Picture: Michael and his wife Margie picture
Photo courtesy of the Michael family
Joe Michael is pictured with his wife,
Marjorie.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A man
with a heart for his community has passed away. Joe Michael, 88, passed away
Friday, December 30, 2011.
Services
were held at St. Margaret Catholic Church, where he was a charter member, on
Monday, January 2, with interment following at Arlington Cemetery.
Over
the span of his life, Michael made a true impact in his community with many
accolades to his credit. Much of what people see today in Homer is because
Michael had a hand in it. Many people can say they knew and loved Michael, but
none more so than his family.
His
daughter, Patricia Schenck, 50, said he was a friend to everyone he met. He
played a very active role in his community, and it wasn’t about getting praise
or a pat on the back.
“My
daddy thought about other people before he thought about himself,” she said.
“He did it for the people in his community and his family. He felt like that
was his job on this planet was to do something for somebody else.”
His
youngest daughter, April Hand, 47, said he loved giving back to his community,
and it showed.
“He
didn’t give to his community when it was convenient for him, but he gave to his
community because that’s what needed to be done,” Hand said. “He loved to
promote his town, and he always brought a sense of community with him. He had
so much love for other people, and he brought that into the town. He always
emphasized that he was not a politician, he was a public servant, and that’s
the way he lived.”
He was
a father that was always there for his children. He was truly the patriarch of
the family, she said.
“Daddy
was always there without failure,” Schenck said. “He expected a lot of all of
us. He expected all of us to be educated, and that was our job. He told us that
education was the only thing that couldn’t be taken away from us.”
Hand
said Michael was a “wonderful” father.
“He was
the very best father he could be,” she said. “He was a wonderful father and a
wonderful man. I don’t think I’ll ever meet another man like him. He is the
only person I’ve ever known that when given the choice of doing right or wrong,
he always did right even if it was uncomfortable for him.”
One of
her favorite memories of her father was the day she married her husband, Jimmy
Hand.
“My dad
took him aside before we got married and gave Jimmy some advice, telling him
that ‘you can always get in the last word in an argument with my daughter as
long as those words are ‘Yes, dear,’” she said. “This was one of his
philosophies. What it really means is not to sweat the small stuff and go on.”
And she
said her husband has remembered that ever since. She also said Jimmy feels that
Michael was a father to him as well.
But it
was his wife of 60 years, Marjorie, whom he loved just as dearly as he did his
children and his community.
“They
were very deeply in love, and found joy in each other every day,” Hand said.
“They loved being with each other and doing for each other. You couldn’t ask
for a better relationship. Some of the things they loved to do together was
dancing, playing dominoes, working in the yard and raising their children
together.”
“Margie”,
as she’s affectionately known, said she felt very loved and cherished, and she
was honored to be his wife. He had a way of solving all her problems, she said.
The
priorities in his life began with his faith in God first and his family second.
However, Schenck said, “everybody teases that third in line was Louisiana
Tech.”
And
what a Tech fan he was. Upon returning from the war, Michael, a 1943 graduate
of Homer High School, was not only pursuing a business degree -- in which he
graduated summa cum laude -- but he was very involved in sports. He was a
four-year letterman as a quarterback, linebacker, placekicker and kickoff
specialist (known as “Toe Joe”). During his time in high school, he was
valedictorian of his graduating class, three-year football letterman as a
quarterback, fullback, linebacker and placekicker and four-year drummer in the
band.
Following
high school graduation, Michael served two years in the U.S. Army during World
War II, in the Army Air Corp, 15th Bomb Wing in Chegignola, Italy.
He was
later inducted into both the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the National
Football Hall of Fame. He was a member of the “T” Club for four years, student
senator for one year, scholastic honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, leadership
honor society of Omicron Delta Kappa and Who’s Who.
According
to his family, he remained active with sports throughout his life, officiating
a combination of high school, college and professional football for 45 years,
umpiring Big 8 Baseball for 10 years and co-founding, constructing and
maintaining the Homer Golf Club for more than 35 years.
He also
served as Homer’s mayor for 20 years. He was active in many organizations,
including serving as a board member of Arlington Cemetery, a member of the
Homer Lions Club with perfect attendance for 60 years and serving as board
president in 1968-69, co-founder of the Homer Country Club, member of the Homer
Chamber of Commerce, director of the Homer Memorial Hospital board, regional
director of the American Cancer Society, founder of the Claiborne Jubilee and
chairman of the fundraising committee for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of
America.
He was
a founding board member of Claiborne Bank and Trust.
He was
the owner and founder of Michael’s Men’s Store. After turning the business over
to his son, Joe Ellis, he remained active working for Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company, Claiborne Home Health and Homer Memorial Hospital.
Memorials
may be made to St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, Arlington Cemetery, Homer
Memorial Hospital, Louisiana Tech University Athletics, St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital or the charity of the donor’s choice.
“We
were very grateful to have him for as long as we did,” Hand said. “No one loved
Homer more than he did and he expressed that love by giving back to the
community.”
Health insurance premiums to increase
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Homer Town Council agreed unanimously that municipal employees now need to pay
a small portion of their health insurance premiums.
For
many years, the town has paid in full the employee’s portion of health
insurance, with the employee paying for their families. Ten years ago, Mayor
Alecia Smith said, the town was paying roughly $250 per month per employee, and
now it’s at $553 per month per employee.
Because
insurance rates keep increasing from year to year, the council decided that
town employees should pay at least $25 per pay period to help offset costs to
the town. For 2012, that increase equals $53 per person per month, and with 20
plus employees, that adds up, she said.
“I hate
to sound like the Grinch, but we can’t keep soaking up these expenses,” she
said. “It’s [premiums] going to go up every year, no matter where you work.
There’s only so much that the general fund – and the police fund – can absorb
from these increases.”
Even
Carlette Sanford, who has been a staunch opponent to raising rates on anything,
agreed that town employees should start paying a small amount so that when it
increases, it’s not such a shock.
According
to Smith, this will give the town a little cushion to cover health insurance
costs.
“It’s
not going to get any better, and now is the time to do something about it,”
Sanford said.
Another
concern raised by Pam Breedlove, sitting in for Town Attorney Jim Colvin, was
the fact that with the new healthcare law, there are still some things up in
the air.
“If it
doesn’t get reversed at the Supreme Court level, not having health insurance is
going to end up costing them more with a fine,” Breedlove said.
The
good news is that with that $25 coming out of their checks each pay period, the
amount of their federal tax deductions would decrease, because the net amount
of their check decreased somewhat. It’s not considered taxable income.
The $25
per pay period to be deducted from pay checks went into effect January 1.
Following
a public hearing, the council adopted its amended 2011 budget as well as its
proposed 2012 budget.
According
to Smith, there were some unexpected changes in 2011’s budget, which means that
by law, it had to be amended to balance out. Things changing such as an
increase in gas prices or salaries can be done, but the budget has to be
amended if it’s over a five percent deviation.
In
2011’s amended budget, there were things that had to be corrected, such as code
errors, where an item in the accounting system was coded wrong and had to be
corrected. Also, a budget is an estimate of what a municipality will spend for
the next fiscal year, which is based on what was spent in previous years.
“You’re
not necessarily going to be on the money every year,” Smith said. “There’s not
going to be any guarantee that’s what we’ll spend.”
However,
the entity is expected to stay within that amount unless something happens. For
instance, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills can budget a certain amount for salaries,
but if something happens and his officers have to work overtime, then the
police department’s budget might go over in order to pay the officers the
overtime due them.
There
were some major expenses for 2011 in maintenance repairs. However, because those
repairs have been made and equipment has been replaced, those expenses are not
expected for 2012.
Also,
in the police department’s fund, there have been some decreases as well. Smith
said that at least 15 percent less was budgeted for tickets and fines
collections.
She
also went over the other funds, such as the street fund, the fire department
fund and others. One she mentioned is what goes towards Trash Bash. The
dumpster fees are “monstrous,” and the issue may have to be revisited with the
Clean City Committee, which puts on the Trash Bash every month.
According
to records, the dumpster fees cost the town $11,000, and that was just through
July 2011.
In
other news, a historical society committee has finally been named. Members are
Smith, Cynthia Steele, vice chair, Steve Koskie, Carolyn Lumpkin, Dwayne
Woodard, Homer Councilwoman Carlette Sanford and Rusty Billings. Each member
will serve two-year terms.
Also, a
communications policy was adopted by the town, which means the town has agreed
to find ways to communicate with the physically disabled as needed.
The
town council tabled naming an engineer for the Homer Municipal Airport because
right now there are no grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
According to Smith, Alliance, the engineering company chosen for the airport
projects, either have not completed the paperwork properly or it wasn’t turned
in by deadlines.
The
council also approved:
• The
council meeting schedule for the year, in which the monthly meetings are held
the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers.
• A
contract for a grant writer, which again went to Shelly King, with a contract
fee of $7,000 per year.
• A
city attorney. Jim Colvin, who has served as the town’s attorney for the past
five years, did not turn in a bid. Because no bid came from Colvin, Marcus
Patillo, an attorney in Minden, was chosen with a fee of $2,250 per month.
Patillo was approved with a vote of three to one, with Sanford being the lone
vote against. District 3 Councilman Don McCalman was absent.
• A CPA
contract with Cynthia Brooks at $125 per hour.
• A
computer technician contract which went to Melvin Goodson, the current
technician at $750 per month.
• Pest
Control contract, which went to Camo-Fog Pest Control Specialists, at $85 per
quarter (every three months).
• A
generator maintenance contract Kossen Equipment, Inc. for the four-hour load
bank at $810 per year, and basic services with inspection is $900.
•
Auditors for 2012, which went to Marsha Millican, who was the former auditor
under the administration of former mayor David Newell.
• All
beer licenses.
• And
unpaid vacation time for various employees.
The
next meeting of the Homer Town Council will be Monday, January 9, at 6 p.m. in
council chambers, located inside Homer City Hall. For more information, or for
questions, please call their office at 318-927-3555.
Burglary report leads to arrest
The Guardian-Journal
The
observations of a concerned citizen led to the arrests of two people who were
allegedly seen taking items from a shop building.
On
Wednesday, December 21, 2011, this concerned citizen discovered a shop building
being burglarized, and he advised the owner that people were removing items
from it.
The
owner contacted the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office and reported a burglary
in progress at his building in Summerfield. Sheriff’s Deputies Roger Ellerbe
and David Morgan were dispatched to the scene and observed a large amount of
items that had been stolen.
Detective
Charles Buford led an investigation into the burglary assisted by Detective
Randy Smith.
The
items reported stolen were identified by the victim, which lead to the arrest
of Kendrick K. Wright, 25, of Lillie, and Anthony R. Carter, 21, of Junction
City, Ark.
Entry
was made into the shop by breaking out a window.
Both
men were arrested and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center
(CPDC). Each were charged with offenses of criminal trespass with bonds set at
$500 each and simple burglary with bonds set at $12,000 each.
In a
separate incident, on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, a theft of pipe was reported
to the sheriff’s office.
The
victim of the theft located the stolen pipe at Top Dollar Scrap Yard. Detective
Darren Keel led an investigation into the matter, which resulted in the arrest
of Dustin Lynn Hammontree, 21, of Athens.
Keel
obtained warrants against Hammontree for criminal trespass and theft over $500.
Hammontree
was booked at CPDC with a bond of $500 on the trespass charge and a bond of
$10,000 on the theft charge.
Homer receives $1.17 million in grants
The Guardian-Journal
Homer
Mayor Alecia Smith announced in December 2011 that the Town of Homer has
received more than $1 million in grants.
Awarded
for various projects, Smith said it was because of the grant committee and the
town council that these grants were even possible.
“I
would like to thank the Grant Committee and town council for making all the
2011 accomplishments possible,” she said, “and I look forward to working with
the grant committee in 2012 to achieve new accomplishments for the Town of
Homer.”
According
to Smith, the town received $1,173,223 in grants. The grants include the
following:
• A
grant totaling $9,223 to improve Jaycee Park by repairing the fence, tennis
court, breaker box, merry-go-round, swing and slide,
• A
grant for $35,000 to repair a section of City Hall’s roof. The new roof
provides safety and adequacy for the town’s daily operations as well as
community activities held for the citizens of Homer,
• A
grant for $35,000 to purchase a new back hoe for the water department, which
allowed project to be completed in a more timely and efficient manner,
• A
grant for $454,000 from the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG)
to construct a new 500 gpm water well and to renovate the feed building for treating
water,
• A
grant for $100,000 from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) to improve
wastewater facility rehabilitation,
• A
grant for more than $540,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for
the lighting and obstruction removal to improve the Homer Municipal Airport.
Committee
members are: Mayor Smith, Gene Coleman (chair), Councilwoman Patricia Jenkins,
Shelly King, Attorney Jim Colvin, Councilman Don McCalman, Lisa Foster (town
clerk), Toney Johnson, Jim Hagan, Lafaye Jackson and Lee Wells (public works).
Reservations for Chamber Banquet
available now
The
Claiborne Chamber of Commerce will be presenting its 47th Annual Banquet on
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at Homer City Hall. The meal will be
provided by Upper Crust Catering.
The
entertainment this year will be provided by the Claiborne Jubilee Players.
Based on performances given at the Swamp Gravy conference in October, local
individuals will present stories from Claiborne Parish.
Cynthia
Steele, who has advocated story-telling theater in Claiborne Parish, said the
event is sure to be special this year because attendees will get a look at some
Claiborne Parish stories through a unique art form.
“All of
the players are excited and have begun rehearsals,” she said. “They are looking
forward to presenting these three stories.”
Banquet
reservations are available for $35 per person. All reservations must be paid
in advance to confirm seating. Reservations will NOT be available at the door
the night of the event. Please return your reservation card as soon as
possible as seating is limited to 200. Business dress shall be appropriate for
the evening.
As in
prior years, sponsorship opportunities are available. All sponsors will be
recognized at the banquet and will be listed in the event program. The various
sponsorship levels and benefits are as follows:
•
Diamond Sponsor ($1,000) receives special recognition, 12 tickets, and reserved
tables.
•
Platinum Sponsor ($700) receives 8 tickets and a reserved table.
• Gold
Sponsor ($400) receives 4 tickets and a reserved table.
•
Silver Sponsor ($200) receives 4 tickets and reserved seating.
•
Bronze Sponsor ($100) receives 2 tickets and reserved seating.
If you
have not received a reservation card, please call the chamber office. When you
receive it, please check the appropriate box on the reservation card if you are
interested in being a banquet sponsor and list the individuals who will be
attending. For more information, please contact the chamber office at (318)
927-3271.
We are
planning an exceptional banquet this year and hope you will join us.
Smoke test to begin January 9
The
Town of Homer will conduct a smoke test Monday, January 9 through Friday,
January 13 for the purpose of detecting leaks in the town’s sewer and water
systems.
Water
department officials will blow smoke into the sewer pipes during the coming
weeks, which will reveal sources of sewer odors in neighborhoods as well as
places where some and other surface water is entering the sanitary system.
According
to a public notice, published in this edition of The Guardian-Journal, a
special, non-toxic smoke will be blown through the pipes. It is manufactured
for this purpose and leaves no residuals or stains and has no effect on animal
or plant life. The smoke has a distinctive, but not unpleasant, odor.
Visibility and odor last only a few minutes where there is adequate
ventilation.
Because
plumbing appliances in your home or building are connected to the sanitary
sewer system, some of the smoke may enter the structure under the following
conditions:
• Vents
connected to your building’s sewer pipes are inadequate, defective or
improperly installed,
• Traps
under sinks, tubs, basins, showers and other drains are dry, defective or
improperly installed or missing,
• Pipes,
connections and seals of the wastewater drain system in and under the building
are damaged, defective, have plugs missing or are improperly installed.
If
smoke enters your house or building, this is an indication that gases and odors
from the sewer system may also enter. These can be both unpleasant and
dangerous as well as a health hazard to the occupants. Location, identification
and correction of the source of smoke that enters your house is urgently
advised.
The
Town of Homer will render all possible cooperation, but the correction of any
defects in the pipes and sewer lines on private property is the responsibility
of the owner.
For
those who have questions or want more information, please call the Town of
Homer at 318-927-3555.
Reviewing 2011’s top 10 stories
1. Butch Bays investigation continues
The
investigation into the death of Brian G. “Butch” Bays continues.
The
District 1 Police Juror was killed in December 2010 after two boys allegedly
shot him in his country store early that Thursday morning. Donte Fielding and
Hardy Taylor were both arrested within days of the shooting accused of his
murder.
Even a
year later, authorities are still awaiting the return of evidence from the
crime labs. Fielding is incarcerated at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center in
Webster Parish and Taylor is at home under the watchful eye of Claiborne Parish
Sheriff’s deputies as the two await trial dates.
Taylor
was sent home to be monitored due to a medical condition that leaves him with
no immune system. He has to have frequent treatments that costs upward of
$90,000 per month, which would have crippled the parish’s funds. He is at home
with an ankle bracelet monitor and deputies check on him quite frequently as
well as transport him shackled to and from his treatments.
2. Drought leads to numerous fires
As the
year 2011 began, the drought set in due to the La Nina weather pattern kept
much needed rain from the area. Claiborne Parish firefighters from all
districts fought numerous grass and woods fires due to the extremely dry
conditions.
In
fact, the entire state of Louisiana was under a mandatory burn ban for the
better part of six months. It has been only recently that these bans have been
lifted.
3. Former mayor faced Louisiana Supreme Court
Former
Homer Mayor David Newell was suspended from law practice in January 2011 for
several violations of the Attorney’s Rules of Professional Conduct. Several
complaints were lodged against him to the Attorney Discipline Board, alleging
he did not complete work he was paid to do and did not complete some work in a
timely fashion.
He was
also accused of mixing personal and business money in his accounts and did not
straighten it out.
In all,
there were seven charges. He was suspended for one year and one day.
4. Three plead guilty in cross burning
A case
that spans the last few years came to an end in February after three people
pled guilty to charges in a cross burning in Athens in 2008. Jeremy Matthew
Moro, 33, pled guilty to conspiring to burn a cross near the home of an interracial
couple in Athens, in October 2008. Sonya Marie Hart, 31, pled guilty on January
31, to misprision of a felony because she withheld information from the FBI
regarding the defendants’ attempt to cover up the cross burning. The Moros’
cousin, Daniel Danforth, was previously convicted by a federal jury for
organizing, carrying out and attempting to cover up the same cross burning.
Joshua
and Jeremy Moro admitted that in October 2008, they agreed with their cousin,
Daniel Danforth, to build, erect and burn a cross near the home of another
cousin, her African-American boyfriend (now husband), her 11-year-old son and
their grandmother who was believed to approve of the cousin’s interracial
relationship.
5. Toddler, mom found dead
A one
year old little boy was found deceased in March after the Claiborne Parish
Sheriff’s Office was notified that Devion Wafer and his mother, Ruby, were
missing. The little boy was found in a creek near Lisbon Landing two days
later. Two weeks, later, his mother was also found behind a vacant store not
far from Lisbon Landing. Sheriff Ken Bailey said the case is still under
investigation and has not released any more information because of the ongoing
investigation.
During
the summer, a prayer circle and fundraiser were held at the sight of the boy’s
demise to help raise funds for cemetery markers for the two. Balloons were
released in Devion and Ruby’s memory.
6. Haynesville’s ‘Pot’ Luck at the Fair successful
Sponsored
by the Haynesville Beautification Committee, Haynesville’s first ‘Pot’ Luck at
the Fair fundraiser was successful enough to raise funds to renovate the
restrooms at the Claiborne Parish Fair Complex. Set as a potluck supper with
lots of good food, entertainment and silent auction, the event raised $17,000.
The Citizens Advisory Committee has decided to make the fundraiser an annual
event to help raise funds for projects around town and to help with various
funds for the community.
7. Housing Authority director fired
Michelle
Green, former executive director of the Homer Housing Authority was fired in
May after an authority board member was contacted regarding a check with what
appeared to be a forged signature. According to Housing Authority Board
Chairman Ray Jiles, she was terminated because of fraudulent acts and
embezzlement. Several months later, a new executive director was appointed.
Debra Sarpy, a former employee for the Town of Homer, was appointed by the
board. Meanwhile, during the absence of an executive director, housing
authority employees and Jiles worked with the Minden Housing Authority Director
to help straighten out records and get Homer’s in the right direction.
8. CPSB implements RIF, Auditors give good news
The
Claiborne Parish School Board, at the end of May, implemented its reduction in
force policy because of tight budget strings that sent more than 60 teachers
and support staff home. Anger and feelings of betrayal were directed at not
only school board members but central office staff as well in the aftermath.
Although some teachers and support staff were recalled, the school board still
faces another tough year of budget tightening. As school systems all over the
state continue to deal with more and more budget constraints, Claiborne seems
to be ahead of the game as Business Manager Fred Evans keeps them prepared for
more possible cuts to come.
The
good news is that the last fiscal year of 2010’s audit came back with no
findings whatsoever. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janice Williams gave the
credit to Evans, but Evans said all the credit goes to the department heads and
schools for their hard work in getting everything in on time and keeping
immaculate records.
9. Homer Hospital breaks ground for new ICU
Homer
Memorial Hospital broke ground in September for the renovation of the cafeteria
and the construction of a new state-of-the-art intensive care unit. Thanks to
the generosity of the Claiborne Parish community and the hard work of all
involved, the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation raised enough money to begin
construction. The new ICU will contain six units with state-of-the-art
equipment, as well as a new nurses’ station giving the nurses more room to
breathe and a renovated cafeteria area.
10. Homer citizens pass alcohol propositions
The
citizens of the Town of Homer said yes to five propositions that will now allow
high content alcohol to be sold within its corporate limits. Five propositions
were on the ballot in November which asked citizens if they wanted high content
alcohol sold in stores and restaurants as well as in a bar if they so chose.
The turnaround surprised many because for several years, only beer with a six
percent alcohol content or lower could be sold within the corporate limits.
Proponents say this will help raise sales tax revenue for the town, but
opponents say it will increase the crime rate. The propositions will take
effect as soon as the election results are declared official by the Louisiana
Secretary of State’s office.
