Pak-A-Bag Robbed, Homer Man Arrested
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
For the second
time in two months, the Pak-A-Bag in Homer has been the victim of an armed
robbery. This time, Homer Police officers were able to make an arrest within
the first 24 hours. On Thursday, February 10, a 911 alarm came in about 8 PM
from Pak-A-Bag at 215 West Main. Homer Police officers
were dispatched to the scene. Store clerks told officers a black male wearing a
Halloween mask similar to the one worn by "Jason" in the movie
"Friday the 13th" came in the store, armed with a pistol, and
demanded cash.
One clerk
placed the cash drawer over the counter. A second clerk entered the cashier
area which set off an alarm. The robber cocked his semiautomatic weapon, then
grabbed the cash drawer and ran out of the store, heading in the direction of
the Dean Apartments on South 4th Street.
Officers Keith
Ferguson and Jimmy Hamilton arrived on the scene and immediately notified
Acting Police Chief Donald Malray, who arrived a
short time later. The suspect was
described as a black male about 5'4" tall, wearing a black hooded jacket.
Officers began processing the scene for evidence, then viewed the surveillance video tape which confirmed the
information. They questioned several individuals in the area and were told
Randy Rabb had been seen in the Hudd
Drive area without a shirt. Other information led to the arrest of Rabb.
A plastic
grocery bag the suspect had carried into the store and left on the counter was
recovered and sent to the North Louisiana Crime Lab to be tested for DNA. A $20
bill was located near the trash dumpster at 612 South 4th, but the cash drawer
has not been located.
Rabb, 20, who resides at 312 Marble Drive in Homer, was
arrested Friday, February 11 and charged with armed robbery. He was booked into
the Claiborne Parish Detention Center on $100,000 bond. Other arrests are
expected in the case.
In the previous robbery which occurred on Christmas Eve just
after 8 PM, a tall thin black male wearing a gray hooded sweat shirt and a dark
cloth over his face entered the Pak-A-Bag. Surveillance tapes showed the
suspect was wearing a black glove on one hand, possibly a latex glove on the
other, and was holding a knife.
After telling
the clerk, "This is a stick up," he walked behind the counter and
took money from the cash register., then left the
store. Witnesses outside the store reported seeing
someone running from the store and getting into a white van parked about a half
block from the store. The investigation into this robbery is continuing. No
arrests have been made.
Anyone with
information on these robberies is urged to contact the Homer Police Department
at 318-927-4000. Acting Police Chief Donald Malray
said, "The Homer Police just need your
information, not your name."
Traffic Stops Lead To Drug Arrests
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff deputies seized approximately one-half
pound of marijuana Tuesday night, February 8 according to Sheriff Ken Bailey.
At approximately 1:30 PM, Deputy Paul Brazzel stopped
Makeitha McRoyal of El
Dorado, Arkansas on US Highway 79 south of Homer for speeding. During the
traffic stop, Brazzel requested a records check on McRoyal which showed his driver's license had been
suspended and that he had a previous arrest for a drug violation. With this
information, deputies were given consent to search the vehicle. Deputy Randy
Smith and Detective Duffy Gandy arrived on the scene to assist if necessary.
The search of
the vehicle produced one-half pound of marijuana underneath the driver's seat.
Metro Narcotics Agents were contacted. McRoyal was
arrested for possession with intent to distribute Schedule 1 marijuana,
speeding, and driving under suspension. He was booked in the Claiborne Parish
Detention Center with bond set at $16,000.
Metro Narcotics
is currently working with authorities in Caddo Parish and Union County,
Arkansas in an attempt to identify the source of these illegal narcotics.
Anyone with information about illegal drug activity is urged to contact Metro
Agent James Spillers at 318-927-9800, 318-927-2011, or call your local police
department.
In a separate
incident, Sheriff Deputy Randy Pugh attempted to stop a vehicle for traffic
violations on February 10. The driver refused to stop, but with the aid of
Homer Police Officer Jimmy Hamilton, Pugh was successful in detaining the
vehicle.
In the process
of arresting the driver of the vehicle, Antonio L. Brooks, 29, of Homer,
deputies discovered he had crack cocaine in his possession. Brooks was charged
with numerous traffic violations including driving under suspension, no
insurance or registration, expired MVI, unsafe vehicle, in addition to flight
from an officer, resisting an officer, and possession of Schedule II narcotics
with intent to distribute. He was booked into the Claiborne Detention Center.
Bond was set at $19,500.
Homer Town Clerk Resigns
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Homer Town
Clerk Brandi Ware turned in her resignation to Homer Mayor Huey Dean on Monday.
Her last day to work will be Wednesday, February 16, as she will be taking a
new job in Bradley Arkansas on Monday, February 21, working in the town office.
Ware was
appointed town clerk last April, replacing Phyllis Barnhill, who had worked in
that position for less than a year. Over the past ten months, Ware said her job
as clerk has been challenging, to say the least. Her duties included recording
the minutes of the town council meetings, overseeing
the office staff and the Homer Municipal Airport. During her short tenure, the
Town was able to secure a grant for $332,000 for the Airport to be used to make
improvements to bring it into safety compliance with the FAA.
Ware said,
"I have been concerned about the ability of the town office to get the
financial records up to date and in order. Much of this was due to the computer
crash that occurred the day I took office. I believe it is essential for the
Town Council to have up-to-date financial figures in order to properly oversee
the Town's finances. It has weighed heavily on me that we are only now getting
those figures from CPA Carlos Martin although I was glad I was able to assist
in that effort. If the Council will take steps to keep this financial
information current, they will be able to ensure a brighter future for the
citizens of Homer."
Mayor Huey Dean
said he was not sure at this time what the Town Council planned to do about
filling the position, but would probably call a special meeting in the near
future to decide how they want to advertise the position.
THE CLAIBORNE PARISH LIBRARY STAFF is excited about the new automation system which allows patrons to
access information about the library through the internet. They can search for
items by book title, author, or subject. They can view a synopsis of a book,
see if a book is available for checkout, and even place their name on a list to
reserve a book, all on-line. Other resources include links to weather,
dictionary, encyclopedia, almanac, and government sites. There is even a
webpage for children.
Library Goes On-Line With New Automated
System
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Would you like
to know if the Claiborne Parish Library in Homer or the Joe W. Webb Memorial
Library in Haynesville has a certain book? Would you like to go online to have
your name placed on the waiting list for a popular title, or just to see what
the hottest new books are? How about checking the schedule of the Bookmobile or
the upcoming events at the Library? Well, now you can, thanks to the new system
recently installed on the Library's website. All you need is the number from
your Library card and the last four digits of your phone number. You can access
this and a lot more from your computer at home.
"The new automation system from The Library Corporation is
amazing!" according to Pam Suggs, Director of the Claiborne Parish
Library. "Our TLC automation system offers new services and
features that the staff loves, and our patrons will too! These new innovations
make our library services more accessible, faster and easier to use."
Patrons,
whether at home or in the library, can access our web server at http://claiborneparishlibrary.org
or at http://www.youseemore.com/claiborne. This logs you into the
patron service screen where you can search for items, find out what you've got
checked out from the library, use the periodical databases, check the weather,
look for "hot titles", find the Bookmobile's schedule, place holds on
items (you'll need your library card and the last four digits of your telephone
number), and find much more information. Suggs went on to say, "Two great
features of our new system are the book jackets that pop up when you look at
your retrieved search items and the 'KIDS CATALOG' or 'KCWEB'."
Suggs concluded
by saying, "This technology enhancement has been a long, three year
process for us but we always strive and will continue to strive toward the goal
of better library service for Claiborne Parish!"
Candidates Qualify For Haynesville
Election
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Incumbent Mayor
Mickey Mayfield qualified to run for re-election in the upcoming election to be
held on Saturday, April 2. He will face challenger H. U. "Mutt" Slaid. Slaid has served on the
Council in District 2 since 1993.
Police Chief
Jim Garner will face two challengers this April. They are Keith Klick and Anthony C. Smith.
Joyce Majors,
who has served on the council in District 3 since July 1989, was the only
incumbent who was unopposed in the upcoming election. Councilman Kenny Killgore did not qualify to run for re-election in his seat
in District 5.
In District 1,
Monica Beene-Ridley and John Wesley Cooper, Jr.
qualified to run against incumbent Alvin J. Kendrick. Kendrick is in his 28th
year on the Council.
Alvin L. Moss
and Rudolph Presley were the only two to qualify in District 2, the seat
formerly held by "Mutt" Slaid.
Incumbent Otto
Black will face challenger Rene Turner-Lincoln in District 4.
Three persons qualified for Killgore's
seat in District 5. They were Bobby Joslin, Carla
Frasier Smith, and John Ware.
Black History Program To
Honor 41 Men & Women
Black History
Month is being observed this month throughout the United States. What began in
1926 as Negro History Week has now evolved into a four week long celebration,
thanks to its founder and Harvard Scholar, Dr. Carter G. Woodson's
determination to bring Black History Month into the mainstream. Woodson chose
the second week of February for this observance to coincide with the birthdays
of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, two men thought to have greatly
impacted blacks during their time. Dr. Woodson's hard work paid off fifty years
later, in 1976, when February was officially named as Black History Month.
Townships, churches, and organizations will observe Black History Month in
various ways.
The Claiborne
Parish Branch of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People) is commemorating the month with a Black History Gospel Extravaganza and
Recognition Program this Sunday, February 20 at the Claiborne Parish Fair Barn
in Haynesville. Beginning at 5 PM, the program will spotlight African American
movers and shakers in Claiborne Parish. Forty-one honorees will be recognized
for their work and achievement in different areas. Among those who will be
honored Sunday are Sherman Brown and Huey Fields, both who had very successful
careers in education. Last year, Brown became the first Black to serve as
superintendent of Claiborne Parish Schools, serving as interim superintendent
after Gary Jones resigned until James Scriber was named as his replacement in
June 2004. Brown said he did not apply for the position because of his plans to
retire. Huey Fields retired June 30, 1991 after 30 years in the Claiborne
Parish School system. He taught carpentry at Mayfield High School for 3 years,
then served as principal at Mayfield for eight years, two years as Acting
Director of Title 1, then as Title 1 Director for 17 years.
Information
submitted by Alysia Wilson
JIM GARNER
Jim Garner Announces For Haynesville
Police Chief
Haynesville
Chief of Police, Jim Garner, announced this morning he has filed with the
Registrar of Voters for the upcoming election for the position of Chief of
Police, Haynesville. Chief Garner was first selected by Haynesville voters to
take command of the department in July, 2001. "The last four years has
been rewarding, full of challenges, successes and some disappointing moments,"
according to Chief Garner. The department has exceeded previous law enforcement
achievements and is looking forward to new challenges and providing the public
superior services.
Mr. Garner
requests your support in the upcoming elections and also, if he is elected,
your support in providing the public quality law enforcement.
THE HERBERT S. FORD MEMORIAL MUSEUM invites you to the Public Grand Opening of "Claiborne Parish In The
1920s: The Oil Boom" to be held Sunday, February 20 at 2 PM. Dr.
Marguerite Plummer of LSUS will be the guest speaker, followed by a panel
discussion on the Oil Boom Era. Audience participation is encouraged.
Population Booms With
Oil Boom
With the
discovery of oil in Homer, crowds of businessmen and spectators descended on
the quiet, rural town. The December 10, 1919 Guardian-Journal reported
"tramps and beggars" and "an occasional Jezebel" had been
observed walking down the streets. The Claiborne Hotel, which presently houses
the Ford Museum, was jammed to overflowing with strangers.
The Public
Grand Opening of CLAIBORNE PARISH IN THE 1920s: THE OIL BOOM is Sunday,
February 20 at 2:00 PM at the Ford Museum located on the town square in Homer.
This exhibition is sponsored in part by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
Special programming will feature Dr. Marguerite Plummer, Louisiana State
University in Shreveport, speaking on "The Impact of the Discovery of Oil
in Claiborne Parish" and a panel discussion on the Oil Boom Era. Panelists
will be Dr. Tom Greer of Ouachita Baptist University, Dr. Doris Carter of
Grambling State University, Mr. Marshall Shaw of
University of Virginia and Mr. Jack Beard, Mrs. Maxie
Garrett, and Mr. Ronald Day, citizens with direct ties to the Claiborne Parish
Oilfields. The public is invited to be a part of this program and take part in
the panel discussion. The program is free to the public.
School Board Approves Layout For Junior High
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne
Parish School Board approved the architect's preliminary drawing for the Homer
Junior High building at their regular meeting on February 10 and voted to have
architect Hugh Parker proceed with preparing blueprints for the Homer Junior
High building in preparation for advertising for bids. Superintendent James
Scriber said principals had already reviewed the drawing and hopefully plans
will be ready by the April 7 board meeting. Scriber said they plan to ask for
alternate bids on a metal roof and a composition roof, and for two additional
classrooms.
The Board has
$2.8 million left in District 13 bond money for construction of the project.
Bids must be accepted sometime before August of this year. If they come in
under budget, Scriber suggested they go ahead and add two more classrooms on the
north side to allow for expansion in the future.
Scriber said
there should be ample parking for faculty at the junior high building since
they only need space for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teachers. Fifth grade classes
will move back to the Homer Elementary School next year.
Scriber
informed board members that three bids were received on each of the Pearson
properties. The Board accepted the low bid of $11,333 from Charles and Christi
Weaver for Pearson's brick home and the low bid of $2,000 from Wilbert Williams
for the frame house next door. The deadline for moving the frame house is March
1 and April 1 for the brick house. The Board also approved advertising for
sealed bids to remove timber on the two properties.
David Aubrey,
Co-Chairman of the Oversight Committee, asked if bids would be submitted with
the new school name, Mayfield Junior High. Scriber said that was what the Board
previously approved.
Jury Okays Tax Assessor's Computer
Upgrade
Finances, Open Meetings Law Discussed
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Tax Assessor
Clyde Hightower informed the Jury that his office was being mandated by the
State to upgrade their computer system to comply with the new requirements of
the Louisiana Tax Commission. Hightower said, "When the Tax Commission
mandates something, I fully think they should fund it, but they don't."
He estimated the total cost to be about $60,000. The Police Jury
is required to pay for the equipment, then bill the
appropriate amount to the other taxing districts. The Sheriff's Office and
municipalities are exempt. He estimated the Police Jury's share of the cost to
be about $16,495, the School Board - $35,445, Recreation District - $1,365,
Fire Dist. #3 - $1,389, Evergreen Fire Dist. - $25, Fire Dist. #4 - $1,408,
Fire Dist. #5 - $1,430, and Fire Dist. #6 - $2,450.
Police Juror
Willie Young Sr. expressed concerns that Police Jury Committees were not
following the Open Meetings law. He presented a letter regarding an Attorney
General Opinion which stated committee meetings, although composed of less than
a quorum of the entire board but who discuss pertinent matters for
recommendations to the full board, are subject to the provisions of the Open
Meetings Law.
All committees
and subcommittees are subject to the open meetings law, and you've got to post
it. "For four years I have sat here and allowed you to tell me I couldn't
sit in on a committee, and the law says that I can," said Young. "I'm
not here to be a nuisance to anyone, but the law applies to all of us."
Young's motion
to table his request for the CPA financial report for 2004 and to schedule a
Finance Committee meeting as soon as possible was approved.
