HEADLINES - December 12, 2002
Council Holds Last Meeting, Approves Raises For Chief, Clerk,
Treasurer
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
term
on Monday, December 9 and voted to approve raises for the Police Chief Rodney
Hollenshead, Town Clerk Lana Pugh and Town Treasurer Debra Sarpy. The Council
amended the town charter by roll call vote to set the annual salary for the
police chief at $32,000 effective January 1, 2003, payable monthly. The
Ordinance states selectmen may increase the compensation of the marshal by
majority vote, but such an increase shall not be effective during the current
term of office. After reviewing the salaries of town clerks and treasurers in
similar size municipalities, councilman Ed Watson stated Homer was not a lot
higher than the minimum salary, several hundred dollars below the average, and
a good bit below the maximum. Aubrey said both were hired in 1999 at about
$22,000 per year.The Council approved Watson’s motion to give both the town
clerk and treasurer a $200 per month raise. Aubrey said the raise would be
retroactive, effective December 1, 2002.
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Mike
McKean introduced Bob Barnes, the Northwest Regional Manager for the Louisiana
Department of Veterans Affairs, to the Claiborne Parish Police Jury at their
work session on Wednesday, December 4. McKean invited Barnes to share
information for the potential of hiring
a full-time veteran's counselor for Claiborne and Bienville parishes. The
officer would attend quarterly and annual training, and be kept up to date on all the changes in the
department. To hire a full time service officer, State law mandates that local
government pay no less than 25% of the operation of the office budget, as well
as provide office space and two phone lines. The estimated cost to the Jury
would be about $375-$380 per month for 2 days and $495-500 for 3 days. Barnes said 1,375 veterans living in Jackson
Parish received direct payments of $2,314,000 from the federal veterans
administration in 2001. Bienville Parish has just under 1,500 veterans and have
a service officer only one day a week. In 2001, the federal veterans administration paid $2,355,000 directly to
those veterans. In Claiborne Parish, expenditures for the 1,628 veterans living
here in 2001 was $1,590,000 in direct payments. Barnes said an aggressive,
trained service officer should be able to increase the benefits paid to
Claiborne Parish veterans.
Homer Man Reported Missing
The
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office is reporting the disappearance of a
67-year-old Homer man, James Ferrell, Jr. Ferrell was last seen washing his
pickup truck around 5 PM on Thursday, December 5 at his home located at 2651
Old Athens Road. Ferrell’s truck was found parked at the house and locked.
Authorities found his heart medication locked inside his house. Ferrell lived
alone and would not have left his house without telling some of his children.
He has livestock and he would have
made
sure someone would feed them. Ferrell is a black male. He weighs 230 lbs. and
6’ 1” tall. He is a respected member of the community. The circumstances
surrounding his disappearance are very unusual. Anyone with information about
the disappearance of James Ferrell, Jr. should contact Detective Charles Buford
or any deputy at the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-927-2011.
Claiborne Community Service Club Honored By Forcht-Wade
Each
year the ladies from the Claiborne Community Service Clubs, formerly known as
the FCE Clubs, from Midway, Alpha, Haynesville, and Ruple Clubs meet on the
first Tuesday of each month at the Homer Church of Christ Annex to cut, sew,
stuff, and decorate dolls and teddy bears for needy children. These dolls are
then presented to Wade to be distributed with other toys to Claiborne Boys
& Girls Club, Haynesville Head Start, Haynesville Lions Club, L.S.U., St.
Jude, Philadelphia Center, the Lighthouse, and other organizations for
Christmas.
Sparta Aquifer “Critical Area” Hot Topic At Hearing
Over
500 people attended the four-hour public hearing at Ruston High School on
Tuesday, November 19 to discuss the application to have portions of the Sparta
Aquifer area declared as “critical groundwater area.” Most of Claiborne Parish
met the criteria for a “critical area” and the entire parish was included in
the application. Criteria for a “critical area” designation includes water
levels declining more than one foot per year, water levels below the top of the
aquifer, or risk of salt water encroachment. Seven other parishes were also
recommended by the Sparta Commission to be declared “critical ground water
areas.” They were Bienville (east of the recharge area), Caldwell (northwest
corner), Jackson, Lincoln, Ouachita, Union, Webster (east of recharge area, and
all of the recharge area as defined by the U.S. Geological Survey in Louisiana.
Ben McGee of the USGS said the Sparta Aquifer is the only source of ground
water (residential, agricultural and industrial) for all or part of 15 north
central Louisiana parishes. In 2000, public supply surpassed industry as the
largest user of water. Large withdrawals have left “cones of depression” in the
Aquifer at Monroe, Winnfield, Minden, Hodge, Ruston and El Dorado. Arkansas
recently provided incentives for large users to convert to surface water use.
Early Childhood Intervention Topic At Region VII Meeting
Region
VII held a meeting November 15 in the Willis Knighton Conference Room to
provide information on services available for children with special needs in
Claiborne Parish. The Claiborne Parish Special Services Department offers early
intervention help for exceptional preschool children who have an established
medical condition or who are delayed in one or more of the following areas:
cognitive development, physical development including vision, hearing,
communication development; social or
emotional
development or adaptive development.
Local Juror “Gene” Coleman, Six Others Qualify For State Senate
Seat
Local
police juror and State Farm insurance agent T. E. “Gene” Coleman was among
seven candidates to qualify for the Louisiana Senate District 36 seat being
vacated by Sen. Foster Campbell. Campbell recently defeated Don Owen in the
race for Public Service Commissioner and will take office January 1. District
36 includes most of Bossier Parish, all of Webster and Bienville, and half of
Claiborne. Coleman is presently in his second term on the Claiborne Parish
Police Jury and was the only candidate to qualify from Claiborne Parish.
Coleman and John Cucci of Benton were the only Republicans. Cucci practices law
in Shreveport. Five Democrats also qualified for the race. They are Jerry Lott
of Sibley, Robert Adley of Benton, Jack Cook of Plain Dealing, John “Doug” Frye
of Minden, and Henry D. Meachum of Haughton.
Notice To Homer Water Customers
Beginning
December 12, 2002, the Town of Homer will begin performing maintenance on the
High Pressure Filtering System at the Mayfield Water Well in conjunction with
the recommendation of Balar Engineers and the manufacturer’s suggested
maintenance schedule. During this time, water customers may experience water
discoloration as well as a temporary drop in water pressure. Mayor David Aubrey
and the Public Works Department advises customers to use extreme caution when
laundry involves light colored clothing. If you have any questions, please
contact the Public Works Department at 927-1313.
Dr. Jimmy Andrews Serves As Grand Marshal In Christmas Parade
Dr.
Jimmy Andrews, internationally known orthopedic surgeon, was the Grand Marshal
in the Christmas Parade Saturday, November 30. Dr. Andrews grew up in Homer and
graduated from Homer High School. He helped establish the Health South Sports
Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama and has operated on famous persons
such as actress Jane Fonda, NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, and
former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman. He is getting ready to operate on
golf star Tiger Woods sometime next year. Dr. Andrews rode in the parade with
his two daughters, Amber and Abigail “Abby” shown in the back seat of the car
driven by Tracie Haynes.
Mary Landrieu Wins Re-Election
U.S.
Senator Mary Landrieu narrowly won re-election as late returns put her ahead of
Republican challenger Suzanne Haik Terrell. Early results put Terrell ahead 52
to Landrieu’s 48 percent, but as votes came in Landrieu edged ahead and took
the lead. The final tally gave Democrat Landrieu 643,350 votes statewide, or
51.60 percent, while Terrell received 603,406 votes, or 48.40 percent. In
Claiborne Parish, Landrieu received 2,351 votes, or 53.13 percent and Terrell
received 2.074 votes, or 46.87 percent.
NOVEMBER
21, 2002 NEWS BRIEFS
Claiborne
One Is Presently Soliciting New Sponsors
The
Claiborne One website at
www.claiborneone.org features news from Homer, Haynesville, Junction
City, and all of Claiborne Parish. They are presently soliciting new and added
sponsors. To contribute news or purchase advertising banner, call Joel Ponder
at 927-9787 or Al Lynn at 927-9674.
Benefit
Concert Set For Saturday For Cyndy Gantt
A
Gospet Benefit Concert will be held Saturday, December 14 from 4 PM until for
Cyndy Gantt at the Mt. Olive Christian School in Athens. The concert will
feature New Hope, First Praise, Calvary Quartet, Renn Ardoin, Melanie Martin,
White Stones, Lillian Sanders, and the Nichols Family. Donations will be
accepted at the door. For more info, call Bro. Eddie Ballance at 318-263-2846
or Peggy Stovall at 318-258-5643.
.
Claiborne
Academy K5-6 To Present Christmas Musical
Claiborne
Academy students in grades K5-6th will present a Christmas musical entitled
“Elf Impersonator” on Friday, December 13 at 6:30 PM. All parents and
grandparents are invited.
Local
D.A.R.T. Selling $1 Chances On DVD Player
The
Claiborne Parish office of D.A.R.T (Domestic Abuse Resistance Team) is
accepting $1 donations on a chance to win a Mintek portable DVD player with
accessory pack. Drawing will be held December 12, 2002. Call Mary Ellen Gamble
at 927-2818 for information.
Homer
Elementary To Present “The Sound Of Christmas”
Homer
Elementary School will present "The Sound of Christmas" on Thursday,
December 12 at 6:30 PM in the Homer High School auditorium. Everyone is invited.
Admission is $1.
Dorcheat
Conservation District To Hold Annual Tree Sale
Dorcheat
Soil and Water Conservation District has scheduled its annual conservation tree
sale for January 14, 15, and 16 from 8 AM to 3 PM each day at the USDA Service
Center parking lot at 216 Broadway in Minden.
Homer
Lions Are Selling Bergeron Pecans $6 Bag
The
Homer Lions Club Annual Pecan Sale has begun. A 12 oz. bag of fresh Bergeron
pecans is $6. See any Lions Club member or call Police Chief Rodney Hollenshead
at 927-4000 to place your order.
Spirit
Of Christmas Food Drive Ends Saturday, Dec. 21
Saturday,
December 21 is the last day to contribute to the Spirit of Christmas Food Drive
sponsored by Brookshire’s and the Homer Lions Club. Residents may donate
non-perishable items in designated bins at Brookshire’s to be distributed to
needy families in the Homer area.
Claiborne
Watershed District Commission To Meet Dec. 19
The
Claiborne Parish Watershed District Commission will meet on Thursday, December
19 at 5:30 PM in the Police Jury Complex. On the agenda are the swearing in of
new commissioners, Walter Lee and Phillip Fincher.; Lake Claiborne Artificial
Reef project; proposals for fishing regulations (yo yo’s and bass spawning);
and a slide show on the State of Claiborne Waters.
Claiborne
Boys & Girls Club To Take Donations On Square
The
Claiborne Boys & Girls Club will be collecting donations on the Courthouse
Square on Friday, December 13 from noon till 5 PM.
Athens
High PTA To Meet Thursday, December 19, 6 PM
The monthly
meeting of the Athens High School PTA will be held Thursday, December 19 at 6
PM at the school.
Thursday
Is Last Day To Order Dressing, Rolls
Thursday
is the last day to order fresh Christmas dressing ready for pick up December
19. The price is $12 gallon and $6 half gallon. Rolls are $2.50 dozen. Place your order by calling Haynesville
Elementary at 624-1084.