School Board Rejects Readmitting
Expelled Students
Approves Motivational Speaker From Columbine High School
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Two Homer High students who had been
expelled from school for fighting came before the Claiborne Parish School Board
at their regular meeting on Thursday, March 11 to ask for readmission to
school. Madison Dunn, 19, and John Hill, 17, along with their parents and
guardians, were given the option of an open or closed hearing. All agreed to an
open meeting.
Mike Blackwelder
summarized the events that led up to the students being expelled. Both boys had
been suspended January 26 for fighting on campus. On Friday, January 30, he met
with several Homer High staff members, several students including Hill and Dunn
with parents and guardians, several Homer police officers and Special Services
Supervisor Mary Prior in the high school library. Dean of Students Clifton
Lewis had scheduled the meeting in an attempt to make clear the conditions of
the students returning to school and to try to resolve the dispute that had
escalated into the community in past months.
Personal Feud Leads To Fights, Arrests
Homer Officers Issue Warning To Others Involved
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Homer Police officers Russell Mills,
Donald Malray, and Norah Banks have been responding
to a number of calls since the first of the year concerning a feud between
members of two Homer families that has escalated into several arrests.
Three were arrested January 27, 2004
after police officers were called to Marble Drive to break up a fight.
Demetrius Walker, 17, Walter Young Jr., 25, and Kendrick Smith, 19, were found
guilty in city magistrate court on February 3. All were charged with disturbing
the peace by fighting, given 30 days suspended sentence, placed on one year
unsupervised probation. Walker and Young were fined $169. Smith was also
charged with resisting an officer and fined $260.
Smith was arrested again by the Homer
Police Department on February 6 for possession of marijuana on the school
campus. On the same day, Tagodgany T. Webb, 17, of
Homer was arrested for possession of marijuana with
intent to distribute. His bond was set at $50,000.
In a separate incident, Gregory Lewis,
17, was arrested for disturbing the peace for attempting to fight at Homer High
School. He was found guilty in city magistrate court and received a 30 day
suspended sentence and placed on one year unsupervised probation. He has since
violated his probation at school and was arrested again on March 2. He is now
serving 30 days in the Claiborne Detention Center.
Officer Mills said these incidents have
stemmed from a personal squabble between two families that originated in the
community and then was brought into the school, but it is not gang-related
activity. Officers have been called to the school about four times since the
beginning of the school year.
In an attempt to resolve the dispute,
officers Mills, Malray and Banks attempted to set up
a meeting at the Homer Police Department the latter part of February with the
young men involved. Parents of nineteen individuals, fourteen who are
juveniles, were contacted. Only a few parents showed up. They told officers
problems between the boys began in November 2002.
Officers explained the seriousness of
the situation and the possible punishment if they continue to fight. They were
told they would have to stop fighting and quit looking for a problem. Officers
advised the boys and their parents they would be arrested and charged and dealt with in the
courts. Three of the boys involved in the fighting have been suspended from
Homer High School for the remainder of this school year.
Sheriff's
Office Purchases Advanced Taser Guns
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office conducted
a training session on Tuesday, March 16 for the recently purchased advanced Taser X26 weapons. Sheriff Kenneth Volentine
researched the practicality of these weapons and found them to be both
effective and safe. He said, "It becomes another alternative to the
responding deputy on call that is forced to use a non-lethal weapon when
dealing with a suspect."
Lt. Jimmy Brown was selected to attend
the advanced training and become an instructor certified through Taser International. He recently completed his requirements
that included feeling the consequences of such a weapon when used on a suspect
or a target. "When used as trained, the target or suspect will definitely
be immobilized," Brown said. "I was incapacitated and couldn't do anything
to resist, which is in the deputy's favor. When the impulse was complete, I was
fully functional within one minute and it left no permanent damage or injury to
me."
Haynesville Council Adopts New Water
Policy
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Mayor Mickey Mayfield presented a new
water policy for the Town of Haynesville at the regular meeting of the
Haynesville Town Council on Thursday, March 18. Mayfield said he and Councilmen
Joyce Major and Otto Black developed the water policy after reviewing policies
from Springhill, Cullen, Cotton Valley, and Homer. Several residents voiced
their concern about the new $30 penalty. Majors said she wasn't in favor of the
$30 fee but the fee was adopted in September 2001 when the Council voted to
raise deposits from $50 to $75.
Amanda Goodwin said she thought the $30
fee was extreme, just to have your name put on a list and it creates a hardship
for families on fixed incomes. Pastor T. R. Kelley said he didn't mind paying a
late penalty but he felt he was not properly notified of the $30 cutoff fee. He
also did not think a consistently paying customer should be penalized. Majors
said they could not show partiality, they need to treat everyone the same.
Mayfield said there was
an increasing number of people on the cutoff list and it is becoming a big
problem for the office staff. Majors said she was tired of hearing people tell
ladies in the office the reason they went up on the water bills or fees is
because they were stealing money like Marilyn Bush.
Mayfield said they were obligated by law
after non-payment to cut off service. Kelley asked if that was a state law or
local ordinance. Mayfield said some parts of the policy were governed by state
law.
Slaid said they can accept or reject, change
or modify for what is best for the people and the town. One problem seems to be
the time allowed before cutoff, possibly need ten days instead of five. He read
where the policy stated, "The mayor upon approval of the town council may
temporarily waive or suspend any provision of this article upon finding the
imposition of such provision constitutes an unreasonable requirement based on
considerations of health, safety, welfare or hardship."
Mayfield said there had never been a
written policy on the books. Former water superintendent Alvin Moss then asked,
"How did you charge the $30? I worked for this town for 21 years. Up till
a few months ago, there were never more than 15 to 20 on the cutoff list."
The Haynesville Town Council voted to
approve a new water policy by a vote of 3 to 1. Joyce Major, Otto Black, and H.
U. "Mutt" Slaid voted in favor, Alvin
Kendrick voted against. Keith Killgore was absent.
The water policy is available at
Haynesville City Hall for anyone who would like a copy. It covers maintenance
and repairs to lines, interruption of service, use of
separate meters for irrigation or other seasonal purposes, and theft of water.
Water rates for residential and
commercial customers are $12.96 for the first 4,000 gallons inside the city
limits ($14.51 outside city limits) and $3.24 for each additional 1,000 gallons
($3.63 outside). The sewer rate for inside customers is $2.45 per 1,000
gallons, averaged over the months of November through February.
Bills are due on the 10th. A late
penalty will be assessed on the 11th. Customers who have not paid by the 15th
will be placed on a cutoff list and notified by mail that they will be cut off
and assessed a $30 cutoff fee on the 21st, if their bill is not paid in full by
the 20th of the month.
The new water policy also includes a $50
charge for all checks returned insufficient funds. Service will be disconnected
immediately. In addition to the $50 check fee, customers must pay a re-connect
charge of $30 before services are restored and make all future payments with
cash or money orders.
The policy states "it is unlawful
for any employee or official of the Town of Haynesville to adjust water bills
as defined in Article 7 Sec. 14A." Any person violating any of the
provisions of this article shall be fined not less than $100 nor
more than $500 for each offense and/or up to 30 days in jail. An extension may
be granted by the mayor or city superintendent in case of extremely excessive
bills due to water leaks or in case of extreme medical emergencies.
Haynesville Junior-Senior High To Hold Open House
Haynesville Junior-Senior High will be
hosting an open house and information session on Monday, April 5 from 5-7 PM at
the school. The faculty and staff are excited to have the privilege of inviting
the school body and the community to this exciting occasion. We would like to
welcome the stakeholders of the community to come and visit our new facility
and tour our new school Faculty and staff will be available, and refreshments
will be served.
Haynesville Junior-Senior High is a
parent participation schools for grades 5-12. We are a family-centered,
nurturing community, which inspires children to discover their fullest
potential on the road to life-long learning. We are committed to academic
excellence through personalized, student-centered learning.
HJSH combines a rigorous academic
program with an approach where the individual talents and strengths of its
students are identified and supported. We support all kind of learners who are
committed to working hard, and who are eager to share responsibility for their
own learning. Working with teachers committed to its mission, HJSH students
will acquire the skills, habits, and knowledge necessary for academic and
personal success in college and in adult life. Come visit during the open house
and see for yourself. If you have further questions about open house dates or
the school in general call Renee McCurry at 624-0152
or Brenda Giddens at 624-0905.
ACS "Relay For Life" Set For
Friday, April 2
The American Cancer Society "Relay
for Life" will be held at Homer High's Ronny G. Beard Memorial Stadium on
Friday, April 2 beginning at 6 PM and will continue until 6 AM Saturday, April
3. The event will honor area cancer victims and celebrate cancer
survivors. The Survivor Walk will begin
at 7 PM and the Luminary Ceremony will be held at 9 PM Friday night. Luminaries
are $10 and can be purchased at Clawson Chiropractic Clinic or on the day of
the event. There will be concessions and entertainment from 6-9 PM.
Entertainment will be provided by Amie Newman, Charmie Burrows, Marvin Lewis and Moses Johnson with the
Singing Palmers, Rudy, Paul Hughes Band, Joanne Lay's School of Music students,
and The One Eighty Band. Let us join hands with all those whose lives have been
touched by cancer. No admission fee. For more information, call Chairman Linda Tuggle at 927-2024.
