District Attorney Will Oppose Early
Release Of Former Town Clerk
Haynesville Council Hires New Officer,
Majors Wants More Blacks On Force
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
District Attorney Walter May addressed the Haynesville Town
Council at their January 15 meeting about pending litigation regarding former
Town Clerk Marilyn Bush. Following executive session, May told the Council he
had been asked to give an update on the status of the criminal side of the case.
He said Bush had been sentenced on April 8, 2002 to a ten year prison term.
Under the rules of the State regarding parole and good time, the defendant
would normally be expected to serve at least one-third of that time, however,
he said there was still a motion pending to reconsider sentence that was
purportedly filed in
May 2002. May said, "It is the intention of the District Attorney to push
that matter to a hearing as quickly as possible and to oppose any consideration
at this ridiculously late date of any early release of the defendant or any
modification of the sentence." May said to this day, this defendant has
never admitted to 80 percent of the theft of $430,000, and as far as he has
seen, has not shown one ounce of remorse. She still has not admitted stealing
the money and continues to suggest that someone else is responsible, but May
said evidence shows she is responsible and nobody else. He added, "The
very idea that in this democracy in which we live we are going to let people
buy themselves out of jail is beyond my ability to
comprehend, particularly when a convicted felon who has committed a crime of
this nature is apparently being allowed to negotiate for two years."
Two Homer Men Killed In Friday Night
Wreck
Two Homer men were killed in a two-car accident at the
intersection of La. 2 and Hwy. 540 (Ruple Road) near Homer at
approximately 7 PM on Friday night, January 16. According to the Louisiana
State Police report, Robert Ferguson, 76, of Homer was headed north on Hwy. 540
in a 1995 Buick. As he approached the intersection of La. 2, he failed to yield
at the stop sign and
collided with a 2000 Ford pickup driven by John. D. Roberts, 75, of Springhill.
Both Ferguson and passenger Willie Crew, 91, of Homer were killed on impact.
Neither of the men were wearing a seatbelt. Both men
were transported to the Homer Memorial Hospital, then
taken to the Bossier Parish morgue. At the time of the accident the roadway was
wet from a light rain. The report indicated no alcohol was involved. Roberts,
who was wearing a seatbelt, received minor injuries and was treated at the
scene.
School Board Elects New Officers For
2004
La. Ranked 1st in Accountability, 5th In Teacher Quality In Education Week
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne Parish School Board elected Vera Meadors to serve as president for the year 2004 by a vote
of 5 to 4. The two persons nominated for president were Vera Meadors and Joe Lee who had served as president in 2003.
Tommy Davidson nominated Joe Lee and Danny Lee nominated Meadors.
Voting for Meadors were Danny Lee, A.D. Williams,
Stewart Griffin, Almeter Willis, and Vera Meadors. Voting for Joe Lee were Stanley Edwards, Tommy
Davidson, Blake Hemphill, and Joe Lee. Will Maddox was absent. Tommy Davidson
then nominated Joe Lee for vice president. Danny Lee nominated Tommy Davidson.
Both Davidson and Lee asked to have their names removed from consideration.
Blake Hemphill was then nominated by Danny Lee and elected as vice-president. Meadors then took over as president and conducted the rest
of the meeting. Committee appointments will be made at the next meeting.
Interim School Superintendent Sherman Brown told board members that the
Education Week 2004 Quality Counts report had ranked Louisiana No. 1 in the nation
in the area of standards and accountability and No. 5 for teacher quality, up
from No. 12 the previous year. Brown said, "I feel as if Claiborne Parish
played a major role in that ranking." Education Week highlighted
Louisiana's efforts with an "A," calling the Louisiana Educational
Assessment Program (LEAP) "well-established" and
"comprehensive". The state's teacher training programs received a
"B-plus", the state aid for public schools received a
"C-minus" and targeting funding resources to poorer districts a
"C-plus." Louisiana, however, received a "D" for school
climate regarding student engagement, parental involvement and school safety.
Scooters, Are They Street Legal?
The popularity of the gas and electric scooter has grown
throughout the state, raising the concern of law enforcement. Louisiana State
Police conducted research into the law that governs the scooters, specifically
whether the scooter is street legal. In order for the scooter to be street
legal, it must be properly registered and capable of passing a yearly
inspection (LRS 32:53). Motor scooters are not constructed with the minimum
necessary safety equipment, which would allow them to pass a yearly inspection
as required by Louisiana law. It is the position of the Department of Public Safety,
Louisiana State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles that the scooters are
not street legal and should not be ridden on any portion of a public roadway or
its shoulder. Anyone in violation of the law is subject to being cited. The
Homer Town Council recently voted to allow the use of the motorized scooters on
the ballfield next to Dutchtown
Road at Mayfield Park. This is the only place in Homer approved for use of the
scooters. Scooters must be transported to and from the ballpark and anyone in
violation will be cited. The Town will post signs they will not be liable for
accidents. For more information, persons can call Homer City Hall at 927-3555.
Christmas Committee Seeks Help For "Operation Save Our Park"
Due to the success of the Family Nights at the Park held in
December, the Christmas Festival Committee has decided with the cooperation of
the Town of Homer to do some improvements to the Homer Park located on North
Main Street.
The Christmas Committee would like to make the Homer Park a
beautiful and safe place for families to come and enjoy themselves and feel
safe while doing it. Items needed to make these improvements include nets for
the tennis and volleyball courts, new chains for the swing sets, three dusk to
dawn lights, six loads of dirt, Azalea shrubs and Bradford pear trees, sand for
the playground sand box, equipment and manpower to smooth the dirt, new
playground equipment, volunteers to help, and monetary donations. The Committee
would like to get the community involved in this project and is asking persons
to place a donation in the boxes they will be set out around town. Anyone who
would like to help in any way is asked to call Chairman Dale Tully at 927-9009,
Bea Grimes at 927-4837, Ann Burton at 927-2048, or Carol Robinson at 927-2730.
Homer-Claiborne Chamber of Commerce 39th
Banquet
Monday, January 26, 2004, 7 PM ∙ Homer City
Hall
The Homer Chamber of Commerce's 39th Annual Membership Banquet
will be held Monday, January 26 beginning at 7 PM at Homer City Hall. The guest
speaker will be "Old Coach" Thomas Mitchell of Marshall, Texas.
Tickets are $25. Tables can be reserved in advance for $25 and $35. For more
information, contact Mac Brakefield at 927-3271 or
Dr. Greg Woodall at 927-3976. Seating will be limited.
Claiborne Parish Library Adult Reading
Program
-Continues With Movie Review, Brown Bag
Lunch
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne Parish Library's Adult Reading Program continues
with the viewing of the New Masterpiece Theater movie, Doctor Zhivago. Part 1 will be shown Thursday, January 22 and Part
2 on Thursday, February 5 beginning at 6 PM. The Library will also be holding
their Annual Brown Bag Lunch on Thursday, January 29, at 12 noon. Joyce Lilly,
who has been doing wonderful reviews for the past two years, will be doing
reviews of Grits (Girls Raised in the South) Guide to Life, by Deborah Ford;
Bayou Farewell, by Mike Tidwell and a third book that will be a surprise. A
native of Mt. Lebanon, Mrs. Lilly has been an active book reviewer for many
different clubs in our area. This program is free and open to the public_everyone is invited. Bring your lunch and a friend
for an enjoyable time. The Library will provide drinks and dessert. For more
information, call the library at 927-3845.
