THESE FIVE CLAIBORNE PARISH PHYSICIANS were honored for their outstanding service to the community the past 40
years during an awards ceremony held Sunday at Homer Memorial Hospital. They
are (seated, l-r) Dr. T. M. Deas, Dr. James Gladney,
(standing) Dr. Donald K. Haynes, Dr. Eddie S. Butler and Dr. W. P.
"Pat" Gladney.
Local Doctors Honored For Their Service
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Family and
friends gathered in the lobby of Homer Memorial Hospital on Sunday afternoon,
November 28 to recognize the outstanding service of five Claiborne Parish
physicians. On behalf of the Louisiana Rural Health Association, HMH
Administrator James McClung presented each doctor with a certificate and
crystal award.
The LRHA was
organized in 1992 by a dedicated core of rural health professionals consisting
of representatives who recognized the value of local participation in rural
health issues. The guiding principle of LRHA is to empower rural citizens to
address rural health care issues. It is this common goal, to improve the health
of Louisiana's rural citizens, that inspired the LRHA
to identify and recognize physicians who have dedicated their lives and
practice to the care of rural residents.
The five
Claiborne Parish physicians who were honored were Dr. T. M. Deas,
Dr. James Gladney, Dr. Donald K. Haynes, Dr. Eddie S. Butler and Dr. W. P.
"Pat" Gladney.
CLAIBORNE PARISH SHERIFF KEN BAILEY and
Detective Duffy Gandy display items recovered from the
recent burglaries of eight churches in Claiborne Parish. Gandy said everything
reported stolen had been recovered except for $50 cash.
Sheriff's Office Issues Eight Warrants
In Church Burglaries
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said eight warrants have been issued for Thomas D.
Jackson, 25, of Homer and seven warrants have been issued for Gwendolyn L.
Monk, 27, of Haynesville in connection with a string of church burglaries in
Claiborne Parish and across North Louisiana. The two have also suspected of
burglaries in Webster, Bienville, and Bossier in Louisiana
and Columbia and Union Counties in Arkansas. Warrants have been issued
for the two in Bossier and Webster. Sheriff Bailey said, "This proves that
when local agencies work together these types of results can be obtained."
A joint
investigation between authorities in four Louisiana parishes and two Arkansas
counties was initiated after Webster Parish Detective Don Box notified
Claiborne Parish Detective Duffy Gandy that a suspect from Homer had pawned
some property that had been stolen from churches in Bossier and Webster
parishes.
Assisting Gandy
in the investigation were Lt. Jimmy Brown and Deputy David Morgan of the
Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office and Detectives Don Box and Dustin Reynolds of
the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office. After receiving a tip the two suspects
were in Columbia County, Arkansas, Gandy and Detective Reynolds met Columbia
County Sheriff Calvin Knighton. Both suspects were
located at a motel in Magnolia. Sheriff Knighton and Columbia County
deputies arrested Monk without incident. Jackson fled on foot and it took
authorities with assistance from Magnolia Police officers approximately 45
minutes to apprehend him.
Monk and
Jackson were booked into the county jail in Magnolia. Jackson was later
transferred to the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center
in Webster Parish where he is presently being held. Monk is presently being
housed at the Columbia County Correctional Center in Columbia County, Arkansas.
Louisiana Revised
Statute 14:62.6 states the penalty for the simple burglary of a religious
building (the unauthorized entry of any structure used for religious worship
with the intent to commit a felony or theft) shall be a fine of not more than
$2,000 and imprisonment with or without hard labor for not less than two years
nor more than twelve years. At least two years of the sentence of imprisonment
shall be imposed without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of
sentence.
Churches in
Claiborne Parish that were burglarized include Antioch Missionary Church on
Hwy. 9 north of Homer, Sharon Baptist Church east of Lisbon, Mt. Olive Baptist
Church in Marsalis, Emmanuel Baptist Church and Hurricane Methodist Church in
the Hurricane community, St. John Baptist Church on St. John Road east of
Homer, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church on Hwy. 518 west of Athens, and Mt. Olive
Baptist Church No. 1 in the Harris Community.
Heflin Man Arrested For Stealing Boat
Charles
Don Hollowell of Heflin was recently arrested by the
Webster Parish Sheriff's Office and charged with possession of stolen property.
According to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, one of the items recovered
was a 16 foot Skeeter boat valued at $16,000 that had
been reported stolen from the Joe Tilley residence in Claiborne Parish.
CPSO Detective
Duffy Gandy received a call from Bienville Parish Detective Randy Price who
informed him they had recovered the stolen boat. Gandy worked with Bienville
Parish authorities and Webster Parish Detective Jay Hortman
during the investigation which led to a warrant being issued for Hollowell.
Sheriff Bailey
said Hollowell will be booked on Claiborne Parish
charges at a later date.
Frequent Rainfall Continues To Affect
Lake Drawdown
The Lake
Claiborne Drawdown shows the level of Lake Claiborne has been influenced by
frequent rainfalls during the 2004 drawdown. DOTD is continuing to adjust gate
openings to try to maintain the lake level as close as possible to 7 feet below
pool stage. DOTD has advised the Watershed District that gates will be adjusted
again during the week of Nov. 28. DOTD follows the advice of the Dept. of
Wildlife and Fisheries about drawdown timing. A January 14, 2005 gate closure
to end the drawdown is planned in order to permit the lake to rise in time for
fish spawning.
LOUISIANA LIONS DISTRICT 8 GOVERNOR ANN
SANDERS (center) recently spoke to the Homer Lions Club and
shared stories about the wonderful work being done at the Crippled Children's
Camp. She is shown here with President Barry Roberts (back row, l-r) and board
members Wayne Smith, Terry Shelton, Bob Robinson, David Dietzel,
(front row) Fred Lewis, Glenda Greer, (Sanders), and Peggy Pike. Homer Lions
will be selling pecans throughout December and ask the community's support to
raise funds to help support the Children's Camp, the Eye Foundation and
Louisiana Eye Bank.
Louisiana Lions Camp Impacts Children's
Lives
The Homer Lions
Club was recently treated to a visit by Louisiana Lions District 8-L Governor
Ann Sanders. When Sanders first joined the Lions Club in Springhill twelve
years ago, they sent her a badge with the name "Ann Landers". Of
course, she was not allowed to keep the badge with the more famous name. She said she was more proud of a pin she
wears on her lapel which reminds her that her work as a Lion "is not for
fame and glory but for goodness sake, and to make the world a better place to
live".
Sanders told
the Lions of the wonderful work being done by Louisiana Lions. She told them of
an experience she had with a young handicapped black girl she offered to drive
to the Louisiana Lions Camp for Crippled Children. The girl had never seen a swing, a swimming
pool or fireworks. When they arrived at the Camp, the girl began to cry and her
mother wanted to take her home. Then, a small white girl came and hugged her
and began telling of all the fun she would have. She said she knew because she
had been coming to the Camp for six years. Sanders was able to convince the girl's mother to leave
the child.
Area Merchants To
Stay Open Late
One Thursday In
December
Claiborne
Parish merchants will remain open until 7 PM one Thursday in December for your
Christmas shopping convenience. In Haynesville, merchants will be open late
Thursday, December 9. In Homer merchants will close at 7 PM on Thursday,
December 16. The Claiborne Chamber of Commerce will be serving hot chocolate
and coffee along with hot dogs and chili. There will also be Christmas singing
on the Courthouse Square in downtown Homer. The Chamber of Commerce encourages
local shoppers to come out and support these hometown merchants and remember to
"Shop Claiborne Parish First".
DORA ANN HATCH told members of the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce the first impression
visitors get when they stop for gas, food or lodging is critical when it comes
to economic development.
Customer Relations, First Impressions
Crucial For Economic Development
Customer
relations and first impressions in a community are crucial to economic
development according to Dora Ann Hatch, Community Economic Development
Specialist for the LSU AgCenter. Hatch recently spoke
to Chamber members at an After Hours Chili & Soup event held at the
Claiborne Parish Fair Barn in Haynesville. She gave an overview of programs
offered through the LSU AgCenter Community Economic
Development (CED) Team which can provide training and assistance with planning
and implementing effective rural economic development strategies.
Hatch presented
a short video developed by the Oklahoma Extension Service entitled,
"Oklahoma Pride" which showed how damaging it can be to a community
when a visitor gets a bad first impression from employees in the service
industry—at convenience stores, restaurants, motels, and gas stations. There is
normally a lot of turnover in these areas.
First Impressions can show where a community is right now by using
trained volunteers to visit a community and record their initial impression.
Hatch said, "We don't always see what outsiders see."
"FAMILY NIGHT AT THE PARK" sponsored by the Claiborne Christmas Festival will be held Saturday,
December 4 and 11 from 5-8 PM. Bring the
children, and for $1 per person, enjoy horse and wagon rides and horse and buggy
rides from the Park to the Square. There will be hot dogs, chili dogs, hot
chocolate, and coffee for sale. Come see the lights and enjoy a night out with
family and friends.
Christmas Memory Tree
In Memory Of—Given By
Mr./Mrs. M.
T. Letcher - Loucille Fulmer
Mr./Mrs.
Harold Johnson - Loucille Fulmer
Bert F. Fulmer - Loucille Fulmer
Sunshine & Holstun Fleming-
Charles, Dora McCullin
Sunshine Wilkinson - Charles, Dora McCullin
Mr/Mrs. W. P. Dean - Joe & Erline Richardson
Mr./Mrs. W.C.
Richardson- Joe & Erline Richardson
Harry McKenzie- Dola,Margaret,
An, Carrie, Laurie
Mildred Batton - Barbara Murry family
C. L. Batton - Barbara Murry family
Royce Moore - Helen Moore
Kevin White - Lawrence & Elvie
White
Landon Hays - Belinda & Adrienne Hays
Randall Harmon - David & Jeanette Eldridge
Frankie Belcher- Amy, David,Leslie,Layton
Bays
Gene Belcher - Amy, David, Leslie, Layton Bays
Doris Volentine - Cecil Volentine
Mr./Mrs. R.
L. Dalrymple - Cecil Volentine
Mr./Mrs.
James David Volentine- Cecil Volentine
In Honor Of_Given By
In Honor Of—Given
By
Dola McKenzie - Her daughters
Glen Bays - Amy, David, Leslie, Layton Bays
Margaret Bays- Amy, David, Leslie, Layton Bays
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.
