The Claiborne Economic Development Board submitted a request to the Claiborne Parish Police Jury at their regular meeting October 4, asking them to renominate the following members to their board--Bryant Lewis, Secretary-Treasurer; Gordon Simmons, Vice-President; J.T. Taylor, President, and Jerry Williams., with Lewis and Simmons to three year terms and Taylor and Williams to four year terms beginning January 1, 2001. Juror T.E."Gene" Coleman nominated the following alternate names: Bryant Lewis - 3 years, Jess Robertson - 4 years, Loy Weaver - 5 years, and A.D. Williams - 6 years, seconded by Roy Mardis. Bobby Liles nominated Lewis, Simmons, Taylor and Williams.

The Haynesville Town Council voted to execute certification forms to include the Town of Haynesville as part of the Renewal Community application. Haynesville had originally been excluded from the RC census tracts in Claiborne Parish.

The Junction City School District #75 met in regular session on Monday, September 17 and voted to increase the admission to football games to $3 for junior high games and $4 for varsity. Superintendent Alvin Kelly met with other districts in the county regarding the increase in ticket prices.

A Special Meeting was held Wednesday, September 5 by the Haynesville Town Council concerning a proposal by Fowler Transportation to purchase ten acres of land to locate their business. The property is owned by the Town of Haynesville and is located on Hwy. 79 south of the Lion Oil Company’s pumping station and north of the Airport Road. Marathon Oil Company owns timber rights on the property, however, they told Mayor Mickey Mayfield they would be willing to exchange timber rights for twenty feet of easement for a pipeline right-of-way. Joyce Major asked if the town should solicit bids before selling the property.

D.A.R.T.(the Domestic Abuse Resistance Team serving the parishes of Lincoln, Jackson, Bienville, Union and Claiborne) will hold a Candlelight Vigil in the Claiborne Parish Courthouse on Thursday, October 18 at 6:30 PM to remember the victims of Domestic Violence in Claiborne Parish. Red life-size silhouettes of the women and children will be placed on the courthouse lawn next week prior to the vigil, to symbolize those who have lost their lives in domestic murders in our area over the last few years. New this year will be a display of 700 pairs of shoes, symbolizing the 700 women and children served by D.A.R.T. in this area last year. The public is encouraged to join D.A.R.T. in this moving and informative service of music, testimonies, and remembrance. One of the speakers will be Cynthia Hill, aunt of 3-year-old Rebel McCleskey who was killed March 2, 2000.

Energy Assistance is available through the Claiborne Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services. Priority will be given to the elderly (age 60 and over), the disabled, and households with children age 5 and under. Households that fit in any of these categories may call 1-800-870-4166 or 927-3557 to make an appointment beginning 8:30 AM on Thursday, October 11 through Friday, October 12 at 4 PM. Non-priority households may call after 8:30 AM on Friday October 12. Anyone who has received an energy payment in the last 12 months or has received TANF/Kinship Care vouchers is NOT eligible for assistance at this time.

The Claiborne One website at www.claiborneone.org features news from Homer, Haynesville, Junction City, and all of Claiborne Parish, To contribute news or to purchase an advertising banner, call Joel Ponder at 927-9787 or Al Lynn at 927-6197.

The American Cancer Society will hold a soup and sandwich junchion on Wednesday, October 17 at the First United Methodist Church in Homer.

Homer Elementary School will host an activity night on Thursday, October 11 from 5:30-6:30 PM for parents and children in grades K-4 Parents can follow the signs to the speech building behind the school. Language Arts and Math activities will be featured. Come join the fun!

On Friday, October 12, the Clean City Committee will hold a Benefit Barbecue at noon at Homer City Hall. Tickets are $10. For more info, call the Chamber of Commerce at 927-3271 or Pete Pearson at 927-2342.

Homer High Pelican Dolls to hold baked potato supper Friday, October 12, 5-6:30 PM at the from 5-6:30 PM prior to the Homer-Springhill game. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance from any Pelican Doll or from sponsor Kim Pumphrey. Meal includes baked potato with all the trimmings, tea and dessert. For more info, call 927-2985.

A Shady Grove Cemetery meeting will be held on Saturday, October 13 at 10 AM in the fellowship hall of the Haynesville Methodist Church.

The Advisory Council and Board of Directors will meet on October 16, 2001, at 1 PM and 2 PM, respectively at the Claiborne Senior Center.

The Pinehill Water System will meet Monday, October 15 at 6 PM at the Claiborne Manor Nursing Home.

A charted bus will be taking fans, alumni, and family to the Grambling State University Homecoming on Saturday, October 27. For more information, call Talisha Specks-Kennedy at 957-2171, Jessica Dunn at 927-4905, or Xanthe Seals at 927-6145. Cost is $10 per person. Deadline is Saturday, October 20.

Homer Memorial Hospital will be offering Childbirth Preparation Classes beginning October 15. These classes are free and are open to anyone wishing to attend, regardless of where they plan to deliver. For more information, or to register, call Homer Memorial at (318) 927-2024 and ask for the OB nurse on duty.

Mt. Mariah Methodist Church (Hwy. 9, north of I-20) will hold a sale to benefit the Volunteer Fire Department District #5 Hurricane Station, on Saturday, October 13 from 8AM till. Sale includes crafts, baked goods, homemade goodies, rummage, furniture. Donations are welcome--goods or money. Call 263-2510 for more information or pickup.

Northwest Legal Services will be at Claiborne Council on Aging on Thursday, October 18. If you have any legal documents that a lawyer needs to look at, you can call the COA at 318-927-6922 or 1-800-308-8951, or Northwest Legal Services at 1-800-621-2488 for appointment.

An account has been set up at Regions Bank to defray expenses for Haidyn Jace Herring and his parents Jamey and Wendy (Brown) Herring of Spearsville. Haidyn was born September 16, over three months premature and will be in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe until December. Deposits can be made at any Regions Bank location.

Mt. Olive Christian School will be holding an estate auction on Saturday, October 13 at 10 AM at the middle school campus (1-1/2 miles east of Athens on Hwy. 518). The estates of C.O. and Essie Keen and Calvin Pardue have been donated to MOCS and limited consignments will be accepted. Call Len Gantt at 258-5483 or 243-0674, or the main campus at 258-5661, for more info or a flyer. You will not want to miss this auction!

"Miss Junction City Pageant" will be held Saturday, October 20 at 6 PM at Junction City High School.

The Homer High School Homecoming Parade will be held on Thursday, October 25 at 5:30 PM. Anyone who would like to enter the parade should contact Kim Pumphrey at the school at 927-2985.

The First Annual Masonic Charity Bass Tournament will be held on Lake Claiborne on Saturday, October 20. First Place will pay $350, with $300 for the Big Bass. There will be a prize of $100 for the Kids Under 12 Big Bass and $100 for the Lady Angler Big Bass. (based on 50 teams entering) For additional information, contact Tom Brewton at 927-6619 or Dick Dorrell at 927-9200.

The Claiborne Academy Fellowship of Christian Athletes will host their annual Veterans’ Day ceremony on Friday, November 9. The observance will coincide with the Ford Museum’s Smithsonian Exhibit and will be held in the Homer City Hall. All veterans and their spouses are invited to attend. Lunch will be served. All planning to attend please notify the school at 927-2747, Linda Volentine at 927-9190, or Ed Watson at 927-6957.

Absentee voting for the October 20 election for District 9 Police Juror and Claiborne Parish Recreation District Ward 2 & 3 proposition in Haynesville will end Saturday, October 13. The office of the Registrar of Voters at 518 East Main is open 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday and 8:30 AM-noon on Saturday. For more information, call Patricia Sanders at 927-3332.

Free Depression Screeningsss provided by a qualified healthcare professional on Thursday, October 11 from 10 AM-noon at Minden Medical Center Room 546. This free program offers private depression screening, information about depression, brief private talk with mental health professional, referral if needed to local treatment services. Open to Seniors. Refreshments served.

Items are needed to make dolls and other gifts for Christmas--fabrics, lace, tape, ribbon, thread, sweat pants, sweat shirts, etc. Ladies meet the first Tuesday of each month at the Homer Church of Christ Annex Building on West Main to make dolls, lap robes, doll quilts, pillows, etc. Volunteers are welcome. For more info, call Jo Ann Kendrick at 927-3069.

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.

The Trailblazer Rural Development Institute will be accepting public comments through October 19, 2001 to help establish future priorities for the organization. A comment form is being provided at www. trailblazer.org/survey.htm or write down your top priorities and send them via email to trailblazer@trailblazer.org, FAX to 318-251-9199, or mail to Trailblazer, 302 Reynolds Dr., Ruston LA 71270. List the top five priority issues with "1" being the highest priority in your opinion. All comments must include name and address.