HEADLINES - February 6, 2003

Travel Policy Debated At Haynesville Council Meeting

- Council Approves Automated Meter Reading

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

The Travel Policy was the topic of debate at a Special Called Meeting of the Haynesville Town Council on Monday, January 27. Mayor Mickey Mayfield said, “One of the things that disturbs me about being mayor of your town are the expenditures we incur in the operation of this town. I don’t think the public has been informed of the money that has been spent on travel.”

Homer Hospital Audit Shows $715,000 Loss

- Board Approves Perpetual Agreement Rural Hospital Coalition

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

Auditor John Wells presented the audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002 to the Board of Directors of the Homer Memorial Hospital at their meeting January 21. The bottom line on the income statement is a $716,000 loss for the fiscal year. "If you measured your allowance for uncollectibles the same in 2001 as we did in 2002, instead of having a $715,000 loss, that number would have been about $300,000 to $400,000 loss.," he said. "Your operations are actually getting better, even though it doesn't appear that way in the current financial statement, because you took a more conservative approach estimating contractual adjustments and bad debts."

St. Jude Radiothon Set For February 10-11

The 22nd Annual St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Radiothon will be held February 10-11 from 7 AM to 6 PM Monday and from 7AM to 9 PM Tuesday. The event will be held at Super One Foods in Ruston and will be broadcast over KXKZ 107.5 FM and KRUS 1490 AM. AUdio will be carried by Ruston Cable TV channel 4. Listeners can call 1-800-942-8761 to make a pledge. This year’s goal is $140,000. Gifts are tax deductible. Memorial gifts will be acknowledged with letters to families. Organizers are looking for former and present patients at St. Jude so they can use the information during the Radiothon. At present, there are 15 patients from Claiborne Parish, 25 from Lincoln, 19 in Jackson, 7 in Bienville, 8 in Union, 10 in Winn, and 9 in Caldwell. Please notify Chairman Tommy Dean Hearne at (318) 251-1727, or email her at Tdhearne@aol.com.

Record Set On Rainfall At Hill Farm

- January 2003 Driest Month Since 1950

Nancy Boddie, lab technician at the Hill Farm Research Station, recorded only two-tenths of one inch of rainfall during the month of January. The Hill Farm is an official data collection center for the National Weather Service. January 2003 was the driest month on record since the Hill Farm began collecting data in 1950. The previous record low set in January was in 1986, just under half inch or .46 inch. The record high rainfall in January

was recorded in 1999 with 15.2 inches.

School Board Auditor's Report Shows No Findings For 5th Straight Year

The Board accepted the Independent Auditor’s Report as presented by Business Manager Bill Moody at a special called meeting of the Claiborne Parish School Board on January 16, 2003. Moody stated this was the 5th consecutive year the Report had listed no findings. Auditors are Little and Associates of West Monroe

War In Middle East Gets Closer To Home

- New Hope Baptist In Athens Adopts Soldiers On Active Duty

Spc. Aaron McDaniel is one of several area soldiers currently serving in the armed forces. As a member of Company C, 40th Signal Battalion, 2nd Platoon, McDaniel was recently deployed. He left for Kuwait on Thursday, January 23 from Fort Huachucha in Sierra Vista, Arizona. His wife, Tonya, 6-year-old stepdaughter Daysa and 10 month old son, Aaron III decided to stay in Arizona during his six month tour, even though she is “a little scared.”

Haynesville Dog Ordinance In Effect

Haynesville Mayor Mickey Mayfield would like to remind residents in Haynesville of the new dog ordinance recently adopted by the Haynesville Town Council. He said lost pets that are picked up by animal control and are wearing a rabies tag or some kind of identification tag get preferred care, medical treatment if necessary, extended time, and usually get home. Lost pets picked up without a tag become’s the responsibility of the Town of Haynesville. They should be the owner’s responsibility. The primary identification for dogs and cats is their tag worn on their collar. All other ID is considered secondary. 95 % of lost pets found without a tag DO NOT get home! 95% of the lost pets found with a tag DO get home! a lost pet’s BEST ticket home is a tag worn on its dollar. For more information on the Dog Ordinance, call 624-0911.

February Is Black History Month

BY ZADIE THOMPSON

Black history of the past is a challenge to our present times. It brings to our memory the voices, deeds and struggles of the past. There are those who gave their last full measure of devotion. In and through Black history, voices of the past are asking what have we done, what are we doing, and what are we going to do to ensure that the slaves and activists and martyrs did not die in vain.

FEBRUARY 6, 2003 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.

Pelican Quarterback Club To Hold Bass Tourney March 29

The Homer High Pelican Quarterback Club will hold their annual Bass Tournament on Saturday, March 29 at Parden’s Paradise. For more information or entry forms, call club president Bill Owens at 927-3939 or coach Glen Kyle at 927-5212 or 927-4658.

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Claiborne Parish Jubilee Committee To Meet Feb. 6

The Claiborne Parish Jubilee Committee will meet Thursday, February 6 at 5 PM at Homer City Hall. All interested persons are encouraged to attend. For more information, call Martha Peters at 927-9793 or Susan Herring at 927-3541.

HHS Drama Club To Present “Yearbook” Thurs. February 13

The Homer High Drama Club will present “Yearbook”, a 2-act salute to young people on Thursday, February 13 at 6:30 PM in the Homer High auditorium. Tickets are $2 ($1 for preschool) and can be purchased from Drama Club members or Director Denice Owens.A portion of the proceeds of this play go to the Columbine High Memorial Fund.

Friday Is Last Day To Order Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scouts Troop 344 are taking orders for Girl Scout cookies. Friday, February 7 is the last day to place an order, however, Girl Scouts will be selling a limited number of boxes at Wal-Mart on Saturday, March 8 from 10 AM to 2 PM. To place an order, contact any Girl Scout or call Melissa Smith at 927-4585 after 5:30 PM.The cost is $3 per box.

“Great Backyard Bird Count” Feb. 14-17 Needs Birdwatchers

The Sixth Annual Great Backyard Bird Count to be held February 14-17, 2003 is looking for birdwatchers. promises to add important new information to our understanding of birds' movement and overall health by focusing our common birds as well as on birds of special concern.

Homer Memorial To Offer Free Childbirth Preparation Class

Homer Memorial Hospital will offer Childbirth Preparations Classes beginning Thursday, February 6. Classes are free and are open to anyone wishing to attend. To register, call the hospital at 927-2024 and ask for the OB nurse.

HHS Doubleplay Booster Club To Hold BBQ Chicken Dinner

The Homer High School Doubleplay Booster Club will hold a BBQ Chicken Dinner on Saturday, February 15 from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Homer High School cafeteria. Plates are $5 and include 1/2 chicken, baked beans, potato salad, bread, and tea. All proceeds go toward purchase of new baseball uniforms. Tickets available from any baseball player or booster club member.

School Board To Meet Thursday, February 13, 7 PM

Claiborne Parish School Board will meet Thursday, February 13 at 7 PM, following the work session at 6:15 PM.

CCC Project Gold Club To Meet Saturday, February 8

Community Coordinating Council—Project Gold Golden Raiders Club will meet Saturday, February 8 at 1 PM in the Lane Chapel C.M.E. Church Fellowship Hall in Homer. All Project Gold members and any person 62 years or older interested in becoming a member are encouraged to be present. Contact Marie Gray at 927-6705 or Joe Etta Williams at 927-9444 for any additional information.

ACS’s 2003 “Relay For Life” Committee To Meet February 19

The American Cancer Society’s 2003 Relay For Life will be held April 5, 2003 at Ronny G. Beard Memorial Stadium. Rather than the normal overnight event, the Relay will begin at 2 PM and conclude at 2 AM on Sunday, April 6. The next planning meeting will be held at noon on Wednesday, February 19 in the meeting room at Linder Motor Lodge. For more information or to sign up a team, call Bonnie Keene at 927-1517.

Claiborne Parish Christmas Festival Committee To Meet February 18

The Claiborne Parish Christmas Festival committee will meet at Emerson Oil Company on Tuesday, February 18 at 5 PM. Anyone interested in helping with the 2003 Festival is invited to attend. They will be discussing upcoming events and fundraisers. For information, call Dale Tully at Miss Lizzies at 927-9009, or stop by the shop at 400 West 3rd.

Musical Benefit February 8 At Ruple Church For Stanton Haynes

Ruple Baptist Church will host a Gospel Concert Saturday, February 8 at 7 PM featuring Kerith Creek, a ladies singing group from New Sarepta Church, and the New Sarepta Men’s Quartet. The Concert is free, but a love offering will be taken to help the Haynes family with expenses while they are at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital where Stanton is being treated for cancer. For more information, contact Nina Sanders at 927-3575 daytime or 927-2675 nights.

Stuffing Needed For Dolls And Teddy Bears—Can You Help?

Local ladies who meet the first Tuesday every month to make dolls and teddy bears as gifts for needy children and lap robes for the elderly, need more stuffing for the bears and dolls. The ladies meet at the Homer Church of Christ Annex building on West Main (Hwy. 79) between 9 AM and 2 PM. For more information, call Kay Lowery at 927-4705.

Account Set Up At Regions Bank For Cancer Patient Alicia Lewis

An account has been set up at Regions Bank in Homer to help defray expenses for Alicia Lewis, who is presently undergoing chemotherapy and will soon face radiation treatments for breast cancer. Her present condition making her unable to return to work at the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.

Absentee Voting Set For Feb. 15 Senate Runoff Election

Absentee voting for the February 15 runoff election for State Senate District 36 will be Monday, February 3 through Saturday, February 8. The Claiborne Parish Registrar of Voters office will be open 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Monday-Friday and from 8:30 AM till noon on Saturday.

Christmas Festival Committee Needs Recipes For Cookbook

The Claiborne Parish Christmas Festival 2003 are collecting favorite recipes from people in the community to be published in a beautiful spiral bound cookbook. Each recipe that is selected will show the name of the contributor. Please send 3 or 4 of your favorite recipes as soon as possible to Miss Lizzie’s, 400 West 3rd St. Homer, LA 71040.

Legion Auxiliary Unit 75 Selling Gold Star Banners

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit #75 is selling Gold Star Banners. They are available at The General Store for $7 each.