Hospital Looking At $2 Million Expansion
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Homer
Memorial Hospital Board of Directors plans to begin advertising within the next
month for the first phase to expand and renovate the hospital facility, which
is expected to cost about $2 million. The Board has been working with an
architect for several months to develop a strategic plan for the hospital.
Administrator James McClung said, "We would not be talking about expansion
if we didn't have the physicians we have, physicians that are dedicated to
living here."
Board President
Buddy Pixley said they would be paying for the
improvements with funds they already have. The Board preferred that to asking
for a bond election or permission to borrow funds. They will reserve enough
funds to continue daily operations.
McClung said,
"The exciting thing about this is that it is the first opportunity to not
only upgrade the facility but pour some investment money into things that will
generate revenue, and at the same time, increase the services we deliver to the
citizens."
HOMER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL EXPANSION, Phase I, will include the addition of a new ICU unit to the southeast side of
the east wing, expansion of the lab to include nuclear medicine by taking in
the walkway to the left of the front entrance, complete renovation of the
emergency room and public bathrooms, and more parking.
Two Arrested, One Convicted On Drug
Charges
Sheriff Ken
Bailey recently announced an investigation on June 13 by the Claiborne Parish
Sheriff's Office, the Metro Narcotics Task Force, and the Louisiana State
Police led to the arrest and conviction of Anthony D. Dick. Dick pled guilty to
cultivation of Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) on August
26 and was sentenced to 5 years hard labor, which was suspended, and placed on
3 years supervised probation.
Agents had
originally received information that Dick was growing marijuana behind his
residence on Red Hill Road in rural Claiborne Parish. The investigation led to
the seizure of approximately 20 marijuana plants and a starter bed that
contained another 72 plants.
Following a six month investigation into another case involving
illegal drug activity, a search warrant was served on September 8 at 189
Greenwood Road in north Claiborne Parish at the residence of
Randy Samuel by the Sheriff's Office, Metro Narcotics, State Police and
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries.
According to
Sheriff Bailey, this investigation was prompted by an anonymous phone call to
the Sheriff's Office. In June 2004, local agents were contacted by Wildlife and
Fisheries agents Kenny Balkom and Ryan Brasher, who
advised they had received information that Samuel was growing marijuana in an
area off Greenwood Place.
During the
September 8 search on September 8 at Greenwood Place, agents seized a number of
marijuana plants and other drug related items. Agents then went to Samuel's
primary residence in Junction City in Union Parish, Louisiana, where they
observed marijuana plants in plain view. Samuel was arrested by the Union
Parish Sheriff's Office for cultivation of marijuana. In addition, Samuel was
also arrested on outstanding felony warrants in Lincoln Parish. Sheriff Bailey
said the investigation is ongoing and charges will be filed at a later date.
The Sheriff's
Office, Metro Narcotics and the State Police made another arrest on September
8. Albert Candler, 74 of 2605 Old Athens Road in Homer was arrested for violation of La. Revised Statute
40:967c, possession of cocaine. According to Sheriff Bailey, this arrest was
the result of an investigation and search warrant that was initiated July 22 at
Candler's residence. Candler was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was
booked. Bond was set at $15,000.
Opening Arguments Heard Tuesday
Darryl Heard Accused Of
Murdering Brenda Dunn In 2001
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The jury was
seated on Monday and opening arguments were presented Tuesday in the trial of
Darryl D. Heard, accused of the brutal murder of Brenda Boyd Dunn on January
23, 2001 in a vacant house located at 1206 Pearl Street in Homer. Homer Police
officers arrived on the scene shortly after 11 PM after receiving a E-911 call. Dunn's body was found lying on the floor in
one of the front rooms.
The weekend
following the murder, Homer Police officers traveled to Dallas, Texas to pick
up Heard and bring him back to town for questioning. On February 2, Heard, who
was 29 at the time, was arrested and charged with the second degree murder of
Dunn.
Both Assistant
District Attorney Danny Newell and Defense Attorney Larry English presented a
list of witnesses they expected to call to testify. They jointly entered into
evidence all medical records, blood evidence, coroner report and autopsy
report.
Newell told
jurors he would present evidence that would paint a clear picture of what
happened the night of January 23, 2001, how Darryl Heard met Brenda Dunn in the
abandoned house where he bludgeoned her to death and cut her throat. At some
point they had sex, then he left town for Texas. The evidence collected and how
it was analyzed will be a major part of the case. He told jurors not to fall
victim to information overload, not to let too much information confuse them so
they forget the evidence he will present. He urged them to "stay focused
on the case."
English said
the death of Brenda Dunn was tragic and whoever committed this crime should be
brought to justice, but that person was not Darryl Heard. He said the
prosecution would provide no evidence that anyone saw Heard with Dunn, no
evidence that Heard was inside the house when Dunn died. There would be not
information overload, just the facts, about Brenda Dunn's lifestyle and how she
conducted herself and he would present testimony of where his client was
between 5:15 and 11:15 PM on the night of January 23 and could not have
committed the murder.
The first two
witnesses called were Homer Police Captain Donald Malray
and Michelle Collins, a forensic DNA analyst. Testimony will continue at 9 AM
on Wednesday.
Wildlife & Fisheries Asked To
Enforce Fish Limits During Lake Drawdown
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Several
parish residents attended the meeting of the Claiborne Parish Watershed
District last week, with questions regarding the lake drawdown and the
potential it could have on fish populations on Lake Claiborne. One person
suggested they limit catches to 25 per day between December and January.
Alice Stewart
told commissioners that she had received complaints of flooding downstream
after the gates were opened at the dam on September 7. She and her husband
investigated and found it to be true. She contacted Harvey Christian with DOTD.
He came over on September 14 and adjusted the rate to 2.4 inches per day. He
said they had unintentionally opened the gates wider than usual, causing the
lake to be lowered at a rate over 4 inches per day, instead of 3 inches. DOTD will continue to monitor the channel
levels downstream.
One citizen
asked why they were lowering the lake seven feet. He also wanted to know what
lowering the lake that much would do to the fish population, particularly the
white perch. Fincher said that is what Wildlife and Fisheries (WLF)
recommended. Stewart said lowering the lake also allows lake residents to make
needed repairs.
Commissioners voted to ask WLF to
consider the impact the lake drawdown might have on fish catches, particularly
white perch, and if they think the drawdown would seriously affect the fish
population, to more vigorously enforce fish limits, and if necessary, declare
an emergency and reduce those limits.
Butcher Fincher
reported that the Citizens Advisory Committee had met Monday, September 13 to
discuss how to get the Watershed District on sound financial footing. He said
the Committee was
unsure if a lake fee would raise enough revenue to do projects
around the lake as well as other economic development work.
One of the
committee members had reported there was raw sewerage being dumped into the
lake, causing a problem with the quality and smell of the water. Others said it
seemed to be a common practice. Fincher said, "If it is, I think we, as a
Watershed Commission, need to take action."
Stewart said
information was available on the Claiborne Parish Watershed District website at
claibornewatershed.home.att.net. and they would soon
be able to access the website through ClaiborneOne.org.
Archaeology Program Focuses On Poverty
Point Culture
As part of the
annual Louisiana Archaeology Week sponsored by the Louisiana Division of
Archaeology from September 26 through October 2, the Ford Museum will host a
program by Dr. Joe Saunders, Regional Archaeologist for Northeast Louisiana on
Sunday, September 26 at 2 p.m. Dr. Saunders, currently at University of
Louisiana at Monroe, has conducted extensive research on early mound building
cultures of the southeastern United States.
The Poverty
Point Culture is an archaeological picture of how certain Lower Mississippi
Valley peoples lived between around 1730 and 1350 B.C. The Poverty Point
Culture covered parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. Dr. Saunders will
discuss what life was like for these early inhabitants.
Guests are
invited to enjoy this free program and bring objects for identification. For
more information call 927-9190.
Education Endowment Fund Set Up For Public Schools
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Last Thursday,
Jess Robertson, Chairman of the Board for Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden,
presented a check to help put money in Claiborne Parish classrooms. He told Joe
Richardson and Pam Suggs, "On behalf of the Coca-Cola Bottlers Foundation,
The Coca-Cola Company, and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden, we are
presenting a check for $5,000 to the Claiborne Education Endowment Fund."
This was the first contribution to the fund which will be used for grants for
public schools to put extra money into the classrooms.
The Board of
Directors for the CEEF is Chairman Joe Richardson, Secretary Pam Suggs, Willadean Bless, Sterling Dyer, Dr. Philip Fincher, and
Travis Tinsley. Serving on the Marketing Committee for the Endowment Fund are
Chairman David Aubrey, Secretary Gwendolyn Frazier, Lafaye
Jackson, and Donald Tucker.
Janet Holland
will be working with the CEEF Board, which is strictly community-driven and parishwide. Once enough funds have been accumulated, teachers and
schools will be able to apply for grants from the interest generated each
year_$1,000 each year for teachers and $5,000 each year for schools.
Richardson
would like to encourage all parish alumni to make a generous tax-deductible
contribution to the Fund. For more information, persons can contact Richardson
by calling (318) 927-3468 or email him at joer@shreve.net. Pam Suggs can be
contacted at (318) 927-3845 or by email at psuggs@state.la.us.
JESS ROBERTSON presented $5,000 to Joe Richardson and Pam Suggs on behalf of the
Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden last week. It was the first contribution
to the Claiborne Education Endowment Fund. Richardson is chairman of the CEEF Board and
Suggs serves as secretary. Superintendent James Scriber (left) said he was very
appreciative of the efforts
by the community to put more money in Claiborne Parish public school classrooms.
Claiborne Parish Fair To Feature Youth
Variety Show, Gospel Singing
September 26 - October 2, 2004
The Claiborne
Parish Fair 2004 will feature a Youth Variety Show on Wednesday, September 29
at 6:30 PM for youth 18 years and younger. Competition will include vocal, danceline and cheerleader routines, musical acts, dance
acts or other talent. For more information call Lil
Sanders at 927-3425. On Thursday, Sept. 30, a Gospel Singing will be held from
6:30-9:00 PM in the Fairgrounds building. The Carnival will open Tuesday at 4
PM, Wednesday-Friday at 5 PM & Saturday at 1 PM.
Triad of Claiborne To
Sponsor Senior Citizen Expo
Saturday, Sept. 25, 9 AM ∙ Homer
City Hall
Triad of
Claiborne will host the 2004 Senior Citizen Expo on Saturday, September 25 at
Homer City Hall beginning with registration at 8:30 AM and ending with a free
lunch at noon. The Expo will offer health checks; information on safety, scams,
Medicare and Medicaid; entertainment; door prizes, interesting speakers, and
good food. For more information call 927-2011.
HOMER POLICE OFFICER Gregory Pickens was responding to a call of a fight and possible shots being fired in
the 1500 block of Hill Street sometime after 10 PM Friday night, September 17
when he broadsided an extended cab pickup driven by Levi Hilton, flipping the
truck on its side. Hilton, who plays tackle for the Homer Pelicans and had just
returned from the football game in Haynesville, was traveling east on South
Main under the traffic light at the intersection of North Main when he was hit.
Pickens was following Homer officer Keith Ferguson, who proceeded to Hill
Street, only to find no evidence of either a fight or a shooting. Hilton was
not injured. Pickens was treated for minor injuries at Homer Memorial Hospital
and released. The accident is still being investigated by Louisiana State
Police.
CLAIBORNE ACADEMY HOMECOMING QUEEN TONI SIMS, center, stands with her court, Freshman Maid Hailey Bass, daughter of Jeff and Kristi
Bass, Junior Maid Sarah Watson, daughter of John and Debbie Watson, Football
Sweetheart Marilynn Smith and Spirit Sweetheart Rosilynn
Smith, daughters of Scotty and Jeanie Smith, Senior Maid Heather Bays, daughter
of Danny and Becky Bays, and Ashley White, daughter of David and Candi White. Toni is the daughter of Timmy and Kim Sims.
The court will be presented during pre-game festivities at 6:15 p.m. this
Friday. The Homecoming game will start at 7:00 p.m. as the Claiborne Academy
Rebels will face the Plain Dealing Academy Bulldogs.
