Homer Council Refuses To Hire Police
Officer
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Homer Town
Council refused to approve the hiring a certified police officer as requested
by Police Chief Rodney Hollenshead at their regular
meeting Monday, December 6. Hollenshead informed the Council the last officer hired had
worked only about six weeks before taking another job. He really didn't need
any more non-certified officers for the safety and liability to the Town. Hollenshead said he would need to be off about six weeks
for surgery and
the first of the year, he had one officer going to the academy for 12-14 weeks.
Hollenshead wanted to hire Jimmy Dale Mitchell, who had
worked for the Haynesville Police Department last year but resigned in
September. Both Haynesville Police Chief Jim Garner and Town Attorney Danny
Newell said Mitchell was a good officer.
Jesse Ford
asked if he could hire Mitchell part-time until they could meet him first. J.C.
Moore said the Council had allowed the Chief to run his own department, but the
last two officers hired were a disappointment. Johnette
Faulkner said you don't really know how anyone will work out in a job when you
hire them. She asked, "How would we know just talking to him if he would
work out or not?" Moore said we could know in detail what his past problem
was.
Thomas McDonald
said, "For $9.75 hour, I feel fortunate to get a certified police officer
that is willing to go to work for the Town of Homer, with the problems we've
had over the last two years." He said he didn't see any other option under
the circumstances. If the Council approves hiring him, they will have twelve
months to decide whether he stays or not.
McDonald made a
motion to hire Mitchell which was seconded by Faulkner. The motion failed, with
two voting for (McDonald and Faulkner) and three voting against (Ford, Moore,
and Billy Kirk Jenkins).
PICTURE: (McCrery)
CONGRESSMAN JIM McCRERY
At Chamber Banquet
Congressman Jim
McCrery will be the guest speaker at the 40th Annual Chamber of Commerce
Banquet on Monday, January 10, 2005 which will be held at Homer City Hall.
McCrery is serving his eighth full term in the U.S. House, representing
Louisiana's 4th Congressional District which included northwest and west
central Louisiana. He was first elected to Congress in 1988, making him the
first Republican elected in 114 years.
Recognized as
one of the most thoughtful members of Congress, he has focused on solving
America's challenges by looking past politics of the moment and toward long
term, permanent solutions.
The theme for
the Banquet will be "Field of Dreams: Build It & They Will Come"
which the Chamber believes is a positive approach to the future of Claiborne
Parish. Several new parish business projects will be highlighted.
Banquet
reservations are available for $25 per person. Tables can also be reserved for
an additional $25 or $30 depending on the size of the table. All reservations
must be paid in advance to confirm seating before the December 31, 2004
deadline. Seating is limited to 300 people. Reservations will not be available
at the door. No tickets will be necessary this year. To make
a reservation or for more information on the Banquet, call the Chamber office at
(318) 927-3271.
HAYNESVILLE MAYOR Mickey Mayfield shows Town Clerk Penny Fields how the walking trail the Town is applying
for would encircle the pond near the baseball/softball complex.
THE PROPOSED WALKING TRAIL for the Town of Haynesville consists of approximately 1,534 feet which
will encircle the two small ponds in the baseball/softball recreational complex
adjacent to the Municipal Golf Course, to include lighting, benches, boardwalk,
and a wooden pier.
Haynesville Seeks Funding For Walking
Trail Grant
Town Of Homer Grant Application Denied
The
Town of Haynesville is applying for a grant through the Governor's Louisiana
Recreational Trails Fund Program to construct a walking trail around the small
ponds in the baseball/softball recreational complex, which is adjacent to the
Town's Municipal Golf Course. The path of the trail will follow the area around
the ponds and will cross the existing levee that separates the two ponds. A
board walk with hand rail will be installed on the north end to accommodate
users with disabilities.
An asphalt
walking path will be installed on top of the levee and on the side adjoining
the sports field and parking area. The existing dead end road will be repaired
and a cul-de-sac will be added to the end of the walking path on each side. A
wooden pier will be added to the north end of the pond.,
along with additional lighting and
benches.
Mayor Mickey
Mayfield said the walking trail will provide an exercise opportunity in an attractive setting for senior
citizens, young adults with children, and youth of the community in an area
that is frequently used for summer baseball, softball, golfing and swimming.
The trail will be able to accommodate walking, hiking, and bicycling as well as
users with disabilities.
The estimated
cost of the project is $86,000. The Town is applying for a grant for $68,800.
The Town is soliciting support from schools, churches, businesses and other
civic organizations, as well as the community.
Tornado Touches Down During Monday Storm
A tornado
touched down in the Northwest corner of Claiborne Parish during a fast moving
storm that crossed through the area Monday night. A large number of large trees
were down along the Millerton Road (formerly the north end of Hwy. 521) from
Hwy. 808 to the Arkansas state line. Damage extended along the road in
Arkansas. Several houses received minor roof damage, mostly some shingles blown
off. One carport was torn off by the tornado and set down behind the house. According
to Police Jury Road Superintendent Dean Busby, five men from the parish road
crew responded to the call received around 9:45 PM by the Claiborne Parish
Sheriff's Office and were on the scene from around 10 PM until 3 AM clearing
the fallen trees off the road. The entire road crew was back on the scene
Tuesday morning and continued to work all day clearing up debris and limbs from
the road and right
of ways.
Spirit Of
Christmas Food Drive Hopes To
Reach 100 Families
Area citizens
are being asked once again to make a contribution to the Annual "Spirit of
Christmas Food Drive". Glenda Greer, who is heading up the local food
drive effort for the Homer Lions Club, said they delivered 99 boxes of food to
needy residents in the Homer area last year. Their goal this year is to reach
100 families.
Brookshire's
Grocery Store in Homer is collecting food items, as well as members of the
Claiborne Parish 4-H in all parish schools. As in the past, local Boy Scout
troops and the Shelby Point Hunting Club on Baileytown
Road also collected food items for the Food Drive.
Greer said food
boxes will be delivered on Friday, December 17. Members of the 4-H will meet
with Homer Lions and other volunteers at the First Presbyterian Church in Homer
to help sort and package the food boxes. Homer Lions, Claiborne Parish Sheriff deputies and local firefighters will make the deliveries
during the afternoon.
Brookshire's
has targeted 13,000 families in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi to
receive assistance this year and will continue to accept donations through
December 23. Without these food gift boxes, these families would not have
enough to eat during the holiday season. "Donations have been coming in
steadily, but we need more help to reach all those in need," said Mark
Brookshire, president of the marketing group for Brookshire Grocery Co.
All food
collected by Brookshire's within the Homer area is distributed to families in
the area. Brookshire's will donate at least one roasting hen to each family
assisted through the food drive. Last year the company provided more than
15,000 hens company wide.
"Statistically,
more people go hungry the week after Christmas than any other time,"
Brookshire said. "We are trying to provide enough food to get them through
that week."
Donations may
be made by placing non-perishable food items in the designated containers at
the front of participating Brookshire's stores. Items in glass jars and
homemade goods are not accepted. Bulk items, such as flour and cornmeal, should
be donated in smaller quantities.
Sheriff Ken Bailey Cautions...
Burglar-Proof Home Before
Holiday Travel
Are you one of
the millions of Americans who will make holiday travel part of your Christmas
plans? Well, if you are, you should remember that securing your home for
holiday travel should be part of your overall plans.
Have you
considered how safe and secure your home is while you travel? Well, not as safe
as it could be, warned Sheriff Ken Bailey, especially if you do not tend to
some simple precautions prior to leaving home.
"Property
crimes are the most reported crimes in the country," according to Bailey.
"And Christmas is a time when house burglars go into overtime looking for
easy opportunities and unwitting victims," the Sheriff continued. "So
it is all the more important that everyone pays particular attention to
securing their homes while they travel during the holiday season."
How can you
reduce your risk of becoming a victim of burglary or theft during the holidays
and throughout the year? Sheriff Bailey has some practical suggestions for you
to help secure your home.
- Advise your local law enforcement agency to place your home on its patrol list.
- Do not advertise your departure.
- Keep a parked car in your driveway.
- Set your lights and television on a timer.
- Have your newspaper stopped or ask a trusted neighbor or friend to pick up your paper and other leaflets while you are away.
- Do not state, on your answering machine, that you are away. If you do not have a machine, take your phone off the hook or turn the ringer on low so people do not hear your phone endlessly ringing.
- Try to be discreet when packing your luggage.
- Keep your blinds in their normal position_a sudden change is an announcement that your home is unoccupied.
- Scatter a few items around your yard to create the illusion that someone is home.
- Make arrangements to have your yard maintained if you are going to be away for a while.
- Avoid putting your name on anything that can be viewed from the street. A visible name could aid a burglar in casing your home, as they can use your last name and address to look up your phone number. They can then call your home to see if anybody is at home.
- Activate your home alarm, if you have one.
Sheriff Bailey
concluded, "Don't forget. Crime is not something that always happens to
`the Other guy', it can happen to any of us. So, it is
up to all of us to do everything we can to safeguard ourselves as much as
possible, not just during the holidays, but all year long. From all of us at
the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office, have a happy and safe holiday."
Claiborne Chamber Of
Commerce Says,
"Shop Claiborne First"
Merchants in
Haynesville and Homer will be open until 7 PM one Thursday in December for
local residents' Christmas shopping convenience. In Haynesville, merchants will
be open late on Thursday, December 9 and in Homer, merchants will close at 7 PM
on Thursday, December 16. The Claiborne Chamber of Commerce will serve hot
chocolate and coffee along with hot dogs and chili dogs. There will also be
Christmas singing on the Courthouse Square in downtown Homer. The Chamber encourages
local shoppers to come out and support these hometown merchants and remember to
"Shop Claiborne Parish First".
Friends Of Club
Seek Financial Help
Friends of the
Claiborne Boys and Girls Club are looking to raise $10,000 prior to December
31, 2004. They say it is critical in order to continue to provide a positive
environment through the Club's many programs and services. Presently, the Club
operates at two locations in the parish, one in Haynesville and one in Homer,
and serves more than 300 children. The M.A.D. "Make A Difference"
Campaign is asking concerned citizens, organizations, churches and businesses to make a
tax-deductible contribution of $100 or more during the month of December to
help keep the Club open. Friends of the Club who initiated the Campaign were
Loy Weaver, Gene Coleman, A.D. Williams, Benjie Winn,
Dr. Elizabeth Doze, and School Superintendent James Scriber. For more information
about the Club or to make a contribution, contact Executive Director Leroy
Hamilton Jr. at 927-2718.
CLAIBORNE COMMUNITY CLUBS made their annual presentation of homemade dolls and teddy bears to
David Wade Correctional Center to be used with the prison's Toys for Tots
program. Club President Sally Martin (front, left) presented
dolls to (l.-r.) DWCC Warden Venetia Michael, Major
George Savage and Capt. Corodney Specks of Forcht Wade. Ladies from Haynesville who assisted
were Juanita Garrett, Maxie Garrett, Nora Garrett,
Janice Hardin, Jane Morelock, and Ardece
Sanders, and from Homer, Gertrude Gibbs, Betty Jo Perry, Elizabeth Rogers, Kay
Lowery, Brenda Mitchell, Shirley Musgrove, Kathleen Bryan, Freda Hinze, Beverly Jones, and Peggy Pike. Martin thanked ladies
from all the parish service clubs who contributed sewing machines, stuffing and
material. Anyone wishing to donate fabrics, trim, or stuffing, or to help the
ladies make the dolls, contact Martin at 927-5334.
Christmas Memory Tree
In Memory Of—Given By
Mr./Mrs.
James David Volentine- Cecil Volentine
Dr. Stan Brantly - Ken, Melissa &
Reed Brantly
Fred Smith - Mary Smith
James R. Williams, Jr. - Randall Williams
family
Dallas Roberts - Odessa Roberts
John R. Roberts - Odessa Roberts
Hilda H. Spillers - Susan, Caitlyn, Wes & Hunter
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.
