Honoring Our Veterans
Schools, community pay tribute to local
veterans
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
Above, these veterans salute as they
recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Veterans Day program at Haynesville
Elementary. Below, Claiborne Academy student Jadarius Willis recited a poem
called ‘Always Remember.’
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Veterans
Day is not just a holiday. It’s a day where American citizens honor and
celebrate their veterans who fought to keep America’s freedoms free.
Two
schools in Claiborne Parish gave thanks to the local veterans with very moving
programs in their honor.
Haynesville
Elementary students and faculty worked hard to put together a program to not
only honor their local veterans but also to learn about what Veterans Day is
set aside for. Principal Brian Biggs said that although this is his first year
as principal of the school, he was honored to be a part of such a program
because the children were learning about the true meaning of Veterans Day.
“I know
these kids don’t know the ins and outs of what our veterans have been through,”
he said to those in attendance, “but I hope that through programs like this
they will remember how important Veterans Day is.”
In a
separate interview before the program, Biggs said everyone worked hard to put
it all together to honor veterans.
“It’s
been a tremendous effort by the faculty and students to put this on,” he said.
“They’ve really had a good time and are excited about today.”
All the
students, from Pre-K to fourth grade, sang patriotic songs. They wore shirts in
the colors of the United States flag – red, white and blue. During the program,
all veterans were recognized.
“These
are ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things – that’s who our
veterans are,” Biggs said. “Fewer than 10 percent can claim they are veterans.
Americans owe a debt to veterans that we can never repay.”
It is
with that respect that Claiborne Academy’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes
served the veterans attending their program in the school’s gymnasium.
“What
we’re doing here today is to serve you,” said Chuck Herrington, CA’s
headmaster. “We can’t thank you enough. We teach these children the importance
of service. Our purpose is to let you know how much we appreciate you.”
In an
open letter, read by CA student Taylor Tuggle, he said, “These men and women
come from all over the country and too many times are taken for granted…While
words cannot pay what we owe you and your families, we thank you for your
sacrifice.”
And
sacrifices were made, as said by Arizona Senator John McCain, former
presidential candidate, when he spoke about his time as a prisoner of war (POW)
in Vietnam. He spent five and one-half years as a POW, with his first years
there in isolation. According to the excerpt read by CA student Jack Colvin, in
1971, the POWs were moved to rooms large enough to hold 30-40 prisoners at a
time. It is here he meets Naval Flight Officer Mike Christian.
During
this time, the North Vietnamese allowed POWs to have care packages from home,
the excerpt said, and in these packages came all sorts of items, including
handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing.
“Mike
somehow fashioned himself a bamboo needle,” Colvin read. “Over a period of a
couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed it on the inside of his
shirt. Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike’s
shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.”
The
guards of the camp discovered the shirt, took it from him and severely beat him
for a couple of hours in front of the others. He was then thrown into the cell
with the others, where he was cleaned up to the best of their ability. Did that
stop Christian? No.
“After
the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there
beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his
bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian,” Colvin read. “He was sitting
there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making
another American flag.”
These
were the kinds of sacrifices men and women made during the wars they fought.
All this so that the country they call home could remain free.
Veterans Day, according to
www.military.com, is often confused with Memorial Day. Memorial Day is
celebrated to honor those who have died in service to their country. Veterans
Day is set aside to celebrate and honor the living veterans who served
honorably in the military.
It was
originally known as “Armistice Day” to honor the ending of World War I.
However, it went through a period of changes, until in 1975, President Gerald
Ford moved the date back to November 11 in commemoration of the ending of World
War I. Veterans of all wars since then have been honored.
Homer PD, Town honor veterans
Photo courtesy of the Homer Police
Department
Pictured above, Officer Roger Smith, a
military veteran, erects a United States Flag in honor of Veterans Day. Police
Officers J.D. Faulkner and Mike Rimsky are also veterans of military service.
Veterans Day was a busy day for Claiborne Parish as veterans from all over the
parish attended Veterans Day programs at Haynesville Elementary as well as Claiborne Academy.
Ministerial Alliance to host
Thanksgiving Service
On
Sunday evening, November 21, the Homer Ministerial Alliance will host its
annual Community Thanksgiving worship service, beginning at 6 p.m.
This
year’s event will be held at First Presbyterian Church, located on North Second Street behind the Post Office and Capital One Bank.
Annually,
an offering is received at these events, which is used to provide a night’s
lodging, gasoline and a meal for people who find themselves stranded in
Claiborne Parish.
This
year, leaders from at least five different churches and religious organizations
are planning to participate. The Rev. John Markley, from Grace Bible Church, will present the evening message. Everyone is welcome to attend and encouraged to
participate in the evening’s offerings.
Also,
don’t forget First Presbyterian’s Thanksgiving meal to be offered at the church
on Thanksgiving Day.
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 John McClelland at 927-3887 or 927-4804 or Susan Herring at
927-4352 or 318-548-9146.
Christmas food drive seeking donations
Brookshire’s
Grocery Company is partnering once again with the Homer Lions Club to collect
and distribute food to needy families in Claiborne Parish during the holidays,
as the 29th Annual Spirit of Christmas Food Drive gets underway.
The
Haynesville Lions Club has once again agreed to help with the distribution of
the food boxes in the Town of Haynesville. As in years past, the Claiborne
Parish 4-H Junior Leaders, along with their sponsors, Robin Bridges and Teresa
Price, will offer their valuable assistance by helping collect, sort and
package food items for delivery. The First Presbyterian Church in Homer will
continue to allow Lions to use of their Fellowship Hall to prepare the food
boxes for delivery. Food boxes will be delivered between noon and 5 pm on Friday, December 17.
Area
residents are asked to make donations by placing non-perishable food items in
designated bins located at Brookshire’s in Homer. People are asked not to
donate homemade goods or items in glass jars. Bulk items, such as flour, sugar
and corn meal, should be donated in smaller sizes to allow for more variety in
the boxes given to the recipients.
In
addition to the public food donations, each family will receive at least one
coupon for a baking hen from Brookshire’s. All food collected in this area
will be distributed to families in Claiborne Parish.
Families
to be assisted by the Spirit of Christmas Food Drive are selected by local
relief organizations or government agencies according to need. The Claiborne
Parish Office of Family Services (OFS) will again provide printouts to be
submitted with completed applications.
Application
forms are available at the OFS located on East 2nd next to Piggly Wiggly in
Homer, at the Claiborne Parish Police Jury Office, and at the Haynesville City Hall. The deadline to turn in completed applications along with OFS printouts
is Friday, December 10, 2010. Completed applications can be turned in to the
Police Jury Office or mailed to Spirit of Christmas Food Drive, c/o Susan Herring,
231 North Main, Homer, LA 71040.
The
Spirit of Christmas Food Drive began in 1982, when 92 families in Tyler, Texas, received assistance. Last year some 500,000 pounds of food was collected in
the Ark-La-Tex and distributed to more than 16,000 families. In Claiborne
Parish, more than 185 food boxes were collected and distributed.
“The
success of this year’s Spirit of Christmas Food Drive, as in the past, depends
on the wonderful generosity of our local citizens.” Herring said, “We are very
appreciative to everyone who has donated food items in years past, and hope
they will continue to be willing to help those in our communities who are less
fortunate.”
For
more information, please call Homer Lion Chairmen Dwayne Woodard at 927-2222 or
Susan Herring at 318-548-9146.
Another arrest in Operation TBOS
The Guardian-Journal
Another
suspect is now behind bars after the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office picked
him up on a warrant.
Brian
Ferguson, 26, of Homer, was arrested by the CCSO on Monday, November 1, and
charged with distribution of Schedule I CDS ecstasy with bond set at $30,000.
According to Captain Donald Malray, Ferguson remains incarcerated at the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
Operation
TBOS began in February 2010, when the Homer Police Department began receiving
several phone calls regarding the illegal sales of prescription pills. Through
their investigations, Homer Police discovered there had been several overdoses,
one proving fatal. Since March, more than 40 arrests have been made from grand
jury indictments made from undercover buys.
Police
are still searching for one suspect, though. Johnny Kimble is still being
sought in connection with these cases.
Again,
if anyone has any information in regards to Kimble’s whereabouts, citizens are urged
to call the Homer Police Department at 318-927-4000.
In
other news, Christopher R. Hays, 35, of Elm Grove, was arrested Wednesday,
November 10, and charged with headlamps on vehicle required with bond set at
$500 and DWI with bond set at $1,000.
According
to reports, Officer Mario Thomas initiated a traffic stop for speeding and
having a headlight out.
He made
contact with the driver, identified as Hays, and detected a suspected alcoholic
odor emitting from his person. During the initial investigation, police say
Hays admitted to drinking, and a field sobriety test was performed. According
to reports, Hays refused to take the breathalyzer test and was arrested on the
above charges. He was then transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
In a separate
incident, Dominique Daniels, 18, of Homer, was arrested and charged with
resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by fighting, with bond set at
$500 on each charge.
According
to reports, Officer Mike Rimsky responded to a 911 call in reference to a fight
at a local convenience store. Upon arrival, Rimsky observed two females in the
parking lot fighting.
Officer
Mario Thomas was also on scene to assist. Rimsky and Thomas cuffed both females
and transported them to the Homer Police Station for processing. After
processing, both females were transported to the Claiborne Parish Women’s
Facility for further booking.
Shanise
Hamilton, 19, of Homer, was also arrested in this incident. She was charged
with disturbing the peace by fighting, resisting an officer and simple criminal
damage to property, with bond set at $500 on each charge, for a total of
$1,500.
In
another separate incident, a Homer man was arrested on domestic abuse battery
charges after he allegedly hit the victim.
George
Puffer, 44, of Homer, was arrested on Monday, November 8, and charged with
domestic abuse battery. Bond was set at $2,000.
According
to reports, Officers J.D. Faulkner, Steve Risner and Gary English responded to
a domestic fight in progress on April 25, where the victim, Audrey Turner told
police she’d been physically harmed by Puffer.
Reports
say Turner’s neck was red and appeared to be swollen. Police say the victim
stated Puffer hit her and spit in her daughter’s face.
A
warrant for his arrest was issued. He was placed under arrest on November 8,
the above charges and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
CPSB announces Red Ribbon Week winners
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
Homer High School was chosen as 2010’s Best Decorated School during Red Ribbon
Week. The theme for this year’s contest was ‘Life is What You Make It.’
Pictured above are from left, Claiborne Parish Superintendent of Schools Dr.
Janice Williams, Homer High School Principal Carrie Hathorne and Claiborne
Parish School Board President William Maddox. Pictured from left are: William
Maddox, CPSB President; Poster Contest winners Raley Aycock, 4th
place-Summerfield High School, Brock Moss, 2nd place-Summerfield Elementary and
Eternity Battle, 3rd place-Summerfield Junior High; Essay Contest winners Ethan
Coker, 2nd place-Haynesville Elementary, Bailey Goodson, 3rd place-Haynesville
Junior High and Shermadee McDaniel, 4th place-Homer High; and Dr. Janice
Kennedy-Williams, CPSB Superintendent. Not pictured are Haynesville Elementary
students Shaquavia Henderson, 1st place-Poster Contest and Shayleen Goodwin,
1st place-Essay Contest.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Claiborne Parish School Board honored the Red Ribbon Week winners at Thursday’s
regular monthly meeting.
During
the meeting, each winner was presented with a certificate for first place in
each category of essay contest and poster contest. These winners from different
schools were also presented $50 savings bonds from the various banks in Homer.
The
winners were as follows:
Poster
Contest Winners
Shaquavia
Henderson, first place, Haynesville Elementary, Brock Moss, second place,
Summerfield Elementary, Eternity Battle, third place, Summerfield Junior High
School, and Raley Aycock, fourth place, Summerfield High School.
Essay
Contest Winners
Shayleen
Goodwin, first place, Haynesville Elementary, Ethan Coker, second place,
Haynesville Elementary, Bailey Goodson, third place, Haynesville Junior High
School, and Shermandee McDaniel, fourth place, Homer High School.
Congratulations
to these students!
In
other school board news, an issue on the agenda became a little controversial
in reference to Pisgah Baptist Church using Summerfield High School properties.
The idea is to send a request to the Louisiana Attorney General for an opinion
on the issue.
It was
never said publicly as to what the church wanted to use the school’s facilities
for, however, School Board Attorney Jim Hatch did a little research on the
issue at the request of the school board.
He
cited two previous opinions from the Attorney General in reference to other
parish school systems who were faced with the same issue – and it leaned toward
not allowing the church to use Summerfield’s facilities.
In an
opinion for the Ascension Parish School Board, dated in 1994, in reference to a
proposed contract for radio broadcasts in one of the schools, it stated that a
school board may “permit a school building to be used outside of regular school
hours for ‘academic purposes.’ However, a review of the jurisprudence and
attorney general opinions indicates that parish school boards are without
authority to use or utilize any property dedicated to school purposes for any
other purpose than that of public education.”
In
another opinion, dated 1977, in reference to a case in St. Charles Parish,
states that using school properties for use of religious instruction, even
after school hours, is a violation of the Establishment Clauses of both the
U.S. Constitution as well as the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.
In the
summary, it stated, “The St. Charles Parish Board may not permit the use of
public school classrooms for religious instruction – even after regular school
hours.”
However,
the school board voted to request an opinion from the Attorney General in this
particular matter.
In
other news, the faculty and staff of the Claiborne Parish School System will
receive what’s called a 13th pay check this year. However, District 6 School
Board Member Tommy Davidson wanted to make it clear that this 13th paycheck
will not last forever. It’s only on a year to year basis due to the fact of
decreased revenue in many areas of the school board’s funds. These decreases
are due to stimulus money running out and other reserves getting low. Next year,
this 13th paycheck will be back on the agenda for approval or not, depending on
the school board’s financial standing at that time.
There
were also policy revisions in the school board’s policy manual. According to a
summary provided by Mike Blackwelder, these changes were all mandated by
legislation. Here’s a quick rundown of those changes:
Student
Transfer and Withdrawal: Students can no longer withdraw from school before the
age of 18 unless enrolled in adult education.
Illness
and Accidents: Requires first aid orientation to employees.
Student
Dress Code: Requires a 60-day notification of any changes in student dress
code.
Bullying,
Intimidation, Threatening, Harassment, Hazing and Terrorizing: “Cyberbullying”
was added to this policy (bullying by electronic communication).
School
Admission: Clarifies that a student cannot be denied enrollment unless the
student is “legally” excluded. (Example: Expelled from the sending district,
does not meet proper residency requirements, etc.)
Student
Absences/Excuses: Specifies/amends what constitutes “excused” absences.
Compulsory
Attendance Ages: Now ages 7-18 (in the past a student could be withdrawn at age
17 simply with parental consent. No longer true.)
Attendance:
Redefines attendance requirements. Old policy defines a specific number of
dates; new policy specifies students must be in attendance 94 percent of the
instructional days to receive credit.
Athletics:
Allows Home-schooled students to participate on high school athletic teams;
specifies the guidelines and fact that the principal makes the determination.
Minutes
of Board Meeting: Board must publish minutes within 20 days after minutes are
approved.
Child
Nutrition: Specifies guidelines for payment/nonpayment of school lunches and
the free/reduced lunch application process.
Dismissal
of Employees: Amended to include that if employee leaves without resigning,
after 10 days shall be considered willful neglect of duty, and superintendent
shall recommend dismissal of employee.
Employment
of Retired Personnel: Specifies the areas and conditions in which a retiree can
be rehired as a teacher or bus driver. This is a new policy.
The
school board also approved the following:
• The
removal of the band building on Pearl Street. The 10-year-old building has had
its windows broken out, the ceiling torn out and other acts of vandalism. Claiborne Parish Detention Center inmates will tear it down.
• The
advertisement of a maintenance position due to the recent passing of Pat
Hightower.
• The
advertisement for a secretarial position at Homer High School as well as Haynesville Junior High School.
• The
adoption of a resolution providing for issuance, sale and delivery of
$4,960,000 general obligation refunding bonds of the Homer School District No.
13.
• The
implementation of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB 51),
“Accounting and Financial Reporting for Intangible Assets.”
The
next school board meeting will be held Thursday, December 9, at 6 p.m. at Central Office in the meeting room. For more information, please call Central
Office at 927-3502.
Channel markers ordinance to now be
enforced
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Thanks
to the Claiborne Parish Police Jury and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office,
the Claiborne Parish Watershed District now has the teeth to enforce an
ordinance forbidding any other signage or criminal damage to the Lake Claiborne
Channel Markers.
At last
Wednesday’s monthly meeting, the police jury approved an intergovernmental
agreement between the sheriff’s office and the watershed district to allow the
sheriff’s office to enforce the ordinance passed regarding the channel markers.
The agreement stipulates that the sheriff’s office will patrol Lake Claiborne all 12 months of the year, allowed by the ordinance to enforce fines from
$50 to $500 for any violations. In fact, Sheriff Ken Bailey said Deputy Jeff
Pugh has already run into some problems.
“Jeff’s
already cut three trot lines hooked to some of the channel markers,” Bailey
said.
The
ordinance originally came about to prevent boaters from putting signage on the
markers other than the required signs. With the completion of the channel
marker project, boaters can now travel the lake’s channel more safely.
“In
case you want to know what not to do with the channel markers, don’t do nothin’,”
Police Jury President Scott Davidson said. “Just don’t do anything to them.”
The
ordinance is Ordinance 760, “Ordinance Forbidding Interference with Channel,
Warning and Other Markers on Lake Claiborne.”
In
other watershed district news, Commission Member Alice Stewart will be stepping
down effective January 2011. The police jury tabled the issue because District
8 Police Juror Roy Mardis felt they needed more time to discuss it and get a
full list of prospective commission members before making a decision. It was
tabled until the December meeting.
In
other police jury news, the buildings and grounds committee has been busy
taking care of business at hand. District 3 Police Juror Bob McDaniel, chair of
the buildings and grounds committee, made several recommendations to the jury
regarding roofing projects as well as cleaning services.
There
were three bids on roofing projects for three buildings: the administrative
office, the women’s facility and the Criminal Investigation Division building.
All bids went to Pace Contracting of Springhill. The roof on each building will
receive a spray urethane foam plus a modified acrylic top coat.
Also
recommended and approved was the hiring of Shelton’s Janitorial Service to
clean parish-owned buildings which include the courthouse, the health unit, the
clerk of court’s office, the tax assessor’s office as well as the police jury’s
administrative office.
The
police jury also approved:
• A
resolution naming the 3.90 section of La. Hwy. 807 accepted into the parish
road system to parish highway 807.
• Two
appointments to the Trailblazer Area Council for 2011. They are: Bob McDaniel
and Jim Marsalis.
• A
contribution of $1,000 to the Town of Homer towards the purchase of new
Christmas decorations to go around the Courthouse Square.
• The
holiday calendar for 2010 – The police jury office will be closed from
Wednesday, November 24 until Friday, November 26. The office will reopen on
Monday, November 29. The police jury office will be closed from Thursday,
December 23 until Friday, December 31. The office will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2011.
The
next meeting of the Claiborne Parish Police Jury will be held at 9 a.m., Wednesday, December 8, in the meeting room at the Police Jury Complex. For more
information, please call their office at 318-927-2222.
CASA: A child’s beacon of hope
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Child
abuse – it’s a very little discussed topic and it happens where it’s least
expected. That’s why a child advocate group was formed in 1993 – to help place
children in safe, stable environments.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is an organization,
under the umbrella of the Volunteers for Youth Justice, that serves the best
interest of the children in cases where the child was removed from their home
due to abuse or neglect. Deanna Curtis, a Claiborne Parish CASA volunteer, said volunteers like her go to foster homes, the parents’ homes and “some places
they don’t want to go.”
“Those
kids depend on us,” she said.
Claiborne
Parish is desperately in need of people to volunteer to help place these kids
in stable, loving environments, even if it’s not at home with their parents.
“Our
number one goal is a safe, permanent home,” said Eileen Czerwinski, CASA director in Shreveport. Currently, there are 13 children in the CASA program in Claiborne
Parish. A total of 33 children are under the program in Claiborne, Bienville
and Jackson Parishes.
CASA covers six parishes including Claiborne, Caddo, Bossier,
Webster, Bienville and Jackson.
“It
doesn’t take a lot of time,” Curtis said. “We’re always looking for
volunteers.”
Here’s
how it works. In many cases, a judge will appoint a CASA volunteer to be the
advocate for the child. The judges seek recommendations from these volunteers
as to the best interest of the child.
Before
a recommendation is made, the volunteers look into the child’s parents’ home,
looking at all aspects of the child’s life, including the safety of the home,
what the case is about, and even go into the child’s school to get a
well-rounded idea of the child’s life. It is from these aspects that a CASA volunteer will make recommendations to judges.
And
sometimes, the best interest of the child is not to go home with their parents.
According
to Czerwinski, she’s seen cases where the parents follow the judges orders by
going to anger management courses, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or
attending parenting courses but it still not be the best interest of the child
to be placed with the parents. They’ve also seen cases where eventually it is
in the best interest of the child to go home to their parents.
And if
it’s not in their best interest, she said, sometimes the children still want to
go home to their parents because they love them and are comfortable with them,
no matter how bad it hurts.
CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens who have been specially
trained to handle these cases and are screened by the local CASA program.
According
to the Volunteers for Youth Justice website, www.vyjla.org, this program was
“originally established as a solution to address the tragedy of abused and
neglected children who linger in the foster care system with little hope for
permanency. At the request of Judge Andrew Gallagher, the CASA Program began in our community in 1993 to provide him with information necessary to make decisions
regarding the welfare of children previously removed from their homes due to
abuse and neglect.”
The CASA volunteers “are specially trained volunteers who serve as officers of the court and
‘friends’ to children in need. These volunteer advocates are assigned by judges
to speak on behalf of children who have been placed in foster care due to abuse
or neglect. Their primary objective is to ensure each child is placed in a
safe, permanent home.”
However,
CASA is not the only program under the Volunteers for Youth Justice. They also
have mentoring programs to help juveniles stay out of jail and break the cycle
of criminal activity as well as others.
For
more information, please go to their website mentioned above or call their Shreveport office at 318-425-4413 or the Arcadia office at 318-263-2292.
