HEADLINES - September 12, 2002

Homer Council Gives Raise To All Town Employees

- Introduces New Animal Ordinance, Discusses Christmas Lighting

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

The Homer Town Council voted to give all full-time and part-time employees a pay raise effective September 1, 2002 at their regular meeting Monday, September 9. Employees who have worked up to one year will get a 2 percent raise, between one and three years a 3 percent raise, between three and five years a 4 percent raise, and those who have worked more than five years will get a 5 percent raise.

Agenda September 9, 2002 Meeting

• Cost Of Living Raises

• Animal Control Ordinance

• Christmas Festival Committee

• Request Homer-Claiborne Chamber Of Commerce

• Maintenance Arlington Cemetery

• Cooperative Endeavor Agreement Homer Unit-Claiborne Boys & Girls Club

• Renovation Two Wooden Buildings

• Demolition House MLK-Hill St.

• Survey - Fines Noise And Loud Music

• Contract Collection Agency

• Homer Fire Station Rental Fee

• Update USDA Grant Fund Purchases

• Candidates

• Street Grant Project

• Personnel Actions

School Board Approves Raises For Certified Teachers

- Teachers Of The Year Recognized

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

Donald Tucker filled in for School Board President A.L. Guinn in his absence at the regular meeting of the Claiborne Parish School Board on Thursday, September 5, Tucker remembered Homer Elementary student Antavious Kimble who was killed in a tragic accident last week and asked everyone to keep her family in their prayers.

Agenda September 5, 2002 Meeting

• Pay Raises, Contract Lengths, Salary Adjustments

• Recognition Teachers Of The Year

• Adoption Budget 2002-2003

• Reduce Speed Limit Tulip Road

• Interagency Agreement CPSB and Webster Headstart

• Requirements No Child Left Behind

• Possible Action EEF Tobacco Fund

• Personnel Actions

• Roof - Homer Student Center

• Report School Improvements

Police Jury Approves Mosquito Abatement Plan

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

The Claiborne Parish Police Jury approved a Mosquito Abatement Plan as presented by police juror Jerry Adkins, who serves as chairman of the committee appointed to come up with a plan. Adkins said the committee recommended compiling a fact sheet that could be distributed to everyone in the parish, to purchase one sprayer for the entire parish and share the cost with Homer and Haynesville, to set up a surveillance plan using sentinel flocks and light traps, and to make plans for record keeping.

Agenda September 5, 2002 Meeting

• Mosquito Abatement Plan

• Christmas Festival Committee

• Bids To Purchase Chipper

• Reduce Speed Limit Tulip Road

• School Bus Turnaround Fomby Road

• Status Lewis Way Road

• Haynesville Library Building

• Landowner's Ordinance

• 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony

• Parish Working Hours

• Harris Road-Speed Limit, Road Signs

• Alcoholic Beverage Permit

• Claiborne One Website

• A/C System Parish Jail

• Claiborne One Website

• Set Salary Assistant To Secretary-Treasurer

Classic Car, Christmas Festival Committee Hold Joint Meeting

The joint committee of the Classic Car and Christmas Festival met Tuesday, September 3 at the Homer Fire Station. Ann Burton explained the situation on the lighting of the Courthouse. An estimate of $1,700 was received from a company in Minden, but they still need someone to put the lights up.

Arthur Reed

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Donald Tucker

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James "J.J." Willis Announces Candidacy For Homer Police Chief

James J. J. Willis is announcing his candidacy for Town of Homer Police Chief. Wills’ platform includes the following: accountable Police Chief who is responsible and caring, community-friendly police officers, put safety and welfare of community first, ride along program, employ fully-trained criminal investigators, curfew enforcement and community watch, more auxiliary officers,

crime prevention program, Scared Straight program, and Drug Rehab Program. Willis ask you to vote for James “J.J.” Willis, No. 82 on October 5.

Gloria Roberson

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SEPTEMBER 12, 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.

Sheriff’s Office To Sponsor Women’s Defensive Safety Class

The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office will offer a Women’s Defensive Safety Class on Tuesday, October 1 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Homer Fire Station. Instructor will be Steve Risner with Probation and Parole. For more info, call 927-2011.

Dolls And Teddy Bears Begging For Donations Of Useful Items

The dolls and teddy bears are begging for more donations of useful items to keep them growing!--Especially things like lace and ribbon. Anyone who wishes to join us in helping make the dolls, teddy bears, doll quilts, pillows and such, may join us the first Tuesday of every month at the Church of Christ Annex Building on West Main (by Gordon’s Service Station). Hope to see you there!

Celebration Of Butterflies Set For Sept. 14, 15 In Haynesville

The Annual Celebration of Butterflies will be held at the Claiborne Parish Fairgrounds in Haynesville on September 14 & 15. Admission is $2 adults, $1 for age 6-18, and free under 6. For more information, call Loice Kendrick at 624-1929, (870) 234-4910, or e-mail lklacy@magnolia-net.com

Benefit Co-Ed Softball Tourney Set Sept. 13-14 For Megan Cox

A Co-Ed Softball Tournament will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14 at the Cotton Valley Ball Park to benefit Megan Cox who is a patient at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. All proceeds will go to Megan. Entry fee is $120 per team and must be paid before first game. First prize is T-shirts. For more info, call Missy Driskill at (318) 847-4472 or Marlon Parker at (318) 832-4677.

Prayer Breakfast For Teachers To Be Held At First Baptist

A Prayer Breakfast will be held Sunday, September 15 from 8:00-9:00 AM at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center to honor the teachers and staff at all Claiborne Parish schools, both retired and active. Guest speaker will be James Scriber, retired School Superintendent. Others on the program include Joe Richardson, Dump Hatter, Jerry Adkins, and Bill Bailey.

Junction City To Vote On School Project September 17

Voters in Junction City School District will decide on Tuesday, September 17 whether or not to go ahead with the proposal to construct a new junior high building and gymnasium. Junction City School Superintendent Alvin Kelly encourages anyone with questions to come by his office or visit the school website www.scsc.k12.ar.us/junctioncity for more information on the project. The website also has football schedules and lunch menus.

Homer High Student Council Selling Gourmet Cookie Dough

The Homer High School Student Council will be selling 3 lb. buckets of gourmet cookie dought until Tuesday, Sept. 24. They have several flavors this year. For more info or to place an order call Kim Herring 927-5291.

Absentee Voting For October 5 Election Is September 23-28

Absentee voting for October 5 election will be September 23-28 from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday, and from 8:30-noon on Saturday. Registrar of Voters Patricia Sanders invites voters to come by for a demonstration of the new computerized voting machines at her office in the Police Jury Office Complex.

Pelican Dolls Mini-Camp Set For Sat. Has Been Cancelled

The Pelican Dolls Mini-Camp set for Sat. Sept. 14 has been cancelled. We look forward to next year and hope to see you there!

Pinehill Water System To Meet Monday, September 16

Pinehill Water System will meet Monday, Sept. 16 at 6 PM at Claiborne Manor Nursing Home.

Claiborne Parish Watershed District Commission To Meet Sept. 26

The Claiborne Parish Watershed District Commission will meet Thursday, September 26 at 5:30 PM at the Police Jury Complex. District Attorney Walter May will discuss enforcement of Watershed Commission ordinances. James Seales of Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries will discuss water quality and fish production. Also on the agenda are dam maintenance, plans for Lisbon Landing improvements, and progress on the first Artificial Reef to be placed in Lake Claiborne.

“Write-On Project” Seeking School Supplies Donations

The Claiborne Parish Office of Family Support’s First Annual Write On! Project is taking donations of school supplies for children of families they are working with, then for other needy children, to be distributed beginning October 15. Supplies needed for each child are 1-2” binder, 3 pencils, 3 pens, 1 pkg. wide-ruled looseleaf paper, 1 ruler, and 3 single subject wide-rule notebooks. Also needed are tissues, crayons, & scissors. For more info, contact Sharon Chandler at 927-3518, ext. 33.

Christmas Festival Committee Holds Poster, T-Shirt Contest

Christmas Festival Committee is sponsoring a Poster and T-Shirt Contest reflecting the theme of the Christmas Festival for 2002 “

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@‚@@@@@@@@”. To enter, participants must be a K-12 student in a Claiborne Parish School. The winning poster will be transferred onto the Official 2002 Festival Tee-shirt. First prize is $75, second prize is $25. Entries must be turned in at Miss Lizzie’s, 400 West 3rd in Homer by October 1, 2002 with name, address, age, and telephone number on separate sheet. Call 927-9009 for information.

North Louisiana Cancer Support Group To Meet September 19

The North Louisiana Cancer Support Group will meet Thursday, Sept. 19 from 6:30-8:00 PM at WK Claiborne Regional Health Center Conference Room in Homer. Many patients find that talking and sharing experiences with someone can ease the sense of isolation and reduce the stress associated with cancer treatment. We invite anyone interested, including family and friends of cancer patients, to attend meetings, on 3rd Thursday in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Call Gaye Brunson at Homer Memorial at 927-2024 or Bonnie Keene at 927-1517 or American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office To Hold “Dinner With Friends”

The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office will hold their annual Sportsman’s Banquet on Thursday, September 19 at 6:30 PM at the Homer High School cafeteria. To attend the Banquet, a person must have a valid hunting license which is available at the Sheriff’s Office in Homer and Haynesville, in Homer at Michael’s Men’s Store an Wal-Mart, and at the Rebel Stop in Summerfield (formerly Butch Bays Store) or be 60 years of age.

Homer Pelican Dolls Have Few Homeropoly Games, License Plates

The Pelican Dolls have a few Homeropoly games left. They are now selling for $10 each. These games are unique and make great gifts! They also have a few “Homer Pelican” license plates left, selling for $3 each. For more information, call 927-5291.

Rep Rick Gallot Will Be In Homer Office Sept. 13, 19, 26

State Representative Richard "Rick" Gallot will see constituents in his Homer office located inside the Police Jury Office Complex from 9AM to 12 PM on Friday, Sept. 13, Thurs. Sept. 19, and Thurs., Sept. 26.

Homer High Spirit Club To Meet Thursday, September 19

The Homer Spirit Club, formerly the Homer Band Boosters, will hold their next meeting on Thursday, September 19 at 6:30 PM in the Band Room. The Club will represent the Pelican Dolls, the Homer High Cheerleaders, Homer High Flag Line, and Homer High Band.