Arkansas Man Arrested For Timber Theft
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Kenneth
Shelton, 35, of Lovett Road in Strong, Arkansas was arraigned Tuesday, May 14
in U.S. District Court in El Dorado, Arkansas after being indicted on May 9 on
two counts of transporting stolen timber across state lines and 13 counts of
mail fraud. Shelton pleaded not guilty to all counts and was released on his
own recognizance pending a trial by jury set to begin July 11.
Shelton stated
he was unable to afford legal representation, so U.S. Magistrate Judge Bobby
Shepherd appointed Attorney Robert Depper to
represent him. If convicted, Shelton could face a maximum of 20 years in prison
and or a maximum fine of $250,000.
Shelton is alleged to have harvested 322 loads of timber which
he received close to $250,000, then did not pay the landowners. According to
the indictment, most of the timber was sent to Arkansas Pulpwood in Camden,
Arkansas and over $7,500 in checks were sent to Team Logging and Timber, Inc.,
a company allegedly operated by Shelton for the purpose of defrauding
landowners of their timber money.
In February
2003, Shelton agreed to cut timber on the Noble Estate located off the Clarence
Ivory Road near Haynesville and pay $12 ton for pine logs, divided equally
among the heirs. He sold the cut timber for $151,000, transporting most across
the state line into Arkansas. Heirs never received their money, and in
September 2004, one of the heirs, Ed Perkins of Oklahoma, filed a complaint
with Jim Baldwin, Forestry Enforcement Supervisor with the Louisiana Department
of Agriculture and Forestry in Monroe.
By this time
Shelton had already cut 27 acres of timber in October 2003 owned by Travis
Manning in Union County Arkansas for which Shelton was paid $50,000 and had
just completed cutting timber on 160 acres in Union Parish owned by David
Griffith in September 2004. Shelton received approximately $58,000 for
Griffith's timber and paid Griffith a partial payment of $5,700.
Baldwin said
his office is investigating three other possible victims of Shelton. One is
Mary Ella Henry Malone of Homer, who had Shelton cut timber on property she
owns in Claiborne Parish. Baldwin said they have been unable to locate Ms.
Malone and asks that anyone with information on her whereabouts or any other
potential victims of Shelton to contact him at (318) 345-7595.
Parolee Home Searched, No Drugs Found
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Agents from
Probation and Parole from the District Office in Minden with assistance from
the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office, the Louisiana State Police, and David
Wade Correctional Center converged on the residence of Eric Williams on Martin
Luther King Drive in Homer last Wednesday morning. According to Kenneth
Pickett, district administrator for the Minden District of Probation and
Parole, a tip led authorities to conduct the search of Williams' residence.
Three deputies
from CPSO, four state troopers, three agents from P&P, and two canine units
and their handlers from DWCC conducted a thorough search of Williams' residence
on Martin Luther King Drive on Wednesday morning, May 25. The initial search by
dogs was followed up by a hand search of any potential hits indicated by the
dogs. No drugs were found, however Williams was arrested on other technical
violations of his parole.
Williams was
out on parole after serving a portion of his sentences for distribution of
cocaine in 1997 and second degree kidnapping in February 1996. Williams pled
guilty in August 2000 for distribution of cocaine and was sentenced to seven
years hard labor. On January 10, 1997, he was convicted on the kidnapping
offense and sentenced to five years hard labor. He was released early on good
time on May 18, 2003.
Pickett said if
the parole board revokes his supervision, he could have to serve the remainder
of his sentence, but would still be eligible for early release for good time.
The parole board could also allow Williams to plead guilty to violating his
parole if he were to agree to voluntarily enter a 90-day intensive treatment
program for alcohol and drugs at the Don Francois Revocation Center at
Concordia Correctional Center near Ferriday.
Once he completes the program, he could return to supervised parole.
Pickett said
his office appreciates the response they have received from local authorities
and their continued assistance with investigations by Probation and Parole.
Beach Luau To
Kick Off Reading Program
The Claiborne
Parish Library will kick-off the 2005 Summer Reading Program with a Beach Party
Luau to be held at the Homer Library on Saturday, June 4. Children may begin
registering for the "Splish—Splash: READ!"
summer reading program at 10:00 AM. Games and activities will begin at 10:30 AM
with lunch being served at 11:30 AM. Be sure to wear your beach attire as you
might get a little bit wet as we "dive into reading"!
The 2005 Summer
Reading Program officially begins on Monday, June 6, when children ages 3
through third grade may begin recording reading time. Registration will
continue to be accepted throughout the 6-week program and will end Saturday,
July 16. Children must read for at least 9 hours during the 6-week program to
receive their certificate and bag of prizes. T-shirts or book bags may be
purchased for $5 each in Homer and Haynesville.
Registration
for teens (12-18) will begin June 6. Children in grades 4 through 6 will begin
registering on June 27. The 2005 Summer Reading Program ends Saturday, July 16
for all ages with the exception of the 4-6 grade group which ends July 30. To
receive a certificate of completion each child must read at least 9 hours or
reach their pre-set challenge. Weekly prizes and incentives will be awarded.
Beginning June
8, children ages 3 through 6th grade are invited to the Joe Webb Memorial
Library in Haynesville at 10 AM on Wednesdays for an hour of stories, crafts,
games, and fin.
The Homer
library will present a pre-school program for children ages
3-K on Thursday mornings at 10 AM beginning June 9. Older children (grades 1-3)
will meet on Thursday afternoons at 2 PM. Children who have finished grades 4-6
will have programs on Tuesdays at 2 PM beginning July 5 and ending July 26.
Haynesville
branch hours are 8:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00-4:45 PM weekdays and 9:00 AM - 1:00
PM on Saturday.. Hours at the Homer branch are 8:00 AM
- 6:00 PM weekdays, except Tuesdays when the library closes at 7:00 PM, and
9:00 AM - 1 PM on Saturday. For more information, call 927-3845 in Homer or
624-0364 in Haynesville.
Minden Airport To
Host Air Show June 4
Event To
Include Vintage Warbirds, Helicopters, And Special
Displays
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The City of
Minden will come alive on Saturday, June 4, with the sights and sounds of
vintage and modern airplanes.
The Minden
Airport is hosting its Air Show 2005 and will have aircraft ranging from
vintage warbirds to modern aircraft and military
helicopters on display. Headlining the show is the historic World War II B-25
Mitchell bomber "The Yellow Rose" and several aerobatic performers.
The event is
free and open to the public and lasts from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Concessions will be
available. The Minden Airport is located at at 341
Methodist Camp Road in Minden
Some of the
military aircraft scheduled to attend include a T-6 Texan, a U.S. Army
Blackhawk helicopter, a U.S. Navy T-34C pilot trainer and a U.S. Air Force T-37
primary jet trainer.
Aerobatic
performances are scheduled with Luke Lambard of
Dallas, Gary Boucher of Shreveport, J.D. Daniel of Houston, Jimmy Fordham of
Monroe, Dave Leedom of Haughton, among others. Some
of the other aircraft include restored Stearmans and
others.
For
information, contact Larry Blackwell at (318) 371-7862.
July 4th Fireworks & Patriotic
Parade
Set For July 2
The 2005
Patriotic Boat Parade and July 4th Fireworks Display will be held Saturday,
July 2 at the Lake Claiborne dam off Hwy. 518. The Boat Parade will begin at
7:30 PM at Pleasure Point and the Fireworks Display will begin at dark, or
about 9:00 PM. Thanks to the efforts of Fred Lewis and the Claiborne Parish
Police Jury, additional parking will be available this year at the Lake
Claiborne dam. Tax deductible donations are needed to help pay for this year's
fireworks display. Please mail your check today to Claiborne Fireworks, Inc.,
180 Post Oak Road, Homer, LA 71040. For more information,
call Fred Lewis at 927-9180.
THE CANEY LAKES RECREATION AREA offers a variety of activities for the outdoor enthusiast—swimming,
fishing, camping, picnicking and more. For large gatherings of 50 or more, you
can rent a separate area with its own swimming area and large covered pavilion
with picnic tables and oversize grills for between $50-$125
depending on the number of people. Top right, District Ranger Alvin
Womack checks out one of the large grills. Bottom, Ranger Alvin Womack, Forester James
Williams and Public Affairs Officer Jim Caldwell stand near a lighted bath
house that offer campers hot showers to make their camping experience more
enjoyable. For more information, call 318-927-2061.
CANEY RECREATION AREA, open since April 22, is surrounded by wooded hills and has an easily
accessed shoreline that provides a very scenic setting. Recreation
opportunities include hiking, biking, fishing, camping, skiing, sailing,
picnicking and so much more. Day use fees are $3 for a vehicle of 6.
Kisatchie—Great Place To
Spend The Summer
Recreation Opportunities Abound In The Caney Ranger District
BY JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer, The Guardian-Journal
Quick: What
state is nicknamed "Land of 10,000 Lakes"? Answer: Minnesota. So what
parish could be nicknamed "Parish with 10,000 Acres of Lakes"?
Answer: Claiborne. Actually, it's more like almost 8,000 acres of lake area.
But, hey, who's counting? This is the first of several articles focusing on our
local lakes and related recreational venues.
Some Claiborne
residents may be unaware of the local presence of Kisatchie
National Forest which was a result of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal Legislation
of the 1930s. The Kisatchie National Forest wanders
through 7 central and north Louisiana parishes: Vernon, Rapides, Grant,
Natchitoches, Webster, Claiborne and Winn. Louisiana's abundant wildlife is why
this state is also known as the "Sportsman's Paradise" and much of
the wildlife can be found in Kisatchie National
Forest which is open for seasonal hunting.
Of Kisatchie's over 600,000 acres, about 32,000 are under the
authority of the Caney Ranger District located at 3288 Highway 79 in Homer.
District Ranger Alvin Womack heads up the local office which oversees three
jurisdictions: Caney Lakes Recreation Area, Corney
Lake Recreation Area, and Middle Fork with Bucktail
Camp and Turkey Trot Camp. Forester James Williams is the timber management
assistant and still oversees recreational areas.
Last fall,
Public Affairs Officer Jim Caldwell who works out of the Supervisor's Office in
Pineville traveled to Claiborne Parish for a media day. It is his job to keep
the public informed of activities and opportunities in the Caney District of
the Kisatchie National Forest. Womack, Caldwell, and Williams spent the day
touring the Caney and Corney Recreation areas,
touting the recreational opportunities available in Claiborne and Webster
parishes.
CANEY LAKES RECREATION AREA
The Kisatchie National Forest website lists many services available
at Caney Lakes. There are two distinct sections of Caney Lake, Upper Caney and
Lower Caney. Upper Caney, the smaller of the two, is about 125 acres. Beaver
Dam Campground on the shore of Upper Caney provides swimming, skiing, fishing,
picnicking, hiking, and boating. Amenities include hot showers, drinking water,
flush toilets, and RV hookups as well as an RV holding tank dump station.
Toilets and showers also have nighttime lighting. Sugar Cane Trail, adjacent to
Beaver Dam Recreation Area, offers a scenic seven-mile path suitable for biking and
hiking. And a three-mile mountain bike trail has recently been added.
Lower Caney,
about 250 acres in size, appeals to those wanting a more primitive experience.
Turtle Slide Campground on Lower Caney offers almost 30 pads for tents.
Although it has running water and provisions for hot showers, there are no
provisions for RV hookups. Fire rings/grills and a sanitary dump station are
also offered.
Although there
has been concern about moss growing in area lakes, Forester Williams says the
problem is under control and should not dampen anyone's summer fun. Both Upper
and Lower Caney provide bank fishing and boat ramps for both motorized and
non-motorized craft. Lower Caney, however, includes areas suitable for pier
fishing and water skiing while Upper Caney does not.
Open only
during the warmer months, Caney's recreation areas have been open since April
22 and will remain open through September depending on the weather. A modest $3
a day covers the cost for a car group to swim, ski, boat, and fish. Primitive
camp areas are $5 a day while $10 a day covers RV hookups and other amenities.
For $50 Caney makes available a large pavilion suitable for family reunions or
other large gatherings up to 50 people. Higher fees apply to larger groups.
CORNEY LAKE
RECREATION AREA
Corney Lake, over 2000 acres in size, offers year round
fishing as well as waterfowl hunting in season. Corney
is more suited for fishing, camping, picnicking, and biking. There are two boat
ramps and a group picnic shelter in the day use area. Corney
also offers both pier and bank fishing. There are no fees for using the
recreational facilities at Corney Lake.
TURKEY TROT CAMP AND BUCKTAIL CAMP
Located about 8
miles east of Homer, these two camp grounds are part of the Middle Fork of the
Bayou D'Arbonne River. Also under the jurisdiction of
the Caney Ranger District, these are primitive campgrounds without running
water, hot showers, and other amenities. Tents, trailers, and campers are
allowed at no cost. Deer, raccoons, squirrels, and birds are abundant in the
area.
So whether you
want to relax for an afternoon, a week-end, or get away from it all for a week
or so, why not sample what Caney Ranger District has to offer! For more
information, call the Caney Ranger District at 318-927-2061 or the Alexandria
Forestry Center at 318-473-7160.
Caney Ranger District To
Host
Kids' Fishing Derby Saturday, June 11
The Kisatchie National Forest, Caney Ranger District, would
like to announce the upcoming event at Caney Lakes, "A Kids' Fishing
Derby" which will be held Saturday, June 11, 2005 at the Caney Lakes
Recreation Area. The event will be held from 9 AM - 12 PM. Participants must be
between the ages of 4 and 15 years of age and accompanied by a responsible
adult (18 years or older). There will be no charge to participate and bait will
be furnished. Registration forms are available at the Caney Ranger District
Office or Caney Lakes Work Center Homer. Participants can also register the day
of the event. Events include fishing and a casting competition sponsored by
Wildlife and Fisheries. Caney Lakes is located just 3 miles north of Minden,
Louisiana off Highway 159. For additional information including maps and
brochures please call the Caney Ranger District at 318-927-2061 or the
Alexandria Forestry Center at 318-473-7160.
