Man, Two Children Perish In Fire
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Three people
perished in an early morning house fire at 165 Charlie Lane, about 200 yards
from La. 2 (Lisbon Hwy.) shortly after 1 AM Thursday morning, February 3. This
brings the number of fire fatalities in the Homer vicinity in the past 79 days
to eight. The latest victims were identified as Cedrick
Antonio Sampson, 27, Alliyah Sampson, 4, and Precious
Carlisle, 11.
On November 16,
2004, Bennie Mae Knowles, 76, and the 4-year-old child she was caring for, Gercarreo Watts, died when her home on Lodge Street in
Homer burned to the ground. Knowles' son, Leroy Cooper, managed to escape
through a rear window.
Then on December 25, 2004, three people were overcome by the
smoke after going back into their home on Zimmerman Street in Homer to get some
guns and try to rescue several of their pets. They were Perry Allen Hammontree, his daughter and son-in-law, Melissa
and Michael Robertson,. Hammontree's wife Patricia,
Marlene Sanders, and Melissa and Michael's three children escaped injury.
In the latest
tragedy, Cedrick Sampson woke his wife, Cassandra,
saying, "Get out. It's a fire. You go, you go now." As he disappeared
into the flames in the hallway, Cassandra and her 10-year-old, Cedrick Carlisle, managed to get out through her bedroom
window. They went around the house and tried to reach the other two children
from outside, but soon realized they needed help. They ran to their neighbor's
house, Jason Sumlin, and called 911.
The 911 call
came in at 1:07 AM. By the time Fire Department 6 arrived at the scene at 1:18
AM, the house was almost completely engulfed in flames. The water from the
first fire truck knocked the fire down in about thirty minutes. Shortly
afterward, firefighters recovered the bodies of the three victims.
Firefighter
Rusty Gilbert said, "I cannot fault a single thing they did. All three
were heroic in their efforts to save the other children."
Cassandra and
her son were taken to Homer Memorial Hospital. Cassandra, who is about three
months pregnant, was treated for cuts. Her son was treated for minor cuts as
well as some burns to his hand and face. Both were released, but Cedrick returned the next day with pneumonia and second or
third degree burns. He was released Sunday to attend the funeral, then on Tuesday, he was taken to LSU Medical Center in
Shreveport.
Presently
Cassandra and her son are staying with in-laws, Lillian and Oliver Sampson, in
Lisbon. They lost everything in the fire. An account has been set up at Regions Bank, the Carlisle-Sampson Memorial Fund, Acct. # 42 0826
3668.
Persons who are
interested in helping this family can contact Luerettia
Mack at Pineview High School at 353-6334 or at her
home at 353-6413. Cassandra wears size 18-20 or 3x clothes and size 11 shoes.
Her son, Cedrick, wears boys' size 18 or x-large
clothes, and size 8 ½ in a man's shoe.
According to
Gilbert, the State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire which
they believe could have been the hot water heater.
THREE PEOPLE PERISHED IN THIS HOUSE FIRE at 165 Charlie Lane, just off the Lisbon Highway approximately five
miles east of Homer,
in the early morning hours of February 3. This brings the total
number of fire fatalities in the last 79 days in the Homer area to eight
NW Tech Enrolling Now For CNA Program
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Lisa Doney was recently named Assistant Dean of Northwest
Louisiana Technical College,
replacing Gary Simolke to oversee the
campuses in Homer and at David Wade Correctional Center. She has already met
with several high school principals and counselors, community leaders and
public officials, and is encouraged by the positive responses she has received.
In the near future, she plans to meet with School Superintendent James Scriber.
She said, "By networking with schools, businesses, industry, and
government, it is my hope that we can all pull together and make the LTC work
for everyone."
Doney comes to Claiborne Parish with over six years in the
Technical College System, starting as counselor at LTC's
Natchitoches campus, then moving to Director of Student Affairs, before her
recent appointment at Northwest Tech. Recently, she was also appointed by Dr. Percy McRaney,
Vice Chancellor/Provost of District 7 as District Dean of Student Affairs for
the LTC Greater Shreveport-Red River District which includes campuses at
Shreveport, Natchitoches, Minden, Mansfield, and Many.
There have been
a lot of changes over the past six years in the technical college system, but Doney is optimistic they will be good changes. She said,
"We are teaching technical education, short-term, so individuals can get
out in the workforce and become productive citizens. I think the citizens of
Louisiana need us to teach technical education, not a community college type of
class."
Programs
presently offered at LTC Homer campus include Accounting Technology, Certified
Nurse Assistant (CNA), Computer Specialist, Developmental Studies, Hospitality
& Tourism, Medical Office Assistant, and Office Systems Technology.
The Nurse
Assistant (CNA) Program recently advertised to begin February 1 at the Homer
campus has been postponed until Monday, February 14. The class will be held
from 8:00 AM - 12:00 noon, Monday - Thursday through May. The instructor will
be Linda Mills. Persons interested in enrolling should call the Homer campus at
(318) 927-2034.
This fall
diploma-based programs will be available as Associates of Applied Science (AAS)
degrees. Doney would also like to see the Homer
campus expand and offer other programs such as Patient Care Technician
Certification, Diesel Equipment Maintenance, and perhaps Electrician and HVAC
programs.
They are also
in the planning stage for a little more advanced program called Patient Care
Technician, which is also a 2-semester certificate program. If a person has a
high school diploma or GED and qualifies for a pell
grant, it will pay for this program.
Courses offered
at LTC Wade Correctional Center include Automotive Technology, AC
Refrigeration, Carpentry, Horticulture, and Welding. She said her goal at
LTC-Wade is to maintain the excellent relationship with the Department of
Corrections at Wade and to monitor LTC instruction so the quality of education
for inmates remains at a high level.
Lisa presently
lives in Minden with her husband, Bruce, and 18-month-old son, Christopher.
They plan to move to Claiborne Parish as soon as they sell their house in
Natchitoches.
LISA DONEY, new Assistant Dean for Northwest
Louisiana Technical College, stands behind Office Clerk
Titus Walker. Doney wants to see the Homer campus
expand and offer more programs in the future. She said, "By networking
with schools, businesses, industry, and government, it is my hope that we can
all pull together and make Northwest LTC work for everyone."
Housing Authority Gets Good Report On Audit
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Board of
Commissioners for the Homer Housing Authority met January 24. Commissioner Ray Jiles reported that all financial records including bank
statements, rent receipts, and charges were in balance and had been reconciled
for December 2004. Independent auditor Charles Marchbanks
with Little & Associates recently completed the 2004 audit with no finding
to be reported to the State of Louisiana or to the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD).
Commissioners
approved changing board meetings from the third Monday to the fourth Monday
each month.
Homer Council To
Call Special Meeting
To Discuss Audit
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Homer Mayor
Huey Dean distributed copies of the comparison of cash balances prepared by the
firm of Jamieson, Wise, and Martin of Minden. The report listed the cash
balances in various Town funds over the past two years, from the end of
January, 2003 to December 31, 2004. The total cash in all funds went from
$777,721.37 on January 31, 2003 to .$1,155,606.47 on
December 31, 2004, an increase of $377,888.10. CPA Carlos Martin noted that
prior to that, cash had been decreasing by approximately $200,000 per year.
The Enterprise
Fund showed a drop of $198,709.79, going from a negative ($248,246.85) in
January 2003 to ($446,855.64) at the end of December 2004. The General Fund
went from a negative balance of ($1,287.96) to a positive balance of
$82,099.90. Martin noted that if the General Fund received reimbursement from
the Street Fund for salaries, the General Fund could help with the Utility (Enterprise)
Fund in the amount of $201,842, which would even up that Fund for the past two
years.
The Council
voted to call a Special Meeting before the next regular meeting to discuss in
detail the findings
in the audit recently completed by the State Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE RICK GALLOT spoke to Ms. Cathy Seals' 7th grade History Class at Homer Junior High
this week. After showing a short video featuring the MTV cast from Real World
on how people work together to get things done by letting the majority decide,
and how important it is that each person's voice is heard even if things do not
always go the way you want. One way to do that is by voting....voting is the
most important thing we can do to protect our democracy. Gallot
then allowed students to present an issue important to them. After a short
debate, they voted. By a vote of 13 to 8, these students voted to lower the
driving age to 14.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Honored
At Candlelight March
The frigid
night air could not detain some forty marchers from making history at the first
annual Candlelight March
and Commemorative Program held recently to honor Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Sponsored by the Claiborne Parish branch of the NAACP, the
march began at the intersection of Hill Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
with escorts by the Homer Police Department. The
march concluded at New Hope Baptist Church where Rev. Willie Young Sr. is
pastor. There marchers were greeted by over 75 other supporters and citizens
who had gathered to take part in the Remembrance Program.
Coordinated by
Mrs. Bettie Cheatham, the event featured spiritual sounds of Ms. Lurlean Towns, and Rev. Kerry Sims, as well as the Golden
Raiders Praise Dancers. The highlighted speaker, Deacon Fred Young of First
Ebenezer Baptist Church, delivered a moving address focusing on the power of
unity in the community. "How can we have a great thriving community
without u-n-i-t-y," said Young.
Mrs. Renee'
Lincoln Buggs, Chapter Vice President, brought the
history-making event to a close by reminding everyone of the importance of
keeping Dr. King's dream alive through community involvement.
The Claiborne
Parish NAACP has chosen to make the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March an annual
event according to Branch President David Aubrey.
REP. RICK GALLOT was in Homer last week to present Town of Homer Mayor Huey Dean with a
grant in the amount of $10,000. Funds will be used to help pay for sludge
removal and other immediate needs at the Town's wastewater treatment plant to
see it remains within regulatory compliance with the EPA permit. On hand for
the presentation were (l.-r.) Chamber Director John David
Watson, Town Councilman J. C. Moore, Gallot, Dean,
Chamber President J. T. Taylor and Chamber Secretary Melissa Watts. Also
present was Marios Papadopoulos, General Manager of
American Wastewater Management, the company that oversees the plant's operation
and who assisted in the grant application.
