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February 7, 2002

 

Public Works Director Addresses Homer Town Council

Former Street Superintendent Jessie T. Jones Died February 4, 2002

By Susan T. Herring, Editor, The Guardian-Journal

Former Street Superintendent Jessie T. Jones Died In His Sleep Monday Night February 4, 2002 At The Age Of 74. Jones Began Working For The Town Of Homer In October 1956. He Retired December 1, 1989 As Street Superintendent But Continued To Work Part-Time With The Town’s Animal Control Unit Until His Death. Tentative Services Are Scheduled For 1 PM Saturday, February 9 At Homer City Hall.

Rev. Calvin Wortham, former water department employee, took over as Public Works Director for the Town of Homer January 23, 2002. Mayor David Aubrey called a Special Meeting of the Town Council on Monday, February 4 to give the Council an update on changes being made in the Public Works Department. Aubrey said the initial purpose for establishing a Public Works Department was to coordinate the Town’s efforts to improve the infrastructure and to avoid duplication of services.

Shreveport Police Investigating Murder Of Former Homer Resident

Shreveport Police are investigating the shooting death of Felix Faulk, Jr. of Shreveport as a homicide. Faulk died early Thursday morning from an apparent gunshot wound to the torso. He was 34 years old and a former resident of Homer. Faulk was found in his vehicle in the 1900 block of Murphy Street, near Elder Street, about 12:15 AM on January 31 after his vehicle jumped a curb and hit a tree in a field. Kacee Hargrave, public information officer with the Shreveport Police Department said it appeared Faulk was in his vehicle when he was shot, prior to the accident. At the present time, they have no suspects, but anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7000.

Homer Youth Arrested By Claiborne Parish Deputies For Attempted Murder

Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s detectives Charlie Buford and Ben Booth are investigating the attempted murder of Sharon Jenkins, 28, of Homer. Jenkins was found lying beside the Pleasure Point Road just after 3 PM on Tuesday, January 29 not far from her home on Hattie Cooper Road, after the Sheriff’s Office received a call from a passing motorist. Jenkins had apparently dragged herself to the road after being shot twice in the head and once in the wrist. She was treated in the emergency room at Homer Memorial Hospital, then transported to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, where her condition was upgraded from critical to stable last Friday. Arrested and charged with attempted second degree murder was 17-year-old Marcus L. Bedford of Old Athens Road in Homer. Bedford is presently being held at the Claiborne Parish Detention Center under a $100,000 bond.

Johnny And Jo Baker To Become Missionaries

Johnny and Jo Bains Baker have joined more than 5,000 Southern Baptist International Mission Board workers sharing Christ in 155 countries and among 1,015 ethnic people groups. The Bakers were among 63 people appointed January 22 by the International Mission Board during a service at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. The new missionaries will fill diverse job assignments that range from starting churches to using sports, education and music as tools of ministry.

“Great Backyard Bird Count” Set For February 15-18, 2002

Last year, Mary Ellen Lewis counted 26 White Pelicans over her home on Lake Claiborne. She submitted her count to the “Great Backyard Bird Count”. She later went to the GBBC website and found Homer was the only city in Louisiana who reported sighting more than 25 White Pelicans. Her fascination with the pelicans over Lake Claiborne was one of the reason she decided to participate in the “Bird Count”, although she reported seeing a number of other species, such as American Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, Morning Doves, Bluejays, Carolina Chickadees, White-throated Sparrows, and American Crows.

Claiborne Parish Library Patrons Treated To Watercolor Exhibit

James Gomilla of Homer is being featured in an exhibit of his watercolors at the Claiborne Parish Library on Edgewood Drive. He has been painting for about thirty years andtook up watercolor in 1999 when he took water color from Ryan Birdsong in Magnolia, The exhibit can be seen through February 18.

February 7, 2002

Reserve Your Trees Now For Trailblazer Tree Initiative - Orders are still being accepted for the annual Trailblazer Tree Initiative to be held February 12-14, 2002. Available trees include mulberry, persimmon, white and pink dogwood, pecan, black walnut, mayhaw, sawtooth oak, river birch, rep maple live oak, green ash, tulip poplar, crape myrtle, and Bradford pear. To reserve your trees, Stella daylilies, or azaleas, call 255-3554.    “Firehouse Jammers” Have Moved To Claiborne Electric - The “Firehouse Jammers” have outgrown the Homer Fire Station. They are now meeting at Claiborne Electric on Hwy. 146 All are welcome to bring their instrument and join in “picking and singing,” or just sit back and enjoy the music, the coffee and refreshments, every Friday night from 7 PM till. For more info, call Jerry Brown at 927-3792. «More»    Athens High School Book Fair Will End February 12 - The Scholastic Book Fair at Athens High School will be held through February 12 from 12:30-3:00 PM each day. Family Night will be held Thursday, February 7 at 6 PM in the gymnasium. Parents and students will also have an opportunity to browse or make purchases at the Book Fair that evening. Call 258-3241 for more information.    Mt. Olive Christian School To Hold Math-A-Thon For St. Jude - Mt. Olive Christian School will hold a Math-A-Thon to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through February 11. Persons or businesses who would like to donate can call the school at 258-5661.    A Blood Drive Will Be Held At Homer High On February 13 - Homer High School, in conjunction with LifeShare Blood Centers, are looking for at least 25 volunteers to donate blood at a Community Blood Drive to be held in the school auditorium on Wednesday, February 13 from 8:30 AM-1PM. Every donor will receive refreshments and a free t-shirt -OR- a cholesterol check.    American Legion Auxiliary Selling Blue Star Banners - The American Legion Auxiliary Unit #73 has Blue Star Banners on sale at the General Discount Store in Homer (behind Gray’s Jewelry) for $7 each. Blue Star Banners are hung in the window of a family when a family member is currently serving in the military during a time of war.    Plans For Annual Homer High Class Reunion For 1974-1978 - Plans are underway for the 2nd Annual Homer High Class Reunion for the years 1974-1978 scheduled for this August. One representative for each class is asked to attend the meetings. For more information or to pick up your T-Shirts from last year’s reunion call Fred Young at 927-2372 or Gary Jenkins at 927-9379.    LSU AgCenter To Hold Pesticide Training Tuesday, February 12 - There will be two 90-minute restricted-use private applicator certification and recertification training sessions on February 12, 2002, at the Cooperative Extension Service office on the square in Homer--one at 10 AM and one at 6 PM. Individuals who would like to obtain a private applicator license to purchase restricted-use pesticide can sit through the 90 minutes of educational information, then take a certification test. Those who currently hold a private applicator license are only required to sit through the 90 minutes of educational information. For more info, call Jason Holmes at 927-3110.    Claiborne Parish Health Unit Now Offering Pneumonia Shots - The Claiborne Parish Health Unit has the PPV-23 pneumonia vaccine for high risk individuals, age 65 years and older. Shots are administered on Fridays from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, but will be by appointment only sometime in the future. For info, call the health unit at 927-6127.    New Cabins At Lake Claiborne State Park Are Open - Ten new vacation cabins opened at Lake Claiborne State Park on January 9. Units rent for $65 with a 2-night minimum on weekends. and have everything but towels and soap. To reserve your cabin, call toll free (877) CAMP-N-LA (226-7652) from 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Image archive of Lake Claiborne State Park now online.    Grief Support Group Meets 1st And 3rd Mondays - The Grief Support Group meets every 1st and 3rd Monday at 6 PM at the Homer Memorial Hospital Conference Room. The Group is open to anyone experiencing grief over a recent or past loss. For more info, call Toni Camp at 371-1140.    Homer Memorial Hospital now offers MRI's - Homer Memorial Hospital is proud to announce the availability of MRI procedures two days a week in Homer.    Are You Being Hurt By Someone You Love? - Are you being hurt by someone you love? D.A.R.T. can help! D.A.R.T., the Domestic Abuse Resistance Team, serves the parishes of Claiborne, Lincoln, Union, Bienville, and Jackson, and is committed to ending domestic violence by providing shelter, legal assistance and counseling. Representatives are in Homer every Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM. For more info call (800) 281-7885 or the 24-Hour Crisis Line at (318) 251-2255.    Lake Claiborne State Park Events - For information on upcoming events - Call 1-888-677-2524 toll free or 318-927-2976.    Smoke Detectors For The Elderly Offered through TRIAD - TRIAD of Claiborne wants all seniors age 65 and above, to have a smoke detector. You may also qualify if you're disabled. Having a smoke detector can mean the difference of life or death. Smoke detectors are available without charge. If you don't have a smoke detector, call 927-2011.				Homer Doubleplay Booster Club To Sell Spaghetti Plates - The Homer High School Doubleplay Booster Club will be selling spaghetti plates at the Homer High cafeteria on Sunday, February 10 from 11 AM - 1 PM. Support the Homer High baseball team by purchasing a plate for $5, which includes salad, cake and tea. Both dine-in and carry-out plates are available.    Claiborne Academy Yearbooks On Sale At School Office - Claiborne Academy yearbooks are on sale now. Cost is $30 through February 6, and $35 through Feb. 13. Books may be purchased from a yearbook staff member or at the school office.    Easter “Tour Of Churches” Set For Sunday, March 4, 2-4 PM - An Easter “Tour of Churches” will be held on Sunday, March 24, from 2-4 PM. This will be a benefit for the Rolling Hills Ministry Disaster Relief Fund. Four churches will be open to the tour--Holly Springs Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Bethlehem Methodist, and Ruple Baptist. Tickets for the event will not be sold but donations will be gratefully accepted.    Claiborne One Site Now Features Area Image Archive - Archived images from the recent Homer Christmas Festival and Parade are now online. Upcoming image archives to include: Haynesville Butterfly Festival 2000, Homer Christmas Festival 1999, Claiborne Parish Scenery, Lake Claiborne State Park and more. To submit your images for inclusion in the Claiborne One Image Archive you may email them to webmaster@ClaiborneOne.org.    Money Available for New or Expanding Businesses in Homer - The Homer Chamber of Commerce now has monies to lend through the Revolving Loan Program. Anyone who is interested in starting a business or enlarging an existing business within an eight mile radius of Homer may be eligible. These funds were received from the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program to assist small businesses and provide for jobs in Homer. Loan preferences will be made on the basis of job creation. Further information may be obtained by contacting Mac Brakefield, Executive Director of the Homer Chamber of Commerce at (318) 927-3271.    Triad Of Claiborne To Meet Wednesday, Feb. 13 At COA - TRIAD of Claiborne will meet Wednesday, February 13 at 2 PM at the Claiborne Council on Aging in Homer.    Attention: It’s Time Again To Do Another Birthday Calendar - Claiborne Academy is collecting names for another birthday calendar. All friends, family and loyal alumni of Claiborne Academy are asked to contact any CA student, Ginger Woodall at 927-3702 or Tracie Wilder at 927-5295 to submit names or anniversaries at $1 each, or to order calendars at $10 each.    Weatherization Assistance Program Underway In Claiborne Parish - The Bossier Office of Community Services’ WAP Program is taking applications for 2002-2003 for Claiborne Parish. The WAP Program is designed to help low-income families, with priority given to the eligible elderly, children, and handicapped persons. WAP services reduce energy cost through conservation, such as caulking and sealing cracks, weather stripping, insulating attics, installing carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. To qualify, both client and dwelling must meet requirements. Eligibility is based on household income. All clients must provide documentation of proof of income. Federal regulations prevent discrimination of any kind. For more info, call Jack Hearst, at (318) 747-1045 or (800) 624-9692.    Government And Municipal Boards To Meet In February - The regular meeting of the Homer Town Council will be Mon., Feb. 11 at 6 PM. The Claiborne Parish Police Jury will meet Wed., February 6 at 10 AM for their work session and Thursday, February 7 at 10 AM. The regular meeting of the Claiborne Parish School Board will be 7 PM Thursday, February 7 following work session at 6 PM The Junction City (La.) Town Council will meet Feb. 7 at 6 PM. The Junction City School Board will meet Tuesday, February 12 at 7 PM at the Junction City Elementary library. The Haynesville Town Council will meet Tues., Feb. 12 at 6 PM in their new Council Chambers in    Claiborne Council On Aging Events - Bingo is played every Friday after Lunch. Lunches are served daily Monday thru Friday. Exercise treadmills and rowing machines are available. Slip and molds are available for ceramics.    Are Drugs Affecting Your Family Or A Friend? - Narconon (the name means "No Drugs") was established in 1966 to help people get off drugs and they have been active in drug rehabilitation and eradication ever since. Narconon provides answers to drug addiction, free assessment, evaluation and referral services to internationally recognized alternative and traditional treatment facilities. Drug addiction can be overcome. Call 1-800-468-6933 or visit their website at www.stopaddiction.com.    Trailblazers, Inc. Collecting Newspapers For Recycling - Trailblazers, Inc. of Ruston is collecting newspapers for recycling and is picking up newspapers at the following locations--Homer City Hall, Haynesville City Hall, and Athens City Hall. Papers can be bound with string or placed in paper bags. No plastic bags. Newspapers ONLY. Please do not place colored ad slicks or magazines in bins.
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