State Police Issues Warrant For Homer Man
The Louisiana
State Police issued a warrant for the arrest of Darren Block, aka Darren Williams or "Jed", 33, of 1427 Pearl
Street in Homer. He was arrested Monday, April 11 by Homer Police officers on
charges of insurance fraud and perjury, but escaped before he could be
transported to the Claiborne Detention Center.
According to Captain Donald Malray,
Block allegedly set fire to a green Cadillac on Liberty Hill Road, then filed
an insurance claim. He then offered conflicting statements on his deposition.
Monday morning, Malray and officer Jim Faulkner went to 1427 Pearl to serve the
warrant. As Malray entered the front door, Block ran
out the back. Faulkner who was covering the rear exit and in the struggle to
restrain the suspect, he tore ligaments in his right knee. With the help of Lt.
David Crump and deputy Ben Booth with the Sheriff's
Office, Block was restrained and transported to the police station for booking.
As officers
were leaving the station to transport Block to the Detention Center, he took
off running. Officers chased him but were unable to catch him. A reward is
being offered for information leading to the apprehension of Block. He is
described as a black male, approximately 6'4" tall, weighing about 195
pounds.
Additional
arrest warrants have been issued by Homer Police for simple escape, possession
of marijuana (second offense), resisting arrest and battery to a police
officer.
According to
Gary Bridges with the LSP Insurance Fraud Unit, if convicted, the penalty for
insurance fraud is imprisonment, with or without hard labor, not to exceed five
years, or fine not to exceed $5,000, or both. If convicted, the penalty for
perjury is a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisonment at hard
labor for not more than five years, or both.
If you have
information, contact the Homer Police Department at 927-4000, the Claiborne
Parish Sheriff's Office at 927-2011, or the Insurance Fraud Unit of the
Louisiana State Police at (318) 862-9913 or after 5 PM at (318) 741-7411.
Venson Drew Surrenders
Venson Drew, 20, turned himself in to the Homer Police
Department just before noon on Monday, April 11, where he was read his miranda
rights. After refusing to make a statement, he was transported to the Claiborne
Detention Center where he is being housed under $100,000 bond.
Crew is charged
with the armed robbery of Dixie Mart #1 in Homer on Sunday, April 3. He allegedly entered the
store around 10:42 PM wearing a mask and demanded money. The store clerk
initially refused. He came around the counter and held an automatic handgun to
her head, grabbed the money, and ran out of the store. After leaving the store,
he removed the mask and was identified by the store clerk.
In May 2002,
Drew was arrested and charged for theft of automobile tires and rims valued
around $1,600. He was arraigned June 4, 2002. A motion was made by District
Attorney Walter May to release him into the PTI (Pre-Trial Intervention)
program with the understanding that if all conditions of the program were not
met, he would be prosecuted. In October 2004, he was also charged with
contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
If convicted of
armed robbery, Drew could face a sentence of not less than ten years and for
not more than ninety-nine years, at hard labor, without benefit of parole,
probation, or suspension of sentence.
Arrest Made In Church Burglary
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey announced the arrest of Terry James Winzer, 33, of 324 Mulnix Switch
Road in Athens for the February 26 burglary of St. John Missionary Baptist
Church. According to Bailey, the church,
which is located at 1940 St. John Road southeast of Homer, reported a large
speaker had been stolen after someone had forced entry into the church.
Deputies responded, filed a report and initiated an investigation.
On Tuesday,
April 5, Winzer was arrested and charged with the
burglary, and the stolen speaker was recovered.
Winzer was booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention
Center where he is being housed under $12,000 bond. He is also being held on
parole violation with the State of Louisiana.
McINNIS INSURANCE Has Moved due to the recent acquisition and merger with KMC Insurance.
Both agencies are now located at 619 North Main in Homer and continue to serve
their customers as they have in the past. Bob McAdams (right) welcomes Bob
Robinson and Phillip McInnis as they place the McInnis sign in front of the
building.
McInnis Insurance Moves
McInnis, KMC Insurance Agencies Still
Open For Business
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The
Guardian-Journal
If you are
wondering where the McInnis Insurance Agency has moved, you need look no
further than 619 North Main. Yes, that is the address of insurance agency of
Kendrick, McAdams, & Carpenter. As of January 1, McInnis acquired the KMC
Insurance and merged the two operations under one roof. Owner Philip McInnis
said, "With the merger of McInnis and KMC, the agency is bigger and
better. It gives customers of both agencies more options, more combined
markets, more insurance companies, and more expertise." All customers of
McInnis and KMC can be assured they will still receive the same service as they
have in the past.
McInnis
Insurance Agency was founded in the early 1920s by John L. McInnis, along with
two partners who were later bought out. The agency was left to sons Harry and
John Jr. who managed it until 1947 when they founded McInnis Brothers
Construction. John, Jr. devoted his time to the construction company, leaving
Harry to run the insurance agency. Harry's son, Philip, joined the agency in
1973. Both John and Harry are now deceased.
In 1992,
McInnis acquired the Holtzclaw & Associates
Agency in Minden and Homer, then in January 1994, they
acquired the Jim Branch Insurance Agency. In November 2002, McInnis added the
purchase of the Glenn Hooks Agency in Haynesville. The purchase of KMC on
January 1, 2005 gives McInnis outstanding representation in Claiborne Parish
and the valuable experience and ability of the agency owner, Bob McAdams, who
is the first owner who has sold to McInnis and remained in an active capacity
in the merged agency.
KMC was founded
in 1920 by M. J. Kendrick. In 1949, his son Charles joined the business. Bob
McAdams came in 1979 and Harold Carpenter in 1981, changing the name to
Kendrick, McAdams, Carpenter Insurance or KMC. Of the three, McAdams is the
only one still working. Charles left in 1988 and Harold in 1995.
"It is a
pleasure to have some other expertise and feel like you are part of a bigger
team," McInnis said. "We hope this will lead to better, more
knowledgeable insurance coverage and better pricing for our customers. That is
our ultimate goal."
Margaret Gray Ford Gladney is bringing this quilt to the documentation May 10. The quilt was pieced
for Mrs. Gladney by her great aunt, Mrs. Bessie Murrell Gray, as a high school
graduation gift in 1934. It was quilted by Mrs. Anise Neal for Mrs. Gladney to
take with her to college. Bessie Murrell was the great-great-granddaughter of
John Murrell, the first white settler in Claiborne Parish.
Claiborne Jubilee To
Feature Quilt Show
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Patterns,
Pictures, and Poetry—Art in Claiborne Parish is the theme of Claiborne Jubilee
2005. New features added to the
celebration's traditional art and quilt show are a poetry contest and the
opportunity to have quilts documented for the Louisiana Quilt Project Tuesday,
May 10, 2005, from 10 am till 4 pm prior to the opening of the quilt show on
May 13 & 14. All quilt related events will be held in the Police Jury
Office Complex. Dr. Susan Roach, Folklorist from the faculty of LA Tech will be
on hand with her staff to receive quilts for registering and photographing.
Mrs. Nurlie Foster is once again in charge of the quilt show
itself and quilts can be delivered to the LSU AgCenter
Office which is in the Police Jury Office Complex by May 11. As in past years, quilts
should be prepared for hanging by sewing a double 4 inch placket of fabric to
the back of the quilt 90 inches from the bottom. This is made from a strip of
fabric the width of the quilt x 8.5 inches. All quilts should have the
quilter's name and contact information sewn or pinned on the back. Registration
forms will also be required and will be available at the AgCenter
Office.
Art can be
received on the Courthouse Lawn at 8 am Saturday May 14. All pieces should be
framed or otherwise mounted for display. Entries are being sought from the
following categories: Drawing, Painting, and Miscellaneous to be judged by age
group: Children-8 and under; Junior-9-12; and Youth 13-17. Adult categories are
Drawing, Painting Photography, and Original Craft for 18 and up. Professionals
will be judged separately. Adults will receive cash prizes and others will
receive savings bonds. In the event of rain the art show will be held in the
Homer Town Hall.
Poets of all
ages are encouraged to submit a maximum of three works each prior to May 6.
Prizes will be awarded by age using the same age categories as art. Children-8
and under; Junior-9-12; Youth 13-17 and Adults age 18 and up. Entries should be
emailed to or mailed to 309 North Main, Homer,
LA 71040 and must be legible to be judged. Winners will be contacted prior to
May 14 and will have the opportunity to read their works during the awards
ceremony on the Courthouse Lawn at 2 pm. Savings bonds will be awarded to those
winners age 17 and under and adults will receive cash prizes. All entries will
be on display May 14.
Entry forms are
available from the address below or at the parish website www.Claiborneone.org/jubilee.html. For more information call Cynthia Steele at
318-927-2566, email her , or write to the
Claiborne Jubilee, 309 North Main St., Homer, Louisiana
71040.
Police Jury Supports I-69 Alternate 4
(2&3)
Jurors Urge Citizens To
Submit Comment Before May 30 Deadline
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Christi Wilson,
with the URS I-69 Program Office in Homer, informed jurors of the upcoming
public meetings to be held May 10, 11, and 12 in El Dorado, Haynesville, and
Minden. This will be the last opportunity for the public to submit comments
before the Record of Decision is issued later this year. Jurors asked Wilson
many options were included in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
Wilson said there were nine possible options.
Alternate 4
moves further eastward toward Homer in the southern portion of the alignment.
The DEIS includes charts of all local roads, overpasses and on grade
intersections. The DEIS states in the summary that public comments will be a
major factor in making a final decision.
After
considerable discussion about the pros and cons of the I-69 alignment, jurors
voted to approve a resolution in support of Alternate 4 with options 2 and 3.
and to publish an advertisement in the paper encouraging citizens to attend the
public meetings, visit the I-69 office and educate themselves, and to submit a
comment form explaining their reasons for choosing Alternate 4. The deadline to
submit comments is May 30. Comment forms will be available at the I-69 Office
at 425 West Main in Homer.
School Board Demands Answer From
U. S. Justice Department
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Superintendent James Scriber informed
member of the Claiborne Parish School Board that he had received another
request for information from the U.S. Justice Department. He called their
attorney, Joe Bertrand, who said he felt the Board had answered enough
questions. Per his advice, Scriber mailed a certified letter to Iris
Goldschmidt, attorney for the U.S. Justice Department, requesting they present
any charges they have against the School Board regarding the court
desegregation order. They sent copies to U. S. Attorney General Alberto
Gonzales, Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter and Congressman Jim McCrery.
The original
complaint from the Justice Department concerned students crossing district
lines. The Board agreed they had a problem and stated they would work to
resolve the issue. Since then, the Justice Department has continued to look at
other areas including academics, alternative school, building projects,
discipline, and extra curricular activities. Scriber said, "We believe our
answers to all these accusations have shown that we have not discriminated in
any area against any race." In the letter, Scriber explained to
Goldschmidt answering these questions have taken a lot
of time and effort at a great deal of cost to the Board.
Guardian-Journal Announces Addition
Of New Staff Member
The Guardian-Journal is pleased to
announce the
addition
of Jimmy Dean to its writing staff. For the past sixteen months, Dean has
submitted his weekly column, "Your Social Security Questions
Answered." He submitted his last article March 31, 2005, the day before he
retired from the Social Security Administration after 32 years.
While working
for The Guardian-Journal, Jimmy will continue to offer classes on Social
Security at Bossier Parish Community College and is still available to speak to
groups about Social Security. He plans to cover various local events and write
feature articles on a part-time basis.
Dean is a
graduate of Homer High School and Louisiana Tech University. He and his wife,
Kaye, have made their home in Homer for the past nine years, along with
daughter Alyson.
Jimmy can be
contacted weekday mornings at 318-927-3541 or by emailing him at
.
