HEADLINES - January 17, 2002

 

Auditor Says Homer Water Department Must Be Self-Supportive

- Council Rents City Hall To Local Band On 3-Month Trial Basis

BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal

#The Homer Town Council Will Meet In Special Session On Wednesday, January 16 At 4 PM To Appoint A New Public Works Director.

Town auditor Carlos Martin commended Mayor David Aubrey and Homer Town Council at their regular meeting January 7 for operating within their budget during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, but once again he encouraged them to take necessary steps to reverse the downward trend in the Enterprise (Utility) Fund. Since 1998, the ending balance in the Utility Fund has dropped from $377,497 to a negative cash balance of ($46,151) in 2001. The audit showed a negative cash balance of ($191,878) before adding certificates of deposit in the fund totaling $145,728. In 1999, the balance was $318,084 and in 2000 it was $163,852.

 

Kendrick And Major Oppose Haynesville Reapportionment Plan

BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal

Mayor Mickey Mayfield gave the first reading of Ordinance 567 establishing the districts for Aldermen at the December 18, 2001 meeting of the Haynesville Town Council. On a vote of 3 to 2, the Council approved Proposal #1. Voting for Proposal 1 were H.U. Slaid, Kenny Killgore, and Otto Black. Voting against were Alvin Kendrick and Joyce Major.

 

School Renewal Taxes And Term Limits For Homer Officials On Saturday Ballot

Registered voters in Claiborne Parish will go to the polls Saturday, January 19 to decide whether to continue the maintenance tax in school districts in Homer, Athens, and Summerfield, and whether to change the term limits for the mayor and selectmen in the Town of Homer. In October 2000, Homer Town Councilman Scott “Doc” Roberson presented an ordinance to the town council to do away with term limits for Homer mayor and selectmen. In January 2001, the Council passed Ordinance 842 to change term limits from two to three consecutive terms. In April 2001, a petition signed by more than ten percent of the registered voters in Homer who opposed the change, was presented to the town council. This forced the issue to go to a referendum vote of the people. On November 5, 2001, the Council voted to allow residents to go to the polls January 19, 2002 to decide whether or not to change the term limits. In the school districts of Homer, Athens, and Summerfield, there are no new taxes on the ballot--only the renewal of previously approved school maintenance taxes. In Athens (School District 1) voters will vote on the renewal of a 4.25 mill property tax, in Homer (District 13) a 12.66 mill property tax, and in Summerfield (District 26) an 11.11 mill property tax.

 

Retirees Could Improve Economy In Claiborne Parish

- Louisiana Is Working To Capitalize On Retirement Community

The LSU AgCenter is working with the Lt. Governor’s office to stimulate economic growth in Louisiana from the Seniors Industry. During a recent economic development workshop in Homer, Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter economic development agent, said the retirement sector can greatly enhance the economic sector of a community. The workshop was sponsored by the Town of Homer, the Homer-Claiborne Parish Chamber of Commerce and the LSU AgCenter. “Retirees bring additional income into a community and they also bring a lot of volunteerism,” Hatch said. “They make a positive contribution to society and are basically an asset to the area they live in.”

 

Humorist David Bazer To Speak At Homer-Claiborne Chamber Banquet

Humorist David G. Bazer will be the guest speaker at 37th Annual Homer-Claiborne Chamber of Commerce Banquet set for Monday, January 28 at 7 p.m. at Homer City Hall, with the 2002 theme “Our Local Paradise.” Bazer, who was born in Springhill in 1945 and grew up in Carthage, Texas, speaks at various civic groups and enjoys seeing people laugh. He says people take life too seriously and need time to unwind and enjoy.

 

JANUARY 17, 2002 NEWS BRIEFS

 

Claiborne One Website Features The Guardian-Journal Briefs

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.

 

Valhalla Motorcycle Camp Holds Annual Used Coat Drive

Valhalla Motorcycle Camp is holding their annual used coat drive for needy children and/or adults in our community. Used coats, jackets and sweaters are being collected. Valhalla will clean and mend the coats. If you have a coat to donate, call 927-4118 or 927-2454 for pickup.

 

Homer Senior Care To Hold First Assisted Pet Therapy Program

Homer Senior Care will hold their first Assisted Pet Therapy program at 2 PM on Wednesday, January 23 at Homer Senior Care, 9540 Hwy. 79 South in Haynesville. For more information, please contact Sandra Frith at 624-3665.

 

Claiborne Bass Club To Meet Tuesday, January 29 At 7 PM

The Claiborne Bass Club will meet on Tuesday, January 29 at 7 PM at the Homer Fire Department. Anyone participating is asked to attend. For more info, call Daryl Cheney at 927-4943 or 927-1113.

 

Dollmaking Starts Back Tuesday, February 5 At Activity Center

Dollmaking activities will start back on Tuesday, February 5 at 9 AM at Homer Church of Christ Activity Center on West Main in Homer. All ladies are welcome to join on the first Tuesday of every month. For more information or if you have questions, please call Kay Lowery at 927-4705.

 

The South Claiborne Water System To Meet January 21

The South Claiborne Water System will hold it’s annual meeting on Monday, January 21 at 6:30 PM. It will be held in the Cross Roads Community in Athens, Louisiana. All members are invited to attend.

 

American Legion Auxiliary 73 To Meet Tuesday, January 29

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 73 will have a meeting on Tuesday, January 29 at 5:30 pm at the Claiborne Parish Library.

 

Northwest Regional Hospice To Hold Volunteer Orientation

Northwest Regional Hospice will hold their volunteer orientation at the Homer branch of the Claiborne Parish Library on Saturday, January 19 from 10 AM-2 PM. For more information, contact J. Booth at Northwest Regional Hospice at (318) 371-1140 or toll-free 1-877-371-1140.

 

Town Of Homer Offices To Close Monday, January 21

The Mayor’s Office and the Business Office of the Town of Homer will be closed Monday, January 21 in observance of Martin Luther King’s birthday. They will reopen Tuesday, January 22 at 8 AM.

 

American Legion Post 73 To Meet Thursday, January 31

American Legion Post 73 will meet Thursday, January 31 at 7 PM at the Claiborne Parish Library.

 

2002 TOPS Seminars For Parents Offered Free To Public

The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance will present nine 2002 TOPS Seminars, three in North Louisiana, for parents of 2002 high school graduates. The 2-1/2 hour seminars are free and open to the public and will cover TOPS eligibility requirements, TOPS application process and deadlines, TOPS certification process, and TOPS retention requirements. Seminars will be held Wednesday, January 23 at West Monroe High School at 5:45 PM, Thursday, January 24 at Ouachita High School in Monroe at 5:45 PM, and Wednesday, February 20 at the Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City at 6 PM. For more info, call 1-800-259-5626 Ext. 1012 or by e-mail at custserv@osfa.state.la.us

 

Fourth Annual Area-Wide Spelling Bee Set For Saturday, January 19

The Community Coordinating Council, Inc. announces the Fourth Annual Area-Wide Spelling Bee for District 11 to be held at 1 PM on Saturday, January 19 in the Ruston City Court Room on the 2nd floor of the Ruston Civic Center Building at 402 North Trenton. Eligible students must not have passed beyond the 8th grade on or before February 1, 2002 and must not have reached their 16th birthday on or before the date of national finals on May 29, 2002. The winner will advance to the regional finals in Shreveport on February 9. All participants will be given an all-expense paid trip to Shreveport to support the winner in the Regional Spelling Bee. The winner in Shreveport will be given an all-expense paid trip to the National Spelling Be in Washington, D.C. in May, 2002. For information, call your school or 247-6676.

 

JOEL - HERE IS JUNCTION CITY'S DUAL STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKET IF YOU WANT TO USE IT & ADD SCORES NEXT WEEK--

 

Dual State Tournament 2002

January 19-26, 2002 - Junction City

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19

GAME #          TIME       Boys/Girls    TEAMS

  1                    3:00                 G         Mt. Holly  -  Waldo

  2                    4:15                 G         Stephens  -  Smackover

  3                    5:30                 G         Taylor  -  Harmony Grove

  4                    6:45                 B          Warren  -  Union

  5                    8:00                 B          Fordyce  - Walker

MONDAY, JANUARY 21

  6                    3:30                 G         McNeil  -  Huttig

  7                    4:35                 G         Emerson  -  Winner of #1

  8                    5:40                 B          Emerson  -  Mt. Holly

  9                    6:45                 G         Gibsland-Coleman  -  Warren

10                    7:50                 B          Winner #5 - Gibsland-Coleman

11                    8:55                 B          Stephens  -  Huttig

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22

12                    3:30                 G         Parkers Chapel  -  Spearsville

13                    4:35                 G         Summerfield  -  West Side

14                    5:40                 B          Hamburg  -  Norphlet

15                    6:45                 G         Norphlet  -  Hamburg

16                    7:50                 B          West Side  -  Summerfield

17                    8:55                 B          Parkers Chapel  -  Spearsville

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23

18                    3:30                 G         Junction City  -  Walker

19                    4:35                 G         Strong  -  Winner #2

20                    5:40                 B          Strong  -  Taylor

21                    6:45                 G         Union  -  Winner #3

22                    7:50                 B          Junction CIty  -  McNeil

23                    8:55                 B          Smackover  -  Winner #4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24

24                    3:30                 G         Winner #18  -  Winner #6

25                    4:35                 G         Winner #9  -  Winner #12

26                    5:40                 B          Winner #11  -  Winner #17

27                    6:45                 B          Waldo  - Winner #20

28                    7:50                 B          Winner #8  -  Winner #10

29                    8:55                 B          Harmony Grove  - Winner #16

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25

30                    3:30                 G         Winner #7  -  Winner #15

31                    4:35                 G         Winner #19  -  Winner #24

32                    5:40                 G         Winner #21  -  Winner #13

33                    6:45                 B          Winner #14  -  Winner #26

34                    7:50                 B          Winner #27  -  Winner # 22

35                    8:55                 B          Winner #29  -  Winner # 23

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26

36                     10:00 AM       G         Winner # 30 - Winner #31

37                     11:05 AM       G         Winner #32  - Winner #25

38                     12:10 PM        B          Winner #33  -  Winner #34

39                    1:15 PM           B          Winner #35  -  Winner #28

40                    5:00 PM           G         Loser # 36  -  Loser # 37

41                    6:15 PM           G         Winner # 36  -  Winner # 37

42                    7:30 PM           B          Loser #38  -  Loser # 39

43                    8:45 PM           B          Winner # 38  - Winner # 39