Sherman Brown Named Interim
Superintendent
Sandra Lee, First National Board
Certified Teacher In Parish
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The
Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne Parish School Board met in regular session on
Thursday, December 11. Following executive session, the Board voted to hire
Sherman Brown as interim superintendent of schools for the period between Dec.
1, 2003 and June 30, 2004, at a salary of $75,000 plus $700 automobile
allowance, plus the 13th check and any additional salary increases that may be
given to certified staff. The Board also accepted the resignation of Gary Jones
effective December 8. Jones recently accepted the position as superintendent of
Rapides Parish schools. His contract which runs through June 1, 2007, includes
a $105,000 base salary, $5,000 for moving expenses, and $800 per month auto
allowance. The Rapides School Board will pay about 13 percent of his salary in
retirement funds starting this summer, as required by the state. According to the
Alexandria Town Talk, Jones is now the 11th highest paid superintendent in the
state. Barbara Monzingo told the Board
Louisiana ranks near the top for national board certified teachers, and
now they have one in Claiborne Parish. Sandra Lee was recently named the first
national board certified teacher in Claiborne Parish. The Board recognized Lee
by presenting her with a plaque. Monzingo said teachers have been applying
since 1987. Through the process,
teachers have to document knowledge of subject matter, provide evidence they
can teach their subjects to their students and demonstrate their ability to
manage. Lee is a 1981 graduate of Louisiana Tech where she received her
Master’s Degree in 1984. She has taught in Bossier and Lincoln Parish as well as at Homer
Elementary, Claiborne Academy and now at Summerfield. Board members recognized
Lee by presenting her with a plaque. Lee will receive an annual $5,000 stipend
from the State for the next ten years.
“Road To Bethlehem” Set For Saturday In
Athens
The Athens United Methodist Church will feature ten live
Nativity scenes during their presentation of “The Road to Bethlehem” on
Saturday, December 20 from 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM. The intent of the
drive-through nativity is to reenact the event that changed the world: the
birth of Christ. It is an adaptation of the Stations of the Cross through the
presentation of live scenes with costumed persons dressed in the garb of Jesus’
day, live animals, and realistic settings made by church members and painted by
artist Judy Buckner. Visitors will be taken back in time to a deserted road
traveling to Bethlehem. Scene One will depict Caesar Augustus on his throne
reading from a scroll, to represent the words found in Luke 2:1, “A decree went
out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.” The public is
invited to view this Christmas spectacular at no charge. To view the live
scenes, turn west on Collage Avenue off La.
9, across from Mt. Olive Christian School, then follow the street to the
church. In the event of rain, the “Road
to Bethlehem” will be presented at the same time on Sunday, December 21.
Dubach Man Wins Louisiana Lottery
Charles E. Roberson of Dubach held the sole winning jackpot
ticket for last Wednesday's Lotto drawing and claimed his prize this morning at
Lottery headquarters in Baton Rouge. The Lotto jackpot totaled $1,252,890.49
and had been rolling since Sept. 24. It is the third largest Lotto jackpot
claimed this year and the second largest with a single winner. Roberson
received a check for $877,023.35 after federal and state income taxes were
withheld. He purchased his winning ticket at Delta Mini Mart #17 on North Main
Street in Farmerville. That retailer will receive a bonus of $12,528, or 1
percent of the jackpot, for selling Roberson the winning ticket. The winning
numbers for the Dec. 10 Lotto drawing were 1-2-7-22-26-33. Roberson's winning
ticket was a "quick pick," meaning the Lottery's computer randomly
picked his numbers. More than 12,000 other Lotto players also won prizes for
that drawing, including 14 who won $2,763 each. Anyone wanting more information
on the Louisiana Lottery or to check winning numbers can go to its website,
www.louisianalottery.com. The Lottery encourages anyone who thinks they may
have a gambling problem or has friends or family who may have a gambling
problem to call toll free 1-877-770-7867. Ticket purchasers must be at least 21
years of age.
Preferred I-69 Corridor Selected,
Shreveport To El Dorado
Bossier City, Louisiana December 12 - The Louisiana Department
of Transportation and Development (LDOTD), the Arkansas Highway and
Transportation Department (AHTD) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
announce the selection of Corridor 1d as the preferred corridor for the
proposed route of I-69 for SIU 14 from Haughton, Louisiana to El Dorado,
Arkansas. This recommendation is based
on the project team’s evaluation and agency and public comments presented to
URS Corporation in August 2003 at four Public Open Houses held in Haynesville,
Minden, and Homer, Louisiana and in Three Creeks, Arkansas. Corridor 1d is
preferred for the following reasons:
1) It has the
best potential to minimize impacts to the human and natural environments. Factors included:
o Estimated
number of businesses and population
o Wetland
acreage and ecological sensitivity
o Required
number of scenic stream crossings
o
Federally-protected flora and faunal species
o Cultural
resource sites
o Effects to
the Sparta Aquifer recharge area
o Urban
boundaries and community facilities (churches, cemeteries, schools &
hospitals)
o Federal and
State lands and recreational areas
2) It has the greatest overall potential for reasonable costs
because of its total length, length and number of bridges, and number of
anticipated interchanges.
3) It is supported by both the public and government resource
agencies, and it satisfies the purpose and need guidelines for the project.
4) It satisfies the majority of public and agency comments
related to economic development, hazardous materials shipments and other.
Next steps for the I-69 Project include the identification and
placement of several 300-foot-wide highway alignments along this 2-mile-wide
corridor, which will take place during the winter of 2003/2004. Field work will be conducted during the late
winter and spring of 2004, and alignments will be presented to the public
sometime in the spring/summer of 2004. Completion of the Environmental Impact
Study for proposed I-69 SIU 14 (Shreveport to El Dorado) is scheduled for the
spring of 2005. A detailed map of the corridor can be viewed at the Program
Office located at 425 West Main in Homer or on-line at http://www.i69arkla.com.
AG’s Office Appeals Judge’s Decision On
Recall
Attorney General Richard P. Ieyoub’s office filed a brief in
Second Judicial District Court in regard to the appeal of the court ruling by
Judge Jimmy Teat on September 11 that instructed Registrar of Voters Patricia
Sanders to place 66 names back on the Petition to recall Homer Mayor Huey Dean.
Of the 66 names removed by the Registrar, 47 names had been printed. Shreveport
Attorney Larry English, who is representing petitioners Willie Young Sr., Lurry
Crew, Maxine Wilson, Linda K. Robinson, Vannessia A. Thompson, and Leamon
Cheatham, will now have about fifteen days to file a reply brief.
Christmas Memory Tree
In Memory
Of—Given By
Maybelle More
Ramsey by Mack Ramsey
Maybelle More
Ramsey by Ann & Glyn Osment
Maybelle More
Ramsey by Ed & Donna Duraczynsk
Maybelle More
Ramsey by Carolyn Goodwin
Ed Foster by
Dody & Witt Foster
Luther Bernard
Allgood by Billie May Allgood
Elmer Hardy by
Todd, Rochelle & Cameron Graham
Amber
Richardson by Janette Richardson
Charles Sindle
by Bobbie Sindle
W. T. Braswell
by Bobbie Sindle
Lurline
Braswell by Bobbie Sindle
Eva Lewis
Sumlin by Joshua Cadero Johnson
Eddie Lewis by
Joshua, Lisa & Joshua C. Johnson
Eva Lewis
Sumlin by Joshua & Lisa Johnson
Ira Kinsey by
Barbara Kinsey Satterfield
Johnnie B.
Kinsey by Barbara Kinsey Satterfield
Floyd E.
Volentine by Volentine family
Pearl Lena Bell
by children
Union Bell by
children
Thomas Fidel
Bell by his brother & sister
Plummer Bell by
Collina Holyfield
Shinet Bryant
by Collina Holyfield
Jean Bass by
Darrell & Susan Pepper
In Honor
Of—Given By
Amanda Nicole
Richardson by David Michael Richardson
David Michael
Richardson by Amanda Nicole Richardson
Shirley Simpson
by Bobbie Sindle
Joy Hays by
Kristi, Taylor, Ty, & Hutton
Mary Evans by
children & grandchildren
Helen Pepper by
the Evans family, Darrell & Susan
Judy Risner by
Susan Pepper
Dianne Harmon
by Avis Volentine & Beverly Copeland
Joshua Cadero
Johnson by Joshua & Lisa Johnson
(For
information on purchasing a light on Memory/Honor Tree, call 927-9009.)
