Amendment #2 finally makes the cut
Mozeke, Griffin take wins in respective
races
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A
strong advocate for the approval of Amendment #2 finally got his wish. Gene
Coleman finally got his little “2.”
For
years, he and several others have been working with Louisiana District 11
Representative Rick Gallot, D-Grambling, and told him, “All we want is a little
‘2’!”
According
to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website, www.sos.louisiana.gov, the
amendment got 58 percent approval from voters statewide. Only 42 percent voted
against the amendment that will now bring in at least another $2.85 million
into the oil and gas producing parishes including Claiborne Parish. However,
there is a provision in the amendment that says the money won’t start rolling
in immediately.
What
this means is that Louisiana will not see any of those monies start rolling in
right away. Woodard explained that there is “trigger language” in the bill that
the parish allocations will probably begin in 2013.
“The
Amendment language has the ‘trigger’ language that states, ‘The initial cap
increase would only take effect when the state’s official revenue forecast
projects severance tax collections to exceed the amount collected in fiscal
year 2009 (which was approximately $897 million),’” according to the Louisiana
Fiscal Office. “That projection may begin in 2013-14.’”
This
means that nearly $900 million in severance taxes must be collected before
those allocations start kicking in.
Gallot,
who co-authored the original bill in 2008 and the one that just passed, said he
is pleased as well about voter turnout.
“I’m
elated, and I want to thank everybody who got behind it and pushed it,” he
said. “It was definitely a grass roots effort and everybody got behind it. I
look forward to parishes being able to maintain roads and bridges in the future
as a result of Amendment 2’s passage.”
Coleman,
however, kept perspective saying that had the cap been adjusted for inflation
from year to year, this amendment wouldn’t have needed to pass in the first
place. He’s thankful, though for the passage of the amendment so that the
entire state will see the benefits.
“There
were a number of parishes, while they wouldn’t benefit directly from it, realized
that these trucks are coming through their parishes as well,” he said. “This
will benefit everybody, because for all these drilling companies to get their
equipment out to locations, it requires parish roads. It still helps the state
because the state is still getting 80 percent of it.”
In
Claiborne Parish, the amendment passed by 90 percent, bringing in 3,361 votes
for it and only 393 against it, leading the state in passage percentage.
Claiborne
Parish Police Jury Secretary Treasurer Dwayne Woodard said he was pleased with
voter turnout for this amendment.
“We
appreciate the voters of Claiborne Parish voting with 90 percent which led the
state at the percentage it passed,” he said. “Secondly, we thank everyone who
helped spread the word to friends and family throughout other parishes and the
state which helped the passage of the amendment statewide by 58 percent. We
look forward to providing better services once these monies start coming back.”
Gallot
said he felt what really made the difference was changing the language of the
proposal so people would understand that it was not a tax increase.
“Police
juries across the state really got engaged and helped with everything with
signs and education efforts,” he said. “Support really grew from grass roots
and that’s what really got people behind it. Fifty-eight percent was definitely
a good percentage.”
According
to the Police Jury Association of Louisiana, Claiborne Parish led the state in
the passing of the amendment by 90 percent. Only four parishes – Morehouse,
Jefferson, Richland and West Carroll – did not pass the amendment. East Carroll
Parish was a 50/50 shot, but the amendment failed by seven votes.
In
other election news, Linda Ferrell-Mozeke took the District 1 seat on the Homer
Town Council and is looking forward to working with her constituents and the
community to make Homer a better place to live.
“I am
honored to represent you,” she said to District 1 constituents, “and I will
work hard to show you that you made the right choice in voting for me. I did
not get into this race because I wanted to become a politician. I got into this
race because I want to serve the people in District 1 and the rest of our
community.”
She
looks forward to working with Homer Mayor Alecia Smith and the other council
members to “bring about some positive changes in our community.”
“I
truly understand that the hard work is just beginning,” she said. “I am up to
the challenges the next four years will bring. I ask that you continue to
support me and keep me in your prayers.”
Mozeke
took District 1 with 58 percent of the vote. Her opponent, Willie “Hoghead”
Curry brought in 42 percent.
In the
race for Claiborne Parish School Board District 10, B. Stewart Griffin won the
election against his opponent Billy Kirk. Griffin won by 62 percent while Kirk
received 38 percent of the vote.
Tree nearly demolishes home
Submitted photo
A tree nearly demolished this home
Saturday morning at this home at 711 West Main Street. According to officers on
duty that morning – Officers Greg Schneider, Thomas Davis and Willie Fred
Knowles – they heard the tree fall about 2:30 a.m., but were unable to contact
anyone at the residence. Later that morning, Officers J.D. Faulkner, Gary
English and Steve Risner went to the home where they were told by the occupant
of the home was asleep and did not hear the tree fall. According to officers,
the occupant said she was awakened when her husband came in from work. As of
Monday morning, city crews were to have cut down the entire oak tree, and cut
another limb that may have fallen. No injuries were reported.
Haynesville man busted for drugs
Vehicle search reveals suspected
marijuana
The Guardian-Journal
A
Haynesville man found himself cuffed and stuffed after a traffic stop turned into
a drug bust.
According
to a news release from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Steve Harbour observed a vehicle with no license plate lamp while on routine traffic
patrol Sunday, November 7.
A
traffic stop was initiated and Harbour found the drier to be Terry Lynn Bishop,
36.
Upon
requesting the proper paperwork, Harbour noted that Bishop advised he could not
find his insurance and registration.
Due to
the fact that Bishop was holding the required paperwork, Harbour furthered the
investigation.
Deputy
Aaron Christian arrived on scene with his K-9 partner. The K-9 alerted as to
the presence of illegal drugs on the passenger side door of the truck. A search
of the interior of the truck was conducted and a bottle of synthetic urine was
located in the glove box.
A
plastic baggie containing suspected marijuana was then located under the center
of the front seat of the truck and a package of rolling papers were discovered
in a pocket of the dash of the truck.
Also,
another plastic baggie containing suspected marijuana was located in the
ashtray.
Bishop
was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center (CPDC) and charged
with tail lamps required, possession of marijuana and possession of drug
paraphernalia. Bond on each charge is to be set.
In a
separate incident earlier that week, Harbour and Christian as well as Louisiana
State Police Trooper Matt Harris were monitoring traffic when Harris observed a
vehicle with illegal fog lamps.
Trooper
Harris initiated a traffic stop with the vehicle and found the driver to be
Travis Colin Foley, 26, of Humble, Texas.
Officers
discovered a bag of suspected marijuana in the roof console of the truck as
well as a drug pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana.
Foley
was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana and possession of drug
paraphernalia.
He was
transported to CPDC and charged with possession of marijuana with bond set at
$500 and possession of drug paraphernalia with bond set at $500.
Don’t spend the day alone on
Thanksgiving
First Presbyterian Church to host
holiday meal
No
plans for Thanksgiving? Planning to spend the day alone? Then you are invited
to please come join us for a wonderful meal at First Presbyterian Church in
Homer on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25.
Church
members are making plans to prepare a delicious meal at noon on Thanksgiving Day for those individuals who would normally be alone, or who have no family
members or friends to spend the holiday with. The church will provide
transportation for those who need a ride.
Come
join jus for a wonderful meal, fellowship and the opportunity to give thanks to
the Lord for our many blessings and also for our “thorns.”
For
more information, or if you know someone who will be alone on Thanksgiving,
please call Pastor McClelland at 927-3887 or 927-4804 or Susan Herring at
927-4352 or 318-548-9146.
Fender bender slows traffic
Submitted photo
A minor fender bender in front of Homer High School had traffic going a little slower on Tuesday, November 2. According to
officials at the scene there were no injuries reported. The Homer Police
Department responded to the scene. While officers were taking information,
others were also directing traffic.
