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November 29, 2001

 

Search For Homer Public Works Director Continues

Mayor, Police Chief Address Council In Executive Session

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

The Homer Town Council met in a Special Called Meeting on Monday, November 19 to discuss reactivating the Search Committee for Public Works Director and to give Police Chief Rodney Hollenshead an opportunity to address the Council. Mayor David Aubrey informed the Council that Lavelle Penix decided not to accept the position as Public Works Director but gave no explanation. The Search Committee will continue to look at other applicants and bring a recommendation to the December meeting.

Young Girl Killed Thanksgiving Day

A 4-wheeler accident on Bethel Road in Claiborne Parish took the life of a six-year-old Houma girl while visiting during the Thanksgiving holidays. Katie Marie Champagne was riding between 17-year-old Nicholas Abbott of Bourg and 16-year-old Dominique Champagne of Houma on a 4-wheeler about 12:20 PM Thursday, November 22. The three were traveling southbound on the gravel road just off US Hwy. 79 when the vehicle left the road and struck a tree. All three were thrown from the vehicle. Katie received major head injuries and was taken to Homer Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Killing Deer Illegally Costly To Local Man

Claiborne Parish Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Agent Kenny Balkom issued two citations to David Hammontree, 27, of Homer for “hunting from a moving vehicle” and for “hunting or taking deer from a public road.” Hammontree was on his way to work about 7 AM Monday, November 19 when a 10-point buck crossed Hwy. 146 (White Lightning Road) headed for the Homer Arlington Cemetery. Hammontree stopped his vehicle and shot the deer.

Homer Fire Chief Anticipates Improved Insurance Fire Rating In City Limits

Homer Fire Chief Dennis Butcher said he is anticipating the announcement of a rate classification improvement by the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana within the next couple of weeks. Presently, the Homer Fire Department has a rating of 4. Since January 2001, the department has stepped up equipment response to emergency scenes and has intensified their training program.

State Representative Rick Gallot To Be Grand Marshal In Christmas Parade

State Representative Rick Gallot will be the Grand Marshal in the Town of Homer’s Annual Christmas Parade and Lighting set for Saturday, December 1. The parade will begin at 3 PM and will travel from Homer High School down North Main around the Courthouse Square back up South Main to the Homer Jaycee Park. For more information or to enter the parade, call Kim Herring Pumphrey at 927-5291 or 927-9312 after 5 PM. Entrants can call Thursday to get the parade lineup and should be at Bonner Street beside Homer High School by 2 PM to begin lining up.

No Big Christmas Light Display On Price Drive In Haynesville This Year

Haynesville resident Floyd Harper placed a memorial wreath on the “Merry Christmas” sign in his yard in memory of his neighbor, Emerick Kauzlarich, who died earlier this year of liver cancer. For the past ten years, the homes of Harper and Kauzlarich on Price Drive in Haynesville have been the town’s biggest attraction at Christmas. Folks from all over the Ark-La-Tex have traveled to Haynesville to see their amazing display of Christmas lights. The displays won first place the only two years they entered the Claiborne Parish lighting contest. Their yards were also featured on Channel 3 television and in several area newspapers. Due to Kauzlarich’s death and Harper’s health (Harper had open heart surgery on June 6 of this year), the Christmas lights will not be displayed for the first time in ten years.

November 29, 2001

“Ole Time” Gospel Singing Set For Saturday, December 1 - Another “Ole Time” Gospel Singing is planned for Saturday, December 1 at 6:30 PM at Trinity Southern Methodist Church. Rodney Hollenshead will be master of ceremonies, Alice Wideman and Clara Nelson will accompany, Jean Ford and Dorothy Rickman will “ring their bells,” along with several community singing groups. Front of church reserved for loading and unloading guests. Parking available at United Methodist Church. Come enjoy singing from Heavenly Highway Hymnal.    “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. «Full Story»    Public Meeting Set Monday For Homer Reapportionment - The public is invited to a hearing to be held at 5:30 PM on Monday, December 3, to allow for public input on the reapportionment plan proposed for the Town of Homer.    Pecans Have Arrived For Annual Homer Lions Club Sale - A fresh crop of Bergeron pecans arrived at the Homer Police Station this week for the annual Homer Lions Club promotion. Bags are 12 oz. and sell for $6. Contact the Homer Police Station at 927-4000 or any Lions Club member for your pecans. Chairman Rodney Hollenshead reminds everyone funds raised from the sell of the pecans are used for various charities supported by the Lions Club, such as the Eye Bank and Crippled Children’s Camp.    Account Set Up At Hibernia Bank For Jo Lynn Bellew - An account has been set up at Hibernia National Bank in the name of Jo Bellew to help defray medical costs and other expenses incurred during her lengthy illness. Donations can be made at Hibernia National Bank, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office or the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.    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.    Account Set Up At Regions Bank For Haidyn Jace Herring - 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.    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.				Christmas Parade Set For Saturday, December 1 At 4 PM - The Annual Christmas Parade is set for Saturday, December 1. The time is tenatively set for 3 PM 4 PM. Any persons or businesses interested in entering a float, preferably with Christmas lights, should contact Kim Pumphrey at 927-5291 or (870) 924-5779 after 7 PM. Trophies will be awarded.    Tickets Available Now For $500 Christmas Cash Giveaway - The Homer Claiborne Chamber of Commerce will give away their annual $500 Christmas cash on Thursday, December 20. Tickets are $1 donation and are available at the Chamber office, Dr. Greg Woodalls’ office or from any Chamber board member. The drawing will be held 12 noon on December 20 at the Chamber office located in Ford Museum. For more information call Mac Brakefield at 927-3271. Everyone is eligible for the drawing, including all chamber memberships and board of directors.    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.    Pineview High School To Hold Fundraiser - Saturday, December 1 at the high school from 10 AM - 3 PM. They will be selling barbecue plates and fish plates for $5 each.    Parent Night Set At Claiborne Boys & Girls Club-Haynesville - The Claiborne Boys & Girls Club--Haynesville Unit will hold a Parent Night for all interested parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends on Monday, December 3 at 7 PM. For more info, call Connie Tell, Rene Buggs, or Linda Beene at 624-1188 after 4 PM.    Smithsonian WW II Traveling Exhibit To Be On Display At Museum Till Nov. 21 - The Smithsonian WW II Traveling Exhibit Produce for Victory: Posters on the American Home Front, 1941-1945 will be on display at the Ford Museum until Wednesday, November 21. A host of special programming has been held at the museum in connection with the exhibit. Interesting exhibits concerning the Claiborne Parish Home Front and the soldiers of Claiborne Parish have been added to the exhibit to help explain the role Claiborne Parish played during this time. This was a time in American history when the nation was united in a single goal--VICTORY! The men, women and children in Claiborne Parish did whatever necessary to bring about that end. The display at the left features photos of local WW II veterans. Visitors are invited to the musuem to see this very special exhibit. Some parish schools have brought students to musuem to see the exhibit. Linda Volentine would like to encourage other schools to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Museum hours are 9 AM-12 Noon and 1:30-4 PM Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 2-4 PM on Sunday. Special times can be set up. Admission rates are $3 for Adults, $1 for Children, and $5 for Family. Call 927-9190 for more information.    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.    Homer Mayfield Alumni To Meet - The regular monthly meeting of the Homer Mayfield Alumni School Reunion will be December 4 at 6 PM at 906 S. 4th in Homer. Plans are being finalized for upcoming reunion. Your input and ideas are very important. All are welcome.    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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