Claiborne Electric to send two area
teens to Washington, D.C.
Claiborne
Electric Cooperative recently announced the winners of its annual Rural
Electric Youth Tour contest, a program sending two high school juniors on an
all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Megan
Theriot of Sarepta and Shanteria Montgomery of Homer were named as the 2013
Youth Tour winners.
To
enter this year’s contest, juniors were asked to write an essay describing
their ideal career path and explaining why they would choose that particular
path. Essays were coded for anonymity before being judged.
Theriot
is the daughter of John and Mary Hoskins and attends Claiborne Academy. She is
a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Kixsters dance line and the
honor roll. She currently serves as class reporter, and has participated in
FBLA, A-HEC and cheerleading.
Theriot’s
essay described her ideal career as a veterinarian. She said she plans to
attend Louisiana Tech University for her pre-veterinarian degree, then attend
Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine to finish her formal
education.
Theriot
plans to one day own a veterinary practice. She also hopes to one day own a
finger monkey.
Montgomery
is the daughter of DaVince and Shanairy Taylor and also attends Claiborne
Academy. She is a member of the Kixters dance line, Student Council, honor roll
and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Montgomery
has participated in basketball and track, and has served as class secretary.
Montgomery’s
essay described her ideal occupation as a psychiatrist, treating conditions
such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
She
said this career path will allow her to conduct vocal therapy sessions and
physical examinations, order brain imaging studies, interpret laboratory tests,
and prescribe medications to treat diagnosed conditions.
Montgomery
plans to own a private practice with a therapy and examination office,
connected to a mental health facility.
Theriot
and Montgomery will become part of the Louisiana Youth Tour delegation of about
30 students, with each student being sponsored by one of the state’s electric
cooperatives.
The
delegation will travel to Washington, D.C., in June for the National Rural Electric
Youth Tour. While in Washington, they will participate in national meetings and
social events with approximately 1,500 other Youth Tour delegates from across
the United States.
They
will also get the opportunity to tour many of the national capital’s most
famous sites. The trip will also include a visit to Capitol Hill, where they
will meet with Louisiana’s congressional delegation.
The
Youth Tour contest was open to any high school junior whose parents or
guardians get their electricity from Claiborne Electric Cooperative, or any
junior who attends a school which gets its power from Claiborne Electric.
LaPrairie arrested for possession
On
January 3, Deputy Aaron Christian of the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office was
patrolling and observed a vehicle turn into an oil location east of Lowe Road.
Due to
the fact that the vehicle did not appear to be a company vehicle, Deputy
Christian followed onto the location to investigate. A passenger in the
vehicle, Misty Higgs LaPrairie, 37, of Haynesville, appeared to be moving
around in the vehicle.
Deputy
John Eric Stephenson and Detective Charlie Buford arrived on scene to assist.
Upon
searching the vehicle, Deputy Christian found a .38 caliber revolver. He then
observed a cigarette pack on the seat where LaPrairie was sitting and
discovered it to contain a small plastic bag with a green leafy substance in
it, presumed to be marijuana.
LaPrairie
was then placed under arrested and advised of her rights.
A
search of the interior of the vehicle, except for LaPrairie’s purse, was
conducted. LaPrairie then showed Deputy Christian a brown mushroom shaped zip
up pouch from her purse and opened it.
Deputy
Christian observed a glass pipe with burnt residue and a small bag of green
leafy substance in the pouch. LaPrairie then pulled out another leopard-colored
zip-up pouch from the purse and stated there was meth in it.
Deputy
Christian observed a cigarette wrapper containing a white powder/crystal
substance.
The
driver of the vehicle was released and La Prairie was transported to the
Claiborne Parish Women’s facility for booking. A more thorough search of the
mushroom-shaped pouch revealed another small bag of green leafy substance and
another plastic bag containing white powder/crystal substance.
LaPraire
was charged with possession of a schedule I controlled dangerous substance -
marijuana with a bond of $500; possession of a schedule II controlled dangerous
substance - methamphetamine with a bond of $5,000; and possession of drug
paraphernalia with a bond of $500.
CNET and NWNTF task forces net arrests
On
January 29, a cooperative effort between the Claiborne Narcotic enforcement
Team (CNET) and the North Webster Narcotics Task Force (NWNTF) resulted in the
arrest of two and arrest warrants for a third person, according to Claiborne
Sheriff Ken Bailey.
On that
Monday, Agent James Spillers was contacted by agents with NWNTF who advised
that they were in the middle of an investigation into the negotiation of the
purchase of methamphetamine and hydrocodone with an unknown male subject.
They
stated that this unknown male wanted them to come to Haynesville to make the
purchase. Agent Spillers requested that the NWNTF keep in touch with the
subject and CNET would get Agents to the Haynesville area as quickly as
possible.
A short
time later Agent Spillers, Detective Adrian Malone and CLSO Lt. Jimmy Brown
arrived in Haynesville. NWNTF agents arrived around this same time and were
advised by the unknown male that he was in a car at the carwash up near J&J
Liquor and that it was the only car there.
NWNTF
agents drove by and verified that there was only one car at that location. CNET
and CPSO personnel immediately pulled into the carwash and blocked a dark gray
Toyota Camry from being able to leave.
As
officers exited their vehicles, a subject sitting on the rear passenger side
fled from the vehicle. NENTF Agents pursued this subject on foot and observed
his discard a brown paper sack and its contents as this subject fled.
NWNTF
Agents recovered the items but were unable to apprehend the suspect who fled
into the Cadenhead Housing project. Items recovered by the agents were
transferred to Agent Spillers and were identified as schedule II
methamphetamine and a non-controlled over the counter medication.
The
unknown male who fled was identified by Lt. Jimmy Brown as Marcus Thomas AKA
“Rudy Mack.”
Arrest
warrants were obtained for Thomas for possession with intent to distribute
schedule II controlled dangerous substance - methamphetamine, possession with
intent to distribute a counterfeit schedule III controlled dangerous substance
hydrocodone, resisting an officer and obstruction of justice.
Additionally,
LA Probation and Parole will obtain a parole violation warrant for Thomas who
was recently released from the Louisiana Department of corrections on an armed
robbery charge.
In
addition to Thomas, there were two other subjects in the vehicle, Ryan S. Beene
and Donnell D. Mitchell.
Further
investigation showed that Beene and Mitchell did not have knowledge of Thomas’
plan to distribute meth and hydrocodone; however, both subjects were arrested
on other charges.
Beene
was arrested for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and booked into the
Claiborne Parish Detention Center with a $500 bond.
Mitchell
was charged with illegal carrying of weapons (concealed handgun), possession of
drug paraphernalia, and possession with intent to distribute schedule I
controlled dangerous substance - marijuana, introduction/possession controlled
dangerous substance in a parish correctional facility. He was booked into the
Claiborne Parish Detention Center with a total bond of $45,000.
The
success of this investigation is the result of law enforcement agencies working
together. Sheriff Bailey and Task Force Coordinator Spillers want to thank
Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office SGT Shawn Baker and Springhill Police Chief
Will Lynd of the North Webster Narcotics Task Force, CPSO personnel and CNET
personnel for their assistance and hard work in making this case and arrests.
To
report suspicious or illegal activity, concerned citizens may call CNET at
927-9800, DEA/Louisiana State Police at 676-4080, Homer Police Department at
927-4000, Haynesville Police Department at 624-1355 or the Claiborne Parish
Sheriff’s Office at 927-2011.
Any and
all information is considered confidential and is greatly appreciated.
Town Council receives good news from DEQ
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Homer Town Council tackled a short agenda, getting some good news with the DEQ.
The
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has agreed to take in the water meter
loans discussed at the last council meeting.
“It’s
an incredible deal,” Wes Shafto, bond attorney said. “We will have a little
over $1 million in loan forgiveness from the DEQ.”
The
loan will be repaid at .985 percent interest and will be combined with the two
previous loans. The loan is to provide electronic water meters to the town’s
customers and meter those places that don’t have any.
According
to Mayor Alecia Smith, the meter readers will be able to read the meters from
the town office instead of actually having to physically go out to the meters
and take readings.
In
accordance with this news, Resolution 12-002 was amended and restated for the
DEQ. The motion was made by District 5 Councilwoman Patricia Jenkins and
seconded by District 4 Councilwoman Carlette Sanford. The motion carried with
one absent, District 2 Councilman Michael Wade.
Dealing
with the hospital obtaining electronic medical records, the town adopted an
ordinance for the $500,000, released by the bond commission, to purchase the
equipment and software needed. The motion was made by District 1 Councilwoman
Linda Mozeke, seconded by Sanford and was adopted unanimously, again, with Wade
absent.
Also,
Shafto went over a resolution for Utility Revenue Refunding bonds which the
town issued for sewer improvements, saying that currently those bonds are
eligible to refinancing at a lower interest rate.
“This
is an attempt to refund these bonds at a lower interest rate,” Shafto said.
“We’re anticipating a savings of about $60,000.”
The
motion was made by District 3 Councilman Don McCalman, seconded by Sanford and
the resolution was adopted unanimously with one absent.
In
other news, Timothy Ivory, part-time property manager for the town, said there
were only two issues in District 2 and District 5. He said these properties
were owned by the same person and the issue is of unattended properties.
Benny
Holyfield asked about the process the town uses to notify property owners about
getting their property cleaned up, saying there is a legal process that must be
gone through. Mayor Smith said they do take the legal steps necessary if action
is not taken after the notice is given.
On the
agenda was to be a grant report by Gene Coleman; however, that report has been
tabled until the March meeting of the town council.
In the
mayor’s report, Mayor Smith said the jazzercise class was successful, reporting
that approximately 64 were in attendance last Thursday. Jazzercise classes are
from 6 until 7 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The classes are free.
She
touched on the DEQ loan as well, saying it was a blessing to be able to finance
the water meter project at .985 percent.
“This
will save us a lot of money,” she said. “Jim Hagan, Gene Coleman, Wes Shafto
and Brandon Common worked hard to get that project going. Our meters are old
and this will allow all properties within the town to be metered including the
properties owned by the town, including city hall, the police department and
recreational properties.
“It
will also help with our ‘Go Green’ project, which will allow some areas that
haven’t received water to receive water at a good rate,” she continued.
The
council met in executive session to discuss the Bender litigation, Captain
Donald Malray’s report, long term and strategic planning and personnel issues.
Before
going into executive session, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills asked that
long-term and strategic planning and personnel issues if it pertained to Mills
or his department not be done in executive session, and his request was denied.
The mayor only asked the council to “entertain a motion to go into executive
session,” to which they did.
After
rising out of executive session, no action was taken.
In
other news, Walter Young provided the United States Flag. Mayor thanked him for
purchasing the flag for the town council.
The
next meeting of the Homer Town Council will be at 6 p.m., Monday, March 4, in
council chambers, located inside city hall. For more information, or for
questions, please call their office at 318-927-3555.
