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April 11, 2002

 

Marilyn Bush Pleads Guilty, Sentenced 10 Years

District Attorney Walter May Meets With Haynesville Council

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

Marilyn Elaine Murphy Bush, 54, of Haynesville was sentenced to ten years hard labor by Second Judicial Court Judge Jenifer Clason on Friday, April 5, 2002. Bush changed her plea of not guilty to guilty of felony theft in a hearing held just before noon at the Claiborne Parish Courthouse. Bush previously admitted to taking about $72,000 between March 1999 and September 2000 and using the money to gamble. A, report issued by State Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle in February, however, showed at least $432,250 missing from town funds since July 1991. During that time, Bush was town clerk and the only one responsible for making deposits.

Homer Airport Manager Dies In Plane Crash

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

Homer Airport Manager Jon Adams was tragically killed when the private single-engine T-34B naval training aircraft he and fellow pilot and owner of the plane, Stanley Pinder, were flying in crashed to the ground just a few hundred feet west of the Minden airport. Adams and the 63-year-old Pinder of Austin, Texas were conducting touch-and-go landings at the Minden Airport about 3:30 Saturday, April 6. According to eyewitnesses, after touching the runway the plane rose to an altitude of about 700 feet when a loud popping noise was heard and the plane immediately plummeted nose first into the ground. The plane was found about twenty minutes later among some trees about 100 yards to the side of the runway. The plane was pointed straight down, with the nose buried about 2-1/2 feet in the ground. Both men were killed on impact.

Street Named For Jessie T. Jones, Airport Manager Jon Adams Remembered

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

The Homer Town Council observed a moment of silence prior to the April 8 meeting to remember Airport Manager Jon Adams who died Saturday, April 6 in an airplane crash near the Minden airport. Mayor David Aubrey said, “Jon was a young man who had energy and a vision for our airport.” He had done a lot of work and made some significant improvements at the facility. “He saw our Homer Airport as an opportunity to bring tourism, because of it’s close ties with Lake Claiborne.” Aubrey said Adams was a pleasant young man and a joy to work with. “I’m going to regret not having an opportunity to continue to work close in hand with him in making our airport what he envisioned, what we all would envision--to be a dynamic asset for our community.”

District Attorney Addresses Haynesville Council

Walter May told members of the Haynesville Town Council at a Special Called Meeting at 9:30 AM Friday, April 5 that former town clerk Marilyn Bush was going to change her plea from not guilty to guilty at a hearing scheduled later that morning at the Claiborne Parish Courthouse. If sentenced to the maximum of ten years, Bush would be eligible for parole in 40 months. The law specifically provides that one consideration of the parole board are damages to the victim in the crime and the defendant making restitution.

Junction City Proceeds With Plans For New Junior High, Rehires Principals

Junction City School Board Superintendent Alvin Kelly told members of the School Board at their regular meeting March 12, due to the deteriorating condition of the junior high school building, they had no option but to construct a new building. They would, however, be able to make repairs to the existing gymnasium. The Board voted to interview architect Robert Bailey with Bailey and Associates of Little Rock to determine what would be needed and how much the project could cost. School financial advisor Buster Beardsley with Raney and Beardsley of Little Rock, was on hand to provide information pertinent to making capitol improvements when it requires bonding issues.

Junction City Council Sets April 20 Community Clean Up Day

The Junction City Town Council met March 14 and designated April 20 as Community Cleanup Day, as part of the Great American Cleanup 2002 sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, Inc., one of the largest organized grassroots litter cleanup, beautification, and community improvement programs conducted in the United States. in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup 2002.

Claiborne Parish Police Jury Meeting Changed To 2 PM, Thursday, April 11, 2002

The Claiborne Parish Police Jury will hold their regular meeting at 2 PM, not 10 AM, on Thursday, April 11 to allow jurors to attend an important meeting in Minden to received information from CDC (Coordinating and Development Corporation) on the tax incentives provided local businesses through the Renewal Community Act.

Money Available For Small Businesses- Revolving Loan Program At Homer-Claiborne Chamber Of Commerce

Starting a new business or enlarging a business within an eight mile radius of Homer? According to Executive Director Mac Brakefield, the Homer-Claiborne Chamber of Commerce now has monies to lend through the Revolving Loan Program. Collateral must be available and credit worthiness is essential. These funds were received from the USDA Rural Business Enterprise, a program to assist small businesses and provide for jobs in Homer. Loan preferences will be made on the basis of job creation. For more information, contact Mac Brakefield at 927-3271. The Homer-Claiborne Chamber of Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Lender/Agency.

Wade To Present Arts & Crafts Show Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14, 2002 - David Wade Correctional Center

David Wade Correctional Center will present its Semi-Annual Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14. The Festival will feature some of the finest handmade wood and leather crafts, custom framed artwork from the Ron Atwood Art Class, and a wide variety of bedding plants. The public is invited to come out and start your spring gardening and shopping early. DWCC is located about 8 miles northeast of Homer on Colquitt Road (Hwy. 520). For more information, contact the Warden’s Office at 318-927-0400.

April 11, 2002

Fine Arts Appreciation Night Set May 7 For Parish Students - A Fine Arts Appreciation Night will be held in the auditorium of Homer High School on Tuesday, May 7 at 6 PM. This event will feature art, instrumental, and vocal music from Haynesville, Homer, Athens, Pineview, and Summerfield school students. Everyone is invited to come and attend this night to celebrate the artistic talent of the youth of Claiborne Parish.    Support, Information & Photo Contributions Needed for Claiborne One - A community effort is needed in collecting information for Claiborne One. For contribution ideas, see the open letter from Claiborne One's local site designer. In addition, business and organization sponsorship support is needed to insure continued growth of our site. Visit the Claiborne One Spnsorship Page for more information.    Homer Memorial Hospital To Hold Childbirth Classes - Homer Memorial Hospital will be offering Prepared Childbirth classes beginning, Monday, April 22. Classes are free to anyone wishing to attend. To register, call the hospital at 927-2024 and ask for the OB Nurse on duty.    Lake Claiborne State Park “Attracting Hummingbirds” - April 13 - 4 PM - Attracting Hummingbirds. Visitors are invited to a discussion on hummingbird biology, how to attract the birds naturally and with feeders, and feeder maintenance. Call 1-888-677-2524 toll free or 318-927-2976 locally, or visit the Office of State Parks website at www.lastateparks.com.    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.    Claiborne Council On Aging Board/Advisory Council To Meet - The Advisory Council and Board of Directors for the Claiborne Council on Aging will meet on Tuesday, April 16 at 2 PM at the Claiborne Senior Center at 608 East 4th Street.    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.    Summerfield School Annual Fish Fry & Auction Set For May 5 - The Summerfield High School PTO will hold their Annual Fish Fry Dinner & Auction on Saturday, May 4 at 5:30 PM in the school gym. Tickets are $7.50 per person in advance or $8.50 at the door and are available from Summerfield teachers and PTO members. For more information, call 927-3621.    Summerfield Pre-K, Kindergarten Registration Set For May 3 - Summerfield Pre-K (4 year old) and Kindergarten (5 year old) registration will be May 3. Children must be 4 or 5 by September 30, 2002. They will need a birth certificate, social security card, and shot record.    Mt. Olive Christian School To Hold Cheerleader/Drill Team Tryouts - Mt. Olive Christian School in Athens will hold cheerleader tryouts on April 14 for girls going into the seventh through twelfth grades. Contact the school at 28-5661 for applications or for information on the deadline for drill team tryouts.    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.    “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»    Haynesville Elementary Accepting Applications Pre-K, Kindergarten - Haynesville Elementary is now accepting applications for their Pre-K and Kindergarten programs. Children must be 4 years old before October 1, 2002 for Pre-K and 5 years old before October 1, 2002 for Kindergarten. Children in Pre-K now do not have to apply for Kindergarten. To be put on the list, interested parents should come by the school office and bring their child’s birth certificate, social security card and health record. The school will notify students of registration dates in August to complete the information folders. Parents of a child who is 3-4 years old with special needs should contact the Claiborne Parish Special Needs Department by calling 927-2496 to have them tested to see if they qualify.    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.				Claiborne Parish Scholastic Banquet Set For Thurs. May 2 - Charles L. Gandy will be the guest speaker at the Claiborne Parish Scholastic Banquet set for Thursday, May 2 at the Claiborne Parish Fair Barn in Haynesville. Junior and senior students who meet the scholastic criteria will be honored. Tickets for the general public will go on sale April 10.    Pinehill Water System To Meet 6 PM April 15 - The Pinehill Water System will meet at 6 PM on Monday, April 15 at Claiborne Manor Nursing Home.    American Legion Auxiliary To Select Girls & Boys Staters - American Legion Auxiliary Unit 73 will meet at Tall Timbers Lodge Sunday, April 21 at 3 PM for the purpose of selecting Boys and Girls Staters for 2002. All members are encouraged to attend this meeting.    Claiborne Bass Busters To Hold Tournament On Caddo Lake - The Claiborne Bass Busters will be holding a Club Tournament on Caddo Lake on Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. Launch site at Williamson Park on Hwy. 1. For more information call Daryl Cheney at 927-4943.    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.    Kisatchie Jaycees To Hold Annual MDA Walk-A-Thon - The Kisatchie Jaycees will hold their annual Cop/Con Walk-A-Thon for MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) beginning at 8 AM May 4 on the grounds of the David Wade Correctional Center. Anyone interested in participating or making a donation to this worthy cause, call Kisatchie Sponsor Debbie Gilmore at (318) 927-0440, Ext. 442.    Government And Municipal Boards To Meet In April - Police Jury will meet Wed. April 10 at 10 AM for work session and Thursday, April 11at 2 PM for regular meeting. The regular meeting of the Claiborne Parish School Board will be 7 PM Thursday, April 11 following the work session at 6 PM The Junction City, Louisiana Town Council will meet Thursday, April 11 at 6 PM.    Peterson Cemetery Memorial To Be Held Saturday, April 27 - The annual Peterson Cemetery Memorial will be held at noon Saturday, April 27 at the Peterson Cemetery located just off Hwy. 146 (White Lightning Road) on the road to Pleasure Point. Family members are encouraged to attend and bring a covered dish and a lawn chair. All interested persons are invited to join us as we remember our loved ones on this day. To contribute to the Cemetery Fund, make checks payable to Peterson Cemetery Fund c/o Odessa Roberts, 134 Willow St., Homer, LA 71040.    Athens High To Hold Pre-K, Kindergarten Registration April 23-26 - Registration April 23-26 Pre-K and Kindergarten Round-Up will be held Tuesday-Thursday April 23-26 at Athens High School. Parents may register 4 and 5 year olds in the school library from 9 AM-12 PM each day.. Children must be 4 years old on or before October 1, 2002 to register for Pre-K and 5 years old for Kindergarten. Requirements for registration are the child’s birth certificate, social security card, and health record. Children in Pre-K now do not have to apply for Kindergarten.    Claiborne Parish Scholastic Banquet Set For Thursday, May 2 - The Claiborne Parish Scholastic Banquet will be held Thursday, May 2 at the Claiborne Parish Fair Barn in Haynesville to honor junior and senior students throughout the parish who have performed academically over the past year. Guest speaker will be Charles L. Gandy. Tickets for the general public will go on sale April 10.    Franklin Parish To Hold 16th Annual Catfish Festival April 13 - Franklin Parish 16th Annual Catfish Festival will be held from 8 AM-5 PM Saturday, April 13 in Winnsboro. Activities include entertainment from native sons Fred Carter, Jr. and Jerry Cupit and others, arts, crafts, delicious fried catfish, a quilt show, and one of the largest classic car shows in the area. There will be recreational competition, “bungee run”, “obstacle course”, and “bouncy boxing” for the young and young-at-heart. Franklin Parish is the largest producer of farm-raised catfish in the state. For info call the Winnsboro Mainstreet office at 318-435-7607.    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.    D.A.R.T. To Hold First Support Group Meeting Wed. March 27 - The first weekly meeting of the newly organized Domestic Abuse Outreach Support Group “WAVE” (Women Against Violence Everywhere) will be held in Homer Wednesday, March 27, 5:30-6:00 PM. For more info call (318)513-9373 or (800) 281-7885.    Dubach’s 2002 Chicken Festival To Hold Poster, T-Shirt Contest - The 2002 Louisiana Chicken Festival in Dubach is seeking entries for poster and T-shirt design contests. Winner of each contest receives $250 cash. For information or rules and entry form, call Dubach Town Hall at 318-777-3321. Deadline for entries is May 31, 2002.    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.
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