Recover, and thereafter, sustainable use of aquifer water by taking the
following specific actions…”
Despite
efforts and progress being made to conserve groundwater, the Sparta Aquifer is
still declining at an alarming rate. The resolution is asking these state
department heads to “1) encourage industrial use of surface water use as an
alternative to Sparta Aquifer water use, 2) regularly report to the Sparta
Commission all information pertinent to Sparta water use in the interest of
effective, efficient cooperative state and regional conservation efforts, and
3) strengthen conservation education in cooperation with the Sparta
Commission.”
According
to the Sparta’s 2010 annual report, significant measures have been taken to get
companies and organizations that use significant amounts of groundwater to
switch to surface water.
Some of
the progress that’s been made includes Arkansas’ Union County Ouachita River
Alternative Water Supply Project, the reduction of groundwater use by
International Paper in Morehouse Parish, Graphics Packaging in West Monroe,
which will begin recycling gray water in the processing of its products
(expected to be operational in late 2011), and several other projects that are
geared towards reducing groundwater use.
Also,
the Sparta Commission’s Educational Campaign is picking up speed with their
Sparta Educator Lindsey Gouedy. She, in conjunction with Louisiana Tech, began
an education campaign in the schools throughout the 16 parish region of North
Central Louisiana, with the most recent being assistance with the Lincoln
Parish Waterfest, which is much like the Claiborne Parish Waterfest held every
year at Lake Claiborne State Park for the parish’s sixth grade students. The
waterfests focus on water conservation, where the Sparta Aquifer is and how much
water is used each day as well as the science behind the aquifer.
And
even though conservation efforts are being realized in the northern sections of
the Sparta Aquifer region, the aquifer continues to decline in southern
regions, largely because some Louisiana residents aren’t conserving water or
companies aren’t pushing for water conservation. Some blame even belongs to the
oil and gas companies which are using large amounts of groundwater in the
process of extracting these products from the ground.
“Arkansas efforts alone won’t bring about recovery,” said Ben McGee, of the USGS. “Are we in
Louisiana going to pick up the baton and continue Sparta recovery efforts
started in Arkansas or wait to see effects of current measures?”
One of
the major concerns discussed was the use of groundwater to leach out a salt
dome near the Town of Arcadia in which Sparta Commission members expressed
negative opinions towards the project. Jim Couvillion, of Caddo Parish, said
that as an interested property owner, he had experience with the use of
groundwater to fracture the Haynesville Shale formation for recovery of natural
gas.
“I too
have concerns as to why DNR (Louisiana Department of Natural Resources) would
approve such a use of Sparta Water based on reported findings of serious
drawdown trends of groundwater,” he said in an email to all the Sparta
Commission members. “The question for me is how much groundwater is available
in this area versus the number of water well users and the potential future use
of the groundwater. If a study confirms abundant supplies exist and saving such
water has no estimated future use benefit based on increases of population,
then what is the best use for such water?”
The
reported findings Couvillion refers to is a study funded by a Texas natural gas
company which he said was geared toward influencing “opinion and favor with the
locals only, excluding the Sparta Commission, because the study was not
presented to DNR as part of their notification to drill.”
However,
he says a solution is possible to see the real economic benefits from the
utilization of groundwater from the Sparta.
“With a
completed study, I believe the areas affected would be able to evaluate their
future economic benefits from the utilization of the groundwater presently in
the Sparta either as a reserve for future residential/agricultural use or a
tool to increase economic growth today,” he said. “Based on what is being
reported, the police jury of Bienville Parish and the mayor of Arcadia have made that decision for the people with only the influence of Arcadia
Gas/Storage contacts and attentions for influence.”
In
other words, he says they made the decisions based on prejudiced information,
and that an independent study would be worth looking into.
However,
according to what was said during the Sparta meeting, Arcadia Gas/Storage is in
compliance with the guidelines that are within the agency’s authority to
enforce. The USGS will be investigating a drop of eight feet in 18 months in
the water level in several wells.
Recommendations
made at the meeting included more effort be made to identify and seek
appropriate legislative changes that would lead to better protection of the
Sparta Aquifer.
The
next meeting will be held January 20, 2010 at 3 p.m. in Webster Parish. More information on the meeting place will be forthcoming as it is yet to be
determined.
