South Claiborne issues boil advisory
The
South Claiborne Water System is experiencing problems with the water supply
system.
Because
of these problems, the water produced by the water supply system is of
questionable microbiological quality. Therefore, as a precaution, the South
Claiborne Water System is issuing a boil advisory effective immediately. The
boil advisory is to remain in effect until rescinded by South Claiborne Water
System.
The
only customers affected by this boil advisory are west of Hwys. 518 and 146 to
Gladney Farm Road.
It is
recommended that all consumers disinfect their water before consuming it
(including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth or using it for
preparation or rinsing of foods by the following means:
Boil
water for one (1) full minute in a clean container. The one minute starts after
the water has been brought to a rolling boil. The flat taste can be eliminated
by shaking the water in a clean bottle or pouring it from one clean container
to another or by adding a pinch of salt to each quart of water that is boiled.
Again,
please be sure to disinfect your water prior to consumption until you have been
advised otherwise.
Upon
notification from the Office of Public Health’s State Regional Laboratory that
the samples collected from our water supply have been found to be safe, the
State Health Department will notify the water supply of the same results. Upon
such notification, the South Claiborne Water System will then rescind the boil
advisory and notify its customers that water has been found to be safe.
Train sets off string of fires
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
Firefighters and forestry workers battled
several blazes started by a train moving through the area. Personnel worked
through the afternoon to douse the flames and contain the blazes. Forestry came
to the rescue as fires spread throughout the railroad route through Claiborne
Parish. Firefighters from District 4 were on hand at Spring Lake Road to douse
the flames. However, fire trucks could not get there, so forestry took their
plows and contained the blazes.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A train
coming through Claiborne Parish on its way to Arkansas set a string of fires
Thursday.
Thursday
afternoon had firefighters from the Homer Fire Department and Districts 4 and 5
hopping as they were dispatched to a forest fire on Hwy. 9 South just past
Mulnix Switch Road towards Athens. On approach, smoke rose high into the air as
firefighters and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry deployed their
plows to contain the flames.
Forestry
also had a spotter plane flying over the area.
And
while fighting that fire, firefighters and forestry were dispatched from that
scene to the railroad tracks on Spring Lake Road. Firefighters couldn’t even
get to them. Once forestry built the plow lines around the Hwy. 9 fire, they
headed straight for Spring Lake Road, where they took their plows on either
side of the road to those fires to contain them.
Homer
Fire Chief Dennis Butcher said they fought at least five separate fires started
from the train.
It was
reported that sparks from a train moving through the area had started the
fires. The train was coming from Gibsland on its way to Magnolia, Arkansas.
Johnny
Rabb, general manager of Louisiana and Northwest Railroad (L&NW), said the
blazes were possibly started by an engine malfunction on the locomotive.
“We
think that sparks from an engine malfunction started the fires,” Rabb said.
“Right now, though, it’s still under investigation.”
Rabb
was quick to say that safety precautions are always taken, however, sometimes
things happen.
“We do
take safety precautions,” he said. “We are taking some measures by putting
spark arresters on the engines to prevent something like this from happening
again.”
As dry
as it has been over the last several months, all fire departments are seeing a
rise in fires, but not by citizens. Most of the fires they are called to are
ones from downed power lines. Some are from people throwing cigarette butts out
of their car windows, or even a spark of metal on the roadway can start a fire.
“We’ve
been experiencing unprecedented conditions, which have provided a perfect storm
for these wildfires,” Butcher said. “With these conditions, wildfires can
spread very quickly, and residents need to take all precautions necessary to
protect themselves and their property. You have to be decisive and ready to
evacuate on a moment’s notice. These fires will give you little time to take
action. You have to plan ahead and be prepared.”
Over
the Labor Day weekend, showers from Tropical Storm Lee were a welcome sight,
however, it’s still not near enough moisture to prevent the kinds of fires
being seen. With that said, Rabb said he was grateful for that little bit of
moisture, because the fires could have been much worse.
Citizens
should keep in mind that Claiborne Parish is still under a mandatory burn ban.
This means no outdoor burning of leaves, waste material, burn piles or anything
else. For more information on the burn ban, please call your local fire
department.
Honoring ‘real heroes’
FBC Homer honors public servants on 9/11
anniversary
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
First Baptist Church in Homer honored all
firefighters, law enforcement and emergency personnel at their annual 9-11
Remembrance program and fish fry. Inset, Durell Tuberville spoke, giving a
moving message of what it means to be a “a real hero.”
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
It was
a tragic day, September 11, 2001. One that began so beautifully and ended so
horrifically.
Ten
years later, the nation honored and celebrated those who went rushing into the
World Trade Center’s twin towers and the Pentagon and the site of United Flight
93’s wreckage. In Claiborne Parish, First Baptist Church in Homer honored local
public servants with a fish fry and remembrance program, featuring Durell
Tuberville as its guest speaker.
Also,
Rosemary Cain, the mother of one of 343 firefighters lost in the World Trade
Center collapse spoke to the group via conference call. She thanked the people
of Homer for not only remembering all of the firefighters, but for remembering
her George. George Cain was not only a firefighter, but a man who loved the
outdoors as well as his family.
“I
consider us all to be family,” she said of the connection she shares with Day
and the people of Homer through his presentations of Cain. “George was a very,
very happy guy. He was easy-going, and he knew what he wanted to do with his
life. He liked the freedom of his life, and the fire department afforded him
the freedom to live that kind of lifestyle. It was just what he wanted to do.”
He also
loved being a firefighter, she said. He always gave 100 percent in everything
he did, including his job as a fireman.
She met
Homer native Ronald Day at Ground Zero at a mass on New Year’s Eve 2011 as he
and a group with Rolling Hills Ministry traveled to New York to help feed the
thousands of volunteers who helped with rescue and recovery efforts in the
rubble.
“We
went up there as a support team, and we went up there to do what Southern
Baptists do best and that’s cook and feed,” Day said. “We were serving those in
the ‘red zone,’ and so many of those people were just picking up a handful (of
rubble) at a time, putting it in buckets. There were so many firemen that would
come in and you could see the looks on their faces.”
Every
time they found remains, work would shut down to honor them he said. Once ambulances
left the site, work would continue, he said, and it was there Day met Rosemary.
“She
told me, ‘Whatever you do, please don’t ever forget my George,’” he said. “‘I
don’t want him to remembered as a number, I want him to be remembered for who
he was.’”
Cain
especially thanked Day for keeping the memory of her son alive, because he
isn’t just a statistic, she said.
“For
all that died that day, they all deserve to have that legacy,” she said. “They
all deserved to be remembered. Thank you for allowing me to share a little bit
of George.”
Day
choked up as he mentioned and asked remembrance for a beloved friend and police
officer who passed away this last year. The late John Bailey was a Homer Police
Officer and a volunteer firefighter who died from injuries sustained after an
accident while he was off-duty.
Before
her call, Peggy Kary spoke briefly to the crowd about her experience at the
World Trade Center. In fact, she was in one of the Trade Towers when the planes
hit. She worked at a finance company.
“You
start to realize the significance of that day...It still seems surreal,” she
said. “I managed to get on the subway before the first building came down, and
we were able to get out.”
When
the first tower came down, the subway system just stopped because it was buried
underneath the rubble of the towers, she said.
“I have
to say one thing, I managed to get home, but a lot of others didn’t,” she said.
“But I did not spend two and a half years on the ground in Vietnam as my
husband did, fighting every day to stay alive. From what I saw in one day, I
still look at our military and it’s a wonder they make it through like they
did.”
However,
it is firefighters, police and emergency personnel that Tuberville talked
about. He said there are a few things people need to understand about our
public servants. One is that what they do is a calling of God, a divine
calling. It’s a task on everything they have physically.
“And
their heart will only be satisfied when they can take that uniform off and God
says, ‘Well done thy good and faithful servant,’” Tuberville said. “It’s
imperative that we let them know we love them.”
Our
role is two-fold, he said. One is to remember those who served on September 11,
2001. They were a group of men and women who loved what they did, he said.
“Far
too often, in law enforcement or fire service, the bell hits or the tone goes
off and it’s done as their job or their day to day routine, and they don’t get
the pat on the back they deserve,” Tuberville said. “Sometimes we forget that
we walk the streets of Homer and Claiborne Parish, Shreveport or Caddo Parish
safely because men and women pay the price for our freedom every day.”
“America’s
heroes are those men and women who give of their lives to make our lives better
every day. That’s America’s heroes.”
9/11: A time for remembrance and hope
FBC Haynesville honors Claiborne’s
finest
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
First Baptist Church in Haynesville
presented a program in honor of local public servants, including firefighters,
police and emergency personnel. Inset, Dr. Sterling Claypoole gave a message of
hope as citizens of the United States look forward to a brighter hope and
future, while remembering and honoring all those who lost their lives on
September 11, 2001.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
As the
nation commemorated the 10th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001,
there also seemed to be a message of hope and looking towards the future.
First
Baptist Church in Haynesville presented a program honoring the local
firefighters, police and emergency personnel and the guest speaker for the
event presented a message of hope.
Honored
on Sunday, September 11, 2011, Haynesville and District #3 Fire Chief Mark
Furlow, Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith and Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken
Bailey each said a few words about their departments and expressed pride in the
services provided to the people of Claiborne Parish.
Furlow,
with pride, announced that his department has more than 355 years of service
combined. He named all 33 firefighters and announced their years of service
with the department, stating that Fire Captain Tommy Bower brings 58 years of
service to the fire department.
So far
this year, he said, his firefighters have clocked approximately 1,763 hours of
training.
“Even
though we’re not professionals, we have to train the same way they do over in
Shreveport and Bossier to meet the requirements of PIAL,” he said.
Bailey,
who touts more than 100 employees parishwide, thanked everyone for being
invited to participate in the program.
“Sometimes
I can hardly remember what I did the day before yesterday, but I remember what
I was doing that day,” Bailey said of September 11, 2001. “I bet you can too. I
was teaching a sixth grade DARE class at Summerfield, and as soon as class was
over, I went into the principal’s office. He said, ‘You might want to go into
the auditorium. We have a TV set up.’ And that’s what it was. We just don’t
forget about things like this and we never should forget about it.”
He said
his office averages about 100 to 150 calls per month, including calls fielded
for the Homer and Haynesville Police Departments after 5 p.m. and on the
weekends.
“We’re
all working together,” he said. “We’re all trying to do the same thing, and
it’s very simple -- it’s to make Claiborne Parish a safe place to work, live
and raise our families. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Haynesville
Police Chief Anthony Smith said that 9/11 wasn’t an act of terrorism, but rather
an act of evil.
“Anybody
that deals in evil apparently doesn’t have God in their life,” Smith said. “As
long we don’t have prayer and don’t have God in our lives, we’re going to have
acts of terrorism. By working together, we can keep terrorism out of our parish
and our entire nation. As one, we can stop evil and we can stop terrorism.”
The
Rev. Shelby Cowling, pastor of FBC Haynesville, said that following 9/11, there
was a “quiet, unyielding anger that built up in us.” The day was met with
shock, disbelief and sadness, he said. However, the guest speaker said that 10
years later, today, it’s about rebuilding our lives.
“It’s
not about me,” he said. “It’s about remembering lives lost and without a doubt
rebuilding our lives. It’s also about how we now live our life.”
As a
psychologist and chaplain for the fire and police departments in Arkansas, he
said many people wanted to know “How do I get back to normal? How do I get back
to the way it was before?”
“You
can’t get back to our normal,” he said. “We have to find a new normal. Ten
years later, we’re still finding our new normal. Healing is coming.”
Claypoole
went over the events of that day, saying that after the south tower was hit,
“we automatically knew where we were that day.”
At 8:46
a.m., eastern time, American Airlines Flight 11, which was intended to carry
passengers all over the country, turned and from the north side of Manhattan,
plowed into the North Tower.
“At
8:46, we changed our normal,” Claypoole said. “That still makes me angry. That
still makes me sad. I’ve cried all day, all weekend watching those videos.
We’re still hurting, but that’s okay. We’re finding our new normal, we’re
finding where God wants us to be.”
He
shared the events of that fateful morning, giving the times and the numbers of
people who lost their lives that day.
At 9:03
a.m., from the southern side, United Airlines Flight 175 impacted the South
Tower clocking more than 250 miles per hour, fully loaded with jet fuel and
passengers. At 9:37 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon at full
speed.
“And at
10:03 that morning, Flight 93 was overtaken by at least four men who overtook
the cockpit,” he said, “and was downed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, maybe
headed for the Capitol or the White House.”
At 9:59
a.m., the second tower hit was the first tower to fall -- the South Tower. It
collapsed 56 minutes from impact, and it only took five seconds to fall. At
10:25 that morning, Tower One, the North Tower also collapsed.
“From
start to finish, 102 minutes later, that’s how long it took for us to be
impacted, for our lives to be changed,” he said. “It was an act that I can’t
fathom. I can’t fathom the thought of a person willing to lose their life while
taking others with them. Ten years later, we are stronger, we are different.
Today, if you’ve had to take your shoes off at the airport, you know we’re
different.”
On
September 11, 2001, “2,977 victims lost their lives, but I don’t count the rest
of them, to be honest,” he continued. “Those were our victims. Today we have a
generation that may not know. We are the memorials. We are the legacies of
2,977 people dying that day.”
In
closing, he talked about the sons and daughters of those who perished that day,
who stepped up to the microphones during the memorial services at Ground Zero,
the Pentagon and the field in Shanksville who will never know the parent they
lost during the attacks.
“Those
are living memorials, those are lives that we have to continue on,” he said.
He
talked about the resurrection of the One World Trade Center, the one building
to stand above all others, at a symbolic 1,776 feet. There is now a memorial
over eight acres, of which two memory pools outline the footprints of where the
original towers stood. The victims’ names from 2001 and the 1993 World Trade
Center bombings are engraved at that memorial. He spoke of the museum that will
house the artifacts of what was left in the rubble.
“I was
excited to hear this -- it’s no longer called Ground Zero,” he said. “It’s
called the Trade Center Plaza again. It’s that desire to leave that line and
move forward for that new world.”
The
memorial at the Pentagon has 184 small benches to commemorate those who lost
their lives in Washington, D.C. that day. Out of 184, there are 125 that are
facing the Pentagon, commemorating those who died inside the Pentagon. There
are 59 that are facing away from the Pentagon, representing the flight crew and
passengers on United Airlines Flight 77. Under each bench, there is a small,
lighted water pool that sits with their names inscribed on each of them.
Just
outside of Shanksville, they have a 40x50 foot wall and a 90-foot tower with 40
wind chimes attached to them to honor those on United Flight 93.
“The
real memorial today is the American Spirit,” he said. “We are stronger today.
We live in a stronger nation today. I believe if we were to live as a united
country, whatever denomination we are, we could be a new normal and our country
would be great. We need to be the memorials that live in front of people.”
ICU Groundbreaking September 22
Homer
Memorial Hospital will “break ground” for the new six-bed ICU unit on Thursday,
September 22, at 10 a.m.
The
hospital is located at 620 East College Street.
Light
refreshments will be provided.
Traffic accident leads to arrest
The Guardian-Journal
A
traffic accident resulted in a Homer man sitting behind bars after reportedly
fled the scene.
According
to a news release from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, on Sunday,
September 11, Deputies Everette Lewis, Aaron Christian and Shane Huffstetler
conducted an investigation into a two-vehicle accident at the Homer Travel
Plaza on the corner of Hwy. 9 South and U.S. 79. During the course of this
investigation, deputies discovered that one of the drivers involved, Nathaniel
E. Henderson, 26, of Homer, attempted to leave the scene of an accident.
Further
investigation revealed that Henderson had a large, clear baggy with
individually wrapped smaller bags inside, containing a green leafy substance
commonly associated with marijuana.
Henderson
was also reportedly found to be driving while intoxicated.
He was
booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for driving while intoxicated
with bond set at $1,000, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute with
bond set at $15,000, hit and run driving with bond set at $2,500 and driving
under suspension with bond set at $1,000.
Child Safety Week September 18-24
A Proclamation
A Message from
Mayor Alecia N. Smith
Children
are our future. As parents and care givers, it is our responsibility to keep
America’s children safe. Every day in 2009, an average of two children age 12
and younger were killed and an average of 340 were injured in motor vehicle
traffic crashes as occupants of passenger vehicles. For children ages 1-12, it
is the leading cause of death. It is hard to overstate the toll this takes on
families, but together we can put an end to this tragedy.
Today,
all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require that children
be restrained in motor vehicles. These laws were enacted because of the
tremendous safety benefits they provide. Research shows car seats reduce the
risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for children younger than one, and by 54
percent for children 1-4 years old. We know that car seats help save lives and
reduce injuries. We also know they are most effective when installed and used
correctly. Sadly, nearly three out of four car seats are not used properly.
Starting now, we must work together to prevent these unnecessary deaths and
injuries.
That is
why Homer, Louisiana is committed to working closely with our partners and
safety advocates to help you make the kind of choices that will keep your kids
alive and safe. Our goal is to educate parents and care givers about best
practice when traveling with children from birth through the age of 12. During
Child Passenger Safety Week, hundreds of free car seat inspection stations will
be set up across the country. I encourage all parents and care givers to take
advantage of this service and ensure that their children are getting the very
best protection. To locate an inspection station in your area, please go to
http://www.lahighwaysafety.org/child.html.
Now,
therefore, I, Alecia N. Smith, Mayor, do hereby proclaim September 18-24, 2011,
as “Child Passenger Safety Week” and September 24 as “National Seat Check
Saturday.” I urge everyone to help reduce injuries and the tragic loss of life
by buckling up themselves and their children -- every trip, every time.
See who qualified for October ballot
The Guardian-Journal
Qualifying
is over and now it’s time to see who’s running for several local elections as
well as statewide.
Up
first will be the local elections.
They
are:
State
Senator, District #33, Mike Walsworth, Republican (Unopposed), State Senator,
District #36, Robert Adley, Republican (Unopposed).
State
Representative, District #11, Rory L. Bedford, Democrat and Patrick O.
Jefferson, Democrat. Current Rep. Rick Gallot has termed out.
Running
for Sheriff includes Incumbent Ken Bailey, Democrat and Anthony Smith, No
Party.
Clerk
of Court is Pat Gladney, who is running unopposed.
The
Claiborne Parish Tax Assessor includes Incumbent Bob Robinson, Republican and
Mae “Kitty” Williams, No Party.
Dr.
D.K. Haynes is running for coroner unopposed.
In the
police jury’s race, D’Arcy Stevens (District #1), No Party, Mark Furlow
(District #2), No Party, Scott Davidson (District #6), No Party and Willie
Young (District #10), Democrat are all running unopposed.
In
Police Jury District #3, Incumbent Bob McDaniel has two running against him:
Ron Edwards, No Party, and Kevin Gray, Republican.
In
District #4, Incumbent Joe Sturges, Democrat, has an opponent for his seat.
Janell Brown, No Party, is running.
In
District #5, Incumbent Lavelle Penix, Democrat, is challenged by Gary Lewis, No
Party.
In
District #7, Incumbent Roy Lewis, Democrat, is challenged by Joseph Merritt
Jr., also a Democrat.
In
District #8, Incumbent Roy Mardis, Democrat, has two challengers, Keith Lee and
Tommy Sanders, both No Party.
In
District #9, Incumbent Jerry Adkins is being challenged by Roger Zachary, both
no party.
In a
special election for Claiborne Parish School Board District #5, Dr. Robert
Haynes will run unopposed. Haynes was appointed to the seat following the
retirement of longtime member Stanley Edwards.
In the
statewide races, several are vying for the coveted top state job. Running for
governor against Incumbent Bobby Jindal, Republican, is Claiborne Parish’s own
Tara Hollis, Democrat. Also running is David Blanchard of Brusly, No Party,
Leonard “Lenny” Bollingham of Baton Rouge, No Party, Ron Ceasar of Opelousas,
No Party, Cary J. Deaton of Metairie, Democrat, William Robert “Bob” Lang Jr.
of Natchitoches, No Party, Scott Lewis of Baton Rouge, Libertarian, “Niki Bird”
Papazoglakis of Baton Rouge, Democrat and Ivo “Trey” Roberts of Gretna,
Democrat.
In the
lieutenant governor’s race Billy Nungesser of Belle Chasse is challenging
appointed incumbent Jay Dardenne, both Republican.
In the
Secretary of State’s race, Appointed Incumbent Tom Schedler of Mandeville is
challenged by Jim Tucker of New Orleans, both Republicans.
Attorney
General Buddy Caldwell, of Tallulah, is facing challenger Joseph Cao, of New
Orelans, both Republicans.
Treasurer
John Kennedy, of Baton Rouge, Republican, is running unopposed.
Commissioner
of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, of Covington, Republican, has two
challengers, Belinda “B” Alexandrenko of Lafayette, Reform Party and Jamie
LaBranche, of LaPlace, Democrat.
For
Commissioner of Insurance, Incumbent Jim Donelon of Metairie, Republican, has a
challenger. Donald C. Hodge of Baton Rouge, Democrat, is running.
Also
BESE Board District #5 Keith Guice of Monroe, Democrat, has a challenger. Jay
Guillot of Ruston, Republican, is his challenger.
Also on
the ballot for October 22 is five proposed constitutional amendments. They
include:
Proposed
Amendment No. 1
Act No.
423 -- Senate Bill No. 53, Regular Session, 2011
To
dedicate funds for the TOPS program relative to the portion of the monies
deposited in and credited to the Millennium Trust each year from the Tobacco
Master Settlement, to provide that once the balance in the Millennium Trust
reaches a total of one billion three hundred eighty million dollars, one
hundred percent of the annual Settlement Proceeds shall be allocated to the
TOPS Fund to support state programs of financial assistance for students
attending Louisiana postsecondary education institutions; to provide relative
to the rate of tax on certain tobacco products and beginning July 1, 2012, to
dedicate such tobacco revenues to the Health Excellence Fund to be used for the
purposes of appropriate health care and providing health care initiatives
through innovation in advanced health care sciences; to provide for the
deposit, transfer or credit of certain monies in the Millennium Trust to the
Health Excellence Fund, the Education Excellence Fund, and the TOPS Fund.
(Amends Article VII, Section 10.8(A)(1)(c), (A)(2), (3), and (4) and (C)(1) and
adds Article VII, Section 4.1)
Proposed
Amendment No. 2
Act No.
422 -- House Bill No. 384, Regular Session, 2011
To
require in Fiscal Years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 that five percent of money
designated in the official forecast as nonrecurring be applied toward the
balance of the unfunded accrued liability which existed as of June 30, 1988,
for the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers
Retirement System of Louisiana. To further require that in Fiscal Year
2015-2016 and every fiscal year thereafter that ten percent of such
nonrecurring revenue be applied to such purposes. (Amends Article VII, Section
10(D)(2)(b))
Proposed
Amendment No. 3
Act No.
421 -- House Bill No. 341, Regular Session, 2011
To
authorize the legislature to establish a private custodial fund, designated as
the Patient’s Compensation Fund, for the use, benefit, and protection of
medical malpractice claimants and private health care provider members; to
provide that assets of the fund shall not be state property. (Adds Article XII,
Section 16)
Proposed
Amendment No. 4
Act No.
424 -- Senate Bill No. 147, Regular Session 2011
To
provide that if at any time mineral revenues exceed the base provided by law
and monies are withdrawn from the Budget Stabilization Fund, no deposit of
mineral revenues shall be made to the Budget Stabilization Fund in the same or
ensuing fiscal year in which monies in the fund are appropriated or
incorporated into the official forecast, except by specific legislative
appropriation, and thereafter deposits of mineral revenues into the fund shall
resume except in an annual amount not to exceed one-third of the most recent
amount appropriated or incorporated into the official forecast. (Adds Article
VII, Section 10.3 (C)(5))
Proposed
Amendment No. 5
Act No.
43 -- House Bill No. 30, First Extraordinary Session, 2011
To
amend provisions relative to tax sales in order to maintain an existing
exemption from the minimum bid requirements for tax sales in the city of New
Orleans due to changes in populations according to the 2010 census. (Amends
Article VII, Section 25(A)(2))
The ballot
will also include the Claiborne Parish Library’s renewal of the 6.10 property
mill tax renewal for constructing, maintaining and operating public libraries
in Claiborne Parish. But, instead of asking for the normal 10 year renewal,
Librarian Pam Suggs is asking for the renewal to be 20 years, which, if passed,
would guarantee a bank loan could be repaid. Suggs said they are looking into
obtaining a low interest bank loan for expansions to the library, and while
they have some money put back, it simply isn’t enough.
The
proposition reads as follows:
PROPOSITION
(TAX
RENEWAL)
Summary:
20 year 6.10 mills property tax renewal for constructing, maintaining and
operating public libraries in Claiborne Parish.
Shall
the Parish of Claiborne, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy a
tax of six and ten hundredths (6.10) mills on all the property subject to
taxation in the Parish (an estimated $1,037,000 reasonably expected at this
time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period
of twenty (20) years, beginning with the year 2016 and ending with the year
2035, for the purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating public
libraries in the Parish?
Early
voting for the October 22 election will be the week of October 8-15 from 8 a.m.
until 6 p.m., except for Sunday.
For
more information, please call the Claiborne Parish Registrar of Voters office
at 318-927-3332.
