HEADLINES ‑ February 28, 2002

Severance Tax Resolution Could Mean $1 Million For Parish

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

The Police Jury Association approved 57 Resolutions at their 2002 Annual Convention held in Friday and Saturday, February 22 and 23. Resolution No. 10 was to raise the amount of money returned to parishes from state severance tax $1,750,000.

Girl Assaulted At Local Car Wash

Several weeks ago, a 21‑year‑old Homer girl was assaulted while vaccuuming her car at the Pelican Car Wash on West Main Street in Homer. About 9:30 PM on Wednesday, January 30, someone came up from behind the young lady and said “hi.” When the girl turned around, she was hit in the face with a brick. The person then tried to grab her arm and hit her again, but she managed to get free and run next door to the Dixie Mart. The girl described her assailant to Homer police office Keith Ferguson as a black male, about 5’7” tall with braided hair, wearing beige pants and a red shirt. The girl was taken to Homer Memorial Hospital by her family where she received stitches above her left eye, and was then released. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homer Police Department at 927‑4000.

Superintendent Shares Plans For Homer Schools With Faculty

‑ Comments On Board’s Decision To Renew His Contract

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

Claiborne Parish School Superintendent Gary Jones met with the faculty of all three Homer schools on Monday, February 25 to give them an overview of the plans for the Homer Schools bond election set for May 4, 2002. He posed the question, “Why pass a bond issue now?” One reason is schools in Homer are about five years away from being in the shape Haynesville schools were, unless significant renovations are done now. If you wait, the cost will only go up. You can either decide to do nothing or you can go for the most comprehensive plan available.

New Public Works Director Off To Good Start

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

The Town of Homer, in conjunction with Entergy, has been working the past few weeks to replace 69 of the 400 existing street lights on several of the main streets in Homer‑‑West Main, North Main, South Main, Pearl Street, and Martin Luther King Drive, with brighter, more efficient lights. The Town will be saving about $1 per month on each light and hopes to eventually replace all the lights in town. Public Works Director Calvin Wortham said this is only one of the many projects he is working on. Town crews are working to clean curbs and gutters and other drainage concerns. The Town recently purchase two new edgers and with the help of inmate labor are edging sidewalks along the main streets around town, and making necessary repairs to sidewalks. Crews are also replacing missing street signs and changing out dead water meters.

Homer Historic CommissionTo Hold Public Meeting

The Homer Historic District Advisory Commission will sponsor a public meeting on March 5th at 5:30 PM in Homer City Hall to discuss the terms of a proposed Preservation Ordinance for the Homer Historic District. The Homer Historic District includes certain designated properties lying within an area bounded by North Second Street, East Second Street, South Second Street and West Second Street. Adoption of the proposed Ordinance would qualify Homer for Certified Local Government status and render Homer eligible to receive a Main Street Grant. The Main Street Program fosters economic revitalization of downtown business districts by building upon their historic resources. Josh Lassere, Design/CLG Coordinator for the Louisiana Main Street Program, will make a presentation at the meeting and assist in answering questions regarding the proposed Ordinance. Copies of the Ordinance will be distributed at the meeting. Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend.

LMA To Refund $269,577 To Homer, Haynesville, And Homer Memorial

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

The Towns of Homer and Haynesville and municipally‑owned Homer Memorial Hospital should receive refund checks totaling $269,577.93 from the Louisiana Municipal Association by June of this year. The money is part of the $3.6 million being returned to municipalities around the state who participate in the Unemployment Compensation Fund. A meeting of the Unemployment Compensation Fund Committee for the Louisiana Municipal Association was held Wednesday, February 13 to discuss whether to refund a portion of the $6.6 million in reserve contributions made by participating municipalities.

FEBRUARY 28, 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.

Claiborne Academy To Present “A CA Night of Music” Saturday

Claiborne Academy will present “A CA Night of Music” Saturday, March 2 at 6:30 PM in the school gym. This year’s show, under the direction of Claudia Goodwin, will include performers from K‑12. The Miss Darling Dixie pageant (12th grade all boys contest) will have added entertainment as 6th grade boys will compete for 1st‑ever “Little Miss Darling Dixie.” Tickets $3. Proceeds go to CA music dept.

Pelican Quarterback Club To Hold Annual Bass Tourney March 30

The Homer High School Pelican Quarterback Club will hold their Annual Bass Tournament on Saturday, March 30 at Parden’s Paradise (formerly Benson’s Bay) just off Hwy. 146 (White Lightning Road), from 6 AM to 3 PM. The entry fee is $20 per person and $10 Big Bass per boat. As in the past, there will be plenty of prizes for everyone. For more information, call President Bill Owens at 927‑9654 or 927

American Legion Post 73 To Meet TONIGHT, February 28

American Legion Post 73 will meet tonight, Thursday, February 28 at 7 PM at the Claiborne Parish Library.

Easter “Tour Of Churches” Set For Sunday, March 4, 2‑4 PM

An Easter “Tour of Churches” will be held Sunday, March 24, from 2‑4 PM‑‑a benefit for the Rolling Hills Ministry Disaster Relief Fund. Four churches on tour are Holly Springs Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Bethlehem Methodist, and Ruple Baptist. Tickets will not be sold but donations will be gratefully accepted.

Homer High Drama Club To Present “The Games People Play”

The Homer High School Dram Club will present “The Games People Play,” a sports extravanganza on Friday, March 15 at 6:30 PM in the Homer High School auditorium. Tickets are $2 for adults and $1 for students, and can be purchased from any drama club member, Director Denice Owens, or at the door.

State Representative Rick Gallot To Hold Forum In Haynesville

State Rep. Rick Gallot will hold a Legislative Forum on Tuesday, March 19 at 6:30 PM at the Claiborne Parish Fair Barn in Haynesville for residents of District 11 and other concerned citizens. Presenters will be Gallot, Sen. Foster Campbell and Drew Smith, District Representative for Congressman Jim McCrery. Topics include redistricting, and upcoming legislative sessions.

Claiborne Parish Watershed District To Meet March 8

The Claiborne Parish Watershed District (Lake Commission) will meet at 5:30 PM on Friday, March 8 in the Claiborne Parish Police Jury board room, above the Clerk of Court office on the Courthouse square. The agenda will include artificial reefs and proposed amendments to lake regulations.

“Relay For Life” Team Meeting To Be Held Monday March 4

A team meeting for the upcoming “Relay For Life” will be held at the Homer Memorial Hospital board room at 6 PM Monday, March 4. The “Relay For Life” will be held Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6. Call Bonnie Keene at 927‑1517.

Musical Drama “The Passion Of Jesus” Set For March 29‑31

Three performances of the musical drama “The Passion of Jesus” will be presented by Bethel Baptist Church in Lillie Fri‑Sun., March 29‑31, at 7PM with a cast of 120 dressed in authentic costumes. The church is located 2.3 miles west of Hwy 167 on Bethel Church Road (1.8 m. south of Junction City or 5.3 m. north of Lillie). Free admission. Bring a lawn chair.

Central Claiborne Water System To Hold Annual Meeting

Members of the Central Claiborne Water System are urged to attend the annual meeting on Thursday, March 7 at 6:30 PM at the Homer Fire Station.

Haynesville Recreation To Hold Meeting March 5 At 6:30 PM

Baseball‑Softball Draft To Be Held Saturday, March 26

A Baseball‑Softball Draft will be held at the Dixie Youth Baseball Field in Haynesville on Saturday, March 26 at 10 AM. Teams will be selected at that time. The fees for this year will be $20 for the first child and $10 for each additional child in one family. Forms can be picked up at town hall and are available at Haynesville schools and Claiborne Academy. Forms need to be turned in prior to the day of the Draft. An organizational meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 5 at 6:30 PM at the AARP building in the park to elect officers and select coaches. The public in invited to attend this meeting.

Town Of Homer To Hold Mandatory Recreational Workshops

The Town of Homer welcomes all to use the many recreational facilities‑‑two public swimming pools and three recreational parks/complexes which include picnic tables, bar‑b‑que pits, children’s rides, volleyball, tennis, basketball, softball and baseball. The Town charges no fees except for swimming and absorbs all maintenance and clean‑up costs. In order to ensure these facilites remain in good condition, the Town requires each ball organization that plans to use these facilities to attend 2 of 3 one‑hour workshops to be held at 5:30 PM on Tuesdays, March 8, 12, an d 19 at Homer City Hall. Each organization must submit proposed schedules of games and practices and sign an agreement adhering to the Town’s use and clean‑up policies. Organizations are asked to make requests known at this time. Mayor David Aubrey and Recreation Director Fred Young will be on hand to answer questions on schedules for mowing fields, purchase orders, key controls, and security concerns.

Deaf Action To Be At Council On Aging Monday, March 18

Deaf Action will be at the Claiborne Council on Aging on Monday, March 18 from 10:30 AM ‑ 12:00 Noon. Anyone who has a hard time hearing can come in and get a phone. For more info, call the COA at 927‑6922.

Government And Municipal Boards To Meet In March

The Homer Town Council will meet Monday, March 4 at 6 PM.

The Claiborne Parish Police Jury will meet Wednesday, March 6 at 10 AM for their work session and Thursday, March 7 at 10 AM for their regular meeting.

The regular meeting of the Claiborne Parish School Board will be 7 PM Thursday, March 7 following the work session at 6 PM.

The Junction City, Louisiana Town Council will meet Thursday, March 14 at 6 PM.

The Junction City School Board will meet Tuesday, March 12 at 7 PM at the Junction City Elementary library.

The Haynesville Town Council has delayed their regular March meeting until Thursday, March 21 at 6 PM. The meeting was postponed since Mayor Mickey Mayfield will be in Baton Rouge and three councilmen will be in Washington, D.C. during the week of March 12.

Class Of 1965 To Hold Class Meeting Thursday, March 7

The Class of 1965 will hold a class meeting Thursday, March 7 at 6 PM at 440 Carter Drive in Homer. For more information, call Lizzie Williams at 927‑4042.

Homer Mayfield Alumni School Reunion To Meet Mar. 5

The monthly meeting of Homer Mayfield Alumni School Reunion will be held Tuesday, March 5 at 6 PM at 906 South 4th Street in Homer.

The Junction City Annual Staff Selling Dragon Yearbooks

The Junction City Annual Staff are selling Dragon Yearbooks for $25 until February 22. Persons can pay a $10 deposit and the balance later, or pay $25 with an option to pay $3 additional to put their name on the cover. Mail payments to Junction City High School, P.O. Box 790, Junction City, AR 71749. Yearbooks are expected to arrive in September 2002. Call Dale Hux at (870) 924‑5453 for info.

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.

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.

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.

Lake Claiborne State Park

March 2 ‑ Traditions of the Past: Folklores, 4 PM. This program will look at the old folklore involving medical remedies, weather predictions and predicting the future.

March 9 ‑ Scary Creatures, 4 PM. Learn more about some of nature’s more misunderstood creatures. The park naturalist will present a program on bats, scorpions, spiders and snakes.

Call 1‑888‑677‑2524 toll free or 318‑927‑2976 locally, or visit the Office of State Parks website at www.lastateparks.com.