Three Die In Fire On
Christmas Day
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Three Homer
persons perished in a tragic early morning fire on Christmas Day. Perry Allen Hammontree, 61, his daughter Melissa, 24, and her husband
Michael Robertson, 27, went back into the burning house to get some guns and to
try to rescue their pets and were overcome by the smoke. According to Homer
Fire Chief Dennis Butcher, the fire apparently spread from an unattended
charcoal grill located near the carport. Butcher said, "If there is any lesson to be
learned from this tragedy, it is to never reenter a burning structure—for any
reason."
Neighbors
Thomas and Gayle McDonald and Ralph Mitchell were awakened by loud explosions At first the McDonalds thought it might be fireworks, but
soon realized the Hammontree house was on fire and
called the Sheriff's Office. The first emergency 911 call was received at 4:05
AM. Butcher said firefighters were on the scene in three minutes. By that time,
the house was fully engulfed by flames and three of the adults had reentered
the structure. The explosions indicated the fire had been burning for awhile.
Two of the
victims, Melissa and Michael, were recovered within 30 minutes and immediately
transported to the Homer Memorial Hospital where they were pronounced dead by
Coroner Dr. D.K. Haynes. It was close to 8 AM before firefighters were able to
locate the body of Perry Hammontree. It appears all
three died from smoke inhalation.
Perry's wife
Patricia Hammontree, Marlene Sanders, and Melissa and
Michael's three children escaped injury. Patricia said the people in Homer has been so good
to them. She said it is times like these when you realize just how
compassionate your community is. She
said she would never forget the kindness that has been shown to her and her
family.
Mrs. Hammontree said most of their immediate needs have been
taken care of, but her three grandchildren still need school uniforms. Michaela
is nine and wears a children's size 14. Steven is six and wears a 7 regular.
Both need uniforms for Homer Elementary School.
The youngest,
Eva is 4 years old and wears size 6/6x. She attends Head Start which does not
require uniforms. All three children need nightclothes. Mrs. Hammontree said she can be reached by calling 927-8979.
Butcher said
this makes the fifth fire fatality in Homer this year. These were the first
fire fatalities in ten years.
An account has
been established at Regions Bank to provide funds for the Hammontree and Robertson family.
Donations to the Hammontree Fund can be made at any
Regions Bank or mailed to the Hammontree Fund,
Regions Bank, 911 West Main, Homer, LA 71040.
HOMER FIREFIGHTERS WERE ON THE SCENE WITHIN three minutes after receiving an emergency 911 call at 4:05 AM
Christmas morning. Neighbors reported being awakened by loud explosions at the
residence of Perry Hammontree at 628 Zimmerman Street
in Homer. Initially all five adults and three children managed to get out of
the burning house, but Perry Hammontree, his daughter
Melissa and her husband Michael Robertson, reentered the house to retrieve some
guns and pets and were overcome by the smoke. Homer Fire Chief Dennis Butcher
said, "If there is any lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it is to
never reenter a burning structure for any reason."
Five Arrested For Drug Possession
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Five Claiborne
Parish individuals were arrested on drug charges over the Christmas holidays
according to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey. On December 20, members of
the Metro Narcotics Task Force, Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office, Webster
Parish Sheriff's Office, and Louisiana State Police executed a search warrant
at 922 Hudd Drive in Homer where they seized
approximately 115 rocks of cocaine with a street value of about $1,750.
Authorities arrested Carl L. Willis, 24, of Homer and Anjanette
Bailey, 30, of Homer. Both were charged with possession with intent to
distribute crack cocaine (Schedule II controlled dangerous substance).
Sheriff Bailey
said agents were first made aware of Willis' drug activities last May when
Sheriff Deputies David
Morgan and Randy Smith arrested Willis for possession of approximately one
pound of marijuana found after making a routine traffic stop. In October,
agents learned of Willis' arrest in Kaufman County, Texas for possession of
several pounds of marijuana as well as a quantity of cocaine.
Bailey said the
public's assistance through phone calls and complaints have been a tremendous
help in fighting the drug war throughout Claiborne Parish.
Sheriff Bailey
announced that a joint investigation into the sale and manufacture of
methamphetamine in Claiborne and Webster parishes by Claiborne Metro Narcotics, the Webster Parish
Sheriff's Office Narcotics, and the Minden Police Department led to the arrest
of three Claiborne Parish men December 23.
Minden Police
first arrested Samuel Dance of 322 Bream Island Road in Homer for possession of
methamphetamine. This led authorities to Trucker's Paradise outside Minden,
where Larry Adkins, also of 322 Bream Island Road, was arrested for possession
with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Agents searched the Adkins residence
where they discovered equipment and waste, indicating methamphetamine had been
produced at the Bream Island location. Further charges are expected against
Adkins and Dance, pending crime lab results.
Another
undercover sting operation led to the arrest of Robert C. Bridges of Avenger
Road in Haynesville. He was charged with possession of marijuana and
methamphetamine. Adkins and Dance were booked into the jail in Webster Parish
while Bridges was booked into the Claiborne Detention Center.
Bailey said this is a great example of how agencies can work
together successfully.
Anyone with
information on methamphetamine production or any other drug crime is encouraged
to call the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office at 318-927-2011 or the Metro
Narcotics Task Force at 318-927-9800. All information will remain confidential.
Homer Police Officers Investigate
Vandalism
Homer
Police officers received several calls Monday morning of tires being slashed on
vehicles parked near several businesses. The Guardian-Journal reported someone
had punctured three tires on the company truck parked at the office. Homer
Police Officer Norah Banks said the tires appeared to have been slashed with a
small pocket knife.
The Homer Post
Office also reported that two tires had been slashed on one of their vehicles
and the American flag in front of the building had been cut down.
Claiborne Community Services, located about one block west of
the Courthouse Square on South Main, also reported tires slashed on three of
their vehicles.
Officers
investigating the vandalism believe the tires were slashed sometime Saturday
night, January 1, or early Sunday morning, January 2. Several days earlier,
tires had been slashed at several residences located on West Third Street.
A reward is
being offered for information leading to the conviction of the person or
persons who committed these crimes. Anyone with information is asked to contact
the Homer Police Department at 318-927-4000.
James McClung Resigns As
Administrator
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Homer Memorial
Hospital Administrator James McClung will soon be taking over a new position as
Administrator of the Green Clinic Surgical Hospital in Ruston. He turned in his
resignation to the
Board of Directors on December 21, giving them 90 days to find a
replacement. McClung said this was one of the hardest decisions he has ever
made, but he felt God had opened the door and it was an opportunity he could
not turn down.
"Homer
Memorial Hospital will always be near and dear to my heart," McClung
said. "This community needs this
hospital, and they need this hospital to operate efficiently."
McClung said he was proud to have been a part of the success of
the hospital over the past five years. He is glad to be leaving on a good note.
Homer Memorial had a good audit report and a very profitable year. He has
enjoyed a great working relationship with the Board of Directors, the Medical
Staff, and the hospital staff.
WAL-MART MANAGER YAMADA BURKS presented a check for $1,500 last week to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken
Bailey on behalf of the Wal-Mart Foundation's "State Neighborhood
Heroes" fund. Checks are given every year to an area in the community
where money will be put to good use or where there is the most need. Bailey
thanked Burks for always caring about the community and for his generosity. The
money will be used to purchase bullet proof vests.
Rainfall Falls Short Of Record
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Nancy Boddie, lab technician at the LSU Hill Farm Research
Station, reported that rainfall in 2004 fell short of breaking the all-time
record since they began keeping statistics in 1950. The previous record for the
most rainfall recorded in Claiborne Parish was 79.78 inches in 1991. The total
recorded in 2004 was 79.59 inches, a difference of 0.19 inches.
The total
rainfall collected in December 2004 was 6.62 inches. The least rainfall
recorded in December was in 1956, when only 0.13 inches fell, while the most
rainfall recorded in December was 12.75 inches in 1982. The average December
rainfall is 4.98 inches.
The average
yearly rainfall is 53.65 inches. In 1957, the total rainfall was 75.7 inches.
In 1968, 75.37 inches was recorded, and 74.9 inches fell in 1974. In 1973,
69.05 inches was recorded and in 2000, 67.71 inches fell. The least rainfall on
record at the Hill Farm began was 30.61 inches in 1954.
Wildlife & Fisheries Approves
Extending Lake Drawdown
The request by
the Claiborne Parish Watershed Commission to extend the drawdown of Lake
Claiborne through January 31, 2005 has been approved by the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries according to Commission Chairman Alice
Stewart. She received notification on Saturday from James Seales,
District 1 Fisheries Biologist Supervisor. Seales
said the request has now been forwarded to the Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development.
Looking Back At 2004...
The Homer Mayor
Recall, Town of Homer financial problems, selection of the I-69 corridor
through Claiborne Parish, the Homer Bypass, turn lanes on US Hwy. 79, plans to
build build a series of lakes in Claiborne Parish,
drug arrests, vehicle fatalities, tragic fires, burglaries, Homer and
Haynesville school projects, the U.S. Justice Department, fights at school, family feuds at home, the
drawdown of Lake Claiborne, and the release from prison of former Haynesville
Town Clerk Marilyn Bush were some of stories making news in 2004.
The following
is a month by month recap of events that made headlines in Claiborne Parish
beginning in January 2004. The recap of the year will be continued in next
week's paper. ....to be continued in
upcoming issues.
