Homer approved for water well grant
The Guardian-Journal
The
Town of Homer has been approved for a $35,000 grant from the Community Water
Enrichment Fund (CWEF) for improvements at the Mayfield well and lines in the
Lyons Hill Road area.
According
to a letter from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Office, the grant was approved in June and
the town has been “authorized to expend funds when the contract has been
countersigned by our office.”
According
to the project description, the grant will cover improvements to the Mayfield
Well ground storage tank, which will include cleaning and repair to the East
Storage tank, cleaning the interior or the West Tank and purchasing a Chlorine
A-Kit 150-pound cylinder.
The
grant money will also cover upgrades to the water distribution line from a
one-inch line to at least a two-inch line in the Lyons Hill Road area.
“I
thank the grant committee for working so diligently with me to pursue these
grants,” she said. “These upgrades are very much needed for the Town of Homer,
and this is just another step to continue to improve our water distribution
lines and infrastructure.”
In
2008, improvements were made to the Mayfield Water System by separating the
caustic and chlorine chemicals inside the building that houses those and the
motor control center. Because the chemicals were in the same room, the gases
were literally corroding the treatment plant facilities. Under the supervision
of Agape Construction, the chemicals were separated by moving the caustic soda
and other chemicals into a smaller building.
The
town is also concentrating on updating the water system’s billing with the new
program they are hoping to get.
If
approved for the $900,000 grant from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals,
the town would be able to purchase the system and install new meters that would
be read electronically.
The
CWEF grant comes from the Governor’s Office of Administration which helps
municipalities and parishes improve the quality of life for its citizens
through water improvement projects.
2011 Lake Claiborne Boat Parade and
Fireworks Show
Independence Day event draws huge crowds
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
An ode to the History Channel’s hit show
“Swamp People.” This group of boaters took the time to deck out showing
Louisiana’s southern Cajun heritage. As the boat made its way past, revelers
yelled “Choot, choot” in a recent episode from Alligator Hunter Troy from the
hit show. Revelers loaded up with beads and other trinkets as the boats made
their way through the parade route. These boys take a break from catching beads
as they wait for the next round of boats to parade by.
The Guardian-Journal
The
2011 Lake Claiborne Boat Parade and Fireworks Show was a resounding success,
dodging those afternoon showers forecasted.
Revelers
were lined up all along the lake as boaters made their way around the route.
One of the specialties this year seemed to be the “Swamp People” party barge where boaters were decked out in
their Cajun best. The boat was decorated to look like the swamps of south
Louisiana, taking after the History Channel’s hit show, “Swamp People,” where
true alligator hunters are featured making their living.
Most of
the boats were decorated in honor of Independence Day, which is held July 4 of
every year. The day is set aside to commemorate the signing of the Declaration
of Independence, which was signed on July 4, 1776.
Boats
were decked out in their red, white and blue while the boaters threw beads and
other trinkets for the children -- and the big children as well.
The
evening went off without a hitch as the fireworks show followed the boat parade
around 9 p.m.
That,
too, was a huge success; however, what really made it a success is that people
were conscious of the dry weather conditions. According to Homer Fire Chief
Dennis Butcher, only one call they went on was related to fireworks.
“People
were really cautious,” Butcher said.
That
doesn’t mean, though, they, along with all the other fire districts, haven’t
been fighting several grass and woods fires. Every day, they are called to at
least one to two grass and woods fires. The state is still under a statewide
burn ban, which means no outdoor burning is allowed until further notice. The
dry conditions have left the state in drought conditions, which means even with
all the afternoon scattered showers, it’s still not enough rain to lift the
ban.
Also,
Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said although they had a busy weekend, it
was relatively safe.
“We had
a busy weekend, but no major accidents and we’re thankful for that,” he said.
On the
boat parade and fireworks show, he said he thought the event went well.
“I
think everybody enjoyed themselves,” he said. “We had one little incident on
Friday night, but it was handled well. I hope [the boat parade and fireworks
show] will be bigger and better next year.”
The
sheriff’s office said they made three DWI arrests over the holiday weekend.
Homer man charged with sex crimes
The Guardian-Journal
A Homer
man found himself behind bars in Shreveport on Thursday after he was found with
a 13-year-old runaway.
Quindaryl
Ridley, 24, of the 200 block of East Fourth Street, was arrested on charges of
pornography and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. He was
transported to the Shreveport City Jail with total bond set at ??
According
to published reports, investigators say Ridley helped the juvenile run away. As
the investigation continued, images were reportedly recovered from a cell phone
seized, which prompted the pornography charges.
The
teen was taken into protective custody.
K-9 search turns up drug pipes
The Guardian-Journal
A
Shongaloo man found himself handcuffed and going to jail after a traffic stop
for no license plate light.
According
to a press release from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, on July 3,
Deputy Roger Ellerbe was patrolling on Hwy. 146 and observed a vehicle that did
not have license plate light on the rear.
Ellerbe
initiated a traffic stop and while doing so, observed the vehicle cross the
yellow center line several times.
Ellerbe
noted a strong odor of what appeared to be marijuana emitting from the vehicle.
Deputies
John Eric Stephenson and Aaron Christian, along with a K-9 partner, arrived on
scene to assist and the K-9 alerted on the vehicle as to illegal narcotics.
Passengers
included Dakota R. Edwards, 20.
A
search of the vehicle revealed a glass pipe (blue) that had been broken, as
well as a bag containing a multi-colored pipe commonly used in smoking illegal
narcotics.
Edwards
claimed ownership of the drug paraphernalia and was placed under arrest.
He was
booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center and charged with possession
of drug paraphernalia, second offense, with bond set at $1,000.
The
driver of the vehicle was issued a citation for no license plate and improper
lane usage.
Downed power line causes fire
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
On Thursday, June 30, the Homer Fire
Department responded to a small grass and woods fire just steps across the
Bienville Parish Line in the 100 block of Harris Road. A downed power line is
believed to be the cause of the small blaze. A large tree branch is believed to
have fallen on the power line causing the fire. No injuries were reported and
the fire was out within minutes.
Prayer circle for Devion Wafer slated
for July 9
A
prayer circle will be held for Devion and his mother Ruby. Refreshments,
bookmarks and photos will be sold for donations, which will help towards the
purchase of headstones for the little boy and his mother.
Devion’s
little body was found in a creek near Lisbon Landing on Wednesday, March 23.
His mother, Ruby, 19, was found a couple of weeks later behind a vacant store.
Devion
and his mother are buried at Forest Grove Cemetery. Devion would have been
2-years-old on Saturday, July 9.
Reviving the Democratic Party in
Claiborne Parish
The Guardian-Journal
The
Democratic Party could be revived again in Claiborne Parish if the parish’s
executive committee can get its feet on the ground.
An
informational meeting was held at Nicky’s Mexican Restaurant on Tuesday
evening, June 28, on how to get it started again and fill the 11 seats it
needs. Renee Lapeyrolerie, executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party
met with those in attendance to give them an idea of what they will need to do
and how to go about doing it.
“Local
committees are important because they are local people,” she said. “Democrats
are alive and well, and if every parish is pulling its weight, we can get
something done.”
She
discussed getting the meetings going and how they should be run. These meetings
are open to the public and the press, she said.
So far,
there are four people confirmed to take seats on the board, but there are 11
vacancies. Glenn Hollis will take the chairman’s position.
She
also discussed good reasons to have a parish committee, including the fact that
if a candidate identifies with a party, half of the qualifying fees at the time
of qualifying go to the parish committee. This is a good way for the parish
committee to push voter registration drives, training and things of that
nature; however, those funds cannot be used to contribute donations to a
candidate’s campaign fund.
“They
can endorse candidates, but they can’t contribute directly to candidates,” she
said.
On
Saturday, July 23, the State Democratic Party will hold an annual drive to be
held in Baton Rouge. Sen. Mary Landrieu will attend the fundraiser,
Lapeyrolerie said, and the Democratic mayors of Louisiana will also be honored.
According to her statistics, of 302 mayors, 185 of those are Democrats.
“Even
with a lot of work that Mr. Leach and I are doing, the parish officials and
municipal officials are really important to the parish committee because they
are the front faces,” she said.
One of
the questions that Lapeyrolerie mentioned is, “What happened to our Louisiana
pride?” She also talked to them about the imporance of the committee in that
they could invite elected officials and discuss policy issues where there is
concern.
Tara
Hollis, who has announced her candidacy for governor, said one of the things
she wants to do was to make sure things are better for people here at home in
Claiborne Parish. She wants to make sure that education and other areas that
have been cut due to budget constraints get what they need to make life better
throughout the state as well as at home.
For
more information, or to take part in the executive committee, please contact
Lapeyrolerie at 1-225-336-4155 or Glenn Hollis.
