Officials meet to discuss U.S. 79, La. 9
intersection
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Officials met last week to seek a viable
solution to reduce the number of accidents at the intersection of the Homer
Bypass and U.S. 79.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
powers that be are finally putting their heads together to come up with a
solution to reduce the number of accidents at the intersection of U.S. 79, the
Homer Bypass and Hwy. 9 South.
According
to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, he met with Troop G Public Information
Officer Matt Harris and two DOTD engineers last week to discuss a viable
solution. The engineers, he said, suggested putting reflective “buttons” on the
bypass leading up to U.S. 79 and Hwy. 9 South leading to U.S. 79. They also
suggested putting caution lights just south of the intersection on either side
of U.S. 79 to alert people that an intersection is coming up.
Putting
traffic signals in was also discussed, but it just isn’t an option, Bailey
said.
“It
would be more dangerous to put up a red light there,” Bailey said. “It would
back up traffic and cause all kinds of problems. If we can get those buttons
down and the caution lights up, that would be a big help.”
Harris
explained that within the circumference of the intersection, there are nine
lanes of traffic, and that’s a lot of traffic to watch for. Each section of the
intersection has a turning lane, making it three lanes of traffic.
The big
rigs that the bypass was intended for also have a problem, Harris said, because
the bypass isn’t programmed into their Global Positioning System (GPS), and it
confuses them -- which is why they continue to come through the Square in
Homer.
“We’re
working with DOTD to improve the warning devices to make the intersection safer
and give motorists more time to clear the lanes before entering 79,” Harris
said.
According
to Susan Stafford, public information officer for DOTD, the department, at the
end of August, installed blinking stop signs northbound on Hwy. 9 and
southbound on U.S. 79 as well as “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” plaques at the
bottom of the stop signs. Last Thursday, she said, they also completed the
installation of rumble strips northbound on Hwy. 9 and southbound on U.S. 79 at
the approach to the intersection.
“Safety
is DOTD’s top priority and we are working with local and state law enforcement
to assist with monitoring the safety of the corridor and enforcing current
traffic laws,” she said in an email to The Guardian-Journal.
They
are also looking at the possibility of reducing the speed limit on U.S. 79 from
Andy Prince Road on towards Homer in hopes of giving motorists more time to
clear the intersection going across or turning.
Since
the opening of the bypass in 2010, there have been many accidents at that
particular intersection, and it’s had citizens worried. In fact, it was just
two weeks ago that a Lisbon woman lost her life at that intersection. She was
traveling north on Hwy. 9 when she failed to stop at the stop sign at the
intersection of U.S. 79, crashing into an 18-wheeler going northbound on U.S.
79.
“When
it first opened up, there seemed to be one or two (accidents) a day, but people
had to get used to it being open and the signage that was put up,” Bailey said.
Bailey
also requested a speed study along the Homer Bypass as well. According to
Bailey, letters have been sent to the DOTD by himself and Rep. Patrick
Jefferson in reference to the intersection at the Homer bypass.
Train derails, spilling hazardous
chemicals
Photo courtesy of Dennis Butcher
A train derailed in northern Claiborne
Parish Monday afternoon, spilling hazardous chemicals onto the ground.
The Guardian-Journal
A train
carrying hazardous materials derailed in northern Claiborne Parish south off
Goodwin Lake Road crossing Monday afternoon, spilling some flammable materials.
According
to Homeland Security Director Dennis Butcher, there were five cars that
derailed, each carrying a hazardous chemical. One of the overturned cars was
carrying chlorine, one benzene, one methyl, one alkylamine and one sulfur
trioxide. Two other cars were also carrying chlorine, but they were still
upright.
While
no evacuations were ordered and there were no injuries, the overturned rail car
containing the benzene was leaking some, Butcher said.
“Benzene
is highly flammable,” he said in an interview Tuesday morning. “It’s very
dangerous, but at this point, officials are assessing the situation and will
have a plan by the end of the day.”
As of
press time, all the cars are upright with the exception of one, Butcher said.
When
the train derailed, Haynesville first responders were called, and once the
situation was initially assessed, Louisiana State Police Hazmat was called in.
A one mile perimeter was reviewed just in case an evacuation became necessary.
L&NW
personnel were also on scene to assess damage, get the situation under control
and fix the section of rail that was destroyed when the cars overturned.
Foster Campbell visits Claiborne Parish
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Louisiana Public Service Commissioner
Foster Campbell spent the morning in Claiborne Parish visiting with
constituents about various areas his office covers. Above, he visited with
citizens at Haynesville City Hall and answered questions and took concerns
about high speed internet and answered questions regarding electric bills.
The Guardian-Journal
Public
Service Commissioner Foster Campbell toured Claiborne Parish, stopping in Homer
and Haynesville to speak with citizens and hear their concerns -- the main one
being the lack of high speed internet in rural areas.
Campbell
said this is the one subject he hears the most about, and he’s disappointed
that he hasn’t been able to do more to get high speed internet to rural areas.
In
fact, he said, the federal government offered $80 million in grants with 220
grant applications turned in and Louisiana was the only one that turned it
down.
“Bobby
Jindal turned it down because he said he didn’t want more government
interference,” Campbell said. “This is why you don’t have high speed internet
in rural areas.”
While
he made his feelings clear about Jindal, high speed internet isn’t the only thing
his office regulates. The Public Service Commission Office also deals with
utility companies and phone companies. While in Haynesville, one woman asked
why customers are still paying for hurricane recovery. Campbell said utility
companies are allowed to do so, and Entergy has placed a surcharge on their
customers’ bills for a 10-year period -- which means there are a few more years
to go before that surcharge is lifted.
He
explained these surcharges help cover the cost of repairs and replacements
following natural disasters such as hurricanes, and even though the disaster
happened in South Louisiana, utility companies charge all of their customers
including those in North Louisiana.
On that
same note, Campbell also wants to reduce the rate of return most utility
companies get. Most get a 10 percent rate of return, which is a lot of profit,
he said. He wants to reduce it to about eight percent. In other words, if
customers are paying 10 cents per kilowatt, he wants to reduce it to about
eight cents per kilowatt.
Campbell’s
office also regulates telephone companies, and one issue he wants to deal with
is the high cost of collect calls for the incarcerated who call their families.
“It’s a
moral issue,” he says. “Why should the families have to pay such a high cost
when they aren’t the ones who are incarcerated? A family member accepts a
collect call from an inmate, and at the end of the month they are shocked when
they see their phone bill because of the high charges for those collect calls.”
He
wants to lower the cost to what someone on the outside would pay, he said. Law
enforcement isn’t happy with his proposal, he said, because the state sends law
enforcement agencies a portion of what’s made off these collect calls.
“The
sheriffs aren’t happy, but it’s bigger than taking money out of the jail,” he
said. “I just think the money should come from somewhere else.”
He’s
not talking about stopping recording phone calls, because he thinks those phone
call recordings are a good thing. It’s about bringing the rates down.
In
Caddo Parish, just last year, the sheriff’s office made $500,000 from these
calls; Angola made $11 million. The rates are 400 to 500 percent more, and
about 95 percent of those incarcerated are indigent, Campbell said. If his
proposal goes through, it could cost the state about $4 million.
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said his office does make some money from these phone
calls, but to help out the inmates, his office sells pre-paid phone cards at
$10 per card. These cards have so many minutes, and inmates use these to make
their phone calls instead of calling home collect.
“They
can use those cards so they don’t have to call home collect,” Bailey said.
“It’s a phone card with a PIN number. When their minutes run out, they can buy
another card.”
So far
this year, he said, the sheriff’s office has collected about $35,000 between
the sale of the phone cards and the total phone monies collected.
At the
women’s jail, he has five wall phones, and at the detention center, there are
two phones in each pod and there are five or six pods. LaSalle Corrections, the
company that runs the detention center, uses the phone company Citytel Coin out
of Bossier City.
Campbell
is the commissioner for District 5, which covers areas from Waskom, Texas to
Vicksburg, Mississippi, and from Alexandria to Arkansas.
HHS presents its Homecoming Court
Homer High School is proud to announce
the 2012 Homecoming Court: (Left to right) Freshman Maid Destiny Larkin,
Sophomore Maid Kameshia Allen, Senior Maid Ciaira Washington, Queen Kristin
Cooper, Senior Maid Jessica McGowen, Junior Maid Chyna Pleasant, Junior Maid
Sarah Lewis, and Freshman Maid Uniqua Stevenson. (Back Row) Sophomore Maid
Fontella Allen, and Football Sweethearts Keyana McCoy and Americana Walker.
Homecoming
Week “Friday Night Lights” has been celebrated all week with spirit days for
students and float work for classes. The court will ride in the annual Homer
High Homecoming Parade at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 20 and be presented
at the community pep rally at the Ronny G. Beard Memorial Stadium at 6:15
p.m.
On
Friday, September 21, the court, club sweethearts, and senior football players
and their families will be honored at the annual Homer High Homecoming Tea to
be held in the Home Economics Cottage at 11:30 a.m.
Pre-Game
Presentation of the Homer High School Club Sweethearts begins at 6:30 p.m.
followed by the singing of the National Anthem Medley by the Homer High School
Honors Choir, followed by the Homer vs. St. Frederick Homecoming Football Game.
The
2012 Homecoming Court will be presented and the queen crowned at halftime and
students will attend the annual Homecoming Dance after the game.
Homecoming
Week and festivities are all sponsored by the Homer High School Student
Council. Come out and support your hometown Pelicans during their 112th
HOMECOMING!!!
September 19 Emilee’s Purple Day
Above, the Holloway family was greeted by
this sign as they headed west-bound for Cook’s Children’s hospital where their
baby girl Emilee will be undergoing brain surgery on Wednesday, September 19 to
correct seizures she has been suffering from since she was just a few months
old. Wednesday has been declared Purple Day in Emilee’s honor and the community
will be showing their support for the family by wearing their “Praying for
Emilee” tees or any purple-colored shirt on this day. The sign above was
provided by John and Wendi Barnette.
What’s on the ballot?
Important dates to remember for November
6 election
The
Claiborne Parish Registrar of Voters is reminding citizens that the last day to
register to vote or make any changes is Tuesday, October 9.
Early
voting for the November 6 election will be from Tuesday, October 23 through
Tuesday, October 30. The office will be closed on Sunday, October 27.
Here’s
what’s on the ballot:
Presidential
Electors:
•
Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Democratic
• Jill
Stein, Cheri Honkala, Green
• Gary
Johnson, James P. Gray, Libertarian
• Mitt
Romney, Paul Ryan, Republican
•
Virgil Goode, James Clymer, Constitution
• Ross
Anderson, Luis Rodrigues, Justice
• Jack
Fellure, Toby Davis, Prohibition
• Peta
Lindsay, Yari Osorio, Socialism and Libertarian
• Jerry
White, Phyllis Scherrer, Socialist Equality
• James
Harris, Alyson Kennedy, Socialist Workers
•
Sheila Tittle, Matthew Turner, We the People
U.S.
Representative:
• John
Fleming
•
Randall Lord
Constitutional
Amendments:
No. 1:
Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly
No. 2:
Right of Each Citizen to Keep and Bear Arms
No. 4:
Surv. Spouse/Deceased Veteran/Homestead Exemption
No. 5:
Forfeiture Retirement Benefit Pub.Off./Conv. Felon
No. 6:
Gov. Auth. of New Iveria -- Prop. annexed by the city
No. 7:
Provides filling appts/Vac.onBbs./Comm.
No. 3:
Prefiling DL/for retirement/public employee
No. 8:
State Bd. of Comm./Industry-tax Exemp. Contracts
No. 9:
Security District/Parcel Fee w/in District
Parishwide
School District: Local Option-Term Limits
Special
Election for the Evergreen Fire District: 10 mills -- BOC -- 10 years.
