Appeals Court To
Rule On Recall Wednesday
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Attorney Carlos Prudhomme
representing Lurry Crew and Maxine Wilson and
attorney James Johnson representing Mayor Huey Dean addressed the five judges
on the Second Circuit Court of Appeal on Tuesday morning, September 7. Prudhomme filed an appeal August 25 regarding the ruling by
District Judge Jenifer Clason last week to block Governor Kathleen
Blanco from issuing a proclamation to call an election to recall Mayor Huey
Dean. The Court of Appeals has until 9:46 AM Wednesday, September 8 to hand
down their ruling.
There were two issues before the Court
according to Prudhomme. The first was whether Crew
was a resident of the Town of Homer during the time he served as chairman of
the recall and the second was whether Crew and Wilson failed to provide copies
of the recall petition to Dean as required under public records law.
Parish Residents Seek Help For Water Problems
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Several residents of Claiborne Parish
attended the monthly meeting of the Central Claiborne Water System last
Thursday to voice their concern about the quality of their water. Police Juror
Roy Mardis, who is also on Central Claiborne but a
different well, said his water quality was good but he had received several
complaints from residents on Hwy. 520 near the Claiborne Detention Center. He
had the water tested and the health department showed the water was safe to
drink but indicated that the quality and discoloration could use some
improvement.
One resident, Jim Moreland said,
"The water ruins clothes. I cannot drink it. It makes rings in the shower
and in the commode. It is a constant fight."
Alf Pike said, "It is a problem. We
make a promise. We are going to look at it." Bud Ruple
said they would look at both the chemicals and rerouting the line. Mardis offered to help the Board find grant money, if
needed, to correct the problem.
Chamber Studying Feasibility Of Local
Juvenile Detention Center
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
President J. T. Taylor gave on overview
of some of the projects the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce was working on at a
noon luncheon held August 27 at Claiborne Electric. He said a focus study
committee has been set up to study the feasibility of establishing a Juvenile
Detention Center in Claiborne Parish. Gurvis Vines is
chairman of the Committee. Other committee members are Haynesville Mayor Mickey
Mayfield, Ben Booth, Kenneth Volentine, Mark Furlow, John Wesley Cooper, Sheriff Ken Bailey, Homer
Police Chief Rodney Hollenshead, Michael Allen, John
Watson, and J. T. Taylor.
Haynesville Postpones Decision On Streets Again
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Haynesville Town Council tabled a
decision on overlaying streets once again at their August 19 meeting. Mayor
Mickey Mayfield presented an estimate of $290,408 to overlay eight streets. He
suggested, at the recommendation of a representative from Lincoln Asphalt, the Council
bid the asphalt by the ton and overlay as many streets as possible instead of
reconstructing the streets. Lee Underwood with Balar
Engineers recommended they reconstruct the streets because the life cycle of
streets that are overlaid without reconstruction, is about six months for every
one-half inch of asphalt. After further discussion, the Council voted to table
making a decision.
One Murrell Descendant—In Search Of His
Roots
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Some 185 years ago, in 1819, white
settlers found their way to Claiborne Parish and set up homestead about six
miles southwest of Homer off the Dutchtown Road. John
Murrell, his wife and six children, left Carthage, Tennessee in the winter of
1818, and headed south on a flatboat, traveling down the Cumberland, Ohio, and
Mississippi Rivers. They moved into a large two story home which became known
as Flat Lick Plantation. All that remains of the home today is a stone
fireplace and a cemetery.
Last month, a fourth generation descendant
of John Murrell traveled to Claiborne Parish in search of his roots. Russell
"Rusty" Braziel is the grandson of Bessie
Mae Murrell and Hugh Braziel. Bessie was the daughter
of William Raleigh Murrell, the son of Joel Simeon Murrell, the son of Joel
Waters Murrell, who was the son of John Murrell. Rusty and his wife, Teresa,
had no idea their trek would take them on an adventure that would mirror his gggg-grandfather's. Fighting his way through the "a
dense thicket of brush, briars, and vines" he and his wife managed to
locate the stone fireplace that marked what appeared to be the west end of the
former 18-room 2-story home. Flat Lick Plantation had chimneys on each side of
the house, fireplaces on both floors and two long porches that extended across
the front of the house.
Rusty said, "The visit to the
Murrell place was a moving experience in more ways than one." He learned
why the pioneers did not wear shorts. Those briars did a real number on his
legs. One of the high points of the trip to Homer was the Ford Museum. He said,
"It made me proud to see John Murrell's picture prominently displayed with
a picture of the family tree beside it, and my father's name on it."
Realizing the historic significance of
the Murrell homeplace to Claiborne Parish, Braziel said he would like to find a way to permanently
preserve the site and plans to contact other Murrell descendants to see what
could be done.
The Braziels
were very appreciative to Kathy and Bill Hightower and Susan Herring for
showing them the old homeplace and to Linda Volentine for the tour of the Ford Museum, where she showed
them the important role Rusty's ancestor played in
the founding of Claiborne Parish. Referred to as the “Father of Claiborne
Parish“ John Murrell Sr. was the first white man to
introduce civilization to northwest Louisiana. His tombstone lists his creed as
"Faith, Hope, and Charity." According to one early settler, perhaps
his own son, John Jr., "they were all plain people then, with but few
wants and much love for their fellow man."
Claiborne Parish School Board To Meet With
Oversight Committee
Thursday, September 9, 5 PM
The Claiborne Parish School Board will
meet with the Homer School Oversight Committee on Thursday, September 9 at 5
PM, prior to their regular meeting, to discuss the Homer School construction
project. The School Board work session will be held at 6 PM followed by the
regular meeting at 7 PM. Interested persons are
encouraged to attend.
Haynesville Butterfly Festival
Saturday, September 11, 2004
The Sixth Annual Haynesville Celebration
of Butterflies will be held Saturday, September 11 at the Claiborne Parish
Fairgrounds in Haynesville beginning with the Butterfly Parade at 9:30 AM. The
day's activities include several educational workshops, exhibits and demonstrations
throughout the day, musical entertainment, creative
fun for kids, a children's pet parade, face painting, a nature photography
contest, and food and craft vendors. Highlights will also include sale of
butterfly plants, books, posters and T-shirts; community art and photography
exhibits; and construction of take-home Butterfly Towers complete with
caterpillars and food. For more information, contact Loice
Kendrick-Lacy at (318) 624-1929 or (870) 234-4910; 203 Troy St., Magnolia, AR
71753.
See You At The
Pole
15 Years Of
Student Prayer Ascending To God
Lifting up prayers for America, students
in Homer and Claiborne Parish, and throughout the United States, will join
other teenagers in prayer around the world on Wednesday, September 15. They
will observe the 15th Annual "See You At The
Pole" (SYATP), a grass-roots prayer event that began in Texas in 1990,
bringing students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders,
schools, friends, and families. Students are encouraged to meet at their
school's flagpole for a time of prayer on Wednesday, September 15 at 7 AM.
Adults can also be a part in the National Day of Student Prayer by meeting at
the First Baptist Church flag pole on Wednesday, September 15 at 7 AM for a
time of prayer for our schools and students. This adult prayer meeting will
synchronize with the hundreds of students across Claiborne Parish who will pray
at their school's flag pole. Call Christina at (318) 927-3596 for more
information or to get involved!
