One pleads guilty in Operation TBOS
The Guardian-Journal
One of
the many arrested in 2010 during the Homer Police Department’s Taking Back Our
Streets (TBOS) initiative has pled guilty to drug charges.
According
to court records, Eric Williams pled guilty in district court to three counts
of drug distribution on two different indictments. He pled guilty to two counts
of Schedule II cocaine stemming from indictments in March and June 2010 and one
count of the same charge in July 2010.
In his
plea agreement, he agreed to a 10-year sentence on each count to run concurrent
and will be sentenced per that agreement on November 13.
Williams
is a repeat offender with past charges of distribution, possession with intent
to distribute and kidnapping.
“He’s
served most of his adult life in and out of prison,” said Homer Police Captain
Donald Malray. “According to intelligence reports, Williams was one of our
major drug suppliers in the Homer area.”
He was
arrested on August 27, 2010, in Operation TBOS after the Homer Police
Department received several phone calls in reference to prescription drugs
being sold illegally. In fact, in a 2010 article, Malray said there were
several overdoses, one of which was fatal.
Malray
headed the investigation, and through funds from the Town of Homer and money
seized in evidence, officers were able to make undercover buys.
Since
March 2010, 44 indictments had been made from the undercover buys with some
being repeat offenders, all of which have been to court. According to Malray,
the majority of them received probation on various drug charges.
Tommy
Ray Mitchell, another arrested in Operation TBOS, pled guilty in February to
distribution of Schedule I narcotics and was sentenced to eight years hard
labor, two years of probation and parole with five years suspended.
Out of
the 44 indictments, Williams was one of the last ones to go to court.
Burglars caught with loot
The Guardian-Journal
Two
Homer men were caught with stolen items in their vehicle after a burglary was
reported to the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office.
According
to a news release, on Thursday, September 27, Deputy Randy Pugh responded to a
call regarding a burglary on Kinsey Road.
Detective
Randy Smith and Chief Detective Charles Buford were dispatched to the residence
in order to initiate an investigation.
While
in route to the residence, detectives encountered the pickup truck referenced
in the burglary report. Upon detaining the vehicle, detectives found the driver
of the vehicle to be Otis C. Ford, 48, and the passenger to be Kevin D. Ford,
26, both of Homer.
Items
reported stolen from the residence in question were found in the back of the
truck that Otis Ford and Kevin Ford were occupying. Upon evidence obtained
during the investigation, detectives arrested Kevin D. Ford for simple criminal
damage to property with bond set at $2,000 and simple burglary with bond set at
$12,000. Otis C. Ford was arrested and charged with simple criminal damage to
property with bond set at $2,000, simple burglary with bond set at $12,000,
driving under suspension with bond set at $500, no insurance with bond set at
$500 and probation/parole violation with no bond.
Both
men were transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for booking.
CPSO warns of scams
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey and Detective Ben Booth would like to caution all
citizens regarding telephone and computer scams.
The
sheriff’s office has had numerous complaints recently regarding money lost to
these scams. These are from people who contact you claiming to be companies
that wish to assist you in protecting your accounts. They can be named
misleading titles, such as “Fraud Alert” and use this to confuse citizens.
These
are not actual fraud alert companies but are scams. They are designed to trap
you into giving them information or money to “protect” your accounts or to
award your prizes. Any caller that requests money from you in order for you to
receive more money is always a scam.
Remember,
you are never going to get something for nothing. The “deal of a lifetime” is
not going to be, and if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Please
protect yourself and your earnings; always be on guard.
If the
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office can do anything to assist you, please contact
us at 318-927-2011.
Haynesville man racks up drug charges
The Guardian-Journal
A
Haynesville man has been arrested on several warrants after he fled police.
Kevin
D. Waller, 26, was arrested on Friday, September 28, and charged with three
counts of distribution of Schedule II CDS cocaine with bond set at $25,000 each
for a total of $75,000, three counts of conspiracy to distribute Schedule II
CDS cocaine, with bond set at $25,000 each for a total of $75,000.
All six
counts are warrants issued through the Claiborne Narcotic Enforcement Team, of
which the Haynesville Police Department picked him up.
Waller
was also charged with two counts of failure to appear with a $988 fine on each
or serve 30 days on each. He was also charged with resisting an officer with a
bond of $500.
The two
failure to appear charges stem from his failure to appear in Haynesville City
Court on two DWI charges, loud music, no driver’s license, no registration and
no insurance. According to Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith, Waller
received the two DWIs within a 24-hour period.
Smith
said Officers Mario Thomas and Brandon Callicott were dispatched to a residence
on Waller Street in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, Smith said Waller
fled on foot. Officers pursued the suspect on foot and he was apprehended.
CNET
led the investigation into the distribution and conspiracy to distribute
charges.
Claiborne Parish Fair October 14-20
The Guardian-Journal
The
Claiborne Parish Fair is just around the corner and it’s expected to be a
blast!
Officially
opening on Tuesday, October 16, at 5 p.m., following the Claiborne Parish Fair
Parade at 4 p.m., several specials will be going on, along with livestock
shows, arts and crafts, and the Claiborne Parish Fair Queen pageant. There is
sure to be fun for everyone!
A
schedule of events is as follows:
Sunday, October 14
1 until
4 p.m.: School and Club poster displays; set up in north end, General Exhibit
entries accepted. (No bakery items accepted, only canned foods.)
1 p.m.:
Livestock to begin arriving
4 p.m.:
Start weighing goats, lambs and swine
6 p.m.:
Deadline for goat, lamb, swine and commercial heifer weigh-in
Monday, October 15
9 a.m.
until 5 p.m.: General exhibit entries and fresh crops and vegetables accepted
(No bakery items accepted, only canned foods.) School and Poster Displays set
up (Exception -- Art and photography accepted only until noon.)
6 p.m.:
4-H Poultry and Egg Cookery Contest, all dairy and beef cattle must be in barn
(Exception: Dairy Cows in milk must arrive morning of dairy show.) All entries
must be in the barn.
Tuesday, October 16 (School students will only go to
school a half day)
9 until
10 a.m.: Bakery items accepted and fresh vegetables accepted
10
a.m.: Judging of all entries and poultry (except livestock), General Exhibit
judging
4 p.m.:
Claiborne Parish Fair Parade (2012 Grand Marshals will be Nurlie Foster and
J.C. Ruple)
4 p.m.
until closing: CARNIVAL OPENS!!!!
5 p.m.:
Judge goats and lambs, judge market and breeding swine
Wednesday, October 17
9 a.m.
until noon: School Group Day (Day care, Pre-k through fourth grades
2 until
4 p.m.: Bingo at the South End of the Fair Building
4 p.m.:
Claiborne Parish Rabbit Show (Livestock Barn)
6 p.m.:
CARNIVAL OPEN!!!!
6 p.m.:
Judge dairy and beef
Thursday, October 18
6 p.m.:
CARNIVAL OPENS!!!!
6 p.m.:
Buyers Supper for all Sales Supporters
7 p.m.:
Junior Livestock Sale
Friday, October 19
9 until
11 a.m.: Remove all exhibits and displays
6 p.m.:
CARNIVAL OPEN!!!!
Saturday, October 20
9 a.m. until
3 p.m.: Antique and Vintage Tractor and Equipment Show
(Registration from 8 until 9 a.m.)
6 p.m.
until closing: CARNIVAL OPEN!!!!
5 p.m.:
Claiborne Parish Fair Queen Pageant (Rules and entry forms will be printed in
the local newspapers)
This
year’s Claiborne Parish Fair Association includes the 2012 Fair Directors T.N.
“Tip” Sherman, president, Wayne Kilpatrick, vice president, Clair Traylor,
secretary, Charles Garrett, treasurer. Board members include Janell Brown,
Sherline Carver, Tim Crittendon, Lillie Harper, Brandy Holt, J.R. Holt, Nan
Liles, Jimmy Monzingo, J.C. Ruple, Carla Smith, Herbert Taylor, Buddy Thomas
and Bill Traylor. Advisors to the board are Dr. P. Colyer, Teresa Raley and Lee
Faulk.
For
more information on contests and contest rules (excluding the Fair Queen
Pageant), please pick up a copy of the Claiborne Parish Fair Catalog at any of
the following locations: Homer and Haynesville City Halls, Curves, Ted’s
Pharmacy, Killgore’s Pharmacy, Fred Smith and Sons, All Homer Banks, Claiborne
Extension Office, Gibsland Bank and Trust in Athens and Carla’s Cut & Curl.
Hill Farm Research Station Tour October
9
A tour
of the LSU AgCenter’s Hill Farm Research Station will be going on most of the
day at 11959 Hwy. 9 in Homer.
The
morning tour will provide a general tour of the station that includes forage
management for warm-season pastures, beef cattle research overview, heating
options for poultry houses and planting and thinning strategies for loblolly
pine trees.
Registration
and exhibits will be from 9 until 9:30 a.m., the general tour from 9:30 until
11 a.m., director’s updates from 11 until 11:30 a.m. with a free lunch
provided, beef or forestry tours from 1 until 3:30 p.m.
To
RSVP, or for more information, please call
318-927-2578. This event qualifies for continuing education credits for
veterinarians and certified foresters.
Homer FD extinguishes trash blaze
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
Just before lunch on Friday, September
28, the Homer Fire Department was called to a field north of Homer to
extinguish a fire that started on a garbage truck. When firefighters arrived,
workers had already unloaded most of its contents onto the field and allowed to
burn. According to Homer Fire Chief Dennis Butcher, the cause of the blaze is
unknown.
Expo offers tips for seniors
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
Above, Tangie Wallace, with Visions of
Tomorrow, explains the services the company offers for seniors who need an
extra helping hand. Sponsored by the SALT Triad Council, Saturday’s Senior
Expo, focused on offering tips to seniors for their health needs, planning for
their future and estate planning. The expo hosted vendors which allowed seniors
to visit and learn more about what best fits their needs. Local attorney Jim
Hatch, below, also offered an informative presentation on estate planning.
Retirement bills, tax exemptions for
veterans’ spouses among ballot items
The Guardian-Journal
In the
second installment of the constitutional amendments that will be on the
November 6 ballot, Proposed Amendments No. 3 and 4 deal with changing the pre-filing
deadlines for retirement bills from 10 days to 45 days before the regular
legislative sessions and extending the property tax exemptions to spouses of
veterans.
Proposed Amendment No. 3
Act No.
872 Senate Bill No. 21, Regular Session, 2012
Do
you support an amendment to require legislation effecting any change to laws
concerning retirement systems for public employees that is to be pre-filed to
be filed no later than forty-five days before the start of a regular
legislative session and to require the completion of public notice requirements
regarding legislation effecting such a change no later than sixty days before
introduction of the bill? (Amends Article III, Section 2(A)(2), Article X,
Section 29(C), and Article XIII, Section 1(A))
Legislators
who file bills before a regular legislative session must do so no later than 10
days before the first day of the session. However, any proposals to existing
laws or constitutional provisions related to the state’s public retirement
systems cannot be introduced in the Legislature unless prior public notice has
been given. This means that public notice must be given in the state’s official
journal two separate days with the last day of publication no later than 30
days before the bill is introduced.
Because
the state’s retirement system is so complicated, proponents (those for the
change) say the state’s public employees need as much time as possible to look
over the proposals, understand what they do and don’t do and decide how they
want to participate in the discussion. Setting earlier deadlines for pre-filing
retirement bills and for publishing the notices of intent would give the public
more time to digest the content of the bills and understand their impact.
It
would also give the state’s actuaries more time to analyze the impact of any
proposed retirement bills.
However,
those against such a measure say moving up the deadline for pre-filing and
publishing the notices of intent may not have the desired effect. For instance,
while the earlier publication deadline for notices of intent would provide more
advanced warning, it would not necessarily provide useful details. Furthermore,
there is nothing to stop the legislators from changing the bills as they move
through the legislative process. Bills can be altered substantially as long as
the changes are relevant to the original version.
Proposed Amendment No. 4
Act No.
875, Senate Bill No. 337, Regular Session 2012
Do
you support an amendment to exempt from ad valorem taxation, in addition to the
homestead exemption, the next seventy-five thousand dollars of value of
property owned and occupied by the spouse of a deceased veteran with a
service-connected disability rating of one hundred percent who passed away
prior to the enactment of the exemption? (Effective January 1, 2013) (Amends
Article VII, Section 21(K)(1))
The
Constitution lists all eligible exemptions from property taxes. It exempts from
most property taxes up to $75,000 of the value of a homestead. In order to
qualify for the homestead exemption, the owner must both own and occupy the
property.
A 2010
amendment to the Constitution gave local parish governing authorities the
ability to ask voters to double the homestead exemption in their parishes for
disabled veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating. That
exemption is now $150,000 for those who qualify in the parishes that voted in
favor of the amendment. The 2010 change allowed the spouses of these veterans
to continue claiming the higher exemption if it was in effect at the time the
veteran died. As of September 2012, voters in 47 parishes had approved measures
allowing the increased exemption.
The
proposed amendment would tweak the language of the 2010 amendment and says that
if the surviving spouse of a deceased disabled veteran occupies and remains the
owner of the couple’s home, he or she can claim the higher homestead exemption
whether or not the exemption was in effect at the time the veteran died.
Proponents
of the amendment say the impact on local taxing bodies would be minimal. In
2010, officials estimated there were approximately 2,000 homeowner/occupants in
Louisiana who would be eligible for the higher exemptions. The estimated
statewide impact if all parishes offered the new exemption was $2 million in
lost annual local revenues, less than one-tenth of one percent of total
property taxes collected statewide.
The
argument against this amendment would result in yet another expansion of the
homestead exemption and would further erode the local tax base in parishes that
opt to extend the benefit.
Information
for this story was obtained through the Secretary of State’s website at
www.sos.louisiana.gov and the Public Affairs Research Council’s Guide to the
Amendments.
Town of Homer introduces 2012 Mayor’s
Youth Council
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Homer Mayor Alecia Smith, third from
left, and Judge Jenifer Clason stand with the newly sworn in Mayor’s Youth
Council. In no particular order, the 2012 Mayor’s Youth Council are: Brianna
Cotton, Kadeazsha Ferguson, John Holloway, Jasmine Jenkins, Tre’Various Moore,
Americana Walker, Ciaira Washington and Norman Meadors Jr.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Town of Homer introduced its Mayor’s Youth Council Monday in an effort to
introduce high school students to the workings of government.
Alysia
Mitchell, public relations consultant for the town, gave an overview of what
the council is and what kinds of activities the group will be participating in.
“They
are going to learn about the inner workings of city government,” Mitchell said,
and that’s why she was so excited when they decided to do a voter registration
drive which netted 24 new registered voters.
Other
things they will be doing is coming to the 26th Judicial District Court in
Homer to see how the justice system works and the “mayor” elected in the youth
council will also shadow Mayor Smith for one day to see just what her job
entails.
They
will also participate in community events as well as host community events
throughout the school year.
“I really
want to thank Mr. Robinson,” Mitchell said. “He’s been so gracious to be one of
our advisors at the school and they can come to him if they need something. He
helped with the voter registration drive.”
With
eight members on the council, all are seniors with the exception of two.
Members include Brianna Cotton, Kadeazsha Ferguson, John Holloway, Jasmine
Jenkins, Tre’Various Moore, Americana Walker, Ciaira Washington and Norman
Meadors Jr.
Applications
were sent to Homer High School and Claiborne Academy for anyone who wanted to
participate in the Mayor’s Youth Council, Mayor Smith said.
Judge
Jenifer Clason, 26th Judicial District Judge, administered the oath of office
for each member, and told the teenagers how proud she is of what they are
doing. In fact, when she administered the oath of office, she read the same
language used when swearing in any elected official into office.
Following
the oath of office, she said a public prayer with the newly sworn in youth
council asking for guidance and guard them in their efforts to serve their
community.
Robinson
and Mitchell are the advisors of the council.
On the
agenda was the police review board, but because two council members were
absent, the item was tabled until the November meeting. However, the council members
who were present did announce their choice for the board, although McCalman’s
choice has not been verified. District 5 Councilwoman Patricia Jenkins
announced Michael Duck as her choice, District 4 Councilwoman Carlette Sanford
announced Chuck Talley as her choice, Mozeke will serve on the board herself,
and District 2 Councilman Michael Wade announced David Robinson as his choice.
However,
the board will not be seated until the item is again discussed at November’s
meeting due to the absence of City Attorney Marcus Patillo.
During
the public comments portion of the meeting, Jesse Ford spoke to the council
regarding some concerns he had about ditch control as there are several ditches
in his neighborhood that are stopped up. He also raised concerns about dog
control in the city limits as there are several pit bulls in the area.
He
spoke to Maintenance Supervisor Lee Wells and Mayor Alecia Smith said he could
call the office at any time if they could offer more assistance.
Also,
the mayor asked that everyone keep McCalman, Mozeke and Patillo in their
prayers as they were all out Monday night due to illness.
In the
mayor’s report, Smith reported that water collects for the month of September
were $98,026.72 and sales tax collections were $96,374.15.
The council
also met in executive session to discuss long-term and strategic planning. As
the council came out of executive session, no decisions were made.
The
next meeting of the Homer Town Council will be November 5, 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.
Fuller Center seeking volunteers
The
Fuller Center for Housing of Claiborne Parish is seeking volunteers to help
build and repair homes. The Fuller Center is also asking for monetary donations
to help eradicate poverty housing. Those interested in giving a helping hand
may get involved through their church, business owners or individually. For
anyone who would like to help, please contact Jeffrey Rhone at 318-927-1161 or
David Colbert, Family Resources, at 318-624-1698 or 318-225-2344. The Fuller
Center for Housing is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax
deductible.
