Homer Council To
Address Legislative Audit
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
State
Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot released the
Independent Auditor's Report on Monday, November 1 for the Town of Homer. The audit
is for the nine month period ending December 31, 2003 and is the second free
audit received from the State since the present administration took office in
January 2003.
Since taking
office, Homer Mayor Huey Dean and Councilmen J. C. Moore, Billy Kirk Jenkins, Johnette Faulkner, Thomas McDonald, and Jesse Ford have
struggled to pull the Town's finances out of the red. In February 2003, the
Council voted to make temporary cuts to the Town's workforce, prompting a group
of citizens to initiate a recall against the mayor.
At the end of
December 2002, financial reports prepared by CPA Carlos Martin showed the
General Fund with a negative balance of ($28,601) and the Enterprise (Utility)
Fund with a negative balance of ($263,721.)
The new audit report showed at the end of December 2003, there was
$135,685 in the General Fund, an increase of $164,286 since December 2002, but
the balance in the Enterprise Fund was down $111,420, for a negative balance of
($375,141).
The new audit
showed a number of findings in the previous audit for the nine months ending
March 21, 2003 had not been resolved. These findings included not depositing the
town's sales tax revenues into separate bank accounts, donating funds to
nonprofit organization without a valid cooperative endeavor agreement, not
preparing financial statements in a timely manner, nor reconciling bank
statements to book balances.
Dean blames
most of the Town's accounting problems on the computer crash in April 2004
which he said caused the Town to lose all their financial data. Employees in
the office have been working diligently the past several months to restore the
financial information and reconcile the figures. CPA Carlos Martin is expected
to begin working to prepare a current financial statement later this month.
Homer Police Make Drug Arrests
The Homer
Police Department received information on Tuesday, November 2 that Bryan Webb,
21, of Homer was dealing cocaine. Following an investigation into the
complaint, officers arrested Webb and Earnest Thomas, 47, both of Homer. Officers confiscated $160 from Webb and cocaine with
a street value at $1,000. Both subjects were transported and booked into the
Claiborne Parish Detention Center, each under $30,500 bond.
In an unrelated
case, Homer police officers arrested Walter Young, Jr. on Friday, November 5 at
the Hardee Mart store located at the intersection of US Hwy. 79 and La. 2.
After receiving information from a concerned citizen, officers set up
surveillance of Young. As officers approached Young's vehicle, they observed
him attempting to stuff a large quantity of crack cocaine between the arm rest
and passenger seat area.
Officers seized
$660 in currency and cocaine with a street value of $1,000. Young was booked
into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center under a $15,000 bond.
Homer Police
Chief Rodney Hollenshead asks anyone with information
of illegal drug activity or any other crime in Homer to contact the Homer Police Department at
927-4000.
THIS MURAL PAINTED BY INMATES at Wade Correctional Center reminds us of the sacrifice of those brave
individuals who fought and died to preserve our freedom. Thursday, November 11
is Veterans Day. Let us recognize all veterans for their service as we join in
saying, "Your bravery, your lives, will not be forgotten."
.
Football Official Retires After 55 Years
Joe Michael Honored By Shreveport
Football Association
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Joe
"Jo-Jo" Michael has lived in Homer all his life. He graduated from
Homer High School in 1943 as valedictorian of his senior class. He played
fullback on the Homer High Pelican football team, where he called signals and
kicked extra points. His ability to kick earned him a place on the Louisiana
Tech football team after serving in the armed forces during World War II. According to Michael, his ability to kick was
earned. He remembers kicking 100 balls a day. He said, "Young athletes
today don't want to practice like that. Even a young man with limited athletic
ability can be a great football player if he would just put in enough
practice."
Michael, who
served as mayor for the Town of Homer for sixteen years (1984-1990), is much
more inclined to talk about his days officiating on the football field than
serving as the Town's highest official. He said he began calling football games
for the Shreveport Football Association in 1949. For 11 years he called only
high school games. For 32 years he called college games and for 8 years, he
called semi-pro games.
Michael
estimates he called between 1500 and 1600 games over the past 55 years, and can
claim he has been on the field with some really great ball players. He also served as a press box official in the
Canadian football league.
Michael said he
may not have been the best official, but he was certainly one of the most
loyal. He rarely missed a Monday night officials' meeting. For the first 18
years, he had a perfect attendance record.
These days, you
mostly see Michael in the press box, running the clock. Unlike most officials
who retire and go on to do other things, Michael continued to attend meetings.
According to Mike Thibodeaux, supervisor of officials for the SFA, Michael
serves as a mentor to younger officials. He said, "If everyone was like Joe Michael, we
wouldn't have to worry about a single referee on Friday night. He is one of the
most respected officials that has ever been in the
Shreveport organization."
On Tuesday,
October 26, Michael was honored as an Official Emeritus at the annual banquet
of the SFA. Thibodeaux said both coaches and players respected him. "When
they knew Michael was on the field, they knew they were going to get a fair
job, whether at home or on the road."
Many football
officials once they retire drop out of the association. Not Joe Michael. He has
continued to run the clock and attend meetings. He sets an example and serves
as a mentor to younger officials. Thibodeaux said, "The Shreveport
Football Association. is what it is today because of
guys like Joe Michael."
HOMER FOOTBALL OFFICIAL "JO-JO"
MICHAEL was presented a plaque at the annual banquet of the
Shreveport Football Association last month by President Doug Bland (left),
recognizing him as "official emeritus". Michael retired this year
after 55 years.
Justice Department Tours Claiborne
Parish Schools
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Iris
Goldschmidt, an attorney for the U.S. Justice Department, was in Claiborne
Parish last month to tour parish schools and meet with faculty and parents in
response to several complaints she had received. She arrived on Monday, October
25 at 6:30 AM and completed her visit around 10 PM on Wednesday, October 27.
During her visit, Superintendent James Scriber and Asst. Superintendent Sherman
Brown escorted her to the parish schools and allowed her the opportunity to
meet and independently interview principals, teachers and support personnel.
During her
3-day visit, Goldschmidt requested meetings to be set up with parents of
students who attend Summerfield High School and Pineview
High School. Meetings were held at 5 PM at Pineview
on Tuesday and at Summerfield on Wednesday.
Scriber said
they are answering a number of additional questions. He expects to receive a
written recommendation from the Justice Department on what they feel the parish
needs to do to meet the desegregation obligations as per the Court Order of
1970 sometime within the next two months. At that time, the School Board will
meet and study those suggestions and respond as to what the Board feels is in
the best interest of the students and for the school system as a whole. If
there is a disagreement, Scriber said the Board could face possible litigation
and could be required to go before a Federal judge to find a solution.
Lake Drawdown Prompts Complaints
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
∙
A Special Meeting Of The Claiborne Parish Watershed Commission Has Been
Scheduled For Thursday, November 11 At 5:30 PM In The Police Jury Complex To
Consider Recurrent Rises In The Lake Claiborne Water Level From Heavy Rains
During The Drawdown Period. Also On The Agenda Are Reports On Drawdown Projects
And General Business.
The Claiborne
Parish Watershed Commission has received a number of complaints from residents
around Lake Claiborne due to delays in the drawdown of the lake. The scheduled
7-foot drawdown was reached on October 7, however significant rainfall between
October 9-11 put the level back within 2.3 feet of pool stage. The Louisiana
Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) opened the gates again on
October 12, however the water continued to rise until
it peaked on October 14.
According Alice
Stewart, Vice-Chairman of the Claiborne Parish Watershed District Commission,
water levels have since been dropping at only about one inch per day. By
Monday, November 8, the lake level was approximately 4.5 feet below pool stage.
Without any more rainfall, Stewart estimated it will take another month to
achieve the full 7-foot drawdown.
Since gates at
the dam are scheduled to be closed January 14, 2005, residents are concerned
they will not have enough time to make needed repairs. Many of them had already
purchased materials for shoreline repair based on the scheduled drawdown.
Chamber Says, "Shop Claiborne
First"
Christmas Open House, Taste Of Homer Set For Saturday
The Claiborne
Chamber of Commerce is asking shoppers to "Shop Claiborne First" for
their Christmas gifts this year. During the week of November 7th-13th each time
you purchase merchandise from one of the participating merchants you can
register to win a $250.00 shopping spree.
The Chamber is
glad to announce that both Haynesville and Homer merchants are participating
this year. They have stocked their stores with specialty items and great sales.
Chamber President J. T. Taylor said, "With the cost of
gasoline, why waste the money and travel out of town when our merchants are
here to supply you with that special item for all your loved ones. Let's show
our sponsors we are behind them and support them by shopping Claiborne Parish
first."
On Saturday,
November 13th, the participating merchants will host an Open House with special
sales items. Also on Saturday, the Annual Taste of Homer will be held at the
Homer City Hall. This has been a widely popular event and features over 100
special dishes prepared by some wonderfully talented cooks.
The Taste of
Homer will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased at
any of the participating sponsors. All proceeds from the "Taste of Homer" will go
toward the purchase of Christmas lights.
If you have
never been you are missing a treat. So plan on shopping all day Saturday,
November 13, for your Christmas gifts, take a break and stop off at the Annual
"Taste of Homer.
Sponsors of the
$250.00 Shopping Spree include Haynesville Merchants: City Floral, Courtyard
Gifts, Foster's Home & Garden, G's Tea Room, Killgore's
Pharmacy, and Raspberry Rose; and Homer merchants: Claiborne Drug, Delta
Interiors Ltd, Design Concepts, Elite's Gift Shop, Gray's Jewelry, Lynn's
Flowers & Gifts,
Merle Norman Cosmetics,
Michael's Men's Store & Sporting Goods, Miss Lizzie's, Something Old
Something New, Spillers' Appliance & Furniture, and Homer Jewelry.
Claiborne Parish Health Unit Will Be
Offering Flu Shots Friday, November 12 ∙ 8 AM
The Claiborne
Parish Health Unit will be offering flu vaccines again this Friday, November
12, for "high risk" individuals only. Shots will be given at the
First Presbyterian Church in Homer, located behind Hibernia National Bank
beginning at 8 AM. Anyone with questions about the flu shot or to see if you
qualify as high risk, call the Health Unit at 927- 6127.
HOMER FIRE CHIEF DENNIS BUTCHER and Homer
Mayor Huey Dean recently received notification from
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Office of Emergency Preparedness
that the "Assistance to Firefighters Grant" for 2004 in the amount of
$84,960 has been approved. Butcher said the Town will be responsible for 10
percent, or $9,440. Funds will be used to purchase breathing air and foam
equipment which will improve the Department's capability to responding to a
chemical or biological incident whether accidental or intentional.
Christmas Memory Tree
In Memory Of—Given By
Fred W. Smith - Keith, Melissa &
boys
M/M .Albert Harris - Maggie & James
Harris
M/M W.A. Etier
Jr. - Maggie & James Harris
To purchase a light for the Christmas Memory Tree,
send $5 with name of person (indicate whether in "memory" or
"honor") and who the gift is from to
Claiborne Parish Christmas Festival at 400 West 3rd St., Homer, LA 71040
or take to Miss Lizzies For more info, call 927-9009.
