Burn Ban lifted in Claiborne Parish
The burn ban in Claiborne Parish has been lifted,
according to Fire Chief Dennis Butcher. Although the burn ban has been lifted,
citizens are urged to continue to use caution when burning. The severe drought
and lack of substantial rain has left the ground and trees extremely dry.
South Claiborne Boil Advisory lifted
Officials from the South Claiborne Water System have
gotten their test results back, and all bacterialogical samples have come back
negative.
Because of the good results, the boil advisory for Hay.
518 to Point Pleasant Road, Hwy. 519 to Volentine Road, and Barnes Road West to
Hwy. 533 East have been lifted.
Boy loses fight with cancer
The Guardian-Journal
A
little boy’s 
fight with cancer has ended. Jamal Webb, a student at Homer
Elementary, passed away over the weekend after a valiant battle against
lymphoblastic leukemia.
Acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a form of leukemia, or cancer of the white
blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblasts.
Malignant,
immature white blood cells continuously multiply and are overproduced in the
bone marrow. ALL causes damage and death by crowding out normal cells in the
bone marrow, and by spreading (infiltrating) to other organs. ALL is most
common in childhood with a peak incidence at 2–5 years of age, and another peak
in old age. The overall cure rate in children is about 80 percent, and about
38-60 percent of adults have long-term disease-free survival, according to
answers.com.
However,
in Jamal’s case, it wasn’t the cancer that killed him. According to his mother,
Latora Webb, Jamal had an infection in his blood with no immune system to fight
it off. He was on antibiotics, she said, but it just wasn’t enough.
Diagnosed
on December 23, 2010, at the tender age of 10, Jamal kept his spirits up during
the long hours of treatment and many hospital stays over the last several
months. He passed away at 4:35 p.m. Sunday, November 6.
His
mother said he enjoyed riding horses, fishing, riding four-wheelers and all
kinds of sports. His favorite subject in school was reading.
And as
the community mourns with Jamal’s family, his mother said a special thanks to
those who have helped her and her family during this difficult time.
“I just
want to say a special thank you to all those who held fundraisers and made
donations,” Webb said.
Services
for Jamal will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, at Homer High School’s auditorium.
Interment will follow at White Oak Grove Cemetery. Services are entrusted to
Memorial Funeral Home in Homer.
Jamal
is survived by his mother, Jatora Webb, sister,
Shakara Lewis, two brothers, Davarious Lewis and Dayvion Webb, father, Jamayne
Jackson, paternal grandfather, James Webb and paternal grandparents James and
Annie B. Jackson.
Athens man caught with drugs
The Guardian-Journal
A walk
on the side of the road landed one man in jail.
Terry
James Winzer, 39, of Athens, was charged with disturbing the peace (simple
drunk) with bond set at $500, possession of drug paraphernalia with bond set at
$500, failure to appear in court with a fine of $907 and a probation violation
with no bond set.
According
to a news release from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO), on Thursday,
November 3, Deputy Heath Tingle was traveling south on Hwy. 9 and observed a
black male staggering on the side of the road close to the lane of traffic.
Upon stopping to investigate, Tingle discovered Winzer appeared to be
intoxicated.
At that
time, Tingle conducted a search of his person and discovered two suspected
crack pipes in his jacket pocket.
At the
time of his arrest, CPSO dispatch advised Tingle that Winzer also had two
active warrants. Once arrested, Winzer was transported to the Claiborne Parish
Detention Center for booking on the above charges.
Coming up...
Haynesville Elementary to host Veterans Day program
November 11
Haynesville
Elementary will host a Veteran’s Day program at 9 a.m. in the school’s
gymnasium. Parents, friends, the community and especially all our veterans are
encouraged to attend this wonderful program.
CA to host Veterans Day Observance November 11
The
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) huddle at Claiborne Academy will host an
observance to recognize and honor all veterans at 11 a.m. All veterans and
their spouses are invited to attend. After a short program in the gym, lunch
will be served to the veterans and their spouses by FCA members. Please call
the school at 318-927-2747 if you can attend.
Another look at November’s ballot
The Guardian-Journal
Elections
for the November 19 ballot are coming up soon, and a few elected officials in
Claiborne Parish are facing a runoff.
In the
Claiborne Parish Police Jury, two district incumbents may face defeat, if they
don’t get enough votes to keep them in office.
Police Jury Districts 3, 8
In
District 3, Incumbent Robert “Bob” McDaniel will face off with opponent Kevin
Gray. In the October 22 election, McDaniel received 43.15 percent of the vote,
or 167 votes. Although he had two opponents, he still edged into the lead by
those three percentage points. Gray received 40.83 percent of the vote, or 158
votes, which put him in the running on the November ballot. The third opponent,
Ron W. Edmonds only got 16.02 percent, or 62 votes.
Precincts
03, 35, 37, 40, 41 and 96 will vote for Police Jury District No. 3
In
District 8, Incumbent Roy Mardis will go up against opponent Tommy Sanders. In
the October 22 election, Mardis still took the lead with 49.79 percent of the
vote, or 235 votes. Sanders came in just a few percentage points behind at
39.83 percent, or 188 votes. Keith Lee also ran for the seat, garnering 10.38
percent, or 49 votes.
Precincts
08, 10, 81 and 82 will vote for Police Jury District No. 8.
Alcohol Propositions
Also on
the ballot for November 19 are propositions for the citizens who live within
the corporate limits of the Town of Homer, which would allow hard liquor sales
within the corporate limits. Currently, the only alcohol being sold is beer
with a six percent alcohol content or lower.
Proponents
of the propositions say it will bring in more tax dollars for the town, which
they say is desperately needed. Opponents say selling hard liquor, or alcohol
with more than a six percent content, would be a detriment to the town because
of the rise in crime and other factors they believe would hurt the town.
Let’s
look at some definitions. According to Louisiana Revised Statute 26:241, one
half of one percent means 1 proof liquor. “Not more than six percent” means low
content alcohol (beer), and “more than six percent” means high content alcohol
or liquor.
Here’s
how it will appear on the ballot:
Proposition
No. 1
Summary:
Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than six
percent alcohol by volume by package only and not for consumption on the
premises in the municipal limits of the Town of Homer.
Shall
the sale of beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than six percent
alcohol by volume be permitted by package only and not for consumption on the
premises in the municipal limits of the Town of Homer?
This
proposition deals with packaged low content alcohol. Currently, businesses who
have proper permits can sell low alcohol content if it’s at or below six
percent. These businesses include places like convenience stores. If it passes,
then businesses will be able to continue to sell packaged low content alcohol.
Proposition
No. 2
Summary:
Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than six
percent alcohol by volume for consumption on the premises in the municipal
limits of the Town of Homer.
Shall
the sale of beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than six percent
alcohol by volume for consumption on the premises be permitted in the municipal
limits of the Town of Homer?
This
proposition deals with low content sales and consumption. It would allow the
sale and consumption of low alcohol content on the premises, meaning bars or
lounges.
Proposition
No. 3
Summary:
Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing one-half of one
percent alcohol by volume and above for consumption on the premises in the
municipal limits of the Town of Homer.
Shall
the sale of beverage alcohol containing one-half of one percent alcohol by
volume and above for consumption on the premises be permitted in the municipal
limits of the Town of Homer?
This
proposition would allow liquor (high content alcohol) in a bar.
Proposition
No. 4
Summary:
Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing one-half of one percent
alcohol by volume and above by package only and not for consumption on the
premises in the municipal limits of the Town of Homer.
Shall
the sale of beverages of alcoholic content containing one-half of one percent
alcohol by volume and above by the package only and not for consumption on the
premises be permitted in the municipal limits of the Town of Homer?
The
fourth proposition deals with packaged alcohol only. If passed, this would
allow a store to sell liquor with an alcohol content of more than six percent,
but not consumption. In other words, a liquor store could sell the alcohol, but
the purchaser would not be able to consume it on the premises.
Proposition
No. 5
Summary:
Authority to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content permitted only on
the premises of restaurant establishments which have been issued an “R” permit
as defined by law in the municipal limits of the Town of Homer.
Shall
the sale of beverages of high and low alcoholic content be permitted only on
the premises of restaurant establishments which have been issued an “R” permit
as defined by law in the municipal limits of the Town of Homer?
The
fifth proposition deals with restaurants. Restaurants would have to have a
special “R” permit to be able to sell high content alcohol within the corporate
limits of Homer, but consumption would be on premises only.
Each
proposition will pass or fail on its on merit. All five do not have to pass in
order for it to become law in the Town of Homer. If voters say no to the first
two, it would kill the beer sales, as it stands now. However, if they say “yes”
to three and four, then beer sales would be included. This means that even if
one and two fail, beer could still be sold, because three and four include low
and high content alcohol.
Not to
be confused with Ordinance No. 11-906, which was adopted by the Homer Town
Council recently, the ordinance deals with public consumption only -- not
consumption on premises, such as in a restaurant or bar. That ordinance deals
with the public, such as public streets.
Only
those living within the corporate limits of Homer will be able to vote on the
alcohol propositions.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Also on
the ballot for November 19 is a Proposed Constitutional Amendment which reads,
“To prohibit the levy of new taxes or fees upon the sale or transfer of
immovable property, including documentary transaction taxes or fees, or any
other tax or fee, by the state or any of its political subdivisions after
November 30, 2011. (November 30, 2011) (Adds Article VII, Section 2.3).
This
proposed amendment deals with the real estate transfer tax (RETT) some
municipalities and/or states charge along with the other closing costs and fees
on real estate, or immovable property. The transfer tax is usually a tax used
to cushion a municipality’s or state’s general fund. Generally, they are
calculated as a percentage of property value or loan amount. They might be
charged to a seller, buyer or both.
According
to the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR), Louisiana does not have a
statewide RETT and its constitution is silent on them. However, the
constitution does allow the legislature -- by two-thirds vote of both chambers
-- to pass statutes creating new statewide taxes. It also provides for the
legislature to pass laws permitting local governments to levy taxes.
If
passed, this amendment would prohibit the levy of NEW taxes or fees by the
state or local governments upon the sale or transfer of immovable property
after November 30, 2011. It would not repeal taxes or fees currently levied,
such is the case in New Orleans, which charges a flat $325 “documentary
transaction tax.”
It
would also not affect ad valorem taxes on property or general legal and real
estate fees associated with transferring or selling property or general legal
and real estate fees associated with transferring or selling property, such as
attorney’s fees, clerk of court fees and other common closing costs.
Also to
note, Louisiana’s legislature attempted to create a property transfer tax in
Louisiana and failed in 2000.
Many
who are familiar with the proposition take the view point of the attorney
general who said the charge passed by Livingston Parish was unconstitutional,
because it was passed without the delegation by the legislature, which viewed
it as a new taxing authority for the parish. The attorney general’s opinion
took the stance that the charge in Livingston Parish was a tax and not a fee.
Although attorney general opinions are not binding, the proposition would place
a clear constitutional barrier to the state or local governments establishing
RETTs in the future.
Proponents
of the proposition say that the taxes and fees on real estate transactions
inhibit sales and make property purchases less affordable. Higher taxes would
weaken an already troubled housing market and hamper economic recovery.
Opponents
argue that the amendment will prevent transfer taxes if they are needed in the
future to generate revenue. Parishes, municipalities and other forms of local
government may need the RETTs to prop up budgets in lean years. They also say
the amendment would further increase dependence on state government.
And
too, the proposed amendment further clogs the constitution with unnecessary
provisions because they view the amendment as overkill. The legislature already
has to have a two-thirds vote to pass a new state tax by statute.
Please
remember to go vote on November 19. Early voting will begin on Saturday,
November 5, and continue through Saturday, November 12. The Claiborne Parish
Registrar of Voters office will be closed on Friday, November 11, in observance
of Veteran’s Day and on Sunday, November 6. Office hours will be from 8:30 a.m.
until 6 p.m. each day. For more information, please call their office at
318-927-3332.
Mayor: Homer’s water safe
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
For
those who live within the corporate limits of Homer and have received a letter
stating the Town of Homer is in violation of the State and Federal Primary
Drinking Water Regulations, just hold that thought.
In her
mayor’s report during Monday’s town council meeting, Mayor Alecia Smith
explained that the ball had been dropped on the town’s water samples, but it
isn’t the town’s fault.
According
to law, the town is required to send four samples of drinking water to the
Department of Health and Hospitals every month to ensure the safety of its
drinking water. Testing is done for specific contaminants each month. However,
during the month of September, those samples never made it to the Department of
Health and Hospitals, which technically put the town in violation of the
Louisiana Sanitary Code.
“In
times past, the water samples would be left at the Claiborne Parish Health Unit
for the Sanitarian to transport and submit the water samples to the lab,” the
letter states. “Due to budget restrictions of the Department of Health and
Hospitals, there is no longer a Sanitarian in Claiborne Parish.”
“This
was not our fault,” Smith said, and again emphasized. “This does not mean our
drinking water isn’t safe.”
It just
means that the samples that were supposed to be submitted during the month of
September weren’t picked up and transported to the lab for testing. Since the
“violation” occurred, “the required samples have been taken and a new schedule
is in place for the transport of all water samples to be submitted to the lab.”
The
letter states that the town was not notified of the new water sample schedule
until the last day of September, and as a result, the town then technically was
in non-compliance with regulations. The samples collected during the month of
September sat at the Claiborne Parish Health Unit until Water Department
Supervisor Lee Wells transported the samples himself.
In
other news, the council approved the annual contract of Dr. John Tinsley and
the Claiborne Animal Clinic as well as adopted a revised and up-to-date Animal
Code Ordinance. In October’s meeting, the council discussed revising and
updating the ordinance because of an issue with a dog owner. According to
Tinsley and officers with the Homer Police Department, earlier this year, a dog
owner had been contacted by the animal clinic to come get his dog, but because
he’d allegedly bitten someone, the dog was held at the clinic. When it was time
to return the dog to its owner, the owner told Tinsley he was coming to get it.
However, the dog remained long past the time frame in which the Town of Homer
would pick up the expense. Hence, the remaining charges went to the dog owner.
Also
during the meeting, the council voted unanimously to terminate services with
Alliance Engineering with regards to the Homer Municipal Airport runway
lighting project. According to Attorney Danny Newell, the engineering company
is having some internal issues that have caused trouble for the town and could
cause more trouble.
Newell
said the town has missed opportunities for state and other funding from the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well. Alliance, which is supposed to
be applying for grants for the town, has not done so in the last two years.
Resolution
11-806, which passed unanimously, authorizes the termination of their services
and to bid out services for another engineering company.
Newly
hired Homer Housing Authority Executive Director Debra Sarpy approached the
council with a request to waive the PILOT payments for the years 2010, 2011,
2012 and 2013. PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) payment is a set amount paid to
the town each year instead of paying taxes to the town. The payments are
actually sent to Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and then HUD sends a set
amount to the town each year.
District
1 Councilwoman Linda Mozeke took issue with the number of years the housing
authority was asking for. She suggested waiving the PILOT for the years 2010
and 2011 and revisit the issue for 2012 and 2013.
“I’m
concerned about approving anything through 2013,” Mozeke said. “It’s a lot to
ask.”
The
housing authority has had its share of troubles after the former executive
director was fired for alleged embezzlement and fraud. Since then, they called
in for help from the Minden Housing Authority to help them get back on track.
However,
since that time, the housing authority has been working diligently to get
finances back on track and get bills paid off or paid down. Sarpy had asked for
the waiver because of their strained finances at this time.
In the
past, the housing authority has paid the town roughly $5,000 per year in PILOT
taxes.
The
request was approved with a 3-2 vote, with District 2 Councilman Michael Wade
and District 4 Councilwoman Carlette Sanford voted against it.
In other
news, District 3 Councilman Don McCalman raised an issue that has been going on
for some time. Speeding on College Street, which runs along Homer Memorial
Hospital, has no speed limit posting. McCalman said someone who lives near the
hospital had raised the issue with him, and that vehicles were traveling
upwards of 50 miles per hour down the short street. Homer Police Chief Russell
Mills said that any residential street that is not speed limit posted is
assumed to be 25 miles per hour. He said that’s what his officers are
enforcing.
The
town will look into purchasing signs for the street and pedestrian signs with
lights.
Also
raised by McCalman was a raise for Mills. His annual salary was set at $32,000,
and the vote was 4-1 in favor of Mills getting a bump in pay to $36,500 per
year. Mozeke was the lone vote against.
According
to McCalman, other municipalities the size of Homer are paying their police
chiefs as much as $40,000, including Haynesville’s Police Chief, Anthony Smith.
Others, like Farmerville and Arcadia, are paying their police chiefs an average
of $40,000 as well.
Also
approved were:
•
Adoption of Ordinance 11-907, which increases customers rates by $1 each year
to offset increases by Allied Waste Services,
•
Adoption of Ordinance 11-909, which deals with Homer Memorial Hospital’s
request to borrow $900,000 from the Bond Commission for the completion of the
ICU and the purchase of equipment,
•
Adoption of Resolution 11-8025, which authorizes Mayor Smith to request a
$35,000 grant from the Community Water Enrichment Fund (CWEF) for the town,
• The
introduction of Ordinance 11-910, which would amend the R-1 Zoning.
The
next meeting of the Homer Town Council will be at 6 p.m., Monday, December 5,
in council chambers at Homer City Hall. For more information, or for questions,
please call their office at 318-927-3555.
Taste of Homer better than ever
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
This year’s annual fundraiser for the
Claiborne Chamber of Commerce was better than ever this year. The Taste of
Homer was held at Homer City Hall Saturday where people gathered and sampled
food and treats from some of the best cooks in Claiborne Parish.
School Board to discuss letter grades
The
Claiborne Parish School Board will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, November 10, to
discuss the schools’ letter grades given by the Louisiana State Board of
Education. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janice Williams will explain the
letter grades each school received and what it means for Claiborne Parish
Schools.
The
regular monthly meeting will follow at 6 p.m.
DART’s Christmas raffle tickets on sale
now
The
Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART) is holding its annual Christmas raffle.
Tickets can be purchased from Mary Ellen Gamble for $1 for a chance to win $300
cash. The drawing will be held on December 19.
DART
will also be selling tickets for this year’s Santa Train event at Delta
Interiors on December 10.
Don’t spend Thanksgiving alone
No
plans for Thanksgiving? Planning to spend the day alone? Then, you are invited
to come join us for a wonderful meal at the First Presbyterian Church in Homer
on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24.
Church
members are making plans to prepare a delicious meal at noon on Thanksgiving
Day for individuals in the community who would normally be alone, or who have
no family members or friends to spend the holiday with.
We will
also provide transportation for those who need a ride.
For
more information, if you need a ride, or if you know someone who will be alone
on Thanksgiving, please call Pastor John McClelland at 318-927-3887 or
318-927-4804, or Susan Herring at 318-927-4352 or 318-548-9146.
Please
plan to come join us for a wonderful meal and an opportunity to not only thank
the Lord for His enduring love for us, but to also thank Him for the ‘thorns’
in our lives.”
Gettin’ in the Holiday Spirit
Lots of activities slated to usher in
the holidays
The Guardian-Journal
The
holidays are almost upon us, and there will be plenty to do during the holiday
season in Claiborne Parish -- other than shopping of course! So, here’s a sneak
peek at what’s going to be happening to usher in the Christmas holidays.
Piggly Wiggly Homer Rib Cook-Off
Get
your aprons on and your best cooking skills ready for the Piggly Wiggly of Homer
Rib Cook-Off to be held on Saturday, December 10 in conjunction with the
Claiborne Parish Christmas Festival and Parade.
This is
the beginning of an annual event.
Prizes
for the winners include: first place $300, second place $150 and third place is
$75. You provide your team, grill and spices and Piggly Wiggly will provide
three slabs of pork ribs for the cooking.
This
will be a fun day for the family as there will be a car show, entertainment,
fun activities for the children and the Claiborne Parish Christmas Festival and
Parade to round out the day. So bring your family and have a day of good food,
shopping and ringing in Christmas with the parade.
If
interested in having a team and cooking, or being a sponsor of the Piggly
Wiggly Cook-Off, please call Eric Brown or Renea Burch at (318) 927-2353 or
email for entry forms and rules. Registration
deadline is Friday, November 25.
Claiborne Parish Christmas Festival and Parade
You can
feel Christmas in the air with the smell of good food, entertainment, fun
activities for the kids and family at the Claiborne Parish Christmas Festival,
located around the historic Claiborne Parish Courthouse Square in Homer.
There
will be the Santa Train, Christmas Festival, Parade, Car Show and the Piggly
Wiggly Rib Cook-Off. It will be a fun day for the whole family.
Want to
show your talent? Then come on down and help provide entertainment for the
festival.
Want to
sell your arts, crafts, food and other unique items for those wonderful Christmas
gifts? Then we want you.
Booths
for venders are $20 without electricity and $30 with electricity. Registration
deadline is Friday, November 25.
Please
contact Renea Burch at (318) 927-9257 or email
for entry forms or to sign up to provide entertainment during the day.
Annual Christmas Food Drive
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 30th 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 in helping to collect, sort and
package food items for delivery.
First
Presbyterian Church in Homer will continue to allow Lions the 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 16.
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 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 Haynesville City
Hall. The deadline to turn in completed applications along with OFS printouts
is Friday, December 9. Completed applications can be turned in to the Police
Jury office or mailed to Spirit of Christmas Food Drive, c/o Cynthia Steele,
309 North Main Street, 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
upon the wonderful generosity of our local citizens,” said Susan Herring,
former food drive chairman for the Homer Lions Club. “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 Chairpersons Dwayne Woodard at
318-927-2222 or Cynthia Steele at 318-927-2566.
Plane makes emergency landing
A plane
made an emergency landing at Homer Airport around 10 a.m. Saturday.
The
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office got a phone call from the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) that a plane was having engine trouble.
Coming
from Shreveport headed to Memphis, Tenn., officials at the scene said the small
single engine plane was having engine trouble. There were two passengers with
him, but no injuries were reported.
Fire
Chief Dennis Butcher said the pilot was lucky because if he’d left Shreveport
any earlier than he did, he would not have been able to locate an airport in
which to land.
The
sheriff’s office, Homer Fire Department and Homer Police were dispatched to the
scene.
The
plane landed with no problems, but he did it with no engine, Butcher said. He
departed within a half hour of making the landing.
Officials
determined that his carburetor heater wasn’t working properly. A few
adjustments were made, and within the half hour, he had departed to his
destination.
Lisbon Landing to get de-silted soon
The Guardian-Journal
The
Claiborne Parish Watershed District Commission met on Thursday afternoon in a
special called meeting to discuss de-silting a part of Lake Claiborne at Lisbon
Landing.
Commissioners
voted unanimously to advertise for bids for the project with specifications on
what needs to be done.
Commissioner
Chic Hines said there is a buildup of silt at the launch and in the canal that
is making it difficult for boaters to launch and move their boats out to the
lake. Boats are dragging the bottom of the passage due to the buildup. Removing
the built up silt around the launch area, and the passage itself is necessary.
However,
there is only a small window of time in which to do the project, because now
the timing is ideal with the lowering of the lake.
John
Menefee, of JW Menefee Contractors, took a look at the area and said that it
would have to be dug out at least by 30 inches, if not more to deepen the
launch area. He said it needs to be dug out from the launch area all the way to
the open water.
The
canal would be cleaned out going down and it would be widened coming back.
The
commission will advertise for bids for three weeks before making a decision.
They will choose the company not by the lowest bid, but by the specifications
of the job and if that company meets all the requirements to complete the
project.
According
to Treasurer Phillip “Butch” Fincher, the commission has the funds available to
pay for the project, which is expected to cost approximately $148,000,
depending on what needs to be done.
In
other news, the replacement of the pier at Lisbon Landing has begun and is
expected to be completed within a few days once construction on the new pier
begins.
