Crash kills Lisbon woman
Submitted photo
Shortly before 6 p.m., a two-vehicle
accident destroyed this 2012 GMC Terrain when officials say the driver,
67-year-old Gloria Bennett, failed to stop at the stop sign on U.S. 79 and Hwy.
9 just outside of Homer. Bennett was airlifted to an area hospital where she
died from her injuries.
The Guardian-Journal
A
two-vehicle accident was fatal for a Lisbon woman who died Monday evening after
she was airlifted to an area hospital.
According
to Louisiana State Police Troop G, shortly before 6 p.m., the accident occurred
at the intersection of La. Hwy. 9 and U.S. 79. The preliminary investigation
revealed that a 2012 GMC Terrain, driven by 67-year-old Gloria Bennett, of
Lisbon, was traveling north on Hwy. 9 when she failed to stop at the stop sign
at the intersection of U.S. 79. Bennett then struck a northbound 2012 Mack
tractor-trailer driven by 52-year-old Paul Summers, of El Dorado, Ark.
Summers
was not injured in the crash, but Bennett was transported by Life Air to an
area hospital where she died as a result of her injuries.
Toxicology
samples were obtained and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains
under investigation.
Troopers
urge motorists to remain vigilant while driving and remember that crashes are
unexpected events. By taking precautionary steps, including never driving while
distracted or impaired and always obeying the laws of the road, motorists can
substantially reduce their risk of being involved in a crash.
Join us for Homer Hospital’s ICU Grand
Opening this Sunday!
Please
join us as we celebrate Critical Care…Close to Home with the Grand Opening of
the new state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit on Sunday, September 9, from 1:30
until 3 p.m. at Homer Memorial Hospital.
Pictured
above are the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit Staff. Left to right are Pinkie
Tell, Priscilla Pitts, Elizabeth Atkins, Karolin Harper, Wendy Burnham,
Alphatene Shelton, Jody Groves, Valerie Tuggle and Amie Teutsch.
Service to honor our heroes September 6
Claiborne
Parish’s finest will be honored this Thursday at Homer’s First Baptist Church
with their annual 9/11 Remembrance Service.
A fish
fry supper will begin at 6 p.m. There is no charge and admission is free.
While
honoring the parish’s law enforcement, emergency personnel, firefighters and
military, those lost during the attacks on September 11, 2001, will be
remembered as well.
The
keynote speaker for the evening will be Dr. Gibbie McMillan, director of Men’s
Ministries of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
Butcher: Isaac ‘nonevent’ for Claiborne
Photo courtesy of Dennis Butcher
The day before Hurricane Isaac reached
the north end of Louisiana, sandbags were being filled after Homeland Security
Director Dennis Butcher declared a state of emergency. Sandbags were prepared
in case of any potential flooding in Claiborne Parish. However, with schools
closed, Isaac didn’t pack as big a punch as expected.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Claiborne
Parish escaped much of Hurricane Isaac’s wrath last week, but parish officials
were prepared just in case.
Claiborne
Parish Homeland Security Director Dennis Butcher kept a watchful eye on weather
announcements throughout early last week, declaring a state of emergency early
Wednesday morning before Isaac made it this far north.
Schools
were shut down for the day and everyone hunkered down not knowing really what
to expect. Thankfully, it was no more than some much-needed rain. He said a few
hundred sandbags were distributed, and the parish saw “localized” power
outages, but nothing major.
“The
big event became a nonevent for us,” Butcher said. “For the people down south,
it’s a different story. It’s very tragic.”
While
sandbags were available in Claiborne Parish to deal with any potential
flooding, South Louisiana was drenched in several inches of rain, causing
flooding in all of the low-lying areas except the areas protected by the new
levee system in New Orleans.
According
to the KTBS Channel 3, Homer received about an inch and a half of rain with
wind gusts as high as 34 miles per hour while earlier in the week, South
Louisiana saw as much as 20 inches of rain or more. While flooding is still an
issue in South Louisiana, evacuees have since begun returning home to begin
rebuilding.
Because
of quick action by the states effected by Isaac, federal and state assistance
was made available just as quickly so that residents in the affected areas will
have the assistance they need while they recover from the devastation.
As of
Monday afternoon, there were an estimated 2,700 people registered in shelters
across the state, according to the Governor’s Office. Also, more than 215 miles
of roadway have been cleared. The Louisiana Department of Transportation crews
have picked up more than 1,000 cubic yards of debris from across the affected
areas and repaired nearly 500 traffic signals.
According
to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, 80 nursing homes lost
power during the storm. Power has since been restored to 75 of those nursing
homes, and five are running on generator power. Across the state, 11 nursing
homes were evacuated with seven having since returned and four still evacuated.
Don’t forget the Butterfly Festival
September 15!
Festival founder publishes first book
The Guardian-Journal
The
14th annual Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies is just around the corner,
and it is a day packed full of activities.
On
Saturday, September 15, at the Claiborne Parish Fair Complex, the Butterfly
Festival will feature many activities including seminars, children’s
activities, vendors, musical and dance entertainment, several contests for
which prizes will be awarded and a parade.
The
festival will also feature a butterfly conservatory stocked with plans and
butterflies in all four states of metamorphosis.
The
butterfly-themed parade begins at 9 a.m. and includes a pet parade complete
with trophies awarded for the largest, smallest, most unusual and best-decorated
pets.
To
enter, please contact Linda Knox at 318-624-1606 or email her at
.
The
programs for the day include two presentations by Felder Rushing, Butterflies
from Scratch, the Monarch Butterfly, Live Demonstration with Caterpillars and
their Host Plants, and a skit entitled “God Planted those Dandelions.”
Vendors
space will be available, and to get one, please call Pat Bourn at 318-624-1216,
3647 Hwy. 2 Alternate, LeBois Sincox at 318-624-0661, 2087 Dogwood Drive or
Sissy Balda at 318-624-2483, 500 Main Street, all in Haynesville.
To
enter the nature photography contest and exhibit, please contact Mary Anna
Perryman at 318-377-1006, 299 Perryman Drive, Dubberly, LA 71024 or email her
at .
The
container gardening contest offers monetary prizes, and entries must be from
your own garden. Entries may feature any type of flowering or foliage plants
growing in a container.
To
enter, please contact Beverlee Killgore (day) 318-624-1122, (evening)
318-624-2432, 2222 Main Street in Haynesville or email her at
.
There
will also be a horseshoe pitching contest with a $100 prize for the winning
team.
Another
special event at the festival this year includes a book signing. Loice
Kendrick-Lacy, founder of the Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies, will be
on hand to sign her first published book, “Gardening to Attract Butterflies:
The Beauty and the Beast.”
Known
as the Butterfly Queen, Lacy is a longtime resident of Haynesville and will
have a preview of her book at the festival.
For
more information concerning this or other festival activities or a brochure,
contact Loice Kendrick-Lacy at 870-234-4910 or 318-624-1929, 203 Troy,
Magnolia, Ark., 71753, or email her at , or www.claiborneone.org.
National Take Back Initiative September
29
The
Homer Police Department will be accepting unwanted or unused prescription drugs
on Saturday, September 29, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. as part of the Drug Enforcement
Administration’s (DEA) National Take Back Initiative going on nationwide.
According
to Homer Police, anyone in Claiborne Parish can come in with their prescription
drugs they don’t need or want in their home anymore. The prescription pills
will be bagged and turned into the DEA for proper disposal.
Please
make sure all pills are in a prescription pill bottle. Also, please don’t flush
pills in the toilet or pour them down the drain in a sink or bathtub as this
will contaminate the water supply.
For
those who wish to turn in their unused or unwanted prescriptions and need more
information, please contact Homer Police Sgt. Van McDaniel at 318-927-4001.
Senior Expo set for Sept. 29
The
SALT Council of the Claiborne Parish Triad invites all senior citizens to the
annual Senior Expo to be held Saturday, September 29, at Homer City Hall.
Registration
begins at 8 a.m. with refreshments being served and continues until 9 a.m. when
the program begins. The expo ends at noon with a free lunch.
Local
health and government agencies will provide booths for helpful information and
health checks. Scott Freeling, with Willis Knighton Wellness Center, will lead
in exercises. Local Attorney Jim Hatch will again speak to seniors about estate
planning.
Entertainment
will be provided and door prizes will be a highlight of the program.
All
seniors are encouraged to come enjoy the fellowship as well as receive helpful
information.
District governor visits Homer Lions
Club
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Lions
Club International says “We Serve.”
And
that is the motto that Lions Club District 8L Governor Dick Mosher brought to
the Homer Lions Club in August as the guest speaker. He presented a short video
showing all the ways the Lions Clubs are involved throughout the world and at home.
“As you
can see, we serve all over the world,” Mosher said at the end of the video
presentation.
He
talked in particular about India, saying the country has several problems.
“India
has so many different problems and so many different disasters,” he said, “and
a lot of times, Lions are the first responders. If it weren’t for Lions Clubs,
there’d probably be a bigger loss of life and property, just because there’s
nobody else to do that.”
While
Lions Club International has 46,000 clubs with 1.35 million members worldwide,
he focused on District 8L, which encompasses much of Louisiana. District 8L
currently has 28 clubs with 978 members, and District 8L, along with other
districts are hurting for members.
“We
have had problems,” Mosher said. “All of Louisiana is still in a transitional
status. The three rural districts, L, I, and O are hurting for members and for
club numbers. Two urban districts in South Louisiana in Baton Rouge and New
Orleans have the right number of clubs -- most have more than 35 clubs -- but
they are hurting for members.”
He
praised the Homer Lions Club, saying it has an “excellent-sized” club, with 50
members on its roster.
“However,
what if you added 15 percent to it?” he asked. “There would be more things you
could do, more people to work, more money you could raise, more support you
could give to your charities.”
He
challenged Homer Lions to do more, push for more membership and set goals.
“I’m
just asking to set a goal for membership,” he said. “I believe every one of us
knows at least one person who would enjoy being a Lion. It’s a great
organization. I think the world of the Lions Club, and I like to share it with
everyone I know.”
The
Homer Lions Club is active in the Homer community, making donations to various
organizations, which include the Claiborne Parish Library, the Herbert S. Ford
Museum, fan donations to the Claiborne Council on Aging during the summer,
collection of eyeglasses, paying for eyeglasses for those in need as well as
sponsoring youth for the Louisiana Lions Camp. Another charity the Homer Lions
Club contributed to is the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation by donating enough
to become a business partner with the foundation.
The
club also helps out with traffic control during the Town of Homer’s Santa Train
activities during the Christmas season. Also during the Christmas season, Homer
Lions Club members team up with Brookshire’s Spirit of Christmas Food Drive and
Claiborne 4-H in which Lions distribute food boxes to the needy.
Its two
main fundraisers include pecan sales, which is just around the corner, and the
annual Lions Chicken Charbroil held in May.
Mosher
also strongly encouraged the club to strive to meet the criteria to qualify for
the Club Excellence Award in which its criteria includes several things.
The
club must be in good standing, which means international per capita taxes and
new member entrance fees are paid in full and no outstanding balances more than
90 days past due. The club must have conducted at least three community service
projects, made a contribution to the Lions Club International Foundation and
achieved net growth in membership. Another criterion includes communication in
which the club’s service activities are published through local media and
effectively communicated activities to club members.
Other
criteria include leadership and club development.
“There’s
a lot involved in this,” Mosher said. “It’s not just the club president; it’s
not just the club secretary. One of the major things is to make sure you do
your monthly reports. Activity reporting has been one of our major problems.
Last year, we had one club in District 8L that filed a report with us -- one
club. I’d love to have all of our clubs filling out activity reports.
“It
would be wonderful if I could get all of the clubs in District 8L striving to
qualify for the Club Excellence Award,” he continued. “It would improve
membership, it would improve community service, it would improve our
fundraising -- it would just be a win-win-win situation for everybody.”
McMullan Realty, Springhill - Announces Opening of Their New Website
Denny McMullan of McMullan Realty Company in Springhill, LA, announces the opening of their 
re-designed website as of 2012-08-06, with all current listings now available at: www.McMullanRealty.com.
Whether you're looking to buy or sell a home, commercial or investment property, McMullan Realty Company can help. They take pride in taking the time to get to know each and every client individually - listening to their specific needs and wishes. They are ready to negotiate the best deals, determine your optimal selling price and provide you with all the necessary facts you need to make a confident, informed decision.
From the first walk-through to the signing of papers, McMullan Realty will be with you every step of the way. Their experienced agents are ready to help you achieve your real estate goals.
McMullan Realty Company was established in 1961 by Dennis and Evelyn McMullan. Continuously family owned and operated, McMullan Realty Company has specialized in REAL ESTATE SALES AND MARKETING in the North Webster Parish, Louisiana and Southwest Arkansas areas for more than 50-years.
Denny McMullan, broker at McMullan Realty, stated "We were looking for a web designer to re-build our existing site and someone that we could depend upon to maintain our site in a timely manner. After reviewing several area realtor sites, we came across Claiborne Parish web designer, Key-Comp Web Design, we visited the Key-Comp sites for Claiborne Parish realtors and were very impressed (JT Taylor Realty, Northest Properties & Toney Johnson Real Estate). We contacted Joel Ponder of Key-Comp Web Design, he subsequently submitted a very reasonable proposal for the design and maintenance of our site. We accepted the proposal and have been very pleased with the results. If any of you know anyone who wants a new website or has a site that is in need of a re-do, we strongly recommend Key-Comp. You can contact Joel via his new website at: www.KCWD.com."
