From the News Desk
During the week of December 27-31, The
Guardian-Journal will NOT publish a newspaper that week. Please make sure that
anything to be published in the newspaper arrives at our office before 5 p.m., Monday, December 20.
The next edition of The Guardian-Journal
will be published on Thursday, January 6, 2011.
We hope everyone has a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Holyfield trial passed to February
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Trial
for a Homer man accused of impersonating a police officer has been passed.
According
to the District Attorney’s Office in Bienville Parish, court records show that Bennie
Holyfield’s trial date on that charge has been passed until February 22, 2011.
According
to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Holyfield was arrested on March 23, 2009, after a traffic stop that took place on February 20 of that same year.
Records indicate that Holyfield was pulled over on the eastbound side of Hwy.
80, just west of Gibsland for speeding. When the deputy asked Holyfield why he
was speeding, he allegedly told the officer that there was a situation in
Homer, referring to the shooting death of Bernard Monroe Sr. He allegedly then
told the deputy that dispatch had called all available officers to the scene.
Upon
advisement of the deputy’s supervisor, Holyfield was let go. It was at that
time an investigation was conducted, which revealed confirmation that Holyfield
was “not an officer of any type” in Claiborne Parish.
Two
warrants for his arrest were then issued – one for impersonating a police
officer and one for speeding 94/55.
Holyfield
also qualified and ran against Incumbent Homer Chief of Police Russell Mills.
He lost his bid in the race by garnering only approximately 40 percent of the
vote.
Attorney Chris Bowman represents
Holyfield in this matter.
CPSO has busy weekend
The Guardian-Journal
A Homer
man stopped for speeding ended up in the back of a patrol car on several
charges.
Ronnie
Smith, 44, was arrested on Saturday, November 27, and charged with speeding, no
driver’s license, possession of Schedule II CDS (cocaine), failure to pay child
support with a fine of $5,000, and a Caddo Parish warrant for illegal
possession of stolen things. Other than the fine, bond is to be set.
According
to a Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s news release, Deputy Roger Ellerbe conducted a
traffic stop while patrolling. He observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate
of speed.
Once
the traffic stop was initiated, the news release stated that Smith could not
produce a valid driver’s license and a warrant check revealed an outstanding
warrant for failure to pay child support.
Homer
K-9 Police Officer Shane Huffstetler arrived on the scene to assist and his K-9
alerted on the vehicle for narcotics. A search of the vehicle was conducted
which resulted in the discovery of a red/white candy wrapper containing a
substance that appeared to be crack cocaine located on the front driver’s side
floorboard.
It was
also discovered that Smith had an outstanding warrant with the Caddo Parish
Sheriff’s Office for illegal possession of stolen things.
Smith was transported to the
Claiborne Parish Detention Center (CPDC) and booked on the above charges.
In a
separate case on the next day (Sunday, November 28), Deputy Steve Harbour was patrolling north on Hwy. 9 when he observed a truck which crossed the center
line and fog line of the roadway several times.
Harbour
made contact with the driver, identified as Rene Anthony Garcia, 42, of El Dorado, Ark., and found that Garcia could not produce proof of insurance or proof of
registration for his vehicle and Dispatch advised that his driver’s license was
expired.
Due to
observations made by Harbour, he conducted an investigation into the stop and
discovered what appeared to be marijuana in a red bag in the bed of the truck.
A package containing a marijuana grinder and several partial alleged marijuana
cigarettes was located in the truck cab.
Garcia
informed the deputy that he and his passenger, Elizabeth Bradbury, 49, also of El Dorado, had been smoking marijuana.
Harbour
placed both suspects under arrest. Deputies Ellerbe and J.T. Williams arrived
on scene to assist.
Garcia
was charged with improper lane usage, expired driver’s license, no insurance,
no registration, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to
distribute Schedule I CDS (marijuana).
Bradbury
was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to
distribute Schedule I CDS (marijuana). Bond on both suspects is to be set.
Claiborne Health Unit included in DHH
cuts
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Health
units across the northwest Louisiana region are undergoing some major cuts, and
the Claiborne Parish Health Unit will be one of those.
As
reported by KTBS Channel 3, the Louisiana State Department of Health and
Hospitals is laying off 20 employees and making cuts to services as well.
Beginning
on January 3, 2011, the Claiborne Health Unit will reduce its hours of
operation which will then be on Mondays, Wednesdays and two Fridays per month.
Also, the Claiborne Unit will consolidate with the Bienville Parish Health
Unit. Bienville’s hours of operation will be cut to Tuesdays, Thursdays and two
Fridays per month.
The
Caddo and Bossier Parish Health Units will be open daily, just with fewer staff
members.
According
to an article published by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals,
management positions and functions will be consolidated at central and regional
administrative offices, as well as in certain programs.
“Instead,
funding for certain services is being shifted to better utilize available
federal funds and work more closely with other providers in the same area who
are providing the same service,” the article states. “OPH (Office of Public
Health) will achieve a savings of $3.45 million by redistributing staff and
reconfiguring services provided to parish health units throughout the state.
“Across
the state, the number of OPH staff assigned to parish health units will be
reduced and in several cases rotated among multiple units to better match
capacity with demand for services based on a careful analysis by the
department,” the article continued. “OPH will work with each parish that owns a
unit impacted by the reductions to communicate scheduling and other changes to the
public.”
However,
a representative with the northwest regional office could not be reached for
comment because she was out of the office.
The
Office of Public Health is just one of many state agencies seeing the harsh
reality of budget cuts. Other agencies that are looking at budget cuts include
the Office of the Secretary, Louisiana Emergency Response Network, Human
Services Districts, Developmental Disability Council, Office of Aging and Adult
Services, Office of Behavioral Health and the Bureau of Health Services
Financing/Medicaid.
For
more information, please go to DHH’s website at www.dhh.louisiana.gov or their
blog at www.myhealthla.org.
Fuller Center for Housing to host seminar
The Guardian-Journal
The Fuller Center for Housing of Claiborne with its Greater Blessing Program will host an
application seminar for home repairs at 6 p.m., Tuesday, December 7.
The
seminar, to be held at Homer City Hall, will be the only time that Greater
Blessing Applications for the year 2011 will be distributed in the Claiborne
Parish area.
To
receive an application, interested persons MUST ATTEND this seminar.
The Fuller Center for Housing Greater Blessing program will be explained fully during this
seminar, and those who are willing to partner with the Fuller Center of
Claiborne will then be given an opportunity to fill out an application.
Interested
persons must bring copies (not originals) of their driver’s license or other
picture ID, social security card and proof of ownership of your house and
properties. (You must make the copies and bring them to the seminar. Failure to
provide any of this information will disqualify you from consideration!)
Counselors
will be on hand to assist you in completing an application to become a Fuller Center partner.
The
Fuller Center of Claiborne is an equal opportunity housing ministry. We welcome
applications from all minority and non-minority groups in our services area
regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability,
familial status or religious affiliation.
If you
complete and return an application, this does not guarantee that The Fuller
Center of Claiborne will help you rehabilitate your house. All applications
will be reviewed by the Family Selection Committee, and those selected will be
reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Fuller Center of Claiborne.
Sheriff: ‘Keep fire safety at the
forefront of your holiday planning’
As the
holiday season approaches, Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey urges citizens
to keep fire safety in mind when decorating for the holidays.
Whether
it is careful candle placement or checking the warning label on the holiday
lights, simple safety steps can go a long way in preventing fires and injuries
this year.
Annually,
during the two months surrounding the holiday season, more than 14,000 people
are treated in hospital emergency rooms due to injuries related to holiday
decorating. In addition, Christmas trees are involved in hundreds of fires
resulting in an average of 15 deaths and $13 million in property damage annually.
Candle-related fires lead the list of hazards averaging more than 12,000 a
year, resulting in 150 deaths and $393 million in property damage.
“People
turn their attention to shopping, tree-trimming and social gatherings,” Bailey
said, “overlooking the fact that the threat of fires in the home is most severe
during this time.”
According
to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), December, January and
February are the leading months for home fires and home fire deaths in America.
To help
ensure a joyful Christmas and fire-safe holiday season for everyone, Bailey
advises that the following basic fire safety guidelines be observed
Preventing Christmas Tree Fires:
Special
fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house.
A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
• When
selecting a tree, needles should be green and hard to pull back from the
branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The
trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing
the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut
for too long, has probably dried out and is a fire hazard.
• Do
not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent.
The heat will dry out your tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat,
flame or sparks. Do not put your live tree up too early, or leave it up for
longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
• Do
not place a tree in a doorway or in front of escape routes.
• When
disposing of your tree, never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or
wood burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best
way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it
hauled away by a local community pickup service.
Holiday
Lights:
•
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, broken or
cracked sockets and excessive kinking or war before putting them up.
• Use only
decorative lights approved for the specified use you have in mind.
• Do
not use outdoor lights inside the house and vice versa.
• Do
not overload electrical circuits with excessive lighting and extension cords.
• Do
not leave holiday lights on unattended.
Holiday
Decorations:
• All
decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat
vents.
• Never
put wrapping paper in a fireplace. It can result in a very large fire, throwing
off dangerous sparks and embers that may result in a chimney fire.
• Keep
children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations.
• If
you are using an artificial tree, make sure it is marked “flame-retardant.”
Candle Care:
• If
you use candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they
cannot be easily knocked down.
• Never
leave the house with candles burning.
• Keep
candles away from flammable areas, and never put them on or near a tree.
• Do
not display candles in windows or near exits.
• Keep
all candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
•
Beware of glass candle holders. The wick may get too close to the glass and
shatter it.
Holiday
Entertaining:
•
Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. When cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
• After
holiday parties, check for cigarettes in upholstered furniture before going to
bed. Cigarette fires are still the leading cause of fire fatalities in the
home.
• This
is a good time of year to do an annual test of all smoke detectors, replace
batteries and rehearse an escape plan with your family.
Sheriff
Bailey concluded, “We all have a tendency to think that fire tragedies happen
to other people in other places, but the reality is that they can happen to people
just like you and me. And it is important that we all do our part to make this
a happy and safe Christmas holiday season.”
A note from Sheriff Bailey: Be conscious
of your surroundings
Toy Drop Off
Anyone interested in donating new unused toys for the
needy children of Claiborne Parish may do so by dropping them off at the
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office. The office is located at 613 East Main
Street in Homer, and is open 24 hours per day. Should you have any questions,
you may contact Warden Sophia Burns at 318-927-2011.
The Guardian-Journal
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey would like to remind everyone that during this
season, unfortunately, we have many people trying to take advantage of our
citizens. Please be conscious of your surroundings at all times while you are
shopping to protect your purchases and other items.
Report
any suspicious activity to the local police department or to the Sheriff’s
Office.
Be
leery of correspondence you receive during the holiday season. Letters have
recently been mailed to multiple citizens informing them that they have
unclaimed property with the treasury department. The letter states that “for a
small fee” the author of the letter will go through the process of procuring
your property for you.
The
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office wants our citizens to know that this process
does not cost you anything. There is a free website that you can visit that
will explain the process to you and the service is also free.
Simply
log on to www.latreasury.com.
Another
scam that is circulating is an email stating they are a relative of yours and
have been arrested. They request bond money or some other financial assistance,
and give details about how you can help them. Please do not respond to these
types of scams and report them to law enforcement.
We wish
you and yours Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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, Lee Faulk 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 p.m. 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 Street 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 Lions Chairman Dwayne Woodard at 927-2222
or Susan Herring at 318-548-9146.
Christmas Parade slated for December 11
The
2010 Claiborne Parish Christmas Parade will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, December 11. Lineup will begin at 2 p.m. at Homer High School.
For
those who wish to enter the parade, please call Laci Lee and Sacha Matthews at
Citizens Bank and Trust at 927-1099.
The
form of transportation is up to the participants, however, it must be safe.
Participants must also provide their own signs for identification.
Santa Train to arrive in Claiborne
Parish December 11
Don’t forget! One lucky boy or girl will receive a train
set from Santa at each stop along the L&NW!
Santa
Claus will be dropping into Claiborne Parish on Saturday, December 11, rain or
shine!
All the
children need to get ready, because Santa is coming to get your wish list!!!
So pay
attention because here’s Santa’s Schedule:
Gibsland
9:30 a.m. It will
stop at: E.W. Merritt Pavilion.
Athens
10:15 a.m. It will
stop at: LA Hwy 518/Athens Ave.
Homer
11 a.m. It will stop
at: Delta Interior parking lot (old Wal-Mart parking lot)
Haynesville
12:10 p.m. It will
stop at: Fair Building – Gantt Street
